EX-10.15



 Exhibit 10.15 
 As amended and restated effective as of February 2, 2012 
 THE TJX COMPANIES,
INC. 
 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN 
 (2009 Restatement) 







 TABLE OF CONTENTS 

 

					
	 	  	Page	 
		
	 SECTION 1. NAME; EFFECTIVE DATE; GENERAL PURPOSE
	  	 	2	  
		
	 SECTION 2. PLAN ADMINISTRATION
	  	 	2	  
		
	 SECTION 3. SHARES ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTION.
	  	 	3	  
		
	 SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY.
	  	 	4	  
		
	 SECTION 5. DURATION OF AWARDS; TERM OF PLAN.
	  	 	4	  
		
	 SECTION 6. STOCK OPTIONS; SARs.
	  	 	5	  
		
	 SECTION 7. OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS.
	  	 	8	  
		
	 SECTION 8. PERFORMANCE AWARDS.
	  	 	12	  
		
	 SECTION 9. TRANSFER, LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
	  	 	14	  
		
	 SECTION 10. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION.
	  	 	14	  
		
	 SECTION 11. STATUS OF PLAN.
	  	 	15	  
		
	 SECTION 12. CHANGE OF CONTROL PROVISIONS.
	  	 	15	  
		
	 SECTION 13. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
	  	 	15	  
		
	 SECTION 14. DEFINITIONS.
	  	 	17	  








 THE TJX COMPANIES, INC. 

STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN 
 (2009 Restatement) 
  

	SECTION 1.	NAME; EFFECTIVE DATE; GENERAL PURPOSE 

 The name of the plan is The TJX Companies, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan is an amendment and restatement of The TJX Companies, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan as most recently
previously amended in 2006.1 The provisions of the Plan as
herein amended and restated shall apply to Awards made after January 31, 2009 (the “Adoption Date”) (such Awards, “New Awards”), except that the definition of “Change of Control” as set forth herein shall apply to
all Awards outstanding on the Adoption Date and the clarifications and related rules set forth herein that are related to Section 409A of the Code shall apply effective as of January 1, 2008. Effective as of February 2, 2012, the Plan
is amended and restated as set forth herein to reflect the Stock dividend effective on such date (the “2012 Stock Split”). 
 The purpose of the Plan is to secure for The TJX Companies, Inc. (the “Company”) and its stockholders the benefit of the incentives inherent in stock ownership and the receipt of incentive
awards by selected key employees and directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries who contribute to and will be responsible for its continued long term growth. The Plan is intended to motivate such individuals to enhance the long-term value of the
Company by providing an opportunity for capital appreciation and to recognize services that contribute materially to the success of the Company. Capitalized terms used in the Plan shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14. 

 

	SECTION 2.	PLAN ADMINISTRATION 

 The
Plan shall be administered by the Executive Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee of the Board as the Board may from time to time determine (the “Committee”). The Committee shall consist of not fewer than two
directors, each of whom is both a Non-Employee Director and an Outside Director. If at any time the Committee shall include one or more members who are not Non-Employee Directors or Outside Directors, a subcommittee consisting solely of two or more
individuals who are both Non-Employee Directors and Outside Directors shall constitute the Committee for purposes of the immediately preceding sentence. If at any time no Committee shall be in office, the functions of the Committee shall be
exercised by the independent Directors. 
 The Committee shall have the power and authority to: grant Awards consistent with the
terms of the Plan, including the power and authority to select from among those eligible the persons to whom Awards may from time to time be granted; determine the time or times of grant 

 

	1 	 Prior to April 11, 2001, the Plan was named The TJX Companies, Inc. 1986 Stock Incentive Plan. Shareholders approved an amended and restated Plan
in June 2001 and the 2004 Restatement in June 2004 prior to the approval in June 2009 of the 2009 Restatement. 



  
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of any Awards; to determine the number of shares to be covered by any Award; determine the terms and conditions of any Award; adopt such rules, guidelines and practices for administration of the
Plan and for its own acts and proceedings as it shall deem advisable; interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award; prescribe such forms and agreements as it deems advisable in connection with any Award; make all determinations it
deems advisable for the administration of the Plan; decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan; and otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan. All decisions and interpretations of the Committee shall be binding on all persons,
including the Company and Participants. 
  

	SECTION 3.	SHARES ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTION. 

 (a) Shares Issuable. 
  

	 	(i)	The maximum number of shares of Stock (“Share Limit”) available to be issued under the Plan, determined as of the Adoption Date and before giving effect to
the 2012 Stock Split, was the sum of (A) 28,000,000 plus (B) the number of shares of Stock subject to Awards outstanding as of the Adoption Date. Effective as of February 2, 2012, the Share Limit in the preceding sentence was doubled
pursuant to Section 3(b) below, giving appropriate effect to shares already issued or granted as of February 2, 2012. 

  

	 	(ii)	For the avoidance of doubt, if any Award is forfeited, expires, or is satisfied without the issuance of Stock, the shares of Stock subject to such Award shall not be
treated as issued for purposes of clause (i) above. 

  

	 	(iii)	Each share issued under a New Award that is a Stock Option or SAR shall reduce the Share Limit by one (1) share, and each share of Stock issued under any other New
Award (unless reacquired by the Company through forfeiture) shall reduce the Share Limit by one and thirteen one-hundredths (1.13) shares. 

  

	 	(iv)	The following additional limits applied as of the Adoption Date to New Awards, determined before giving effect to the 2012 Stock Split and subject in each case to the
Share Limit: (A) no more than 27,500,000 shares of Stock in the aggregate could be issued pursuant to NSOs; (B) no more than 27,500,000 shares of Stock (less the number of shares issued pursuant to NSOs) in the aggregate could be issued
pursuant to the exercise of ISOs; and (C) the number of shares of Stock subject to each of Stock Options, SARs and Performance Awards that could be awarded to any Participant during any consecutive three-year period commencing after the
Adoption Date shall be limited to 8,000,000 shares each. Effective as of February 2, 2012, each of the share limits in the immediately preceding sentence was doubled pursuant to Section 3(b) below, giving appropriate effect to shares or
Awards already issued or granted as of February 2, 2012. 

