Exhibit



            





Exhibit 10.4
JUNIPER NETWORKS, INC.


2015 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


As amended and restated as of May 14, 2019


1.Purposes of the Plan.  The Plan is intended to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive to Service Providers and to promote the success of the Company’s business


The Plan permits the grant of Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Deferred Stock Units and Dividend Equivalents.  The Plan also provides for the automatic, non-discretionary grant of certain Awards to Outside Directors as further specified herein.


2.Definitions.  As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:


(a)    “Administrator” means the Board or any of its Committees as shall be administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.


(b)    “Applicable Laws” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity incentive plans, the grant of Awards and the related issuance of Shares under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and under the laws, rules and regulations of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan or where Participants may reside and/or work, as such requirements shall be in place from time to time.


(c)    “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Deferred Stock Units or Dividend Equivalents.


(d)    “Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement, in such form as the Administrator prescribes from time to time, setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under the Plan. The Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.




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(e)    “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company. 
(f)    “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i)    A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection, the acquisition of additional stock by any Person, who is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company will not be considered a Change in Control; or
(ii)    A change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date that a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12) month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election; or
(iii)    A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than fifty percent (50%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (iii), the following will not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets: (A) a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the Company’s stockholders immediately after the transfer (provided that such entity is controlled in substantially the same proportions by the Company’s stockholders who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transfer), or (B) a transfer of assets by the Company to: (1) a stockholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for the Company’s stock (provided that the value of the Company’s stock exchanged for such assets shall be substantially equal to or greater than the value of such assets, as determined by the Board), (2) an entity, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, (3) a Person, that owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company, or (4) an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a Person described in this subsection (iii)(B)(3).  For purposes of this subsection (iii), gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.


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For purposes of this definition, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent required for compliance with Code Section 409A, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Code Section 409A, as it has been and may be amended from time to time, and any proposed or final Treasury Regulations and Internal Revenue Service guidance that has been promulgated or may be promulgated thereunder from time to time.
Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation, or (ii) its sole purpose is to 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.


(g)    “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 


(h)    “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company. 


(i)    “Committee” means a committee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board, in accordance with Section 4(a) of the Plan.


(j)    “Company” means Juniper Networks, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.


(k)    “Company Group” means the Company, any Parent or Subsidiary, and any entity that, from time to time and at the time of any determination, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company.


(l)    “Consultant” means any natural person engaged by the Company Group to render services and who is compensated for such services, but who is neither an Employee nor a Director; provided, that a Consultant will include only those persons to whom the issuance of Common Stock may be registered under Form S-8 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


(m)    “Continuous Status as a Director” means that the Director relationship is not interrupted or terminated.


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(n)    “Deferred Stock Unit” means a deferred stock unit Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 15.


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


(p)    “Disability” means total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, provided that in the case of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the Administrator in its discretion may determine whether a permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Administrator from time to time.  
(q)    “Dividend Equivalent” means a credit, payable in cash or Shares, made at the discretion of the Administrator, to the account of a Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one Share for each Share represented by an Award held by such Participant. Any Dividend Equivalents credited with respect to a Share or unit subject to an Award shall be distributed in cash or Shares to the Participant only if, when and to the extent such Share or unit vests. The value of dividends and other distributions payable with respect to any Share or unit subject to an Award that does not vest shall be forfeited.


(r)    “Effective Date” means May 19, 2015, the date the stockholders of the Company initially approved the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan.  


(s)    “Employee” means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any member of the Company Group.  However, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, an Employee must be employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.  Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.  
(t)    “Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.


(u)    “Fair Market Value” means the closing sales price of Common Stock on the date of determination (or the mean of the closing bid and asked prices for the Common Stock if no sales were reported) as reported by the New York Stock Exchange or such other source as the Administrator deems to be reliable.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the determination date for the Fair Market Value occurs on a weekend, holiday or other non-Trading Day, the Fair Market 


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Value will be the price as determined above on the immediately preceding Trading Day, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator. In addition, for purposes of determining the fair market value of Shares for any reason other than the determination of the exercise price of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, fair market value will be determined by the Administrator in a manner compliant with Applicable Laws and applied consistently for such purpose. The determination of fair market value for purposes of tax withholding may be made in the Administrator’s sole discretion subject to Applicable Laws and is not required to be consistent with the determination of Fair Market Value for other purposes.
(v)    “Fiscal Year” means a fiscal year of the Company. 


(w)    “Full Value Award” means a grant of Restricted Stock, a Restricted Stock Unit, a Performance Share or a Deferred Stock Unit hereunder.


(x)    “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.


(y)    “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.


(z)    “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.


(aa)    “Option” means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan. 


(bb)    “Optioned Stock” means the Common Stock subject to an Option. 


