Exhibit 10.1

SEARS HOLDINGS CORPORATION

2009 ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION 1

GENERAL

1.1. Purpose. The Sears Holdings Corporation 2009 Annual Incentive Plan (the
“AIP”) is a performance-based incentive program. The purpose of the AIP is to
reward eligible employees of Sears Holdings Corporation (the “Company”) and its
participating subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively referred to as
“Employers”), for sustained Company fiscal performance. The AIP is established
under, and constitutes a part of, the Sears Holdings Corporation Umbrella
Incentive Program (the “UIP”), which UIP was previously approved by
shareholders. Both (a) Awards (as defined in Section 9) structured to satisfy
the requirements for “performance-based compensation” outlined in regulations
issued under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”), and
(b) Awards not so structured, may be issued hereunder. The effective date of the
AIP is April 28, 2009, which is the date the Compensation Committee (as defined
in Section 9) adopted the AIP (the “Effective Date”).

1.2. Operation, Administration and Definitions. The operation and administration
of the AIP, including the Awards made under the AIP, shall be subject to the
provisions of Section 7. Capitalized terms in the AIP shall be defined in the
provision in which a term first appears or as set forth in Section 9.

1.3. Participating Employers. Each Employer whose eligible employee’s are
covered by the AIP may be referred to herein as a “Participating Employer”.
Participating Employers are listed on Appendix A.

SECTION 2

PARTICIPATION

2.1. Eligible Employee. Except as provided herein, the term “Eligible Employee”
means all: (a) salaried employees and (b) “corporate hourly employees”, of any
Employer, including the Company, which is a Participating Employer. “Corporate
hourly employees” refer to hourly employees employed at a Support Center (as
defined in Section 9). Subject to the terms and conditions of the AIP, the
Senior Corporate Compensation Executive (as defined in Section 9) shall
determine Eligible Employee status, except as determined by the Compensation
Committee, in accordance with subsection 7.1. Eligible Employees are
“Participants” in the AIP.

2.2. New Hires; Changes in Status; Promotions and Demotions.

(a) New Hires. The Senior Corporate Compensation Executive, the Compensation
Committee, or an authorized representative of either, as applicable, shall
determine whether and when an employee who is a new hire is an Eligible
Employee. The terms and conditions of any Award for such an individual shall be
(i) based on the Target Annual Incentive for the new hire’s incentive-eligible
position and (ii) subject to a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
full days on active payroll (except as otherwise provided in Section 6.2) during
the Performance Period (as defined in subsection 3.1) that the Eligible Employee
was a Participant in the AIP and the denominator of which is the number of full
days in the Performance Period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

(b) Changes in Status. The Senior Corporate Compensation Executive or the
Compensation Committee, as applicable, shall determine whether and when an
employee who has a change in status becomes or ceases to be an Eligible Employee
during the Performance Period. The terms and conditions of any Award for such an
individual shall be (i) based on the Target Annual Incentive for the
incentive-eligible position and (ii) subject to a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of full days on active payroll (except as otherwise provided
in Section 6.2) during the Performance Period that the Eligible Employee was a
Participant in the AIP and the denominator of which is the number of full days
in the Performance Period.

(c) Promotion. If a Participant is promoted, the Award for such an individual
shall be based on a pro-ration, whereby the Target Annual Incentive for the new
position will apply to the remainder of the Performance Period and the Target
Annual Incentive for the immediately preceding incentive-eligible position will
apply to the portion of the Performance Period immediately preceding the
effective date of the promotion, subject to subsection 3.2. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in no event will positive discretion be applied to any Award that has
been designated as intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 162(m) (and
the regulations issued thereunder) with respect to the Performance Period or as
of the payment date (as defined under subsection 5.1).

(d) Demotions. If a Participant is demoted, the Award for such an individual
shall be based on a pro-ration, whereby the Target Annual Incentive for the new
incentive-eligible position (if any) will apply only to the remainder of the
Performance Period and the Target Annual Incentive for the immediately preceding
incentive-eligible position will apply only to the portion of the Performance
Period immediately preceding the effective date of the demotion, subject to
subsection 3.2.

SECTION 3

ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS

3.1. Annual Incentive Awards. Except as provided herein, the Senior Corporate
Compensation Executive shall determine, in its sole discretion, the “Target
Annual Incentive” (as defined herein) for each Participant. Notwithstanding the
forgoing, the Compensation Committee shall approve the Target Annual Incentives
and the Awards for Executives (as defined in Section 9) under its purview.

(a) A “Target Annual Incentive” shall refer to the percentage of a Participant’s
rate of base pay during the Performance Period, which may be reflected as a
percentage of base pay or flat dollar amount.

(b) The “Target Incentive Award” shall consist of a commitment by the Company to
distribute, at the time specified in, and in accordance with the applicable
provisions of, Section 5 below, a dollar amount based on a Participant’s Target
Annual Incentive and based on actual performance of the Company and the
Participant, as compared to established performance goals described in Section 4
below. The Target Incentive Award shall be subject to pro-ration (if applicable)
and certification of the calculation of the final Award amount by the Senior
Corporate Compensation Executive or the Compensation Committee, as applicable.

 

2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

(c) The “Annual Incentive Award” shall refer to the final annual portion of a
Participant’s Target Incentive Award payable on the payment date (as defined in
subsection 5.1 below).

(d) Any Annual Incentive Award shall be satisfied by a distribution in
accordance with Section 5 and subject to Sections 6 and 7.

