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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): October 16, 2025

 

APTERA MOTORS CORP.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware   001-42884   83-4079594

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

5818 El Camino Real

Carlsbad, California

  92008
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (858) 371-3151

 

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

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

Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share   SEV   The Nasdaq Capital Market

 

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 Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers

 

Officer Appointment

 

On October 16, 2025 (the “Effective Date”), the Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”) of Aptera Motors Corp. (the “Company”) began trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “SEV” (the “Direct Listing”). In connection with the Direct Listing, the Company appointed Tom DaPolito as Interim Chief Financial Officer, effective as of the Effective Date (the “Officer Appointment”).

 

Tom DaPolito, age 51, has been advising the Company as a part-time consultant since May 2023, providing executive-level financial advisory services in preparation for our public listing. He is a seasoned financial executive with over 20 years of experience leading finance and operations for global public and private companies, including Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTWO) and Monster Worldwide, Inc. (formerly Nasdaq: MNST). Prior to joining the Company, from December 2019 to May 2023, Mr. DaPolito served as EVP, Finance and Operations and Chief Financial Officer for Ricardo Automotive & Industrial, a global engineering services firm, where he drove a significant financial turnaround of its North American business. Previously, from December 2018 to November 2019, he was the Chief Financial Officer at Fit Pay, Inc., where he led the successful sell-side strategy culminating in the company’s acquisition by Garmin International, Inc. His career includes extensive experience in SEC reporting, capital raising, including placing multiple convertible debt offerings, and leading the financial preparations for IPOs and the public spin-off of Hudson Global, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSON). Mr. DaPolito holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting from the Rochester Institute of Technology and is a Certified Public Accountant in New York (inactive).

 

Employment Agreements & Engagement Agreement

 

In connection with the Direct Listing, each of Chris Anthony and Steve Fambro, the Company’s Co-Chief Executive Officers and members of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), entered into substantially identical employment agreements, each effective as of the Effective Date (the “Employment Agreements”). Pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreements, each holds the position of co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company and will receive an annual base salary of $243,000, subject to annual review. In addition, Mr. Anthony and Mr. Fambro will each be eligible to receive a discretionary annual performance bonus, with the actual payout based on the achievement of Company annual performance metrics to be determined by the Board, or the compensation committee thereof. Pursuant to the terms of each employment agreement, Mr. Anthony and Mr. Fambro will each be eligible to receive annual equity awards, subject to approval by the Board or the compensation committee thereof, and to participate in employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements as the Company may from time to time provide to its senior executives, which benefits may be amended by the Company at any time.

 

 

 

Each Employment Agreement provides that the Company may terminate the employment of Mr. Anthony or Mr. Fambro, as applicable, at any time with or without Cause (as that term is defined in each Employment Agreement), and Mr. Anthony and Mr. Fambro would be able to terminate their employment at any time for any reason, including for Good Reason (as that term is defined in each Employment Agreement).

 

Each Employment Agreement provides that if the employment of Mr. Anthony or Mr. Fambro, as applicable, is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Mr. Anthony or Mr. Fambro for Good Reason, Mr. Anthony and Mr. Fambro will be entitled to receive, subject to their execution and non-revocation of a general release of claims in favor of the Company that becomes effective within sixty days of the date of termination, (i) an amount equal to twelve months’ annual base salary, payable in equal installments as salary continuation payments, with the first installment commencing on the first regular payroll date following the date the release becomes effective, and continuation of health insurance benefits at active employee rates for twelve months, and (ii) in the event the Company terminates Mr. Anthony’s or Mr. Fambro’s employment without Cause upon or within twelve months following a Change in Control (as defined in each Employment Agreement), or Mr. Anthony or Mr. Fambro, as applicable, resigns for Good Reason upon or within twelve months following a Change in Control, (a) amount equal to twenty-four months’ annual base salary, payable in equal installments as salary continuation payments, with the first installment commencing on the first regular payroll date following the date the release becomes effective, (b) continuation of health insurance benefits at active employee rates for eighteen months, and for the succeeding six months thereafter, monthly cash payments equal to the Company’s then-current monthly premium for health insurance benefits, less the amount that Mr. Anthony or Mr. Fambro, as applicable, would have been required to pay if they had remained an active employee of the Company), subject to earlier termination upon certain events specified in each employment agreement, (c) an amount equal to the annual bonus that Mr. Anthony or Mr. Fambro, as applicable, would have received for the year of termination had they remained employed, based on actual performance (but any applicable individual performance goals will be deemed to have been satisfied), payable at the time that Mr. Anthony’s or Mr. Fambro’s annual bonus, as applicable, would have been paid if their employment had not terminated, and (d) accelerated vesting of one hundred percent (100%) of all unvested equity or equity-based awards then held by Mr. Anthony or Mr. Fambro, as applicable. If any payment or benefits to or for the benefit of Mr. Anthony or Mr. Fambro, as applicable, would be subject to the excise tax imposed on parachute payments by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or would not be deductible by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates pursuant to Section 280G of the Code, the payments and benefits will be reduced to the minimum extent necessary to ensure that no portion of those payments or benefits will be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or the loss of deduction imposed by Section 280G of the Code, but only if (i) the net amount of the total payments and benefits, as so reduced, is greater than or equal to (ii) the net amount of such payments and benefits without such reduction.

 

Also in connection with the Direct Listing, the Company entered into an engagement agreement with Mr. DaPolito, effective as of the Effective Date (the “Engagement Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Engagement Agreement, Mr. DaPolito will serve as the Company’s Interim Chief Financial Officer for a term ending on the one year anniversary of the Effective Date, unless earlier terminated, and is entitled to receive a monthly cash retainer of $30,000 and stock options to purchase shares of Class B Common Stock, granted each quarter (the amount determined by dividing $65,880 by the fair value of a stock option on the date of grant).

 

There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. DaPolito and any other person pursuant to which he was appointed as an officer and Mr. DaPolito does not have a direct or indirect material interest in any “related party” transaction required to be separately disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Mr. DaPolito has no any family relationship with any of the Company’s directors or executive officers.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Employment Agreements and Engagement Agreement are not complete and are subject to the full text of each Employment Agreement and Engagement Agreement, copies of which are included as Exhibit 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference herein.

 

 

 

Director Appointments

 

In connection with the Direct Listing, the Board increased the size of the Board from two members to four members and appointed Tony Kirton and Todd Butz to fill the vacancies created by the increase in the size of the Board, effective as of the Effective Date.

 

Mr. Kirton and Mr. Butz will serve until the next annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders or until his successor is elected and qualified, subject to his earlier resignation or removal. Mr. Kirton and Mr. Butz will receive compensation for service to the Board in accordance with the non-employee director compensation program paid by the Company to all non-employee directors.

 

Mr. Kirton will also serve as chair of the Company’s nominating and corporate governance committee, and a member of the Company’s audit committee and compensation committee. Mr. Butz will also serve as the chair of the Company’s audit committee and compensation committee and a member of the Company’s nominating and corporate governance committee. The Board has determined that each of Mr. Kirton and Mr. Butz are (i) independent within the meaning of the Nasdaq Listing Rules and Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (ii) a non-employee director, as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and (iii) “outside directors” as that term is defined in Section 162(m) of the Code. In addition, the Board has determined that Mr. Butz qualifies as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of SEC regulations and the Nasdaq Listing Rules.

 

Mr. Kirton, age 78, brings over four decades of international leadership experience in the automotive industry, having held senior executive roles at major global manufacturers. His career includes serving as Director of Marketing at Audi of America, Vice President of Sales for Volkswagen and Audi in the United Kingdom, and Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, as well as Board Director, at BMW South Africa. In addition to his corporate roles, Mr. Kirton has extensive experience in global operations and leadership development. In 2010, he co-founded Neurozone, a neuroscience-based consultancy focused on resilience and performance readiness for leaders and teams, where he still serves today as a member of the board of directors. Mr. Kirton holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Natal and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Cape Town. The Company believes Mr. Kirton’s extensive international experience in the automotive sector, combined with his expertise in global operations and leadership development qualify him to serve as a director. His insights are particularly valuable as the Company pursues its mission and transitions to a public company.

 

Mr. Butz, age 54, brings over two decades of financial leadership experience in the manufacturing and engineering sectors. Prior to his retirement in April 2025, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of Mayville Engineering Company, Inc. (NYSE: MEC), a position he has held since 2008. During his tenure, he has overseen the company’s growth from under $100 million in annual revenue to over $500 million, significantly enhancing shareholder value through strategic acquisitions and operational efficiencies. Prior to joining MEC, Mr. Butz held key financial roles at Mercury Marine and Schenck Business Solutions, where he gained extensive experience in financial planning, analysis, and auditing. Mr. Butz holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Business Management from Marian University of Fond du Lac and is a Certified Public Accountant. The Company believes Mr. Butz’s extensive experience in financial management, strategic planning, and operational leadership qualifies him to serve as a director. His proven track record in scaling businesses and enhancing shareholder value provides valuable insights as the Company transitions to a public company and pursues its growth objectives.

 

Mr. Kirton and Mr. Butz do not have any family relationship with any director or executive officer of the Company. Mr. Kirton and Mr. Butz do not have any direct or indirect interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

 

Indemnification Agreements

 

In connection with the Direct Listing, the Company entered into indemnification agreements with each of its current directors and officers (the “Indemnification Agreements”), which provides, among other things, for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law and the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws against any and all expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement of any claim. The Indemnification Agreements provide for the advancement or payment of all expenses to the indemnitee and for reimbursement to us if it is found that such indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification under applicable law and the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws.

 

 

 

The Company also maintains a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy pursuant to which its directors and officers are insured against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

The foregoing description of the Indemnification Agreements is not complete and is subject to the full text of the Form of Indemnification Agreement, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

2025 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan

 

In August 2025, the Board and stockholders adopted the 2025 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2025 Plan”), effective on October 15, 2025. Additionally, effective as of the Effective Date, the Company’s 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan was terminated; provided, that all awards outstanding under the 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan as of the date of adoption of the 2025 Plan shall continue in effect in accordance with their terms.

 

The 2025 Plan is summarized in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on August 27, 2025 declared effective on September 30, 2025, which description is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The foregoing description of the 2025 Plan is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2025 Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.5 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Form of Award Agreements Under the 2025 Plan

 

The Board previously approved, subject to stockholder approval, the following forms of award agreements under the 2025 Plan to be used in connection with the grant of incentive stock options (“ISOs”), nonqualified stock options (“NSOs”) and restricted stock unit awards (“RSUs”) to Participants (as defined in the 2025 Plan) under the 2025 Plan:

 

  a form of Incentive Stock Option Grant Agreement (the “ISO Grant Agreement”);
     
  a form of Nonqualified Stock Option Grant Agreement (the “NSO Grant Agreement”); and
     
  a form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “RSU Agreement”).

 

The foregoing descriptions of the ISO Grant Agreement, NSO Grant Agreement and RSU Agreement are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the ISO Grant Agreement, NSO Grant Agreement and RSU Agreement, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.6, 10.7 and 10.8, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

 

On October 22, 2025, the Company issued a press release announcing its transition to a public benefit corporation and the appointment of Tony Kirton and Todd Butz to the Company’s board of directors.

 

A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits

 

The following exhibits are filed herewith:

 

Exhibit No.   Description
10.1*   Employment Agreement, effective October 16, 2025, by and between the Company and Chris Anthony.
10.2*   Employment Agreement, effective October 16, 2025, by and between the Company and Steve Fambro.
10.3*   Engagement Agreement, effective October 16, 2025, by and between the Company and Tom DaPolito.
10.4*   Form of Indemnification Agreement.
10.5*   2025 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.
10.6*   Form of ISO Grant Agreement.
10.7*   Form of NSO Grant Agreement.
10.8*   Form of RSU Agreement.
99.1   Press Release dated October 22, 2025.
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

 

 

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

    Aptera Motors Corp.
       
Date: October 22, 2025 By: /s/ Chris Anthony
    Name: Chris Anthony
    Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer

 

 

EX-10.1 2 ex10-1.htm EX-10.1

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

Aptera Motors Corp.

 

Employment Agreement

 

This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of August 5, 2025, is made by and between Aptera Motors Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Chris Anthony (“Executive”). The Company and Executive are together referred to herein as the “Parties” or individually referred to as a “Party”.

 

WHEREAS, Executive currently serves as the co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to register its Class B common stock for trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market;

 

WHEREAS, from and after the date of effectiveness of the Company’s direct listing (the “Effective Date”), the Company desires to assure itself of the continued services of Executive on the terms provided herein;

 

WHEREAS, it is the desire of Executive to provide continued services to the Company following the Effective Date on the terms herein provided.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, of the mutual promises contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, including the respective covenants and agreements set forth below, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Employment.

 

(a) General. Effective on the Effective Date, the Company shall continue to employ Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and Executive shall remain in the continued employ of the Company, for the period and in the positions set forth in this Section 1, and subject to the other terms and conditions herein.

 

(b) Employment Term. The term of employment under this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue until terminated by either Party pursuant to Section 3 below (the “Term”).

 

(c) Positions. During the Term, Executive shall serve as the Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company with such duties as Executive performed immediately prior to the Effective Date. Executive shall report directly to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). At the Company’s request, Executive shall during the Term serve the Company and its subsidiaries in such other capacities in addition to the foregoing as the Company shall designate, provided that such additional capacities are consistent with Executive’s position as the Company’s Co-Chief Executive Officer. In the event that Executive serves in any one or more of such additional capacities, Executive’s compensation shall not be increased on account of such additional services.

 

(d) Duties. During the Term, Executive shall devote all of Executive’s working time, attention and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company except during any paid vacation or other excused absence periods. Executive shall not engage in outside business activities (including serving on outside boards or committees) during the Term without the prior written consent of the Board (which the Board may grant or withhold); provided that Executive shall be permitted to (i) manage Executive’s personal, financial and legal affairs, and (ii) serve on the board of directors of other corporations or for-profit entities and engage in advisory work or services for non-profit organizations, in each case, subject to compliance with this Agreement and the Policies (as defined below) and provided that such activities do not conflict with or interfere with Executive’s performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder. Executive agrees to observe and comply with the rules and policies of the Company as adopted by the Company from time to time, in each case as amended from time to time, as set forth in writing, and as delivered or made available to Executive (each, a “Policy”).

 

 

 

(e) Location. During the Term, Executive shall perform his duties hereunder in the Company’s principal office, but from time to time Executive may be required to travel to other locations in the proper conduct of Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.

 

2. Compensation and Related Matters.

 

(a) Annual Base Salary. During the Term, Executive shall receive a base salary at a rate of $243,000 per annum, which shall be paid in accordance with the customary payroll practices of the Company and shall be pro-rated for partial years of employment. Such annual base salary shall be reviewed annually by the Board (such annual base salary, as it may be adjusted from time to time, the “Annual Base Salary”).

 

(b) Annual Performance Bonus. With respect to each completed fiscal year of the Company during the Term, Executive will be eligible to receive a discretionary annual performance bonus (the “Annual Bonus”). The actual payout of the Annual Bonus shall be based on the achievement of Company annual financial metrics to be determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee thereof (the “Committee”). Any Annual Bonus earned will be paid at the same time annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives of the Company generally, subject to Executive’s continuous employment through the last day of the fiscal year with respect to which such Annual Bonus relates, unless otherwise set forth in Section 4 hereof, but in no event later than March 15th following the fiscal year to which the Annual Bonus relates.

 

(c) Equity Awards. Executive will be eligible for grants of annual equity awards (the “Equity Awards”), subject to approval by the Board or the Committee, and such vesting and other terms and conditions of the Company equity plan under which the applicable Equity Awards are granted and an award agreement to be provided by the Company and entered into with Executive with respect to each Equity Award.

 

(d) Benefits. During the Term, Executive shall be eligible to participate in employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements as the Company may from time to time provide to its senior executives, consistent with the terms thereof and as such plans, programs and arrangements may be amended from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein is intended, or shall be construed, to require the Company to institute or continue any, or any particular, plan or benefit and the Company reserves the right to change, alter, or terminate any benefit plan or benefit at any time (including, without limitation, contribution levels).

 

(e) Paid Time Off. During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to paid time off in accordance with the Policies, which Policies currently provide for flexible paid time off.

 

(f) Business Expenses. During the Term, the Company shall reimburse Executive for reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement Policy, as in effect from time to time.

 

3. Termination.

 

(a) At-Will Employment. The Company and Executive acknowledge that Executive’s employment is and shall continue to be “at-will”, as defined under applicable law. This means that Executive’s employment is not for any specified period of time and can be terminated by Executive or by the Company at any time, with or without advance notice, for any or no particular reason or cause. It also means that Executive’s job duties, title, and responsibility and reporting level, work schedule, compensation, and benefits, as well as the Company’s personnel policies and procedures, may be changed with prospective effect, with or without notice, at any time as determined by the Company (subject to any ramification such changes may have under Section 4 below, or any other governing documents of the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates). This “at-will” nature of Executive’s employment shall remain unchanged during Executive’s tenure as an employee and may not be changed, except in an express writing signed by Executive and a representative of the Company duly authorized by the Board. If Executive’s employment terminates for any lawful reason, Executive shall not be entitled to any payments, benefits, damages, awards, or other compensation other than as provided in Section 4 of this Agreement.

 

 

 

(b) Circumstances. Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company or Executive, as applicable, under the following circumstances:

 

(i) Death. Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon Executive’s death.

 

(ii) Disability. If Executive has incurred a Disability the Company may terminate Executive’s employment for Disability.

 

(iii) Termination for Cause. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment for Cause.

 

(iv) Termination without Cause. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment without Cause.

 

(v) Resignation from the Company with Good Reason. Executive may resign Executive’s employment with the Company with Good Reason.

 

(vi) Resignation from the Company without Good Reason. Executive may resign Executive’s employment with the Company without Good Reason.

 

(c) Notice of Termination. Any termination of Executive’s employment by the Company or by Executive under this Section 3 (other than termination pursuant to Section 3(b)(i) above) during the Term shall be communicated by a written notice (a “Notice of Termination”) to the other Party hereto indicating the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and specifying a Date of Termination. The failure by either party to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance shall not waive any right of the party hereunder or preclude the party from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the party’s rights hereunder.

 

(d) Date of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, “Date of Termination” shall mean the date of the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, which, if Executive’s employment is terminated as a result of Executive’s death, will be the date of Executive’s death, and otherwise shall be the date specified in a Notice of Termination.

 

(e) Deemed Resignation. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all director, officer and employee positions, if any, then held with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates.

 

4. Obligations upon a Termination of Employment.

 

(a) Company Obligations upon Termination for any reason. Upon termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to any of the circumstances listed in Section 3(b) above, Executive (or Executive’s estate, as applicable) shall be entitled to receive: (i) Executive’s Annual Base Salary and accrued but unused paid time off, if any, earned through the Date of Termination, but not yet paid to Executive; (ii) any Annual Bonus earned as of the Date of Termination, but not yet paid to Executive, for any preceding fiscal year of the Company, payable at the time such Annual Bonus would have been paid pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof, had employment not terminated; (iii) any expenses owed to Executive pursuant to Section 2(f) above; and (iv) any amounts owed to Executive with respect to periods prior to the Date of Termination but not yet paid to Executive under this Agreement (collectively, the “Accrued Obligations”). Except as otherwise expressly required by law or as specifically provided herein, all of Executive’s rights to salary, severance benefits, bonuses and other compensatory amounts or benefits hereunder (if any) shall cease upon the termination of Executive’s employment hereunder.

 

(b) Executive’s Obligations upon Termination.

 

(i) Cooperation. At any time following termination of employment for any reason, Executive shall provide Executive’s reasonable cooperation in connection with any action or proceeding (or any appeal from any action or proceeding) which relates to events occurring during Executive’s employment hereunder. The Company shall reimburse Executive for Executive’s reasonable, pre-approved out of pocket costs and expenses.

 

 

 

(ii) Return of Company Property. Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that all Company Property and equipment furnished to, or prepared by, Executive in the course of, or incident to, Executive’s employment, belongs to the Company and shall be promptly returned to the Company upon termination of Executive’s employment and at such other time(s) as may be determined by the Company (and will not be kept in Executive’s possession or delivered to anyone else). For purposes of this Agreement, “Company Property” includes, without limitation, all books, manuals, records, reports, notes, contracts, lists, blueprints, and other documents, or materials, or copies thereof (including computer files), keys, building card keys, company credit cards, computer hardware and software, laptop computers, tablets, docking stations, cellular and portable telephone equipment, and all other proprietary information relating to the business of the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates. Following termination of employment, Executive shall not retain any written or other tangible material containing any proprietary information of the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates.

 

(c) Termination due to Executive’s Death or Disability, by the Company for Cause, or Resignation by Executive without Good Reason. If Executive’s employment terminates pursuant to Section 3(b)(i), Section 3(b)(ii), Section 3(b)(iii), or Section 3(b)(vi) hereof, then Executive shall receive only the Accrued Obligations set forth in Section 4(a) above, subject to Section 8(m) hereof.

