Exhibit 10.1

 

MATTRESS FIRM HOLDING CORP.

2011 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.             DEFINED TERMS

 

Exhibit A, which is incorporated by reference, defines the terms used in the Plan and sets forth certain operational rules related to those terms.

 

2.             PURPOSE

 

The Plan has been established to advance the interests of the Company by providing for the grant to Participants of Stock-based incentive Awards and other Awards.

 

3.             ADMINISTRATION

 

The Administrator has discretionary authority, subject only to the express provisions of the Plan, to interpret the Plan; determine eligibility for and grant Awards; determine, modify or waive the terms and conditions of any Award; prescribe forms, rules and procedures under the Plan; and otherwise do all things necessary to carry out the purposes of the Plan.  In the case of any Performance Award intended to qualify as exempt performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), the Administrator will exercise its discretion consistent with qualifying the Award for that exemption.  Determinations of the Administrator made under the Plan will be conclusive and will bind all parties.

 

4.             LIMITS ON AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN

 

(a)           Number of Shares.  The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be delivered upon satisfaction of Awards under the Plan shall be 4,206,000 shares.  Up to the total number of shares of Stock set forth in the preceding sentence may be issued in satisfaction of ISOs, but nothing in this Section 4(a) shall be construed as requiring that any, or any fixed number of, ISOs be awarded under the Plan.  The number of shares of Stock delivered in satisfaction of Awards shall, for purposes of this Section 4(a), be determined net of shares of Stock withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price of an Award or in satisfaction of tax withholding requirements with respect to an Award and, for the avoidance of doubt, without including any shares of Stock underlying Awards settled in cash or which otherwise expire or become unexercisable without having been exercised or are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company due to failure to vest. The limits set forth in this Section 4(a) shall be construed to comply with Section 422.  To the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 422 and other applicable requirements (including applicable stock exchange requirements), Stock issued under Substitute Awards shall not reduce the number of shares available for Awards under the Plan.  The shares which may be delivered under Substitute Awards shall be in addition to the limitations set forth in this Section 4(a) on the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan, and such Substitute Awards shall not be subject to the per-Participant Award limits described in Section 4(c) below.

 

(b)           Type of Shares.  Shares of Stock delivered by the Company under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Stock or previously issued Stock acquired by the Company.

 











 

(c)           Section 162(m) Limits.  The maximum number of shares of Stock for which Stock Options may be granted to any person in any calendar year and the maximum number of shares of Stock subject to SARs granted to any person in any calendar year will each be 500,000 shares.  The maximum number of shares of Stock subject to Awards other than Stock Options and SARs that may be granted to any person in any calendar year will be 500,000 shares.  The foregoing provisions will be construed in a manner consistent with Section 162(m).

 

5.             ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

 

The Administrator will select Participants from among those key Employees and directors of, and consultants and advisors to, the Company and its Affiliates who, in the opinion of the Administrator, are in a position to make a significant contribution to the success of the Company and its Affiliates; provided, that, subject to such express exceptions, if any, as the Administrator may establish, eligibility shall be further limited to those persons as to whom the use of a Form S-8 registration statement is permissible.  Eligibility for ISOs is limited to employees of the Company or of a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” of the Company as those terms are defined in Section 424 of the Code.  Eligibility for Stock Options other than ISOs is limited to individuals described in the first sentence of this Section 5 who are providing direct services on the date of grant of the Stock Option to the Company or to a subsidiary of the Company that would be described in the first sentence of Treas. Regs. §1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E).

 

6.             RULES APPLICABLE TO AWARDS

 

(a)           In General

 

(1)  Award Provisions.  The Administrator will determine the terms of all Awards, subject to the limitations provided herein.  By accepting (or, under such rules as the Administrator may prescribe, being deemed to have accepted) an Award, the Participant agrees to the terms of the Award and the Plan.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, Substitute Awards may contain terms and conditions that are inconsistent with the terms and conditions specified herein, as determined by the Administrator.

 

(2)  Term of Plan.  No Awards may be made after November 2, 2021, however, Awards granted prior to this date may continue beyond that date in accordance with their terms.

 

(3)  Transferability.  Neither ISOs nor (except as the Administrator otherwise expressly provides in accordance with the second sentence of this Section 6(a)(3)) other Awards may be transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and during a Participant’s lifetime

 

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ISOs (and, except as the Administrator otherwise expressly provides in accordance with the second sentence of this Section 6(a)(3), other Awards requiring exercise) may be exercised only by the Participant.  The Administrator may permit Awards other than ISOs to be transferred by gift, subject to applicable securities and other laws and such limitations as the Administrator may impose.

