Exhibit 10.1 (LTIP)






Exhibit 10.1




    


 








































BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.


2014 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN












































 









Table of Contents
	
		
	 
	PAGE

	 
	 

	Article 1 -  General Provisions
	1

	1.1 Establishment of Plan
	1

	1.2 Purpose of Plan
	1

	1.3 Types of Awards
	1

	1.4 Effective Date
	1

	1.5 Termination of Plan
	1

	 
	 

	Article 2 -  Definitions
	1

	 
	 

	Article 3 -  Administration
	5

	3.1 General
	5

	3.2 Authority of the Committee
	5

	3.3 Rules for Foreign Jurisdictions
	6

	3.4 Delegation of Authority
	6

	3.5 Agreements
	6

	3.6 Indemnification
	6

	 
	 

	Article 4 -  Shares Subject to the Plan
	6

	4.1 Number of Shares
	6

	4.2 Individual Limits
	7

	4.3 Adjustment of Shares
	7

	 
	 

	Article 5 -  Stock Options
	8

	5.1 Grant of Options
	8

	5.2 Option Price
	8

	5.3 Duration of Options
	8

	5.4 Exercise of Options
	8

	5.5 Payment
	9

	5.6 Nontransferability of Options
	9

	5.7 Special Rules for ISOs
	9

	 
	 

	Article 6 -  Stock Appreciation Rights
	9

	6.1 Grant of SARs
	9

	6.2 Tandem SARs
	9

	6.3 Payment
	9

	6.4 SAR Price
	9

	6.5 Duration of SARs
	10

	6.6 Exercise of SARs
	10

	6.7 Nontransferability of SARs
	10

	 
	 

	Article 7 -  Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
	10

	7.1 Grant of Restricted Stock/Unit
	10

	7.2 Nontransferability
	10

	7.3 Certificates
	10

	7.4 Dividends and Other Distributions
	10

	7.5 Short-Term Deferral
	11















	
		
	 
	PAGE

	 
	 

	Article 8 -  Performance Shares and Units
	11

	8.1 Grant of Performance Shares/Units
	11

	8.2 Value of Performance Shares/Units
	11

	8.3 Earning of Performance Shares/Units
	11

	8.4 Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Shares/Units
	11

	8.5 Dividends and Other Distributions
	11

	8.6 Nontransferability
	11

	 
	 

	Article 9 -  Other Stock-Based Awards
	11

	 
	 

	Article 10 -  Long-Term Incentive Compensation Awards
	12

	 
	 

	Article 11 -  Performance Measures
	12

	11.1 In General
	12

	11.2 Section 162(m) Performance Measures
	12

	11.3 Other Performance Measures
	12

	11.4 Committee Determination of Achievement of Performance Goals; Adjustments
	12

	 
	 

	Article 12 -  Beneficiary Designation
	13

	 
	 

	Article 13 -  Deferrals
	13

	 
	 

	Article 14 -  Withholding
	13

	14.1 Tax Withholding
	13

	14.2 Share Withholding
	13

	 
	 

	Article 15 -  Amendment and Termination
	13

	15.1 Amendment or Termination of Plan
	13

	15.2 Amendment of Agreement
	13

	15.3 Recoupment of Compensation or Cancellation of Awards
	13

	 
	 

	Article 16 -  Change in Control
	14

	 
	 

	Article 17 -  Miscellaneous Provisions
	14

	17.1 Restrictions on Shares
	14

	17.2 Rights of Stockholder
	15

	17.3 No Implied Rights
	15

	17.4 Compliance with Code Section 409A
	15

	17.5 Deferrals for Code Section 162(m)
	15

	17.6 Successors
	15

	17.7 Tax Elections
	15

	17.8 Right of Setoff
	15

	17.9 No Fractional Shares
	15

	17.10 Uncertificated Shares
	15

	17.11 Legal Construction
	15

	17.12 Data Privacy; Transfer of Data
	16



















BEAZER HOMES USA, INC. 2014 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN


Article 1 - General Provisions


		
	1.1 
	Establishment of Plan.  Beazer Homes USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby establishes an incentive compensation plan to be known as the “Beazer Homes USA, Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan” (the “Plan”), as set forth in this document.  




		
	1.2
	Purpose of Plan.  The objectives of the Plan are to (i) attract and retain employees, directors, and other persons who perform services for the Company and its affiliates by providing compensation opportunities that are competitive with other companies; (ii) provide incentives to those individuals who contribute significantly to the long-term performance and growth of the Company and its affiliates; and (iii) align the long-term financial interests of employees and other Eligible Participants with those of the Company’s stockholders.




		
	1.3
	Types of Awards.  Awards under the Plan may be made to Eligible Participants in the form of (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonqualified Stock Options, (iii) Stock Appreciation Rights, (iv) Restricted Stock, (v) Restricted Stock Units, (vi) Performance Shares, (vii) Performance Units, (viii) Other Stock-Based Awards, (ix) Long-Term Incentive Compensation Awards or any combination thereof. 




		
	1.4
	Effective Date.  The Plan will become effective on the date on which the Company’s stockholders approve the Plan (the “Effective Date”).




		
	1.5
	Termination of Plan.  No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.  However, Awards granted under the Plan on or prior to the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date shall remain outstanding beyond that date in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Agreements corresponding to such Awards.    




Article 2 - Definitions


Except where the context otherwise indicates, the following definitions apply:
		
	2.1
	“Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.  All citations to sections of the Act or rules thereunder are to such sections or rules as they may from time to time be amended or renumbered.


		
	2.2
	“Agreement” means the written agreement evidencing an Award granted under the Plan that specifies the size, form, terms, conditions and duration of each Award.  As determined by the Committee, each Agreement shall consist of either (i) a written agreement in a form approved by the Committee and executed on behalf of the Company by an officer duly authorized to act on its behalf, or (ii) an electronic notice of Award grant in a form approved by the Committee and recorded by the Company (or its designee) in an electronic recordkeeping system used for the purpose of tracking Award grants under the Plan, and if required by the Committee, executed or otherwise electronically accepted by the recipient of the Award in such form and manner as the Committee may require.  The Committee may authorize any officer of the Company (other than the particular Award recipient) to execute any or all Agreements on behalf the Company.


		
	2.3
	“Award” means an Option, a Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, a Restricted Stock Unit, a Performance Share, a Performance Unit, an Other Stock-Based Award, a Long-Term Incentive Compensation Award or a combination thereof.


		
	2.4
	“Award Pool” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.1.


		
	2.5
	“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time.