(cc)    “Outside Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.


(dd)    “Parent” means a “parent corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.


(ee)    “Participant” means the holder of an outstanding Award.




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(ff)    “Performance Goals” means the goal(s) (or combined goal(s)) determined by the Administrator (in its discretion) to be applicable to a Participant with respect to an Award. As determined by the Administrator, the performance measures for any performance period will be any one or more of the following objective performance criteria, applied to either the Company as a whole or, except with respect to stockholder return metrics, to a region, business unit, affiliate or business segment, and measured either on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to a previous period’s results or to a designated comparison group, and, with respect to financial metrics, which may be determined in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), in accordance with accounting principles established by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB Principles”) or which may be adjusted when established to exclude any items otherwise includable under GAAP or under IASB Principles: (i) cash flow (including operating cash flow or free cash flow), (ii) cash position, (iii) revenue (on an absolute basis or adjusted for currency effects), (iv) revenue growth, (v) contribution margin, (vi) gross margin, (vii) operating margin (viii) operating expenses or operating expenses as a percentage of revenue, (ix) earnings (which may include earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before taxes and net earnings), (x) earnings per share, (xi) operating income, (xii) net income, (xiii) stock price, (xiv) return on equity, (xv) total stockholder return, (xvi) growth in stockholder value relative to a specified publicly reported index (such as the S&P 500 Index), (xvii) return on capital, (xviii) return on assets or net assets, (xix) return on investment, (xx) economic value added, (xxi) operating profit or net operating profit, (xxii) operating margin, (xxiii) market share, (xxiv) contract awards or backlog, (xxv) overhead or other expense reduction, (xxvi) credit rating, (xxvii) objective customer indicators, (xxviii) new product invention or innovation, (xxix) attainment of research and development milestones, (xxx) improvements in productivity, (xxxi) attainment of objective operating goals, and (xxxii) objective employee metrics.  The Performance Goals may differ from Participant to Participant and from Award to Award.  In particular, the Administrator may appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under a Performance Goal to exclude (a) any extraordinary non-recurring items, (b) the effect of any merger, acquisition, or other business combination or divestiture or (c) the effect of any changes in accounting principles affecting the Company’s or a business units’, region’s, affiliate’s or business segment’s reported results. Awards that are not intended to satisfy the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) of the Code may take into account other factors (including subjective factors).


(gg)     “Performance Share” means a performance share Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 13.


(hh)    “Performance Unit” means a performance unit Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 14.




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(ii)    “Plan” means this 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated. 


(jj)    “Plan Minimum Vesting Requirements” means the minimum vesting requirements for Awards under Plan Section 4(b)(vi) hereunder.


(kk)    “Restricted Stock” means a restricted stock Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 11.


(ll)     “Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share, granted pursuant to Section 12. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, and each holder of a Restricted Stock Unit shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company.


(mm)     “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan.


(nn)    “Section 16(b)” means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.


(oo)    “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code.


(pp)    “Service Provider” means an Employee, Consultant or Director. 


(qq)    “Share” means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 20 of the Plan.


(rr)     “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a stock appreciation right granted pursuant to Section 8 below.


(ss)    “Subsidiary” means with respect to the Company, (i) any corporation of which more than 50% of the outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, stock of any other class or classes of such corporation will have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by the 


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Company, and (ii) any partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or capital contribution) of more than 50%.


(tt)    “Tax Obligations” means tax and social insurance liability obligations and requirements in connection with the Awards, including, without limitation, (A) all federal, state, and local taxes (including the Participant’s Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) obligation or other payroll taxes) that are required to be withheld by an entity in the Company Group, (B) any fringe benefit tax liability the responsibility for which the Participant has, or has agreed to bear, with respect to such Award or the Shares subject to the Award, and (C) any other taxes of an entity in the Company Group the responsibility for which the Participant has, or has agreed to bear, with respect to such Award or the Shares subject to the Award).


(uu)    “Trading Day” means a day on which the applicable stock exchange or national market system is open for trading.


3.    Stock Subject to the Plan.  


(a)    Stock Subject to the Plan.  Subject to the provisions of Section 20 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under this Plan is equal to the sum of (i) 26,700,000 Shares, (ii) 38,000,000 Shares that, as of the Effective Date, had been reserved but not issued under the Company’s 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2006 Plan”), and (iii) Shares subject to stock options or other awards granted under the 2006 Plan or the Company’s 1996 Stock Incentive Plan  that, after the Effective Date, expire or otherwise terminate without having been vested or exercised in full, up to a maximum of 29,000,000 Shares.  All of the Shares issuable under the Plan may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.
(b)    Share Conversion Ratio.  Any Shares that are subject to Full Value Awards, Options, or SARs shall be counted against the numerical limits of this Section 3 as one Share for every Share subject thereto, provided that any Shares subject to Full Value Awards granted prior to May 14, 2019 with a per Share or unit purchase price lower than 100% of Fair Market Value on the date of grant shall be counted against the numerical limits of this Section 3 as two and one-tenth Shares for every one Share subject thereto. To the extent that a Share that was subject to an Award that counted as two and one-tenth Shares against the Plan reserve is recycled back into the Plan under the next paragraph of this Section 3, the Plan shall be credited with two and one-tenth Shares.


