Exhibit 10.1

 




 

ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED

2003 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Amended and Restated as of April 12, 2012

 




 











 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
1.
    	
Establishment,   Purpose and Term of Plan
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
1.1 Establishment
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
1.2 Purpose
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
1.3 Term of Plan
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
2.
    	
Definitions   and Construction
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
2.1 Definitions
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
2.2 Construction
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
3.
    	
Administration
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
3.1 Administration by the Committee
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
3.2 Authority of Officers
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
3.3 Administration with Respect to Insiders
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
3.4 Committee Complying with Section 162 (m)
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
3.5 Powers of the Committee
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
3.6 Repricing
    	
7
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
3.7 Indemnification
    	
8
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
4.
    	
Shares   Subject to Plan
    	
8
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
4.1 Maximum Number of Shares Issuable
    	
8
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
4.2 Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure
    	
9
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
5.
    	
Eligibility   and Award Limitations
    	
9
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
5.1 Persons Eligible for Awards
    	
9
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
5.2 Participation
    	
9
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
5.3 Incentive Stock Option Limitations
    	
9
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
5.4 Award Limits
    	
10
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
6.
    	
Terms   and Conditions of Options
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
6.1 Exercise Price
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
6.2 Exercisability and Term of Options
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
6.3 Payment of Exercise Price
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
6.4 Effect of Termination of Service
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
6.5 Transferability of Options
    	
12
    


 

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7.
    	
Terms   and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
7.1 Types of SARs Authorized
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
7.2 Exercise Price
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
7.3 Exercisability and Term of SARs
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
7.4 Exercise of SARs
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
7.5 Deemed Exercise of SARs
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
7.6 Effect of Termination of Service
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
7.7 Nontransferability of SARs
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
8.
    	
Terms   and Conditions of Stock Awards
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
8.1 Types of Stock Awards Authorized
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
8.2 Purchase Price
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
8.3 Purchase Period
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
8.4 Payment of Purchase Price
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
8.5 Vesting; Restrictions on Transfer; Deferral
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
8.6 Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions
    	
16
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
8.7 Effect of Termination of Service
    	
16
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
8.8 Nontransferability of Stock Award Rights
    	
16
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
9.
    	
Terms   and Conditions of Performance Awards
    	
16
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
9.1 Types of Performance Awards Authorized
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
9.2 Initial Value of Performance Shares and   Performance Units
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
9.3 Establishment of Performance Period,   Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
9.4 Measurement of Performance Goals
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
9.5 Settlement of Performance Awards
    	
21
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
9.6 Dividend Equivalents
    	
22
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
9.7 Effect of Termination of Service
    	
22
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
9.8 Nontransferability of Performance Awards
    	
22
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
10.
    	
Standard   Forms of Award Agreement
    	
22
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
10.1 Award Agreements
    	
22
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
10.2 Authority to Vary Terms
    	
22
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
10.3 Clawback/Recovery
    	
23
    


 

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11.   
    	
Change   of Control
    	
23
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
11.1 Awards Granted Prior to January 24, 2008
    	
23
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
11.2 Awards Granted On or After January 24,   2008
    	
24
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
12.   
    	
Compliance   with Securities Law
    	
25
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
13.   
    	
Tax   Withholding
    	
26
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
13.1 Tax Withholding in General
    	
26
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
13.2 Withholding in Shares
    	
26
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
14.   
    	
Termination   or Amendment of Plan
    	
26
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
15.   
    	
Miscellaneous   Provisions
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
15.1 Repurchase Rights
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
15.2 Provision of Information
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
15.3 Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
15.4 Rights as a Stockholder
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
15.5 Fractional Shares
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
15.6 Beneficiary Designation
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
15.7 Unfunded Obligation
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
15.8 Section 409A
    	
28
    


 

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ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED

2003 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.                                      ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN.

 

1.1                               Establishment.  Adobe Systems Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, hereby establishes the Adobe Systems Incorporated 2003 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended and restated, the “Plan”) effective as of April 9, 2003, the date of its approval by the stockholders of the Company (the “Effective Date”).

 

1.2                               Purpose.  The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the Participating Company Group and its stockholders by providing an incentive to attract, retain and reward persons performing services for the Participating Company Group and by motivating such persons to contribute to the growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group.  The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock Purchase Rights, Stock Bonuses, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units.

 

1.3                               Term of Plan.  The Plan shall continue in effect until the earlier of its termination by the Board or the date on which all of the shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan have been issued and all restrictions on such shares under the terms of the Plan and the agreements evidencing Awards granted under the Plan have lapsed.  However, all Incentive Stock Options shall be granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the earlier of the date the Plan is adopted, as amended, by the Board or the date the Plan is duly approved, as amended, by the stockholders of the Company.

 

2.                                      DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.

 

2.1                               Definitions.  Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their respective meanings set forth below:

 

(a)                                 “Affiliate” means (i) an entity, other than a Parent Corporation, that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities, controls the Company or (ii) an entity, other than a Subsidiary Corporation, that is controlled by the Company directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities.  For this purpose, the term “control” (including the term “controlled by”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the relevant entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; or shall have such other meaning assigned such term for the purposes of registration on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.

 

(b)                                 “Award” means any Option, SAR, Stock Purchase Right, Stock Bonus, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share or Performance Unit granted under the Plan.

 

(c)                                  “Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award granted to the Participant.  An Award Agreement may be an “Option Agreement, an “SAR

 











 

Agreement,” a “Stock Purchase Agreement,” a “Stock Bonus Agreement, “ a “Restricted Stock Unit Agreement,” “ a “Performance Share Agreement” or a “Performance Unit Agreement.”

 

(d)                                 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(e)                                  “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(f)                                   “Committee” means the Executive Compensation Committee or other committee of the Board duly appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers as shall be specified by the Board.  If no committee of the Board has been appointed to administer the Plan, the Board shall exercise all of the powers of the Committee granted herein, and, in any event, the Board may in its discretion exercise any or all of such powers.

 

(g)                                  “Company” means Adobe Systems Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, or any successor corporation thereto.

 

(h)                                 “Consultant” means a person engaged to provide consulting or advisory services (other than as an Employee or a member of the Board) to a Participating Company, provided that the identity of such person, the nature of such services or the entity to which such services are provided would not preclude the Company from offering or selling securities to such person pursuant to the Plan in reliance on (i) registration on a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act, or (ii) Rule 701 of the Securities Act, or (iii) other means of compliance with the securities laws of all relevant jurisdictions.

 

(i)                                     “Director” means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any other Participating Company.

 

(j)                                    “Disability” means the permanent and total disability of the Participant, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) and 409A(a)(2)(c)(i) of the Code.