		
	2.6
	“Cause” means, “Cause” as defined under any employment or service agreement applicable to the Participant at the time of the Participant’s termination or if no such employment or service agreement exists or if such employment or service agreement does not contain any such definition, “Cause” means (a) the Participant’s act or failure to act amounting to gross negligence or willful misconduct to the detriment of the Company or any affiliate; (b) the Participant’s dishonesty, 



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fraud, theft or embezzlement of funds or properties in the course of Participant’s employment or service; (c) the Participant’s commission of or pleading guilty to or confessing to any felony; or (d) the Participant’s breach of any restrictive covenant agreement with the Company or any affiliate, including, but not limited to, covenants not to compete, non-solicitation covenants and non-disclosure covenants.  The existence of “Cause” under this Section 2.6 shall be determined in good faith by the Committee.  
		
	2.7
	“Change in Control” means, except as otherwise expressly provided in an Agreement, the occurrence of any of the following events: 


		
	(a)
	The accumulation in any number of related or unrelated transactions by any Person of Beneficial Ownership of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s voting stock; provided that for purposes of this subsection (a), a Change in Control will not be deemed to have occurred if the accumulation of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Beneficial Ownership of the combined voting power of the Company’s voting stock resulted from (i) any acquisition of voting stock by the Company or by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any affiliate or (ii) any acquisition of voting stock directly from the Company provided the Person’s Beneficial Ownership of the combined voting power of the Company’s voting stock at no time thereafter equals thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s voting stock; or 


		
	(b)
	Consummation of a merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar transaction (a “Business Combination”), unless, immediately following that Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the Persons who had Beneficial Ownership of the voting stock of the Company immediately prior to that Business Combination have Beneficial Ownership, directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s or the surviving entity’s voting stock resulting from that Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that as a result of that 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 relative to each other as their Beneficial Ownership, immediately prior to that Business Combination, of the voting stock of the Company, (ii) no Person acquires Beneficial Ownership of twenty five percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s or the surviving entity’s voting stock resulting from that Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that as a result of that transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), and (iii) the Business Combination does not result in a Change in Control under subsection (c) below; provided that for purposes of this subsection (b), a Change in Control will not be deemed to have occurred as the result of any Person’s accumulation of Beneficial Ownership of twenty-five percent (25%) or more, but less than thirty-five percent (35%), of the combined voting power of the Company’s or the surviving entity’s voting stock resulting from that Business Combination so long as the Board approved the Business Combination; or 


		
	(c)
	Less than a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company or any entity resulting from a Business Combination are Incumbent Board Members; or


		
	(d)
	Consummation of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, except pursuant to a Business Combination that would not cause a Change in Control under subsection (b) above; or


		
	(e)
	Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company, except pursuant to a Business Combination that would not cause a Change in Control under subsection (b) above


For purposes of this Section 2.7, the meaning of (i) “Person” shall be based on the definition of person in Section 3(a)(9) of the Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Act, and (ii) “Beneficial Ownership” shall be as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 under the Act.  
Incumbent Board Member means an individual who either is (a) a member of the Company’s Board as of the effective date of the adoption of this Plan or (b) a member who becomes a member of the Company’s Board subsequent to the date of the adoption of this Plan whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of a majority of the then Incumbent Board Members (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which that Person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to that nomination), but excluding, for that purpose, any individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest (within the meaning of Rule 14a-11 of the Act) 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 of Directors.  

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Notwithstanding anything in this Plan or any Agreement to the contrary, to the extent any provision of this Plan or an Agreement would cause a payment of a 409A Award to be made because of the occurrence of a Change in Control, then such payment shall not be made unless such Change in Control also constitutes a “change in ownership”, “change in effective control” or “change in ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets” within the meaning of Code section 409A.  Other Participant rights that are tied to a Change in Control, such as vesting, shall not be affected by this paragraph.  
		
	2.8
	“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now in effect or as hereafter amended. All citations to sections of the Code are to such sections as they may from time to time be amended or renumbered and shall include all related regulations.


		
	2.9
	“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or the Board itself if no Compensation Committee exists.  If such Compensation Committee exists, if and to the extent deemed necessary by the Board, such Compensation Committee shall consist of two or more directors, all of whom are (i) “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, (ii) “outside directors” within the meaning of Code section 162(m) and (iii) independent directors under the rules of any stock exchange on which the Company’s securities are traded.


		
	2.10
	“Company” means Beazer Homes USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors and assigns.


		
	2.11
	“Covered Employee” means a Participant whom the Committee determines is or may be subject to the limitations of Code section 162(m). 


		
	2.12
	“Director” means any individual who is a member of the Board; provided, however, that any individual who is both a member of the Board and employed by the Company or any other entity constituting the Employer shall not be considered a Director for purposes of the Plan.


		
	2.13
	“Disability” means, with respect to any Incentive Stock Option, a disability as determined under Code section 22(e)(3), and with respect to any other Award, a disability as determined under procedures established by the Committee or in any Agreement; provided that to the extent any provision of this Plan or an Agreement would cause a payment of a 409A Award to be made because of the Participant’s Disability, then there shall not be a Disability that triggers payment until the date (if any) that the Participant is disabled within the meaning of Code section 409A(a)(2)(C).  


		
	2.14
	“Effective Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.4 above.


		
	2.15
	“Eligible Participant” means an employee of an Employer as well as any other natural person, including a Director or a person who provides bona fide services to an Employer, subject to any limitations as shall be determined by the Committee.


		
	2.16
	“Employer” means the Company and any entity during any period that it is a “parent corporation” or a “subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company within the meaning of Code sections 424(e) and 424(f).  With respect to all purposes of the Plan, including but not limited to, the establishment, amendment, termination, operation and administration of the Plan, the Company shall be authorized to act on behalf of all other entities included within the definition of “Employer.”


2.17    “Fair Market Value” means, on any given date: 
		
	(a)
	if the Shares are listed on the NYSE on the given date, Fair Market Value on such date shall be the closing price for a Share on the NYSE on such date, or if no sale was reported on such date, on the last preceding day on which a sale was reported on the NYSE; 


		
	(b)
	if the Shares are listed on a national or regional securities exchange other than the NYSE on the given date, Fair Market Value on such date shall be the closing price for a Share on the securities exchange on such date or, if no sale was reported on such date, on the last preceding day on which a sale was reported on such exchange; or


		
	(c)
	if neither (a) nor (b) applies on the given date, the fair market value of a Share on that date shall be determined in good faith by the Committee. 




For purposes of subsection (b) above, if Shares are not traded on the NYSE but they are traded on more than one securities exchange on the given date, then the following exchange shall be referenced to determine Fair Market Value: (i) the NASDAQ, or (ii) if shares are not traded on the NASDAQ, the largest exchange on which Shares are traded.