3.2. Adjustments based on Status Changes during Performance Period.
Notwithstanding anything in the AIP to the contrary, with respect to Awards that
are not designated as intended to meet the requirements of “performance-based
compensation” under Code Section 162(m) (and the regulations issued thereunder)
and prior to the settlement of any Award, if the Target Annual Incentive for a
new incentive-eligible position (including if due to promotion or demotion) is
lower or higher than the Target Annual Incentive for a Participant’s immediately
prior position, the Participant’s Target Incentive Award may be adjusted by the
Senior Corporate Compensation Executive or the Compensation Committee, as
applicable, to ensure that the overall target cash compensation (i.e., the sum
of base pay and Target Annual Incentive) for the new position is comparable to
the overall target cash compensation for the immediately prior position.

3.3. Performance Period. The “Performance Period” refers to the applicable
Fiscal Year (as defined in Section 9). The amount of an Award, if any, shall be
determined following completion of the Performance Period in accordance with
this Section 3 and Section 4.

3.4. Pro-ration.

(a) The Annual Incentive Award of a Participant who experiences a status change
or position change shall be pro-rated based on the number of days worked on
active payroll in each incentive-eligible position during the Performance
Period.

(b) The Annual Incentive Award of a Participant who experiences a demotion or
promotion shall be pro-rated based on the Target Annual Incentives in effect
during the Performance Period, subject to Sections 2.2 and 3.2 above.

(c) The Annual Incentive Award of a Participant who experiences a disability or
death, as described in subsections 6.1(b) and (c) respectively, shall be
pro-rated based upon a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days
worked on active payroll in an incentive-eligible position during the
Performance Period and the denominator of which is the number of days in the
Performance Period.

(d) The Annual Incentive Award of a Participant who experiences an unpaid leave
of absence during the Performance Period shall be pro-rated in accordance with
subsection 6.2(a).

SECTION 4

GOALS AND PERFORMANCE

4.1. Company Goals. The financial performance goals, which are approved by the
Senior Corporate Compensation Executive or the Compensation Committee, as
applicable, shall include the following levels of performance.

 

3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

(a) EBITDA

(i) EBITDA. EBITDA shall be the financial performance goal for Participants who
are under a Support Business Unit (as defined in Section 9) and whose position
cannot be tied directly, as determined by the Senior Corporate Compensation
Executive or the Compensation Committee (as applicable), to a Business Unit (as
defined in Section 9). Subject to adjustment, if any, in accordance with
paragraph (iv) of this subsection 4.1(a), “EBITDA” refers to earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for the Performance Period
computed as operating income appearing on the Company’s statement of operations
for the applicable reporting period, other than Sears Canada (referred to as the
“Domestic Company”), less depreciation and amortization and gains/(losses) on
sales of assets. In addition, it is adjusted to exclude significant litigation
or claim judgments or settlements (defined as matters which are $1,000,000 or
more) including the costs related thereto; the effect of purchase accounting and
changes in accounting methods; gains, losses and costs associated with
acquisitions, divestitures and store closures; integration costs that are
disclosed as merger related; and restructuring activities. If after the
Effective Date, the Domestic Company acquires assets or an entity that has
associated EBITDA (measured using the same principles as those described in the
preceding provisions of this paragraph (i)) in its last full fiscal year prior
to the acquisition, of greater than or equal to $100,000,000, any EBITDA
associated with such assets or entity (after its acquisition) and during the
Performance Period shall be disregarded in determining EBITDA under this
paragraph (i).

(ii) Threshold EBITDA. “Threshold EBITDA” reflects the minimum EBITDA that must
be achieved with respect to Awards based on EBITDA, which shall be equal to the
greater of: (1) eighty percent (80%) of Target EBITDA or (2) the actual EBITDA
for the 2007 fiscal year capped at ninety percent (90%) of Target EBITDA.

(iii) Target EBITDA. Subject to adjustment, if any, in paragraph
(iv) immediately below, “Target EBITDA” refers to the target level of EBITDA,
for the Performance Period, established by the Compensation Committee consistent
with Company strategy, in accordance with paragraph (i) above of this subsection
4.1(a).

(iv) Adjustments to Target EBITDA. The EBITDA incentive target contemplates that
the Domestic Company remains approximately the same size over the Performance
Period. If, after the beginning of the Performance Period, Domestic Company
divests itself of assets or an entity that has associated EBITDA (measured using
the same principles as those described in paragraph (i) above of this subsection
4.1(a)) in its last full fiscal year prior to the divestiture of greater than or
equal to $100,000,000, Target EBITDA for the Performance Period will be
decreased by actual EBITDA of such assets or entity for the portion of such
assets’ or entity’s last full fiscal year prior to the divestiture corresponding
to the portion of the Performance Period (in which the divestiture occurs)
remaining after the divestiture occurs.

 

4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

(b) Business Operating Profit.

(i) Business Operating Profit. Business Operating Profit shall be the financial
performance goal for Participants who are under a Business Unit and Participants
who are under a Support Business Unit but whose position can be tied directly,
as determined by the Senior Corporate Compensation Executive or the Compensation
Committee (as applicable), to a Business Unit. “Business Operating Profit”
refers to earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation for each Business
Unit as reported on the Company’s domestic internal operating statements, and
generally consists of merchandise gross profit, vendor allowances/subsidy
included in margin, return-to-vendor mark-outs, allocated zero percent (0%)
finance promotion costs, product quality costs, inventory shrink, margin on
service revenue, and business-specific expenses such as marketing, rent,
logistics, IT projects, store and payroll and other intra-company expenses.

(ii) Threshold Business Operating Profit. “Threshold Business Operating Profit”
reflects the minimum applicable Business Operating Profit that must be achieved
with respect to Awards based on Business Operating Profit, which shall be equal
to the greater of: (1) eighty percent (80%) of the applicable Target Business
Operating Profit or (2) the actual applicable Business Operating Profit for the
2007 fiscal year capped at ninety percent (90%) of the applicable Target
Business Operating Profit.

(iii) Target Business Operating Profit. “Target Business Operating Profit”
refers to the target level of the applicable Business Operating Profit for the
Performance Period, which varies by the Business Unit and as established and
approved by the Compensation Committee, consistent with Company strategy, in
accordance with paragraph (i) above of this subsection 4.1(b).