 

(4)  Vesting, etc.   The Administrator shall determine the time or times at which an Award will vest or become exercisable and the terms on which an Award requiring exercise will remain exercisable.  The Administrator may at any time accelerate the vesting or exercisability of an Award, regardless of any adverse or potentially adverse tax or other consequences resulting from such acceleration.  Unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, however, the following rules will apply if a Participant’s Employment ceases:

 

(A)  Immediately upon the cessation of the Participant’s Employment, each Award requiring exercise that is then held by the Participant or by the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, will (except as provided in (B) and (C) below) cease to be exercisable and will terminate, and, all other Awards that are then held by the Participant or by the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, to the extent not already vested will be forfeited.

 

(B)  Subject to (C) and (D) below, all Stock Options and SARs held by the Participant or the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the cessation of the Participant’s Employment, to the extent then exercisable, will remain exercisable for the lesser of (i) a period of three months or (ii) the period ending on the latest date on which such Stock Option or SAR could have been exercised without regard to this Section 6(a)(4), and will thereupon terminate.

 

(C)  All Stock Options and SARs held by a Participant or the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the cessation of the Participant’s Employment due to death, to the extent then exercisable, will remain exercisable for the lesser of (i) the one year period ending with the first anniversary of the Participant’s death or (ii) the period ending on the latest date on which such Stock Option or SAR could have been exercised without regard to this Section 6(a)(4), and will thereupon terminate.

 

(D)  All Stock Options and SARs held by a Participant or the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the cessation of the Participant’s Employment will immediately terminate upon such cessation of Employment if the termination is for Cause or occurs under circumstances that in the determination of the Administrator would have constituted grounds for the Participant’s Employment to be terminated for Cause.

 

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(5)       Recovery of Compensation; Other Terms.  Awards (whether or not vested or exercisable) held by a Participant are subject to forfeiture, termination and rescission, and a Participant will be obligated to return to the Company the value received with respect to Awards (including payments made and/or Stock delivered under an Award, and any gain realized on a subsequent sale or disposition of an Award or Stock delivered under an Award), in each case (i) to the extent provided by the Administrator in an Award agreement in connection with (A) a breach by the Participant of a non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality or similar covenant or agreement or (B) an overpayment to the Participant of incentive compensation due to inaccurate financial data, (ii) in accordance with Company policy relating to the recovery of erroneously-paid incentive compensation, as such policy may be amended and in effect from time to time, or (iii) as otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange listing standards, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.  Each Participant, by accepting an Award pursuant to the Plan, agrees to return the full amount required under this Section 6(a)(5) at such time and in such manner as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion and consistent with applicable law.  Neither the Administrator nor the Company will be responsible for any adverse tax or other consequences to a Participant that may arise in connection with this Section 6(a)(5).  For the avoidance of doubt, in addition to any forfeiture or other restrictions imposed by the terms of an Award agreement, every Award issued under the Plan will be subject to potential forfeiture or “claw back” to the fullest extent called for by applicable federal or state law.  In addition, to the extent provided by the Administrator, shares of Stock received upon settlement, vesting or exercise of an Award may be subject to stock ownership guidelines or policies established from time to time by the Company with respect to its employees, directors and/or other service providers.

 

(6)  Taxes.  The delivery, vesting and retention of Stock under any Award are conditioned upon full satisfaction by the Participant of all tax withholding requirements with respect to the Award, and all payments with respect to any Award will be subject to reduction for applicable tax and other legally or contractually required withholdings.  The Administrator will prescribe such rules for the withholding of taxes with respect to any Award as it deems necessary.  The Administrator may, but need not, hold back shares of Stock from an Award or permit a Participant to tender previously owned shares of Stock in satisfaction of tax withholding requirements (but not in excess of the minimum withholding required by law).

 

(7)  Dividend Equivalents, Etc.  The Administrator may provide for the payment of amounts (on terms and subject to conditions established by the Administrator) in lieu of cash dividends or other cash distributions with respect to Stock subject to an Award whether or not the holder of such Award is otherwise entitled to share in the actual dividend or distribution in respect of such Award.  Any entitlement to dividend equivalents or similar entitlements shall be established and administered either consistent with an exemption from, or in compliance with the requirements of, Section 409A.  In addition, any amounts payable in respect of Restricted Stock or Restricted

 

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Stock Units (or any other Award subject to any vesting condition) may be subject to such limits or restrictions or alternative terms as the Administrator may impose.