  

	 	(v)	Shares issued under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares or shares reacquired by the Company. 


  
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	 	(vi)	The Company shall appropriately reserve shares in connection with the grant of Awards to reflect the limitations set forth above. 


(b) Stock Dividends, Mergers, etc. In the event of a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or similar change in
capitalization, or extraordinary dividend or distribution or restructuring transaction affecting the Stock, the Committee shall make appropriate adjustments in the number and kind of shares of stock or securities on which Awards may thereafter be
granted, including the limits described in Section 3(a) and Section 7(c), and shall make such adjustments in the number and kind of shares remaining subject to outstanding Awards, and the option or purchase price in respect of such shares
as it may deem appropriate with a view toward preserving the value of outstanding awards. In the event of any merger, consolidation, dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Committee in its sole discretion may, as to any outstanding Awards,
make such substitution or adjustment in the aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan and in the number and purchase price (if any) of shares subject to such Awards as it may determine, or accelerate, amend or terminate such
Awards upon such terms and conditions as it shall provide (which, in the case of the termination of the vested portion of any Award, shall require payment or other consideration which the Committee deems equitable in the circumstances), subject,
however, to the provisions of Section 12. 
 (c) Substitute Awards. The Company may grant Awards under the Plan in
conversion, replacement or adjustment of outstanding options or other equity-based compensation awards held by employees of another corporation who become employees or Eligible Directors of the Company or a Subsidiary as described in the first
sentence of Section 4 as the result of a merger or consolidation of the employing corporation or an affiliate with the Company or a Subsidiary or the acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary of stock of the employing corporation or an
affiliate. The Committee may direct that the converted, replacement or adjusted awards be granted on such terms and conditions as the Committee considers appropriate in the circumstances to reflect the transaction. The shares which may be delivered
under such substitute Awards shall be in addition to the limitations set forth in Section 3(a) on the number of shares available for issuance under Awards, and such substitute Awards shall not be subject to the per-Participant Award limits
described in Section 3(a). 
  

	SECTION 4.	ELIGIBILITY. 


Participants in the Plan will be (i) such full or part time officers and other key employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries who
are selected from time to time by the Committee in its sole discretion, and (ii) Eligible Directors. Persons who are not employees of the Company or a subsidiary (within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code) shall not be eligible to
receive grants of ISOs. 
  

	SECTION 5.	DURATION OF AWARDS; TERM OF PLAN. 

 (a) Duration of Awards. Subject to Sections 13(a) and 13(e) below, no Stock Option or SAR may remain exercisable beyond 10 years from the grant date, and no other Award shall have a vesting or
restriction period that extends beyond 10 years from the grant date, except that deferrals elected by Participants of the receipt of Stock or other benefits under the Plan may extend beyond such date. 

  
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 (b) Latest Grant Date. No Award shall be granted after June 2, 2019, but then
outstanding Awards may extend beyond such date. 
  

	SECTION 6.	STOCK OPTIONS; SARs. 

 Any
Stock Option or SAR granted under the Plan shall be in such form as the Committee may from time to time approve. Stock Options granted under the Plan may be either ISOs or NSOs. Any Stock Option that is not expressly designated as an ISO at time of
grant shall be deemed to have been expressly designated at time of grant as an NSO. Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of this Plan relating to ISOs shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or
authority granted to the Committee under the Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify the Plan or, without the consent of the optionee, any ISO under Section 422 of the Code. 

Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 6(a) through Section 6(k) below; SARs shall be
subject to the provisions of Section 6(l) below; and Stock Options and SARs shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable: 

(a) Option Price. The option price per share of Stock purchasable under a Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee at the
time of grant but shall be not less than 100% of Fair Market Value on the date of grant. 
 (b) Exercisability. Stock
Options shall be exercisable at such time or times, whether or not in installments, as shall be determined by the Committee at or after the grant date. The Committee may at any time accelerate the exercisability of all or any portion of any Stock
Option. 
 (c) Method of Exercise. The person holding a Stock Option may exercise the Stock Option in whole or in part by
means of such exercise procedures as the Committee may from time to time establish, each of which shall require, as the Committee determines, delivery to the Committee of the full purchase price plus (as provided in Section 13(d)) any taxes
required to be withheld in connection with the exercise, or delivery of an unconditional and irrevocable undertaking by a broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay such purchase price and taxes, for the portion of Stock
Option so exercised. If so permitted by the Committee in its discretion and subject to such limitations and restrictions as the Committee may impose, payment in full or in part of the exercise price or payment of withholding taxes (as provided in
Section 13(d)) may also be made in the form of shares of Stock not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan. The person holding a Stock Option shall have the rights of a shareholder only as to shares acquired upon the exercise of a
Stock Option and not as to unexercised Stock Options. 

  
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 (d) Non-transferability of Options. No ISO (and, except as determined by the
Committee, no NSO) shall be transferable by the person to whom such Stock Option was granted otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all ISOs (and, except as determined by the Committee, all NSOs) shall be exercisable
during the lifetime of the person to whom such Stock Options were granted only by such person. Transfers, if any, permitted by the Committee in the case of NSOs shall be limited to gratuitous transfers (transfers not for value). Where an NSO is
permitted by the Committee to be transferred, references in the Plan to the “person to whom the Stock Option was granted” and similar terms shall be construed, as the Committee in its discretion deems appropriate, to include any permitted
transferee to whom the Stock Option is transferred. 
 (e) Termination by Death. If the employment by the Company and its
Subsidiaries of a person to whom a Stock Option was granted terminates by reason of death, the Stock Option may thereafter be exercised, to the extent exercisable immediately prior to death (or on such accelerated or other basis as the Committee
shall at any time determine), by the legal representative or legatee of the decedent, for a period of five years (or such shorter period as the Committee shall specify at time of grant) from the date of death or until the expiration of the stated
term of the option, if earlier. 
 (f) Termination by Reason of Disability. If the employment by the Company and its
Subsidiaries of a person to whom a Stock Option was granted terminates by reason of Disability, or if such person has been designated an inactive employee by reason of Disability, any Stock Option previously granted to such person may thereafter be
exercised to the extent it was exercisable immediately prior to the earlier of such termination or such designation (or on such accelerated or other basis as the Committee shall at any time determine prior to such termination or designation), by the
person to whom the Stock Option was granted or, in the event of his or her death following termination, by his or her legal representative or legatee, for a period of five years (or such shorter period as the Committee shall specify at time of
grant) from the date of such termination of employment or designation or until the expiration of the stated term of the option, if earlier. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee at the time of grant, the death during the final year of such
exercise period of the person to whom such Stock Option was granted shall, if such person still holds such Stock Option, extend such period for one year following death or until the expiration of the stated term of the option, if earlier. The
Committee shall have the authority to determine whether a Participant has been terminated or designated an inactive employee by reason of Disability and the date of such termination or designation. 

