Exhibit








Exhibit 4.3


INGERSOLL-RAND PLC
INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN OF 2018


1. Purpose of the Plan
The purpose of the Plan is to aid the Company and its Affiliates in recruiting and retaining key Employees and Directors and to motivate such Employees and Directors to exert their best efforts on behalf of the Company and its Affiliates by providing incentives through the granting of Awards. The Company expects that it will benefit from the added interest which such key Employees and Directors will have in the welfare of the Company as a result of their proprietary interest in the Company’s success.
2. Definitions
The following capitalized terms used in the Plan have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 2, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.


(a)    Act : the Companies Act 2014 of Ireland.
      
		
	(b)
	Affiliate : With respect to the Company, any Person or entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, the Company or any other Person or entity designated by the Board in which the Company or an Affiliate has an interest. The Board shall have the authority to determine the time or times at which “Affiliate” status is determined within the foregoing definition.


      
		
	(c)
	Applicable Accounting Standards : Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States, International Financial Reporting Standards or such other accounting principles or standards as may apply to the Company’s financial statements under United States federal securities laws from time to time.




		
	(d)
	Applicable Laws : The requirements relating to the administration of equity-based and cash-based awards, as applicable, and the related issuance of Shares under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state and Irish or other non-U.S. corporate and securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Shares are listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any non-U.S. country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.


      
(e)    Associate : With respect to a specified Person, means:


		
	(i)
	any company, corporation, partnership, or other organization of which such specified Person is an officer or partner;




		
	(ii)
	any trust or other estate in which such specified Person has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which such specified Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity;




		
	(iii)
	any relative or spouse of such specified Person, or any relative of such spouse who has the same home as such specified Person, or who is a director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and




		
	(iv)
	any Person who is a director, officer, or partner of such specified Person or of any company (other than the Company or any wholly-owned Subsidiary), corporation, partnership or other entity which is an Affiliate of such specified person.




		
	(f)
	Award : An Option, an award of Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Unit, Share Appreciation Right, Other Share-Based Award or Performance-Based Award granted pursuant to the Plan.






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	(g)
	Award Agreement : Any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing the terms and conditions of an Award, including through electronic medium.




		
	(h)
	Beneficial Owner : A “beneficial owner”, as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule thereto) provided, however, that any individual, corporation, partnership, group, association or other Person or entity which has the right to acquire any of the Company’s outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in election of directors at any time in the future, whether such right is contingent or absolute, pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise, shall be deemed the Beneficial Owner of such securities.




		
	(i)
	Board : The Board of Directors of the Company.




		
	(j)
	Change in Control : The date:




		
	(i)
	any individual, company, corporation, partnership, group, association or other person or entity, together with its Affiliates and Associates (other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or Ingersoll-Rand Company, a New Jersey corporation), is or becomes the Beneficial Owner of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s Voting Securities;




		
	(ii)
	the Continuing Directors fail to constitute a majority of the members of the Board;




		
	(iii)
	of consummation of any transaction or series of transactions under which the Company is merged or consolidated with any other company which is not an Affiliate; or




		
	(iv)
	of any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of all, or substantially all, of the assets of the Company, other than any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer to any Person or entity where the Company owns, directly or indirectly, at least 80% of the combined voting power of the Voting Securities of such Person or entity or its parent corporation after any such transfer;




provided, however , that in the case of a transaction described in (i) or (iii), above, there shall not be a Change in Control if the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to any such transaction own (or continue to own by remaining outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity or parent entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Voting Securities of the Company, the surviving entity or any parent of either immediately following such transaction, in substantially the same proportion to each other as prior to such transaction.


A transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if it is effected for the purpose of changing the place of incorporation, tax residency or form of organization of the ultimate parent entity (including where the ultimate parent entity is succeeded by an entity incorporated under the laws of another state, country or foreign government for such purpose and whether or not the former ultimate parent entity remains in existence following such transaction) and where the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to any such transaction own (or continue to own by remaining outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the successor parent entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the former ultimate parent entity or the successor ultimate parent entity immediately following such transaction, in substantially the same proportion to each other as prior to such transaction.


Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award (or any portion of an Award) that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A of the Code, the transaction or event described in this Section 2(g) with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award if such 


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transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).


		
	(k)
	Code : The U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor thereto.




		
	(l)
	Committee : The Compensation Committee of the Board (or a subcommittee thereof), or the delegate to which the Board or the Compensation Committee has delegated its authority pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof, or such other committee of the Board to which the Board has delegated power to act under or pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.




		
	(m)
	Company : Ingersoll-Rand plc, an Irish public limited company and any successor thereto.




		
	(n)
	Continuing Directors : A director who either was a member of the Board on the Effective Date or who became a member of the Board subsequent to such date and whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was Duly Approved by the Continuing Directors on the Board at the time of such nomination or election, either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement issued by the Company on behalf of the Board in which such person is named as nominee for director, without due objection to such nomination, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person or entity other than the Board.




		
	(o)
	Director : A member of the Board.