 

(8)       Rights Limited.  Nothing in the Plan will be construed as giving any person the right to be granted an Award or to continued employment or service with the Company or its Affiliates, or any rights as a stockholder except as to shares of Stock actually issued under the Plan.  The loss of existing or potential profit in Awards will not constitute an element of damages in the event of termination of Employment for any reason, even if the termination is in violation of an obligation of the Company or any Affiliate to the Participant.

 

(9)  Section 162(m).

 

(A)  Awards Intended to Qualify for Performance-Based Compensation Exception.  This Section 6(a)(9)(A) applies to any Performance Award intended to qualify as exempt performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), as determined by the Administrator.  In the case of any Performance Award to which this Section 6(a)(9) applies, (i) the Plan and such Award will be construed and administered to the maximum extent permitted by law in a manner consistent with qualifying the Award for such exemption, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan; (ii) the Administrator will preestablish, in writing and no later than 90 days after the commencement of the period of service to which the performance relates (or at such earlier time as is consistent with qualifying the Award for such exemption), one or more Performance Criteria applicable to such Award, the amount or amounts that will be payable or earned (subject to reduction as describe below) if the Performance Criteria are achieved, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate with respect to the Award; (iii) at the close of the applicable Performance Period the Administrator will certify whether the applicable Performance Criteria have been attained; and (iv) no amount will be paid under such Award unless the Performance Criteria applicable to the payment of such amount have been so certified, except as provided by the Administrator consistent with such exemption; and (v) the Administrator may, in its sole and absolute discretion (either in individual cases or in ways that affect more than one Participant), reduce the actual payment, if any, to be made under such Award to the extent consistent with such exemption.

 

(B)  Certain Transition Awards. Awards intended to be exempt from the limitations of Section 162(m) will not be required to comply with the provisions of Section 6(a)(9)(A) if and to the extent they are eligible (as determined by the Administrator) for exemption from such limitations by reason of the post-initial public offering transition relief set forth in Treas. Regs. § 1.162-27(f).

 

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(10)  Coordination with Other Plans.  Awards under the Plan may be granted in tandem with, or in satisfaction of or substitution for, other Awards under the Plan or awards made under other compensatory plans or programs of the Company or its Affiliates.  For example, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, awards under other compensatory plans or programs of the Company or its Affiliates may be determined by the Administrator to be settled in Stock (including, without limitation, Unrestricted Stock) under the Plan, in which case the shares delivered shall be treated as awarded under the Plan (and shall reduce the number of shares thereafter available under the Plan in accordance with the rules set forth in Section 4).  In any case where an award is made under another plan or program of the Company or its Affiliates and such award is intended to qualify as exempt performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), and such award is settled by the delivery of Stock or another Award under the Plan, the applicable Section 162(m) limitations under both the other plan or program and under the Plan shall be applied to the Plan as necessary (as determined by the Administrator) to preserve the availability of such exemption.

 

(11)  Section 409A.  Each Award shall contain such terms as the Administrator determines, and shall be construed and administered, such that the Award either (i) qualifies for an exemption from the requirements of Section 409A or (ii) satisfies such requirements.

 

(12)  Fair Market Value.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, in determining the fair market value of any share of Stock under the Plan, the Administrator shall make the determination in good faith on such basis as it deems appropriate, taking into account the requirements of Section 422 and Section 409A, to the extent applicable.

 

(13)  Certain Requirements of Corporate Law.  Awards shall be granted and administered consistent with the requirements of applicable Delaware law relating to the issuance of stock and the consideration to be received therefor, and with the applicable requirements of the stock exchanges or other trading systems on which the Stock is listed or entered for trading, in each case as determined by the Administrator.

 

(b)           Awards Requiring Exercise.  Awards requiring exercise will be subject to the provisions of this Section 6(b).

 

(1)  Time and Manner of Exercise.  Unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, an Award requiring exercise by the holder will not be deemed to have been exercised until the Administrator receives a notice of exercise (in a form acceptable to the Administrator), which may be an electronic notice, signed (including electronic signature in form acceptable to the Administrator) by the appropriate person and accompanied by any payment required under the Award.  If the Award is exercised by any person other than the

 

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Participant, the Administrator may require satisfactory evidence that the person exercising the Award has the right to do so.

