Exhibit
10.3


 


Note:  This exhibit reflects an amendment to
Section 13(b) of this long-term performance plan to provide that the
Rescission Period shall mean that period of time established by the Committee
which shall not be less than 6 months after any exercise, payment or delivery
pursuant to an Award.  The remaining
terms and conditions of this long-term performance plan were not modified,
including the maximum number of shares that may be issued under the plan as set
forth in Section 3.


 


IBM PWCC Acquisition Long-Term Performance Plan


 


1.
Objectives.


 


The IBM
PWCC Acquisition Long-Term Performance Plan (the “Plan”) is designed to
attract, motivate and retain selected employees of, and other individuals
providing services to, the Company in connection with the Company’s acquisition
of certain businesses and assets of PricewaterhouseCoopers. These objectives
are accomplished by making long-term incentive and other awards under the Plan,
thereby providing Participants with a proprietary interest in the growth and
performance of the Company.


 


2.
Definitions.


 


(a)
“Awards”—The grant of any form of stock option, stock appreciation right, stock
or cash award, whether granted singly, in combination or in tandem, to a
Participant pursuant to such terms, conditions, performance requirements,
limitations and restrictions as the Committee may establish in order to fulfill
the objectives of the Plan.


 


(b) “Award
Agreement”—An agreement between the Company and a Participant that sets forth
the terms, conditions, performance requirements, limitations and restrictions
applicable to an Award.


 


(c)
“Board”—The Board of Directors of International Business Machines Corporation
(“IBM”).


 


(d)
“Capital Stock” or “stock”—Authorized and issued or unissued Capital Stock of
IBM, at such par value as may be established from time to time.


 


(e)
“Code”—The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.


 


(f)
“Committee”—The committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan.


 


(g)
“Company”—IBM and its affiliates and subsidiaries including subsidiaries of
subsidiaries and partnerships and other business ventures in which IBM has an
equity interest.


 


(h) “Fair
Market Value”—The average of the high and low prices of Capital Stock on the
New York Stock Exchange for the date in question, provided that, if no sales of
Capital Stock were made on said exchange on that date, the average of the high
and low prices of Capital Stock as reported for the most recent preceding day
on which sales of Capital Stock were made on said exchange.


 


(i)
“Participant”— An individual to whom an Award has been made under the Plan.
Awards may be made to any employee of, or any other individual providing
services to, the Company in


 
















 


connection
with the Company’s acquisition of certain businesses and assets of
PricewaterhouseCoopers.


 


(j)
“Performance Period” — A multi-year period of no more than five consecutive
calendar years over which one or more of the performance criteria listed in
Section 6 shall be measured pursuant to the grant of Long-Term Performance
Incentive Awards (whether such Awards take the form of stock, stock units or
equivalents or cash). Performance Periods may overlap one another, but no two
Performance Periods may consist solely of the same calendar years.


 


3. Capital
Stock Available for Awards.


 


The number
of shares that may be issued under the Plan for Awards granted wholly or partly
in stock during the term of the Plan is 41,000,000. Shares of Capital Stock may
be made available from the authorized but unissued shares of the Company or
from shares held in the Company’s treasury and not reserved for some other
purpose. For purposes of determining the number of shares of Capital Stock
issued under the Plan, no shares shall be deemed issued until they are actually
delivered to a Participant, or such other person in accordance with
Section 10. Shares covered by Awards that either wholly or in part are not
earned, or that expire or are forfeited, terminated, canceled, settled in cash,
payable solely in cash or exchanged for other awards, shall be available for
future issuance under Awards. Further, shares tendered to or withheld by the
Company in connection with the exercise of stock options, or the payment of tax
withholding on any Award, shall also be available for future issuance under
Awards.


 


4.
Administration.


 


The Plan
shall be administered by the Committee, which shall have full power to select
Participants, to interpret the Plan, to grant waivers of Award restrictions, to
continue, accelerate or suspend exercisability, vesting or payment of an Award
and to adopt such rules, regulations and guidelines for carrying out the Plan
as it may deem necessary or proper. These powers include, but are not limited
to, the adoption of modifications, amendments, procedures, subplans and the like
as necessary to comply with provisions of the laws and regulations of the
countries in which the Company operates in order to assure the viability of
Awards granted under the Plan and to enable Participants regardless of where
employed to receive advantages and benefits under the Plan and such laws and
regulations.


 


5.
Delegation of Authority.


 


The
Committee may delegate to officers of the Company its duties, power and
authority under the Plan pursuant to such conditions or limitations as the
Committee may establish.


