Exhibit 4.1

 

ADIENT PLC
 2016 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.                                      Purpose and Effective Date.

 

(a)                                 Purpose.  The Adient plc 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan has two complementary purposes:  (i) to attract and retain outstanding individuals to serve as officers and employees and (ii) to increase shareholder value. This Plan will provide participants incentives to increase shareholder value by offering the opportunity to acquire shares of the Company, or receive monetary payments, on the potentially favorable terms that this Plan provides.  In addition, this Plan permits the issuance of awards in partial substitution for awards relating to ordinary shares of Johnson Controls International plc (“JCI”) immediately prior to the spin-off of the Company by JCI (the “Spinoff”), in accordance with the terms of an Employee Matters Agreement into which JCI and the Company intend to enter in connection with the Spinoff (the “Employee Matters Agreement”).

 

(b)                                 Effective Date.  This Plan will become effective on October 31, 2016 (the “Effective Date”).

 

2.                                      Definitions. Capitalized terms used in this Plan have the meanings given below.  Additional defined terms are set forth in other sections of this Plan.

 

(a)                                 “10% Shareholder” means an Eligible Employee who, as of the date an ISO is granted to such individual, owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares then issued by the Company or a Subsidiary corporation.

 

(b)                                 “Administrator” means the Committee.  In addition, subject to any limitations imposed by law and any restrictions imposed by the Committee, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company may act as the Administrator with respect to Awards granted (or to be granted) to employees who are not Section 16 Participants or subject to Code Section 162(m) at the time such authority or responsibility is exercised.

 

(c)                                  “Affiliate” means any entity that, directly or through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by, controls, or is under common control with the Company within the meaning of Code Sections 414(b) or (c), provided that, in applying such provisions, the phrase “at least 50 percent” shall be used in place of “at least 80 percent” each place it appears therein.

 

(d)                                 “Affiliated Company” or “Affiliated Companies” shall include any company or companies controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company; provided that when determining when a Participant has experienced a separation from service for purposes of this Plan, control shall be determined pursuant to Code Sections 414(b) or (c), except that the phrase “at least 50 percent” shall be used in place of the phrase “at least 80 percent” in each place it appears in the regulations thereunder.

 

(e)                                  “Award” means a grant of Options, Share Appreciation Rights, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Deferred Share Rights, Dividend Equivalent Units, an Annual Incentive Award, a Long-Term Incentive Award, or any other type of award permitted under this Plan.

 

(f)                                   “Beneficial Ownership” (or derivatives thereof) shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

 











 

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

 

(h)                                 “Cause” means (1) if the Participant is subject to an employment agreement with the Company or an Affiliate that contains a definition of “cause”, such definition, or (2) otherwise, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator and set forth in an Award agreement, any of the following as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion:  (A) any act or omission that is inimical to the best interests of the Company or any Affiliate; (B) violation of any employment, non-compete, confidentiality or other agreement in effect with the Company or any Affiliate, or the Company’s or an Affiliate’s code of ethics, as then in effect, (C) conduct rising to the level of gross negligence or willful misconduct in the course of employment with the Company or an Affiliate, (D) commission of an act of dishonesty or disloyalty involving the Company or an Affiliate, or taking any action which damages or negatively reflects on the reputation of the Company or an Affiliate, (E) failure to comply with applicable laws relating to trade secrets, confidential information or unfair competition or a violation of any other federal, state or local law in connection with the Participant’s employment or service, or (F) breach of any fiduciary duty to the Company or an Affiliate.

 

(i)                                     “Change of Control” means the first to occur of the following events:

 

(i)                                     The acquisition by any Person of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 35% or more of either (A) the then-outstanding Shares (the “Outstanding Company Ordinary Shares”) or (B) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company, (2) any acquisition by the Company, (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliated Company or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with Sections 2(i)(iii)(A) — 2(i)(iii)(C);

 

(ii)                                  Any time at 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 shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising 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;

 

(iii)                               Consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar corporate transaction, whether by way of scheme of arrangement or otherwise, involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or shares of another entity by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”), in each case unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Ordinary Shares and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially

 

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own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding common or ordinary shares and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Ordinary Shares and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or an Affiliated Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 35% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common or ordinary shares of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or

 

(iv)                              Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of an Award (1) that provides for the payment of deferred compensation that is subject to Code Section 409A or (2) with respect to which the Company permits a deferral election, the definition of Change of Control herein shall be deemed amended to conform to the requirements of Code Section 409A to the extent necessary for the Award and deferral election to comply with Code Section 409A.

 

(j)                                    “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any reference to a specific provision of the Code includes any successor provision and the regulations promulgated under such provision.

 

(k)                                 “Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.

 

(l)                                     “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board (or a successor committee with the same or similar authority), or such other committee of the Board designated by the Board to administer this Plan and composed of no fewer than two directors, each of whom is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and an “outside director” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m)(4)(C); provided that if no such committee shall be in existence at any time, the functions of the Committee shall be carried out by the Board.

 

(m)                             “Company” means Adient plc or any successor thereto.

 

(n)                                 “Deferred Share Right” means the right to receive Shares or Restricted Shares at some future time.

 

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(o)                                 “Director” means a member of the Board, and “Non-Employee Director” means a Director who is not also an officer or an employee of the Company or an Affiliate.

 

(p)                                 “Disability” means, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator and set forth in an Award agreement: (i) with respect to an ISO, the meaning given in Code Section 22(e)(3), and (ii) with respect to all other Awards, the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least twelve (12) months, as determined by the Administrator.  The Administrator shall make the determination of Disability and may request such evidence of disability as it reasonably determines.

 

(q)                                 “Distribution Time” means the effective time of the distribution, in connection with the Spinoff, of Shares to the holders of ordinary shares of JCI.

 

(r)                                    “Dividend Equivalent Unit” means the right to receive a payment, in cash or property, equal to the cash dividends or other distributions paid with respect to a Share.

 

(s)                                   “Eligible Employee” means any officer or other employee of the Company or of any Affiliate, or any individual that the Company or an Affiliate has engaged to become an officer or employee.

 

(t)                                    “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any reference to a specific provision of the Exchange Act includes any successor provision and the regulations and rules promulgated under such provision.

 

(u)                                 “Excluded Items” means any gains or losses from the sale of assets outside the ordinary course of business; any gains or losses from discontinued operations; any extraordinary gains or losses; the effects of accounting changes; any unusual, nonrecurring, transition, one-time or similar items or charges; the diluted impact of goodwill on acquisitions; and any other items specified by the Administrator; provided that, for Awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m) and not subject to the transition period under Treasury Reg. Section 1.162-27(f)(4)(iii), the Administrator shall specify the Excluded Items in writing at the time the Award is made unless, after application of the Excluded Items, the amount payable under the Award is reduced.

