EX-10.10





 Exhibit 10.10 

CERENCE INC. 
 2019
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN 
  

	1.	 DEFINED TERMS 



Exhibit A, which is incorporated by reference, defines certain terms used in the Plan and includes certain operational rules related to
those terms. 
  

	2.	 PURPOSE 



The Plan has been established to advance the interests of the Company by providing for the grant to Participants of Stock and Stock-based
Awards. 
  

	3.	 ADMINISTRATION 



The Plan will be administered by the Administrator. The Administrator has discretionary authority, subject only to the express provisions of
the Plan, to interpret the Plan; to determine eligibility for and grant Awards; to determine, modify, accelerate or waive the terms and conditions of any Award; to determine the form of settlement of Awards (whether in cash, shares of Stock, or
other property); to prescribe forms, rules and procedures relating to the Plan and Awards; and to otherwise do all things necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of the Plan or any Award. Determinations of the Administrator made with
respect to the Plan or any Award are conclusive and bind all persons. 
  

	4.	 LIMITS ON AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN 



(a) Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7(b), the number of shares of Stock that
may be issued in satisfaction of Awards under the Plan is                  shares (the “Initial Share Pool”). The Initial Share Pool will automatically
increase on January 1st of each year from 2020 until 2029, by the lesser of (A) three percent (3%) of the number of shares of Stock outstanding as of the close of business on the immediately
preceding December 31st; and (B) the number of shares of Stock determined by the Board on or prior to such date for such year (the Initial Share Pool, as it may be so increased, the
“Share Pool”). Up to the total number of shares of Stock in the Initial Share Pool may be issued in satisfaction of ISOs, but nothing in this Section 4(a) will be construed as requiring that any, or any fixed number of, ISOs be
granted under the Plan. For purposes of this Section 4(a), shares of Stock will not be treated as issued under the Plan, and will not reduce the Share Pool, unless and until, and to the extent, the shares are actually issued to a Participant.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shares of Stock withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price or purchase price of an Award or in satisfaction of tax withholding requirements with respect to an Award and shares of Stock
underlying any portion of an Award that is settled in cash or that expires, becomes unexercisable, terminates or is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, in each case, without the issuance (or retention (in the case of Restricted Stock or
Unrestricted Stock)) of Stock, will not be treated as issued in satisfaction of Awards under the Plan and will not reduce the Share Pool. The limits set forth in this Section 4(a) will be construed to comply with the applicable requirements of
Section 422. 












 (b) Substitute Awards. The Administrator may grant
Substitute Awards under the Plan. To the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 422 and the regulations thereunder and other applicable legal requirements (including applicable stock exchange requirements), shares of Stock issued in
respect of Substitute Awards will be in addition to and will not reduce the Share Pool. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in Section 4(a) to the contrary, if any Substitute Award is settled in cash or expires, becomes unexercisable,
terminates or is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company without the issuance (or retention, in the case of Restricted Stock or Unrestricted Stock) of Stock, the shares of Stock previously subject to such Award will not increase the Share Pool or
otherwise be available for future issuance under the Plan. The Administrator will determine the extent to which the terms and conditions of the Plan apply to Substitute Awards, if at all, provided, however, that Substitute Awards will
not be subject to the limits described in Section 4(d). 
 (c) Type of Shares. Stock issued by the Company
under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Stock or previously issued Stock acquired by the Company. No fractional shares of Stock will be issued under the Plan. 

(d) Director Limits. Notwithstanding the foregoing limits, the aggregate value of all compensation granted or paid
to any Director with respect to any calendar year, including Awards granted under the Plan and the amount of cash fees or other compensation paid by the Company to such Director outside of the Plan, in each case, for his or her services as a
Director during such calendar year, may not exceed $750,000 in the aggregate (or $1,000,000 for the calendar year the Director is first appointed or elected to the Board), calculating the value of any Awards based on the grant date fair value in
accordance with the Accounting Rules and assuming maximum payout levels. 
  

	5.	 ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION 



The Administrator will select Participants from among Employees and Directors of, and consultants and advisors to, the Company and its
subsidiaries. Eligibility for ISOs is limited to individuals described in the first sentence of this Section 5 who are employees of the Company or of a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” of the Company as those
terms are defined in Section 424 of the Code. Eligibility for Stock Options, other than ISOs, and SARs is limited to individuals described in the first sentence of this Section 5 who are providing direct services on the date of grant of
the Award to the Company or to a subsidiary of the Company that would be described in the first sentence of Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E) of the Treasury Regulations. 

