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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

February 9, 2024

 

NETGEAR, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

 

000-50350

 

77-0419172

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

 

350 East Plumeria Drive

San Jose,

CA

95134

(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

 

 

(408)

907-8000

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading symbol(s):

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value

 

NTGR

 

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 


Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

 

On February 9, 2024, NETGEAR, Inc. (the “Company”) adopted the Company’s 2024 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan (the “Inducement Plan”), pursuant to which the Company reserved 2,000,000 shares of its common stock for issuance under the Inducement Plan to be used exclusively for grants of awards to individuals who were not previously employees or directors of the Company, as an inducement material to the individual’s entry into employment with the Company within the meaning of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The Inducement Plan was approved by the independent members of the Board of Directors of the Company without stockholder approval pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

 

The foregoing description of the terms of the Inducement Plan is not intended to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Inducement Plan and the forms of award agreements adopted under the Inducement Plan, copies of which are included hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit Number

 

Description

10.1

 

2024 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan and forms of agreement thereunder.

 

 

 

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 

 

 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

        Dated: February 14, 2024

 

        NETGEAR, INC.

 

        By:  /s/ Bryan D. Murray

        Name: Bryan D. Murray

        Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 


EX-10.1 2 ntgr-ex10_1.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

NETGEAR, INC.

2024 INDUCEMENT EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

1.
Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility by providing an inducement material to individuals’ entering into employment with the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.

The Plan permits the grant of Nonstatutory Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Units, Performance Shares, and other stock or cash awards as the Administrator may determine. Each Award under the Plan is intended to qualify as an employment inducement award under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) and the official regulations thereunder (together, the “Inducement Listing Rule”).

2.
Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions will apply:
(a)
“Administrator” means the Board or any of its Committees as will be administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.
(b)
“Applicable Laws” means the legal and regulatory requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards, including without limitation the related issuance of Shares, including without limitation under U.S. federal and state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any non-U.S. country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.
(c)
“Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units, Performance Shares, or other stock or cash awards as the Administrator may determine.
(d)
“Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement provided by the Company setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan. The Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(e)
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(f)
“Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i)
A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection, the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company will not be considered a Change in Control; or A change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date that a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12) month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election.

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(ii)
For purposes of this clause (ii), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control; or
(iii)
A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than fifty percent (50%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (iii), the following will not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets: (A) a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the Company’s stockholders immediately after the transfer, or (B) a transfer of assets by the Company to: (1) a stockholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the Company’s stock, (2) an entity, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, (3) a Person, that owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company, or (4) an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a Person described in subsection (iii)(B)(3). For purposes of this subsection (iii), gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

For purposes of this definition, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Section 409A.

Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation, or (ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.

(g)
“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any reference to a section of the Code or regulation thereunder will include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or other formal guidance of general or direct applicability promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
(h)
“Committee” means a committee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the Board or by a duly authorized committee of the Board, in accordance with Section 4 hereof.

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(i)
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.
(j)
“Company” means NETGEAR, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.
(k)
“Consultant” means any natural person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company to render bona fide services to such entity, provided the services (i) are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction, and (ii) do not directly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities, in each case, within the meaning of Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act, and provided, further, that a Consultant will include only those persons to whom the issuance of Shares may be registered under Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act.
(l)
“Director” means a member of the Board.
(m)
“Disability” means total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, provided that the Administrator in its discretion may determine whether a permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Administrator from time to time.
(n)
“Dividend Equivalent” means a credit, payable in cash or Shares, made at the discretion of the Administrator or as otherwise provided by the Plan, to the account of a Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one Share for each Share represented by an Award held by such Participant. Dividend Equivalents will be subject to the same vesting restrictions as the related Shares subject to the underlying Award.
(o)
“Employee” means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company. However, for the avoidance of doubt, a person who already is serving as a Director prior to becoming an Employee will not be eligible to be granted an Award under the Plan unless permitted under the Inducement Listing Rule. The Company will determine in good faith and in the exercise of its discretion whether an individual has become or has ceased to be an Employee and the effective date of such individual’s employment or termination of employment, as the case may be. For purposes of an individual’s rights, if any, under the Plan as of the time of the Company’s determination, all such determinations by the Company will be final, binding and conclusive, notwithstanding that the Company or any court of law or governmental agency subsequently makes a contrary determination.
(p)
“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(q)
“Exchange Program” means a program under which (i) outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower exercise prices and different terms), awards of a different type, and/or cash, (ii) Participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding Awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the Administrator, and/or (iii) the exercise price of an outstanding Award is reduced. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 4, the Administrator may not institute an Exchange Program.

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(r)
“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:
(i)
If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Capital Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, or the New York Stock Exchange, its Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;
(ii)
If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share will be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the date of determination (or, if no bids and asks were reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such bids and asks were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or
(iii)
In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the Administrator.

In addition, for purposes of determining the fair market value of shares for any reason other than the determination of the exercise price of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, fair market value will be determined by the Administrator in a manner compliant with Applicable Laws and applied consistently for such purpose. The determination of fair market value for purposes of tax withholding may be made in the Administrator’s discretion subject to Applicable Laws and is not required to be consistent with the determination of Fair Market Value for other purposes.

(s)
“Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.
(t)
“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms qualifies and is otherwise intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(u)
“Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
(v)
“Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(w)
“Option” means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan. All Options granted under the Plan will be Nonstatutory Stock Options.
(x)
“Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(y)
“Participant” means the holder of an outstanding Award.

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(z)
“Performance Share” means an Award denominated in Shares which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine pursuant to Section 10.
(aa)
“Performance Unit” means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine and which may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of the foregoing pursuant to Section 10.
(bb)
“Period of Restriction” means the period (if any) during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock are subject to restrictions and therefore, the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, continued service, the achievement of target levels of performance, the achievement of performance goals, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Administrator.
(cc)
“Plan” means this 2024 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan.
(dd)
“Restricted Stock” means Shares issued pursuant to a Restricted Stock award under Section 7 of the Plan, or issued pursuant to the early exercise of an Option.
(ee)
“Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share, granted pursuant to Section 8. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.
(ff)
“Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan.
(gg)
“Section 16(b)” means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
(hh)
“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code, as it has been and may be amended from time to time, and any proposed or final Treasury Regulations and Internal Revenue Service guidance that has been promulgated or may be promulgated thereunder, from time to time, or any state law equivalent.
(ii)
“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(jj)
“Service Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant.
(kk)
“Share” means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 14 of the Plan.
(ll)
“Stock Appreciation Right” means an Award, granted alone or in connection with an Option, that pursuant to Section 9 is designated as a Stock Appreciation Right.
(mm)
“Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

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(nn)
“U.S. Treasury Regulations” means the Treasury Regulations of the Code. Reference to a specific Treasury Regulation or Section of the Code will include such Treasury Regulation or Section, any valid regulation promulgated under such Section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such Section or regulation.
3.
Stock Subject to the Plan.
(a)
Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 14 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan is 2,000,000 Shares. In addition, Shares may become available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 3(b). The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.
(b)
Lapsed Awards. If an Award expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full, or, with respect to Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units or Performance Shares, is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company due to failure to vest, then the unpurchased Shares (or for Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, the forfeited or repurchased Shares), which were subject thereto will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right settled in Shares, the gross number of Shares covered by the portion of the Award so exercised, whether or not actually issued pursuant to such exercise, will cease to be available under the Plan. Shares that actually have been issued under the Plan under any Award will not be returned to the Plan and will not become available for future distribution under the Plan; provided, however, that if Shares issued pursuant to Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares or Performance Units are repurchased by the Company or are forfeited to the Company due to failure to vest, such Shares will become available for future grant under the Plan. Shares used to pay the exercise price or purchase price of an Award or to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to an Award will not become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. To the extent an Award under the Plan is paid out in cash rather than Shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan.
(c)
Share Reserve. The Company, at all times during the term of this Plan, will reserve and keep available such number of Shares as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
4.
Administration of the Plan.
(a)
Procedure.
(i)
Multiple Administrative Bodies. Different Committees with respect to different groups of Employees or Participants may administer the Plan.
(ii)
Rule 16b-3. To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder will be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3.

