Ex10.1 ATSG Long Term Incentive Plan 2015










AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC.
2015 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN


The purpose of the Plan is to promote the Company’s long-term financial success and increase stockholder value by motivating performance through incentive compensation.  The Plan also is intended to encourage Participants to acquire ownership interests in the Company, attract and retain talented employees and directors and enable Participants to participate in the Company’s long-term growth and financial success.


ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS


When used in the Plan, the following capitalized words, terms and phrases shall have the meanings set forth in this Article I.  For purposes of the Plan, the form of any word, term or phrase shall include any and all of its other forms.


1.1.“Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor thereto.


1.2.“Affiliate” shall mean any entity that would be considered a single employer with the Company under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code, but modified as permitted under Treasury Regulations promulgated under any Code section relevant to the purpose for which the definition is applied.


1.3.“Award” shall mean any Nonqualified Stock Option, Incentive Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Other Stock-Based Award or Cash-Based Award granted pursuant to the Plan.


1.4.“Award Agreement” shall mean any written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Participant that describes the terms and conditions of an Award.  If there is a conflict between the terms of the Plan and the terms of an Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall govern.


1.5.“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.


1.6.“Cash-Based Award” shall mean an Award granted pursuant to Article IX of the Plan.


1.7.“Cause” shall mean, unless otherwise provided in the related Award Agreement: (a) any act of fraud, intentional misrepresentation, embezzlement or misappropriation or conversion of the assets or business opportunities of the Company or any Affiliate by the Participant, (b) conviction of the Participant of a felony, or (c) the Participant’s (i) willful refusal to substantially perform assigned duties (other than any refusal resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness or in the event that the assigned duties include any activities that are unlawful or would violate acceptable accounting, securities or other specifically defined business principles), (ii) willful engagement in gross misconduct materially injurious to the Company or any Affiliate, or (iii) breach of any material term of the Plan; provided, however, that Cause will not arise solely because the Participant is absent from active employment during periods of vacation, consistent with the Company’s applicable vacation policy, or other period of absence initiated by the Participant and approved by the Company.


1.8.“Change in Control” shall mean any of the following:


(a)the members of the Board on the effective date of this Plan (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason other than death to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board; provided however, that any individual becoming a director after the effective date of this Plan whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved, recommended or ratified by a vote of a majority of the then Incumbent Directors shall also be treated as an Incumbent Director, but excluding any individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of a proxy contest or any agreement arising out of an actual or threatened proxy contest;


(b)the acquisition by any person or group (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Act), other than the Company, any Subsidiary or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Act), directly or indirectly, of at least a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company;











(c)the merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Company with or into another entity, or the acquisition by the Company of assets or shares or equity interests of another entity, as a result of which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation, other business combination or acquisition, do not, immediately thereafter, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the entity resulting from such merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Company;


(d)the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or


(e)the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.


Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to the payment, exercise or settlement of any Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, a Change in Control shall be deemed not to have occurred unless the events or circumstances constituting a Change in Control also constitute a “change in control event” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
1.9.“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor thereto.


1.10.“Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, which shall be comprised of at least two (2) directors.  All members of the Committee shall be “outside directors,” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and “non-employee” directors within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Act.


1.11.“Company” shall mean Air Transport Services Group, Inc., and any successor thereto.


1.12.“Consultant” shall mean any person who renders services to the Company or any of its Affiliates other than an Employee or a Director.


1.13.“Covered Employee” shall mean a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section      162(m) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.


1.14.“Director” shall mean a person who is a member of the Board, excluding any member who is an Employee.


1.15.“Disability” shall mean:


(a)    with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, “disability” as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code; and


(b)    with respect to any other Award, unless otherwise provided in the related Award Agreement, (i) the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, (ii) the Participant is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering Employees of the Participant’s employer, or (iii) the Participant is determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration.


1.16.“Employee” shall mean any person who is a common law employee of the Company or any Affiliate.  A person who is classified as other than a common-law employee but who is subsequently reclassified as a common law employee of the Company or any Affiliate for any reason and on any basis shall be treated as a common law employee only from the date that reclassification occurs and shall not retroactively be reclassified as an Employee for any purpose under the Plan.


1.17."Effective Date" shall have the meaning given to that term in Article XVI of the Plan.
        
