UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  October 1, 2024

Freshpet, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
 
001-36729
 
20-1884894
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
 
(Commission
File Number)
 
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

1545 US-206
Bedminster, New Jersey
 
07921
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  201 520-4000

Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
___________________
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 

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

Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock
 FRPT
 The NASDAQ Global Market


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

Emerging growth company ☐

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


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

At the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Freshpet, Inc. (the “Company”) held on October 1, 2024 (the “Effective Date”) the Company’s stockholders approved the Freshpet, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2024 Equity Plan”). The full text of the 2024 Equity Plan as approved by the stockholders was filed as Appendix B to the definitive proxy statement filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 22, 2024 (the “Proxy Statement”).

The terms of the 2024 Equity Plan replace the terms of the Freshpet, Inc. Second Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Prior Plan”), and awards made under the 2024 Equity Plan will be made consistent with the terms of such plan. No additional grants will be made under the Prior Plan on or after the Effective Date. In addition, as of the Effective Date, the shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”) underlying the Prior Plan are longer available for grant, are not newly available under the 2024 Equity Plan and will be retired. Outstanding grants under the Prior Plan will continue to be in effect according to their terms.

The 2024 Equity Plan is a long-term incentive plan, pursuant to which awards may be granted to employees, non-employee directors, and consultants of the Company or its subsidiaries, including stock options (including incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options), stock appreciation rights, stock awards, stock units, and other stock-based awards. As of the Effective Date, the 2024 Equity Plan is the only plan under which new equity awards may be granted to the Company’s employees and other service providers.

Subject to adjustment as described therein, the 2024 Equity Plan authorizes the issuance or transfer of up to 1,450,000 shares of Common Stock. As of the Effective Date, Common Stock underlying any outstanding award granted under the Prior Plan that expires, or is terminated, surrendered, cancelled, exchanged, or forfeited for any reason without issuance of such shares will be available for new grants under the 2024 Equity Plan. The 2024 Equity Plan also includes the following features: (i) no “evergreen” provision, meaning that the share reserve may not be increased without further stockholder approval; (ii) a cap on the maximum aggregate grant date value of Common Stock granted to any non-employee director in a calendar year, together with cash fees earned by such non-employee director during the year, that cannot exceed $750,000 in total value, subject to adjustment; (iii) provisions for eligibility, vesting and minimum vesting requirements; (iv) customary equitable adjustment provisions that the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the Company  (the “Board”) may undertake to adjust for certain corporate transactions, extraordinary events or to avoid dilution; (v) change of control provisions; and (vi) certain other features as described in the 2024 Equity Plan.

Because future grants of awards under the 2024 Equity Plan are subject to the discretion of the Board or Committee, the amount and terms of future awards to particular participants or groups of participants are not determinable at this time.

This summary of the 2024 Equity Plan does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety, by reference to the full text of the 2024 Equity Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.07.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders considered four proposals, each of which is described in more detail in the Company’s Proxy Statement.  The final results for each proposal presented at the Annual Meeting are set forth below:


(1) Election of Directors. All nominees were elected to serve on the Board of Directors pursuant to the following votes:

DIRECTOR
FOR
AGAINST
ABSTAIN
David B. Biegger
41,165,011
137,349
26,866
Daryl G. Brewster
40,266,863
1,036,823
25,540
Jacki S. Kelley
40,464,663
775,536
89,027
Timothy R. McLevish
41,119,866
138,996
70,364

There were 2,856,494 broker non-votes with respect to this matter.


(2) Approval of the 2024 Equity Incentive Plan. The 2024 Equity Incentive Plan proposal was approved with the following votes:

FOR
AGAINST
ABSTAIN
40,170,850
1,132,674
25,702

There were 2,856,494 broker non-votes with respect to this matter.


(3) Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2024 was ratified with the following votes:

FOR
AGAINST
ABSTAIN
43,896,020
263,293
26,407

There were no broker non-votes with respect to this matter.

(4) Approval, by Non-Binding Advisory Vote, of the Compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers. The Say-on-Pay advisory proposal to approve executive compensation was approved with the following votes:

FOR
AGAINST
ABSTAIN
40,404,958
890,056
34,212

There were 2,856,494 broker non-votes with respect to this matter.


Item 5.08.
Shareholder Director Nominations.

At the Annual Meeting, the Board determined that the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2025 Annual Meeting”) will be held on June 24, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time. The time and location of the 2025 Annual Meeting, as well as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the 2025 Annual Meeting, will be as set forth in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting to be filed with the SEC.
 
Due to the fact that the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the anniversary date of the 2024 Annual Meeting, the Company is providing the due date for submission of any qualified stockholder proposal or qualified stockholder nominations.
Nomination of Director Candidates:  Our Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) provide that in the event that the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after the anniversary date of the 2024 Annual Meeting, then pursuant to our Bylaws, notice by a stockholder must be delivered to us no earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting and no later than the later of (i) the close of business on the 90th day prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting and (ii) the close of business on the

10th day following the date on which public announcement of the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting is first made. The notice must contain the information required by, and otherwise comply with, our Bylaws, and should be addressed to: Freshpet, Inc., 1545 US-206, Bedminster, NJ 07921, Attention: Corporate Secretary.  As a result, you must deliver notice of a nomination to us no earlier than the close of business on February 24, 2025 and no later than the close of business on March 26, 2025 in order to nominate a candidate for election to the Board at our 2025 Annual Meeting.
Universal Proxy Rules: In addition to satisfying the foregoing requirements under our Bylaws, to comply with the universal proxy rules, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than our nominees must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act no later than April 25, 2025, which date is the later of 60 calendar days prior to the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting or the 10th calendar day following public announcement by the Company of the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting.
Proxy Access: Under the Company’s proxy access Bylaws provision, a stockholder or a group of no more than twenty (20) stockholders owning three percent (3%) or more of the voting power of the Company's outstanding capital stock continuously for at least three (3) years may nominate and include in the Company's proxy statement for an annual meeting director nominees constituting up to the greater of two (2) individuals or twenty percent (20%) of the number of directors in office, provided the stockholders satisfy the requirements specified in the Bylaws. To be timely for the 2025 Annual Meeting, such nominations must be submitted in writing and received by our Corporate Secretary no earlier than the close of business on December 1, 2024 and no later than the close of business on December 31, 2024.
Rule 14a-8 Stockholder Proposals: To be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, the Company must receive notice of a stockholder proposal on or before December 31, 2024, which the Company has determined to be a reasonable time before it expects to begin to print and send its proxy materials in accordance with Rule 14a-5(f) and Rule 14a-8(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The proposal must comply with the SEC rules regarding eligibility for inclusion in our proxy statement, and should be addressed to: Freshpet, Inc., 1545 US-206, Bedminster, NJ 07921, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
Non-Rule 14a-8 Stockholder Proposals: If you intend to present a proposal at an annual meeting other than by submitting a stockholder proposal for inclusion in our proxy statement for that meeting pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, our Bylaws require you to give notice at least 90 days, but no more than 120 days, prior to the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting. As a result, in order to present a proposal in this manner at the 2025 Annual Meeting, you must deliver notice of a proposal to us no earlier than the close of business on February 24, 2025 and no later than the close of business on March 26, 2025 in order to present it at the 2025 Annual Meeting. The notice must contain the information required by, and otherwise comply with, our Bylaws, and should be addressed to: Freshpet, Inc., 1545 US-206, Bedminster, NJ 07921, Attention: Corporate Secretary.


Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)  Exhibits.
 
Exhibit No.
 
Description of Exhibit


__________________
* Exhibits marked with an asterisk are filed herewith.
SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 
FRESHPET, INC.
 
 
Date: October 4, 2024
By: 
 /s/ Todd Cunfer
 
Name: Todd Cunfer
 
Title: Chief Financial Officer






Exhibit 10.1



FRESHPET, INC.
2024 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

Section 1.      Effectiveness and Purpose.
Effective as of the Effective Date, the Freshpet, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (as may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”) is hereby established.
The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of Freshpet, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors, the “Company”), and its Subsidiaries, certain consultants and advisors who perform services for the Company or its Subsidiaries, and non-employee members of the Board, with the opportunity to receive grants of equity awards in the form of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, stock units, and other stock-based awards.  Capitalized terms used in the Plan and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them in Section 2.
The Plan is to enhance the profitability and value of the Company for the benefit of its stockholders by enabling the Company to offer eligible participants with stock-based and/or cash-based incentives in order to attract, retain and reward such individuals and strengthen the mutuality of interests between such individuals and the Company’s stockholders.
The Plan is intended to replace the Prior Plan.  No additional grants shall be made under the Prior Plan on or after the Effective Date.  Outstanding grants under the Prior Plan shall continue in effect according to their terms.
Section 2.      Definitions.
The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below for purposes of the Plan:
(a)            “Affiliate” means, when used with reference to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, or owns greater than 50% of the voting power in, the specified Person (the term “control” for this purpose means the ability, whether by the ownership of shares or other equity interest, by contract or otherwise, to elect a majority of the directors of a corporation, independently to select the managing partner of a partnership or the managing member or the majority of the managers, as applicable, of a limited liability company, or otherwise to have the power independently to remove and then select a majority of those Persons exercising governing authority over an entity, and control shall be conclusively presumed in the case of the direct or indirect ownership of 50% or more of the voting equity interests in the specified Person).
(b)            “Award” means an Option, SAR, Stock Award, Stock Unit or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.
(c)            “Award Agreement” means the written agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions of an Award, including all amendments thereto.
(d)            “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e)            “Cause”, for any particular Participant has the meaning ascribed thereto in any effective written employment agreement between such Participant and the Company or one of its Affiliates, or, if no employment agreement is in effect that contains a definition of “Cause”, then Cause means any one of the following reasons for the discharge or other separation of a Participant from employment or services:
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(i)    fraud (including but not limited to any acts of embezzlement or misappropriation of funds) with respect to the Company and its Affiliates;
(ii)            serious dereliction of fiduciary obligation with respect to the Company and its Affiliates;
(iii)            conviction of a felony, plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony charge or any criminal act involving moral turpitude (which, through lapse of time or otherwise, is not subject to appeal);
(iv)            repeatedly being under the influence of drugs or alcohol (other than prescription medicine or other medically-related drugs to the extent that they are taken in accordance with their directions) during the performance of the Participant’s duties with respect to the Company and its Affiliates;
(v)            a material and willful failure to perform the Participant’s duties with respect to the Company and its Affiliates;
(vi)            willful misconduct or gross negligence or other conduct that would reasonably be expected to result in material injury or reputational harm to the Company or one of its Affiliates; or
(vii)            material breach of any restrictive covenant agreement or other material agreement entered into between the Participant and the Company or one of its Affiliates, or a violation of the Company’s written code of conduct or any other written policy of the Company or one of its Affiliates, both as provided to the Participant before the alleged breach.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall give the Participant written notice prior to a termination for Cause based upon the foregoing clauses (i), (iv), (v), or (vii) above, which notice shall set forth the exact nature of the alleged conduct and the conduct required to cure such conduct, if the Company determines that the conduct is curable.  The Participant shall have thirty (30) days from the giving of such notice within which to cure the applicable conduct to the satisfaction of the Company.
(f)            “Change in Control” means a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through any of the following transactions:
(i)    any “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (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 Common Stock of the Company), becoming the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;
(ii)            during any one-year 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 that would otherwise constitute a Change in Control or a director whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as such term is used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a 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
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office who either were directors at the beginning of the one-year 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;
(iii)            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) 50% or more 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 paragraph (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
(iv)            a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the consummation of a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than 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, 50% or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company at the time of the sale.
The Committee may modify the definition of Change in Control for a particular Award as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to comply with Section 409A of the Code.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Award constitutes deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and the Award provides for payment upon a Change in Control, then, for purposes of such payment provisions, no Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred upon an event described in items (i)-(iv) above unless the event would also constitute a change in ownership or effective control of, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of, the Company under Section 409A of the Code.
(g)            “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(h)            “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or another committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.  The Committee shall consist of directors who are “non-employee directors” as defined under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and “independent directors,” as determined in accordance with the independence standards established by the stock exchange on which the Common Stock is at the time primarily traded.
(i)            “Common Stock” means common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company, and such other securities as may be substituted for Common Stock pursuant to Section 5(c) or Section 5(e).
(j)            “Disability” or “Disabled” has the meaning set forth in an applicable Award Agreement or written employment or services agreement with a Participant, and in the absence of the forgoing, means (i) the Participant’s becoming disabled within the meaning of the Employer’s long‑term disability plan applicable to the Participant, or (ii) if no long‑term disability plan is applicable to the Participant, the Participant’s inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that is expected to result in death or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of six months or more, consistent with Section 409A of the Code.
(k)            “Dividend Equivalent” means an amount determined by multiplying the number of shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock Unit or Other Stock-Based Award by the per-share cash
3