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(iii)
Other Administration. Other than as provided above, the Plan will be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which Committee will be constituted to comply with Applicable Laws.
(iv)
Approval. Awards granted under the Plan must be approved by a majority of the Company’s “Independent Directors,” as defined in the Inducement Listing Rule, or the independent Compensation Committee of the Board, in each case acting as the Administrator.
(v)
Delegation of Authority for Day-to-Day Administration. Except to the extent prohibited by Applicable Law and except to the extent provided by Section 4(a)(iv), the Administrator may delegate to one or more individuals the day-to-day administration of the Plan and any of the functions assigned to it in this Plan. Such delegation may be revoked at any time.
(b)
Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator will have the authority, in its discretion:
(i)
to determine the Fair Market Value;
(ii)
to select the individuals to whom Awards may be granted hereunder, subject to Section 5 (which Awards will be intended as a material inducement to the individual becoming an Employee);
(iii)
to determine whether and to what extent Awards are granted hereunder;
(iv)
to determine the number of Shares or dollar amounts to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(v)
to approve forms of Award Agreement for use under the Plan;
(vi)
to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder. The terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when Awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator will determine;
(vii)
to determine whether Awards (other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights) will be adjusted for Dividend Equivalents;
(viii)
to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;
(ix)
to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of facilitating compliance with applicable non‑U.S. laws, easing the administration of the Plan or for qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable non‑U.S.

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(x)
laws; to modify or amend each Award (subject to Section 19 of the Plan), including but not limited to the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercisability period of Awards and to extend the maximum term of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right (subject to Section 9(f) of the Plan);
(xi)
to allow Participants to satisfy tax withholding obligations in a manner prescribed in Section 14 of the Plan;
(xii)
to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;
(xiii)
to temporarily suspend the exercisability of an Award if the Administrator deems such suspension to be necessary or appropriate for administrative purposes or to comply with Applicable Laws, provided that such suspension must be lifted prior to the expiration of the maximum term and post-service exercisability period of an Award, unless doing so would not comply with Applicable Laws;
(xiv)
to allow a Participant, to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that otherwise would be due to the Participant under an Award, subject to Section 15(c);
(xv)
to determine whether Awards will be settled in Shares, cash or in any combination thereof;
(xvi)
to impose such restrictions, conditions or limitations as it determines appropriate as to the timing and manner of any resales by a Participant or other subsequent transfers by the Participant of any Shares issued as a result of or under an Award, including without limitation, (A) restrictions under an insider trading policy, and (B) restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such resales or other transfers; and
(xvii)
to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan.
(c)
No Exchange Program. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrator may not institute an Exchange Program.
(d)
Effect of Administrator’s Decision. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations will be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of Awards and will be given the maximum deference permitted by Applicable Laws.
5.
Eligibility. Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, and such other cash or stock awards as the Administrator determines may be granted to Employees so long as the following requirements are met:
(a)
The Employee was not previously an Employee or Director, or the Employee is to become employed by the Company or any of its Parents or Subsidiaries following a bona-fide period of non‑employment (within the meaning of the Inducement Listing Rule); and The grant of the Award or Awards to the Employee is an inducement material to the Employee’s entering into employment with the Company (or any of its Parents or Subsidiaries, as applicable) in accordance with the Inducement Listing Rule.

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(b)
6.
Stock Options.
(a)
Grant of Options. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, including without limitation the eligibility requirements of Section 5, an Option may be granted to an Employee at any time and from time to time as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.
(b)
Number of Shares. The Administrator will have complete discretion to determine the number of Shares subject to Options granted to any Participant.
(c)
Stock Option Agreement. Each Award of an Option will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the number of Shares subject to the Option, the exercise restrictions, if any, applicable to the Option, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.
(d)
Accelerated Vesting on Cessation of Status as a Service Provider Due to Death or Disability. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Disability or death, all of the Participant’s unvested Options subject to time-based vesting will become fully vested.
(e)
Term of Option. The Administrator will determine the term of each Option in its sole discretion. The term of each Option will be stated in the Award Agreement.
(f)
Option Exercise Price and Consideration.
(i)
Exercise Price. The per Share exercise price of Options will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(ii)
Waiting Period and Exercise Dates. At the time an Option is granted, the Administrator will fix the period within which the Option may be exercised and will determine any conditions that must be satisfied before the Option may be exercised.
(iii)
Form of Consideration. The Administrator will determine the acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment. Such consideration may consist entirely of, without limitation: (1) cash (including cash equivalents); (2) check; (3) promissory note, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws; (4) other Shares, provided that such Shares have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which such Option will be exercised and provided further that accepting such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences to the Company, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion; (5) consideration received by the Company under a broker-assisted (or other) cashless exercise program (whether through a broker or otherwise) implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan; (6) by reduction in the amount of any Company liability to the Participant; (7) by net exercise; (8) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws; or (9) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.

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(g)
Exercise of Option.
(i)
Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder. Any Option granted hereunder will be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

An Option will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (i) notice of exercise (in accordance with the procedures that the Administrator may specify from time to time) from the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (together with any applicable tax withholdings). Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the Administrator and permitted by the Award Agreement and the Plan. Shares issued upon exercise of an Option will be issued in the name of the Participant or, if requested by the Participant, in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse. Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to the Shares subject to an Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 14 of the Plan.

Exercising an Option in any manner will decrease the number of Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

(ii)
Cessation of Status as a Service Provider Other than Due to Death or Disability. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, other than upon the cessation of the Participant’s Service Provider status as the result of the Participant’s death or Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of cessation of the Participant’s Service Provider status. In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for three (3) months following cessation of the Participant’s Service Provider status. If a Participant dies during such period following the cessation of the Participant’s Service Provider status, the Option may be exercised following the Participant’s death for one (1) year after Participant’s death, but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of cessation of the Participant’s Service Provider status the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan. If, after cessation of the Participant’s Service Provider status, the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified by the Administrator, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event may an Option be exercised later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement.
(iii)
Disability of Participant. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent the Option is vested on the date of cessation of the Participant’s Service Provider status.

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In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following cessation of the Participant’s Service Provider status. If a Participant dies during such period following the cessation of the Participant’s Service Provider status, the Option may be exercised following the Participant’s death for one (1) year after Participant’s death, but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of cessation of the Participant’s Service Provider status the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan. If, after cessation of the Participant’s Service Provider status, the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event may an Option be exercised later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement.
(iv)
Death of Participant. If a Participant dies while a Service Provider or dies during the period following the cessation of the Participant’s Service Provider status that the Option remains exercisable pursuant to Section 6(g)(i) or Section 6(g)(ii), as applicable, the Option may be exercised following the Participant’s death within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of death by the Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to the Participant’s death in a form acceptable to the Administrator. If no such beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, then such Option may be exercised by the personal representative of the Participant’s estate or by the person(s) to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Participant’s death. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if at the time of death, the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will immediately revert to the Plan. If the Option is not so exercised within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event may an Option be exercised later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement.
(v)
Tolling Expiration. A Participant’s Award Agreement may also provide that:
(1)
if the exercise of the Option following the cessation of the Participant’s status as a Service Provider (other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would result in liability under Section 16(b), then the Option will terminate on the earlier of (A) the expiration of the term of the Option set forth in the Award Agreement, or (B) the tenth (10th) day after the last date on which such exercise would result in liability under Section 16(b); or
(2)
if the exercise of the Option following the cessation of the Participant’s status as a Service Provider (other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of Shares would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option will terminate on the earlier of (A) the expiration of the term of the Option or (B) the expiration of a period of three (3) months after the cessation of the Participant’s status as a Service Provider during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration requirements.

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7.
Restricted Stock.
(a)
Grant of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, including without limitation the eligibility requirements of Section 5, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Employees in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.
(b)
Restricted Stock Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Period of Restriction (if any), the number of Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the Company as escrow agent will hold Shares of Restricted Stock until the restrictions on such Shares have lapsed.
(c)
Accelerated Vesting on Cessation of Status as a Service Provider Due to Death or Disability. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Disability or death, all of the Participant’s unvested Shares of Restricted Stock subject to time-based vesting will become fully vested.
(d)
Transferability. Except as provided in this Section 7 or as the Administrator determines, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of any applicable Period of Restriction.
(e)
Other Restrictions. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable or appropriate. The Administrator may set restrictions based upon continued employment or service, the achievement of specific performance objectives (Company-wide, departmental, divisional, business unit, or individual), applicable federal or state securities laws, or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.
(f)
Removal of Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan will be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the last day of any applicable Period of Restriction or at such other time as the Administrator may determine. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.
(g)
Voting Rights. During any applicable Period of Restriction, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise.
(h)
Dividends and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction (if any), Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement; provided, however that such dividends and distributions will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability (as applicable) as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid, and the Company will hold such dividends and distributions until the restrictions on the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid have lapsed.

