Exhibit 4.3

 

SM ENERGY COMPANY

EQUITY INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

As Amended as of May 24, 2016

 

ARTICLE 1.
 ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND DURATION

 

1.1          Establishment.  SM Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), has established an equity incentive compensation plan formerly known as the 2006 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), originally adopted effective May 17, 2006. On March 26, 2009, the Plan was renamed as the Equity Incentive Compensation Plan. The Plan permits the grant of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Shares, Performance Units and Stock Based Awards. The Plan as amended and restated herein will become effective upon its approval by the Company’s stockholders on May 24, 2016 (the “Effective Date”) and shall remain in effect as provided in Section 1.3 hereof.

 

1.2          Purpose.  The purpose of the Plan is to promote the success and enhance the value of the Company by linking the personal interests of the Participants to those of the Company’s stockholders, and by providing Participants with an incentive for outstanding performance. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to attract, motivate, and retain the services of Participants upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the success of the Company is substantially dependent.

 

1.3          Duration.  The Plan commenced as of May 17, 2006, as set forth in Section 1.1 hereof, and shall remain in effect, subject to the right of the Committee or the Board to amend or terminate the Plan at any time pursuant to Article XIV hereof, until the earlier of (i) the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, or (ii) when all Shares subject to the Plan have been purchased or acquired according to the Plan’s provisions. Any previously granted Awards under this Plan which remain outstanding as of the date of expiration or other termination of the Plan shall not be affected by such expiration or other termination and shall continue in effect in accordance with their respective terms.

 

1.4          Successor Plan.  This Plan shall serve as the successor to the St. Mary Land & Exploration Company Stock Option Plan, the St. Mary Land & Exploration Company Incentive Stock Option Plan, the St. Mary Land & Exploration Company Restricted Stock Plan, and the St. Mary Land & Exploration Company Non-Employee Director Stock Compensation Plan (collectively, the “Predecessor Plans”), and no further grants or awards shall be made under the Predecessor Plans from and after May 17, 2006. Each outstanding grant or award under a Predecessor Plan immediately prior to May 17, 2006 shall continue to be governed solely by the terms and conditions of the applicable Predecessor Plan and the instruments evidencing such grant or award, and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein or by the Committee, no provision of this Plan shall affect or otherwise modify the rights or obligations of holders of such outstanding grants or awards under the Predecessor Plans. Any Shares reserved for issuance under the Predecessor Plans in excess of the number of Shares as to which grants or awards have

 

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been made thereunder shall be transferred into this Plan as of May 17, 2006 and shall become available for Awards under this Plan. Any Shares related to grants or awards made under the Predecessor Plans that after May 17, 2006 may lapse, expire, terminate, or are cancelled, are settled in cash in lieu of common stock, are tendered (either by actual delivery or attestation) to pay the option price, or are used to satisfy any tax withholding requirements shall be deemed to be available for issuance or reissuance under Section 4.1 of this Plan.

 

ARTICLE 2.
 DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

 

2.1          Definitions.  Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, and when such meaning is intended the term shall be capitalized.

 

(a)           “Affiliate” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, with reference to the Company, and shall also include any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity in which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, at least 50 percent of the total combined voting power of such corporation or of the capital interest or profits interest of such partnership or other entity.

 

(b)           “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant or award under this Plan of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, NQSOs, ISOs, SARs, Performance Shares, Performance Units or Stock Based Awards, in each case subject to the terms of this Plan.

 

(c)           “Award Agreement” means either (i) a written agreement entered into by the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to Awards granted under this Plan; or (ii) a written statement issued by the Company to a Participant describing the terms and provisions of such Award. All Award Agreements shall be deemed to incorporate the provisions of the Plan. An Award Agreement need not be identical to other Award Agreements either in form or substance.  An Award Agreement may be transmitted electronically to the Participant in the discretion of the Company.

 

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

 

(e)           “Change of Control” shall mean any of the following events:

 

(i)            (A)          The acquisition by any individual or entity (a “Person”) or Persons acting as a group of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than 50 percent of either (1) the then value of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, or (2) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

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(B)          For purposes of paragraph (A), Persons will not be considered to be acting as a group solely because they purchase or own stock of the same corporation at the same time, or as a result of the same public offering. However, 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. If a Person, including an entity, owns stock in both corporations that enter into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar transaction, such shareholder is considered to be acting as a group with other shareholders in a corporation prior to the transaction giving rise to the change and not with respect to the ownership interest in the other corporation. For purposes of determining stock ownership, see (e)(iv) below.

 

(ii)           A majority of members of the Board is replaced during any 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)          Any one Person, or more than one Person acting as a group (as determined in (e)(iii)(C) below), acquires (or has acquired during the 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 50 percent of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, 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.

 

(B)          A transfer of assets by the Company is not treated as a change in the ownership of such assets if the assets are transferred to—

 

(1)           A stockholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to its stock;

 

(2)           An entity, 50 percent or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company;

 

(3)           A Person, or more than one Person acting as a group, that owns, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company; or

 

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(4)           An entity, at least 50 percent of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a Person described in (e)(iii)(B)(3). For purposes of this paragraph (e)(iii)(B) and except as otherwise provided, a Person’s status is determined immediately after the transfer of the assets. For example, a transfer to a corporation in which the Company has no ownership interest before the transaction, but which is a majority owned subsidiary of the Company after the transaction, is not treated as a change in the ownership of the assets of the Company.

 

(C)          Persons will not be considered to be acting as a group for purposes of this paragraph (e)(iii) solely because they purchase assets of the Company at the same time. However, 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 assets, or similar business transaction with the Company. If a Person, including an entity shareholder, owns stock in both corporations that enter into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock or similar transaction, such shareholder is considered to be acting as a group with other shareholders in a corporation only to the extent of the ownership in that corporation prior to the transaction giving rise to the change and not with respect to the ownership interest in the other corporation.

 

(D)          For purposes of determining stock ownership, see (e)(iv) below.

 

(iv)          For purposes of determining whether there has been a Change of Control, Section 318(a) of the Code applies to determine stock ownership. Stock underlying a vested option is considered owned by the individual who holds the vested option (and the stock underlying an unvested option is not considered owned by the individual who holds the unvested option). For purposes of the preceding sentence, however, if a vested option is exercisable for stock that is not substantially vested (as defined by §§1.83-3(b) and (j) of the income tax regulations promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service), the stock underlying the option is not treated as owned by the individual who holds the option.

 

(f)            “Change of Control Price” means the highest per share price for Shares offered in conjunction with any transaction resulting in a Change of Control (as determined in good faith by the Committee if any part of the offered price is payable other than in cash) or, in the case of a Change of Control occurring solely by reason of a change in the composition of the Board, the highest Fair Market Value of the Shares on any of the 30 trading days immediately preceding the date on which a Change of Control occurs.

 

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(g)           “Change of Control Termination” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.2 hereof.

