Deferred Stock Award Agreement - Comverse and Joel Legon



 Exhibit 10.88 

COMVERSE TECHNOLOGY, INC. 

2005 STOCK INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN 

DEFERRED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT 

REFERENCE NUMBER: 09-001 

SECTION 1. GRANT OF DEFERRED STOCK UNITS. 

(a) Award. On the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company granted to Joel Legon (the “Grantee”) a total of 20,000
Deferred Stock Units (the “Granted Units”) on March 12, 2009. 
 (b) Shareholder Rights. The Grantee (or any successor in
interest) shall not have any of the rights of a shareholder (including, without limitation, voting, dividend and liquidation rights) with respect to the Granted Units until such time as the Company delivers to the Grantee the shares of Common Stock
in settlement of the Granted Units, as described in Section 4(a). 
 (c) Plan and Defined Terms. This award is granted under and
subject to the terms of the 2005 Stock Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), which is incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined in the Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

 (d) Grantee Undertaking. The Grantee agrees to execute such further instruments and to take such action as may reasonably be necessary
to carry out the intent of this Agreement. 
 SECTION 2. NO TRANSFER OR ASSIGNMENT OF AWARD. 

This Award and the rights and privileges conferred hereby shall not be sold, pledged or otherwise transferred (whether by operation of law
or otherwise) and shall not be subject to sale under execution, attachment, levy or similar process; provided, however, that the Grantee shall be permitted to transfer this award, in connection with his or her estate plan, to the Grantee’s
spouse, siblings, parents, children and grandchildren or a charitable organization that is exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code or to trusts for the benefit of such persons or partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies or
other entities owned solely by such persons, including trusts for such persons or to the Grantee’s former spouse in accordance with a domestic relations order. 

SECTION 3. VESTING; TERMINATION OF SERVICE. 

(a) Vesting. 
 This award shall vest with
respect to one-third of the Granted Units on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of February 23, 2009, or such earlier date as may be determined pursuant to the Comverse Technology, Inc. Executive Severance Protection Plan, as
amended from time to time (the “Executive Severance Protection Plan”) (each, a “Vesting Date”). 
 (b) Termination of
Continuous Service. Subject to the terms of the Executive Severance Protection Plan, the unvested portion of the award shall be forfeited as of the date (the “Termination Date”) that the Grantee actually ceases to provide services to
the Company or an Affiliate in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant (irrespective of whether the 







 
Grantee continues to receive severance or any other continuation payments or benefits after such date) for any reason (such cessation of the provision of services by Grantee being referred to as
“Service Termination”). A Service Termination shall not occur and Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Subsidiary or
Affiliate, or any successor, in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate in any capacity of Employee, Director
or Consultant. 
 SECTION 4. SETTLEMENT OF GRANTED UNITS. 

(a) Settlement Amount. Subject to Section 4(b) hereof, the Company shall deliver to the Grantee on each Vesting Date a number of shares of
Common Stock equal to the aggregate number of Granted Units that vest as of such date; provided, however, that no shares of Common Stock will be issued in settlement of this award unless the issuance of shares complies with all relevant provisions
of law and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares of Common Stock may then be listed. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued. The Company will pay cash in respect of fractional shares of Common Stock.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 4(a), and subject to Section 4(b), the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable to the Grantee shall equal: 

(i) if the Grantee has not incurred a Service Termination prior to the first anniversary of February 23, 2009, the number of shares
of Common Stock that vest on the first anniversary of February 23, 2009 and such shares shall be deliverable to the Grantee on the first date within the “short-term deferral period” (as defined in Treasury Reg. §1.409A-l(b)(4))
(the “Short-Term Deferral Period”) on which there is an Effective Registration in place, but in no event later than March 15, 2011; 