		
	(p)
	Disability : Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or determined by the Committee, the Participant would qualify to receive benefit payments under the long-term disability plan or policy, as it may be amended from time to time, of the Company or the Affiliate to which the Participant provides Service, regardless of whether the Participant is covered by such plan or policy, or the plan or policy of the Company, if an Affiliate does not maintain such a plan or policy. A Participant shall not be considered to have incurred a Disability unless he or she furnishes proof of such impairment sufficient to satisfy the Committee in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of ISOs granted under the Plan, “Disability” means that the Participant is disabled within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to an Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code where the Award will be paid by reference to the Participant’s Disability, solely for purposes of determining the timing of payment, no such event will constitute a Disability for purposes of the Plan or any Award Agreement unless such event also constitutes a “disability” as defined under Section 409A.




		
	(q)
	Dividend Equivalent Right : A right to receive the equivalent value of dividends paid on the Shares with respect to Shares underlying Restricted Share Units or an Other Share-Based Award that is a Full Value Award prior to vesting of the Award, subject to the additional requirements of Section 10(b) hereof. Such Dividend Equivalent Right 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 Committee.




		
	(r)
	Duly Approved by the Continuing Directors : An action approved by the vote of at least two-thirds of the Continuing Directors then on the Board.




		
	(s)
	Effective Date : June 7, 2018.




		
	(t)
	Employee : A full-time or part-time employee of the Company or any Affiliate, including an officer or Director, who is treated as an employee in the personnel records of the Company or Affiliate for the relevant period. Neither services as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company or an Affiliate shall be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company or an Affiliate.




		
	(u)
	Exchange Act : The U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor thereto.




		
	(v)
	Fair Market Value : On a given date, (i) if there should be a public market for the Shares on such date, the closing price of the Shares as reported on such date on the principal national securities 




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exchange on which such Shares are listed or admitted to trading, or, if no sale occurred on such date, the first trading date immediately prior to such date during which a sale occurred; or (ii) if the Shares are not listed or admitted on any national securities exchange but are regularly quoted on a national market or other quotation system, the arithmetic mean of the per Share closing bid price and per Share closing asked price on such date as quoted on such market or system, or, if no sale occurred on such date, then on the immediately preceding date on which sales have been so reported or quoted; or (iii) if there should not be a public market for the Shares on such date, the Fair Market Value shall be the value established by the Committee in good faith under a reasonable methodology and reasonable application in compliance with Section 409A of the Code to the extent such determination is necessary for Awards under the Plan to comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A of the Code.


Notwithstanding the foregoing, for income tax reporting purposes under U.S. federal, state, local or non-US law and for such other purposes as the Committee deems appropriate, including, without limitation, where Fair Market Value is used in reference to exercise, vesting, settlement or payout of an Award, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Company in accordance with uniform and nondiscriminatory standards adopted by it from time to time.


		
	(w)
	Full Value Awards : Any Award other than an (i) Option, (ii) Share Appreciation Right or (iii) other Award for which the Participant pays (or the value or amount payable under the Award is reduced by) an amount equal to or exceeding the Fair Market Value of the Shares, determined as of the date of grant.




		
	(x)
	ISO : An Option that is also an incentive stock option granted pursuant to Section 7(e) of the Plan.




		
	(y)
	Option : An option granted pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan.




		
	(z)
	Option Price : The purchase price per Share of an Option, as determined pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Plan.




		
	(aa)
	Other Share-Based Awards : Awards granted pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan.




		
	(bb)
	Participant : An Employee or Director who is selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan.




		
	(cc)
	Performance-Based Award : A Full-Value Award that vests, in whole or in part, based on the attainment of a Performance Goal.




		
	(dd)
	Performance Criteria : The criteria that the Committee selects for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal(s) for a Participant during a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish Performance Goals may include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) consolidated earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization); (ii) net income; (iii) operating income; (iv) operating income margin; (v) gross margin; (vi) earnings per Share; (vii) book value per Share; (viii) return on shareholders’ equity; (ix) expense management; (x) return on invested capital; (xi) improvements in capital structure; (xii) profitability of an identifiable business unit or product; (xiii) maintenance or improvement of profit margins or revenue; (xiv) Share price; (xv) market share; (xvi) revenues or sales; (xvii) costs; (xviii) available cash flow; (xix) working capital; (xx) return on assets; (xxi) total shareholder return, (xxii) productivity ratios, and (xxiii) economic value added. The Performance Criteria may be calculated in accordance with Applicable Accounting Standards or on an adjusted basis.




		
	(ee)
	Performance Goals : For a performance period, the goals established in writing by the Committee for the performance period based upon the Performance Criteria. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance, the performance of an Affiliate, the performance of a division or a business unit of the Company or an Affiliate, or the performance of an individual or team. The Performance Goals may be measured either in absolute or relative terms. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide that one or more adjustments shall be made to one or more of the Performance Goals.




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	(ff)
	Performance Period : 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.




		
	(gg)
	Person : A “person,” as such term is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act (or any successor section thereto), including any Affiliate or Associate of the Company.




		
	(hh)
	Plan : This Ingersoll-Rand plc Incentive Stock Plan of 2018, as from time to time amended and then in effect.