 

(h)           “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(i)            “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, or any other duly authorized committee of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan. The Committee shall be comprised of two or more directors, and each member of the Committee shall be a Non-Employee Director, an “outside director” within the meaning of the regulations under Section 162(m) of the Code, and an “independent director” for purposes of the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (or such other principal securities market on which the Shares are traded).

 

(j)            “Company” means SM Energy Company, a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto as provided in Article XVII hereof.

 

(k)           “Covered Employee” means an Employee who is, or who the Committee expects to become, a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(l)            “Director” means any individual who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(m)          “Dividend Equivalent” means a right with respect to an Award to receive cash, Shares or other property equal in value and form to dividends declared by the Board and paid with respect to outstanding Shares. Dividend Equivalents shall not apply to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, and shall not apply to any other type of Award unless specifically provided for in the Award Agreement, and if specifically provided for in the Award Agreement shall be subject to such terms and conditions set forth in the Award Agreement as the Committee shall determine.  Dividend Equivalents credited in connection with Performance Units or Restricted Stock Units that vest based on the achievement of performance goals will be subject to restrictions and risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the underlying Award.

 

(n)           “Employee” means any employee of the Company or an Affiliate. Directors who are not otherwise employed by the Company or an Affiliate shall not be considered Employees under this Plan.

 

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

 

(p)           “Fair Market Value” or “FMV” means a value or price that is based on the opening, closing, actual, high, low or average selling prices per Share on the NYSE or other established stock exchange (or exchanges) on the applicable date, the preceding trading day, the next succeeding trading day, or an average of trading days, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Such definition(s) of FMV may differ depending on whether FMV is in reference to the grant, exercise, vesting,

 

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settlement or payout of an Award. If Shares are not traded on an established stock exchange, FMV shall be determined by the Committee based on objective criteria.

 

(q)           “Fiscal Year” means the year commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31, or such other fiscal year period as approved by the Board.

 

(r)            “Freestanding SAR” means a SAR that is not a Tandem SAR, as described in Article VIII herein.

 

(s)            “Grant Price” means the price against which the amount payable is determined upon exercise of a SAR.

 

(t)            “Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means an Option to purchase Shares granted under Article VII herein and that is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, or any successor provision.

 

(u)           “Non-Employee Director” means a Director who meets the definition of a “Non-Employee Director” set forth in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) under the Exchange Act, or any successor definition adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(v)           “Nonqualified Stock Option” or “NQSO” means an Option to purchase Shares granted under Article VII herein, which is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or which otherwise does not meet the requirements for an ISO.

 

(w)          “Option” means the conditional right to purchase Shares at a stated Option Price for a specified period of time in the form of an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option subject to the terms of this Plan.

 

(x)           “Option Price” means the price at which a Share may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to an Option, as determined by the Committee.

 

(y)           “Participant” means a participant holding an outstanding Award granted under the Plan.

 

(z)           “Performance Based Compensation” means compensation under an Award that is granted in order to provide remuneration solely on account of the attainment of one or more Performance Goals under circumstances that satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(aa)         “Performance Goal” means a performance criterion selected by the Committee for a particular Award for purposes of Article XI based on one or more Performance Measures.

 

(bb)         “Performance Measures” mean measures as described in Article XI, the attainment of one or more of which shall, as determined by the Committee, determine the vesting, monetization, or value of an Award to a Covered Employee that is designated to qualify as Performance Based Compensation.

 

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(cc)         “Performance Period” means the period of time, which shall not be shorter than 12 months, during which the assigned performance criteria must be met in order to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units.

 

(dd)         “Performance Share” means an Award granted under Article IX herein, denominated in Shares, the value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a function of the extent to which corresponding performance criteria have been achieved.

 

(ee)         “Performance Unit” means an Award granted under Article IX herein, denominated in units, which may be valued by reference to a designated amount of property other than Shares, the value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a function of the extent to which corresponding performance criteria have been achieved.

 

(ff)          “Plan” means this Equity Incentive Compensation Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

(gg)         “Restricted Stock” means an Award under Article VI of Shares that may be subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture as set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

(hh)         “Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award under Article VI that is valued by reference to a Share, which value may be paid by delivery of Shares or cash or a combination thereof upon settlement of the Award, subject to the specific terms and conditions of the Award as set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

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

 

(jj)           “Shares” means shares of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share.

 

(kk)         “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means the conditional right to receive the difference between the FMV of a Share on the date of exercise over the Grant Price, pursuant to the terms of Article VIII herein.

 

(ll)           “Stock Based Award” means an equity based or equity related Award granted pursuant to the terms of Article X herein.

 

(mm)      “Substitute Award” means Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of or in substitution or exchange for Awards previously granted or the right or obligation to make future Awards, in each case by a company acquired by the Company or any Affiliate, or a company with which the Company or any Affiliate combines.

 

(nn)         “Tandem SAR” means a SAR that the Committee specifies pursuant to Article VIII herein is granted in connection with a related Option, the exercise of which SAR shall require forfeiture of the right to purchase a Share under the related

 

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Option (and when a Share is purchased under the Option, the Tandem SAR shall similarly be cancelled), or a SAR that is granted in tandem with an Option but the exercise of such Option does not cancel the SAR, but rather results in the exercise of the related SAR. Regardless of whether an Option is granted coincident with a SAR, a SAR is not a Tandem SAR unless so specified by the Committee at the time of grant.

 

2.2          Construction.  Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, any definition of any term herein in the singular also shall include the plural.

 

ARTICLE 3.
 ADMINISTRATION

 

3.1          General.  The Committee shall be responsible for administering the Plan. The Committee may employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, agents, and other individuals, any of whom may be an Employee, and the Committee, the Company, and the Company’s officers and Directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such persons. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon the Participants, the Company, and all other interested parties. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan.

 

3.2          Authority of the Committee.  The Committee shall have full and exclusive discretionary power to (i) interpret the terms and the intent of the Plan, any Award and any Award Agreement or other agreement ancillary to or in connection with the Plan, (ii) determine eligibility for Awards and select those who will become Participants in the Plan, (iii) adopt such rules, regulations, and guidelines for administering the Plan as the Committee may deem necessary or proper, (iv) provide for conditions and assurances deemed necessary or advisable to protect the interests of the Company with respect to the Plan and (v) make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. Such authority shall include, but not be limited to, selecting Award recipients, establishing all Award terms and conditions and, subject to Article XIV, adopting modifications, amendments or subplans to the Plan or any Award Agreement. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the nature, terms, conditions and amount of each Award. In making such determinations, the Committee may take into account the nature of services rendered by the recipient of the Award, such person’s present and potential contributions to the Company and such other factors as the Committee in its discretion shall deem relevant.

 

3.3          Delegation.  The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members any of the Committee’s administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable; provided, however, that any such delegation shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or Section 162(m) of the Code as to actions to be taken by the Committee in connection therewith.  In addition, the Committee may delegate to the

 

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Chief Executive Officer of the Company the power to grant Restricted Stock Units to non-executive employees in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 in any one year.