 

	6.	 RULES APPLICABLE TO AWARDS 



(a) All Awards. 

(1) Award Provisions. The Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of all Awards, subject to the
limitations provided herein. By accepting (or, under such rules as the Administrator may prescribe, being deemed to have accepted) an Award, the Participant will be deemed to have agreed to the terms and conditions of the Award and the Plan.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, Substitute Awards may contain terms and conditions that are inconsistent with the terms and conditions specified herein, as determined by the Administrator. 

  
 2 













 (2) Term of Plan. No Awards may be made after ten years from the
Date of Adoption, but previously granted Awards may continue beyond that date in accordance with their terms. 
 (3)
Transferability. Neither ISOs nor, except as the Administrator otherwise expressly provides in accordance with the third sentence of this Section 6(a)(3), other Awards may be transferred other than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution. During a Participant’s lifetime, ISOs and, except as the Administrator otherwise expressly provides in accordance with the third sentence of this Section 6(a)(3), SARs and NSOs may be exercised only by the
Participant. The Administrator may permit the gratuitous transfer (i.e., transfer not for value) of Awards other than ISOs, subject to applicable securities and other laws and such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine. 

(4) Vesting; Exercisability. The Administrator will determine the time or times at which an Award vests or becomes
exercisable and the terms and conditions on which a Stock Option or SAR remains exercisable. Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrator may at any time accelerate the vesting and/or exercisability of an Award (or any portion thereof),
regardless of any adverse or potentially adverse tax or other consequences resulting from such acceleration. Unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, however, the following rules will apply if a Participant’s Employment ceases:

 (A) Except as provided in (B) and (C) below, immediately upon the cessation of the Participant’s
Employment each Stock Option and SAR (or portion thereof) that is then held by the Participant or by the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, will cease to be exercisable and will terminate, and each other Award that is then held by the
Participant or by the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, to the extent not then vested, will be forfeited. 

(B) Subject to (C) and (D) below, each vested and unexercised Stock Option and SAR (or portion thereof) held by the
Participant or the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the cessation of the Participant’s Employment, to the extent then exercisable, will remain exercisable for the lesser of (i) a period of three months
following such cessation of Employment or (ii) the period ending on the latest date on which such Stock Option or SAR could have been exercised without regard to this Section 6(a)(4), and will thereupon immediately terminate. 

(C) Subject to (D) below, each vested and unexercised Stock Option and SAR (or portion thereof) held by a
Participant or the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the cessation of the Participant’s Employment due to his or her death or by the Company due to his or her Disability, to the extent then exercisable, will
remain exercisable for the lesser of (i) the one-year period ending on the first anniversary of such cessation of employment or (ii) the period ending on the latest date on which such Stock Option or
SAR could have been exercised without regard to this Section 6(a)(4), and will thereupon immediately terminate. 

  
 3 













 (D) All Awards (whether or not vested or exercisable) held by a
Participant or the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the cessation of the Participant’s Employment will immediately terminate upon such cessation of Employment if the termination is for Cause or occurs in
circumstances that in the determination of the Administrator would have constituted grounds for the Participant’s Employment to be terminated for Cause (in each case, without regard to the lapsing of any required notice or cure periods in
connection therewith). 
 (5) Recovery of Compensation. The Administrator may provide in any case that any outstanding
Award (whether or not vested or exercisable), the proceeds from the exercise or disposition of any Award or Stock acquired under any Award and any other amounts received in respect of any Award or Stock acquired under any Award will be subject to
forfeiture and disgorgement to the Company, with interest and other related earnings, if the Participant to whom the Award was granted is not in compliance with any provision of the Plan or any applicable Award, any
non-competition, non-solicitation, no-hire, non-disparagement, confidentiality, invention
assignment, or other restrictive covenant by which he or she is bound. Each Award shall be subject to any policy of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that provides for forfeiture, disgorgement or clawback with respect to incentive compensation
that includes Awards under the Plan and shall be further subject to forfeiture and disgorgement to the extent required by law or applicable stock exchange listing standards, including, without limitation, Section 10D of the Exchange Act. Each
Participant, by accepting or being deemed to have accepted an Award under the Plan, agrees (or will be deemed to have agreed) to the terms of this Section 6(a)(5) and to cooperate fully with the Administrator, and to cause any and all permitted
transferees of the Participant to cooperate fully with the Administrator, to effectuate any forfeiture or disgorgement described in this Section 6(a)(5). Neither the Administrator nor the Company nor any other person, other than the Participant
and his or her permitted transferees, if any, will be responsible for any adverse tax or other consequences to a Participant or his or her permitted transferees, if any, that may arise in connection with this Section 6(a)(5). 

