Exhibit 10.6

 

STORE CAPITAL CORPORATION
 2015 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Section 1. Purpose of Plan.

 

The name of the Plan is the Store Capital Corporation 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan. The purposes of the Plan are to provide an additional incentive to selected employees, directors, independent contractors and consultants of the Company or its Affiliates whose contributions are essential to the growth and success of the Company’s business, in order to strengthen the commitment of such persons to the Company and its Subsidiaries, motivate such persons to faithfully and diligently perform their responsibilities and attract and retain competent and dedicated persons whose efforts will result in the long-term growth and profitability of the Company. To accomplish such purposes, the Plan provides that the Company may grant Options, Share Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares, Performance Shares, Other Share-Based Awards, Cash Awards or any combination of the foregoing.

 

Section 2. Definitions.

 

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

 

(a) “Administrator” means the Board, or, if and to the extent the Board does not administer the Plan, the Committee in accordance with Section 3 hereof.

 

(b) “Affiliate” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified. An entity shall be deemed an Affiliate of the Company for purposes of this definition only for such periods as the requisite ownership or control relationship is maintained.

 

(c) “Applicable Laws” means the applicable requirements under U.S. federal and state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, including the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any other country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted under the Plan, as are in effect from time to time.

 

(d) “Award” means any Option, Share Appreciation Right, Restricted Share, Deferred Share, Performance Share, Other Share-Based Award or Cash Award granted under the Plan.

 

(e) “Award Agreement” means any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award.

 

(f) “Beneficial Owner” (or any variant thereof) has the meaning defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

(g) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 











 

(h) “Bylaws” mean the bylaws of the Company, as may be amended and/or restated from time to time.

 

(i) “Cash Award” means cash awarded under Section 11 of the Plan, including cash awarded as a bonus or upon the attainment of Performance Goals or otherwise as permitted under the Plan.

 

(j) “Cause” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in any individual employment, change in control or severance agreement or Award Agreement with the Participant or, if no such agreement exists or if such agreement does not define “Cause,” Cause shall mean (i) refusal or neglect, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrator, to perform substantially all of the Participant’s employment-related duties, which refusal or neglect is not cured within twenty (20) days of receipt of written notice from the Company; (ii) willful misconduct; (iii) personal dishonesty, incompetence or breach of fiduciary duty which, in any case, has a material adverse impact on the business or reputation of the Company or any of its Affiliates, as determined in the Administrator’s reasonable discretion; (iv) conviction of or entering a plea of guilty or nolo contendere (or any applicable equivalent thereof) to a crime constituting a felony (or a crime or offense of equivalent magnitude in any jurisdiction); (v) willful violation of any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation that has a material adverse impact on the business or reputation of the Company or any of its Affiliates, as determined in the Administrator’s reasonable discretion.

 

(k) “Change in Capitalization” means any (i) merger, amalgamation, consolidation, reclassification, recapitalization, spin-off, spin-out, repurchase or other reorganization or corporate transaction or event, (ii) dividend (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock or other property), share subdivision or consolidation, (iii) combination or exchange of shares, (iv) other change in corporate structure or (v) declaration of a special dividend (including a cash dividend) or other distribution, which, in any such case, the Administrator determines, in its sole discretion, affects the Shares such that an adjustment pursuant to Section 5 hereof is appropriate.

 

(l) “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if an event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred:

 

(1) any Person (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of Stock of the Company, or any “Sponsor Member” or any “Affiliate” of a Sponsor Member, as such terms are defined in the Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of May 17, 2011 of STORE Holding Company, LLC (“STORE Holdco”), as amended or supplemented, from time to time) becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate thereof) representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company; or

 

(2) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving on the Board: individuals who, on the date hereof,

 

2











 

constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including, but not limited to, a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the date hereof or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended; or

 

(3) there is consummated a merger, amalgamation or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than (A) a merger, amalgamation or consolidation into an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Company following the completion of such transaction in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or (B) a merger, amalgamation or consolidation immediately following which the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the Board of the entity surviving such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or, if the Company or the entity surviving such merger is then a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof; or

 

(4) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than (A) a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Company following the completion of such transaction in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or (B) a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets immediately following which the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the entity to which such assets are sold or disposed or, if such entity is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof.

 

For each Award that constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred under the Plan with respect to such Award only if a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company shall also be deemed to have occurred under Section 409A of the Code.

 

(m) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor thereto.

 

(n) “Committee” means any committee or subcommittee the Board may appoint to administer the Plan. Subject to the discretion of the Board, the Committee shall be composed entirely of individuals who meet the qualifications of an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and, to the extent applicable, any other qualifications required by applicable law or the applicable stock exchange on which the Common Stock is traded. If at any time or to any extent the Board shall not administer the Plan, then the functions of the Administrator specified in the Plan shall be exercised by the Committee. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, any action of the

 

3











 

Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall be taken by a majority vote at a meeting at which a quorum is duly constituted or unanimous written consent of the Committee’s members.