1.18.“Fair Market Value” shall mean the value of one Share on any relevant date, determined under the 









following rules:


(a)    If the Shares are traded on an exchange, the reported “closing price” on the relevant date if it is a trading day, otherwise on the next trading day;


(b)    If the Shares are traded over-the-counter with no reported closing price, the mean between the lowest bid and the highest asked prices on that quotation system on the relevant date if it is a trading day, otherwise on the next trading day; or


(c)    If neither (a) nor (b) applies, (i) with respect to Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and any Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the value as determined by the Committee through the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method, taking into account all information material to the value of the Company, within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) with respect to all other Awards, the fair market value as determined by the Committee in good faith.


1.19.“Full Value Award” shall mean an Award that is settled by the issuance of Shares, other than an Incentive Stock Option, a Nonqualified Stock Option or a Stock Appreciation Right.


1.20.“Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.


1.21.“Nonqualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.


1.22.“Option” shall mean an option to purchase Shares which is granted pursuant to Article V of the Plan.  An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.


1.23.“Other Stock-Based Award” shall mean an Award granted pursuant to Article VIII of the Plan.


1.24.“Participant” shall mean an Employee, Director or Consultant who is granted an Award under the Plan.


1.25.“Performance-Based Award” shall mean an Award described in Section 10.1 of the Plan.


1.26.“Performance Criteria” shall mean (a) with respect to a Participant who is or is likely to be a Covered Employee, the performance criteria described in Section 10.2(a) of the Plan, and (b) with respect to any other Participant, any performance criteria determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.


1.27.“Plan” shall mean the Air Transport Services Group, Inc. 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as set forth herein and as may be amended from time to time.


1.28.“Prior Plan” shall mean the Air Transport Services Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan.


1.29.“Restricted Stock” shall mean an Award granted pursuant to Article VII of the Plan.


1.30.“Retirement” shall mean (a) in the case of a Participant who is an Employee, termination of employment after meeting the definition of normal or early retirement under the Company’s tax-qualified defined benefit retirement plan (or, if the Company does not maintain a tax-qualified defined benefit retirement plan, the definition of normal or early retirement included in the tax-qualified retirement plan that the Company most recently maintained and which included a definition of normal and early retirement), whether or not such Participant is then accruing (or ever has accrued) a benefit under such plan, and (b) in the case of a Participant who is a Director, such Participant’s termination of service as a Director for any reason after completing at least one, one-year term as a Director.


1.31.“Shares” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.


1.32.“Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean an Award granted pursuant to Article VI of the Plan.


1.33.“Subsidiary” shall mean:  (a) with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, a “subsidiary corporation” 









as defined under Section 424(f) of the Code; and (b) for all other purposes under the Plan, any corporation or other entity in which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, a proprietary interest of more than fifty (50%) by reason of stock ownership or otherwise.


ARTICLE II
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN


2.1.Number of Shares Available for Awards.  Subject to this Article II, the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be 3,000,000, all of which may be granted with respect to Incentive Stock Options.  The Shares may consist, in whole or in part, of treasury Shares, authorized but unissued Shares not reserved for any other purpose or Shares purchased by the Company or an independent agent in the open market for such purpose.  Subject to this Article II, upon a grant of an Award, the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the number of Shares subject to such Award, and any Shares underlying such an Award that become available for future grant under the Plan pursuant to Section 2.2 shall be added back to the Plan in an amount equal to the number of Shares subject to such Award that become available for future grant under the Plan pursuant to Section 2.2.  Without limiting the foregoing, with respect to any Stock Appreciation Right that is settled in Shares, the full number of Shares subject to the Award shall count against the number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan regardless of the number of Shares used to settle the Stock Appreciation Right upon exercise.


2.2.Share Usage.  In addition to the number of Shares provided for in Section 2.1, the following Shares shall be available for Awards under the Plan: (a) Shares covered by an Award that expires or is forfeited, canceled, surrendered or otherwise terminated without the issuance of such Shares; (b) Shares covered by an Award that, by its terms, may be settled only in cash; (c) Shares granted through the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards granted by a company to individuals who become Employees, Directors or Consultants as the result of a merger, consolidation, acquisition or other corporate transaction involving such company and the Company or any of its Affiliates; and (d) any Shares subject to outstanding awards under the Prior Plan as of the Effective Date that on or after the Effective Date cease for any reason to be subject to such awards other than by reason of exercise or settlement of the awards to the extent they are exercised for or settled in vested and non-forfeitable Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, Shares covered by an Award that are surrendered as payment of the exercise price of such Award or that are withheld to satisfy any taxes required to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising with respect to such Award shall not again be available for issuance as Awards under this Plan.