(6) Taxes. The grant of an Award and the issuance, delivery, vesting and retention of Stock, cash or other
property under an Award are conditioned upon the full satisfaction by the Participant of all tax and other withholding requirements with respect to the Award. The Administrator will prescribe such rules for the withholding of taxes and other amounts
with respect to any Award as it deems necessary. Without limitation to the foregoing, the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold (by any means set forth herein or in an Award
agreement), or require a Participant to remit to the Company or a parent or subsidiary of the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy all U.S. and non-U.S. federal, state and local income tax, social
insurance, payroll tax, fringe benefits tax, payment on account or other tax-related items related to participation in the Plan and legally applicable to the Participant and required by law to be withheld
(including any amount deemed by the Company, in its discretion, to be an appropriate charge to the Participant even if legally applicable to the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company). The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may hold
back shares of Stock from an Award or permit a Participant to tender previously owned shares of Stock in satisfaction of tax or other withholding requirements (but not in excess of the maximum withholding amount consistent with the Award being
subject to equity accounting treatment under the Accounting Rules). Any amounts withheld pursuant to this Section 6(a)(6) will be treated as though such amounts had been made directly to the Participant. In addition, the Company may, to the
extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax and other withholding amounts from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Participant from the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company. 

  
 4 













 (7) Dividend Equivalents. The Administrator may provide for the
payment of amounts (on terms and subject to conditions established by the Administrator) in lieu of cash dividends or other cash distributions with respect to Stock subject to an Award whether or not the holder of such Award is otherwise entitled to
share in the actual dividend or distribution in respect of such Award; provided, however, that (a) dividends or dividend equivalents relating to an Award that, at the dividend payment date, remains subject to a risk of forfeiture
(whether service-based or performance-based) shall be subject to the same risk of forfeiture as applies to the underlying Award and (b) no dividends or dividend equivalents shall be payable with respect to Options or SARs. Any entitlement to
dividend equivalents or similar entitlements will be established and administered either consistent with an exemption from, or in compliance with, the applicable requirements of Section 409A. Dividends or dividend equivalent amounts payable in
respect of Awards that are subject to restrictions may be subject to such additional limitations or restrictions as the Administrator may impose. 

(8) Rights Limited. Nothing in the Plan or any Award will be construed as giving any person the right to be
granted an Award or to continued employment or service with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any rights as a stockholder except as to shares of Stock actually issued under the Plan. The loss of existing or potential profit in any Award
will not constitute an element of damages in the event of termination of a Participant’s Employment for any reason, even if the termination is in violation of an obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to the Participant. 

(9) Coordination with Other Plans. Shares of Stock and/or Awards under the Plan may be issued or granted in tandem
with, or in satisfaction of or substitution for, other Awards under the Plan or awards made under other compensatory plans or programs of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. For example, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
awards under other compensatory plans or programs of the Company or any of its subsidiaries may be settled in Stock (including, without limitation, Unrestricted Stock) under the Plan if the Administrator so determines, in which case the shares
delivered will be treated as awarded under the Plan (and will reduce the Share Pool in accordance with the rules set forth in Section 4). 

(10) Section 409A. 

(A) Without limiting the generality of Section 11(b), each Award will contain such terms as the Administrator
determines and will be construed and administered, such that the Award either qualifies for an exemption from the requirements of Section 409A or satisfies such requirements. 

(B) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or any Award agreement, the Administrator may unilaterally
amend, modify or terminate the Plan or any outstanding Award, including, but not limited to, changing the form of the Award, if the Administrator determines that such amendment, modification or termination is necessary or advisable to avoid the
imposition of an additional tax, interest or penalty under Section 409A. 

  
 5 













 (C) If a Participant is determined on the date of the
Participant’s termination of Employment to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then, with regard to any payment that is considered nonqualified deferred compensation
under Section 409A, to the extent applicable, payable on account of a “separation from service”, such payment will be made or provided on the date that is the earlier of (i) the first business day following the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of such “separation from service” and (ii) the date of the Participant’s death (the “Delay Period”). Upon the expiration of the Delay
Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section 6(a)(10)(C) (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single lump sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) will be paid, without interest, on the first business day
following the expiration of the Delay Period in a lump sum and any remaining payments due under the Award will be paid in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them in the applicable Award agreement. 

