exv10w1






Exhibit 10.1




HAMPSHIRE GROUP, LIMITED

2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN




          1. Purpose.




          The purpose of the Plan is to assist the Company in attracting, retaining, motivating, and
rewarding certain key employees, officers, directors, and consultants of the Company and its
Affiliates, and promoting the creation of long-term value for stockholders of the Company by
closely aligning the interests of such individuals with those of such stockholders. The Plan
authorizes the award of Stock-based incentives to Eligible Persons to encourage such persons to
expend their maximum efforts in the creation of stockholder value.




          2. Definitions.




          For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:




          (a) “Affiliate” means, with respect to any entity, any other entity that, directly or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such entity.




          (b) “Award” means any Option, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock
Appreciation Right, or other Stock-based award granted under the Plan.




          (c) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.




          (d) “Cause” means, in the absence of an employment or similar agreement between a
Participant and the Employer otherwise defining Cause, (i) a Participant’s conviction of or
indictment for any crime (whether or not involving the Company or its Affiliates) (A) constituting
a felony or (B) that has, or could reasonably be expected to result in, an adverse impact on the
performance of the Participant’s duties to the Employer, or otherwise has, or could reasonably be
expected to result in, an adverse impact to the business or reputation of the Company or its
Affiliates; (ii) conduct of the Participant, in connection with his or her employment, that has, or
could reasonably be expected to result in, material injury to the business or reputation of the
Company or its Affiliates; (iii) any material violation of the policies of the Company or its
Affiliates, including, but not limited to those relating to sexual harassment, the disclosure or
misuse of confidential information, or those set forth in the manuals or statements of policy of
the Company or its Affiliates; (iv) act or acts of embezzlement or fraud committed by a
Participant, at such Participant’s direction, or with such Participant’s prior personal knowledge;
or (v) willful neglect in the performance of the Participant’s duties for the Employer or willful
or repeated failure or refusal to perform such duties. In the event there is an employment or
similar agreement between a Participant and the Employer defining Cause, “Cause” shall have
the meaning provided in such agreement, and a Termination by the Employer for Cause hereunder shall
not be deemed to have occurred unless all applicable notice and cure periods in such employment
agreement are complied with.




 









 








          (e) “Change in Control” means:




          (i) a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through a transaction or
series of transactions (other than an offering of Stock to the general public through a
registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any
“person” (as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act) or any two or more persons
deemed to be one “person” (as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act),
other than the Company or any of its Affiliates, or an employee benefit plan maintained by
the Company or any of its Affiliates, directly or indirectly acquire “beneficial ownership”
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company
possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s
securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition;




          (ii) the date upon which individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the
Board (the “Incumbent Board”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent
to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders,
was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then constituting the
Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent
Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the
election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board; or




          (iii) the sale or disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company to any “person” (as defined in Section
3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act) or to any two or more persons deemed to be one “person” (as
used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) other than the Company’s
Affiliates.



          (f) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time,
including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.



          (g) “Committee” means the Board or such other committee appointed by the Board
consisting of two or more individuals.



          (h) “Company” means Hampshire Group, Limited, a Delaware corporation.



          (i) “Disability” means, in the absence of an employment or similar agreement between a
Participant and the Employer otherwise defining Disability, any incapacity that qualifies as a
“long-term disability” pursuant to the terms of the Company’s long-term disability policy, or if
none, the Company’s handbook. In the event there is an employment or similar agreement between a
Participant and the Employer defining Disability, “Disability” shall have the meaning provided in
such agreement.



          (j) “Effective Date” means October 21, 2009.



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          (k) “Eligible Person” means (i) each employee of the Company or of any of its
Affiliates, including each such person who may also be a director of the Company and/or its
Affiliates; (ii) each non-employee director of the Company and/or its Affiliates; (iii) each other
person who provides substantial services to the Company and/or its Affiliates and who is designated
as eligible by the Committee; and (iv) any person who has been offered employment or service by the
Company or its Affiliates; provided, that such prospective service provider may not receive any
payment or exercise any right relating to an Award until such person has commenced employment or
service with the Company or its Affiliates. An employee on an approved leave of absence may be
considered as still in the employ of the Company or its Affiliates for purposes of eligibility for
participation in the Plan.