dividend paid by the Company on its outstanding Common Stock, or the per-share Fair Market Value of any dividend paid on its outstanding Common Stock in consideration other than cash.  No interest shall be credited on accumulated divided equivalents.
(l)            “Effective Date” means the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders.
(m)            “Employed by, or providing service to, the Employer” means employment or service as an Employee, Key Advisor or member of the Board (so that, for purposes of exercising Options and SARs and satisfying conditions with respect to Stock Awards, Stock Units, and Other Stock-Based Awards, a Participant shall not be considered to have terminated employment or service until the Participant ceases to be an Employee, Key Advisor and member of the Board), unless the Committee determines otherwise.  If a Participant’s relationship is with a Subsidiary and that entity ceases to be a Subsidiary, the Participant will be deemed to cease employment or service when the entity ceases to be a Subsidiary, unless the Participant transfers employment or service to an Employer.  If a Participant has military, sick leave or other bona fide leave, the Participant will not be deemed to cease employment or service solely as a result of such leave; provided that such leave does not exceed the longer of 90 days or the period during which the absent Participant’s reemployment rights, if any, are guaranteed by statute or contract.  To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Committee may provide that Awards continue to vest for all or a portion of the period of such leave, or that vesting shall be tolled during such leave and only recommence upon the Participant’s return from such leave.
(n)            “Employee” means an employee of the Employer (including an officer or director who is also an employee), but excluding any person who is classified by the Employer as a “contractor” or “consultant,” no matter how characterized by the Internal Revenue Service, other governmental agency or a court.  Any change of characterization of an individual by the Internal Revenue Service or any court or government agency shall have no effect upon the classification of an individual as an Employee for purposes of this Plan, unless the Committee determines otherwise.
(o)            “Employer” means the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(p)            “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(q)            “Exercise Price” means the per share price at which shares of Common Stock may be purchased under an Option, as designated by the Committee.
(r)            “Fair Market Value” means:
(i)            If the Common Stock is publicly traded, the Fair Market Value per share shall be determined as follows: (A) if the principal trading market for the Common Stock is a national securities exchange, the closing sales price during regular trading hours on the relevant date or, if there were no trades on that date, the latest preceding date upon which a sale was reported, or (B) if the Common Stock is not principally traded on any such exchange, the last reported sale price of a share of Common Stock during regular trading hours on the relevant date, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board.
(ii)            If the Common Stock is not publicly traded or, if publicly traded, is not subject to reported transactions as set forth above, the Fair Market Value per share shall be determined by the Committee through any reasonable valuation method authorized under the Code.
(s)            “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.
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(t)            “Key Advisor” means a consultant or advisor of the Employer.
(u)            “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.
(v)            “Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not intended to be taxed as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.
(w)            “Option” means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock, as described in Section 7.
(x)            “Other Stock-Based Award” means any Award based on, measured by or payable in Common Stock (other than an Option, Stock Unit, Stock Award, or SAR), as described in Section 11.
(y)            “Participant” means an Employee, Key Advisor or Non-Employee Director designated by the Committee to participate in the Plan.
(z)            “Performance Goals” means the business criteria selected by the Company to measure the level of performance of the Company or an Affiliate during a performance period, which may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following criteria: earnings per share; operating income; gross income; net income (before or after taxes); cash flow; gross profit; gross profit return on investment; gross margin return on investment; gross margin; operating margin; working capital; earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization; return on equity; return on assets; return on capital; return on invested capital; net revenues; gross revenues; revenue growth; annual recurring revenues; recurring revenues; license revenues; sales or market share; total stockholder return; economic value added; specified objectives with regard to limiting the level of increase in all or a portion of the Company’s bank debt or other long-term or short-term public or private debt or other similar financial obligations of the Company, which may be calculated net of cash balances and/or other offsets and adjustments as may be established by the Committee in its sole discretion; the fair market value of a share of Common Stock; the growth in the value of an investment in the Common Stock assuming the reinvestment of dividends; reduction in operating expenses; strategic goals or objectives (including objectives related to qualitative or quantitative environmental, social or governance metrics); and other applicable criteria as determined by the Committee.
Performance Goals applicable to an Award shall be determined by the Committee, and may be established on an absolute or relative basis and may be established on a corporate-wide basis or with respect to one or more business units, divisions, subsidiaries or business segments.  Relative performance may be measured against a group of peer companies, a financial market index or other objective and quantifiable indices.
(aa)            “Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, joint stock company, business trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or other legal entity of any nature whatsoever.
(bb)            “Prior Plan” means the Freshpet, Inc. Second Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended through the Effective Date.
(cc)            “SAR” means a stock appreciation right, as described in Section 10.
(dd)            “Stock Award” means an award of Common Stock, as described in Section 8.
5

