EX-10.1



 Exhibit 10.1 
 SLM Corporation 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan 
 Performance Stock Unit Term Sheet

 2013 Long-Term Incentive Award 

 
 Pursuant to the terms and
conditions of the SLM Corporation 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), the Compensation and Personnel Committee (the “Committee”) of the SLM Corporation Board of Directors hereby grants to
             (the “Grantee”) on February 7, 2013 (the “Grant Date”) an award (the “Award”) of
             shares of Performance Stock Units (“PSUs”), which represent the right to acquire shares of common stock of SLM Corporation (the “Corporation”)
subject to the following terms and conditions (this “Agreement”): 
  

	 	1.	Vesting Schedule. Unless vested earlier as set forth below, the Award will vest, and will be settled in shares of the Corporation’s common stock, based on
the following vesting terms: 

  

	 	•	 	 A specified number of the total PSUs granted to each executive shall vest in amounts based on the amount of “Cumulative Core Net Income” (as
that term is defined below) achieved by the Corporation for years 2013, 2014 and 2015 in the aggregate, as shown on the attached chart, and on the date specified in this Agreement below. Each vested PSU will be settled in shares of the
Corporation’s common stock. 


  

	 	•	 	 “Cumulative Core Net Income” shall be defined as the Corporation’s aggregate “core earnings” net income for the fiscal years
2013, 2014 and 2015, using yearly “core earnings” net income as shown in the segment reporting footnote in the Corporation’s audited financial statements as published in the Corporation’s annual report on Form 10-K.



  

	 	•	 	 PSUs shall vest on the second business day after the Corporation’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2015 is filed, and in no event
later than March 15, 2016. 


  

	 	•	 	 The Committee has discretion to decrease the shares issuable pursuant to any PSU award, but may not increase the shares issuable in a manner
inconsistent with the requirements for qualified performance-based compensation under section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 162(m)”). 



 

	 	•	 	 Cumulative Core Net Income Chart: 


  

							
	 Cumulative Core Net Income

(C.C.N.I.) 2013-2015 (in
 Billions)
	  	Percentage of
Target	 	Percentage of Award	 	Percentage Increase
in Award Per
Percentage Increase
in C.C.N.I.
	 $2.7 or less
	  	79%	 	No Award	 	
	 $3.0 or less, but more than $2.7
	  	88%	 	50%	 	
	 $3.1
	  	91%	 	80%	 	3.33%
	 $3.2
	  	94%	 	90%	 	3.33%
	 $3.3
	  	97%	 	95%	 	1.66%
	 $3.4 (Target)
	  	100%	 	100%	 	1.66%
	 $3.5
	  	103%	 	110%	 	3.33%
	 $3.6
	  	106%	 	120%	 	3.33%
	 $3.7 or more
	  	109%	 	130%
 (Maximum Award)
	 	

 If compensation paid to the Grantee might be subject to the tax deduction limitations of
Section 162(m), the vesting of the Award is contingent upon certification by the Committee that the applicable Section 162(m) performance targets have been met on or prior to the applicable vesting event; provided, however, that in no
event will the conversion of the Award into shares of the Corporation’s common stock occur after the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which ends the performance period described in this Section 1. 

 

	 	2.	Employment Termination; Death; Disability. Except as provided below, if the Grantee voluntarily ceases to be an employee of the Corporation (or one of its
subsidiaries) for any reason or his or her employment is terminated by the Corporation (or one of its subsidiaries) for Misconduct, as determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion, he/she shall forfeit any portion of the Award that has not
vested as of the date of such termination of employment. 


  

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 SLM Corporation 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan 

Performance Stock Unit Term Sheet 
 2013 Long-Term Incentive Award 
  

If not previously vested, the Award will continue to vest, and will be settled in shares of the Corporation’s common stock, subject
to the original performance goals and performance period set forth above on the original vesting terms and vesting dates set forth above in the event that (i) the Grantee’s employment is terminated by the Corporation (or one of its
subsidiaries) for any reason other than for Misconduct, as determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion, or (ii) the Grantee voluntarily ceases to be an employee of the Corporation (or one of its subsidiaries) and meets the
Corporation’s retirement eligibility requirements under the Corporation’s then current retirement eligibility policy, which shall be determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion. 

If not previously vested, the Award will vest, and will be settled in shares of the Corporation’s common stock, at the target levels
set forth above, upon death or Disability (provided that such Disability qualifies as a “disability” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(4)). 

The Award shall be forfeited upon termination of employment due to Misconduct, as determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion.

 Notwithstanding anything stated herein, the Plan or in the SLM Corporation Change in Control Severance Plan for Senior
Officers, this Award shall not be subject to the terms set forth in the SLM Corporation Change in Control Severance Plan for Senior Officers. 
  

	 	3.	Change in Control. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement: 


 

	 	(a)	In the event of a Change in Control in which the acquiring or surviving company in the transaction does not assume or continue outstanding Awards upon the Change in
Control, then any portion of the Award that is not vested shall vest at the 100% target level set forth in the vesting schedule herein; provided, however, the settlement of the accelerated portion of the PSUs into shares of the Corporation’s
common stock (i.e., the settlement of the Award) will nevertheless be made at the same time or times as if such PSUs had vested in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in Section 1 or, if earlier, upon the termination of
Grantee’s employment for reasons other than Misconduct. 

  

	 	(b)	If Grantee’s employment shall terminate within twenty-four months following a Change in Control for any reason other than (i) by the Corporation for
Misconduct, as determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion or (ii) by Grantee’s voluntary termination of employment that is not a Termination of Employment for Good Reason, as defined in the Change of Control Severance Plan for
Senior Officers (if applicable to Grantee), any portion of the Award not previously vested shall immediately become vested, and shall be settled in shares of the Corporation’s common stock, upon such employment termination.


