Exhibit 10.1

 

3M COMPANY
 2016 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 

The Plan’s purpose is to enhance the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who make (or are expected to make) important contributions to the Company by providing these individuals with equity ownership opportunities.  The Plan succeeds the 3M 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

 

ARTICLE I.
 DEFINITIONS

 

As used in the Plan, the following words and phrases will have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

 

1.1                               “Administrator” means the Board or a Committee to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee.  With reference to the Board’s or a Committee’s powers or authority under the Plan that have been delegated to one or more officers pursuant to Section 3.2, the term “Administrator” shall refer to such person(s) unless and until such delegation has been revoked.

 

1.2                               “Applicable Law” means any applicable law, including without limitation:  (a) provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (b) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements or regulations, whether U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state or local; and (c) rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.

 

1.3                               “Award” means an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock award, Restricted Stock Unit award, Performance Bonus Award, Performance Share award or Other Stock or Cash Based Award granted to a Participant under the Plan.

 

1.4                               “Award Agreement” means a written agreement evidencing an Award, which may be electronic, that contains such terms and conditions as the Administrator determines, consistent with and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

1.5                               “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

1.6                               “Change in Control” means the occurrence of a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) or such other regulation or guidance issued under Section 409A.  The Administrator shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.  Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if its sole purpose is to (i) change the jurisdiction of the Company’s incorporation, or (ii) create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.

 











 

1.7                               “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

 

1.8                               “Committee” means one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board, which may include one or more Company directors or executive officers, to the extent Applicable Laws permit.  To the extent required to comply with the provisions of Rule 16b-3, it is intended that each member of the Committee will be, at the time the Committee takes any action with respect to an Award that is subject to Rule 16b-3, a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3; however, a Committee member’s failure to qualify as a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 will not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee that is otherwise validly granted under the Plan.

 

1.9                               “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

 

1.10                        “Company” means 3M Company, a Delaware corporation, or any successor.

 

1.11                        “Designated Beneficiary” means the beneficiary or beneficiaries the Participant designates, in a manner the Company permits and determines, to receive amounts due or exercise the Participant’s rights if the Participant dies.  Without a Participant’s effective designation, “Designated Beneficiary” will mean the Participant’s estate or legal heirs.

 

1.12                        “Director” means a Board member.

 

1.13                        “Disability” means a permanent and total disability under Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

 

1.14                        “Dividend Equivalents” means a right granted to a Participant to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on a specified number of Shares. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares, by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Administrator.

 

1.15                        “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.3.

 

1.16                        “Employee” means any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

1.17                        “Equity Restructuring” means a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split (including a reverse stock split), spin-off or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of Shares (or other Company securities) or the share price of Common Stock (or other Company securities) and causes a change in the per share value of the Common Stock underlying outstanding Awards.

 

1.18                        “Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all regulations, guidance and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

 

1.19                        “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a Share determined as follows: (i) if the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange, the value of a Share will be the closing sales price for a Share as quoted on such exchange for such date, or if no sale occurred on such date, the last day preceding such date during which a sale occurred,

 

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as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Company deems reliable; (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on an established stock exchange but is quoted on a national market or other quotation system, the value of a Share will be the closing sales price for a Share on such date, or if no sales occurred on such date, then on the last date preceding such date during which a sale occurred, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable; or (iii) if the Common Stock is not listed on any established stock exchange or quoted on a national market or other quotation system, the value of a Share will be established by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

 

1.20                        “Full Value Award” shall mean any Award that is settled in Shares other than: (a) an Option, (b) a Stock Appreciation Right or (c) any other Award for which the Participant pays the intrinsic value existing as of the date of grant (whether directly or by forgoing a right to receive a payment from the Company or any Subsidiary).

 

1.21                        “Greater Than 10% Stockholder” means an individual then owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as determined in accordance with in Section 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively.

 

1.22                        “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that meets the requirements to qualify as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

 

1.23                        “Misconduct” will have the meaning assigned to such term in the applicable Award Agreement or, if not defined therein, (A) the Participant’s willful failure to substantially perform the Participant’s duties (other than a failure resulting from the Participant’s Disability); (B) the Participant’s willful failure to carry out, or comply with any lawful and reasonable directive of the Board or the Participant’s immediate supervisor; (C) the occurrence of any act or omission by the Participant that could reasonably be expected to result in (or has resulted in) the Participant’s conviction, plea of no contest, plea of nolo contendere, or imposition of unadjudicated probation for any felony or indictable offense or crime involving moral turpitude; (D) the Participant’s commission of an act of fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, misconduct, or breach of fiduciary duty against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates or any of their officers, directors, employees, customers, suppliers, insurers or agents; (E) the Participant’s material breach of any material provision of any written agreement with the Company or any Subsidiary; or (F) any other intentional misconduct by the Participant significantly affecting the business or affairs of the Company or any Subsidiary in an adverse manner.  The Committee shall have the authority to determine conclusively whether a Participant has committed Misconduct pursuant to the above definition, the date of the occurrence of such Misconduct and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided, however, that the Company’s Chief Executive Officer may establish a committee of two or more officers of the Company (at least one of whom shall be the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or Senior Vice President, Human Resources) to make any and all such determinations with respect to any Participant who is not then, and was not previously, subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to the Company. The foregoing definition shall not in any way preclude or restrict the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to discharge or dismiss any Participant or other person in the service of the Company or any Subsidiary for any other acts or omissions, but such other acts or omissions shall not be deemed, for purposes of the Plan, to constitute Misconduct.

 

1.24                        “Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

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1.25                        “Option” means a right granted under Article V to purchase a specified number of Shares at a specified price per Share during a specified time period.  An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.

 

1.26                        “Other Stock or Cash Based Awards” means cash awards, awards of Shares, and other awards valued wholly or partially by referring to, or are otherwise based on, Shares or other property.