 

(d) Severance Payments upon a Termination without Cause, or Resignation with Good Reason. If Executive’s employment terminates pursuant to Section 3(b)(iv) or Section 3(b)(v) hereof, then, subject to Executive’s delivery to the Company and non-revocation (if applicable) of an executed waiver and release of claims in form and substance satisfactory to the Company (the “Release”) that becomes effective and irrevocable within sixty (60) days of the Date of Termination in accordance with Section 8(m)(vi) below, and Executive’s continued compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Employee Inventions and Proprietary Information Agreement, dated July 14, 2022, by and between the Company and Executive (the “Proprietary Information Agreement”) and the Release, Executive shall receive, in addition to the payments and benefits set forth in Section 4(a) above, and subject to Section 8(m) below, the following:

 

(i) an amount in cash equal to twelve (12) months (the “Cash Severance”) (or in the event of a Change in Control Termination, twenty-four (24) months) of Executive’s then-existing Annual Base Salary, payable, less applicable withholdings and deductions in the form of salary continuation in regular installments over the twelve (12)-month period (or, in the event of a Change in Control Termination, twenty-four (24) month period) following the date of Executive’s termination of employment in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices with the first of such installments to commence on the first regular payroll date following the date the Release becomes effective and irrevocable or as otherwise provided in Section 8(m)(vi) below;

 

(ii) subject to Executive’s timely election of continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall offer continued coverage under the Company’s group health plan at active employee rates until twelve (12) months following the Date of Termination (or in the event of a Change in Control Termination, eighteen (18) months of continued coverage under the Company’s group health plan at active employee rates, and for the succeeding six (6) months thereafter, the Company will pay Executive monthly cash payments equal to the then-current monthly premium for COBRA, less the amount that Executive would have been required to pay if Executive had remained an active employee of the Company) (the “COBRA Assistance”), which COBRA Assistance shall automatically terminate on the earliest of (A) the date that Executive becomes eligible for coverage under the group health plan of another employer, or (B) the date Employer or its Affiliates would otherwise be subject to a penalty or in violation of any requirement of applicable law due to the COBRA Assistance, as determined by the Company. Employer shall directly pay or reimburse Executive for Employer’s portion of the amount COBRA premium pursuant to the COBRA Assistance, as determined by the Company. In the event Employer provides the COBRA Assistance through reimbursement, Executive shall remit to the Company on a monthly basis and within thirty (30) days of the date of payment, paid invoices for each such monthly COBRA premium for which Executive seeks reimbursement and such reimbursement (to the extent required pursuant to this Section 4(d)(ii)) shall be made to Executive within thirty (30) days following Executive’s delivery to Employer of each such invoice; and

 

 

 

(iii) in the event of a Change in Control Termination, (A) an amount equal to the Annual Bonus that Executive would have otherwise received for the year in which Executive’s termination of employment occurs (had Executive remained employed by the Company through the end of the fiscal year of termination), as determined by the Company calculated based on actual performance (for the avoidance of doubt, such Annual Bonus payment shall be subject to the attainment of applicable corporate performance goals, but Executive will be deemed to have satisfied any applicable individual performance goals, and such Annual Bonus payment determined in a manner commensurate with the bonuses, if any, awarded to other similarly situated executives of the Company, subject to any applicable bonus projections that are specific to Executive for the year in which Executive is terminated), payable at the time Executive’s Annual Bonus would have been paid, had Executive’s employment not terminated, and (B) accelerated vesting of one hundred percent (100%) of all then unvested equity or equity-based awards then held by Executive.

 

The severance payments and benefits provided to Executive pursuant to Section 4(d) hereof are in lieu of, and not in addition to, any benefits to which Executive may otherwise be entitled under any Company severance plan, policy or program, and Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive shall have no rights or entitlements to any benefits or payments under any such plan, policy or program.

 

(e) No Mitigation. Executive shall have no duty to mitigate the amount of any payment or benefit provided for under Section 4(d) of this Agreement by seeking other employment (including self-employment) or service, and the amount of any payment or benefit provided for under Section 4(d) of this Agreement (other than the COBRA Assistance) shall not be reduced by any compensation earned as a result of Executive’s other employment or service.

 

(f) Survival. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the provisions of Sections 5 through 8 of this Agreement and the Proprietary Information Agreement will survive the termination of Executive’s employment and the termination of the Term for any reason.

 

5. Proprietary Information Agreement. Executive hereby acknowledges and affirms his obligations under the Proprietary Information Agreement, and acknowledges and agrees that the Proprietary Information Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

6. Assignment and Successors.

 

The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates or to any successor to all or substantially all of the business or the assets of the Company or any subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (by merger or otherwise). This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, Executive and their respective permitted successors and assigns. None of Executive’s rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by Executive, other than Executive’s rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or operation of law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall be entitled, to the extent permitted under applicable law and any applicable employee benefit plan, program, or arrangement, to select and change a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive compensation hereunder following Executive’s death by giving written notice thereof to the Company.

 

7. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

 

(a) Affiliate. “Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any particular Person means (a) any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such particular Person, where “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a Person whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, (b) any Person that is an officer, partner, member or trustee of, or serves in a similar capacity with respect to, the specified Person and (c) any member of the immediate family of the specified Person (which shall include parents, children and siblings, both by-blood and in-law).

 

(b) Cause. “Cause” shall mean any of the following events:

 

(i) Executive’s continuing failure or refusal to perform the services or duties of Executive’s position;

 

(ii) Executive’s gross negligence, dishonesty, breach of fiduciary duty or breach of any other duty owed to the Company;

 

(iii) Executive’s commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or breach of the rules or policies of the Company;

 

(iv) Executive’s acts which, in the judgement of the Board, would tend to generate significant adverse publicity towards the Company;

 

 

 

(v) Executive’s commission of, indictment for, or plea of nolo contendere of a felony, or a crime of moral turpitude; or

 

(vi) a breach by Executive of the terms of this Agreement or the Proprietary Information Agreement.

 

Executive shall be given written notice by the Board of its intention to terminate him for Cause within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the later of (A) the Company learning of such event or events giving rise to such termination for Cause, and (B) the Company completing its investigation of such event or events giving rise to such termination for Cause. With respect to clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), or (vi), to Executive must be given fifteen (15) days to cure such event or events giving rise to such termination for Cause (to the extent curable).

 

(c) Change in Control Termination. “Change in Control Termination” shall mean Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, or by Executive for Good Reason, upon or within twelve (12) months following the consummation of a Change in Control.

 

(d) Change in Control. “Change in Control” shall have the meaning given such term in the Company’s 2025 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.

 

(e) Code. “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.

 

(f) Disability. “Disability” shall mean Executive becomes physically or mentally incapacitated and is therefore unable for a period of six (6) consecutive months or for an aggregate of nine (9) months in any twenty-four (24) consecutive month period to perform Executive’s duties.

 

(g) Good Reason. “Good Reason” shall mean any one of the following, that occurs without Executive’s prior written consent:

 

(i) a material reduction in Executive’s authorities, duties, responsibilities, or title;

 

(ii) a material reduction by the Company in Executive’s Annual Base Salary;

 

(iii) the relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment by more than fifty (50) miles from its location as of the Effective Date;

 

(iv) any change in reporting structure such that Executive reports to someone other than the Board (or following a Change in Control, reorganization, or the Company’s shares ceasing to be publicly traded, the board of directors of any successor or acquiring entity (or the ultimate parent entity)); or

 

(v) a material breach by the Company of any provision of this Agreement.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Good Reason will have occurred unless and until: (A) Executive has provided the Company, within thirty (30) days of the date Executive knows or should have known of the Good Reason event, written notice reasonably summarizing the applicable facts and circumstances underlying such finding of Good Reason; (B) the Company or the successor company fails to cure such condition within thirty (30) days after receiving such written notice (the “Cure Period”) or, in the event that such grounds cannot be corrected within the Cure Period, the Company has not taken all reasonable steps within the Cure Period to correct such grounds as promptly as practicable thereafter, and (C) Executive’s resignation based on such Good Reason is effective within thirty (30) days after the expiration of the Cure Period.

 

 

 

(h) Person. “Person” shall mean an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, association or other entity or a governmental entity.

 

8. Parachute Payments.

 

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or any other agreement between the Parties, in the event that any payment or benefit by the Company or otherwise to or for the benefit of Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (all such payments and benefits, including the payments and benefits under Section 4 above, being hereinafter referred to as the “Total Payments”), would be subject (in whole or in part) to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”) or would not be deductible by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates pursuant to Section 280G of the Code (the “Deduction Loss”), then the Total Payments shall be reduced (in the order provided in Section 7(b) below) to the minimum extent necessary to avoid the imposition of the Excise Tax on the Total Payments and the Deduction Loss, but only if (i) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income and employment taxes on such reduced Total Payments), is greater than or equal to (ii) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income and employment taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of the Excise Tax to which Executive would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments). Executive shall execute any waiver or other documentation and take all other actions requested by the Company to acknowledge the reduction pursuant to this Section 7(a).

 

(b) The Total Payments shall be reduced in the following order: (i) reduction on a pro-rata basis of any cash severance payments that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”), (ii) reduction on a pro-rata basis of any non-cash severance payments or benefits that are exempt from Section 409A, (iii) reduction on a pro-rata basis of any other payments or benefits that are exempt from Section 409A, and (iv) reduction of any payments or benefits otherwise payable to Executive on a pro-rata basis or such other manner that complies with Section 409A; provided, in case of subclauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), that reduction of any payments attributable to the acceleration of vesting of Company equity awards shall be first applied to Company equity awards that would otherwise vest last in time.

 

(c) The Company will make all determinations regarding the application of this Section 7, which determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive the Company, Executive, and all other interested Persons.

 

In the event it is later determined that to implement the objective and intent of this Section 7, (i) a greater reduction in the Total Payments should have been made, the excess amount shall be returned promptly by Executive to the Company or (ii) a lesser reduction in the Total Payments should have been made, the excess amount shall be paid or provided promptly by the Company to Executive, except to the extent the Company reasonably determines would result in imposition of a penalty tax under Section 409A.

 

9. Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

(a) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed, construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with its express terms, and otherwise in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of California without reference to the principles of conflicts of law of the State of California or any other jurisdiction that would result in application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than the State of California, and where applicable, the laws of the United States.

 

(b) Indemnification. The Company agrees that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, if Executive is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that Executive is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company, or its subsidiaries or Affiliates, Executive shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company, and its subsidiaries or Affiliates, against, and, subject to the delivery by Executive of a customary undertaking with respect to advanced expenses, shall receive expense advancement for, all reasonable costs, charges and expenses incurred or suffered by Executive in connection therewith (including reasonable legal fees). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8(b), no indemnification may be made to Executive or on Executive’s behalf hereunder (i) if the Board determines that Executive is not entitled to indemnification under applicable law, or (ii) with respect to any claims in a Proceeding where such claims are brought by (A) the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates, or their respective directors or officers in their capacities as such, other than related to a shareholder derivative action, or (B) by Executive (or Executive’s successors or assigns). Without limitation of the foregoing, during the Term the Company shall maintain directors & officers’ insurance coverage (and any other insurance policies the Company may maintain generally for the benefit of its directors and officers) for Executive in his roles.

 

 

 

(c) Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(d) Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand, document and other communication hereunder to any Party shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt) and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by email or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, as follows:

 

(i) If to the Company, to:

 

Aptera Motors Corp.

5818 El Camino Road

Carlsbad, California 92008

Attn: Sarah Cravens

Email:

 

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Lowenstein Sandler LLP

1251 Avenue of the Americas, 18th Floor

New York, NY 10020

Attn: Daniel Forman

Email:

 

(ii) If to Executive, to the last address that the Company has in its personnel records for Executive; or

 

(iii) At any other address as any Party shall have specified by notice in writing to the other Party.

 

(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. Signatures delivered by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

(f) Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement are intended by the Parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall supersede, modify or otherwise affect the Proprietary Information Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect, or supersede, modify, or otherwise affect any other restrictive covenant, invention assignment or confidentiality obligations imposed under any Policy or any other agreement between Executive and the Company or any of its Affiliates, and in the event of any conflict between this Agreement and the Proprietary Information Agreement or any such restrictive covenant, invention assignment or confidentiality obligation, the provisions which are broadest (including, without limitation, with respect to scope and duration), or otherwise most favorable to the Company, shall control. The Parties further intend that this Agreement shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of their terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of this Agreement.

 

(g) Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by Executive and a duly authorized representative of Company. By an instrument in writing similarly executed, Executive or a duly authorized representative of the Company may waive compliance by the other Party with any specifically identified provision of this Agreement that such other Party was or is obligated to comply with or perform; provided, however, that such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other or subsequent failure. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy, or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise of any other right, remedy, or power provided herein or by law or in equity.

 

 

 

(h) Construction. This Agreement shall be deemed drafted equally by both the Parties. Its language shall be construed as a whole and according to its fair meaning. Any presumption or principle that the language is to be construed against any Party shall not apply. The headings in this Agreement are only for convenience and are not intended to affect construction or interpretation. Any references to paragraphs, subparagraphs, sections, or subsections are to those parts of this Agreement, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary. Also, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary, (i) the plural includes the singular and the singular includes the plural; (ii) “and” and “or” are each used both conjunctively and disjunctively; (iii) “any”, “all”, “each”, or “every” means “any and all”, and “each and every”; (iv) “includes” and “including” are each “without limitation”; (v) “herein”, “hereof”, “hereunder” and other similar compounds of the word “here” refer to the entire Agreement and not to any particular paragraph, subparagraph, section or subsection; and (vi) all pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural as the identity of the Persons referred to may require. All determinations, interpretations, exercises of authority, or similar rights or actions by the Board or the Company hereunder shall be made by the Board or the Company, as applicable, in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

(i) Enforcement. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under present or future laws effective during the Term, such provision shall be fully severable; this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a portion of this Agreement; and the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance from this Agreement. Furthermore, in lieu of such illegal invalid or unenforceable provision there shall be added automatically as part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be legal, valid and enforceable.

 

(j) Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement any federal, state, local or foreign withholding or other taxes or charges that the Company is required to withhold. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of counsel if any questions as to the amount or requirement of withholding shall arise.

 

(k) Whistleblower Protections and Defend Trade Secrets Act Disclosure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) nothing in this Agreement prohibits Executive from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any United States governmental agency or entity in accordance with the provisions of and rules promulgated under Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or any other whistleblower protection provisions of state or federal law or regulation (including the right to receive an award for information provided to any such government agencies), and (ii) this Agreement is not intended to, and shall not, in any way prohibit, limit or otherwise interfere with Executive’s protected rights under federal, state or local law to, without notice to the Company: (A) communicate or file a charge with or provide information to a government regulator, such as, by way of example and not limitation, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), or any other self-regulatory organization; (B) participate in an investigation or proceeding conducted by a government regulator; (C) receive an award paid by a government regulator for providing information; or (D) otherwise engage in activity protected by applicable whistleblower laws. Furthermore, in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 1833, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement: (i) Executive shall not be in breach of this Agreement, and shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law (A) for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (B) for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal; and (ii) if Executive files a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company for reporting a suspected violation of law, Executive may disclose the trade secret to Executive’s attorney, and may use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if Executive files any document containing the trade secret under seal, and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

 

 

 

(l) Recoupment of Erroneously Awarded Compensation. Executive acknowledges and agrees that: (i) Executive shall be bound by and abide by the terms of any clawback policy of the Company (the “Clawback Policy”) as in effect from time to time; (ii) Executive shall cooperate and shall promptly return any incentive-based compensation that the Company determines is subject to recoupment under the Clawback Policy; and (iii) any incentive-based or other compensation paid to Executive under any agreement or arrangement with the Company which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required by such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement.

 

(m) Section 409A.

 

(i) General. The intent of the Parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with or be exempt from Section 409A and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 409A, no payment hereunder shall be accelerated or deferred unless such acceleration or deferral would not result in additional tax or interest pursuant to Section 409A. If the Company determines that any provision of this Agreement would cause Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A, the Company may (but is not obligated to), take commercially reasonable efforts to reform such provision to try to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A through good faith modifications to the minimum extent reasonably appropriate to conform with Section 409A.

 

(ii) Separation from Service. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any compensation or benefits payable under this Agreement that is considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A and is designated under this Agreement as payable upon Executive’s termination of employment shall be payable only upon Executive’s “separation from service” with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A (a “Separation from Service”).

 

(iii) Specified Employee. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if Executive is deemed by the Company at the time of Executive’s Separation from Service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A, such portion of Executive’s benefits shall not be provided to Executive prior to the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of Executive’s Separation from Service with the Company or (B) the date of Executive’s death. Upon the first business day following the expiration of the applicable Section 409A period, all payments deferred pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive (or Executive’s estate or beneficiaries), and any remaining payments due to Executive under this Agreement shall be paid as otherwise provided herein.

 

(iv) Expense Reimbursements. To the extent that any reimbursements under this Agreement are subject to Section 409A, any such reimbursements payable to Executive shall be paid to Executive no later than December 31st of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred; provided, that Executive submits Executive’s reimbursement request in accordance with applicable Policies (if any), the amount of expenses reimbursed in one year shall not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement in any subsequent year, other than medical expenses referred to in Section 105(b) of the Code, and Executive’s right to reimbursement under this Agreement will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

(v) Installments. Executive’s right to receive any installment payments under this Agreement, including without limitation any continuation salary payments that are payable on Company payroll dates, shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each such installment payment shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment as permitted under Section 409A.

 

 

 

(vi) Release. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any payments due under this Agreement as a result of Executive’s termination of employment are subject to Executive’s execution and delivery of a Release: (A) if Executive fails to execute the Release on or prior to the Release Expiration Date (as defined below) or timely revokes Executive’s acceptance of the Release thereafter, Executive shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits otherwise conditioned on the Release; and (B) in any case where Executive’s Date of Termination and the Release Expiration Date (and any applicable revocation period) plus the first regularly scheduled payroll date thereafter fall in two separate taxable years, any payments required to be made to Executive that are conditioned on the Release and are treated as nonqualified deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A shall be made in the later taxable year. For purposes hereof, “Release Expiration Date” shall mean the date that is at least twenty-one (21) days following the date upon which the Company timely delivers the Release to Executive or, in the event that Executive’s termination of employment is “in connection with an exit incentive or other employment termination program” (as such phrase is defined in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended), the date that is at least forty-five (45) days following such delivery date. To the extent that any payments of nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) due under this Agreement as a result of Executive’s termination of employment are delayed pursuant to this Section 8(m)(vi), such amounts shall be paid in a lump sum on the first payroll date following the date that Executive executes and does not revoke the Release (and the applicable revocation period has expired) or, in the case of any payments subject to Section 8(m)(vi)(C), on the first payroll period to occur in the subsequent taxable year, if later.

 

10. Prior Employment.

 

Executive represents and warrants that Executive’s acceptance of continued employment with the Company has not breached, and the continued performance of Executive’s duties hereunder will not breach, any duty owed by Executive to any prior employer or other Person. Executive further represents and warrants to the Company that (a) the continued performance of Executive’s obligations hereunder will not violate any agreement between Executive and any other Person; (b) Executive is not bound by the terms of any agreement with any previous employer or other Person to refrain from competing, directly or indirectly, with the business of such previous employer or other Person that would be violated by Executive entering into this Agreement or providing continued services to the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and (c) Executive’s continued performance of Executive’s duties under this Agreement will not require Executive to, and Executive shall not, rely on in the continued performance of Executive’s duties or disclose to the Company or any other Person or induce the Company in any way to use or rely on any trade secret or other confidential or proprietary information or material belonging to any previous employer of Executive.

 

11. Executive Acknowledgement.

 

Executive acknowledges that Executive has read and understands this Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, has not acted in reliance upon any representations or promises made by the Company other than those contained in writing herein, and has entered into this Agreement freely based on Executive’s own judgment.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the date and year first above written.

 

  APTERA MOTORS CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Blake Ryan
  Name:  Blake Ryan
  Title: VP Finance

 

  EXECUTIVE
   
  /s/ Chris Anthony
  Chris Anthony

 

 

EX-10.2 3 ex10-2.htm EX-10.2

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

Aptera Motors Corp.

 

Employment Agreement

 

This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of August 5, 2025, is made by and between Aptera Motors Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Steve Fambro (“Executive”). The Company and Executive are together referred to herein as the “Parties” or individually referred to as a “Party”.

 

WHEREAS, Executive currently serves as the co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to register its Class B common stock for trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market;

 

WHEREAS, from and after the date of effectiveness of the Company’s direct listing (the “Effective Date”), the Company desires to assure itself of the continued services of Executive on the terms provided herein;

 

WHEREAS, it is the desire of Executive to provide continued services to the Company following the Effective Date on the terms herein provided.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, of the mutual promises contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, including the respective covenants and agreements set forth below, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Employment.

 

(a) General. Effective on the Effective Date, the Company shall continue to employ Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and Executive shall remain in the continued employ of the Company, for the period and in the positions set forth in this Section 1, and subject to the other terms and conditions herein.

 

(b) Employment Term. The term of employment under this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue until terminated by either Party pursuant to Section 3 below (the “Term”).

 

(c) Positions. During the Term, Executive shall serve as the Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company with such duties as Executive performed immediately prior to the Effective Date. Executive shall report directly to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). At the Company’s request, Executive shall during the Term serve the Company and its subsidiaries in such other capacities in addition to the foregoing as the Company shall designate, provided that such additional capacities are consistent with Executive’s position as the Company’s Co-Chief Executive Officer. In the event that Executive serves in any one or more of such additional capacities, Executive’s compensation shall not be increased on account of such additional services.

 

(d) Duties. During the Term, Executive shall devote all of Executive’s working time, attention and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company except during any paid vacation or other excused absence periods. Executive shall not engage in outside business activities (including serving on outside boards or committees) during the Term without the prior written consent of the Board (which the Board may grant or withhold); provided that Executive shall be permitted to (i) manage Executive’s personal, financial and legal affairs, and (ii) serve on the board of directors of other corporations or for-profit entities and engage in advisory work or services for non-profit organizations, in each case, subject to compliance with this Agreement and the Policies (as defined below) and provided that such activities do not conflict with or interfere with Executive’s performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder. Executive agrees to observe and comply with the rules and policies of the Company as adopted by the Company from time to time, in each case as amended from time to time, as set forth in writing, and as delivered or made available to Executive (each, a “Policy”).

 

 

 

(e) Location. During the Term, Executive shall perform his duties hereunder in the Company’s principal office, but from time to time Executive may be required to travel to other locations in the proper conduct of Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.