(c) Variable Store Contribution Profit.

(i) Variable Store Contribution Profit. Variable Store Contribution Profit shall
be the financial performance goal for Participants who are under a Sears
Full-Line Store (including the great indoors), Kmart Store or any other retail
unit (referred to collectively herein as “Retail Units”), as determined by the
Senior Corporate Compensation Executive. “Variable Store Contribution Profit”
refers to the “variable profit contribution” balance reported on the
system-generated store Profit & Loss Statement and generally consists of store
gross margin less expenses categorized as variable at a store level, such as
payroll, benefits, advertising, supplies and certain operating costs. This
performance goal does not apply to any Executive.

(ii) Threshold Variable Store Contribution Profit. “Threshold Variable Store
Contribution Profit” reflects the minimum applicable Variable Store Contribution
Profit that must be achieved with respect to Awards based on a Variable Store
Contribution Profit, which shall be equal to eighty percent (80%) of the
applicable Target Variable Store Contribution Profit for a Sears Full-Line Store
(including the great indoors) or a Kmart Store but shall vary for all other
Retail Units.

 

5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

(iii) Target Variable Store Contribution Profit. “Target Variable Store
Contribution Profit” refers to the target level of the Variable Store
Contribution Profit for the Performance Period, which varies by the Retail Units
and as established and approved by the Senior Corporate Compensation Executive,
consistent with Company strategy, in accordance with paragraph (i) above of this
subsection 4.1(c).

4.2. Company Performance. Company performance is determined based on certain
financial measurements including the following applicable measurements, which
shall be applied to a Participant based upon his or her Assignment.

(a) EBITDA Performance.

(i) Threshold Payout. Subject to Participant performance and Sections 5 and 6,
if Threshold EBITDA is met, sixty percent (60%) of a Target Incentive Award
shall be paid to a Participant for whom EBITDA is the performance measure.

(ii) Target Payout. Subject to Participant performance and Sections 5 and 6, if
Target EBITDA is met, one hundred percent (100%) of a Target Incentive Award
shall be paid to a Participant for whom EBITDA is the performance measure.

(iii) If EBITDA performance falls between the Threshold EBITDA and the Target
EBITDA payout levels, the adjustment to an Award shall be determined by
straight-line interpolation.

(iv) Subject to Participant performance and Sections 5 and 6, with respect to a
Participant for whom EBITDA is the performance measure, if EBITDA performance
exceeds the Target EBITDA, a percentage of the Target Incentive Award shall be
paid equal to one hundred percent (100%) plus two percent (2%) for each one
percent (1%) by which EBITDA performance exceeds Target EBITDA. There is no
maximum payout percentage.

(b) Business Operating Profit.

(i) Threshold Payout. Subject to Participant performance and Sections 5 and 6,
if the applicable Threshold Business Operating Profit is met, sixty percent
(60%) of a Target Incentive Award shall be paid to a Participant for whom
Business Operating Profit is the performance measure.

(ii) Target Payout. Subject to Participant performance and Sections 5 and 6, if
the applicable Target Business Operating Profit is met, one hundred percent
(100%) of a Target Incentive Award shall be paid to a Participant for whom
Business Operating Profit is the performance measure.

 

6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

(iii) If the applicable Business Operating Profit performance falls between the
applicable Threshold and Target payout levels, the adjustment to an Award shall
be determined by straight-line interpolation.

(iv) Subject to Participant performance and Sections 5 and 6, with respect to a
Participant for whom Business Operating Profit is the performance measure, if
the applicable Business Operating Profit performance exceeds the Target Business
Operating Profit, a percentage of the Target Incentive Award shall be paid equal
to one hundred percent (100%) plus two percent (2%) for each one percent (1%) by
which the applicable Business Operating Profit performance exceeds the
applicable Target Business Operating Profit. There is no maximum payout
percentage.

(c) Variable Store Contribution Profit.

(i) Payout under Target. Subject to Participant performance and for Sears
Full-Line Stores (including the great indoors) and Kmart Stores their Location
Balanced Scorecard performance, and Sections 5 and 6, with respect to a
Participant for whom Variable Store Contribution Profit is the performance
measure, if at least the applicable Threshold Variable Store Contribution Profit
but not the Target Variable Store Contribution Profit is met, payout of a Target
Incentive Award shall be based on the following schedule:

(A) With respect to Participants under a Sears Full-Line Store (including the
great indoors) or a Kmart Store:

 

% of Target

   % Payout  

80% - 92%

   20 %

93%

   40 %

94%

   60 %

95%

   80 %

In this case, if the applicable Variable Store Contribution Profit performance
is above ninety-five (95%) of Target Variable Store Contribution Profit but
below Target Variable Store Contribution Profit payout levels, the adjustment to
an Award shall be determined by straight-line interpolation.

(B) With respect to all other Retail Units, the payout level(s) for performance
under Target shall be as determined by the Senior Corporate Compensation
Executive in accordance with Section 4.4 below.

(ii) Target Payout. Subject to Participant performance and for Sears Full-Line
Stores (including the great indoors) and Kmart Stores their Location Balanced
Scorecard performance, and Sections 5 and 6, if the applicable Target Variable
Store Contribution Profit is met, one hundred percent (100%) of a Target
Incentive Award shall be paid to a Participant for whom Variable Store
Contribution Profit is the performance measure.

 

7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

(iii) Subject to Participant performance and for Sears Full-Line Stores
(including the great indoors) and Kmart Stores their Location Balanced Scorecard
performance, and Sections 5 and 6, if the applicable Variable Store Contribution
Profit performance exceeds the applicable Target Variable Store Contribution
Profit, the maximum payout percentage shall be as determined by the Senior
Corporate Compensation Executive.