 

(2)  Exercise Price.  The exercise price (or the base value from which appreciation is to be measured) of each Award requiring exercise shall be 100% (in the case of an ISO granted to a ten-percent shareholder within the meaning of subsection (b)(6) of Section 422, 110%) of the fair market value of the Stock subject to the Award, determined as of the date of grant, or such higher amount as the Administrator may determine in connection with the grant or as otherwise determined by the Administrator with respect to a Substitute Award.  For purposes of this Section 6(b)(2), “fair market value” means (i) if the Stock is admitted to trading on a national securities exchange or other trading system, the closing price of a share of Stock on such date (or, if the Stock was not traded on such day, then the next preceding day on which the Stock was traded) or (ii) otherwise, fair market value as determined in accordance with the provision of Section 6(a)(12) of the Plan.

 

(3)  Payment of Exercise Price.  Where the exercise of an Award is to be accompanied by payment, payment of the exercise price shall be by cash or check acceptable to the Administrator, or, if so permitted by the Administrator and if legally permissible, (i) through the delivery of unrestricted shares of Stock that have a fair market value equal to the exercise price, subject to such minimum holding period requirements, if any, as the Administrator may prescribe, (ii) through a broker-assisted exercise program acceptable to the Administrator, (iii) through the withholding of shares of Stock otherwise to be delivered upon exercise of the Award whose fair market value is equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Award being exercised, (iv) by other means acceptable to the Administrator, or (v) by any combination of the foregoing permissible forms of payment.  The delivery of shares in payment of the exercise price under clause (i) above may be accomplished either by actual delivery or by constructive delivery through attestation of ownership, subject to such rules as the Administrator may prescribe.

 

(4)  Maximum Term.  Awards requiring exercise will have a maximum term not to exceed ten (10) years from the date of grant (or five (5) years from the date of grant in the case of an ISO granted to a ten-percent shareholder described in Section 6(b)(2) above); provided, however, that if an Award requiring exercise (other than an ISO) would otherwise expire as a result of expiration of the maximum term of such Award (i.e., ten (10) years from the date of grant or such shorter time period as set forth in an Award agreement), and at such time the Participant holding such Award is prohibited by applicable law or written Company policy applicable to similarly situated employees from engaging in any open-market sales of Stock, the maximum term of such Award will automatically extend to thirty (30) days following the date the Participant is no longer prohibited from engaging in such open-market sales.

 

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7.             EFFECT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

 

(a)           Mergers, etc.  Except as otherwise provided in an Award, the Administrator shall, in its sole discretion, determine the effect of a Covered Transaction on Awards, which determination may include, but is not limited to, the following actions:

 

(1)  Assumption or Substitution.  If the Covered Transaction is one in which there is an acquiring or surviving entity, the Administrator may provide for the assumption or continuation of some or all outstanding Awards or for the grant of new awards in substitution therefor by the acquiror or survivor or an affiliate of the acquiror or survivor.

 

(2)  Cash-Out of Awards.  If the Covered Transaction is one in which holders of Stock will receive upon consummation a payment (whether cash, non-cash or a combination of the foregoing), then subject to Section 7(a)(5) below the Administrator may provide for payment (a “cash-out”), with respect to some or all Awards or any portion thereof, equal in the case of each affected Award or portion thereof to the excess, if any, of (A) the fair market value of one share of Stock (as determined by the Administrator in its reasonable discretion) times the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award or such portion, over (B) the aggregate exercise or purchase price, if any, under the Award or such portion (in the case of an SAR, the aggregate base value above which appreciation is measured), in each case on such payment terms (which need not be the same as the terms of payment to holders of Stock) and other terms, and subject to such conditions, as the Administrator determines;  provided, that the Administrator shall not exercise its discretion under this Section 7(a)(2) with respect to an Award or portion thereof providing for “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A in a manner that would constitute an extension or acceleration of, or other change in, payment terms if such change would be inconsistent with the applicable requirements of Section 409A.

 

(3)  Acceleration of Certain Awards.  If the Covered Transaction (whether or not there is an acquiring or surviving entity) is one in which there is no assumption, continuation, substitution or cash-out, then subject to Section 7(a)(5) below, the Administrator may provide that each Award requiring exercise will become fully exercisable, and the delivery of any shares of Stock remaining deliverable under each outstanding Award of Stock Units (including Restricted Stock Units and Performance Awards to the extent consisting of Stock Units) will be accelerated and such shares will be delivered, prior to the Covered Transaction, in each case on a basis that gives the holder of the Award a reasonable opportunity, as determined by the Administrator, following exercise of the Award or the delivery of the shares, as the case may be, to participate as a stockholder in the Covered Transaction; provided, that to the extent acceleration pursuant to this Section 7(a)(3) of an Award subject to Section 409A would cause the Award to fail to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A, the Award shall not be accelerated

 

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and the Administrator in lieu thereof shall take such steps as are necessary to ensure that payment of the Award is made in a medium other than Stock and on terms that as nearly as possible, but taking into account adjustments required or permitted by this Section 7, replicate the prior terms of the Award.