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in the case of an Option or SAR, Fair Market Value shall be determined in accordance with a definition of fair market value that permits the Award to be exempt from Code section 409A; and (ii) in the case of an Option that is intended to qualify as an ISO under Code section 422 or an Award that is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code section 162(m), Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in accordance with the requirements of Code section 422 or Code section 162(m), as applicable.
		
	2.18
	“409A Award” means each Award that is not exempt from Code section 409A.


		
	2.19
	“Good Reason” means, “Good Reason” as defined under any employment or service agreement applicable to the Participant at the time of the Participant’s termination or if no such employment or service agreement exists or if such employment or service agreement does not contain any such definition, “Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following conditions without the Participant’s consent: 


		
	(a)
	a material diminution in the Participant’s authority, duties or responsibilities from those that existed on the date immediately preceding the Change in Control; or 


		
	(b)
	relocation of the Participant’s primary office to a location more than thirty-five (35) miles from the location of the Participant’s primary office on the date immediately preceding the Change in Control. 


Notwithstanding the foregoing, the occurrence of any of the events described above will not constitute Good Reason unless (i) the Participant gives the Company written notice within fifteen (15) days after the initial occurrence of an event that the Participant believes constitutes Good Reason and describes such event in the notice; (ii) the Company thereafter fails to cure any such event within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such notice; and (iii) the Participant’s termination as a result of such event occurs at least 31 days after the Company’s receipt of the notice referred to in clause (ii), but no more than 60 days after the initial occurrence of such event.  The existence of “Good Reason” under this Section 2.19 shall be determined in good faith by the Committee. 
		
	2.20
	“Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means an Option granted to an Eligible Participant under Article 5 of the Plan which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and intended to meet the requirements of Code section 422.


		
	2.21
	“Insider” shall mean an individual who is, on the relevant date, subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Act.


		
	2.22
	“Long-Term Incentive Compensation Award” means an Award that is granted pursuant to Article 10 of the Plan.


		
	2.23
	“Nonqualified Stock Option” or “NQSO” means an Option granted to an Eligible Participant under Article 5 of the Plan which is not intended to meet the requirements of Code section 422 or that otherwise does not meet such requirements.


		
	2.24
	“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.


		
	2.25
	“Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option. An Option shall be designated as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, and in the absence of such designation shall be a Nonqualified Stock Option.


		
	2.26
	“Option Price” means the price at which a Share may be purchased by exercise of an Option.


		
	2.27
	“Other Stock-Based Award” means any form of equity-based or equity-related award, other than an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Stock, or Performance Unit, that is granted pursuant to Article 9 of the Plan.


		
	2.28
	“Participant” means an Eligible Participant to whom an Award has been granted.


		
	2.29
	“Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.5 of the Plan.


		
	2.30
	“Performance Share” means an Award under Article 8 of the Plan that is valued by reference to a Share, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of cash or Shares, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee, upon achievement of such performance objectives during the relevant performance period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such Award or thereafter, but not later than the time permitted by Code section 162(m) in the case of a Covered Employee, unless the Committee does not intend for such Award to comply with Code section 162(m).



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	2.31
	“Performance Unit” means an Award under Article 8 of the Plan that has a value set by the Committee (or that is determined by reference to a valuation formula specified by the Committee), which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of cash or Shares, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee, upon achievement of such performance objectives during the relevant performance period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such Award or thereafter, but not later than the time permitted by Code section 162(m) in the case of a Covered Employee, unless the Committee does not intend for such Award to comply with Code section 162(m).


		
	2.32
	“Plan” means the Beazer Homes USA, Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as set forth in this document and as it may be amended from time to time.


		
	2.33
	“Restricted Stock” means an Award of Shares under Article 7 of the Plan, which Shares are issued with such restriction(s) as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose.


		
	2.34
	“Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award under Article 7 of the Plan that is valued by reference to a Share, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including without limitation, cash or Shares, or any combination thereof, and that has such restriction(s) as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose.


		
	2.35
	“Restriction Period” means the period during which Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units are subject to one or more restrictions that will lapse based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance goals, or the occurrence of another event or events, as determined by the Committee and specified in the applicable Agreement.


		
	2.36
	“SAR Price” means the amount that is subtracted from the Fair Market Value of a Share at the time of exercise of a SAR to determine the amount payable, if any, upon exercise of the SAR. 


		
	2.37
	“Share” means one share of common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company, as may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.3 of the Plan.


		
	2.38
	“Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award granted under Article 6 which provides for an amount payable in Shares and/or cash, as determined by the Committee, equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the day the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised over the SAR Price.


Article 3 - Administration 


3.1    General.  This Plan shall be administered by the Committee. 


3.2    Authority of the Committee.


		
	(a)
	The Committee shall have the full and exclusive discretionary authority to (i) interpret, construe and administer the terms and intent of the Plan and any Agreement (as well as any other agreement or document related to the Plan or an Award), (ii) select the persons who are eligible to receive an Award, (iii) act in all matters pertaining to the granting of an Award and the contents of the Agreement evidencing the Award, including the determination of the size, form, terms, conditions and duration of each Award, and (iv) make any amendment to an Award or Agreement consistent with the provisions of the Plan.  The Committee may adopt such rules, regulations and procedures of general application for the administration of this Plan, as it deems appropriate.


		
	(b)
	The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to address the matter.


		
	(c)
	In the event the Company shall assume outstanding employee benefit awards or the right or obligation to make future such awards in connection with the acquisition of another corporation or business entity, the Committee may, in its discretion, make such adjustments in the terms of Awards under the Plan as it shall deem appropriate.


		
	(d)
	In making any determination or in taking or not taking any action under the Plan, the Committee may obtain and may rely on the advice of experts, including employees of the Company and professional advisors.


		
	(e)
	All acts, determinations and decisions of the Committee made or taken pursuant to grants of authority under the Plan or with respect to any questions arising in connection with the administration and interpretation of the Plan, including the severability of any and all of the provisions thereof, shall be conclusive, final and binding upon 



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all parties, including the Company, its stockholders, any Employer, Participants, Eligible Participants and their estates, beneficiaries and successors.
		
	3.3
	Rules for Foreign Jurisdictions.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, (i) amend or vary the terms of the Plan in order to conform such terms with the requirements of each non-U.S. jurisdiction where an Eligible Participant is located or where an Eligible Participant’s Award rights are otherwise regulated (including changes related to obtaining favorable tax treatment and avoiding unfavorable tax treatment) or in order to meet the goals and objectives of the Plan; (ii) establish one or more sub-plans for these purposes; and (iii) establish administrative rules and procedures to facilitate the operation of the Plan in such non-U.S. jurisdictions.  