(ii) if the Grantee has not incurred a Service Termination prior to the second anniversary of February 23, 2009, the number of
shares of Common Stock that vest on the second anniversary of February 23, 2009 and such shares shall be deliverable to the Grantee on the first date within the Short-Term Deferral Period on which there is an Effective Registration in place,
but in no event later than March 15, 2012; and 
 (iii) if the Grantee has not incurred a Service Termination prior to the
third anniversary of February 23, 2009, the number of shares of Common Stock that vest on the third anniversary of February 23, 2009 and such shares shall be deliverable to the Grantee on the first date within the Short-Term Deferral
Period on which there is an Effective Registration in place, but in no event later than March 15, 2013; 
 provided, that if the Grantee
incurs a Service Termination prior to the delivery of any shares of Common Stock in accordance with this Section 4(a), the Company shall deliver to the Grantee on the Termination Date the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of
shares of Common Stock that (A) are vested but not yet delivered as of the Termination Date, if any, and (B) vest on the Termination Date in accordance with Section 3 herein, if any. 

(b) Withholding Requirements. The Grantee shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company to enable it to satisfy all such withholding
requirements in respect of any delivery to the Grantee of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof; provided, that if on the date of any such delivery to the Grantee of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof
there is no Effective Registration in place, the Company shall, unless the Grantee elects 
  

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otherwise and makes arrangements satisfactory to the Company, withhold from the settlement amount a number of shares of Common Stock with an aggregate value sufficient to enable the Company to
satisfy its withholding requirements with respect to the settlement of the Granted Units, with the shares of Common Stock valued using the closing price of the Common Stock on the date of delivery of such shares. 

SECTION 5. ADJUSTMENT OF GRANTED UNITS. 

If there shall be any change in the Common Stock of the Company, through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock
dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spinoff, combination of shares, exchange of shares, dividend in kind or other like change in capital structure or distribution (other than normal cash dividends), any extraordinary dividend,
distribution of cash or other assets to Shareholders of the Company, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of participants’ rights under the Plan, the Committee shall adjust, in an equitable manner, the number and kind of shares that will
be paid to the Grantee upon settlement of the Granted Units. 
 SECTION 6. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. 

(a) No Retention Rights, No Future Awards. Nothing in this award or in the Plan shall confer upon the Grantee any right to any future Awards and to
continue in Continuous Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining the Grantee) or of the Grantee, which rights are
hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate his or her Continuous Service at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. 
 (b)
Award Unfunded. The Granted Units represent an unfunded promise. The Grantee’s rights with respect to the Granted Units are no greater than the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company. 

(c) Notice. Whenever under this Agreement it becomes necessary to give notice, such notice shall be in writing, signed by the party or parties
giving or making the same, and shall be served on the person or persons for whom it is intended or who should be advised or notified, by Federal Express (or other similar overnight service) or by registered or certified mail, with postage and fees
prepaid. Notice shall be addressed to the Company at its principal executive office and to the Grantee at the address that he or she most recently provided in writing to the Company. 

(d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Plan, and the Executive Severance Protection Plan, constitute the entire contract between the parties
hereto with regard to the Granted Units. They supersede any other agreements, representations or understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) which relate to the subject matter hereof. 

(e) Waiver. No waiver of any breach or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach or condition
whether of like or different nature. 
 (f) Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and
be binding upon, the Company and its successors and assigns and upon the Grantee, the Grantee’s assigns and the legal representatives, heirs and legatees of the Grantee’s estate, whether or not any such person shall have become a party to
this Agreement and have agreed in writing to be joined herein and be bound by the terms hereof. 
  