 

ARTICLE 4.
 SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN AND MAXIMUM AWARDS

 

4.1          Total Number of Shares Available for Awards.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2 herein, the total number of Shares hereby made available and reserved for issuance to Participants pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be 14,100,000, plus any remaining Shares available for issuance under the Predecessor Plans as set forth in Section 1.4 (with such total number of Shares, including such adjustment and remaining Shares, to be referred to as the “Total Share Authorization”). Any Shares issued in connection with an Option or SAR shall be counted against the Total Share Authorization limit as one Share for every one Share issued. Any Shares issued pursuant to Awards granted on or before May 20, 2009 in connection with an Award other than an Option or SAR shall be counted against the Total Share Authorization limit as two Shares for every one Share issued. Any Shares issued pursuant to Awards granted after May 20, 2009 but before May 22, 2013 in connection with an Award other than an Option or SAR shall be counted against the Total Share Authorization limit as 1.43 Shares for every one Share issued. Any Shares issued pursuant to Awards granted after May 22, 2013 in connection with any Award shall be counted against the Total Share Authorization limit as one Share for every one Share issued.  The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued through Nonqualified Stock Options shall be equal to the Total Share Authorization. The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued through Incentive Stock Options shall be 10,700,000.

 

Any Awards that are not settled in Shares shall not be counted against the Total Share Authorization limit. Any Shares related to Awards (or after May 17, 2006, awards granted or issued under the Predecessor Plans) which (i) terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation or otherwise without the issuance of such Shares, (ii) are settled in cash either in lieu of Shares or otherwise, or (iii) are exchanged with the Committee’s approval for Awards not involving Shares, shall be available again for issuance under the Plan. In addition, if the Option Price of any Option granted under the Plan or the tax withholding requirement with respect to any Award granted under the Plan is satisfied by tendering Shares to the Company (by either actual delivery or by attestation), or if a SAR is exercised, only the number of Shares issued, net of the Shares tendered, if any, will be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan; provided, however, that from and after May 21, 2008 and until May 22, 2013, Shares tendered as full or partial payment to the Company of the Option Price upon exercise of Options granted under this Plan, Shares reserved for issuance upon grant of SARs, to the extent the number of reserved Shares exceeds the number of Shares actually issued upon exercise of the SARs, and Shares withheld by, or otherwise remitted to, the Company to satisfy a Participant’s tax withholding obligations with respect to any Award granted under this Plan, shall not become available again for issuance under this Plan. The Shares available for issuance under the Plan may be authorized and unissued Shares or treasury Shares. Unless and until the Committee determines that an Award to a Covered Employee shall not be designed to qualify as Performance Based Compensation,

 

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the following limits (“Award Limits”) shall apply to grants of Awards to Covered Employees under the Plan:

 

(a)           Restricted Stock/Restricted Units.  The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be granted in the form of Restricted Stock/Restricted Stock Units in any one Fiscal Year to any one Participant shall be 100,000.

 

(b)           Options and SARS.  The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be granted in the form of Options or SARs in any one Fiscal Year to any one Participant shall be 200,000.

 

(c)           Performance Shares/Performance Units.  The maximum aggregate Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units that a Participant may receive in any one Fiscal Year shall be 300,000 Shares, and the maximum value of Performance Units that a Participant may receive with respect to Awards in any one Fiscal Year shall be a value of $5,000,000 determined as of the date of vesting or payout, as applicable.

 

(d)           Stock Based Awards.  The maximum aggregate grant with respect to Stock Based Awards in any one Fiscal Year to any one Participant shall be 200,000.

 

4.2          Adjustments in Authorized Shares.  In the event of any corporate event or transaction (including, but not limited to, a change in the Shares of the Company or the capitalization of the Company) such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, separation, stock dividend, extraordinary or special dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spin off, other distribution of stock or property of the Company, combination of securities, exchange of securities, dividend in kind, or other like change in capital structure or distribution (other than normal cash dividends) to the stockholders of the Company, or any similar corporate event or transaction, the Committee, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under the Plan, shall make or provide for appropriate proportionate substitutions or adjustments, as applicable, to the number and kind of Shares that may be issued under the Plan, the number and kind of Shares subject to outstanding Awards, the Option Price or Grant Price applicable to outstanding Awards, the application and computation of any Dividend Equivalents that may be provided for in Award Agreements, the Award Limits, and any other value determinations applicable to outstanding Awards or to this Plan. Such adjustments shall be made automatically, without the necessity of Committee action, on the customary and appropriate arithmetical basis, in the case of any stock split, including a stock split effected by means of a stock dividend, and in the case of any other dividend paid in Shares, and shall be made in the discretion of the Committee with respect to other corporate events or transactions. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may also make other appropriate adjustments in the terms of any Awards under the Plan to reflect, or related to, such changes or distributions and may modify any other terms of outstanding Awards, including modifications of performance criteria and changes in the length of Performance Periods, as are equitably necessary to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participant’s rights under the Plan that otherwise would result from such corporate event or transaction. The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be conclusive and binding on Participants under the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Article XIII and

 

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any applicable law or regulatory requirement, without affecting the number of Shares reserved or available hereunder, the Committee may authorize the issuance, assumption, substitution or conversion of Awards under this Plan in connection with any such corporate event or transaction upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate. In addition, the Committee may amend the Plan, or adopt supplements to the Plan, in such manner as it deems appropriate to provide for such issuance, assumption, substitution or conversion as provided in the previous sentence.

 

4.3          Substitute Awards.  Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan or the applicable Award Limits, nor shall Shares subject to a Substitute Award again be available for Awards under the Plan as provided in Section 4.1 above.  Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Affiliate or with which the Company or any Affiliate combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan; provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Employees or Directors prior to such acquisition or combination.

 

ARTICLE 5.
 ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

 

5.1          Eligibility.  All Employees and members of the Board of the Company and of any Affiliate of the Company shall be eligible to participate in the Plan and be granted Awards under the Plan.

 

5.2          Actual Participation.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may from time to time, in its sole discretion, select from among persons eligible to participate in the Plan those to whom Awards shall be granted under the Plan, and shall determine in its discretion the nature, terms, conditions, and amount of each Award.

 

ARTICLE 6.
 RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

6.1          Grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, in its discretion may grant Shares of Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine.

 

(a)                                 Restricted Stock.

