Document:

exv10w1

Exhibit 10.1

EPICEPT CORPORATION

2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company wishes to attract employees to the Company, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates and to
induce employees to remain with the Company, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, and to encourage them
to increase their efforts to make the Company’s business more successful, whether directly or
through its Subsidiaries and Affiliates. In furtherance thereof, the Plan is designed to provide
equity-based incentives to the Eligible Employees of the Company, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates.
The Plan is intended to comply with the provisions of Section 423 of the Code and shall be
administered, interpreted and construed accordingly, although the Company makes no undertaking or
representation to maintain such qualification.

1. Definitions.

When used herein, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

“Affiliate” means any entity, other than a Subsidiary, in which the Company has an equity or other
ownership interest.

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Broker” shall have the meaning as set forth in the second paragraph of Section 2 herein.

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

“Committee” means the committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company under Section 3
hereof.

“Common Stock” means the Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company.

“Company” means EpiCept Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

“Designated Companies” shall mean the Company and any Subsidiary or Affiliate which has been
designated by the Board of Directors from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to
participate in the Plan.

“Effective Date” means January 1, 2009.

 

“Eligible Compensation” for any pay period means, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the
amount of base salary for such period. Eligible Compensation does not include, without limitation,
any payments for reimbursement of expenses, bonuses, incentive compensation, overtime, deferred
compensation, and other non-cash or non-basic payments, unless otherwise determined by the
Committee.

“Eligible Employee” means an employee eligible to participate in the Plan pursuant to the
provisions of Section 4.

“Enrollment Period” means such period preceding an Offer Period as is specified by the Committee
with respect to such Offer Period.

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

“Fair Market Value” per Share as of a particular date means (i) if Shares are then listed on a
national stock exchange, the closing price per Share on the exchange for the last preceding date on
which there was a sale of Shares on such exchange, as determined by the Committee, (ii) if Shares
are not then listed on a national stock exchange but are then traded on an over-the-counter market,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices for such Shares in such over-the-counter market for
the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Shares in such market, as determined by
the Committee, or (iii) if Shares are not then listed on a national exchange or traded on an
over-the-counter market, such value as the Committee in its discretion may in good faith determine;
provided that, where such shares are so listed or traded, the Committee may make discretionary
determinations where the shares have not been traded for 10 trading days.

“Offer Date” means the first day of an Offer Period.

“Offer Period” means the period of time for which the Company will offer Shares for purchase under
the Plan. The Offer Period shall be for successive six-month periods, beginning on January 1 and
July 1 of each calendar year or on such other date as the Committee may determine in its absolute
discretion; provided that the first Offer Date shall be the Effective Date and the second Offer
Period shall commence on the immediately next following January 1 or July 1. The Company may make
additional Offer Periods for different periods, provided that no Offer Period shall extend for more
than 27 months.

“Participating Employee” means an employee (i) for whom payroll deductions are currently being made
or who otherwise contributes to the Plan, or (ii) for whom payroll deductions are not currently
being made or who does not otherwise contribute to the Plan because he or she has reached the
limitation set forth in the first sentence of Section 6.

“Payroll Account” means an account maintained by the Committee with respect to each Participating
Employee as contemplated by Section 5. No interest or other earnings shall be credited to any
contributions under the Plan.

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“Plan” means this EpiCept Corporation 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as it may from time to
time be amended.

“Plan Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.

“Purchase Date” means the last day of an Offer Period, except as provided in Section 15.

“Shares” means shares of Common Stock.

“Stock Account” means a brokerage account as contemplated by Section 8.

“Subsidiary” means any corporation that is a “subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company
under Section 424(f) of the Code.

2. Shares Reserved for the Plan.

There shall be reserved for issuance and purchase by employees under the Plan an aggregate of
1,000,000 Shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12. All such Shares may be granted
under the Code Section 423(b). Shares subject to the Plan may be Shares now or hereafter
authorized but unissued, or Shares that were once issued and subsequently reacquired by the
Company. If and to the extent that any right to purchase reserved Shares shall not be exercised by
any employee for any reason or if such right to purchase shall terminate as provided herein, Shares
that have not been so purchased hereunder shall again become available for the purposes of the Plan
unless the Plan shall have been terminated, but such unpurchased Shares shall not be deemed to
increase the aggregate number of Shares specified above to be reserved for purposes of the Plan
(subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12).

The Committee shall select a broker (the “Broker”) which shall hold and act as custodian of Shares
purchased pursuant to the Plan. Absent instructions to the contrary from a Participating Employee,
certificates for Shares purchased will not be issued by the Broker to a participant.

3. Administration of the Plan.

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall consist of such members as determined
by the Company. The Board of Directors shall consider the rules of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under
the Exchange Act in connection with any such appointment, if and to the extent that such
appointments may have an effect thereunder. Each member of the Committee shall serve at the
pleasure of the Board of Directors. The acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting
of the Committee at which a quorum is present, or acts approved in writing by a majority of the
entire Committee, shall be the acts of the Committee for purposes of the Plan. To the extent
applicable, no member of the Committee may act as to matters under the Plan specifically relating
to such member.