 

2. Compensation and Related Matters.

 

(a) Annual Base Salary. During the Term, Executive shall receive a base salary at a rate of $243,000 per annum, which shall be paid in accordance with the customary payroll practices of the Company and shall be pro-rated for partial years of employment. Such annual base salary shall be reviewed annually by the Board (such annual base salary, as it may be adjusted from time to time, the “Annual Base Salary”).

 

(b) Annual Performance Bonus. With respect to each completed fiscal year of the Company during the Term, Executive will be eligible to receive a discretionary annual performance bonus (the “Annual Bonus”). The actual payout of the Annual Bonus shall be based on the achievement of Company annual financial metrics to be determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee thereof (the “Committee”). Any Annual Bonus earned will be paid at the same time annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives of the Company generally, subject to Executive’s continuous employment through the last day of the fiscal year with respect to which such Annual Bonus relates, unless otherwise set forth in Section 4 hereof, but in no event later than March 15th following the fiscal year to which the Annual Bonus relates.

 

(c) Equity Awards. Executive will be eligible for grants of annual equity awards (the “Equity Awards”), subject to approval by the Board or the Committee, and such vesting and other terms and conditions of the Company equity plan under which the applicable Equity Awards are granted and an award agreement to be provided by the Company and entered into with Executive with respect to each Equity Award.

 

(d) Benefits. During the Term, Executive shall be eligible to participate in employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements as the Company may from time to time provide to its senior executives, consistent with the terms thereof and as such plans, programs and arrangements may be amended from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein is intended, or shall be construed, to require the Company to institute or continue any, or any particular, plan or benefit and the Company reserves the right to change, alter, or terminate any benefit plan or benefit at any time (including, without limitation, contribution levels).

 

(e) Paid Time Off. During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to paid time off in accordance with the Policies, which Policies currently provide for flexible paid time off.

 

(f) Business Expenses. During the Term, the Company shall reimburse Executive for reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement Policy, as in effect from time to time.

 

3. Termination.

 

(a) At-Will Employment. The Company and Executive acknowledge that Executive’s employment is and shall continue to be “at-will”, as defined under applicable law. This means that Executive’s employment is not for any specified period of time and can be terminated by Executive or by the Company at any time, with or without advance notice, for any or no particular reason or cause. It also means that Executive’s job duties, title, and responsibility and reporting level, work schedule, compensation, and benefits, as well as the Company’s personnel policies and procedures, may be changed with prospective effect, with or without notice, at any time as determined by the Company (subject to any ramification such changes may have under Section 4 below, or any other governing documents of the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates). This “at-will” nature of Executive’s employment shall remain unchanged during Executive’s tenure as an employee and may not be changed, except in an express writing signed by Executive and a representative of the Company duly authorized by the Board. If Executive’s employment terminates for any lawful reason, Executive shall not be entitled to any payments, benefits, damages, awards, or other compensation other than as provided in Section 4 of this Agreement.

 

 

 

(b) Circumstances. Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company or Executive, as applicable, under the following circumstances:

 

(i) Death. Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon Executive’s death.

 

(ii) Disability. If Executive has incurred a Disability the Company may terminate Executive’s employment for Disability.

 

(iii) Termination for Cause. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment for Cause.

 

(iv) Termination without Cause. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment without Cause.

 

(v) Resignation from the Company with Good Reason. Executive may resign Executive’s employment with the Company with Good Reason.

 

(vi) Resignation from the Company without Good Reason. Executive may resign Executive’s employment with the Company without Good Reason.

 

(c) Notice of Termination. Any termination of Executive’s employment by the Company or by Executive under this Section 3 (other than termination pursuant to Section 3(b)(i) above) during the Term shall be communicated by a written notice (a “Notice of Termination”) to the other Party hereto indicating the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and specifying a Date of Termination. The failure by either party to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance shall not waive any right of the party hereunder or preclude the party from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the party’s rights hereunder.

 

(d) Date of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, “Date of Termination” shall mean the date of the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, which, if Executive’s employment is terminated as a result of Executive’s death, will be the date of Executive’s death, and otherwise shall be the date specified in a Notice of Termination.

 

(e) Deemed Resignation. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all director, officer and employee positions, if any, then held with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates.

 

4. Obligations upon a Termination of Employment.

 

(a) Company Obligations upon Termination for any reason. Upon termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to any of the circumstances listed in Section 3(b) above, Executive (or Executive’s estate, as applicable) shall be entitled to receive: (i) Executive’s Annual Base Salary and accrued but unused paid time off, if any, earned through the Date of Termination, but not yet paid to Executive; (ii) any Annual Bonus earned as of the Date of Termination, but not yet paid to Executive, for any preceding fiscal year of the Company, payable at the time such Annual Bonus would have been paid pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof, had employment not terminated; (iii) any expenses owed to Executive pursuant to Section 2(f) above; and (iv) any amounts owed to Executive with respect to periods prior to the Date of Termination but not yet paid to Executive under this Agreement (collectively, the “Accrued Obligations”). Except as otherwise expressly required by law or as specifically provided herein, all of Executive’s rights to salary, severance benefits, bonuses and other compensatory amounts or benefits hereunder (if any) shall cease upon the termination of Executive’s employment hereunder.

 

(b) Executive’s Obligations upon Termination.

 

(i) Cooperation. At any time following termination of employment for any reason, Executive shall provide Executive’s reasonable cooperation in connection with any action or proceeding (or any appeal from any action or proceeding) which relates to events occurring during Executive’s employment hereunder. The Company shall reimburse Executive for Executive’s reasonable, pre-approved out of pocket costs and expenses.

 

 

 

(ii) Return of Company Property. Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that all Company Property and equipment furnished to, or prepared by, Executive in the course of, or incident to, Executive’s employment, belongs to the Company and shall be promptly returned to the Company upon termination of Executive’s employment and at such other time(s) as may be determined by the Company (and will not be kept in Executive’s possession or delivered to anyone else). For purposes of this Agreement, “Company Property” includes, without limitation, all books, manuals, records, reports, notes, contracts, lists, blueprints, and other documents, or materials, or copies thereof (including computer files), keys, building card keys, company credit cards, computer hardware and software, laptop computers, tablets, docking stations, cellular and portable telephone equipment, and all other proprietary information relating to the business of the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates. Following termination of employment, Executive shall not retain any written or other tangible material containing any proprietary information of the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates.

 

(c) Termination due to Executive’s Death or Disability, by the Company for Cause, or Resignation by Executive without Good Reason. If Executive’s employment terminates pursuant to Section 3(b)(i), Section 3(b)(ii), Section 3(b)(iii), or Section 3(b)(vi) hereof, then Executive shall receive only the Accrued Obligations set forth in Section 4(a) above, subject to Section 8(m) hereof.

 

(d) Severance Payments upon a Termination without Cause, or Resignation with Good Reason. If Executive’s employment terminates pursuant to Section 3(b)(iv) or Section 3(b)(v) hereof, then, subject to Executive’s delivery to the Company and non-revocation (if applicable) of an executed waiver and release of claims in form and substance satisfactory to the Company (the “Release”) that becomes effective and irrevocable within sixty (60) days of the Date of Termination in accordance with Section 8(m)(vi) below, and Executive’s continued compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Employee Inventions and Proprietary Information Agreement, dated August 9, 2022 by and between the Company and Executive (the “Proprietary Information Agreement”) and the Release, Executive shall receive, in addition to the payments and benefits set forth in Section 4(a) above, and subject to Section 8(m) below, the following:

 

(i) an amount in cash equal to twelve (12) months (the “Cash Severance”) (or in the event of a Change in Control Termination, twenty-four (24) months) of Executive’s then-existing Annual Base Salary, payable, less applicable withholdings and deductions in the form of salary continuation in regular installments over the twelve (12)-month period (or, in the event of a Change in Control Termination, twenty-four (24) month period) following the date of Executive’s termination of employment in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices with the first of such installments to commence on the first regular payroll date following the date the Release becomes effective and irrevocable or as otherwise provided in Section 8(m)(vi) below;

 

(ii) subject to Executive’s timely election of continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall offer continued coverage under the Company’s group health plan at active employee rates until twelve (12) months following the Date of Termination (or in the event of a Change in Control Termination, eighteen (18) months of continued coverage under the Company’s group health plan at active employee rates, and for the succeeding six (6) months thereafter, the Company will pay Executive monthly cash payments equal to the then-current monthly premium for COBRA, less the amount that Executive would have been required to pay if Executive had remained an active employee of the Company) (the “COBRA Assistance”), which COBRA Assistance shall automatically terminate on the earliest of (A) the date that Executive becomes eligible for coverage under the group health plan of another employer, or (B) the date Employer or its Affiliates would otherwise be subject to a penalty or in violation of any requirement of applicable law due to the COBRA Assistance, as determined by the Company. Employer shall directly pay or reimburse Executive for Employer’s portion of the amount COBRA premium pursuant to the COBRA Assistance, as determined by the Company. In the event Employer provides the COBRA Assistance through reimbursement, Executive shall remit to the Company on a monthly basis and within thirty (30) days of the date of payment, paid invoices for each such monthly COBRA premium for which Executive seeks reimbursement and such reimbursement (to the extent required pursuant to this Section 4(d)(ii)) shall be made to Executive within thirty (30) days following Executive’s delivery to Employer of each such invoice; and

 

 

 

(iii) in the event of a Change in Control Termination, (A) an amount equal to the Annual Bonus that Executive would have otherwise received for the year in which Executive’s termination of employment occurs (had Executive remained employed by the Company through the end of the fiscal year of termination), as determined by the Company calculated based on actual performance (for the avoidance of doubt, such Annual Bonus payment shall be subject to the attainment of applicable corporate performance goals, but Executive will be deemed to have satisfied any applicable individual performance goals, and such Annual Bonus payment determined in a manner commensurate with the bonuses, if any, awarded to other similarly situated executives of the Company, subject to any applicable bonus projections that are specific to Executive for the year in which Executive is terminated), payable at the time Executive’s Annual Bonus would have been paid, had Executive’s employment not terminated, and (B) accelerated vesting of one hundred percent (100%) of all then unvested equity or equity-based awards then held by Executive.

 

The severance payments and benefits provided to Executive pursuant to Section 4(d) hereof are in lieu of, and not in addition to, any benefits to which Executive may otherwise be entitled under any Company severance plan, policy or program, and Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive shall have no rights or entitlements to any benefits or payments under any such plan, policy or program.

 

(e) No Mitigation. Executive shall have no duty to mitigate the amount of any payment or benefit provided for under Section 4(d) of this Agreement by seeking other employment (including self-employment) or service, and the amount of any payment or benefit provided for under Section 4(d) of this Agreement (other than the COBRA Assistance) shall not be reduced by any compensation earned as a result of Executive’s other employment or service.

 

(f) Survival. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the provisions of Sections 5 through 8 of this Agreement and the Proprietary Information Agreement will survive the termination of Executive’s employment and the termination of the Term for any reason.

 

5. Proprietary Information Agreement. Executive hereby acknowledges and affirms his obligations under the Proprietary Information Agreement, and acknowledges and agrees that the Proprietary Information Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

6. Assignment and Successors.

 

The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates or to any successor to all or substantially all of the business or the assets of the Company or any subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (by merger or otherwise). This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, Executive and their respective permitted successors and assigns. None of Executive’s rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by Executive, other than Executive’s rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or operation of law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall be entitled, to the extent permitted under applicable law and any applicable employee benefit plan, program, or arrangement, to select and change a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive compensation hereunder following Executive’s death by giving written notice thereof to the Company.

 

7. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

 

(a) Affiliate. “Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any particular Person means (a) any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such particular Person, where “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a Person whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, (b) any Person that is an officer, partner, member or trustee of, or serves in a similar capacity with respect to, the specified Person and (c) any member of the immediate family of the specified Person (which shall include parents, children and siblings, both by-blood and in-law).

 

(b) Cause. “Cause” shall mean any of the following events:

 

(i) Executive’s continuing failure or refusal to perform the services or duties of Executive’s position;

 

(ii) Executive’s gross negligence, dishonesty, breach of fiduciary duty or breach of any other duty owed to the Company;

 

(iii) Executive’s commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or breach of the rules or policies of the Company;

 

 

 

(iv) Executive’s acts which, in the judgement of the Board, would tend to generate significant adverse publicity towards the Company;

 

(v) Executive’s commission of, indictment for, or plea of nolo contendere of a felony, or a crime of moral turpitude; or

 

(vi) a breach by Executive of the terms of this Agreement or the Proprietary Information Agreement.

 

Executive shall be given written notice by the Board of its intention to terminate him for Cause within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the later of (A) the Company learning of such event or events giving rise to such termination for Cause, and (B) the Company completing its investigation of such event or events giving rise to such termination for Cause. With respect to clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), or (vi), to Executive must be given fifteen (15) days to cure such event or events giving rise to such termination for Cause (to the extent curable).

 

(c) Change in Control Termination. “Change in Control Termination” shall mean Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, or by Executive for Good Reason, upon or within twelve (12) months following the consummation of a Change in Control.

 

(d) Change in Control. “Change in Control” shall have the meaning given such term in the Company’s 2025 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.

 

(e) Code. “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.

 

(f) Disability. “Disability” shall mean Executive becomes physically or mentally incapacitated and is therefore unable for a period of six (6) consecutive months or for an aggregate of nine (9) months in any twenty-four (24) consecutive month period to perform Executive’s duties.

 

(g) Good Reason. “Good Reason” shall mean any one of the following, that occurs without Executive’s prior written consent:

 

(i) a material reduction in Executive’s authorities, duties, responsibilities, or title;

 

(ii) a material reduction by the Company in Executive’s Annual Base Salary;

 

(iii) the relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment by more than fifty (50) miles from its location as of the Effective Date;

 

(iv) any change in reporting structure such that Executive reports to someone other than the Board (or following a Change in Control, reorganization, or the Company’s shares ceasing to be publicly traded, the board of directors of any successor or acquiring entity (or the ultimate parent entity)); or

 

(v) a material breach by the Company of any provision of this Agreement.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Good Reason will have occurred unless and until: (A) Executive has provided the Company, within thirty (30) days of the date Executive knows or should have known of the Good Reason event, written notice reasonably summarizing the applicable facts and circumstances underlying such finding of Good Reason; (B) the Company or the successor company fails to cure such condition within thirty (30) days after receiving such written notice (the “Cure Period”) or, in the event that such grounds cannot be corrected within the Cure Period, the Company has not taken all reasonable steps within the Cure Period to correct such grounds as promptly as practicable thereafter, and (C) Executive’s resignation based on such Good Reason is effective within thirty (30) days after the expiration of the Cure Period.

 

(h) Person. “Person” shall mean an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, association or other entity or a governmental entity.

 

 

 

8. Parachute Payments.

 

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or any other agreement between the Parties, in the event that any payment or benefit by the Company or otherwise to or for the benefit of Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (all such payments and benefits, including the payments and benefits under Section 4 above, being hereinafter referred to as the “Total Payments”), would be subject (in whole or in part) to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”) or would not be deductible by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates pursuant to Section 280G of the Code (the “Deduction Loss”), then the Total Payments shall be reduced (in the order provided in Section 7(b) below) to the minimum extent necessary to avoid the imposition of the Excise Tax on the Total Payments and the Deduction Loss, but only if (i) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income and employment taxes on such reduced Total Payments), is greater than or equal to (ii) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income and employment taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of the Excise Tax to which Executive would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments). Executive shall execute any waiver or other documentation and take all other actions requested by the Company to acknowledge the reduction pursuant to this Section 7(a).

 

(b) The Total Payments shall be reduced in the following order: (i) reduction on a pro-rata basis of any cash severance payments that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”), (ii) reduction on a pro-rata basis of any non-cash severance payments or benefits that are exempt from Section 409A, (iii) reduction on a pro-rata basis of any other payments or benefits that are exempt from Section 409A, and (iv) reduction of any payments or benefits otherwise payable to Executive on a pro-rata basis or such other manner that complies with Section 409A; provided, in case of subclauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), that reduction of any payments attributable to the acceleration of vesting of Company equity awards shall be first applied to Company equity awards that would otherwise vest last in time.

 

(c) The Company will make all determinations regarding the application of this Section 7, which determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive the Company, Executive, and all other interested Persons.

 

In the event it is later determined that to implement the objective and intent of this Section 7, (i) a greater reduction in the Total Payments should have been made, the excess amount shall be returned promptly by Executive to the Company or (ii) a lesser reduction in the Total Payments should have been made, the excess amount shall be paid or provided promptly by the Company to Executive, except to the extent the Company reasonably determines would result in imposition of a penalty tax under Section 409A.

 

9. Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

(a) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed, construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with its express terms, and otherwise in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of California without reference to the principles of conflicts of law of the State of California or any other jurisdiction that would result in application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than the State of California, and where applicable, the laws of the United States.

 

(b) Indemnification. The Company agrees that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, if Executive is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that Executive is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company, or its subsidiaries or Affiliates, Executive shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company, and its subsidiaries or Affiliates, against, and, subject to the delivery by Executive of a customary undertaking with respect to advanced expenses, shall receive expense advancement for, all reasonable costs, charges and expenses incurred or suffered by Executive in connection therewith (including reasonable legal fees). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8(b), no indemnification may be made to Executive or on Executive’s behalf hereunder (i) if the Board determines that Executive is not entitled to indemnification under applicable law, or (ii) with respect to any claims in a Proceeding where such claims are brought by (A) the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates, or their respective directors or officers in their capacities as such, other than related to a shareholder derivative action, or (B) by Executive (or Executive’s successors or assigns). Without limitation of the foregoing, during the Term the Company shall maintain directors & officers’ insurance coverage (and any other insurance policies the Company may maintain generally for the benefit of its directors and officers) for Executive in his roles.

 

 

 

(c) Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(d) Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand, document and other communication hereunder to any Party shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt) and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by email or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, as follows:

 

(i) If to the Company, to:

 

Aptera Motors Corp.

5818 El Camino Road

Carlsbad, California 92008

Attn: Sarah Cravens

Email:

 

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Lowenstein Sandler LLP

1251 Avenue of the Americas, 18th Floor

New York, NY 10020

Attn: Daniel Forman

Email:

 

(ii) If to Executive, to the last address that the Company has in its personnel records for Executive; or

 

(iii) At any other address as any Party shall have specified by notice in writing to the other Party.

 

(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. Signatures delivered by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

(f) Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement are intended by the Parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall supersede, modify or otherwise affect the Proprietary Information Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect, or supersede, modify, or otherwise affect any other restrictive covenant, invention assignment or confidentiality obligations imposed under any Policy or any other agreement between Executive and the Company or any of its Affiliates, and in the event of any conflict between this Agreement and the Proprietary Information Agreement or any such restrictive covenant, invention assignment or confidentiality obligation, the provisions which are broadest (including, without limitation, with respect to scope and duration), or otherwise most favorable to the Company, shall control. The Parties further intend that this Agreement shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of their terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of this Agreement.

 

(g) Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by Executive and a duly authorized representative of Company. By an instrument in writing similarly executed, Executive or a duly authorized representative of the Company may waive compliance by the other Party with any specifically identified provision of this Agreement that such other Party was or is obligated to comply with or perform; provided, however, that such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other or subsequent failure. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy, or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise of any other right, remedy, or power provided herein or by law or in equity.

 

 

 

(h) Construction. This Agreement shall be deemed drafted equally by both the Parties. Its language shall be construed as a whole and according to its fair meaning. Any presumption or principle that the language is to be construed against any Party shall not apply. The headings in this Agreement are only for convenience and are not intended to affect construction or interpretation. Any references to paragraphs, subparagraphs, sections, or subsections are to those parts of this Agreement, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary. Also, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary, (i) the plural includes the singular and the singular includes the plural; (ii) “and” and “or” are each used both conjunctively and disjunctively; (iii) “any”, “all”, “each”, or “every” means “any and all”, and “each and every”; (iv) “includes” and “including” are each “without limitation”; (v) “herein”, “hereof”, “hereunder” and other similar compounds of the word “here” refer to the entire Agreement and not to any particular paragraph, subparagraph, section or subsection; and (vi) all pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural as the identity of the Persons referred to may require. All determinations, interpretations, exercises of authority, or similar rights or actions by the Board or the Company hereunder shall be made by the Board or the Company, as applicable, in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

(i) Enforcement. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under present or future laws effective during the Term, such provision shall be fully severable; this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a portion of this Agreement; and the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance from this Agreement. Furthermore, in lieu of such illegal invalid or unenforceable provision there shall be added automatically as part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be legal, valid and enforceable.

 

(j) Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement any federal, state, local or foreign withholding or other taxes or charges that the Company is required to withhold. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of counsel if any questions as to the amount or requirement of withholding shall arise.

 

(k) Whistleblower Protections and Defend Trade Secrets Act Disclosure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) nothing in this Agreement prohibits Executive from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any United States governmental agency or entity in accordance with the provisions of and rules promulgated under Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or any other whistleblower protection provisions of state or federal law or regulation (including the right to receive an award for information provided to any such government agencies), and (ii) this Agreement is not intended to, and shall not, in any way prohibit, limit or otherwise interfere with Executive’s protected rights under federal, state or local law to, without notice to the Company: (A) communicate or file a charge with or provide information to a government regulator, such as, by way of example and not limitation, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), or any other self-regulatory organization; (B) participate in an investigation or proceeding conducted by a government regulator; (C) receive an award paid by a government regulator for providing information; or (D) otherwise engage in activity protected by applicable whistleblower laws. Furthermore, in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 1833, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement: (i) Executive shall not be in breach of this Agreement, and shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law (A) for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (B) for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal; and (ii) if Executive files a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company for reporting a suspected violation of law, Executive may disclose the trade secret to Executive’s attorney, and may use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if Executive files any document containing the trade secret under seal, and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

 

(l) Recoupment of Erroneously Awarded Compensation. Executive acknowledges and agrees that: (i) Executive shall be bound by and abide by the terms of any clawback policy of the Company (the “Clawback Policy”) as in effect from time to time; (ii) Executive shall cooperate and shall promptly return any incentive-based compensation that the Company determines is subject to recoupment under the Clawback Policy; and (iii) any incentive-based or other compensation paid to Executive under any agreement or arrangement with the Company which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required by such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement.