          (l) “Employer” means either the Company or an Affiliate of the Company by which the
Participant is principally employed or to which the Participant provides services, as applicable
(in each case determined without regard to any transfer of an Award).



          (m) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to
time, including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.



          (n) “Expiration Date” means the date upon which the term of an Option expires, as
determined under Section 5(b) hereof.



          (o) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date when the Stock is listed on one or more
national securities exchanges, the closing price reported on the principal national securities
exchange on which such Stock is listed and traded on the date of determination. If the Stock is
not listed on an exchange, or representative quotes are not otherwise available, the Fair Market
Value shall mean the amount determined by the Board in good faith, and in a manner consistent with
Section 409A of the Code, to be the fair market value per share of Stock.



          (p) “Incumbent Board” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)(ii) hereof.



          (q) “Option” means a conditional right, granted to a Participant under Section 5
hereof, to purchase Stock at a specified price during specified time periods. Options granted
under the Plan are not intended to qualify as incentive stock options within the meaning of Section
422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.



          (r) “Option Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant
evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option grant.



          (s) “Participant” means an Eligible Person who has been granted an Award under the
Plan, or if applicable, such other person or entity who holds an Award.



          (t) “Plan” means this Hampshire Group, Limited 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.



          (u) “Qualified Member” means a member of the Committee who is a “Non-Employee
Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3.



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          (v) “Qualifying Committee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof.



          (w) “Restricted Stock” means Stock granted to a Participant under Section 6 hereof
that is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.



          (x) “Restricted Stock Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a
Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Restricted Stock grant.



          (y) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a notional unit representing the right to receive
one share of Stock (or the cash value of one share of Stock, if so determined by the Committee) on
a specified settlement date.



          (z) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time,
including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.



          (aa) “Stock” means the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share, and such
other securities as may be substituted for such stock pursuant to Section 8 hereof.



          (bb) “Stock Appreciation Right” means a conditional right to receive an amount equal
to the value of the appreciation in the Stock over a specified period. Except in the event of
extraordinary circumstances, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, or pursuant to
Section 9(b) below, Stock Appreciation Rights shall be settled in Stock.



          (cc) “Termination” means the termination of a Participant’s employment or service, as
applicable, with the Employer; provided, however, that, if so determined by the Committee at the
time of any change in status in relation to the Employer (e.g., a Participant ceases to be
an employee and begins providing services as a consultant, or vice versa), such change in status
will not be deemed to be a Termination hereunder. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in
the event that any Employer ceases to be an Affiliate of the Company (by reason of sale, divesture,
spin-off or other similar transaction), unless a Participant’s employment or service is transferred
to another entity that would constitute an Employer immediately following such transaction, such
Participant shall be deemed to have suffered a Termination hereunder as of the date of the
consummation of such transaction.



          3. Administration.



          (a) Authority of the Committee. Except as otherwise provided below, the Plan shall be
administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have full and final authority, in each case
subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, to (i) select Eligible Persons to become
Participants; (ii) grant Awards; (iii) determine the type, number of shares of Stock subject to,
and other terms and conditions of, and all other matters relating to, Awards; (iv) prescribe Award
agreements (which need not be identical for each Participant) and rules and regulations for the
administration of the Plan; (v) construe and interpret the Plan and Award agreements and correct
defects, supply omissions, or reconcile inconsistencies therein; (vi) suspend the right to exercise
Awards during any period that the Committee deems appropriate to comply with applicable securities
laws, and thereafter extend the exercise period



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of an Award by an equivalent period of time; and (vii) make all other decisions and determinations as the
Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. Any action of the
Committee shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all persons, including, without limitation,
the Company, its Affiliates, Eligible Persons, Participants, and beneficiaries of Participants.