(g) Termination by Reason of Normal Retirement. If the employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries of a person to whom a Stock
Option has been granted terminates by reason of Normal Retirement, the Stock Option may thereafter be exercised to the extent that it was then exercisable immediately prior to such termination (or on such accelerated or other basis as the Committee
shall at any time determine), by the person to whom the Stock Option was granted or, in the event of his or her death following Normal Retirement, by his or her legal representative or legatee, for a period of five years (or such shorter period as
the Committee shall specify at time of grant) from the date of Normal Retirement or until the expiration of the stated term of the option, if earlier. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee at the time of grant, the death during the final
year of such exercise period of the person to whom such Stock Option was granted shall extend such period for one year following death, subject to termination on the expiration of the stated term of the option, if earlier. 

  
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 (h) Termination by Reason of Special Service Retirement. If the employment by the
Company and its Subsidiaries of a person to whom a Stock Option has been granted terminates by reason of a Special Service Retirement, the Stock Option may thereafter be exercised (to the extent exercisable from time to time during the extended
exercise period as hereinafter determined), by the person to whom the Stock Option was granted or, in the event of his or her death following the Special Service Retirement, by his or her legal representative or legatee, for a period of five years
(or such shorter period as the Committee shall specify at time of grant) from the date of the Special Service Retirement or until the expiration of the stated term of the option, if earlier. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee at the time
of grant, the death during the final year of such exercise period of the person to whom such Stock Option was granted shall extend such period for one year following death or until the expiration of the stated term of the option, if earlier. A Stock
Option that is outstanding but not yet fully exercisable at the date of the Special Service Retirement of the person to whom the Stock Option was granted shall continue to become exercisable, over the period of three years following the Special
Service Retirement Date (subject to the stated term of the option, or on such accelerated or other basis as the Committee shall at any time determine), on the same basis as if such person had not retired. 

(i) Other Termination. If the employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries of a person to whom a Stock Option has been granted
terminates for any reason other than death, Disability, Normal Retirement, Special Service Retirement or for Cause, the Stock Option may thereafter be exercised to the extent it was exercisable on the date of termination of employment (or on such
accelerated basis as the Committee shall determine at or after grant) for a period of three months (or such other period up to three years as the Committee shall specify at or after grant), by the person to whom the Stock Option was granted or, in
the event of his or her death following termination, by his or her legal representative or legatee, from the date of termination of employment or until the expiration of the stated term of the option, if earlier. If the employment of such person
terminates or is terminated for Cause, the unexercised portion of any Stock Option previously granted to such person shall immediately terminate. 
 (j) Form of Settlement. Subject to Section 13(a) and Section 13(e) below, shares of Stock issued upon exercise of a Stock Option shall be free of all restrictions under the Plan, except
as provided in the following sentence. The Committee may provide at time of grant that the shares to be issued upon the exercise of a Stock Option shall be in the form of Restricted Stock, or may reserve the right to so provide after time of grant.

 (k) Discretionary Payments; Automatic Exercise. The Committee may, in its discretion, upon the written request of the
person exercising a Stock Option (which request shall not be binding on the Committee, except as hereinafter provided), cancel such Stock Option, whereupon the Company shall pay to the person exercising such Stock Option an amount equal to the
excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Stock to have been purchased pursuant to such exercise of such Stock Option (determined on the date the Stock Option is canceled) over the aggregate consideration to have been paid by such person upon
such exercise. Such payment 

  
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shall be by check, bank draft or in Stock (or in another form of payment acceptable both to the Committee and the person exercising the option) having a Fair Market Value (determined on the date
the payment is to be made) equal to the amount of such payments or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee. If a Stock Option remains unexercised on the date it would otherwise have expired and if on such date the Fair Market Value
of the shares subject to the Stock Option exceeds the aggregate consideration that would have been required to have been paid to purchase such shares had the Stock Option been exercised, the person then holding the Stock Option shall be deemed to
have requested, and the Committee shall be deemed to have approved, a cancellation of such Stock Option in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 6(k) and the amount payable pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 6(k)
shall be paid in the form of shares of Stock in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 6(k). 
 (l)
SARs. An SAR is an award entitling the recipient to receive an amount in cash or shares of Stock (or in any other form of payment acceptable to the Committee) or a combination thereof having a value determined by reference to (and not to
exceed) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise over the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant (or over the option exercise price, if the SAR was granted in tandem with a Stock Option).
The Committee shall determine all terms of SARs granted under the Plan. SARs may be granted in tandem with, or independently of, any Stock Option granted under the Plan. Any SAR granted in tandem with ISOs shall comply with the ISO rules relating to
tandem SARs. The Committee may at any time accelerate the exercisability of all or any portion of any SAR. 
  

	SECTION 7.	OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS. 