(ee)            “Stock Unit” means an award of a contractual right to receive one or more shares of Common Stock, cash or combination thereof, as described in Section 9, and denominated in a number of shares of Common Stock specified in an Award Agreement.
(ff)            “Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain
Section 3.      Administration.
(a)            Committee.  The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Committee; provided, however, that any Awards to members of the Board must be authorized by a majority of the Board.  The Committee may delegate authority to one or more subcommittees of the Committee, as it deems appropriate.  Subject to compliance with applicable law and the applicable stock exchange rules, the Board, in its discretion, may perform any action of the Committee hereunder.
(b)            Committee Authority.  The Committee shall have the sole authority to (i) determine the individuals to whom Awards shall be made under the Plan; (ii) determine the type, size, terms and conditions of the Awards to be made to each such individual; (iii) determine the time when the Awards will be made and the duration of any applicable exercise or restriction period, including the criteria for exercisability and the acceleration of exercisability, which criteria may be based on the attainment of Performance Goals; (iv) determine the amounts payable based on attainment of Performance Goals, including discretion to make such adjustments (positive or negative) to the amounts payable as the Committee deems appropriate and in the best interests of the Company; (v) amend the terms of any previously issued Award, subject to the provisions of Section 18 below; (vi) determine and adopt terms, guidelines, and provisions, not inconsistent with the Plan and applicable law, that apply to individuals residing outside of the United States who receive Awards under the Plan; and (vii) deal with any other matters arising under the Plan.
(c)            Committee Determinations.  The Committee shall have full power and express discretionary authority to administer and interpret the Plan, to make factual determinations and to adopt or amend such rules, regulations, agreements and instruments for implementing the Plan and for the conduct of its business as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion.  The Committee’s written interpretations of the Plan and all determinations made by the Committee pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having any interest in the Plan or in any Awards granted hereunder.  The Committee may rely on internal or external advisors in determining appropriate interpretations of the Plan or Awards granted hereunder.  All powers of the Committee shall be executed in its sole discretion, in the best interest of the Company, not as a fiduciary, and in keeping with the objectives of the Plan and need not be uniform as to similarly situated individuals.
(d)            Indemnification.  No member of the Committee or the Board, and no employee of the Company or any Affiliate shall be liable for any act or failure to act with respect to the Plan, except in circumstances involving such person’s bad faith or willful misconduct, or for any act or failure to act hereunder by any other member of the Committee or employee or by any agent to whom duties in connection with the administration of this Plan have been delegated.  The Company shall indemnify members of the Committee and the Board and any agent of the Committee or the Board who is an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary against any and all liabilities or expenses to which they may be subjected by reason of any act or failure to act with respect to their duties on behalf of the Plan, except in circumstances involving such person’s bad faith or willful misconduct.
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Section 4.      Awards.
(a)            General.  Awards under the Plan may consist of Options as described in Section 7, Stock Awards as described in Section 8, Stock Units as described in Section 9, SARs as described in Section 10, and Other Stock-Based Awards as described in Section 11.  All Awards shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and to such other terms and conditions consistent with this Plan as the Committee deems appropriate and as are specified in writing by the Committee to the individual in the Award Agreement.  All Awards shall be made conditional upon the Participant’s acknowledgement, in writing or by acceptance of the Award, that all decisions and determinations of the Committee shall be final and binding on the Participant, the Participant’s beneficiaries and any other person having or claiming an interest under such Award.  Awards under a particular Section of the Plan need not be uniform as among the Participants.
(b)            Minimum Vesting.  Awards granted under the Plan shall include regular vesting schedules that provide that no portion of an Award shall vest earlier than one year from the date of grant.  However, (i) for purposes of Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors, such Awards shall be deemed to satisfy this minimum vesting requirement if such Awards are granted on the date of the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders and vest on the date of the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders immediately following the date of grant (but not less than 50 weeks following the date of grant), and (ii) subject to adjustments made in accordance with Section 5(e) below, up to 5% of the shares of Common Stock authorized under the Plan as set forth in Section 5(a) as of the Effective Date may be granted without regard to this minimum vesting requirement.
(c)            Dividends and Dividend Equivalents.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any dividends or Dividend Equivalents granted in connection with Awards under the Plan shall vest and be paid only if and to the extent the underlying Awards vest and are paid.
Section 5.      Shares Subject to the Plan.
(a)            Shares Authorized.  Subject to adjustment as described below in Sections 5(b) and 5(e) below, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued or transferred under the Plan shall not exceed 1,450,000 shares of Common Stock.  In addition, subject to adjustment as described below in Sections 5(b) and 5(e) below, shares of the Common Stock underlying any outstanding award granted under the Prior Plan that, following the Effective Date, expires, or is terminated, surrendered, cancelled, or forfeited or exchanged for any reason without issuance of such shares shall be available for new Awards under this Plan.  Subject to adjustment as described below in Sections 5(b) and 5(e) below, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued or transferred under the Plan pursuant to Incentive Stock Options shall not exceed 1,450,000 shares of Common Stock.
(b)            Source of Shares; Share Counting.  Shares issued or transferred under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or reacquired shares of Common Stock, including shares purchased by the Company on the open market for purposes of the Plan. If and to the extent Awards granted under the Plan expire, terminate or are surrendered cancelled, forfeited, exchanged or without having been exercised, vested or paid in shares, the shares subject to such Awards shall again be available for purposes of the Plan.  Shares of Common Stock surrendered in payment of the Exercise Price of an Option (or an option granted under the Prior Plan) shall not be available for re-issuance under the Plan. Shares of Common Stock withheld or surrendered for payment of taxes with respect to Awards (or awards granted under the Prior Plan) shall not be available for re-issuance under the Plan.  If SARs are granted, the full number of shares subject to the SARs shall be considered issued under the Plan, without regard to the number of shares issued upon exercise of the SARs. To the extent any Awards are paid in cash, and not in shares of Common Stock, any shares previously subject to such Awards shall again be available for issuance or transfer under the Plan.  For the avoidance of doubt, if shares are repurchased by the Company on the open market with the proceeds of the Exercise Price of
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Options (including options granted under the Prior Plan), such shares may not again be made available for issuance under the Plan.
(c)            Substitute Awards.  Shares issued or transferred under Awards made pursuant to an assumption, substitution or exchange for previously granted awards of a company acquired by the Company in a transaction (“Substitute Awards”) shall not reduce the number of shares of Common Stock available under the Plan and available shares under a stockholder approved plan of an acquired company (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Plan’s share reserve (subject to applicable stock exchange listing and Code requirements).
(d)            Individual Limits for Non-Employee Directors.  Subject to adjustment as described below in Section 5(e), the maximum aggregate grant date value of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards granted to any Non-Employee Director during any calendar year, taken together with any cash fees earned by such Non-Employee Director for services rendered as a Non-Employee Director during the calendar year, shall not exceed $750,000 in total value.  For purposes of this limit, the value of such Awards shall be calculated based on the grant date fair value of such Awards for financial reporting purposes and excluding the value of any Dividend Equivalents paid pursuant to any Award granted in a previous year.
(e)            Adjustments.  If there is any change in the number or kind of shares of Common Stock outstanding by reason of (i) a stock dividend, spinoff, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split or combination or exchange of shares, (ii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation, (iii) a reclassification or change in par value, or (iv) any other extraordinary or unusual event affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Company’s receipt of consideration, or if the value of outstanding shares of Common Stock is substantially reduced as a result of a spinoff or the Company’s payment of an extraordinary dividend or distribution, the maximum number and kind of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan, the number and kind of shares covered by outstanding Awards, the number and kind of shares issued and to be issued under the Plan, and the price per share or the applicable market value of such Awards shall be equitably adjusted by the Committee to reflect any increase or decrease in the number of, or change in the kind or value of, the issued shares of Common Stock to preclude, to the extent practicable, the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under the Plan and such outstanding Awards; provided, however, that any fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be eliminated.  In addition, the Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, events described in the preceding sentence, and acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and assets) affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any business unit, or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles.  In addition, in the event of a Change in Control, the provisions of Section 13 of the Plan shall apply.  Any adjustments to outstanding Awards shall be consistent with Section 409A or 424 of the Code, to the extent applicable.  Subject to Section 18(b), the adjustments of Awards under this Section 5(e) shall include adjustment of shares, Exercise Price of Options, base amount of SARs, Performance Goals or other terms and conditions, as the Committee deems appropriate.  The Committee shall have the sole discretion and authority to determine what appropriate adjustments shall be made and any adjustments determined by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive.
Section 6.      Eligibility for Participation.
(a)            Eligible Persons.  All Employees and Non-Employee Directors shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.  Key Advisors shall be eligible to participate in the Plan if the Key Advisors render bona fide services to the Employer, the services are not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and the Key Advisors do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.
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(b)            Selection of Participants.  The Committee shall select the Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors to receive Awards and shall determine the number of shares of Common Stock subject to a particular Award in such manner as the Committee determines.
Section 7.      Options.
The Committee may grant Options to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor upon such terms as the Committee deems appropriate.  The following provisions are applicable to Options:
(a)            Number of Shares.  The Committee shall determine the number of shares of Common Stock that will be subject to each Award of Options to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors.
(b)            Type of Option and Exercise Price.
(i)            The Committee may grant Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options or any combination of the two, all in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein.  Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or any of its parent or subsidiary corporations, as defined in Section 424 of the Code.  Nonqualified Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Non‑Employee Directors and Key Advisors.
(ii)            The Exercise Price of Common Stock subject to an Option shall be determined by the Committee and shall be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Option is granted.  However, an Incentive Stock Option may not be granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as defined in Section 424 of the Code, unless the Exercise Price per share is not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.
(c)            Option Term.  The Committee shall determine the term of each Option.  The term of any Option shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant.  However, an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as defined in Section 424 of the Code, may not have a term that exceeds five years from the date of grant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that on the last business day of the term of an Option (other than an Incentive Stock Option), the exercise of the Option is prohibited by applicable law, including a prohibition on purchases or sales of Common Stock under the Company’s insider trading policy, the term of the Option shall be extended for a period of 30 days following the end of the legal prohibition, subject to compliance with Section 409A or Section 422 of the Code, as applicable, unless the Committee determines otherwise.