 

1.27                        “Overall Share Limit” means the sum of (i) 23,965,000 Shares; (ii) the aggregate number of Shares that remain available for future awards under the Prior Plans as of immediately prior to the Effective Date and (iii) the number of Shares that are subject to Prior Plan Awards that become available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Article IV.

 

1.28                        “Participant” means a Service Provider who has been granted an Award.

 

1.29                        “Performance-Based Award” means an Award (other than an Option or SAR) granted pursuant to Article VI or VII, but which is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 10.18.  All Performance-Based Awards are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation.

 

1.30                        “Performance-Based Compensation” means any compensation that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code or any successor provision.

 

1.31                        “Performance Bonus Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.

 

1.32                        “Performance Criteria” mean the criteria (and adjustments) that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may select to establish one or more performance goals for an Award for a specified Performance Period; provided that:

 

(a)                                 The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish performance goals for Performance-Based Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation are limited to the following:  (i) net earnings or losses (either before or after one or more of (A) interest, (B) taxes, (C) depreciation, (D) amortization, and (E) non-cash equity-based compensation expense); (ii) gross or net sales or revenue or sales or revenue growth; (iii) gross or net organic sales volume or organic sales volume growth, (iv) net income (either before or after taxes) or adjusted net income; (v) sales from one or more products (or categories of products) as a percentage of total sales or revenue; (vi) profits (including but not limited to gross profits, net profits, profit growth, net operation profit or economic profit), profit return ratios or operating margin; (vii) operating earnings (either before or after taxes or before or after allocation of corporate overhead and bonus); (viii) cash flow (including operating cash flow, free cash flow, free cash flow conversion or cash flow return on capital); (ix) return on assets; (x) return on capital or invested capital; (xi) cost of capital; (xii) return on stockholders’ equity; (xiii) total stockholder return; (xiv) return on sales; (xv) costs, reductions in costs and cost control measures; (xvi) expenses; (xvii) working capital; (xviii) earnings or loss per share (“EPS”) or EPS growth; (xix) adjusted earnings or loss per share; (xx) price per share or dividends per share (or appreciation in or maintenance of such price or dividends); (xxi) regulatory achievements or compliance; (xxii) implementation, completion or attainment of objectives relating to research, development, regulatory, commercial, or strategic milestones or developments; (xxiii) market share; (xxiv) economic value or economic value added models; (xxv) division, group or corporate financial goals; (xxvi) customer satisfaction/growth; (xxvii)

 

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customer service; (xxviii) employee satisfaction; (xxix) recruitment and maintenance of personnel; (xxx) human resources management; (xxxi) supervision of litigation and other legal matters; (xxxii) strategic partnerships and transactions; (xxxiii) financial ratios (including those measuring liquidity, activity, profitability or leverage); (xxxiv) debt levels or reductions; (xxxv) sales-related goals; (xxxvi) financing and other capital raising transactions; (xxxvii) cash on hand; (xxxviii) acquisition activity; (xxxix) investment sourcing activity; and (xl) marketing initiatives, any of which may be measured in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or decrease. Such performance goals also may be expressed in terms of the Company’s performance or the performance of a Subsidiary, division, business segment or business unit of the Company or a Subsidiary, or may be expressed in terms of performance relative to performance of one or more other companies or by comparisons of any of the indicators of performance relative to performance of other companies.  Any performance goals that are financial metrics may be determined in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), in accordance with accounting principles established by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB Principles”), or may be adjusted when established to include or exclude any items otherwise includable or excludable under GAAP or under IASB Principles.

 

(b)                                 The Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for exclusion of the impact of an event or occurrence which the Committee determines should appropriately be excluded, including (i) restructurings, discontinued operations, special items, and other unusual, infrequently occurring or non-recurring charges, events or items; (ii) asset sales or write-downs; (iii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (iv) acquisitions or divestitures; (v) reorganization or change in the corporate structure or capital structure of the Company; (vi) an event either not directly related to the operations of the Company, Subsidiary, division, business segment or business unit or not within the reasonable control of management; (vii) foreign exchange gains and losses; (viii) a change in the fiscal year of the Company; (ix) the refinancing or repurchase of bank loans or debt securities; (x) unbudgeted capital expenditures; (xi) the issuance or repurchase of equity securities and other changes in the number of outstanding shares; (xii) conversion of some or all of convertible securities to Common Stock; (xiii) any business interruption event; (xiv) changes in pricing; (xv) changes in foreign currency exchange rates; (xvi) the cumulative effects of tax or accounting changes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles; (xvii) unusual tax transactions; or (xviii) the effect of changes in other laws or regulatory rules affecting reported results.

 

1.33                        “Performance Period” means one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more performance goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to, and the payment of, a Performance-Based Award.

 

1.34                        “Performance Share” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 7.1 and subject to Section 7.2, to receive Shares, the payment of which is contingent upon achieving certain performance goals or other performance-based targets established by the Administrator.

 

1.35                        “Plan” means this 3M Company 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

 

1.36                        “Prior Plans” means, collectively, the 3M 2005 Management Stock Ownership Program, the 3M 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan and any prior equity incentive plans of the Company or its predecessor.

 

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1.37                        “Prior Plan Award” means an award outstanding under the Prior Plans as of the Effective Date.

 

1.38                        “Restricted Stock” means Shares awarded to a Participant under Article VI, subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions.

 

1.39                        “Restricted Stock Unit” means an unfunded, unsecured right to receive, on the applicable settlement date, one Share or an amount in cash or other consideration determined by the Administrator to be of equal value as of such settlement date, subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions.

 

1.40                        “Retires” or Retirement” will have the meaning assigned to such term in the applicable Award Agreement or, if not defined therein, a Participant’s Termination of Service after attaining age 55 with at least 10 years of employment service.

 

1.41                        “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

1.42                        “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code.

 

1.43                        “Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all regulations, guidance and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

 

1.44                        “Service Provider” means an Employee or Director.