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors may designate the Compensation Committee of
the Board of Directors to act as the Committee hereunder.

The Committee may make such rules and regulations and establish such procedures and sub-plans for
the operation and administration of the Plan as it deems appropriate, including relating to the
operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and
procedures for jurisdictions outside of the United States. The Committee shall have authority to
interpret the Plan, with such interpretations to be conclusive and binding on all persons and
otherwise accorded the maximum deference permitted by law and shall take any other actions and make
any other determinations or decisions that it deems necessary or appropriate in connection with the
Plan or the administration or interpretation thereof.

The Company shall pay brokerage commissions, fees and other charges, if any, incurred for purchases
of Shares with payroll deductions made under the Plan. All brokerage commissions, fees or other
charges in connection with any sale or other transfer of the Shares shall be paid by the respective
Participating Employee. In addition, any charges by the Broker in connection with the respective
Participating Employee’s request to have certificates representing Shares registered in such
Participating Employee’s name shall be paid by such Participating Employee. Upon termination of
employment of a Participating Employee or the withdrawal of a Participating Employee from the Plan
for any other reason, all commissions, fees and other charges thereafter relating to such
Participating Employee’s Payroll Account will be such Participating Employee’s responsibility.

4. Eligible Employees.

Except as described below, all employees of the Company and its Designated Companies shall be
eligible to participate in the Plan, provided that each of such employees does not own, for
purposes of Section 423 of the Code, immediately after the right is granted, stock possessing 5% or
more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of capital stock of the Company or
of a Subsidiary.

To the extent permitted under local law, the Committee may also exclude from participation in the
Plan any or all of (i) a group of highly compensated employees designated by the Committee as being
ineligible to participate in the Plan as permitted by Section 423(b)(4)(D) of the Code, (ii)
employees who have been employed by the Company or any Subsidiary for less than two years, (iii)
employees whose customary employment is for not more than five months in any calendar year, and
(iv) employees who customarily work 20 hours per week or less. An employee of a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate which ceases to be a “Subsidiary” or an “Affiliate” as defined herein shall,
automatically and without any further action, be deemed to have been terminated and such employee
shall cease to be an Eligible Employee hereunder.

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5. Election to Participate and Payroll Deductions/Contributions.

Each Eligible Employee may elect to participate in the Plan during the Enrollment Period
immediately prior to the beginning of each Offer Period during a Plan Year. Each Eligible Employee
may elect an after-tax payroll deduction subject to such minimum and maximum limits, expressed in
dollars or as a percentage of wages, as the Committee may impose. Elections under this Section 5
are subject to the limits set forth in Section 6. All payroll deductions shall be credited, as
promptly as practicable, to a Payroll Account in the name of the Participating Employee. The
Committee, in its discretion, may decide that an Eligible Employee may contribute to the Plan by
means other than payroll deductions. All funds held by the Company under the Plan shall not be
segregated from other corporate funds (except that the Company may in its discretion establish
separate bank or investment accounts in its own name) and may be used by the Company for any
corporate purpose, unless otherwise required by local law. An Eligible Employee may reduce, but
not increase his or her rate of payroll deduction during an Offer Period by written notice to the
Committee in such form and manner as it requires. Such reduction shall be effective as of the
first pay period thereafter by which the Company is able to process the change.

Each Eligible Employee may cancel his or her election to participate in the Plan by signing and
delivering written notice to the Committee, on a form specified for such purpose by the Committee,
at such times as may be established by the Committee, up to one time per Offer Period. In such
case, the entire balance in the Payroll Account of such Eligible Employee shall be repaid to such
Eligible Employee as promptly as practicable in accordance with Section 9. A Participating
Employee’s voluntary withdrawal during an Offer Period shall have no effect upon such Participating
Employee’s eligibility to participate during any other Offer Period under the Plan, but such
Participating Employee shall be required to deliver a new enrollment form in order to participate
during a subsequent Offer Period.

Subject to the preceding paragraph of this Section 5, if so provided by the Committee, an Eligible
Employee who is a Participating Employee immediately prior to the beginning of an Offer Period will
be deemed (i) to have elected to participate for such Offer Period and (ii) to have authorized the
same percentage payroll deduction for such Offer Period in effect for such Eligible Employee as
that in effect (without regard to Section 6) on the day before such Offer Period. The Committee
may adopt the procedures set forth in the foregoing sentence for some but not all Offer Periods.

6. Limitation of Number of Shares That an Employee May Purchase.

An employee shall not have the right to purchase Common Stock under any employee stock purchase
plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries accruing at a rate which in the aggregate exceeds $25,000
of the fair market value of such stock (such fair market value shall be determined under Section
423 of the Code at the time the right is granted) for each calendar year in which the right is
outstanding at any time.

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the maximum number of shares purchasable by a Participating Employee
on any Purchase Date shall not exceed 100,000 shares, subject to periodic adjustments in the event
of certain changes in the Company’s capitalization.

7. Purchase Price.

The purchase price for each Share shall be the lesser of (i) 85% of the Fair Market Value of such
Shares on the Offer Date or (ii) 85% of the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the Purchase Date.