		
	3.4
	Delegation of Authority.  The Committee may, in its discretion, at any time and from time to time, delegate to one or more of the members of the Committee such of its powers as it deems appropriate (provided that any such delegation shall be to at least two members of the Committee with respect to Awards to Covered Employees and Insiders).  Except with respect to Awards to Covered Employees and Insiders, the Committee may, in its discretion, at any time and from time to time, delegate to one or more persons who are not members of the Committee any or all of its authority and discretion under Section 3.2 and 3.3, to the full extent permitted by law and the rules of any exchange on which Shares are traded. 


		
	3.5
	Agreements.  Each Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Agreement. Each Agreement shall be subject to and incorporate, by reference or otherwise, the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan, and may include any other terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as determined by the Committee, including without limitation, provisions related to the consequences of termination of employment. A copy of the Agreement evidencing an Award shall be provided to the affected Participant, and the Committee may, but need not, require that the Participant sign a copy of the Agreement.


		
	3.6
	Indemnification.  In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or as members of the Committee, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the members of the Committee against (i) reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal thereof, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan or any Award granted thereunder, (ii) all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof, provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company, and (iii) all amounts paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except as to matters as to which the Committee member has been negligent or engaged in misconduct in the performance of his duties (all amounts reimbursed hereunder are referred to as the “Reimbursement Expenses”); provided, that within 60 days after institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, a Committee member shall in writing offer the Company the opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same.  In the performance of its responsibilities with respect to the Plan, the members of the Committee shall be entitled to rely upon, and no member of the Committee shall be liable for any action taken or not taken in good faith reliance upon, information and/or advice furnished by the Company’s officers or employees, the Company’s accountants, or the Company’s counsel.  


Article 4 - Shares Subject to the Plan
		
	4.1
	Number of Shares.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, the aggregate number of Shares which are available for issuance pursuant to Awards under the Plan is Two Million (2,000,000) Shares (the “Award Pool”).  The Award Pool shall be available for all types of Awards granted under the Plan; there is no maximum number of Shares per type of Award.  Such Shares shall be made available from Shares authorized but unissued or Shares held (or subsequently acquired) by the Company as treasury shares, including Shares purchased in the open market or in private transactions.  


The following rules shall apply for purposes of determining the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan: 
		
	(a)
	Each Option shall be counted as one Share subject to an Award and deducted from the Award Pool.


		
	(b)
	Each share of Restricted Stock, each Restricted Stock Unit that may be settled in Shares and each Other Stock-Based Award that may be settled in Shares shall be counted as one Share subject to an Award and deducted from the Award Pool.  Restricted Stock Units and Other Stock-Based Awards that may not be settled in Shares shall not result in a deduction from the Award Pool.


		
	(c)
	Each Performance Share that may be settled in Shares shall be counted as one  Share subject to an Award, based on the number of Shares that would be paid under the Performance Share for achievement of target performance, 



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and deducted from the Award Pool.  Each Performance Unit that may be settled in Shares shall be counted as a number of Shares subject to an Award, based on the number of Shares that would be paid under the Performance Unit for achievement of target performance, with the number determined by dividing the value of the Performance Unit at the time of grant by the Fair Market Value of a Share at the time of grant, and this number shall be deducted from the Award Pool.  In both cases, in the event that the Award is later settled based on above-target performance, the number of Shares corresponding to the above-target performance, calculated pursuant to the applicable methodology specified above, shall be deducted from the Award Pool at the time of such settlement; in the event that the Award is later settled upon below-target performance, the number of Shares corresponding to the below-target performance, calculated pursuant to the applicable methodology specified above, shall be added back to the Award Pool.  Performance Shares and Performance Units that may not be settled in Shares shall not result in a deduction from the Award Pool.
		
	(d)
	Each Stock Appreciation Right that may be settled in Shares shall be counted as one Share subject to an Award and deducted from the Award Pool. Stock Appreciation Rights that may not be settled in Shares shall not result in a deduction from the Award Pool.  


		
	(e)
	If, for any reason, any Shares awarded or subject to issuance under the Plan are not issued, or are reacquired by the Company from the Participant or the Participant’s transferee, for reasons including, but not limited to, a forfeiture of Restricted Stock or a Restricted Stock Unit or the termination, expiration or cancellation of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Performance Share or Performance Unit or the settlement of an Award in cash in lieu of Shares, such Shares shall again be available for issuance pursuant to an Award under the Plan and shall be added back to the Award Pool.  In addition, if the tax withholding obligation, exercise price or purchase price under an Award is satisfied by the Company retaining Shares that otherwise would have been issued in settlement of the Award or by Shares tendered by the Participant (either by actual delivery or attestation), the number of Shares so retained or tendered shall again be available for issuance pursuant to an Award under this Plan and shall be added back to the Award Pool.  


		
	4.2
	Individual Limits.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, and except to the extent the Committee determines that an Award to a Covered Employee shall not comply with the performance-based compensation provisions of Code section 162(m), the following rules shall apply to Awards under the Plan: 


		
	(a)
	Options and SARs.  The maximum number of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that, in the aggregate, may be granted in any one fiscal year to any one Participant shall be Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand (750,000). 


		
	(b)
	Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.  The maximum number of Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units that, in the aggregate, may be granted in any one fiscal year to any one Participant shall be Two Hundred Fifty Thousand (250,000) Shares and Units. 


		
	(c)
	Performance Units.  The maximum number of Performance Units (valued as of the grant date) that, in the aggregate, may be granted in any one fiscal year to any one Participant shall be Five Hundred Thousand (500,000), to the extent settled in Shares, or Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000), to the extent settled in cash.  This limitation shall be applied based on the maximum amount that could be paid under the Award of Performance Units. 


		
	(d)
	Performance Shares and Other Stock-Based Awards.  The maximum number of Performance Shares and Other Stock-Based Awards that, in the aggregate, may be granted in any one fiscal year to any one Participant shall be Five Hundred Thousand (500,000).  This limitation shall be applied based on the maximum amount that could be paid under the Award of Performance Shares and Other Stock-Based Awards.


		
	(e)
	Long-Term Incentive Compensation Awards.  The maximum Long-Term Incentive Compensation Awards that, in the aggregate, may be granted in any one fiscal year to any one Participant shall be Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000).  This limitation shall be applied based on the maximum amount that could be paid under the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Awards. 