          (b) Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority. At any time that a member of the
Committee is not a Qualified Member, any action relating to an Award granted or to be granted to a
Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company may be
taken either by a subcommittee, designated by the Committee or the Board, composed solely of two or
more Qualified Members (a “Qualifying Committee”), or by the Committee but with each such
member who is not a Qualified Member abstaining or recusing himself from such action; provided,
that upon such abstention or recusal, the Committee remains composed of two or more Qualified
Members. Any action authorized by such a Qualifying Committee or by the Committee upon the
abstention or recusal of such non-Qualified Member(s) shall be deemed to be the action of the
Committee for purposes of the Plan. The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and
the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or
authority of the Committee.



          (c) Delegation. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may delegate
to officers or employees of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or committees thereof, the
authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to perform such functions,
including but not limited to administrative functions, as the Committee may determine appropriate.
The Committee may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan. Notwithstanding the
foregoing or any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, any Award granted under the Plan to
any person or entity who is not an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates (including any
non-employee director of the Company or any Affiliate) or to any person who is subject to Section
16 of the Exchange Act shall be expressly approved by the Committee or Qualifying Committee in
accordance with subsection (b) above.



          (d) Section 409A. The Committee shall take into account compliance with Section 409A
of the Code in connection with any grant of an Award under the Plan, to the extent applicable.



          4. Shares Available Under the Plan.



          (a) Number of Shares Available for Delivery. Subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 8 hereof, the total number of shares of Stock reserved and available for delivery in
connection with Awards under the Plan shall be 880,000. Shares of Stock delivered under the Plan
shall consist of authorized and unissued shares or previously issued shares of Stock reacquired by
the Company on the open market or by private purchase.



          (b) Share Counting Rules. The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to
ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or
substitute awards) and make adjustments if the number of shares of Stock actually delivered differs
from the number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award. To the extent that an
Award expires or is canceled, forfeited, settled in cash, or otherwise terminated



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without a delivery to the Participant of the full number of shares to which the Award related,
the undelivered shares will again be available for grant. Shares withheld in payment of the
exercise price or taxes relating to an Award and shares equal to the number surrendered in payment
of any exercise price or taxes relating to an Award shall be deemed to constitute shares not
delivered to the Participant and shall be deemed to again be available for Awards under the Plan;
provided, however, that such shares shall not become available for issuance hereunder if either (i)
the applicable shares are withheld or surrendered following the termination of the Plan, or (ii) at
the time the applicable shares are withheld or surrendered, it would constitute a material revision
of the Plan subject to stockholder approval under any then-applicable rules of the national
securities exchange on which the Stock is listed.



          5. Options.



          (a) General. Options may be granted to Eligible Persons in such form and having such
terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate. The provisions of separate Options
shall be set forth in an Option Agreement, which agreements need not be identical.



          (b) Term. The term of each Option shall be set by the Committee at the time of grant;
provided, however, that no Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable after the expiration of
ten (10) years from the date it was granted.



          (c) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Stock for each Option shall be
set by the Committee at the time of grant; provided, however, that if an Option is intended to not
be considered “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code,
the applicable exercise price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value.



          (d) Payment for Stock. Payment for shares of Stock acquired pursuant to Options
granted hereunder shall be made in full, upon exercise of the Options, (i) in immediately available
funds in United States dollars, or by certified or bank cashier’s check; (ii) by delivery of a
notice of “net exercise” to the Company, pursuant to which the Participant shall receive the number
of shares of Stock underlying the Options so exercised reduced by the number of shares of Stock
equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Options divided by the Fair Market Value on the date
of exercise; (iii) by delivery of shares of Stock having a value equal to the exercise price; or
(iv) by any other means approved by the Committee. Anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, if the Committee determines that any form of payment available hereunder would be
in violation of Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, such form of payment shall not be
available.



          (e) Vesting. Options shall vest and become exercisable in such manner, on such date
or dates, or upon the achievement of performance or other conditions, in each case, as may be
determined by the Committee and set forth in the Option Agreement; provided, however, that
notwithstanding any such vesting dates, the Committee may in its sole discretion accelerate the
vesting of any Option, which acceleration shall not affect the terms and conditions of any such
Option other than with respect to vesting. Unless otherwise specifically determined by the
Committee, the vesting of an Option shall occur only while the Participant is employed or rendering
services to the Employer, and all vesting shall cease upon a Participant’s Termination



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with the Employer for any reason. If an Option is exercisable in installments, such
installments or portions thereof which become exercisable shall remain exercisable until the Option
expires.