 

(k)                                 “Dividend Equivalent” means a credit, made at the discretion of the Committee or as otherwise provided by the Plan, to the account of a Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one share of Stock for each share of Stock represented by an Award held by such Participant.

 

(l)                                     “Employee” means any person treated as an employee (including an Officer or a member of the Board who is also treated as an employee) in the records of a Participating Company and, with respect to any Incentive Stock Option granted to such person, who is an employee for purposes of Section 422 of the Code; provided, however, that neither service as a member of the Board nor payment of a director’s fee shall be sufficient to constitute employment for purposes of the Plan.

 

(m)                             “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(n)                                 “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a share of Stock or other property as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, or by the Company,

 

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in its discretion, if such determination is expressly allocated to the Company herein, subject to the following:

 

(i)                                     If, on such date, the Stock is listed on a national or regional securities exchange or market system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock (or the mean of the closing bid and asked prices of a share of Stock if the Stock is so quoted instead) as quoted on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, The Nasdaq SmallCap Market or such other national or regional securities exchange or market system constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Company deems reliable.  If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange or market system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established shall be the last day on which the Stock was so traded prior to the relevant date, or such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Committee, in its discretion.

 

(ii)                                  If, on such date, the Stock is not listed on a national or regional securities exchange or market system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by the Committee in good faith without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse.

 

(o)                                 “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) and which qualifies as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code. If an Option is not specifically designated as an Incentive Stock Option, or if an Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option but some portion or all of the Option fails to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under the applicable rules, then the Option (or portion thereof) will be a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

 

(p)                                 “Insider” means an Officer, a member of the Board or any other person whose transactions in Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

(q)                                 “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option not intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.

 

(r)                                    “Officer” means any person designated by the Board as an officer of the Company.

 

(s)                                   “Option” means the right to purchase Stock at a stated price for a specified period of time granted to a participant pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan.  An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

 

(t)                                    “Parent Corporation” means any present or future “parent corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

 

(u)                                 “Participant” means any eligible person who has been granted one or more Awards.

 

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(v)                                 “Participating Company” means the Company or any Parent Corporation, Subsidiary Corporation or Affiliate.

 

(w)                               “Participating Company Group” means, at any point in time, all corporations collectively which are then Participating Companies.

 

(x)                                 “Performance Award” means an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units.

 

(y)                                 “Performance Award Formula” means, for any Performance Award, a formula or table established by the Committee pursuant to Section 9.3 of the Plan which provides the basis for computing the value of a Performance Award at one or more threshold levels of attainment of the applicable Performance Goal(s) measured as of the end of the applicable Performance Period.

 

(z)                                  “Performance Goal” means a performance goal established by the Committee pursuant to Section 9.3 of the Plan.

 

(aa)                          “Performance Period” means a period established by the Committee pursuant to Section 9.3 of the Plan at the end of which one or more Performance Goals are to be measured.

 

(bb)                          “Performance Share” means a bookkeeping entry representing a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Share based on performance.

 

(cc)                            “Performance Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Unit based upon performance.

 

(dd)                          “Predecessor Plans” mean, collectively, the Adobe Systems Incorporated 1994 Stock Option Plan and the Adobe Systems Incorporated 1999 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

(ee)                            “Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan to receive one share of Stock, a cash payment equal to the value of one share of Stock, or a combination thereof, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

 

(ff)                              “Restriction Period” means the period established in accordance with Section 8.5 of the Plan during which shares subject to a Stock Award are subject to Vesting Conditions.

 

(gg)                            “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation.

 

(hh)                          “SAR” or “Stock Appreciation Right” means a bookkeeping entry representing, for each share of Stock subject to such SAR, a right granted to a Participant

 

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pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan to receive payment of an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price.

 

(ii)                                  “Section 162(m)” means Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(jj)                                “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(kk)                          “Service” means a Participant’s employment or service with the Participating Company Group as an Employee, a Consultant or a Director, whichever such capacity the Participant held on the date of grant of an Award.  Unless otherwise determined by the Board, a Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated if the Participant ceases to render service to the Participating Company Group in such initial capacity.  However, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the Participating Company for which the Participant renders such Service in such initial capacity, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Service.  Furthermore, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have terminated if the Participant takes any bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company of ninety (90) days or less.  In the event of a leave in excess of ninety (90) days, the Participant’s Service shall be deemed to terminate on the ninety-first (91st) day of the leave unless the Participant’s right to return to Service is guaranteed by statute or contract.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise designated by the Company or required by law, a leave of absence shall not be treated as Service for purposes of determining vesting under the Participant’s Award Agreement.  A Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the corporation for which the Participant performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company.  Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in its discretion, shall determine whether the Participant’s Service has terminated and the effective date of such termination.

 

(ll)                                  “Stock” means the common stock of the Company, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.2 of the Plan.

 

(mm)                  “Stock Award” means an Award of a Stock Bonus, a Stock Purchase Right or a Restricted Stock Unit Award.

 

(nn)                          “Stock Bonus” means Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.

 

(oo)                          “Stock Purchase Right” means a right to purchase Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.

 

(pp)                          “Subsidiary Corporation” means any present or future “subsidiary corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

(qq)                          “Ten Percent Owner” means a Participant who, at the time an Option is granted to the Participant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a Participating Company (other than an Affiliate) within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.

 

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(rr)                                “Vesting Conditions” mean those conditions established in accordance with Section 8.5 of the Plan prior to the satisfaction of which shares subject to a Stock Award remain subject to forfeiture or a repurchase option in favor of the Company.

 

2.2                               Construction.  Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan.  Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular.  Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

 

3.                                      ADMINISTRATION.

 

3.1                               Administration by the Committee.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  All questions of interpretation of the Plan or of any Award shall be determined by the Committee, and such determinations shall be final and binding upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Award.

 

3.2                               Authority of Officers.  Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, determination or election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company herein, provided the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, determination or election.  To the extent consistent with applicable law (including but not limited to Delaware General Corporation Law Section 157(c)), the Board may, in its discretion, delegate to a committee comprised of one or more Officers (any such committee, an “Officer Committee”) the authority to designate Employees (other than themselves) to receive one or more Options or rights to acquire shares of Stock and to determine the number of shares of Stock subject to such Options and rights, without further approval of the Board or the Committee. Any such grants will be subject to the terms of the Board resolutions providing for such delegation of authority.

 

3.3                               Administration with Respect to Insiders.  With respect to participation by Insiders in the Plan, at any time that any class of equity security of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Plan shall be administered in compliance with the requirements, if any, of Rule 16b-3.

 

3.4                               Committee Complying with Section 162(m).  If the Company is a “publicly held corporation” within the meaning of Section 162(m), the Board may establish a Committee of “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) to approve the grant of any Award which might reasonably be anticipated to result in the payment of employee remuneration that would otherwise exceed the limit on employee remuneration deductible for income tax purposes pursuant to Section 162(m).

