Document:

Exhibit 10.1

    

     

    

    
      SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

      

      

      This Separation Agreement and General Release (the “Agreement”)

          is entered into by and between Balchem Corporation, at 52 Sunrise Park Road, New Hampton, New York 10958, (“Employer”) and Mary Theresa Coelho, 8904 Woodhall
          Lake Dr., Waxhaw, North Carolina 28173, her heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns (collectively, the “Employee”), agree that:

      

      

      1.          Last Day of Employment. Employee hereby voluntarily resigns from her employment from Employer effective as of the close of business on October 26, 2018 (the “Separation Date”),
          which also constitutes resignations from all officer positions, appointments and committees associated with Employer and its affiliates that she holds effective as of the date she executes this Agreement. Employer hereby accepts all such
          resignations. Employee will promptly sign all appropriate documentation reasonably requested by Employer to reflect or facilitate such resignations.

      

      

      Subject to the remainder of this Agreement, and provided that Employee signs and returns this Agreement to Employer, does
          not revoke this Agreement pursuant to Section 15 below, and complies with its terms, from the date Employee signs this Agreement until the Separation Date (the “Transition Period”), Employee shall remain employee of Employer and shall reasonably
          cooperate with Employer in transitioning her duties and responsibilities to such person(s) and at such times during normal working hours as are reasonably designated by Employer, provided that Employee shall  not  be  required  to  perform  any 
          such  duties  and  responsibilities  at  the   Employer’s offices. Employee agrees that she will not represent to any third party that she has authority to act on behalf of the Employer after the date she signs this Agreement. During the
          Transition Period, Employer will continue to pay Employee her current base salary, less required and authorized withholdings and deductions.

      

      

      2.         Post-Separation Benefits.
          Subject to the terms of this Agreement, and provided that Employee has signed and returned this Agreement to Employer without revoking it, that Employee signs and returns to Employer the Supplemental Release attached as Exhibit A to this
          Agreement (the “Supplemental Release”) on or within twenty-one (21) calendar days after (but not before) Employee’s Separation Date (and does not revoke it), Employer undertakes;

      

      

      
        
          	

                	a.	
                  not to contest Employee’s eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits; and

                

        

      

      

      

      
        
          	

                	b.	
                  to vest in Employee 3,000 shares of the Restricted Shares granted to Employee under the provisions of a Restricted Stock Grant Agreement between the Employer
                      and Employee, dated October 23, 2017; to vest in Employee 210 shares of the Restricted Shares granted to Employee under the provisions of a Restricted Stock Grant Agreement between the Employer and Employee, dated February 15, 2018;
                      to vest in Employee 1,132 Non-Qualified Stock Options of the Stock Options granted to Employee under the provisions of a Stock Option Grant Agreement between the Employer and Employee, dated February 15, 2018; and

                

        

      

      

      

      
        ~1~

        
          

      

      
        
          	

                	c.	
                  to pay Employee a pro-rated portion of the estimated 2018 Incentive Compensation Plan bonus in the gross amount of $128,000 to be paid in a lump sum on the
                      first payroll date immediately following the Separation Date; and

                

        

      

      

      

      
        
          	

                	d.	
                  if applicable, to pay Employee for any unused accrued time off that may be due; and

                

        

      

      

      

      
        
          	

                	e.	
                  if Employee properly and timely elects to continue medical and/or dental coverage under Employer’s benefit plans in accordance with the continuation
                      requirements of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”), Employer shall pay for the full COBRA medical and/or dental insurance premium for the first two (2) months of such COBRA coverage. Thereafter, Employee
                      shall be entitled to elect to continue such COBRA coverage for the remainder of the COBRA period, at Employee’s own expense; and

                

        

      

      

      

      3.            No Consideration Absent Execution of this Agreement. Employee understands and agrees that Employee would not receive the monies and/or benefits
          specified in Section “2” above, except for Employee’s execution of this Agreement and the fulfillment of the promises contained herein.

      

      

      
        
          
            4.            General Release, Claims Not Released and
                  Related Provisions

          

        

      

      

      

      a.          General Release of All Claims. Employee knowingly and voluntarily releases and forever discharges the Employer, its affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, predecessors, insurers, successors
          and assigns, and their current and former employees, attorneys, officers, directors and agents thereof, both individually and in their business capacities, and their employee benefit plans and programs and their administrators and fiduciaries
          (collectively referred to throughout the remainder of this Agreement as “Releasees”), of and from any and all claims, known and unknown, asserted or unasserted, which the Employee has or may have against Releasees as of the date of
          execution of this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (i) all claims arising out of, or related in any way to, Employee’s employment, compensation, or terms and conditions of employment or separation of employment from Employer, including
          without limitation, all claims for any compensation payments, bonus, severance pay, equity or any other compensation or benefit, and all claims under the offer letter dated October 3, 2017 between Employer and Employee, and (ii) all claims that
          were or could have been asserted by Employee under applicable law, including: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code; The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”)

          (as modified below); The Immigration Reform and Control Act; The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”); The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act; The Fair Credit
          Reporting Act; The Family and Medical Leave Act; The Equal Pay Act; The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008; The New York State Human Rights Law; The New York Executive Law; The New York Labor Law; The New York Corrections Law; The
          New York Civil Rights Law; The New York Equal Pay Law; The New York Whistleblower Law; The New York Legal Activities Law; The New York Wage-Hour and Wage-Payment Laws and Regulations; The New York Occupational Safety and Health Laws;
          Non-discrimination and Anti-retaliation Provisions of the New York Workers’ Compensation Law and the New York

      

      

      
        ~2~

        
          

      

      Disabilities Law; any other federal, state, local or other law, rule, regulation, constitution, code, guideline, or ordinance; any public policy, contract (oral or written,
        express or implied), tort, or common law; any statute, common law, agreement or other basis for seeking or recovering damages for emotional distress, pain and suffering and/or mental anguish; or any statute, common law, agreement or other basis for
        seeking or recovering any costs, fees, or other expenses, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees and/or costs, provided, however, that such general release will not limit or release Employee’s rights under this Agreement.
      

      

      b.            Claims Not Released. Employee is not waiving any rights she may have to: (a) her own vested accrued
          employee benefits under the Employer’s health, welfare, or qualified retirement benefit plans as of the Separation Date; (b) benefits and/or the right to seek benefits under applicable workers’ compensation and/or unemployment compensation
          statutes (it being understood that Employer shall not contest Employee’s application for unemployment insurance benefits); (c) pursue claims which by law cannot be waived by signing this Agreement; (d) enforce this Agreement; and/or (e) challenge
          the validity of this Agreement.

      

      

      c.           Governmental Agencies. Nothing in this Agreement prohibits or prevents Employee from filing a charge with or participating, testifying, or assisting in any investigation, hearing,
          whistleblower proceeding or other proceeding before any federal, state, or local government agency (e.g. EEOC, NLRB, SEC., DOL, etc.), nor does anything in this Agreement preclude, prohibit, or otherwise limit, in any way, Employee’s rights and
          abilities to contact, communicate with, report matters to, or otherwise participate in any whistleblower program administered by any such agencies. However, to the maximum extent permitted by law, Employee agrees that if such an administrative
          claim is made, Employee shall not be entitled to recover monetary damages intended to compensate Employee for any statutory violations found to have occurred except where such a waiver of individual relief is prohibited.

      

      

      d.            Collective/Class Action Waiver. If any claim is not subject to release, to the extent permitted by law, Employee waives any right or ability to be a class or collective action
          representative or to otherwise participate in any putative or certified class, collective or multi-party action or proceeding based on such a claim in which the Employer or any other Releasee identified in this Agreement is a party.

      

      

      5.         Employee understands and agrees
          that Employee’s execution of the Supplemental Release on or within 21 days after (but not before) the Separation Date, without revocation thereof as provided therein, is among the conditions precedent to the Employer’s obligation to pay any
          amounts or provide any other benefits under this Agreement.

      

      

      
        
          
            6.           Acknowledgments and Affirmations.

          

        

      

      

      

      Employee affirms that Employee has not filed, caused to be filed, or presently is a party to any claim against the Employer
          in any forum whatsoever. In the event that any such claim, charge, complaint or action is or has been filed arising out of any conduct, act or omission through the date of Employee’s execution of this Agreement, Employee shall take all necessary
          steps to withdraw such

      

      

      
        ~3~

        
          

      

      claim, charge, complaint or action, with prejudice, and shall not be entitled to recover any relief or damages therefrom, including costs and
          attorney’s fees. Except as provided for in this Agreement or excepted by Section 2, Employee also affirms that: (i) Employee has been paid and/or has received all compensation, wages, bonuses, commissions, and/or benefits which are due and
          payable as of the date Employee signs this Agreement; (ii) that Employee has been granted any leave to which Employee was entitled under the Family and Medical Leave
          Act or related state or local leave or disability accommodation laws.