 

1.45                        “Shares” means shares of Common Stock.

 

1.46                        “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted under Article V to receive a payment equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of Shares on the date the right is exercised over the exercise price set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

1.47                        “Subsidiary” means any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing at least 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain or any other entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, as determined by the Administrator.

 

1.48                        “Substitute Awards” means Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, in each case by a company or other entity acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines.

 

1.49                        “Termination of Service” means:

 

(a)                                 As to an Employee, the time when the employee-employer relationship between a Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death, disability or retirement; but excluding terminations where the Participant simultaneously commences or remains in employment with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

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(b)                                 As to a non-employee Director, the time when a Participant who is a non-employee Director ceases to be a Director for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, failure to be elected, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Participant simultaneously commences employment with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

The Company, in its sole discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to any Termination of Service, including, without limitation, whether a Termination of Service has occurred, whether a Termination of Service resulted from a discharge for Misconduct and all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute a Termination of Service.  For purposes of the Plan, a Participant’s employee-employer relationship shall be deemed to be terminated in the event that the Subsidiary employing or contracting with such Participant ceases to remain a Subsidiary following any merger, sale of stock or other corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a spin-off), even though the Participant may subsequently continue to perform services for that entity.

 

ARTICLE II.
 ELIGIBILITY

 

Service Providers are eligible to be granted Awards under the Plan, subject to the limitations described herein.  No Service Provider shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.

 

ARTICLE III.
 ADMINISTRATION AND DELEGATION

 

3.1                               Administration.  The Plan is administered by the Administrator.  The Administrator has authority to determine which Service Providers receive Awards, grant Awards and set Award terms and conditions, subject to the conditions and limitations in the Plan.  The Administrator also has the authority to take all actions and make all determinations under the Plan, to interpret the Plan and Award Agreements and to adopt, amend and repeal Plan administrative rules, guidelines and practices as it deems advisable.  The Administrator may correct defects and ambiguities, supply omissions, reconcile inconsistencies in the Plan or any Award and make all other determinations that it deems necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and any Awards.  The Administrator’s determinations under the Plan are in its sole discretion and will be final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or any Award.

 

3.2                               Appointment of Committees.  To the extent Applicable Laws permit, the Board or any Committee may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more Committees or officers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.  Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Board or Committee specifies at the time of such delegation or that are otherwise included in the applicable organizational documents of the Company, and the Board or Committee, as applicable, may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegatee. At all times, the delegatee appointed under this Section 3.2 shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board or the Committee, as applicable, and the Board or the Committee may abolish any Committee to which authority has been delegated at any time and re-vest in itself any previously delegated authority.

 

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ARTICLE IV.
  STOCK AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS

 

4.1                               Number of Shares.  Subject to adjustment under Article VIII and the terms of this Article IV, Awards may be made under the Plan covering up to the Overall Share Limit.  As of the Effective Date, the Company will cease granting awards under the Prior Plans; however, Prior Plan Awards will remain subject to the terms of the applicable Prior Plan. Shares issued or delivered under the Plan may consist of authorized but unissued Shares, Shares purchased on the open market or treasury Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by 2.5 Shares for each Share delivered in settlement of any Full Value Award, and by one share for every one share granted that is subject to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

4.2                               Share Recycling.  If all or any part of an Award or Prior Plan Award expires, lapses or is terminated, exchanged for cash, surrendered, repurchased, canceled without having been fully exercised or forfeited, in any case, in a manner that results in the Company acquiring Shares covered by the Award or Prior Plan Award at a price not greater than the price (as adjusted to reflect any Equity Restructuring) paid by the Participant for such Shares or not issuing any Shares covered by the Award or Prior Plan Award, the unused Shares covered by the Award or Prior Plan Award will, as applicable, become or again be available for Awards under the Plan.  Further, Shares delivered (either by actual delivery or attestation) to the Company by a Participant to satisfy the applicable exercise or purchase price of an Award or Prior Plan Award and/or to satisfy any applicable tax withholding obligation (including Shares retained by the Company from the Award or Prior Plan Award being exercised or purchased and/or creating the tax obligation) will, as applicable, become or again be available for Award grants under the Plan.  The payment of Dividend Equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Awards or Prior Plan Awards shall not count against the Overall Share Limit.  Any Shares that again become available for Awards under the Plan pursuant to this Section shall be added as (i) one Share for every one Share subject to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan or options or stock appreciation rights granted under any Prior Plan, and (ii) as 2.5 Shares for every one Share subject to Full Value Awards granted under the Plan or awards other than options or stock appreciation rights granted under any Prior Plan.

 

4.3                               Incentive Stock Option Limitations.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no more than 34,000,000 Shares (as adjusted to reflect any Equity Restructuring) may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options.

 

4.4                               Substitute Awards.  In connection with an entity’s merger or consolidation with the Company or any Subsidiary or the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s acquisition of an entity’s property or stock, the Administrator may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted before such merger or consolidation by such entity or its affiliate.  Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate, notwithstanding limitations on Awards in the Plan.  Substitute Awards will not count against the Overall Share Limit (nor shall Shares subject to a Substitute Award be added to the Shares available for Awards under the Plan as provided above), except that Shares acquired by exercise of substitute Incentive Stock Options will count against the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-

 

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existing plan (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan (and Shares subject to such Awards (which, for the avoidance of doubt excludes Substitute Awards) may again become available for Awards under the Plan as provided under Section 4.2 above); provided that Awards using such available shares (or any Shares that again become available for issuance under the Plan under Section 4.2 above) shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not employees or directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to such acquisition or combination.