 

(v)                                 “Fair Market Value” means, per Share on a particular date: (i) the closing price on such date on the New York Stock Exchange or, if no sales of Shares occur on the date in question, on the last preceding date on which there was a sale on such market; (ii) if the Shares are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, but are traded on another national securities exchange or in an over-the-counter market, the last sales price (or, if there is no last sales price reported, the average of the last bid and asked prices) for the Shares on the particular date, or on the last preceding date on which there was a sale of Shares on that exchange or market; or (iii) if the Shares are neither listed on a national securities exchange nor traded in an over-the-counter market, the price determined by the Administrator.  The Administrator also shall establish the Fair Market Value of any other property.  If an actual sale of a Share occurs on the market, then the Company may consider the sale price to be the Fair Market Value of such Share.

 

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(w)                               “Incentive Award” means the right to receive a cash payment to the extent Performance Goals are achieved, and shall include “Annual Incentive Awards” as described in Section 10 and “Long-Term Incentive Awards” as described in Section 11.

 

(x)                                 “Incentive Share Option” or “ISO” mean an Option that meets the requirements of Code Section 422.

 

(y)                                 “JCI Plan” means the Johnson Controls International Public Limited Company 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan or any similar or predecessor plan sponsored by JCI or any of its subsidiaries under which any awards remain outstanding as of immediately prior to the Distribution Time.

 

(z)                                  “Option” means the right to purchase Shares at a stated price for a specified period of time.

 

(aa)                          “Participant” means an individual selected by the Administrator to receive an Award.

 

(bb)                          “Performance Awards” means a Performance Share and Performance Unit, and any Award of Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units or Deferred Share Rights the payment or vesting of which is contingent on the attainment of one or more Performance Goals.

 

(cc)                            “Performance Goals” means the following categories (in all cases after taking into account any Excluded Items, as applicable), including in each case any measure based on such category:

 

(i)                                     Basic earnings per share for the Company on a consolidated basis.

 

(ii)                                  Diluted earnings per share for the Company on a consolidated basis.

 

(iii)                               Total shareholder return.

 

(iv)                              Fair Market Value of Shares.

 

(v)                                 Net sales.

 

(vi)                              Increase in percentage of total revenues represented by consolidated or unconsolidated revenues.

 

(vii)                           Cost of sales.

 

(viii)                        Gross profit.

 

(ix)                              Selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

(x)                                 Operating income.

 

(xi)                              Segment income.

 

(xii)                           Earnings before interest and the provision for income taxes (EBIT).

 

(xiii)                        Earnings before interest, the provision for income taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA).

 

(xiv)                       Net income.

 

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(xv)                          Accounts receivable.

 

(xvi)                       Inventories.

 

(xvii)                    Trade working capital.

 

(xviii)                 Return on equity.

 

(xix)                       Return on assets.

 

(xx)                          Return on invested capital.

 

(xxi)                       Return on sales.

 

(xxii)                    Economic value added, or other measure of profitability that considers the cost of capital employed.

 

(xxiii)                 Free cash flow.

 

(xxiv)                Net cash provided by operating activities.

 

(xxv)                   Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents.

 

(xxvi)                Increase (decrease) in debt or net debt.

 

(xxvii)             Customer satisfaction, which may include customer backlog and/or relationships.

 

(xxviii)          Market share.

 

(xxix)                Quality.

 

(xxx)                   Safety.

 

(xxxi)                Realization or creation of innovation projects or products.

 

(xxxii)             Achievement of cost reduction targets or restructuring initiatives.

 

(xxxiii)          Employee engagement.

 

(xxxiv)         Employee and/or supplier diversity improvement.

 

(xxxv)            Completion of integration of acquired businesses and/or strategic activities.

 

(xxxvi)         Development, completion and implementation of succession planning.

 

The Performance Goals described in items (v) through (xxxvi) may be measured (A) for the Company on a consolidated basis, (B) for any one or more Affiliates or divisions of the Company and/or (C) for any other business unit or units of the Company or an Affiliate as defined by the Administrator at the time of selection.

 

In addition, the Administrator may designate other categories, including categories involving individual performance and subjective targets, not listed above (A) with respect to Awards that

 

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are not intended to qualify as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) or that are subject to the transition period under Treasury Reg. Section 1.162-27(f)(4)(iii) or (B) to the extent that the application of such categories results in a reduction of the maximum amount otherwise payable under the Award.

 

Where applicable, the Performance Goals may be expressed, without limitation, in terms of attaining a specified level of the particular criterion or the attainment of an increase or decrease (expressed as absolute numbers, averages and/or percentages) in the particular criterion or achievement in relation to a peer group or other index. The Performance Goals may include a threshold level of performance below which no payment will be made (or no vesting will occur), levels of performance at which specified payments will be paid (or specified vesting will occur), and a maximum level of performance above which no additional payment will be made (or at which full vesting will occur).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a Replacement Award, “Performance Goal” shall mean any performance objective defined in the applicable agreement or other document evidencing the Replacement Award.

 

(dd)                          “Performance Shares” means the right to receive Shares (including Restricted Shares) to the extent Performance Goals are achieved.

 

(ee)                            “Performance Unit” means the right to receive a payment valued in relation to a unit that has a designated dollar value or the value of which is equal to the Fair Market Value of one or more Shares, to the extent Performance Goals are achieved.

 

(ff)                              “Person” means any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act).

 

(gg)                            “Plan” means this Adient plc 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time.

 

(hh)                          “Replacement Award” means an Award that is issued under this Plan in accordance with the terms of the Employee Matters Agreement in substitution of, or in accordance with, an award that was granted under a JCI Plan.

 

(ii)                                  “Restriction Period” means the length of time established relative to an Award during which the Participant cannot sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber the Shares or Share Units subject to such Award and at the end of which the Participant obtains an unrestricted right to such Shares or Share Units.

 

(jj)                                “Restricted Shares” means Shares that are subject to a risk of forfeiture or a Restriction Period, or both a risk of forfeiture and a Restriction Period.

 

(kk)                          “Restricted Share Unit” means the right to receive a payment equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share that is subject to a risk of forfeiture or restriction period or other restrictions on transfer, or both a risk of forfeiture and a restriction period or other restrictions on transfer.

 

(ll)                                  “Retirement” means, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator and set forth in an Award agreement, the end of a Participant’s employment with the Company and its Affiliates (for other than Cause) on or after the Participant’s attainment of (A) age fifty-five (55) and completion of ten (10) years of continuous service with the Company and its Affiliates, or (B) age sixty-five (65) and completion of five (5) years of continuous service with the

 

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Company and its Affiliates.  For purposes of this paragraph, the phrase “continuous service” means the most recent period of continuous, uninterrupted service with the Company and its Affiliates, as well as any such continuous service with JCI or its affiliates prior to the Spinoff.

