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EXHIBIT 10.3




DIGENE CORPORATION

AMENDED AND RESTATED DIRECTORS’ EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN




ARTICLE 1

PURPOSE; EFFECTIVE DATE; DEFINITIONS




     1.1 Purpose. This Digene Corporation Directors’ Equity Compensation Plan (the
“Plan”) is intended to secure for Digene Corporation (the “Company”) and its
stockholders the benefits of the incentive inherent in common stock ownership by the directors of
the Company and to afford such persons the opportunity to obtain or increase their proprietary
interest in the Company on a favorable basis and thereby have an opportunity to share in its
success.



     1.2 Effective Date. This Plan shall be effective on and after September 6, 1996.



     1.3 Definitions. Throughout this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:



          (a) “Award” shall mean an award under the Plan of Options, Restricted Stock Units or
Restricted Stock.




          (b) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.




          (c) “Change of Control” shall mean (a) the reorganization, consolidation or merger of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries holding or controlling a majority of the assets relating to
the business of the Company, with or into any third party (other than a subsidiary); (b) the
assignment, sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all, but at least
40%, of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (measured by gross fair
market value without regard to liabilities); or (c) the acquisition by any third party or group of
third parties acting in concert, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended)
of shares of voting stock of the Company, the result of which in the case of any transaction
described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above is that immediately after the transaction the
stockholders of the Company immediately before the transaction, other than the acquiror, own less
than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors of the surviving or resulting corporation in a
transaction specified in clause (a) above, the acquiror in a transaction specified in clause (b)
above, or the Company or the acquiror in a transaction specified in clause (c) above.




          (d) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, any successor
revenue laws of the United States, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.




          (e) “Common Stock” shall mean the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Company.




          (f) “Company” shall mean Digene Corporation, a Delaware corporation.














 








          (g) “Director” shall mean any person who is a member of the Board.




          (h) “Disability” shall mean the inability of a Participant to engage in any
substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically-determinable physical or mental impairment
which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not
less than twelve months.




          (i) “Employee” shall mean any person engaged or proposed to be engaged as an officer
or employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries.




          (j) “Fair Market Value” shall mean with respect to the Common Stock on any day, (i)
the closing sales price on the immediately preceding business day of a share of Common Stock as
reported on the principal securities exchange on which shares of Common Stock are then listed or
admitted to trading, or (ii) if not so reported, the closing sales price on the immediately
preceding business day of a share of Common Stock as published in the NASDAQ National Market Issues
report in the Eastern Edition of The Wall Street Journal, or (iii) if not so reported, the average
of the closing bid and asked prices on the immediately preceding business day as reported on the
NASDAQ National Market System, or (iv) if not so reported, as furnished by any member of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. selected by the Board. In the event that the
price of a share of Common Stock shall not be so reported or furnished, the Fair Market Value of a
share of Common Stock shall be determined by the Board in good faith. “Fair Market Value” shall
mean, with respect to an Option granted under the Plan on any day the Fair Market Value of the
underlying Common Stock, determined as aforesaid, less the exercise price of the Option. A
“business day” is any day, other than Saturday or Sunday, on which the relevant market is open for
trading.




          (k) “Non-Employee Director” shall mean a member of the Board who is not an Employee.




          (l) “Option” shall mean an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted by the
Board pursuant to this Plan.




          (m) “Option Agreement” shall mean the certificate evidencing an Option grant.




          (n) “Option Shares” shall mean the shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of
an Option.




          (o) “Participant” shall mean a Director to whom an Award has been granted.




          (p) “Plan” shall mean this Digene Corporation Directors’ Equity Compensation Plan, as
the same may be amended from time to time.




          (q) “Restricted Stock” shall mean an Award of Common Stock pursuant to Article VI
hereof, subject to such restrictions as the Board may determine, as evidenced in a Restricted Stock
Agreement. Shares of Common Stock shall cease to be Restricted Stock when, in accordance with the
terms of the Restricted Stock Agreement, they become transferable and free of risk of forfeiture.




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          (r) “Restricted Stock Agreement” shall mean the agreement evidencing the Award of
Restricted Stock pursuant to this Plan.