 

(m) Section 409A.

 

(i) General. The intent of the Parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with or be exempt from Section 409A and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 409A, no payment hereunder shall be accelerated or deferred unless such acceleration or deferral would not result in additional tax or interest pursuant to Section 409A. If the Company determines that any provision of this Agreement would cause Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A, the Company may (but is not obligated to), take commercially reasonable efforts to reform such provision to try to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A through good faith modifications to the minimum extent reasonably appropriate to conform with Section 409A.

 

(ii) Separation from Service. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any compensation or benefits payable under this Agreement that is considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A and is designated under this Agreement as payable upon Executive’s termination of employment shall be payable only upon Executive’s “separation from service” with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A (a “Separation from Service”).

 

 

 

(iii) Specified Employee. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if Executive is deemed by the Company at the time of Executive’s Separation from Service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A, such portion of Executive’s benefits shall not be provided to Executive prior to the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of Executive’s Separation from Service with the Company or (B) the date of Executive’s death. Upon the first business day following the expiration of the applicable Section 409A period, all payments deferred pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive (or Executive’s estate or beneficiaries), and any remaining payments due to Executive under this Agreement shall be paid as otherwise provided herein.

 

(iv) Expense Reimbursements. To the extent that any reimbursements under this Agreement are subject to Section 409A, any such reimbursements payable to Executive shall be paid to Executive no later than December 31st of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred; provided, that Executive submits Executive’s reimbursement request in accordance with applicable Policies (if any), the amount of expenses reimbursed in one year shall not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement in any subsequent year, other than medical expenses referred to in Section 105(b) of the Code, and Executive’s right to reimbursement under this Agreement will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

(v) Installments. Executive’s right to receive any installment payments under this Agreement, including without limitation any continuation salary payments that are payable on Company payroll dates, shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each such installment payment shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment as permitted under Section 409A.

 

(vi) Release. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any payments due under this Agreement as a result of Executive’s termination of employment are subject to Executive’s execution and delivery of a Release: (A) if Executive fails to execute the Release on or prior to the Release Expiration Date (as defined below) or timely revokes Executive’s acceptance of the Release thereafter, Executive shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits otherwise conditioned on the Release; and (B) in any case where Executive’s Date of Termination and the Release Expiration Date (and any applicable revocation period) plus the first regularly scheduled payroll date thereafter fall in two separate taxable years, any payments required to be made to Executive that are conditioned on the Release and are treated as nonqualified deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A shall be made in the later taxable year. For purposes hereof, “Release Expiration Date” shall mean the date that is at least twenty-one (21) days following the date upon which the Company timely delivers the Release to Executive or, in the event that Executive’s termination of employment is “in connection with an exit incentive or other employment termination program” (as such phrase is defined in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended), the date that is at least forty-five (45) days following such delivery date. To the extent that any payments of nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) due under this Agreement as a result of Executive’s termination of employment are delayed pursuant to this Section 8(m)(vi), such amounts shall be paid in a lump sum on the first payroll date following the date that Executive executes and does not revoke the Release (and the applicable revocation period has expired) or, in the case of any payments subject to Section 8(m)(vi)(C), on the first payroll period to occur in the subsequent taxable year, if later.

 

10. Prior Employment.

 

Executive represents and warrants that Executive’s acceptance of continued employment with the Company has not breached, and the continued performance of Executive’s duties hereunder will not breach, any duty owed by Executive to any prior employer or other Person. Executive further represents and warrants to the Company that (a) the continued performance of Executive’s obligations hereunder will not violate any agreement between Executive and any other Person; (b) Executive is not bound by the terms of any agreement with any previous employer or other Person to refrain from competing, directly or indirectly, with the business of such previous employer or other Person that would be violated by Executive entering into this Agreement or providing continued services to the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and (c) Executive’s continued performance of Executive’s duties under this Agreement will not require Executive to, and Executive shall not, rely on in the continued performance of Executive’s duties or disclose to the Company or any other Person or induce the Company in any way to use or rely on any trade secret or other confidential or proprietary information or material belonging to any previous employer of Executive.

 

11. Executive Acknowledgement.

 

Executive acknowledges that Executive has read and understands this Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, has not acted in reliance upon any representations or promises made by the Company other than those contained in writing herein, and has entered into this Agreement freely based on Executive’s own judgment.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the date and year first above written.

 

  APTERA MOTORS CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Blake Ryan
  Name:  Blake Ryan
  Title: VP Finance
     
  EXECUTIVE
     
  /s/ Steve Fambro
  Steve Fambro

 

 

 

EX-10.3 4 ex10-3.htm EX-10.3

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

INTERIM CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ENGAGEMENT LETTER

 

This Engagement Letter (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of August 25, 2025 by and between Aptera Motors Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Tom DaPolito (“Consultant”).

 

This Agreement supersedes and replaces any prior consulting agreements between the Company and Consultant.

 

1. Engagement and Term

 

The Company hereby engages Consultant to serve as its Interim Chief Financial Officer, and Consultant accepts such engagement. The term of this Agreement (the “Term”) shall commence on the date that the Company’s Class B common stock begins trading on a national securities exchange (“Listing Date”) and shall continue for a period of one (1) year, unless terminated earlier pursuant to the provisions of Section 6 of this Agreement.

 

2. Services and Responsibilities

 

Consultant shall have the duties, responsibilities, and authority commensurate with the role of a Chief Financial Officer at a publicly-traded company. Consultant’s services (the “Services”) shall include, but are not limited to:

 

Oversight of all accounting and financial reporting functions, including the preparation and filing of the Company’s reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Leading the Company’s financial planning and analysis (FP&A), budgeting, and forecasting.
Managing treasury, cash management, and capital allocation strategies.
Maintaining and overseeing the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
Serving as the primary financial liaison to the Company’s independent auditors, the Board of Directors, and the Audit Committee.
Assisting the Chief Executive Officer with investor relations and capital raising activities.

 

Consultant agrees to devote his full professional time, attention, and best efforts to the performance of the Services, which is expected to be approximately forty (40) hours per week.

 

3. Compensation

 

In consideration for the Services rendered, the Company shall provide Consultant with the following compensation:

 

a. Cash Retainer: The Company shall pay Consultant a monthly cash retainer of $30,000, payable in arrears in accordance with the Company’s standard payment schedule.
b. Equity Compensation: Subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors (or a committee thereof), the Company shall grant Consultant, on a quarterly basis, stock options under the Company’s 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The number of options granted each quarter shall be determined by dividing $65,880 by the fair value of a stock option on the date of grant, as determined by the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Each quarterly grant shall vest immediately upon grant and will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and a separate award agreement.

 

4. Conflicts of Interest and Other Activities

 

Consultant represents and warrants that he has no other agreements, relationships, or commitments that would create a conflict of interest with his obligations to the Company under this Agreement. During the Term, Consultant agrees not to engage in any other employment, consulting, or other business activity that is competitive with the business of the Company, particularly with any other solar or electric vehicle company. Consultant agrees to promptly disclose to the Company’s Board of Directors any potential conflict of interest that may arise.

 

 

 

5. Existing Equity Awards

 

In the event this Agreement is terminated by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 6(a), the vesting of any and all outstanding and unvested stock option awards previously granted to Consultant by the Company shall be accelerated in full, such that they become immediately and fully vested and exercisable as of the effective date of termination.

 

6. Independent Contractor Status

 

Consultant’s relationship with the Company will be that of an independent contractor, and nothing in this Agreement is intended to, or should be construed to, create a partnership, agency, joint venture, or employment relationship. Consultant will not be eligible for any of the employee benefits available to the Company’s employees.

 

7. Termination

 

a. Without Cause: Either party may terminate this Agreement without cause upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the other party.
b. For Cause: The Company may terminate this Agreement for Cause at any time, effective immediately upon written notice. “Cause” shall mean Consultant’s (i) conviction of a felony; (ii) gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of the Services; or (iii) material breach of this Agreement that is not cured within thirty (30) days of written notice.

 

8. Confidentiality and Intellectual Property

 

The provisions regarding ownership of intellectual property and confidentiality as set forth in Consultant’s prior consulting agreement dated May 15, 2023, are incorporated herein by reference.

 

9. Indemnification

 

The Company shall indemnify and hold Consultant harmless to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law and the Company’s bylaws for any and all claims arising from his service as Interim Chief Financial Officer. The Company agrees to cover Consultant under its Directors and Officers (D&O) liability insurance policy on terms no less favorable than those provided to other executive officers of the Company.

 

10. Governing Law

 

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

APTERA MOTORS CORP.  
     
By: /s/ Chris Anthony  
Name: Chris Anthony  
Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer  

 

CONSULTANT  
     
By: /s/ Tom DaPolito  
Name: Tom DaPolito  

 

 

 

EX-10.4 5 ex10-4.htm EX-10.4

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

Adopted by the Board of Directors on August 19, 2025

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of ____________, by and between Aptera Motors Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and ______________ (“Indemnitee”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve corporations as directors or officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation and due to the fact that such exposure frequently bears no relationship to compensation paid to such officers and directors;

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee recognize that plaintiffs often seek damages in such large amounts and the costs of litigation may be so enormous (whether or not the case is meritorious), that the defense and/or settlement of such litigation is often beyond the personal resources of directors and officers;

 

WHEREAS, the Company’s Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) provide for the indemnification of the directors and officers of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). The Bylaws expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive and contemplate that agreements may be entered into between the Company and its directors and officers with respect to indemnification;

 

WHEREAS, Section 145 of the DGCL empowers the Company to indemnify its officers, directors, employees and agents by agreement and to indemnify persons who serve, at the Company’s request, as the directors, officers, employees or agents of other corporations or enterprises;

 

WHEREAS, Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL allows the Company to include in its Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) a provision limiting or eliminating the personal liability of a director or officer for monetary damages in respect of claims by stockholders and corporations for breach of certain fiduciary duties, and the Company has so provided in its Certificate of Incorporation that each director and officer shall be exculpated from such liability to the maximum extent permitted by law;

 

WHEREAS, the Company, after reasonable investigation, has determined that the liability insurance coverage presently available to the Company may be inadequate in certain circumstances to cover all possible exposure for which Indemnitee should be protected;

 

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining highly competent persons to serve as directors and officers; WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto as well as any rights of Indemnitee under any directors’ and officer’s liability insurance, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1. Services to the Company. Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company or, at the request of the Company, as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the Company’s request as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee was serving at the Company’s request as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee was serving at the Company’s request as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary). The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as an officer or director of the Company as provided in Section 25 hereof.

 

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Section 2. Definitions. As used in this Agreement:

 

(a) A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

i. Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative Beneficial Ownership of the Company’s securities by the Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

ii. Change in Board. During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section 2(a)i, Section 2(a)iii or Section 2(a)iv) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

iii. Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 51% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity;

 

iv. Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

 

v. Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

For purposes of this Section 2(a), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(A) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

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(B) “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(C) “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

 

(b) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, trustee, partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(c) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(d) “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and other costs of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with, or as a result of, prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a deponent or witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, (ii) Expenses incurred in connection with recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be, and (iii) for purposes of Section 13(d) only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, by litigation or otherwise. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(e) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

-4-

 

(f) “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, regulatory or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee (or failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action pursuant to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement; except one initiated by an Indemnitee to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

(g) References to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

(h) In the absence of a conflict of interest, no failure to satisfy the balancing requirement described in Subchapter XV of the DGCL shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, constitute an act or omission not in good faith, or a breach of the fiduciary duty of loyalty. An Indemnitee’s ownership of or other interest in the stock of the Company shall not alone, for the purposes of this Agreement, create a conflict of interest on the part of the Indemnitee with respect to the Indemnitee’s decision implicating the balancing requirement in Subchapter XV of the DGCL, except to the extent that such ownership or interest would create a conflict of interest if the Company was not a public benefit corporation.

 

Section 3. Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. The parties hereto intend that this Agreement shall provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for indemnification in excess of that expressly permitted by statute, including, without limitation, any indemnification provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of the Company’s stockholders or disinterested directors or applicable law.

 

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Section 4. Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

Section 5. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law. For purposes of this Section and without limiting the foregoing, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

Section 6. Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness; Partial Indemnification.

 

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness, is or was made (or asked) to respond to discovery requests in any Proceeding, or is otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

(b) If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

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Section 7. Additional Indemnification.

 

(a) Notwithstanding any limitation in Section 3, Section 4, or Section 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, is a party to or threatened to be made a party to or a participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor).

 

(b) For purposes of Section 7(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

 

i. to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

 

ii. to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

Section 8. Exclusions. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any claim involving Indemnitee:

 

(a) for any Proceedings with respect to which final judgment is rendered against Indemnitee for payment of (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(a) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law, (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) or (iii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to the Aptera Motors Corp. Compensation Recovery Policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act, or

 

(b) any Proceeding involving the enforcement of non-compete and/or non-disclosure agreements or the non-compete and/or non-disclosure provisions of employment, consulting or similar agreements the Indemnitee may be a party to with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any other applicable foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, if any; or

 

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(c) except as provided in Section 13(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law, or

 

(d) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision.

 

Section 9. Advances of Expenses. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement to the contrary (other than Section 13(d)), the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee by or on behalf of Indemnitee by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status in connection with any Proceeding (or part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee or any Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee with the prior approval of the Board as provided for in Section 8(c), and such advancement shall be made within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement by Indemnitee constitutes an undertaking by the Indemnitee to repay any amounts paid, advanced or reimbursed by the Company pursuant to this Section 9 in respect of Expenses relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Proceeding in respect of which it shall be determined, pursuant to Section 11, following the final disposition of such Proceeding, that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification hereunder. No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. In accordance with Section 13(d), advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. This Section 9 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 8 or to any Proceeding for which the Company has assumed the defense thereof in accordance with Section 10(b) of this Agreement.

 

Section 10. Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim.

 

(a) Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof. The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding. The omission by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement unless, and to the extent that, such failure actually and materially prejudices the interests of the Company, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

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(b) In the event that Indemnitee notifies the Company that Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder pursuant to Section 10(a), the Company may, at its option, assume the defense of such Proceeding, with counsel reasonably acceptable to Indemnitee, upon delivery of written notice of its election to do so. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same Proceeding, provided that (1) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ Indemnitee’s own counsel in such Proceeding at Indemnitee’s expense and (2) if (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized in writing by the Company, (ii) counsel to the Company or counsel to Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest or position, or reasonably believes that a conflict is likely to arise, on any significant issue between the Company and the Indemnitee in the conduct of such defense or (iii) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding, then the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s counsel shall be at the expense of the Company, except as otherwise expressly provided by this Agreement.

 

(c) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

(d) The Company shall not settle any Proceeding (in whole or in part) if such settlement would impose any Expense, judgment, liability, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee in respect of which Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Section 11. Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

 

(a) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a), a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred after the date of this Agreement, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred after the date of this Agreement, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

 

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(b) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 11(b). If a Change in Control shall not have occurred after the date of this Agreement, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Change in Control shall have occurred after the date of this Agreement, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Court or by such other person as the Court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 11(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 13(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

Section 12. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 10(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

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(b) Subject to Section 13(e), if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 11 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 12(b) shall not apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement.

 

(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(d) Reliance as Safe Harbor. For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Company or other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Company or other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Company or other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company or other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary. The provisions of this Section 12(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

 

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(e) Actions of Others. The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Company or other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee was serving as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

Section 13. Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a) Subject to Section 13(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5 or Section 6 or the last sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, Section 4 or Section 7 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 13(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under Section 5 of this Agreement. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

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(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d) The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder. The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, if, in the case of indemnification, Indemnitee is wholly successful on the underlying claims; if Indemnitee is not wholly successful on the underlying claims, then such indemnification shall be only to the extent Indemnitee is successful on such underlying claims or otherwise as permitted by law, whichever is greater.

 

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

Section 14. Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance.

 

(a) The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise and shall be interpreted independently of, and without reference to, any other such rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

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(b) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company and the Indemnitee shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(c) The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.

 

(d) The Company hereby acknowledges that, in addition to the rights provided in Article VIII of the Bylaws and this Agreement, Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of Expenses and/or insurance (an “Indemnity Right”) provided by another Person, whether now or in the future (a “Third Party Indemnitor”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company hereby agrees that in the event Indemnitee has an Indemnity Right, the Company (A) is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to indemnify Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of the applicable Third Party Indemnitor or such Third Party Indemnitor’s insurers to advance Expenses or to provide indemnification for the same Expenses or liabilities incurred by Indemnitee is secondary and excess); (B) shall be required to advance the full amount of Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf to the extent legally permitted and as required hereunder, without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against the Third Party Indemnitor or such Third Party Indemnitor’s insurers; and (C) irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Third Party Indemnitor and such Third Party Indemnitor’s insurers from any and all claims against the Third Party Indemnitor or such Third Party Indemnitor’s insurers for contribution, by way of subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the Company agrees that in the event that any Third Party Indemnitor or such Third Party Indemnitor’s insurer should advance any Expenses or make any payment to Indemnitee for matters subject to advancement or indemnification by the Company pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, the Company shall promptly reimburse such Third Party Indemnitor or insurer and that such Third Party Indemnitor or insurer shall be subrogated to all of the claims or rights of Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise including to the payment of Expenses in an action to collect. The Company agrees that any Third Party Indemnitor or such Third Party Indemnitor’s insurer not a party hereto shall be an express third party beneficiary of this Section 14, able to enforce such Section 14 of this Agreement according to its terms.

 

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Section 15. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

Section 16. Enforcement. The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as a director or officer of the Company.

 

Section 17. Entire Agreement. Supersedes Prior Agreements. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any directors’ and officer’s insurance maintained by the Company, any employment agreement between the Company and Indemnitee and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 18. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 19. Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise except to the extent the Company is prejudiced in its defense of such action, suit or proceeding as a result of such failure.

 

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Section 20. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

 

(a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

(b) If to the Company to:

 

Aptera Motors Corp.

5818 El Camino Real

Carlsbad, California 92008

Attention: [●]

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

Section 21. Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

 

Section 22. Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, irrevocably Corporation Services Company as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

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Section 23. Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 24. Miscellaneous. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

Section 25. Duration of Agreement. This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding (including any appeal thereof) commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13 of this Agreement relating thereto. The indemnification and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of the Company or of any other of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives. The Company shall require and shall cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company to, by written agreement, expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

APTERA MOTORS CORP.  
     
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

INDEMNITEE  
     
Name:    
     
Address:    
     
     

 

[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]

 

 

 

EX-10.5 6 ex10-5.htm EX-10.5

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

APTERA MOTORS CORP.

2025 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1. Establishment and Purpose

 

1.1 The purpose of the Aptera Motors Corp. 2025 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Plan”), is to provide a means whereby eligible employees, officers, non-employee directors and other service providers develop a sense of proprietorship and personal involvement in the development and financial success of the Company (as defined herein) and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to the business of the Company, thereby advancing the interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of such eligible persons and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

1.2 The Plan permits the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Incentive Bonus Awards, Other Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. This Plan shall become effective upon the date set forth in Section 17.1 hereof.

 

2. Definitions

 

Wherever the following capitalized terms are used in the Plan, they shall have the meanings specified below:

 

2.1 “Affiliate” means, with respect to a Person, a Person that directly or indirectly Controls, or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such Person.

 

2.2 “Applicable Law” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards or equity compensation plans under U.S. 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 foreign country or jurisdiction that applies to Awards.

 

2.3 “Award” means an award of a Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Stock Unit, Incentive Bonus Award, Other Cash-Based Award and/or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.

 

2.4 “Award Agreement” means either (i) a written or electronic agreement entered into between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award, including any amendment or modification thereof, or (ii) a written or electronic statement issued by the Company to a Participant describing the terms and provisions of such Award, including any amendment or modification thereof. The Committee may provide for the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper Award Agreements, and the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper means for the acceptance thereof and actions thereunder by a Participant. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and need not be identical.

 

 

 

2.5 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2.6 “Cause” means a Participant’s (i) indictment for or conviction of, or the entry of a plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or any other crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude or that causes the Company or its Affiliates disgrace or disrepute, or adversely affects the Company’s or its Affiliates’ operations or financial performance or the relationship the Company or its Affiliates have with their respective customers, (ii) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or any of its Affiliates, including, without limitation fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, theft or dishonesty (A) in the course of Participant’s employment or other service or (B) otherwise which is injurious to the Company or any of its Affiliates; (iii) failure to perform at a level of effort or results commensurate with such Participant’s role or responsibilities; (iv) refusal to perform any obligation or fulfill any duty (other than any duty or obligation of the type described in clause (vi) below) to the Company or its Affiliates (other than due to a disability); (v) breach of any agreement with or duty owed to the Company or any of its Affiliates; (vi) any breach of any obligation or duty to the Company or any of its Affiliates (whether arising by statute, common law or agreement) relating to confidentiality, noncompetition, nonsolicitation or proprietary rights; (vii) any breach of any policy of the Company or its Affiliates or any action that the Board, determines is reasonably likely to cause the Company or its Affiliates disgrace or disrepute; (viii) repeatedly (i.e., on more than one occasion) being under the influence of drugs or alcohol (other than over-the-counter or prescription medicine or other medically-related drugs to the extent they are taken in accordance with their directions or under the supervision of a physician) which interferes with the performance of a Participant’s duties to the Company or any of its Affiliates, or, while under the influence of such drugs or alcohol, engaging in inappropriate conduct during the performance of a Participant’s duties to the Company or any of its Affiliates; or (ix) engaging in any act or discrimination or harassment or any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant and the Company (or any of its Affiliates) have entered into an employment agreement, consulting agreement or other similar agreement that specifically defines “cause,” then with respect to such Participant, “Cause” shall have the meaning defined in that employment agreement, consulting agreement or other agreement.