2.3.Fiscal Year Limits.  Subject to Section 2.4 and unless and until the Committee determines that an Award to a Covered Employee shall not be designed as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, during any fiscal year of the Company, the Committee may not grant any Participant (a) Options covering more than 200,000 Shares, (b) Stock Appreciation Rights covering more than 200,000 Shares, (c) more than 200,000 Shares of Restricted Stock, (d) Other Stock-Based Awards covering more than 200,000 Shares, (e) Cash-Based Awards equal to more than $2,000,000, (f) Performance-Based Awards that are to be settled in Shares covering more than 200,000 Shares, (g) Performance-Based Awards that are to be settled in cash equal to more than $2,000,000 and (h) Full Value Awards covering more than 400,000 Shares.


2.4.Adjustments.  In the event of any Share dividend, Share split, recapitalization (including payment of an extraordinary dividend), merger, reorganization, consolidation, combination, spin-off, distribution of assets to stockholders, exchange of Shares or any other change affecting the Shares, the Committee shall make such substitutions and adjustments, if any, as it deems equitable and appropriate to: (a) the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan; (b) any Share-based limits imposed under the Plan; and (c) the exercise price, number of Shares and other terms or limitations applicable to outstanding Awards.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an adjustment pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be made only to the extent such adjustment complies, to the extent applicable, with Section 409A of the Code.


ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION


3.1.In General.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  The Committee shall have full power and authority to: (a) interpret the Plan and any Award Agreement; (b) establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan; (c) select Participants; (d) establish the terms and conditions of any Award consistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan; and (e) make any other determinations that it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.  The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or desirable.  Any 









decision of the Committee in the interpretation and administration of the Plan shall be made in the Committee’s sole and absolute discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons.


3.2.Delegation of Duties.  In its sole discretion, the Committee may delegate any ministerial duties associated with the Plan to any person (including Employees) it deems appropriate; provided, however, that the Committee may not delegate (a) any duties that it is required to discharge to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code or any other applicable law and (b) its authority to grant Awards to any Participant who is subject to Section 16 of the Act.


ARTICLE IV
ELIGIBILITY


Any Employee, Director or Consultant selected by the Committee shall be eligible to be a Participant in the Plan; provided, however, that Incentive Stock Options shall only be granted to Employees who are employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.


ARTICLE V
OPTIONS


5.1.Grant of Options.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Options may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms and conditions, as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.


5.2.Award Agreement.  Each Option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the exercise price, the term of the Option, the number of Shares covered by the Option, the conditions upon which the Option shall become vested and exercisable and such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine and which are not inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan.  The Award Agreement also shall specify whether the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.


5.3.Exercise Price.  The exercise price per Share of an Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Option is granted and shall be specified in the related Award Agreement; provided, however, that in no event shall the exercise price of any Option be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.


5.4.Term.  The term of an Option shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the related Award Agreement; provided, however, that in no event shall the term of any Option exceed ten (10) years from its date of grant.


5.5.Exercisability.  Options shall become exercisable at such times and upon such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the related Award Agreement.  Such terms and conditions may include the satisfaction of performance goals based on one (1) or more Performance Criteria.


5.6.Exercise of Options.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in a related Award Agreement, an Option may be exercised for all or any portion of the Shares for which it is then exercisable.  An Option shall be exercised by the delivery of a notice of exercise to the Company or its designee in a form specified by the Committee which sets forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised and full payment of the exercise price for such Shares.  The exercise price of an Option may be paid: (a) in cash or its equivalent; (b) by tendering (either by actual delivery or attestation) previously acquired Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the aggregate exercise price; provided that such Shares had been held for at least six (6) months or such other period required to obtain favorable accounting treatment; (c) by a cashless exercise (including by withholding Shares deliverable upon exercise and through a broker-assisted arrangement to the extent permitted by applicable law); (d) by a combination of the methods described in clauses (a), (b) and/or (c); or (e) through any other method approved by the Committee in its sole discretion.  As soon as practicable after receipt of the notification of exercise and full payment of the exercise price, the Company shall cause the appropriate number of Shares to be issued to the Participant.