(d)            Exercisability of Options.  Subject to Section 4(b), Options shall become exercisable in accordance with such terms and conditions, consistent with the Plan, as may be determined by the Committee and specified in the Award Agreement, including upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals.  The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any or all outstanding Options at any time for any reason.
(e)            Awards to Non-Exempt Employees.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options granted to persons who are non‑exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, may not be exercisable for at least six months after the date of grant (except that such Options may become exercisable, as determined by the Committee, upon the Participant’s death, Disability or retirement, or upon a Change in Control or other circumstances permitted by applicable regulations).
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(f)            Termination of Employment or Service.  Except as provided in the Award Agreement, an Option may only be exercised while the Participant is employed by, or providing services to, the Employer.  The Committee shall determine in the Award Agreement under what circumstances and during what time periods a Participant may exercise an Option after termination of employment or service.
(g)            Exercise of Options.  A Participant may exercise an Option that has become exercisable, in whole or in part, by delivering a notice of exercise to the Company.  The Participant shall pay the Exercise Price for an Option as specified by the Committee (i) in cash or by check, (ii) unless the Committee determines otherwise, by delivering shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant and having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise at least equal to the Exercise Price or by attestation (on a form prescribed by the Committee) to ownership of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise at least equal to the Exercise Price, (iii) by payment through a broker in accordance with procedures permitted by Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, (iv) if permitted by the Committee, by withholding shares of Common Stock subject to the exercisable Option, which have a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price, or (v) by such other method as the Committee may approve.  Shares of Common Stock used to exercise an Option shall have been held by the Participant for the requisite period of time necessary to avoid adverse accounting consequences to the Company with respect to the Option.  Payment for the shares to be issued or transferred pursuant to the Option, and any required withholding taxes, must be received by the Company by the time specified by the Committee depending on the type of payment being made, but in all cases prior to the issuance or transfer of such shares.
(h)            Limits on Incentive Stock Options.  Each Incentive Stock Option shall provide that, if the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year, under the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company or a parent or subsidiary, exceeds $100,000, then the Option, as to the excess, shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option.
Section 8.      Stock Awards.
The Committee may issue or transfer shares of Common Stock to an Employee, Non‑Employee Director or Key Advisor under a Stock Award, upon such terms as the Committee deems appropriate.  The following provisions are applicable to Stock Awards:
(a)            General Requirements.  Shares of Common Stock issued or transferred pursuant to Stock Awards may be issued or transferred for consideration or for no consideration, and subject to restrictions or no restrictions, as determined by the Committee.  Subject to Section 4(b), the Committee may, but shall not be required to, establish conditions under which restrictions on Stock Awards shall lapse over a period of time or according to such other criteria as the Committee deems appropriate, including, without limitation, restrictions based on the achievement of specific Performance Goals.  The period of time during which the Stock Awards will remain subject to restrictions will be designated in the Award Agreement as the “Restriction Period.”
(b)            Number of Shares.  The Committee shall determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued or transferred pursuant to a Stock Award and the restrictions applicable to such shares.
(c)            Requirement of Employment or Service.  If the Participant ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer during a period designated in the Award Agreement as the Restriction Period, or if other specified conditions are not met, the Stock Award shall terminate as to all shares covered by the Award as to which the restrictions have not lapsed, and those shares of Common Stock must be immediately returned to the Company.  The Committee may, however, provide for complete or partial exceptions to this requirement as it deems appropriate.
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(d)            Restrictions on Transfer and Legend on Stock Certificate.  During the Restriction Period, a Participant may not sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the shares of a Stock Award except under Section 16 below.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Company will retain possession of certificates for shares of Stock Awards until all restrictions on such shares have lapsed.  Each certificate for a Stock Award, unless held by the Company, shall contain a legend giving appropriate notice of the restrictions in the Award.  The Participant shall be entitled to have the legend removed from the stock certificate covering the shares subject to restrictions when all restrictions on such shares have lapsed.  The Committee may determine that the Company will not issue certificates for Stock Awards until all restrictions on such shares have lapsed.
(e)            Right to Vote and to Receive Dividends.  Unless the Committee determines otherwise, during the Restriction Period, the Participant shall have the right: (i) to vote shares of Stock Awards and (ii) subject to Section 4(c), to receive any dividends or other distributions paid on such shares, subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee, including, without limitation, the achievement of specific Performance Goals.
(f)            Lapse of Restrictions.  All restrictions imposed on Stock Awards shall lapse upon the expiration of the applicable Restriction Period and the satisfaction of all conditions, if any, imposed by the Committee.  The Committee may determine, as to any or all Stock Awards, that the restrictions shall lapse without regard to any Restriction Period.
Section 9.      Stock Units.
The Committee may grant Stock Units, each of which shall represent one hypothetical share of Common Stock, to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor upon such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate.  The following provisions are applicable to Stock Units:
(a)            Crediting of Units.  Each Stock Unit shall represent the right of the Participant to receive a share of Common Stock or an amount of cash based on the value of a share of Common Stock, if and when specified conditions are met.  All Stock Units shall be credited to bookkeeping accounts established on the Company’s records for purposes of the Plan.
(b)            Terms of Stock Units.  Subject to Section 4(b), the Committee may grant Stock Units that vest and are payable if specified Performance Goals or other conditions are met, or under other circumstances.  Stock Units may be paid at the end of a specified performance period or other period, or payment may be deferred to a date authorized by the Committee.  The Committee may accelerate vesting or payment, as to any or all Stock Units at any time for any reason, provided such acceleration complies with Section 409A of the Code.  The Committee shall determine the number of Stock Units to be granted and the requirements applicable to such Stock Units.
(c)            Requirement of Employment or Service.  If the Participant ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer prior to the vesting of Stock Units, or if other conditions established by the Committee are not met, the Participant’s Stock Units shall be forfeited.  The Committee may, however, provide for complete or partial exceptions to this requirement as it deems appropriate.
(d)            Payment With Respect to Stock Units.  Payments with respect to Stock Units shall be made in cash, Common Stock or any combination of the foregoing, as the Committee shall determine.
Section 10.      Stock Appreciation Rights.
The Committee may grant SARs to an Employee, Non‑Employee Director or Key Advisor separately or in tandem with any Option.  The following provisions are applicable to SARs:
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(a)            General Requirements.  The Committee may grant SARs to an Employee, Non‑Employee Director or Key Advisor separately or in tandem with any Option (for all or a portion of the applicable Option).  Tandem SARs may be granted either at the time the Option is granted or at any time thereafter while the Option remains outstanding; provided, however, that, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, SARs may be granted only at the time of the grant of the Incentive Stock Option.  The Committee shall establish the base amount of the SAR at the time the SAR is granted.  The base amount of each SAR shall be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of grant of the SAR.  The term of any SAR shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that on the last business day of the term of a SAR, the exercise of the SAR is prohibited by applicable law, including a prohibition on purchases or sales of Common Stock under the Company’s insider trading policy, the term shall be extended for a period of 30 days following the end of the legal prohibition, unless the Committee determines otherwise, consistent with Section 409A of the Code.
(b)            Tandem SARs.  In the case of tandem SARs, the number of SARs granted to a Participant that shall be exercisable during a specified period shall not exceed the number of shares of Common Stock that the Participant may purchase upon the exercise of the related Option during such period.  Upon the exercise of an Option, the SARs relating to the Common Stock covered by such Option shall terminate.  Upon the exercise of SARs, the related Option shall terminate to the extent of an equal number of shares of Common Stock.
(c)            Exercisability.  Subject to Section 4(b), a SAR shall be exercisable during the period specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement and shall be subject to such vesting and other restrictions as may be specified in the Award Agreement, including the attainment of specified Performance Goals.  The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any or all outstanding SARs at any time for any reason.  SARs may only be exercised while the Participant is employed by, or providing service to, the Employer or during the applicable period after termination of employment or service as specified by the Committee.  A tandem SAR shall be exercisable only during the period when the Option to which it is related is also exercisable.
(d)            Awards to Non‑Exempt Employees.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, SARs granted to persons who are non‑exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, may not be exercisable for at least six months after the date of grant (except that such SARs may become exercisable, as determined by the Committee, upon the Participant’s death, Disability or retirement, or upon a Change in Control or other circumstances permitted by applicable regulations).
(e)            Value of SARs.  When a Participant exercises SARs, the Participant shall receive in settlement of such SARs an amount equal to the value of the stock appreciation for the number of SARs exercised.  The stock appreciation for a SAR is the amount by which the Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR exceeds the base amount of the SAR as described in Section 10(a).
(f)            Form of Payment.  The appreciation in a SAR shall be paid in shares of Common Stock, cash or any combination of the foregoing, as the Committee shall determine.  For purposes of calculating the number of shares of Common Stock to be received, shares of Common Stock shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the SAR.
Section 11.      Other Stock-Based Awards.
The Committee may grant Other Stock-Based Awards, which are awards (other than those described in Sections 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the Plan) that are based on or measured by Common Stock, to any Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor, on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.  Subject to Section 4(b), Other Stock-Based Awards may be awarded subject to the
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achievement of Performance Goals or other criteria or other conditions and may be payable in cash, Common Stock or any combination of the foregoing, as the Committee shall determine.
Section 12.      Dividend Equivalents.
The Committee may grant Dividend Equivalents in connection with Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Awards in an applicable Award Agreement or at any point following the grant of such Award.  Subject to Section 4(c), Dividend Equivalents may be accrued as contingent cash obligations and may be payable in cash or shares of Common Stock, and upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.  For the avoidance of doubt, dividends or Dividend Equivalents shall not be granted in connection with Options or SARs.
Section 13.      Consequences of a Change in Control.
(a)            Assumption of Outstanding Awards.  Upon a Change in Control where the Company is not the surviving corporation (or survives only as a subsidiary of another corporation), unless the Committee determines otherwise, all outstanding Awards that are not exercised or paid at the time of the Change in Control shall be assumed by, or replaced with grants (which may be in respect to cash, securities, or a combination thereof) that have comparable terms by, the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation).  After a Change in Control, references to the “Company” as they relate to employment matters shall include the successor employer in the transaction, subject to applicable law.  For purposes of the foregoing, an Award under the Plan shall not be treated as continued, assumed, or replaced on comparable terms unless it is continued, assumed, or replaced with substantially equivalent terms, including, without limitation, the same vesting terms.