          (s) “Restricted Stock Award” shall mean an Award of Restricted Stock pursuant to this
Plan.




          (t) “Restricted Stock Unit” shall mean a right to receive, without payment to the
Company, a number of shares of Common Stock as of a future date, subject to such restrictions as
the Board may determine, as evidenced by a Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. A Restricted Stock
Unit does not represent or entitle the recipient to any equity securities of the Company until such
future date.




          (u) “Restricted Stock Unit Agreement” shall mean the agreement evidencing the Award of
Restricted Stock pursuant to this Plan.




ARTICLE 2

ADMINISTRATION




     2.1 Administration. This Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall be interpreted,
construed and administered by the Board in its sole discretion. A Director eligible under the Plan
may appeal to the Board in writing any decision or action of the Board with respect to the Plan
that adversely affects the Director. Upon review of such appeal and in any other case where the
Board has acted with respect to the Plan, the interpretation and construction by the Board of any
provisions of this Plan or of any Award shall be conclusive and binding on all parties.



     2.2 Board Action. A majority of the entire Board shall constitute a quorum, and the
action of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be
deemed the action of the Board. In addition, any decision or determination reduced to writing and
signed by all of the members of the Board shall be fully as effective as if it had been made by a
majority vote at a meeting duly called and held. Subject to the provisions of this Plan and the
Company’s bylaws, the Board may make such additional rules and regulations for the conduct of its
business as it shall deem advisable.



     2.3 Board Powers. The Board shall have authority to grant Awards with such terms (not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan) as the Board may consider appropriate. Such terms
shall include, without limitation, as applicable, the number of shares, the term of each Award, any
vesting requirements, any restrictions, any forfeiture provisions, the Option price and the medium
and time of payment and may include conditions (in addition to those contained in this Plan) on the
exercisability of all or any part of an Option. Notwithstanding any such conditions, the Board
may, in its discretion, accelerate the time at which any Option may be exercised, any Restricted
Stock Unit vests or when restrictions are lifted on Restricted Stock. In addition, the Board shall
have complete discretionary authority to prescribe the forms of Option Agreement, Restricted Stock
Unit Agreement and Restricted Stock Agreement; to adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations
pertaining to the administration of the Plan; and to make all other determinations necessary or
advisable for the administration of this Plan. The



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express grant in the Plan of any specific power to the Board shall not be construed as
limiting any power or authority of the Board. All expenses of administering this Plan shall be
borne by the Company.



     2.4 Good Faith Determinations. No member of the Board shall be liable for any action
or determination made in good faith with respect to this Plan or any Award granted hereunder.



ARTICLE 3



ELIGIBILITY; TYPES OF BENEFITS; SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN




     3.1 Eligibility. The Board shall from time to time determine and designate the
Directors to receive Awards under this Plan and the number of Awards to be awarded to each such
Director or the formula or other basis on which such Awards shall be awarded to Directors. In
making any such award, the Board may take into account such factors as it considers relevant.



     3.2 Shares Subject to this Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.4 (relating
to adjustment for changes in Common Stock), the maximum number of shares that may be issued under
this Plan shall not exceed in the aggregate 600,000 shares of Common Stock, provided that any grant
of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units under the Plan on or after October 26, 2005 will be
counted against the maximum aggregate number of shares issuable under the Plan as two shares of
Common Stock for every one share of Common Stock subject thereto. If any Options granted under
this Plan shall for any reason terminate or expire or be surrendered without having been exercised
in full, then the shares not purchased under such Options shall be available again for grant
hereunder. Further, if any Restricted Stock Units or shares of Restricted Stock are forfeited, the
shares subject to the portion of such Award forfeited shall again be available under the Plan;
provided that, to the extent that a share of Common Stock that was subject to an Award that counted
as two shares against the maximum aggregate number of shares issuable under the Plan is recycled
back into the Plan, the Plan will be credited with two shares. Notwithstanding anything in this
Subsection to the contrary, (i) should the exercise price of an Option be paid with shares of
Common Stock or other outstanding Options or (ii) should shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable
under the Plan be paid in cash or withheld by the Company in satisfaction of the withholding taxes
incurred in connection with the exercise of an Option or the vesting of an Award, then the number
of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross
number of shares for which the Option is exercised or which vest under the Award, and not by the
net number of shares of Common Stock issued to the holder of such Option or Award.