4.3. Participant and Team Performance.

(a) Individual Modifier. Except as provided in subsection (a)(ii) herein, the
Senior Corporate Compensation Executive or the Compensation Committee, as
applicable, shall have the discretion to apply an individual performance
modifier to a Participant’s Annual Incentive Award, which enables the Award to
be modified, positively or negatively, based on individual Participant or team
performance, subject to the following:

(i) An individual modifier may be applied to modify a Participant’s Annual
Incentive Award as follows:

 

Performance

   Annual Rating    Modifier

Exceeds Expectation

   5    + 0% to 25%

Above Average

   4    + 0% to 15%

Average

   3    No adjustment

Below Average

   2    - 25%

Poor Performance

   1    - 100%

(ii) The individual modifier shall not apply to the portion of an Award
attributable to any portion of the Performance Period during which a Participant
is an Executive (as defined in Section 9), and in no event will positive
discretion be applied to any Award for a Participant who is a “covered employee”
within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) (and the regulations issued
thereunder) with respect to the Performance Period or as of the payment date (as
defined under subsection 5.1).

(iii) Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Award payable to any Participant under a
Retail Unit shall be subject to the applicable maximum payout percentage, if
any, as determined by the Senior Corporate Compensation Executive.

(b) Location Balanced Scorecard. The Senior Corporate Compensation Executive
shall apply the results of the Location Balanced Scorecard to qualify or modify
the Annual Incentive Award of Participants under a Sears Full-Line Store
(including the great indoors) or Kmart Store, provided such units have met its
applicable Threshold Variable Store Contribution Profit, subject to the
following:

(i) The Location Balanced Scorecard results will apply to qualify or modify
these Participants’ Annual Incentive Award as follows:

(A) Award payouts will be subject to reduction for scores lower than 100%, based
on the Location Balanced Scorecard results.

 

8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

(B) There will be no Award payout of to Participants for whom the Location
Balanced Scorecard results are below 75%.

(ii) “Location Balanced Scorecard” refers to an internal rating scorecard which
measures elements that a Sears Full-Line Store (including the great indoors) or
Kmart Store team can control and for which the team can be held accountable,
including getting stores to standard, executing core processes, customer
relations, associate relations and managing expenses.

(iii) The Senior Corporate Compensation Executive shall have the discretion to
apply an individual performance modifier described in subsection 4.3(a) above to
the Annual Incentive Award of Participants under a Sears Full-Line Store
(including the great indoors) or Kmart Store, which enables the Award to be
modified, positively or negatively, based on individual Participant performance.

(iv) Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Award payable to any Participant under a
Retail Unit shall be subject to the applicable maximum payout percentage, if
any, as determined by the Senior Corporate Compensation Executive.

4.4. Other Financial Performance Metrics. In addition to the financial
performance goals and measures described above, other financial goals and
measures shall be established to measure the contribution or profit of business
units, other than Business Units as defined in Section 9. The threshold and
target amounts and related payout percentages for these other financial measures
were generally established utilizing the criteria, as described in subsection
4.1(a) and (b) and subsection 4.2(a) and (b) above. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, for certain Participants a different threshold performance percentage
(than those provided for under subsections 4.1(a) and (b)) may apply based upon
such Participants’ business unit, as well as difference payout percentages and
maximum payouts. The applicability of any other performance measure referred to
in this Section 4.4 to a Participant will depend on his or her business unit and
Assignment.

4.5. Additional Requirements. All Annual Incentive Awards awarded under the AIP
are subject to the provisions of Sections 5, 6 and 7.

SECTION 5

DISTRIBUTION

5.1. Time of Payment. Subject to Sections 6 and 7, the Annual Incentive Awards
that are payable under the AIP, based on the Awards and payout formulas
described at Sections 3 and 4, shall be distributed immediately after the
Compensation Committee has certified the attainment of the performance goals and
the Compensation Committee or the Senior Corporate Compensation Executive, as
appropriate, has determined the amount to be paid to each Participant, which
shall in no event be later than the date which is two and one-half
(2 1/2) months after the last day of the 2009 Fiscal Year. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, such distributions shall be made no later than
required by Code Section 409A to avoid treatment of the AIP as a deferred
compensation plan under Code Section 409A. The date as of which payment is made
in accordance with this subsection 5.1 is referred to herein as the “payment
date.”

 

9

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

5.2. Form of Payment. An Annual Incentive Award shall generally be satisfied by
a single, lump sum cash payment to the Participant, provided, however, that, at
the discretion of the Committee, the Company may elect, by such deadline as
specified under uniform and nondiscriminatory rules established by the
Committee, to satisfy such Annual Incentive Award by payment of shares of
Company common stock (“Stock”) in lieu of cash, or a combination of cash and
shares of Stock. The number of shares of Stock shall be equal to (i) the amount
of the Award to be paid in stock in accordance with this subsection 5.2, divided
by (ii) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock, on the principal securities
exchange or market on which the shares are then listed or admitted, on the
business day immediately preceding the date of distribution or, if the Stock is
not traded on that date, on the next preceding date on which Stock was traded;
provided that issuance of any shares of Stock in accordance with this subsection
5.2 shall be contingent on the availability of shares of Stock under any
shareholder-approved plan of the Company providing for the issuance of Stock in
satisfaction of the Awards hereunder (which in no event shall be an employee
stock purchase plan).

5.3. Termination of Employment and Other Provisions. All distributions are
subject to the provisions of Sections 6 and 7, below.

SECTION 6

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; LEAVE OF ABSENCE; REINSTATEMENT

Any Award payable under this Section 6 shall be payable in accordance with
Section 5.

6.1. Termination of Employment. If a Participant incurs a termination of
employment before the payment date (as defined in Section 5.1 above), the effect
of termination of employment on a Participant’s right to receive an Award under
the AIP shall depend on the reason for the termination, as described in this
subsection 6.1.