 

(o) “Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

 

(p) “Company” means Store Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (or any successor company, except as the term “Company” is used in the definition of “Change in Control” above).

 

(q) “Deferred Shares” means the right granted pursuant to Section 9 hereof to receive Shares at the end of a specified restricted period (or periods) of time and/or upon attainment of specified performance objectives.

 

(r) “Disability” shall have the meaning set forth in the employment, severance or change in control agreement between the Participant and the Company, provided that if no such agreement or definition exists, then “Disability” shall mean a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits the Participant’s ability to perform his or her duties and that results in the Participant’s receipt of long-term disability benefits under the Company’s or its Affiliate’s long-term disability plan, except as required to be in compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

 

(s) “Eligible Recipient” means an employee, director, independent contractor or consultant of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company who has been selected as an eligible participant by the Administrator; provided, however, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A of the Code, an Eligible Recipient of an Option or a Share Appreciation Right means an employee, director, independent contractor or consultant of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company who has been selected as an eligible participant by the Administrator.

 

(t) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

(u) “Exercise Price” means, with respect to any Award under which the holder may purchase Shares, the per share price at which a holder of such Award granted hereunder may purchase Shares issuable upon exercise of such Award, which in any event will not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.

 

(v) “Fair Market Value” as of a particular date shall mean the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided, however, that (i) if the Common Stock is admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on any date shall be the closing sale price reported for such share on such exchange on such date or, if no sale was reported on such date, on the last day preceding such date on which a sale was reported, (ii) if the Common Stock is admitted to quotation on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) system or other comparable quotation system and has been designated as a National Market System (“NMS”) security, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on any date shall be the closing sale price reported

 

4











 

for such share on such system on such date or, if no sale was reported on such date, on the last date preceding such date on which a sale was reported, or (iii) if the Common Stock is admitted to quotation on NYSE but has not been designated as an NMS security, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on any date shall be the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices of such share on such system on such date or, if both bid and ask prices were not reported on such date, on the last date preceding such date on which both bid and ask prices were reported.

 

(w) “ISO” means an Option intended to be and designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(x) “Nonqualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is not designated as an ISO.

 

(y) “Option”  means an option to purchase Common Shares granted pursuant to Section 7 hereof.  The term “Option” as used in the Plan includes the terms “Nonqualified Stock Option” and “ISO.”

 

(z) “Other Share-Based Award” means a right or other interest granted pursuant to Section 10 hereof that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, the Common Stock, including, but not limited to, unrestricted Shares, restricted share units, dividend equivalents or performance units, each of which may be subject to the attainment of Performance Goals or a period of continued employment or other terms or conditions as permitted under the Plan.

 

(aa) “Participant” means any Eligible Recipient selected by the Administrator, pursuant to the Administrator’s authority provided for in Section 3 below, to receive grants of Options, Share Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares, Performance Shares, Cash Awards, Other Share-Based Awards or any combination of the foregoing, and, upon his or her death, his or her successors, heirs, executors and administrators, as the case may be.

 

(bb) “Performance Goals” means performance goals based on one or more of the following criteria: earnings, including one or more of operating income, earnings before or after taxes, earnings before or after interest, depreciation, amortization, adjusted EBITDA, economic earnings, or extraordinary or special items or book value per share (which may exclude nonrecurring items); pre-tax income or after-tax income; earnings per Share (basic or diluted); operating profit; revenue, revenue growth or rate of revenue growth; return on assets (gross or net), return on investment, return on capital, or return on equity; returns on sales or revenues; operating expenses; share price appreciation; cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on investment (discounted or otherwise), net cash provided by operations, or cash flow in excess of cost of capital; implementation or completion of critical projects or processes; cumulative earnings per share growth; operating margin or profit margin; cost targets, reductions and savings, productivity and efficiencies; absolute or relative stockholder return; share price; cash and/or funds available for distribution; net debt; dividend payout ratio; funds from operations; adjusted funds from operations; balance sheet and debt ratings management; strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified market penetration, geographic business expansion, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, human resources

 