		
	4.3
	Adjustment of Shares.  If any change in corporate capitalization, such as a stock split, reverse stock split, or stock dividend; or any corporate transaction such as a reorganization, reclassification, merger or consolidation or separation, including a spin-off, of the Company or sale or other disposition by the Company of all or a portion of its assets, any other change in the Company’s corporate structure, or any distribution to stockholders (other than an ordinary cash dividend) results in the outstanding Shares, or any securities exchanged therefore or received in their place, being exchanged for a different number or class of shares or other securities of the Company, or for shares of stock or other securities of any other 



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corporation; or new, different or additional shares or other securities of the Company or of any other corporation being received by the holders of outstanding Shares; then the Committee shall make equitable adjustments, as it determines are necessary and appropriate, in:
		
	(a)
	the number and class of stock or other securities that comprise the Award Pool as set forth in Section 4.1;


		
	(b)
	the limitations on the aggregate number of Awards that may be granted in any one fiscal year to any one Participant as set forth in Section 4.2;


		
	(c)
	the number and class of stock or other securities subject to outstanding Awards, and which have not been issued or transferred under outstanding Awards;


		
	(d)
	the Option Price under outstanding Options, the SAR Price under outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights and the number of Shares to be transferred in settlement of outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights; and


		
	(e)
	the terms, conditions or restrictions of any Award and Agreement, including the price payable for the acquisition of Shares. 


It is intended that, if possible, any adjustments contemplated above shall be made in a manner that satisfies applicable legal requirements, as well as applicable requirements with respect to taxation (including, without limitation and as applicable in the circumstances, Code section 424, Code section 409A, and Code section 162(m)) and accounting (so as to not trigger any charge to earnings with respect to such adjustment).
Without limiting the generality of the above, any good faith determination by the Committee as to whether an adjustment is required in the circumstances and the extent and nature of any such adjustment shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons.
Article 5 - Stock Options


		
	5.1
	Grant of Options.  Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Options may be granted to Eligible Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee shall have sole discretion in determining the number of Shares subject to Options granted to each Participant. The Committee may grant a Participant ISOs, NQSOs or a combination thereof, and may vary such Awards among Participants; provided that only Participants who are common law employees of the Employer may be granted ISOs.  Notwithstanding anything in this Article 5 to the contrary, except for Options that are specifically designated as intended to be subject to Code section 409A, Options may only be granted to individuals who provide direct services on the date of grant of the Option to the Company or another entity in a chain of entities in which the Company or another such entity has a controlling interest (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E)) in each entity in the chain.


		
	5.2
	Option Price.  The Option Price for each grant of an Option shall be determined by the Committee and shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted.  Notwithstanding the prior sentence, an Option may be granted with an Option Price that is less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted if such Option is granted in replacement for an award previously granted by an entity that is assumed by the Company in a business combination, provided that the Committee determines that such Option Price is appropriate to preserve the economic benefit of the replaced award and will not impair the exemption of the Option from Code section 409A.


		
	5.3
	Duration of Options.  Each Option shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant; provided, however, that the Committee may extend the term of any Option that would otherwise expire at a time when the Participant is not permitted by applicable law or Company policy to exercise such Option; and provided, further, that no Option shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th) anniversary of its grant date. 


		
	5.4
	Exercise of Options.  Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve, including conditions related to the employment of or provision of services by the Participant to the Company or any Employer, which need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant.  The Committee may provide in the Agreement for automatic accelerated vesting and other rights upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company or upon the occurrence of other events as specified in the Agreement.   



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	5.5
	Payment.  Options shall be exercised by the delivery of an oral, written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company or its designated representative, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised and satisfying any requirements that the Committee may apply from time to time. Full payment of the Option Price must be made on or prior to the Payment Date, as defined below. The Option Price shall be payable to the Company in United States dollars either: (a) in cash; (b) cash equivalent approved by the Committee; (c) if approved by the Committee, by tendering previously acquired Shares (or delivering a certification or attestation of ownership of such Shares) having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option Price (provided that the tendered Shares must have been held by the Participant for any period required by the Committee);  (d) if approved by the Committee, by cashless exercise as permitted under Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation T, subject to applicable securities law restrictions;  (e) by any other means which the Committee determines to be consistent with the Plan’s purpose and applicable law, including a net exercise; or (f) by any combination of the above. “Payment Date” shall mean the date on which a sale transaction in connection with a cashless exercise (whether or not payment is actually made pursuant to a cashless exercise) would have settled in connection with the subject option exercise. 


		
	5.6
	Nontransferability of Options.  No ISO granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the Committee, no NQSO granted under this Article 5 may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. 


		
	5.7
	Special Rules for ISOs.  In no event shall any Participant who owns (within the meaning of Code section 424(d)) stock of the Company possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any “parent” or “subsidiary” (within the meaning of Code section 424(e) or (f), respectively) be eligible to receive an ISO (i) at an Option Price less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the ISO is granted, or (ii) that is exercisable later than the fifth (5th) anniversary date of its grant date. The aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares with respect to which ISOs granted to a Participant are first exercisable in any calendar year under the Plan and all other incentive stock option plans of the Employer) shall not exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). For this purpose, Fair Market Value shall be determined with respect to a particular ISO on the date on which such ISO is granted.  


Article 6 - Stock Appreciation Rights
		
	6.1
	Grant of SARs.  Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, SARs may be granted to Eligible Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee.  A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to an Eligible Participant in connection with an Option granted under Article 5 of this Plan or may be granted independently of any Option.  A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the holder, within the specified period, to exercise the SAR and receive in exchange therefor a payment having an aggregate value equal to the amount by which the Fair Market Value of a Share exceeds the SAR Price, times the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.  A SAR granted in connection with an Option (a “Tandem SAR”) shall entitle the holder of the related Option, within the period specified for the exercise of the Option, to surrender the unexercised Option, or a portion thereof, and to receive in exchange therefore a payment having an aggregate value equal to the amount by which the Fair Market Value of a Share exceeds the Option Price, times the number of Shares under the Option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered.  


		
	6.2
	Tandem SARs.  Each Tandem SAR shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as the related Option, including limitations on transferability, and shall be exercisable only to the extent such Option is exercisable and shall terminate or lapse and cease to be exercisable when the related Option terminates or lapses. The grant of a Tandem SAR must be concurrent with the grant of the Option. 


		
	6.3
	Payment.  The Committee shall have sole discretion to determine in each Agreement whether the payment with respect to the exercise of a SAR will be in the form of all cash, all Shares, or any combination thereof.  If payment is to be made in Shares, the number of Shares shall be determined based on the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise. 


		
	6.4
	SAR Price.  The SAR Price for each grant of a SAR shall be determined by the Committee and shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the SAR is granted. Notwithstanding the prior sentence, a SAR may be granted with a SAR Price that is less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the SAR is granted if such SAR is granted in replacement for an award previously granted by an entity that is assumed by the Company in a business combination, provided that the Committee determines that such SAR Price is appropriate to preserve the economic benefit of the replaced award and will not impair the exemption of 



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the SAR from Code section 409A. 
		