          (f) Transferability of Options. An Option shall not be transferable except by will or
by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the
Participant only by the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options shall be transferable
to the extent provided in the Option Agreement or otherwise determined by the Committee.



          (g) Termination of Employment or Service. Except as may otherwise be provided by the
Committee in the Option Agreement:




          (i) In the event of a Participant’s Termination with the Employer prior to the
Expiration Date for any reason other than (A) by the Employer for Cause, or (B) by reason of
the Participant’s death or Disability, (1) all vesting with respect to such Participant’s
Options shall cease, (2) all of such Participant’s unvested Options shall expire as of the
date of such Termination, and (3) all of such Participant’s vested Options shall remain
exercisable until the earlier of the Expiration Date and the date that is ninety (90) days
after the date of such Termination.




          (ii) In the event of a Participant’s Termination with the Employer prior to the
Expiration Date by reason of such Participant’s death or Disability, (A) all vesting with
respect to such Participant’s Options shall cease, (B) all of such Participant’s unvested
Options shall expire as of the date of such Termination, and (C) all of such Participant’s
vested Options shall expire on the earlier of the Expiration Date and the date that is
twelve (12) months after the date of such Termination due to death or Disability of the
Participant. In the event of a Participant’s death, such Participant’s Options shall remain
exercisable by the person or persons to whom a Participant’s rights under the Options pass
by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution until their expiration, but only
to the extent the Options were vested by such Participant at the time of such Termination
due to death.




          (iii) In the event of a Participant’s Termination with the Employer prior to the
Expiration Date by the Employer for Cause, all of such Participant’s Options (whether or not
vested) shall immediately expire as of the date of such Termination.



          6. Restricted Stock.



          (a) General. Restricted Stock granted hereunder shall be in such form and shall
contain such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate. The terms and
conditions of each Restricted Stock grant shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Agreement, which
agreements need not be identical. Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6(b), except as
otherwise set forth in the applicable Restricted Stock Agreement, the Participant shall generally
have the rights and privileges of a stockholder as to such Restricted Stock, including the right to
vote such Restricted Stock. Unless otherwise set forth in a Participant’s Restricted Stock
Agreement, cash dividends and stock dividends, if any, with respect to the Restricted Stock shall
be paid by the Company to the Participant at the time of payment to other stockholders of the
Company; provided, however, in the case of stock dividends only, the stock



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received in connection with such shall be subject to the same vesting and forfeiture
conditions as the shares of Restricted Stock to which such dividends relate.



          (b) Restrictions on Transfer. In addition to any other restrictions set forth in a
Participant’s Restricted Stock Agreement, until such time that the Restricted Stock has vested
pursuant to the terms of the Restricted Stock Agreement, which vesting the Committee may in its
sole discretion accelerate at any time, the Participant shall not be permitted to sell, transfer,
pledge, or otherwise encumber the Restricted Stock. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to
the contrary, the Committee shall have the authority to remove any or all of the restrictions on
the Restricted Stock whenever it may determine that, by reason of changes in applicable laws or
other changes in circumstances arising after the date of the Restricted Stock Award, such action is
appropriate.



          (c) Termination of Employment or Service. Except as may otherwise be provided by the
Committee in the Restricted Stock Agreement, in the event of a Participant’s Termination with the
Employer for any reason prior to the time that such Participant’s Restricted Stock has vested, (i)
all vesting with respect to such Participant’s Restricted Stock shall cease, and (ii) as soon as
practicable following such Termination, the Company shall repurchase from the Participant, and the
Participant shall sell, all of such Participant’s unvested shares of Restricted Stock at a purchase
price equal to the original purchase price paid for the Restricted Stock, or if the original
purchase price is equal to $0, such unvested shares of Restricted Stock shall be forfeited by the
Participant to the Company for no consideration as of the date of such Termination.