5.7.Special Rules Applicable to Incentive Stock Options.  Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan to the contrary:


(a)    The terms and conditions of Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to and comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.











(b)    The aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares (determined as of the date of grant) with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries) may not be greater than $100,000 (or such other amount specified in Section 422 of the Code), as calculated under Section 422 of the Code.


(c)    No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any Participant who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary, unless (i) the exercise price of such Incentive Stock Option is at least one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted and (ii) the date on which such Incentive Stock Option will expire is not later than five (5) years from the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted.


ARTICLE VI
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS


6.1.Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms and conditions, as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.


6.2.Award Agreement.  Each Stock Appreciation Right shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the exercise price, the term of the Stock Appreciation Right, the number of Shares covered by the Stock Appreciation Right, the conditions upon which the Stock Appreciation Right shall become vested and exercisable and such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine and which are not inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan.


6.3.Exercise Price.  The exercise price per Share of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Stock Appreciation Right is granted and shall be specified in the related Award Agreement; provided, however, that in no event shall the exercise price of any Stock Appreciation Right be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.


6.4.Term.  The term of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the related Award Agreement; provided however, that in no event shall the term of any Stock Appreciation Right exceed ten (10) years from its date of grant.


6.5.Exercisability of Stock Appreciation Rights.  A Stock Appreciation Right shall become exercisable at such times and upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee and set forth in the related Award Agreement.  Such terms and conditions may include the satisfaction of performance goals based on one (1) or more Performance Criteria.


6.6.Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in a related Award Agreement, a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised for all or any portion of the Shares for which it is then exercisable.  A Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercised by the delivery of a notice of exercise to the Company or its designee in a form specified by the Committee which sets forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is to be exercised.  Upon exercise, a Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle a Participant to an amount equal to (a) the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the exercise date over (ii) the exercise price per Share, multiplied by (b) the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.  A Stock Appreciation Right may be settled in full Shares, cash or a combination thereof, as specified by the Committee in the related Award Agreement.


ARTICLE VII
RESTRICTED STOCK


7.1.Grant of Restricted Stock.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Shares of Restricted Stock may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms and conditions, as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.


7.2.Award Agreement.  Each Restricted Stock Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the number of Shares of Restricted Stock, the restricted period(s) applicable to the Shares of Restricted Stock, the conditions upon which the restrictions on the Shares of Restricted Stock will lapse and such other terms and 









conditions as the Committee shall determine and which are not inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan.


7.3.Terms, Conditions and Restrictions.


(a)    The Committee shall impose such other terms, conditions and/or restrictions on any Shares of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant pay a purchase price for each Share of Restricted Stock, restrictions based on the achievement of specific performance goals (which may be based on one (1) or more of the Performance Criteria), time-based restrictions or holding requirements or sale restrictions placed on the Shares by the Company upon vesting of such Restricted Stock.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Article 12 of the Plan or as described in the related Award Agreement in connection with a Participant’s death, termination due to Disability and/or Retirement, no condition on vesting of a Restricted Stock Award that is based upon achievement of specified performance goals shall be based on performance over a period of less than one year and no condition on vesting of a Restricted Stock Award that is based upon continued employment or the passage of time shall provide for vesting in full of the Restricted Stock Award more quickly than one year from the date of grant of the Award.  


(b)    To the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, the Company may retain the certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock in the Company’s possession until such time as all terms, conditions and/or restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied or lapse.


(c)    Unless otherwise provided in the related Award Agreement or required by applicable law, the restrictions imposed on Shares of Restricted Stock shall lapse upon the expiration or termination of the applicable restricted period and the satisfaction of any other applicable terms and conditions.


7.4    Rights Associated with Restricted Stock during Restricted Period.  During any restricted period applicable to Shares of Restricted Stock:


(a)Such Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated.