(a) Nature of Stock Awards. Awards under this Section 7 include Awards other than Stock Options or SARs that entitle the
recipient to acquire for a purchase price (which may be zero) shares of Stock subject to restrictions under the Plan (including a right on the part of the Company during a specified period to repurchase such shares at their original purchase price,
or to require forfeiture if the purchase price was zero, upon the Participant’s termination of employment) determined by the Committee (“Restricted Stock”); Awards that entitle the recipient, with or without payment, to the future
delivery of shares of Stock, subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be determined by the Committee (“Stock Units”); and other Awards under which Stock may be acquired or which are otherwise based on the value of Stock.

 (b) Rights as a Shareholder. A Participant shall have all the rights of a shareholder, including voting and dividend
rights, (i) only as to shares of Stock received by the Participant under an Other Stock-based Award, and (ii) in any case, subject to such nontransferability restrictions, Company repurchase or forfeiture rights, and other conditions as
are made applicable to the Award. 
 (c) Restrictions. The Committee may determine the conditions under which an Other
Stock-based Award, or Stock acquired under an Other Stock-based Award, shall be forfeited, and may at any time accelerate, waive or, subject to Section 10, amend any or all of such limitations or conditions. Each Other Stock-based Award shall
specify the terms on which such Award or the shares under such Award shall vest (become free of restrictions under the Plan), which may 

  
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include, without limitation, terms that provide for vesting on a specified date or dates, vesting based on the satisfaction of specified performance conditions, and accelerated vesting in the
event of termination of employment under specified circumstances. The Committee shall take such steps as it determines to be appropriate to reflect any restrictions applicable to an Other Stock-based Award or the shares thereunder and to facilitate
the recovery by the Company of any such Award or shares that are forfeited. 
 Notwithstanding the foregoing, no grants of Full
Value Awards, other than grants made in connection with a Participant’s commencement of employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, shall specify a vesting date that is less than three years from the date of grant except as follows:
(i) the vesting date may be one year (or a greater period) from the date of grant in the case of a Full Value Award subject to the attainment of performance goals, (ii) Full Value Awards may be granted which specify full vesting in no less
than three years and partial vesting at a rate no faster than one-third of such shares each year, (iii) Full Value Awards may provide for accelerated vesting in the event of death, disability, retirement or a Change of Control, and
(iv) Full Value Awards may be granted without regard to the foregoing limitations provided that the maximum number of shares subject to such Awards granted after the Adoption Date, when no longer subject to restrictions under the Plan and
determined before giving effect to the 2012 Stock Split, does not exceed 3,000,000 shares. Effective as of February 2, 2012, the share limit specified in clause (iv) of the immediately preceding sentence was doubled pursuant to
Section 3(b) above, giving appropriate effect to Awards already granted as of February 2, 2012. 
 Except as otherwise
determined by the Committee, (A) neither any Other Stock-based Award nor any unvested Restricted Stock acquired under an Other Stock-based Award may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as
specifically provided herein, and (B) in the event of termination of employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason, any shares of Restricted Stock that are not then vested (taking into account any accelerated vesting
applicable to such shares under the terms of the Award or otherwise) shall be resold to the Company at their purchase price or forfeited to the Company if the purchase price was zero. The Committee at any time may accelerate the vesting date or
dates for an Other Stock-based Award or for Restricted Stock, if any, granted thereunder and may otherwise waive or, subject to Section 10, amend any conditions of the Award. Neither the Committee nor the Company shall be liable for any adverse
tax or other consequences to a Participant from any such acceleration, waiver, or amendment. 
 (d) Dividends; Dividend
Equivalents. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, a Participant’s rights under an Other Stock-based Award to dividends (or dividend equivalent payments, in the case of an Other Stock-based Award, if any, other than Restricted
Stock, that is subject to vesting conditions and as to which the Committee has made provision for such payments) shall be treated as unvested so long as such Award remains unvested (the “restricted period”), and any such dividends or
dividend equivalent payments that would otherwise have been paid during the restricted period shall instead be accumulated and paid within thirty (30) days following the date on which such Award is determined by the Company to have vested.


  
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 (e) Annual Deferred Stock Awards, Additional Deferred Stock Awards and Dividend Awards
for Eligible Directors. 
  

	 	(i)	Accounts. The Company shall establish and maintain an Account in the name of each Eligible Director to which the Annual Deferred Stock Awards, Additional
Deferred Stock Awards and Dividend Awards shall be credited. 

  

	 	(ii)	Annual Awards. On the date of each Annual Meeting, each Eligible Director who is elected a Director at such Annual Meeting shall automatically and without
further action by the Board or Committee be granted an Annual Deferred Stock Award as provided in subsection (iv) and an Additional Deferred Stock Award as provided in subsection (v). On each date other than the date of an Annual Meeting on
which an Eligible Director is first elected a Director by the Board, the Eligible Director then so elected shall automatically and without further action by the Board or Committee be granted a prorated Annual Deferred Stock Award as provided in
subsection (iv) and a prorated Additional Deferred Stock Award as provided in subsection (v). The grant of each Annual Deferred Stock Award and Additional Deferred Stock Award shall entitle each recipient, automatically and without further
action by the Board or the Committee, to Dividend Awards as provided in subsection (vi). 

  

	 	(iii)	Nature of Awards. Each Annual Deferred Stock Award, Additional Deferred Stock Award and Dividend Award shall be an Other Stock-based Award subject to the terms
of this Plan and shall constitute an unfunded and unsecured promise of the Company to deliver in the future to such Eligible Director, without payment, the number of shares of Stock in the amounts and at the times hereinafter provided. The shares of
Stock notionally credited to the Accounts of Eligible Directors shall be notional shares only and shall not entitle the Eligible Director to any voting rights, dividend or distribution or other rights except as expressly set forth herein. Nothing
herein shall obligate the Company to issue or set aside shares of Stock, in trust or otherwise, to meet its contractual obligations hereunder. 