(b)            Vesting Upon Certain Terminations of Employment.  Unless the Committee determines otherwise or the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise, if a Participant’s employment or services terminate by reason of an involuntary termination by the Company other than for Cause upon or within 12 months following a Change in Control, the Participant’s outstanding Awards shall become fully vested as of the date of such termination; provided that if the vesting of any such Awards is based, in whole or in part, on performance, the applicable Award Agreement shall specify how the portion of the Award that becomes vested pursuant to this Section 13(b) shall be calculated.
(c)            Other Alternatives.  In the event of a Change in Control, if any outstanding Awards are not assumed by, or replaced with grants that have comparable terms by, the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation), the Committee may (but is not obligated to) make adjustments to the terms and conditions of outstanding Awards, including, without limitation, taking any of the following actions (or combination thereof) with respect to any or all outstanding Awards, without the consent of any Participant: (i) the Committee may determine that outstanding Options and SARs shall automatically accelerate and become fully exercisable and the restrictions and conditions on outstanding Stock Awards, Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards and Dividend Equivalents shall immediately lapse; (ii) the Committee may determine that Participants shall receive a payment in settlement of outstanding Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards or Dividend Equivalents, in such amount and form as may be determined by the Committee; (iii) the Committee may require that Participants surrender their outstanding Options and SARs in exchange for a payment by the Company, in cash or Common Stock as determined by the Committee, in an amount equal to the amount, if any, by which the then Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Participant’s unexercised Options and SARs exceeds the Option Exercise Price or SAR base amount, and (iv) after giving Participants an opportunity to exercise all of their outstanding Options and SARs, the Committee may terminate any or all unexercised Options and SARs at such time as the Committee deems appropriate.  Such surrender, termination or payment shall take place as of the date of the Change in Control or such other date as the Committee may specify.  Without limiting the foregoing, if the per share Fair Market Value of the Common Stock does not exceed the per share Option Exercise Price or SAR base amount, as applicable, the Company shall not be required to make any payment to the Participant upon surrender of the Option or SAR.
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Section 14.      Deferrals.
The Committee may permit or require a Participant to defer receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant in connection with any Award.  If any such deferral election is permitted or required, the Committee shall establish rules and procedures for such deferrals and may provide for interest or other earnings to be paid on such deferrals.  The rules and procedures for any such deferrals shall be consistent with applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
Section 15.      Withholding of Taxes.
(a)            Required Withholding.  All Awards under the Plan shall be subject to applicable United States federal (including FICA), state and local, foreign country or other tax withholding requirements.  The Employer may require that the Participant or other person receiving Awards or exercising Awards pay to the Employer an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax withholding requirements with respect to such Awards, or the Employer may deduct from other wages and compensation paid by the Employer the amount of any withholding taxes due with respect to such Awards, or the Employer may take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Employer to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award.
(b)            Share Withholding.  The Committee may permit or require the Employer’s tax withholding obligation with respect to Awards paid in Common Stock to be satisfied by having shares withheld up to an amount that does not exceed the Participant’s applicable withholding tax rate for United States federal (including FICA), state and local, foreign country or other tax liabilities.  The Committee may, in its discretion, and subject to such rules as the Committee may adopt, allow Participants to elect to have such share withholding applied to all or a portion of the tax withholding obligation arising in connection with any particular Award.  Unless the Committee determines otherwise, share withholding for taxes shall not exceed the Participant’s minimum applicable tax withholding amount.
Section 16.      Transferability of Awards.
(a)            Nontransferability of Awards.  Except as described in subsection (b) below, only the Participant may exercise rights under an Award during the Participant’s lifetime.  A Participant may not transfer those rights except (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or (ii) with respect to Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, pursuant to a domestic relations order.  When a Participant dies, the personal representative or other person entitled to succeed to the rights of the Participant may exercise such rights.  Any such successor must furnish proof satisfactory to the Company of the successor’s right to receive the Award under the Participant’s will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution.
(b)            Transfer of Nonqualified Stock Options and Stock Awards.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may provide, in an Award Agreement or at such other time after the grant of an award, that a Participant may transfer Nonqualified Stock Options or Stock Awards to family members, or one or more trusts or other entities for the benefit of or owned by family members, consistent with the applicable securities laws, according to such terms as the Committee may determine; provided that the Participant receives no consideration for the transfer of an Option or Stock Award and the transferred Option or Stock Award shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to the Option or Stock Award immediately before the transfer.
Section 17.      Requirements for Issuance or Transfer of Shares
No Common Stock shall be issued or transferred in connection with any Award hereunder unless and until all legal requirements applicable to the issuance or transfer of such Common Stock have been complied with to the satisfaction of the Committee.  The Committee shall have the right to condition any
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Award on the Participant’s undertaking in writing to comply with such restrictions on the Participant’s subsequent disposition of the shares of Common Stock as the Committee shall deem necessary or advisable, and certificates representing such shares may be legended to reflect any such restrictions.  Certificates representing shares of Common Stock issued or transferred under the Plan may be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems appropriate to comply with applicable laws, regulations and interpretations, including any requirement that a legend be placed thereon.
Section 18.      Amendment and Termination of the Plan.
(a)            Amendment.  The Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that the Board shall not amend the Plan without stockholder approval if such approval is required in order to comply with the Code or other applicable law, or to comply with applicable stock exchange requirements.
(b)            No Repricing of Options or SARs.  Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities or property), stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, change in control, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares of Common Stock or other securities, or similar transactions), the Company may not, without obtaining stockholder approval, (i) amend the terms of outstanding Options or SARs to reduce the Exercise Price of such outstanding Options or base price of such SARs, (ii) cancel outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for Options or SARs with an Exercise Price or base price, as applicable, that is less than the Exercise Price or base price of the original Options or SARs or (iii) cancel outstanding Options or SARs with an Exercise Price or base price, as applicable, above the current stock price in exchange for cash or other securities.
(c)            Termination of Plan.  The Plan shall terminate on the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of its Effective Date, unless the Plan is terminated earlier by the Board or is extended by the Board with the approval of the stockholders.
(d)            Termination and Amendment of Outstanding Awards.  A termination or amendment of the Plan that occurs after an Award is made shall not materially impair the rights of a Participant with respect to such Award unless the Participant consents or unless the Committee acts under Section 19(f) below.  The termination of the Plan shall not impair the power and authority of the Committee with respect to an outstanding Award.  Whether or not the Plan has terminated, an outstanding Award may be terminated or amended under Section 19(f) below or may be amended by agreement of the Company and the Participant consistent with the Plan.
Section 19.      Miscellaneous.
(a)            Awards in Connection with Corporate Transactions and Otherwise.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to (i) limit the right of the Committee to make Awards under the Plan in connection with the acquisition, by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business or assets of any corporation, firm or association, including Awards to employees thereof who become Employees, or (ii) limit the right of the Company to grant stock options or make other awards outside of the Plan.  The Committee may make an Award to an employee of another corporation who becomes an Employee by reason of a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or property, reorganization or liquidation involving the Company, in substitution for a stock option or stock awards grant made by such corporation.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may establish such terms and conditions of the new Awards as it deems appropriate, including setting the Exercise Price of Options or the base price of SARs at a price necessary to retain for the Participant the same economic value as the prior options or rights.
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(b)            Governing Document.  The Plan shall be the controlling document.  No other statements, representations, explanatory materials or examples, oral or written, may amend the Plan in any manner.  The Plan shall be binding upon and enforceable against the Company and its successors and assigns.
(c)            Funding of the Plan.  The Plan shall be unfunded.  The Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of assets to assure the payment of any Awards under the Plan.
(d)            Rights of Participants.  Nothing in the Plan shall entitle any Employee, Non‑Employee Director, Key Advisor or other person to any claim or right to receive an Award under the Plan.  Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any individual any rights to be retained by or in the employ of the Employer or any other employment rights.
(e)            No Fractional Shares.  No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award.  Except as otherwise provided under the Plan, the Committee shall determine whether cash, other awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
(f)            Compliance with Law.
(i)            The Plan, the exercise of Options and SARs and the obligations of the Company to issue or transfer shares of Common Stock under Awards shall be subject to all applicable laws and regulations, and to approvals by any governmental or regulatory agency as may be required.  With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, it is the intent of the Company that the Plan and all transactions under the Plan comply with all applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange Act.  In addition, it is the intent of the Company that Incentive Stock Options comply with the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code, and that, to the extent applicable, Awards comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  To the extent that any legal requirement of Section 16 of the Exchange Act or Section 422 or 409A of the Code as set forth in the Plan ceases to be required under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or Section 422 or 409A of the Code, that Plan provision shall cease to apply.  The Committee may revoke any Award if it is contrary to law or modify an Award to bring it into compliance with any valid and mandatory government regulation.  The Committee may also adopt rules regarding the withholding of taxes on payments to Participants.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, agree to limit its authority under this Section.
(ii)            The Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable.  Each Award shall be construed and administered such that the Award either (A) qualifies for an exemption from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or (B) satisfies the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  If an Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, (I) distributions shall only be made in a manner and upon an event permitted under Section 409A of the Code, (II) payments to be made upon a termination of employment or service shall only be made upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A of the Code, (III) unless the Award specifies otherwise, each installment payment shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, and (IV) in no event shall a Participant, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year in which a distribution is made except in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.
(iii)            Any Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code and that is to be distributed to a Key Employee (as defined below) upon separation from service shall be administered so that any distribution with respect to such Award shall be postponed for six months following the date of the Participant’s separation from service, if required by Section 409A of the Code.  If a distribution is delayed pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, the distribution shall be paid within 15 days after the end of the six-month period.  If the Participant dies during such six-month period, any postponed amounts
16