	6.5
	Duration of SARs.  Each SAR shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant; provided, however, that the Committee may extend the term of any SAR that would otherwise expire at a time when the Participant is not permitted by applicable law or Company policy to exercise such SAR; and provided, further, that no SAR shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th) anniversary of its grant date.  


		
	6.6
	Exercise of SARs.  SARs granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve, including conditions related to the employment of or provision of services by the Participant with the Company or any Employer, which need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant.  The Committee may provide in the Agreement for automatic accelerated vesting and other rights upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company or upon the occurrence of other events as specified in the Agreement.  Upon exercise of a Tandem SAR, the number of Shares subject to exercise under the related Option shall automatically be reduced by the number of Shares represented by the Option or portion thereof which is surrendered.  SARs shall be exercised by the delivery of an oral, written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company or its designated representative, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is to be exercised and satisfying any requirements that the Committee may apply from time to time. 


		
	6.7
	Nontransferability of SARs.  Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the Committee consistent with securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, no SAR granted under this Article 6 may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  


Article 7 - Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
		
	7.1
	Grant of Restricted Stock/Unit.  Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Unit Awards may be granted to Eligible Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee. Awards of Restricted Stock/Units may be made either alone or in addition to or in tandem with other Awards granted under the Plan and may be current grants of Restricted Stock, deferred grants of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.


		
	7.2
	Nontransferability.  Except as otherwise provided in this Article 7 or an Agreement, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated or otherwise disposed of during the Restriction Period or, in the case of Restricted Stock Units, until the date of delivery of Shares or other payment with respect to the Restricted Stock Units (other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution). Further, except as otherwise provided in the applicable Agreement, a Participant’s rights with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall be available during the Participant’s lifetime only to the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative.


		
	7.3
	Certificates.  Upon an Award of Restricted Stock to a Participant, Shares of Restricted Stock shall be registered in the Participant’s name. Certificates, if issued, may either be held in custody by the Company until the Restriction Period expires or until restrictions thereon otherwise lapse and/or be issued to the Participant and registered in the name of the Participant, bearing an appropriate restrictive legend and remaining subject to appropriate stop-transfer orders. If required by the Committee, the Participant shall deliver to the Company one or more stock powers endorsed in blank relating to the Restricted Stock. If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the Restricted Stock subject to such Restriction Period, unrestricted certificates for such shares shall be delivered to the Participant. 


		
	7.4
	Dividends and Other Distributions.  Except as provided in this Article 7 or in the Agreement, a Participant receiving a Restricted Stock Award shall have, with respect to such Restricted Stock Award, all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including the right to vote the Shares to the extent, if any, such Shares possess voting rights and the right to receive any dividends; provided, however, the Committee may require that any dividends on such Shares of Restricted Stock shall be automatically deferred and reinvested in additional Restricted Stock subject to the same restrictions on vesting as the underlying Award, or may require that dividends and other distributions on Restricted Stock shall be paid to the Company for the account of the Participant and held pending and subject to the same restrictions on vesting as the underlying Award.  A Participant receiving a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall not possess voting rights and shall accrue dividend equivalents on such Units only to the extent provided in the Agreement relating to the Award.


		
	7.5
	Short-Term Deferral.  To the extent an Award described in this Section is a 409A Award and is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Code section 409A (or will be granted upon the satisfaction of a condition that 



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constitutes such a substantial risk of forfeiture), any compensation due under the Award (or pursuant to a commitment to grant an Award) shall be paid in full not later than the 60th day following the date on which there is no longer such a substantial risk of forfeiture with respect to the Award (and the Participant shall have no right to designate the year of the payment), unless the Committee shall clearly and expressly provide otherwise at the time of granting the Award. 
Article 8 - Performance Shares and Units
		
	8.1
	Grant of Performance Shares/Units.  Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Performance Shares and Performance Units may be granted to Eligible Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee.  


		
	8.2
	Value of Performance Shares/Units.  Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant. Each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. In addition to any non-performance terms applicable to the Award, the Committee shall set performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number and/or value of Performance Shares, Performance Units or both, as applicable, that will be paid out to the Participant. For purposes of this Article 8, the time period during which the performance goals must be met shall be called a “Performance Period.”  The Committee may, but is not obligated to, set such performance goals by reference to the performance measures set forth in Article 11.


		
	8.3
	Earning of Performance Shares/Units.  Subject to the terms of this Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of the Performance Shares/Units shall be entitled to receive a payout of the number and value of Performance Shares/Units earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance goals have been achieved and any applicable non-performance terms have been met.


		
	8.4
	Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Shares/Units.  Subject to the terms of this Plan and the applicable Agreement, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Shares/Units in the form of cash or Shares or other Awards (or a combination thereof) which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Shares/Units at the close of the applicable Performance Period. Any such Shares may be granted subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee.  The determination of the Committee with respect to the form and timing of payout of such Awards shall be set forth in the Agreement pertaining to the grant of the Award.   


		
	8.5
	Dividends and Other Distributions.  A Participant receiving a Performance Share/Unit Award shall not possess voting rights and shall accrue dividend equivalents on such Performance Shares/Units only to the extent provided in the Agreement relating to the Award.  Any rights to dividend equivalents on Performance Shares/Units shall be subject to the same restrictions on vesting and payment as the underlying Award.   


		
	8.6
	Nontransferability.  Except as otherwise provided in this Article 8 or the applicable Agreement, Performance Shares/Units may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  


Article 9 - Other Stock-Based Awards
The Committee shall have the authority to specify the terms and provisions of other forms of equity-based or equity-related awards not described above that the Committee determines to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan and the interests of the Company. The Other Stock-Based Awards may provide for cash payments based in whole or in part on the value or future value of Shares, for the acquisition or future acquisition of Shares, or any combination of the foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where the value of an Other Stock-Based Award is based on the difference in the value of a Share at different points in time, the grant or exercise price will not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant unless the Other Stock-Based Award is granted in replacement for an award previously granted by an entity that is assumed by the Company in a business combination, provided that the Committee determines that the Other Stock-Based Award preserves the economic benefit of the replaced award.  
Article 10 - Long-Term Incentive Compensation Awards
Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Committee will determine all of the terms and conditions of a Long-Term Incentive Compensation Award, including but not limited to the performance measures, performance period, the potential amount payable, and the timing of payment, subject to the following:  (a) the Committee must require that payment of all or any portion of the 

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amount subject to the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Award is contingent on the achievement of one or more performance measures during the period the Committee specifies, although the Committee may specify that all or a portion of the performance measures subject to an Award are deemed achieved upon a Participant’s death, Disability or retirement, or such other circumstances as the Committee may specify; and (b) the performance period must relate to a period of more than one fiscal year of the Company.  The Long-Term Incentive Compensation Awards will be payable in cash and the Committee may provide Participants with the right to defer all or part of any Award.  
Article 11 - Performance Measures
		