          7. Other Stock-Based Awards.



          The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to
Participants such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by
reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be
consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including, without limitation, Restricted Stock Units and
Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may also grant Stock as a bonus, or may grant other
awards in lieu of obligations of the Company or an Affiliate to pay cash or deliver other property
under this Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, subject to such terms as shall
be determined by the Committee. The terms and conditions applicable to such Awards shall be
determined by the Committee and evidenced by Award agreements, which agreements need not be
identical.



          8. Adjustment for Recapitalization, Merger, etc.



          (a) Capitalization Adjustments. The aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be
granted or purchased pursuant to Awards (as set forth in Section 4 hereof), the number of shares of
Stock covered by each outstanding Award, and the price per share thereof in each such Award shall
be equitably and proportionally adjusted or substituted, as determined by the Committee, as to the
number, price, or kind of a share of Stock or other consideration subject to such Awards (i) in the
event of changes in the outstanding Stock or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of
stock dividends, stock splits, reverse stock splits, recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers,
consolidations, combinations, exchanges, or other relevant changes in



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capitalization occurring after the date of grant of any such Award (including any Corporate
Event, as defined below); (ii) in connection with any extraordinary dividend declared and paid in
respect of shares of Stock, whether payable in the form of cash, stock, or any other form of
consideration; or (iii) in the event of any change in applicable laws that results in or could
result in, in either case, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, any substantial
dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants in the Plan.



          (b) Corporate Events. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as may otherwise be
provided in an Award agreement, in connection with (i) a merger or consolidation involving the
Company in which the Company is not the surviving corporation; (ii) a merger or consolidation
involving the Company in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the holders of shares
of Stock receive securities of another corporation and/or other property, including cash; (iii) a
Change in Control; or (iv) the reorganization or liquidation of the Company (each, a “Corporate
Event”), the Committee may, in its discretion, provide for any one or more of the following:




          (1) that such Awards be assumed or substituted in connection with such
Corporate Event, in which case, the Awards shall be subject to the adjustment set
forth in subsection (a) above, and to the extent such Awards are Awards that vest
subject to the achievement of performance criteria, such performance criteria shall
be appropriately adjusted to reflect the Corporate Event;




          (2) that the vesting of any Awards shall be accelerated, subject to the
consummation of such Corporate Event;




          (3) that any or all vested and/or unvested Awards be cancelled as of the
consummation of such Corporate Event, and that Participants holding vested Awards
(including any Awards that would vest upon the Corporate Event but for such
cancellation) so cancelled will receive a payment in respect of cancellation of
their Awards based on the amount of the per-share consideration being paid for the
Stock in connection with such Corporate Event, less, in the case of Options, Stock
Appreciation Rights, and other Awards subject to exercise, the applicable exercise
price; provided, however, that holders of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, and
other Awards subject to exercise shall only be entitled to consideration in respect
of cancellation of such Awards if the per-share consideration less the applicable
exercise price is greater than zero (and to the extent the per-share consideration
is less than or equal to the applicable exercise price, such Awards shall be
cancelled for no consideration); and




          (4) that Awards (other than Awards that are “stock rights” within the meaning
of Section 409A of the Code) be replaced with a cash incentive program that
preserves the value of the Awards so replaced (determined as of the consummation of
the Corporate Event), with subsequent payment of cash incentives subject to the same
vesting conditions as applicable to the Awards so replaced, and payment to be made
within thirty (30) days of the applicable vesting date.



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Payments to holders pursuant to clause (3) above shall be made in cash or, in the sole discretion
of the Committee, in the form of such other consideration necessary for a Participant to receive
property, cash, or securities (or combination thereof) as such Participant would have been entitled
to receive upon the occurrence of the transaction if the Participant had been, immediately prior to
such transaction, the holder of the number of shares of Stock covered by the Award at such time
(less any applicable exercise price). In addition, in connection with any Corporate Event, prior
to any payment or adjustment contemplated under this subsection (b), the Committee may require a
Participant to (i) represent and warrant as to the unencumbered title to his Awards, (ii) bear such
Participant’s pro rata share of any post-closing indemnity obligations, and be subject to the same
post-closing purchase price adjustments, escrow terms, offset rights, holdback terms, and similar
conditions as the other holders of Stock; and (iii) deliver customary transfer documentation as
reasonably determined by the Committee.