(D) For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made under the Plan or any Award will be treated as a separate
payment. 
 (E) With regard to any payment considered to be nonqualified deferred compensation under
Section 409A, to the extent applicable, that is payable upon a change in control of the Company or other similar event, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of any additional tax, interest or penalty under Section 409A, no amount
will be payable unless such change in control constitutes a “change in control event” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the Treasury Regulations. 

(b) Stock Options and SARs. 

(1) Time and Manner of Exercise. Unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, no Stock Option or SAR
will be considered to have been exercised until the Administrator receives a notice of exercise in a form acceptable to the Administrator that is signed by the appropriate person and accompanied by any payment required under the Award. The
Administrator may limit or restrict the exercisability of any Stock Option or SAR in its discretion, including in connection with any Covered Transaction. Any attempt to exercise a Stock Option or SAR by any person other than the Participant will
not be given effect unless the Administrator has received such evidence as it may require that the person exercising the Award has the right to do so. 

(2) Exercise Price. The exercise price (or the base value from which appreciation is to be measured) per share of
each Award requiring exercise must be no less than 100% (in the case of an ISO granted to a 10-percent stockholder within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code, 110%) of the Fair Market Value of a
share of Stock, determined as of the date of grant, or such higher amount as the Administrator may determine in connection with the grant. 

  
 6 













 (3) Payment of Exercise Price. Where the exercise of an Award
(or portion thereof) is to be accompanied by a payment, payment of the exercise price must be made by cash or check acceptable to the Administrator or, if so permitted by the Administrator and if legally permissible, (i) through the delivery of
previously acquired unrestricted shares of Stock, or the withholding of unrestricted shares of Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise, in either case, that have a Fair Market Value equal to the exercise price; (ii) through a broker-assisted
cashless exercise program acceptable to the Administrator; (iii) by other means acceptable to the Administrator; or (iv) by any combination of the foregoing permissible forms of payment. The delivery of previously acquired shares in
payment of the exercise price under clause (i) above may be accomplished either by actual delivery or by constructive delivery through attestation of ownership, subject to such rules as the Administrator may prescribe. 

(4) Maximum Term. The maximum term of Stock Options and SARs must not exceed 10 years from the date of grant (or
five years from the date of grant in the case of an ISO granted to a 10-percent stockholder described in Section 6(b)(2)). 

(5) No Repricing. Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (which term includes,
without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off,
combination or exchange of shares) or as otherwise contemplated by Section 7, the Company may not, without obtaining stockholder approval, (i) amend the terms of outstanding Stock Options or SARs to reduce the exercise price or base value
of such Stock Options or SARs; (ii) cancel outstanding Stock Options or SARs in exchange for Stock Options or SARs with an exercise price or base value that is less than the exercise price or base value of the original Stock Options or SARs; or
(iii) cancel outstanding Stock Options or SARs that have an exercise price or base value greater than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of such cancellation in exchange for cash or other consideration. 

 

	7.	 EFFECT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS 



(a) Mergers, etc. Except as otherwise expressly provided in an Award agreement or by
the Administrator, the following provisions will apply in the event of a Covered Transaction: 
 (1) Assumption or
Substitution. If the Covered Transaction is one in which there is an acquiring or surviving entity, the Administrator may provide for (i) the assumption or continuation of some or all outstanding Awards or any portion thereof or
(ii) the grant of new awards in substitution therefor by the acquiror or survivor or an affiliate of the acquiror or survivor. 

(2) Cash-Out of Awards. Subject to Section 7(a)(5), the Administrator
may provide for payment (a “cash-out”), with respect to some or all Awards or any portion thereof (including only the vested portion thereof), equal in the case of each applicable Award or
portion thereof to the excess, if any, of (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock multiplied by the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award or such portion, minus (ii) the aggregate exercise or purchase price, if any, of such
Award or portion thereof (or, in the case of a SAR, the aggregate base value above which appreciation is measured), in each case, on such payment and other terms and subject to such conditions (which need not be the same as the terms and conditions
applicable to holders of Stock generally ) as the Administrator determines, including that any amounts paid 