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 (g) Section 409A. The following shall only be applicable if the Grantee is subject to taxation
in the United States or the Grantee is otherwise subject to Section 409A: 
 (i) If any Granted Units (any payment in lieu
thereof), shares of Common Stock in respect thereof or other benefit provided by the Company to the Grantee pursuant to this Agreement and in connection with the Grantee’s Service Termination is determined, in whole or in part, to constitute
“nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A and the Grantee is a specified employee as defined in Section 409A(2)(B)(i) as of the date of such Service Termination, no part of such Granted Units (any
payment in lieu thereof), shares of Common Stock in respect thereof or other benefit shall be delivered or paid under this Agreement (other than a delivery or payment that qualifies as a “short-term deferral” under Section 409A) to
the Grantee during the period lasting six months from the date of such Service Termination unless the Company determines that there is no reasonable basis for believing that making such delivery or payment would cause the Grantee to suffer any
adverse tax consequences pursuant to Section 409A. If any delivery or payment to the Grantee is delayed pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, such payment instead shall be made on the first business day following the expiration of the
six-month period referred to in that sentence. The Company shall consult with the Grantee in good faith regarding implementation of this section 6(g)(i); provided that neither the Company nor its employees or representatives shall have
liability to the Grantee with respect thereto. 
 (i) The parties acknowledge and agree that the interpretation of
Section 409A and its application to the terms of this Agreement is uncertain and may be subject to change as additional guidance and interpretations become available. Anything to the contrary herein notwithstanding, any Granted Units (any
payment in lieu thereof), shares of Common Stock in respect thereof or other benefit provided by the Company to the Grantee that would be deemed to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A are
intended to comply with Section 409A. If however, the Granted Units (any payment in lieu thereof), shares of Common Stock in respect thereof or any other benefit is deemed to not comply with Section 409A, the Company and the Grantee agree
to renegotiate in good faith any such benefit or payment (including, without limitation, as to the timing of any settlement of Granted Units or any payment in lieu thereof) so that either (i) Section 409A will not apply or
(ii) compliance with Section 409A will be achieved; provided, however, that any resulting renegotiated terms shall provide to the Grantee the after-tax economic equivalent of what otherwise has been provided to the Grantee pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement; provided, further that any deferral of payments or other benefits shall be only for such time period as may be required to comply with Section 409A. 

(ii) A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the
delivery of shares of Common Stock under vested Granted Units (or the payment of any amount in lieu thereof) subject to Section 409A upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from
service” within the meaning of Section 409A, and for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “Service Termination” or termination or interruption of “Continuous Service” or like terms shall
mean separation from service. 
 (iii) If under this Agreement, an amount is paid or delivered in two or more installments, for
purposes of Section 409A, each installment shall be treated as a separate payment. 
  

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 (iv) Anything to the contrary herein or in the Plan or the Executive Severance Protection
Plan notwithstanding, neither the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any of their respective employees, directors, officers, agents or representatives nor any member of the Committee shall have any liability to a Grantee or
otherwise with respect to the failure of the Plan, the Granted Units or the Award Agreement to comply with Section 409A. 
 (h)
Headings. Section and sub-section headings are for convenient reference only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of its provisions. 

(i) Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York (regardless of the law
that might otherwise govern under applicable New York principles of conflict of laws). 
 SECTION 7. DEFINITIONS. 

(a) “Affiliate” shall mean (i) any entity other than the Subsidiaries in which the Company has a substantial direct or indirect
equity interest, as determined by the Board, and (ii) any Subsidiary. 
 (b) “Agreement” shall mean this Deferred Stock
Award Agreement. 
 (c) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations
promulgated thereunder. 
 (d) “Effective Registration” shall mean the registration of the shares of Common Stock granted to
the Grantee hereunder pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form S-8 or any successor form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 

(e) “Granted Units” shall have the meaning described in Section 1(a) of this Agreement. 

(f) “Grantee” shall have the meaning described in Section 1(a) of this Agreement. 

(g) “Plan” shall have the meaning described in Section 1(c) of this Agreement. 

(h) “Section 409A” shall mean Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance
issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof. 
 (i)
“Service Termination” shall have the meaning described in Section 3(b) of this Agreement. 
 (j) “Termination
Date” shall have the meaning described in Section 3(b) of this Agreement. 
 (k) “Vesting Date” shall have
the meaning described in Section 3(a) of this Agreement. 
 (Signature Page Follows) 

 

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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case of the
Company by its duly authorized officer, as set forth below and this Agreement shall be dated as of the latest date set forth below. 
  

									
	GRANTEE:	 		 	COMVERSE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
				
	/s/ Joel Legon	 		 	By:	 	/s/ Lance Miyamoto
	Joel Legon	 		 	Name:	 	Lance Miyamoto
	Dated:	 	March 24, 2009	 		 	Title:	 	Executive Vice President, global Head of Human Resources
		 		 		 	Dated:	 	March 23, 2009

  

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