 

(i)            Nature of Restricted Stock.  Restricted Stock may be issued for services rendered with any or no additional purchase price as shall be

 

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determined by the Committee in its discretion, and may be subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture as set forth in the Award Agreement. A Participant to whom Shares of Restricted Stock are issued shall have all of the rights of ownership with respect to the Shares subject to such Restricted Stock Award, including the right to vote the same and receive any dividends paid thereon; subject, however, to the terms, conditions and restrictions contained in this Plan and in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(ii)           Forfeiture and Vesting.  A Restricted Stock Award Agreement may provide for forfeiture of the Restricted Stock upon termination of the Participant’s employment or other relationship with the Company or nonperformance of specified performance goals or measures established by the Committee. A Restricted Stock Award Agreement may also provide for (i) vesting periods which require the passage of time and/or the occurrence of events in order for the Restricted Stock to vest and become no longer subject to forfeiture and (ii) holding periods during which the Restricted Stock may not be sold or otherwise transferred.

 

(iii)          Delivery of Shares and Settlement.  Upon an Award of Restricted Stock, the Company shall deliver to the Participant the Shares subject to the Award (which Shares may be delivered in book-entry or certificated form), and such Shares shall be evidenced with an appropriate legend referring to or setting forth the applicable restrictions to which such Shares are subject (by means of appropriate stop-transfer orders on Shares credited to book-entry accounts or by means of appropriate legends on Shares that have been certificated). After the Shares are no longer subject to such restrictions, the Company shall, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Award Agreement and upon the request of the Participant and the surrender by the Participant of any certificated Shares, settle the completed Restricted Stock Award by providing the Participant with Shares with such restrictions removed.

 

(b)                                 Restricted Stock Units.

 

(i)            Nature of Restricted Stock Units; Accounts.  Each Restricted Stock Unit awarded shall represent a right for one Share to be delivered upon settlement of the Award, which right shall be subject to a risk of forfeiture and cancellation and to the other terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and the Award Agreement. The Company shall establish and maintain a Participant account to record Restricted Stock Units and transactions and events affecting such units. Restricted Stock Units and other items reflected in the account will represent only bookkeeping entries by the Company to evidence unfunded obligations of the Company.

 

(ii)           Deferral Period and Settlement Date.  Restricted Stock Units (if not previously cancelled or forfeited) shall be settled on the date or dates set forth in the Award Agreement. In addition, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, if the Committee reasonably determines that any

 

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settlement of Restricted Stock Units would result in payment of compensation to a Participant which is not deductible by the Company under Section 162(m) of the Code, such settlement shall be deferred, subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code as referred to in Article XX herein, to the extent necessary to avoid payment of such nondeductible compensation, with such deferral continuing only until such date as settlement can be effected without loss of deductibility by the Company under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(iii)          Cancellation and Vesting.  A Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement may provide for cancellation of the Restricted Stock Units upon termination of the Participant’s employment or other relationship with the Company or nonperformance of specified performance goals or measures established by the Committee. A Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement may also provide for vesting periods which require the passage of time and/or the occurrence of events in order for the Restricted Stock Units to vest and become no longer subject to cancellation.

 

(iv)          Dividend Equivalents.  Restricted Stock Units shall not be credited with Dividend Equivalents unless specifically provided for in the Award Agreement, and then only upon such terms and conditions as set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

(v)           Settlement and Delivery of Shares.  Settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement. A Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement may provide that settlement may be made (A) solely through the issuance of Shares or (B) at the mutual election of the Participant and the Company, in a combination of Shares and cash. Upon the settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Company shall deliver to the Participant the number of Shares issued to the Participant in settlement of the Award (which Shares may be delivered in book-entry or certificated form).

 

6.2          Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements.  Each Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall set forth the terms and conditions of such Award, including the number of Shares to which the Award relates, the date or dates upon which such Award shall vest and the circumstances (including termination of employment or failure to satisfy one or more restrictive covenants or other ongoing obligations) under which the Award shall not vest, the time and manner of settlement of the Award, such transfer restrictions which the Committee may impose, and any other terms or conditions which the Committee may impose.

 

(a)           If not otherwise specified by the Committee, the following terms and conditions shall apply to Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units awarded under the Plan:

 

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(i)            Vesting.  An Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall vest pursuant to a vesting schedule as determined by the Committee, which vesting schedule may provide that (A) an Award held by a Participant who retires from employment with the Company after having both reached the age of sixty and completed twelve years of service with the Company shall continue to vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the applicable Award Agreement notwithstanding the termination of the Participant’s employment with the Company, provided that prior to full vesting of the Award such Participant does not after such retirement become employed on a full time basis by a competitor of the Company prior to reaching age sixty-five, and (B) an Award held by a Non-Employee Director of the Company who resigns from the Board after completing at least five years of service to the Company as a Non-Employee Director shall become fully vested.

 

(ii)           Termination.  An outstanding Award of Restricted Stock that has not vested or an outstanding Award of Restricted Stock Units that has not been settled shall be cancelled upon the Company’s termination of the employment of the Participant for cause.

 

(iii)          Acceleration.  An outstanding Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and settled irrespective of its other provisions upon termination of the Participant’s employment with the Company or Affiliate because of death, disability or normal retirement upon reaching the age of sixty-five.

 

(iv)          Transferability.  An outstanding Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units that has not vested and been settled or is otherwise restricted by the terms of the Award Agreement as to transferability shall not be transferable by the Participant, and the Participant shall not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber such Award or the Shares issuable in settlement thereof, other than (A) to the person or persons to whom the Participant’s rights under such Award pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution, (B) to the spouse or the descendants of the Participant or to trusts for such persons to whom or which the Participant may transfer such Award, (C) to the legal representative of any of the foregoing, or (D) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined under Section 414(p) of the Code or similar order or agreement relating to the provision of child support, alimony payments or marital property rights to a spouse, former spouse, child or other dependent of the Participant. If an Award is transferred to any person to whom a transfer of the Award is permitted, the transferee shall remain subject to all of the vesting conditions to which the Award is subject. Any such transfer shall be made only in compliance with the Securities Act and the requirements therefor as set forth by the Company.

 

(b)           The Committee shall be free to specify terms and conditions other than and in addition to those set forth above, in its discretion.

 

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ARTICLE 7.
 STOCK OPTIONS

 

7.1          Grant of Options.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Options may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee in its discretion. ISOs may be granted only to Employees of the Company or a parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code, and no ISOs may be granted more than 10 years after the adoption of the Plan by the Board.

 

7.2          Award Agreement.  Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Option Price, the duration of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option relates, the conditions upon which an Option shall become vested and exercisable, and any other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine. The Award Agreement shall also specify whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or a NQSO.

 

7.3          Option Price.  The Option Price for each grant of an Option under this Plan shall be determined by the Committee and shall be specified in the Award Agreement. The Option Price for an Option, whether issued as an ISO or an NQSO, shall be not less than 100 percent of the FMV of the underlying Shares on the date of grant; provided, however, that the Option Price for an ISO granted to a person who at the time of grant owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its Affiliates (a “Significant Stockholder”) shall be not less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares as of the date of grant.

 

7.4          Duration of Options.  Each Option granted to a Participant shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant; provided however, that no Option shall be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary date of its grant, and provided further that no ISO granted to a Significant Stockholder shall be exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date of grant.