  
 7 













 
in respect of such Award in connection with the Covered Transaction be placed in escrow or otherwise made subject to such restrictions as the Administrator deems appropriate. For the avoidance of
doubt, if the per share exercise or purchase price (or base value) of an Award or portion thereof is equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock, such Award or portion may be cancelled with no payment due hereunder or
otherwise in respect thereof. 
 (3) Acceleration of Certain Awards. Subject to Section 7(a)(5), the
Administrator may provide that any Award requiring exercise will become exercisable, in full or in part, and/or that the issuance of any shares of Stock remaining issuable under any outstanding Award of Stock Units (including Restricted Stock Units
and Performance Awards to the extent consisting of Stock Units) will be accelerated, in full or in part, in each case, on a basis that gives the holder of the Award a reasonable opportunity, as determined by the Administrator, following the exercise
of the Award or the issuance of the shares, as the case may be, to participate as a stockholder in the Covered Transaction. 
 (4)
Termination of Awards upon Consummation of Covered Transaction. Except as the Administrator may otherwise determine, each Award will automatically terminate (and in the case of outstanding shares of Restricted Stock, will
automatically be forfeited) immediately upon the consummation of the Covered Transaction, other than (i) any Award that is assumed, continued or substituted for pursuant to Section 7(a)(1) and (ii) any Award that by its terms, or as a
result of action taken by the Administrator, continues following the Covered Transaction. 
 (5) Additional
Limitations. Any share of Stock and any cash or other property delivered pursuant to Section 7(a)(2) or Section 7(a)(3) with respect to an Award may, in the discretion of the Administrator, contain such limitations or
restrictions, if any, as the Administrator deems appropriate, including to reflect any performance or other vesting conditions to which the Award was subject and that did not lapse (and were not satisfied) in connection with the Covered Transaction.
For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, a cash-out under Section 7(a)(2) or an acceleration under Section 7(a)(3) will not, in and of itself, be treated as the lapsing (or satisfaction)
of a performance or other vesting condition. In the case of Restricted Stock that does not vest and is not forfeited in connection with the Covered Transaction, the Administrator may require that any amounts delivered, exchanged or otherwise paid in
respect of such Stock in connection with the Covered Transaction be placed in escrow or otherwise made subject to such restrictions as the Administrator deems appropriate to carry out the intent of the Plan. 

(b) Changes in and Distributions with Respect to Stock. 

(1) Basic Adjustment Provisions. In the event of a stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares (including
a reverse stock split), recapitalization or other change in the Company’s capital structure that constitutes an equity restructuring within the meaning of the Accounting Rules, the Administrator will make appropriate adjustments to the Share
Pool, the individual limits described in Section 4(d), the number and kind of shares of stock or securities underlying Awards then outstanding or subsequently granted, any exercise or purchase prices (or base values) relating to Awards and any
other provision of Awards affected by such change. 

  
 8 













 (2) Certain Other Adjustments. The Administrator may also make
adjustments of the type described in Section 7(b)(1) to take into account distributions to stockholders other than those provided for in Section 7(a) and 7(b)(1), or any other event, if the Administrator determines that adjustments are
appropriate to avoid distortion in the operation of the Plan or any Award. 
 (3) Continuing Application of Plan
Terms. References in the Plan to shares of Stock will be construed to include any stock or securities resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 7. 

 

	8.	 LEGAL CONDITIONS ON DELIVERY OF STOCK 



The Company will not be obligated to issue any shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove any restriction from shares of Stock
previously issued under the Plan until: (i) the Company is satisfied that all legal matters in connection with the issuance of such shares have been addressed and resolved; (ii) if the outstanding Stock is at the time of issuance listed on
any stock exchange or national market system, the shares to be issued have been listed or authorized to be listed on such exchange or system upon official notice of issuance; and (iii) all conditions of the Award have been satisfied or waived.
The Company may require, as a condition to the exercise of an Award or the issuance of shares of Stock under an Award, such representations or agreements as counsel for the Company may consider appropriate to avoid violation of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or any applicable state or non-U.S. securities law. Any Stock issued under the Plan will be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator determines appropriate, including book-entry
registration or delivery of stock certificates. In the event that the Administrator determines that stock certificates will be issued in connection with Stock issued under the Plan, the Administrator may require that such certificates bear an
appropriate legend reflecting any restriction on transfer applicable to such Stock, and the Company may hold the certificates pending the lapse of the applicable restrictions. 