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(i)
Return of Restricted Stock to Company. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will revert to the Company and, subject to Section 3, again will become available for grant under the Plan.
8.
Restricted Stock Units.
(a)
Grant. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, including without limitation the eligibility requirements of Section 5, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Restricted Stock Units to Employees in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. After the Administrator determines that it will grant Restricted Stock Units under the Plan, it will advise the Participant in an Award Agreement of the terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the grant, including the number of Restricted Stock Units.
(b)
Vesting Criteria and Other Terms. The Administrator will set vesting criteria (if any) in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the number of Restricted Stock Units that will be paid out to the Participant. The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon continued employment or service, the achievement of specific performance objectives (Company-wide, departmental, divisional, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service)), applicable federal or state securities laws or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.
(c)
Accelerated Vesting on Cessation of Status as a Service Provider Due to Death or Disability. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Disability or death, all of the Participant’s unvested Restricted Stock Units subject to time-based vesting will become fully vested.
(d)
Earning Restricted Stock Units. Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant will be entitled to receive a payout as determined by the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any vesting criteria that must be met to receive a payout.
(e)
Form and Timing of Payment. Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units will be made as soon as practicable at the time(s) determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may settle earned Restricted Stock Units in cash, Shares, or a combination of both.
(f)
Rights as a Stockholder. If any earned Restricted Stock Units are to be paid in Shares, then until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to such Shares, notwithstanding the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 14 of the Plan.

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(g)
Cancellation. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited to the Company and, subject to Section 3, again will become available for grant under the Plan.
9.
Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a)
Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, including without limitation the eligibility requirements of Section 5, a Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to Employees at any time and from time to time as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.
(b)
Number of Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Administrator will have complete discretion to determine the number of Stock Appreciation Rights granted to any Employee.
(c)
Exercise Price and Other Terms. The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right will be determined by the Administrator and will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. Otherwise, the Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, will have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan.
(d)
Stock Appreciation Right Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the term of the Stock Appreciation Right, the conditions of exercise (if any), and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.
(e)
Accelerated Vesting on Cessation of Status as a Service Provider Due to Death or Disability. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Disability or death, all of the Participant’s unvested Stock Appreciation Rights subject to time-based vesting will become fully vested.
(f)
Expiration of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan will expire upon the date determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement; provided, however, that the term will be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of Section 6(g) relating to exercise also will apply to Stock Appreciation Rights.
(g)
Payment of Stock Appreciation Right Amount. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined as the product of:
(i)
The difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price; and
(ii)
The number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.

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At the discretion of the Administrator, the payment upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination of both.

(h)
Rights as a Stockholder. If any exercised Stock Appreciation Right is to be paid in Shares, then until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to such Shares, notwithstanding the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 14 of the Plan.
10.
Performance Units and Performance Shares.
(a)
Grant of Performance Units/Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, including without limitation the eligibility requirements of Section 5, Performance Units and Performance Shares may be granted to Employees at any time and from time to time, as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Administrator will have complete discretion in determining the number of Performance Units and Performance Shares granted to each Participant.
(b)
Value of Performance Units/Shares. Each Performance Unit will have an initial value that is established by the Administrator on or before the date of grant. Each Performance Share will have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.
(c)
Performance Objectives and Other Terms. The Administrator will set performance objectives or other vesting provisions (including, without limitation, continued status as a Service Provider) (if any) in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number or value of Performance Units/Shares that will be paid out to the Participant. The time period during which the performance objectives or other vesting provisions must be met will be called the “Performance Period.” Each Award of Performance Units/Shares will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Performance Period, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon continued employment or service, the achievement of specific performance objectives (Company-wide, departmental, divisional, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service)), applicable federal or state securities laws or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.
(d)
Earning of Performance Units/Shares. After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units/Shares will be entitled to receive a payout of the number of Performance Units/Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance objectives or other vesting provisions have been achieved. After the grant of a Performance Unit/Share, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any performance objectives or other vesting provisions for such Performance Unit/Share.
(e)
Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units/Shares. Payment of earned Performance Units/Shares will be made as soon as practicable after the expiration of the applicable Performance Period. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units/Shares in the form of cash, in Shares (which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Units/Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period) or in a combination thereof.

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(f)
Rights as a Stockholder. If any earned Performance Units/Shares are to be paid in Shares, then until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to such Shares, notwithstanding the vesting of the Performance Units/Shares. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 14 of the Plan.
(g)
Cancellation of Performance Units/Shares. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned or unvested Performance Units/Shares will be forfeited to the Company, and, subject to Section 3, again will be available for grant under the Plan.
11.
Leaves of Absence/Transfer Between Locations. Awards will be subject to any Company leave of absence policy as the Company may adopt or amend from time to time. A Participant will not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, any of its Parents, or any of its Subsidiaries.
12.
Dividend Equivalents. The Administrator, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Award (other than Options and Stock Appreciation Rights) that the Participant will be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalents with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Shares having a record date prior to the date on which the Awards are settled or forfeited. The Dividend Equivalents, if any, will be credited to an Award in such manner and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion subject to the provisions of this Section 12; provided, however that Dividend Equivalents will be subject to the same vesting provisions as the Awards to which they relate and while amounts may accrue while the Dividend Equivalent is unvested, the amounts payable with respect to Dividend Equivalents will not be paid before the Dividend Equivalent or the Award to which it relates vests. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in Shares or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 14, appropriate adjustments will be made to the Participant’s Award and the associated Dividend Equivalent so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than normal cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the consideration issuable upon settlement of the Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property will be immediately subject to the same vesting and settlement conditions as are applicable to the Award.
13.
Transferability of Awards. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, an Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant. If the Administrator makes an Award transferable, such Award will contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate.

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14.
Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation; Merger or Change in Control.
(a)
Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, reclassification, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares occurs (other than any ordinary dividends or other ordinary distributions), the Administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, will adjust the number and class of shares of stock that may be delivered under the Plan and/or the number, class, and price of shares of stock covered by each outstanding Award and the numerical Share limits in Section 3 of the Plan. Notwithstanding the preceding, the number of Shares subject to any Award always will be a whole number.
(b)
Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of a proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. To the extent it has not been previously exercised (with respect to an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right) or vested (with respect to an Award other than an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right), an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.
(c)
Merger or Change in Control. In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another corporation or other entity or a Change in Control, each outstanding Award will be treated as the Administrator determines (subject to the provisions of the following paragraph) without a Participant’s consent, including, without limitation, that (i) Awards will be assumed, or substantially equivalent awards will be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices; (ii) upon written notice to a Participant, that the Participant’s Awards will terminate upon or immediately prior to the consummation of such merger or Change in Control; (iii) outstanding Awards will vest and become exercisable, realizable, or payable, or restrictions applicable to an Award will lapse, in whole or in part prior to or upon consummation of such merger or Change in Control, and, to the extent the Administrator determines, terminate upon or immediately prior to the effectiveness of such merger or Change in Control; (iv) (A) the termination of an Award in exchange for an amount of cash and/or property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction the Administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment), or (B) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator in its sole discretion; or (v) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted under this Section 14(c), the Administrator will not be obligated to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, all Awards of the same type, or all portions of Awards, similarly.

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In the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award (or portion thereof), the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise the Participant’s outstanding Option and Stock Appreciation Right (or portion thereof) that is not assumed or substituted for, including Shares as to which such Award would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units (or portions thereof) not assumed or substituted for will lapse, and, with respect to such Awards with performance-based vesting (or portions thereof) not assumed or substituted for, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target levels and all other terms and conditions met, in each case, unless specifically provided otherwise by the Administrator or under the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable. In addition, unless specifically provided otherwise by the Administrator or under the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, if an Option or Stock Appreciation Right (or portion thereof) is not assumed or substituted for in the event of a merger or Change in Control, the Administrator will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that such Option or Stock Appreciation Right (or its applicable portion) will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, and the Option or Stock Appreciation Right (or its applicable portion) will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

For the purposes of this Section 14(c), an Award will be considered assumed if, following the merger or Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the merger or Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the merger or Change in Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the merger or Change in Control is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the payout of a Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Unit or Performance Share, for each Share subject to such Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the merger or Change in Control. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrator may determine that, for purposes of this Section 14(c), the Company is the successor corporation with respect to some or all Awards.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 14(c) to the contrary, and unless otherwise provided by the Administrator or under an Award Agreement or other written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more performance goals will not be considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any of such performance goals without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, a modification to such performance goals only to reflect the successor corporation’s post-Change in Control corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 14(c) to the contrary, if a payment under an Award Agreement is subject to Section 409A and if the change in control definition contained in the Award Agreement or other written agreement related to the Award does not comply with the definition of “change in control” for purposes of a distribution under Section 409A, then any payment of an amount that otherwise is accelerated under this Section will be delayed until the earliest time that such payment would be permissible under Section 409A without triggering any penalties applicable under Section 409A.