5











 

management, supervision of litigation, information technology, and goals relating to acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and similar transactions, and budget comparisons; personal professional objectives, including any of the foregoing performance goals, the implementation of policies and plans, the negotiation of transactions, the development of long term business goals, formation of joint ventures, research or development collaborations, and the completion of other corporate transactions; and any combination of, or a specified increase in, any of the foregoing.  Where applicable, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of attaining a specified level of the particular criteria or the attainment of a percentage increase or decrease in the particular criteria, and may be applied to one or more of the Company or Affiliate thereof, or a division or strategic business unit of the Company, or may be applied to the performance of the Company relative to a market index, a group of other companies or a combination thereof, all as determined by the Committee. The Performance Goals may include a threshold level of performance below which no payment shall be made (or no vesting shall occur), levels of performance at which specified payments shall be made (or specified vesting shall occur), and a maximum level of performance above which no additional payment shall be made (or at which full vesting shall occur). Each of the foregoing Performance Goals shall be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and shall be subject to certification by the Committee; provided, that the Committee shall have the authority to make equitable adjustments to the Performance Goals in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company or any Affiliate thereof or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate thereof, in response to changes in applicable laws or regulations, or to account for items of gain, loss or expense determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment of a business or related to a change in accounting principles.

 

(cc) “Performance Shares” means Shares or units denominated in Shares that are subject to restrictions that lapse upon the attainment of specified performance objectives and that are granted pursuant to Section 9 below.

 

(dd) “Person” shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company.

 

(ee) “Plan” means this 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.

 

(ff) “Restricted Shares” means Shares granted pursuant to Section 9 below subject to certain restrictions that lapse at the end of a specified period or periods.

 

(gg) “Shares” means Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan, as adjusted pursuant to the Plan, and any successor (pursuant to a merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other reorganization) security.

 

6











 

(hh) “Share Appreciation Right” means the right pursuant to an Award granted under Section 8 below to receive an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value, as of the date such Award or portion thereof is surrendered, of the Shares covered by such Award or such portion thereof, over (ii) the aggregate Exercise Price of such Award or such portion thereof.

 

(ii) “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such first Person owns or otherwise controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting shares or other similar interests or a sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such other Person. An entity shall be deemed a Subsidiary of the Company for purposes of this definition only for such periods as the requisite ownership or control relationship is maintained.

 

Section 3. Administration.

 

(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator.  The Administrator shall endeavor to administer the Plan in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code (but only to the extent necessary and desirable to maintain qualification of awards under the Plan under Section 162(m) of the Code) and, to the extent applicable, Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 16b-3”). The Plan is intended to comply, and shall be administered in a manner that is intended to comply, with Section 409A of the Code and shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that an Award, issuance and/or payment is subject to Section 409A of the Code, it shall be awarded and/or issued or paid in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, including any applicable regulations or guidance issued by the Secretary of the United States Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto.

 

(b) Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator, subject, in the case of any Committee, to any restrictions on the authority delegated to it by the Board, shall have the power and authority, without limitation:

 

(1) to select those Eligible Recipients who shall be Participants;

 

(2) to determine whether and to what extent Options, Share Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares, Performance Shares, Cash Awards, Other Share-Based Awards or a combination of any of the foregoing, are to be granted hereunder to Participants;

 

(3) to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

(4) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of each Award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, (i) the restrictions applicable to Restricted Shares or Deferred Shares and the conditions under which restrictions applicable to such Restricted Shares or Deferred Shares shall lapse, (ii) the performance goals and periods applicable to Performance Shares or Cash Awards, (iii) the Exercise Price of each Award, (iv) the vesting schedule applicable to each Award, (v) the number of Shares subject to each Award and (vi) subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (to the extent

 

7











 

applicable), any amendments to the terms and conditions of outstanding Awards, including, but not limited to, extending the exercise period of such Awards and accelerating the vesting schedule of such Awards), and, if the Administrator in its discretion determines to accelerate the vesting of Options and/or Share Appreciation Rights in connection with a Change in Control, the Administrator shall also have discretion in connection with such action to provide that all Options and/or Share Appreciation Rights outstanding immediately prior to such Change in Control shall expire on the effective date of such Change in Control;

 

(5) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, which shall govern all written instruments evidencing Options, Share Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares, Performance Shares, Cash Awards, Other Share-Based Awards or any combination of the foregoing granted hereunder;

 

(6) to determine the Fair Market Value;

 

(7) to determine the duration and purpose of leaves of absence which may be granted to a Participant without constituting termination of the Participant’s employment for purposes of Awards granted under the Plan;

 

(8) to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, regulations, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time to time deem advisable; and

 

(9) to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of, and supply or correct omissions in, the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan (and any Award Agreement relating thereto), and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan and to exercise all powers and authorities either specifically granted under the Plan or necessary and advisable in the administration of the Plan.

 

(c) All decisions made by the Administrator pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company and the Participants. No member of the Board or the Committee, nor any officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof acting on behalf of the Board or the Committee, shall be personally liable for any action, omission, determination or interpretation taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and all members of the Board or the Committee and each and any officer or employee of the Company and of any Subsidiary thereof acting on their behalf shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company in respect of any such action, omission, determination or interpretation.