  

	 	(iv)	Annual Deferred Stock Award. In respect of each Annual Deferred Stock Award granted on the date of an Annual Meeting, the Company shall credit to each Eligible
Director’s Account, effective as of the date of such Annual Meeting, the number of notional shares of Stock, including any fractional share, equal to $100,000 or such lesser dollar amount as may be determined by the Board divided by the Fair
Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of such Annual Meeting. In respect of each Annual Deferred Stock Award granted on a date other than the date of an Annual Meeting, the Company shall credit to the Account of the Eligible Director first
elected on such date the number of notional shares of Stock, including any fractional share, equal to (i) $100,000 or such lesser dollar amount as may be determined by the Board divided by the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date
of such first election multiplied by (ii) the quotient (not greater than one) obtained by dividing (A) the number of days starting with the date of such first election and ending on the day first preceding the anticipated date of the next
Annual Meeting, by (B) 365. 


  
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	 	(v)	Additional Deferred Stock Award. In addition to the Annual Deferred Stock Award, the Company shall credit to the Account of each Eligible Director, effective as
of the date that any Annual Deferred Stock Award is credited to such Account, an Additional Deferred Stock Award covering the same number of shares as are covered by such Annual Deferred Stock Award determined in the same manner prescribed in
subsection (iv) above. 

  

	 	(vi)	Dividend Awards. The Company shall credit (each such credit, a “Dividend Award”) the Account of each Eligible Director on the date of each Annual
Meeting and on the date on which an Eligible Director ceases to be a Director if not the date of an Annual Meeting with a number of notional shares of Stock, including any fractional share, equal to (i) plus (ii), divided by (iii), where:


  

	 	(i)	is the product obtained by multiplying the number of shares then allocated to such Eligible Director’s Account (disregarding, for purposes of this clause (i),
any shares credited to such Account since the date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting) by the aggregate per-share amount of dividends for which the record date occurred since the date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting;


  

	 	(ii)	is the product obtained by multiplying the number of shares first credited to such Eligible Director’s Account since the date of the immediately preceding Annual
Meeting but prior to the date of such Dividend Award by the aggregate per-share amount of dividends for which the record date occurred since the date that such shares were credited to such Account; and 


 

	 	(iii)	is the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of such Dividend Award. 


 

	 	(vii)	Vesting. Each Annual Deferred Stock Award, and any Dividend Awards in respect of Annual Deferred Stock Awards and/or Additional Deferred Stock Awards, shall vest
immediately upon grant and be non-forfeitable. Each Additional Deferred Stock Award shall vest and become non-forfeitable on the date immediately preceding the date of the Annual Meeting next succeeding the date of grant of such Award;
provided, that the recipient is still a Director on such date. In the event that an Eligible Director terminates his or her service as a Director for any reason prior to such vesting date, the Eligible Director shall forfeit any then unvested
Additional Deferred Stock Award. 

  

	 	(viii)	 Delivery. The Company shall deliver to an Eligible Director (or a former Eligible Director) the number of shares of Stock, rounded up to the
next full share, 



  
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represented by notional shares of Stock credited to the Account of such Eligible Director in respect of Annual Deferred Stock Awards (including any Dividend Awards made in respect of such Annual
Deferred Stock Awards) at the earlier of the following: (x) immediately prior to a Change of Control or (y) within sixty (60) days following the Eligible Director’s death or earlier separation from service (as determined under
the regulations under Section 409A of the Code). With respect to any Additional Deferred Stock Award, absent an election to defer delivery of the shares of Stock subject to such Award pursuant to subsection (ix) below, the Company shall
deliver to an Eligible Director the number of shares of Stock, rounded up to the next full share, represented by notional shares of Stock credited to the Account of such Eligible Director in respect of such Additional Deferred Stock Award (including
any Dividend Awards made in respect of such Additional Deferred Stock Award) at the earlier of the following: (x) immediately prior to a Change of Control or (y) within sixty (60) days following the date of vesting pursuant to
subsection (vii) above. In the event of a termination by reason of death, such shares of Stock shall be delivered to such beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the Eligible Director in writing in such form, and delivered prior to his or
her death to such person at the Company, as specified by the Company or, in the absence of such a designation, to the legal representative of Eligible Director’s estate. 


 

	 	(ix)	Deferral of Delivery of Additional Deferred Stock Awards. By filing a written notice to the Company in such form, and delivered to such person at the Company, as
specified by the Company, an Eligible Director may irrevocably elect to defer receipt of the delivery of shares of Stock representing all or a portion of the notional shares of Stock subject to any Additional Deferred Stock Award (including any
Dividend Awards made in respect of such notional shares) until the earlier of the following: (x) immediately prior to a Change of Control or (y) as soon as practicable and in all events within sixty (60) days following the Eligible
Director’s death or earlier separation from service (as determined under the regulations under Section 409A of the Code). Any election made pursuant to this subsection (ix) must be submitted with respect to any Additional Deferred
Stock Award (A) in the case of the Additional Deferred Stock Award granted on the date an Eligible Director is first elected as a Director, no later than 30 days after the date of such Eligible Director’s election to the Board or
(B) in the case of any other Additional Deferred Stock Award, no later than December 31 of the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which such Award is granted, or (C) at such other time as is necessary to satisfy the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code, as determined by the Committee. 

  

	SECTION 8.	PERFORMANCE AWARDS. 

 (a)
Nature of Performance Awards. A Performance Award is an award entitling the recipient to acquire cash or shares of Stock, or a combination of cash and Stock, upon the attainment of specified performance goals. If the grant, vesting, or
exercisability of a Stock Option, SAR, or Other Stock-Based Award is conditioned upon attainment of a specified 

  
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performance goal or goals, it shall be treated as a Performance Award for purposes of this Section and shall be subject to the provisions of this Section in addition to the provisions of the Plan
applicable to such form of Award. 
 (b) Qualifying and Nonqualifying Performance Awards. Performance Awards may include
Awards intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code (“Qualifying Awards”) and Awards not intended so to qualify (“Nonqualifying Awards”). 