     3.3 Individual Limit. Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, in no
event shall any Director receive in any calendar year Awards under this Plan involving more than
50,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.4).



     3.4 Changes. In the event of any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares
of Common Stock resulting from a merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, stock
dividend, stock split or subdivision, such automatic substitution or adjustment shall be made in
the maximum aggregate number of shares which may be issued under this Plan, the maximum



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number of shares with respect to which Awards may be granted to any individual during any
year, the number and exercise price of shares subject to outstanding Options, and the number of
shares subject to other outstanding Awards, as the Board determines shall cause an equitable
adjustment under this Plan, in proportion to the effect of such change to the Common Stock
generally; provided that the number of shares subject to any Award shall be rounded down to the
nearest whole number so that the number of shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole
number. In the event of a change in the Common Stock as presently constituted, which change is
limited to a change of all of the authorized shares with par value into the same number of shares
with a different par value or without par value, the shares resulting from any such change shall be
deemed to be the Common Stock within the meaning of this Plan.



ARTICLE 4



STOCK OPTIONS




     4.1 Grant; Terms and Conditions. The Board, in its discretion, may from time to time
grant Options to any Director eligible to receive Options under this Plan. Each Director who is
granted an Option shall receive an Option Agreement from the Company in a form specified by the
Board and containing such provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Board, in its sole
discretion, shall determine at the time the Option is granted.



          (a) Type of Options. All Options granted under the Plan will be non-qualified options
and are not intended to be incentive stock options (as defined in Section 422 of the Code).




          (b) Number of Shares. Each Option Agreement shall state the number of shares of
Common Stock to which it pertains.




          (c) Option Price. Each Option Agreement shall state the Option exercise price, which
shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the date of grant
of the Option. The date of the grant of an Option shall be the date specified by the Board in its
grant of the Option.




          (d) Medium and Time of Payment. Upon the exercise of an Option, the Option exercise
price shall be payable in United States dollars, in cash (including by check) or (unless the Board
otherwise prescribes) in shares of Common Stock owned by the optionee, in Options granted to the
optionee under the Plan which are then exercisable or options granted to the optionee under any of
the Company’s other stock option plans which are then exercisable, or in a combination of cash,
Common Stock and options. If all or any portion of the Option exercise price is paid in Common
Stock owned by the optionee, then that stock shall be valued at its Fair Market Value as of the
date the Option is exercised. If all or any portion of the Option exercise price is paid in
Options or in options granted to the optionee under any of the Company’s other stock option plans,
then such options shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the date the Option is
exercised.




          (e) Term and Exercise of Options. The term of each Option shall be determined by the
Board at the time the Option is granted; provided that the term of an Option

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shall in no event be more than ten years from the date of grant for Options granted prior to
September 20, 2005 and shall in no event be more than seven years from the date of grant for
Options granted on or after September 20, 2005. Not less than one hundred shares may be purchased
at any one time unless the number purchased is the total number at the time purchasable under the
Option.




          (f) Change of Control. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.4, in the event of
a Change of Control, all outstanding Options shall immediately become fully exercisable, and upon
payment by the Participant of the exercise price (and, if requested, delivery of the representation
described in Section 7.18), a stock certificate representing the Common Stock covered thereby shall
be issued and delivered to the Participant. Any Option not exercised immediately prior to such
transaction shall pertain to and apply to the securities that a holder of the number of shares of
Common Stock subject to the Option would have been entitled to receive in the transaction.




          (g) Merger and Other Fundamental Transactions. Subject to any action that may be
required on the part of the stockholders of the Company, if the Company is the surviving
corporation in any merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, acquisition, tender offer or exchange
offer which does not result in a Change of Control, other than such transaction effected for the
purpose of changing the Company’s domicile, then each outstanding Option shall pertain to and apply
to the securities or other consideration that a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the Option would have been entitled to receive in such transaction.