 

Section 4. Shares Reserved for Issuance Under the Plan.

 

(a) Subject to Section 5 hereof, the number of Shares of Common Stock that are reserved and available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be [6% of outstanding shares at the close of the offering].  On the 60th day following approval of this Plan, the number of Shares of Common Stock that are reserved and available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall automatically increase, if necessary, to be equal to 6% of all outstanding Shares on such date, provided, however, that in no event shall such increase exceed 200,000 Shares.  The maximum number of Shares of Common Stock which may be granted in the form of ISOs under the Plan shall be limited to 3,000,000 Shares.  From and after such time

 

8











 

as the Plan is subject to 162(m) of the Code, the aggregate Awards (based on maximum performance) denominated in Shares granted during any single fiscal year to any individual who is likely to be a “covered employee” (as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code) shall not exceed 1,000,000 Shares (all of which may be granted as Options or SARs).  The maximum aggregate Cash Award that any “covered employee” may receive with respect to Cash Awards in respect of any annual performance period is $5,000,000 and for any other performance period, such amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months in the performance period and the denominator of which is twelve.

 

(b) Shares issued under the Plan may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued Shares or Shares that shall have been or may be reacquired by the Company in the open market, in private transactions or otherwise. If any Shares subject to an Award are forfeited, cancelled, exchanged or surrendered or if an Award otherwise terminates or expires without a distribution of shares to the Participant, the Shares with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, exchange, surrender, termination or expiration, again be available for Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Shares surrendered or withheld as payment of either the Exercise Price of an Award (including Shares otherwise underlying an Award of a Share Appreciation Right that are retained by the Company to account for the grant price of such Share Appreciation Right) and/or withholding taxes in respect of an Award shall no longer be available for grant under the Plan.

 

Section 5. Equitable Adjustments.

 

In the event of any Change in Capitalization, an equitable substitution or proportionate adjustment shall be made, in each case, as may be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, in (i) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4 and the maximum number of Shares that may be subject to Awards granted to any Participant in any calendar or fiscal year (including the limits set forth in Section 4(a)), (ii) the kind, number and Exercise Price subject to outstanding Options and Share Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan, and (iii) the kind, number and purchase price of Shares or other securities subject to outstanding Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares, Performance Shares or Other Share-Based Awards granted under the Plan; provided, however, that any fractional shares resulting from the adjustment shall be eliminated. Such other equitable substitutions or adjustments shall be made as may be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in connection with a Change in Capitalization, the Administrator may provide, in its sole discretion, but subject in all events to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, for the cancellation of any outstanding Award granted hereunder in exchange for payment in cash or other property in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares covered by such award over by the aggregate Exercise Price or purchase price thereof, if any (it being understood that, if there is no such excess, such Award may be cancelled without the payment of any consideration).  Further, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, with respect to Awards subject to foreign laws, adjustments made hereunder shall be made in compliance with applicable requirements.  Except to the extent determined by the Administrator, any adjustments to ISOs under this Section 5 shall be made only to the extent not constituting a “modification” within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code. The Administrator’s determinations pursuant to this Section 5 shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

9











 

Section 6. Eligibility.

 

The Participants under the Plan shall be selected from time to time by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, from those individuals that qualify as Eligible Recipients.

 

Section 7. Options.

 

(a) General.  Options granted under the Plan shall be designated as Nonqualified Stock Options or ISOs.  Each Participant who is granted an Option shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, which Award Agreement shall set forth, among other things, the Exercise Price of the Option, the term of the Option and provisions regarding exercisability of the Option, and whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or a Nonqualified Stock Option (and in the event the Award Agreement has no such designation, the Option shall be a Nonqualified Stock Option).  The provisions of each Option need not be the same with respect to each Participant.  More than one Option may be granted to the same Participant and be outstanding concurrently hereunder. Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 7 and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(b) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of Shares purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion at the time of grant, but in no event shall the exercise price of an Option be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.

 

(c) Option Term. The maximum term of each Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Option shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such Option is granted. Each Option’s term is subject to earlier expiration pursuant to the applicable provisions in the Plan and the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator shall have the authority to accelerate the exercisability of any outstanding Option at such time and under such circumstances as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

 

(d) Exercisability. Each Option shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions, including the attainment of pre-established corporate performance goals, as shall be determined by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement. The Administrator may also provide that any Option shall be exercisable only in installments, and the Administrator may waive such installment exercise provisions at any time, in whole or in part, based on such factors as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, an Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a share.

 

(e) Method of Exercise. Options may be exercised in whole or in part by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of whole Shares to be purchased, accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares so

 

10









 

purchased in cash or its equivalent, as determined by the Administrator. As determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, with respect to any Option or category of Options, payment in whole or in part may also be made (i) by means of consideration received under any cashless exercise procedure approved by the Administrator (including the withholding of Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise), (ii) in the form of unrestricted Shares already owned by the Participant which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which such Option shall be exercised, (iii) any other form of consideration approved by the Administrator and permitted by applicable law or (iv) any combination of the foregoing.