          (c) Fractional Shares. Any adjustment provided under this Section 8 may provide for
the elimination of any fractional share that might otherwise become subject to an Award.



          9. Use of Proceeds.



          The proceeds received from the sale of Stock pursuant to the Plan shall be used for general
corporate purposes.



          10. Rights and Privileges as a Stockholder.



          Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan, no person shall be entitled to the
rights and privileges of stock ownership in respect of shares of Stock that are subject to Awards
hereunder until such shares have been issued to that person.



          11. Employment or Service Rights.



          No individual shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan or, having
been selected for the grant of an Award, to be selected for a grant of any other Award. Neither
the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any individual any right to be
retained in the employ or service of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.



          12. Compliance With Laws.



          The obligation of the Company to deliver Stock upon vesting and/or exercise of any Award shall
be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by governmental
agencies as may be required. Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of any Award to the contrary,
the Company shall be under no obligation to offer to sell or to sell, and shall be prohibited from
offering to sell or selling any shares of Stock pursuant to an Award unless such shares have been
properly registered for sale with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities
Act or unless the Company has received an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Company, that
such shares may be offered or sold without such registration pursuant to an available exemption
therefrom and the terms and conditions of such exemption have been fully complied with. The
Company shall be under no obligation to register for sale or resale under the Securities Act any of
the shares of Stock to be offered or sold under



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the Plan or any shares of Stock issued upon exercise or settlement of Awards. If the shares
of Stock offered for sale or sold under the Plan are offered or sold pursuant to an exemption from
registration under the Securities Act, the Company may restrict the transfer of such shares and may
legend the Stock certificates representing such shares in such manner as it deems advisable to
ensure the availability of any such exemption.



          13. Withholding Obligations.



          As a condition to the vesting and/or exercise of any Award, the Committee may require that a
Participant satisfy, through deduction or withholding from any payment of any kind otherwise due to
the Participant, or through such other arrangements as are satisfactory to the Committee, the
minimum amount of all federal, state, and local income and other taxes of any kind required or
permitted to be withheld in connection with such vesting and/or exercise. The Committee, in its
discretion, may permit shares of Stock to be used to satisfy tax withholding requirements, and such
shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the settlement date of the Award; provided,
however, that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the number of shares of Stock that may be used to
satisfy tax withholding requirements may not exceed the minimum statutorily required withholding
amount with respect to such Award.



          14. Amendment of the Plan or Awards.



          (a) Amendment of Plan. The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the
Plan; provided, however, that the Board shall not, without stockholder approval, make any amendment
to the Plan that requires stockholder approval pursuant to applicable law or the applicable rules
of the national securities exchange on which the Stock is principally listed.



          (b) Amendment of Awards. The Board or the Committee, at any time, and from time to
time, may amend the terms of any one or more Awards; provided, however, that the rights under any
Award shall not be impaired by any such amendment unless the Participant consents in writing (it
being understood that no action taken by the Board or the Committee that is expressly permitted
under the Plan, including, without limitation, any actions described in Section 8 hereof, shall
constitute an amendment of an Award for such purpose). Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to
the limitations of applicable law, if any, and without an affected Participant’s consent, the Board
or the Committee may amend the terms of any one or more Awards if necessary to bring the Award into
compliance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other
interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other
guidance that may be issued or amended after the Effective Date.



          (c) Repricing of Awards without Stockholder Approval. The repricing of Awards upon
the approval of the Board or Committee shall expressly be permitted under the Plan without
additional stockholder approval. For this purpose, a “repricing” means any of the following (or
any other action that has the same effect as any of the following): (i) changing the terms of an
Award to lower its exercise price (other than on account of capital adjustments resulting from
share splits, etc., as described in Section 8(a)), (ii) any other action that is treated as
“repricing” under generally accepted accounting principals, and (iii) repurchasing for cash or
canceling an Award in exchange for another Award at a time when its exercise price is greater



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than the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock, unless the cancellation and exchange
occurs in connection with an event set forth in Section 8(b).



