S-8

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 6, 2023

Registration No. 333-

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S–8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Definitive Healthcare Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   81-3988281

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

492 Old Connecticut Path, Suite 401

Framingham, MA

  01701
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Definitive Healthcare Corp. 2023 Inducement Plan

(Full Title of Plans)

Matthew W. Ruderman

Chief Legal Officer

492 Old Connecticut Path, Suite 401

Framingham, MA 01701

(508) 720-4224

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

Copies to:

Jason Kent

Jean Park

Julia Boesch

Cooley LLP

55 Hudson Yards

New York, NY 10001

(212) 479-6000

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

 


EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) is being filed for the purpose of registering 2,100,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), reserved and available for issuance under the 2023 Inducement Plan (the “Inducement Plan”) of Definitive Healthcare Corp. (the “Registrant”).

On September 5, 2023, the Human Capital Management and Compensation Committee of the Registrant’s board of directors adopted the Inducement Plan, pursuant to which the Registrant reserved 2,100,000 shares of Common Stock, to be used exclusively for grants of equity-based awards to individuals who were not previously employees or directors of the Registrant, as an inducement material to the individual’s entry into employment with the Registrant within the meaning of Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules.

The Inducement Plan provides for the grant of equity-based awards in the form of nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, and dividend equivalent rights. The Inducement Plan was adopted by the Human Capital Management and Compensation Committee without stockholder approval pursuant to Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules.

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The documents containing the information specified in Item 1 and Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to employees as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

The following documents, which have been filed with the Commission by the Registrant, pursuant to the Securities Act, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as applicable, are hereby incorporated by reference in, and shall be deemed to be a part of, this Registration Statement:

(a) The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Commission on February 27, 2023, as amended by the Registrant’s Amendment No. 1 to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 on Form 10-K/A, filed with the Commission on August 14, 2023, which includes audited financial statements for the Registrant’s latest fiscal year.

(b) The Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Commission on April 20, 2023 (but only with respect to information specifically incorporated by reference into the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December  31, 2022).

(c) The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, filed with the Commission on May 4, 2023, as amended by the Registrant’s Amendment No. 1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 on Form 10-Q/A, filed with the Commission on August  14, 2023.

(d) The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, filed with the Commission on August 14, 2023.

(e) The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on January  12, 2023 (solely with regard to Item 2.05), February 23, 2023 (solely with regard to Item 5.02 and the exhibits that relate to such item), June  5, 2023, June  8, 2023, and August 1, 2023 (solely with regard to Items 2.05, 4.02).


(f) The description of the Registrant’s Class  A common stock contained in Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Commission on March 15, 2022, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

(g) All other reports and documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than Current Reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits furnished on such form that relate to such items) on or after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part of this Registration Statement from the date of the filing of such reports and documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document that also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

None.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

The Registrant is governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL. Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person, including an officer or director, who was or is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed legal action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person was or is an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such officer, director, employee or agent acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the corporation’s best interest and, for criminal proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any person, including an officer or director, who was or is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or contemplated action or suit by or in the right of such corporation, under the same conditions, except that such indemnification is limited to expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person, and except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if such person is adjudged to be liable to such corporation. Where an officer or director of a corporation is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, or any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation must indemnify that person against the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) which such officer or director actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith.

The Registrant’s amended and restated bylaws authorizes the indemnification of its officers and directors, consistent with Section 145 of the DGCL, as amended. The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors. These agreements, among other things, require the Registrant to indemnify each director to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including indemnification of expenses such as attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by the director in any action or proceeding, including any action or proceeding by or in right of the Registrant, arising out of the person’s services as a director.


Reference is made to Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, which enables a corporation in its original certificate of incorporation or an amendment thereto to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director for violations of the director’s fiduciary duty, except (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, which provides for liability of directors for unlawful payments of dividends of unlawful stock purchase or redemptions, or (iv) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit.

The Registrant expects to maintain standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (i) to its directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (ii) to the Registrant with respect to indemnification payments that it may make to such directors and officers.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

Not applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS

The exhibits to this Registration Statement are listed in the Exhibit Index below and are incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS

 

(a)

The Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

  (i)

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

  (ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

  (iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

  (2)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (3)

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.


(b) The Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


Item 8. Exhibits.

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
No.
  

Description

  4.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Definitive Healthcare Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-40815) filed with the SEC on November 8, 2021).
  4.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Definitive Healthcare Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-40815) filed with the SEC on November 8, 2021).
  5.1*    Legal Opinion of Cooley LLP.
23.1*    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2*    Consent of Cooley LLP (included in Exhibit No. 5.1).
24.1*    Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this Registration Statement).
99.1*    The Definitive Healthcare Corp. 2023 Inducement Plan
99.2*    Form of RSU Award Agreement under 2023 Inducement Plan
99.3*    Form of PSU Award Agreement under 2023 Inducement Plan
107*    Filing Fee Table

 

*

Filed herewith


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Framingham, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on September 6, 2023.

 

DEFINITIVE HEALTHCARE CORP.
By:   /s/ Richard Booth
Name:   Richard Booth
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned constitutes and appoints each of Robert Musslewhite or Richard Booth, or any of them, each acting alone, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (including all pre-effective and post-effective amendments and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that any such attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


Signature    Title   Date

/s/ Robert Musslewhite

Robert Musslewhite

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  September 6, 2023

/s/ Jason Krantz

Jason Krantz

   Executive Chairman and Director   September 6, 2023

/s/ Richard Booth

Richard Booth

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

  September 6, 2023

/s/ Sastry Chilukuri

Sastry Chilukuri

   Director   September 6, 2023

/s/ Chris Egan

Chris Egan

   Director   September 6, 2023

/s/ Samuel Allen Hamood

Samuel Allen Hamood

   Director   September 6, 2023

/s/ Jeff Haywood

Jeff Haywood

   Director   September 6, 2023

/s/ Jill Larsen

Jill Larsen

   Director   September 6, 2023

/s/ Scott Stephenson

Scott Stephenson

   Director   September 6, 2023

/s/ Kathleen A. Winters

Kathleen A. Winters

   Director   September 6, 2023

/s/ Lauren Young

Lauren Young

   Director   September 6, 2023
EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

Jean Park

T+1 212 479 6131

jpark@cooley.com

September 6, 2023    

Definitive Healthcare Corp.

492 Old Connecticut Path, Suite 401

Framingham, MA 01701

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Definitive Healthcare Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), covering the sale of up to 2,100,000 shares (the Shares) of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, pursuant to the Company’s 2023 Inducement Plan (the “Plan”).

In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon (a) the Registration Statement and the related prospectus, (b) the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, each as currently in effect, (c) the Plan and (d) such other records, documents, certificates, memoranda and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies, the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of certificates of public officials, and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by all persons other than by the Company where authorization, execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness thereof. As to certain factual matters, we have relied upon a certificate of an officer of the Company and have not independently verified such matters.

Our opinion is expressed only with respect to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We express no opinion to the extent that any other laws are applicable to the subject matter hereof and express no opinion and provide no assurance as to compliance with any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation.

On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when sold and issued in accordance with the Plan, the Registration Statement and the related prospectus, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (except as to shares issued pursuant to deferred payment arrangements, which will be fully paid and nonassessable when such deferred payments are made in full).

This opinion is limited to the matters expressly set forth in this letter, and no opinion should be implied, or may be inferred, beyond the matters expressly stated. This opinion speaks only as to law and facts in effect or existing as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligation or responsibility to update or supplement this letter to reflect any facts or circumstances that may hereafter come to our attention or any changes in law that may hereafter occur.

 

Cooley LLP  55 Hudson Yards  New York, NY  10001-2157

t: (212) 479-6000 f: (212) 479-6275 cooley.com


LOGO

 

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder

 

Sincerely,
COOLEY LLP
By:  

/s/ Jean Park

  Jean Park

 

Cooley LLP  55 Hudson Yards  New York, NY  10001-2157

t: (212) 479-6000 f: (212) 479-6275 cooley.com

EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our reports dated February 27, 2023 (August, 14, 2023, as to the effects of the restatement discussed in Note 3 and the effects of the material weakness described in Item 9A, Management’s Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (as revised)) relating to the financial statements of Definitive Healthcare Corp. and the effectiveness of Definitive Healthcare Corp.’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Form 10-K on Form 10-K/A, of Definitive Healthcare Corp. for the year ended December 31, 2022.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

September 6, 2023

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

THE DEFINITIVE HEALTHCARE CORP. 2023 INDUCEMENT PLAN

1. General.

1.1 Purpose. The purpose of the Definitive Healthcare Corp. 2023 Inducement Plan is to further align the interests of eligible participants with those of the Company’s stockholders by providing incentive compensation opportunities tied to the performance of the Company and its Common Stock. The Plan is intended to (a) provide an inducement material for certain individuals to enter into employment with the Company within the meaning of Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules, and (b) advance the interests of the Company and increase stockholder value by attracting, retaining and motivating eligible key personnel upon whose judgment, initiative and effort the successful conduct of the Company’s business is largely dependent.

1.2 Eligible Award Recipients. The only persons eligible to receive grants of Awards under this Plan are individuals who satisfy the standards for inducement grants under Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5635(c)(4) or 5635(c)(3), if applicable, and the related guidance under Nasdaq IM 5635-1. A person who previously served as an Employee or Director will not be eligible to receive Awards under the Plan, other than following a bona fide period of non-employment. Persons eligible to receive grants of Awards under this Plan are referred to in this Plan as “Eligible Employees.” These Awards must be approved by either a majority of the Company’s “Independent Directors” (as such term is defined in Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5605(a)(2)) (“Independent Directors”) or the Company’s compensation committee, provided such committee is comprised solely of Independent Directors of the Company (the “Independent Compensation Committee”) in order to comply with the exemption from the stockholder approval requirement for “inducement grants” provided under Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5635(c)(4) and the related guidance under Nasdaq IM 5635-1 (and any analogous rules or guidance effective after the date hereof) are referred to in the Plan as the “Inducement Award Rules.”

2. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth below:

Affiliate” means, with respect to a Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such first Person.

Award” means a Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, or Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.

Award Agreement” means a notice or an agreement entered into between the Company and a Participant or provided by the Company to a Participant setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award granted to a Participant as provided in Section 14.2 hereof.

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

Cause” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.2 hereof.


Change in Control has the meaning set forth in Section 11.4 hereof.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Committee” means a committee of no fewer than two Independent Directors to whom authority has been delegated by the Board in accordance with Section 3.1 hereof.

Common Stock” means the Class A common shares of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (and any shares or other securities into which such Common Stock may be converted or into which it may be exchanged).