		
	(ii)
	Restricted Shares : Shares awarded to a Participant pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan that are subject to certain restrictions and may be subject to risk of forfeiture.




		
	(jj)
	Restricted Share Unit : An Award granted pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan that shall be evidenced by a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of one Share.




		
	(kk)
	Securities Act : The U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor thereto.




		
	(ll)
	Service : Except as otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, a Participant’s Service terminates when the Participant ceases to actively provide services to the Company or an Affiliate. The Committee shall determine which leaves shall count toward Service and when Service terminates for all purposes under the Plan. Further, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant provides Service to the Company or an Affiliate, or a transfer between entities (i.e., the Company or any Affiliates), provided that there is no interruption or other termination of Service in connection with the Participant’s change in capacity or transfer between entities (except as may be required to effect the change in capacity or transfer between entities). For purposes of determining whether an Option is entitled to ISO status, an Employee’s Service shall be treated as terminated ninety (90) days after such Employee goes on leave, unless such Employee’s right to return to active work is guaranteed by law or by a contract.




		
	(mm)
	Shares : Ordinary shares in the capital of the Company, par value US $1.00 per Share, and such other securities of the Company that may be substituted for the Shares pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan.




		
	(nn)
	Share Appreciation Right : A share appreciation right granted pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.




		
	(oo)
	Subsidiary : A subsidiary corporation, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code (or any successor section thereto) or Section 7 of the Act.




		
	(pp)
	Substitute Award : An Award granted under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an entity directly or indirectly acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines.




		
	(qq)
	Tax-Related Items : Any U.S. federal, state, and/or local taxes and any taxes imposed by a jurisdiction outside of the United States (including, without limitation, income tax, social insurance contributions, payment on account, employment tax obligations, stamp taxes and any other taxes required by law to be withheld and any employer tax liability for which the Participant is liable).




		
	(rr)
	Voting Securities : The outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in election of directors.


3. Shares Subject to the Plan and Limitation on Issuable Shares


(a)    Number of Shares
Subject to Section 11, the total number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan is 23,000,000, and the maximum number of Shares for which ISOs may be granted is 20% of the total number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan. Except as provided below in Section 3(b) or 3(c), the number of Shares remaining available 


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for issuance shall be reduced by the number of Shares subject to Awards that are granted hereunder. For Awards of Options and Share Appreciation Rights, each outstanding Option or Share Appreciation Right shall reduce the number of remaining of Shares under the Plan by 1 Share. For Full Value Awards, the number of remaining available Shares shall be reduced by the product of 4.64 Shares multiplied by the number of Shares subject to the Award. The Shares may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or treasury Shares or a combination thereof.


(b)    Shares Reissuable Under Plan
The following Shares shall again be available for the grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan: (i) Shares that are not issued as a result of the termination, cancellation, expiration or lapsing of any Award for any reason; (ii) Shares subject to a Full Value Award that are not issued because the Award is settled in cash; (iii) Shares covered by a Full Value Award that are retained or are otherwise not issued by the Company in order to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with Full Value Awards.


(c)    Shares Not Reissuable Under Plan
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following Shares shall be counted against the maximum number of Shares available for issuance pursuant to Section 3(a) and shall not be returned to the Plan: (i) Shares subject to an Option or Share Appreciation Right that are retained or otherwise not issued by the Company in order to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with Options or Share Appreciation Rights or in payment of the exercise or purchase price of Options; (ii) Shares that are not issued or delivered as a result of the net-settlement of an outstanding Option or Share Appreciation Right; or (iii) Shares that are repurchased or redeemed on the open market with the proceeds of the exercise of an Option.


(d)    Shares Not Counted Against Share Pool Reserve
Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 3 to the contrary, (i) Substitute Awards shall not reduce the overall limit on Shares available for grant under the Plan; provided, that Substitute Awards issued in connection with the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding options intended to qualify as ISOs shall reduce the aggregate number of Shares available for Awards of ISOs under the Plan; and (ii) subject to applicable stock exchange requirements, available shares under a shareholder approved plan of an entity directly or indirectly acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the acquisition or combination transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the number of Shares available for delivery under the Plan.


(e)    Non-Employee Director Award Limit
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan or in any policy of the Company regarding compensation payable to a non-Employee Director, the sum of the grant date fair value (determined as of the grant date in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor thereto) of all Awards payable in Shares and the maximum amount that may become payable pursuant to all cash-based Awards that may be granted under the Plan to an individual as compensation for services as a non-Employee Director, together with cash compensation paid to the non-Employee Director, shall not exceed $1,000,000 in any calendar year.