 

4.5                               Non-Employee Director Compensation.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan or in any policy of the Company regarding non-employee Director compensation, the Administrator may establish compensation for non-employee Directors from time to time, subject to the limitations in the Plan.  The Administrator will from time to time determine the terms, conditions and amounts of all such non-employee Director compensation in its sole discretion and pursuant to the exercise of its business judgment, taking into account such factors, circumstances and considerations as it shall deem relevant from time to time, provided that the sum of any cash compensation, or other compensation, and the value (determined as of the grant date in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor thereto) of Awards granted to a non-employee Director as compensation for services as a non-employee Director during any calendar year may not exceed $600,000.

 

ARTICLE V.
 STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

5.1                               General.  The Administrator may grant Options or Stock Appreciation Rights to one or more Service Providers, subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Administrator shall determine.  The Administrator will determine the number of Shares covered by each Option and Stock Appreciation Right, the exercise price of each Option and Stock Appreciation Right and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option and Stock Appreciation Right.  A Stock Appreciation Right will entitle the Participant (or other person entitled to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right) to receive from the Company upon exercise of the exercisable portion of the Stock Appreciation Right an amount determined by multiplying the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price per Share of the Stock Appreciation Right by the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, subject to any limitations of the Plan or that the Administrator may impose and payable in cash, Shares valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise or a combination of the two as the Administrator may determine or provide in the Award Agreement.

 

5.2                               Exercise Price.  The Administrator will establish each Option’s and Stock Appreciation Right’s exercise price and specify the exercise price in the Award Agreement.  The exercise price will not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the grant date of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

 

5.3                               Duration of Options.  Each Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable at such times and as specified in the Award Agreement, provided that the term of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right will not exceed ten years.

 

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5.4                               Exercise.

 

(a)                                 Exercise Procedure.  Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised by delivering to the Company a notice of exercise, in a form and manner the Company approves (which may be electronic or telephonic), signed or authenticated by the person authorized to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, together with, as applicable, payment in full of (i) the exercise price for the number of Shares for which the Option is exercised in a manner specified in Section 5.5 and (ii) all applicable taxes in a manner specified in Section 9.5.

 

(b)                                 Limited Automatic Exercise.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 5.4(a), unless otherwise determined in the Award Agreement, the vested and exercisable portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that remains outstanding immediately prior to the expiration of its full term (or, if applicable, the limited post-termination exercise window) shall be deemed to have been exercised by the Participant at such time if (i) the Participant has accepted the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, (ii) the Fair Market Value of one Share exceeds the applicable exercise price per Share, and (iii) either (A) such Option or Stock Appreciation Right remains outstanding on the last day of its full term or (B) the Participant’s Option or Stock Appreciation Right otherwise would terminate prior to the last day of its full term as a result of the Participant’s death.  For the avoidance of doubt, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that terminates upon the expiration of its limited post-termination exercise window shall not be deemed to have remained outstanding on the last day of its full term for purposes of clause (iii) in the preceding sentence.  In the event an Option or Stock Appreciation Right is exercised pursuant to this Section 5.4(b), the Company shall deliver to the Participant the number of Shares for which the Option or Stock Appreciation Right was deemed exercised, less the number of Shares required to be withheld for the payment of the total purchase price and required withholding taxes.  Unless the Company otherwise determines, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

 

5.5                               Payment Upon Exercise.  The Administrator shall determine the methods (or combination of methods) by which payment of the exercise price of an Option shall be made, including, without limitation:

 

(a)                                 cash, check or wire transfer of immediately available funds; provided that the Company may limit the use of one of the foregoing methods if one or more of the methods below is permitted;

 

(b)                                 if there is a public market for Shares at the time of exercise, unless the Company otherwise determines, (A) delivery (including telephonically to the extent permitted by the Company) of a notice that the Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker acceptable to the Company with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Option and that the broker has been directed to deliver promptly to the Company funds sufficient to pay the exercise price, or (B) the Participant’s delivery to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company an amount sufficient to pay the exercise price by cash, check or wire transfer of immediately available funds; provided that such amount is paid to the Company at such time as may be required by the Company;

 

(c)                                  to the extent permitted by the Administrator, delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of Shares owned by the Participant valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of delivery (or such other date determined by the Administrator);

 

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(d)                                 to the extent permitted by the Administrator, surrendering Shares then issuable upon the Option’s exercise valued at their Fair Market Value on the exercise date; or

 

(e)                                  to the extent permitted by the Administrator, delivery of a promissory note or any other lawful consideration.

 

5.6                               Additional Terms of Incentive Stock Options.  The Administrator may grant Incentive Stock Options only to employees of the Company, any of its present or future parent or subsidiary corporations, as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, respectively, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code.  If an Incentive Stock Option is granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder, the exercise price will not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value on the Option’s grant date, and the term of the Option will not exceed five years.  All Incentive Stock Options will be subject to and construed consistently with Section 422 of the Code.  By accepting an Incentive Stock Option, the Participant agrees to give prompt notice to the Company of dispositions or other transfers (other than in connection with a Change in Control) of Shares acquired under the Option made within (i) two years from the grant date of the Option or (ii) one year after the transfer of such Shares to the Participant, specifying the date of the disposition or other transfer and the amount the Participant realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, in such disposition or other transfer.  Neither the Company nor the Administrator will be liable to a Participant, or any other party, if an Incentive Stock Option fails or ceases to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code.  Any Incentive Stock Option or portion thereof that fails to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code for any reason, including becoming exercisable with respect to Shares having a fair market value exceeding the $100,000 limitation under Treasury Regulation Section 1.422-4, will be a Nonqualified Stock Option.

 

ARTICLE VI.
 RESTRICTED STOCK; RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

6.1                               General.  The Administrator may grant Restricted Stock, or the right to purchase Restricted Stock, to any Service Provider, subject to forfeiture or the Company’s right to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price from the Participant if conditions the Administrator specifies in the Award Agreement are not satisfied before the end of the applicable restriction period or periods that the Administrator establishes for such Award.  In addition, the Administrator may grant to Service Providers Restricted Stock Units, which may be subject to vesting and forfeiture conditions during the applicable restriction period or periods, as set forth in an Award Agreement.  The Award Agreement for each Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Award shall set forth the terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Administrator shall determine.