 

3.5                               Powers of the Committee.  In addition to any other powers set forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:

 

(a)                                 to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock or units to be subject to each Award;

 

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(b)                                 to determine the type of Award granted and to designate Options as Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options;

 

(c)                                  to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock or other property;

 

(d)                                 to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Award (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise or purchase price of shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (ii) the method of payment for shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with Award, including by the withholding or delivery of shares of Stock, (iv) the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, (v) the Performance Award Formula and Performance Goals applicable to any Award and the extent to which such Performance Goals have been attained, (vi) the time of the expiration of any Award, (vii) the effect of the Participant’s termination of Service on any of the foregoing, and (viii) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any Award or shares acquired pursuant thereto not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;

 

(e)                                  to determine whether an Award of SARs, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares or Performance Units will be settled in shares of Stock, cash, or in any combination thereof;

 

(f)                                   to approve one or more forms of Award Agreement;

 

(g)                                  to amend, modify, extend, cancel or renew any Award or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto;

 

(h)                                 to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including with respect to the period following a Participant’s termination of Service;

 

(i)                                     to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to the plan, or to adopt sub-plans or supplements to, or alternative versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Committee deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws of or to accommodate the laws, regulations, tax or accounting effectiveness, accounting principles or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose citizens may be granted Awards; and

 

(j)                                    to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any Award as the Committee may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or applicable law.

 

3.6                               Repricing.  Without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Stock cast in person or by proxy at a meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which a quorum representing a majority of all outstanding shares of Stock is present or represented by proxy, the Board shall not approve a program providing for either (a) the cancellation of outstanding Options or SARs and the grant in substitution therefor of new

 

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Awards having a lower exercise or purchase price or (b) the amendment of outstanding Options or SARs to reduce the exercise price thereof.  This paragraph shall not be construed to apply to “issuing or assuming a stock option in a transaction to which section 424(a) applies,” within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code.

 

3.7                               Indemnification.  In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or the Committee or as officers or employees of the Participating Company Group, members of the Board or the Committee and any officers or employees of the Participating Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board, the Committee or the Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any right granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however, that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend the same.

 

4.                                      SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN.

 

4.1                               Maximum Number of Shares Issuable.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be two hundred and twenty-nine million six hundred and forty-nine thousand six hundred and twenty (229,649,620).  The number of shares of stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced (a) by one share for each share issued pursuant to options or rights granted pursuant to the Predecessor Plans or pursuant to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, and (b) by one and seventy seven-hundredths (1.77) shares for each share issued pursuant to Awards other than those set forth in the preceding clause (a); provided, however, that (A) for Awards granted prior to April 5, 2007, the reduction was one share of Stock for each share of Stock issued pursuant to any Awards, (B) for Awards granted on April 5, 2007 through and including April 9, 2008, the reduction was two and one-tenth (2.1) shares for each share issued pursuant to any Awards other than options or rights granted pursuant to the Predecessor Plans or pursuant to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, and (C) for Awards granted on April 10, 2008 through and including March 31, 2009, the reduction was two and four-tenths (2.4) shares for each share issued pursuant to any Awards other than options or rights granted pursuant to the Predecessor Plans or pursuant to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.  Such shares shall consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of Stock or any combination thereof.  If an outstanding Award for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, or if shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company at the Participant’s purchase price to effect a forfeiture of unvested shares upon termination of Service, the shares of Stock allocable to the terminated portion of such Award or such forfeited or repurchased shares of Stock shall be added back to the Plan share reserve in an amount corresponding to the

 

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reduction in such share reserve previously made in accordance with the rules described above in this Section 4.1 and again be available for issuance under the Plan.  Shares of Stock shall not be deemed to have been issued pursuant to the Plan with respect to any portion of an Award (other than a SAR that may be settled in shares of Stock and/or cash) that is settled in cash. Shares withheld in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations pursuant to Section 13.2 shall not again become available for issuance under the Plan.  Upon exercise of a SAR, whether in cash or shares of Stock, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the SAR is exercised.  If the exercise price of an Option is paid by “net exercise” (as described in Section 6.3(a)(iv)) or tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Participant, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the Option is exercised.

 

4.2                               Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure.  In the event of any change in the Stock through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (excepting normal cash dividends) that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the number and class of shares subject to the Plan, in the ISO Share Limit set forth in Section 5.3(b), the Award limits set forth in Section 5.4 and to any outstanding Awards, and in the exercise or purchase price per share under any outstanding Award.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and in no event may the exercise or purchase price under any Award be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to such Award.  The adjustments determined by the Committee pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

5.                                      ELIGIBILITY AND AWARD LIMITATIONS.

 

5.1                               Persons Eligible for Awards.  Awards may be granted only to Employees, Directors and Consultants.  No Award shall be granted prior to the date on which such person commences Service.

 

5.2                               Participation.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.2 above, Awards are granted solely at the discretion of the Committee.  Eligible persons may be granted more than one (1) Award.  However, eligibility in accordance with this Section shall not entitle any person to be granted an Award, or, having been granted an Award, to be granted an additional Award.

 

5.3                               Incentive Stock Option Limitations.

 

(a)                                 Persons Eligible.  An Incentive Stock Option may be granted only to a person who, on the effective date of grant, is an Employee of the Company, a Parent Corporation or a Subsidiary Corporation (each being an “ISO-Qualifying Corporation”).  Any person who is not an Employee of an ISO-Qualifying Corporation on the effective date of the

 

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grant of an Option to such person, but who is otherwise an Employee or a Director of, or Consultant to, the Company or any of its Affiliates, may be granted only a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

 

(b)                                 ISO Share Limit.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, in no event shall more than 229,649,620 shares of Stock be available for issuance pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan or the Predecessor Plans (the “ISO Share Limit”).

 

(c)                                  Fair Market Value Limitation.  To the extent that options designated as Incentive Stock Options (granted under all stock option plans of the Participating Company Group, including the Plan) become exercisable by a Participant for the first time during any calendar year for stock having a Fair Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the portion of such options which exceeds such amount shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options.  For purposes of this Section, options designated as Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of the time the option with respect to such stock is granted.  If the Code is amended to provide for a different limitation from that set forth in this Section, such different limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as of the date and with respect to such Options as required or permitted by such amendment to the Code.  If an Option is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and as a Nonstatutory Stock Option in part by reason of the limitation set forth in this Section, the Participant may designate which portion of such Option the Participant is exercising.  In the absence of such designation, the Participant shall be deemed to have exercised the Incentive Stock Option portion of the Option first.  Upon exercise, each portion shall be separately identified.