          15. Termination or Suspension of the Plan.



          The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Unless sooner terminated, the Plan
shall terminate on the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date. No Awards may be
granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.



          16. Effective Date of the Plan.



          The Plan is effective as of the Effective Date.



          17. Miscellaneous.



          (a) Certificates. Stock acquired pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan may be
evidenced in such a manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing Stock
are registered in the name of the Participant, the Committee may require that such certificates
bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such
Stock, that the Company retain physical possession of the certificates, and that the Participant
deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Stock. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion, that the Stock shall be held in
book entry form rather than delivered to the Participant pending the release of any applicable
restrictions.



          (b) Clawback/Recoupment Policy. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, all Awards granted under the Plan shall be and remain subject to any incentive
compensation clawback or recoupment policy currently in effect or as may be adopted by the Board,
and in each case, as may be amended from time to time. Any such policy adoption or amendment shall
in no event require the prior consent of any Participant.



          (c) Participants Outside of the United States. The Committee may modify the terms of
any Award under the Plan made to or held by a Participant who is then a resident or primarily
employed outside of the United States in any manner deemed by the Committee to be necessary or
appropriate in order that such Award shall conform to laws, regulations, and customs of the country
in which the Participant is then a resident or primarily employed, or so that the value and other
benefits of the Award to the Participant, as affected by foreign tax laws and other restrictions
applicable as a result of the Participant’s residence or employment abroad, shall be comparable to
the value of such Award to a Participant who is a resident or primarily employed in the United
States. An Award may be modified under this Section 17(a) in a manner that is inconsistent with
the express terms of the Plan, so long as such modifications will not contravene any applicable law
or regulation or result in actual liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act for the
Participant whose Award is modified. Additionally, the Committee may adopt such procedures and
sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Eligible Persons
who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States.



          (d) No Liability of Committee Members. No member of the Committee shall be personally
liable by reason of any contract or other instrument executed by such member or



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on his behalf in his capacity as a member of the Committee or for any mistake of judgment made
in good faith, and the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee and
each other employee, officer, or director of the Company to whom any duty or power relating to the
administration or interpretation of the Plan may be allocated or delegated, against all costs and
expenses (including counsel fees) and liabilities (including sums paid in settlement of a claim)
arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with the Plan unless arising out of such
person’s own fraud or willful misconduct; provided, however, that approval of the Board shall be
required for the payment of any amount in settlement of a claim against any such person. The
foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to
which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s certificate or articles of incorporation or
by-laws, each as may be amended from time to time, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power
that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.



          (e) Payments Following Accidents or Illness. If the Committee shall find that any
person to whom any amount is payable under the Plan is unable to care for his affairs because of
illness or accident, or is a minor, or has died, then any payment due to such person or his estate
(unless a prior claim therefor has been made by a duly appointed legal representative) may, if the
Committee so directs the Company, be paid to his spouse, child, relative, an institution
maintaining or having custody of such person, or any other person deemed by the Committee to be a
proper recipient on behalf of such person otherwise entitled to payment. Any such payment shall be
a complete discharge of the liability of the Committee and the Company therefor.



          (f) Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
internal laws of the State of Delaware without reference to the principles of conflicts of laws
thereof.



          (g) Funding. No provision of the Plan shall require the Company, for the purpose of
satisfying any obligations under the Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or
other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any assets, nor shall the
Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records, or other evidence of the existence of a
segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Participants shall
have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the Company, except that
insofar as they may have become entitled to payment of additional compensation by performance of
services, they shall have the same rights as other employees under general law.



          (h) Reliance on Reports. Each member of the Committee and each member of the Board
shall be fully justified in relying, acting or failing to act, and shall not be liable for having
so relied, acted, or failed to act in good faith, upon any report made by the independent public
accountant of the Company and its Affiliates and upon any other information furnished in connection
with the Plan by any person or persons other than such member.



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          (i) Titles and Headings. The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for
convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than
such titles or headings, shall control.



* * *





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