 

6.2                               Restricted Stock.

 

(a)                                 Dividends.  Subject to any limitations approved by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement, Participants holding shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to all ordinary cash dividends paid with respect to such Shares.  In addition, unless the Administrator provides otherwise and subject to the provisions of this Section 6.2(a) below, if any dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, or consist of a dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock of cash or property other than an ordinary cash dividend, the Shares or other cash or property will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, dividends with respect to an Award of Restricted Stock with performance-based vesting shall be accumulated and subject to vesting to the same extent as the related shares of Restricted Stock. All such dividends shall be paid as soon as administratively practicable following the time the applicable Restricted Stock vests and becomes non-forfeitable or such later time as may be set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

(b)                                 Stock Certificates.  The Company may require that the Participant deposit in escrow with the Company (or its designee) any stock certificates issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, together with a stock power endorsed in blank.

 

6.3                               Restricted Stock Units.  The Administrator may provide that settlement of Restricted Stock Units will occur upon or as soon as reasonably practicable after the Restricted Stock Units vest or will instead be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the Participant’s election.

 

ARTICLE VII.
 OTHER TYPES OF AWARDS

 

7.1                               General.  The Administrator may grant Performance Share awards, Performance Bonus Awards, Dividend Equivalents or Other Stock or Cash Based Awards, to one or more Service Providers, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Administrator shall determine.

 

7.2                               Performance Share Awards.  Each Performance Share award shall be denominated in a number of Shares or in unit equivalents of Shares and/or units of value (including a dollar value of Shares) and may be linked to any one or more of the Performance Criteria or other specific criteria, including service to the Company or Subsidiaries, determined to be appropriate by the Administrator, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any Performance Period.  In making such determinations, the Administrator may consider (among such other factors as it deems relevant in light of the specific type of Award) the contributions, responsibilities and other compensation of the particular Participant.

 

7.3                               Performance Bonus Awards.  Each right to receive a bonus granted under this Section 7.3 shall be denominated in the form of cash and shall be initially payable in cash (but may, in the discretion of the Administrator, be payable in Shares or a combination of cash and Shares) (a “Performance Bonus Award”) and shall be payable upon the attainment of performance goals that are established by the Administrator and relate to one or more of the Performance Criteria or other specific criteria, including service to the Company or Subsidiaries, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any Performance Period.

 

7.4                               Dividend Equivalents.  If the Administrator provides, an Award (other than an Option or Stock Appreciation Right) may provide a Participant with the right to receive Dividend Equivalents.  Dividend Equivalents may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participant, settled in cash or Shares and subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Award with respect to which the Dividend Equivalents are granted and subject to other terms and conditions as set forth in the Award Agreement.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Dividend Equivalents with respect to an Award with performance-based vesting shall either (i) to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, not be paid or credited or (ii) be accumulated and subject to vesting to the same extent as the related Award.  All such Dividend Equivalents shall be paid at such time as the Administrator shall specify in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

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7.5                               Other Stock or Cash Based Awards.  Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be granted to Participants, including Awards entitling Participants to receive Shares to be delivered in the future and including annual or other periodic or long-term cash bonus awards (whether based on specified Performance Criteria or otherwise), in each case subject to any conditions and limitations in the Plan. Such Other Stock or Cash Based Awards will also be available as a payment form in the settlement of other Awards, as standalone payments and as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled.  Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be paid in Shares, cash or other property, as the Administrator determines.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of each Other Stock or Cash Based Award, including any purchase price, performance goal (which may be based on the Performance Criteria), transfer restrictions, and vesting conditions, which will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VIII.
 ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK 
 AND CERTAIN OTHER EVENTS

 

8.1                               Equity Restructuring.  In connection with any Equity Restructuring, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VIII the Administrator will equitably adjust the terms of the Plan and each outstanding Award as it deems appropriate to reflect the Equity Restructuring, which may include (i) adjusting the number and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award and/or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Article IV hereof on the maximum number and kind of shares that may be issued); (ii) adjusting the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the performance goals or other criteria included in, outstanding Awards; and (iii) granting new Awards or making cash payments to Participants.  The adjustments provided under this Section 8.1 will be nondiscretionary and final and binding on all interested parties, including the affected Participant and the Company; provided that the Administrator will determine whether an adjustment is equitable.

 

8.2                               Corporate Transactions.  In the event of any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities, or other property), reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin off, combination, amalgamation, repurchase, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or sale or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, Change in Control, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock or other securities of the Company, other similar corporate transaction or event, other unusual or nonrecurring transaction or event affecting the Company or its financial statements or any change in any Applicable Laws or accounting principles, the Administrator, on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event (except that action to give effect to a change in Applicable Law or accounting principles may be made within a reasonable period of time after such change) and either automatically or upon the Participant’s request, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to (x) prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended by the Company to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award granted or issued under the Plan, (y) to facilitate such transaction or event or (z) give effect to such changes in Applicable Laws or accounting principles:

 

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(a)                                 To provide for the cancellation of any such Award in exchange for either an amount of cash or other property with a value equal to the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights under the vested portion of such Award, as applicable; provided that, if the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, in any case, is equal to or less than zero, then the Award may be terminated without payment;

 

(b)                                 To provide that such Award shall vest and, to the extent applicable, be exercisable as to all shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the provisions of such Award;

 

(c)                                  To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation or entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation or entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and/or applicable exercise or purchase price, in all cases, as determined by the Administrator;

 

(d)                                 To make adjustments in the number and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards and/or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Article IV hereof on the maximum number and kind of shares which may be issued) and/or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the criteria included in, outstanding Awards;

 

(e)                                  To replace such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator; and/or

 

(f)                                   To provide that the Award will terminate and cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after the applicable event.