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(c)    Lapsed Awards.  If an Award expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full, or, with respect to a Full Value Award, is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company at its original purchase price due to such Award failing to vest, the unpurchased Shares (or for Awards other than Options and SARs, the forfeited or repurchased Shares) which were subject thereto shall become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). With respect to SARs, when an SAR is exercised, the Shares subject to a SAR Award Agreement shall be counted against the numerical limits of Section 3 above, as one Share for every Share subject thereto, regardless of the number of Shares used to settle the SAR upon exercise (i.e., Shares withheld to satisfy the exercise price of an SAR shall not remain available for issuance under the Plan). Shares that have actually been issued under the Plan under any Award shall not be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future distribution under the Plan; provided, however, that if Shares of Full Value Awards are repurchased by the Company at their original purchase price or are forfeited to the Company due to such Awards failing to vest, such Shares shall become available for future grant under the Plan. Shares that are subject to an Option Award Agreement that are used to pay the exercise price of an Option shall not become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. Shares that are subject to an Award Agreement that are used to satisfy Tax Obligations shall not become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. To the extent an Award under the Plan is paid out in cash rather than stock, such cash payment shall not reduce the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Any payout of Awards that are payable only in cash shall not reduce the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Conversely, any forfeiture of Awards that are payable only in cash shall not increase the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing and, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 20, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will equal the aggregate Share number stated in Section 3(a), plus, to the extent allowable under Section 422 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, any Shares that become available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 3(c).


4.    Administration of the Plan. 


(a)    Procedure. 


(i)    Multiple Administrative Bodies.  If permitted by Applicable Laws, the Plan may be administered by different Committees with respect to different groups of Service Providers.


(ii)    Section 162(m).  To the extent that the Administrator determines it to be desirable to qualify Awards granted hereunder as “performance-based compensation” within 


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the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, if applicable, the Plan shall be administered by a Committee consisting solely of two or more “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.


(iii)     Rule 16b-3.  To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3, the Plan will be administered by a Committee constituted to comply with Rule 16b-3. 
(iv)    Administration With Respect to Other Persons.  Other than as provided above, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board, (B) a committee designated by the Board, or (C) a sub-committee designated by the designated Committee, which Committee or sub-committee shall be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws. Once appointed, such Committee shall serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board. The Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional members, remove members and substitute new members, fill vacancies, and remove all members of the Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.


(v)    Administration With Respect to Automatic Grants to Outside Directors.  Automatic grants to Outside Directors shall be pursuant to Section 10 hereof and therefore shall not be subject to any discretionary administration.


(b)    Powers of the Administrator.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan (including the non-discretionary automatic grant to Outside Director provisions of Section 10), and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:


(i)    to determine the Fair Market Value in accordance with Section 2(u) of the Plan;


(ii)    to select the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted hereunder; 


(iii)    to determine whether and to what extent Awards are granted hereunder; 




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(iv)    to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;


(v)    to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan, which, for the avoidance of doubt, need not be identical for each Participant or Award; 


(vi)    to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder. Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when Awards vest or may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions (subject to compliance with applicable laws, including Code Section 409A), and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine; provided, however, that, subject to Section 4(d), Awards may not vest earlier than the one (1) year anniversary of the grant date (except if accelerated (A) pursuant to Section 20 hereof or pursuant to change of control severance agreements entered into by and between the Company and any Service Provider, (B) due to a Participant’s death, or (C) due to a Participant’s Disability);


(vii)    to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan, Awards granted pursuant to the Plan and any other agreement defining the rights and obligations of the Company and the Participants under the Plan;


(viii)    to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan;


(ix)    to modify or amend each Award (subject to Section 6(c) and Section 24(c) of the Plan);


(x)    to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;


(xi)    to determine the terms and restrictions applicable to Awards; 


(xii)    to determine whether Awards will be adjusted for Dividend Equivalents; 


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(xiii)    to adopt such modifications, procedures, plans and sub-plans as may be necessary, desirable or appropriate to comply with provisions of the laws of the United States or any other country, to allow for tax-preferred treatment of Awards or otherwise provide for or facilitate the participation by Participants who reside outside of the United States, in order to assure the viability of the benefits of Awards made to Participants located in the United States or such other jurisdictions and to further the objectives of the Plan; and


(xiv)    to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan.