8. Method of Purchase.

As of the Purchase Date, each Participating Employee shall be deemed, without any further action,
to have purchased the number of whole Shares which the balance of his or her Payroll Account at
that time will purchase, determined by dividing the balance in his or her Payroll Account not
theretofore invested by the purchase price as determined in Section 7.

All Shares purchased as provided in the foregoing paragraph shall be initially maintained in
separate Stock Accounts for the Participating Employees at a brokerage firm selected by, and
pursuant to an arrangement with, the Company. The Company shall deliver the shares to the Stock
Account as soon as reasonably practicable after the close of the applicable Purchase Date. A
Participating Employee shall be free to undertake a disposition (as that term is defined in Section
424 of the Code) of the Shares in his or her Stock Account at any time, whether by sale, exchange,
gift or other transfer of legal title, but, in the absence of such a disposition of such Shares,
unless otherwise provided by the Committee, the Shares must remain in the Participating Employee’s
Stock Account at the brokerage firm so selected until the holding period set forth in Section
423(a) of the Code has been satisfied. With respect to those Shares for which the Section 423(a)
holding period has been satisfied, the Participating Employee may, without limitation, move those
Shares to another brokerage account of the Participating Employee’s choosing or request that a
stock certificate be issued and delivered to him or her.

If and to the extent provided by the Committee, for so long as such Shares are maintained in Stock
Accounts, all dividends paid with respect to such Shares shall be credited to each Participating
Employee’s Stock Account, and will be automatically reinvested in whole Shares. The Committee may
provide that transaction fees incurred with respect to dividend reinvestment may be paid by the
Company.

Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, in no event shall fractional Shares be purchased
hereunder, and any remaining cash in a Participating Employee’s Payroll Account resulting from such
failure to invest in fractional Shares shall remain in the Payroll Account for use in the next
Offer Period; provided, however, if the Participating Employee is not an active Participating
Employee for such next Offer Period, such remaining cash shall be returned to the Participating
Employee as soon as practicable.

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9. Termination of Participation or Employment.

The right to participate in the Plan shall terminate immediately when a Participating Employee
ceases to be employed by the Company or a Designated Company for any reason (including death or
disability) or a Participating Employee otherwise becomes ineligible. Participation also
terminates: (i) immediately when the Participating Employee voluntarily cancels his or her election
to participate in the Plan as provided in Section 5, (ii) if, immediately after the Purchase Date,
the Participating Employee is not re-enrolled in the Plan for the next Offer Period or (iii) if the
Participating Employee has suspended payroll deductions during any Offer Period and has not
re-enrolled in the Plan for the next Offer Period.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Company shall distribute to
such former Participating Employee (or, in the event of death, to his or her estate), the balance
in his or her Payroll Account not theretofore invested, any such distribution or payment to be made
as soon as practicable. The Committee shall also cause to be delivered to the former Participating
Employee (or his or her estate), a certificate for the number of whole Shares held in his or her
Stock Account within 90 days of the termination of employment or as soon as practicable thereafter.
If applicable, fractional Shares will be sold on the open market and the Participating Employee
will receive the net proceeds, if any, after all fees have been paid.

Unless an Eligible Employee withdraws from the Plan, Shares will be purchased with contributions to
the Eligible Employee’s Stock Account on the last day of the Offer Period following the
commencement of an unpaid leave of absence, unless such Eligible Employee’s employment terminates
prior to that time. The number of Shares purchased will be determined by applying the amount of
the Eligible Employee’s contributions prior to such leave of absence. Upon the return of such
Eligible Employee to work following an unpaid leave of absence, payroll deductions shall resume at
the rate in effect at the commencement of the leave of absence.

10. Rights as a Stockholder.

A Participating Employee shall not be treated as the owner of Common Stock until the Purchase Date
of such stock under the Plan. At the time funds from a Participating Employee’s Payroll Account
are used to purchase Common Stock, he or she shall have all of the rights and privileges of a
stockholder of the Company with respect to the Shares purchased under the Plan whether or not
certificates representing such Shares have been issued. The Participating Employee shall direct
the Broker as to how to vote the full Shares credited to the Participating Employee’s Payroll
Account.

11. Rights Not Transferable.

Rights granted under the Plan are not transferable by a Participating Employee other than by will
or the laws of descent and distribution and are exercisable during his or her lifetime only by him
or her. Any attempt to sell, pledge, assign, surrender or transfer

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such rights shall be void and shall automatically cause any purchase rights held by the
Participating Employee to be terminated. In such event, the Committee may refund in cash, without
interest, all contributions credited to such Participating Employee’s Payroll Account.