          In the case of a merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, acquisition, tender offer or exchange
offer effected for the purpose of changing the Company’s domicile, each outstanding Option shall
continue in effect in accordance with its terms and shall apply or relate to the same number of
shares of common stock of such surviving corporation as the number of shares of Common Stock to
which it applied or related immediately prior to such transaction, adjusted for any increase or
decrease in the number of outstanding shares of common stock of the surviving corporation effected
without receipt of consideration.




          A dissolution or liquidation of the Company shall cause each outstanding Option to terminate,
provided that each holder shall, in such event, have the right immediately prior to such
dissolution or liquidation to exercise his or her Option in whole or in part without regard to any
vesting schedule contained in his or her Agreement.




          (h) Rights as a Stockholder. Subject to Section 7.9 of this Plan regarding
uncertificated shares, an optionee or a transferee of an Option shall have no rights as a
stockholder with respect to any shares covered by his or her Option until the date of the issuance
of a stock certificate to him or her for those shares upon payment of the exercise price. No
adjustments shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or
other property) or distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date
such stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 3.4.




          (i) Modification, Extension and Renewal of Options. Subject to the terms and
conditions and within the limitations of this Plan, the Board may modify, extend or renew
outstanding Options granted under this Plan or accept the surrender of outstanding Options (to

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the extent not theretofore exercised) and authorize the granting of new Options in
substitution therefor (to the extent not theretofore exercised); provided, however, that (1) no
modification of an Option shall, without the consent of the optionee, alter or impair any rights or
obligations under any Option theretofore granted under this Plan; and (2) except as otherwise
provided in Section 3.4 hereof, the Board shall not reduce the exercise price of Options previously
awarded to any optionee, whether through amendment, cancellation and replacement grant, or any
other means, without prior stockholder approval.




          (j) Exercisability and Term of Options. Unless earlier terminated, Options granted
pursuant to this Plan shall be exercisable at any time on or after the dates of exercisability and
before the expiration date set forth in the Option Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an
Option shall terminate and may not be exercised if the Director to whom it is granted ceases to be
a member of the Board, except that: (1) unless the Board shall determine that the Director was
removed from the Board for conduct that in the judgment of the Board involves dishonesty or action
by the Director that is detrimental to the best interest of the Company, the Director may at any
time within three months after ceasing to be a member of the Board exercise his or her Option but
only to the extent the Option was exercisable by him or her on the date he or she ceased to be a
member of the Board; (2) if such Director ceases to be a member of the Board on account of a
Disability, then the Director may at any time within one year after ceasing to be a member of the
Board exercise his or her Option but only to the extent that the Option was exercisable on the date
he or she ceased to be a member of the Board; and (3) if such Director dies while a member of the
Board, or within the three or twelve month period after ceasing to be a member of the Board as
described in clause (1) or (2) above, then his or her Option may be exercised at any time within
twelve months following his or her death by the person specified in Section 4.1(d), but only to the
extent that such Option was exercisable by him or her on the date he or she ceased to be a member
of the Board. The Board may, in its discretion, provide in any Option Agreement or determine at
any time after the date of grant that the exercisability of an Option will be accelerated, in whole
or in part, in the event of a Director’s retirement, death or Disability. The Board may, in its
discretion, extend the post-termination exercise periods set forth in this subsection, but not
beyond the expiration date of the Option. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
subsection, an Option may not be exercised by anyone after the expiration of its term.




          (k) Termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, in no event
shall any Option be exercisable after the date of termination of the exercise period of such
Option.




     4.2 Other Terms and Conditions. Through the Option Agreements authorized under this
Plan, the Board may impose such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms hereof,
on the grant or exercise of Options, as it deems advisable.



     4.3 Non-Employee Director Options. Immediately following the Company’s Annual Meeting
of Stockholders each year during the term of this Plan, beginning with the Company’s 2005 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders, each Non-Employee Director will automatically be granted an Option for
5,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.4); provided, however,
that a Non-Employee Director who ceases to be a member of the Board at such Annual Meeting of
Stockholders shall not be granted any such



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automatic Option on that date. The Option exercise price for such Options will be equal to
the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Option is granted. All Options
granted under this Section 4.3 shall be immediately exercisable and shall expire on the seventh
anniversary of the date of grant. In all other respects, the Options granted pursuant to this
Section 4.3 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 4.1 (including subsection 4.1(j)).