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15.
Tax.
(a)
Withholding Requirements. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award (or exercise thereof) or such earlier time as any tax withholding obligations are due, the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries, Parents or affiliates employing or retaining the services of a Participant, as applicable) will have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries, Parents or affiliates, as applicable), an amount sufficient to satisfy U.S. federal, state, and local, non-U.S., and other taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required to be withheld with respect to such Award (or exercise thereof).
(b)
Withholding Arrangements. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit a Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part by (without limitation) (i) paying cash, check or other cash equivalents; (ii) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable cash or Shares having a fair market value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld or such greater amount as the Administrator may determine if such amount would not have adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion; (iii) delivering to the Company already-owned Shares having a fair market value equal to the statutory amount required to be withheld or such greater amount as the Administrator may determine, in each case, provided the delivery of such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion; (iv) selling a sufficient number of Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant through such means as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the amount required to be withheld or such greater amount as the Administrator may determine, in each case, provided the delivery of such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion; (v) such other consideration and method of payment for the meeting of tax withholding obligations as the Administrator may determine to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws; or (vi) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. The withholding amount will be deemed to include any amount which the Administrator agrees may be withheld at the time the election is made, not to exceed the amount determined by using the maximum federal, state or local marginal income tax rates applicable to the Participant with respect to the Award on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined or such greater amount as the Administrator may determine if such amount would not have adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion. The fair market value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld.
(c)
Compliance With Section 409A. Awards will be designed and operated in such a manner that they are either exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Section 409A, except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. Each payment or benefit under this Plan and under each Award Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations, except to the extent that an Award Agreement specifically provides otherwise.

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The Plan, each Award and each Award Agreement under the Plan is intended to be exempt from or otherwise meet the requirements of Section 409A and will be construed and interpreted (including but not limited with respect to ambiguities and/or ambiguous terms) in accordance with such intent, except as otherwise specifically determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. To the extent that an Award or payment, or the settlement or deferral thereof, is subject to Section 409A the Award will be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will meet the requirements of Section 409A, such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Section 409A. In no event will the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents have any responsibility, obligation or liability under the terms of this Plan to reimburse, indemnify, or hold harmless any Participant or any other person in respect of Awards, for any taxes, interest or penalties imposed, or other costs incurred, as a result of Section 409A.
16.
No Effect on Employment or Service. Neither the Plan nor any Award will confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continuing the Participant’s relationship as a Service Provider, and they wil not interfere in any way with the Participant’s right or the right of the Company and its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, to terminate such relationship at any time, with or without cause, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
17.
Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Award will be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination will be provided to each Participant within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.
18.
Term of Plan. The Plan will become effective upon its adoption by the Board (or its designated Committee). It will continue in effect until terminated under Section 19.
19.
Amendment and Termination of the Plan.
(a)
Amendment and Termination. The Administrator may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.
(b)
Stockholder Approval. The Company will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent that the Administrator (in its discretion) determines such approval is necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws.
(c)
Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan will materially impair the rights of any Participant, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company. Termination of the Plan will not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.
20.
Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.
(a)
Legal Compliance. Shares will not be issued pursuant to an Award, including without limitation upon exercise or vesting thereof, as applicable, unless the issuance and delivery of such Shares and exercise or vesting of the Award, as applicable, will comply with Applicable Laws. If required by the Administrator, issuance will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.

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If the Company determines it to be impossible or impractical to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction or to complete or comply with the requirements of any Applicable Laws, registration or other qualification of the Shares under any state, federal or foreign law or under the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the stock or share exchange on which Shares of the same class are then listed, or any other governmental or regulatory body, which authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary or advisable for the issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, the Company will be relieved of any liability regarding the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance was not obtained and the Administrator reserves the authority, without the consent of a Participant, to terminate or cancel Awards with or without consideration in such a situation.
(b)
Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.
21.
Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction or to complete or comply with the requirements of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any U.S. state or federal law or non-U.S. law or under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the stock exchange on which Shares of the same class are then listed, or any other governmental or regulatory body, which authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary or advisable for the issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance will not have been obtained.
22.
Forfeiture Events. The Administrator may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award will be subject to the reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, recoupment, reimbursement, or reacquisition upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary under this Plan, each Award granted under the Plan will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, recoupment, reimbursement, or reacquisition under the Company’s clawback policy in effect as of the date such Award is granted or any other clawback policy of the Company as may be established and/or amended from time to time to comply with Applicable Laws (including, without limitation, pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other Applicable Laws) (in each case, a “Clawback Policy”). The Administrator may require a Participant to forfeit, return to the Company, or reimburse the Company for all or a portion of the Award and any amounts paid thereunder pursuant to the terms of any applicable Clawback Policy or as necessary or appropriate to comply with Applicable Laws. Unless this Section 22 specifically is mentioned and waived in an Award Agreement or other document, no recovery of compensation under a Clawback Policy or otherwise will constitute an event that triggers or contributes to any right of a Participant to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar term) under any agreement with the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.

-21-


 

NETGEAR, INC.

2024 INDUCEMENT EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTICE OF GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the NETGEAR, Inc. 2024 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) will have the same defined meanings in this Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Units (the “Notice of Grant”) and in the Terms and Conditions of the Restricted Stock Units attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

%%FIRST_NAME%-% %%LAST_NAME%-%

%%ADDRESS_LINE_1%-%

%%ADDRESS_LINE_2%-%

%%ADDRESS_LINE_3%-%

%%CITY%-%, %%STATE%-% %%ZIPCODE%-%

%%COUNTRY%-%

You have been granted a number of Restricted Stock Units, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, this Notice of Grant and the Terms and Conditions of the Restricted Stock Units attached hereto as Exhibit A, including any additional terms and conditions for your country in the Appendix thereto (the Terms and Conditions of the Restricted Stock Units and the Appendix, together, the “Agreement”), as follows:

Date of Grant %%OPTION_DATE,’Month DD, YYYY’%-%

Vesting Commencement Date %%VEST_BASE_DATE%-%

Total Number of Restricted Stock Units

%%TOTAL_SHARES_GRANTED,’999,999,999’%-%

 

Vesting Schedule:

Subject to any vesting acceleration provisions below or in the Plan and provided Participant accepts the Restricted Stock Units prior to the first anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, twenty-five percent (25%) of the Restricted Stock Units will vest on each anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, provided that Participant continues to be a Service Provider through such dates (the “Base Vesting Schedule”).

Accelerated Vesting:

Notwithstanding the previous sentence, in the event that Participant ceases to be a Service Provider due to death or Disability, the Restricted Stock Units will immediately vest in full.

In the event Participant ceases to be a Service Provider for any or no reason (excluding death or Disability) before Participant vests in the Restricted Stock Units, Participant’s right to acquire any shares of Common Stock (“Shares”) hereunder will immediately terminate.

-22-


If Participant does not accept the Restricted Stock Units prior to the first scheduled vesting date, all Restricted Stock Units may be forfeited in their entirety and Participant shall not have any rights or obligations under the Plan, the Agreement or this Notice of Grant or any right to any equivalent amounts or payments in lieu of the Restricted Stock Units.

By Participant’s acceptance of the Restricted Stock Units and/or the underlying Shares thereto, Participant and the Company agree that the Restricted Stock Units are granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Agreement, all of which are made a part of this document.

 

 

-23-


EXHIBIT A

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

1.
Grant. The Company hereby grants to Participant named in the Notice of Grant the number of Restricted Stock Units set forth in the Notice of Grant, subject to all of the terms and conditions in this Agreement, the Notice of Grant, and the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference. These Terms and Conditions of the Restricted Stock Units may be supplemented or replaced by the terms and conditions in the Appendix applicable to Participants in that country. Subject to Section 19 of the Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan will prevail.
2.
Company’s Obligation to Pay.
(a)
General. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive a Share on the date it vests. Unless and until the Restricted Stock Units will have vested in the manner set forth in Sections 3 or 4, or as set forth under the Accelerated Vesting provision in the Notice of Grant, Participant will have no right to payment of any such Restricted Stock Units. Prior to actual payment of any vested Restricted Stock Units, such Restricted Stock Unit will represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable (if at all) only from the general assets of the Company.
(b)
Timing of Payment - General. Any Restricted Stock Units that vest in accordance with Sections 3 or 4, or as set forth under the Accelerated Vesting provision in the Notice of Grant, will be paid to Participant (or in the event of Participant’s death, to his or her estate) in whole Shares, subject to Participant satisfying any applicable withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items as set forth in Section 7. Such vested Restricted Stock Units will be paid in Shares as soon as practicable after vesting, but in each such case by the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) month of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Restricted Stock Units vest.
3.
Vesting Schedule. Except as provided in Sections 4 and the Accelerated Vesting provisions set forth in the Notice of Grant, and subject to Section 5, the Restricted Stock Units awarded by this Agreement will vest in accordance with the Base Vesting Schedule set forth in the Notice of Grant. Restricted Stock Units scheduled to vest on a certain date or upon the occurrence of a certain condition will not vest in Participant in accordance with any of the provisions of this Agreement, unless Participant will have been continuously a Service Provider from the Date of Grant until the date such vesting occurs. For the avoidance of doubt, if Participant ceases to be a Service Provider prior to any scheduled vesting date, Participant will not earn or be entitled to any pro-rated vesting for any portion of time before the respective vesting date during which Participant was a Service Provider, nor will Participant be entitled to any compensation for lost vesting.
4.
Administrator’s Discretion. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the vesting of some or all of the unvested Restricted Stock Units at any time, subject to the terms of the Plan. If so accelerated, such Restricted Stock Units shall be considered as having vested as of the date specified by the Administrator.
5.
Forfeiture upon Termination as Service Provider. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement, if Participant ceases to be a Service Provider for any or no reason (excluding death or Disability), any unvested Restricted Stock Units shall be forfeited immediately upon termination at no cost to the Company, and Participant will have no further rights to Shares or otherwise under this Agreement.