(a) Voluntary Termination or Involuntary Termination. In the event that prior to
the payment date of an Award, a Participant (i) voluntarily terminates
employment (for any reason other than due to permanent and total disability, as
defined in the Company’s long-term disability program, regardless of whether the
Participant is covered by such program) or (ii) is involuntarily terminated for
any reason (other than death) prior to the payment date of an Award, such
Participant shall forfeit his or her Award, except as prohibited by law. For the
avoidance of doubt, if a Participant retires prior to the payment date of an
Award, such Participant shall forfeit his or her Award.

(b) Disability. In the event that prior to the payment date of an Award, a
Participant suffers a permanent and total disability (as defined in the
Company’s long-term disability program, regardless of whether the Participant is
covered by such program) while employed by the Company or an Employer resulting
in termination or retirement, subject to Section 7 below, such Participant shall
be entitled to a distribution of the Award that would otherwise be payable to
the Participant under Sections 3 and 4 above, pro-rated based upon a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of full days worked on active payroll in an
incentive-eligible position during the Performance Period and the denominator of
which is the number of days in the Performance Period (or the number of days
remaining in the Performance Period after the individual is assigned to an
incentive-eligible position).

 

10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

(c) Death. In the event that a Participant dies while employed by a
Participating Employer but prior to the payment date of his or her Award, the
estate of such Participant shall be entitled to a distribution of the Award, if
any, payable in cash that would otherwise be payable to the Participant under
Sections 3 and 4 above, pro-rated based upon a fraction, the numerator of which
is the number of full days worked on active payroll in an incentive-eligible
position during the Performance Period and the denominator of which is the
number of full days in the Performance Period (or the number of days remaining
in the Performance Period after the individual is assigned to an
incentive-eligible position).

 

11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

6.2. Leave of Absence.

(a) General. In the event that a Participant is on an unpaid leave of absence
any time during the Performance Period or at the time of the payment date,
subject to paragraphs (b) and (c) immediately below and Section 7, such
Participant shall be entitled to a distribution of the Award that would
otherwise be payable to the Participant under Sections 3 and 4 above, pro-rated
based upon a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full days worked
on active payroll in an incentive-eligible position during the Performance
Period and the denominator of which is the number of days in the Performance
Period.

(b) Short-Term Disability. In the event that a Participant is on a leave of
absence due to short-term disability (including, for purposes of the AIP, paid
maternity leave) any time during the Performance Period, subject to paragraphs
(c) below and Section 7), the period of the leave of absence shall be treated as
time on active payroll and will be credited toward the determination of the
Participant’s Award and the Participant shall be entitled to payment of the
Award in accordance with Section 5, even if the Participant is on the short-term
disability leave of absence as of the payment date.

(c) Salary Continuation. In the event that a Participant is receiving salary
continuation under a severance or non-compete agreement or a Company-sponsored
transition pay or severance pay plan as of the payment date, such Participant
shall forfeit his or her Award.

6.3. Reinstatement. If a Participant who forfeited his or her Award as a result
of a termination of employment is reinstated or rehired during the Performance
Period, any Award attributable to the portion of the Performance Period prior to
the termination of employment shall remain forfeited. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, such a Participant shall be eligible for an Award based on a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days worked on active payroll
in an incentive-eligible position on or after the date of reinstatement or
rehire during the Performance Period and the denominator of which is the number
of days in the Performance Period.

SECTION 7

OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION

7.1. Compensation Committee and Senior Corporate Compensation Executive.

(a) Compensation Committee. Notwithstanding paragraph (b) immediately below, the
Compensation Committee:

(i) Shall approve the Target Annual Incentives and the Awards for Executives
under its purview;

(ii) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) below, with respect to Executives under its
purview, shall have the authority and discretion to establish the terms,
conditions, restrictions, and other provisions of such Awards, including without
limitation the financial performance goals and the performance measures for each
such Executive’s Assignment in accordance with Section 4, and (subject to the
restrictions imposed by Section 8) to amend, cancel, or suspend Awards, subject
to the requirements of Code Section 162(m), if applicable;

 

12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

(iii) May make additional changes to the AIP that it deems appropriate for the
effective administration of the AIP; provided however, that these changes may
not increase the benefits to which Participants may become entitled under the
AIP nor change the pre-established measures or goals that have been approved,
except as explicitly provided in the AIP; and

(iv) Shall be responsible for all other duties and responsibilities allocated to
the Compensation Committee under the terms and conditions of the AIP.

(b) Senior Corporate Compensation Executive. Except as provided in paragraph
(a) immediately above, the Senior Corporate Compensation Executive:

(i) Shall Determine the Target Annual Incentive for each Participant;

(ii) Shall have the authority to control and manage the operation and
administration of the AIP;

(iii) Shall be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the AIP,
including without limitation the exception process described in Section 7.2
below;

(iv) Subject to the other provisions of the AIP, have the authority and
discretion to determine the time or times of receipt of Awards, to establish the
terms, conditions, restrictions, and other provisions of such Awards, and
(subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 8) to amend, cancel, or suspend
Awards, subject to the requirements of Code Section 162(m), if applicable; and

(v) Shall be responsible for all other duties and responsibilities allocated to
the Senior Corporate Compensation Executive under the terms and conditions of
the AIP.

(c) Any determinations by the Compensation Committee or the Senior Corporate
Compensation Executive, as applicable, regarding this AIP are binding on all
Participants.

(d) The Senior Corporate Compensation Executive and the Compensation Committee,
as appropriate, shall have the authority and discretion to interpret the AIP, to
establish, amend, and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the AIP and
to make all other determinations that may be necessary or advisable for the
administration of the AIP.