 

7.5          Exercise of Options.  Options shall be exercisable at such times and on the  such events, and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve, which need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant. Options shall be exercised by the delivery of a notice of exercise to the Company or an agent designated by the Company in a form specified by or acceptable to the Committee, or by complying with any alternative procedures which may be authorized by the Committee, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, and accompanied by full payment for the Shares. Upon exercise of any Option, the Option Price shall be payable to the Company in full either: (a) in cash or its equivalent; (b) by tendering (either by actual delivery or attestation) previously acquired Shares having an aggregate FMV at the time of exercise equal to the total Option Price; (c) by a combination of (a) and (b); or (d) by any other method approved or accepted by the Committee in its sole discretion and subject to such rules and regulations as the Committee may establish. Subject to Section 7.6 and any governing rules or regulations, as soon as practicable after

 

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receipt of a notification of exercise and full payment for the Shares, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Participant Share certificates or evidence of book entry Shares in an appropriate amount based upon the number of Shares purchased under the Option(s).

 

7.6          Restrictions on Share Transferability.  The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option granted under the Plan as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, requiring the Participant to hold the Shares acquired pursuant to exercise for a specified period of time, or restrictions under applicable laws or under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are listed and/or traded.

 

7.7          Termination of Employment.  Each Participant’s Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the Option following the termination of the Participant’s employment or other relationship with the Company or Affiliates. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Options granted under the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

 

7.8          Nontransferability of Options.

 

(a)           Incentive Stock Options.  No ISO granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. In addition, all ISOs granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during such Participant’s lifetime only by such Participant.

 

(b)           Nonqualified Stock Options.  Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement at the time of grant or thereafter by the Committee, a NQSO granted under the Plan may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. In addition, except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement at the time of grant or thereafter by the Committee, all NQSOs granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during such Participant’s lifetime only by such Participant.

 

(c)           Notification of Disqualifying Disposition.  The Participant to whom an ISO is granted shall notify the Company upon the disposition of Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of an ISO or Shares received as a dividend on ISO stock. The Company shall use such information to determine whether a disqualifying disposition as described in Section 421(b) of the Code has occurred.

 

7.9          $100,000 Annual ISO Limitation.  To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares (determined as of the time the ISOs with respect to such Shares are granted) with respect to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under this Plan and all other plans of the Company and any Affiliate) exceeds $100,000, such ISOs shall be treated as NQSOs. The foregoing provisions shall be applied by taking ISOs into account in the order in which they were granted.

 

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ARTICLE 8.
 STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

8.1          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 and upon such terms as shall be determined by the Committee in its discretion. The Committee may grant Freestanding SARs, Tandem SARs, or any combination of these forms of SARs. The SAR Grant Price for each grant of a Freestanding SAR shall be determined by the Committee and shall be specified in the Award Agreement. The SAR Grant Price for each Freestanding SAR may include a Grant Price based on 100 percent of the FMV of the underlying Share on the date of grant or a Grant Price that is set at a premium to the FMV of the underlying Share on the date of grant. The SAR Grant Price for each Freestanding SAR shall not be less than FMV of the underlying Share on the date of grant. The Grant Price of Tandem SARs shall be equal to the Option Price of the related Option.

 

8.2          SAR Agreement.  Each SAR Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Grant Price, the term of the SAR, and any such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.

 

8.3          Term of SAR.  The term of a SAR granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, and except as determined otherwise by the Committee and specified in the SAR Award Agreement, no SAR shall be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary date of its grant.

 

8.4          Exercise of Freestanding SARs.  Freestanding SARs may be exercised upon whatever terms and conditions that the Committee in its sole discretion imposes.

 

8.5          Exercise of Tandem SARs.  Tandem SARs may be exercised for all or part of the Shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option. A Tandem SAR may be exercised only with respect to the Shares for which its related Option is then exercisable. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, with respect to a Tandem SAR granted in connection with an ISO: (a) the Tandem SAR will expire no later than the expiration of the underlying ISO; (b) the value of the payout with respect to the Tandem SAR may be for no more than 100 percent of the difference between the Option Price of the underlying ISO and the FMV of the Shares subject to the underlying ISO at the time the Tandem SAR is exercised; and (c) the Tandem SAR may be exercised only when the FMV of the Shares subject to the ISO exceeds the Option Price of the ISO.

 

8.6          Payment of SAR Amount.  Upon the exercise of a SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount representing the difference between the FMV of the underlying Share on the date of exercise over the Grant Price. At the discretion of the Committee, the payment upon SAR exercise may be in cash, Shares of equivalent value (based on the FMV on the date of exercise of the SAR, as defined in the Award Agreement or otherwise defined by the Committee thereafter), in some combination thereof, or in any other form approved by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee’s determination regarding the form of SAR payout shall be set forth or reserved for later determination in the Award Agreement for the grant of the SAR.

 

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8.7          Termination of Employment.  Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the SAR following the termination of the Participant’s employment or other relationship with the Company or Affiliates. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all SARs issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

 

8.8          Nontransferability of SARs.  Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement at the time of grant or thereafter by the Committee, a SAR granted under the Plan may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. In addition, except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement at the time of grant or thereafter by the Committee, all SARs granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during such Participant’s lifetime only by such Participant.

 

8.9          Other Restrictions.  Without limiting the generality of any other provision of this Plan, the Committee may impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on any Shares received upon exercise of a SAR granted pursuant to the Plan as it may deem advisable. This includes, but is not limited to, requiring the Participant to hold the Shares received upon exercise of a SAR for a specified period of time.

 

ARTICLE 9.
 PERFORMANCE SHARES AND PERFORMANCE UNITS

 

9.1          Grant of Performance Shares and Performance Units.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Performance Shares and/or Performance Units to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine.

 

9.2          Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units.  Each Performance Share and Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant. The Committee shall in its discretion set performance criteria for a Performance Period which, depending on the extent to which the performance criteria are met, will determine, in the manner established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, the value and/or amount of each Performance Share or Performance Unit that will be paid to the Participant.

 

9.3          Earnings of Performance Shares and Performance Units.  Subject to the terms of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Shares and/or Performance Units shall be entitled to receive, to the extent that the Performance Shares or Performance Units have vested, if applicable, a payout of the value and/or amount of Performance Shares and/or Performance Units, determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance criteria have been achieved. The Committee may in its discretion require the Participant to hold the Shares or other property received pursuant to such Award for a specified period of time.

 

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9.4          Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Shares and Performance Units.  Payment of earned Performance Shares and Performance Units shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement. A Performance Share or Performance Unit Award Agreement may provide that payment may be made, to the extent that the Performance Share or Performance Unit has vested and the performance criteria are met, solely through the issuance of Shares earned upon the expiration of the applicable Performance Period, and that the Participant may elect to satisfy the Participant’s tax withholding obligation with respect to the Award by having the Company withhold Shares or other property or by the Participant surrendering Shares or other property to the Company with a FMV on or near the tax withholding date equal to the tax withholding obligation. Upon the payment in the form of Shares of a Performance Share or Performance Unit Award, the Company shall deliver to the Participant the number of Shares issued to the Participant in payment of the Award (which Shares may be delivered in book-entry or certificated form).