 

	9.	 AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION 



The Administrator may at any time or times amend the Plan or any outstanding Award for any purpose which may at the time be permitted by
applicable law, and may at any time terminate the Plan as to any future grants of Awards; provided that, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or the applicable Award, the Administrator may not, without the Participant’s
consent, alter the terms of an Award so as to materially and adversely affect the Participant’s rights under the Award, unless the Administrator expressly reserved the right to do in the Plan or at the time the applicable Award was granted. Subject to Section 6(b)(5), any amendments to the Plan will be conditioned upon stockholder approval only to the extent, if any, such approval is required by applicable law (including the Code)
or stock exchange requirements, as determined by the Administrator. For the avoidance of doubt, without prejudice to the Administrator’s rights hereunder, no adjustment to any Award pursuant to the terms of Section 7 or Section 12
will be treated as an amendment to such Award requiring a Participant’s consent. 

  
 9 














	10.	 OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS 



The existence of the Plan or the grant of any Award will not affect the right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to grant any person
bonuses or other compensation in addition to Awards under the Plan. 
  

	11.	 MISCELLANEOUS 



(a) Waiver of Jury Trial. By accepting or being deemed to have accepted an Award under the Plan, each Participant
waives (or will be deemed to have waived), to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, any right to a trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim concerning any rights under the Plan or any Award, or under any amendment,
waiver, consent, instrument, document or other agreement delivered or which in the future may be delivered in connection therewith, and agrees (or will be deemed to have agreed) that any such action, proceedings or counterclaim will be tried before
a court and not before a jury. By accepting or being deemed to have accepted an Award under the Plan, each Participant certifies that no officer, representative, or attorney of the Company has represented, expressly or otherwise, that the Company
would not, in the event of any action, proceeding, or counterclaim, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, nothing herein is to be construed as limiting the ability of the Company and a
Participant to agree to submit any dispute arising under the terms of the Plan or any Award to binding arbitration or as limiting the ability of the Company to require any individual to agree to submit such disputes to binding arbitration as a
condition of receiving an Award hereunder. 
 (b) Limitation of Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in the Plan or any Award, neither the Company, nor any of its subsidiaries, nor the Administrator, nor any person acting on behalf of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or the Administrator, will be liable to any Participant, to any
permitted transferee, to the estate or beneficiary of any Participant or any permitted transferee, or to any other person by reason of any acceleration of income, any additional tax, or any penalty, interest or other liability asserted by reason of
the failure of an Award to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 or Section 409A or by reason of Section 4999 of the Code, or otherwise asserted with respect to any Award. 

  
 10 














	12.	 RULES FOR PARTICIPANTS SUBJECT TO NON-U.S. LAWS



 The Administrator may at any time and from time to time (including before or after an Award is granted) establish,
adopt, or revise any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan for Participants based outside of the U.S. and/or subject to the laws of countries other than the U.S., including by establishing one or more sub-plans, supplements or appendices under the Plan or any Award agreement for the purpose of complying or facilitating compliance with non-U.S. laws or taking advantage of
tax favorable treatment or for any other legal or administrative reason determined by the Administrator. Any such sub-plan, supplement or appendix may contain, in each case, (i) such limitations on the
Administrator’s discretion under the Plan and (ii) such additional or different terms and conditions, as the Administrator deems necessary or desirable and will be deemed to be part of the Plan but will apply only to Participants within
the group to which the sub-plan, supplement or appendix applies (as determined by the Administrator); provided, however, that no sub-plan, supplement or appendix, rule
or regulation established pursuant to this provision shall increase the Share Pool contained in Section 4 of the Plan or cause a violation of any U.S. law. 
  

	13.	 GOVERNING LAW 



(a) Certain Requirements of Corporate Law. Awards and shares of Stock will be granted, issued and administered
consistent with the requirements of applicable Delaware law relating to the issuance of stock and the consideration to be received therefor, and with the applicable requirements of the stock exchanges or other trading systems on which the Stock is
listed or entered for trading, in each case, as determined by the Administrator. 
 (b) Other Matters. Except as
otherwise provided by the express terms of an Award agreement or under a sub-plan described in Section 12, the domestic substantive laws of the State of Delaware govern the provisions of the Plan and of
Awards under the Plan and all claims or disputes arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Award under the Plan or relating to the subject matter hereof or thereof, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision or rule that
would cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any other jurisdiction. 
 (c) Jurisdiction. Subject to
Section 11(a) and except as may be expressly set forth in an Award agreement, by accepting (or being deemed to have accepted) an Award, each Participant agrees or will be deemed to have agreed to (i) submit irrevocably and unconditionally
to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located within the geographic boundaries of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon the
Plan or any Award; (ii) not commence any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Award, except in the federal and state courts located within the geographic boundaries of the United States District Court
for the District of Delaware; and (iii) waive, and not assert, by way of motion as a defense or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that he or she is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts
that his or her property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that the Plan or any Award or the
subject matter thereof may not be enforced in or by such court. 