 


6. Awards.


 


The
Committee shall determine the type or types of Award(s) to be made to each
Participant and shall set forth in the related Award Agreement the terms,
conditions, performance requirements, and limitations applicable to each Award.
Awards may include but are not limited to those listed in this Section 6.
Awards may be granted singly, in combination or in tandem. Awards may also be
made in combination or in tandem with, in replacement or payment of, or as
alternatives to, grants, rights or compensation earned under any other plan of
the Company, including the plan of any acquired entity.


 


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(a) Stock
Option—A grant of a right to purchase a specified number of shares of Capital Stock
the exercise price of which shall be as determined by the Committee, provided
that, in the case of a stock option granted retroactively in tandem with or as
substitution for another award granted under any plan of the Company, the
exercise price may be the same as the purchase or designated price of such
other award.


 


(b) Stock
Appreciation Right—A right to receive a payment, in cash and/or Capital Stock,
equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of
shares of Capital Stock on the date the stock appreciation right (SAR) is
exercised over the grant price of the SAR, which shall not be less than 100% of
the Fair Market Value on the date of grant of such SAR, as determined by the
Committee, provided that, in the case of a SAR granted retroactively in tandem
with or as substitution for another award granted under any plan of the
Company, the grant price may be the same as the exercise or designated price of
such other award.


 


(c) Stock
Award—An Award made in stock and denominated in units of stock. All or part of
any stock award may be subject to conditions established by the Committee, and
set forth in the Award Agreement, which may include, but are not limited to,
continuous service with Company, achievement of specific business objectives,
increases in specified indices, attaining growth rates, and other comparable
measurements of Company performance. An Award made in stock or denominated in
units of stock that is subject to restrictions on transfer and/or forfeiture
provisions may be referred to as an Award of “Restricted Stock,” “Restricted
Stock Units” or “Long-Term Incentive Program” units.


 


(d) Cash
Award—An Award denominated in cash with the eventual payment amount subject to
future service and such other restrictions and conditions as may be established
by the Committee, and as set forth in the Award Agreement, including, but not
limited to, continuous service with the Company, achievement of specific
business objectives, increases in specified indices, attaining growth rates,
and other comparable measurements of Company performance.


 


7. Payment
of Awards.


 


Payment of
Awards may be made in the form of cash, stock or combinations thereof and may
include such restrictions as the Committee shall determine. Further, with Committee
approval, payments may be deferred, either in the form of installments or as a
future lump-sum payment, in accordance with such procedures as may be
established from time to time by the Committee. Any deferred payment, whether
elected by the Participant or specified by the Award Agreement or the
Committee, may require the payment to be forfeited in accordance with the
provisions of Section 13. Dividends or dividend equivalent rights may be
extended to and made part of any Award denominated in stock or units of stock,
subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as the Committee may
establish. The Committee may also establish rules and procedures for the
crediting of interest on deferred cash payments and dividend equivalents for
deferred payments denominated in stock or units of stock. At the discretion of
the Committee, a Participant may be offered an election to substitute an Award
for another Award or Awards of the same or different type.


 


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8. Stock
Option Exercise.


 


The price
at which shares of Capital Stock may be purchased under a stock option shall be
paid in full in cash at the time of the exercise or, if permitted by the
Committee, by means of tendering Capital Stock or surrendering another Award or
any combination thereof. The Committee shall determine acceptable methods of
tendering Capital Stock or other Awards and may impose such conditions on the
use of Capital Stock or other Awards to exercise a stock option as it deems
appropriate.


 


9. Tax
Withholding.


 


Prior to
the payment or settlement of any Award, the Participant must pay, or make
arrangements acceptable to the Company for the payment of, any and all federal,
state and local tax withholding that in the opinion of the Company is required
by law. The Company shall have the right to deduct applicable taxes from any
Award payment and withhold, at the time of delivery or vesting of shares under
the Plan, an appropriate number of shares for payment of taxes required by law
or to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company
to satisfy all obligations for withholding of such taxes.


 


10.
Transferability.


 


No Award
shall be transferable or assignable, or payable to or exercisable by, anyone
other than the Participant to whom it was granted, except (i) by law, will or
the laws of descent and distribution, (ii) as a result of the disability of a
Participant or (iii) that the Committee (in the form of an Award Agreement or
otherwise) may permit transfers of Awards by gift or otherwise to a member of a
Participant’s immediate family and/or trusts whose beneficiaries are members of
the Participant’s immediate family, or to such other persons or entities as may
be approved by the Committee.