 

(f) ISOs. The terms and conditions of ISOs granted hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 422 of the Code and the terms, conditions, limitations and administrative procedures established by the Administrator from time to time in accordance with the Plan.  At the discretion of the Administrator, ISOs may be granted only to an employee of the Company, its “parent corporation” (as such term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or a Subsidiary.

 

(1) ISO Grants to 10% Stockholders.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, if an ISO is granted to a Participant who owns shares representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of shares of the Company, its “parent corporation” (as such term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or a Subsidiary, the term of the ISO shall not exceed five (5) years from the time of grant of such ISO and the Exercise Price shall be at least one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant.

 

(2) $100,000 Per Year Limitation For ISOs.  To the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on the date of grant) of the Shares for which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company) exceeds $100,000, such excess ISOs shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.

 

(3) Disqualifying Dispositions.  Each Participant awarded an ISO under the Plan shall notify the Company in writing immediately after the date he or she makes a “disqualifying disposition” of any Share acquired pursuant to the exercise of such ISO.  A “disqualifying disposition” is any disposition (including any sale) of such Shares before the later of (i) two years after the date of grant of the ISO and (ii) one year after the date the Participant acquired the Shares by exercising the ISO.  The Company may, if determined by the Administrator and in accordance with procedures established by it, retain possession of any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO as agent for the applicable Participant until the end of the period described in the preceding sentence, subject to complying with any instructions from such Participant as to the sale of such shares.

 

(g) Rights as Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights to dividends or distributions or any other rights of a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to an Option until the Participant has given written notice of the exercise thereof, has paid in full for such Shares.

 

11











 

(h) Termination of Employment or Service.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, either pursuant to its powers under Section 3(b) or in the applicable Award Agreement:

 

(1) In the event that the employment or service of a Participant with the Company and all Affiliates thereof (including by reason of the Participant’s employer ceasing to be an Affiliate of the Company) shall terminate for any reason other than Cause, Disability, or death, (A) Options granted to such Participant, to the extent that they are exercisable at the time of such termination, shall remain exercisable until the date that is ninety (90) days after such termination, on which date they shall expire, and (B) Options granted to such Participant, to the extent that they were not exercisable at the time of such termination, shall expire at the close of business on the date of such termination. The ninety (90) day period described in this Section 7(h)(1) shall be extended to one (1) year after the date of such termination in the event of the Participant’s death during such ninety (90) day period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of its term.

 

(2) In the event that the employment or service of a Participant with the Company and all Affiliates thereof shall terminate on account of the Disability, or death of the Participant, (A) Options granted to such Participant, to the extent that they were exercisable at the time of such termination, shall remain exercisable until the date that is one (1) year after such termination, on which date they shall expire and (B) Options granted to such Participant, to the extent that they were not exercisable at the time of such termination, shall expire at the close of business on the date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of its term.

 

(3) In the event of the termination of a Participant’s employment or service for Cause, all outstanding Options granted to such Participant shall expire at the commencement of business on the date of such termination.

 

(i) Other Change in Employment Status. An Option shall be affected, both with regard to vesting schedule and termination, by leaves of absence, including unpaid and un-protected leaves of absence, changes from full-time to part-time employment, partial disability or other changes in the employment status of a Participant, in the discretion of the Administrator.

 

Section 8. Share Appreciation Rights.

 

(a) General. Share Appreciation Rights may be granted either alone (“Free Standing Rights”) or in conjunction with all or part of any Option granted under the Plan (“Related Rights”). Related Rights may be granted either at or after the time of the grant of such Option. The Administrator shall determine the Eligible Recipients to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Share Appreciation Rights shall be made, the number of Shares to be awarded, the price per Share, and all other conditions of Share Appreciation Rights. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Related Right may be granted for more Shares than are subject to the Option to which it relates, and any Share Appreciation Right must be granted with an Exercise Price not less than the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the date of grant. The provisions of Share Appreciation Rights need not be the same with respect to each Participant. Share Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and

 

12











 

conditions set forth in this Section 8 and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable, as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(b) Awards; Rights as Stockholder. The prospective recipient of a Share Appreciation Right shall not have any rights with respect to such Award, unless and until such recipient has executed an Award Agreement and delivered a fully executed copy thereof to the Company, within a period of sixty (60) days (or such other period as the Administrator may specify) after the award date. Participants who are granted Share Appreciation Rights shall have no rights as stockholders of the Company with respect to the grant or exercise of such rights.

 

(c) Exercisability.