	11.1
	In General.  The Committee may, in its discretion, include performance conditions in any Award.


		
	11.2
	Section 162(m) Performance Measures.  Unless and until the Committee proposes for stockholder vote and stockholders approve a change in the general performance measures set forth in this Article 11, the attainment of which may determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to Covered Employees’ Awards that are intended to qualify under the performance-based compensation provisions of Code section 162(m), the performance measure(s) to be used for purposes of such Awards shall be chosen from among the following: earnings, earnings per share, consolidated pre-tax earnings, net earnings, net income, operating income, EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes), EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), gross margin, operating margin, profit margin, revenues, revenue growth, market value added, market share, economic value added, return measures (including but not limited to return on equity, return on investment, return on assets, return on net assets, and return on capital employed), total stockholder return, relative total stockholder return, profit, operating profit, economic profit, capitalized economic profit, after-tax profit, pre-tax profit, cash, cash flow measures (including but not limited to operating cash flow, free cash flow, and cash flow return), sales, sales volume, sales growth, assets, inventory turnover ratio, productivity ratios, Share price, cost, unit cost, expense ratios, charge-off levels, operating efficiency, operating expenses, improvement in or attainment of expense levels, working capital, improvement in or attainment of working capital levels, debt, debt to equity ratio, debt reduction, capital targets and/or consummation of acquisitions, dispositions, projects or other specific events or transactions. 


Any performance measure may be applied to the Company and any other entity included in the term “Employer” in the aggregate, to a selection of these, to each as a whole or alternatively, or to any business unit of the Company or any other entity included in the term “Employer”, either individually, alternatively or in any combination and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to results for previous years or to a designated comparison group of entities or to a published or stock market or other index, in each case as specified by the Committee.  The Committee shall specify the period over which the performance goals for a particular Award shall be measured.  
		
	11.3
	Other Performance Measures.  The Committee may establish other performance measures for Awards granted to Eligible Participants that are not intended to qualify under the performance-based compensation exception from the deductibility limitations of Code section 162(m).


		
	11.4
	Committee Determination of Achievement of Performance Goals; Adjustments.  The Committee shall determine whether the applicable performance goals have been met with respect to a particular Award and, if they have, the Committee shall so certify in writing and ascertain the amount payable under the applicable Award. The Committee is authorized to make adjustments in performance-based criteria or in the terms and conditions of other Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or its financial statements (including, but not limited to, asset write-downs; litigation or claim judgments or settlements; reorganizations or restructuring programs; extraordinary, unusual, or nonrecurring items of gain or loss as defined under US generally accepted accounting principles; mergers, acquisitions or divestitures; and foreign exchange gains and losses) or changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles.  In the case of Awards to Covered Employees that are intended to qualify under the performance-based compensation exception from the deductibility limitations of Code section 162(m), such adjustments shall be made in accordance with guidelines established by the Committee at the time the performance-based Award is granted (or within such period thereafter as may be permissible under Code section 162(m)). The Committee shall also have the discretion to adjust downward the determinations of the degree of attainment of the pre-established performance goals.  


If applicable tax and/or securities laws permit Committee discretion to alter the governing performance measures without obtaining stockholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining stockholder approval. In addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is advisable to grant Awards which shall not qualify for the performance-based compensation exception from the deductibility limitations of Code section 162(m), the Committee may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Code section 162(m).

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Article 12 - Beneficiary Designation
To the extent permitted by the Committee, each Participant under the Plan may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any vested but unpaid Award is to be paid in case of the Participant’s  death. In the absence of any such designation, vested but unpaid Awards outstanding at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate.
Article 13 - Deferrals
The Committee may permit or require a Participant to defer such Participant’s receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant under any Award.  If any such deferral election is required or permitted, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, establish rules and procedures for such deferrals.  Any deferrals required or permitted by the Committee of Awards shall be made in compliance with Code section 409A. 
Article 14 - Withholding
		
	14.1
	Tax Withholding.  The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy Federal, state, and local taxes or similar charges, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of or in connection with this Plan or any Award.  


		
	14.2
	Share Withholding.  With respect to withholding required upon the exercise of Options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, upon the achievement of performance goals related to Performance Shares or Performance Units, or upon any other taxable event arising as a result of or in connection with an Award granted hereunder that is settled in Shares, unless other arrangements are made with the consent of the Committee, Participants shall satisfy the withholding requirement by having the Company withhold Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined equal to not more than the amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s withholding obligations at the minimum statutory withholding rates. All such withholding arrangements shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.


Article 15 - Amendment and Termination
		
	15.1
	Amendment or Termination of Plan.  The Committee may at any time terminate or from time to time amend the Plan in whole or in part, but no such action shall adversely affect any rights or obligations with respect to any Awards previously granted under the Plan, unless a Participant who is adversely affected by such amendment consents in writing. The Company will obtain the approval of the stockholders before amending the Plan to the extent required by Code section 162(m) or 422 and/or the rules of the exchange upon which the Shares are traded or other applicable law.


		
	15.2
	Amendment of Agreement.  The Committee may, at any time, amend outstanding Agreements in a manner not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan; provided, however, if such amendment is adverse to the Participant, as determined by the Committee, the amendment shall not be effective as to that Participant unless and until the Participant consents, in writing, to such amendment. To the extent not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, the Committee may, at any time, amend an outstanding Agreement in a manner that is not unfavorable to the Participant without the consent of such Participant. Except to the extent provided in Section 4.3, the Committee shall not without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, (i) reduce the purchase price or base price of any previously granted Option or SAR, (ii) cancel any previously granted Option or SAR in exchange for another Option or SAR with a lower purchase price or base price or (iii) cancel any previously granted Option or SAR in exchange for cash or another award if the purchase price of such Option or the base price of such SAR exceeds the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of such cancellation, in each case other than in connection with a Change in Control.   