 

8.3                               Administrative Stand Still.  In the event of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other extraordinary transaction or change affecting the Shares or the share price of Common Stock (including any Equity Restructuring or any securities offering or other similar transaction) or for reasons of administrative convenience or to facilitate compliance with any Applicable Laws, the Company may refuse to permit the exercise or settlement of one or more Awards for such period of time as the Company may determine to be reasonably appropriate under the circumstances.

 

8.4                               General.  Except as expressly provided in the Plan or the Administrator’s action under the Plan, no Participant will have any rights due to any subdivision or consolidation of Shares of any class, dividend payment, increase or decrease in the number of Shares of any class or dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or other corporation.  Except as expressly provided with respect to an Equity Restructuring under Section 8.1 above or the Administrator’s action under the Plan, no issuance by the Company of Shares of any class, or securities convertible into Shares of any class, will affect, and no adjustment will be made regarding, the number of Shares subject to an Award or the Award’s grant or exercise price.  The existence of the Plan, any Award Agreements and the Awards granted hereunder will not affect or restrict in any way the Company’s right or power to make or authorize (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure

 

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or its business, (ii) any merger, consolidation, spinoff, dissolution or liquidation of the Company or sale of Company assets or (iii) any sale or issuance of securities, including securities with rights superior to those of the Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares. The Administrator may treat Participants and Awards (or portions thereof) differently under this Article VIII.

 

ARTICLE IX.
 PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS

 

9.1                               Transferability.  Except as the Administrator may determine or provide in an Award Agreement or otherwise for Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, Awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or, subject to the Administrator’s consent, pursuant to a domestic relations order, and, during the life of the Participant, will be exercisable only by the Participant.  References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, will include references to a transferee approved by the Administrator.

 

9.2                               Documentation.  Each Award will be evidenced in an Award Agreement, which may be written or electronic, as the Administrator determines. Each Award may contain such terms and conditions as are not inconsistent with those set forth in the Plan.

 

9.3                               Discretion.  Except as the Plan otherwise provides, each Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award.  The terms of each Award to a Participant need not be identical, and the Administrator need not treat Participants or Awards (or portions thereof) uniformly.

 

9.4                               Changes in Participant’s Status.  The Company will determine how the disability, death, retirement, authorized leave of absence or any other change or purported change in a Participant’s Service Provider status affects an Award and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary may exercise rights under the Award, if applicable.  Except to the extent otherwise required by Applicable Law or expressly authorized by the Company or by the Company’s written policy on leaves of absence, no service credit shall be given for vesting purposes for any period the Participant is on a leave of absence.

 

9.5                               Withholding.  Each Participant must pay the Company, or make provision satisfactory to the Administrator for payment of, any taxes required by law to be withheld in connection with such Participant’s Awards by the date of the event creating the tax liability.  The Company may deduct an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations based on the minimum statutory withholding rates (or such other rate as may be determined by the Company after considering any accounting consequences or costs) from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Participant.  Subject to any Company insider trading policy (including blackout periods) and the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, Participants may satisfy such tax obligations (i) in cash, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, by check made payable to the order of the Company; provided that the Company may limit the use of one of the foregoing methods if one or more of the exercise methods below is permitted, (ii) to the extent permitted by the Administrator, in whole or in part by delivery of Shares, including Shares delivered by attestation and Shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of delivery (or such other date determined by the Administrator), (iii) if there is a public market for Shares at the time the tax obligations are satisfied, unless the Company otherwise determines, (A) delivery (including telephonically to the

 

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extent permitted by the Company) of a notice that the Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker acceptable to the Company with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Award and that the broker has been directed to deliver promptly to the Company funds sufficient to satisfy the tax obligations, or (B) the Participant’s delivery to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy the tax withholding by cash, check or wire transfer of immediately available funds; provided that such amount is paid to the Company at such time as may be required by the Company, (iv) to the extent permitted by the Administrator, delivery of a promissory note or any other lawful consideration or (v) any combination of the foregoing payment forms approved by the Administrator.  If any tax withholding obligation will be satisfied under clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence by the Company’s retention of Shares from the Award creating the tax obligation and there is a public market for Shares at the time the tax obligation is satisfied, the Company may elect to instruct any brokerage firm determined acceptable to the Company for such purpose to sell on the applicable Participant’s behalf some or all of the Shares retained and to remit the proceeds of the sale to the Company or its designee, and each Participant’s acceptance of an Award under the Plan will constitute the Participant’s authorization to the Company and instruction and authorization to such brokerage firm to complete the transactions described in this sentence.

 

9.6                               Amendment of Award; Prohibition on Repricing.  The Administrator may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including by substituting another Award of the same or a different type, changing the exercise or settlement date, converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonqualified Stock Option and providing for cash settlement of an outstanding award.  The Participant’s consent to such action will be required unless (i) the action, taking into account any related action, does not materially and adversely affect the economic benefits to be delivered under the Award as of the date of such amendment, modification or termination, or (ii) the change is permitted under Article VIII or pursuant to Sections 10.5 or 10.6.  Other than pursuant to Sections 8.1 and 8.2, the Administrator shall not without the approval of the Company’s stockholders (a) lower the exercise price per Share of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right after it is granted, (b) cancel an Option or Stock Appreciation Right when the exercise price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of one Share in exchange for cash or another Award, or (c) take any other action with respect to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that the Company determines would be treated as a repricing under the rules and regulations of the principal U.S. national securities exchange on which the Shares are listed.

 

9.7                               Conditions on Delivery of Stock.  The Company will not be obligated to deliver any Shares under the Plan or remove restrictions from Shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all Award conditions have been met or removed to the Company’s satisfaction, (ii) as determined by the Company, all other legal matters regarding the issuance and delivery of such Shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, (iii) any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable have been obtained, and (iv) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Company deems necessary or appropriate to satisfy any Applicable Laws.  The inability or impracticability of the Company to obtain or maintain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s 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, and shall constitute circumstances in which the Administrator may determine to amend or cancel Awards pertaining to such Shares, with or without consideration to the Participant.