 

(mm)                  “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Commission under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule or regulation thereto.

 

(nn)                          “Section 16 Participants” means Participants who are subject to the provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

(oo)                          “Share” means an ordinary share of the Company.

 

(pp)                          “Share Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means the right to receive a payment equal to the appreciation of the Fair Market Value of a Share during a specified period of time.

 

(qq)                          “Share Unit” means a right to receive a payment equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share.

 

(rr)                                “Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company or other limited liability entity in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities (other than the last entity in the chain) owns the stock or equity interests possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or other equity interests in one of the other entities in the chain.

 

(ss)                              “Unrestricted Shares” means Shares issued under this Plan that are not subject to either a risk of forfeiture or a Restriction Period.

 

3.                                      Administration.

 

(a)                                 Administration.  The Administrator shall administer this Plan. In addition to the authority specifically granted to the Administrator in this Plan, the Administrator has full discretionary authority to administer this Plan and all Awards, including but not limited to the authority to: (i) interpret the provisions of this Plan and any Award agreement; (ii) prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to this Plan; (iii) correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan, any Award or agreement covering an Award in the manner and to the extent it deems desirable to carry this Plan or such Award into effect; and (iv) make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan.  All Administrator determinations shall be made in the sole discretion of the Administrator and are final and binding on all interested parties.

 

Notwithstanding the above statement or any other provision of this Plan, the Committee shall have no discretion to increase the amount, once established, of compensation payable under an Award that is intended to be performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m) and that is not subject to the transition period under Treasury Reg. Section 1.162-27(f)(4)(iii), although the Committee may decrease the amount of compensation a Participant may earn under such an Award.

 

(b)                                 Delegation to Other Committees or Officers.  To the extent applicable law permits, the Board may delegate to another committee of the Board or to one or more officers of the Company, or the Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company, any or all of their respective authority and responsibility as an Administrator of this Plan; provided that

 

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no such delegation is permitted with respect to Share-based Awards made to Section 16 Participants or Awards made to Participants subject to Code Section 162(m) at the time any such delegated authority or responsibility is exercised unless the delegation is to another committee of the Board consisting entirely of directors who are “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and “outside directors” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m)(4)(C).  If the Board or the Committee has made such a delegation, then all references to the Administrator in this Plan include such other committee or one or more officers to the extent of such delegation.

 

(c)                                  Indemnification. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Board and the Committee, and each officer or member of any other committee to whom a delegation under Section 3(b) has been made, as to any acts or omissions with respect to this Plan or any Award to the maximum extent that applicable law and the Company’s governing documents permit.

 

4.                                      Eligibility.  The Administrator (to the extent of its authority) may designate any of the following as a Participant from time to time: any officer or other employee of the Company or its Affiliates or any individual that the Company or an Affiliate has engaged to become an officer or employee. The Administrator’s designation of a Participant in any year will not require the Administrator to designate such person to receive an Award in any other year. No individual shall have any right to be granted an Award, even if an Award was granted to such individual at any prior time, or if a similarly-situated individual is or was granted an Award under similar circumstances.

 

5.                                      Types of Awards.  Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator may grant any type of Award to any Participant it selects, but only employees of the Company or a Subsidiary may receive grants of Incentive Share Options.  Awards may be granted alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or (subject to the prohibition on repricing set forth in Section 16(e)) in substitution for any other Award (or any other award granted under another plan of the Company or any Affiliate).

 

6.                                      Shares Reserved under this Plan.

 

(a)                                 Plan Reserve.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18(a), an aggregate of 6,000,000 Shares are reserved for issuance under this Plan.  The Shares reserved for issuance may be either authorized and unissued Shares or Shares reacquired at any time and now or hereafter held as treasury shares, subject to compliance with applicable law.  In addition to the number of Shares set forth in the first sentence of this Section 6(a), such number of Shares as are subject to the Replacement Awards are also reserved for issuance under this Plan but the Shares subject to the Replacement Awards shall neither deplete the reserve set forth in the first sentence of this Section 6(a) nor be eligible to be recredited to this Plan’s reserve pursuant to Section 6(c).

 

(b)                                 Incentive Share Option Award Limits.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18(a), the Company may issue an aggregate of 4,000,000 Shares upon the exercise of Incentive Share Options.

 

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(c)                                  Replenishment of Shares Under this Plan.  If (i) an Award lapses, expires, terminates or is cancelled without the issuance of Shares under the Award (whether due currently or on a deferred basis), (ii) it is determined during or at the conclusion of the term of an Award that all or some portion of the Shares with respect to which the Award was granted will not be issuable on the basis that the conditions for such issuance will not be satisfied, (iii) Shares are forfeited under an Award or (iv) Shares are issued under any Award and the Company subsequently (subject to compliance with applicable law) reacquires them pursuant to rights reserved upon the issuance of the Shares, then such Shares shall be recredited to this Plan’s reserve (in the same number as they depleted the reserve) and may again be used for new Awards under this Plan, but Shares recredited to this Plan’s reserve pursuant to clause (iv) may not be issued pursuant to Incentive Share Options.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the following Shares be recredited to this Plan’s reserve: Shares tendered in payment of or withheld to satisfy the exercise price of an Option (subject to compliance with applicable law); Shares withheld to satisfy federal, state or local tax withholding obligations; and Shares purchased by the Company (subject to compliance with applicable law) using proceeds from Option exercises.

 

(d)                                 Participant Limitations.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18(a), during any time when the Company has a class of equity security registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and the transition period under Treasury Reg. Section 1.162-27(f)(4)(iii) has lapsed or does not apply, no Participant may be granted Awards that could result in such Participant:

 

(i)                                     receiving Options for, and/or Share Appreciation Rights with respect to, more than 2,000,000 Shares during any fiscal year of the Company;

 

(ii)                                  receiving Awards of Restricted Shares (including any dividends paid thereon) and/or Restricted Share Units (including any associated Dividend Equivalent Units) and/or Deferred Share Rights (including any associated Dividend Equivalent Units) relating to more than 800,000 Shares during any fiscal year of the Company;

 

(iii)                               receiving Awards of Performance Shares, and/or Awards of Performance Units the value of which is based on the Fair Market Value of Shares, for more than 1,600,000 Shares during any fiscal year of the Company;

 

(iv)                              receiving Awards of Performance Units the value of which is not based on the Fair Market Value of Shares that would pay more than USD $15,000,000 during any fiscal year of the Company;

 

(v)                                 receiving other Share-based Awards pursuant to Section 13 relating to more than 800,000 Shares during any fiscal year of the Company;

 

(vi)                              receiving an Annual Incentive Award in any fiscal year of the Company that would pay more than USD $10,000,000; or

 

(vii)                           receiving a Long-Term Incentive Award in any fiscal year of the Company that would pay more than USD $15,000,000.