 

(4)  Termination of Awards Upon Consummation of Covered Transaction.  Each Award will terminate upon consummation of the Covered Transaction, other than the following:  (i) Awards assumed pursuant to Section 7(a)(1) above; (ii) Awards converted pursuant to the proviso in Section 7(a)(3) above into an ongoing right to receive payment other than in Stock; and (iii) outstanding shares of Restricted Stock (which shall be treated in the same manner as other shares of Stock, subject to Section 7(a)(5) below).

 

(5)  Additional Limitations.  Any share of Stock and any cash or other property delivered pursuant to Section 7(a)(2) or Section 7(a)(3) above with respect to an Award may, in the discretion of the Administrator, contain such restrictions, if any, as the Administrator deems appropriate to reflect any performance or other vesting conditions to which the Award was subject and that did not lapse (and were not satisfied) in connection with the Covered Transaction.  For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, a cash-out under Section 7(a)(2) above or the acceleration of exercisability of an Award under Section 7(a)(3) above shall not, in and of itself, be treated as the lapsing (or satisfaction) of a performance or other vesting condition.  In the case of Restricted Stock that does not vest in connection with the Covered Transaction, the Administrator may require that any amounts delivered, exchanged or otherwise paid in respect of such Stock in connection with the Covered Transaction be placed in escrow or otherwise made subject to such restrictions as the Administrator deems appropriate to carry out the intent of the Plan.

 

(b)           Changes in and Distributions With Respect to Stock

 

(1)  Basic Adjustment Provisions.  In the event of a stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares (including a reverse stock split), recapitalization or other change in the Company’s capital structure that constitutes an equity restructuring within the meaning of FASB ASC Topic 718, the Administrator shall make appropriate adjustments to the maximum number of shares specified in Section 4(a) that may be delivered under the Plan and to the maximum share limits described in Section 4(c), and shall also make appropriate adjustments to the number and kind of shares of stock or securities subject to Awards then outstanding or subsequently granted, any exercise prices relating to Awards and any other provision of Awards affected by such change.

 

(2)  Certain Other Adjustments.  The Administrator may also make adjustments of the type described in Section 7(b)(1) above to take into account distributions to stockholders other than those provided for in Section 7(a)

 

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and 7(b)(1), or any other event, if the Administrator determines that adjustments are appropriate to avoid distortion in the operation of the Plan and to preserve the value of Awards made hereunder, having due regard for the qualification of ISOs under Section 422, the requirements of Section 409A, and for the performance-based compensation rules of Section 162(m), to the extent applicable.

 

(3)  Continuing Application of Plan Terms.  References in the Plan to shares of Stock will be construed to include any stock or securities resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 7.

 

8.             LEGAL CONDITIONS ON DELIVERY OF STOCK

 

The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove any restriction from shares of Stock previously delivered under the Plan until:  (i) the Company is satisfied that all legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been addressed and resolved; (ii) if the outstanding Stock is at the time of delivery listed on any stock exchange or other trading system, the shares to be delivered have been listed or authorized to be listed on such exchange or system upon official notice of issuance; and (iii) all conditions of the Award have been satisfied or waived.  The Company may require, as a condition to exercise of the Award or delivery of shares of Stock under an Award, such representations or agreements as counsel for the Company may consider appropriate to avoid violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any applicable state or non-U.S. securities law.  Any Stock required to be issued to Participants under the Plan will be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator may deem appropriate, including book-entry registration or delivery of stock certificates.   In the event that the Administrator determines that stock certificates will be issued to Participants under the Plan, the Administrator may require that certificates evidencing Stock issued under the Plan bear an appropriate legend reflecting any restriction on transfer applicable to such Stock, and the Company may hold the certificates pending lapse of the applicable restrictions.