 

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9.8                               Acceleration.  The Administrator may at any time provide that any Award will become immediately vested and fully or partially exercisable, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise fully or partially realizable.

 

9.9                               Fractional Shares.  No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued and the Company shall determine, in its sole and absolute discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated by rounding down.

 

ARTICLE X.
 MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1                        No Right to Employment or Other Status.  No person will have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award will not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continue employment or any other relationship with the Company or a Subsidiary.  The Company and its Subsidiaries expressly reserve the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate their relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan or any Award, except as expressly provided in an Award Agreement.

 

10.2                        No Rights as Stockholder; Certificates.  Subject to the Award Agreement, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary will have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares to be distributed under an Award until becoming the record holder of such Shares.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless the Company otherwise determines or Applicable Laws require, the Company will not be required to deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award and instead such Shares may be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).  The Company may place legends on any share certificate or book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares (including, without limitation, restrictions applicable to Restricted Stock).

 

10.3                        Effective Date and Term of Plan.  The Plan will become effective on the date it is approved by the Company’s stockholders (the “Effective Date”).  The Plan will expire on, and no Award may be granted pursuant to the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date and shall remain in force according to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.  If the Plan is not approved by the Company’s stockholders, the Plan will not become effective, no Awards will be granted under the Plan and the Prior Plans will continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms.

 

10.4                        Amendment of Plan.  The Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time and from time to time; provided that (a) no amendment requiring stockholder approval to comply with Applicable Laws shall be effective unless approved by the Board and the Company’s stockholders, and (b) no amendment, other than an increase to the Overall Share Limit, may materially and adversely affect the economic benefits to be delivered under any outstanding award as of the date of such amendment without the affected Participant’s consent.  No Awards may be granted under the Plan during any suspension period or after Plan termination.  Awards outstanding at the time of any Plan suspension or termination will continue to be governed by the Plan and the Award Agreement, as in effect before such suspension or termination.  The Board will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Laws.

 

10.5                        Provisions for Foreign Participants.  The Administrator may modify Awards granted to Participants who are foreign nationals employed or residing outside the United States

 

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or establish subplans or procedures under the Plan to address differences in laws, rules, regulations or customs of such foreign jurisdictions with respect to tax, securities, currency, employee benefit or other matters.

 

10.6                        Section 409A.

 

(a)                                 General.  The Company intends that all Awards be structured to comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A, such that no adverse tax consequences, interest, or penalties under Section 409A apply.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Administrator may, without a Participant’s consent, amend the Plan or Awards, adopt policies and procedures, or take any other actions (including amendments, policies, procedures and retroactive actions) as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of Awards, including any such actions intended to (A) exempt the Plan or any Award from Section 409A, or (B) comply with Section 409A, including regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority that may be issued after an Award’s grant date.  The Company makes no representations or warranties as to an Award’s tax treatment under Section 409A or otherwise.  The Company will have no obligation under this Section 10.6 or otherwise to avoid the taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A with respect to any Award and will have no liability to any Participant or any other person if any Award, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute noncompliant “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A.

 

(b)                                 Separation from Service.  If an Award constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” under Section 409A, any payment or settlement of such Award upon a Participant’s Termination of Service will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A, be made only upon the Participant’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A), whether such “separation from service” occurs upon or after the Participant’s Termination of Service.  For purposes of the Plan or any Award Agreement relating to any such payments or benefits, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms mean a “separation from service.”

 

(c)                                  Payments to Specified Employees.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or any Award Agreement, any payment(s) of “nonqualified deferred compensation” required to be made under an Award to a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A and as the Company determines) due to his or her “separation from service” will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, be delayed for the six-month period immediately following such “separation from service” (or, if earlier, until the specified employee’s death) and will instead be paid (as set forth in the Award Agreement) on the day immediately following such six-month period or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter (without interest).  Any payments of “nonqualified deferred compensation” under such Award payable more than six months following the Participant’s “separation from service” will be paid at the time or times the payments are otherwise scheduled to be made.

 

10.7                        Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan and any Award granted or awarded to any Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor rule) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan

 

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and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

 

10.8                        Limitations on Liability.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, no individual acting as a director, officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary will be liable to any Participant, former Participant, spouse, beneficiary, or any other person for any claim, loss, liability, or expense incurred in connection with the Plan or any Award, and such individual will not be personally liable with respect to the Plan because of any contract or other instrument executed in his or her capacity as an Administrator, director, officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.  The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each director, officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary that has been or will be granted or delegated any duty or power relating to the Plan’s administration or interpretation, against any cost or expense (including attorneys’ fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the Company’s approval) arising from any act or omission concerning the Plan unless arising from such person’s own fraud or bad faith; provided that he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf.

 

10.9                        Data Privacy.  As a condition for receiving any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this Section by and among the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates exclusively for implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan.  The Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including the Participant’s name, address and telephone number; birthdate; social security, insurance number or other identification number; salary; nationality; job title(s); any Shares held in the Company or its Subsidiaries and affiliates; and Award details (the “Data”), to implement, manage and administer the Plan and Awards.  The Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary to implement, administer and manage a Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data to third parties assisting the Company with Plan implementation, administration and management.  These recipients may be located in the Participant’s country, or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’ country.  By accepting an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, to implement, administer and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any required Data transfer to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares.  The Company may cancel Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Company’s sole discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents in this Section 10.9.

 

10.10                 Severability.  If any portion of the Plan or any action taken under it is held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity will not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan will be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provisions had been excluded, and the illegal or invalid action will be null and void.

 

10.11                 Governing Documents.  If any contradiction occurs between the Plan and any Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and the Company (or any Subsidiary), the Plan will govern, unless such Award Agreement or other written agreement was approved by the Administrator and expressly provides that a specific provision of the Plan will not apply.