Company” means Definitive Healthcare Corp., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor thereto.

Consultant” means any natural person who is a consultant or other personal service provider of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Consultants are not eligible to receive Awards under the Plan with respect to their service in such capacity.

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.

Director” means a member of the Board. Directors are not eligible to receive Awards under the Plan with respect to their service in such capacity.

Disability” means, unless otherwise defined in an Award Agreement, a disability described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-3(i)(4)(i)(A). A Disability shall be deemed to occur at the time of the determination by the Committee of the Disability.

Effective Date means September 5, 2023.

Eligible Employee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.2 hereof.

Employee” means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such services, will not cause a Director to be considered an “Employee” for purposes of the Plan.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Fair Market Value” means, as applied to a specific date, the price of a share of Common Stock that is based on the opening, closing, actual, high, low or average selling prices of a share of Common Stock reported on any established stock exchange or national market system including without limitation the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”), the New York Stock Exchange and the National Market System on the applicable date, the preceding trading day, the next succeeding trading day, or an average of trading days, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Unless the Committee determines otherwise or unless otherwise specified in an Award Agreement, Fair

 

2


Market Value shall be deemed to be equal to the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined, or if shares of Common Stock are not publicly traded on such date, as of the most recent date on which shares of Common Stock were publicly traded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Common Stock is not traded on any established stock exchange or national market system, the Fair Market Value means the price of a share of Common Stock as established by the Committee.

Independent Compensation Committee has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2 hereof.

Independent Directors has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2 hereof.

Inducement Award Rules has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2 hereof.

Non-Employee Director” means a Director who either (i) is not a current Employee or officer of the Company or an Affiliate, does not receive compensation, either directly or indirectly, from the Company or an Affiliate for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (“Regulation S-K”)), does not possess an interest in any other transaction for which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in a business relationship for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule 16b-3.

Participant” means any Eligible Employee who holds an outstanding Award under the Plan.

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or other legal entity. All references to Person shall include an individual Person or a group (as defined in Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of Persons.

Plan” means the Definitive Healthcare Corp. 2023 Inducement Plan as set forth herein, effective as of the Effective Date and as may be amended from time to time, as provided herein, and includes any sub-plan or appendix that may be created and approved by the Board to allow Eligible Employees of Subsidiaries to participate in the Plan.

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

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

 

3


Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Service” means a Participant’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary or a Participant’s service as a Non-Employee Director, Consultant or other service provider with the Company or any Subsidiary, as applicable.

Stock Appreciation Right” means a contractual right granted to an Eligible Employee under Section 7 hereof entitling such Eligible Employee to receive a payment, representing the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock over the base price per share of the right, at such time, and subject to such conditions, as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

Stock-Based Award” means a grant of shares of Common Stock or any award that is valued by reference to shares of Common Stock to an Eligible Employee under Section 10 hereof.

Stock Option” means a contractual right granted to an Eligible Employee 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. No Stock Option granted under the Plan shall qualify as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

Subsidiary means an entity (whether or not a corporation) that is wholly or majority owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or any other Affiliate of the Company that is so designated, from time to time, by the Committee, during the period of such Affiliated status.

Treasury Regulations” means regulations promulgated by the United States Treasury Department.

3. Administration.

3.1 Committee Members. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, subject to those constraints set forth in the Plan and the other constraints of the Inducement Award Rules. Each Committee member shall satisfy the requirements for (i) an “independent director” under rules adopted by the NASDAQ or other principal exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed and (ii) a “nonemployee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The Board may exercise all powers of the Committee hereunder and may directly administer the Plan; provided, however, that Awards may only be granted by either (i) a majority of the Company’s Independent Directors or (ii) the Independent Compensation Committee. Neither the Company nor any member of the Board or Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith by the Board or Committee with respect to the Plan or any Award thereunder.

 

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3.2 Committee Authority. Subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan and the Inducement Award Rules, the Committee shall have all powers and discretion necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and to control its operation, including, but not limited to, the power to (i) determine the Eligible Employees to whom Awards shall be granted under the Plan; provided, however, that Awards may only be granted by either (a) a majority of the Company’s Independent Directors or (b) the Independent Compensation Committee, (ii) prescribe the restrictions, terms and conditions of all Awards, (iii) interpret the Plan and terms of the Awards, (iv) adopt rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith, and interpret, amend or revoke any such rules, (v) make all determinations with respect to a Participant’s Service and the termination of such Service for purposes of any Award, (vi) correct any defect(s) or omission(s) or reconcile any ambiguity(ies) or inconsistency(ies) in the Plan or any Award thereunder, (vii) make all determinations it deems advisable for the administration of the Plan, (viii) decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan, (ix) subject to the terms of the Plan, amend the terms of an Award in any manner that is not inconsistent with the Plan, (x) accelerate the vesting or, to the extent applicable, exercisability of any Award at any time (including, but not limited to, upon a Change in Control or upon termination of Service of a Participant under certain circumstances (including, without limitation, upon retirement)) and (xi) adopt such procedures, modifications or subplans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Eligible Employees who are foreign nationals or provide services outside of the United States. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by the Committee selectively among Participants and Eligible Employees, whether or not such Persons are similarly situated. The Committee shall, in its discretion, 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 board of directors of a Subsidiary or such attorneys, consultants, accountants or other advisors as it may select. All interpretations, determinations, and actions by the Committee shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all parties.

3.3 Rule 16b-3 Compliance. To the extent an Award is intended to qualify for the exemption from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act that is available under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, the Award will be granted by a Committee that consists solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors, as determined under Rule 16b-3(b)(3) of the Exchange Act and thereafter any action establishing or modifying the terms of the Award will be approved by a Committee meeting such requirements to the extent necessary for such exemption to remain available.

4. Shares Subject to the Plan.

4.1 Number of Shares Reserved. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3 hereof, the total number of shares of Common Stock that are available for issuance under the Plan (the “Share Reserve”) shall equal 2,100,000 shares. Each share of Common Stock subject to an Award shall reduce the Share Reserve by one share. Any shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan shall consist of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.

 

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4.2 Share Replenishment. Following the Effective Date, to the extent that an Award granted under this Plan is canceled, expired, repurchased, forfeited, surrendered, exchanged for cash, settled in cash or by delivery of fewer shares of Common Stock than the number underlying the Award, or otherwise terminated without delivery of the shares of Common Stock to the Participant under the Plan, the unissued shares of Common Stock will (i) not be deemed to have been delivered under the Plan, (ii) be available for future Awards under the Plan, and (iii) increase the Share Reserve by one share for each share that is retained by or returned to the Company. Shares of Common Stock that are withheld from any Award granted under this Plan in payment of the exercise, base or purchase price or taxes relating to such an Award shall be available for future Awards under the Plan, and shall increase the Share Reserve by one share for each share that is retained by or returned to the Company. Shares of Common Stock repurchased by the Company on the open market with the proceeds of a Stock Option, will be deemed to have been delivered under the Plan and will not be available for future Awards under the Plan. The payment of dividend equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Award shall not count against the Share Reserve.

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 cash 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 corporate event or transaction or any other change affecting the Common Stock (other than regular cash dividends to stockholders of the Company), the Committee shall, in the manner and to the extent it considers appropriate and equitable to the Participants and consistent with the terms of the Plan, cause an adjustment to be made to (i) the maximum number and kind of shares of Common Stock or other securities provided in Section 4.1 hereof, (ii) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock, units or other securities or rights subject to then outstanding Awards, (iii) the exercise, base or purchase price for each share or unit or other security or right subject to then outstanding Awards, (iv) other value determinations applicable to the Plan and/or outstanding Awards, and/or (v) any other terms of an Award that are affected by the event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such adjustments shall, to the extent necessary to avoid additional taxes, be made in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, unless otherwise determined by the Committee.

5. Eligibility and Awards.

5.1 Designation of Participants. Awards may only be granted to persons who are Eligible Employees described in Section 1.1 of the Plan, where the Award is an inducement material to the individual’s entering into employment with the Company or an Affiliate within the meaning of Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules or is otherwise permitted pursuant to Rule 5635(c) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules The Committee has the authority, in its discretion, to determine and designate from time to time those Eligible Employees who are to be granted Awards, the types of Awards to be granted, the number of shares of Common Stock or units subject to Awards to be granted and the terms and conditions of such Awards consistent with the terms of the Plan; provided, however, that Awards may only be granted by either (a) a majority of the Company’s Independent Directors or (b) the Independent Compensation Committee. In selecting Eligible Employees 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.

 

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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.

5.3 Award Agreements. Each Award granted to an Eligible Employee shall be represented by an Award Agreement. The terms of the Award, as determined by the Committee, will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreements as described in Section 14.2 hereof.

5.4 Limitations on Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may not be granted to Employees unless the stock underlying such Awards is treated as “service recipient stock” under Section 409A of the Code or unless such Awards otherwise comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

5.5 Approval Requirements. All Awards must be granted either by a majority of the Company’s Independent Directors or the Independent Compensation Committee.

6. Stock Options.

6.1 Grant of Stock Options. A Stock Option may be granted to any Eligible Employee selected by the Committee. All Stock Options granted under the Plan are intended to comply with or be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable.

6.2 Exercise Price. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the exercise price per share of a Stock Option (other than a Stock Option substituted or assumed under Section 14.10) shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant. The Committee may in its discretion specify an exercise price per share that is higher than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant.

6.3 Vesting of Stock Options. The Committee shall, in its discretion, prescribe in an award agreement the time or times at which or the conditions upon which, a Stock Option or portion thereof shall become vested and/or exercisable. The requirements for vesting and exercisability of a Stock Option may be based on the continued Service of the Participant with the Company or a Subsidiary for a specified time period (or periods), on the attainment of a specified performance goal(s) and/or on such other terms and conditions as approved by the Committee in its discretion. If the vesting requirements of a Stock Option are not satisfied, the Award shall be forfeited.

6.4 Term of Stock Options. The Committee shall in its discretion prescribe in an Award Agreement the period during which a vested Stock Option may be exercised; provided, however, that the maximum term of a Stock Option shall be ten (10) years from the Date of Grant. If the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock exceeds the Exercise Price on the last day that the Stock Option may be exercised under an Award Agreement, the affected Participant shall be deemed to have exercised the vested portion of such Stock Option in a net exercise under Section 6.5(ii)(C) below and net share withholding for taxes (unless otherwise agreed) without the requirement of any further action. The Committee may provide that a Stock Option will cease to be exercisable upon or at the end of a specified time period following a termination of Service for any reason as set forth in the Award Agreement or otherwise. A Stock

 

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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 Service with the Company or any Subsidiary, including by reason of voluntary resignation, death, Disability, termination for Cause or any other reason. Subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, as applicable, and the provisions of this Section 6, the Committee may extend at any time the period in which a Stock Option may be exercised, but not beyond ten (10) years from the Date of Grant.