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For purposes of the Restricted Stock Units, Participant will cease to be a Service Provider as of the date Participant is no longer actively employed by or providing services to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Parents (whether or not later to be found invalid or in breach of applicable employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is a Service Provider or the terms of Participant’s service agreement, if any (e.g., active service would not include any contractual notice period or any period of “garden leave” or similar period mandated under employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is employed or providing services or the terms of Participant’s employment agreement or service contract, if any)); the Administrator shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when Participant is no longer actively employed or providing services for purposes of the Restricted Stock Unit grant (including whether Participant may still be considered to be providing services while on a leave of absence).

6.
Payments after Death. Any distribution or delivery to be made to Participant under this Agreement will, if Participant is then deceased, be made to Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided the designation of a beneficiary has been permitted by the Administrator and is valid under Applicable Laws, or if no beneficiary survives Participant or the designation of a beneficiary has not been permitted by the Administrator or is not valid under Applicable Laws, the administrator or executor of Participant’s estate. Any such transferee must furnish the Company with (a) written notice of his or her status as transferee, and (b) evidence satisfactory to the Company to establish the validity of the transfer and compliance with any laws or regulations pertaining to said transfer.
7.
Responsibility for Taxes. Participant acknowledges that, regardless of any action taken by the Company or, if different, Participant’s employer (the “Employer”), the ultimate liability for all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, fringe benefits tax, payment on account or other tax-related items related to Participant’s participation in the Plan and legally applicable to Participant (“Tax-Related Items”) is and remains Participant’s responsibility and may exceed the amount, if any, actually withheld by the Company or the Employer. Participant further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Restricted Stock Units, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting or settlement of the Restricted Stock Units, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such settlement and the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Restricted Stock Units to reduce or eliminate Participant’s liability for Tax-Related Items or achieve any particular tax result. Further, if Participant is subject to Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction between the Date of Grant and the date of any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.

In connection with any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, Participant agrees to make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all Tax-Related Items. In this regard, Participant authorizes the Company or its agent to satisfy any obligations with regard to all Tax-Related Items by withholding in Shares to be issued upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Units. In the event that such withholding in Shares is problematic under applicable tax or securities law or has materially adverse accounting consequences, by

-25-


Participant’s acceptance of the Restricted Stock Units, Participant authorizes the Company and/or the Employer, or its respective agents, to (i) withhold from Participant’s wages or other cash amounts payable to Participant from the Company, the Employer or any other Subsidiary or Parent of the Company, (ii) withhold from proceeds of the sale of Shares acquired upon vesting of the Restricted Stock Units, either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on Participant’s behalf pursuant to this authorization without further consent), or (iii) utilize any other method of withholding determined by the Company and permitted by Applicable Laws and the Plan.

The Company may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering statutory withholding amounts or other withholding rates, including maximum rates applicable in Participant’s jurisdiction(s). In the event of over-withholding, Participant may receive a refund of any over-withheld amount in cash (with no entitlement to the equivalent in Shares) or, if not refunded, Participant may be able to seek a refund from the local tax authorities. In the event of under-withholding, Participant may be required to pay additional Tax-Related Items directly to the applicable tax authority or to the Company and/or the Employer. If the obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding in Shares, for tax purposes, Participant is deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares subject to the vested Restricted Stock Units, notwithstanding that a number of the Shares is held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items.

Finally, Participant agrees to pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for as a result of Participant’s participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares or the proceeds of the sale of Shares if Participant fails to comply with Participant’s obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.

8.
Rights as Stockholder. Neither Participant nor any person claiming under or through Participant will have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares deliverable hereunder unless and until such Shares will have been deposited into Participant’s brokerage account with the Company’s designated broker. After such Shares are deposited, Participant will have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to voting such Shares and receipt of dividends and distributions on such Shares.
9.
No Guarantee of Continued Service. PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT (EXCEPT IN THE EVENT OF DEATH OR DISABILITY ) THE VESTING OF THE RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS PURSUANT TO THE BASE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER THROUGH THE VESTING DATE AND NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED THE RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS OR ACQUIRING SHARES HEREUNDER. PARTICIPANT FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE BASE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND WILL NOT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH PARTICIPANT’S RIGHT OR THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY OR THE EMPLOYER TO TERMINATE PARTICIPANT’S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.

-26-


10.
Nature of Grant. By accepting the Restricted Stock Units, Participant acknowledges, understands and agrees that:
(a)
the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan;
(b)
the grant of the Restricted Stock Units is exceptional, voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of restricted stock units, or benefits in lieu of restricted stock units, even if restricted stock units have been granted in the past;
(c)
all decisions with respect to future restricted stock unit or other grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company;
(d)
the Restricted Stock Unit grant and Participant’s participation in the Plan shall not create a right to continue as a Service Provider or be interpreted as forming a service contract with the Employer, the Company or any Subsidiary or Parent of the Company;
(e)
Participant is voluntarily participating in the Plan;
(f)
the grant of Restricted Stock Units and the Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Units, and the income from and value of same, are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation;
(g)
the Restricted Stock Units and the Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Unit, and the income from and value of same, are not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of, including but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, holiday pay, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments;
(h)
unless otherwise agreed with the Company, the Restricted Stock Units and the Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Units, and the income from and value of same, are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, the service Participant may provide as a director of an affiliate;
(i)
the future value of the underlying Shares is unknown, indeterminable and cannot be predicted with certainty;
(j)
no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of the Restricted Stock Units resulting from Participant’s termination as a Service Provider (whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of Applicable Laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is a Service Provider or the terms of Participant’s service agreement, if any), and
(k)
the following provisions apply only if Participant is providing services outside the United States:

-27-


(i)
the Restricted Stock Units and the Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Units, and the income from and value of same, are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose; and
(ii)
Participant acknowledges and agrees that neither the Company, the Employer nor any Subsidiary or Parent of the Company shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between Participant’s local currency and the United States Dollar that may affect the value of the Restricted Stock Units or of any amounts due to Participant pursuant to the settlement of the Restricted Stock Units or the subsequent sale of any Shares acquired upon settlement.
11.
No Advice Regarding Grant. The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan, or Participant’s acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares. Participant should consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding his or her participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.
12.
Data Privacy Information and Consent.

 

(a)
Data Collection and Usage. The Company and the Employer collect, process and use certain personal information about Participant, including, but not limited to, Participant’s name, home address, telephone number, email address, date of birth, social insurance number, passport or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all Restricted Stock Units or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in Participant’s favor (“Data”), for purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Plan. The legal basis, where required, for the processing of Data is Participant’s consent.

 

(b)
Stock Plan Administration Service Providers. The Company transfers Data to E*TRADE Financial Corporate Services, Inc. and certain of its affiliates (“E*TRADE”), which is assisting the Company with the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. The Company may select a different service provider or additional service providers and share Data with such other provider serving in a similar manner. Participant may be asked to agree on separate terms and data processing practices with E*TRADE, with such agreement being a condition to the ability to participate in the Plan.

 

(c)
International Data Transfers. The Company and E*TRADE are based in the U.S., which means that it will be necessary for Data to be transferred to, and processed in, the U.S. Participant’s country or jurisdiction may have different data privacy laws and protections than the U.S. The Company’s legal basis for the transfer of Data, where required, is Participant’s consent.

 

(d)
Data Retention. The Company will hold and use Data only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage Participant’s participation in the Plan, or as required to comply with Applicable Laws, exercise or defense of legal rights, and archiving, back-up and deletion processes. This period may extend beyond Participant’s

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period of service with the Employer. When the Company or the Employer no longer need Data for any of the above purposes, they will cease processing it in this context and remove it from all of their systems used for such purposes to the fullest extent reasonably practicable.