 

2.7 “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if any one of the following events shall occur, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions:

 

(i) Any Person becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13(d)-3 under the Exchange Act) of shares of Common Stock representing more than 50% of the total number of votes that may be cast for the election of directors of the Company; or

 

(ii) The consummation of any (a) merger, consolidation, acquisition, reorganization, statutory exchange or other business combination of the Company, (b) sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, in one or a series of related transactions, or (c) combination of the foregoing transactions (a “Transaction”), other than a Transaction (A) involving only the Company and one or more of its subsidiaries, (B) Transaction immediately following which the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the Transaction continue to have a majority of the voting power in the resulting or surviving entity, or (C) following which the Incumbent Directors at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or other action of the Board providing for such Transaction continue to constitute a majority of the directors of the resulting or surviving entity; or

 

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(iii) Within any twelve (12)-month period beginning on or after the Effective Date, the persons who were directors of the Company immediately before the beginning of such period (the “Incumbent Directors”) shall cease (for any reason other than death) to constitute at least a majority of the Board (or the board of directors of any successor to the Company); provided that any director who was not a director as of the date hereof shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director if such director was elected to the Board by, or on the recommendation of or with the approval of, at least two-thirds of the directors who then qualified as Incumbent Directors either actually or by prior operation of the foregoing unless such election, recommendation or approval was the result of an actual or threatened election contest of the type contemplated by Rule 14a-11 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor provision; or

 

(iv) The shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no event or condition shall constitute a Change in Control to the extent that, if it were, a penalty tax would be imposed under Section 409A of the Code; provided that, in such a case, the event or condition shall continue to constitute a Change in Control to the maximum extent possible (e.g., if applicable, in respect of vesting without an acceleration of distribution) without causing the imposition of such penalty tax and (ii) no Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred, and no rights arising upon a Change in Control as provided in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall exist, to the extent that the Board so determines by resolution adopted and not rescinded prior to the Change in Control; provided, however, that no such determination by the Board shall be effective if it would cause a Participant to be subject to a penalty tax under Section 409A of the Code.

 

2.8 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. For purposes of this Plan, references to sections of the Code shall be deemed to include references to any applicable regulations thereunder and any successor or similar provision.

 

2.9 “Committee” means the committee of the Board delegated with the authority to administer the Plan, or the full Board, as provided in Section 3 of the Plan. With respect to any decision relating to a Reporting Person, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more directors who are disinterested within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor provision. The fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify under any of these requirements shall not invalidate an Award if the Award is otherwise validly made under the Plan. The Board may at any time appoint additional members to the Committee, remove and replace members of the Committee with or without cause, and fill vacancies on the Committee however caused.

 

2.10 “Common Stock” means the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

 

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2.11 “Company” means Aptera Motors Corp., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto as provided in Section 15.8.

 

2.12 “Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an employee, director or consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. A change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an employee, director or consultant or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, will not terminate a Participant’s Continuous Service; provided, however, that if the entity for which a Participant is rendering services ceases to qualify as an Affiliate, as determined by the Committee, such Participant’s Continuous Service will be considered to have terminated on the date such entity ceases to qualify as an Affiliate. For example, a change in status from an employee of the Company to a consultant of an Affiliate or to a director will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a leave of absence will be treated as Continuous Service for purposes of vesting in an Award only to such extent as may be provided in the Company’s (or an Affiliate’s) leave of absence policy, in the written terms of any leave of absence agreement or policy applicable to the Participant, or as otherwise required by Applicable Law or permitted by the Committee. Unless the Committee provides otherwise, or as otherwise required by Applicable Law, vesting of Awards shall be tolled during any unpaid leave of absence by a Participant.

 

2.13 “Control” means, as to any Person, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, or the power to appoint directors of the Company, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise (the terms “Controlled by” and “under common Control with” shall have correlative meanings).

 

2.14 “Date of Grant” means the date on which an Award under the Plan is granted by the Committee, or such later date as the Committee may specify to be the effective date of an Award.

 

2.15 “Disability” means a Participant being considered “disabled” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(i)(4), as well as any successor regulation or interpretation.

 

2.16 “Effective Date” means the date set forth in Section 17.1 hereof.

 

2.17 “Eligible Person” means any Person who is an employee, officer, director, consultant, advisor or other service provider of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any Person who is determined by the Committee to be a prospective employee, officer, director, consultant, advisor or other service provider of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

2.18 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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2.19 “Fair Market Value” of a share of Common Stock shall be, as applied to a specific date (i) the closing price of a share of Common Stock as of such date on the principal established stock exchange or national market system on which the Common Stock is then traded (or, if there is no trading in the Common Stock as of such date, the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the most recent date preceding such date on which trades of the Common Stock were recorded), or (ii) if the shares of Common Stock are not then traded on an established stock exchange or national market system but are then traded in an over-the-counter market, the average of the closing bid and asked prices for the shares of Common Stock in such over-the-counter market as of such date (or, if there are no closing bid and asked prices for the shares of Common Stock as of such date, the average of the closing bid and the asked prices for the shares of Common Stock on the most recent date preceding such date on which such closing bid and asked prices are available on such over-the-counter market), or (iii) if the shares of Common Stock are not then listed on a national securities exchange or national market system or traded in an over-the-counter market, the price of a share of Common Stock as determined by the Committee in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iv), as well as any successor regulation or interpretation.

 

2.20 “Incentive Bonus Award” means an Award granted under Section 12 of the Plan.

 

2.21 “Incentive Stock Option” means a Stock Option granted under Section 6 hereof that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

2.22 “Nonqualified Stock Option” means a Stock Option granted under Section 6 hereof that by its terms does not qualify, or is not intended to qualify, as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

2.23 “Other Cash-Based Award” means a contractual right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 13 hereof entitling such Eligible Person to receive a cash payment at such times, and subject to such conditions, as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

2.24 “Other Stock-Based Award” means a contractual right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 13 representing a notional unit interest equal in value to a share of Common Stock to be paid and distributed at such times, and subject to such conditions as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

2.25 “Outside Director” means a director of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary.

 

2.26 “Participant” means any Eligible Person who holds an outstanding Award under the Plan.

 

2.27 “Person” shall mean, unless otherwise provided, any individual, partnership, firm, trust, corporation, limited liability company or other similar entity. When two or more Persons act as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate or other group for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of Common Stock, such partnership, limited partnership, syndicate or group shall be deemed a “Person”.

 

2.28 “Performance Goals” shall mean performance goals established by the Committee as contingencies for the grant, exercise, vesting, distribution, payment and/or settlement, as applicable, of Awards.

 

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2.29 “Performance Shares” means a contractual right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 10 hereof representing a notional unit interest equal in value to a share of Common Stock to be paid and distributed at such times, and subject to such conditions, as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

2.30 “Performance Stock Unit” means a contractual right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 11 hereof representing a notional dollar interest as determined by the Committee to be paid and distributed at such times, and subject to such conditions, as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

2.31 “Plan” has the meaning given to such term in Section 1 hereof.

 

2.32 “Reporting Person” means an officer, director or greater than ten (10) percent stockholder of the Company within the meaning of Rule 16a-2 under the Exchange Act, who is required to file reports pursuant to Rule 16a-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

2.33 “Restricted Stock Award” means a grant of shares of Common Stock to an Eligible Person under Section 8 hereof that are issued subject to such vesting and transfer restrictions and such other conditions as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

2.34 “Restricted Stock Unit Award” means a contractual right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 9 hereof representing notional unit interests equal in value to a share of Common Stock to be paid and distributed at such times, and subject to such conditions, as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

2.35 “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

2.36 “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a contractual right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 7 hereof entitling such Eligible Person to receive a payment, upon the exercise of such right, in such amount and at such time, and subject to such conditions, as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

2.37 “Stock Option” means a contractual right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6 hereof to purchase shares of Common Stock at such time and price, and subject to such conditions, as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

2.38 “Subsidiary” means an entity (whether or not a corporation) that is wholly or majority owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company; provided, however, that with respect to Incentive Stock Options, the term “Subsidiary” shall include only an entity that qualifies under section 424(f) of the Code as a “subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company.

 

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3. Administration

 

3.1 Committee Members. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee; provided that the entire Board may act in lieu of the Committee on any matter, subject to Section 16b-3 Award requirements referred to in Section 2.9 of the Plan. If and to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Committee may authorize one or more Reporting Persons (or other officers) to make Awards to Eligible Persons who are not Reporting Persons (or other officers whom the Committee has specifically authorized to make Awards). Subject to Applicable Law and the restrictions set forth in the Plan, the Committee may delegate administrative functions to individuals who are Reporting Persons, officers, or employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

 

3.2 Committee Authority. The Committee shall have such powers and authority as may be necessary or appropriate for the Committee to carry out its functions as described in the Plan. Subject to the express limitations of the Plan, the Committee shall have authority to determine the Eligible Persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards may be granted, the number of shares, units or other rights subject to each Award, the exercise, base or purchase price of an Award (if any), the time or times at which an Award will become vested, exercisable or payable, the performance criteria, performance goals and other conditions of an Award, the duration of the Award, and all other terms of the Award. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have authority to amend the terms of an Award in any manner that is not inconsistent with the Plan (including without limitation to determine, add, cancel, waive, amend or otherwise alter any restrictions, terms or conditions of any Award, or extend the post-termination exercisability period of any Stock Option and/or Stock Appreciation Right); to reduce the exercise or base price of any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right to the then current Fair Market Value if the Fair Market Value of a share of the Common Stock covered by such Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall have declined since the date such Award was granted; and except as permitted herein, provided further that no such action shall materially and adversely affect the rights of a Participant with respect to an outstanding Award without the Participant’s consent (for purposes of the foregoing, any action that causes an Incentive Stock Option to be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option shall not be considered to have adversely affected a Participant’s rights). The Committee shall also have authority to approve forms of Award Agreement, interpret the Plan, to make all factual determinations under the Plan, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for Plan administration, including, without limitation, to correct any defect, to supply any omission or to reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement. The Committee may prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by the Committee selectively among Participants and Eligible Persons, whether or not such persons are similarly situated. The Committee shall consider such factors as it deems relevant in making its interpretations, determinations and actions under the Plan including, without limitation, the recommendations or advice of any officer or employee of the Company or such attorneys, consultants, accountants or other advisors as it may select. All determinations, interpretations, exercises of authority or other actions made by the Committee or Company under the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be taken or made by the Committee or Company, as applicable, in their sole and absolute discretion, and shall be final and binding on all persons, including, without limitation, the Company and all Participants.

 

3.3 No Liability; Indemnification. Neither the Board nor any Committee member, nor any Person acting at the direction of the Board or the Committee, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall pay or reimburse any member of the Committee, as well as any other Person who takes action on behalf of the Plan, for all reasonable expenses incurred with respect to the Plan, and to the full extent allowable under Applicable Law shall indemnify each and every one of them for any claims, liabilities, and costs (including reasonable attorney’s fees) arising out of their good faith performance of duties on behalf of the Company with respect to the Plan. The Company and its Subsidiaries may, but shall not be required to, obtain liability insurance for this purpose.

 

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4. Shares Subject to the Plan

 

4.1 Plan Share Limitation.

 

(a) Subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 4.3 and any other applicable provisions hereof, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under all Awards granted to Participants under the Plan shall be 14,000,000 shares, all of which may, but need not, be issued in respect of Incentive Stock Options.

 

(b) Shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan may be either authorized but unissued shares or shares held in the Company’s treasury. To the extent that any Award payable in shares of Common Stock is forfeited, canceled, returned to the Company for failure to satisfy vesting requirements or upon the occurrence of other forfeiture events, or otherwise terminates without payment being made thereunder, the shares of Common Stock covered thereby will no longer be counted against the foregoing maximum share limitations and may again be made subject to Awards under the Plan pursuant to such limitations. Awards settled in cash shall not count against the foregoing maximum share limitation. Shares of Common Stock that otherwise would have been issued upon the exercise of a Stock Option or SAR or in payment with respect to any other form of Award, but are surrendered in payment or partial payment of the exercise price thereof and/or taxes withheld with respect to the exercise thereof or the making of such payment, will no longer be counted against the foregoing maximum share limitations and may again be made subject to Awards under the Plan pursuant to such limitations. This Section 4.1(b) shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

 

4.2 Outside Director Limitation. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, the accounting value of Awards granted under the Plan to any Outside Director during any calendar year shall not exceed $750,000 (inclusive of any cash awards to an Outside Director for such year that are not made pursuant to the Plan); provided that in the case of a new Outside Director, such amount shall be increased to $1,000,000 for the initial year of the Outside Director’s term.

 

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4.3 Adjustments. If there shall occur any change with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock by reason of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, extraordinary dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, or other distribution with respect to the shares of Common Stock, or any merger, reorganization, consolidation, combination, spin-off or other similar corporate change, or any other change affecting the Common Stock, or any other corporate transaction directly or indirectly affecting the Awards or the Performance Goals or the Company’s financial performance, conditions or results of operations, the Committee shall, in the manner and to the extent that it deems appropriate and equitable to the Participants and consistent with the terms of the Plan, cause an adjustment to be made in (i) the maximum numbers and kind of shares provided in Section 4.1 hereof, (ii) the numbers and kind of shares of Common Stock, units, or other rights subject to then outstanding Awards, (iii) the price for each share or unit or other right subject to then outstanding Awards, (iv) the performance measures or goals relating to the vesting of an Award, including, without limitation, any Performance Goals, and (v) any other terms of an Award that are affected by the event to prevent dilution or enlargement of a Participant’s rights under an Award. The Committee shall make appropriate adjustments in the terms of any Awards to reflect or relate to such changes in distributions and to modify any other terms of outstanding Awards, such as modifying performance goals and changing the length of any performance period without Participant consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, any such adjustments shall, to the extent practicable, be made in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent of any conflict between this Section 4.3 and the terms of any Award Agreement, this Section 4.3 shall control, unless such Award Agreement specifically references that it controls over this Section 4.3.

 

5. Participation and Awards

 

5.1 Designation of Participants. All Eligible Persons are eligible to be designated by the Committee to receive Awards and become Participants under the Plan. The Committee has the authority to determine and designate from time to time those Eligible Persons who are to be granted Awards, the types of Awards to be granted and the number of shares of Common Stock or units subject to Awards granted under the Plan. In selecting Eligible Persons to be Participants and in determining the type and amount of Awards to be granted under the Plan, the Committee shall consider any and all factors that it deems relevant or appropriate.

 

5.2 Determination of Awards. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of all Awards granted to Participants in accordance with its authority under Section 3.2 hereof. An Award may consist of one type of right or benefit hereunder or of two or more such rights or benefits granted in tandem or in the alternative. To the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, an Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement as described in Section 15.1 hereof.

 

6. Stock Options

 

6.1 Grant of Stock Option. A Stock Option may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.6 hereof and Section 422 of the Code, each Stock Option shall be designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option or as a Nonqualified Stock Option.

 

6.2 Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of a Stock Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant, subject to adjustments as provided for under Section 4.3.

 

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6.3 Vesting of Stock Options. The Committee shall prescribe the time or times at which, or the conditions upon which, a Stock Option or portion thereof shall become vested and/or exercisable in an Award Agreement or as otherwise may be adjusted from time to time including by way of adjustment contemplated by this Plan. The requirements for vesting and exercisability of a Stock Option may be based on the Continuous Service of the Participant for a specified time period (or periods) and/or on the attainment of a specified performance goal (or goals) established by the Committee. The Committee may accelerate the vesting or exercisability of any Stock Option at any time. The Committee may allow a Participant to exercise unvested Nonqualified Stock Options, in which case the shares of Common Stock then issued shall be Restricted Stock having analogous vesting restrictions to the unvested Nonqualified Stock Options.

 

6.4 Term of Stock Options. The Committee shall prescribe in an Award Agreement the period during which a vested Stock Option may be exercised, provided that the maximum term of a Stock Option shall be ten (10) years from the Date of Grant. A Stock Option may be earlier terminated as specified by the Committee and set forth in an Award Agreement upon or following the termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service for any reason, including by reason of voluntary resignation, death, Disability, termination for Cause or any other reason. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6 or in an Award Agreement as such agreement may be amended from time to time upon authorization of the Committee, no Stock Option may be exercised at any time during the term thereof unless the Participant is then in Continuous Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless an Award Agreement provides otherwise:

 

(a) If a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates by reason of his or her death, any Stock Option held by such Participant may, to the extent then exercisable, be exercised by such Participant’s estate or any Person who acquires the right to exercise such Stock Option by bequest or inheritance at any time in accordance with its terms for up to one (1) year after the date of such Participant’s death (but in no event after the earlier of the expiration of the term of such Stock Option or such time as the Stock Option is otherwise canceled or terminated in accordance with its terms). Upon expiration of such one-year period, no portion of the Stock Option held by such Participant shall be exercisable and the Stock Option shall be deemed to be canceled, forfeited and of no further force or effect.

 

(b) If a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates by reason of his or her Disability, any Stock Option held by such Participant may, to the extent then exercisable, be exercised by the Participant or his or her personal representative at any time in accordance with its terms for up to one (1) year after the date of such Participant’s termination of Continuous Service (but in no event after the earlier of the expiration of the term of such Stock Option or such time as the Stock Option is otherwise canceled or terminated in accordance with its terms). Upon expiration of such one-year period, no portion of the Stock Option held by such Participant shall be exercisable and the Stock Option shall be deemed to be canceled, forfeited and of no further force or effect.

 

(c) If a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates for any reason other than death, Disability or Cause, any Stock Option held by such Participant may, to the extent then exercisable, be exercised by the Participant up until ninety (90) days following such termination of Continuous Service (but in no event after the earlier of the expiration of the term of such Stock Option or such time as the Stock Option is otherwise canceled or terminated in accordance with its terms). Upon expiration of such 90-day period, no portion of the Stock Option held by such Participant shall be exercisable and the Stock Option shall be deemed to be canceled, forfeited and of no further force or effect.

 

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(d) To the extent that a Stock Option of a Participant whose Continuous Service terminates for any reason other than Cause is not exercisable, such Stock Option shall be deemed forfeited and canceled on the ninetieth (90th) day after such termination of Continuous Service or at such earlier time as the Committee may determine.

 

6.5 Stock Option Exercise. Subject to such terms and conditions as shall be specified in an Award Agreement, a Stock Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the term thereof by notice in the form required by the Company, and payment of the aggregate exercise price by certified or bank check, or such other means as the Committee may accept. As set forth in an Award Agreement or otherwise determined by the Committee, at or after grant, payment in full or in part of the exercise price of an Option may be made: (i) in the form of shares of Common Stock that have been held by the Participant for such period as the Committee may deem appropriate for accounting purposes or otherwise, valued at the Fair Market Value of such shares on the date of exercise; (ii) by surrendering to the Company shares of Common Stock otherwise receivable on exercise of the Option; (iii) by a cashless exercise program implemented by the Committee in connection with the Plan; (iv) subject to the approval of the Committee, by a full recourse, interest bearing promissory note having such terms as the Committee may permit and/or (v) by such other method as may be approved by the Committee. Subject to any governing rules or regulations, as soon as practicable after receipt of written notification of exercise and full payment of the exercise price and satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding pursuant to Section 16.5, the Company shall deliver to the Participant evidence of book entry shares of Common Stock or Common Stock certificates in an appropriate amount based upon the number of shares of Common Stock purchased under the Option. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, all payments under all of the methods indicated above shall be paid in United States dollars or shares of Common Stock, as applicable.

 

6.6 Additional Rules for Incentive Stock Options.

 

(a) Eligibility. An Incentive Stock Option may only be granted to an Eligible Person who is considered an employee under Treasury Regulation §1.421-1(h) of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(b) Annual Limits. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to an Eligible Person as a result of which the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the Date of Grant) of the stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time in any calendar year under the Plan and any other stock option plans of the Company or any Subsidiary would exceed $100,000, determined in accordance with Section 422(d) of the Code. This limitation shall be applied by taking Incentive Stock Options into account in the order in which granted.

 

(c) Ten Percent Stockholders. If a Stock Option granted under the Plan is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option, and if the Participant, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing ten percent (10%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of Common Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, then (i) the Stock Option exercise price per share shall in no event be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of such grant and (ii) such Stock Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years following the date such Stock Option is granted.

 

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(d) Termination of Employment. An Award of an Incentive Stock Option shall provide that such Stock Option may be exercised not later than three (3) months following termination of employment of the Participant with the Company and all Subsidiaries, or not later than one (1) year following death or a permanent and total disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, as and to the extent determined by the Committee to be necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(e) Disqualifying Dispositions. If shares of Common Stock acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option are disposed of within two (2) years following the Date of Grant or one (1) year following the transfer of such shares to the Participant upon exercise, the Participant shall, immediately following such disposition, notify the Company in writing of the date and terms of such disposition and provide such other information regarding the disposition as the Company may reasonably require.

 

7. Stock Appreciation Rights

 

7.1 Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted on a basis that allows for the exercise of the right by the Participant or that provides for the automatic payment of the right upon a specified date or event.

 

7.2 Base Price. The base price of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that the base price for any grant of a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant, subject to adjustments as provided for under Section 4.3.

 

7.3 Vesting Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee shall prescribe the time or times at which, or the conditions upon which, a Stock Appreciation Right or portion thereof shall become vested and/or exercisable in an Award Agreement or as otherwise may be adjusted from time to time, including by way of adjustment contemplated by this Plan. The requirements for vesting and exercisability of a Stock Appreciation Right may be based on the Continuous Service of a Participant for a specified time period (or periods) or on the attainment of a specified performance goal (or goals) established by the Committee. The Committee may accelerate the vesting or exercisability of any Stock Appreciation Right at any time.