(f)    Award Limits for Employees.
The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to Options or Share Appreciation Awards that are granted to any Employee during any calendar year shall not exceed 750,000 Shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 hereof. The maximum amount with respect to one or more Performance-Based Awards that may be granted to any Employee during any calendar year shall not exceed $15 million, calculated based on the Fair Market Value of the number of Shares subject to the Performance-Based Award on the date of grant.
4. Administration


(a)    Committee


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The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which may delegate its duties and powers in whole or in part to any subcommittee thereof consisting solely of at least two individuals who are intended to qualify as “Non-Employee Directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule thereto) and “independent directors” within the meaning of The New York Stock Exchange’s listed company rules. Additionally, the Committee may delegate the authority to take any of the actions set forth in Section 4(b), including the authority to grant Awards under the Plan to any Employee or group of Employees of the Company or an Affiliate; provided, however, that such delegation, including to grant awards, is consistent with Applicable Laws and guidelines established by the Committee from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the full Board, acting by a majority of its members in office, shall conduct the general administration of the Plan with respect to all Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors and for purposes of such Awards the term “Committee” as used in this Plan shall be deemed to refer to the Board. In its sole discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan, except with respect to matters which under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or any regulations or rules issued thereunder, are required to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. The Committee may appoint such agents as it deems necessary or advisable for the proper administration of the Plan; provided, however, that such appointment is consistent with Applicable Laws and guidelines established by the Committee from time to time.


(b)    Authority of Committee
The Committee has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:


(i)    Designate Participants to receive Awards;


(ii)    Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;


		
	(iii)
	Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate;




		
	(iv)
	Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, without limitation, the Option Price, grant price, or purchase price, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, and any provisions related to non-competition and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines;




		
	(v)
	Determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to what circumstances (A) an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in, cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property, (B) the vesting, exercisability or forfeiture restrictions applicable to an Award may be accelerated or waived, including, without limitation, in connection with the Participant’s retirement or other termination or other event, (C) or an Award may be cancelled, forfeited, or surrendered;




		
	(vi)
	Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant and may vary for Participants within and outside of the United States;




		
	(vii)
	Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;




		
	(viii)
	Establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations including adopting sub-plans to the Plan for the purposes of complying with foreign laws and/or taking advantage of tax-favorable treatment for Awards granted to Participants outside the United States, as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;




		
	(ix)
	Interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan or any Award Agreement;




		
	(x)
	Correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or desirable; and






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	(xi)
	Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan.




(c)    Decisions Binding
Any decision of the Committee or its delegate pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof shall lie within its sole and absolute discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties concerned (including, but not limited to, Participants and their beneficiaries or successors).
5. Terms and Conditions of Restricted Share Units


(a)    Restricted Share Units
The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Share Units to Participants in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall impose.


(b)    Vesting Restrictions
The Committee shall specify the date or dates on which the Restricted Share Units shall become fully vested and non-forfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting, if any, as it deems appropriate. The vesting conditions, if any, may be based on, among other conditions, a Participant’s continued Service or the attainment of Performance Goals.


(c)    Form and Timing of Payment
The Committee shall specify the settlement date applicable to each grant of Restricted Share Units, which date shall not be earlier than the date or dates on which the Restricted Share Units shall become fully vested and non-forfeitable, or such settlement date may be deferred to any later date, subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, as applicable. On the settlement date, the Company shall, subject to satisfaction of applicable Tax-Related Items (as further set forth in Section 20 hereof), deliver to the Participant one Share for each Restricted Share Unit scheduled to be paid out on such date and not previously forfeited. Alternatively, settlement of a Restricted Share Unit may be made in cash (in an amount reflecting the Fair Market Value of the Shares that otherwise would have been issued) or any combination of cash and Shares, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, in either case, less applicable Tax-Related Items (as further set forth in Section 20 hereof). Until a Restricted Share Unit is settled, the number of Restricted Share Units shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 11 hereof.


(d)    Forfeiture
Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, any Restricted Share Units that are not vested as of the date of the Participant’s termination of service shall be forfeited.


(e)    General Creditors
A Participant who has been granted Restricted Share Units shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Restricted Share Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement evidencing the grant of the Restricted Share Units.
6. Terms and Conditions of Restricted Share Awards


(a)    Grant of Restricted Shares
The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Shares to Employees or Directors selected by the Committee in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall impose.


(b)    Purchase Price


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At the time of the grant of Restricted Shares, the Committee shall determine the price, if any, to be paid by the Participant for each Share subject to the Award. The purchase price of Shares acquired pursuant to the Award shall be paid either: (i) in cash at the time of purchase; (ii) at the sole discretion of the Committee, by Service rendered or to be rendered to the Company or an Affiliate; or (iii) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion and in compliance with Applicable Laws.


(c)    Issuance and Restrictions
Restricted Shares shall be subject to such restrictions, if any, on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, limitations on the right to vote Restricted Shares or the right to receive dividends or repayment of capital on the Restricted Shares). The restrictions, if any, may be based on, among other conditions, a Participant’s continued Service or the attainment of Performance Goals. These restrictions, if any, may lapse separately or in combination at such times, pursuant to such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as the Committee determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter.


(d)    Dividends
Any dividends that are distributed with respect to Restricted Shares shall be paid in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement, subject to the provisions of Section 10(b)(ii) hereof.


(e)    Forfeiture
Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of Service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Shares that are at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited.