(c) Terms of Performance Awards. The Committee in its sole discretion shall determine the performance goals applicable under each
such Award, the periods during which performance is to be measured, and all other limitations and conditions applicable to the Award. Performance Awards may be granted independently or in connection with the granting of other Awards. In the case of
a Qualifying Award (other than a Stock Option), the following special rules shall apply: (i) the Committee shall preestablish the performance goals and other material terms of the Award not later than the latest date permitted under
Section 162(m) of the Code; (ii) the performance goal or goals fixed by the Committee in connection with the Award shall be based exclusively on one or more Approved Performance Criteria; (iii) no payment (including, for this purpose,
vesting or exercisability where vesting or exercisability, rather than the grant of the Award, is linked to satisfaction of performance goals) shall be made unless the preestablished performance goals have been satisfied and the Committee has
certified (pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code) that they have been satisfied; (iv) no payment shall be made in lieu or in substitution for the Award if the preestablished performance goals are not satisfied (but this clause shall not
limit the ability of the Committee or the Company to provide other remuneration to the affected Participant, whether or not under the Plan, so long as the payment of such remuneration would not cause the Award to fail to be treated as having been
contingent on the preestablished performance goals) and (v) in all other respects the Award shall be construed and administered consistent with the intent that any compensation under the Award be treated as performance-based compensation under
Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code. 
 (d) Rights as a Shareholder. A Participant shall have all the rights of a
shareholder, including voting and dividend rights, (i) only as to shares of Stock received by the Participant under a Performance Award, and (ii) in any case, subject to such nontransferability restrictions, Company repurchase or
forfeiture rights, and other conditions as are made applicable to the Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing and for the avoidance of doubt, in the case of any Performance Award that is also an Other Stock-based Award, the limitations of
Section 7(d) (providing that rights to dividends and dividend equivalents shall remain unvested until the underlying Stock or rights to Stock are vested) shall apply to any right to dividends or dividend equivalent payments hereunder.

 (e) Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Committee (consistent with Section 162(m) of the
Code, in the case of a Qualifying Award), a Participant’s rights in all Performance Awards shall automatically terminate upon the Participant’s termination of employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason (including death).


  
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 (f) Acceleration, Waiver, etc.. The Committee may in its sole discretion (but
subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, in the case of a Qualifying Award) accelerate, waive or, subject to Section 10, amend any or all of the goals, restrictions or conditions imposed under any Performance Award. Neither the Committee nor
the Company shall be liable for any adverse tax or other consequences to a Participant from any such acceleration, waiver, or amendment. 
  

	SECTION 9.	TRANSFER, LEAVE OF ABSENCE. 

 For purposes of the Plan, the following events shall not be deemed a termination of employment: 
  

	 	(a)	a transfer to the employment of the Company from a Subsidiary or from the Company to a Subsidiary, or from one Subsidiary to another; 


 

	 	(b)	an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, but in each case only if the employee’s right to
reemployment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Committee otherwise so provides in writing. 


For purposes of the Plan, the employees of a Subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed to have terminated their employment on the date on which such
Subsidiary ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company. Subject to the foregoing, an individual’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be considered to have terminated on the last day of his or her actual employment, whether such
day is determined by agreement between the Company or a Subsidiary and the individual or unilaterally, and whether such termination is with or without notice, and no period of advance notice, if any, that is or ought to have been given under
applicable law in respect of such termination of employment shall be taken into account in determining the individual’s entitlements, if any, under the Plan or any Award. 
 Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of any Award that is subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, “termination of employment” shall mean a separation from service (as
determined under the regulations under Section 409A of the Code). 
  

	SECTION 10.	AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION. 

 The Board or the Committee may at any time amend or discontinue the Plan and the Committee may at any time amend or cancel any outstanding Award for the purpose of satisfying changes in law or for any
other lawful purpose, but no such action shall materially adversely affect rights under any outstanding Award without the holder’s consent. However, no such amendment shall be effective unless approved by stockholders if it would
(i) reduce the exercise price of any option previously granted hereunder or otherwise constitute a repricing requiring stockholder approval under applicable New York Stock Exchange rules, or (ii) effect a change which, in the determination
of the Committee, would jeopardize the qualification of an Award that the Committee has determined is intended to qualify (and to continue to qualify) as an ISO or as exempt performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.


  
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Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan, the Board or the Committee may at any time adopt any subplan or otherwise grant Stock Options or other Awards under this Plan having terms consistent
with applicable foreign tax or other foreign regulatory requirements or laws. 
  

	SECTION 11.	STATUS OF PLAN. 

 With
respect to the portion of any Award which has not been exercised and any payments in cash, stock or other consideration not received by a Participant, a Participant shall have no rights greater than those of a general creditor of the Company unless
the Committee shall otherwise expressly determine in connection with any Award or Awards. In its sole discretion, the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations to deliver Stock or
make payments with respect to awards hereunder, provided that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the provision of the foregoing sentence. 

 

	SECTION 12.	CHANGE OF CONTROL PROVISIONS. 

 As used herein, a Change of Control and related definitions shall have the meanings set forth in Exhibit A to this Plan. 
 Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control: 
  

	 	(i)	Each Stock Option shall automatically become fully exercisable unless the Committee shall otherwise expressly provide at the time of grant. 


 

	 	(ii)	Restrictions and conditions on Other Stock-based Awards (including without limitation Restricted Stock) and Performance Awards shall automatically be deemed waived
unless the Committee shall otherwise expressly provide at the time of grant. 

 The Committee may at any time prior to or after a
Change of Control accelerate the exercisability of any Stock Options and may waive restrictions, limitations and conditions on Other Stock-based Awards (including without limitation Restricted Stock) and Performance Awards to the extent it shall in
its sole discretion determine. 
  

	SECTION 13.	GENERAL PROVISIONS. 

 (a)
No Distribution; Compliance with Legal Requirements, etc. The Committee may require each person acquiring shares pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the shares without a
view to distribution thereof. No shares of Stock shall be issued pursuant to an Award until all applicable securities law and other legal and stock exchange requirements have been satisfied. The Committee may require the placing of such stop-orders
and restrictive legends on certificates for Stock and Awards as it deems appropriate. 