(c)    Effect of Administrator’s Decision.  All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Administrator shall be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of any Awards granted under the Plan.


(d)    Exception to Plan Minimum Vesting Requirements. 


(i)    Awards that result in issuing up to 5% of the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan (the “5% Limit”) may be granted to any one or more Service Providers without respect to the Plan Minimum Vesting Requirements.


(ii)    All Awards that have their vesting accelerated (A) pursuant to a Change in Control transaction described in Section 20(c) hereof (including vesting acceleration in connection with employment termination following such event), (B) due to a Participant’s death, or (C) due to a Participant’s Disability, shall not count against the 5% limit.


(iii)    For the avoidance of doubt, if the Administrator accelerates the vesting of an Award but such acceleration does not result in the Plan Minimum Vesting Requirements not being satisfied for that Award, this acceleration will not count toward the 5% Limit.


5.    Eligibility.  Nonstatutory Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Deferred Stock Units and Dividend Equivalents may be granted to Service Providers.  Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Outside Directors may only be granted Awards as specified in Section 10 hereof.


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6.    Limitations. 


(a)    Award Limitations.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 20, during any Fiscal Year, no Employee may be granted:
(i)    Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to purchase more than 2,000,000 Shares; provided, however, that such limit shall be 4,000,000 Shares in the Employee’s first Fiscal Year of Company service.


(ii)    Restricted Stock and/or Performance Shares and/or Restricted Stock Units covering more than 1,000,000 Shares; provided, however, that such limit shall be 2,000,000 Shares in the Employee’s first Fiscal Year of Company service.


(iii)    Performance Units, having an initial value greater than $2,000,000, provided, however, that such limit shall be $4,000,000 in the Employee’s first Fiscal Year of Company service.


(b)    Outside Director Award Limitations.  In any single Fiscal Year, no Outside Director may be granted one or more Awards (whether cash-settled or otherwise) with a grant date fair value (determined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles), taken together with any cash fees paid to such Outside Director for service in such capacity during such Fiscal Year, of more than $1,000,000.  For the avoidance of doubt, neither Awards granted or compensation paid to an individual while he or she is an Employee, or while he or she was a Consultant but not an Outside Director, nor any amounts paid to an individual as a reimbursement of an expense shall count against the foregoing limitation.


(c)    No Repricing.  Without the consent of the Company’s stockholders, (i) the exercise price for an Option or SAR may not be reduced and (ii) the Company may not pay cash or issue new Awards in exchange for the surrender and cancellation of any, or all, Options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the current Fair Market Value. This shall include, without limitation, a repricing of the Option or SAR as well as an Option or SAR exchange program whereby the Participant agrees to cancel an existing Option or SAR in exchange for an Option, SAR or other Award. If an Option or SAR is cancelled in the same Fiscal Year in which it was granted (other than in connection with a transaction described in Section 20), the cancelled Option or SAR as well as any replacement Option or SAR will be counted against the limits set forth in 


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section 6(a)(i) above. Moreover, if the exercise price of an Option or SAR is reduced, the transaction will be treated as a cancellation of the Option or SAR and the grant of a new Option or SAR.


7.    Stock Options. 


(a)    Type of Option.  Each Option shall be designated in the Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designations, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares subject to a Participant’s Incentive Stock Options granted by the Company, any Parent or Subsidiary, that become exercisable for the first time during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such excess Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 7(a), Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the time of grant.


(b)    Term of Option.  The term of each Option shall be stated in the Award Agreement; provided, however, that the term shall be seven (7) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement. Moreover, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.


(c)    Exercise Price and Consideration. 


(i)    The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the Administrator, but shall be subject to the following:


(1)    In the case of an Incentive Stock Option 


a)    granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.


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b)    granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in paragraph (a) immediately above, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.


(2)    In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.


(3)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options may be granted with a per Share exercise price of less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Section 424(a) of the Code.


(ii)     The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option, including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator and may consist entirely of cash; check; delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with such other documentation as the Committee and the broker, if applicable, shall require to effect an exercise of the option and delivery to the Company of the sale proceeds required; or any combination of such methods of payment, or such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted under Applicable Laws.
(iii)    Expiration of Options.  An Option granted under the Plan will expire upon the date determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement.  


8.    Stock Appreciation Rights.  


(a)    Grant of SARs.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, SARs may be granted to Participants at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.  Subject to Section 6(a) hereof, the Administrator shall have complete discretion to determine the number of SARs granted to any Participant.