 

(e)
Voluntariness and Consequences of Consent Denial or Withdrawal. Participation in the Plan is voluntary and Participant is providing the consents herein on a purely voluntary basis. If Participant does not consent, or if Participant later seeks to revoke the consent, Participant’s salary from or employment or service with the Employer will not be affected; the only consequence of refusing or withdrawing consent is that the Company would not be able to grant the Restricted Stock Units under the Plan or administer or maintain Participant’s participation in the Plan.

 

(f)
Data Subject Rights. Participant may have a number of rights under data privacy laws in Participant’s jurisdiction. Depending on where Participant is based, such rights may include the right to (i) request access to or copies of Data the Company processes, (ii) rectify incorrect Data, (iii) delete Data, (iv) restrict the processing of Data, (v) restrict the portability of Data, (vi) lodge complaints with competent authorities in Participant’s jurisdiction, and/or (vii) receive a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of Data. To receive clarification regarding these rights or to exercise these rights, Participant can contact Participant’s local human resources representative.
13.
Address for Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company under the terms of this Agreement will be addressed to the Company, in care of its Equity Administrator at NETGEAR, Inc., 350 E. Plumeria Dr., San Jose, CA 95134, U.S.A., or at such other address as the Company may hereafter designate in writing.
14.
Grant is Not Transferable. Except to the limited extent provided in Section 6, this grant and the rights and privileges conferred hereby will not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and will not be subject to sale under execution, attachment or similar process. Upon any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of this grant, or any right or privilege conferred hereby, or upon any attempted sale under any execution, attachment or similar process, this grant and the rights and privileges conferred hereby immediately will become null and void.
15.
Binding Agreement. Subject to the limitation on the transferability of this grant contained herein, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.
16.
Additional Conditions to Issuance of Shares. If at any time the Company determines, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of the Shares upon any securities exchange or under any U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state, or local law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory authority is necessary or desirable as a condition to the issuance of Shares to Participant (or Participant’s estate), such issuance will not occur unless and until such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval will have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company. Where the Company determines that the delivery of the payment of any Shares will violate securities laws or other Applicable Laws, the Company will defer delivery until the earliest date at which the Company reasonably anticipates that the delivery of Shares

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will no longer cause such violation. The Company will make all reasonable efforts to meet the requirements of any such U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state or local law or securities exchange and to obtain any such consent or approval of any such governmental authority.
17.
Plan Governs. This Agreement is subject to all terms and provisions of the Plan. In the event of a conflict between one or more provisions of this Agreement and one or more provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan will govern.
18.
Administrator’s Authority. The Administrator will have the power to interpret the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret or revoke any such rules (including, but not limited to, the determination of whether or not any Restricted Stock Units have vested). All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith will be final and binding upon Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Administrator will be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or this Agreement.
19.
Electronic Delivery. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to Restricted Stock Units awarded under the Plan or future Restricted Stock Units that may be awarded under the Plan by electronic means. Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through any on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.
20.
Captions. Captions provided herein are for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.
21.
Agreement Severable. In the event that any provision in this Agreement will be held invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
22.
Language. Participant acknowledges that Participant is sufficiently proficient in English, or has consulted with an advisor who is sufficiently proficient in English, so as to allow Participant to understand the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Furthermore, if Participant has received this Agreement or any other document related to the Plan translated into a language other than English and if the meaning of the translated version is different than the English version, the English version will control.
23.
Modifications to the Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties on the subjects covered. Participant expressly warrants that he or she is not accepting this Agreement in reliance on any promises, representations, or inducements other than those contained herein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or this Agreement, the Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on Participant’s participation in the Plan, on the Restricted Stock Units and on any Shares acquired under the Plan, including, but not limited to, any other requirements as may be necessary to comply with Section 409A or to otherwise avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition under Section 409A, and to require Participant to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

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24.
Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan. By accepting this Award, Participant expressly warrants that he or she has received an Award of Restricted Stock Units under the Plan, and has received, read and understood a description of the Plan. Participant understands that the Plan is discretionary in nature and may be amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time.
25.
Forfeiture Events. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary under the Plan or this Agreement, this Award, any amounts paid thereunder, and any other compensation paid or payable by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company to Participant (including, but not limited to, any other awards under the Plan previously granted to Participant) will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, recoupment, reimbursement, or reacquisition under the Company’s clawback policy in effect as of the Date of Grant or any other clawback policy of the Company as may be established and/or amended from time to time to comply with Applicable Laws (including, without limitation, pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other Applicable Laws) (in each case, a “Clawback Policy”). The Company may require Participant to forfeit, return, or reimburse the Company all or a portion of the Award, any amounts paid thereunder, and any such other compensation pursuant to the terms of any applicable Clawback Policy or as necessary or appropriate to comply with Applicable Laws. No other agreement or arrangement with the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company will supersede a Clawback Policy (including, without limitation, any indemnification agreement or arrangement). Unless this Section 25 specifically is mentioned and waived in another document, no recovery of compensation under a Clawback Policy or otherwise will constitute an event that triggers or contributes to any right of Participant to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar term) under any agreement with the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
26.
Governing Law; Venue. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises under this grant of Restricted Stock Units or this Agreement, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of California, and agree that such litigation shall be conducted in the courts of Santa Clara County, California, or the U.S. federal courts for the United States for the Northern District of California, and no other courts, where this grant of Restricted Stock Units is made and/or to be performed.
27.
Appendix. Notwithstanding any provisions in this Agreement, the Restricted Stock Unit grant shall be subject to any additional terms and conditions set forth in the Appendix for Participant’s country. Moreover, if Participant relocates to one of the countries included in the Appendix, the additional terms and conditions for such country will apply to Participant, to the extent the Company determines that the application of such terms and conditions is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. The Appendix constitutes part of this Agreement.
28.
Waiver. Participant acknowledges that a waiver by the Company of breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by Participant or any other Service Provider.
29.
Insider Trading Restrictions/Market Abuse Laws. Participant acknowledges that Participant may be subject to insider trading restrictions and/or market abuse laws which may affect

-31-


Participant’s ability to accept, acquire, sell otherwise dispose of Shares or rights to Shares or rights linked to the value of Shares (e.g., phantom awards, futures) during such times as Participant is considered to have “inside information” regarding the Company (as defined by the laws or regulations in Participant’s country). Local insider trading laws and regulations may prohibit the cancellation or amendment of orders Participant places before possessing inside information. Furthermore, Participant could be prohibited from (i) disclosing the inside information to any third party (other than on a “need to know” basis) and (ii) “tipping” third parties or causing them otherwise to buy or sell securities. Participant should keep in mind third parties include fellow employees.

Any restrictions under these laws or regulations are separate from and in addition to any restrictions that may be imposed under any applicable Company insider trading policy. Participant is responsible for complying with any applicable restrictions and should speak with a personal legal advisor on this matter.

30.
Foreign Asset/Account and/or Tax Reporting Requirements; Exchange Controls. Participant acknowledges that his or her country may have certain foreign asset/account and/or tax reporting requirements and/or exchange controls that may affect his or her ability to acquire or hold Shares or cash received from participating in the Plan (including from any dividends received or sale proceeds arising from the sale of Shares) in a brokerage or bank account outside Participant’s country. Participant may be required to report such accounts, assets or transactions to the applicable authorities in his or her country. Participant also may be required to repatriate sale proceeds or other funds received as a result of his or her participation in the Plan to his or her country through a designated bank or broker and/or within a certain time after receipt. Participant acknowledges that it is his or her responsibility to be compliant with such regulations, and Participant should speak with a personal legal advisor for any details.

 

 

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NETGEAR, INC.

2024 INDUCEMENT EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTICE OF GRANT OF PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the NETGEAR, Inc. 2024 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) will have the same defined meanings in this Notice of Grant of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units (the “Notice of Grant”) and in the Terms and Conditions of the Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

%%FIRST_NAME%-% %%LAST_NAME%-%

%%ADDRESS_LINE_1%-%

%%ADDRESS_LINE_2%-%

%%ADDRESS_LINE_3%-%

%%CITY%-%, %%STATE%-% %%ZIPCODE%-%

%%COUNTRY%-%

You have been granted a number of performance-based Restricted Stock Units (“PSUs”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, this Notice of Grant, the Performance Matrix attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Performance Matrix”), and the Terms and Conditions of the Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units attached hereto as Exhibit B, including any additional terms and conditions for your country in the Appendix thereto (the Terms and Conditions of the Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units and the Appendix, together, the “Agreement”), as follows:

Date of Grant

Vesting Commencement Date

Target Number of PSUs

Maximum Number of PSUs

 

Vesting Schedule:

[INSERT VESTING SCHEDULE]

By Participant’s acceptance of this award of PSUs, Participant and the Company agree that the PSUs are granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Agreement, all of which are made a part of this document.