6.5 Stock Option Exercise; Tax Withholding. Subject to such terms and conditions as specified in an Award Agreement (including applicable vesting requirements), 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, together with payment of the aggregate exercise price and applicable withholding tax. Payment of the exercise price may be made: (i) in cash or by cash equivalent acceptable to the Committee, or, (ii) to the extent permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion in an Award Agreement or otherwise (A) in shares of Common Stock valued at the Fair Market Value of such shares on the date of exercise, (B) through an open-market, broker-assisted sales transaction pursuant to which the Company is promptly delivered the amount of proceeds necessary to satisfy the exercise price, (C) by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon the exercise of the Stock Option by the number of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the exercise price, (D) by a combination of the methods described above or (E) by such other method as may be approved by the Committee. In accordance with Section 14.11 hereof, and in addition to and at the time of payment of the exercise price, the Participant shall pay to the Company the full amount of any and all applicable income tax, employment tax and other amounts required to be withheld in connection with such exercise, payable under such of the methods described above for the payment of the exercise price as may be approved by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement.

6.6 Limited Transferability of Stock Options. All Stock Options shall be nontransferable except (i) upon the Participant’s death, in accordance with Section 14.3 hereof or (ii) for the transfer of all or part of the Stock Option to a Participant’s “family member” (as defined for purposes of the Form S-8 registration statement under the Securities Act), or as otherwise permitted by the Committee to the extent also permitted by the general instructions of the Form S-8 registration statement, as may be amended from time to time, in each case as may be approved by the Committee in its discretion at the time of proposed transfer; provided, in each case, that any permitted transfer shall be for no consideration. The transfer of a Stock Option may be subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may in its discretion impose from time to time. Subsequent transfers of a Stock Option shall be prohibited other than in accordance with Section 14.3 hereof.

6.7 Repricing Prohibited. Subject to the adjustment provisions contained in Section 4.3 hereof and other than in connection with a Change in Control, without the prior approval of the Company’s stockholders, neither the Committee nor the Board shall cancel a Stock Option when the exercise price per share exceeds the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock in exchange for cash or another Award or cause the cancellation, substitution or amendment of a Stock Option that would have the effect of reducing the exercise price of such a Stock Option previously granted under the Plan or otherwise approve any modification to such a Stock Option, that would be treated as a “repricing” under the then applicable rules, regulations or listing requirements adopted by the NASDAQ or other principal exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed.

 

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6.8 No Rights as Stockholder. The Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares underlying a Stock Option until such time as shares or Common Stock are delivered to the Participant pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.

7. Stock Appreciation Rights.

7.1 Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to any Eligible Employee 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 exercise or payment of the right upon a specified date or event. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be non-transferable, except as provided in Section 14.3 hereof. All Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan are intended to comply with or otherwise be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable.

7.2 Terms of Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee shall in its discretion provide in an Award Agreement the time or times at which or the conditions upon which, a Stock Appreciation Right or portion thereof shall become vested and/or exercisable. If the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock exceeds the base price on the last day that the Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised under an Award Agreement, the affected Participant shall be deemed to have exercised the vested portion of such Stock Appreciation Right and net share withholding for taxes (unless otherwise agreed) without the requirement of any further action. The requirements for vesting and exercisability of a Stock Appreciation Right may be based on the continued Service of a Participant with the Company or a Subsidiary for a specified time period (or periods), on the attainment of a specified performance goal(s) and/or on such other terms and conditions as approved by the Committee in its discretion. If the vesting requirements of a Stock Appreciation Right are not satisfied, the Award shall be forfeited. A Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable or payable at such time or times as determined by the Committee; provided, however, that the maximum term of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be ten (10) years from the Date of Grant. Subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, as applicable, and the provisions of this Section 7.2, the Committee may extend at any time the period in which a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised, but not beyond ten (10) years from the Date of Grant. The Committee may provide that a Stock Appreciation Right will cease to be exercisable upon or at the end of a period following a termination of Service for any reason. The base price of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee in its discretion; provided, however, that the base price per share shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant (other than with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right substituted or assumed under Section 14.10).

7.3 Payment of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right will entitle the holder, upon exercise or other payment of the Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, 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 or payment 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 or paid. Payment of the amount determined under the foregoing 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 or payment, in cash or in a combination of shares of Common Stock and cash, subject to applicable tax withholding requirements.

 

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7.4 Repricing Prohibited. Subject to the adjustment provisions contained in Section 4.3 hereof and other than in connection with a Change in Control, without the prior approval of the Company’s stockholders, neither the Committee nor the Board shall cancel a Stock Appreciation Right when the base price per share exceeds the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock in exchange for cash or another Award or cause the cancellation, substitution or amendment of a Stock Appreciation Right that would have the effect of reducing the base price of such a Stock Appreciation Right previously granted under the Plan or otherwise approve any modification to such Stock Appreciation Right that would be treated as a “repricing” under the then applicable rules, regulations or listing requirements adopted by the NASDAQ or other principal exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed.

7.5 No Rights as Stockholder. The Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares underlying a Stock Appreciation Right unless and until such time as shares or Common Stock are delivered to the Participant pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.

8. Restricted Stock Awards.

8.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Awards. A Restricted Stock Award may be granted to any Eligible Employee 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.

8.2 Vesting Requirements. The restrictions imposed on shares granted under a Restricted Stock Award shall lapse in accordance with the vesting requirements specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement. The requirements for vesting of a Restricted Stock Award may be based on the continued Service of the Participant with the Company or a Subsidiary for a specified time period (or periods), on the attainment of a specified performance goal(s) and/or on such other terms and conditions as approved by the Committee in its discretion. If the vesting requirements of a Restricted Stock Award are not satisfied, the Award shall be forfeited and the shares of Common Stock subject to the Award shall be returned to the Company.

8.3 Transfer 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, except as provided in Section 14.3 hereof. Failure to satisfy any applicable restrictions shall result in the subject shares of the Restricted Stock Award being forfeited and returned to the Company. The Committee may require in an Award Agreement that certificates (if any) representing the shares granted under a Restricted Stock Award bear a legend making appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed, and that certificates (if any) 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.

 

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8.4 Rights as Stockholder. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 8 and the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant shall have all rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares granted to the Participant under a 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. The Committee shall determine and set forth in a Participant’s Award Agreement whether or not a Participant holding a Restricted Stock Award granted hereunder shall have the right to exercise voting rights with respect to the period during which the Restricted Stock Award is subject to forfeiture (the “Restriction Period”), and have the right to receive dividends on the Restricted Stock Award during the Restriction Period (and, if so, on what terms) provided that if a Participant has the right to receive dividends paid with respect to the Restricted Stock Award, such dividends shall be subject to the same vesting terms as the related Restricted Stock Award.

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 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 Units.

9.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Units. A Restricted Stock Unit may be granted to any Eligible Employee selected by the Committee. The value of each Restricted Stock Unit is equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the applicable date or time period of determination, as specified by the Committee. Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Restricted Stock Units shall be non-transferable, except as provided in Section 14.3 hereof.

9.2 Vesting of Restricted Stock Units. The Committee shall, in its discretion, determine any vesting requirements with respect to Restricted Stock Units, which shall be set forth in the Award Agreement. The requirements for vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit may be based on the continued Service of the Participant with the Company or a Subsidiary for a specified time period (or periods), on the attainment of a specified performance goal(s) and/or on such other terms and conditions as approved by the Committee in its discretion. If the vesting requirements of a Restricted Stock Unit Award are not satisfied, the Award shall be forfeited.

9.3 Payment of Restricted Stock Units. Restricted Stock Units 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 may be made, as approved by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, in cash or in shares of Common Stock or in a combination thereof, subject to applicable tax withholding requirements. Any cash payment of a Restricted Stock Unit shall be made based upon the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock, determined on such date or over such time period as determined by the Committee.

 

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9.4 Dividend Equivalent Rights. Dividends shall not be paid with respect to Restricted Stock Units. Dividend equivalent rights may be granted with respect to the Shares subject to Restricted Stock Units to the extent permitted by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement; provided that any dividend equivalent rights granted shall be subject to the same vesting terms as the related Restricted Stock Units.

9.5 No Rights as Stockholder. The Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares subject to a Restricted Stock Unit until such time as shares of Common Stock are delivered to the Participant pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.

10. Stock-Based Awards.

10.1 Grant of Stock-Based Awards. A Stock-Based Award may be granted to any Eligible Employee selected by the Committee. A Stock-Based Award may be granted for past Services, in lieu of bonus or other cash compensation, as directors’ compensation or for any other valid purpose as determined by the Committee, and shall be based upon or calculated by reference to the Common Stock. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards, and such Awards may be made without vesting requirements. In addition, the Committee may, in connection with any Stock-Based Award, require the payment of a specified purchase price.

10.2 Rights as Stockholder. The Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock, including the right to vote the shares and receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect thereto, until such time as shares of Common Stock, if any, are issued to the Participant pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement. If a Participant has the right to receive dividends paid with respect to the Stock-Based Award, such dividends shall be subject to the same vesting terms as the related Stock-Based Award, if applicable.

11. Change in Control.

11.1 Effect on Awards. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, all outstanding Awards shall either be (a) continued or assumed by the Company (if it is the surviving company or corporation) or by the surviving company or corporation or its parent (with such continuation or assumption including conversion into the right to receive securities, cash or a combination of both), or (b) substituted by the surviving company or corporation or its parent for awards (with such substitution including conversion into the right to receive securities, cash or a combination of both), with substantially similar terms for outstanding Awards (with appropriate adjustments to the type of consideration payable upon settlement of the Awards or other relevant factors, and with any applicable performance conditions deemed achieved (i) for any completed performance period, based on actual performance, or (ii) for any partial or future performance period, at the greater of the target level or actual performance, in each case as determined by the Committee (with the Award remaining subject only to time vesting), unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement).