 

5.4                               Award Limits.

 

(a)                                 Section 162(m) Award Limits.  The following limits shall apply to the grant of any Award if, at the time of grant, the Company is a “publicly held corporation” within the meaning of Section 162(m).

 

(i)                                     Options and SARs.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, no Employee shall be granted within any fiscal year of the Company one or more Options or Freestanding SARs which in the aggregate are for more than four million (4,000,000) shares of Stock.  An Option which is canceled (or a Freestanding SAR as to which the exercise price is reduced to reflect a reduction in the Fair Market Value of the Stock) in the same fiscal year of the Company in which it was granted shall continue to be counted against such limit for such fiscal year.

 

(ii)                                  Stock Awards. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, no Employee shall be granted within any fiscal year of the Company one or more Stock Awards, subject to Vesting Conditions based on the attainment of Performance Goals, for more than two hundred thousand (200,000) shares of Stock.

 

(iii)                               Performance Awards.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, no Employee shall be granted (A) Performance Shares which could result in such

 

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Employee receiving more than two hundred thousand (200,000) shares of Stock for each full fiscal year of the Company contained in the Performance Period for such Award, or (B) Performance Units which could result in such Employee receiving more than two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) for each full fiscal year of the Company contained in the Performance Period for such Award.  No Participant may be granted more than one Performance Award for the same Performance Period.

 

6.                                      TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.

 

Options shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish.  No Option or purported Option shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Award Agreement.  Award Agreements evidencing Options may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

6.1                               Exercise Price.  The exercise price for each Option shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option and (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall have an exercise price per share less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner qualifying under the provisions of Sections 409A and 424(a) of the Code.

 

6.2                               Exercisability and Term of Options.  Options shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option; provided, however, that (a) no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of seven (7) years after the effective date of grant of such Option, and (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years after the effective date of grant of such Option.  Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of an Option, any Option granted hereunder to an Employee, Consultant or Director shall terminate seven (7) years after the effective date of grant of the Option, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.

 

6.3                               Payment of Exercise Price.

 

(a)                                 Forms of Consideration Authorized.  Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash, by check or cash equivalent, (ii) by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value not less than the exercise price, (iii) by delivery of a properly executed notice of exercise together with irrevocable instructions to a broker providing for the assignment

 

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to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to some or all of the shares being acquired upon the exercise of the Option (including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) (a “Cashless Exercise”), (iv) by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Stock issued upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price; provided, however, that the Company shall accept a cash or other payment from the Participant to the extent of any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued; provided further, however, that shares of Stock will no longer be outstanding under an Option and will not be exercisable thereafter to the extent that (A) shares are used to pay the exercise price pursuant to the “net exercise,” (B) shares are delivered to the Participant as a result of such exercise, and (C) shares are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations; or (v) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (v) by any combination thereof.  The Committee may at any time or from time to time grant Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.

 

(b)                                 Limitations on Forms of Consideration.

 

(i)                                     Tender of Stock.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock to the extent such tender or attestation would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company’s stock.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock unless such shares either have been owned by the Participant for more than six (6) months (or such longer or shorter period as necessary to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes) and not used for another Option exercise by attestation during any such period or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company.

 

(ii)                                  Cashless Exercise.  The Company reserves, at any and all times, the right, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, to establish, decline to approve or terminate any program or procedures for the exercise of Options by means of a Cashless Exercise.

 

6.4                               Effect of Termination of Service.  An Option shall be exercisable after a Participant’s termination of Service to such extent and during such period as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option or in another written agreement between the Company and the Participant.

 

6.5                               Transferability of Options.  During the lifetime of the Participant, an Option shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.  No Option shall be assignable or transferable by the Participant, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option, an Option shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any,

 

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described in the General Instructions to Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act.

 

7.                                      TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

 

SARs shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish.  No SAR or purported SAR shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Award Agreement.  Award Agreements evidencing SARs may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

7.1                               Types of SARs Authorized.  SARs may be granted in tandem with all or any portion of a related Option (a “Tandem SAR”) or may be granted independently of any Option (a “Freestanding SAR”).  A Tandem SAR may be granted either concurrently with the grant of the related Option or at any time thereafter prior to the complete exercise, termination, expiration or cancellation of such related Option.

 

7.2                               Exercise Price.  The exercise price for each SAR shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share subject to a Tandem SAR shall be the exercise price per share under the related Option and (b) the exercise price per share subject to a Freestanding SAR shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the SAR.

 

7.3                               Exercisability and Term of SARs.

 

(a)                                 Tandem SARs.  Tandem SARs shall be exercisable only at the time and to the extent, and only to the extent, that the related Option is exercisable, subject to such provisions as the Committee may specify where the Tandem SAR is granted with respect to less than the full number of shares of Stock subject to the related Option.  The Committee may, in its discretion, provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Tandem SAR that such SAR may not be exercised without the advance approval of the Company and, if such approval is not given, then the Option shall nevertheless remain exercisable in accordance with its terms.  A Tandem SAR shall terminate and cease to be exercisable no later than the date on which the related Option expires or is terminated or canceled.  Upon the exercise of a Tandem SAR with respect to some or all of the shares subject to such SAR, the related Option shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the Tandem SAR was exercised.  Upon the exercise of an Option related to a Tandem SAR as to some or all of the shares subject to such Option, the related Tandem SAR shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the related Option was exercised.

 

(b)                                 Freestanding SARs.  Freestanding SARs shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR; provided, however, that no Freestanding SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of eight (8) years after the effective date of grant of such SAR.

 

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7.4                               Exercise of SARs.  Upon the exercise (or deemed exercise pursuant to Section 7.5) of an SAR, the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the SAR by reason of the Participant’s death) shall be entitled to receive payment of an amount for each share with respect to which the SAR is exercised equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price.  Payment of such amount shall be made in cash, shares of Stock, or any combination thereof as determined by the Committee.  Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR, payment shall be made in a lump sum as soon as practicable following the date of exercise of the SAR.  The Award Agreement evidencing any SAR may provide for deferred payment in a lump sum or in installments.  When payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of shares to be issued shall be determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR.  For purposes of Section 7, an SAR shall be deemed exercised on the date on which the Company receives notice of exercise from the Participant.

 

7.5                               Deemed Exercise of SARs.  If, on the date on which an SAR would otherwise terminate or expire, the SAR by its terms remains exercisable immediately prior to such termination or expiration and, if so exercised, would result in a payment to the holder of such SAR, then any portion of such SAR which has not previously been exercised shall automatically be deemed to be exercised as of such date with respect to such portion.