      

      

      Employee also affirms that Employee has not divulged any proprietary or confidential information of the Employer and will
          continue to maintain the confidentiality of such information consistent with the Employer’s policies, this Agreement and any other agreement(s) with the Employer and/or common law. Employee further affirms that Employee has no known workplace
          injuries or occupational diseases.

      

      

      Employee further affirms that Employee has not been retaliated against for reporting any allegations of wrongdoing by the
          Employer or its officers, including any allegations of corporate fraud.

      

      

      6        Return of Property. Employee affirms that Employee has returned all the Employer’s property, documents, and/or any confidential information in Employee’s possession or control. Employee
          also affirms that Employee is in possession of all of Employee’s property that Employee had at the Employer’s premises and that the Employer is not in possession of any of Employee’s property.

      

      

      7.         Limited Disclosure. Employee agrees not to disclose any information  regarding the underlying facts leading up to or the existence or substance of this Agreement, except to Employee’s
          immediate family, tax advisor, attorneys with whom Employee chooses to consult regarding Employee’s consideration of this Agreement and/or to any federal, state, or local government agency.

      

      

      Nothing in this Agreement (i) prohibits Employee from reporting an event that Employee reasonably and in good faith believes
          is a violation of law to the relevant law-enforcement agency (such as the Securities and Exchange Commission), and nothing herein requires notice to or approval from the Employer before doing so, or (ii) prohibits Employee from cooperating in an
          investigation conducted by such a law-enforcement agency. Employee is also hereby provided notice that under the 2016 Defend Trade Secrets Act: (x) no individual will be held criminally or civilly liable under federal or state trade secret law
          for the disclosure of a trade secret (as defined in the Economic Espionage Act) that is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and made solely for the purpose of
          reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal so that it is not made public, and, (y) an individual who pursues a
          lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of the law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any
          document containing the trade secret under seal, and does not disclose the trade secret, except as permitted by court order.

      

      

      
        ~4~

        
          

      

      8.        Cooperation. Employee will for one month following the Separation Date and during normal working hours reasonably make herself available to the Employer to answer reasonable questions
          and/or provide information regarding any matters or subjects about which Employee has relevant knowledge or information as a result of her employment with the Employer.

      

      

      9.         Non-Disparagement. Employee agrees not to defame or maliciously disparage the Employer in any manner whatsoever,
            whether oral or written, express or implied, including, their business practices, current, former, or future employees, officers, board members, finances, and/or the circumstances of Employee’s separation from employment with the Employer.
            These prohibitions include statements in any medium including, but not limited to websites, blogs, and any and all social media sites such as (but not limited to) Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, LinkedIn, Instagram, Google Plus,
            YouTube, or any other similar site, as well as oral or written statements to any author or member of the traditional media.

      

      

      10.        Governing Law and Interpretation. This Agreement shall be governed and conformed in accordance with the laws of the state New York without regard to its conflict of laws provision. In the
          event of a breach of any provision of this Agreement, either party may institute an action specifically to enforce any term or terms of this Agreement and/or to seek any damages for breach. Should any provision of this Agreement be declared
          illegal or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction and cannot be modified to be enforceable, excluding the general release language, such provision shall immediately become null and void, leaving the remainder of this Agreement in
          full force and effect.

      

      

      11.        No Admission of Wrongdoing. Employee agrees that neither this Agreement nor the furnishing of the consideration for this Agreement shall be deemed or construed at any time for any purpose
          as an admission by Releasees of wrongdoing or evidence of any liability or unlawful conduct of any kind.

      

      

      12.        Counterparts & Copies. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together will constitute one and the
          same instrument. The parties agree that copies or scanned versions of this Agreement shall have the same force and effect as the original document.

      

      

      13.       Amendment. This Agreement may not be modified, altered or changed except in writing and signed by both parties wherein specific reference is made to this Agreement.

      

      

      14.       Withholding of Taxes. The Employer shall withhold from any compensation and benefits payable under this Agreement all applicable federal, state, local, or other taxes.

      

      

      15.      Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the parties, and fully supersedes any prior agreements or understandings between the parties. Employee
          acknowledges that Employee has not relied on any representations, promises, or agreements of any kind made to Employee in connection with Employee’s decision to accept this Agreement, except for

      

      

      
        ~5~

        
          

      

      those set forth in this Agreement.
      
        

        

        EMPLOYEE AFFIRMS THAT EMPLOYEE HAD TWENTY-ONE (21) CALENDAR DAYS TO CONSIDER THIS AGREEMENT. EMPLOYEE
            ALSO AFFIRMS SHE WAS ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY PRIOR TO EMPLOYEE’S SIGNING OF THIS AGREEMENT.

         

          

        EMPLOYEE MAY REVOKE THIS AGREEMENT FOR A PERIOD OF SEVEN (7) CALENDAR DAYS FOLLOWING THE DAY EMPLOYEE
            SIGNS THIS AGREEMENT. ANY REVOCATION WITHIN THIS PERIOD MUST BE SUBMITTED, IN WRITING, TO BRENT TIGNOR, VICE PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES, BALCHEM CORPORATION AT 52 SUNRISE PARK ROAD, NEW HAMPTON, NEW YORK 10958 AND STATE, “I HEREBY REVOKE MY
            ACCEPTANCE OF OUR AGREEMENT.” THE REVOCATION MUST BE PERSONALLY DELIVERED TO BRENT TIGNOR OR HIS DESIGNEE, OR MAILED TO BRENT TIGNOR AT THE ADDRESS SET FORTH ABOVE AND POSTMARKED WITHIN SEVEN (7) CALENDAR DAYS AFTER EMPLOYEE SIGNS THIS
            AGREEMENT.

        

        

        EMPLOYEE AGREES THAT ANY MODIFICATIONS, MATERIAL OR OTHERWISE, MADE TO THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT RESTART
            OR AFFECT IN ANY MANNER THE ORIGINAL UP TO TWENTY-ONE (21) CALENDAR DAY CONSIDERATION PERIOD.

        

        

        EMPLOYEE FREELY AND KNOWINGLY, AND AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION, ENTERS INTO THIS AGREEMENT INTENDING TO
            WAIVE, SETTLE AND RELEASE ALL CLAIMS EMPLOYEE HAS OR MIGHT HAVE AGAINST RELEASEES.

        

        

      

      The parties knowingly and voluntarily sign this Agreement as of the date(s) set forth below:

      

      

      
        	 	 	
                Balchem Corporation

              	 
	 	 	 	 
	
                /S/ Mary Theresa Coelho

              	 	
                /S/ Theodore L. Harris

              	 
	
                Mary Theresa Coelho

              	 	
                By: 

                

              	
                Theodore L. Harris 

                Chairman & CEO

              	 
	 	 	 	 
	
                Date: September 27, 2018

              	 	
                Date: September 27, 2018

              	 

      

      

      

      
        ~6~

        
          

      

      EXHBIT A

      SUPPLEMENTAL RELEASE

      

      

      MARY THERESA COELHO (“Employee”) and BALCHEM CORPORATION
          (the “Employer”) hereby enter into this Supplemental Release (“Release”)
          in accordance with the Separation Agreement and Release between the Employer and Employee dated as of September 26, 2018 (the  “Agreement”). Capitalized terms
          not expressly defined in this Release shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement:

      

      

      1.            Release; Claims Released. Employee
          understands and agrees that Employee’s execution of this Release on or within 21 days after (but not before) the Separation Date, without revocation thereof as provided therein, is among the conditions precedent to the Employer’s obligation to
          provide any of the payments or benefits set forth in Section 2 of the Agreement. The Employer will commence such payments or benefits in accordance with the terms of the Agreement once the conditions set forth therein and in this Release have
          been met. Employee confirms that (a) there are no documents or other information (or copies thereof), electronic or otherwise, within Employee’s possession, custody or control that may reasonably be considered privileged, confidential or
          proprietary information of Employer or any of its affiliates; and (b) any and all emails and other electronic documents and attachments containing the Employer’s privileged, proprietary and confidential information that Employee may have sent to
          or stored in (or caused to be sent to or stored in) any personal email address or any electronic storage location (whether “in the cloud,” on removable media or otherwise) maintained by Employee or on her behalf have been permanently deleted from
          each such e-mail address, account, computer, electronic device, removable device, or any other similar storage devices and any copies have been destroyed, in each case without limiting Section 4 below.