 

7.4 Term of Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee shall prescribe in an Award Agreement the period during which a vested Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised, provided that the maximum term of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be ten (10) years from the Date of Grant. A Stock Appreciation Right may be earlier terminated as specified by the Committee and set forth in an Award Agreement upon or following the termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service for any reason, including by reason of voluntary resignation, death, Disability, termination for Cause or any other reason. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7 or in an Award Agreement, as such agreement may be amended from time to time upon authorization of the Committee, no Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised at any time during the term thereof unless the Participant is then in Continuous Service.

 

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7.5 Payment of Stock Appreciation Rights. Subject to such terms and conditions as shall be specified in an Award Agreement, a vested Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the term thereof by notice in the form required by the Company and payment of any exercise price. Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right and payment of any applicable exercise price, a Participant shall be entitled to receive an amount determined by multiplying: (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right over the base price of such Stock Appreciation Right, by (ii) the number of shares as to which such Stock Appreciation Right is exercised. Payment of the amount determined under the immediately preceding sentence may be made, as approved by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, in shares of Common Stock valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise, in cash, or in a combination of shares of Common Stock and cash, subject to applicable tax withholding requirements set forth in Section 16.5. If Stock Appreciation Rights are settled in shares of Common Stock, then as soon as practicable following the date of settlement the Company shall deliver to the Participant evidence of book entry shares of Common Stock or Common Stock certificates in an appropriate amount.

 

8. Restricted Stock Awards

 

8.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Awards. A Restricted Stock Award may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee. The Committee may require the payment by the Participant of a specified purchase price in connection with any Restricted Stock Award. The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement for the payment of dividends and distributions to the Participant such times as paid to stockholders generally or at the times of vesting or other payment of the Restricted Stock Award. If any dividends or distributions are paid in stock while a Restricted Stock Award is subject to restrictions under Section 8.3 of the Plan, the dividends or other distributions shares shall be subject to the same restrictions on transferability as the shares of Common Stock to which they were paid unless otherwise set forth in the Award Agreement. The Committee may also subject the grant of any Restricted Stock Award to the execution of a voting agreement with the Company or with any Affiliate of the Company.

 

8.2 Vesting Requirements. The restrictions imposed on shares of Common Stock granted under a Restricted Stock Award shall lapse in accordance with the vesting requirements specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement or as otherwise may be adjusted from time to time, including by way of adjustment contemplated by this Plan. Upon vesting of a Restricted Stock Award, such Award shall be subject to the tax withholding requirement set forth in Section 16.5. The requirements for vesting of a Restricted Stock Award may be based on the Continuous Service of the Participant for a specified time period (or periods) or on the attainment of a specified performance goal (or goals) established by the Committee. The Committee may accelerate the vesting of a Restricted Stock Award at any time. If the vesting requirements of a Restricted Stock Award shall not be satisfied, the Award shall be forfeited and the shares of Common Stock subject to the Award shall be returned to the Company. In the event that the Participant paid any purchase price with respect to such forfeited shares, unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award Agreement, the Company will refund to the Participant the lesser of (i) such purchase price and (ii) the Fair Market Value of such shares on the date of forfeiture.

 

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8.3 Restrictions. Shares granted under any Restricted Stock Award may not be transferred, assigned or subject to any encumbrance, pledge, or charge until all applicable restrictions are removed or have expired, unless otherwise allowed by the Committee. The Committee may require in an Award Agreement that certificates representing the shares granted under a Restricted Stock Award bear a legend making appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed, and that certificates representing the shares granted or sold under a Restricted Stock Award will remain in the physical custody of an escrow holder until all restrictions are removed or have expired.

 

8.4 Rights as Stockholder. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 8 and the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant to whom a Restricted Stock Award is made shall have all rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares granted to the Participant under the Restricted Stock Award, including the right to vote the shares and receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect thereto, unless the Committee determines otherwise at the time the Restricted Stock Award is granted.

 

8.5 Section 83(b) Election. If a Participant makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to a Restricted Stock Award, the Participant shall file, within thirty (30) days following the Date of Grant, a copy of such election with the Company (directed to the Secretary thereof) and with the Internal Revenue Service, in accordance with the regulations under Section 83 of the Code. The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement that the Restricted Stock Award is conditioned upon the Participant’s making or refraining from making an election with respect to the Award under Section 83(b) of the Code.

 

9. Restricted Stock Unit Awards

 

9.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. A Restricted Stock Unit Award may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee. The value of each stock unit under a Restricted Stock Unit Award is equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the applicable date or time period of determination, as specified by the Committee. A Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall determine. A Restricted Stock Unit Award may be granted together with a dividend equivalent right with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to the Award, which may be accumulated and may be deemed reinvested in additional stock units, as determined by the Committee. If any dividend equivalents are paid while a Restricted Stock Unit Award is subject to restrictions under Section 9 of the Plan, the Committee may provide in the Award Agreement for such dividend equivalents to immediately be paid to the Participant holding such Restricted Stock Unit Award or pay such dividend equivalents subject to the same restrictions on transferability as the Restricted Stock Units to which they relate.

 

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9.2 Vesting of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. On the Date of Grant, the Committee shall determine any vesting requirements with respect to a Restricted Stock Unit Award, which shall be set forth in the Award Agreement or as otherwise may be adjusted from time to time including by way of adjustment contemplated by this Plan. The requirements for vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit Award may be based on the Continuous Service of the Participant for a specified time period (or periods) or on the attainment of a specified performance goal (or goals) established by the Committee. The Committee may accelerate the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit Award at any time. A Restricted Stock Unit Award may also be granted on a fully vested basis, with a deferred payment date as may be determined by the Committee or elected by the Participant in accordance with rules established by the Committee and in compliance with Applicable Law including Section 409A of the Code.

 

9.3 Payment of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. A Restricted Stock Unit Award shall become payable to a Participant at the time or times determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, which may be upon or following the vesting of the Award. Payment of a Restricted Stock Unit Award may be made, as determined by the Committee, in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination thereof as described in the Award Agreement, subject to applicable tax withholding requirements set forth in Section 16.5. Any cash payment of a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be made based upon the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock, determined on such date or over such time period as determined by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless specified otherwise in the Award Agreement, any Restricted Stock Unit, whether settled in Common Stock or cash, shall be paid no later than two-and-a-half (2 ½) months after the later of the calendar year or fiscal year in which the Restricted Stock Units vest. If Restricted Stock Unit Awards are settled in shares of Common Stock, then as soon as practicable following the date of settlement, the Company shall deliver to the Participant evidence of book entry shares of Common Stock or Common Stock certificates in an appropriate amount.

 

10. Performance Shares

 

10.1 Grant of Performance Shares. Performance Shares may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee. A Performance Share Award shall be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall specify in a Participant’s Award Agreement or as otherwise may be adjusted from time to time, including by way of adjustment contemplated by this Plan. A Performance Share Award may be granted with a dividend equivalent right with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to the Award, which may be accumulated and may be deemed reinvested in additional stock units, as determined by the Committee. Any shares of Common Stock issued to a Participant under this Section 10.1 may be subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee.

 

10.2 Value of Performance Shares. Each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Date of Grant. The Committee shall set performance goals that, depending on the extent to which they are met over a specified time period, shall determine the number of Performance Shares that shall be issued to a Participant.

 

10.3 Earning of Performance Shares. After the applicable time period has ended, the number of Performance Shares earned by the Participant over such time period shall be determined as a function of the extent to which the applicable corresponding performance goals have been achieved. This determination shall be made solely by the Committee.

 

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11. Performance Stock Units

 

11.1 Grant of Performance Stock Units. Performance Stock Units may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee. A Performance Stock Unit Award shall be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall specify in a Participant’s Award Agreement or as otherwise may be adjusted from time to time, including by way of adjustment contemplated by this Plan.

 

11.2 Value of Performance Stock Units. Each Performance Stock Unit shall have an initial notional value equal to a dollar amount determined by the Committee. The Committee shall set performance goals that, depending on the extent to which they are met over a specified time period, will determine the number of Performance Stock Units that shall be settled and paid to the Participant.

 

11.3 Earning of Performance Stock Units. After the applicable time period has ended, the number of Performance Stock Units earned by the Participant, and the amount payable in cash, in shares or in a combination thereof, over such time period shall be determined as a function of the extent to which the applicable corresponding performance goals have been achieved. This determination shall be made solely by the Committee.

 

11.4 Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Stock Units. The Committee shall pay at the close of the applicable Performance Period, or as soon as practicable thereafter, any earned Performance Stock Units in the form of cash or in shares of Common Stock or in a combination thereof, as specified in a Participant’s Award Agreement, subject to applicable tax withholding requirements set forth in Section 16.5. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless specified otherwise in the Award Agreement, all Performance Stock Units shall be paid no later than two-and-a-half (2 ½) months following the later of the calendar year or fiscal year in which such Performance Stock Units vest. Any shares of Common Stock paid to a Participant under this Section 11.4 may be subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee. If Performance Stock Units are settled in shares of Common Stock, then as soon as practicable following the date of settlement the Company shall deliver to the Participant evidence of book entry shares of Common Stock or Common Stock certificates in an appropriate amount.

 

12. Incentive Bonus Awards

 

12.1 Incentive Bonus Awards. The Committee may grant Incentive Bonus Awards to such Participants as it may designate from time to time. The terms of a Participant’s Incentive Bonus Award shall be set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement or as otherwise may be adjusted from time to time, including by way of adjustment contemplated by this Plan. Each Award Agreement shall specify such general terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.

 

12.2 Incentive Bonus Award Performance Criteria. The determination of Incentive Bonus Awards for a given year or years may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of Company or Subsidiary performance as measured by pre-established, objective performance criteria determined by the Committee. The Committee shall (i) select those Participants who shall be eligible to receive an Incentive Bonus Award, (ii) determine the performance period, (iii) determine target levels of performance, and (iv) determine the level of Incentive Bonus Award to be paid to each selected Participant upon the achievement of each performance level. The Committee generally shall make the foregoing determinations prior to the commencement of services to which an Incentive Bonus Award relates, to the extent applicable, and while the outcome of the performance goals and targets is uncertain. The Committee shall have the power to adjust, modify, increase, decrease, or otherwise change any of the foregoing determinations from time to time.

 

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12.3 Payment of Incentive Bonus Awards.

 

(a) Incentive Bonus Awards shall be paid in cash or Common Stock, as set forth in a Participant’s Award Agreement. Payments shall be made following a determination by the Committee that the performance targets were attained and shall be made within two and one-half months after the later of the end of the fiscal or calendar year in which the Incentive Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.

 

(b) The amount of an Incentive Bonus Award to be paid upon the attainment of each targeted level of performance shall equal a percentage of a Participant’s base salary for the fiscal year, a fixed dollar amount, or such other formula, as determined by the Committee.

 

13. Other Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards

 

13.1 Other Cash-Based and Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may grant other types of equity-based or equity-related Awards not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted Shares) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine and specify in a Participant’s Award Agreement or as otherwise may be adjusted from time to time, including by way of adjustment contemplated by this Plan. Such Awards may involve the transfer of actual shares of Common Stock to a Participant, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of shares of Common Stock. In addition, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Other Cash-Based Awards to a Participant in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine and specify in a Participant’s Award Agreement or as otherwise may be adjusted from time to time, including by way of adjustment contemplated by this Plan.

 

13.2 Value of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be expressed in terms of shares of Common Stock or units based on shares of Common Stock, as determined by the Committee. Each Other Cash-Based Award shall specify a payment amount or payment range as determined by the Committee. If the Committee exercises discretion to establish performance goals, the value of Other Cash-Based Awards that shall be paid to the Participant will depend on the extent to which such performance goals are met.

 

13.3 Payment of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. Payment, if any, with respect to Other Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash or shares of Common Stock as the Committee determines.

 

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14. Change in Control

 

14.1 Effect of a Change in Control.

 

(a) The Committee may, at the time of the grant of an Award and as set forth in an Award Agreement, provide for the effect of a “Change in Control” on an Award. Such provisions may include any one or more of the following: (i) the acceleration or extension of time periods for purposes of exercising, vesting in, or realizing gain from any Award, (ii) the elimination, suspension, adjustment or other modification of performance or other conditions related to the payment or other rights under an Award, (iii) provision for the cash settlement of an Award for an equivalent cash value, as determined by the Committee, or (iv) such other modification or adjustment to an Award as the Committee deems appropriate to maintain and protect the rights and interests of Participants upon or following a Change in Control. To the extent necessary for compliance with Section 409A of the Code, an Award Agreement shall provide that an Award subject to the requirements of Section 409A that would otherwise become payable upon a Change in Control shall only become payable to the extent that the requirements for a “change in control” for purposes of Section 409A have been satisfied.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Plan, unless otherwise provided by an Award Agreement, upon or in anticipation of any Change in Control, the Committee may and without the need for the consent of any Participant, take one or more of the following actions contingent upon the occurrence of that Change in Control: (i) cause any or all outstanding Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights held by Participants affected by the Change in Control to become vested and immediately exercisable, in whole or in part; (ii) cause any or all outstanding Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Incentive Bonus Award and any other Award held by Participants affected by the Change in Control to become non-forfeitable, in whole or in part; (iii) cancel any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for a substitute option in a manner consistent with the requirements of Treasury Regulation. §1.424-1(a) or §1.409A-1(b)(5)(v)(D), as applicable (notwithstanding the fact that the original Stock Option may never have been intended to satisfy the requirements for treatment as an Incentive Stock Option); (iv) cancel any Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares or Performance Stock Units held by a Participant in exchange for restricted stock or performance shares of or stock or performance units in respect of the capital stock of any successor corporation; (v) redeem any Restricted Stock held by a Participant affected by the Change in Control for cash and/or other substitute consideration with a value equal to the Fair Market Value of an unrestricted share of Common Stock on the date of the Change in Control; (vi) terminate any Award in exchange for an amount of cash and/or property equal to the amount, if any, 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 Change in Control (the “Change in Control Consideration”); provided, however that if the Change in Control Consideration with respect to any Option or Stock Appreciation Right does not exceed the exercise price of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right, the Committee may cancel the Option or Stock Appreciation Right without payment of any consideration therefor; (vii) cancel any unvested Award without payment of consideration therefor; and/or (viii) take any other action necessary or appropriate to carry out the terms of any definitive agreement controlling the terms and conditions of the Change in Control or that the Committee otherwise deems appropriate, necessary, advisable or convenient in order to further the intent and purposes of such Change in Control. Any such Change in Control Consideration may be subject to any escrow, indemnification and similar obligations, contingencies and encumbrances applicable in connection with the Change in Control to holders of Common Stock. Without limitation of the foregoing, if as of the date of the occurrence of the Change in Control the Committee determines that no amount would have been attained upon the realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment. The Committee may cause the Change in Control Consideration to be subject to vesting conditions (whether or not the same as the vesting conditions applicable to the Award prior to the Change in Control) and/or make such other modifications, adjustments or amendments to outstanding Awards or this Plan as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate. In taking any of the actions permitted under this Section 14, the Committee 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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(c) The Committee may require a Participant to (i) represent and warrant as to the unencumbered title to the Participant’s Awards, (ii) bear such Participant’s pro rata share of any post-closing indemnity obligations, and be subject to the same or similar post-closing purchase price adjustments, escrow terms, offset rights, holdback terms and similar conditions as the other holders of Common Stock, and (iii) execute and deliver such documents and instruments as the Committee may reasonably require for the Participant to be bound by such obligations. The Committee will endeavor to take action under this Section 14 in a manner that does not cause a violation of Section 409A of the Code with respect to an Award.

 

15. General Provisions

 

15.1 Award Agreement. To the extent deemed necessary by the Committee, an Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in a written or electronic form approved by the Committee and to the extent applicable, setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock or units subject to the Award, the exercise price, base price, or purchase price of the Award, the time or times at which an Award will become vested, exercisable or payable and the term of the Award. The Award Agreement may also set forth the effect on an Award of termination of Continuous Service under certain circumstances. The Award Agreement shall be subject to and incorporate, by reference or otherwise, all of the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan, and may also set forth other terms and conditions applicable to the Award as determined by the Committee consistent with the limitations of the Plan. Award Agreements evidencing Incentive Stock Options shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code. The grant of an Award under the Plan shall not confer any rights upon the Participant holding such Award other than such terms, and subject to such conditions, as are specified in the Plan as being applicable to such type of Award (or to all Awards) or as are expressly set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

15.2 Forfeiture Events/Representations. The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement at the time of the Award that the Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events shall include, but shall not be limited to, termination of Continuous Service for Cause, violation of Company policies, breach of noncompetition, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant, or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company. The Committee may also specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be conditioned upon the Participant making a representation regarding compliance with noncompetition, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant and providing that the Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment on account of a breach of such representation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the confidentiality restrictions set forth in an Award Agreement shall not, and shall not be interpreted to, impair a Participant from exercising any legally protected whistleblower rights (including under Rule 21 of the Exchange Act). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any Award Agreement, any amounts paid hereunder shall be subject to recoupment in accordance with The Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any implementing regulations thereunder, any “clawback” policy adopted by the Company, as in effect from time to time, or as is otherwise required by Applicable Law.

 

15.3 No Assignment or Transfer; Beneficiaries.

 

(a) Awards under the Plan shall not be assignable or transferable by the Participant, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and shall not be subject in any manner to assignment, alienation, pledge, encumbrance or charge. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may provide in an Award Agreement that the Participant shall have the right to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries who shall be entitled to any rights, payments or other benefits specified under an Award following the Participant’s death. During the lifetime of a Participant, an Award shall be exercised only by such Participant or such Participant’s guardian or legal representative. In the event of a Participant’s death, an Award may, to the extent permitted by the Award Agreement, be exercised by the Participant’s beneficiary as designated by the Participant in the manner prescribed by the Committee or, in the absence of an authorized beneficiary designation, by the legatee of such Award under the Participant’s will or by the Participant’s estate in accordance with the Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution, in each case in the same manner and to the same extent that such Award was exercisable by the Participant on the date of the Participant’s death.

 

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(b) Limited Transferability Rights. Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 15.3 to the contrary, the Committee may provide in an Award Agreement that an Award in the form of a Nonqualified Stock Option, share-settled Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Performance Share or share-settled Other Stock-Based Award may be transferred, on such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate, either (i) by instrument to the Participant’s “Immediate Family” (as defined below), (ii) by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust (or other entity) in which the Award is to be passed to the Participant’s designated beneficiaries, or (iii) by gift to charitable institutions. Any transferee of the Participant’s rights shall succeed and be subject to all of the terms of the applicable Award Agreement and the Plan. “Immediate Family” means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, and shall include adoptive relationships.

 

15.4 Rights as Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights as a holder of shares of Common Stock with respect to any unissued shares of Common Stock covered by an Award until the date the Participant becomes the holder of record of such securities. Except as provided in Section 4.3 hereof, no adjustment or other provision shall be made for dividends or other stockholder rights, except to the extent that the Award Agreement provides for dividend payments or dividend equivalent rights.

 

15.5 Employment or Continuous Service. Nothing in the Plan, in the grant of any Award or in any Award Agreement shall confer upon any Eligible Person or Participant any right to continue in Continuous Service, or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate the employment or other service relationship of an Eligible Person or Participant for any reason at any time.

 

15.6 Fractional Shares. In the case of any fractional share or unit resulting from the grant, vesting, payment or crediting of dividends or dividend equivalents under an Award, the Committee shall have the authority to (i) disregard such fractional share or unit, (ii) round such fractional share or unit to the nearest lower or higher whole share or unit, or (iii) convert such fractional share or unit into a right to receive a cash payment.

 

15.7 Other Compensation and Benefit Plans. The amount of any compensation deemed to be received by a Participant pursuant to an Award shall not constitute includable compensation for purposes of determining the amount of benefits to which a Participant is entitled under any other compensation or benefit plan or program of the Company or any Subsidiary, including, without limitation, under any bonus, pension, profit-sharing, life insurance, salary continuation or severance benefits plan, except to the extent specifically provided by the terms of any such plan.

 

15.8 Plan Binding on Transferees. The Plan shall be binding upon the Company, its transferees and assigns, and the Participant, the Participant’s executor, administrator and permitted transferees and beneficiaries. In addition, all obligations of the Company under this Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

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15.9 Foreign Jurisdictions. The Committee may adopt, amend and terminate such arrangements and grant such Awards, not inconsistent with the intent of the Plan, as it may deem necessary or desirable to comply with any tax, securities, regulatory or other laws of other jurisdictions with respect to Awards that may be subject to such laws. The terms and conditions of such Awards may vary from the terms and conditions that would otherwise be required by the Plan solely to the extent the Committee deems necessary for such purpose. Moreover, the Board may approve such supplements to or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of the Plan, not inconsistent with the intent of the Plan, as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes, without thereby affecting the terms of the Plan as in effect for any other purpose.

 

15.10 No Obligation to Notify or Minimize Taxes. The Company will have no duty or obligation to any Participant to advise such holder as to the time or manner of exercising an Award. Furthermore, the Company will have no duty or obligation to warn or otherwise advise such holder of a pending termination or expiration of an Award or a possible period in which the Award may not be exercised. The Company has no duty or obligation to minimize the tax consequences of an Award to the holder of such Award.

 

15.11 Corporate Action Constituting Grant of Awards. Corporate action constituting a grant by the Company of an Award to any Participant will be deemed completed as of the date of such corporate action, unless otherwise determined by the Committee or the Board, regardless of when the instrument, certificate, or letter evidencing the Award is communicated to, or actually received or accepted by, the Participant. In the event that the corporate records (e.g., Board or Committee consents, resolutions or minutes) documenting the corporate action constituting the grant contain terms (e.g., exercise price, vesting schedule or number of shares) that are inconsistent with those in the Award Agreement as a result of a clerical error in the papering of the Award Agreement, the corporate records will control and the Participant will have no legally binding right to the incorrect term in the Award Agreement.