(b)    Exercise Price and other Terms.  The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of a SAR shall be determined by the Administrator and shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, SARs may be granted with a per Share exercise price of less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to a transaction described 


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in, and in a manner consistent with, Section 424(a) of the Code. Otherwise, the Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, shall have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of SARs granted under the Plan; provided, however, that no SAR may have a term of more than seven (7) years from the date of grant.


(c)    Payment of SAR Amount.  Upon exercise of a SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:


(i)    The difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price; times
(ii)    The number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. 
(d)    Payment upon Exercise of SAR.  At the discretion of the Administrator, but only as specified in the Award Agreement, payment for a SAR may be in cash, Shares or a combination thereof.  If the Award Agreement is silent as to the form of payment, payment of the SAR may only be in Shares.


(e)    SAR Agreement.  Each SAR grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the exercise price, the term of the SAR, the conditions of exercise, whether it may be settled in cash, Shares or a combination thereof, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine.


(f)    Expiration of SARs.  A SAR granted under the Plan shall expire upon the date determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement.


9.    Exercise of Option or SAR. Any Option or SAR granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator, including performance criteria with respect to the Company and/or the Participant, and as shall be permissible under the terms of the Plan.  An Option or SAR shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Option or SAR by the person entitled to exercise the Option or SAR and, with respect to Options only, full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been received by the Company. With respect to Options only, full payment may, as authorized by the Administrator, consist of any consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 7(c) of the Plan. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company or as evidenced by the issuance of a stock certificate) of the Shares, no right 


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to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder of the Company shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the issuance of the Shares, except as provided in Section 20 of the Plan.


10.    Automatic Grants to Outside Directors. 


(a)    Procedure for Grants.  All grants of Awards to Outside Directors under this Plan shall be automatic and non-discretionary and shall be made strictly in accordance with the provisions in this Section 10:


(i)    No person shall have any discretion to select which Outside Directors shall be granted Awards or to determine the number of Shares to be covered by Awards granted to Outside Directors.


(ii)    At each of the Company’s annual stockholder meetings beginning with the 2019 annual stockholder meeting, each Outside Director who is elected at (or whose term continues after) such meeting shall be automatically granted Restricted Stock Units for a number of Shares equal to the Annual Value (rounded down to the nearest whole share). Each award specified in this subsection (ii) is generically referred to as an “Annual Award”. The “Annual Value” means, beginning with the 2019 annual stockholder meeting, the number equal to $245,000 divided by the average daily closing price over the six month period ending on the last day of the fiscal year preceding the date of grant.


(iii)    Each person who first becomes an Outside Director (including a Director who has transitioned from an employee Director to an Outside Director) on a date other than the date of the Company’s annual stockholder meeting shall automatically be granted on the date such person becomes an Outside Director Restricted Stock Units (each such award specified in this subsection (iii) is referred to as an “Initial Award”) for a number of Shares equal to a number determined by multiplying the Annual Value used for calculating the Annual Awards granted at the annual stockholder meeting immediately preceding the date of such Initial Award (the “Last Annual Meeting Date”) by a fraction, the numerator of which is 365 minus the number of days between the Last Annual Meeting Date and the date the person first became or becomes an Outside Director and the denominator of which is 365, rounded down to the nearest whole Share. 




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(iv)    Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (ii) or (iii) hereof, in the event that an automatic grant hereunder would cause the number of Shares subject to outstanding Awards plus the number of Shares previously purchased upon exercise of Options or issued upon vesting of Restricted Stock Units or other Full Value Awards to exceed the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan, then each such automatic grant shall be for that number of Shares determined by dividing the total number of Shares remaining available for grant by the number of Outside Directors receiving Awards on the applicable automatic grant date. Any further grants shall then be deferred until such time, if any, as additional Shares become available for grant under the Plan.


(v)    Each Annual Award and Initial Award shall become 100% vested on the earlier of (A) the one year anniversary of the grant date, and (B) the day prior to the date of the Company’s next annual stockholder meeting, subject in either case to the Participant maintaining Continuous Status as a Director through the vesting date.


(b)    Reservation of Rights.  The Board reserves the right to amend this Section 10, including to increase the limit on Annual Awards or Initial Awards or to provide for additional Awards to Outside Directors.


11.    Restricted Stock. 


(a)    Grant of Restricted Stock.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Employees and Consultants as shall be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. Subject to Section 6(a) hereof as well as the Plan Minimum Vesting Requirements, the Administrator shall have complete discretion to determine (i) the number of Shares subject to a Restricted Stock award granted to any Participant, and (ii) the conditions that must be satisfied, which typically will be based principally or solely on continued provision of services but may include a performance-based component.


(b)    Restricted Stock Award Agreement.  Each Restricted Stock grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the purchase price (if any), any vesting conditions, the number of Shares granted and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine.  Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, the Company as escrow agent will hold Shares of Restricted Stock until the restrictions on such Shares, if any, have lapsed.