 

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EXHIBIT A

PERFORMANCE MATRIX

[INSERT PERFORMANCE MATRIX]

 

 

-34-


EXHIBIT B

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE

PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

1.
Grant. The Company hereby grants to Participant named in the Notice of Grant the number of Restricted Stock Units set forth in the Notice of Grant, subject to all of the terms and conditions in this Agreement, the Notice of Grant, and the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference. These Terms and Conditions of the Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units may be supplemented or replaced by the terms and conditions in the Appendix applicable to Participants in that country. Subject to Section 19 of the Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan will prevail.
2.
Company’s Obligation to Pay.
(a)
General. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive a Share on the date it vests. Unless and until the Restricted Stock Units will have vested in the manner set forth in Sections 3 or 4, Participant will have no right to payment of any such Restricted Stock Units. Prior to actual payment of any vested Restricted Stock Units, such Restricted Stock Unit will represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable (if at all) only from the general assets of the Company.
(b)
Timing of Payment - General. Any Restricted Stock Units that vest in accordance with Sections 3 or 4 will be paid to Participant (or in the event of Participant’s death, to his or her estate) in whole Shares, subject to Participant satisfying any applicable withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items as set forth in Section 7. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, such vested Restricted Stock Units will be paid in Shares as soon as practicable after vesting, but in each such case by the 15th day of the 3rd month of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Restricted Stock Units vest.
3.
Vesting Schedule. Except as provided in Section 4, and subject to Section 5, the Restricted Stock Units awarded by this Agreement will vest in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set forth in the Notice of Grant. Restricted Stock Units scheduled to vest on a certain date or upon the occurrence of a certain condition will not vest in Participant in accordance with any of the provisions of this Agreement, unless Participant will have been continuously a Service Provider from the Date of Grant until the date such vesting occurs. For the avoidance of doubt, if Participant ceases to be a Service Provider prior to any scheduled vesting date, Participant will not earn or be entitled to any pro-rated vesting for any portion of time before the respective vesting date during which Participant was a Service Provider, nor will Participant be entitled to any compensation for lost vesting.
4.
Administrator’s Discretion. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the vesting of some or all of the unvested Restricted Stock Units at any time, subject to the terms of the Plan. If so accelerated, such Restricted Stock Units shall be considered as having vested as of the date specified by the Administrator.
5.
Forfeiture upon Termination as Service Provider. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, if Participant ceases to be a Service Provider for any or no reason, any unvested Restricted Stock Units shall be forfeited immediately upon such termination at no cost to the Company, and Participant will have no further rights to Shares or otherwise under this Agreement.

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For purposes of the Restricted Stock Units, Participant will cease to be a Service Provider as of the date Participant is no longer actively employed by or providing services to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Parents (whether or not later to be found invalid or in breach of applicable employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is a Service Provider or the terms of Participant’s service agreement, if any (e.g., active service would not include any contractual notice period or any period of “garden leave” or similar period mandated under employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is employed or providing services or the terms of Participant’s employment agreement or service contract, if any)); the Administrator shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when Participant is no longer actively employed or providing services for purposes of the Restricted Stock Unit grant (including whether Participant may still be considered to be providing services while on a leave of absence).

6.
Payments after Death. Any distribution or delivery to be made to Participant under this Agreement will, if Participant is then deceased, be made to Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided the designation of a beneficiary has been permitted by the Administrator and is valid under Applicable Laws, or if no beneficiary survives Participant or the designation of a beneficiary has not been permitted by the Administrator or is not valid under Applicable Laws, the administrator or executor of Participant’s estate. Any such transferee must furnish the Company with (a) written notice of his or her status as transferee, and (b) evidence satisfactory to the Company to establish the validity of the transfer and compliance with any laws or regulations pertaining to said transfer.
7.
Responsibility for Taxes. Participant acknowledges that, regardless of any action taken by the Company or, if different, Participant’s employer (the “Employer”), the ultimate liability for all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, fringe benefits tax, payment on account or other tax-related items related to Participant’s participation in the Plan and legally applicable to Participant (“Tax-Related Items”) is and remains Participant’s responsibility and may exceed the amount, if any, actually withheld by the Company or the Employer. Participant further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Restricted Stock Units, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting or settlement of the Restricted Stock Units, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such settlement and the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Restricted Stock Units to reduce or eliminate Participant’s liability for Tax-Related Items or achieve any particular tax result. Further, if Participant is subject to Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction between the Date of Grant and the date of any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.

In connection with any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, Participant agrees to make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all Tax-Related Items. In this regard, Participant authorizes the Company or its agent to satisfy any obligations with regard to all Tax-Related Items by withholding in Shares to be issued upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Units. In the event that such withholding in Shares is problematic under applicable tax or securities law or has materially adverse accounting consequences, by

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Participant’s acceptance of the Restricted Stock Units, Participant authorizes the Company and/or the Employer, or its respective agents, to (i) withhold from Participant’s wages or other cash amounts payable to Participant from the Company, the Employer or any other Subsidiary or Parent of the Company, (ii) withhold from proceeds of the sale of Shares acquired upon vesting of the Restricted Stock Units, either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on Participant’s behalf pursuant to this authorization without further consent), or (iii) utilize any other method of withholding determined by the Company and permitted by Applicable Laws and the Plan.

The Company may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering statutory withholding amounts or other withholding rates, including maximum rates applicable in Participant’s jurisdiction(s). In the event of over-withholding, Participant may receive a refund of any over-withheld amount in cash (with no entitlement to the equivalent in Shares) or, if not refunded, Participant may be able to seek a refund from the local tax authorities. In the event of under-withholding, Participant may be required to pay additional Tax-Related Items directly to the applicable tax authority or to the Company and/or the Employer. If the obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding in Shares, for tax purposes, Participant is deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares subject to the vested Restricted Stock Units, notwithstanding that a number of the Shares is held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items.

Finally, Participant agrees to pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for as a result of Participant’s participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares or the proceeds of the sale of Shares if Participant fails to comply with Participant’s obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.

8.
Rights as Stockholder. Neither Participant nor any person claiming under or through Participant will have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares deliverable hereunder unless and until such Shares will have been deposited into Participant’s brokerage account with the Company’s designated broker. After such Shares are deposited, Participant will have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to voting such Shares and receipt of dividends and distributions on such Shares.
9.
No Guarantee of Continued Service. PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF THE RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER THROUGH THE VESTING DATE AND NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED THE RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS OR ACQUIRING SHARES HEREUNDER. PARTICIPANT FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND WILL NOT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH PARTICIPANT’S RIGHT OR THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY OR THE EMPLOYER TO TERMINATE PARTICIPANT’S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.

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10.
Nature of Grant. By accepting the Restricted Stock Units, Participant acknowledges, understands and agrees that:
(a)
the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan;
(b)
the grant of the Restricted Stock Units is exceptional, voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of restricted stock units, or benefits in lieu of restricted stock units, even if restricted stock units have been granted in the past;
(c)
all decisions with respect to future restricted stock unit or other grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company;
(d)
the Restricted Stock Unit grant and Participant’s participation in the Plan shall not create a right to continue as a Service Provider or be interpreted as forming a service contract with the Employer, the Company or any Subsidiary or Parent of the Company;
(e)
Participant is voluntarily participating in the Plan;
(f)
the grant of Restricted Stock Units and the Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Units, and the income from and value of same, are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation;
(g)
the Restricted Stock Units and the Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Unit, and the income from and value of same, are not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of, including but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, holiday pay, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments;
(h)
unless otherwise agreed with the Company, the Restricted Stock Units and the Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Units, and the income from and value of same, are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, the service Participant may provide as a director of an affiliate;
(i)
the future value of the underlying Shares is unknown, indeterminable and cannot be predicted with certainty;
(j)
no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of the Restricted Stock Units resulting from Participant’s termination as a Service Provider (whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of Applicable Laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is a Service Provider or the terms of Participant’s service agreement, if any), and
(k)
the following provisions apply only if Participant is providing services outside the United States:

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(i)
the Restricted Stock Units and the Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Units, and the income from and value of same, are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose; and
(ii)
Participant acknowledges and agrees that neither the Company, the Employer nor any Subsidiary or Parent of the Company shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between Participant’s local currency and the United States Dollar that may affect the value of the Restricted Stock Units or of any amounts due to Participant pursuant to the settlement of the Restricted Stock Units or the subsequent sale of any Shares acquired upon settlement.
11.
No Advice Regarding Grant. The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan, or Participant’s acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares. Participant should consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding his or her participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.
12.
Data Privacy Information and Consent.

 

(a)
Data Collection and Usage. The Company and the Employer collect, process and use certain personal information about Participant, including, but not limited to, Participant’s name, home address, telephone number, email address, date of birth, social insurance number, passport or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all Restricted Stock Units or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in Participant’s favor (“Data”), for purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Plan. The legal basis, where required, for the processing of Data is Participant’s consent.