 

15.12 Change in Time Commitment. In the event a Participant’s regular level of time commitment in the performance of the Participant’s services for the Company and any Affiliates is reduced (for example, and without limitation, if the Participant is an employee of the Company and the employee has a change in status from a full-time employee to a part-time employee) after the date of grant of any Award to the Participant, the Committee has the right to (i) make a corresponding reduction in the number of shares subject to any portion of such Award that is scheduled to vest or become payable after the date of such change in time commitment and (ii) in lieu of or in combination with such a reduction, extend the vesting or payment schedule applicable to such Award. In the event of any such reduction, the Participant will have no right with respect to any portion of the Award that is so reduced or extended.

 

15.13 Substitute Awards in Corporate Transactions. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Committee to grant Awards under the Plan in connection with the acquisition, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or other corporate transaction, of the business or assets of any corporation or other entity. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee may grant Awards under the Plan to an employee or director of another corporation who becomes an Eligible Person by reason of any such corporate transaction in substitution for awards previously granted by such corporation or entity to such person. The terms and conditions of the substitute Awards may vary from the terms and conditions that would otherwise be required by the Plan solely to the extent the Committee deems necessary for such purpose. Any shares of Common Stock subject to these substitute Awards shall not be counted against any of the maximum share limitations set forth in the Plan; provided, that, these substitute Awards issued in connection with the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding Options that are intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options shall be counted against the number of shares of Common Stock set forth in Section 4.1(a) that may granted as Incentive Stock Options.

 

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16. Legal Compliance

 

16.1 Securities Laws. No shares of Common Stock will be issued or transferred pursuant to an Award unless and until all then applicable requirements imposed by Federal and state securities and other laws, rules and regulations and by any regulatory agencies having jurisdiction, and by any exchanges upon which the shares of Common Stock may be listed, have been fully met. As a condition precedent to the issuance of shares pursuant to the grant or exercise of an Award, the Company may require the Participant to take any reasonable action to meet such requirements. The Committee may impose such conditions on any shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, restrictions under the Securities Act, as amended, under the requirements of any exchange upon which such shares of the same class are then listed, and under any blue sky or other securities laws applicable to such shares. The Committee may also require the Participant to represent and warrant at the time of issuance or transfer that the shares of Common Stock are being acquired only for investment purposes and without any current intention to sell or distribute such shares. All Common Stock issued pursuant to the terms of this Plan shall constitute “restricted securities,” as that term is defined in Rule 144 promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, and may not be transferred except in compliance herewith and with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom. Certificates representing Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Award may bear such legend as the Company may consider appropriate under the circumstances.

 

16.2 Incentive Arrangement. The Plan is designed to provide an on-going, pecuniary incentive for Participants to produce their best efforts to increase the value of the Company. The Plan is not intended to provide retirement income or to defer the receipt of payments hereunder to the termination of a Participant’s employment or beyond. The Plan is thus intended not to be a pension or welfare benefit plan that is subject to Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), and shall be construed accordingly. All interpretations and determinations hereunder shall be made on a basis consistent with the Plan’s status as not an employee benefit plan subject to ERISA.

 

16.3 Unfunded Plan. The adoption of the Plan and any reservation of shares of Common Stock or cash amounts by the Company to discharge its obligations hereunder shall not be deemed to create a trust or other funded arrangement. Except upon the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to an Award, any rights of a Participant under the Plan shall be those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company, and neither a Participant nor the Participant’s permitted transferees or estate shall have any other interest in any assets of the Company by virtue of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to implement or set aside funds in a grantor trust, subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors or otherwise, to discharge its obligations under the Plan.

 

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16.4 Section 409A Compliance. To the extent applicable, it is intended that the Plan and all Awards hereunder comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or an exemption thereto, and the Plan and all Award Agreements shall be interpreted and applied by the Committee in a manner consistent with this intent in order to avoid the imposition of any additional tax under Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, in the event that any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement is determined by the Committee, to not comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or an exemption thereto, the Committee shall have the authority to take such actions and to make such interpretations or changes to the Plan or an Award Agreement as the Committee deems necessary, regardless of whether such actions, interpretations, or changes shall adversely affect a Participant, subject to the limitations, if any, of Applicable Law. If an Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, any payment made to a Participant who is a “specified employee” of the Company or any Subsidiary shall not be made before the date that is six (6) months after the Participant’s “separation from service” to the extent required to avoid the adverse consequences of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of this Section 16.4, the terms “separation from service” and “specified employee” shall have the meanings set forth in Section 409A of the Code. In no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on any Participant by Section 409A of the Code or any damages for failing to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

 

16.5 Tax Withholding.

 

(a) The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a participant to remit to the Company, the minimum statutory amount to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan, but in no event shall such deduction or withholding or remittance exceed the minimum statutory withholding requirements unless permitted by the Company and such additional withholding amount will not cause adverse accounting consequences and is permitted under Applicable Law.

 

(b) Subject to such terms and conditions as shall be specified in an Award Agreement, a Participant may, in order to fulfill the withholding obligation, (i) tender previously-acquired shares of Common Stock or have shares of stock withheld from the exercise, provided that the shares have an aggregate Fair Market Value sufficient to satisfy in whole or in part the applicable withholding taxes; and/or (ii) utilize the broker-assisted exercise procedure described in Section 6.5 to satisfy the withholding requirements related to the exercise of a Stock Option.

 

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant may not use shares of Common Stock to satisfy the withholding requirements to the extent that (i) there is a substantial likelihood that the use of such form of payment or the timing of such form of payment would subject the Participant to a substantial risk of liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act; (ii) such withholding would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law or regulation, or (iii) such withholding would cause adverse accounting consequences for the Company.

 

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16.6 No Guarantee of Tax Consequences. Neither the Company, the Board, the Committee nor any other Person make any commitment or guarantee that any federal, state, local or foreign tax treatment will apply or be available to any Participant or any other Person hereunder.

 

16.7 Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be determined to be illegal or unenforceable by any court of law in any jurisdiction, the remaining provisions hereof and thereof shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and all provisions shall remain enforceable in any other jurisdiction.

 

16.8 Stock Certificates; Book Entry Form. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, unless otherwise determined by the Committee or required by any Applicable Law, rule or regulation, any obligation set forth in the Plan pertaining to the delivery or issuance of stock certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock may be satisfied by having issuance and/or ownership of such shares recorded on the books and records of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).

 

16.9 Governing Law. The Plan and all rights hereunder shall be subject to and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to the principles of conflicts of laws, and to applicable Federal securities laws. Each Participant knowingly, voluntarily and expressly waives any and all rights to initiate, participate in, or receive money or any other form of relief from any class, collective or representative proceeding and agrees each arbitration proceeding shall proceed on an individualized basis.

 

16.10 Reduction of Excess Parachute Payments. Except as may be provided in an employment or severance compensation or other service agreement between the Company and the Participant, if, in connection with a Change in Control, a Participant’s payment of any Awards will cause the Participant to be liable for federal excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code levied on certain “excess parachute payments” as defined in Section 280G of the Code (“Excise Tax”), then the payments made pursuant to the Awards shall be reduced (or repaid to the Company, if previously paid or provided) as provided below:

 

(a) If the payments due upon a Change in Control under this Plan and any other agreement between a Participant and the Company, exceed 2.99 times the Participant’s “base amount,” as defined in Section 280G of the Code, a reduced payment amount shall be calculated by reducing the payments to the minimum extent necessary so that no portion of any payment, as so reduced or repaid, constitutes an excess parachute payment.

 

(b) Whether payments are to be reduced pursuant to this Section 16.10, and to the extent to which they are to be so reduced, will be determined solely by the Company and the Company will notify the Participant in writing of its determination.

 

(c) In no event shall a Participant be entitled to receive any kind of gross-up payment or Excise Tax reimbursement from the Company.

 

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17. Effective Date, Amendment and Termination

 

17.1 Effective Date. The effective date of the Plan shall be on the later to occur of (i) its adoption by the Board or (ii) the business day immediately prior to the date that any class of securities of the Company is listed on a national securities exchange or national market system or traded in an over-the-counter market.

 

17.2 Amendment; Termination. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan (or any portion thereof) at any time and may amend the Plan at any time and from time to time in such respects as the Board may deem advisable or in the best interests of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that (a) except as expressly permitted pursuant to Sections 3.2, 4.3, and 14.1, no such amendment, suspension or termination shall materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant under any outstanding Awards, without the consent of such Participant, provided that no modification or amendment of any Incentive Stock Option shall require a Participant’s consent as a result of such modification or amendment causing such Incentive Stock Option (i) to become a Nonqualified Stock Option or (ii) to be considered granted as of the date of such modification or amendment pursuant to Section 424 of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.424-1(e), (b) to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with any Applicable Law, regulation, or stock exchange rule, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required, and (c) stockholder approval is required for any amendment to the Plan that (i) increases the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan, or (ii) changes the persons or class of persons eligible to receive Awards. The Plan will continue in effect until terminated in accordance with this Section 17.2; provided, however, that no Award will be granted hereunder on or after the 10th anniversary of the date of the Plan’s initial adoption by the Board (the “Expiration Date”); but provided further, that Awards granted prior to such Expiration Date may extend beyond that date.

 

INITIAL BOARD APPROVAL: August 19, 2025

 

INITIAL STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL: August 26, 2025

 

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EX-10.6 7 ex10-6.htm EX-10.6

 

Exhibit 10.6

 

INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT

APTERA MOTORS CORP.

 

This Stock Option Grant Agreement (the “Grant Agreement”) is made and entered into effective on the Date of Grant set forth in Exhibit A (the “Date of Grant”) by and between Aptera Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the individual named in Exhibit A hereto (the “Participant”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide the Participant an incentive to participate in the success and growth of the Company through the opportunity to earn a proprietary interest in the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, to give effect to the foregoing intention, the Company desires to grant the Participant an option pursuant to the Aptera Motors Corp. 2025 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Plan”), to acquire the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”);

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and for good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Grant. The Company hereby grants the Participant an Incentive Stock Option (the “Option”) to purchase up to the number of shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”) set forth in Exhibit A hereto at the exercise price per Share (the “Exercise Price”) set forth in Exhibit A, and on the vesting schedule set forth in Exhibit A, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and the provisions of the Plan, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Grant Agreement shall have the meanings as set forth in the Plan.

 

This Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option (“ISO”) under Section 422 of the Code. However, notwithstanding such designation, if the Participant becomes eligible in any given year to exercise ISOs for Shares having a Fair Market Value in excess of $100,000, those options representing the excess shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options. In the previous sentence, “ISOs” include ISOs granted under any plan of the Company or any parent or any Subsidiary of the Company. For the purpose of deciding which options apply to Shares that “exceed” the $100,000 limit, ISOs shall be taken into account in the same order as granted. The Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted. The Participant hereby acknowledges that there is no assurance that the Option will, in fact, be treated as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code.

 

2. Exercise Period Following Termination of Continuous Service. This Option shall terminate and be canceled to the extent not exercised within ninety (90) days after the Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, except that if such termination is due to the death or Disability of the Participant, this Option shall terminate and be canceled one (1) year from the date of termination of Continuous Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated for Cause (or without Cause when grounds for Cause exist), then the Option shall immediately terminate on the date of such termination of Continuous Service and shall not be exercisable for any period following such date. In no event, however, shall this Option be exercised later than the Expiration Date set forth in Exhibit A and except as determined by the Committee, in no event shall this Option be exercised for more Shares than the Shares which otherwise have become exercisable as of the date of termination.

 

 

 

3. Method of Exercise. This Option is exercisable by delivery to the Company of an exercise notice (the “Exercise Notice”) in a form satisfactory to the Committee or by such other form or means as the Committee may permit or require. A sample Exercise Notice is attached as Exhibit B. The Committee may, however, require Participant to submit a different form of Exercise Notice. Any Exercise Notice shall state or provide the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised (the “Exercised Shares”), and include such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. The Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price for the Exercised Shares in (i) cash; (ii) check; (iii) through a “cashless exercise program” on such terms as may be established by the Company from time to time; or (iv) such other manner as is acceptable to the Committee, provided that such form of consideration is permitted by the Plan and by Applicable Law. Upon exercise of the Option by the Participant and prior to the delivery of such Exercised Shares, the Company shall have the right to require the Participant to satisfy applicable Federal and state tax income tax withholding requirements and the Participant’s share of applicable employment withholding taxes in a method satisfactory to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Exercised Shares shall be issued unless such exercise and issuance complies with Applicable Law; assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes the Exercised Shares shall be considered transferred to the Participant on the date the Option is exercised with respect to such Shares.

 

4. Acceptance. To accept the Option, please execute and return this Grant Agreement where indicated (including acceptance via an electronic platform maintained by the Company or a third-party administrator engaged by the Company) no later than six (6) months from the Date of Grant (the “Acceptance Deadline”). By executing this Grant Agreement and accepting the Option, you will have agreed to all the terms and conditions set forth in this Grant Agreement and the Plan. The grant of the Option will be considered null and void, and acceptance of the Option will be of no effect, if you do not execute and return this Grant Agreement by the Acceptance Deadline.

 

5. Covenants Agreement. This Option shall be subject to forfeiture at the election of the Company, without payment of consideration, in the event that the Participant breaches any agreement between the Participant and the Company with respect to noncompetition, nonsolicitation, nondisparagement, assignment of inventions and contributions and/or nondisclosure obligations of the Participant.

 

6. Taxes. By executing this Grant Agreement, Participant acknowledges and agrees that Participant is solely responsible for the satisfaction of any applicable taxes that may be imposed on Participant that arise as a result of the grant, vesting or exercise of the Option, including without limitation any taxes arising under Section 409A of the Code (regarding deferred compensation) or Section 4999 of the Code (regarding golden parachute excise taxes), and that neither the Company nor the Committee shall have any obligation whatsoever to pay such taxes or otherwise indemnify or hold Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes.

 

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7. Non-Transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant and any purported transfer shall be null and void ab initio. The terms of the Plan and this Grant Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Participant.

 

8. Securities Matters. All Shares and Exercised Shares shall be subject to the restrictions on sale, encumbrance and other disposition provided by Federal or state law. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or issue any Shares or Exercised Shares pursuant to this Grant Agreement unless, on the date of sale and issuance thereof, such Shares are either registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and all applicable state securities laws, or are exempt from registration thereunder. Regardless of whether the offering and sale of Shares under the Plan have been registered under the Securities Act, or have been registered or qualified under the securities laws of any state, the Company at its sole and absolute discretion may impose restrictions upon the sale, pledge or other transfer of such Shares (including the placement of appropriate legends on stock certificates or the imposition of stop-transfer instructions) if, in the judgment of the Company, such restrictions are necessary in order to achieve compliance with Applicable Law.

 

9. Investment Purpose. The Participant represents and warrants that unless the Shares are registered under the Securities Act, any and all Shares acquired by the Participant under this Grant Agreement will be acquired for investment for the Participant’s own account and not with a view to, for resale in connection with, or with an intent of participating directly or indirectly in, any distribution of such Shares within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Participant agrees not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of such Shares unless they are either (1) registered under the Securties Act and all applicable state securities laws, or (2) exempt from such registration in the opinion of Company counsel.

 

10. Lock-Up Agreement. The Participant hereby agrees that in the event that the Participant exercises this Option during a period in which any directors or officers of the Company have agreed with one or more underwriters not to sell securities of the Company, then, as a condition to such exercise, the Participant shall enter into an agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, pursuant to which the Participant shall agree to restrictions on transferability of the Shares comparable to the restrictions agreed upon by such directors or officers of the Company.

 

11. Other Plans. No amounts of income received by the Participant pursuant to this Grant Agreement shall be considered compensation for purposes of any pension or retirement plan, insurance plan or any other employee benefit plan of the Company or its subsidiaries, unless otherwise expressly provided in such plan.

 

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12. No Guarantee of Continued Service. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the right to exercise the Option pursuant to the exercise schedule hereof is earned only through Continuous Service and such other requirements, if any, as are set forth in Exhibit A (and not through the act of being hired, being granted an option or purchasing shares hereunder). The Participant further acknowledges and agrees that (i) this Grant Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereunder and the exercise schedule set forth herein do not constitute an express or implied promise of continued employment or service for the exercise period or for any other period, and shall not interfere with the Participant’s right or the right of the Company or its Subsidiaries to terminate the employment or service relationship at any time, with or without cause, subject to the terms of any written employment agreement that the Participant may have entered into with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and (ii) the Company would not have granted this Option to the Participant but for these acknowledgements and agreements.

 

13. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. The Plan and this Grant Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof, and except as provided in the Plan, may not be modified in a manner material and adverse to the Participant’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and the Participant. In the event of any conflict between this Grant Agreement and the Plan, the Plan shall be controlling, except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan. This Grant Agreement shall be construed under the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of laws principles.

 

14. Opportunity for Review. The Participant and the Company agree that this Option is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Grant Agreement. The Participant has reviewed the Plan and this Grant Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Agreement and fully understands all provisions of the Plan and this Grant Agreement. The Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions relating to the Plan and this Grant Agreement. The Participant further agrees to promptly notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated herein.

 

15. Section 409A. This Option is intended to be excepted from coverage under Section 409A and shall be administered, interpreted and construed accordingly. The Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the Participant’s consent, modify or amend the terms of this Grant Agreement, impose conditions on the timing and effectiveness of the exercise of the Option by Participant, or take any other action it deems necessary or advisable, to cause the Option to be excepted from Section 409A (or to comply therewith to the extent the Company determines it is not excepted).

 

16. Recoupment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any amounts paid hereunder shall be subject to recoupment in accordance with The Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any implementing regulations thereunder, any clawback policy adopted by the Company, as in effect from time to time, or as is otherwise required by Applicable Law.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Grant Agreement as of the date set forth in Exhibit A.

 

  APTERA MOTORS CORP.
     
  By:
  Name:
  Title:

 

  PARTICIPANT
     
     
  Name:         

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT

 

APTERA MOTORS CORP.

 

  (a). Participant’s Name: ________________________________________________________________
     
  (b). Date of Grant: _________________________________
     
  (c). Number of Shares Subject to the Option: ___________________________
     
  (d). Exercise Price: $______ per Share
     
  (e). Expiration Date: ____________________
     
  (f). Vesting Schedule:

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

APTERA MOTORS CORP.

2025 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

STOCK OPTION EXERCISE NOTICE

 

 

Aptera Motors Corp.

[ADDRESS]

[ADDRESS]

Attention:

 

1. Exercise of Option. Effective as of today, ________________, 202__ (the “Exercise Date”), the undersigned (“Purchaser”) hereby elects to purchase ________ shares (the “Shares”) of the Common Stock of Aptera Motors Corp. (the “Company”) under and pursuant to the Stock Option Grant Agreement dated _____________, 202_ (the “Option Agreement”). Pursuant to the Option Agreement, the aggregate purchase price for the Shares is $_____________ (the “Purchase Price”). In the event any of the Options being exercised fail to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, __________ of the Options being exercised are Incentive Stock Options and ____________ of the Options being exercised are Nonqualified Stock Options. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning assigned thereto under the Aptera Motors Corp. 2025 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

2. With respect to payment of the Purchase Price, select A or B as follows:

 

A. [  ] Full Payment. Purchaser herewith makes payment of a check the full Purchase Price to the Company, either:

 

[  ] by enclosing a check payable to the Company, or

 

[  ] by transfer of funds by wire transfer to the Company.

 

B. [  ] Cashless Exercise. If permitted by the Company under Purchaser’s Option Agreement and approved by the Company in connection with approval of such option, Purchaser elects to exercise via “cashless exercise”, and agrees to execute and deliver all appropriate forms as may be required by the Company. Purchaser hereby authorizes the broker, if applicable, to pay to the Company the Purchase Price plus an amount sufficient to cover all applicable taxes, as determined by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

3. Rights as Shareholder. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Shares covered by the Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Shares so acquired shall be issued to Purchaser as soon as practicable after exercise of the Option. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date of issuance.

 

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4. Tax Consultation. Purchaser understands that Purchaser may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of Purchaser’s purchase or disposition of the Shares. Purchaser represents that Purchaser has consulted with any tax consultants Purchaser deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of the Shares and that Purchaser is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.

 

5. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Option Agreement is incorporated herein by reference. This Agreement and the Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Purchaser with respect to the subject matter hereof, and except as provided in the Plan, may not be modified in a manner material and adverse to the Purchaser’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Purchaser. This agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the State of Delaware.

 

Submitted by:   Accepted by:
       
PURCHASER   APTERA MOTORS CORP.
       
    By:  
       
       
Print Name     Print Name/Title
       
Date:     Date:  
         

 

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EX-10.7 8 ex10-7.htm EX-10.7

 

Exhibit 10.7

 

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT

APTERA MOTORS CORP.

 

This Stock Option Grant Agreement (the “Grant Agreement”) is made and entered into effective on the Date of Grant set forth in Exhibit A (the “Date of Grant”) by and between Aptera Motors Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the individual named in Exhibit A hereto (the “Participant”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide the Participant an incentive to participate in the success and growth of the Company through the opportunity to earn a proprietary interest in the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, to give effect to the foregoing intention, the Company desires to grant the Participant an option pursuant to the Aptera Motors Corp. 2025 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Plan”), to acquire the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”);

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and for good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Grant. The Company hereby grants the Participant a Nonqualified Stock Option (the “Option”) to purchase up to the number of shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”) set forth in Exhibit A hereto at the exercise price per Share (the “Exercise Price”) set forth in Exhibit A, and on the vesting schedule set forth in Exhibit A, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and the provisions of the Plan, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Grant Agreement shall have the meanings as set forth in the Plan.