(f)    Certificates for Restricted Shares
Restricted Shares granted pursuant to the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing Restricted Shares are registered in the name of the Participant, certificates shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Shares, and the Company may, at its discretion, retain physical possession of the certificate until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse.
7. Terms and Conditions of Options


(a)    Option Type
Options granted under the Plan shall be, as determined by the Committee, non-qualified or ISOs, as evidenced by the related Award Agreements, and shall be subject to the foregoing and the following terms and conditions and to such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent therewith, as the Committee shall determine:


(b)    Option Price
The Option Price per Share shall be determined by the Committee, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date an Option is granted (other than in the case of Substitute Awards).


(c)    Exercisability
Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time and upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee, but in no event shall an Option be exercisable more than ten years after the date it is granted. The Committee shall specify the date or dates on which the Options shall become fully vested, and may specify such conditions to vesting, if any, as it deems appropriate. The vesting conditions, if any, may be based on, among other conditions, a Participant’s continued Service or the attainment of Performance Goals.


(d)    Exercise of Options


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Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in an Award Agreement, an Option may be exercised for all, or from time to time any part, of the Shares for which it is then exercisable. For purposes of Section 7 of the Plan, the exercise date of an Option shall be the later of the date a notice of exercise is received by the Company or its designee or administrative agent in the form and manner satisfactory to the Company and, if applicable, the date payment is received by the Company or its designee or administrative agent in accordance with the following sentence. The purchase price for the Shares as to which an Option is exercised shall be paid to the Company as designated by the Committee, pursuant to one or more of the following methods: (i) in cash or its equivalent (e.g., by personal check), (ii) if there is a public market for the Shares underlying the Options at such time, through the delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to sell Shares obtained upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount out of the proceeds of such sale equal to the aggregate Option Price for the Shares being purchased, or (iii) any other method of payment authorized by the Committee. No fractional Shares will be issued upon exercise of an Option, but instead the number of Shares will be rounded downward to the next whole Share.


(e)    ISOs
The Committee may grant Options under the Plan that are intended to be ISOs. Such ISOs shall comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code (or any successor section thereto). ISOs shall be granted only to Participants who are employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries. No ISO may be granted to any Participant who at the time of such grant, owns more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary, unless (i) the Option Price for such ISO is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the ISO is granted and (ii) the date on which such ISO terminates is a date not later than the day preceding the fifth anniversary of the date on which the ISO is granted. Any Participant who disposes of Shares acquired upon the exercise of an ISO either (A) within two years after the date of grant of such ISO or (B) within one year after the transfer of such Shares to the Participant, shall notify the Company of such disposition and of the amount realized upon such disposition. All Options granted under the Plan are intended to be nonqualified options, unless the applicable Award Agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an ISO. If an Option is intended to be an ISO, and if for any reason such Option (or portion thereof) shall not qualify as an ISO, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option (or portion thereof) shall be regarded as a nonqualified option granted under the Plan; provided that such Option (or portion thereof) otherwise complies with the Plan’s requirements relating to nonqualified options. In no event shall any member of the Committee, the Company or any of its Affiliates (or their respective employees, officers or directors) have any liability to any Participant (or any other Person) due to the failure of an Option to qualify for any reason as an ISO.


(f)    Rights with Respect to Shares
No Participant shall have any rights to dividends or other rights of a shareholder with respect to Shares subject to an Option until the Participant has given written notice of exercise of the Option, paid in full for such Shares and, if applicable, has satisfied any other conditions imposed by the Committee pursuant to the Plan.
8. Terms and Conditions of Share Appreciation Rights


(a)    Grants
The Committee may grant (i) a Share Appreciation Right independent of an Option or (ii) a Share Appreciation Right in connection with an Option, or a portion thereof. A Share Appreciation Right granted pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence (A) may only be granted at the time the related Option is granted, (B) shall cover the same number of Shares covered by an Option (or such lesser number of Shares as the Committee may determine) and (C) shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as such Option except for such additional limitations as are contemplated by this Section 8 (or such additional limitations as may be included in an Award Agreement). Payment shall be made in Shares or cash, at the discretion of the Committee.


(b)    Terms
The exercise price per Share of a Share Appreciation Right shall be an amount determined by the Committee but in no event shall such amount be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Share Appreciation Right is granted (other than in the case of Substitute Awards); provided, however, that in the case of a Share Appreciation Right granted in conjunction with an Option, or a portion thereof, the exercise price may not be less than the Option Price of the related Option. Each Share Appreciation Right granted independent of an Option shall 