 

7.6                               Effect of Termination of Service.  An SAR shall be exercisable after a Participant’s termination of Service to such extent and during such period as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR or in another written agreement between the Company and the Participant.

 

7.7                               Nontransferability of SARs.  SARs may not be assigned or transferred in any manner except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the lifetime of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

 

8.                                      TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK AWARDS.

 

Stock Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying whether the Award is a Stock Bonus, a Stock Purchase Right or a Restricted Stock Unit, and the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish.  No Stock Award or purported Stock Award shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Award Agreement.  Award Agreements evidencing Stock Awards may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

8.1                               Types of Stock Awards Authorized.  Stock Awards may be in the form of a Stock Bonus, a Stock Purchase Right or a Restricted Stock Unit.  Stock Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, service to a Participating Company or upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals described in Section 9.4.  If either the grant of a Stock Award or the lapsing of the Restriction

 

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Period is to be contingent upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 9.3 through 9.5(a).

 

8.2                               Purchase Price.  The purchase price for shares of Stock issuable under each Stock Purchase Right shall be established by the Committee in its discretion.  No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding) shall be required as a condition of receiving shares of Stock pursuant to a Stock Bonus, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock subject to such Stock Award.

 

8.3                               Purchase Period.  A Stock Purchase Right shall be exercisable within a period established by the Committee, which shall in no event exceed thirty (30) days from the effective date of the grant of the Stock Purchase Right; provided, however, that no Stock Purchase Right granted to an Employee, a Consultant or a Director may become exercisable prior to the date on which such person commences Service.

 

8.4                               Payment of Purchase Price.  Stock Bonuses shall be issued in consideration for past services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit.  At the time of grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Committee will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid by the Participant upon delivery of each share of Stock acquired pursuant to Restricted Stock Units.  Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the purchase price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Stock Purchase Right or delivered pursuant to a Restricted Stock Unit shall be made (i) in cash, by check, or cash equivalent, (ii) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (iii) by any combination thereof, in each case consistent with any requirements under applicable law regarding payment in respect of the “par value” of the Stock.  The Committee may at any time or from time to time grant Stock Purchase Rights or Restricted Stock Units which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment of the purchase price or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.

 

8.5                               Vesting; Restrictions on Transfer; Deferral.  Shares issued pursuant to any Stock Award may or may not be made subject to vesting conditioned upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 9.4 (the “Vesting Conditions”), as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award.  During any period (the “Restriction Period”) in which shares acquired pursuant to a Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, such shares may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise disposed of other than pursuant to a Change of Control as provided in Section 11, or as provided in Section 8.8.  Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions. Restricted Stock

 

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Units may be subject to such conditions that may delay the delivery of the shares of Stock (or their cash equivalent) subject to Restricted Stock Units after the vesting of such Award.

 

8.6                               Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions.  Except as provided in this Section, Section 8.5 and any Award Agreement, during the Restriction Period applicable to shares subject to a Stock Bonus or Restricted Stock Purchase Right, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company holding shares of Stock, including the right to vote such shares and to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such shares.  With respect to Restricted Stock Units, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide that dividend equivalents shall not be paid or provide either for the current payment of dividend equivalents or for the accumulation and payment of dividend equivalents to the extent that the Restricted Stock Units become nonforfeitable.  In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.2, then any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than normal cash dividends) to which the Participant is entitled by reason of the Participant’s Stock Award shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions and, if applicable, deferral elections as the shares subject to the Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid or adjustments were made.

 

8.7                               Effect of Termination of Service.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the grant of a Stock Award and set forth in the Award Agreement or in another written agreement between the Company and the Participant, if a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participant’s death or disability), then (i) the Company shall have the option to repurchase for the purchase price paid by the Participant any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Stock Purchase Right which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service, (ii) the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Stock Bonus which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service and (iii) the Participant shall forfeit all rights in any portion of a Restricted Stock Unit award that has not vested as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service.  The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company.

 

8.8                               Nontransferability of Stock Award Rights.  Rights to acquire shares of Stock pursuant to a Stock Award may not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the lifetime of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

 

9.                                      TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PERFORMANCE AWARDS.

 

Performance Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish.  No Performance Award or purported Performance Award shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Award Agreement.  Award Agreements evidencing Performance Awards may

 

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incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

9.1                               Types of Performance Awards Authorized.  Performance Awards may be in the form of either Performance Shares or Performance Units.  Each Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award shall specify the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units subject thereto, the Performance Award Formula, the Performance Goal(s) and Performance Period applicable to the Award, and the other terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award.

 

9.2                               Initial Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee (or, as applicable for awards not granted in a manner intending to comply with Section 162(m), a duly authorized Officer Committee in accordance with applicable law) in granting a Performance Award, each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, on the effective date of grant of the Performance Share, and each Performance Unit shall have an initial value of one hundred dollars ($100).  The final value payable to the Participant in settlement of a Performance Award determined on the basis of the applicable Performance Award Formula will depend on the extent to which Performance Goals established by the Committee are attained within the applicable Performance Period established by the Committee.

 

9.3                               Establishment of Performance Period, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula.  In granting each Performance Award, the Committee shall establish in writing the applicable Performance Period, Performance Award Formula and one or more Performance Goals which, when measured at the end of the Performance Period, shall determine on the basis of the Performance Award Formula the final value of the Performance Award to be paid to the Participant.  Unless otherwise permitted in compliance with the requirements under Section 162(m) with respect to “performance-based compensation,” the Committee shall establish the Performance Goal(s) and Performance Award Formula applicable to each Performance Award no later than the earlier of (a) the date ninety (90) days after the commencement of the applicable Performance Period or (b) the date on which 25% of the Performance Period has elapsed, and, in any event, at a time when the outcome of the Performance Goals remains substantially uncertain.  Once established, the Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula shall not be changed during the Performance Period.  The Company shall notify each Participant granted a Performance Award of the terms of such Award, including the Performance Period, Performance Goal(s) and Performance Award Formula.