 

9.5          Dividends and Other Distributions.  Dividends and other distributions declared by the Board and paid with respect to outstanding Shares shall only be paid with respect to Performance Share and Performance Unit Awards for Shares that have been issued by the Company in payment of such Awards to the extent that the Awards have vested and upon the expiration of the applicable Performance Periods for the Awards. Performance Shares and Performance Units shall not be credited with Dividend Equivalents unless specifically provided for in the Award Agreement, and then only upon such terms and conditions as set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

9.6          Vesting and Termination of Employment.  Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Award shall vest, which may be pursuant to a vesting schedule as determined by the Committee, and the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain Performance Shares and/or Performance Units following the termination of the Participant’s employment or other relationship with the Company or an Affiliate. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Performance Shares and Performance Units issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

 

9.7          Nontransferability of Performance Shares and Performance Units.  Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement at the time of grant or thereafter by the Committee, Performance Shares and Performance Units may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. In addition, except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement at the time of grant or thereafter by the Committee, a Participant’s rights with respect to Performance Shares and Performance Units shall inure during such Participant’s lifetime only to such Participant.

 

ARTICLE 10.
 STOCK BASED AWARDS

 

10.1        Stock Based Awards.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant other types of equity based or equity related Awards not described by the other terms of the Plan (including the grant or

 

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offer for sale of unrestricted Shares) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions, including, but not limited to, conditions based on the satisfaction of performance criteria or the satisfaction of such obligations as the Committee shall determine. Such Awards may involve the transfer of actual Shares to Participants, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Shares.

 

10.2        Termination of Employment.  Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to receive Stock Based Awards following the termination of the Participant’s employment or other relationship with the Company or Affiliates. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Stock Based Awards issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

 

10.3        Nontransferability of Stock Based Awards.  Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement at the time of grant or thereafter by the Committee, Stock Based Awards may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. In addition, except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement at the time of grant or thereafter by the Committee, a Participant’s rights with respect to Stock Based Awards shall inure during such Participant’s lifetime only to such Participant.

 

ARTICLE 11.
 PERFORMANCE MEASURES

 

Notwithstanding any other terms of this Plan, the vesting, payment obligation or value (as determined by the Committee) of each Award other than an Option or SAR that, at the time of grant, the Committee intends to be Performance Based Compensation to a Covered Employee, shall be determined by the attainment of one or more Performance Goals as determined by the Committee in conformity with Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee shall specify in writing, by resolution or otherwise, the Participants eligible to receive such an Award (which may be expressed in terms of a class of individuals) and the Performance Goal(s) applicable to such Awards within 90 days after the commencement of the period to which the Performance Goal(s) relate(s), or such earlier time as required to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code. No such Award shall be payable unless the Committee certifies in writing, by resolution or otherwise, that the Performance Goal(s) applicable to the Award were satisfied. In no case may the Committee increase the value of an Award of Performance Based Compensation above the maximum value determined under the performance formula by the attainment of the applicable Performance Goal(s), but the Committee retains the discretion to reduce the value below such maximum.

 

Unless and until the Committee proposes for stockholder vote and the stockholders approve a change in the general Performance Measures set forth in this Article XI, the Performance Goal(s) upon which the payment or vesting of an Award to a Covered Employee that is intended to qualify as Performance Based Compensation shall be limited to the following Performance Measures:

 

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(a)           Increases in, or levels of, net asset value; net asset value per share; pretax earnings; earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; net income and/or earnings per share;

 

(b)           Return on equity, return on assets or net assets, return on capital (including return on total capital or return on invested capital);

 

(c)           Share price or stockholder return performance (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total stockholder return, which may be measured in absolute terms and/or in comparison to a group of peer companies or an index);

 

(d)           Oil and gas reserve replacement, reserve growth and finding and development cost targets;

 

(e)           Oil and gas production targets;

 

(f)            Performance of investments in oil and gas properties;

 

(g)           Cash flow measures (including, but not limited to, cash flows from operating activities, discretionary cash flows, and cash flow return on investment, assets, equity or capital);

 

(h)           Increases in, or levels of, operating and/or nonoperating expenses;

 

(i)            Other specific unusual or nonrecurring events;

 

(j)            Foreign exchange gains and losses; and

 

(k)           A change in the Company’s fiscal year.

 

Any Performance Measure(s) may be used to measure the performance of the Company as a whole and/or any one or more regional operations and/or Affiliates of the Company or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, and any Performance Measure(s) may be used in comparison to the performance of a group of peer companies, or a published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. The Committee shall also have the authority to provide in Award Agreements for accelerated vesting of an Award based on the achievement of Performance Goal(s).

 

The Committee may provide in any Award Agreement that any evaluation of attainment of a Performance Goal may include or exclude any of the following events that occurs during the relevant period: (a) asset write downs; (b) litigation judgments or settlements; (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or regulations affecting reported results; (d) any reorganization or restructuring transactions; (e) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the applicable year; and (f) significant acquisitions or divestitures. To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect Awards to Covered Employees, they shall be prescribed in a form that meets the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code for deductibility.

 

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In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit discretion by the Committee to alter the governing Performance Measures without obtaining stockholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining stockholder approval. In addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is advisable to grant Awards to Covered Employees that shall not qualify as Performance Based Compensation, the Committee may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

ARTICLE 12.
 RIGHTS OF PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE

 

12.1        Employment.  Nothing in the Plan or an Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate any Participant’s employment, consulting or other service relationship with the Company or an Affiliate at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the capacity in which he or she is employed or otherwise serves the Company or an Affiliate. Neither an Award nor any benefits arising under this Plan shall constitute part of an employment or service contract between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, and, accordingly, subject to the terms of this Plan, this Plan may be terminated, amended or modified at any time in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Committee without giving rise to liability on the part of the Company or an Affiliate for severance payments or otherwise, except as provided in this Plan.

 

For purposes of the Plan, unless otherwise provided by the Committee, transfer of employment of a Participant between the Company and an Affiliate or among Affiliates, shall not be deemed a termination of employment. The Committee may provide in a Participant’s Award Agreement or otherwise the conditions under which a transfer of employment to an entity that is spun off from the Company or an Affiliate shall not be deemed a termination of employment for purposes of an Award.

 

12.2        Participation.  No Employee or other person eligible to participate in the Plan shall have the right to be selected to receive an Award. No person selected to receive an Award shall have the right to be selected to receive a future Award or, if selected to receive a future Award, the right to receive such future Award on terms and conditions identical or in proportion in any way to any prior Award.

 

12.3        Rights as a Stockholder.  A Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award until the Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares.