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entitle a Participant upon exercise to a number of Shares equal to an amount that is (i) the excess of (A) the opening price of the Shares on the exercise date of one Share (the “Opening Price”) over (B) the exercise price per Share, multiplied by (ii) the number of Shares covered by the Share Appreciation Right; provided, however, that if the Share Appreciation Right is settled in Shares, such amount shall be divided by the Opening Price. Each Share Appreciation Right granted in conjunction with an Option, or a portion thereof, shall entitle a Participant to surrender to the Company the unexercised Option, or any portion thereof, and to receive from the Company in exchange therefore a number of Shares equal to an amount that is (i) the excess of (A) the Opening Price over (B) the Option Price per Share, multiplied by (ii) the number of Shares covered by the Option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered; provided, however, that if the Share Appreciation Right is settled in Shares, such amount shall be divided by the Opening Price. Share Appreciation Rights may be exercised from time to time upon actual receipt by the Company or its designee or administrative agent of written notice of exercise in the form and manner satisfactory to the Company stating the number of Shares with respect to which the Share Appreciation Right is being exercised. The date a notice of exercise is received by the Company shall be the exercise date. No fractional Shares will be issued in payment for Share Appreciation Rights, but instead the number of Shares will be rounded downward to the next whole Share. The Committee shall specify the date or dates on which the Share Appreciation Rights shall become fully vested, and may specify such conditions to vesting, if any, as it deems appropriate. The vesting conditions, if any, may be based on, among other conditions, a Participant’s continued Service or the attainment of Performance Goals.


(c)    Limitations
The Committee may impose, in its discretion, such conditions regarding the exercisability of Share Appreciation Rights as it may deem fit, but in no event shall a Share Appreciation Right be exercisable more than ten years after the date it is granted.
9. Other Share-Based Awards


(a)    Grants of Other Share-Based Awards and Performance-Based Awards
Subject to limitation under Applicable Laws, the Committee is authorized under the Plan to grant Awards (other than Options, Restricted Share Units, Restricted Shares and Share Appreciation Rights) to Employees or Directors subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 9 and such other terms and conditions as may be specified by the Committee that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan and that, by their terms, involve or might involve the issuance of, consist of, or are denominated in, payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise relate to, Shares. The Committee may also grant Shares as a bonus, or may grant other Awards in lieu of obligations of the Company or an Affiliate to pay cash or other property under the Plan or other plans or compensatory arrangements. The terms and conditions applicable to such other Awards shall be determined from time to time by the Committee and set forth in an applicable Award Agreement. The Committee may establish one or more separate programs under the Plan for the purpose of issuing particular forms of Awards to one or more classes of Participants on such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee from time to time.


(b)    Form of Payment
Payments with respect to any Awards granted under Section 9 shall be made in cash or cash equivalent, in Shares or any combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Committee.


(c)    Vesting Conditions
The Committee shall specify the date or dates on which the Awards granted pursuant to this Section 9 shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate. The vesting conditions may be based on, among other vesting conditions, a Participant’s Continued Service or the attainment of Performance Goals.


(d)    Term
Except as otherwise provided herein, the term of any Award granted pursuant to this Section 9 shall be set by the Committee in its discretion; provided that the term of any Award granted pursuant to this Section 9 shall not exceed ten (10) years.


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10. Provisions Applicable to All Awards


(a)    Award Agreement
Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Agreements that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award, not inconsistent with the Plan, which may include, without limitation, the term of an Award, the provisions applicable in the event the Participant’s Service terminates, and the Company’s authority to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind an Award.


(b)    Dividends and Dividend Equivalent Rights
 
		
	(i)
	The Committee in its sole discretion may provide a Participant as part of an RSU or Other Share-Based Award that is a Full Value Award with Dividend Equivalent Rights, on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.




		
	(ii)
	Any Dividend Equivalent Rights provided in connection with an Award that is subject to vesting shall either (i) not be paid or credited or (ii) be accumulated and subject to vesting restrictions applicable to the underlying Award. For Restricted Shares subject to vesting, dividends shall be accumulated and subject to any restrictions and risk of forfeiture to which the underlying Restricted Share is subject.


 
(c)    Limits on Transfer
Each Award shall be exercisable only by a Participant during the Participant’s lifetime, or, if permissible under Applicable Laws, by the Participant’s legal guardian or representative. No Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or an Affiliate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit Awards (other than ISOs) to be transferred by a Participant, without consideration, in connection with estate planning or charitable transfers, subject to compliance with Applicable Laws and such rules as the Committee may adopt consistent with any applicable Award Agreement to preserve the purposes of the Plan; provided that the Participant gives the Committee advance written notice describing the terms and conditions of the proposed transfer and the Committee notifies the Participant in writing that such a transfer would comply with the requirements of the Plan.


(d)    Paperless Administration
In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website, intranet or interactive voice response, then the paperless documentation, granting or exercise of Awards by a Participant may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.
11. Adjustments Upon Certain Events
Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Plan to the contrary, the following provisions shall apply to all Awards granted under the Plan:


(a)    Generally
In the event of any change in the outstanding Shares (including to the price of the Shares) after the Effective Date by reason of any reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, or transaction or exchange of Shares or other corporate exchange, or any distribution to shareholders of Shares other than regular cash dividends, bonus issue, share split or any transaction similar to the foregoing, the Committee shall make such substitution or adjustment, as it deems, in its sole discretion and without liability to any person, to be equitable, as to (i) the number or kind of Shares or other securities issued or reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan or pursuant to outstanding Awards, (ii) the Option Price or exercise price of any Share Appreciation Right and/or (iii) any other affected terms of such Awards, including, without limitation, any affected Performance Goals. In the event of any change in the outstanding Shares after the Effective Date by reason of any share split (forward or 


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reverse) or any share dividend, all adjustments described in the preceding sentence shall occur automatically in accordance with the ratio of the bonus issue, share split or share dividend, unless otherwise determined by the Committee.