 


11.
Amendment, Modification, Suspension or Discontinuance of the Plan.


 


The Board
may amend, modify, suspend or terminate the Plan for the purpose of meeting or
addressing any changes in legal requirements or for any other purpose permitted
by law.


 


12.
Termination of Employment.


 


If the
employment of a Participant terminates, other than as a result of the death or
disability of a Participant, all unexercised, deferred and unpaid Awards shall
be canceled immediately, unless the Award Agreement provides otherwise. In the
event of the death of a Participant or in the event a Participant is deemed by
the Company to be disabled and eligible for benefits under the terms of the IBM
Long-Term Disability Plan (or any successor plan or similar plan of another
employer), the Participant’s estate, beneficiaries or representative, as the
case may be, shall have the rights and duties of the Participant under the
applicable Award Agreement.


 


13.
Cancellation and Rescission of Awards.


 


(a) Unless
the Award Agreement specifies otherwise, the Committee may cancel, rescind,
suspend, withhold or otherwise limit or restrict any unexpired, unpaid, or
deferred Awards at any time if the Participant is not in compliance with all
applicable provisions of the Award


 


4
















 


Agreement
and the Plan, or if the Participant engages in any “Detrimental Activity.” For
purposes of this Section 13, “Detrimental Activity” shall include: (i) the
rendering of services for any organization or engaging directly or indirectly
in any business which is or becomes competitive with the Company, or which
organization or business, or the rendering of services to such organization or
business, is or becomes otherwise prejudicial to or in conflict with the
interests of the Company; (ii) the disclosure to anyone outside the Company, or
the use in other than the Company’s business, without prior written
authorization from the Company, of any confidential information or material, as
defined in the Company’s Agreement Regarding Confidential Information and
Intellectual Property, relating to the business of the Company, acquired by the
Participant either during or after employment with the Company; (iii) the
failure or refusal to disclose promptly and to assign to the Company, pursuant
to the Company’s Agreement Regarding Confidential Information and Intellectual
Property, all right, title and interest in any invention or idea, patentable or
not, made or conceived by the Participant during employment by the Company,
relating in any manner to the actual or anticipated business, research or
development work of the Company or the failure or refusal to do anything
reasonably necessary to enable the Company to secure a patent where appropriate
in the United States and in other countries; (iv) activity that results in
termination of the Participant’s employment for cause; (v) a violation of any
rules, policies, procedures or guidelines of the Company, including but not
limited to the Company’s Business Conduct Guidelines; (vi) any attempt directly
or indirectly to induce any employee of the Company to be employed or perform
services elsewhere or any attempt directly or indirectly to solicit the trade
or business of any current or prospective customer, supplier or partner of the
Company; (vii) the Participant being convicted of, or entering a guilty plea
with respect to, a crime, whether or not connected with the Company; or (viii)
any other conduct or act determined to be injurious, detrimental or prejudicial
to any interest of the Company.


 


(b) Upon
exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to an Award, the Participant shall
certify in a manner acceptable to the Company that he or she is in compliance
with the terms and conditions of the Plan. In the event a Participant fails to
comply with the provisions of paragraphs (a)(i)-(viii) of this Section 13
prior to, or during the Rescission Period, then any exercise, payment or
delivery may be rescinded within two years after such exercise, payment or
delivery.  In the event of any such
rescission, the Participant shall pay to the Company the amount of any gain
realized or payment received as a result of the rescinded exercise, payment or
delivery, in such manner and on such terms and conditions as may be required,
and the Company shall be entitled to set-off against the amount of any such
gain any amount owed to the Participant by the Company.  As used herein, Rescission Period shall mean
that period of time established by the Committee which shall not be less than 6
months after any exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to an Award.


 


14.
Adjustments.


 


In the
event of any change in the outstanding Capital Stock of the Company by reason
of a stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of shares,
recapitalization, merger, or similar event, the Committee may adjust
proportionately: (a) the number of shares of Capital Stock (i) available for
issuance under the Plan, (ii) for which Awards may be granted to an individual
Participant set forth in Section 6, and (iii) covered by outstanding
Awards denominated in stock or units of stock; (b) the exercise and grant
prices related to outstanding


 


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Awards; and
(c) the appropriate Fair Market Value and other price determinations for such
Awards. In the event of any other change affecting the Capital Stock or any
distribution (other than normal cash dividends) to holders of Capital Stock,
such adjustments in the number and kind of shares and the exercise, grant and
conversion prices of the affected Awards as may be deemed equitable by the
Committee, including adjustments to avoid fractional shares, shall be made to
give proper effect to such event. In the event of a corporate merger,
consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization or
liquidation, the Committee shall be authorized to cause IBM to issue or assume
stock options, whether or not in a transaction to which section 424(a) of
the Code applies, by means of substitution of new stock options for previously
issued stock options or an assumption of previously issued stock options. In
such event, the aggregate number of shares of Capital Stock available for
issuance under Awards under Section 3, including the individual
Participant maximums set forth in Section 6 will be increased to reflect
such substitution or assumption.