  
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 (b) References to Employment. Wherever reference is made herein to
“employee,” “employment” (or correlative terms), except in Section 4, the term shall be deemed to include both common law employees and others. 
 (c) Other Compensation Arrangements; No Employment Rights. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board of Directors from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject
to stockholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. The adoption of the Plan does not confer upon any employee any right to continued employment with
the Company or a Subsidiary, nor does it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any of its employees at any time. 
 (d) Tax Withholding, etc. Each Participant shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award or of any Stock or other amounts received thereunder first becomes includable in the gross
income of the Participant for Federal income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding payment of, any Federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to
such income. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant. The Company may withhold or otherwise administer the Plan to
comply with tax obligations under any applicable foreign laws. 
 The Committee may provide, in respect of any transfer of Stock
under an Award, that if and to the extent withholding of any Federal, state or local tax is required in respect of such transfer or vesting, the Participant may elect, at such time and in such manner as the Committee shall prescribe, to
(i) surrender to the Company Stock not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan or (ii) have the Company hold back from the transfer or vesting Stock having a value calculated to satisfy such withholding obligation. In no event
shall Stock be surrendered under clause (i) or held back by the Company under clause (ii) in excess of the minimum amount required to be withheld for Federal, state and local taxes. 

Except as otherwise expressly provided by the Committee in any case, all Awards under the Plan that are not exempt from the requirements
of Section 409A of the Code shall be construed to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and any discretionary authority of the Committee or the Company with respect to an Award that is intended to be exempt from or in
compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code shall be exercised in a manner that is consistent with such intent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any officer, director or employee of the
Company or any Subsidiary, nor the Board or the Committee or any member of either, shall be liable to the Participant or any beneficiary of a Participant by reason of any additional tax (whether or not under Section 409A of the Code), including
any interest or penalty, resulting from any exercise of discretion or other action or failure to act by any of the Company, any Subsidiary, any such officer, director or employee, or the Board or the Committee, or by reason of the failure of an
Award to qualify for an exemption from, or to comply with the requirements of, Section 409A of the Code, or for any cost or expense incurred in connection with any action by any taxing authority related to any of the foregoing. 

  
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 (e) Deferral of Awards. Participants may elect to defer receipt of Awards or vesting
of Awards only in such cases and to the extent that the Committee shall determine at or after the grant date. 
  

	SECTION 14.	DEFINITIONS. 

 The
following terms shall be defined as set forth below: 
 (a) “Account” means a bookkeeping account
established and maintained under Section 7(e) in the name of each Eligible Director to which Annual Deferred Stock Awards, Additional Deferred Stock Awards, and Dividend Awards are credited hereunder. 

(b) “Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 

(c) “Additional Deferred Stock Award” means an Award granted to an Eligible Director pursuant to
Section 7(e)(v). 
 (d) “Adoption Date” is defined in Section 1. 

(e) “Annual Deferred Stock Award” means an Award granted to an Eligible Director pursuant to
Section 7(e)(iv). 
 (f) “Annual Meeting” shall mean the annual meeting of stockholders of the
Company. 
 (g) “Approved Performance Criteria” means criteria based on any one or more of the
following (on a consolidated, divisional, line of business, geographical or area of executive’s responsibilities basis): one or more items of or within (i) sales, revenues, assets or expenses; (ii) earnings, income or margins, before
or after deduction for all or any portion of interest, taxes, depreciation, or amortization, whether or not on a continuing operations, or aggregate or per share basis; (iii) return on investment, capital, assets, sales or revenues; and
(iv) stock price; in each case with such inclusions thereto or exclusions therefrom as the Committee may determine in a manner consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code. In determining whether a performance goal based on one or more
Approved Performance Criteria has been satisfied for any period, any extraordinary item, change in generally accepted accounting principles, or change in law (including regulations) that would affect the determination as to whether such performance
goal had been achieved will automatically be disregarded or taken into account, whichever would cause such performance goal to be more likely to be achieved, and to the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code the Committee may provide
for other objectively determinable and nondiscretionary adjustments; provided, that nothing herein shall be construed as limiting the Committee’s authority to reduce or eliminate a Performance Award (including, without limitation, by
restricting vesting under any such Award) that would otherwise be deemed to have been earned. 

  
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 (h) “Award” or “Awards” except where referring to a
particular category of grant under the Plan shall include Stock Options, SARs, Other Stock-based Awards and Performance Awards. 
 (i) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company. 

(j) “Cause” means (i) as to any Participant who at the relevant time is party to an employment, severance,
or similar agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary that contains a definition of “cause” (including any similar term used in connection with a for-cause involuntary termination), the definition set forth in such agreement, and
(ii) in every other case, a felony conviction of a Participant or the failure of a Participant to contest prosecution for a felony, or a Participant’s willful misconduct or dishonesty, any of which is directly harmful to the business or
reputation of the Company or any Subsidiary. 
 (k) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and any successor Code, and related rules, regulations and interpretations. 
 (l) “Committee”
means the Committee referred to in Section 2. 
 (m) “Company” means The TJX Companies, Inc.

 (n) “Director” means a member of the Board. 

(o) “Disability” means disability as determined in accordance with standards and procedures similar to those
used under the Company’s long term disability program. 
 (p) “Dividend Award” means an Award
granted to an Eligible Director pursuant to Section 7(e)(vi). 
 (q) “Eligible Director” means a
Director who is not employed (other than as a Director) by the Company or by any Subsidiary. 
 (r) “Fair
Market Value” on any given date means the last sale price regular way at which Stock is traded on such date as reflected in the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions Index or, where applicable, the value of a share of Stock as
determined by the Committee in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Code. 
 (s) “Full Value
Award” means an Award other than a Stock Option or an SAR. 
 (t) “ISO” means a Stock Option
intended to be and designated as an “incentive stock option” as defined in the Code. 
 (u)
“Non-Employee Director” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) promulgated under the Act, or any successor definition under the Act. 
 (v) “NSO” means any Stock Option that is not an ISO. 