 

9.4                               Measurement of Performance Goals.  Performance Goals shall be established by the Committee on the basis of targets to be attained with respect to one or more measures of business or financial performance (each, a “Performance Measure”), subject to the following:

 

(a)                                 Permitted Performance Measures.  Performance Measures may be one or more of the following, as determined by the Committee:

 

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(i)                                     growth in revenue or product revenue;

 

(ii)                                  growth in the market price of the Stock;

 

(iii)                               operating margin;

 

(iv)                              margin, including gross margin;

 

(v)                                 operating income;

 

(vi)                              operating income after taxes;

 

(vii)                           operating profit or net operating profit;

 

(viii)                        pre-tax profit;

 

(ix)                              earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation;

 

(x)                                 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization;

 

(xi)                              income, before or after taxes (including net income);

 

(xii)                           total return on shares of Stock or total stockholder return;

 

(xiii)                        earnings, including but not limited to earnings per share and net earnings;

 

(xiv)                       return on stockholder equity or average stockholders’ equity;

 

(xv)                          return on net assets;

 

(xvi)                       return on assets, investment or capital employed;

 

(xvii)                    expenses;

 

(xviii)                 cost reduction goals;

 

(xix)                       return on capital;

 

(xx)                          economic value added;

 

(xxi)                       market share;

 

(xxii)                    operating cash flow;

 

(xxiii)                 cash flow, as indicated by book earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization;

 

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(xxiv)                cash flow per share;

 

(xxv)                   improvement in or attainment of working capital levels;

 

(xxvi)                debt reduction;

 

(xxvii)             debt levels;

 

(xxviii)          capital expenditures;

 

(xxix)                sales or revenue targets, including product or product family targets;

 

(xxx)                   billings;

 

(xxxi)                workforce diversity;

 

(xxxii)             customer satisfaction;

 

(xxxiii)          implementation or completion of projects or processes;

 

(xxxiv)         improvement in or attainment of working capital levels;

 

(xxxv)            stockholders’ equity; and

 

(xxxvi)         other measures of performance selected by the Committee to the extent consistent with Section 162(m).

 

(b)                                 Structure of Performance Measures and Performance Goals.  Performance Measures and Performance Goals may differ from Participant to Participant and from Performance Award to Performance Award.  Performance Goals may, as the Committee specifies, either include or exclude the effect of payment of Performance Awards under this Plan and any other performance plans of the Company.  In establishing a Performance Goal, the Committee may provide that performance shall be appropriately adjusted as follows:

 

(i)                                     to include or exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges;

 

(ii)                                  to include or exclude exchange rate effects, as applicable, for non-U.S. dollar denominated Performance Goals;

 

(iii)                               to include or exclude the effects of changes to generally accepted accounting principles required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board;

 

(iv)                              to include or exclude the effects of any statutory adjustments to corporate tax rates;

 

(v)                                 to include or exclude the effects of any “extraordinary items” as determined under generally accepted accounting principles;

 

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(vi)                              to include or exclude the effect of payment of bonuses under any cash bonus plan of the Company;

 

(vii)                           to include or exclude the effect of stock based compensation and/or deferred compensation;

 

(viii)                        to include or exclude any other unusual, non-recurring gain or loss or other extraordinary item;

 

(ix)                              to respond to, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event or development;

 

(x)                                 to respond to, or in anticipation of, changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, or business conditions; to include or exclude the effects of divestitures, acquisitions or joint ventures;

 

(xi)                              to include or exclude the effects of discontinued operations that do not qualify as a segment of a business unit under generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(xii)                           to assume that any business divested by the Company achieved performance objectives at targeted levels during the balance of a Performance Period following such divestiture;

 

(xiii)                        to include or exclude the effect of any change in the outstanding shares of Stock by reason of any stock dividend or split, stock repurchase, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, or any distributions to common shareholders other than regular cash dividends;

 

(xiv)                       to reflect a corporate transaction, such as a merger, consolidation, separation (including a spinoff or other distribution of stock or property by a corporation), or reorganization (whether or not such reorganization comes within the definition of such term in Section 368 of the Code);

 

(xv)                          to reflect any partial or complete corporate liquidation;

 

(xvi)                       to reflect shippable backlog; and

 

(xvii)                    to include or exclude the amortization of purchased intangibles, technology license arrangements and incomplete technology.

 

(c)                                  Performance Goals.  Performance Goals may include a minimum, maximum, target level and intermediate levels of performance, with the final value of a Performance Award determined under the applicable Performance Award Formula by the level attained during the applicable Performance Period.  A Performance Goal may be stated as an absolute value or as a value determined relative to a standard selected by the Committee.

 

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9.5                               Settlement of Performance Awards.

 

(a)                                 Determination of Final Value.  As soon as practicable following the completion of the Performance Period applicable to a Performance Award, the Committee shall certify in writing the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been attained and the resulting final value of the Award earned by the Participant and to be paid upon its settlement in accordance with the applicable Performance Award Formula.

 

(b)                                 Discretionary Adjustment of Award Formula.  In its discretion, the Committee may, either at the time it grants a Performance Award or at any time thereafter, provide for the positive or negative adjustment of the Performance Award Formula applicable to a Performance Award granted to any Participant who is not a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) (a “Covered Employee”) to reflect such Participant’s individual performance in his or her position with the Company or such other factors as the Committee may determine.  If permitted under a Covered Employee’s Award Agreement, the Committee shall have the discretion, on the basis of such criteria as may be established by the Committee, to reduce some or all of the value of the Performance Award that would otherwise be paid to the Covered Employee upon its settlement notwithstanding the attainment of any Performance Goal and the resulting value of the Performance Award determined in accordance with the Performance Award Formula.  No such reduction may result in an increase in the amount payable upon settlement of another Participant’s Performance Award.

 

(c)                                  Effect of Leaves of Absence.  Unless otherwise required by law, payment of the final value, if any, of a Performance Award held by a Participant who has taken in excess of thirty (30) days of leaves of absence during a Performance Period shall be prorated on the basis of the number of days of the Participant’s Service during the Performance Period during which the Participant was not on a leave of absence.

 

(d)                                 Notice to Participants.  As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination and certification in accordance with Sections 9.5(a) and (b), the Company shall notify each Participant of the determination of the Committee.

 

(e)                                  Payment in Settlement of Performance Awards.  As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination and certification in accordance with Sections 9.5(a) and (b), payment shall be made to each eligible Participant (or such Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to receive such payment by reason of the Participant’s death) of the final value of the Participant’s Performance Award.  Payment of such amount shall be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee.  Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award, payment shall be made in a lump sum.  An Award Agreement may provide for deferred payment in a lump sum or in installments at the election of the Participant or otherwise.  If any payment is to be made on a deferred basis, the Committee may, but shall not be obligated to, provide for the payment during the deferral period of Dividend Equivalents or interest.

 

(f)                                   Provisions Applicable to Payment in Shares.  If payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of such shares shall be determined by dividing the final value of the Performance Award by the value of a share of Stock determined by the method

 

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specified in the Award Agreement.  Such methods may include, without limitation, the closing market price on a specified date (such as the settlement date) or an average of market prices over a series of trading days.  Shares of Stock issued in payment of any Performance Award may be fully vested and freely transferable shares or may be shares of Stock subject to Vesting Conditions as provided in Section 8.5.  Any shares subject to Vesting Conditions shall be evidenced by an appropriate Award Agreement and shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 8.5 through 8.8 above.