12. Adjustment in Case of Changes Affecting Common Stock.

If (i) the Company shall at any time be involved in a merger, consolidation, dissolution,
liquidation, reorganization, exchange of shares, sale of all or substantially all of the assets or
stock of the Company or its Subsidiaries or a transaction similar thereto, (ii) any stock dividend,
stock split, reverse stock split, stock combination, reclassification, recapitalization or other
similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or any distribution to holders of Common
Stock other than cash dividends, shall occur or (iii) any other event shall occur which in the
judgment of the Committee necessitates action by way of adjusting the number or kind of shares, or
both, which thereafter may be sold under the Plan, then the Committee may forthwith take any such
action as in its judgment shall be necessary to preserve the Participating Employees’ rights in a
manner substantially proportionate to the rights existing prior to such event, and to maintain the
continuing availability of Shares under Section 2 (if Shares are otherwise then available) in a
manner consistent with the intent hereof, including, without limitation, adjustments in (x) the
number and kind of shares subject to the Plan, (y) the purchase price of such shares under the
Plan, and (z) the number and kind of shares available under Section 2. To the extent that such
action shall include an increase or decrease in the number of Shares (or units of other property
then available) subject to the Plan, the number of Shares (or units) available under Section 2
shall be increased or decreased, as the case may be, proportionately, as may be provided by
Committee in its discretion.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, if the Common Stock ceases to be listed or traded,
as applicable, on a national stock exchange or over-the-counter market (a “Triggering Event”),
then, in the discretion of the Committee, (i) the balance in the Participating Employee’s Payroll
Account not theretofore invested may be refunded to the Participating Employee, and such
Participating Employee shall have no further rights or benefits under the Plan, (ii) an amount
equal to the product of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of the Triggering Event
multiplied by the number of Shares such Participating Employee would have been able to purchase
with the balance of his or her Payroll Account on such Triggering Event if such Triggering Event
were the Purchase Date may be paid to the Participating Employee, and such Participating Employee
shall have no further rights or benefits under the Plan, or (iii) the Plan may be continued without
regard to the application of this sentence.

13. No Corporate Action Restriction.

The existence of the Plan and the rights granted hereunder shall not limit, affect or restrict in
any way the right or power of the Board of Directors or the Company’s stockholders to make or
authorize (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s or
any Subsidiary’s capital structure or its business, (ii) any merger,

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consolidation or change in the ownership of the Company or any Subsidiary, (iii) any issue of
bonds, debentures, capital, preferred or prior preference stocks ahead of or affecting the
Company’s or any Subsidiary’s capital stock or the right thereof, (iv) any dissolution or
liquidation of the Company or any Subsidiary, (v) any sale or transfer of all or any part of the
Company’s or any Subsidiary’s assets or business or (vi) any other corporate act or proceeding by
the Company or any Subsidiary. No Participating Employee or any other person shall have any claim
against any member of the Board or the Committee, the Company or any Subsidiary, or any employees,
officers, stockholders or agents of the Company or any Subsidiary, as a result of any such action.

14. Amendment of the Plan.

The Board of Directors may at any time, or from time to time, amend or terminate the Plan in any
respect, including but not limited to, terminating the Plan prior to the end of an Offer Period or
reducing the term of an Offer Period; provided, however, that the Plan may not be amended in any
way that would cause, if such amendment were not approved by the Company’s stockholders, the
failure to comply with (i) the requirements for employee stock purchase plans under Section 423 of
the Code or (ii) any other requirement of applicable law or regulation, unless and until
stockholder approval is obtained.

No amendments to the Plan which affect the responsibilities or duties of the Broker shall be
effective without the agreement and approval of the Broker.

15. Termination of the Plan.

The Plan and all rights of employees hereunder shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the tenth
anniversary of the Effective Date, (ii) the date on which the shares available under the Plan, as
adjusted from time to time, are exhausted, or (iii) the termination of the Plan by the Board as
specified below. The Board may terminate the Plan as of any date. The date of termination of the
Plan shall be deemed a Purchase Date. If on such Purchase Date Participating Employees in the
aggregate have the right to purchase more Shares of Common Stock than are available for purchase
under the Plan, each Employee Participant shall be eligible to purchase a reduced number of Shares
of Common Stock on a pro rata basis, and any excess payroll deductions shall be returned to the
Participating Employees, without interest, all as provided by rules and regulations adopted by the
Committee. No termination of the Plan shall materially alter or diminish any rights outstanding
under the Plan at the time of such termination.

16. Governmental and Other Regulations; Further Assurances.

The Plan, and the grant and exercise of the rights to purchase Shares hereunder, and the Company’s
obligation to sell and deliver Shares upon the exercise of rights to purchase Shares, shall be
subject to all applicable federal, state and foreign laws, rules and regulations, and to such
approvals by any regulatory or governmental agency as may be required. The Company shall not be
required to issue or deliver any certificates for

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Shares prior to the completion of any registration or qualification of such Shares under, and the
obtaining of any approval under or compliance with, any state or federal law, or any ruling or
regulation of any government body which the Company shall, in its sole discretion, determine to be
necessary or advisable. Certificates for Shares issued hereunder may be legended as the Committee
may deem appropriate.

The Participating Employee shall take whatever additional actions and execute whatever additional
documents the Committee may in its reasonable judgment deem necessary or advisable in order to
carry out or effect one or more of the obligations or restrictions imposed on the Participating
Employee pursuant to the Plan.

17. Non-U.S. Subsidiaries.

Without amending the Plan, the Committee may allow for participation under the terms hereunder by
Eligible Employees of non-U.S. Subsidiaries and Affiliates with such modifications of the terms and
conditions otherwise specified hereunder as may in the judgment of the Committee be necessary or
desirable to foster and promote achievement of the purposes hereof, and, in furtherance of such
purposes, the Committee may make such amendments, procedures and the like and establish such
sub-plans as may be necessary or advisable to comply with provisions of laws (including tax laws)
in other countries in which such Subsidiaries and Affiliates operate or have employees.