 

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11.2 Certain Adjustments. Notwithstanding Section 11.1, to the extent that outstanding Awards are not continued, assumed or substituted pursuant to Section 11.1 upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Committee is authorized (but not obligated) to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of outstanding Awards, including without limitation the following (or any combination thereof):

(a) acceleration of exercisability, vesting and/or payment of outstanding Awards immediately prior to the occurrence of such event or upon or following such event;

(b) upon written notice, providing that any outstanding Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights are exercisable during a period of time immediately prior to the scheduled consummation of the event or such other period as determined by the Committee (contingent upon the consummation of the event), and at the end of such period, such Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate to the extent not so exercised within the relevant period; and

(c) cancellation of all or any portion of outstanding Awards for fair value (in the form of cash, Common Shares, other property or any combination thereof) as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that, in the case of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights or similar Awards, the fair value may equal the excess, if any, of the value or amount of the consideration to be paid in the Change in Control transaction to holders of shares of Common Stock (or, if no such consideration is paid, Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock) over the aggregate exercise or base price, as applicable, with respect to such Awards or portion thereof being canceled, or if there is no such excess, zero; provided, further, that if any payments or other consideration are deferred and/or contingent as a result of escrows, earn outs, holdbacks or any other contingencies, payments under this provision may be made on substantially the same terms and conditions applicable to, and only to the extent actually paid to, the holders of Common Shares in connection with the Change in Control.

11.3 Certain Terminations of Service. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11.1, if a Participant’s Service with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated upon or within twenty four (24) months following a Change in Control by the Company without Cause or upon such other circumstances as determined by the Committee, the unvested portion (if any) of all outstanding Awards held by the Participant shall immediately vest (and, to the extent applicable, become exercisable) and be paid in full upon such termination, with any applicable performance conditions deemed achieved (i) for any completed performance period, based on actual performance, or (ii) for any partial or future performance period, at the greater of the target level or actual performance, in each case as determined by the Committee, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement.

11.4 Definition of Change in Control. Unless otherwise defined in an Award Agreement or other written agreement approved by the Committee, “Change in Control” means, and shall occur, if:

 

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(a) any Person (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company, or any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of Common Stock), is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;

(b) during any period of two consecutive years (the “Board Measurement Period”) 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 paragraph (a), (c), or (d) of this section, or a director initially elected or nominated as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any Person other than the Board) 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 Board Measurement Period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board;

(c) a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; provided, however, that a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person (other than those covered by the exceptions in (i) above) acquires more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company; or

(d) the stockholders of the Company approve the consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets other than (i) the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to a Person or Persons who beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company at the time of the sale or disposition or (ii) pursuant to a spinoff type transaction, directly or indirectly, of such assets to the stockholders of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code with respect to the payment of “nonqualified deferred compensation,” “Change in Control” shall be limited to a “change in control event” as defined under Section 409A of the Code.

 

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12. Forfeiture Events.

12.1 General. The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award are 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 may include, without limitation, termination of Service for Cause, violation of laws, regulations or material Company policies, breach of noncompetition, non-solicitation, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant, application of a Company clawback policy relating to financial restatement, or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company.

12.2 Termination for Cause.

(a) Treatment of Awards. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in an Award Agreement, if (i) a Participant’s Service with the Company or any Subsidiary shall be terminated for Cause or (ii) after termination of Service for any other reason, the Committee determines in its discretion either that, (1) during the Participant’s period of Service, the Participant engaged in an act or omission which would have warranted termination of Service for Cause or (2) after termination, the Participant engages in conduct that violates any continuing obligation or duty of the Participant in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary, such Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to cancellation, forfeiture and/or recoupment, as provided in Section 12.3 below. The Company shall have the power to determine whether the Participant has been terminated for Cause, the date upon which such termination for Cause occurs, whether the Participant engaged in an act or omission which would have warranted termination of Service for Cause or engaged in conduct that violated any continuing obligation or duty of the Participant in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary. Any such determination shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Persons. In addition, if the Company shall reasonably determine that a Participant has committed or may have committed any act which could constitute the basis for a termination of such Participant’s Service for Cause or violates any continuing obligation or duty of the Participant in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company may suspend the Participant’s rights to exercise any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, receive any payment or vest in any right with respect to any Award pending a determination by the Company of whether an act or omission could constitute the basis for a termination for Cause as provided in this Section 12.2.

(b) Definition of Cause. “Cause” means with respect to a Participant’s termination of Service, the following: (a) in the case where there is no employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant (or where there is such an agreement but it does not define “cause” (or words of like import, which shall include but not be limited to “gross misconduct”)), termination due to a Participant’s (1) failure to substantially perform Participant’s duties or obey lawful directives that continues after receipt of written notice from the Company and a 10-day opportunity to cure; (2) gross misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of Participant’s duties; (3) fraud, embezzlement, theft, or any other act of material dishonesty or misconduct; (4) conviction of, indictment for, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude; (5) material breach or violation of any agreement with the Company or its Affiliates, any restrictive covenant applicable to Participant, or any Company policy (including, without limitation, with respect to harassment); or (6) other conduct, acts or omissions that, in the good faith judgment of the Company, are likely to materially injure the reputation, business or a business relationship of the Company or any of its Affiliates; or (b) in

 

15


the case where there is an employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant that defines “cause” (or words of like import, which shall include but not be limited to “gross misconduct”), “cause” as defined under such agreement. With respect to a termination of Service for a Non-Employee Director, Cause means an act or failure to act that constitutes cause for removal of a director under applicable law. Any voluntary termination of Service by the Participant in anticipation of an involuntary termination of the Participant’s Service for Cause shall be deemed to be a termination for Cause.

12.3 Right of Recapture.

(a) General. If at any time within one year (or such longer time specified in an Award Agreement or other agreement with a Participant or policy applicable to the Participant) after the date on which a Participant exercises a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right or on which a Stock-Based Award, Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit vests, is settled in shares or otherwise becomes payable, or on which income otherwise is realized or property is received by a Participant in connection with an Award, (i) a Participant’s Service is terminated for Cause, (ii) the Committee determines in its discretion that the Participant is subject to any recoupment of benefits pursuant to the Company’s compensation recovery, “clawback” or similar policy, as may be in effect from time to time, or (iii) after a Participant’s Service terminates for any other reason, the Committee determines in its discretion either that, (1) during the Participant’s period of Service, the Participant engaged in an act or omission which would have warranted termination of the Participant’s Service for Cause or (2) after a Participant’s termination of Service, the Participant engaged in conduct that violated any continuing obligation or duty of the Participant in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary, then, at the sole discretion of the Committee, any gain realized by the Participant from the exercise, vesting, payment, settlement or other realization of income or receipt of property by the Participant in connection with an Award, shall be repaid by the Participant to the Company upon notice from the Company, subject to applicable law. Such gain shall be determined as of the date or dates on which the gain is realized by the Participant, without regard to any subsequent change in the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock. To the extent not otherwise prohibited by law, the Company shall have the right to offset the amount of such repayment obligation against any amounts otherwise owed to the Participant by the Company (whether as wages, vacation pay or pursuant to any benefit plan or other compensatory arrangement).

(b) Accounting Restatement. If a Participant receives compensation pursuant to an Award under the Plan based on financial statements that are subsequently restated in a way that would decrease the value of such compensation, the Participant will, to the extent not otherwise prohibited by law, upon the written request of the Company, forfeit and repay to the Company the difference between what the Participant received and what the Participant should have received based on the accounting restatement, in accordance with (i) any compensation recovery, “clawback” or similar policy, as may be in effect from time to time to which such Participant is subject and (ii) any compensation recovery, “clawback” or similar policy made applicable by law including the provisions of Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the rules, regulations and requirements adopted thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any national securities exchange on which the Company’s equity securities may be listed (the “Policy”). By accepting an Award hereunder, the Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Policy, whenever adopted, shall apply to such Award, and all incentive-based compensation payable pursuant to such Award shall be subject to forfeiture and repayment pursuant to the terms of the Policy.

 

16


13. Transfer, Leave of Absence, Etc. For purposes of the Plan, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, the following events shall not be deemed a termination of Service: (a) a transfer to the service of the Company from a Subsidiary or from the Company to a Subsidiary, or from one Subsidiary to another; or (b) an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, a leave of absence where the Participant’s right to re-employment is protected either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted, a leave of absence for any other purpose approved by the Company or if the Committee otherwise so provides in writing.

14. General Provisions.

14.1 Status of Plan. The Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations to deliver shares of Common Stock or make payments with respect to Awards.

14.2 Award Agreement. An Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in a written or electronic form approved by the Committee setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock or other amounts or securities 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 also may set forth the effect on an Award of a Change in Control and/or a termination of 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 also may set forth other terms and conditions applicable to the Award as determined by the Committee consistent with the limitations of the Plan. 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. The Committee need not require the execution of an Award Agreement by a Participant, in which case, acceptance of the Award by the Participant shall constitute agreement by the Participant to the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations set forth in the Plan and the Award Agreement as well as the administrative guidelines of the Company in effect from time to time. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Plan and any Award Agreement, the provisions of the Plan shall prevail.

14.3 No Assignment or Transfer; Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 6.6 hereof or as otherwise provided by the Committee to the extent not prohibited under Section A.1.(5) of the general instructions of Form S-8, as may be amended from time to time, Awards under the Plan shall not be assignable or transferable by the Participant, and shall not be subject in any manner to assignment, alienation, pledge, encumbrance or charge. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of the death of a Participant, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, an outstanding Award may be exercised by or shall become payable to the Participant’s beneficiary as determined under the Company 401(k) retirement plan or other

 

17


applicable retirement or pension plan. In lieu of such determination, a Participant may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive any benefit in case of the Participant’s death before the Participant receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing (in such form or manner as may be prescribed by the Committee) with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of a valid designation as provided above, if no validly designated beneficiary survives the Participant or if each surviving validly designated beneficiary is legally impaired or prohibited from receiving the benefits under an Award, the Participant’s beneficiary shall be the legatee or legatees of such Award designated under the Participant’s last will or by such Participant’s executors, personal representatives or distributees of such Award in accordance with the Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may provide in the terms of an Award Agreement or in any other manner prescribed by the Committee 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. Any transfer permitted under this Section 14.3 shall be for no consideration.

14.4 No Right to Employment or Continued Service. Nothing in the Plan, in the grant of any Award or in any Award Agreement shall confer upon any Eligible Employee or any Participant any right to continue in the Service of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries 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 Employee or a Participant for any reason or no reason at any time.

14.5 Rights as Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights as a holder of shares of Common Stock with respect to any unissued securities 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. The Committee may determine in its discretion the manner of delivery of Common Stock to be issued under the Plan, which may be by delivery of stock certificates, electronic account entry into new or existing accounts or any other means as the Committee, in its discretion, deems appropriate. The Committee may require that the stock certificates (if any) be held in escrow by the Company for any shares of Common Stock or cause the shares to be legended in order to comply with the securities laws or other applicable restrictions. Should the shares of Common Stock be represented by book or electronic account entry rather than a certificate, the Committee may take such steps to restrict transfer of the shares of Common Stock as the Committee considers necessary or advisable.