ARTICLE 5




RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS




          5.1 Award; Terms and Conditions. The Board, in its discretion, may from time to time
award Restricted Stock Units to any Director eligible to receive Restricted Stock Units under this
Plan. Each Director who is awarded Restricted Stock Units shall receive a Restricted Stock Unit
Agreement from the Company in the form specified by the Board and containing such provisions,
consistent with this Plan, as the Board, in its sole discretion, shall determine at the time the
Restricted Stock Units are awarded.




          (a) Number of Shares and Forfeiture. Each Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall
specify the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Award and the time or times within
which such Restricted Stock Units are subject to forfeiture.




          (b) Vesting Period. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and the Restricted Stock
Unit Agreement, Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited to the Company in the event that the
Participant to whom such Restricted Stock Units are awarded ceases to be a member of the Board
during a period (not to exceed five years) set by the Board commencing with the date of such Award
(the “Restricted Unit Vesting Period”). Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board, in its
sole discretion, may provide for vesting in installments or early vesting, in whole or in part, at
any time, based on such factors as the Board shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion.




          (c) Termination. Subject to Section 7.10, and the terms of each Award, if the
Participant to whom Restricted Stock Units are awarded ceases to be a member of the Board prior to
the expiration of the Restricted Unit Vesting Period, then he or she shall forfeit all of his or
her Restricted Stock Units with respect to which the Restricted Unit Vesting Period has not yet
expired; provided however that if such Participant ceases to be a member of the Board on account of
death or Disability during the Restricted Unit Vesting Period, then all restrictions on outstanding
Restricted Stock Units shall lapse.




          (d) Changes. Subject to any action that may be required on the part of the
stockholders of the Company, if any change is made in the Common Stock by reason of any merger,
consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, split up, combination of shares,
exchange of shares, change in corporate structure, or otherwise, then any outstanding Restricted
Stock Units immediately prior to the scheduled effectiveness of such transaction shall pertain to
and apply to the securities or other consideration that a holder of the number of shares of Common
Stock underlying the Restricted Stock Units would have been entitled to receive in the transaction.




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          (e) Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control, all restrictions on
outstanding Restricted Stock Units shall lapse immediately.




          (f) Payment of Restricted Stock Units. Payment of vested Restricted Stock Units shall
be made in shares of Common Stock. The number of shares delivered shall be equal to the number of
Restricted Stock Units vested. The holder may elect to reduce this amount by the number of shares
of Common Stock which have, on the date the Restricted Stock Units vest, a Fair Market Value equal
to the estimated applicable federal, state and local income tax due on the receipt of the Common
Stock, which amount shall be paid promptly to the holder in cash.




          (g) Common Stock Ownership. A Participant shall not be deemed to be the holder of
Common Stock, or to have any of the rights of a holder of Common Stock, with respect to the shares
of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Units, unless and until the vesting of such
Restricted Stock Units and a stock certificate representing such shares of Common Stock is issued
to the Participant.




     5.2 Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Units. Immediately following the Company’s
Annual Meeting of Stockholders each year during the term of this Plan, beginning with the Company’s
2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, each Non-Employee Director will automatically be awarded
Restricted Stock Units representing the number of shares of Common Stock having Fair Market Value
equal to $45,000 on the date of award; provided, however, that a Non-Employee Director who ceases
to be a member of the Board at such Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall not be automatically
awarded any such Restricted Stock Units on that date. All Restricted Stock Units awarded under
this Section 5.2 shall have a vesting period that commences on the date of award and vests on the
earlier of the date of the Company’s next Annual Meeting of Stockholders or one year from the date
of award. In all other respects, the Restricted Stock Units awarded pursuant to this Section 5.2
shall be subject to the provisions of Section 5.1.



ARTICLE 6



RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS




     6.1 Award; Terms and Conditions. The Board, in its discretion, may from time to time
award Restricted Stock to any Director eligible to receive Restricted Stock under this Plan. Each
Director who is awarded a Restricted Stock Award shall receive a Restricted Stock Agreement from
the Company in the form specified by the Board and containing such provisions, consistent with this
Plan, as the Board, in its sole discretion, shall determine at the time the Restricted Stock Award
is awarded.