18. Indemnification of Committee.

The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the members of the Board of Directors of the Company
and the members of the Committee from and against any and all liabilities, costs and expenses
incurred by such persons as a result of any act or omission to act in connection with the
performance of such person’s duties, responsibilities and obligations under the Plan if such person
acts in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believes to be in, or not opposed to,
the best interests of the Company, to the maximum extent permitted by law.

19. Withholding; Disqualifying Dispositions.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company or the Designated Company shall deduct
from all Payroll Accounts paid under the Plan all federal, state, foreign, local and other taxes
required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments.

If Shares acquired under the Plan are disposed of in a disposition that does not satisfy the
holding period requirements of Section 423(a) of the Code, such Participating Employee shall notify
the Company in writing as soon as practicable thereafter of the date and terms of such disposition
and, if the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof) thereupon has a tax-withholding
obligation, shall pay to the Company (or such Subsidiary or Affiliate) an amount equal to any
withholding tax the Company (or Subsidiary or

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Affiliate) is required to pay as a result of the disqualifying disposition (or satisfy such other
arrangements as may be permitted by the Committee.)

20. Notices.

All notices under the Plan shall be in writing (which for these purposes shall include reasonably
acceptable means of electronic transmission), and if to the Company, shall be delivered to the
Board of Directors or mailed to its principal office, addressed to the attention of the Board of
Directors; and if to a Participating Employee, shall be delivered personally or mailed to such
Participating Employee at the address appearing in the records of the Company. Such addresses may
be changed at any time by written notice to the other party given in accordance with this Section
20.

21. Severability.

If any particular provision of this Plan is found to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision
shall not affect the other provisions of the Plan, but the Plan shall be construed in all respects
as if such invalid provision had been omitted.

22. No Right to Continued Employment.

The Plan and any right to purchase Common Stock granted hereunder shall not confer upon any
employee any right with respect to continued employment by the Company or any Subsidiary or
Affiliate, nor shall they restrict or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any
Subsidiary or Affiliate by which an employee is employed to terminate his or her employment at any
time.

23. Captions.

The use of captions in the Plan is for convenience. The captions are not intended to and do not
provide substantive rights.

24. Effective Date of the Plan.

The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date, provided that the Plan is approved by
stockholders within 12 months of the Effective Date.

25. Code Section 409A.

The Code Section 423(b) Plan is exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code. In the
case of a Participating Employee who would otherwise be subject to Section 409A of the Code, to the
extent an option to purchase Shares or the payment, settlement or deferral thereof is subject to
Section 409A of the Code, the option to purchase Shares shall be granted, paid, exercised, settled
or deferred in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, including the final
regulations and other guidance issued with respect thereto, except as otherwise determined by the
Board or Directors or the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no
liability to a

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Participating Employee or any other party if the option to purchase Common Stock under the Plan
that is intended to be exempt from or compliant with Section 409A of the Code is not so exempt or
compliant or for any action taken by the Board of Directors or the Committee with respect thereto.

26. Governing Law.

The provisions of the Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of law rules.

12exv10w1

Exhibit 10.1

DELPHI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

PENSION PLAN FOR ROBERT ROSENKRANZ

Effective January 1, 1992

Amended and Restated Effective as of December 18, 2008

 

 

SECTION 1

INTRODUCTION

Delphi Capital Management, Inc. (the “Employer”) hereby amends and restates, effective as of
December 18, 2008, the Delphi Capital Management, Inc. Pension Plan for Robert Rosenkranz (the
“Plan”) originally adopted effective January 1, 1992, as previously amended, in order to effect
certain changes to the Plan in order to comply with Section 409A of the Code (as defined herein)
and thus to preserve its purpose of serving as an additional inducement to Robert Rosenkranz to
remain in its employ by providing him retirement and related benefits.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Page	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 1
	 	INTRODUCTION	 	 	i	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 2
	 	DEFINITIONS	 	 	1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 3
	 	RETIREMENT INCOME AND OTHER BENEFITS	 	 	4	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	3.1
	 	Retirement Benefit at Normal or Late Retirement Date	 	 	4	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	3.2
	 	Annuity Starting Date	 	 	4	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 4
	 	PAYMENT FORM AND DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS	 	 	5	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	4.1
	 	Normal Form of Retirement Benefit	 	 	5	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	4.2
	 	Retirement Income Option	 	 	5	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 5
	 	VESTING	 	 	7	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	5.1
	 	Termination of Service	 	 	7	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 6
	 	DEATH BENEFITS	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	6.1
	 	General Rule	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	6.2
	 	Preretirement Surviving Spouse’s Annuity	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	6.3
	 	Post-Retirement Death Benefit	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 7
	 	AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN	 	 	9	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	7.1
	 	Termination	 	 	9	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	7.2
	 	Amendments	 	 	9	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 8
	 	ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN	 	 	10	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	8.1
	 	Administration of the Plan	 	 	10	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	8.2
	 	No Funding Required	 	 	10	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	8.3
	 	Controlling Law	 	 	10	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	8.4
	 	Assignment	 	 	10	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	8.5
	 	Facility of Payment	 	 	10	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	8.6
	 	Employment Agreement	 	 	10	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	8.7
	 	Other Benefits	 	 	10	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	8.8
	 	Binding Agreement	 	 	11	 