 

In all cases, determinations under this Section 6(d) should be made in a manner that is consistent with the exemption for performance-based compensation that Code Section 162(m) provides and, to the extent applicable, the transition rules thereunder.  Notwithstanding the

 

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foregoing, for the avoidance of doubt, Replacement Awards shall not be subject to, or counted against, the limits in this Section 6(d).

 

7.                                      Options.  Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator will determine all terms and conditions of each Option, including but not limited to:

 

(a)                                 Whether the Option is an Incentive Share Option or a “nonqualified share option” which does not meet the requirements of Code Section 422;

 

(b)                                 The number of Shares subject to the Option;

 

(c)                                  The date of grant, which may not be prior to the date of the Administrator’s approval of the grant;

 

(d)                                 The exercise price, which may not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Option as determined on the date of grant (except with respect to Replacement Awards or pursuant to Section 18); provided that an Incentive Share Option granted to a 10% Shareholder must have an exercise price at least equal to 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Option as determined on the date of grant;

 

(e)                                  The terms and conditions of exercise, including the manner and form of payment of the exercise price; provided that if the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to all ISOs granted to a Participant (as determined on the date of grant of each such Option) that become exercisable during a calendar year exceeds the dollar limitation set forth in Code Section 422(d), then such ISOs shall be treated as nonqualified share options to the extent such limitation is exceeded; and

 

(f)                                   The term; provided that each Option must terminate no later than ten (10) years after the date of grant and each Incentive Share Option granted to a 10% Shareholder must terminate no later than five (5) years after the date of grant.

 

In all other respects, the terms of any Incentive Share Option should comply with the provisions of Code Section 422 except to the extent the Administrator determines otherwise.  If an Option that is intended to be an Incentive Share Option fails to meet the requirements thereof, the Option shall automatically be treated as a nonqualified share option to the extent of such failure.

 

8.                                      Share Appreciation Rights. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator will determine all terms and conditions of each SAR, including but not limited to:

 

(a)                                 Whether the SAR is granted independently of an Option or relates to an Option;

 

(b)                                 The number of Shares to which the SAR relates;

 

(c)                                  The date of grant, which may not be prior to the date of the Administrator’s approval of the grant;

 

(d)                                 The grant price, provided that the grant price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the SAR as determined on the date of grant (except with respect to Replacement Awards or pursuant to Section 18);

 

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(e)                                  The terms and conditions of exercise or maturity;

 

(f)                                   The term, provided that each SAR must terminate no later than ten (10) years after the date of grant; and

 

(g)                                  Whether the SAR will be settled in cash, Shares or a combination thereof.

 

If an SAR is granted in relation to an Option, then, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the SAR shall be exercisable or shall mature at the same time or times, on the same conditions and to the extent and in the proportion, that the related Option is exercisable and may be exercised or mature for all or part of the Shares subject to the related Option. Upon exercise of any number of SARs, the number of Shares subject to the related Option shall be reduced accordingly and such Option may not be exercised with respect to that number of Shares.  The exercise of any number of Options that relate to an SAR shall likewise result in an equivalent reduction in the number of Shares covered by the related SAR.

 

9.                                      Performance and Share Awards.  Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator will determine all terms and conditions of each award of Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Deferred Share Rights, Performance Shares or Performance Units, including but not limited to:

 

(a)                                 The number of Shares and/or units to which such Award relates;

 

(b)                                 Whether, as a condition for the Participant to realize all or a portion of the benefit provided under the Award, one or more Performance Goals must be achieved during such period as the Administrator specifies;

 

(c)                                  The Restriction Period with respect to Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units and the period of deferral for Deferred Share Rights;

 

(d)                                 The performance period for Performance Awards;

 

(e)                                  With respect to Performance Units, whether to measure the value of each unit in relation to a designated dollar value or the Fair Market Value of one or more Shares; and

 

(f)                                   With respect to Restricted Share Units and Performance Units, whether to settle such Awards in cash, in Shares, or a combination thereof.

 

Except as otherwise provided in this Plan, at such time as all restrictions applicable to an Award of Restricted Shares, Deferred Share Rights or Restricted Share Units are met and the Restriction Period expires, ownership of the Shares subject to such restrictions shall be transferred to the Participant free of all restrictions except those that may be imposed by applicable law; provided that if Restricted Share Units are paid in cash, then the payment shall be made to the Participant after all applicable restrictions lapse and the Restriction Period expires.

 

10.                               Annual Incentive Awards.  Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator will determine all terms and conditions of an Annual Incentive Award, including but not limited to the Performance Goals, performance period, the potential amount payable, and the timing of payment, subject to the following: (a) the Administrator must require that payment of all or any portion of the amount subject to the Annual Incentive Award is contingent on the achievement of

 

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one or more Performance Goals during the period the Administrator specifies, although the Administrator may specify that all or a portion of the Performance Goals subject to an Award are deemed achieved upon a Participant’s death, Disability or (for Awards not intended to qualify as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) or subject to the transition period under Treasury Reg. Section 1.162-27(f)(4)(iii)) Retirement, or such other circumstances as the Administrator may specify; and (b) the performance period must relate to a period of one fiscal year of the Company except that, if the Award is made in the year this Plan becomes effective, at the time of commencement of employment with the Company or on the occasion of a promotion, then the Award may relate to a period shorter than one fiscal year.

 

11.                               Long-Term Incentive Awards.  Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator will determine all terms and conditions of a Long-Term Incentive Award, including but not limited to the Performance Goals, performance period, the potential amount payable, and the timing of payment, subject to the following: (a) the Administrator must require that payment of all or any portion of the amount subject to the Long-Term Incentive Award is contingent on the achievement of one or more Performance Goals during the period the Administrator specifies, although the Administrator may specify that all or a portion of the Performance Goals subject to an Award are deemed achieved upon a Participant’s death, Disability or (for Awards not intended to qualify as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) or subject to the transition period under Treasury Reg. Section 1.162-27(f)(4)(iii)) Retirement, or such other circumstances as the Administrator may specify; and (b) the performance period must relate to a period of more than one fiscal year of the Company.

 

12.                               Dividend Equivalent Units.  Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator will determine all terms and conditions of each award of Dividend Equivalent Units, including but not limited to whether: (a) such Award will be granted in tandem with another Award; (b) payment of the Award be made currently or credited to an account for the Participant that provides for the deferral of such amounts until a stated time; provided that Dividend Equivalent Units that relate to Performance Awards that are contingent on the achievement of a Performance Goal at the time the cash dividend or other distribution is paid with respect to a Share shall also be contingent on the achievement of such Performance Goal and shall not be paid until such Performance Goal is achieved; and (c) the Award will be settled in cash or Shares; provided that Dividend Equivalent Units may be granted only in connection with a “full-value Award.”  For this purpose, a “full-value Award” includes Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units (valued in relation to a Share), Deferred Share Rights and any other similar Award under which the value of the Award is measured as the full value of a Share, rather than the increase in the value of a Share.