      

      

      a.        Employee knowingly and
          voluntarily releases and forever discharges the Employer, its affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, predecessors, insurers, successors and assigns, and their current and former employees, attorneys, officers, directors and agents thereof, both
          individually and in their business capacities, and their employee benefit plans and programs and their administrators and fiduciaries (collectively referred to throughout the remainder of this Agreement as “Releasees”), of and from any and
          all claims, known and unknown, asserted or unasserted, which the Employee has or may have against Releasees as of the date of execution of this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (i) all claims arising out of, or related in any way to,
          Employee’s employment, compensation, or terms and conditions of employment or separation of employment from Employer, including without limitation, all claims for any compensation payments, bonus, severance pay, equity or any other compensation
          or benefit, and all claims under the offer letter dated October 3, 2017 between Employer and Employee, and (ii) all claims that were or could have been asserted by Employee under applicable law, including: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
          1964; Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code; The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) (as modified below); The Immigration Reform and Control Act; The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990;
          The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”); The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act; The Fair Credit Reporting Act; The Family and Medical Leave Act; The Equal Pay Act; The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination
          Act of 2008; The New York State Human Rights Law; The New York Employee Law; The New York Labor Law; The New York Corrections Law; The New York Civil Rights Law; The New York

      

      

      
        ~7~

        
          

      

      Equal Pay Law; The New York Whistleblower Law; The New York Legal Activities Law; The New York Wage-Hour and Wage-Payment
          Laws and Regulations; The New York Occupational Safety and Health Laws; Non-discrimination and Anti-retaliation Provisions of the New York Workers’ Compensation Law and the New York Disabilities Law; any other federal, state, local or other law,
          rule, regulation, constitution, code, guideline, or ordinance; any public policy, contract (oral or written, express or implied), tort, or common law; any statute, common law, agreement or other basis for seeking or recovering damages for
          emotional distress, pain and suffering and/or mental anguish; or any statute, common law, agreement or other basis for seeking or recovering any costs, fees, or other expenses, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees and/or costs, provided, however, that such general release will not limit or release
            Employee’s rights under this Agreement. Separation Date.

      

      

      b.        Claims Not Released. Employee is not waiving any rights she may have to: (a) her own vested accrued
          employee benefits under the Employer’s health, welfare, or qualified retirement benefit plans as of the Separation Date; (b) benefits and/or the right to seek benefits under applicable workers’ compensation and/or unemployment compensation
          statutes (it being understood that Employer shall not contest Employee’s application for unemployment insurance benefits); (c) pursue claims which by law cannot be waived by signing this Agreement; (d) enforce this Agreement; and/or (e) challenge
          the validity of this Agreement.

      

      

      c.          Governmental Agencies. Nothing in this Agreement prohibits or prevents Employee from filing a charge with or participating, testifying, or assisting in any investigation, hearing,
          whistleblower proceeding or other proceeding before any federal, state, or local government agency (e.g. EEOC, NLRB, SEC., DOL, etc.), nor does anything in this Agreement preclude, prohibit, or otherwise limit, in any way, Employee’s rights and
          abilities to contact, communicate with, report matters to, or otherwise participate in any whistleblower program administered by any such agencies. However, to the maximum extent permitted by law, Employee agrees that if such an administrative
          claim is made, Employee shall not be entitled to recover monetary damages intended to compensate Employee for any statutory violations found to have occurred.

      

      

      2.          EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES, UNDERSTANDS, AND AGREES THAT: (a) EMPLOYEE HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THE TERMS AND EFFECT OF THIS RELEASE; (b) EMPLOYEE RELEASES AND WAIVES CLAIMS UNDER
          THIS RELEASE KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY, IN EXCHANGE FOR CONSIDERATION IN ADDITION TO ANYTHING OF VALUE TO WHICH EMPLOYEE ALREADY IS ENTITLED; (c) EMPLOYEE HEREBY IS AND HAS BEEN ADVISED OF EMPLOYEE’S RIGHT TO HAVE HER ATTORNEY REVIEW THIS RELEASE
          (AT EMPLOYEE’S COST) BEFORE SIGNING IT; (d) EMPLOYEE HAS TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS IN WHICH TO CONSIDER WHETHER TO EXECUTE THIS RELEASE BUT IS FREE TO SIGN IT AT ANY TIME DURING SUCH PERIOD; AND (e) WITHIN SEVEN (7) DAYS AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH
          EMPLOYEE SIGNS THIS RELEASE, EMPLOYEE MAY, AT EMPLOYEE’S SOLE OPTION, REVOKE THE RELEASE UPON WRITTEN NOTICE TO BRENT TIGNOR, VICE PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES, BALCHEM CORPORATION AT 52 SUNRISE PARK ROAD, NEW HAMPTON, NEW YORK 10958, AND THE
          RELEASE WILL NOT BECOME

      

      

      
        ~8~

        
          

      

      
        EFFECTIVE UNTIL THIS SEVEN-DAY REVOCATION PERIOD HAS EXPIRED WITHOUT ANY REVOCATION BY EMPLOYEE. IF EMPLOYEE REVOKES THIS RELEASE, IT SHALL
            BE NULL AND VOID, AND EMPLOYEE SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR OR ENTITLED TO RECEIVE ANY OF THE PAYMENTS OR OTHER BENEFITS IN SECTION 2 OF THE AGREEMENT. EMPLOYEE AGREES THAT CHANGES TO THE AGREEMENT OR THIS RELEASE, WHETHER MATERIAL OR IMMATERIAL,
            WILL NOT RESTART THE RUNNING OF THE 21-DAY CONSIDERATION PERIOD.

        

        

        3.           Employee Representations. Employee represents and warrants that: (a) Employee has not filed or initiated any legal or other proceedings against any of the Released Parties; (b) no such proceedings
            have been initiated against any of the Released Parties on Employee’s behalf; (c) Employee is the sole owner of the claims that are released in Section 2 above; (d) none of these claims has been transferred or assigned or caused to be
            transferred or assigned to any other person, firm or other legal entity; and (e) Employee has the full right and power to grant, execute, and deliver the releases, undertakings, and agreements contained in this Release. In the event of any
            claims filed with any court, other tribunal, or governmental or regulatory entity that involves or is based upon any claim waived and released by Employee in this Release, Employee hereby waives and agrees not to accept any money or other
            personal relief on account of any such claims for any actual or alleged personal injury or damages to Employee, including without limitation any costs, expenses and attorneys' fees incurred by or on behalf of Employee.

        

        

        4.           No Admissions. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall be construed as an admission by any of the Released Parties that any of them violated any law, interfered with any right, breached
            any agreement, or otherwise engaged in any wrongful conduct. The Released Parties expressly deny any such illegal or wrongful conduct. This Release and the Agreement are the entire agreement of the parties regarding the matters described in
            such agreements and supersede any and all prior and/or contemporaneous agreements, oral or written, between the parties regarding such matters. This Release is governed by New York law, may be signed in counterparts, and may be modified only by
            a writing signed by all parties. This Release may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be considered an original, and all of which taken together will be considered one and the same instrument. This Release may be
            executed by .pdf signatures and a .pdf signature shall constitute an original for all purposes.

        

        

        THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE BY SIGNING BELOW THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE ABOVE AND INTEND TO BE BOUND THEREBY:

      

      

      

      
        	 	 	
                Balchem Corporation

              	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	
                Mary Theresa Coelho

              	 	
                By: 

                

              	
                 Theodore L. Harris 

                Chairman & CEO

              	 

        

        

        	
                Date:

              	 	 	
                Date:

              	

              	 

      

      

      

      

      

      ~9~Exhibit

Exhibit 4.5
UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
2018 EQUITY AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

1.Purpose. The purpose of the Universal Electronics Inc. 2018 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan is to provide a means through which the Company may attract and retain key personnel and to provide a means whereby directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Company Group”) can acquire and maintain an equity interest in the Company, or be paid incentive compensation, which may (but need not) be measured by reference to the value of Common Stock, thereby strengthening their commitment to the welfare of the Company Group and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders.

2.Definitions. The following definitions shall be applicable throughout the Plan:
“Annual Award” has the meaning given such term in Section 5(c) of the Plan.

“Award” means, individually or collectively, any Incentive Stock Option, Nonqualified Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Other Stock-Based Award, Cash-Based Award granted under the Plan.

“Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the grant of an Award (other than a Cash-Based Award) to the Participant.

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

“Business Combination” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”

“Cash-Based Award” means an Award that is not a Stock Appreciation Right or Restricted Stock Unit granted under Section 10 of the Plan that is denominated and/or payable in cash.

“Cause” means in the case of a particular Award, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise, (i) the Company or any Subsidiary having “cause” to terminate a Participant’s employment or service, as defined in any employment or consulting agreement between the Participant and any member of the Company Group in effect at the time of such termination or (ii) in the absence of any such employment or consulting agreement (or the absence of any definition of “Cause” contained therein), the following with respect to a Participant: (a) the commission of a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude or the commission of any act or omission involving dishonesty, disloyalty or fraud in connection with the performance of his or her duties with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (b) any conduct in conjunction with his or her duties which could reasonably be expected to, or which does, cause public disgrace or disrepute or significant economic harm to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (c) repeated or continuing failure to perform his or her duties that is not cured to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction within fifteen (15) days after written notice thereof (provided, that, such opportunity to cure shall not be available for repeated or habitual violations); (d) a deliberate act of insubordination or repeated refusal to follow reasonable and lawful instructions of supervisors, including engaging in disruptive conduct to the detriment of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (e) gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with the performance of his or her duties with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (f) obtaining any personal profit not thoroughly disclosed to and approved by the Company in connection with any transaction entered into by, or on behalf of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or a breach of his or her fiduciary duties to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (g) violating any material terms of the applicable material policies of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is not cured to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction within fifteen (15) days after written notice thereof (provided, that, such opportunity to cure shall not be available for repeated or habitual violations); or (i) any breach of any material provision of a written agreement between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and the Participant which is not cured to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction within fifteen (15) days after written notice thereof.

“Change in Control” shall, in the case of a particular Award, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise or contains a different definition of “Change in Control,” be deemed to occur upon the first to occur of the following:

(i)Any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 12(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and any successor thereto (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) becomes the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of fifty percent (50%) or more of either (A) the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (B) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that, for purposes herein, the following 

acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (I) any acquisition by the Company, (II) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any affiliate of the Company, or (III) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with subsections (iii)(A), (iii)(B) and (iii)(C) of this definition below;

(ii)During any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

(iii)Consummation of a reorganization (excluding a reorganization under either Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code), merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”), in each case unless, following such Business Combination,
(A)    all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the then-outstanding shares of common stock (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent securities) and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or, for a non- corporate entity, equivalent governing body), as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more Subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be,
(B)    no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body) of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or

		
	(iv)
	Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur under the Plan unless the event(s) constituting a Change in Control also constitute a “change in the ownership” of the Company, a “change in effective control” of the Company, or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company under Treasury Regulations § 1.409A-3(i)(5), or any successor provision. 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, regulations or guidance.

“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or a committee of at least two people as the Board may appoint to administer the Plan or, if no such committee has been appointed by the Board, the Board.

“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (and any stock or other securities into which such common stock may be converted or into which it may be exchanged).

“Company” means Universal Electronics Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto.

“Confidential Information” means, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise, any data, information or documentation (including such that is received by third parties) that is competitively sensitive or commercially valuable and not generally known to the public, including data, information or documentation related or pertaining to: (1) finance, supply or service; (2) customers, suppliers or consumers, including customer lists, relationships and profiles;
(3) marketing or product information, including product planning, marketing strategies, marketing results, marketing forecasts, plans, finance, operations, reports, sales estimates, business plans and internal performance results relating to past, present or future business activities, clients and suppliers; and (4) scientific or technical information, design, process, procedure, formula or improvement, computer software, object code, source code, specifications, inventions or systems information, whether or not patentable or copyrightable, and that is not otherwise a Trade Secret.

“Date of Grant” means the date on which the granting of an Award is authorized, or such other date as may be specified in such authorization.

“Detrimental Activity” means any of the following: (1) unauthorized use, disclosure or dissemination of Confidential Information or Trade Secrets pertaining to the business of any member of the Company Group; (2) any activity that would be grounds to terminate the Participant’s employment or service with any member of the Company Group for Cause; or (3) a breach by the Participant of any restrictive covenant by which such Participant is bound, including, without limitation, any covenant not to compete or not to solicit, in any agreement with any member of the Company Group; provided, however, that the activity described under clause (1) of this definition does not apply to (x) any Confidential Information which has become generally known to competitors of any member of the Company Group through no act or omission by the Participant or (y) a Participant’s communications that are required by law or judicial process (e.g., subpoena). Further, this definition does not preclude a Participant from communicating, cooperating or filing a complaint with any U.S. federal, state or local governmental or law enforcement branch, agency or entity (collectively, a “Governmental Entity”) with respect to possible violations of any U.S. federal, state or local law or regulation, or otherwise making disclosures to any Governmental Entity, in each case, that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any such law or regulation, provided, that, in each case, such communications and disclosures are consistent with applicable law and provided, further, that under no circumstance is the Participant authorized to disclose any information covered by the Company Group’s attorney-client privilege or attorney work product or Trade Secrets without prior written consent of the Board or its designee.

“Effective Date” means the first date on which the Plan has been both adopted by the Board and approved by the Company’s shareholders.

“Eligible Director” means a person who is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.

“Eligible Person” means any (i) individual employed by any member of the Company Group; (ii) director of any member of the Company Group; or (iii) consultant or advisor to any member of the Company Group who may be offered securities registrable on Form S-8 under the Securities Act or pursuant to Rule 701 of the Securities Act, or any other available exemption, as applicable.

“Employment Agreement” means an employment agreement or similar agreement between a Participant and a member of the Company Group.

“Exchange Act” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control,” and any reference in the Plan to any section of (or rule promulgated under) the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations

or other interpretative guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or guidance.

“Exercise Price” has the meaning given such term in Section 7(b) of the Plan.

“Fair Market Value” means, on a given date, (i) if the Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market or another national securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Common Stock reported on such national securities exchange, or, if there is no such sale on that date, then on the last preceding date on which such a sale was reported;
(ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market or another national securities exchange, but is quoted on an inter-dealer quotation system on a last sale basis, the closing bid price or, if there is no such sale on that date, then on the last preceding date on which a sale was reported; or (iii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system on a last sale basis, the amount determined by the Committee in good faith to be the fair market value of the Common Stock in a manner intended to satisfy the principles of Section 409A of the Code.

“Good Reason” or “Constructive Termination” means the definition of such term as set forth in an Employment Agreement or Award Agreement; provided, that, in the absence of such definition in such an agreement, the concept shall not apply with respect to a Participant’s Awards.

“Immediate Family Members” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15(b).

“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is designated by the Committee as an incentive stock option as described in Section 422 of the Code and otherwise meets the requirements set forth in the Plan.
“Incumbent Board” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”
“Indemnifiable Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(e) of the Plan.

“Mature Shares” means shares of Common Stock owned by a Participant that are not subject to any pledge or security interest and that have been either previously acquired by the Participant on the open market or meet such other requirements, if any, as the Committee may determine are necessary in order to avoid an accounting earnings charge on account of the use of such shares to pay the Exercise Price or satisfy a withholding obligation of the Participant.
“Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option. 
“Option”  means an Award granted under Section 7 of the Plan.

“Option Period” has the meaning given such term in Section 7(c) of the Plan.

“Other Stock-Based Award” means an Award that is not an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, or Restricted Stock Unit, that is granted under Section 10 of the Plan and is (1) payable by delivery of Common Stock and/or (2) measured by reference to the value of Common Stock.
“Outstanding Company Common Stock” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.” 
“Outstanding Company Voting Securities” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”

“Participant” means an Eligible Person who has been selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan and to receive an Award pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan.
“Permitted Transferee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15(b) of the Plan. 
“Person” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”

“Plan” means this Universal Electronics Inc. 2018 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan.

“Prior Plan” means each of the Universal Electronics Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, the Universal Electronics Inc. 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, the Universal Electronics Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, the Universal Electronics Inc. 2003 Stock Incentive Plan, and the Universal Electronics Inc. 1999A Nonqualified Stock Plan (collectively, the “Prior Plans”).

“Restricted Period” means the period of time determined by the Committee during which an Award is subject to restrictions or, as applicable, the period of time within which performance is measured for purposes of determining whether an Award has been earned.

“Restricted Stock Unit” means an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver shares of Common Stock, cash, other securities or other property, subject to certain restrictions (including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous services for a specified period of time), granted under Section 9 of the Plan.