 


15.
Miscellaneous.


 


(a) Any
notice to the Company required by any of the provisions of the Plan shall be
addressed to the chief human resources officer of IBM in writing, and shall
become effective when it is received.


 


(b) The
Plan shall be unfunded and the Company shall not be required to establish any
special account or fund or to otherwise segregate or encumber assets to ensure
payment of any Award.


 


(c) Nothing
contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company from adopting other or
additional compensation arrangements or plans, subject to shareholder approval
if such approval is required, and such arrangements or plans may be either
generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.


 


(d) No
Participant shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan
and nothing contained in the Plan shall be deemed or be construed to give any
Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or to
interfere with the right of the Company to discharge any Participant at any
time without regard to the effect such discharge may have upon the Participant
under the Plan. Except to the extent otherwise provided in any plan or in an
Award Agreement, no Award under the Plan shall be deemed compensation for purposes
of computing benefits or contributions under any other plan of the Company.


 


(e) The
Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New
York, excluding any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might
otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan to the substantive
law of another jurisdiction. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement,
recipients of an Award under the Plan are deemed to submit to the exclusive
jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state courts of New York, County of
Westchester, to resolve any and all issues that may arise out of or relate to
the Plan or any related Award Agreement.


 


(f) In the
event that a Participant or the Company brings an action to enforce the terms of
the Plan or any Award Agreement and the Company prevails, the Participant shall
pay all costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with that
action, including reasonable


 


6
















 


attorneys’
fees, and all further costs and fees, including reasonable attorneys’ fees
incurred by the Company in connection with collection.


 


(g) The
Committee and any officers to whom it may delegate authority under 

Section 5 shall have full power and authority to interpret the Plan and to
make any determinations thereunder, including determinations under
Section 13, and the Committee’s or such officer’s determinations shall be
binding and conclusive. Determinations made by the Committee or any such
officer under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made selectively among
individuals, whether or not such individuals are similarly situated.


 


(h) If any
provision of the Plan is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award
under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be
construed or deemed amended or limited in scope to conform to applicable laws
or, in the discretion of the Committee, it shall be stricken and the remainder
of the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.


 


(i) The
Plan is effective as of July 30, 2002, which is the date of Board approval
of the Plan.


 


Federal Income Tax
Consequences


 


The Company
has been advised by counsel that, in general, under the Internal Revenue Code,
as presently in effect, a Participant will not be deemed to recognize any
income for federal income tax purposes at the time an option or SAR is granted
or a restricted stock award is made, nor will the Company be entitled to a tax
deduction at that time. However, when any part of an option or SAR is
exercised, when restrictions on restricted stock lapse, or when an unrestricted
stock award is made, the federal income tax consequences may be summarized as
follows:


 


1. In the
case of an exercise of a stock option, the optionee will generally recognize
ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of
the shares on the exercise date over the option price.


 


2. In the
case of an exercise of a SAR, the Participant will generally recognize ordinary
income on the exercise date in an amount equal to any cash and the fair market
value of any unrestricted shares received.


 


3. In the
case of an exercise of an option or SAR payable in restricted stock, or in the
case of an award of restricted stock, the immediate federal income tax effect
for the recipient will depend on the nature of the restrictions. Generally, the
fair market value of the stock will not be taxable to the recipient as ordinary
income until the year in which his or her interest in the stock is freely
transferable or is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.
However, the recipient may elect to recognize income when the stock is
received, rather than when his or her interest in the stock is freely
transferable or is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. If
the recipient makes this election, the amount taxed to the recipient as
ordinary income is determined as of the date of receipt of the restricted
stock.


 


4. Upon the
exercise of a stock option, the exercise of a SAR, the award of stock, or the
recognition of income on restricted stock, the Company will generally be
allowed an income tax deduction equal to the ordinary income recognized by a
Participant. When a cash payment is


 


7
















 


made
pursuant to the Award, the recipient will recognize the amount of the cash
payment as ordinary income, and the Company will generally be entitled to a
deduction in the same amount.


 


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