 

9.6                               Dividend Equivalents.  In its discretion, the Committee may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Performance Share Award that the Participant shall be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalents with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock having a record date prior to the date on which the Performance Shares are settled or forfeited.  Dividend Equivalents may be paid currently or may be accumulated and paid to the extent that Performance Shares become nonforfeitable, as determined by the Committee.  Settlement of Dividend Equivalents may be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee, and may be paid on the same basis as settlement of the related Performance Share as provided in Section 9.5.  Dividend Equivalents shall not be paid with respect to Performance Units.

 

9.7                               Effect of Termination of Service.  The effect of a Participant’s termination of Service on the Participant’s Performance Award shall be as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Performance Award or in another written agreement between the Company and the Participant.

 

9.8                               Nontransferability of Performance Awards.  Prior to settlement in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, no Performance Award may be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  All rights with respect to a Performance Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

 

10.                               STANDARD FORMS OF AWARD AGREEMENT.

 

10.1                        Award Agreements.  Each Award shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the appropriate form of Award Agreement approved by the Committee and as amended from time to time.  Any Award Agreement may consist of an appropriate form of Notice of Grant and a form of Agreement incorporated therein by reference, or such other form or forms as the Committee may approve from time to time.

 

10.2                        Authority to Vary Terms.  The Committee shall have the authority from time to time to vary the terms of any standard form of Award Agreement either in connection with the grant or amendment of an individual Award or in connection with the authorization of a new standard form or forms; provided, however, that the terms and conditions of any such new, revised or amended standard form or forms of Award Agreement are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

 

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10.3                        Clawback/Recovery.  All Awards granted under the Plan will be subject to recoupment in accordance with any clawback policy that the Company is required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable law. In addition, the Committee may impose such other clawback, recovery or recoupment provisions in an Award Agreement as the Committee determines necessary or appropriate, including but not limited to a reacquisition right in respect of previously acquired shares of Common Stock or other cash or property upon the occurrence of Cause.

 

11.                               CHANGE OF CONTROL.

 

11.1                        Awards Granted Prior to January 24, 2008.  The following provisions shall control for Awards granted prior to January 24, 2008:

 

(a)         Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement:

 

(i)                                     An “Ownership Change Event” shall be deemed to have occurred if any of the following occurs with respect to the Company:  (i) the direct or indirect sale or exchange by the stockholders of the Company of all or substantially all of the voting stock of the Company; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a party; (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than a sale, exchange or transfer to one or more subsidiaries of the Company); or (iv) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

(ii)                                  A “Change in Control” shall mean an Ownership Change Event or series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, a “Transaction”) in which the stockholders of the Company immediately before the Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company or, in the case of an Ownership Change Event described in Section 11.1(a)(iii), the entity to which the assets of the Company were transferred.

 

(b)         Effect of Change in Control on Options, SARs and Restricted Stock Units.  In the event of a Change in Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (the “Acquiror”), may, without the consent of any Participant, either assume the Company’s rights and obligations under outstanding Options, SARs and Restricted Stock Units or substitute for outstanding Options, SARs and Restricted Stock Units substantially equivalent equity awards for the Acquiror’s stock.  In the event the Acquiror elects not to assume or substitute for outstanding Options, SARs or Restricted Stock Units in connection with a Change in Control, the Committee shall provide that any unexercised and/or unvested portions of such outstanding Awards shall be immediately exercisable and vested in full as of the date thirty (30) days prior to the date of the Change in Control.  The exercise and/or vesting of any Option, SAR or Restricted Stock Unit that was permissible solely by reason of this paragraph 10.2 shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the Change in Control.  Any Options, SARs or Restricted Stock Units which are not assumed or replaced by the Acquiror in connection with the Change in Control nor exercised as of the

 

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time of consummation of the Change in Control shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the time of consummation of the Change in Control.

 

(c)          Effect of Change in Control on Stock Awards.  The Committee may, in its discretion, provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Stock Award that, in the event of a Change in Control, the lapsing of the Restriction Period applicable to the shares subject to the Stock Award held by a Participant whose Service has not terminated prior to such date shall be accelerated effective as of the date of the Change in Control to such extent as specified in such Award Agreement.  Any acceleration of the lapsing of the Restriction Period that was permissible solely by reason of this Section 11.1(c) and the provisions of such Award Agreement shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the Change in Control.

 

(d)         Effect of Change in Control on Performance Awards.  The Committee may, in its discretion, provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award that, in the event of a Change in Control, the Performance Award held by a Participant whose Service has not terminated prior to such date shall become payable effective as of the date of the Change in Control to such extent as specified in such Award Agreement.

 

11.2                        Awards Granted On or After January 24, 2008.  The following provisions shall control for Awards granted on or after January 24, 2008:

 

(a)         Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement, “Change of Control” shall mean a change of control of the Company of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act, whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided, however, that anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, a Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred if:

 

(i)                                     any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity or person, or any syndicate or group deemed to be a person under Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote in the election of directors of the Company;

 

(ii)                                  during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board and any new directors, whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least three-fourths (3/4ths) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved (the “Incumbent Directors”), cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof;

 

(iii)                               there occurs a reorganization, merger, consolidation or other corporate transaction involving the Company (a “Transaction”), in each case with respect to which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such Transaction do not, immediately after the Transaction, own securities representing more than 50% of the combined

 

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voting power of the Company, a parent of the Company or other corporation resulting from such Transaction (counting, for this purpose, only those securities held by the Company’s stockholders immediately after the Transaction that were received in exchange for, or represent their continuing ownership of, securities of the Company held by them immediately prior to the Transaction);

 

(iv)                              all or substantially all of the assets of the Company are sold, liquidated or distributed; or

 

(v)                                 there is a “Change of Control” or a “change in the effective control” of the Company within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(b)         The Committee or the Board may, in its discretion, provide in any Award Agreement, severance plan or other individual agreement, that, in the event of a Change of Control of the Company, the Award held by a Participant shall become vested, exercisable and/or payable to such extent as specified in such document.

 

(c)          In the event of a Change of Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (the “Acquiror”), may, without the consent of any Participant, either assume the Company’s rights and obligations under outstanding Awards or substitute for outstanding Awards substantially equivalent equity awards for the Acquiror’s stock.  In the event the Acquiror elects not to assume or substitute for outstanding Awards in connection with a Change of Control, any unexercised and/or unvested portions of such outstanding Awards shall become immediately exercisable and vested in full as of immediately prior to the effective date of the Change of Control.  The exercise and/or vesting of any Award that was permissible solely by reason of this paragraph 11.2 shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the Change in Control.  Any Awards which are not assumed or replaced by the Acquiror in connection with the Change of Control nor exercised as of the time of consummation of the Change of Control shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the time of consummation of the Change of Control.