“Restricted Stock” means Common Stock, subject to certain specified restrictions (including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous services for a specified period of time), granted under Section 9 of the Plan.

“SAR Period” has the meaning given such term in Section 8(b) of the Plan.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of (or rule promulgated under) the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or guidance.

“Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award granted under Section 8 of the Plan.

“Strike Price” means, except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the case of Substitute Awards, (i) in the case of a SAR granted in tandem with an Option, the Exercise Price of the related Option, or (ii) in the case of a SAR granted independent of an Option, the Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant.

“Subsidiary” means a corporation, company or other entity (i) more than fifty percent (50%) of whose outstanding shares or securities (representing the right to vote for the election of directors or other managing authority) are, or (ii) which does not have outstanding shares or securities (as may be the case in a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, unincorporated association or other similar entity), but more than fifty percent (50%) of whose ownership interest representing the right generally to make decisions for such other entity is, now or hereafter, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of determining whether any person may be a Participant for purposes of any grant of Incentive Stock Options, “Subsidiary” means any corporation in which the Company at the time owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined Voting Power represented by all classes of stock issued by such corporation.

“Substitute Award” has the meaning given such term in Section 5(f).

“Sub-Plans” means any sub-plan to this Plan that has been adopted by the Board or the Committee for the purpose of permitting the offering of Awards to employees of any member of the Company Group that are located outside the United States of America, with each such sub-plan designed to comply with local laws applicable to offerings in such foreign jurisdictions. Although any Sub-Plan may be designated a separate and independent plan from the Plan in order to comply with applicable local laws, the limits specified in Section 5 shall apply in the aggregate to the Plan and any Sub-Plan adopted hereunder.

“Trade Secrets” means without limitation, (1) any data or information that is competitively sensitive or commercially valuable and not generally known to the public and (2) any scientific or technical information, design, process, procedure, formula or improvement, computer software, object code, source code, specification, invention or systems information, whether or not patentable or copyrightable; provided, that, this definition of Trade Secrets shall have the broadest meaning as permitted by law and shall extend beyond the definition of “trade secrets” as set forth in the Delaware Uniform Trade Secrets Act.

3.Effective Date; Duration. The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date. No grants shall be made on or after the Effective Date under any of the Prior Plans; provided, that, outstanding awards granted under any Prior Plan will remain subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Prior Plan. Unless earlier terminated as provided herein, the expiration date of the Plan, on and after which date no Awards may be granted hereunder, shall be the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however, that such expiration shall not affect Awards then outstanding, and the terms and conditions of the Plan shall continue to apply to such Awards.

4.Administration. (a) The Committee shall administer the Plan. To the extent required to comply with the provisions of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (if the Board is not acting as the Committee under the Plan) it is intended that each member of the Committee shall, at the time he or she takes any action with respect to an Award under the Plan, be an Eligible Director. However, the fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify as an Eligible Director shall not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee that is otherwise validly granted under the Plan. The majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present or acts approved in writing by the Committee in compliance with Delaware law shall be deemed the acts of the Committee.

(b)Subject to the provisions of the Plan and applicable law, the Committee shall have the sole and plenary authority, in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award, including any applicable performance criteria relating to the Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances the delivery of cash, Common Stock, other securities, other Awards or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant or of the Committee; (vii) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or 

Award granted under, the Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive any rules and regulations and appoint such agents as the Committee shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan;
(ix) accelerate the vesting or exercisability of, payment for or lapse of restrictions on, Awards; (x) adopt Sub-Plans; and (xi) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

(c)The Committee may from time to time delegate all or any part of its authority under this Plan to a subcommittee thereof. To the extent of any such delegation, references in this Plan to the Committee will be deemed to be references to such subcommittee. The Committee may also delegate to one or more officers of any member of the Company Group the authority to act on behalf of the Committee with respect to any matter, right, obligation, or election that is the responsibility of or that is allocated to the Committee herein, and that may be so delegated as a matter of law, except for grants of Awards to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

(d)Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award or any documents evidencing Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all persons or entities, including, without limitation, the Company, any Subsidiary, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, and any stockholder of the Company.

(e)No member of the Board, the Committee, delegate of the Committee or any employee or agent of the Company (each such person, an “Indemnifiable Person”) shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder. Each Indemnifiable Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense (including attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Indemnifiable Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Indemnifiable Person may be a party or in which such Indemnifiable Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Plan or any Award Agreement and against and from any and all amounts paid by such Indemnifiable Person with the Company’s approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Indemnifiable Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Indemnifiable Person; provided, that, the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding and once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’s choice. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to an Indemnifiable Person to the extent that a final judgment or other final adjudication (in either case not subject to further appeal) binding upon such Indemnifiable Person determines that the acts or omissions of such Indemnifiable Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Indemnifiable Person’s bad faith, fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by law or by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such Indemnifiable Persons may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such Indemnifiable Persons or hold them harmless.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan, the Board may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant Awards and administer the Plan with respect to such Awards. In any such case, the Board shall have all the authority granted to the Committee under the Plan.

5.Grant of Awards; Shares Subject to the Plan; Limitations. (a) The Committee may, from time to time, grant Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards and Cash-Based to one or more Eligible Persons.

(b)Shares Available. Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11 of the Plan, the total number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available for issuance in connection with Awards under the Plan shall be one million (1,000,000) (all of which may be issued as Incentive Stock Options) plus the number of shares of Common Stock underlying any award granted under any of the Prior Plans that expires, terminates or is canceled or forfeited for any reason whatsoever or settled in cash (in whole or in part) or is unearned (in whole or in part) under the terms of the applicable Prior Plan.

(c)Director Awards. Each year prior to the expiration or termination of the Plan and commencing on the first day of July following the Effective Date, each Participant who is an Eligible Director shall be granted an Award covering the lesser of (i) 5,000 shares of Common Stock (which number of shares may be reduced when determined by the Board to be necessary and appropriate) and (ii) shares of Common Stock with an aggregate maximum value at the Date of Grant (calculating the value of any such awards based on the grant date fair value for financial reporting purposes) of

$500,000 (the “Annual Award”). In addition to the Annual Award, as an inducement to commence service with the Company as a Eligible Director or, from time to time, to reward extraordinary service rendered by an existing Eligible Director, a Participant who is or becomes an Eligible Director may be granted an Award of Options covering up to 20,000 shares of Common Stock.

(d)Share Counting. Use of shares of Common Stock to pay the required Exercise Price or tax obligations, or shares not issued in connection with settlement of an Option or SAR, reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of an Option, or that are used or withheld to satisfy tax obligations of the Participant shall, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, not be available again for other Awards under the Plan. In addition, if a Participant elects to give up the right to receive compensation in exchange for shares of Common Stock based on Fair Market Value, such shares of Common Stock will not be available again for Awards under the Plan. Shares underlying Awards under this Plan that are forfeited, cancelled, expire unexercised, or are settled in cash (in whole or in part) or is unearned (in whole or in part) are available again for Awards under the Plan.

(e)Source of Shares. Shares of Common Stock delivered by the Company in settlement of Awards may be authorized and unissued shares, shares held in the treasury of the Company, shares purchased on the open market or by private purchase, or a combination of the foregoing.

(f)Substitute Awards. Awards may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be granted under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an entity acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (“Substitute Awards”). The number of shares of Common Stock underlying any Substitute Awards shall be counted against the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards under the Plan.

6.Eligibility. Participation shall be limited to Eligible Persons who have entered into an Award Agreement or who have received written notification from the Committee, or from a person designated by the Committee, that they have been selected to participate in the Plan.

7.Options. (a) Generally. Each Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)). Each Option so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. All Options granted under the Plan shall be Nonqualified Stock Options unless the applicable Award Agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option. Incentive Stock Options shall be granted only to Eligible Persons who are employees of the Company Group, and no Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any Eligible Person who is ineligible to receive an Incentive Stock Option under the Code. No Option shall be treated as an Incentive Stock Option unless the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company in a manner intended to comply with the stockholder approval requirements of Section 422(b)(1) of the Code, provided, that, any Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall not fail to be effective solely on account of a failure to obtain such approval, but rather such Option shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option unless and until such approval is obtained. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the terms and conditions of such grant shall be subject to and comply with such rules as may be prescribed by Section 422 of the Code. If for any reason an Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (or any portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option or portion thereof shall be regarded as a Nonqualified Stock Option appropriately granted under the Plan.

(b)Exercise Price. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the case of Substitute Awards, the exercise price (“Exercise Price”) per share of Common Stock for each Option shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of such share (determined as of the Date of Grant); provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an employee who, at the time of the grant of such Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of any member of the Company Group, the Exercise Price per share shall not be less than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per share on the Date of Grant.