14.6 Trading Policy and Other Restrictions. Transactions involving Awards under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s insider trading and other restrictions, terms, conditions and policies, established by the Committee from time to time or by applicable law.

 

18


14.7 Section 409A Compliance. To the extent applicable, it is intended that the Plan and all Awards hereunder comply with, or be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and other guidance issued thereunder, and that 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. In the event that any (i) provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement, (ii) Award, payment, transaction or (iii) other action or arrangement contemplated by the provisions of the Plan is determined by the Committee to not comply with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and other guidance issued thereunder, the Committee shall have the authority to take such actions and to make such changes to the Plan or an Award Agreement as the Committee deems necessary to comply with such requirements. No payment that constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code that would otherwise be made under the Plan or an Award Agreement upon a termination of Service will be made or provided unless and until such termination is also a “separation from service,” as determined in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything elsewhere in the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, if a Participant is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A of the Code at the time of termination of Service with respect to an Award, then solely to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of any additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, the commencement of any payments or benefits under the Award shall be deferred until the date that is six (6) months plus one (1) day following the date of the Participant’s termination of Service or, if earlier, the Participant’s death (or such other period as required to comply with Section 409A). For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, a Participant’s right to receive any installment payments pursuant to this Plan or any Award granted hereunder shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments. For the avoidance of doubt, each applicable tranche of Common Shares subject to vesting under any Award shall be considered a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments. In no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on a Participant by Section 409A of the Code or any damages for failing to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

14.8 Section 457A Compliance. In the event any Award is subject to Section 457A of the Code (“Section 457A”), the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without a Participant’s prior consent, amend the Plan and/or Awards, adopt policies and procedures, or take any other actions (including amendments, policies, procedures and actions with retroactive effect) as are necessary or appropriate to (i) exempt the Plan and/or any Award from the application of Section 457A, (ii) preserve the intended tax treatment of any such Award, or (iii) comply with the requirements of Section 457A, including without limitation any such regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority that may be issued after the date of the grant. To the extent that an Award constitutes deferred compensation subject to Section 457A, such Award will be subject to taxation in accordance with Section 457A. In no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on a Participant by Section 457A of the Code or any damages for failing to comply with Section 457A of the Code.

14.9 Securities Law Compliance. 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 of Common Stock pursuant to the grant or exercise of an Award, the Company may require the Participant to take any action that the Company determines is necessary or advisable to meet such requirements.

 

19


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, 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 solely for investment purposes and without any current intention to sell or distribute such shares.

14.10 Substitution or Assumption of Awards in Corporate Transactions. The Committee may 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, in substitution for awards previously granted by such corporation or other entity or otherwise. The Committee may also assume any previously granted awards of a former employee or a current employee, director, consultant or other service provider of another corporation or entity that becomes an Eligible Employee by reason of such corporation transaction. The terms and conditions of the substituted or assumed 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. To the extent permitted by applicable law and the listing requirements of the NASDAQ or other exchange or securities market on which the Common Shares are listed, any such substituted or assumed awards shall not reduce the Share Reserve.

14.11 Tax Withholding. The Participant shall be responsible for payment of any taxes or similar charges required by law to be paid or withheld from an Award or an amount paid in satisfaction of an Award. Any required withholdings shall be paid by the Participant on or prior to the payment or other event that results in taxable income in respect of an Award. The Award Agreement may specify the manner in which the withholding obligation shall be satisfied with respect to the particular type of Award, which may include permitting the Participant to elect to satisfy the withholding obligation by tendering shares of Common Stock to the Company or having the Company withhold a number of shares of Common Stock having a value in each case up to the maximum statutory tax rates in the applicable jurisdiction or as the Committee may approve in its discretion (provided that such withholding does not result in adverse tax or accounting consequences to the Company), or similar charge required to be paid or withheld. In addition, to the extent permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion in an Award Agreement or otherwise, and subject to Section 16 of the Securities Act, withholding may be satisfied through an open-market, broker-assisted sales transaction pursuant to which the Company is promptly delivered the amount of proceeds necessary to satisfy the withholding amount, which shall be subject to any terms and conditions imposed by the Committee. The Company shall have the power and the right to require a Participant to remit to the Company the amount necessary to satisfy federal, state, provincial and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld, and to deduct or withhold from any shares of Common Stock deliverable under an Award to satisfy such withholding obligation.

14.12 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 shares 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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14.13 Other Compensation and Benefit Plans. The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other share incentive or other compensation plans in effect for the Company or any Subsidiary, nor shall the Plan preclude the Company from establishing any other forms of share incentive or other compensation or benefit program for employees of the Company or any Subsidiary. 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 a Subsidiary, including, without limitation, under any pension or severance benefits plan, except to the extent specifically provided by the terms of any such plan.

14.14 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.

14.15 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.

14.16 Governing Law. The Plan, all Awards and all Award Agreements, and all claims or causes of action (whether in contract, tort or statute) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to the Plan, any Award or Award Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of any such documents or matter related thereto (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with the Plan, any Award or Award Agreement, or as an inducement to enter into any Award Agreement), shall be governed by, and enforced in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, including its statutes of limitations and repose, but without regard to any borrowing statute that would result in the application of the statute of limitations or repose of any other jurisdiction.

14.17 No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional shares of Common Stock or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.

14.18 No Guarantees Regarding Tax Treatment. Neither the Company nor the Committee make any guarantees to any Person regarding the tax treatment of Awards or payments made under the Plan. Neither the Company nor the Committee has any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any tax on any Person with respect to any Award under Section 409A of the Code, Section 4999 of the Code or otherwise and neither the Company nor the Committee shall have any liability to a Person with respect thereto.

 

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14.19 Data Protection. By participating in the Plan, each Participant consents to the collection, processing, transmission and storage by the Company, its Subsidiaries and any third party administrators of any data of a professional or personal nature for the purposes of administering the Plan and in connection with a Participant’s status as a stockholder of the Company upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award.

14.20 Awards to Non-U.S. Participants. To comply with the laws in countries other than the United States in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates operates or has Eligible Employees, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to (i) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Participants outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws, (ii) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local government regulatory exemptions or approvals and (iii) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable. Any subplans and modifications to Plan terms and procedures established under this Section 14.20 by the Committee shall be attached to this Plan document as appendices.

15. Term; Amendment and Termination; Stockholder Approval.

15.1 Term. The Board has adopted this plan and the Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date.

15.2 Amendment and Termination. The Board may from time to time and in any respect, amend, modify, suspend or terminate the Plan; provided, however, that no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of the Plan shall materially and adversely affect any Award theretofore granted without the consent of the Participant or the permitted transferee of the Award. The Board may seek the approval of any amendment, modification, suspension or termination by the Company’s stockholders to the extent it deems necessary in its discretion, and shall seek such approval to the extent it deems necessary in its discretion to comply with applicable law or listing requirements of NASDAQ or other exchange or securities market. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall have broad authority to amend the Plan or any Award under the Plan without the consent of a Participant to the extent it deems necessary or desirable in its discretion to comply with, take into account changes in, or interpretations of, applicable tax laws, securities laws, employment laws, accounting rules and other applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

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EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

Definitive Healthcare Corp.

2023 Inducement Plan

Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement

(Time-Based)

This Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made by and between Definitive Healthcare Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and _______ (the “Participant”), effective as of _______, 20__ (the “Date of Grant”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Definitive Healthcare Corp. 2023 Inducement Plan (the “Plan”), which is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Agreement. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to those terms in the Plan; and

WHEREAS, the Committee has authorized and approved the grant of an Award to the Participant that will provide the Participant the opportunity to receive shares of Common Stock upon the settlement of restricted stock units on the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement (“Restricted Stock Units”) as a material inducement to the Participant entering into employment with the Company in compliance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants set forth in this Agreement, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.

Grant of Award. The Company hereby grants to the Participant, effective as of the Date of Grant, _______ Restricted Stock Units on the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement. This Award is granted in compliance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) as a material inducement to the Participant entering into employment with the Company.

 

2.

Vesting and Forfeiture. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement, the Restricted Stock Units shall vest as follows:

 

  (a)

General. [_______]

 

  (b)

Termination of Service; Breach. Except as set forth in Section 11.3 of the Plan which shall apply upon termination of the Participant’s Service without Cause or for Good Reason (as defined in the Participant’s then-current employment agreement with the Company or its Affiliate, if any; if no such agreement or no such definition, Good Reason shall not apply), upon termination of the Participant’s Service for any other reason or no reason, any then unvested Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited immediately, automatically and without consideration. If the Participant breaches Section 4, Section 5, or any other restrictive covenant with the Company or its Affiliate, any vested or unvested Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited immediately, automatically and without consideration.


3.

Payment

 

  (a)

Settlement. The Company shall deliver to the Participant within thirty (30) days following each Time-Vesting Date or vesting date under Section 11.3 of the Plan and 2(b) of the Agreement, as applicable, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units that vested pursuant to Section 2 on such date. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be delivered, but shall be delayed until a full share has vested. The Company may deliver such shares either through book entry accounts held by, or in the name of, the Participant or cause to be issued a certificate or certificates representing the number of shares to be issued in respect of the Restricted Stock Units, registered in the name of the Participant.

 

  (b)

Withholding Requirements. Unless the Committee determines to require or permit the Participant to satisfy the withholding requirements set forth in this Section 3(b) in any other manner allowed by Section 14 of the Plan, the Company shall automatically withhold cash or shares of Common Stock that are otherwise deliverable to the Participant under this Agreement, in an amount necessary to satisfy all federal, state and local taxes required to be withheld in connection with the settlement of the Restricted Stock Units.

 

4.