  
 11 













 EXHIBIT A 

Definition of Terms 

The following terms, when used in the Plan, have the meanings and are subject to the provisions set forth below: 

“Accounting Rules”: Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor
provision. 
 “Administrator”: The Compensation Committee, except that the Compensation Committee may delegate (i) to
one or more of its members (or one or more other members of the Board, including the full Board) such of its duties, powers and responsibilities as it may determine; (ii) to one or more officers of the Company the power to grant Awards to the
extent permitted by applicable law; and (iii) to such Employees or other persons as it determines such ministerial tasks as it deems appropriate. For purposes of the Plan, the term “Administrator” will include the Board, the
Compensation Committee, and the person or persons delegated authority under the Plan to the extent of such delegation, as applicable. 

“Award”: Any or a combination of the following: 

(i) Stock Options. 

(ii) SARs. 

(iii) Restricted Stock. 

(iv) Unrestricted Stock. 

(v) Stock Units, including Restricted Stock Units. 

(vi) Performance Awards. 

(vii) Awards (other than Awards described in (i) through (vi) above) that are convertible into or otherwise based on
Stock. 
 “Board”: The Board of Directors of the Company. 

“Cause”: In the case of any Participant who is party to an employment, change of control or severance-benefit agreement that
contains a definition of “Cause,” the definition set forth in such agreement applies with respect to such Participant for purposes of the Plan for so long as such agreement is in effect. In every other case, “Cause” means, as
determined by the Administrator, (i) any act of dishonesty or fraud taken by the Participant in connection with his or her responsibilities as an employee or other service provider; (ii) the Participant’s breach of the fiduciary duty
or duty of loyalty owed to the Company, or material breach of the duty to protect the Company’s confidential and proprietary information; (iii) the Participant’s commission of a felony or to a crime involving fraud, embezzlement,
misappropriation of funds or any other act of moral turpitude; (iv) the Participant’s gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance 

  
 12 













 
of his or her duties; (v) the Participant’s material breach of, or failure to comply with, the Plan, any Award agreement or any other agreement with the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any written policy of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (vi) the Participant’s engagement in any conduct or activity that results, or may result, in negative publicity or public disrespect, contempt or ridicule of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries; (vii) the Participant’s failure to abide by the lawful and reasonable directives of the Company; or (viii) the Participant’s repeated failure to perform the material duties of the
Participant’s position. 
 “Change of Control”: the occurrence of any of the following events: 

(i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial
owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then
outstanding voting securities; 
 (ii) the consummation by the Company of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any
other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the surviving entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation (in substantially the
same proportions relative to each other as immediately prior to the transaction); or 
 (iii) the consummation of the sale or
disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (it being understood that the sale or spinoff of one or more (but not all material) divisions of the Company shall not constitute the sale or disposition of all or
substantially all of the Company’s assets). 
 Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change of
Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation, or (ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the
Company’s securities immediately before such transaction. In addition, in no event shall the Spin-Off or any restructurings or other transactions reasonably related to the
Spin-Off constitute a Change of Control hereunder. 
 “Code”: The U.S. Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as from time to time amended and in effect, or any successor statute as from time to time in effect. 

“Company”: Cerence Inc., a Delaware corporation. 

“Compensation Committee”: The Compensation Committee of the Board. 

“Covered Transaction”: Any of (i) a consolidation, merger or similar transaction or series of related transactions,
including a sale or other disposition of stock, in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or which results in the acquisition of all or substantially all of the Company’s then outstanding common stock by a single person or entity or
by a group of persons 

  
 13 













 
and/or entities acting in concert, (ii) a sale or transfer of all or substantially all the Company’s assets, (iii) a Change of Control, (iv) the
Spin-Off or (v) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company. Where a Covered Transaction involves a tender offer that is reasonably expected to be followed by a merger described in clause (i) (as
determined by the Administrator), the Covered Transaction will be deemed to have occurred upon consummation of the tender offer. 

“Date of Adoption”: The earlier of the date the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders or adopted by the Board,
as determined by the Committee. 
 “Director”: A member of the Board who is not an Employee. 