(c)Vesting and Expiration. Options shall vest and become exercisable in such manner and on such date or dates determined by the Committee and set forth in an Award Agreement and shall expire after such period, not to exceed ten (10) years, as may be determined by the Committee (the “Option Period”); provided, however, that the Option Period shall not exceed five (5) years from the Date of Grant in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who on the Date of Grant owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of any member of the Company Group; provided, further, that notwithstanding any vesting dates set by the Committee, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the exercisability of any Option, which acceleration shall not affect the terms and conditions of such Option other than with respect to exercisability.

(d)Method of Exercise and Form of Payment. No shares of Common Stock shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the Exercise Price therefor is received by the Company and the Participant has paid to the Company an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld. Options that have become exercisable may be exercised by delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Option accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price. 

The Exercise Price shall be payable (i) in cash, check, cash equivalent and/or shares of Common Stock valued at the Fair Market Value at the time the Option is exercised (including, pursuant to procedures approved by the Committee, by means of attestation of ownership of a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock in lieu of actual delivery of such shares to the Company); provided, that, such shares of Common Stock are not subject to any pledge or other security interest and are Mature Shares and; (ii) by such other method as the Committee may permit in its sole discretion, including without limitation: (A) in other property having a fair market value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price or (B) if there is a public market for the shares of Common Stock at such time, by means of a broker- assisted “cashless exercise” pursuant to which the Company is delivered a copy of irrevocable instructions to a stockbroker to sell the shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the Exercise Price or (C) by a “net exercise” method whereby the Company withholds from the delivery of the shares of Common Stock for which the Option was exercised that number of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Exercise Price for the shares of Common Stock for which the Option was exercised. Any fractional shares of Common Stock shall be settled in cash.

(e)Notification upon Disqualifying Disposition of an Incentive Stock Option. Each Participant awarded an Incentive Stock Option under the Plan shall notify the Company in writing immediately after the date he or she makes a disqualifying disposition of any Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Incentive Stock Option. A disqualifying disposition is any disposition (including, without limitation, any sale) of such Common Stock before the later of (A) two (2) years after the Date of Grant of the Incentive Stock Option or (B) one (1) year after the date of exercise of the Incentive Stock Option. The Company may, if determined by the Committee and in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, retain possession of any Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option as agent for the applicable Participant until the end of the period described in the preceding sentence.

(f)Compliance With Laws, etc. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall a Participant be permitted to exercise an Option in a manner that the Committee determines would violate the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or any other applicable law or the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or the applicable rules and regulations of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed or traded.

8.Stock Appreciation Rights. (a) Generally. Each SAR granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)). Each SAR so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 8, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. Any Option granted under the Plan may include tandem SARs. The Committee also may award SARs to Eligible Persons independent of any Option.

(b)Vesting and Expiration. A SAR granted in connection with an Option shall become exercisable and shall expire according to the same vesting schedule and expiration provisions as the corresponding Option. A SAR granted independent of an Option shall vest and become exercisable and shall expire in such manner and on such date or dates determined by the Committee and set forth in an Award Agreement and shall expire after such period, not to exceed ten (10) years, as may be determined by the Committee (the “SAR Period”); provided, however, that notwithstanding any vesting dates set by the Committee, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the exercisability of any SAR, which acceleration shall not affect the terms and conditions of such SAR other than with respect to exercisability.

(c)Method of Exercise. SARs that have become exercisable may be exercised by delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award, specifying the number of SARs to be exercised and the date on which such SARs were awarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if on the last day of the Option Period (or in the case of a SAR independent of an option, the SAR Period), the Fair Market Value exceeds the Strike Price, the Participant has not exercised the SAR or the corresponding Option (if applicable), and neither the SAR nor the corresponding Option (if applicable) has expired, such SAR shall be deemed to have been exercised by the Participant on such last day and the Company shall make the appropriate payment therefor.

		
	(d)
	Payment. Upon the exercise of a SAR, the Company shall pay to the Participant an amount equal to the number of shares subject to the SAR that are being exercised multiplied by the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the exercise date over the Strike Price, less an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld. The Company shall pay such amount in cash, in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market 

Value, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee. Any fractional shares of Common Stock shall be settled in cash.

9.Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. (a) Generally. Each grant of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)). Each such grant shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 9, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement.

(b)Stock Certificates; Escrow or Similar Arrangement. Upon the grant of Restricted Stock, the Committee shall cause a stock certificate or book-entry designation registered in the name of the Participant to be issued and, if the Committee determines that the Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company or in escrow rather than delivered to the Participant pending the release of the applicable restrictions, the Committee may require the Participant to additionally execute and deliver to the Company (i) an escrow agreement satisfactory to the Committee, if applicable, and (ii) the appropriate stock power (endorsed in blank) with respect to the Restricted Stock covered by such agreement. If a Participant shall fail to execute an agreement evidencing an Award of Restricted Stock and, if applicable, an escrow agreement and blank stock power within the amount of time specified by the Committee, the Award shall be null and void. Subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 9 and the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant generally shall have the rights and privileges of a stockholder as to such Restricted Stock, including without limitation the right to vote such Restricted Stock. To the extent shares of Restricted Stock are forfeited, any stock certificates or book-entry designations issued to the Participant evidencing such shares shall be returned to the Company, and all rights of the Participant to such shares and as a stockholder with respect thereto shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company.

(c)Vesting; Acceleration of Lapse of Restrictions. Except as provided below, the Restricted Period shall lapse as determined by the Committee and set forth in an Award Agreement.

(d)Delivery of Restricted Stock and Settlement of Restricted Stock Units. (i) Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any shares of Restricted Stock, the restrictions set forth in the applicable Award Agreement shall be of no further force or effect with respect to such shares, except as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. If an escrow arrangement is used, upon such expiration, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his or her beneficiary, without charge, the stock certificate evidencing the shares of Restricted Stock that have not then been forfeited and with respect to which the Restricted Period has expired. Dividends, if any, that may have been withheld by the Committee and attributable to any particular share of Restricted Stock shall be distributed to the Participant in cash or, at the sole discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, upon the release of restrictions on such share and, if such share is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such dividends (except as otherwise set forth by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement).

(ii) Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, an Employment Agreement or otherwise by the Committee, upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any outstanding Restricted Stock Units, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or the Participant’s beneficiary, without charge, one share of Common Stock for each such outstanding Restricted Stock Unit; provided, however, that the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to (i) pay cash or part cash and part Common Stock in lieu of delivering only shares of Common Stock in respect of such Restricted Stock Units or (ii) defer the delivery of Common Stock (or cash or part Common Stock and part cash, as the case may be) beyond the expiration of the Restricted Period. If a cash payment is made in lieu of delivering shares of Common Stock, the amount of such payment shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the date on which the Restricted Period lapsed with respect to such Restricted Stock Units, less an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld.

(e) Legends on Restricted Stock. Each certificate or book-entry designation representing Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan shall bear a legend substantially in the form of the following in addition to any other information the Company deems appropriate until the lapse of all restrictions with respect to such Common Stock:

TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY IS RESTRICTED PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC. 2018 EQUITY AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN AND A RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT, BETWEEN UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC. AND PARTICIPANT. A COPY OF SUCH PLAN AND AWARD AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.

10.Other Stock-Based Awards and Cash-Based Awards. The Committee may issue Other Stock-Based Awards under the Plan to Eligible Persons, either alone or in tandem with other awards, in such amounts as the Committee shall from time to time in its sole discretion determine. Each Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award 

Agreement (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)). Each Other Stock-Based Award so granted shall be subject to such conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. The Committee may grant Cash-Based Awards under the Plan to Eligible Persons, alone or in tandem with other Awards, in such amounts and dependent on such conditions as the Committee shall from time to time in its sole discretion determine. Each Cash-Based Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced in such form as the Committee may determine from time to time and shall be subject to such conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the form evidencing such Award.