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(c)    Transferability.  Except as provided in this Section 11, Section 18, or the Award Agreement, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable vesting period (if any).


(d)    Other Restrictions.  The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable or appropriate.
(e)    Removal of Restrictions.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 11, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan will be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the last day of the vesting period or at such other time as the Administrator may determine.  Subject to the Plan Minimum Vesting Requirements, the Administrator, in its discretion, may reduce or waive any vesting criteria and may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.  The Administrator, in its discretion, may establish procedures regarding the release of Shares from escrow and/or removal of legends, as necessary or appropriate to minimize administrative burdens on the Company.
(f)    Legend on Certificates.  The Administrator, in its discretion, may require that one or more legends be place on the certificates representing Restricted Stock to give appropriate notice of the applicable restrictions.
(g)    Voting Rights.  During the vesting period, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise.
(h)    Dividends and Other Distributions.  During the vesting period, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock will be credited with all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares, but such dividends and other distributions shall be distributed to the Participant only if, when and to the extent the Shares of Restricted Stock vest. The value of dividends and other distributions payable with respect to any Shares of Restricted Stock that do not vest shall be forfeited.
(i)    Return of Restricted Stock to Company.  On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will revert to the Company.


12.    Restricted Stock Units. 


(a)    Grant.  Restricted Stock Units may be granted at any time and from time to time as determined by the Administrator. After the Administrator determines that it will grant 


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Restricted Stock Units under the Plan, it shall advise the Participant in writing or electronically of the terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the grant, including the number of Restricted Stock Units and the form of payout, which, subject to Section 6(a) hereof, may be left to the discretion of the Administrator.  Until the Shares are issued, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Restricted Stock Units to acquire Shares.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator, in its discretion, may provide in an Award Agreement evidencing any Restricted Stock Unit Award that a Participant shall be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalents (subject to the provisions of Section 2(f) with respect to Restricted Stock Units).


(b)    Vesting Criteria and Other Terms.  Subject to the Plan Minimum Vesting Requirements, the Administrator shall set vesting criteria in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the number of Restricted Stock Units that will be paid out to the Participant. The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment), or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.


(c)    Earning Restricted Stock Units.  Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant shall be entitled to receive a payout as specified in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any vesting criteria that must be met to receive a payout.


(d)    Form and Timing of Payment.  Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units shall be made as soon as practicable after the date(s) set forth in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, but only as specified in the Award Agreement, may pay earned Restricted Stock Units in cash, Shares, or a combination thereof. If the Award Agreement is silent as to the form of payment, payment of the Restricted Stock Units may only be in Shares.


(e)    Cancellation.  On the date set forth in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, all unearned Restricted Stock Units shall be forfeited to the Company.


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13.    Performance Shares. 


(a)    Grant of Performance Shares.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Performance Shares may be granted to Participants at any time as shall be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. Subject to Section 6(a) hereof as well as the Plan Minimum Vesting Requirements, the Administrator shall have complete discretion to determine (i) the number of Shares subject to a Performance Share award granted to any Participant, and (ii) the conditions that must be satisfied, which typically will be based principally or solely on achievement of performance milestones but may include a service-based component, upon which is conditioned the grant or vesting of Performance Shares. Performance Shares shall be granted in the form of units to acquire Shares. Each such unit shall be the equivalent of one Share for purposes of determining the number of Shares subject to an Award. Until the Shares are issued, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the units to acquire Shares.
(b)    Other Terms.  The Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, shall have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Performance Shares granted under the Plan. Performance Share grants shall be subject to the terms, conditions, and restrictions determined by the Administrator at the time the stock is awarded, which may include such performance-based milestones as are determined appropriate by the Administrator. The Administrator may require the recipient to sign a Performance Shares Award Agreement as a condition of the award. Any certificates representing the Shares of stock awarded shall bear such legends as shall be determined by the Administrator.


(c)    Performance Share Award Agreement.  Each Performance Share grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine.


14.    Performance Units. 


(a)    Grant of Performance Units.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Performance Units may be granted to Participants at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. The Administrator shall have complete discretion to determine the conditions that must be satisfied, which typically will be based principally or solely on achievement of performance milestones but may include a service-based component, upon which is conditioned the grant or vesting of Performance Units. Performance Units shall be 


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granted in the form of units to acquire Shares.  Each Performance Unit shall equal the cash equivalent of one Share of Common Stock and shall be settled in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares, determined as of the vesting date. No right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to Performance Units or the cash payable thereunder.


(b)    Number of Performance Units.  Subject to Section 6(a) hereof, the Administrator will have complete discretion in determining the number of Performance Units granted to any Participant.