“Disability”: In the case of any Participant who is party to an employment, change of control or severance-benefit agreement
that contains a definition of “Disability” (or a corollary term), the definition set forth in such agreement applies with respect to such Participant for purposes of the Plan for so long as such agreement is in effect. In every other case,
“Disability” means, as determined by the Administrator, absence from work due to a disability for a period in excess of ninety (90) days in any twelve (12)-month period that would entitle the Participant to receive benefits under the
Company’s long-term disability program as in effect from time to time (if the Participant were a participant in such program). 

“Employee”: Any person who is employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries. 

“Employment”: A Participant’s employment or other service relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Employment will be deemed to continue, unless the Administrator otherwise determines, so long as the Participant is employed by, or otherwise is providing services in a capacity described in Section 5 to, the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
If a Participant’s employment or other service relationship is with any subsidiary of the Company and that entity ceases to be a subsidiary of the Company, the Participant’s Employment will be deemed to have terminated when the entity
ceases to be a subsidiary of the Company unless the Participant transfers Employment to the Company or one of its remaining subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in construing the provisions of any Award relating to the payment of
“nonqualified deferred compensation” (subject to Section 409A) upon a termination or cessation of Employment, references to termination or cessation of employment, separation from service, retirement or similar or correlative terms
will be construed to require a “separation from service” (as that term is defined in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations, after giving effect to the presumptions contained therein)
from the Company and from all other corporations and trades or businesses, if any, that would be treated as a single “service recipient” with the Company under Section 1.409A-1(h)(3) of the
Treasury Regulations. The Company may, but need not, elect in writing, subject to the applicable limitations under Section 409A, any of the special elective rules prescribed in Section 1.409A-1(h) of
the Treasury Regulations for purposes of determining whether a “separation from service” has occurred. Any such written election will be deemed a part of the Plan. 

“Exchange Act”: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 

  
 14 













 “Fair Market Value”: As of a particular date, (i) the closing price
for a share of Stock reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (or any other national securities exchange on which the Stock is then listed) for that date or, if no closing price is reported for that date, the closing price on the immediately
preceding date on which a closing price was reported or (ii) in the event that the Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange, the fair market value of a share of Stock determined by the Administrator consistent with the rules of
Section 422 and Section 409A to the extent applicable. 
 “ISO”: A Stock Option intended to be an “incentive
stock option” within the meaning of Section 422. Each Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan will be treated as providing by its terms that it is to be an NSO unless, as of the date of grant, it is expressly designated as an ISO. 

“NSO”: A Stock Option that is not intended to be an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of
Section 422. 
 “Participant”: A person who is granted an Award under the Plan. 

“Performance Award”: An Award subject to performance vesting conditions, which may include Performance Criteria. 

“Performance Criteria”: Specified criteria, other than the mere continuation of Employment or the mere passage of time, the
satisfaction of which is a condition for the grant, exercisability, vesting or full enjoyment of an Award. A Performance Criterion and any targets with respect thereto need not be based upon an increase, a positive or improved result or avoidance of
loss. 
 “Plan”: The Cerence Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as from time to time amended and in effect. 

“Restricted Stock”: Stock subject to restrictions requiring that it be forfeited, redelivered or offered for sale to the
Company if specified performance or other vesting conditions are not satisfied. 
 “Restricted Stock Unit”: A Stock Unit
that is, or as to which the issuance of Stock or delivery of cash in lieu of Stock is, subject to the satisfaction of specified performance or other vesting conditions. 

“SAR”: A right entitling the holder upon exercise to receive an amount (payable in cash or in shares of Stock of equivalent
value) equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock subject to the right over the base value from which appreciation under the SAR is to be measured. 

“Section 409A”: Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder. 

“Section 422”: Section 422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder. 

“Spin-Off”: The spin-off of the Company by
Nuance Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation. 
 “Stock”: Common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share.


  
 15 













 “Stock Option”: An option entitling the holder to acquire shares of Stock
upon payment of the exercise price. 
 “Stock Unit”: An unfunded and unsecured promise, denominated in shares of Stock, to
issue Stock or deliver cash measured by the value of Stock in the future.  
 “Substitute Award”: An Award
issued under the Plan in substitution for one or more equity awards of an acquired company that are converted, replaced or adjusted in connection with the acquisition. 

“Unrestricted Stock”: Stock not subject to any restrictions under the terms of the Award. 

  
 16