          (a) Number of Shares and Forfeiture. Each Restricted Stock Agreement shall specify
the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Award and the time or times within which such
Restricted Stock is subject to forfeiture.




          (b) Stock Certificate. Subject to Section 7.9, the Company will hold in escrow, until
the restrictions applicable to a Restricted Stock Award, or any portion thereof, lapse, the stock
certificate representing the number of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant

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to such Restricted Stock Award, or portion thereof. After the lapse of such restrictions, the
Company shall release such stock certificate to the Participant. A Participant shall be the holder
of the shares of Restricted Stock subject to the Award as of the date of issuance of the Restricted
Stock Award.




          (c) Restriction Period. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and the Restricted
Stock Agreement, shares of Restricted Stock will be forfeited to the Company in the event that the
Participant to whom such Restricted Stock is awarded ceases to be a member of the Board during a
period (not to exceed five years) established by the Board commencing with the date of such Award
(the “Restriction Period”). Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board, in its sole
discretion, may provide for the lapse of such restrictions in installments and may waive such
restrictions, in whole or in part, at any time, based on such factors as the Board shall deem
appropriate in its sole discretion.




          (d) Termination. Subject to Section 7.10, if the Participant to whom a Restricted
Stock Award is awarded ceases to be a member of the Board prior to the expiration of the
Restriction Period, then he or she shall forfeit all of his or her Restricted Stock with respect to
which the Restriction Period has not yet expired; provided however that if such Participant ceases
to be a member of the Board on account of death or Disability that occurs during the Restriction
Period, then the forfeiture restrictions on outstanding Restricted Stock Awards shall lapse.




          (e) Changes. If any change is made in the Common Stock by reason of any merger,
consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, split up, combination of shares,
exchange of shares, change in corporate structure, or otherwise, then any shares or other
securities of the Company or succeeding, resulting or other company to be received by the
Participant under the Restricted Stock Agreement shall be subject to the same restrictions
applicable to the Restricted Stock.




          (f) Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control, all restrictions on
outstanding Restricted Stock Awards shall lapse immediately.




ARTICLE 7



MISCELLANEOUS




     7.1 Withholding Taxes. A Director granted Awards under this Plan shall be
conclusively deemed to have authorized the Company to withhold from the compensation of such
Director funds in amounts or property (including Common Stock) in value equal to any federal, state
and local income, employment or other withholding taxes applicable to the income recognized by such
Director and attributable to the Awards as, when and to the extent, if any, required by law;
provided, however, that, in lieu of the withholding of federal, state and local taxes as herein
provided, the Company may require that the Director (or in the case of an Option, other person
exercising such Option) pay the Company an amount equal to the federal, state and local withholding
taxes on such income at the time such withholding is required or such other time as shall be
satisfactory to the Company.



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     7.2 Amendment, Suspension, Discontinuance or Termination of Plan. The Board may from
time to time amend, suspend or discontinue this Plan or revise it in any respect whatsoever for the
purpose of maintaining or improving the effectiveness of this Plan as an incentive device, for the
purpose of conforming this Plan to applicable governmental regulations or to any change in
applicable law or regulations or for any other purpose permitted by law; provided, however, that no
such action by the Board shall adversely affect any Award theretofore granted under this Plan
without the consent of the holder so affected. Unless sooner terminated by the Board, this Plan
will terminate on October 26, 2015.



     7.3 Governing Law. This Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of Delaware (without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws).



     7.4 Designation. This Plan may be referred to in other documents and instruments as
the “Digene Corporation Directors’ Equity Compensation Plan.”



     7.5 Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may
have as members of the Board, Directors shall be indemnified by the Company against the reasonable
expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the
defense of any investigation, action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal
therefrom, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to
act under or in connection with this Plan or any Award, and against all amounts paid by them in
settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by
the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in or dismissal or other discontinuance
of any such investigation, action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it
shall be adjudged in such investigation, action, suit or proceeding that such Director is liable
for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his or her duties; provided that, within 60 days
after institution of any such investigation, action, suit or proceeding, a Director shall in
writing offer the Company the opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same.