 

13.                               Other Share-Based Awards.  Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator may grant to Participants other types of Awards, which shall be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Shares, either alone or in addition to or in conjunction with other Awards, and payable in Shares or cash.  Without limitation, such Award may include the issuance of Unrestricted Shares (which may be awarded in lieu of cash compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled, in exchange for cancellation of a compensation right, as a bonus, upon the attainment of Performance Goals or otherwise) or rights to acquire Shares from the Company.  The Administrator shall determine all terms and conditions of the Award, including but not limited to, the time or times at which such Awards shall be made, and the number of Shares to be granted pursuant to such Awards or to which such Award shall relate; provided that any Award that provides for purchase rights shall be priced at 100% of Fair Market Value on the date of grant of the Award; and provided

 

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further that the date of grant cannot be prior to the date the Administrator takes action to approve the Award.

 

14.                               Effect of Termination on Awards.  The Administrator shall have the discretion to determine, at the time an Award is made to a Participant or any time thereafter, the effect of the termination of the Participant’s employment or service with the Company and its Affiliates on the Award.

 

15.                               Transferability.

 

(a)                                 Restrictions on Transfer. No Award (other than Unrestricted Shares), and no right under any such Award, shall be assignable, alienable, saleable, or transferable by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, unless and to the extent the Administrator allows a Participant to: (i) designate in writing a beneficiary to exercise the Award after the Participant’s death; or (ii) transfer an Award.

 

(b)                                 Restrictions on Exercisability.  Each Award, and each right under any Award, shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by such individual or, if permissible under applicable law, by such individual’s guardian or legal representative.

 

16.                               Termination and Amendment of Plan; Amendment, Modification or Cancellation of Awards.

 

(a)                                 Term of Plan.  Unless the Board or Committee earlier terminates this Plan pursuant to Section 16(b), this Plan will terminate on the date all Shares reserved for issuance have been issued.  If the term of this Plan extends beyond ten (10) years from the Effective Date, no Incentive Share Options may be granted after such time unless the shareholders of the Company have approved an extension of this Plan for such purpose.

 

(b)                                 Termination and Amendment.  The Board or the Committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate this Plan at any time, subject to the following limitations:

 

(i)                                     the Board must approve any amendment of this Plan to the extent the Company determines such approval is required by: (A) prior action of the Board, (B) applicable corporate law, or (C) any other applicable law;

 

(ii)                                  shareholders must approve any amendment of this Plan to the extent the Company determines such approval is required by: (A) Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (B) the Code, (C) the listing requirements of any principal securities exchange or market on which the Shares are then traded, or (D) any other applicable law; and

 

(iii)                               shareholders must approve any of the following Plan amendments: (A) an amendment to materially increase any number of Shares specified in Section 6(a) or 6(b) or the limits set forth in Section 6(e) (except as permitted by Section 18), (B) an amendment to materially expand the group of individuals that may become Participants, or (C) an amendment that would diminish the protections afforded by Section 16(e).

 

(c)                                  Amendment, Modification, Cancellation and Disgorgement of Awards.

 

(i)                                     Subject to the requirements of this Plan, including the limitations of Section 16(e), the Administrator may modify, amend or cancel any Award or waive any

 

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restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or the exercise of the Award, provided that any modification or amendment that materially diminishes the rights of the Participant, or the cancellation of the Award, shall be effective only if agreed to by the Participant or any other person(s) as may then have an interest in the Award, but the Administrator need not obtain Participant (or other interested party) consent for the modification, amendment or cancellation of an Award pursuant to the provisions of Section 18 or as follows:  (A) to the extent the Administrator deems such action necessary to comply with any applicable law or the listing requirements of any principal securities exchange or market on which the Shares are then traded; (B) to the extent the Administrator deems necessary to preserve favorable accounting or tax treatment of any Award for the Company; or (C) to the extent the Administrator determines that such action does not materially and adversely affect the value of an Award or that such action is in the best interest of the affected Participant or any other person(s) as may then have an interest in the Award.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, any such amendment shall be made in a manner that will enable an Award intended to be exempt from Code Section 409A to continue to be so exempt, or to enable an Award intended to comply with Code Section 409A to continue to so comply.

 

(ii)                                  Any Awards granted pursuant to this Plan, and any Shares issued or cash paid pursuant to an Award, shall be subject to (A) any recoupment, clawback, equity holding, share ownership or similar policies adopted by the Company from time to time and (B) any recoupment, clawback, equity holding, share ownership or similar requirements made applicable by law, regulation or listing standards to the Company from time to time.

 

(iii)                               Unless the Award agreement specifies otherwise, the Administrator may cancel any Award at any time if the Participant is not in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Award agreement and this Plan.

 

(d)                                 Survival of Authority and Awards.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the authority of the Board and the Administrator under this Section 16 and to otherwise administer this Plan will extend beyond the date of this Plan’s termination. In addition, termination of this Plan will not affect the rights of Participants with respect to Awards previously granted to them, and all unexpired Awards will continue in force and effect after termination of this Plan except as they may lapse or be terminated by their own terms and conditions.

 

(e)                                  Repricing and Backdating Prohibited.  Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, and except for the adjustments provided in Section 18, neither the Administrator nor any other person may (i) amend the terms of outstanding Options or SARs to reduce the exercise price of such outstanding Options or SARs; (ii) cancel outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for Options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options or SARs; or (iii) cancel outstanding Options or SARs with an exercise price above the current Share price in exchange for cash or other securities.  In addition, the Administrator may not make a grant of an Option or SAR with a grant date that is effective prior to the date the Administrator takes action to approve such Award.

 

(f)                                   Foreign Participation.  To assure the viability of Awards granted to Participants employed or residing in foreign countries, the Administrator may provide for such special terms as it may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Moreover, the Administrator may approve such supplements to, or amendments,

 

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restatements or alternative versions of, this Plan as it determines is necessary or appropriate for such purposes. Any such amendment, restatement or alternative versions that the Administrator approves for purposes of using this Plan in a foreign country will not affect the terms of this Plan for any other country. In addition, all such supplements, amendments, restatements or alternative versions must comply with the provisions of Section 16(b).

 

In addition, if an Award is held by a Participant who is employed or residing in a foreign country and the amount payable or Shares issuable under such Award would be taxable to the Participant under Code Section 457A in the year such Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, then the amount payable or Shares issuable under such Award shall be paid or issued to the Participant as soon as practicable after such substantial risk of forfeiture lapses (or, for Awards that are not considered nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A, no later than the end of the short-term deferral period permitted by Code Section 457A) notwithstanding anything in this Plan or the Award agreement to contrary.