 

9.             AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

The Administrator may at any time or times amend the Plan or any outstanding Award for any purpose which may at the time be permitted by law, and may at any time terminate the Plan as to any future grants of Awards; provided, that except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan the Administrator may not, without the Participant’s consent, alter the terms of an Award so as to affect materially and adversely the Participant’s rights under the Award, unless the Administrator expressly reserved the right to do so at the time of the Award.  Any amendments to the Plan shall be conditioned upon stockholder approval, but only to the extent, if any, such approval is required by law (including the Code and applicable stock exchange requirements), as determined by the Administrator.  For the avoidance of doubt, no amendment to the Plan shall be effective unless approved by stockholders if it would reduce the exercise price of any Stock Option previously granted hereunder or otherwise constitute a repricing requiring stockholder approval under the rules of the applicable stock exchange on which the Stock is admitted to trading and, without the receipt of such approval, the Administrator shall not

 

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approve a repurchase by the Company for cash or other property of Stock Options or SARs for which the exercise price or base price, as applicable, exceeds the fair market value of a share of Stock as of the date of such repurchase.

 

10.          OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS

 

The existence of the Plan or the grant of any Award will not in any way affect the Company’s right to award a person bonuses or other compensation in addition to Awards under the Plan.

 

11.          MISCELLANEOUS

 

(a)           Waiver of Jury Trial.  By accepting an Award under the Plan, each Participant waives any right to a trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim concerning any rights under the Plan and any Award, or under any amendment, waiver, consent, instrument, document or other agreement delivered or which in the future may be delivered in connection therewith, and agrees that any such action, proceedings or counterclaim shall be tried before a court and not before a jury.  By accepting an Award under the Plan, each Participant certifies that no officer, representative, or attorney of the Company has represented, expressly or otherwise, that the Company would not, in the event of any action, proceeding or counterclaim, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers.

 

(b)           Limitation of Liability.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, neither the Company, nor any Affiliate, nor the Administrator, nor any person acting on behalf of the Company, any Affiliate, or the Administrator, shall be liable to any Participant or to the estate or beneficiary of any Participant or to any other holder of an Award by reason of any acceleration of income, or any additional tax (including any interest and penalties), asserted by reason of the failure of an Award to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 or Section 409A or by reason of Section 4999 of the Code, or otherwise asserted with respect to the Award; provided, that nothing in this Section 11(b) shall limit the ability of the Administrator or the Company, in its discretion, to provide by separate express written agreement with a Participant for a gross-up payment or other payment in connection with any such acceleration of income or additional tax.

 

12.          ESTABLISHMENT OF SUB-PLANS

 

The Board may from time to time establish one or more sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying applicable blue sky, securities or tax laws of various jurisdictions.  The Board will establish such sub-plans by adopting supplements to the Plan setting forth (i) such limitations on the Administrator’s discretion under the Plan as the Board deems necessary or desirable and (ii) such additional terms and conditions not otherwise inconsistent with the Plan as the Board deems necessary or desirable.  All supplements adopted by the Board will be deemed to be part of the Plan, but each supplement will apply only to Participants within the affected jurisdiction and the Company will not be required to provide copies of any supplement to Participants in any jurisdiction that is not affected.

 

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13.          GOVERNING LAW

 

Except as otherwise provided by the express terms of an Award agreement or under a sub-plan described in Section 12, the provisions of the Plan and of Awards under the Plan and all claims or disputes arising out of our based upon the Plan or any Award under the Plan or relating to the subject matter hereof or thereof will be governed by and construed in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as to matters within the scope thereof, and as to all other matters shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic substantive laws of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision or rule that would cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

Definition of Terms

 

The following terms, when used in the Plan, will have the meanings and be subject to the provisions set forth below:

 

“Administrator”:  The Compensation Committee, except that the Compensation Committee may delegate (i) to one or more of its members (or one or more other members of the Board (including the full Board)) such of its duties, powers and responsibilities as it may determine; (ii) to one or more officers of the Company the power to grant Awards to the extent permitted by Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law; and (iii) to such Employees or other persons as it determines such ministerial tasks as it deems appropriate.  In the event of any delegation described in the preceding sentence, the term “Administrator” shall include the person or persons so delegated to the extent of such delegation.  Each Compensation Committee member shall be (i) independent, within the meaning of and to the extent required by applicable rulings and interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the applicable stock exchange on which Stock trades or is listed or quoted and (ii) an outside director within the meaning of Section 162(m) at such time as the Company, and the relevant Awards, become subject to the respective regulatory regime and, in each case, to the extent required by such regime.  For the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, the requirements of clause (i) of the preceding sentence shall apply other than at such time as the Company is treated as a “controlled company” under applicable stock exchange listing rules.