		
	15.3
	Recoupment of Compensation or Cancellation of Awards.  Awards under the Plan shall be subject to any policy of recoupment of compensation adopted or amended from time to time by the Board or the Committee, including, without limitation, any policy it deems necessary or desirable to comply with the requirements of Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (providing for recovery of erroneously awarded compensation), Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (providing for forfeiture of certain bonuses and profits), and any implementing rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable listing standards of a national securities exchange adopted in accordance with either of these Acts which policy is incorporated into this Plan, the Awards and the Agreements.  The Committee may provide in the Agreement that if a Participant engages in any “detrimental activity” (as defined in the Agreement), the Committee may, notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the 



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contrary, cancel, rescind, suspend, withhold or otherwise restrict or limit any unexpired, unexercised, unpaid or deferred Award and require the Participant to pay to the Company the fair market value of the compensation received by the Participant from the Award.    
Article 16 - Change in Control
Except as otherwise provided in an employment, change in control or similar agreement with the Company that provides for the effect of a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan or in any such other agreement for similar transactions) on outstanding Awards (an “Outstanding Award”) granted under the Plan to a Participant, the Agreement may provide (in addition to other provisions) that upon a Change in Control the Committee shall have the authority to determine (which determination may be different for different types or grants of Outstanding Awards or for different groups of Participants) that Outstanding Awards:
(a)    will be continued by the Company (if the Company is the surviving entity); or 
(b)    will be assumed by the surviving entity or its parent or subsidiary; or
		
	(c)
	will be substituted for by the surviving entity or its parent or subsidiary with an equivalent award for the Outstanding Award.


If (a), (b) or (c) above do not apply to an Outstanding Award, the Agreement may provide that the Committee will in its discretion determine the impact of the Change in Control on the Outstanding Award, including the right to determine to fully vest Outstanding Awards that are not continued, assumed or substituted and to cash out Outstanding Awards.  
If subsections (a), (b), or (c) above apply to an Outstanding Award, the continued, assumed or substituted awards will provide (i) similar terms and conditions and preserve the same benefits as the Outstanding Award that is being continued or replaced, and (ii) that, in the event of the Participant’s involuntary termination without Cause or termination for Good Reason on, or within the two-year period following, the date of the Change in Control, the Outstanding Award (or substituted award) will fully vest and become immediately exercisable and/or nonforfeitable.
The Agreement may contain such other provisions relating to the treatment of Outstanding Awards upon a Change in Control as the Committee determines are necessary or desirable.  
In the event that any acceleration of vesting or other action with respect to an Award and any other payment or benefit received or to be received by a Participant would subject the Participant to any excise tax pursuant to Code section 4999 due to the characterization of such acceleration of vesting, action, payment or benefit as an “excess parachute payment” under Code section 280G, the Committee may in its discretion elect to reduce the amount payable with respect to an Award. 
Article 17 - Miscellaneous Provisions
		
	17.1
	Restrictions on Shares.  All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Shares are then listed and any applicable federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. In making such determination, the Committee may rely upon an opinion of counsel for the Company.


Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company shall have no liability to deliver any Shares under the Plan or make any other distribution of the benefits under the Plan unless such delivery or distribution would comply with all applicable laws (including, without limitation, the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933), and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity.
		
	17.2
	Rights of Stockholder.  Except as provided otherwise in the Plan or in an Agreement, no Participant receiving an Award shall have any right as a stockholder with respect to any Shares covered by such Award (including but not limited to the right to vote the Shares) prior to the date on which the Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares.


		
	17.3
	No Implied Rights.  Nothing in the Plan or any Agreement shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the service of the Employer, or to serve as a Director thereof, or interfere in any way with the right of the Employer to terminate the Participant’s employment or other service relationship at any time and for any reason. Unless agreed by the Board or the Committee, no Award granted under the Plan shall be deemed salary or compensation for the purpose 



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of computing benefits under any employee benefit plan, severance program, or other arrangement of the Employer for the benefit of its employees. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under the Plan, such right shall, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.
		
	17.4
	Compliance with Code Section 409A.  At all times, this Plan, an Award and any Agreement shall be interpreted and operated (i) with respect to 409A Awards in accordance with the requirements of Code section 409A, and (ii) to maintain the exemptions from Code section 409A of Options, SARs and Restricted Stock and any Awards designed to meet the short-term deferral exception under Code section 409A.   In addition, to the extent required to avoid a violation of the applicable rules under Code section 409A by reason of Code section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), any payment under an Award shall be delayed until the earliest date of payment that will result in compliance with the rules of Code section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) (regarding the required six-month delay for distributions to specified employees that are related to a separation from service).  To the extent that a 409A Award provides for payment upon the recipient’s termination of employment as an employee or cessation of service as a Director, the 409A Award shall be deemed to require payment upon the individual’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Code section 409A.  


		
	17.5
	Deferrals for Code Section 162(m).  The Committee, in its discretion, may defer the payment of an Award, if such payment would cause the annual remuneration of a Participant, who is subject to the requirements of Code section 162(m), to be nondeductible because it exceeds $1,000,000 (or such other amount allowed under Code section 162(m) as a deduction).   


		
	17.6
	Successors.  The terms of the Plan and all outstanding Awards shall be binding upon the Company, and its successors and assigns.


		
	17.7
	Tax Elections.  Each Participant agrees to promptly give the Committee a copy of any election made by such Participant under Code section 83(b) or any similar provision thereof. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Committee may condition any Award on the Participant making or not making an election under Code section 83(b) with respect to the Award. 


		
	17.8
	Right of Setoff.  The Company or an Employer may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, deduct from and setoff against any amounts payable in connection with any Award, such amounts as may be owed by the Participant to the Company or an Employer.   


		
	17.9
	No Fractional Shares.  No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award; in the discretion of the Committee, the Company shall forfeit the value of fractional shares or make cash payments in lieu of fractional Shares.  


		
	17.10
	Uncertificated Shares.  To the extent that the Plan provides for issuance of certificates to reflect the transfer of Shares, the transfer of such Shares may be effected on a noncertificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange.  


		
	17.11
	Legal Construction.


		
	(a)
	Severability.  If any provision of this Plan or an Agreement is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any Agreement under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Agreement, it shall be stricken and the remainder of the Plan or the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.


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


		
	(c)
	Governing Law.  To the extent not preempted by federal law, the Plan and all Agreements hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts or choice or law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan or the Agreement (as applicable) to the substantive law of any other jurisdiction.


		
	17.12
	Data Privacy; Transfer of Data.  By accepting an Award, a Participant (a) explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of any of Participant’s personal data that is necessary to facilitate 



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the implementation, administration and management of the Award and the Plan, (b) understands that the Company and any Employer may, for the purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Plan, hold certain personal information about Participant, including, but not limited to, Participant’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, and details of all Awards or entitlements to Shares granted to Participant under the Plan or otherwise (“Data”), (c) understands that Data may be transferred to any third parties assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, including any broker with whom the Shares issued with respect to an Award may be deposited, and that these recipients may be located in Participant’s country or elsewhere, and that the recipient’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than Participant’s country; (d) waives any data privacy rights Participant may have with respect to the Data; and (e) authorizes the Company and any Employer and its agents to store and transmit such information in electronic form.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Plan is executed this 17th day of December, 2013.
BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.


By: /s/ Robert L. Salomon            
Authorized Officer
ATTEST:


By: /s/ Kenneth F. Khoury            
Secretary



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