(c)    Other Terms.  The Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, shall have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Performance Units granted under the Plan. Performance Unit grants shall be subject to the terms, conditions, and restrictions determined by the Administrator at the time the grant is awarded, which may include such performance-based milestones as are determined appropriate by the Administrator. The Administrator may require the recipient to sign a Performance Unit agreement as a condition of the award. Any certificates representing the units awarded shall bear such legends as shall be determined by the Administrator.


(d)    Performance Unit Award Agreement.  Each Performance Unit grant shall be evidenced by an agreement that shall specify such terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine.


15.    Deferred Stock Units. 


(a)    Description.  Deferred Stock Units shall consist of a Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share or Performance Unit Award that the Administrator, in its sole discretion permits to be paid out in installments or on a deferred basis, in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Administrator, subject to the Plan Minimum Vesting Requirements.  Each Deferred Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Deferred Stock Unit Award Agreement, and each holder of a Deferred Stock Unit shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company.




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(b)    Limits.  Deferred Stock Units shall be subject to the annual limits applicable to the underlying Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share or Performance Unit Award as set forth in Section 6 hereof.
16.    Leaves of Absence/Transfer Between Locations/Change of Status.  Awards will be subject to the Company’s leave of absence policy adopted by the Administrator.  A Participant will not cease to be a Service Provider in the case of (i) transfers between locations of the Company or other members of the Company Group, or (ii) a change in status from Employee to Consultant or vice versa.  


17.    Part-Time Service.  Unless otherwise required by Applicable Laws, if as a condition to being permitted to work on a less than full-time basis, the Participant agrees that any service-based vesting of Awards granted hereunder shall be extended on a proportionate basis in connection with such transition to a less than a full-time basis, vesting shall be adjusted in accordance with such agreement.  Such vesting shall be proportionately re-adjusted prospectively in the event that the Employee subsequently becomes regularly scheduled to work additional hours of service.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall vesting be extended beyond a point in time that would result in the imposition of taxation under Code Section 409A.


18.    Non-Transferability of Awards.  Except as determined otherwise by the Administrator in its sole discretion, Awards may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant (or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative).  
19.    Tax Provisions.
(a)    Withholding Requirements.  Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award (or exercise thereof) or such earlier time as any Tax Obligations are due, the Company and/or any entity in the Company Group will have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company and/or the appropriate entity in the Company Group, an amount sufficient to satisfy all Tax Obligations.
(b)    Withholding Arrangements.  The Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may designate the method or methods by which a Participant may satisfy such Tax Obligations.  As determined by the Administrator in its discretion from time to time, these methods may include one or more of the following (A) paying cash, (B) having the Company withhold otherwise deliverable cash or Shares having a fair market value equal to the Tax Obligations, (C) delivering to the Company already-


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owned Shares having a fair market value equal to the Tax Obligations, (d) selling a sufficient number of Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant through such means as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the Tax Obligations, (e) retaining from salary or other amounts payable to the Participant cash having a sufficient value to satisfy the Tax Obligations, or (f) any other means which the Administrator, in its sole discretion, determines to both comply with Applicable Laws, and to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan.  The amount of Tax Obligations will be deemed to include any amount that the Administrator agrees may be withheld at the time the election is made.  
(c)    Compliance with Section 409A.  Each payment or benefit under this Plan and under each Award Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations.  The Plan, each Award and each Award Agreement under the Plan is intended to be exempt from or otherwise meet the requirements of Section 409A and will be construed and interpreted, including but not limited with respect to ambiguities and/or ambiguous terms, in accordance with such intent, except as otherwise specifically determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator.  
20.    Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation; Merger or Change in Control.


(a)    Changes in Capitalization.  Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Award, and the number of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Award, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered by each such outstanding Award, the annual share limitations under Sections 6(a) and (b) hereof, and the number of Shares subject to Annual Award grants to Outside Directors under Section 10 hereof shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Award.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or pursuant to an Award Agreement, no adjustment of any Award shall be made for cash dividends or other rights for which the record date occurs prior to the date issuance of any Shares subject to such Award.


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(b)    Dissolution or Liquidation.  In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator shall notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. The Administrator in its discretion may provide for a Participant to have the right to exercise his or her Option or SAR for a period prior to such transaction determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion as to all of the Shares covered by such Awards, including Shares as to which the Award would not otherwise be exercisable. In addition, the Administrator may provide that any Company repurchase option or forfeiture rights applicable to any Award shall lapse 100%, and that any Award vesting shall accelerate 100%, provided the proposed dissolution or liquidation takes place at the time and in the manner contemplated. To the extent it has not been previously exercised (with respect to Options and SARs) or vested (with respect to other Awards), an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.


(c)    Change in Control.