11.Changes in Capital Structure and Similar Events. In the event of (a) any dividend (other than regular cash dividend) or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, split-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to acquire shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a Change in Control) that affects the shares of Common Stock, or (b) unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, a Change in Control) affecting any member of the Company Group, or the financial statements of any member of the Company Group, or changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system, accounting principles or law, such that in either case an adjustment is determined by the Committee in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate, then the Committee shall make any such adjustments in such manner as it may deem equitable, including without limitation any or all of the following:

(i)adjusting (A) any or all of the limits provided under the Plan (including under Section 5 of Plan) with respect to the number of Awards which may be granted hereunder, (B) the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or other property) that may be delivered in respect of Awards or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan (including, without limitation, adjusting any or all of the limitations under Section 5 of the Plan) or any Sub-Plan and (C) the terms of any outstanding Award, including, without limitation, (1) the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or other property) subject to outstanding Awards or to which outstanding Awards relate, (2) the Exercise Price or Strike Price with respect to any Award or (3) any applicable performance; provided, that, any adjustment under this Section 11(i) shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes and may provide for the elimination of any fractional shares that might otherwise become subject to an Award;

(ii)providing for a substitution or assumption of Awards (or awards of an acquiring company), accelerating the exercisability of, lapse of restrictions on, or termination of, Awards or providing for a period of time for exercise prior to the occurrence of such event; and

(iii)subject to any limitations or reductions as may be necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code, cancelling any one or more outstanding Awards and causing to be paid to the holders thereof, in cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property, or any combination thereof, the value of such Awards, if any, as determined by the Committee (which if applicable may be based upon the price per share of Common Stock received or to be received by other stockholders of the Company in such event), including without limitation, in the case of an outstanding Option or SAR, a cash payment in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Option or SAR over the aggregate Exercise Price or Strike Price of such Option or SAR, respectively (it being understood that, in such event, any Option or SAR having a per share Exercise Price or Strike Price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock subject thereto may be canceled and terminated without any payment or consideration therefor) or, in the case of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Awards that are not vested as of such cancellation, a cash payment or equity subject to deferred vesting and delivery consistent with the vesting restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Awards prior to cancellation, or the underlying shares in respect thereof;

provided, however, that in the case of any “equity restructuring” (within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004)), the Committee shall make an equitable or proportionate adjustment to outstanding Awards to reflect such equity restructuring. Any adjustment in Incentive Stock Options under this Section 11 (other than any cancellation of Incentive Stock Options) shall be made only to the extent not constituting a “modification” within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code, and any adjustments under this Section 11 shall be made in a manner that does not adversely affect the exemption provided pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, to the extent applicable. The Company shall give each Participant notice of an adjustment hereunder and, upon notice, such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes.

Prior to any payment or adjustment contemplated under this Section 11, the Committee may require a Participant to
(A) represent and warrant as to the unencumbered title to the Participant’s Awards, (B) bear such Participant’s pro rata share of any post-closing indemnity obligations, and be subject to the same post-closing purchase price adjustments, escrow terms, offset rights, holdback terms, and similar conditions as the other holders of Common Stock, subject to any limitations or reductions as may be necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code, and (C) deliver customary transfer documentation as reasonably determined by the Committee.

12.Effect of Change in Control. Except to the extent otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, an Employment Agreement or otherwise by the Committee, in the event of a Change in Control, notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may provide that, with respect to all or any portion of a particular outstanding Award or Awards:
(a)then outstanding Options and SARs shall become immediately exercisable as of a time prior to the Change in Control;
		
	(b)
	Restricted Period shall expire as of a time prior to the Change in Control; and

		
	(c)
	cause Awards previously deferred to be settled in full as soon as practicable.

To the extent practicable, any actions taken by the Committee under the immediately preceding clauses (a) through
(c) shall occur in a manner and at a time which allows affected Participants the ability to participate in the Change in Control transactions with respect to the Common Stock subject to their Awards.

13.Amendments and Termination. (a) Amendment and Termination of the Plan. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided, that (i) no amendment to Section 13(b) (to the extent required by the proviso in such Section 13(b)) shall be made without stockholder approval and (ii) no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without stockholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement applicable to the Plan (including, without limitation, as necessary to comply with any rules or requirements of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the shares of Common Stock may be listed or quoted); provided, further, that any such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary.

(b) Amendment of Award Agreements. The Committee may, to the extent consistent with the terms of any applicable Award Agreement, waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted or the associated Award Agreement, prospectively or retroactively; provided, that, any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant with respect to any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant; provided, further, that without stockholder approval to the extent required by the rules of any applicable national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted, except as otherwise permitted under Section 11 of the Plan,
(i)no amendment or modification may reduce the Exercise Price of any Option or the Strike Price of any SAR, (ii) the Committee may not cancel any outstanding Option or SAR and replace it with a new Option or SAR, another Award or cash and (iii) the Committee may not take any other action that is considered a “repricing” for purposes of the stockholder approval rules of the applicable securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system.

14.Section 409A. (a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Plan and any Awards granted hereunder are intended to be interpreted and applied so that the payments and benefits set forth thereunder either shall either be exempt from the requirements of Code Section 409A and the final Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Final Treasury Regulations” and together with Section 409A of the Code, “Section 409A”), or shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be exempt from or in compliance with Section 409A. To the extent that the Company determines that any provision of this Plan or any Award granted hereunder would cause a Participant to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A, the Company shall be entitled to reform such provision to attempt to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A through good faith modifications. To the extent that any provision hereof is modified in order to comply with Section 409A, such modification shall be made in good faith and shall, to the maximum extent reasonably possible, maintain the original intent and economic benefit to the Participant and the Company without violating the provisions of Section 409A. In no event may a Participant, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment to be made under this Agreement or otherwise which constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A.

(b)Except as otherwise specifically provided, amounts payable under an Award, other than those expressly payable on a deferred or installment basis, will be paid as promptly as practicable following the date they are earned and vested and, in any event, on 

or prior to March 15 of the year following the first calendar year in which such amounts are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, as such term is defined in Section 409A.

(c)Notwithstanding anything in this Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, a termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision any Award providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits that constitute “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409Aupon or following a termination of a Participant’s employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service” and the date of such separation from service shall be the date of termination for purposes of any such payment or benefits.

(d)Each payment in a series of payments made under this Plan and any Awards granted hereunder shall be deemed to be a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A.

(e)Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, if upon a termination employment a Participant is deemed to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time, or if none, the default methodology under Section 409A, any payments or benefits due upon a termination of Executive’s employment under any arrangement that constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A shall be delayed and paid or provided (or commence, in the case of installments) on the first payroll date on or following the earlier of (i) the date which is six (6) months and one (1) day after Employee’s termination of employment for any reason other than death (the “Delayed Payment Date”), and (ii) the date of Executive’s death, and any remaining payments and benefits shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for such payment or benefit; provided, that, payments or benefits that qualify as short-term deferral (within the meaning of Section 409A and Final Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(4)) or involuntary separation pay (within the meaning of Section 409A and Final Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A)) and are otherwise permissible under Section 409A and the Final Treasury Regulations, shall not be subject to such six-month delay. On the Delayed Payment Date, the Company will pay to Employee a lump sum equal to all amounts that would have been paid during the period of the delay if the delay were not required plus interest on such amount at a rate equal to the short-term applicable federal rate then in effect, and will thereafter continue to pay Employee the Severance Payment in installments in accordance with this Section.

(f)Neither a Participant nor any of a Participant’s creditors or beneficiaries will have the right to subject any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) payable under this Plan and grants hereunder to any anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment. Except as permitted under Section 409A, any deferred compensation payable to a Participant or for a Participant’s benefit under this Plan and grants hereunder may not be reduced by, or offset against, any amount owing by a Participant to the any member of Company Group.

(g)No member of the Company Group, nor any employee, director or officer thereof guarantees that this Plan or any Award granted hereunder complies with, or is exempt from, Section 409A and none of the foregoing shall have any liability with respect to any failure to so comply or to be so exempt.

15.General. (a) Award Agreements. Other than Cash-Based Awards, each Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which shall be delivered to the Participant (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)) and shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award any rules applicable thereto, including without limitation, the effect on such Award of the death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant, or of such other events as may be determined by the Committee.

(b)Nontransferability. (i) Each Award shall be exercisable only by a Participant during the Participant’s lifetime, or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s legal guardian or representative. No Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against any member of the Company Group; provided, that, the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance.

(ii)Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit Awards (other than Incentive Stock Options) to be transferred by a Participant, without consideration, subject to such rules as the Committee may adopt consistent with any applicable Award Agreement to preserve the purposes of the Plan, to: (A) any person who is a “family member” of the Participant, as such term is used in the instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act (collectively, the “Immediate Family Members”); (B) a trust solely for the benefit of the Participant and his or her Immediate Family Members; or (C) a partnership or limited liability company whose only partners or stockholders are the Participant and his or her Immediate Family Members; or (D) any 

other transferee as may be approved either (I) by the Board or the Committee in its sole discretion, or (II) as provided in the applicable Award Agreement (each transferee described in clauses (A), (B) (C) and (D) above is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Transferee”); provided, that, the Participant gives the Committee advance written notice describing the terms and conditions of the proposed transfer and the Committee notifies the Participant in writing that such a transfer would comply with the requirements of the Plan.