 

“Affiliate”:  Any corporation or other entity that stands in a relationship to the Company that would result in the Company and such corporation or other entity being treated as one employer under Section 414(b) and Section 414(c) of the Code.

 

“Award”:  Any or a combination of the following:

 

(i)  Stock Options.

 

(ii)  SARs.

 

(iii)  Restricted Stock.

 

(iv)  Unrestricted Stock.

 

(v)  Stock Units, including Restricted Stock Units.

 

(vi)  Performance Awards.

 

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(vii)  Awards (other than Awards described in (i) through (vi) above) that are convertible into or otherwise based on Stock.

 

“Board”:  The Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Cause”:  In the case of any Participant who is party to an employment, severance-benefit, change in control or similar agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates that contains a definition of “Cause,” the definition set forth in such agreement shall apply with respect to such Participant under the Plan during the term of such agreement.  In the case of any other Participant, “Cause” shall mean:  (i) a material breach by the Participant of his or her employment agreement with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company, any Award agreement, or any policy of the Company or its Affiliates generally applicable to similarly situated employees of the Company or its Affiliates; (ii) the failure by the Participant to reasonably and substantially perform his or her duties to the Company or any of its Affiliates,  which failure is damaging to the financial condition or reputation of the Company or its Affiliates; (iii) the Participant’s willful misconduct or gross negligence which is injurious to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company; or (iv) the commission by the Participant of a felony or other serious crime involving moral turpitude.  In the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, the Company shall permit the Participant no less than thirty (30) days to cure such breach or failure if reasonably susceptible to cure.  If, subsequent to the Participant’s termination of Employment hereunder for other than Cause, it is determined in good faith by the Company that the Participant’s Employment could have been terminated for Cause, the Participant’s employment shall be deemed to have been terminated for Cause retroactively to the date the events giving rise to such Cause occurred.

 

“Code”:  The U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as from time to time amended and in effect, or any successor statute as from time to time in effect.

 

“Compensation Committee”:  The Compensation Committee of the Board.

 

“Company”:  Mattress Firm Holding Corp.

 

“Covered Transaction”:  Any of (i) a consolidation, merger, or similar transaction or series of related transactions, including a sale or other disposition of stock, in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or which results in the acquisition of all or substantially all of the Company’s then outstanding common stock by a single person or entity or by a group of persons and/or entities acting in concert, (ii) a sale or transfer of all or substantially all the Company’s assets, or (iii) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company.  Where a Covered Transaction involves a tender offer that is reasonably expected to be followed by a merger described in clause (i) (as determined by the Administrator), the Covered Transaction shall be deemed to have occurred upon consummation of the tender offer.

 

“Employee”:  Any person who is employed by the Company or an Affiliate.

 

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“Employment”:  A Participant’s employment or other service relationship with the Company and its Affiliates.  Employment will be deemed to continue, unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, so long as the Participant is employed by, or otherwise is providing services in a capacity described in Section 5 to the Company or its Affiliates. If a Participant’s employment or other service relationship is with an Affiliate and that entity ceases to be an Affiliate, the Participant’s Employment will be deemed to have terminated when the entity ceases to be an Affiliate unless the Participant transfers Employment to the Company or its remaining Affiliates.  Notwithstanding the foregoing and the definition of “Affiliate” above, in construing the provisions of any Award relating to the payment of “nonqualified deferred compensation” (subject to Section 409A) upon a termination or cessation of Employment, references to termination or cessation of employment, separation from service, retirement or similar or correlative terms shall be construed to require a “separation from service” (as that term is defined in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations) from the Company and from all other corporations and trades or businesses, if any, that would be treated as a single “service recipient” with the Company under Section 1.409A-1(h)(3) of the Treasury Regulations.  The Company may, but need not, elect in writing, subject to the applicable limitations under Section 409A, any of the special elective rules prescribed in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations for purposes of determining whether a “separation from service” has occurred.  Any such written election shall be deemed a part of the Plan.

 

“ISO”:  A Stock Option intended to be an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422.  Each option granted pursuant to the Plan will be treated as providing by its terms that it is to be a non-incentive stock option unless, as of the date of grant, it is expressly designated as an ISO.

 

“Participant”:  A person who is granted an Award under the Plan.

 

“Performance Award”:  An Award subject to Performance Criteria.  The Committee in its discretion may grant Performance Awards that are intended to qualify as exempt performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) and Performance Awards that are not intended to so qualify.