7.2. Incentive Exceptions. The Senior Corporate Compensation Executive shall
have the authority to receive and consider requests by Business Units of the
Participating Employers for an exception to an established performance measures
due to circumstances outside of the business unit’s control. The Senior
Corporate Compensation Executive may establish a procedure for reviewing and
approving or rejecting an exception. Any exception determination shall be
binding. In no event will positive discretion be applied, by the Compensation
Committee or the Senior Corporate Compensation Executive, to any Award that has
been designated

 

13

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

as intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 162(m) (and the regulations
issued thereunder) with respect to the Performance Period or as of the payment
date (as defined under subsection 5.1).

7.3. Discretion. Notwithstanding Section 7.2 or anything in the AIP to the
contrary, with respect to Awards that are not designated as intended to meet the
requirements of “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m) (and
the regulations issued thereunder) and prior to the settlement of any Award, the
Compensation Committee or the Senior Corporate Compensation Executive, as
applicable, may change the pre-established measures and goals that have been
approved for such Award and increase or reduce the amount of such Award.

7.4. Tax Withholding. All distributions under the AIP are subject to withholding
of all applicable taxes. In the case of Awards under the AIP that are settled in
shares of Stock, if any, the Senior Corporate Compensation Executive or the
Compensation Committee, as applicable, may condition the delivery of any shares
or other benefits under the AIP on satisfaction of the applicable withholding
obligations. To the extent permitted by the Senior Corporate Compensation
Executive or the Compensation Committee, as applicable, such withholding
obligations may be satisfied: (a) through cash payment by the Participant;
(b) through the surrender of shares of Stock which the Participant already owns
(provided, however, that to the extent shares described in this paragraph
(b) are used to satisfy more than the minimum statutory withholding obligation,
as described below, then, except as otherwise provided by the Senior Corporate
Compensation Executive or the Compensation Committee, as applicable, payments
made with shares of Stock in accordance with this paragraph (b) shall be limited
to shares held by the Participant for not less than six months prior to the
payment date (or such other period of time as the Company’s accountants may
require)); or (c) through the surrender of shares of Stock to which the
Participant is otherwise entitled under the AIP, provided, however, that such
shares under this paragraph (c) may be used to satisfy not more than the
Company’s minimum statutory withholding obligation (based on minimum statutory
withholding rates for Federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes,
that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income).

7.5. Source of Awards. In the case of Awards under the AIP that are settled in
shares of Stock, such shares shall be distributed under a stock plan adopted by
the Company and approved by the shareholders thereof that provides for the
issuance of Stock in satisfaction of Awards hereunder, (which in no event shall
be an employee stock purchase plan.) In the event of any conflict between this
document and such stock plan, the provisions of the stock plan shall govern.

7.6. Settlement of Awards. The obligation to make payments and distributions
with respect to Awards may be satisfied through cash payments, the delivery of
shares of Stock, or a combination thereof, as provided under subsection 5.2,
subject, in the case of settlement in shares, to the terms of the stock plan
under which the Stock is issued. Satisfaction of any such obligations under an
Award, which is sometimes referred to as the “settlement” of the Award, may be
subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Senior
Corporate Compensation Executive or the Compensation Committee, as appropriate,
shall determine. Each Employer shall be liable for payment of an Award due under
the AIP with respect to any Participant to the extent that such benefits are
attributable to the services rendered for that Employer by the Participant. Any
disputes relating to liability of an Employer for payment of an Award shall be
resolved by the Senior Corporate Compensation Executive or the Compensation
Committee, as appropriate.

 

14

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

7.7. Transferability. Except as otherwise provided by the Senior Corporate
Compensation Executive, Awards under the AIP are not transferable except as
designated by the Participant by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution.

7.8. Form and Time of Elections. Unless otherwise specified herein, any election
required or permitted to be made by any Participant or other person entitled to
benefits under the AIP, and any permitted modification, or revocation thereof,
shall be in writing filed with the Senior Corporate Compensation Executive at
such times, in such form, and subject to such restrictions and limitations, not
inconsistent with the terms of the AIP, as the Senior Corporate Compensation
Executive shall require.

7.9. Action by Company or Employer. Any action required or permitted to be taken
under the AIP by the Company or any other Employer shall be by resolution of its
board of directors, or by action of one or more members of the board of
directors of such company (including a committee of the board) who are duly
authorized to act for such board with respect to the applicable action, or
(except to the extent prohibited by applicable law or applicable rules of any
securities exchange or similar entity) by a duly authorized officer of such
company.

7.10. Gender and Number. Where the context admits, words in any gender shall
include any other gender, words in the singular shall include the plural and the
plural shall include the singular.

7.11. Limitation of Implied Rights.

(a) Neither a Participant nor any other person shall, by reason of participation
in the AIP, acquire any right in or title to any assets, funds or property of
the Company or any Employer whatsoever, including, without limitation, any
specific funds, assets, or other property which the Company or any Employer, in
its sole discretion, may set aside in anticipation of a liability under the AIP.
A Participant shall have only a contractual right to the cash, if any, payable
under the AIP, unsecured by any assets of the Company or any Employer, and
nothing contained in the AIP shall constitute a guarantee that the assets of the
Company or any Employer shall be sufficient to pay any benefits to any person.

(b) The AIP does not constitute a contract of employment, and status as a
Participant shall not give any Eligible Employee the right to be retained in the
employ of the Company or any Employer, nor any right or claim to any benefit
under the AIP, unless such right or claim has specifically accrued and vested
under the terms of the AIP.

7.12. Evidence. Evidence required of anyone under the AIP may be by certificate,
affidavit, document or other information, which the person charged with acting
on such evidence considers pertinent and reliable, and which has been signed,
made or presented by the proper party or parties.