-i-

 

SECTION 2

DEFINITIONS

The following words and phrases as used herein shall have the meanings specified below, unless a
different meaning is plainly required by the context:

	 	2.1	 	Actuarial Equivalent — shall mean a benefit of equivalent value based on
factors developed from the following assumptions:

	 	A.	 	the mortality assumption is based on the 1984 Unisex Pension
Mortality Table, with a three-year setback in age for Robert Rosenkranz and no
setback for Beneficiaries;
	 
	 	B.	 	the interest rate is 7-1/2%.

	 	2.2	 	Actuary — shall mean the individual actuary or firm of actuaries selected by
the Employer to provide actuarial services in connection with the administration of the
Plan.
	 
	 	2.3	 	Annuity Starting Date — shall mean the date on which benefit payments commence
under the Plan.
	 
	 	2.4	 	Affiliated Company — shall mean any corporation or other business entity which
is included in a controlled group of corporations within which the Employer is also
included, as provided in section 414(b) of the Code, or which is a trade or business
under common control with the Employer, as provided in section 414(c) of the Code, or
which constitutes a member of an affiliated service group within which the Employer is
also included, as provided in section 414(m) of the Code.
	 
	 	2.5	 	Beneficiary — shall mean the person or entity who is to receive the payments,
if any, that arc to be made under the Plan after Robert Rosenkranz’s death. Unless
Robert Rosenkranz designates otherwise, his Beneficiary shall be his Spouse or, if
there is none, his estate. Robert Rosenkranz may designate a person or entity to be his
Beneficiary by filing with the Employer a written designation on a form provided for
such purpose.
	 
	 	2.6	 	Board of Directors or Board — shall mean the Board of Directors of the
Employer.
	 
	 	2.7	 	Code — shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the same
as may be further amended from time to time.
	 
	 	2.8	 	Compensation — shall mean for any calendar year beginning on or about the
Effective Date the aggregate of Robert Rosenkranz’s taxable income as reported on his
Form W-2 from each Affiliated Company for that year plus amounts contributed for that
year as a deferral under a cash or deferred arrangement described in section 401(k) of
the Code or to a plan described in Section 125

 

 

	 	 	 	of the Code, less (a) any severance pay, tuition, auto expense or moving expense
reimbursements or allowances, (b) any taxable income arising from the exercise of
stock options, the receipt or vesting of, or payment under, restricted or deferred
shares or other equity-based awards and (c) any imputed taxable income resulting
from Employer-provided group life insurance coverage which is included as taxable
income on Form W-2.
	 
	 	2.9	 	Credited Service — shall mean the sum of (A) and (B) where (A) is Robert
Rosenkranz’s years of employment with the Employer or an Affiliated Company from and
after the Effective Date, with a partial year treated as a full year, and (B) is
fourteen years.
	 
	 	2.10	 	Effective Date — shall mean January 1, 1992.
	 
	 	2.11	 	Employer — shall mean Delphi Capital Management, Inc. and any successor
thereof.
	 
	 	2.12	 	Final Average Earnings — shall mean the average of Robert Rosenkranz’s
Compensation for the five consecutive calendar years out of the last ten calendar years
prior to his retirement or termination of employment with the Employer and each
Affiliated Company which yields the highest average.
	 
	 	2.13	 	Normal Annuity Form — shall mean a straight life annuity for Robert
Rosenkranz’s life.
	 
	 	2.14	 	Plan — shall mean the Delphi Capital Management, Inc. Pension Plan for Robert
Rosenkranz as set forth herein and as it may be amended from time to time.
	 
	 	2.15	 	Retirement Date — shall mean the date on which Robert Rosenkranz Separates from
Service with the Employer and all Affiliated Companies.

	 	A.	 	Normal Retirement Date. Robert Rosenkranz’s Normal Retirement
Date shall be the first day of the month coincident with or next following his
65th birthday.
	 
	 	B.	 	Late Retirement Date. Robert Rosenkranz’s Late Retirement Date
shall be the first day of the month coincident with or next following his
actual Separation from Service with the Employer and all Affiliated Companies
after his Normal Retirement Date.

	 	2.16	 	Separate From Service and Separation From Service — shall each have the
meaning set forth in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(h).
	 
	 	2.17	 	Social Security Covered Compensation — shall mean the average of the
contribution and benefit bases in effect under section 230 of the Social Security Act
for each year in the 35-year period ending with the year in which Robert Rosenkranz
attains his Social

 

 

	 	 	 	Security Retirement Age. The determination for any year preceding
the year in which Robert Rosenkranz attains his Social Security Retirement Age shall be made by assuming that there is no increase in the
contribution and benefit bases in effect under section 230 of the Social Security
Act after the determination year and before Robert Rosenkranz attains his Social
Security Retirement Age.
	 