  
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 (w) “Normal Retirement” means retirement from active employment
with the Company and its Subsidiaries at or after age 65 with at least five years of service for the Company and its Subsidiaries as specified in The TJX Companies, Inc. Retirement Plan. 

(x) “Other Stock-based Award” means an Award of one of the types described in Section 7. 

(y) “Outside Director” means a member of the Board who is treated as an “outside director” for
purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. 
 (z) “Participant” means a participant in the Plan.

 (aa) “Performance Award” means an Award described in Section 8. 

(bb) “Plan” is defined in Section 1. 

(cc) “Restricted Stock” is defined in Section 7(a). 

(dd) “SAR” means an Award described in Section 6(l). 

(ee) “Stock Unit” is defined in Section 7(a). 

(ff) “Share Limit” is defined in Section 3(a). 

(gg) “Special Service Retirement” means retirement from active employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries
(i) at or after age 60 with at least twenty years of service for the Company and its Subsidiaries, or (ii) at or after age 65 with at least ten years of service for the Company and its Subsidiaries. 

(hh) “Stock” means the Common Stock, $1.00 par value, of the Company, subject to adjustments pursuant to
Section 3. 
 (ii) “Stock Option” means any option to purchase shares of Stock granted pursuant to
Section 6. 
 (jj) “Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity (other than the Company) in
an unbroken chain beginning with the Company if each of the entities (other than the last entity in the unbroken chain) owns stock or other interests possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or other interest
in one of the other corporations or other entities in the chain. 

  
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 EXHIBIT A 
 DEFINITION OF “CHANGE OF CONTROL” 
 “Change of Control”
shall mean the occurrence of any one of the following events: 
 (a) there occurs a change of control of the
Company of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 5.01 of the Current Report on Form 8-K (as amended in 2004) pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)
or in any other filing under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that if the Participant or a Participant Related Party is the Person or a member of a group constituting the Person acquiring control, a transaction shall not be deemed
to be a Change of Control as to a Participant unless the Committee shall otherwise determine prior to such occurrence; or 
 (b) any Person other than the Company, any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, or any employee benefit plan of the Company or such a subsidiary becomes the owner of 20% or more of the Company’s
Common Stock and thereafter individuals who were not directors of the Company prior to the date such Person became a 20% owner are elected as directors pursuant to an arrangement or understanding with, or upon the request of or nomination by, such
Person and constitute a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors; provided, however, that unless the Committee shall otherwise determine prior to the acquisition of such 20% ownership, such acquisition of ownership shall not
constitute a Change of Control as to a Participant if the Participant or a Participant Related Party is the Person or a member of a group constituting the Person acquiring such ownership; or 

(c) there occurs any solicitation or series of solicitations of proxies by or on behalf of any Person other than the
Company’s Board of Directors and thereafter individuals who were not directors of the Company prior to the commencement of such solicitation or series of solicitations are elected as directors pursuant to an arrangement or understanding with,
or upon the request of or nomination by, such Person and constitute a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors; or 
 (d) the Company executes an agreement of acquisition, merger or consolidation which contemplates that (i) after the effective date provided for in such agreement, all or substantially all of the
business and/or assets of the Company shall be owned, leased or otherwise controlled by another Person and (ii) individuals who are directors of the Company when such agreement is executed shall not constitute a majority of the board of
directors of the survivor or successor entity immediately after the effective date provided for in such agreement; provided, however, that unless otherwise determined by the Committee, no transaction shall constitute a Change of
Control as to a Participant if, immediately after such transaction, the Participant or any Participant Related Party shall own equity securities of any surviving corporation (“Surviving Entity”) having a fair value as a percentage of the
fair value of the equity securities of such Surviving Entity 

  
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greater than 125% of the fair value of the equity securities of the Company owned by the Participant and any Participant Related Party immediately prior to such transaction, expressed as a
percentage of the fair value of all equity securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction (for purposes of this paragraph ownership of equity securities shall be determined in the same manner as ownership of Common Stock); and
provided, further, that, for purposes of this paragraph (d), if such agreement requires as a condition precedent approval by the Company’s shareholders of the agreement or transaction, a Change of Control shall not be deemed to
have taken place unless and until the acquisition, merger, or consolidation contemplated by such agreement is consummated (but immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition, merger, or consolidation, a Change of Control shall be deemed
to have occurred on the date of execution of such agreement). 
 In addition, for purposes of this Exhibit A the following terms
have the meanings set forth below: 
 “Common Stock” shall mean the then outstanding Common Stock of the Company plus,
for purposes of determining the stock ownership of any Person, the number of unissued shares of Common Stock which such Person has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) upon the
exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Common Stock shall not include shares of Preferred Stock or convertible debt or options or warrants to acquire shares of Common
Stock (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion or exercise thereof) to the extent that the Board of Directors of the Company shall expressly so determine in any future transaction or transactions. 

A Person shall be deemed to be the “owner” of any Common Stock: 

(i) of which such Person would be the “beneficial owner,” as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated by
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Exchange Act, as in effect on March 1, 1989; or 
 (ii) of which such Person would be the “beneficial owner” for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules of the Commission promulgated thereunder, as in effect on
March 1, 1989; or 
 (iii) which such Person or any of its affiliates or associates (as such terms are
defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated by the Commission under the Exchange Act, as in effect on March 1, 1989) has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options or otherwise. 

“Person” shall have the meaning used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, as in effect on March 1, 1989. 


  
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 A “Participant Related Party” shall mean, with respect to a Participant, any
affiliate or associate of the Participant other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. The terms “affiliate” and “associate” shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (the term
“registrant” in the definition of “associate” meaning, in this case, the Company). 
 Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in any case where the occurrence of a Change of Control could affect the vesting of or payment under an Award subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the term “Change of Control” shall mean an occurrence
that both (i) satisfies the requirements set forth above in this Exhibit A, and (ii) is a “change in control event” as that term is defined in the regulations under Section 409A of the Code. 

  
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