(b)    Change in Control
The provisions of this Section 11(b) shall apply in the event of a Change in Control.


		
	(i)
	Additional Vesting of Time-Based Awards Notwithstanding Section 11(a) hereof, if a Change in Control occurs and a Participant’s Awards that vest based on the Participant’s continued Service are not converted, assumed, substituted or replaced by a successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, then immediately prior to the Change in Control such Awards shall become fully vested and, to the extent applicable, exercisable and all forfeiture restrictions on such Awards shall lapse. Where Awards described in the foregoing sentence are assumed or continued after a Change in Control, the Committee may provide that one or more Awards will automatically accelerate upon an involuntary termination of the Participant’s employment or service within a designated period following the effective date of such Change in Control. Any such Award shall, accordingly, upon an involuntary termination of the Participant’s employment or service following a Change in Control, become fully vested and, to the extent applicable, exercisable and all forfeiture restrictions on such Award shall lapse. With respect to any ISOs, the portion of any ISO accelerated in connection with a Change in Control shall remain exercisable as an ISO only to the extent the applicable $100,000 limitation is not exceeded. To the extent such U.S. dollar limitation is exceeded, the accelerated portion of such Option shall not be exercisable as an ISO under the U.S. federal tax laws.




		
	(ii)
	Additional Vesting of Performance-Based Awards With respect to Awards that vest based on the attainment of performance-based conditions, in the Committee’s sole and absolute discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of Award Agreement or by action taken in connection with the Change of Control, the Award shall vest (A) at the target level, pro-rated to reflect the period the Participant was in Service during the performance period or (B) the actual performance level attained, as determined on the most recent practicable date as of which performance may be measured prior to the date of the Change in Control. Unless otherwise converted, assumed, substituted or replaced by a successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, any such Performance-Based Awards that have not either previously vested in accordance with the terms of such Award or in accordance with this Section 11(b) (ii) shall terminate and cease to be outstanding as of the Change in Control.




		
	(iii)
	Cancellation of Awards In connection with any Change in Control, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, but shall not be obligated to, provide for cancellation of any one or more outstanding Awards and payment to the holders of such Awards that are vested as of such cancellation (including, without limitation, any Awards that would vest in accordance with the terms of such Award or in accordance with this Section 11(b) (i) or (ii) hereof, as applicable), the value of such Awards, if any, as determined by the Committee (which value, if applicable, may be based upon the price per Share received or to be received by other shareholders of the Company in such event), including, without limitation, in the case of an outstanding Option or Share Appreciation Right, a cash payment in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the Shares subject to such Option or Share Appreciation Right over the aggregate exercise price of such Option or Share Appreciation Right (it being understood that, in such event, any Option or Share Appreciation Right having a per share exercise price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value of a Share subject thereto may be canceled and terminated without any payment or consideration therefor). Payments to holders pursuant to this Section 11(iii) above shall be made in cash or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, in the form of such other consideration necessary for a Participant to receive property, cash, or securities (or combination thereof) as such Participant would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of the transaction if the Participant had been, 




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immediately prior to such transaction, the holder of the number of Shares covered by the Award at such time (less any applicable exercise price).
 
(c)    Other Requirements


Prior to any payment or adjustment contemplated under this Section 11, the Committee may require a Participant to (i) represent and warrant as to the unencumbered title to the Participant’s Awards; (ii) bear such Participant’s pro rata share of any post-closing indemnity obligations, and be subject to the same post-closing purchase price adjustments, escrow terms, offset rights, holdback terms, and similar conditions as the other holders of Shares, subject to any limitations or reductions as may be necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code; and (iii) deliver customary transfer documentation as reasonably determined by the Committee.


(d)    Fractional Shares
Any adjustment provided under this Section 11 may provide for the elimination of any fractional share that might otherwise become subject to an Award.
12. No Right to Employment or Awards
The granting of an Award under the Plan shall impose no obligation on the Company or any Affiliate to continue the employment or service of a Participant and shall not lessen or affect the Company’s or Affiliate’s right to terminate the employment or service of such Participant. No Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant (whether or not such Participants are similarly situated).
13. Successors and Assigns
The Plan shall be binding on all successors and assigns of the Company and a Participant, including without limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or trustee of such estate, or any receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or representative of the Participant’s creditors.
14. Amendments or Termination


(a)    Amendment and Termination of the Plan
The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without shareholder approval if (i) it would materially increase the number of securities which may be issued under the Plan or granted to any Participant (except for increases pursuant to Section 11 hereof), (ii) it materially expands the types of Awards available under the Plan or materially expands the class of persons eligible to receive Awards under the Plan, (iii) such approval is necessary to comply with any regulatory requirement applicable to the Plan (including, without limitation, as necessary to comply with any rules or regulations of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company may be listed or quoted), or (iv) the Committee determines that such approval is otherwise required or advisable to facilitate compliance with Applicable Laws; provided, however, that, subject to Section 18 of the Plan or unless required or advisable to facilitate compliance with Applicable Laws, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, any such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant or any holder of any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant.