  

	 	4.	Taxes; Dividends. The Grantee of the Award shall make such arrangements as may reasonably be required by the Corporation, including transferring a sufficient
number of shares of the Corporation’s stock, to satisfy the income and employment tax withholding requirements that accrue upon the Award becoming vested or, if applicable, settled in shares of the Corporation’s common stock (by approving
this Agreement, the Committee hereby approves the transfer of such shares to the Corporation for purposes of SEC Rule 16b-3). Dividends declared on an unvested Award will not be paid currently. Instead, amounts equal to such dividends will be
credited to an account established on behalf of the Grantee and such amounts will be deemed to be invested in additional shares of the Corporation’s common stock (“Dividend Equivalents”). Such Dividend Equivalents will be subject to
the same vesting schedule to which the Award is subject. Upon vesting of any portion of the Award, the amount of Dividend Equivalents allocable to such Award (and any fractional share amount) will also vest and will be converted into shares of the
Corporation’s common stock (provided that any fractional share amount shall be paid in cash). 

  

	 	5.	 Section 409A. For purposes of section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, the regulations and other guidance thereunder and any state law of
similar effect (collectively “Section 409A”), each payment and benefit payable under this Agreement is hereby designated as a separate payment. The parties intend that all PSUs provided under this Agreement and shares issuable
hereunder comply with the requirements of Section 409A so that none of the payments or benefits will be subject to the adverse tax penalties imposed under Section 409A, and any




  

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 SLM Corporation 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan 

Performance Stock Unit Term Sheet 
 2013 Long-Term Incentive Award 
  

 

	 	 	ambiguities herein will be interpreted to so comply. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or this Agreement to the contrary, if the vesting of the balance, or some
lesser portion of the balance, of the PSUs is to be accelerated in connection with the Grantee’s termination of service, such accelerated PSUs will not be settled by virtue of such acceleration until and unless the Grantee has a
“separation from service” within the meaning of Section Treasury Regulation 1-409A-1(h), as determined by the Corporation, in its sole discretion. Further, and notwithstanding anything in the Plan or this Agreement to the contrary, if
(x) any of the PSUs to be provided in connection with the Grantee’s separation from service do not qualify for any reason to be exempt from Section 409A, (y) the Grantee is, at the time of such separation from service, a
“specified employee” (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i)) and (z) the settlement of such PSUs would result in the imposition of additional tax under Section 409A if such settlement occurs on or within the
six (6) month period following the Grantee’s separation from service, then, to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of such additional taxation, the settlement of any such PSUs during such six (6) month period will accrue and
will not be settled until the date six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of the Grantee’s separation from service and on such date (or, if earlier, the date of the Grantee’s death), such PSUs will be settled.


  

	 	6.	Clawback Provision. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or an appropriate committee thereof,
determines that, any material misstatement of financial results or a performance metric criteria has occurred as a result of the Grantee’s conduct or the Grantee has committed a material violation of corporate policy or has committed fraud or
misconduct, and the Grantee at the time of such violation, fraud or misconduct (or at any time thereafter) was an officer of the Corporation (or its subsidiaries) at the Senior Vice President level or above, then the Board or committee shall
consider all factors, with particular scrutiny when one of the top 20 members of management are involved, and the Board or such committee, may in its sole discretion require reimbursement of any compensation resulting from the vesting, exercise or
settlement of Options and/or Restricted Stock/PSUs and the cancellation of any outstanding Options and/or Restricted Stock/PSUs from the Grantee (whether or not such individual is currently employed by the Corporation (or its subsidiaries)) during
the three-year period following the date the Board first learns of the violation, fraud or misconduct. 

  

	 	7.	Securities Law Compliance. The Corporation may impose such restrictions, conditions or limitations as it determines appropriate as to the timing and manner of
any transfer or sale by the Grantee of any shares of Common Stock, including without limitation (a) restrictions under an insider trading policy and (b) restrictions that may be necessary in the absence of an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the shares of the Corporation’s common stock. The sale of the shares must also comply with other applicable laws and regulations governing the sale of such shares.


  

	 	8.	Data Privacy. As an essential term of this award, the Grantee consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as
described herein for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing Grantee’s participation in the Plan. By accepting this award, the Grantee acknowledges that the Corporation holds certain personal information about the
Grantee, including, but not limited to, name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social security number or other identification number, salary, tax rates and amounts, nationality, job title, any shares of stock held in the
Corporation, details of all options or any other entitlement to shares of stock awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding, for the purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Plan (“Data”). Grantee
acknowledges that Data may be transferred to any third parties assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, that these recipients may be located in jurisdictions that may have different data privacy laws and
protections, and Grantee authorizes the recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such
Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the Grantee or the Corporation may elect to deposit any shares of the Corporation’s common stock. Grantee acknowledges that Data may be held to implement, administer and manage
the Grantee’s participation in the Plan as determined by the Corporation, and that Grantee may request additional information about the storage and processing of Data, require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the consents
herein, in any case without cost, provided however, that refusing or withdrawing Grantee’s consent may adversely affect Grantee’s ability to participate in the Plan. 


  

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 SLM Corporation 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan 

Performance Stock Unit Term Sheet 
 2013 Long-Term Incentive Award 
  

 

	 	9.	Electronic Delivery. The Corporation may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to any awards granted under the Plan by electronic
means or to request Grantee’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. Grantee hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and, if requested, to agree to participate in the Plan through an on-line or
electronic system established and maintained by the Corporation or another third party designated by the Corporation, and such consent shall remain in effect throughout Grantee’s term of service with the Corporation (or one of its subsidiaries)
and thereafter until withdrawn in writing by Grantee. 

  

	 	10.	Definitions. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein are defined in the Plan. 


  

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