 

“Performance Criteria”:  For a Performance Period, specified criteria, other than the mere continuation of Employment or the mere passage of time, the satisfaction of which is a condition for the grant, exercisability, vesting or full enjoyment of an Award.  A Performance Criterion and any targets with respect thereto determined by the Administrator need not be based upon an increase, a positive or improved result or avoidance of loss.  For purposes of Awards that are intended to qualify as exempt performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), a Performance Criterion will mean an objectively determinable measure of performance relating to any, or any combination, of the following (measured either absolutely or by reference to an index or indices or the performance of one or more companies and determined either on a consolidated basis or, as the context permits, on a divisional, subsidiary, line of business, project or geographical basis or in combinations thereof):  net sales; system-wide sales; comparable store sales; revenue; revenue growth or product revenue growth; operating income (before or after

 

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taxes); pre- or after-tax income or loss (before or after allocation of corporate overhead and bonus); earnings or loss per share; net income or loss (before or after taxes); return on equity; total stockholder return; return on assets or net assets; appreciation in and/or maintenance of the price of the shares or any other publicly-traded securities of the Company; market share; gross profits; earnings or losses (including earnings or losses before taxes, before interest and taxes, or before interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization, or “EBITDA”); EBITDA as further adjusted by the Administrator (“Adjusted EBITDA”); economic value-added models or equivalent metrics; comparisons with various stock market indices; reductions in costs; cash flow or cash flow per share (before or after dividends); return on capital (including return on total capital or return on invested capital); cash flow return on investment; improvement in or attainment of expense levels or working capital levels, including cash, inventory and accounts receivable; operating margin; gross margin; year-end cash; cash margin; debt reduction; stockholders equity; operating efficiencies; customer satisfaction; customer growth; employee satisfaction; supply chain achievements (including establishing relationships with manufacturers or suppliers of component materials and manufacturers of the Company’s products); points of distribution; gross or net store openings; sales per store; advertising expense to sales percentage; change in customer traffic; cost per customer traffic image; occupancy cost per square foot of leased premises; occupancy cost to sales percentage; co-development, co-marketing, profit sharing, joint venture or other similar arrangements; financial ratios, including those measuring liquidity, activity, profitability or leverage; cost of capital or assets under management; financing and other capital raising transactions (including sales of the Company’s equity or debt securities; factoring transactions; sales or licenses of the Company’s assets, including its intellectual property, whether in a particular jurisdiction or territory or globally; or through partnering transactions); implementation, completion or attainment of measurable objectives with respect to research, development, manufacturing, commercialization, products or projects, production volume levels, acquisitions and divestitures; factoring transactions; and recruiting and maintaining personnel. To the extent consistent with the requirements for satisfying the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m), the Administrator may establish that in the case of any Award intended to qualify for such exception that one or more of the Performance Criteria applicable to such Award will be adjusted in an objectively determinable manner to reflect events (for example, the impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, mergers, acquisitions, extraordinary items, and other unusual or non-recurring items, and the cumulative effects of tax or accounting changes, each as defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) occurring during the Performance Period that affect the applicable Performance Criterion or Criteria.

 

“Performance Period”:  One or more periods of time, established by the Administrator in its sole discretion, during which attainment of Performance Criteria with respect to such Performance Award are to be measured.

 

“Plan”:  The Mattress Firm Holding Corp. 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan as from time to time amended and in effect.

 

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“Restricted Stock”:  Stock subject to restrictions requiring that it be redelivered or offered for sale to the Company if specified conditions are not satisfied.

 

“Restricted Stock Unit”:  A Stock Unit that is, or as to which the delivery of Stock or cash in lieu of Stock is, subject to the satisfaction of specified performance or other vesting conditions.

 

“SAR”:  A right entitling the holder upon exercise to receive an amount (payable in cash or in shares of Stock of equivalent value) equal to the excess of the fair market value (as defined in Section 6(b)) of the shares of Stock subject to the right over the base value from which appreciation under the SAR is to be measured.

 

“Section 409A”:  Section 409A of the Code.

 

“Section 422”:  Section 422 of the Code.

 

“Section 162(m)”:  Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

“Stock”:  Common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share.

 

“Stock Option”:  An option entitling the holder to acquire shares of Stock upon payment of the exercise price.

 

“Stock Unit”:  An unfunded and unsecured promise, denominated in shares of Stock, to deliver Stock or cash measured by the value of Stock in the future.

 

“Substitute Awards”:  Equity awards of an acquired company that are converted, replaced, or adjusted in connection with the acquisition.

 

“Unrestricted Stock”:   Stock not subject to any restrictions under the terms of the Award.

 

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