 

(1) Share Appreciation Rights that are Free Standing Rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(2) Share Appreciation Rights that are Related Rights shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that the Options to which they relate shall be exercisable in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 hereof and this Section 8 of the Plan.

 

(d) Payment Upon Exercise.

 

(1) Upon the exercise of a Free Standing Right, the Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but not more than, that number of Shares equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise over the price per share specified in the Free Standing Right multiplied by the number of Shares in respect of which the Free Standing Right is being exercised, with the Administrator having the right to determine the form of payment.

 

(2) A Related Right may be exercised by a Participant by surrendering the applicable portion of the related Option. Upon such exercise and surrender, the Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but not more than, that number of Shares equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise over the Exercise Price specified in the related Option multiplied by the number of Shares in respect of which the Related Right is being exercised, with the Administrator having the right to determine the form of payment. Options which have been so surrendered, in whole or in part, shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the Related Rights have been so exercised.

 

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may determine to settle the exercise of a Share Appreciation Right in cash (or in any combination of Shares and cash).

 

(e) Termination of Employment or Service.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee pursuant to its powers under Section 3(b):

 

(1) In the event of the termination of employment or service with the Company and all Affiliates thereof (including by reason of the Participant’s employer ceasing to be an Affiliate of the Company) of a Participant who has been granted one or more Free

 

13











 

Standing Rights, such rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(2) In the event of the termination of employment or service with the Company and all Affiliates thereof of a Participant who has been granted one or more Related Rights, such rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as set forth in the related Options.

 

(f) Term.

 

(1) The term of each Free Standing Right shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Free Standing Right shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such right is granted.

 

(2) The term of each Related Right shall be the term of the Option to which it relates, but no Related Right shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such right is granted.

 

(g) Other Change in Employment Status. Share Appreciation Rights shall be affected, both with regard to vesting schedule and termination, by leaves of absence, including unpaid and un-protected leaves of absence, changes from full-time to part-time employment, partial disability or other changes in the employment status of a Participant, in the discretion of the Administrator.

 

Section 9. Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares and Performance Shares.

 

(a) General. Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares or Performance Shares may be issued either alone or in addition to other awards granted under the Plan. The Administrator shall determine the Eligible Recipients to whom, and the time or times at which, Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares or Performance Shares shall be made; the number of Shares to be awarded; the price, if any, to be paid by the Participant for the acquisition of Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares or Performance Shares; the period of time prior to which such shares become vested and free of restrictions on Transfer (the “Restricted Period”), if any, applicable to Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares or Performance Shares; the performance objectives (if any) applicable to Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares or Performance Shares; and all other conditions of the Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares and Performance Shares. If the restrictions, performance objectives and/or conditions established by the Administrator are not attained, a Participant shall forfeit his or her Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares or Performance Shares, in accordance with the terms of the grant. The provisions of the Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares or Performance Shares need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

 

(b) Awards and Certificates. Except as otherwise provided below in Section 9(c), (i) each Participant who is granted an award of Restricted Shares may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be issued a share certificate in respect of such Restricted Shares; and (ii) any such certificate so issued shall be registered in the name of the Participant, and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any such Award.

 

14











 

The Company may require that the share certificates, if any, evidencing Restricted Shares granted hereunder be held in the custody of the Company until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a condition of any award of Restricted Shares, the Participant shall have delivered a share transfer form, endorsed in blank, relating to the Shares covered by such award.

 

With respect to Deferred Shares, at the expiration of the Restricted Period, share certificates in respect of such shares of Deferred Shares may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be delivered to the Participant, or his legal representative, in a number equal to the number of unrestricted Shares covered by the Deferred Shares award.

 

Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, any Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares (at the expiration of the Restricted Period) or Performance Shares (whether before or after any vesting conditions have been satisfied) may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be issued in uncertificated form pursuant to the customary arrangements for issuing shares in such form.

 

Further, notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, with respect to Deferred Shares, at the expiration of the Restricted Period, Shares shall promptly be issued (either in certificated or uncertificated form) to the Participant, unless otherwise deferred in accordance with procedures established by the Company in accordance with Section 409A of the Code, and such issuance shall in any event be made within such period as is required to avoid the imposition of a tax under Section 409A of the Code.

 

(c) Restrictions and Conditions. The Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares and Performance Shares granted pursuant to this Section 9 shall be subject to the following restrictions and conditions and any additional restrictions or conditions as determined by the Administrator at the time of grant or, subject to Section 409A of the Code, thereafter:

 

(1) The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, provide for the lapse of restrictions in installments and may accelerate or waive such restrictions in whole or in part based on such factors and such circumstances as the Administrator may determine, in its sole discretion, including, but not limited to, the attainment of certain performance goals, the Participant’s termination of employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, or the Participant’s death or Disability, subject to any requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code in the case of any Award which is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon a Change in Control, the outstanding Awards shall be subject to Section 13 hereof.