     7.6 Reservation of Shares. The Company shall at all times during the term of this
Plan, and so long as any Award shall be outstanding, reserve and keep available (and will seek or
obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction any requisite authority in order to issue) such
number of shares of its Common Stock as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this
Plan. Inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body of appropriate jurisdiction
authority considered by the Company to be necessary or desirable to the lawful issuance of any
shares of its Common Stock hereunder shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the
nonissuance or sale of such Common Stock as to which such requisite authority shall not have been
obtained.



     7.7 Application of Funds. The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of
Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of Options will be used for general corporate purposes.



     7.8 No Obligation to Exercise. The granting of a Option shall impose no obligation
upon the holder to exercise or otherwise realize the value of that Option.



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     7.9 Uncertificated Shares. Each Director who exercises an Option to acquire Common
Stock, is issued Common Stock upon the vesting of Restricted Stock Units or is awarded Restricted
Stock may, but need not, be issued a stock certificate in respect of the Common Stock so acquired.
A “book entry” (i.e., a computerized or manual entry) shall be made in the records of the
Company to evidence the issuance of shares of Common Stock to a Director where no certificate is
issued in the name of the Director. Such Company records, absent manifest error, shall be binding
on Directors. In all instances where the date of issuance of shares may be deemed significant but
no certificate is issued in accordance with this Section 7.9, the date of the book entry shall be
the relevant date for such purposes.



     7.10 Forfeiture for Competition. If a Participant in this Plan provides services to a
competitor of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, whether as an employee, officer, director,
independent contractor, consultant, agent or otherwise, such services being of a nature that can
reasonably be expected to involve the skills and experience used or developed by the participant
while a Director, then that Participant’s rights to any Awards hereunder that are unvested or
subject to forfeiture restrictions shall automatically be forfeited, subject to a determination to
the contrary by the Board.



     7.11 Adjustments. Except as expressly provided for in Sections 3.4, 4.1(f), 4.1(g),
5.1(d) or 6.1(e) of the Plan, the holder of an Award shall have no rights by reason of (i) any
subdivision or consolidation of shares of any class, (ii) any stock dividend, (iii) any other
increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class, (iv) any dissolution,
liquidation, merger or consolidation or spin-off, split-off or split-up of assets of the Company or
stock of another corporation or (v) any issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class or
securities convertible into shares of stock of any class. Moreover, except as expressly provided
in 3.4, 4.1(f), 4.1(g), 5.1(d) and 6.1(e), the occurrence of one or more of such events shall not
affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or, if
applicable, price of shares of Common Stock subject to the Award. Any adjustments pursuant to
sections 3.4, 4.1(f), 4.1(g), 5.1(d) and 6.1(e) shall be made by the Board, whose determination
shall be final, binding and conclusive.



     7.12 Rights of Company. The grant of an Award pursuant to this Plan shall not affect
in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications,
reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge or to consolidate or to
dissolve, liquidate, sell or otherwise transfer all or any part of its business or assets.



     7.13 Successors. This Plan shall be binding upon any and all successors of the
Company.



     7.14 Nonassignment. Except as the Board may otherwise determine from time to time:
(i) no Award and no right under any Award shall be assignable, alienable, saleable or transferable
by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; provided,
however, that a Participant may, by written notification delivered to the Board prior to the
Participant’s death, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant, and to
receive any property distributable, with respect to any Award upon the death of the Participant;
(ii) each Award, and each right under any Award, shall be exercisable during the Participant’s
lifetime only by the Participant or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s



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guardian or legal representative; and (iii) no Award and no right under any such Award, may be
pledged, alienated, attached, or otherwise encumbered, and any purported pledge, alienation,
attachment or encumbrance thereof shall be void and unenforceable against the Company. The
provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any Award which has been fully exercised, earned or
paid, as the case may be, and shall not preclude forfeiture of an Award in accordance with the
terms thereof.



     7.15 Board Service. Nothing in this Plan or in any Option Agreement, Restricted Stock
Unit Agreement or Restricted Stock Agreement shall confer on any Director any right to continue to
serve as a member of the Board, nor is there any implied agreement or understanding that such
Director will be nominated for reelection to the Board.