(i)    Stock Options and SARs.  In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another corporation or other entity or a Change in Control, each outstanding Option and SAR shall be assumed or an equivalent Option or SAR substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Option or SAR, the Participant shall fully vest in and have the right to exercise the Option or SAR as to all of the Shares covered by such Award (or shall vest at such other level(s) provided in an Award Agreement with respect to Awards that are assumed or substituted (whether or not actually assumed or substituted)), including Shares as to which it would not otherwise be vested or exercisable.  If an Option or SAR becomes fully vested and exercisable in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a merger or Change in Control, the Administrator shall notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option or SAR shall be fully vested and exercisable for a period of time of time determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, and the Option or SAR shall terminate upon the expiration of such period. 


(ii)    Full Value Awards and Dividend Equivalents.  In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another corporation or entity or a Change in Control, each outstanding Full Value Award and Dividend Equivalent shall be assumed or an equivalent Full Value Award or Dividend Equivalent substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Full Value Awards or Dividend Equivalents, the Participant shall fully vest (or shall vest at such other level(s) as provided in an Award Agreement with respect to Awards that are assumed or substituted (whether or not actually assumed or substituted)) in such Full Value Awards 


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or Dividend Equivalents which would not otherwise be vested.  For purposes of this paragraph, except as otherwise contemplated in an Award Agreement, a Full Value Award and Dividend Equivalent shall be considered assumed if, following the merger or Change in Control, the award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share (or with respect to Dividend Equivalents and Performance Units, the cash equivalent thereof) subject to the Award immediately prior to the transaction, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the transaction  by holders of the Company’s common stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the merger or Change in Control is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received, for each Share and each unit/right to acquire a Share subject to the Award (other than Dividend Equivalents and Performance Units) to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of the Company’s common stock in the merger or Change in Control.


21.    No Effect on Employment or Service.  Neither the Plan nor any Award will confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continuing the Participant’s relationship as a Service Provider, nor will they interfere in any way with the Participant’s right or the employing entity’s right to terminate such relationship at any time, with or without cause.  A Participant’s rights, if any, in respect of or in connection with any Award are derived solely from the discretionary decision of the Company to permit the Participate to participate in the Plan and to benefit from a discretionary Award. By accepting an Award hereunder, a Participant expressly acknowledges and agrees that there is no obligation on the part of the Company to continue the Plan and/or grant any additional Awards. Any Award granted hereunder is not intended to be compensation of a continuing or recurring nature, or part of a Participant’s normal or expected compensation, and in no way represents any portion of a Participant’s salary, compensation, or other remuneration for purposes of pension, benefits, severance, redundancy, resignation or any other purpose.
22.    Time of Granting Awards.  The date of grant of an Award shall, for all purposes, be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award (or such later grant effective date authorized by the Administrator). Notice of the determination shall be given to each Service Provider to whom an Award is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.


23.    Term of Plan.  Unless sooner terminated under Section 24, the Plan will continue in effect until March 26, 2025.


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24.    Amendment and Termination of the Plan. 


(a)    Amendment and Termination.  The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.
(b)    Stockholder Approval.  The Plan will be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company at the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders.  In addition, any subsequent amendment to the Plan for which stockholder approval is required by Applicable Laws shall require stockholder approval. Such stockholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.
(c)     Effect of Amendment or Termination.  No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan shall impair the rights of any Participant, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company.


25.    Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.
(a)    Legal Compliance.  The granting of Awards and the issuance and delivery of Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all Applicable Laws, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.  Subject to compliance with, or exception from Code Section 409A, Shares will not be issued pursuant to the exercise or vesting of an Award unless the exercise or vesting of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares will comply with Applicable Laws, and may be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
(b)    Investment Representations.  As a condition to the exercise or payout, as applicable, of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Option or SAR, or in the case of another Award (other than a Dividend Equivalent paid in cash or Performance Unit), the person receiving the Shares upon vesting, to render to the Company a written statement containing such representations and warranties as, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, may be required to ensure compliance with any of the aforementioned relevant provisions of law, including a representation that the Shares are being acquired only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares, if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.


26.    Reservation of Shares.  The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements 


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of the Plan. Inability of the Company to obtain 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.


27.    Miscellaneous. 


(a)    Severability.  If a court of competent jurisdiction holds any provision invalid and unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the Plan shall continue in effect.
(b)    Construction.  Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan.  Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular.  Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.


(c)    Clawback.  An Award granted under the Plan will be subject to any provisions of Applicable Laws providing for the recoupment or clawback of incentive compensation (or any Company policy adopted to comply with Applicable Laws); the terms of any Company recoupment, clawback or similar policy in effect; and any recoupment, clawback or similar provisions that may be included in the applicable Award Agreement.


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


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