 

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10.12                 Governing Law.  The Plan and all Awards will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, disregarding the choice-of-law principles of the State of Delaware and any other state requiring the application of a jurisdiction’s laws other than the State of Delaware.

 

10.13                 Clawback Provisions.  All Awards (including the gross amount of any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit the Participant actually or constructively receives upon receipt or exercise of any Award or the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award) will be subject to recoupment by the Company to the extent required to comply with Applicable Laws or any policy of the Company providing for the reimbursement of incentive compensation.

 

10.14                 Titles and Headings.  The titles and headings in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, if any conflict, the Plan’s text, rather than such titles or headings, will control.

 

10.15                 Conformity to Applicable Laws.  Participant acknowledges that the Plan is intended to conform to the extent necessary with Applicable Laws.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan and all Awards will be administered only in a manner intended to conform with Applicable Laws.  To the extent Applicable Laws permit, the Plan and all Award Agreements will be deemed amended as necessary to conform to Applicable Laws.

 

10.16                 Relationship to Other Benefits.  No payment under the Plan will be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary, except as expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.

 

10.17                 Broker-Assisted Sales. In the event of a broker-assisted sale of Shares in connection with the payment of amounts owed by a Participant under or with respect to the Plan or Awards, including amounts to be paid under the final sentence of Section 9.5: (a) any Shares to be sold through the broker-assisted sale will be sold on the day the payment first becomes due, or as soon thereafter as practicable; (b) such Shares may be sold as part of a block trade with other Participants in the Plan in which all participants receive an average price; (c) the applicable Participant will be responsible for all broker’s fees and other costs of sale, and by accepting an Award, each Participant agrees to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any losses, costs, damages, or expenses relating to any such sale; (d) to the extent the Company or its designee receives proceeds of such sale that exceed the amount owed, the Company will pay such excess in cash to the applicable Participant as soon as reasonably practicable; (e) the Company and its designees are under no obligation to arrange for such sale at any particular price; and (f) in the event the proceeds of such sale are insufficient to satisfy the Participant’s applicable obligation, the Participant may be required to pay immediately upon demand to the Company or its designee an amount in cash sufficient to satisfy any remaining portion of the Participant’s obligation.

 

10.18                 Section 162(m) Limitations.

 

(a)                                 Individual Award Limitations.  Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, and subject to adjustment as provided in Article VIII, (i) the maximum aggregate number of Shares with respect to all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that may be granted to any one person during any calendar year shall be 500,000; (ii) the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be earned with respect to all Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Other Stock or Cash Based Awards that are intended to

 

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qualify as Performance-Based Compensation and are denominated in Shares that may be granted to any one person during any calendar year shall be 500,000; and (iii) the maximum aggregate amount that may become payable (in cash, Shares or any combination thereof) pursuant to all Performance Bonus Awards that may be granted to any one person during any calendar year shall be U.S. $10,000,000; provided, however, that in no event will more than the Overall Share Limit be granted to any one person during any calendar year of the Company with respect to one or more Award denominated in Shares. To the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code, Shares subject to Awards that are canceled shall continue to be counted against the award limits above. For purposes of this Section 10.18(a), each Share subject to an Award (including a Full Value Award) shall be counted as one Share against the specified limit.  Each of the limitations in this Section, other than the Overall Share Limit, shall be multiplied by two (2) with respect to Awards granted to a Participant during the calendar year in which the Participant commences employment with the Company and/or its Subsidiaries.

 

(b)                                 Committee Composition.  To the extent an Award is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Administrator with respect to such Awards shall be a Committee comprised solely of two or more Directors, each of whom is intended to be an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code; provided that a Committee member’s failure to qualify as an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) will not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee that is otherwise validly granted under the Plan.

 

(c)                                  Performance-Based Compensation. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine at the time an Award is granted or at any time thereafter whether such Award is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation.  For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall require the Administrator to structure any Awards in a manner intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation and the Administrator shall be free, in its sole discretion, to grant Awards that are not intended to be Performance-Based Compensation. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan and except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, any Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in Section 162(m) of the Code that are requirements for qualification as Performance-Based Compensation, and the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.  In addition, Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Bonus Awards and Other Stock or Cash Based Awards that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be subject to the following provisions, which shall control over any conflicting provision in the Plan or any Award Agreement:

 

(i)                                     To the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, no later than 90 days following the commencement of any performance period or any designated fiscal period or period of service (or such earlier time as may be required under Section 162(m) of the Code), the Administrator shall, in writing, (a) designate the Participant to receive such Award, (b) select the Performance Criteria applicable to the performance period, which Performance Criteria shall be limited to the specific performance goals set forth in the definition of Performance Criteria, (c) establish the performance goals (and any exclusions), and amounts of such Awards, as applicable, which may be earned for such performance period based on the Performance Criteria, and (d) specify the relationship between Performance Criteria and the performance goals and the amounts of such Awards, as applicable, to be earned by each Participant for such performance period.

 

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(ii)                                  Following the completion of each performance period, the Administrator shall certify in writing whether and the extent to which the applicable performance goals have been achieved for such performance period. In determining the amount earned under such Awards, the Administrator shall have the right to reduce or eliminate (but not to increase) the amount payable at a given level of performance to take into account additional factors that the Administrator may deem relevant, including the assessment of individual or corporate performance for the performance period.

 

(iii)                               Unless otherwise specified by the Administrator at the time of grant, the Performance Criteria with respect to an Award intended to be Performance-Based Compensation payable to a Participant shall be determined on the basis of Applicable Accounting Standards.  For this purpose, “Applicable Accounting Standards” means the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, International Financial Reporting Standards or other accounting principles or standards applicable to the Company’s financial statements under U.S. federal securities laws.

 

(iv)                              No adjustment or action described in Article VIII or in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent that such adjustment or action would cause such Award to fail to so qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, unless the Administrator determines that the Award should not so qualify.

 

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