(b)Unless otherwise provided in the related Award Agreement, (i) the Participant shall be entitled to exercise full voting rights associated with such Shares of Restricted Stock and (ii) the Participant shall be entitled to all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares of Restricted Stock during the restricted period; provided, however, that receipt of any such dividends or other distributions will be subject to the same terms and conditions as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they are paid.


ARTICLE VIII
OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS


8.1.Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms and conditions, as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.  Other Stock-Based Awards are Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on the Fair Market Value of, the Shares, and shall be in such form as the Committee shall determine, including without limitation, (a) unrestricted Shares or (b) time-based or performance-based restricted stock units that are settled in Shares and/or cash.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Article 12 of the Plan or as described in the related Award Agreement in connection with a Participant’s death, termination due to Disability and/or Retirement, no condition on vesting of an Other Stock-Based Award that is based upon achievement of specified performance goals shall be based on performance over a period of less than one year and no condition on vesting of an Other Stock-Based Award that is based upon continued employment or the passage of time shall provide for vesting in full of the Other Stock-Based Award more quickly than one year from the date of grant of the Award.  


8.2.Award Agreement.  Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the terms and conditions upon which the Other Stock-Based Award shall become vested, the form of settlement and such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine and which are not inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan.


8.3.Form of Settlement.  An Other Stock-Based Award may be settled in full Shares, cash or a combination thereof, as specified by the Committee in the related Award Agreement.


8.4.Dividend Equivalents.  Awards of Other Stock-Based Awards may provide the Participant with 









dividend equivalents, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the related Award Agreement.


ARTICLE IX
CASH-BASED AWARDS


Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Cash-Based Awards may be granted to Participants in such amounts and upon such other terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.  Each Cash-Based Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the payment amount or payment range and the other terms and conditions, as applicable, of such Award which may include, without limitation, performance objectives and that the Cash-Based Award is a Performance-Based Award under Article 10.


ARTICLE X
PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS


10.1.In General.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, Cash-Based Awards, Shares of Restricted Stock and Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted in a manner which is deductible by the Company under Section 162(m) of the Code (“Performance-Based Awards”).  As determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, the grant, vesting, exercisability and/or settlement of any Performance-Based Award shall be conditioned on the attainment of performance goals based upon one (1) or more Performance Criteria during a performance period established by the Committee.  Any such Award must meet the requirements of this Article 10.


10.2.Performance Criteria.


(a)    For purposes of the Plan, the “Performance Criteria” for Participants who are or are likely to be Covered Employees are as follows:


		
	i.
	Earnings measures (including, without limitation, gross margin, earnings before interest, earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before taxes, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and net earnings);


		
	ii.
	Cash flow; 


		
	iii.
	Earnings per share;


		
	iv.
	Growth in earnings or earnings per share;


		
	v.
	Stock price;


		
	vi.
	Return on equity or average stockholders’ equity;


		
	vii.
	Total stockholder return;


		
	viii.
	Return on invested capital;


		
	ix.
	Return on stockholder equity;


		
	x.
	Return on assets or net assets;


		
	xi.
	Return on investment;


		
	xii.
	Revenue;


		
	xiii.
	Income or net income;


		
	xiv.
	Operating income or net operating income;


		
	xv.
	Operating profit or net operating profit (whether before or after taxes);


		
	xvi.
	Operating margin;


		
	xvii.
	Return on operating revenue;


		
	xviii.
	Market share;


		
	xix.
	Contract awards or backlog;


		
	xx.
	Overhead or other expense reduction;


		
	xxi.
	Growth in stockholder value relative to the moving average of the S&P 500 Index or a peer group or other index;


		
	xxii.
	Meeting customer cost and service standards;


		
	xxiii.
	Strategic plan development and implementation; and


		
	xxiv.
	Improvement in workforce diversity.




(b)    Performance Criteria may relate to an individual Participant or to any group of Participants, the Company, one (1) or more of its Affiliates or one (1) or more of their respective divisions or business units, or any combination of the foregoing, and may be applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one (1) or more peer group companies or indices, or any combination thereof, in each case, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.











10.3.Establishment of Performance Goals.  With respect to Performance-Based Awards for Participants who are or are likely to be Covered Employees, the Committee shall establish: (a) the applicable performance goals and performance period and (b) the formula for computing the Performance-Based Award.  Such terms and conditions shall be established in writing while the outcome of the applicable performance period is substantially uncertain, but in no event later than the earlier of: (i) ninety (90) days after the beginning of the applicable performance period; or (ii) the expiration of twenty-five percent (25%) of the applicable performance period.