     7.16 Other Actions. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to limit the
authority of the Company to exercise its corporate rights and powers, including, but not by way of
limitation, the right of the Company to grant options or other equity-based compensation for proper
corporate purposes other than under the Plan with respect to any employee or other person, firm,
corporation or association.



     7.17 Tax Treatment and Characterization. Neither the Company nor any other person
represents or warrants to any Plan participant that favorable or desirable tax treatment or
characterization will be applicable in respect of any Award.



     7.18 Legend. The Board may require each person acquiring shares pursuant to an Award
to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that he or she is acquiring the shares for
investment purposes and without a view to distribution thereof. In addition to any legend required
by this Plan, the stock certificates representing such shares may include any legend which the
Board deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer.



          All certificates representing shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan shall be subject
to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the Board may deem advisable under the
rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock
exchange upon which the Common Stock is then listed, any applicable federal or state securities
law, and any applicable corporate law, and the Board may cause a legend or legends to be put on any
such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.




     7.19 Listing and Other Conditions.



          (a) If the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange or the NASDAQ Stock
Market, the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award shall be conditioned upon
such shares being listed on such exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market. The Company shall have no
obligation to issue any shares of Common Stock unless and until such shares are so listed, and the
right to exercise any Option or vest in any Restricted Stock Unit shall be suspended until such
listing has been effected.




          (b) If at any time counsel to the Company shall be of the opinion that any sale or delivery of
shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award is or may in the circumstances be unlawful or result in
the imposition of excise taxes under the statutes, rules or regulations of any




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applicable jurisdiction, the Company shall have no obligation to make such sale or delivery,
or to make any application or to effect or to maintain any qualification or registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or otherwise with respect to shares of Common Stock or Awards,
and the right to exercise any Option or vest in any Restricted Stock Unit shall be suspended until,
in the opinion of such counsel, such sale or delivery shall be lawful or shall not result in the
imposition of excise taxes.




          (c) Upon termination of any period of suspension under this Section 7.19, any Award affected
by such suspension which shall not then have expired or terminated shall be reinstated as to all
shares available before such suspension and as to shares which would otherwise have become
available during the period of such suspension, but no such suspension shall extend the term of any
Award.



As revised by the Board at its meeting held September 10, 1998 — the last two sentences of
Section 4.1(d) were added and subsection (3) of the second sentence of Section 4.1(h) was revised.



As amended and restated by the Board at its meeting held October 26, 2000 — adding and clarifying
the definition “Change of Control” to Section 1.3(b), amending and restating Section 4.1(e) with
new provisions regarding the treatment of Options in the event of a Change of Control transaction
and adding Section 4.3 regarding automatic Option grants to certain Non-Employee Directors.



As revised by the Board at its meeting held September 12, 2002 — the first sentence of Section 4.3
was revised.



As
revised by the Board at its meeting held October 23, 2002 — Section 4.3 was revised.



As revised by the Board by unanimous written consent dated September 20, 2005 to require
stockholder approval of any reduction of the exercise price of outstanding Options, to limit the
term of Options granted on or after September 20, 2005 to a maximum of seven years, to require that
the exercise price of any Options granted under the Plan be no less than 100% of the Fair Market
Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant, to clarify that the number of shares of common
stock available for issuance under the Plan will be reduced by the gross, not net, number of shares
of common stock subject to Awards, to change the governing law of the Plan to Delaware law and to
make certain technical amendments to the Plan to comply with Section 409A of the Code.



As revised by the Board by unanimous written consent dated September 20, 2005 and approved by the
stockholders at the Annual Meeting held on October 26, 2005 to include provisions for the award of
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units, to extend the termination date of the Plan to October
26, 2015, to revise Section 4.3 and to make conforming changes throughout the Plan.



As revised by the Board at its meeting held on September 7, 2006 and approved by the stockholders
at the Annual Meeting held on October 25, 2006 to increase the number of shares of common stock
available for grants and awards under the Plan by 100,000 shares, from 500,000 to 600,000.



As revised by the Board by unanimous written consent dated November 2, 2006 to amend Section 3.4 to
make any antidilution adjustment automatic.





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