 

(2) Except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant shall generally have the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to Restricted Shares during the Restricted Period; provided, however, that dividends declared during the Restricted Period with respect to an Award that vests or becomes payable based upon the achievement of performance goals, shall only become payable if and to the extent the performance levels on the underlying Award are achieved. Except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant shall generally not have the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to Deferred Shares or Performance Shares during the Restricted Period; provided, however, that,

 

15











 

subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Administrator may provide in the applicable Award Agreement that an amount equal to dividends declared during the Restricted Period with respect to the number of Shares covered by Deferred Shares or Performance Shares shall, unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement, be paid to the Participant at the time shares in respect of the related Deferred Shares are delivered to the Participant or the Restricted Period with respect to the Performance Shares expires, provided that the Participant is then providing services to the Company. Certificates for Shares of unrestricted Common Stock may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be delivered to the Participant only after the Restricted Period has expired without forfeiture in respect of such Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares or Performance Shares, except as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall otherwise determine.

 

(3) The rights of a Participant granted Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares or Performance Shares upon termination of such Participant’s employment or service as a director, independent contractor or consultant to the Company or to any Affiliate thereof, shall be set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

Section 10. Other Share-Based Awards.

 

The Administrator is authorized to grant Awards to Participants in the form of Other Share-Based Awards, as deemed by the Administrator to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan and as evidenced by an Award Agreement. The Administrator shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards, consistent with the terms of the Plan, at the date of grant or thereafter, including any Performance Goals and performance periods. Common Stock or other securities or property delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 10 shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, Shares, other Awards, notes or other property, as the Administrator shall determine, subject to any required corporate action and applicable law.

 

Section 11. Cash Awards.

 

The Administrator may grant awards that are denominated in, or payable to Participants solely in, cash, as deemed by the Administrator to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, and, except as otherwise provided in this Section 11, such Cash Awards shall be subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, from time to time.  Awards granted pursuant to this Section 11 may be granted with value and payment contingent upon the achievement of Performance Goals.

 

16











 

Section 12. Performance-Based Awards.

 

To the extent that the Plan is subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, no payment with respect to an Award made under Section 9, 10 or 11 hereof which is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” (within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code) shall be made to a Participant prior to the certification by the Committee that the applicable Performance Goals have been attained, and such a Participant shall only be eligible to receive payment pursuant to such Awards for a performance period only if and to the extent that the Performance Goals for such applicable period have been achieved.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan and except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, any Award which is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” shall be subject to any additional limitations imposed under Section 162(m) of the Code that are requirements for qualification as “performance-based compensation.”

 

Section 13. Change in Control.

 

Unless a different treatment is specified with the approval of the Administrator in an employment, severance or change in control agreement between the Participant and the Company, to the extent specified by the Administrator in a Participant’s Award Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control:

 

(a) With respect to each outstanding Award that is assumed or substituted in connection with the Change in Control, in the event the Participant’s employment is terminated by the Company, its successor or Affiliate thereof without Cause on or after the effective date of the Change in Control but prior to six (6) months following the Change in Control, then:

 

(1) any unvested or unexercisable portion of any Award carrying a right to exercise shall become fully vested and exercisable; and

 

(2) the restrictions, deferral limitations, payment conditions and forfeiture conditions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan shall lapse and such Awards shall be deemed fully vested and any performance conditions imposed with respect to such Awards shall be deemed to be fully achieved at target performance levels.

 

(b) With respect to each outstanding Award that is not assumed or substituted in connection with a Change in Control and except as would otherwise result in adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code, immediately upon the occurrence of the Change in Control, (i) such Award shall become fully vested and exercisable, (ii) the restrictions, payment conditions, and forfeiture conditions applicable to any such Award granted shall lapse, and (iii) and any performance conditions imposed with respect to such Award shall be deemed to be achieved at target performance levels.

 

(c)  For purposes of this Section 13, an Award shall be considered assumed or substituted if, following the Change in Control, the Award is of substantially comparable value, as determined by the Administrator in its reasonable discretion, and remains subject to the same terms and conditions that were applicable to the Award immediately prior to the Change in

 

17











 

Control except that, if the Award related to shares of Common Stock, the Award instead confers the right to receive common stock of the acquiring or ultimate parent entity.

 

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in the event of a Change in Control, except as would otherwise result in adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code, the Administrator may, in its discretion, provide that each Award shall, immediately upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, be cancelled in exchange for a payment in cash or securities in an amount equal to (i) the excess, if any, of (A) the consideration paid per share of Common Stock in the Change in Control over (B) the exercise or purchase price (if any) per share of Common Stock subject to the Award multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock granted under the Award (it being understood that, if there is no such excess, such Award may be cancelled without the payment of any consideration).