10.4.Certification of Performance.  With respect to Performance-Based Awards for Participants who are or are likely to be Covered Employees, the Committee shall certify in writing whether the applicable performance goals and other material terms imposed on such Performance-Based Awards have been satisfied, and, if they have, ascertain the amount of the applicable Performance-Based Award.  No such Performance-Based Award shall be granted, vested, exercisable and/or settled, as the case may be, until the Committee makes this certification.


10.5.Modifying Performance-Based Awards.  To the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code, performance goals relating to such Performance-Based Awards may be calculated without regard to extraordinary items or adjusted, as the Committee deems equitable, in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company and/or its Affiliates or changes in applicable tax laws or accounting principles.


10.6.Negative Discretion.  In the Committee’s sole discretion, the amount of a Performance-Based Award actually paid to a Participant may be less than the amount determined by the applicable performance goal formula.


ARTICLE XI
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE


With respect to each Award granted under the Plan, the Committee shall, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, determine the extent to which the Award shall vest and the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise and/or receive settlement of the Award on or following the Participant’s termination of employment or services with the Company and/or any of its Affiliates.  Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the related Award Agreement, need not be uniform among all Awards granted under the Plan and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the vesting conditions of an Award may only be accelerated upon the death, termination due to Disability, Retirement or involuntary termination without Cause of the Participant.


ARTICLE XII
CHANGE IN CONTROL


Except as otherwise provided in the related Award Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee, in its sole discretion and without liability to any person, may take such actions, if any, as it deems necessary or desirable with respect to any Award that is outstanding as of the date of the consummation of the Change in Control.  Such actions may include, without limitation: (a) the acceleration of the vesting, settlement and/or exercisability of an Award; (b) the payment of a cash amount in exchange for the cancellation of an Award; and/or (c) the issuance of substitute Awards that substantially preserve the value, rights and benefits of any affected Awards.  Any action relating to an Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be consistent with the requirements thereof.


ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN


13.1.In General.  The Board or the Committee may amend or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that no amendment or termination shall be made without the approval of the Company’s stockholders to the extent that (a) the amendment materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan, (b) the amendment materially increases the aggregate number of Shares authorized for grant under the Plan (excluding an increase in the number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan as a result of Section 2.4), (c) the amendment materially modifies the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan, or (d) such approval is required by any law, regulation or stock exchange rule.


13.2.Repricing.  Except for adjustments made pursuant to Section 2.4 of the Plan, in no event may the Board or the Committee amend the terms of an outstanding Award to reduce the exercise price of an outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right or cancel an outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash, other Awards or Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Option or 









Stock Appreciation Right without stockholder approval.


ARTICLE XIV
TRANSFERABILITY


14.1.Except as described in Section 14.2 or as provided in a related Award Agreement, an Award may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution and, during a Participant’s lifetime, may be exercised only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.


14.2.A Participant’s beneficiary under the Plan shall be the Participant’s spouse or, if no spouse survives the Participant, the Participant’s estate.


ARTICLE XV
MISCELLANEOUS


15.1.No Right to Continue Services or to Awards.  The granting of an Award under the Plan shall impose no obligation on the Company or any Affiliate to continue the employment or services of a Participant or interfere with or limit the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the services of any Employee, Director or Consultant at any time.  In addition, no Employee, Director or Consultant shall have any right to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants.  The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s interpretations and determinations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant.


15.2.Tax Withholding.


(a)    The Company or an Affiliate, as applicable, shall have the power and the right to deduct, withhold or collect any amount required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising with respect to an Award granted under the Plan.  This amount may, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, be (i) withheld from other amounts due to the Participant, (ii) withheld from the value of any Award being settled or any Shares being transferred in connection with the exercise or settlement of an Award or (iii) collected directly from the Participant.


(b)    Subject to the approval of the Committee, a Participant may elect to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company or an Affiliate, as applicable, withhold Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the minimum statutory total tax that could be imposed on the transaction; provided that such Shares would otherwise be distributable to the Participant at the time of the withholding.  All such elections shall be irrevocable and made in writing and shall be subject to any terms and conditions that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.