shall be paid within 90 days of the Participant’s death.  The determination and identification of “Key Employees”, including the number and identity of persons considered Key Employees and the identification date, shall be made by the Committee or its delegate each year in accordance with Section 416(i) of the Code and the “specified employee” requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
(iv)            Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award agreement to the contrary, each Participant shall be solely responsible for the tax consequences of Awards under the Plan, and in no event shall the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company have any responsibility or liability if an Award does not meet any applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  Although the Company intends to administer the Plan to prevent taxation under Section 409A of the Code, the Company does not represent or warrant that the Plan or any Award complies with any provision of federal, state, local or other tax law.
(g)            Awards in Foreign Countries; Establishment of Subplans.  The Committee has the authority to award Awards to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States on any different terms and conditions than those specified in the Plan that the Committee, in its discretion, believes to be necessary or desirable to accommodate differences in applicable law, tax policy, or custom, while furthering the purposes of the Plan. The Board may from time to time establish one or more sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying applicable blue sky, securities or tax laws of various jurisdictions.  The Board shall establish such sub-plans by adopting supplements to the Plan setting forth (i) such limitations on the Committee’s discretion under the Plan as the Board deems necessary or desirable and (ii) such additional terms and conditions not otherwise inconsistent with the Plan as the Board shall deem necessary or desirable.  All supplements adopted by the Board shall be deemed to be part of the Plan, but each supplement shall apply only to Participants within the affected jurisdiction and the Employer shall not be required to provide copies of any supplement to Participants in any jurisdiction that is not affected.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not approve any sub-plan inconsistent with the terms or share limits in the Plan or which would otherwise cause the Plan to cease to satisfy any conditions under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.
(h)            Company Policies and Clawback Rights.
(i)            All Awards under the Plan shall be subject to any applicable share trading policies and other policies that may be approved or implemented by the Board or the Committee from time to time, whether or not approved before or after the Effective Date.  All Awards and amounts payable under the Plan are additionally subject to the terms of any applicable clawback policies approved by the Board or Committee, as in effect from time to time (including, without limitation, a clawback policy required to be implemented by an applicable stock exchange), whether approved before or after the date of grant of an Award (as applicable, a “Clawback Policy”).  Further, to the extent permitted by applicable law, including without limitation Section 409A of the Code, all amounts payable under the Plan are subject to offset in the event that a Participant has an outstanding clawback, recoupment or forfeiture obligation to the Company under the terms of any applicable Clawback Policy.  In the event of a clawback, recoupment or forfeiture event under an applicable Clawback Policy, the amount required to be clawed back, recouped or forfeited pursuant to such policy shall be deemed not to have been earned under the terms of the Plan, and the Company shall be entitled to recover from the Participant the amount specified under the Clawback Policy to be clawed back, recouped or forfeited (which amount, as applicable, shall be deemed an advance that remained subject to the Participant satisfying all eligibility conditions for earning the amounts deferred, accrued, or credited under this Plan).
(ii)            Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Committee may provide in any Award Agreement that, if a Participant breaches any restrictive covenant obligation or agreement between the Participant and the Employer (which may be set forth in any Award Agreement) or otherwise engages in activities that constitute Cause either while employed by, or providing service to, the Employer or within a specified period of time thereafter, all Awards held
17