	 	2.18	 	Social Security Retirement Age — shall mean the retirement age applicable to
Robert Rosenkranz under section 216(1) of the Social Security Act, except that such
section shall be applied without regard to the age increase factor, and as if the early
retirement age under section 216(1)(2) of such Act were 62.
	 
	 	2.19	 	Spouse — shall mean the person, if any, to whom Robert Rosenkranz is lawfully
married at the time of his death prior to retirement, at the time of his retirement, or
at the time his benefits are to commence, as the case may be.

 

 

SECTION 3

RETIREMENT INCOME AND OTHER BENEFITS

	 	3.1	 	Retirement Benefit at Normal or Late Retirement Date. Robert Rosenkranz’s
annual benefit on his Normal or Late Retirement Date, when paid in the Normal Annuity
Form, shall be in an amount equal to (A) plus (B), minus (C), all determined as of the
date benefits commence:

	 	A.	 	.85% of Robert Rosenkranz’s Final Average Earnings which are
not in excess of Social Security Covered Compensation plus 2% of Robert
Rosenkranz’s Final Average Earnings in excess of Social Security Covered
Compensation, multiplied by Credited Service (not to exceed 35 years), plus
	 
	 	B.	 	1% of the Robert Rosenkranz’s Final Average Earnings multiplied
by Credited Service in excess of 35 years, minus
	 
	 	C.	 	Robert Rosenkranz’s benefit, paid in the form of a straight
life annuity for his life under the Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company
Pension Plan.

	 	 	 	Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Robert Rosenkranz Separates from Service with the
Employer and all Affiliated Companies on a Late Retirement Date, his benefit shall
be the greater of the amount determined above as of his Late Retirement Date or the
Actuarial Equivalent of the amount determined under the formula as of his Normal
Retirement Date.
	 
	 	3.2	 	Annuity Starting Date. Subject to Section 3.3 below, payments shall begin with
the first day of the first month following the month in which Robert Rosenkranz
Separates from Service with the Employer and all Affiliated Companies on or after his
Normal Retirement Date. The monthly payment shall be one-twelfth of the amount
determined under Section 3.1.
	 
	 	3.3	 	Section 409A. It is intended that this Plan will comply with Section 409A of
the Code and any regulations and guidelines issued thereunder, to the extent the Plan
is subject thereto, and the Plan shall be interpreted on a basis consistent with such
intent. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Plan, if Robert
Rosenkranz is deemed on the date of his Separation From Service to be a “specified
employee” (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(i)), then with regard to
any payment that is required to be delayed pursuant to Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the
Code, the portion, if any, of such payment so required to be delayed shall not be made
prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from
the date of his Separation From Service, or (ii) the date of his death (the “Delay
Period”). Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments delayed pursuant to
this Section shall be paid to Robert Rosenkranz in a lump sum.

 

 

SECTION 4

PAYMENT FORM AND DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS

	 	4.1	 	Normal Form of Retirement Benefit. Robert Rosenkranz’s benefit shall be paid
in the Normal Annuity Form unless he elects an alternate form of payment in accordance
with Section 4.2.
	 
	 	4.2	 	Retirement Income Option. Robert Rosenkranz may elect to receive his benefit
in accordance with one of the following options in an annual amount of benefit which is
the Actuarial Equivalent of the benefit payable in the Normal Annuity Form.

	 	Options:	 	A reduced annual amount of benefit payable to Robert Rosenkranz for his
life with 50% or 100% of such reduced annual amount continued upon his death to
his designated Beneficiary for life.

	 	 	 	The election of an Option and the designation of a Beneficiary in accordance with
this Section shall be subject to the following rules:

	 	A.	 	Any election (including but not limited to the designation of a
Beneficiary) shall be made prior to Robert Rosenkranz’s Annuity Starting Date,
and shall be in writing on forms provided for such purpose. No election, or
revocation thereof, shall be permitted after the Annuity Starting Date.
	 
	 	B.	 	If any Beneficiary designated by Robert Rosenkranz under an
option dies before his Annuity Starting Date, the election shall be deemed null
and void and, unless he elects another option and designates another
Beneficiary, the benefit shall be paid in accordance with Section 4.1.
	 
	 	C.	 	If any Beneficiary designated under the Options dies after
Robert Rosenkranz’s Annuity Starting Date, the option shall continue in effect,
the annual amount of benefit payable at the time of the Beneficiary’s death
shall remain unchanged, and no further benefits shall be payable upon Robert
Rosenkranz’s death.

SECTION 5

VESTING

	 	5.1	 	Termination of Service. Robert Rosenkranz shall have a nonforfeitable right to
the amount of benefit he has earned as calculated under Section 3.1 as of the date of
his Separation from Service with the Employer and all Affiliated Companies.

 

 

SECTION 6

DEATH BENEFITS

	 	6.1	 	General Rule. No death benefits shall be payable under this Plan except as
provided by this Section 6.
	 
	 	6.2	 	Preretirement Surviving Spouse’s Annuity. If Robert Rosenkranz dies before
commencing to receive payment of his benefit, his Spouse shall be entitled to receive
monthly payments as hereafter provided. In each case, the benefit amount shall be
derived from the formula under Section 3.1 based on Credited Service and Final Average
Compensation at date of death with appropriate reductions to reflect early commencement
and conversion to a joint and 50% survivor annuity.