15.3.Requirements of Law.  The grant of Awards and the issuance of Shares shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations (including applicable federal and state securities laws) and to all required approvals of any governmental agencies or national securities exchange, market or other quotation system.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to issue Shares under the Plan prior to (a) receipt of any approvals from any governmental agencies or national securities exchange, market or quotation system that the Committee deems necessary and (b) completion of registration or other qualification of the Shares under any applicable federal or state law or ruling of any governmental agency that the Committee deems necessary.  Subject to compliance with applicable law and/or regulation, an Award agreement or other documentation or notice related to the Plan and/or Awards may be communicated to Participants by electronic media.


15.4.Legends.  Certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan may be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions that the Committee deems advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange or other recognized market or quotation system upon which the Shares are then listed or traded, or any other applicable federal or state securities law.  The Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any certificates issued under the Plan to make appropriate reference to restrictions within the scope of this Section 15.4.


15.5.Uncertificated Shares.  To the extent that the Plan provides for the issuance of certificates to reflect the transfer of Shares, the transfer of Shares may be effected on a noncertificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange.











15.6.Forfeiture Provision.  Unless the Award Agreement specifies otherwise, the Committee may, in its discretion, require a Participant to forfeit all unexercised, unearned, unvested or unpaid Awards if: 


(a)    the Participant, without written consent of the Company, engages directly or indirectly in any manner or capacity as principal, agent, partner, officer, director, employee or otherwise in any business or activity competitive with the business conducted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as determined by the Committee; 


(b)           the Participant performs any act or engages in any activity that is detrimental to the best interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as determined by the Committee; or 


(c)    the Participant breaches any agreement or covenant with, or obligation or duty to, the Company or any Subsidiary, including without limitation, any non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement, or assignment of inventions or ownership of works agreement, as determined by the Committee. 


In addition, each Award granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be subject to forfeiture or repayment pursuant to the terms of any applicable compensation recovery policy adopted by the Company as in effect from time to time, including any such policy that may be adopted or amended to comply with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or any rules or regulations issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission or applicable securities exchange. 


15.7.Governing Law.  The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio, without regard to its conflicts of law provisions, except to the extent that the laws of the state in which the Company is incorporated are of mandatory application.


15.8.No Impact on Benefits.  Awards are not compensation for purposes of calculating a Participant’s rights under any employee benefit plan that does not specifically require the inclusion of Awards in calculating benefits.


15.9.Rights as a Shareholder.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in a related Award Agreement, a Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares covered by an Award unless and until the Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares.


15.10.Successors and Assigns.  The Plan shall be binding on all successors and assigns of the Company and each Participant, including without limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or trustee of such estate, or any receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or representative of the Participant’s creditors.


15.11.Section 409A of the Code.


(a)    Awards granted pursuant to the Plan are intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and the Plan shall be interpreted, administered and operated accordingly.


(b)    If a Participant is determined to be a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and as determined under the Company’s policy for determining specified employees), the Participant shall not be entitled to be paid or to the distribution of any portion of an Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code and is payable or distributable on account of the Participant’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) until the expiration of six (6) months from the date of such separation from service (or, if earlier, the Participant’s death).  Such amount shall be paid or distributed on the first (1st) business day of the seventh (7th) month following such separation from service.


(c)    Nothing in the Plan shall be construed as an entitlement to or guarantee of any particular tax treatment to a Participant, and none of the Company, its Affiliates, the Board or the Committee shall have any liability with respect to any failure to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.


15.12.    Savings Clause.  In the event that any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
    
15.13    Foreign Employees.  Without amending the Plan, the Committee may grant Awards to Participants who are foreign nationals on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan as may in the judgment of the Committee be necessary or desirable to foster and promote achievement of the purposes of the Plan, and, in 









furtherance of such purposes, the Committee may make such modifications, amendments, procedures, and the like as may be necessary or advisable to comply with provisions of laws of other countries in which the Company or its Subsidiaries operate or have employees.
    
ARTICLE XVI
EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN


The effective date of the Plan is May 7, 2015 (the "Effective Date").  No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date or, if earlier, the date the Plan is terminated.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the termination of the Plan shall not preclude the Company from complying with the terms of Awards outstanding on the date the Plan terminates.