 

(g)                                  Code Section 409A.  The provisions of Code Section 409A are incorporated herein by reference to the extent necessary for any Award that is subject to Code Section 409A to comply therewith.

 

17.                               Taxes.

 

(a)                                 Withholding.  In the event the Company or an Affiliate of the Company is required to withhold any Federal, state or local taxes or other amounts in respect of any income recognized by a Participant as a result of the grant, vesting, payment or settlement of an Award or disposition of any Shares acquired under an Award, the Company will, unless it otherwise determines, satisfy such tax obligations by withholding from cash or Shares otherwise payable or issuable under the Award in the amount needed to satisfy any withholding obligations; provided that, in the case of Shares, the amount withheld may not exceed the Participant’s minimum statutory tax withholding obligations associated with the transaction to the extent needed for the Company and its Affiliates to avoid an accounting charge until Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 applies to the Company, after which time the amount withheld may not exceed the total maximum statutory tax rates associated with the transaction.  Alternatively, the Company may require such Participant to pay to the Company, in cash, promptly on demand, amounts sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations or make other arrangements satisfactory to the Company regarding the payment to the Company or an Affiliate of the aggregate amount of any such tax obligations, or the Company may withhold from cash or other property payable or issuable to the Participant or from Shares no longer subject to restrictions in the amount needed to satisfy any withholding obligations.  If an election is provided, the election must be made on or before the date as of which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined and otherwise as the Committee requires.  In any case, the Company may defer making payment or delivery under any Award if any such tax may be pending unless and until indemnified to its satisfaction.

 

(b)                                 No Guarantee of Tax Treatment.  Notwithstanding any provisions of this Plan, the Company does not guarantee to any Participant or any other Person with an interest in an Award that (i) any Award intended to be exempt from Code Section 409A shall be so exempt, (ii) any Award intended to comply with Code Section 409A or Code Section 422 shall so comply, (iii) any Award shall otherwise receive a specific tax treatment under any other applicable tax law, nor in any such case will the Company or any Affiliate indemnify, defend or hold harmless any individual with respect to the tax consequences of any Award.

 

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(c)                                  Participant Responsibilities.  If a Participant shall dispose of Shares acquired through exercise of an ISO within either (i) two (2) years after the date the Option is granted or (ii) one (1) year after the date the Option is exercised (i.e., in a disqualifying disposition), such Participant shall notify the Company within seven (7) days of the date of such disqualifying disposition.  In addition, if a Participant elects, under Code Section 83, to be taxed at the time an Award of Restricted Shares (or other property subject to such Code section) is made, rather than at the time the Award vests, such Participant shall notify the Company within seven (7) days of the date the Participant makes such an election.

 

18.                               Adjustment Provisions; Change of Control.

 

(a)                                 Adjustment of Shares.  If:  (i) the Company shall at any time be involved in a merger or other transaction in which the Shares are changed or exchanged; (ii) the Company shall subdivide or combine the Shares or the Company shall declare a dividend payable in Shares, other securities or other property; (iii) the Company shall effect a cash dividend the amount of which, on a per Share basis, exceeds ten percent (10%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share at the time the dividend is declared, or the Company shall effect any other dividend or other distribution on the Shares in the form of cash, or a repurchase of Shares (subject to compliance with applicable law), that the Board determines by resolution is special or extraordinary in nature or that is in connection with a transaction that the Company characterizes publicly as a recapitalization or reorganization involving the Shares; or (iv) any other event shall occur, which, in the case of this clause (iv), in the judgment of the Board or Committee necessitates an adjustment to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Plan, then the Administrator shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Plan, adjust as applicable: (A) the number and type of Shares subject to this Plan (including the number and type of Shares described in Section 6) and which may after the event be made the subject of Awards; (B) the number and type of Shares subject to outstanding Awards; (C) the grant, purchase, or exercise price with respect to any Award; and (D) to the extent such discretion does not cause an Award that is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m) to lose its status as such, the Performance Goals of an Award.  In any such case, the Administrator may also (or in lieu of the foregoing) make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award in exchange for the cancellation of all or a portion of the Award (without the consent of the holder of an Award) in an amount determined by the Administrator effective at such time as the Administrator specifies (which may be the time such transaction or event is effective). However, in each case, with respect to Awards of Incentive Share Options, no such adjustment may be authorized to the extent that such authority would cause this Plan to violate Code Section 422(b).  Further, the number of Shares subject to any Award payable or denominated in Shares must always be a whole number. In any event, previously granted Options or SARs are subject only to such adjustments as are necessary to maintain the relative proportionate interest the Options and SARs represented immediately prior to any such event and to preserve, without exceeding, the value of such Options or SARs.

 

Without limitation, in the event of any reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination or other similar corporate transaction or event, including by way of scheme or arrangement or otherwise, whether or not constituting a Change of Control (other than any such transaction in which the Company is the continuing corporation and in which the outstanding Shares are not being converted into or exchanged for different securities, cash or other property, or any combination thereof), the Administrator may substitute, on an equitable basis as the Administrator determines, for each Share then subject to an Award and the Shares

 

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subject to this Plan (if this Plan will continue in effect), the number and kind of shares, other securities, cash or other property to which holders of Shares are or will be entitled in respect of each Share pursuant to the transaction.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a share dividend (other than a share dividend declared in lieu of an ordinary cash dividend) or subdivision or combination of the Shares (including a reverse share split), if no action is taken by the Administrator, adjustments contemplated by this subsection that are proportionate shall nevertheless automatically be made as of the date of such share dividend or subdivision or combination of the Shares.

 

(b)                                 Issuance or Assumption.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, and without affecting the number of Shares otherwise reserved or available under this Plan, in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or shares, or reorganization, the Administrator may authorize the issuance or assumption of awards under this Plan upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to the listing requirements of any principal securities exchange or market on which the Shares are then traded.

 

(c)                                  Change of Control.  If the Participant has in effect an employment, retention, change of control, severance or similar agreement with the Company or any Affiliate that determines the effect of a Change of Control on the Participant’s Awards, then such agreement shall take precedence over the terms of this Plan.  In all other cases, unless provided otherwise in an Award agreement or by the Administrator prior to the date of the Change of Control, in the event of a Change of Control:

 

(i)                                     If the purchaser, successor or surviving corporation (or parent thereof) (the “Survivor”) so agrees, some or all outstanding Awards shall be assumed, or replaced with the same type of award with similar terms and conditions, by the Survivor in the Change of Control transaction.  If applicable, each Award which is assumed by the Survivor shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Change of Control, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have been issuable to the Participant upon the consummation of such Change of Control had the Award been exercised, vested or earned immediately prior to such Change of Control, and other appropriate adjustments in the terms and conditions of the Award shall be made.