 

12.                               COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAW.

 

12.1                        The grant of Awards and the issuance of shares of Stock pursuant to any Award shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state and foreign law with respect to such securities and the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed.  In addition, no Award may be exercised or shares issued pursuant to an Award unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of such exercise or issuance be in effect with respect to the shares issuable pursuant to the Award or (ii) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable pursuant to the Award may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.  The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares hereunder shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.  As a condition to issuance of any Stock, the

 

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Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.

 

12.2                        If the exercise of an Award, or the purchase or delivery of shares of Stock subject to an Award, following the termination of the Participant’s Service would be prohibited at any time during the applicable post-termination period solely because the issuance of shares of Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Award shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of a period of three (3) months after the termination of the Participant’s Service during which the exercise of the Award would not be in violation of such registration requirements, or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Award as set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

13.                               TAX WITHHOLDING.

 

13.1                        Tax Withholding in General.  Unless prohibited by applicable law, the Company shall have the right to deduct from any and all payments made under the Plan, or to require the Participant, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, including by means of a Cashless Exercise of an Option, to make adequate provision for, the federal, state, local and foreign taxes, if any, required by law to be withheld by the Participating Company Group with respect to an Award or the shares acquired pursuant thereto.  The Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock, to release shares of Stock from an escrow established pursuant to an Award Agreement, or to make any payment in cash under the Plan until the Participating Company Group’s tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by the Participant.

 

13.2                        Withholding in Shares.  Unless prohibited by applicable law, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable to a Participant upon the exercise or settlement of an Award, or to accept from the Participant the tender of, a number of whole shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company, equal to all or any part of the tax withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group.  The Fair Market Value of any shares of Stock withheld or tendered to satisfy any such tax withholding obligations shall not exceed the amount determined by the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates.

 

14.                               TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF PLAN.

 

The Committee may terminate or amend the Plan at any time.  However, without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, there shall be (a) no increase in the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of the provisions of Section 4.2), (b) no change in the class of persons eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options, and (c) no other amendment of the Plan that would require approval of the Company’s stockholders under any applicable law, regulation or rule.  No termination or amendment of the Plan shall affect any then outstanding Award unless expressly provided by the Committee.  In any event, no termination or amendment of the Plan may adversely affect any then outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant, unless such termination or amendment is necessary to comply with any applicable law, regulation or rule.

 

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15.                               MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

 

15.1                        Repurchase Rights.  Shares issued under the Plan may be subject to one or more repurchase options, or other conditions and restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion at the time the Award is granted.  The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company.  Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.

 

15.2                        Provision of Information.  Each Participant shall be given access to information concerning the Company equivalent to that information generally made available to the Company’s common stockholders.

 

15.3                        Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director.  No person, even though eligible pursuant to Section 5, shall have a right to be selected as a Participant, or, having been so selected, to be selected again as a Participant.  Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall confer on any Participant a right to remain an Employee, a Consultant or a Director, or interfere with or limit in any way any right of a Participating Company to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time.  To the extent that an Employee of a Participating Company other than the Company receives an Award under the Plan, that Award can in no event be understood or interpreted to mean that the Company is the Employee’s employer or that the Employee has an employment relationship with the Company.

 

15.4                        Rights as a Stockholder.  A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by an Award until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company).  No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such shares are issued, except as provided in Section 4.2 or another provision of the Plan.

 

15.5                        Fractional Shares.  The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise or settlement of any Award.

 

15.6                        Beneficiary Benefits.  Subject to local laws and procedures, the Company may request appropriate written documentation from a trustee or other legal representative, court, or similar legal body, regarding any benefit under the Plan to which the Participant is entitled in the event of such Participant’s death before such representative shall be entitled to act on behalf of the Participant and before a beneficiary receives any or all of such benefit.

 

15.7                        Unfunded Obligation.  Participants shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company.  Any amounts payable to Participants pursuant to the Plan shall be unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.  No Participating Company shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or

 

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establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations.  The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder.  Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Committee, the Officer Committee or any Participating Company and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of any Participating Company.  The Participants shall have no claim against any Participating Company for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.

 

15.8                        Section 409A. It is intended that all of the benefits and payments provided under this Plan satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Code Section 409A (together, with any state law of similar effect, “Section 409A”) provided under Treasury Regulations Sections 1.409A 1(b)(4), 1.409A 1(b)(5), 1.409A-1(b)(6) and 1.409A 1(b)(9), and this Plan will be construed to the greatest extent possible as consistent with those provisions.  To the extent not so exempt, this Plan and the payments and benefits to be provided hereunder are intended to, and will be construed and implemented so as to, comply in all respects with the applicable provisions of Section 409A.  For purposes of Section 409A (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A 2(b)(2)(iii)), any right to receive any installment payments under this Plan shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each installment payment hereunder shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment.

 

To the extent that the Committee determines that any Award granted under the Plan is, or may reasonably be, subject to Section 409A, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions necessary to avoid the consequences described in Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code (or any similar provision).  Such terms and conditions shall include, without limitation, the following provision (or comparable provision of similar effect):  “To the extent that (i) one or more of the payments or benefits received or to be received by a Participant upon “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) without regard to alternative definitions thereunder) pursuant to this Plan would constitute deferred compensation subject to the requirements of Section 409A, and (ii) the Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of separation from service, then to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of such payments or benefits is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) and the related adverse taxation under Section 409A, such payments and benefits shall not be provided to the Participant prior to the earliest of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of separation from service, (ii) the date of the Participant’s death or (iii) such earlier date as permitted under Section 409A without the imposition of adverse taxation on the Participant.  Upon the first business day following the expiration of such applicable Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) period, all payments and benefits deferred pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid in a lump sum to the Participant, and any remaining payments and benefits due shall be paid as otherwise provided herein.”  If an Award Agreement is silent as to such provision, the foregoing provision is hereby incorporated by reference directly into such Award Agreement.

 

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In addition, and notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Committee determines that any Award is, or may reasonably be, subject to Section 409A and related Department of Treasury guidance (including such Department of Treasury guidance issued from time to time) or contains any ambiguity as to the application of Section 409A, the Committee may, without the Participant’s consent, adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to (A) exempt (or clarify the exemption of) the Award from Section 409A, (B) preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, and/or (C) comply with the requirements of Section 409A and related Department of Treasury guidance.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates shall be responsible for, or required to reimburse or otherwise make any Participant whole for, any tax or penalty imposed on, or losses incurred by, any Participant that arises in connection with the potential or actual application of Section 409A to any Award granted hereunder.

 

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