 

Section 14. Amendment and Termination.

 

The Board may amend, alter or terminate the Plan, but no amendment, alteration or termination shall be made that would impair the rights of a Participant under any Award theretofore granted without such Participant’s consent. Unless the Board determines otherwise, the Board shall obtain approval of the Company’s stockholders for any amendment that would require such approval in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, any rules of the stock exchange on which the Common Stock is traded or other applicable law. The Administrator may amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, but, subject to Section 5 of the Plan and the immediately preceding sentence, no such amendment shall materially impair the rights of any Participant without his or her consent.

 

Section 15. Unfunded Status of Plan.

 

The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company.

 

Section 16. Withholding Taxes.

 

Each Participant shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award first becomes includible in the gross income of such Participant for federal and/or state income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator regarding payment of, any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the Award. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditional on the making of such payments or arrangements, and the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to such Participant. Whenever cash is to be paid pursuant to an Award granted hereunder, the Company shall have the right to deduct therefrom an amount sufficient to satisfy any minimum federal, state and local withholding tax requirements related thereto. Whenever Shares are to be delivered pursuant to an Award, the Company shall have the right to require the Participant to remit to the Company in cash an amount sufficient to satisfy any related federal, state and local taxes to be withheld and applied to the tax obligations. With the approval of the Administrator, a

 

18











 

Participant may satisfy the foregoing requirement by electing to have the Company withhold from delivery of Shares or by delivering already owned unrestricted Common Stock, in each case, having a value not exceeding the federal, state and local taxes to be withheld and applied to the tax obligations. Such Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined. Fractional share amounts shall be settled in cash. Such an election may be made with respect to all or any portion of the Shares to be delivered pursuant to an Award. The Company may also use any other method of obtaining the necessary payment or proceeds, as permitted by law, to satisfy its withholding obligation with respect to any Option or other Award.

 

Section 17. Transfer of Awards.

 

Until such time as the Awards are fully vested and/or exercisable in accordance with the Plan or an Award Agreement, no purported sale, assignment, mortgage, hypothecation, transfer, charge, pledge, encumbrance, gift, transfer in trust (voting or other) or other disposition of, or creation of a security interest in or lien on, any Award or any agreement or commitment to do any of the foregoing (each, a “Transfer”) by any holder thereof in violation of the provisions of the Plan or an Award Agreement will be valid, except with the prior written consent of the Administrator, which consent may be granted or withheld in the sole discretion of the Administrator, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law. Any purported Transfer of an Award or any economic benefit or interest therein in violation of the Plan or an Award Agreement shall be null and void ab initio and shall not create any obligation or liability of the Company, and any person purportedly acquiring any Award or any economic benefit or interest therein transferred in violation of the Plan or an Award Agreement shall not be entitled to be recognized as a holder of such Shares. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, an Option or a share appreciation right may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant or, during any period during which the Participant is under a legal disability, by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

 

Section 18. Continued Employment.

 

Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the grant of an Award shall confer upon any Eligible Recipient any right to continued employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, as the case may be, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate thereof to terminate the employment or service of any of its Eligible Recipients at any time.

 

Section 19. Conditions on Issuance.

 

Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares shall comply with Applicable Laws and securities regulations, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.  The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such

 

19











 

requisite authority shall not have been obtained.  As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Administrator may in its discretion require the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares.

 

Section 20. Effective Date.

 

The Plan was adopted by the Board on                    , 2014 and shall become effective on such date (the “Effective Date”) without further action, provided, however, that no Awards may be granted hereunder until the earlier of (a) the effectiveness of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-11 (or other appropriate form) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions, as amended, and (b) the Common Stock being listed or approved for listing upon notice of issuance of NYSE.

 

Section 21. Electronic Signature.

 

Participant’s electronic signature of an Award Agreement shall have the same validity and effect as a signature affixed by hand.

 

Section 22. Term of Plan.

 

No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.

 

Section 23. Section 409A of the Code.

 

The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under the Plan comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted and be administered to be in compliance therewith. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short-term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable law requires otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to the Plan during the six (6) month period immediately following the Participant’s termination of employment shall instead be paid on the first business day after the date that is six (6) months following the Participant’s separation from service (or upon the Participant’s death, if earlier). In addition, for purposes of the Plan, each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided to the Participant pursuant to the Plan, which constitutes deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

 

Section 24. Transition Period Under Section 162(m) of the Code

 

The Plan has been adopted by the Board prior to the initial public offering of Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act.  The Plan is intended to constitute a plan described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(f)(1).

 

20











 

Section 25. Governing Law.

 

The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law of such state.

 

21