 

2. Exercise Period Following Termination of Continuous Service. This Option shall terminate and be canceled to the extent not exercised within ninety (90) days after the Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, except that if such termination is due to the death or Disability of the Participant, this Option shall terminate and be canceled one (1) year from the date of termination of Continuous Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated for Cause (or without Cause when grounds for Cause exist), then the Option shall immediately terminate on the date of such termination of Continuous Service and shall not be exercisable for any period following such date. In no event, however, shall this Option be exercised later than the Expiration Date set forth in Exhibit A and except as determined by the Committee, in no event shall this Option be exercised for more Shares than the Shares which otherwise have become exercisable as of the date of termination.

 

 

 

3. Method of Exercise. This Option is exercisable by delivery to the Company of an exercise notice (the “Exercise Notice”) in a form satisfactory to the Committee or by such other form or means as the Committee may permit or require. A sample Exercise Notice is attached as Exhibit B. The Committee may, however, require Participant to submit a different form of Exercise Notice. Any Exercise Notice shall state or provide the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised (the “Exercised Shares”), and include such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. The Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price for the Exercised Shares in (i) cash; (ii) check; (iii) through a “cashless exercise program” on such terms as may be established by the Company from time to time; or (iv) such other manner as is acceptable to the Committee, provided that such form of consideration is permitted by the Plan and by Applicable Law. Upon exercise of the Option by the Participant and prior to the delivery of such Exercised Shares, the Company shall have the right to require the Participant to satisfy applicable Federal and state tax income tax withholding requirements and the Participant’s share of applicable employment withholding taxes in a method satisfactory to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Exercised Shares shall be issued unless such exercise and issuance complies with Applicable Law; assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes the Exercised Shares shall be considered transferred to the Participant on the date the Option is exercised with respect to such Shares.

 

4. Acceptance. To accept the Option, please execute and return this Grant Agreement where indicated (including acceptance via an electronic platform maintained by the Company or a third-party administrator engaged by the Company) no later than six (6) months from the Date of Grant (the “Acceptance Deadline”). By executing this Grant Agreement and accepting your Option, you will have agreed to all the terms and conditions set forth in this Grant Agreement and the Plan. The grant of the Option will be considered null and void, and acceptance of the Option will be of no effect, if you do not execute and return this Grant Agreement by the Acceptance Deadline.

 

5. Covenants Agreement. This Option shall be subject to forfeiture at the election of the Company, without payment of consideration, in the event that the Participant breaches any agreement between the Participant and the Company with respect to noncompetition, nonsolicitation, nondisparagement, assignment of inventions and contributions and/or nondisclosure obligations of the Participant.

 

6. Taxes. By executing this Grant Agreement, Participant acknowledges and agrees that Participant is solely responsible for the satisfaction of any applicable taxes that may be imposed on Participant that arise as a result of the grant, vesting or exercise of the Option, including without limitation any taxes arising under Section 409A of the Code (regarding deferred compensation) or Section 4999 of the Code (regarding golden parachute excise taxes), and that neither the Company nor the Committee shall have any obligation whatsoever to pay such taxes or otherwise indemnify or hold Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes.

 

7. Non-Transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant and any purported transfer shall be null and void ab initio. The terms of the Plan and this Grant Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Participant.

 

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8. Securities Matters. All Shares and Exercised Shares shall be subject to the restrictions on sale, encumbrance and other disposition provided by Federal or state law. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or issue any Shares or Exercised Shares pursuant to this Grant Agreement unless, on the date of sale and issuance thereof, such Shares are either registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and all applicable state securities laws, or are exempt from registration thereunder. Regardless of whether the offering and sale of Shares under the Plan have been registered under the Securities Act, or have been registered or qualified under the securities laws of any state, the Company at its sole and absolute discretion may impose restrictions upon the sale, pledge or other transfer of such Shares (including the placement of appropriate legends on stock certificates or the imposition of stop-transfer instructions) if, in the judgment of the Company, such restrictions are necessary in order to achieve compliance with Applicable Law.

 

9. Investment Purpose. The Participant represents and warrants that unless the Shares are registered under the Securities Act, any and all Shares acquired by the Participant under this Grant Agreement will be acquired for investment for the Participant’s own account and not with a view to, for resale in connection with, or with an intent of participating directly or indirectly in, any distribution of such Shares within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Participant agrees not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of such Shares unless they are either (1) registered under the Securties Act and all applicable state securities laws, or (2) exempt from such registration in the opinion of Company counsel.

 

10. Lock-Up Agreement. The Participant hereby agrees that in the event that the Participant exercises this Option during a period in which any directors or officers of the Company have agreed with one or more underwriters not to sell securities of the Company, then, as a condition to such exercise, the Participant shall enter into an agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, pursuant to which the Participant shall agree to restrictions on transferability of the Shares comparable to the restrictions agreed upon by such directors or officers of the Company.

 

11. Other Plans. No amounts of income received by the Participant pursuant to this Grant Agreement shall be considered compensation for purposes of any pension or retirement plan, insurance plan or any other employee benefit plan of the Company or its subsidiaries, unless otherwise expressly provided in such plan.

 

12. No Guarantee of Continued Service. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the right to exercise the Option pursuant to the exercise schedule hereof is earned only through Continuous Service and such other requirements, if any, as are set forth in Exhibit A (and not through the act of being hired, being granted an option or purchasing shares hereunder). The Participant further acknowledges and agrees that (i) this Grant Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereunder and the exercise schedule set forth herein do not constitute an express or implied promise of continued employment or service for the exercise period or for any other period, and shall not interfere with the Participant’s right or the right of the Company or its Subsidiaries to terminate the employment or service relationship at any time, with or without cause, subject to the terms of any written employment agreement that the Participant may have entered into with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and (ii) the Company would not have granted this Option to the Participant but for these acknowledgements and agreements.

 

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13. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. The Plan and this Grant Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof, and except as provide in the Plan may not be modified in a manner material and adverse to the Participant’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and the Participant. In the event of any conflict between this Grant Agreement and the Plan, the Plan shall be controlling, except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan. This Grant Agreement shall be construed under the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of laws principles.

 

14. Opportunity for Review. The Participant and the Company agree that this Option is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Grant Agreement. The Participant has reviewed the Plan and this Grant Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Agreement and fully understands all provisions of the Plan and this Grant Agreement. The Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions relating to the Plan and this Grant Agreement. The Participant further agrees to promptly notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated herein.

 

15. Section 409A. This Option is intended to be excepted from coverage under Section 409A and shall be administered, interpreted and construed accordingly. The Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the Participant’s consent, modify or amend the terms of this Grant Agreement, impose conditions on the timing and effectiveness of the exercise of the Option by Participant, or take any other action it deems necessary or advisable, to cause the Option to be excepted from Section 409A (or to comply therewith to the extent the Company determines it is not excepted).

 

16. Recoupment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any amounts paid hereunder shall be subject to recoupment in accordance with The Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any implementing regulations thereunder, any clawback policy adopted by the Company, as in effect from time to time, or as is otherwise required by Applicable Law.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Grant Agreement as of the date set forth in Exhibit A.

 

  APTERA MOTORS CORP.
     
  By:               
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  PARTICIPANT
   
   
  Name:

 

 

EX-10.8 9 ex10-8.htm EX-10.8

 

Exhibit 10.8

 

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

 

APTERA MOTORS CORP.

 

This Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “Agreement” or “Award Agreement”), dated as of the “Award Date” set forth in the attached Exhibit A, is entered into between Aptera Motors Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the individual named in Exhibit A hereto (the “Participant”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide the Participant with an opportunity to acquire the Company’s Class B common shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and thereby provide additional incentive for the Participant to promote and participate in the progress and success of the business of the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, to give effect to the foregoing intention, the Company desires to award the Participant Restricted Stock Units pursuant to the Aptera Motors Corp. 2025 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Plan”);

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the following provisions apply to this Award:

 

1. Award. The Company hereby awards the Participant the number of Restricted Stock Units (each an “RSU” and collectively the “RSUs”) set forth in Exhibit A. Such RSUs shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the provisions of the Plan, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings as set forth in the Plan.

 

2. Vesting and settlement.

 

(a) Vesting. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the RSUs shall vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in Exhibit A, provided that the Participant remains in Continuous Service through each applicable vesting date.

 

(b) Settlement. For each RSU that becomes vested in accordance with this Agreement, the Company shall issue and deliver to Participant one share of Common Stock. Such shares shall be issued and delivered as soon as administratively practicable following the vesting date of each such RSU, but in no event later than March 15 of the year following the year in which such vesting date occurs. Except as provided above, in the event that the Participant ceases to be in Continuous Service, any RSUs that have not vested as of the date of such cessation of service shall be forfeited. If requested by the Participant, delivery of shares may be effected by book-entry credit to the Participant’s brokerage account.

 

3. No Rights as Stockholder. The Participant shall not be entitled to any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any share of Common Stock that may be acquired following vesting of an RSU unless and until such share of Common Stock is issued and delivered to the Participant. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Participant shall not have the right to vote any share of Common Stock to which an RSU relates and shall not be entitled to receive any dividend attributable to such share of Common Stock for any period prior to the issuance and delivery of such share to Participant.

 

 

 

4. Covenants Agreement. The RSUs shall be subject to forfeiture at the election of the Company, without payment of consideration, in the event that the Participant breaches any agreement between the Participant and the Company with respect to noncompetition, nonsolicitation, nondisparagement, assignment of inventions and contributions and/or nondisclosure obligations of the Participant.

 

5. Transfer Restrictions. Neither this Agreement nor the RSUs may be sold, assigned, pledged or otherwise transferred or encumbered without the prior written consent of the Committee and any purported sale, assignment, pledge, transfer or emcumberance shall be null and void ab initio.

 

6. Acceptance. To accept the RSUs, please execute and return this Agreement where indicated (including acceptance via an electronic platform maintained by the Company or a third-party administrator engaged by the Company) no later than six (6) months from the Award Date (the “Acceptance Deadline”). By executing this Agreement and accepting your RSUs, you will have agreed to all the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan. The grant of the RSUs will be considered null and void, and acceptance of the RSUs will be of no effect, if you do not execute and return this Agreement by the Acceptance Deadline.

 

7. Government Regulations. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company’s obligation hereunder to issue or deliver certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock shall be subject to the terms of all Applicable Laws.

 

8. Withholding Taxes. The Participant shall pay in cash to the Company, or make provision satisfactory to the Company for payment of, the minimum statutory amount required to satisfy all federal, state and local income tax withholding requirements and the Participant’s share of applicable employment withholding taxes in connection with the issuance and deliverance of shares of Common Stock following vesting of RSUs, in any manner permitted by the Plan. If permissible under Applicable Law, the minimum federal, state, and local and foreign income, payroll, employment and any other applicable taxes which the Company determines must be withheld with respect to the RSUs (“Tax Withholding Obligation”) may be satisfied by shares of Common Stock being sold on the Participant’s behalf at the prevailing market price pursuant to such procedures as the Company may specify from time to time, including through a broker-assisted arrangement (it being understood that the shares of Common Stock to be sold must have vested pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Plan). In addition to shares of Common Stock sold to satisfy the Tax Withholding Obligation, additional shares of Common Stock may be sold to satisfy any associated broker or other fees. The proceeds from any sale will be used to satisfy the Participant’s Tax Withholding Obligation arising with respect to the RSUs and any associated broker or other fees. Only whole shares of Common Stock will be sold. Any proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock in excess of the Tax Withholding Obligation and any associated broker or other fees will be paid to the Participant in accordance with procedures the Company may specify from time to time.

 

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The Committee may also permit the Participant to satisfy the Participant’s Tax Withholding Obligation by (i) delivering to the Company shares of Common Stock that the Participant owns and that have vested with a fair market value equal to the amount required to be withheld, (ii) having the Company withhold otherwise deliverable shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the minimum amount statutorily required to be withheld, (iii) payment by Participant in cash, or (iv) such other means as the Committee deems appropriate.

 

No shares of Common Stock shall be issued with respect to RSUs unless and until satisfactory arrangements acceptable to the Company have been made by the Participant with respect to the payment of any income and other taxes which the Company determines must be withheld or collected with respect to the RSUs.

 

9. Investment Purpose. Any and all shares of Common Stock acquired by the Participant under this Agreement will be acquired for investment for the Participant’s own account and not with a view to, for resale in connection with, or with an intent of participating directly or indirectly in, any distribution of such shares of Common Stock within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Participant shall not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of such shares unless they are either (1) registered under the Securties Act and all applicable state securities laws, or (2) exempt from such registration in the opinion of Company counsel.

 

10. Securities Law Restrictions. Regardless of whether the offering and sale of shares of Common Stock issuable to Participant pursuant to this Agreement and the Plan have been registered under the Securities Act, or have been registered or qualified under the securities laws of any state, the Company at its sole and absolute discretion may impose restrictions upon the sale, pledge or other transfer of such shares of Common Stock (including the placement of appropriate legends on stock certificates or the imposition of stop-transfer instructions) if, in the judgment of the Company, such restrictions are necessary in order to achieve compliance with Applicable Laws.

 

11. Lock-Up Agreement. The Participant, in the event that any shares of Common Stock which become deliverable to Participant with respect to RSUs at a time during which any directors or officers of the Company have agreed with one or more underwriters not to sell securities of the Company, shall enter into an agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, pursuant to which the Participant shall agree to restrictions on transferability of the shares of such Common Stock comparable to the restrictions agreed upon by such directors or officers of the Company.

 

12. Participant Obligations. The Participant should review this Agreement with his or her own tax advisors to understand the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Participant is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents, if any, made to the Participant. The Participant (and not the Company) shall be responsible for the Participant’s own tax liability arising as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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13. No Guarantee of Continued Service. Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan confers on the Participant any right to remain in Continuous Service, nor shall it affect in any way any right of the Participant or the Company to terminate the Participant’s service relationship.

 

14. Notices. Notices or communications to be made hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered in person, by registered mail, by confirmed facsimile or by a reputable overnight courier service to the Company at its principal office or to the Participant at his or her address contained in the records of the Company. Alternatively, notices and other communications may be provided in the form and manner of such electronic means as the Company may permit.

 

15. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. The Plan and this Award Agreement constitute the entire Agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof, and except as provided in the Plan, may not be modified in a manner material and adverse to the Participant’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and the Participant. In the event of any conflict between this Award Agreement and the Plan, the Plan shall be controlling. This Award Agreement shall be construed under the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of laws principles.

 

16. Opportunity for Review. Participant and the Company agree that this Award is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Award Agreement. The Participant has reviewed the Plan and this Award Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to accepting this Award Agreement and fully understands all provisions of the Plan and this Award Agreement. The Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions relating to the Plan and this Award Agreement. The Participant further agrees to promptly notify the Company upon any change in Participant’s residence address.

 

17. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and the Participant and their respective permitted successors, assigns, heirs, beneficiaries and representatives.

 

18. Section 409A Compliance. To the extent that this Agreement and the award of RSUs hereunder are or become subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, the Company and the Participant agree that this Agreement may be amended or modified by the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the Participant’s consent, as appropriate to maintain compliance with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.

 

19. Recoupment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any amounts paid hereunder shall be subject to recoupment in accordance with The Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any implementing regulations thereunder, any clawback policy adopted by the Company, as in effect from time to time, or as is otherwise required by Applicable Law.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date set forth in Exhibit A.

 

  APTERA MOTORS CORP.
     
  By:                
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  PARTICIPANT
   
   
  Name:

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

APTERA MOTORS CORP.

 

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

 

  (a). Participant’s Name: __________________________________________________________
     
  (b). Award Date: _______________________
     
  (c). Number of Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) Granted: _____________________
     
  (d). Vesting Schedule:

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT

 

APTERA MOTORS CORP.

 

  (a). Participant’s Name: ____________________________________________________
     
  (b). Date of Grant: _________________________________
     
  (c). Number of Shares Subject to the Option: ___________________
     
  (d). Exercise Price: $______ per Share
     
  (e). Expiration Date: ___________________________
     
  (f). Vesting Schedule:

 

-7-

 

EXHIBIT B

 

APTERA MOTORS CORP.

2025 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

STOCK OPTION EXERCISE NOTICE

 

Aptera Motors Corp.

[ADDRESS]

[ADDRESS]

Attention:

 

1. Exercise of Option. Effective as of today, ________________, 202__ (the “Exercise Date”), the undersigned (“Purchaser”) hereby elects to purchase ________ shares (the “Shares”) of the Common Stock of Aptera Motors Corp. (the “Company”) under and pursuant to the Stock Option Grant Agreement dated _____________, 202_ (the “Option Agreement”). Pursuant to the Option Agreement, the aggregate purchase price for the Shares is $_____________ (the “Purchase Price”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning assigned thereto under the Aptera Motors Corp. 2025 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

2. With respect to payment of the Purchase Price, select A or B as follows:

 

A. [    ] Full Payment. Purchaser herewith makes payment of a check the full Purchase Price to the Company, either:

 

[    ] by enclosing a check payable to the Company, or

 

[    ] by transfer of funds by wire transfer to the Company.

 

B. [    ] Cashless Exercise. If permitted by the Company under Purchaser’s Option Agreement and approved by the Company in connection with approval of such option, Purchaser elects to exercise via “cashless exercise”, and agrees to execute and deliver all appropriate forms as may be required by the Company. Purchaser hereby authorizes the broker, if applicable, to pay to the Company the Purchase Price plus an amount sufficient to cover all applicable taxes, as determined by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

3. Rights as Shareholder. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Shares covered by the Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Shares so acquired shall be issued to Purchaser as soon as practicable after exercise of the Option. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date of issuance.

 

4. Tax Consultation. Purchaser understands that Purchaser may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of Purchaser’s purchase or disposition of the Shares. Purchaser represents that Purchaser has consulted with any tax consultants Purchaser deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of the Shares and that Purchaser is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.

 

5. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Option Agreement is incorporated herein by reference. This Agreement and the Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Purchaser with respect to the subject matter hereof, and except as provided in the Plan may not be modified in a manner material and adverse to the Purchaser’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Purchaser. This agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the State of Delaware.

 

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Submitted by:   Accepted by:
     
PURCHASER   APTERA MOTORS CORP.
       
       
    By:                         
       
     
Print Name   Print Name/Title

 

Date:     Date:  

 

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EX-99.1 10 ex99-1.htm EX-99.1

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Aptera Motors Transitions to Public Benefit Corporation, Adds Industry Veterans to Board

 

Carlsbad, CA — October 22, 2025 — Aptera Motors Corp. (NASDAQ: SEV), a solar mobility company pioneering ultra-efficient transportation, today announced its formal transition to a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) under Delaware law. This change reflects Aptera’s long-term mission to break the chains of energy dependence by championing solar mobility—liberating communities, promoting sustainability, and forging a future where power belongs to the people.

 

“As a Public Benefit Corporation, we’re embedding our purpose into the foundation of our company,” said Chris Anthony, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Aptera Motors. “Our commitment goes beyond profit. We exist to create lasting, positive impact for people and the planet.”

 

What It Means to Be a Public Benefit Corporation

 

Public Benefit Corporations are a distinct class of companies recognized under Delaware law that balance financial performance with public benefits such as social and environmental responsibility. Unlike traditional corporations, PBCs are legally required to consider the interests of all their stakeholders, including employees, communities, and customers, as well as its public benefit, in addition to the interests of its shareholders.

 

As a PBC, Aptera’s performance is measured not only by economic results, but also by how effectively it promotes its stated public benefit: advancing solar mobility to reduce energy dependence and environmental impact.

 

“Solar mobility represents more than a technological breakthrough. It’s a movement toward true energy freedom,” said Steve Fambro, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Aptera Motors. “Becoming a Public Benefit Corporation aligns our governance with that purpose and ensures that every major decision we make is guided by the long-term well-being of our communities and our planet.”

 

Strengthening Leadership for the Road Ahead

 

In conjunction with its new corporate status, Aptera is also announcing two new appointments to its Board of Directors: Tony Kirton and Todd Butz, who bring decades of experience in global automotive operations, public markets, and financial management.

 

Tony Kirton Joins Aptera’s Board as an Independent Director

 

Kirton brings over forty years of international leadership across top automotive brands, including Audi, Volkswagen, and BMW. His strategic insight into global sales, marketing, and brand positioning is expected to be invaluable in guiding Aptera’s growth.

 

“Aptera’s vision for radically efficient transportation isn’t just forward-thinking—it’s necessary,” said Kirton. “Joining the board at this pivotal time allows me to help guide a company that’s reshaping mobility for the better.”

 

 

 

Todd Butz Appointed to Board as an Independent Director

 

A veteran financial executive and former Chief Financial Officer of Mayville Engineering Company (NYSE: MEC), Butz offers deep expertise in manufacturing scale, corporate governance, and public market strategy. His experience managing growth and ensuring fiscal discipline is expected to be instrumental in navigating the financial complexities of scaling toward production.

 

“What excites me most about Aptera is its bold reimagining of what’s possible in transportation,” said Butz. “It’s an honor to help guide a mission that unites financial sustainability with environmental responsibility.”

 

Driving Toward a Sustainable Future

 

With the addition of Kirton and Butz, Aptera’s Board of Directors combines leadership across automotive innovation, corporate finance and sustainability, supporting the company’s mission of having every journey powered by the sun.

 

“Aptera’s evolution into a Public Benefit Corporation formalizes what has always been at the heart of our mission,” said Fambro. “Our future depends on how effectively we can use innovation to serve people and the planet.”

 

About Aptera Motors Corp. Aptera Motors Corp. (Nasdaq: SEV) is a solar mobility company driven by a mission to advance the future of efficient transportation. Its flagship vehicle is conceived to be a paradigm-shifting solar electric vehicle that leverages breakthroughs in aerodynamics, material science, and solar technology to pursue new levels of efficiency. As a public benefit corporation, Aptera is committed to building a sustainable business that positively impacts its stakeholders and the environment. Aptera is headquartered in Carlsbad, California. For more information, please visit www.aptera.us.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, which include plans for vehicle technology, company growth, and scaling of operations, are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Aptera Motors Corp. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

 

Media Contact:

 

Media@aptera.us