 

ARTICLE 13.
 CHANGE OF CONTROL

 

13.1        Accelerated Vesting and Payment Applicable to Awards Granted prior to May 21, 2008.  Subject to the provisions of Section 13.3 or as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, for Awards granted prior to May 21, 2008, in the event of a Change of Control, unless otherwise specifically prohibited by law or the rules and regulations of a national securities exchange on which Shares are listed or traded:

 

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(a)           Any vesting period requirements and other restrictions imposed on Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall lapse, and Restricted Stock Units shall be immediately payable;

 

(b)           Any and all Options and SARs granted hereunder shall become immediately exercisable;

 

(c)           The target payout opportunities attainable under all outstanding Awards of performance based Restricted Stock and performance based Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units (including but not limited to Awards intended to be Performance Based Compensation) shall be deemed to have been fully earned based on targeted performance being attained as of the effective date of the Change of Control, and:

 

(i)            The vesting of all Awards denominated in Shares shall be accelerated as of the effective date of the Change of Control, and shall be paid out to Participants within 30 days following the effective date of the Change of Control; and

 

(ii)           Awards denominated in cash shall be paid to Participants in cash within 30 days following the effective date of the Change of Control;

 

(d)           Upon a Change of Control, unless otherwise specifically provided in a written agreement entered into between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, the Committee shall immediately cause all other Stock Based Awards to vest and be paid out as determined by the Committee; and

 

(e)           The Committee shall have the discretion to unilaterally determine that all outstanding Awards shall be cancelled upon a Change of Control, and that the value of such Awards, as determined by the Committee in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the Award Agreements, shall be paid out in cash in an amount based on the Change of Control Price within a reasonable time subsequent to the Change of Control; provided, however, that no such payment shall be made on account of an ISO using a value higher than the FMV of the underlying Shares on the date of settlement.

 

13.2        Accelerated Vesting and Payment Applicable to Awards Granted on or after May 21, 2008.  Subject to the provisions of Section 13.3 or as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, for Awards granted on or after May 21, 2008 and prior to a Change of Control, in the event that a Change of Control occurs and a Participant’s employment with the Company is subsequently terminated without Cause (as defined in such Participant’s Award Agreement) or the Participant terminates his or her employment with the Company for Good Reason (as defined in such Participant’s Award Agreement) within 30 months of the Change of Control (a “Change of Control Termination”), unless otherwise specifically prohibited by law or the rules and regulations of a national securities exchange on which Shares are listed or traded, with respect to such Awards granted to such Participant:

 

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(a)           Any vesting period requirements and other restrictions imposed on Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall lapse, and Restricted Stock Units shall be immediately payable;

 

(b)           Any and all Options and SARs granted hereunder shall become immediately exercisable;

 

(c)           The target payout opportunities attainable under all outstanding Awards of performance based Restricted Stock and performance based Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units (including but not limited to Awards intended to be Performance Based Compensation) shall be deemed to have been fully earned based on measured performance as of the effective date of the Change of Control, and:

 

(i)            The vesting of all Awards denominated in Shares shall be accelerated as of the effective date of the Change of Control Termination, and shall be paid out to such Participant within 30 days following the effective date of the Change of Control Termination; and

 

(ii)           Awards denominated in cash shall be paid to Participants in cash within 30 days following the effective date of the Change of Control Termination;

 

(d)           Upon a Change of Control Termination, unless otherwise specifically provided in a written agreement entered into between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, the Committee shall immediately cause all other Stock Based Awards to vest and be paid out as determined by the Committee; and

 

(e)           The Committee shall have the discretion to unilaterally determine that all outstanding Awards shall be cancelled upon a Change of Control Termination, and that the value of such Awards, as determined by the Committee in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the Award Agreements, shall be paid out in cash in an amount determined by the Committee, in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the Award Agreements, within a reasonable time subsequent to the Change of Control Termination; provided, however, that no such payment shall be made on account of an ISO using a value higher than the FMV of the underlying Shares on the date of settlement.

 

In the event that the existence of the foregoing provisions, even if a Change of Control and a Change of Control Termination do not occur, would result in an Award to a Covered Employee designed to qualify as Performance Based Compensation to not so qualify, the Committee shall have the discretion to adopt for such Award such provisions as shall satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

13.3        Alternative Awards.  Notwithstanding Sections 13.1 and 13.2, no cancellation, acceleration of vesting, lapsing of restrictions, payment of an Award, cash settlement, or other payment shall occur with respect to any Award if the Committee reasonably determines in good faith prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, that

 

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such Award shall be honored or assumed, or new rights substituted therefor (with such honored, assumed or substituted Award hereinafter referred to as an “Alternative Award”) by any successor to the Company or an Affiliate as described in Article XVII; provided, however, that any such Alternative Award must:

 

(a)           Be based on stock which is traded on an established U.S. securities market, or that the Committee reasonably believes will be so traded within 60 days after the Change of Control;

 

(b)           Provide such Participant with rights and entitlements substantially equivalent to or more favorable than the rights, terms, and conditions applicable under such Award, including, but not limited to, an identical or more favorable exercise or vesting schedule and identical or more favorable timing and methods of payment; and

 

(c)           Have substantially equivalent economic value to such Award (determined at the time of the Change of Control).

 

ARTICLE 14.
 AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

 

14.1        Amendment, Modification, Suspension, and Termination.  The Committee or the Board may, at any time and from time to time, alter, amend, modify, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part; provided, however, that:

 

(a)           Consistent with the provisions of Section 4.2 and except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares), the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the Option Price of outstanding Options or the Grant Price of outstanding SARs or cancel outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for cash, other Awards or Options or SARs with an Option Price or Grant Price that is less than the Option Price or Grant Price of the original Options or SARs without stockholder approval.

 

(b)           No amendment or modification which would increase the total number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan or the total number of shares available for ISOs under the Plan shall be effective unless approved by the stockholders of the Company.

 

(c)           To the extent necessary under any applicable law, regulation, or securities exchange or market requirement, no amendment or modification shall be effective unless approved by the stockholders of the Company in accordance with the applicable law, regulation, or securities exchange or market requirement.

 

14.2        Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events.  The Committee may make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria provided in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in Section 4.2 hereof) affecting the

 

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Company or the financial statements of the Company, or in recognition of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent unintended dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Awards and the Plan. The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be conclusive and binding on all Participants under the Plan. To the extent such adjustments affect Awards to Covered Employees intended to be Performance Based Compensation, they shall be prescribed in a form that meets the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code for deductibility.

 

14.3        No Impairment of Outstanding Awards.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of the Plan shall in any manner adversely affect in any material way any outstanding Award previously granted under the Plan without the written consent of the Participant holding such Award.

 

ARTICLE 15.
 SECURITIES REGISTRATION

 

15.1        Securities Registration.  In the event that the Company shall deem it necessary or desirable to register under the Securities Act, or any other applicable statute, any Awards or any Shares with respect to which an Award may be or shall have been granted, or to qualify any such Awards or Shares under the Securities Act or any other statute, then the affected Participants shall cooperate with the Company and take such action as is necessary to permit registration or qualification of such Awards or Shares.