 

(b)
Stock Plan Administration Service Providers. The Company transfers Data to E*TRADE Financial Corporate Services, Inc. and certain of its affiliates (“E*TRADE”), which is assisting the Company with the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. The Company may select a different service provider or additional service providers and share Data with such other provider serving in a similar manner. Participant may be asked to agree on separate terms and data processing practices with E*TRADE, with such agreement being a condition to the ability to participate in the Plan.

 

(c)
International Data Transfers. The Company and E*TRADE are based in the U.S., which means that it will be necessary for Data to be transferred to, and processed in, the U.S. Participant’s country or jurisdiction may have different data privacy laws and protections than the U.S. The Company’s legal basis for the transfer of Data, where required, is Participant’s consent.

 

(d)
Data Retention. The Company will hold and use Data only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage Participant’s participation in the Plan, or as required to comply with Applicable Laws, exercise or defense of legal rights, and archiving, back-up and deletion processes. This period may extend beyond Participant’s

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period of service with the Employer. When the Company or the Employer no longer need Data for any of the above purposes, they will cease processing it in this context and remove it from all of their systems used for such purposes to the fullest extent reasonably practicable.

 

(e)
Voluntariness and Consequences of Consent Denial or Withdrawal. Participation in the Plan is voluntary and Participant is providing the consents herein on a purely voluntary basis. If Participant does not consent, or if Participant later seeks to revoke the consent, Participant’s salary from or employment or service with the Employer will not be affected; the only consequence of refusing or withdrawing consent is that the Company would not be able to grant the Restricted Stock Units under the Plan or administer or maintain Participant’s participation in the Plan.

 

(f)
Data Subject Rights. Participant may have a number of rights under data privacy laws in Participant’s jurisdiction. Depending on where Participant is based, such rights may include the right to (i) request access to or copies of Data the Company processes, (ii) rectify incorrect Data, (iii) delete Data, (iv) restrict the processing of Data, (v) restrict the portability of Data, (vi) lodge complaints with competent authorities in Participant’s jurisdiction, and/or (vii) receive a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of Data. To receive clarification regarding these rights or to exercise these rights, Participant can contact Participant’s local human resources representative.
13.
Address for Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company under the terms of this Agreement will be addressed to the Company, in care of its Equity Administrator at NETGEAR, Inc., 350 E. Plumeria Dr., San Jose, CA 95134, U.S.A., or at such other address as the Company may hereafter designate in writing.
14.
Grant is Not Transferable. Except to the limited extent provided in Section 6, this grant and the rights and privileges conferred hereby will not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and will not be subject to sale under execution, attachment or similar process. Upon any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of this grant, or any right or privilege conferred hereby, or upon any attempted sale under any execution, attachment or similar process, this grant and the rights and privileges conferred hereby immediately will become null and void.
15.
Binding Agreement. Subject to the limitation on the transferability of this grant contained herein, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.
16.
Additional Conditions to Issuance of Shares. If at any time the Company determines, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of the Shares upon any securities exchange or under any U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state, or local law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory authority is necessary or desirable as a condition to the issuance of Shares to Participant (or Participant’s estate), such issuance will not occur unless and until such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval will have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company. Where the Company determines that the delivery of the payment of any Shares will violate securities laws or other Applicable Laws, the Company will defer delivery until the earliest date at which the Company reasonably anticipates that the delivery of Shares

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will no longer cause such violation. The Company will make all reasonable efforts to meet the requirements of any such U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state or local law or securities exchange and to obtain any such consent or approval of any such governmental authority.
17.
Plan Governs. This Agreement is subject to all terms and provisions of the Plan. In the event of a conflict between one or more provisions of this Agreement and one or more provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan will govern.
18.
Administrator’s Authority. The Administrator will have the power to interpret the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret or revoke any such rules (including, but not limited to, the determination of whether or not any Restricted Stock Units have vested). All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith will be final and binding upon Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Administrator will be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or this Agreement.
19.
Electronic Delivery. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to Restricted Stock Units awarded under the Plan or future Restricted Stock Units that may be awarded under the Plan by electronic means. Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through any on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.
20.
Captions. Captions provided herein are for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.
21.
Agreement Severable. In the event that any provision in this Agreement will be held invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
22.
Language. Participant acknowledges that Participant is sufficiently proficient in English, or has consulted with an advisor who is sufficiently proficient in English, so as to allow Participant to understand the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Furthermore, if Participant has received this Agreement or any other document related to the Plan translated into a language other than English and if the meaning of the translated version is different than the English version, the English version will control.
23.
Modifications to the Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties on the subjects covered. Participant expressly warrants that he or she is not accepting this Agreement in reliance on any promises, representations, or inducements other than those contained herein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or this Agreement, the Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on Participant’s participation in the Plan, on the Restricted Stock Units and on any Shares acquired under the Plan, including, but not limited to, any other requirements as may be necessary to comply with Section 409A or to otherwise avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition under Section 409A, and to require Participant to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

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24.
Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan. By accepting this Award, Participant expressly warrants that he or she has received an Award of Restricted Stock Units under the Plan, and has received, read and understood a description of the Plan. Participant understands that the Plan is discretionary in nature and may be amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time.
25.
Forfeiture Events. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary under the Plan or this Agreement, this Award, any amounts paid thereunder, and any other compensation paid or payable by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company to Participant (including, but not limited to, any other awards under the Plan previously granted to Participant) will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, recoupment, reimbursement, or reacquisition under the Company’s clawback policy in effect as of the Date of Grant or any other clawback policy of the Company as may be established and/or amended from time to time to comply with Applicable Laws (including, without limitation, pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other Applicable Laws) (in each case, a “Clawback Policy”). The Company may require Participant to forfeit, return, or reimburse the Company all or a portion of the Award, any amounts paid thereunder, and any such other compensation pursuant to the terms of any applicable Clawback Policy or as necessary or appropriate to comply with Applicable Laws. No other agreement or arrangement with the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company will supersede a Clawback Policy (including, without limitation, any indemnification agreement or arrangement). Unless this Section 25 specifically is mentioned and waived in another document, no recovery of compensation under a Clawback Policy or otherwise will constitute an event that triggers or contributes to any right of Participant to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar term) under any agreement with the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
26.
Governing Law; Venue. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises under this grant of Restricted Stock Units or this Agreement, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of California, and agree that such litigation shall be conducted in the courts of Santa Clara County, California, or the U.S. federal courts for the United States for the Northern District of California, and no other courts, where this grant of Restricted Stock Units is made and/or to be performed.
27.
Appendix. Notwithstanding any provisions in this Agreement, the Restricted Stock Unit grant shall be subject to any additional terms and conditions set forth in the Appendix for Participant’s country. Moreover, if Participant relocates to one of the countries included in the Appendix, the additional terms and conditions for such country will apply to Participant, to the extent the Company determines that the application of such terms and conditions is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. The Appendix constitutes part of this Agreement.
28.
Waiver. Participant acknowledges that a waiver by the Company of breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by Participant or any other Service Provider.
29.
Insider Trading Restrictions/Market Abuse Laws. Participant acknowledges that Participant may be subject to insider trading restrictions and/or market abuse laws which may affect

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Participant’s ability to accept, acquire, sell otherwise dispose of Shares or rights to Shares or rights linked to the value of Shares (e.g., phantom awards, futures) during such times as Participant is considered to have “inside information” regarding the Company (as defined by the laws or regulations in Participant’s country). Local insider trading laws and regulations may prohibit the cancellation or amendment of orders Participant places before possessing inside information. Furthermore, Participant could be prohibited from (i) disclosing the inside information to any third party (other than on a “need to know” basis) and (ii) “tipping” third parties or causing them otherwise to buy or sell securities. Participant should keep in mind third parties include fellow employees.

Any restrictions under these laws or regulations are separate from and in addition to any restrictions that may be imposed under any applicable Company insider trading policy. Participant is responsible for complying with any applicable restrictions and should speak with a personal legal advisor on this matter.

30.
Foreign Asset/Account and/or Tax Reporting Requirements; Exchange Controls. Participant acknowledges that his or her country may have certain foreign asset/account and/or tax reporting requirements and/or exchange controls that may affect his or her ability to acquire or hold Shares or cash received from participating in the Plan (including from any dividends received or sale proceeds arising from the sale of Shares) in a brokerage or bank account outside Participant’s country. Participant may be required to report such accounts, assets or transactions to the applicable authorities in his or her country. Participant also may be required to repatriate sale proceeds or other funds received as a result of his or her participation in the Plan to his or her country through a designated bank or broker and/or within a certain time after receipt. Participant acknowledges that it is his or her responsibility to be compliant with such regulations, and Participant should speak with a personal legal advisor for any details.

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