 

(ii)                                  To the extent the Survivor in the Change of Control transaction does not agree to assume the Awards or issue replacement awards as provided in clause (i), then immediately prior to the date of the Change of Control:

 

(A)                               Each Option or SAR that is then held by a Participant who is employed by or in the service of the Company or an Affiliate shall become immediately and fully vested, and, unless otherwise determined by the Board or Committee, all Options and SARs shall be cancelled on the date of the Change of Control in exchange for a cash payment equal to the excess of the Change of Control price of the Shares covered by the Option or SAR that is so cancelled over the purchase or grant price of such Shares under the Award.

 

(B)                               Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units and Deferred Share Rights (that are not Performance Awards) that are not then vested shall vest.

 

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(C)                               All Performance Awards and Annual and Long-Term Incentive Awards that are earned but not yet paid shall be paid upon the Change of Control, and all Performance Awards and Annual and Long-Term Incentive Awards for which the performance period has not expired shall be cancelled in exchange for a cash payment equal to the product of (1) the target value payable to the Participant under his or her Award and (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days after the first day of the performance period on which the Change of Control occurs and the denominator of which is the number of days in the performance period.

 

(D)                           All Dividend Equivalent Units that are not vested shall vest and be paid in cash, and all other Awards that are not vested shall vest and if an amount is payable under such vested Award, such amount shall be paid in cash based on the value of the Award.

 

All payments of cash and issuance of Shares required hereunder shall be made as soon as practicable after, but in no event more than thirty (30) days following, the date of the Change of Control. 

 

(iii)                               In the event that (1) the Survivor terminates the Participant’s employment or service without cause (as defined in the agreement relating to the Award or, if not defined therein, as defined by the Administrator) or (2) if the Participant has in effect an employment, retention, change of control, severance or similar agreement with the Company or any Affiliate that contemplates the termination of his or her employment or service for good reason, and the Participant terminates his or her employment or service for good reason (as defined in such agreement), in the case of either (1) or (2) within twenty-four (24) months following a Change of Control, then the following provisions shall apply to any assumed Awards or replacement awards described in paragraph (i) and any Awards not cancelled in connection with the Change of Control pursuant to paragraph (ii):

 

(A)                               Effective upon the date of the termination of the Participant’s employment or service, all outstanding Awards or replacement awards automatically shall vest (assuming for any Award the vesting of which is subject to Performance Goals, that such goals had been met at the target level); and

 

(B)                               All Options or Share Appreciation Rights (or replacement awards) held by the Participant shall be cancelled in exchange for a payment in cash and/or Shares (which may include shares or other securities of the Survivor) equal to the excess of the fair market value of the Shares over the exercise or grant price of such Shares under the Award; and

 

(C)                               All Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units or Deferred Share Rights (or replacement awards) held by the Participant shall be cancelled as of the termination of the Participant’s employment or service in exchange for a payment in cash and/or Shares (which may include shares or other securities of the Survivor) equal to the fair market value of a Share; and

 

(D)                               All Performance Awards and Annual and Long-Term Incentive Awards held by the Participant that are earned but not yet paid shall be paid promptly following the termination of employment or service, and all Performance Awards and Annual and Long-Term Incentive Awards held by the Participant for which the performance period has not expired shall be cancelled in exchange for a cash payment equal to the product of (1) the target value payable to the Participant under his or her Award and (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is

 

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the number of days after the first day of the performance period on which the termination of employment or service occurs and the denominator of which is the number of days in the performance period; and

 

(E)                                All other Awards (or replacement awards) held by the Participant shall be cancelled in exchange for a payment in cash in an amount equal to the value of the Award.

 

All payments of cash and issuance of Shares required hereunder shall be made as soon as practicable after, but in no event more than thirty (30) days following, the date of the termination of employment or service of the Participant. 

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, if the Participant has a deferral election in effect with respect to any amount payable under this Section 18(c) or if the applicable Award is otherwise subject to Code Section 409A, such amount shall be deferred pursuant to such election and the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

If the value of an Award for purposes of this subsection is based on the fair market value of a Share, such fair market value shall be determined by the Administrator in its discretion.

 

(d)                                 Application of Limits on Payments.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in any agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, if the receipt of any payment by a Participant under the circumstances described above would result in the payment by the Participant of any excise tax provided for in Section 280G and Section 4999 of the Code, then the amount of such payment shall be reduced to the extent required to prevent the imposition of such excise tax.

 

19.                               Miscellaneous.

 

(a)                                 Other Terms and Conditions.  The grant of any Award may also be subject to other provisions (whether or not applicable to the Award granted to any other Participant) as the Administrator determines appropriate, including, without limitation, provisions for:

 

(i)                                     the payment of the purchase price of Options by delivery of cash or other Shares or other securities of the Company (including by attestation) having a then Fair Market Value equal to the purchase price of such Shares, or by delivery (including by fax) to the Company or its designated agent of an executed irrevocable option exercise form together with irrevocable instructions to a broker-dealer to sell or margin a sufficient portion of the Shares and deliver the sale or margin loan proceeds directly to the Company to pay for the exercise price;

 

(ii)                                  one or more means to enable Participants to defer the delivery of Shares or recognition of taxable income relating to Awards or cash payments derived from the Awards on such terms and conditions as the Administrator determines, including, by way of example, the form and manner of the deferral election, the treatment of dividends paid on the Shares during the deferral period or a means for providing a return to a Participant on amounts deferred, and the permitted distribution dates or events (provided that no such deferral means may result in an increase in the number of Shares issuable under this Plan);

 

(iii)                               restrictions on resale or other disposition of Shares; and

 

(iv)                              compliance with federal or state securities laws and stock exchange requirements.

 

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(b)                                 Employment and Service.  The issuance of an Award shall not confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continued employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate.  Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, for purposes of this Plan and all Awards, the following rules shall apply:

 

(i)                                     a Participant who transfers employment between the Company and its Affiliates, or between Affiliates, will not be considered to have ended employment; and

 

(ii)                                  a Participant employed by an Affiliate will be considered to have ended employment when such entity ceases to be an Affiliate.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of an Award that is subject to Code Section 409A, if a Participant’s termination of employment or service triggers the payment of compensation under such Award, then the Participant will be deemed to have terminated employment or service upon his or her “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A.  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan or an Award to the contrary, if any Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A as of the date of his or her “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A, then, to the extent required by Code Section 409A, any payment made to the Participant on account of such separation from service shall not be made before a date that is six months after the date of the separation from service.