7.13. Information to be Furnished. The Company and the Participating Employers
shall furnish the Senior Corporate Compensation Executive and the Compensation
Committee with such data and information as it determines may be required for it
to discharge its duties. The records of the Company and the Participating
Employers as to an employee’s or Participant’s employment,

 

15

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

termination of employment, leave of absence, reemployment, and compensation
shall be conclusive on all persons unless determined to be incorrect.
Participants and other persons entitled to benefits under the AIP must furnish
the Senior Corporate Compensation Executive or the Compensation Committee, as
appropriate, such evidence, data or information as the Senior Corporate
Compensation Executive or the Compensation Committee considers desirable to
carry out the terms of the AIP, subject to any applicable privacy laws.

SECTION 8

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

The Company may amend or terminate the AIP at any time and for any reason in its
sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment may be made,
without the consent of the shareholders of the Company, that would cause any
Awards intended to meet the requirements of “performance-based compensation”
under Code 162(m) and the regulations thereunder, to cease to be deductible
under Code Section 162(m). Further, notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, (a) no amendment shall be made that would cause the AIP not to comply
with the requirements of Code Section 409A or any other applicable law or rule
of any applicable securities exchange or similar entity, and (b) the AIP and any
Award thereunder may be amended without Participant consent to the extent that
the Compensation Committee (or its authorized representative) determines such
amendment necessary to cause the AIP or Award to comply with the requirements of
Code Section 409A or any other applicable law or rule of any applicable
securities exchange or similar entity.

SECTION 9

DEFINED TERMS

9.1. In addition to the other definitions contained herein, the following
definitions shall apply:

(a) Assignment. The term “Assignment” refers to the performance goals and
measure(s) (under subsections 4.1 and 4.2) that have been assigned by the Senior
Corporate Compensation Executive or the Compensation Committee, as appropriate,
to a Participant, based upon position, location and/or business unit. Assignment
also includes the weight of each performance measure assigned to the
Participant.

(b) Award. The term “Award” or “Awards” refers to any Annual Incentive Award(s)
awarded under the AIP.

(c) Business Unit. The capitalized term “Business Unit” shall refer,
individually, to each Operating Business Unit, the Real Estate Business Unit,
the Brands Business Unit or the Online Business Unit; or collectively to all of
these Business Units.

(d) Compensation Committee. The term “Compensation Committee” refers to the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Sears Holdings Corporation.

(e) Code. The term “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time (and the regulations issued thereunder). A reference to any
provision of the Code shall include reference to any successor provision of the
Code (and the regulations issued thereunder).

 

16

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

(f) Executive. The term “Executive” refers to any employee of an Employer who
holds a position of senior vice president or higher of Sears Holdings
Corporation (not of any subsidiary or affiliate) or any employee who is an
executive officer under Section 16(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
with respect to Sears Holdings Corporation.

(g) Fair Market Value. The term “Fair Market Value” shall mean the reported
closing price of a share of Stock on the principal securities exchange or market
on which the Stock is then listed or admitted to trading.

(h) Fiscal Year. The capitalized term “Fiscal Year” refers to the twelve
(12) month period beginning on February 1, 2009 and ending on January 30, 2010
(i.e., the Saturday closest to January 31 of calendar year 2010).

(i) Retail Units. The term “Retail Units” refers collectively to each Sears
Full-Line Store (including the great indoors), Kmart Store and all other retail
units, which are not a Business Unit or Support Business Unit as defined herein.

(j) Senior Corporate Compensation Executive. The term “Senior Corporate
Compensation Executive” refers to the Senior Vice President of Human Resources
(i.e., the most senior human resources officer of the Company), or if he or she
has explicitly delegated his or her duties with respect to the AIP, as provided
herein, then the Senior Corporate Compensation Executive shall refer to such
authorized representative to whom the duties of administering the AIP have been
delegated.

(k) Support Center. For purposes of determining which corporate hourly employees
are Eligible Employees under the AIP, the term “Support Center” refers to
business units at the following corporate locations: (i) Hoffman Estates,
Illinois, (ii) Troy, Michigan, (iii) Dodgeville, Wisconsin, (iv) Tucker,
Georgia, (v) Dallas, Texas, (vi) New York Design Center facilities in New York,
(vii) SHIP in Longwood, Florida, and (viii) SRAC in Wilmington, Delaware, which
cannot be tied specifically to any one Business Unit. Employees on a Support
Center overhead account may, however, be further categorized as determined by
the Senior Corporate Compensation Executive or the Compensation Committee (as
applicable), under a Business Unit (as defined herein) or other business units
instead of under a Support Business Unit (as defined immediately below), if they
can be tied specifically to such unit.

(l) Support Business Unit. The term “Support Business Unit” shall refer to
business units tied to a Support Center that service multiple business units and
cannot be tied specifically to any one Business Unit or Retail Units.

 

17

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

SECTION 10

EXPIRATION OF AIP

The AIP shall expire, subject to earlier termination pursuant to Section 8, on
the date on which all Annual Incentive Awards (if any) are paid in full or would
have been payable in accordance with the provisions of the AIP.

*                                        
*                                        *

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of
Sears Holdings Corporation has caused this AIP to be executed effective as of
the date first stated above, by the undersigned officer of Sears Holdings
Corporation on this 1st day of May, 2009.

 

SEARS HOLDINGS CORPORATION By:  

/s/ William R. Harker

  William R. Harker Title:  

SVP, HR, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

18

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2009 AIP

 

SEARS HOLDINGS CORPORATION

2009 ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN

APPENDIX A

Participating Employers

(As of April 28, 2009)

 

1. Sears Holdings Corporation

 

2. Sears Holdings Management Corporation

 

3. Sears, Roebuck and Co.

 

  •  

Excluding Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corporation

 

4. Kmart Holding Corporation

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FIRST AMENDMENT

TO THE

SEARS HOLDINGS CORPORATION

2009 ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN

Pursuant to the amendment authority reserved to Sears Holdings Corporation under
Section 8 of the Sears Holdings Corporation 2009 Annual Incentive Plan (“Plan”),
which authority was delegated by a March 27, 2007 resolution of the Board of
Directors of Sears Holdings Corporation to the Sears Holdings Corporation
Administrative Committee (“Administrative Committee”), the Plan is hereby
amended in the following respects, effective as of the first day of the
Performance Period (as such term is defined under Section 3.3 of the Plan):

1. The Plan is amended by replacing each reference therein to “Variable Store
Contribution Profit” with “Store Variable Profit Contribution”.