(b)    Amendment of Award Agreements
The Committee may, to the extent consistent with the terms of any applicable Award Agreement, waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted or the associated Award Agreement, prospectively or retroactively (including after a Participant’s termination of employment or service with the Company); provided that , subject to Section 18 of the Plan or unless required or advisable to facilitate compliance with Applicable Laws, as determined in the sole discretion of the 


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Committee, any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant with respect to any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant.


(c)    No Repricing of Awards
Subject to Section 11 of the Plan, in no event shall the Committee or the Board take any action without approval of the shareholders of the Company that would (i) reduce the exercise price of any Option or Share Appreciation Right, (ii) result in the cancellation of any outstanding Option or Share Appreciation Right and replacement with a new Option or Share Appreciation Right with a lower exercise price or with a cash payment or other Award at a time when the Option or Share Appreciation Right has a per Share exercise price that is higher than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of the replacement (iii) result in any other action that would be considered a “repricing” for purposes of the shareholder approval rules of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed or quoted.
15. Choice of Law
The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina without regard to conflicts of laws.
16. Severability
If any provision of the Plan or the application of any provision hereof to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the Plan and the application of such provision to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected, and the provisions so held to be unenforceable shall be reformed to the extent (and only to the extent) necessary to make it enforceable and valid.
17. Effectiveness of the Plan
The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date, subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Company.
18. Section 409A
Notwithstanding other provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement thereunder, no Award shall be granted, deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out or modified under this Plan in a manner that would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code upon a Participant. In the event that it is reasonably determined by the Committee that, as a result of Section 409A of the Code, payments in respect of any Award under the Plan may not be made at the time contemplated by the terms of the Plan or the relevant Award Agreement, as the case may be, without causing the Participant holding such Award to be subject to taxation under Section 409A of the Code, the Company will make such payment on the first day that would not result in the Participant incurring any tax liability under Section 409A of the Code.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the extent applicable, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Plan and Awards issued hereunder shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretative guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Committee determines that any amounts payable hereunder will be taxable to a Participant under Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance prior to payment to such Participant of such amount, the Company may (a) adopt such amendments to the Plan and Awards and appropriate policies and procedures, including amendments and policies with retroactive effect, that the Committee determines necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided by the Plan and Awards hereunder and/or (b) take such other actions as the Committee determines necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code.
19. Clawback/Recoupment Policy.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, all Awards granted under the Plan shall be and remain subject to any incentive compensation clawback or recoupment policy currently in effect or as may be 


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adopted by the Board and, in each case, as may be amended from time to time. No such policy adoption or amendment shall in any event require the prior consent of any Participant.
20. Tax-Related Items
The Company or any Affiliate, as applicable, shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or to require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy the obligation for Tax-Related Items with respect to any taxable or tax withholding event concerning a Participant arising as a result of the Participant’s participation in the Plan or to take such other action as may be necessary or appropriate in the opinion of the Company or an Affiliate, as applicable, to satisfy withholding obligations for the payment of Tax-Related Items by one or a combination of the following: (a) withholding from the Participant’s wages or other cash compensation; (b) withholding from the proceeds of sale of Shares underlying an Award, either through a voluntary sale or a mandatory sale arranged by the Company on the Participant’s behalf, without need of further authorization; or (c) in the Committee’s sole discretion, by withholding Shares otherwise issuable under an Award (or allowing the return of Shares) sufficient, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, to satisfy such Tax-Related Items. No Shares shall be delivered pursuant to an Award to any Participant or other person until the Participant or such other person has made arrangements acceptable to the Committee to satisfy the obligations for Tax-Related Items with respect to any taxable or tax withholding event concerning the Participant or such other person arising as a result of an Award.
21. Government and Other Regulations
The obligation of the Company to make payment of Awards in Shares or otherwise shall be subject to all Applicable Laws, and to such approvals by government agencies, including government agencies in jurisdictions outside of the United States, in each case as may be required or as the Company deems necessary or advisable. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver evidence of title for Shares subject to Awards granted hereunder prior to: (i) obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable, and (ii) completion of any registration or other qualification with respect to the Shares under any Applicable Law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable or at a time when any such registration or qualification is not current, has been suspended or otherwise has ceased to be effective. 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 Committee may determine to amend or cancel Awards pertaining to such Shares, with or without consideration to the affected Participant. The Company shall be under no obligation to register pursuant to the Securities Act any of the Shares paid pursuant to the Plan. If the Shares paid pursuant to the Plan may in certain circumstances be exempt from registration pursuant to the Securities Act, the Company may restrict the transfer of such Shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.
22. No Shareholders Rights
Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have none of the rights of a shareholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award, including the right to vote or receive dividends, until the Participant or its nominee/broker becomes the record owner of such Shares, notwithstanding the exercise of an Option or Share Appreciation Right or vesting of another Award.
* * *
As adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on April 4, 2018 and the Company’s shareholders on June 7, 2018 




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