by the Participant shall terminate, and the Company may rescind any exercise of an Option or SAR and the vesting of any other Award and delivery of shares upon such exercise or vesting (including pursuant to dividends and Dividend Equivalents), as applicable on such terms as the Committee shall determine, including the right to require that in the event of any such rescission, (A) the Participant shall return to the Company the shares received upon the exercise of any Option or SAR and/or the vesting and payment of any other Award (including pursuant to dividends and Dividend Equivalents) or, (B) if the Participant no longer owns the shares, the Participant shall pay to the Company the amount of any gain realized or payment received as a result of any sale or other disposition of the shares  (or, in the event the Participant transfers the shares by gift or otherwise without consideration, the Fair Market Value of the shares on the date of the breach of the restrictive covenant agreement (including a Participant’s Award Agreement containing restrictive covenants) or activity constituting Cause), net of the price originally paid by the Participant for the shares.  Payment by the Participant shall be made in such manner and on such terms and conditions as may be required by the Committee.  The Employer shall be entitled to set off against the amount of any such payment any amounts otherwise owed to the Participant by the Employer.
(i)            Governing Law; Jurisdiction.  The validity, construction, interpretation and effect of the Plan and Award Agreements issued under the Plan shall be governed and construed by and determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.  Any action arising out of, or relating to, any of the provisions of the Plan and Awards made hereunder shall be brought only in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, or if such court does not have jurisdiction or will not accept jurisdiction, in any court of general jurisdiction in the State of Delaware, and the jurisdiction of such court in any such proceeding shall be exclusive.

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v3.24.3
Document and Entity Information
Oct. 01, 2024
Cover [Abstract]  
Document Type 8-K
Amendment Flag false
Document Period End Date Oct. 01, 2024
Entity File Number 001-36729
Entity Registrant Name Freshpet, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key 0001611647
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE
Entity Tax Identification Number 20-1884894
Entity Address, Address Line One 1545 US-206
Entity Address, City or Town Bedminster
Entity Address, State or Province NJ
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 07921
City Area Code 201
Local Phone Number 520-4000
Title of 12(b) Security Common Stock
Trading Symbol FRPT
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company false
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
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