 

15.2        Representations.  Unless the Company determines that the following representation is unnecessary, each person receiving an Award under the Plan may be required by the Company, as a condition to the issuance of Shares pursuant to the Award, to make a representation in writing that (i) he or she is acquiring such Shares for his or her own account for investment and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any part thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act, and (ii) before any transfer in connection with the resale of such Shares, an exemption from registration of such transaction under the Securities Act shall be established to the satisfaction of the Company. The Company may also require that any certificates or book-entry accounts for such Shares contain restrictive legends or stop-transfer orders reflecting the foregoing.

 

ARTICLE 16.
 TAX WITHHOLDING

 

In connection with Awards granted under the Plan, the Company and any Affiliate shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company or any Affiliate, amounts sufficient to satisfy any federal, state and local withholding tax requirements with respect to any taxable event as a result of the Plan and Awards granted under the Plan. The Committee may provide for Participants to satisfy withholding requirements by having the Company withhold Shares or the Participant making other arrangements, in either case on such conditions as the Committee specifies. The Company may in its discretion make loans to Participants of funds sufficient to satisfy

 

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any such withholding tax requirements, provided that any such loan shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations and no such loan shall be made to a Director or executive officer of the Company in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act, as adopted pursuant to Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Company and any Affiliate shall have the right to require that any recipient or permitted transferee of an Award under the Plan who is not an Employee shall be responsible for the payment of all amounts required to satisfy all federal, state, and local withholding taxes applicable to such persons with respect to such Award.

 

ARTICLE 17.
 SUCCESSORS

 

Any obligations of the Company or an Affiliate under the Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder, shall be binding on any successor to the Company or Affiliate, respectively, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company or Affiliate, as applicable.

 

ARTICLE 18.
 INDEMNIFICATION

 

To the extent permitted by law, each person who is or shall have been a member of the Board or the Committee, or an officer or employee who assists in administering the Plan, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against him or her, provided that he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as a matter of law or otherwise, or any power that the Company or an Affiliate may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

ARTICLE 19.
 GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

19.1        Forfeiture Events.  Without limiting in any way the generality of the Committee’s power to specify any terms and conditions of an Award consistent with law, the Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but not be limited to, failure to accept the terms of the Award Agreement, termination of employment under certain or all circumstances, violation of material Company and

 

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Affiliate policies, breach of noncompetition, confidentiality, nonsolicitation, noninterference, corporate property protection or other agreements that may apply to the Participant, or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company or Affiliates.

 

19.2        Evidence of Restrictions.  The certificates or book-entry accounts for Shares issued under the Plan may include or be subject to any legend or stop-transfer order that the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer of such Shares.

 

19.3        Delivery of Title.  The Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver evidence of title for Shares issued under the Plan prior to:

 

(a)                                 Obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable; and

 

(b)                                 Completion of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any applicable federal or state law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable, and the listing or approval for trading of such Shares on any applicable securities exchange or market.

 

19.4        Uncertificated Shares.  Where the Plan provides for the issuance of stock certificates to evidence the issuance or transfer of Shares, such Shares may be evidenced on an uncertificated basis to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or stock exchange rules.

 

19.5        Unfunded Plan.  Participants shall have no right, title or interest whatsoever in or to any investments that the Company or an Affiliate may make to aid it in meeting its obligations under the Plan. Nothing contained in the Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or an Affiliate and any Participant, beneficiary, legal representative or any other person. Awards shall be general unsecured obligations of the Company, except that if an Affiliate executes an Award Agreement instead of the Company, the Award shall be a general unsecured obligation of the Affiliate and not an obligation of the Company. To the extent that any individual acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or an Affiliate, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company or Affiliate, as applicable. All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company or Affiliate, as applicable, and no special or separate fund shall be established and no segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment of such amounts except as expressly set forth in the Plan. The Plan is not intended to be subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

 

19.6        No Fractional Shares.  No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award Agreement. In the event that any fractional Shares would otherwise result from the application of the terms of an Award, the Company shall instead pay cash in lieu of fractional Shares on such basis as the Committee may determine in its discretion.

 

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19.7        Other Compensation and Benefit Plans.  Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company or an Affiliate to establish other compensation or benefit plans, programs, policies or arrangements. Except as may be otherwise specifically stated in any other benefit plan, policy, program or arrangement, no Award shall be treated as compensation for purposes of calculating a Participant’s rights under any such other plan, policy, program or arrangement.

 

19.8        No Constraint on Corporate Action.  Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to (i) limit, impair or otherwise affect the Company’s or an Affiliate’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets, or (ii) limit the right or power of the Company or an Affiliate to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.

 

19.9        Severability.  In the event that any provision of the Plan shall be held to be illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity thereof shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

 

19.10      Requirements of Law.  The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares pursuant to an Award shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or securities exchanges or markets as may be required. The Company or an Affiliate shall receive the consideration required by law for the issuance of Awards under the Plan. The inability of the Company or an Affiliate to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company or Affiliate 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.

 

19.11      Governing Law.  The Plan and all Award Agreements hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Colorado, excluding any conflicts or choice of law principles which might otherwise result in construction or interpretation of the Plan or an Award Agreement under the substantive law of another jurisdiction.

 

19.12      Recovery of Compensation in Connection with Financial Restatement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or any applicable Award Agreement to the contrary, if the Board determines that the Company is required to restate its financial statements due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the law, whether such noncompliance is the result of misconduct or other circumstances, a Participant will be required to reimburse the Company for any amounts earned or payable with respect to an Award to the extent required by and otherwise in accordance with applicable law and any Company policies. Without limiting the foregoing, all Awards granted or other compensation paid by the Company under the Plan will be subject to any compensation recapture policies required by applicable law (including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) or that are established by the Board or the Committee from time to time, in their respective sole discretion, including any clawback policy adopted or implemented by the Board or Committee in respect of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer

 

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Protection Act of 2010 and such regulations as are promulgated thereunder from time to time to the extent required therein and the implementing regulations.

 

ARTICLE 20.
 SECTION 409A OF THE CODE

 

Awards issued under the Plan are intended to be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan and each Award shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with that intent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or any Award Agreement, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to the Plan during the six (6) month period immediately following the Participant’s termination of service shall instead be paid on the first payroll date after the six-month anniversary of the Participant’s separation from service (or the Participant’s death, if earlier). Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement will be construed to impose on either the Company or the Committee any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any excise tax or penalty on any Participant under Section 409A of the Code and neither the Company nor the Committee will have any liability to any Participant for such tax or penalty.

 

This Equity Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended, was adopted by the Board of Directors of SM Energy Company on March 24, 2016, subject to approval of the Company’s stockholders effective May 24, 2016.

 

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