2. Subsection 4.1(c)(i) of the Plan is amended by deleting it in its entirety
and inserting the following new subjection (i) in its place:

“(i) Store Variable Profit Contribution. Store Variable Profit Contribution
shall be the financial performance goal for Participants who are under a Sears
Full-Line Store, Kmart Store or any other retail unit (referred to collectively
herein as “Retail Units”), as determined by the Senior Corporate Compensation
Executive. “Store Variable Profit Contribution” refers to the “variable profit
contribution” balance reported on the system-generated store Profit & Loss
Statement and generally consists of store gross margin less expenses categorized
as variable at a store level, such as payroll, benefits, advertising, supplies
and certain operating costs. This performance goal does not apply to any
Executive.”

3. Subsection 4.1(c)(ii) of the Plan is amended by deleting it in its entirety
and inserting the following new subjection (ii) in its place:

“(ii) Threshold Store Variable Profit Contribution. “Threshold Store Variable
Profit Contribution” reflects the minimum applicable Store Variable Profit
Contribution that must be achieved with respect to Awards based on a Store
Variable Profit Contribution, which shall be equal to eighty percent (80%) of
the applicable Target Store Variable Profit Contribution for a Sears Full-Line
Store or a Kmart Store but shall vary for all other Retail Units.”

4. Subsection 4.2(c)(i) of the Plan is amended by deleting the introductory
language thereof in its entirety (and retaining subsections (i)(A) and (i)(B))
and inserting the following new introductory language in its place:

“(i) Payout under Target. Subject to Participant performance and for Sears
Full-Line Stores and Kmart Stores their Location Balanced Scorecard performance,
and Sections 5 and 6, with respect to a Participant for whom Store Variable
Profit Contribution is the performance measure, if at least the applicable
Threshold Store Variable Profit Contribution but not the Target Store Variable
Profit Contribution is met, payout of a Target Incentive Award shall be based on
the following schedule:”

 

20

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Subsection 4.2(c)(ii)(A) of the Plan is amended by deleting the introductory
language thereof in its entirety and inserting the following new introductory
language in its place:

“(A) With respect to Participants under a Sears Full-Line Store or a Kmart
Store:”

6. Subsection 4.2(c)(ii) of the Plan is amended by deleting it in its entirety
and inserting the following new subjection (ii) in its place:

“(ii) Target Payout. Subject to Participant performance and for Sears Full-Line
Stores and Kmart Stores their Location Balanced Scorecard performance, and
Sections 5 and 6, if the applicable Target Store Variable Profit Contribution is
met, one hundred percent (100%) of a Target Incentive Award shall be paid to a
Participant for whom Store Variable Profit Contribution is the performance
measure.”

7. Subsection 4.2(c)(iii) of the Plan is amended by deleting it in its entirety
and inserting the following new subjection (iii) in its place:

“(iii) Subject to Participant performance and for Sears Full-Line Stores and
Kmart Stores their Location Balanced Scorecard performance, and Sections 5 and
6, if the applicable Store Variable Profit Contribution performance exceeds the
applicable Target Store Variable Profit Contribution, the maximum payout
percentage shall be as determined by the Senior Corporate Compensation
Executive.”

8. Subsection 4.3(b) of the Plan is amended by deleting the introductory
language thereof in its entirety and inserting the following new introductory
language in its place:

“(b) Location Balanced Scorecard. The Senior Corporate Compensation Executive
shall apply the results of the Location Balanced Scorecard to qualify or modify
the Annual Incentive Award of Participants under a Sears Full-Line Store or
Kmart Store, provided such units have met its applicable Threshold Store
Variable Profit Contribution, subject to the following:”

9. Subsection 4.3(b)(ii) of the Plan is amended by deleting it in its entirety
and inserting the following new subjection (ii) in its place:

“(ii) “Location Balanced Scorecard” refers to an internal rating scorecard which
measures elements that a Sears Full-Line Store or Kmart Store team can control
and for which the team can be held accountable, including getting stores to
standard, executing core processes, customer relations, associate relations and
managing expenses.”

10. Subsection 4.3(b)(iii) of the Plan is amended by deleting it in its entirety
and inserting the following new subjection (iii) in its place:

“(iii) The Senior Corporate Compensation Executive shall have the discretion to
apply an individual performance modifier described in subsection 4.3(a) above to
the Annual Incentive Award of Participants under a Sears Full-Line Store or
Kmart Store, which enables the Award to be modified, positively or negatively,
based on individual Participant performance.”

 

21

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11. Subsection 9.1(i) of the Plan is amended by deleting it in its entirety and
inserting the following new subjection (i) in its place:

“(i) Retail Units. The term “Retail Units” refers collectively to each Sears
Full-Line Store, Kmart Store and all other retail units, which are not a
Business Unit or Support Business Unit as defined herein.”

12. Except as amended herein, the Plan is hereby confirmed in all other
respects.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Sears Holdings Corporation Administrative Committee has
caused this Amendment to be executed, effective as of April 28, 2009 (the
original Effective Date of the Plan), by the undersigned member of the Sears
Holdings Corporation Administrative Committee, on this 27th day of May, 2009.

 

SEARS HOLDINGS CORPORATION By:  

/s/ William K. Phelan

Title:  

Member, SHC Administrative Committee