Non-Disclosure and Non-Use of the Company’s Trade Secrets or Confidential Information

 

  (a)

At all times during and following Participant’s Service, Participant agrees that he or she will not, either directly or indirectly, and Participant will not permit any Covered Entity which is Controlled by Participant to, either directly or indirectly, (i) divulge, use, disclose (in any way or in any manner, including by posting on the Internet), reproduce, distribute, or reverse engineer or otherwise provide the Company’s Trade Secrets or Confidential Information to any person, firm, corporation, reporter, author, producer or similar person or entity; (ii) take any action that would make available Trade Secrets or Confidential Information to the general public in any form; (iii) take any action that uses Trade Secrets or Confidential Information to solicit any client or prospective client of the Company; or (iv) take any action that uses Trade Secrets or Confidential Information for solicitation or marketing for any service or product or on Participant’s behalf or on behalf of any entity other than the Company with which Participant may become associated, except (A) as required in connection with the performance of such Participant’s duties to the Company, (B) as required to be included in any report, statement or testimony requested by any municipal, state or national regulatory body having jurisdiction over Participant or any Covered Entity which is Controlled by Participant, (C) as required in response to any summons or subpoena or in connection with any litigation, (D) to the extent necessary in order to comply with any law, order, regulation, ruling or governmental request applicable to Participant or any Covered Entity which is Controlled by Participant, (E) as required in connection with an audit by any taxing authority, or (F) as permitted by the express

 

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  written consent of the Board. In the event that Participant or any such Covered Entity which is Controlled by Participant is required to disclose Trade Secrets or Confidential Information pursuant to the foregoing exceptions, Participant shall promptly notify the Company of such pending disclosure and assist the Company (at the Company’s expense) in seeking a protective order or in objecting to such request, summons or subpoena with regard to the Trade Secrets or Confidential Information. If the Company does not obtain such relief after a period that is reasonable under the circumstances, Participant (or such Covered Entity) may disclose that portion of the Trade Secrets or Confidential Information which counsel to such party advises such party that they are legally compelled to disclose. In such cases, Participant shall promptly provide the Company with a copy of the Trade Secrets or Confidential Information so disclosed. This provision applies without limitation to unauthorized use of Trade Secrets or Confidential Information in any medium, writings of any kind containing such information or materials, including books, and articles, blogs, websites, or writings of any other kind, or film, videotape, or audiotape. If, and only if, the controlling state law applicable to Participant requires a time limit to be placed on restrictions concerning the post-employment use of Confidential Information for the restriction to be enforceable, then this restriction on Participant’s use of Confidential Information that is not a Trade Secret will expire two (2) years after Participant’s employment or other association with the Company ends. This time limit will not apply to Confidential Information that qualifies as a Trade Secret. The Company’s trade secrets will remain protected for as long as they qualify as trade secrets under applicable law.

 

  (b)

Notwithstanding Participant’s confidentiality obligations set forth in this Section 4, Participant understands that, pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, Participant shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a Trade Secret that: (i) is made (x) in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (y) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Participant understands that in the event it is determined that disclosure of the Trade Secrets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates was not done in good faith pursuant to the above, Participant shall be subject to substantial damages under federal criminal and civil law, including punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.

 

  (c)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, nothing in this Agreement shall limit or interfere with Participant’s right, without notice to or authorization of the Company, to communicate and cooperate in good faith with a Government Agency for the purpose of (i) reporting a possible violation of any U.S. federal, state, or local law or regulation, (ii) participating in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted or managed by any Government Agency, including by providing documents or other information, or (iii) filing a charge or complaint with a Government Agency. For purposes of this Agreement, “Government Agency” means the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or any other self-regulatory organization or any other federal, state or local governmental agency or commission.

 

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5.

Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation. In consideration of the Restricted Stock Units granted which Participant and the Company agree is mutually agreed upon consideration, during the term of Participant’s Service and for 12 months following the termination of Participant’s Service (the “Restricted Period”):

 

  (a)

Participant will not, directly or indirectly, individually or as a consultant to, or an Participant, officer, director, manager, stockholder, partner, member or other owner or participant in any business entity (including, without limitation, any competitor of the Company), other than the Company, engage in or assist any other person or entity to engage in any business which competes with any business in which the Company is engaging or the actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company (a “Competing Business”), during the Participant’s employment, anywhere in the United States or anywhere else in the world in which Participant provided services for the Company or had a material presence or influence, during any time within the last two years prior to the termination of Participant’s Service to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant’s (x) discretionary ownership of less than three percent (3%) and (y) non-discretionary (for example through a mutual fund or other investment vehicle not controlled by Participant) ownership of the outstanding stock of any publicly-traded corporation shall not be deemed a violation of this Section 5(a);

 

  (b)

the Participant will not, directly or indirectly, individually or as a consultant to, or an Participant, officer, director, manager, stockholder, partner, member or other owner or participant in any business entity solicit or endeavor to entice away from the Company, endeavor to reduce the amount of business conducted with the Company by or otherwise interfere with the business relationship of the Company with any person or entity who is, or was within the one-year period immediately prior thereto, a customer or client of, supplier, vendor or service provider to, or other party having business relations with the Company; and

 

  (c)

the Participant will not, directly or indirectly, individually or as a consultant to, or an Participant, officer, director, manager, stockholder, partner, member or other owner or participant in any business entity solicit or endeavor to entice away from the Company, or offer employment or any consulting arrangement to, or otherwise interfere with the business relationship of the Company with any person or entity who is, or was within the one-year period immediately prior thereto, employed by, associated with or a consultant to the Company.

 

4


6.

Enforcement; Remedies. Participant acknowledges that Participant’s expertise in the business of the Company is of a special and unique character which gives this expertise a particular value, and that a breach of Sections 4 or 5 by Participant will cause serious and potentially irreparable harm to the Company. Participant therefore acknowledges that a breach of Sections 4 or 5 by Participant cannot be adequately compensated in an action for damages at law, and equitable relief would be necessary to protect the Company from a violation of this Agreement and from the harm which this Agreement is intended to prevent. By reason thereof, Participant acknowledges that the Company is entitled, in addition to any other remedies it may have under this Agreement or otherwise, to preliminary and permanent injunctive and other equitable relief to prevent or curtail any breach of this Agreement. Participant acknowledges, however, that no specification in this Agreement of a specific legal or equitable remedy may be construed as a waiver of or prohibition against the Company pursuing other legal or equitable remedies in the event of a breach of this Agreement by Participant. For purposes of Sections 4 and 5, “Company” shall specifically include the Company and its direct and indirect parent entities, subsidiaries, successors and assigns. If Participant fails to comply with a restriction in this Agreement that applies for a limited period of time after employment, the time period for that restriction will be extended by the greater of either: one day for each day Participant is found to have violated the restriction, or the length of the legal proceeding necessary to secure enforcement of the restriction; provided, however, that this extension of time shall be capped so that the extension of time does not exceed two years from the date their employment ended, and if this extension would make the restriction unenforceable under applicable law it will not be applied (“Fairness Extension”). If Participant resides or works in Massachusetts, the Fairness Extension will only apply to the restrictions in Section 5(b) and (c) and will only apply to the non-competition restriction in Section 5(a) if Participant breaches their fiduciary duty and/or has unlawfully taken, physically or electronically, any Company records.

 

7.

Definitions.

 

  (a)

Confidential Information” means any data or information, without regard to form, other than Trade Secrets, that is valuable to the Company and is not generally known by the public. To the extent consistent with the foregoing, Trade Secrets or Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to: (i) the names, addresses, phone numbers, accounts, financial information, and other information concerning patients, referral sources, payors (employers, managed care organizations, workers compensation insurers, and other types of payors) and other clients of the Company; (ii) non-public information and materials describing or relating to the Company’s business or financial affairs, including but not limited to financial and/or investment performance information, personnel matters, products, operating procedures, organizational responsibilities, marketing matters, or policies or procedures of the Company; or (iii) information and materials describing the Company’s existing or new products and services, including analytical data and techniques, and product, service or marketing concepts under development at or for the Company, and the status of such development. Trade Secrets or Confidential Information does not include information that, other than as a result of a breach by Participant of this Agreement, (x) is or becomes generally known within the relevant industry, or (y) is or becomes known to Participant other than through Participant’s work for the Company, or (z) is or becomes generally available to the public.

 

5


  (b)

Control” means (i) in the case of a corporate entity, direct or indirect ownership of at least fifty percent (50%) of the stock or securities entitled to vote for the election of directors; and (ii) in the case of a non-corporate entity (such as a limited liability company, partnership or limited partnership), either (x) direct or indirect ownership of at least fifty percent (50%) of the equity interests in such entity, or (y) the power to direct the management and policies of such entity.

 

  (c)

Covered Entity” means every Affiliate of Participant, and every business, association, trust, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, proprietorship or other entity in which Participant has an investment (whether through debt or equity securities), or maintains any capital contribution or made any outstanding advances to, or in which any Affiliate of Participant has an ownership interest or profit sharing percentage, or a firm from which Participant or any Affiliate of Participant receives or is entitled to receive income, compensation or consulting fees in which Participant or any Affiliate of Participant has an interest as a lender (other than solely as a trade creditor for the sale of goods or provision of services that do not otherwise violate the provisions of this Agreement). The agreements of Participant contained herein specifically apply to each entity which is presently a Covered Entity (so long as it remains a Covered Entity) or which becomes a Covered Entity subsequent to the date of this Agreement.

 

  (d)

Trade Secrets” means information, without regard to form, including, but not limited to, technical or nontechnical data, a formula, a pattern, a compilation, a program, a device, a method, a technique, a drawing, a process, a prototype, financial data, financial plans, product plans, or a list of actual or potential customers or suppliers which is not commonly known by or available to the public and which information: (i) derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and (ii) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy. Trade Secrets also include any information or data described above that the Company obtains from another party and that the Company treats as proprietary or designates as a Trade Secrets, whether or not owned or developed by the Company.

 

8.

Miscellaneous Provisions

 

  (a)

Rights of a Shareholder; Dividend Equivalents. Prior to settlement of the Restricted Stock Units in shares of Common Stock, neither the Participant nor the Participant’s representative will have any rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to any shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Stock Units. If cash dividends or other cash distributions are paid in respect of the shares of Common Stock underlying unvested Restricted Stock Units, then a dividend equivalent equal to the amount paid in respect of one Share shall accumulate and be paid with respect to each unvested Restricted Stock Unit at the time of settlement of the Restricted Stock Units.

 

6


  (b)

Transfer Restrictions. The shares of Common Stock delivered hereunder will be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which such shares are listed, any applicable federal or state laws and any agreement with, or policy of, the Company or the Committee to which the Participant is a party or subject, and the Committee may cause orders or designations to be placed upon the books and records of the Company’s transfer agent to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

  (c)

Clawback Policy. The Participant acknowledges that the Participant is subject to the provisions of Section 12 (Forfeiture Events) and Section 14.6 (Trading Policy and Other Restrictions) of the Plan and any compensation recovery, “clawback” or similar policy adopted by the Company from time to time and/or made applicable by law including the provisions of Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection and Act and the rules, regulations and requirements adopted thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any national securities exchange on which the Company’s equity securities may be listed.