 

(c)                                  Whole Shares Only.  Only whole Shares or other securities may be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan, and if any calculation of a number of Shares pursuant to any provision of this Plan would otherwise result in a number of Shares that is not a whole number, the calculation shall be rounded down to the next whole number of Shares.

 

(d)                                 Offset. Subject to compliance with applicable law, the Company shall have the right to offset, from any amount payable or shares deliverable hereunder, any amount that the Participant owes to the Company or any Affiliate without the consent of the Participant or any individual with a right to the Participant’s Award.

 

(e)                                  Unfunded Plan.  This Plan is unfunded and does not create, and should not be construed to create, a trust or separate fund with respect to this Plan’s benefits. This Plan does not establish any fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant or other person. To the extent any person holds any rights by virtue of an Award granted under this Plan, such rights are no greater than the rights of the Company’s general unsecured creditors. Income recognized by a Participant pursuant to an Award shall not be included in the determination of benefits under any employee pension benefit plan (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) or group insurance or other benefit plans applicable to the Participant which are maintained by the Company or any Affiliate, except as may be provided under the terms of such plans or determined by resolution of the Board.

 

(f)                                   Requirements of Law and Securities Exchange.  The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares in connection with an Award are subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or any Award agreement, the Company has no liability to deliver any Shares under this Plan or make any payment unless such delivery or payment would comply with all applicable laws and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity, and unless and until the

 

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Participant has taken all actions required by the Company in connection therewith.  The Company may impose such restrictions on any Shares issued under this Plan as the Company determines necessary or desirable to comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations or the requirements of any national securities exchange.

 

(g)                                  Restrictive Legends; Representations. All Shares delivered (whether in certificated or book entry form) pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall bear such legends or be subject to such stop transfer orders as the Administrator may deem advisable under this Plan or under applicable laws, rules or regulations or the requirements of any national securities exchange.  The Administrator may require each Participant or other Person who acquires Shares under this Plan by means of an Award to represent to the Company in writing that such Participant or other Person is acquiring the Shares without a view to the distribution thereof.

 

(h)                                 Governing Law.  This Plan, and all Awards hereunder, and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant to this Plan, shall be governed by, except to the extent preempted by other applicable laws (1) with respect to the corporate law requirements applicable to the Company, the validity and authorization of the issuance of Shares under this Plan and similar matters, the internal laws of Ireland (without reference to conflict of law principles thereof) and (2) with respect to all other matters relating to this Plan and Awards, the internal laws of the State of New York (without reference to conflict of law principles thereof), and this Plan and all Awards hereunder shall be construed in accordance with such applicable law.

 

(i)                                     Arbitration.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if any individual (other than the Company) brings a claim involving the Company or an Affiliate, regardless of the basis of the claim (including but not limited to claims relating to wrongful discharge, Title VII discrimination, the Participant’s employment or service with the Company or its Affiliates or the termination thereof, benefits under this Plan or other matters), such claim shall be settled by final binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) and the following provisions, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof; provided that the requirement for arbitration under this subsection shall not apply to the extent such requirement is not enforceable under, or otherwise violates, applicable law.

 

(i)                                     Initiation of Action. Arbitration must be initiated by serving or mailing a written notice of the complaint to the other party. Normally, such written notice should be provided to the other party within one year (365 days) after the day the complaining party first knew or should have known of the events giving rise to the complaint. However, this time frame may be extended if the applicable statute of limitation provides for a longer period of time. If the complaint is not properly submitted within the appropriate time frame, all rights and claims that the complaining party has or may have against the other party shall be waived and void. Any notice sent to the Company shall be delivered to:

 

Office of General Counsel

Adient plc

833 East Michigan Street, Suite 1100

Milwaukee, WI 53202

 

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The notice must identify and describe the nature of all complaints asserted and the facts upon which such complaints are based. Notice will be deemed given according to the date of any postmark or the date of time of any personal delivery.

 

(ii)                                  Compliance with Personnel Policies. Before proceeding to arbitration on a complaint, the claimant must initiate and participate in any complaint resolution procedure identified in the personnel policies of the Company or an Affiliate, as applicable. If the claimant has not initiated the complaint resolution procedure before initiating arbitration on a complaint, the initiation of the arbitration shall be deemed to begin the complaint resolution procedure. No arbitration hearing shall be held on a complaint until any complaint resolution procedure of the Company or an Affiliate, as applicable, has been completed.

 

(iii)                               Rules of Arbitration. All arbitration will be conducted by a single arbitrator according to the Employment Dispute Arbitration Rules of the AAA. The arbitrator will have authority to award any remedy or relief that a court of competent jurisdiction could order or grant including, without limitation, specific performance of any obligation created under the award or policy, the awarding of punitive damages, the issuance of any injunction, costs and attorney’s fees to the extent permitted by law, or the imposition of sanctions for abuse of the arbitration process. The arbitrator’s award must be rendered in a writing that sets forth the essential findings and conclusions on which the arbitrator’s award is based.

 

(iv)                              Representation and Costs. Each party may be represented in the arbitration by an attorney or other representative selected by the party. The Company or Affiliate shall be responsible for its own costs, the AAA filing fee and all other fees, costs and expenses of the arbitrator and AAA for administering the arbitration. The claimant shall be responsible for his or her attorney’s or representative’s fees, if any. However, if any party prevails on a statutory claim which allows the prevailing party costs and/or attorneys’ fees, the arbitrator may award costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees as provided by such statute.

 

(v)                                 Discovery; Location; Rules of Evidence. Discovery will be allowed to the same extent afforded under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Arbitration will be held at a location selected by the Company. AAA rules notwithstanding, the admissibility of evidence offered at the arbitration shall be determined by the arbitrator who shall be the judge of its materiality and relevance. Legal rules of evidence will not be controlling, and the standard for admissibility of evidence will generally be whether it is the type of information that responsible people rely upon in making important decisions.

 

(vi)                              Confidentiality. The existence, content or results of any arbitration may not be disclosed by a party or arbitrator without the prior written consent of both parties.  Witnesses who are not a party to the arbitration shall be excluded from the hearing except to testify.

 

(j)                                    Construction.  Whenever any words are used herein in the masculine, they shall be construed as though they were used in the feminine in all cases where they would so apply; and wherever any words are used in the singular or plural, they shall be construed as though they were used in the plural or singular, as the case may be, in all cases where they would so apply.  Titles of sections are for general information only, and this Plan is not to be construed with reference to such titles.

 

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(k)                                 Severability.  If any provision of this Plan or any Award agreement or any Award (a) is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any person or Award, or (b) would disqualify this Plan, any Award agreement or any Award under any law the Administrator deems applicable, then such provision should be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Administrator, materially altering the intent of this Plan, Award agreement or Award, then such provision should be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award, and the remainder of this Plan, such Award agreement and such Award will remain in full force and effect.

 

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