	 	A.	 	Death after age 55: Payments to the surviving Spouse shall be
50% of the amount Robert Rosenkranz would have received had he elected a joint
and 50% survivor annuity with his Spouse as survivor annuitant and had retired
on the day before his death and elected to have benefits commence immediately.
The Annuity Starting Date shall be the first day of the month coinciding with
or next following the date of Robert Rosenkranz’s death.
	 
	 	B.	 	Death before age 55: Payments to the surviving Spouse shall be
determined as if Robert Rosenkranz had (i) separated from service on the date
of his death, (ii) survived to age 55, (iii) retired with an immediate joint
and 50% survivor annuity at age 55, and (iv) died on the day after the day on
which he would have attained his 55th birthday. The Annuity Starting Date
shall be the first day of the month coinciding with or next following the date
Robert Rosenkranz would have attained age 55.
	 
	 	C.	 	The benefits payable pursuant to this Section 6.2 shall cease
with the payment for the month in which the death of Robert Rosenkranz’s Spouse
occurs.

	 	6.3	 	Post-Retirement Death Benefit. If Robert Rosenkranz dies after payment of
benefits begins, a death benefit shall be payable only if the method of payment he
selected expressly provides for a survivor or other benefit payable upon his death.

SECTION 7

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN

	 	7.1	 	Termination. The Employer reserves the right to terminate the Plan at any time
by action of its Board of Directors, with the prior approval of the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors of the Employer’s parent, Delphi Financial Group,
Inc., or any successor to such committee (the
“Compensation Committee”). No termination shall be effective until written notice
thereof is 

 

 

	 	 	 	delivered to Robert Rosenkranz. In the event of any such termination,
the Employer shall pay the benefit accrued through the date of delivery of notice of
termination in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
	 
	 	7.2	 	Amendments. The Employer shall have the right, through its Board of Directors
and subject to the prior approval of the Compensation Committee, to amend this Plan at
any time and to any extent that it may deem advisable. Without the written consent of
Robert Rosenkranz, no such amendment shall cause a reduction of benefits then accrued
or in pay status or accelerate the payment of benefits earned under the Plan.

SECTION 8

ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

	 	8.1	 	Administration of the Plan. The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation
Committee, as designee of the Board. The Compensation Committee shall have the power:

	 	A.	 	to adopt such rules and regulations consistent with the
provisions of the Plan;
	 
	 	B.	 	to construe and interpret the Plan and to resolve all questions
arising under the Plan;
	 
	 	C.	 	to direct the Employer to pay benefits under the Plan; and
	 
	 	D.	 	to give such other directions and instructions as may be
necessary for the proper administration of the Plan.

	 	8.2	 	No Funding Required. The rights and benefits of Robert Rosenkranz and any
Beneficiary hereunder shall be solely those of an unsecured creditor of the Employer.
No assets acquired or held by the Employer shall be deemed to be held by the Employer
in trust for any of them hereunder or to be security for the performance of any
obligation of the Employer hereunder.
	 
	 	8.3	 	Controlling Law. This Plan and all questions relating to its validity,
interpretation, performance or enforcement, shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
	 
	 	8.4	 	Assignment. Except for the right to designate a Beneficiary, Robert Rosenkranz
may not assign, transfer, pledge or encumber his rights under this Plan. The right of
any Beneficiary to the payment of benefits under this Plan may not be assigned,
transferred, pledged or encumbered.

 

 

	 	8.5	 	Facility of Payment. If the Employer finds that any person to whom any payment
is payable under this Plan is unable to care for his affairs because of
illness or accident, or is a minor, any payment due (unless a prior claim therefor
shall have been made by a duly appointed guardian, committee or other legal
representative) may be paid to the spouse, a child, or a parent or a brother or
sister, or to any person deemed by the Employer to have incurred expense for such
person otherwise entitled to payment, in such manner and proportions as the Employer
may determine. Any such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liabilities of
the Employer under this Plan.

	 	8.6	 	Employment Agreement. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as
conferring upon Robert Rosenkranz the right to continue in the Employer’s employ.
	 
	 	8.7	 	Other Benefits. Any amount payable under this Plan shall not be deemed salary
or other compensation for the purpose of computing benefits to which Robert Rosenkranz
may be entitled under any plan, program or arrangement of the Employer for the benefit
of its employees.
	 
	 	8.8	 	Binding Agreement. This Plan shall be binding upon the Employer and its
successors and assigns and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Robert
Rosenkranz and his Beneficiary. This Plan supersedes any prior agreement between
Employer and Robert Rosenkranz with respect to the subject matter hereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employer has caused this Plan to be executed and attested on its
behalf by its duly authorized officers as of December 18, 2008.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ATTEST:	 	Delphi Capital Management, Inc.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ CHAD W. COULTER
	 	By:
	 	/s/ THOMAS W. BURGHART	 	 
	 

	 	 

	 	 	 	 
	 	 
	 

	 	Chad W. Coulter
	 	 	 	Thomas W. Burghart	 	 
	 

	 	Secretary
	 	 	 	Vice President and Treasurer

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