 

  (d)

Adjustments. In the event of any change with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock contemplated by Section 4.3 of the Plan, the Restricted Stock Units may be adjusted in accordance with Section 4.3 of the Plan.

 

  (e)

No Right to Continued Service. Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan confers upon the Participant any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Company (or any Subsidiary retaining the Participant) or of the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate his or her Service at any time and for any reason, with or without cause.

 

  (f)

Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Company and its successors and assigns and upon the Participant, the Participant’s executor, personal representative(s), distributees, administrator, permitted transferees, permitted assignees, beneficiaries, and legatee(s), as applicable, whether or not any such person will have become a party to this Agreement and have agreed in writing to be joined herein and be bound by the terms hereof.

 

  (g)

Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, then the remaining provisions will nevertheless be binding and enforceable.

 

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  (h)

Amendment. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, this Agreement will not be amended unless the amendment is agreed to in writing by both the Participant and the Company.

 

  (i)

Choice of Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement and all claims, causes of action or proceedings (whether in contract, in tort, at law or otherwise) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement will be governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts or choice-of-law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Agreement to the substantive law of another jurisdiction. This Section 8(i) shall not apply to employees residing in Massachusetts, and for those employees the Agreement will be governed by Massachusetts law.

 

  (j)

Other Restrictive Covenants. Notwithstanding any other language in the Agreement, this Agreement does not preclude the enforceability of any restrictive covenant provision contained in any prior or subsequent agreement entered into by the Participant (any such covenant, an “Other Covenant”). Further, no Other Covenant precludes the enforceability of any provision contained in this Agreement. No subsequent agreement entered into by the Participant may amend, supersede, or override the covenants contained herein unless such subsequent agreement specifically references Section 5 of this Agreement.

 

  (k)

Signature in Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, manually or electronically, each of which will be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures to each were upon the same instrument.

 

  (l)

Electronic Delivery. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to any Awards granted under the Plan by electronic means or to request the Participant’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. The Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and to agree to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.

 

  (m)

Acceptance. The Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Agreement. The Participant has read and understands the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Agreement, and accepts the Restricted Stock Units subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained in this Agreement and a term or provision of the Plan, the applicable term and provision of the Plan will govern and prevail. The Participant understands that prior to signing this Agreement they have a right to consult with counsel and have been afforded the opportunity to consult with an attorney to the extent they wish to do so.

[Signature page follows.]

 

8


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Participant have executed this Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement as of the dates set forth below.

 

PARTICIPANT               DEFINITIVE HEALTHCARE CORP.

 

     By:  

 

Date:  

 

     Date:  

 

[Signature Page – Restricted Stock Unit (Time-Based) Award Agreement]

EX-99.3

Exhibit 99.3

Definitive Healthcare Corp.

2023 Inducement Plan

Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement

(Performance-Based)

This Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made by and between Definitive Healthcare Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and _______ (the “Participant”), effective as of _______, 20__ (the “Date of Grant”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Definitive Healthcare Corp. 2023 Inducement Plan (the “Plan”), which is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Agreement. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to those terms in the Plan; and

WHEREAS, the Committee has authorized and approved the grant of an Award to the Participant that will provide the Participant the opportunity to receive shares of Common Stock upon the settlement of performance-based restricted stock units on the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement (“PSUs”) as a material inducement to the Participant entering into employment with the Company in compliance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants set forth in this Agreement, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.

Grant of Award. The Company hereby grants to the Participant, effective as of the Date of Grant, _______ PSUs (the “Target PSUs”), which are subject to vesting on the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement. This Award is granted in compliance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) as a material inducement to the Participant entering into employment with the Company.

 

2.

Vesting and Forfeiture. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement, the PSUs shall vest as follows:

 

  (a)

Vesting. [_______]. Any Earned PSUs shall be settled as set forth in Section 3(a) of this Agreement.

 

  (b)

Termination of Service; Breach. Except as set forth in Section 11.3 of the Plan which shall apply upon termination of the Participant’s Service without Cause or for Good Reason (as defined in the Participant’s then-current employment agreement with the Company or its Affiliate, if any (the “Employment Agreement”); if no such Employment Agreement or no such definition, Good Reason shall not apply), or as set forth in the Participant’s Employment Agreement (to the extent that such Employment Agreement specifies terms in connection with a termination of the Participant’s Service that govern the PSUs), upon termination of the Participant’s Service for any other reason or no reason, any then unvested PSUs will be forfeited immediately, automatically and without consideration. If the Participant breaches Section 4, Section 5, or any other restrictive covenant with the Company or its Affiliate, any vested or unvested PSUs will be forfeited immediately, automatically and without consideration.


3.

Payment

 

  (a)

Settlement. The Company shall deliver to the Participant within thirty (30) days following each Performance-Vesting Date or vesting date under Section 11.3 of the Plan and Section 2(b) of this Agreement, as applicable, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Earned PSUs that vested pursuant to Section 2(a) on such date. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be delivered, but shall be delayed until a full share has vested. The Company may deliver such shares either through book entry accounts held by, or in the name of, the Participant or cause to be issued a certificate or certificates representing the number of shares to be issued in respect of the Earned PSUs, registered in the name of the Participant.

 

  (b)

Withholding Requirements. Unless the Committee determines to require or permit the Participant to satisfy the withholding requirements set forth in this Section 3(b) in any other manner allowed by Section 14 of the Plan, the Company shall automatically withhold cash or shares of Common Stock that are otherwise deliverable to the Participant under this Agreement, in an amount necessary to satisfy all federal, state and local taxes required to be withheld in connection with the settlement of the Earned PSUs.

 

4.

Non-Disclosure and Non-Use of the Company’s Trade Secrets or Confidential Information

 

  (a)

At all times during and following Participant’s Service, Participant agrees that he or she will not, either directly or indirectly, and Participant will not permit any Covered Entity which is Controlled by Participant to, either directly or indirectly, (i) divulge, use, disclose (in any way or in any manner, including by posting on the Internet), reproduce, distribute, or reverse engineer or otherwise provide the Company’s Trade Secrets or Confidential Information to any person, firm, corporation, reporter, author, producer or similar person or entity; (ii) take any action that would make available Trade Secrets or Confidential Information to the general public in any form; (iii) take any action that uses Trade Secrets or Confidential Information to solicit any client or prospective client of the Company; or (iv) take any action that uses Trade Secrets or Confidential Information for solicitation or marketing for any service or product or on Participant’s behalf or on behalf of any entity other than the Company with which Participant may become associated, except (A) as required in connection with the performance of such Participant’s duties to the Company, (B) as required to be included in any report, statement or testimony requested by any municipal, state or national regulatory body having jurisdiction over Participant or any Covered Entity which is Controlled by Participant, (C) as required in response to any summons or subpoena or in

 

2


  connection with any litigation, (D) to the extent necessary in order to comply with any law, order, regulation, ruling or governmental request applicable to Participant or any Covered Entity which is Controlled by Participant, (E) as required in connection with an audit by any taxing authority, or (F) as permitted by the express written consent of the Board. In the event that Participant or any such Covered Entity which is Controlled by Participant is required to disclose Trade Secrets or Confidential Information pursuant to the foregoing exceptions, Participant shall promptly notify the Company of such pending disclosure and assist the Company (at the Company’s expense) in seeking a protective order or in objecting to such request, summons or subpoena with regard to the Trade Secrets or Confidential Information. If the Company does not obtain such relief after a period that is reasonable under the circumstances, Participant (or such Covered Entity) may disclose that portion of the Trade Secrets or Confidential Information which counsel to such party advises such party that they are legally compelled to disclose. In such cases, Participant shall promptly provide the Company with a copy of the Trade Secrets or Confidential Information so disclosed. This provision applies without limitation to unauthorized use of Trade Secrets or Confidential Information in any medium, writings of any kind containing such information or materials, including books, and articles, blogs, websites, or writings of any other kind, or film, videotape, or audiotape. If, and only if, the controlling state law applicable to Participant requires a time limit to be placed on restrictions concerning the post-employment use of Confidential Information for the restriction to be enforceable, then this restriction on Participant’s use of Confidential Information that is not a Trade Secret will expire two (2) years after Participant’s employment or other association with the Company ends. This time limit will not apply to Confidential Information that qualifies as a Trade Secret. The Company’s trade secrets will remain protected for as long as they qualify as trade secrets under applicable law.

 

  (b)

Notwithstanding Participant’s confidentiality obligations set forth in this Section 4, Participant understands that, pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, Participant shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a Trade Secret that: (i) is made (x) in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (y) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Participant understands that in the event it is determined that disclosure of the Trade Secrets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates was not done in good faith pursuant to the above, Participant shall be subject to substantial damages under federal criminal and civil law, including punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.

 

  (c)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, nothing in this Agreement shall limit or interfere with Participant’s right, without notice to or authorization of the Company, to communicate and cooperate in good faith with a Government Agency for the purpose of (i) reporting a possible violation of any U.S. federal, state, or local law or regulation, (ii) participating in any investigation or

 

3


  proceeding that may be conducted or managed by any Government Agency, including by providing documents or other information, or (iii) filing a charge or complaint with a Government Agency. For purposes of this Agreement, “Government Agency” means the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or any other self-regulatory organization or any other federal, state or local governmental agency or commission.

 

5.

Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation. In consideration of the PSUs granted which Participant and the Company agree is mutually agreed upon consideration, during the term of Participant’s Service and for 12 months following the termination of Participant’s Service (the “Restricted Period”):

 

  (a)

Participant will not, directly or indirectly, individually or as a consultant to, or an Participant, officer, director, manager, stockholder, partner, member or other owner or participant in any business entity (including, without limitation, any competitor of the Company), other than the Company, engage in or assist any other person or entity to engage in any business which competes with any business in which the Company is engaging or the actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company (a “Competing Business”), during the Participant’s employment, anywhere in the United States or anywhere else in the world in which Participant provided services for the Company or had a material presence or influence, during any time within the last two years prior to the termination of Participant’s Service to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant’s (x) discretionary ownership of less than three percent (3%) and (y) non-discretionary (for example through a mutual fund or other investment vehicle not controlled by Participant) ownership of the outstanding stock of any publicly-traded corporation shall not be deemed a violation of this Section 5(a);

 

  (b)

the Participant will not, directly or indirectly, individually or as a consultant to, or an Participant, officer, director, manager, stockholder, partner, member or other owner or participant in any business entity solicit or endeavor to entice away from the Company, endeavor to reduce the amount of business conducted with the Company by or otherwise interfere with the business relationship of the Company with any person or entity who is, or was within the one-year period immediately prior thereto, a customer or client of, supplier, vendor or service provider to, or other party having business relations with the Company; and

 

  (c)

the Participant will not, directly or indirectly, individually or as a consultant to, or an Participant, officer, director, manager, stockholder, partner, member or other owner or participant in any business entity solicit or endeavor to entice away from the Company, or offer employment or any consulting arrangement to, or otherwise interfere with the business relationship of the Company with any person or entity who is, or was within the one-year period immediately prior thereto, employed by, associated with or a consultant to the Company.

 

4


6.

Enforcement; Remedies. Participant acknowledges that Participant’s expertise in the business of the Company is of a special and unique character which gives this expertise a particular value, and that a breach of Sections 4 or 5 by Participant will cause serious and potentially irreparable harm to the Company. Participant therefore acknowledges that a breach of Sections 4 or 5 by Participant cannot be adequately compensated in an action for damages at law, and equitable relief would be necessary to protect the Company from a violation of this Agreement and from the harm which this Agreement is intended to prevent. By reason thereof, Participant acknowledges that the Company is entitled, in addition to any other remedies it may have under this Agreement or otherwise, to preliminary and permanent injunctive and other equitable relief to prevent or curtail any breach of this Agreement. Participant acknowledges, however, that no specification in this Agreement of a specific legal or equitable remedy may be construed as a waiver of or prohibition against the Company pursuing other legal or equitable remedies in the event of a breach of this Agreement by Participant. For purposes of Sections 4 and 5, “Company” shall specifically include the Company and its direct and indirect parent entities, subsidiaries, successors and assigns. If Participant fails to comply with a restriction in this Agreement that applies for a limited period of time after employment, the time period for that restriction will be extended by the greater of either: one day for each day Participant is found to have violated the restriction, or the length of the legal proceeding necessary to secure enforcement of the restriction; provided, however, that this extension of time shall be capped so that the extension of time does not exceed two years from the date their employment ended, and if this extension would make the restriction unenforceable under applicable law it will not be applied (“Fairness Extension”). If Participant resides or works in Massachusetts, the Fairness Extension will only apply to the restrictions in Section 5(b) and (c) and will only apply to the non-competition restriction in Section 5(a) if Participant breaches their fiduciary duty and/or has unlawfully taken, physically or electronically, any Company records.

 

7.

Definitions.

 

  (a)

Confidential Information” means any data or information, without regard to form, other than Trade Secrets, that is valuable to the Company and is not generally known by the public. To the extent consistent with the foregoing, Trade Secrets or Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to: (i) the names, addresses, phone numbers, accounts, financial information, and other information concerning patients, referral sources, payors (employers, managed care organizations, workers compensation insurers, and other types of payors) and other clients of the Company; (ii) non-public information and materials describing or relating to the Company’s business or financial affairs, including but not limited to financial and/or investment performance information, personnel matters, products, operating procedures, organizational responsibilities, marketing matters, or policies or procedures of the Company; or (iii) information and materials describing the Company’s existing or new products and services, including analytical data and techniques, and product, service or marketing concepts under development at or for the Company, and the status of such development. Trade Secrets or Confidential Information does not include information that, other than as a result of a breach by Participant of this Agreement, (x) is or becomes generally known within the relevant industry, or (y) is or becomes known to Participant other than through Participant’s work for the Company, or (z) is or becomes generally available to the public.

 

5


  (b)

Control” means (i) in the case of a corporate entity, direct or indirect ownership of at least fifty percent (50%) of the stock or securities entitled to vote for the election of directors; and (ii) in the case of a non-corporate entity (such as a limited liability company, partnership or limited partnership), either (x) direct or indirect ownership of at least fifty percent (50%) of the equity interests in such entity, or (y) the power to direct the management and policies of such entity.

 

  (c)

Covered Entity” means every Affiliate of Participant, and every business, association, trust, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, proprietorship or other entity in which Participant has an investment (whether through debt or equity securities), or maintains any capital contribution or made any outstanding advances to, or in which any Affiliate of Participant has an ownership interest or profit sharing percentage, or a firm from which Participant or any Affiliate of Participant receives or is entitled to receive income, compensation or consulting fees in which Participant or any Affiliate of Participant has an interest as a lender (other than solely as a trade creditor for the sale of goods or provision of services that do not otherwise violate the provisions of this Agreement). The agreements of Participant contained herein specifically apply to each entity which is presently a Covered Entity (so long as it remains a Covered Entity) or which becomes a Covered Entity subsequent to the date of this Agreement.

 

  (d)

Trade Secrets” means information, without regard to form, including, but not limited to, technical or nontechnical data, a formula, a pattern, a compilation, a program, a device, a method, a technique, a drawing, a process, a prototype, financial data, financial plans, product plans, or a list of actual or potential customers or suppliers which is not commonly known by or available to the public and which information: (i) derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and (ii) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy. Trade Secrets also include any information or data described above that the Company obtains from another party and that the Company treats as proprietary or designates as a Trade Secrets, whether or not owned or developed by the Company.

 

8.

Miscellaneous Provisions

 

  (a)

Rights of a Shareholder; Dividend Equivalents. Prior to settlement of the Earned PSUs in shares of Common Stock, neither the Participant nor the Participant’s representative will have any rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to any shares of Common Stock underlying the PSUs. If cash dividends or other cash distributions are paid in respect of the shares of Common Stock underlying unvested PSUs, then a dividend equivalent equal to the amount paid in respect of one Share shall accumulate and be paid with respect to each unvested PSU at the time of settlement of any Earned PSUs.

 

6


  (b)

Transfer Restrictions. The shares of Common Stock delivered hereunder will be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which such shares are listed, any applicable federal or state laws and any agreement with, or policy of, the Company or the Committee to which the Participant is a party or subject, and the Committee may cause orders or designations to be placed upon the books and records of the Company’s transfer agent to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

  (c)

Clawback Policy. The Participant acknowledges that the Participant is subject to the provisions of Section 12 (Forfeiture Events) and Section 14.6 (Trading Policy and Other Restrictions) of the Plan and any compensation recovery, “clawback” or similar policy adopted by the Company from time to time and/or made applicable by law including the provisions of Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection and Act and the rules, regulations and requirements adopted thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any national securities exchange on which the Company’s equity securities may be listed.

 

  (d)

Adjustments. In the event of any change with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock contemplated by Section 4.3 of the Plan, the PSUs may be adjusted in accordance with Section 4.3 of the Plan.

 

  (e)

No Right to Continued Service. Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan confers upon the Participant any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Company (or any Subsidiary retaining the Participant) or of the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate his or her Service at any time and for any reason, with or without cause.

 

  (f)

Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Company and its successors and assigns and upon the Participant, the Participant’s executor, personal representative(s), distributees, administrator, permitted transferees, permitted assignees, beneficiaries, and legatee(s), as applicable, whether or not any such person will have become a party to this Agreement and have agreed in writing to be joined herein and be bound by the terms hereof.

 

  (g)

Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, then the remaining provisions will nevertheless be binding and enforceable.

 

7


  (h)

Amendment. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, this Agreement will not be amended unless the amendment is agreed to in writing by both the Participant and the Company.

 

  (i)

Choice of Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement and all claims, causes of action or proceedings (whether in contract, in tort, at law or otherwise) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement will be governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts or choice-of-law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Agreement to the substantive law of another jurisdiction. This Section 8(i) shall not apply to employees residing in Massachusetts, and for those employees the Agreement will be governed by Massachusetts law.

 

  (j)

Other Restrictive Covenants. Notwithstanding any other language in the Agreement, this Agreement does not preclude the enforceability of any restrictive covenant provision contained in any prior or subsequent agreement entered into by the Participant (any such covenant, an “Other Covenant”). Further, no Other Covenant precludes the enforceability of any provision contained in this Agreement. No subsequent agreement entered into by the Participant may amend, supersede, or override the covenants contained herein unless such subsequent agreement specifically references Section 5 of this Agreement.

 

  (k)

Signature in Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, manually or electronically, each of which will be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures to each were upon the same instrument.

 

  (l)

Electronic Delivery. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to any Awards granted under the Plan by electronic means or to request the Participant’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. The Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and to agree to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.

 

  (m)

Code Section 409A Compliance. The PSUs are intended to be exempt from, or in the alternative, to comply with, the requirements of Code Section 409A, and this Agreement shall be interpreted accordingly. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that the Committee determines that any portion of the PSUs granted under this Agreement is subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A, the Committee reserves the right to amend, restructure, terminate or replace such portion of the PSUs in order to cause such portion of the PSUs to either not be subject to Code Section 409A or to comply with the applicable provisions of such section. To the extent necessary to cause the PSUs to remain exempt from Code Section 409A, any Earned PSUs will be settled by no later than March 15 of the year following the year in which such Earned PSUs vest.

 

8


  (n)

Acceptance. The Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Agreement. The Participant has read and understands the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Agreement, and accepts the PSUs subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained in this Agreement and a term or provision of the Plan, the applicable term and provision of the Plan will govern and prevail. The Participant understands that prior to signing this Agreement they have a right to consult with counsel and have been afforded the opportunity to consult with an attorney to the extent they wish to do so.

[Signature page follows.]

 

9


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Participant have executed this Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement as of the dates set forth below.

 

PARTICIPANT                  DEFINITIVE HEALTHCARE CORP.

 

    By:                                                                                                                    
Date:                                                                                                                      Date:                                                                                                                 

[Signature Page – Restricted Stock Unit (Performance-Based) Award Agreement]

EX-FILING FEES

Exhibit 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Table

Form S-8

(Form Type)

Definitive Healthcare Corp.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities

 

               
Security Type  

Security

Class

Title

 

Fee

Calculation

Rule

 

Amount

Registered(1)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering

Price Per

Unit(2)

 

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering

Price(2)

 

Fee

Rate

 

Amount of

Registration

Fee

               
Equity   Class A   common stock,   par value $0.001 per share   Other   2,100,000 shares(3)   $9.40   $19,740,000   0.00011020   $2,175.35
         
Total Offering Amounts     $19,740,000     $2,175.35
         
Total Fee Offsets        
         
Net Fee Due               $2,175.35

 

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover additional shares of the Registrant’s Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), which become issuable under the Registrant’s 2023 Inducement Plan (the “2023 Plan”) by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, or other similar transaction.

 

(2)

Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) and Rule 457(c). The price per share and aggregate offering price are based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant’s Common Stock on September 1, 2023 as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.

 

(3)

Represents the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Registrant’s 2023 Inducement Plan.