(iii)The terms of any Award transferred in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence shall apply to the Permitted Transferee and any reference in the Plan, or in any applicable Award Agreement, to a Participant shall be deemed to refer to the Permitted Transferee, except that (A) Permitted Transferees shall not be entitled to transfer any Award, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; (B) Permitted Transferees shall not be entitled to exercise any transferred Option unless there shall be in effect a registration statement on an appropriate form covering the shares of Common Stock to be acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Option if the Committee determines, consistent with any applicable Award Agreement, that such a registration statement is necessary or appropriate; (C) the Committee or the Company shall not be required to provide any notice to a Permitted Transferee, whether or not such notice is or would otherwise have been required to be given to the Participant under the Plan or otherwise; and (D) the consequences of the termination of the Participant’s employment by, or services to, any member of the Company Group under the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement shall continue to be applied with respect to the Participant, including, without limitation, that an Option shall be exercisable by the Permitted Transferee only to the extent, and for the periods, specified in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

(c)Tax Withholding. (i) A Participant shall be required to pay to any member of the Company Group, and any member of the Company Group shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold, from any cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property deliverable under any Award or from any compensation or other amounts owing to a Participant, the amount (in cash, Common Stock, other securities or other property) of any required withholding or any other applicable taxes in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Committee or the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such withholding and taxes.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of clause (i) above, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit a Participant to satisfy, in whole or in part, the foregoing withholding liability by (A) the delivery of shares of Common Stock (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest and are Mature Shares) owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability or (B) having the Company withhold from the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable or deliverable pursuant to the exercise or settlement of the Award a number of shares with a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability; provided, that, with respect to shares withheld pursuant to clause (B), the number of such shares may not have a Fair Market Value greater than the minimum required statutory withholding liability unless determined by the Committee not to result in adverse accounting consequences.

(d)No Claim to Awards; No Rights to Continued Employment; Waiver. No employee of any member of the Company Group, or other person, shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan or, having been selected for the grant of an Award, to be selected for a grant of any other Award. There is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants are similarly situated. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Participant any right to be retained in the employ or service of any member of the Company Group, nor shall it be construed as giving any Participant any rights to continued service on the Board. Any member of the Company Group may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or discontinue any consulting relationship, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or any Award Agreement.

(e)Participants. Subject to the shareholder approval requirements under Section 13, with respect to Participants who reside or work outside of the United States of America, the Committee may in its sole discretion amend the terms of the Plan and create or amend Sub-Plans or amend outstanding Awards with respect to such Participants in order to conform such terms with the requirements of local law or to obtain more favorable tax or other treatment for a Participant or any member of the Company Group.

(f)Designation and Change of Beneficiary. Each Participant may file with the Committee a written designation of one or more persons as the beneficiary(ies) who shall be entitled to receive the amounts payable with respect to an Award, if any, due under the Plan upon his or her death. A Participant may, from time to time, revoke or change his or her beneficiary designation without the consent of any prior beneficiary by filing a new designation with the Committee. The last such designation received by the Committee shall be controlling; provided, however, that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received by the Committee prior to the Participant’s death, and in no event shall it be effective as of a date prior to such receipt. 

If no beneficiary designation is filed by a Participant, the beneficiary shall be deemed to be his or her spouse or, if the Participant is unmarried at the time of death, his or her estate.

(g)Termination of Employment/Service. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee at any point following such event: (i) neither a temporary absence from employment or service due to illness, vacation or leave of absence nor a transfer from employment or service with the Company to employment or service with a Subsidiary or an affiliate of the Company shall be considered a termination of employment or service with any member of the Company Group; and (ii) if a Participant’s employment with the Company Group terminates, but such Participant continues to provide services to the Company Group in a non-employee capacity, such change in status shall not be considered a termination of employment with any member of the Company Group.

(h)No Rights as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan or any Award Agreement, no person shall be entitled to the privileges of ownership in respect of shares of Common Stock that are subject to Awards hereunder until such shares have been issued or delivered to that person.

(i)Government and Other Regulations. (i) The obligation of the Company to settle Awards in Common Stock or other consideration shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by governmental agencies as may be required. Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of any Award to the contrary, the Company shall be under no obligation to offer to sell or to sell, and shall be prohibited from offering to sell or selling, any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award unless such shares have been properly registered for sale pursuant to the Securities Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission or unless the Company has received an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Company, that such shares may be offered or sold without such registration pursuant to an available exemption therefrom and the terms and conditions of such exemption have been fully complied with. The Company shall be under no obligation to register for sale under the Securities Act any of the shares of Common Stock to be offered or sold under the Plan. The Committee shall have the authority to provide that all certificates for shares of Common Stock or other securities of any member of the Company Group delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, the applicable Award Agreement, the federal securities laws, or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system upon which such shares or other securities are then listed or quoted and any other applicable federal, state, local or non-U.S. laws, and, without limiting the generality of Section 9 of the Plan, the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee reserves the right to add any additional terms or provisions to any Award granted under the Plan that it in its sole discretion deems necessary or advisable in order that such Award complies with the legal requirements of any governmental entity to whose jurisdiction the Award is subject.

(ii) The Committee may cancel an Award or any portion thereof if it determines, in its sole discretion, that legal or contractual restrictions and/or blockage and/or other market considerations would make the Company’s acquisition of shares of Common Stock from the public markets, the Company’s issuance of Common Stock to the Participant, the Participant’s acquisition of Common Stock from the Company and/or the Participant’s sale of Common Stock to the public markets, illegal, impracticable or inadvisable. If the Committee determines to cancel all or any portion of an Award in accordance with the foregoing, the Company shall pay to the Participant an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Award or portion thereof canceled (determined as of the applicable exercise date, or the date that the shares would have been vested or delivered, as applicable), over (B) the aggregate Exercise Price or Strike Price (in the case of an Option or SAR, respectively) or any amount payable as a condition of delivery of shares of Common Stock (in the case of any other Award). Such amount shall be delivered to the Participant as soon as practicable following the cancellation of such Award or portion thereof.

(j)Payments to Persons Other Than Participants. If the Committee shall find that any person to whom any amount is payable under the Plan is unable to care for his or her affairs because of illness or accident, or is a minor, or has died, then any payment due to such person or his or her estate (unless a prior claim therefor has been made by a duly appointed legal representative) may, if the Committee so directs the Company, be paid to his or her spouse, child, relative, an institution maintaining or having custody of such person, or any other person deemed by the Committee to be a proper recipient on behalf of such person otherwise entitled to payment. Any such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Committee and the Company therefor.

(k)Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board nor the submission of this Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options otherwise than under this Plan, and such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

(l)No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between any member of the Company Group, on the one hand, and a Participant or other person or entity, on the other hand. No provision of the Plan or any Award shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any 

obligations under the Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any assets, nor shall the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Participants shall have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the Company, except that insofar as they may have become entitled to payment of additional compensation by performance of services, they shall have the same rights as other employees under general law.

(m)Reliance on Reports. Each member of the Committee and each member of the Board shall be fully justified in acting or failing to act, as the case may be, and shall not be liable for having so acted or failed to act in good faith, in reliance upon any report made by the independent public accountant of the Company Group and/or any other information furnished in connection with the Plan by any agent of the Company or the Committee or the Board, other than himself or herself.

(n)Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment under the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, profit sharing, group insurance or other benefit plan of the Company except as otherwise specifically provided in such other plan.

(o)Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and performed wholly within the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

(p)Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any person or entity or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be construed or deemed stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or entity or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

(q)Obligations Binding on Successors. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to substantially all of the assets and business of the Company.

(r)Expenses; Gender; Titles and Headings. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company Group. Masculine pronouns and other words of masculine gender shall refer to both men and women. The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings shall control.

(s)Other Agreements. Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may require, as a condition to the grant of and/or the receipt of shares of Common Stock under an Award, that the Participant execute lock-up, stockholder or other agreements, as it may determine in its sole and absolute discretion.

(t)Payments. Participants shall be required to pay, to the extent required by applicable law, any amounts required to receive shares of Common Stock under any Award made under the Plan.

(u)Fractional Shares. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, an Employment Agreement or otherwise by the Committee, any fractional shares due on exercise or payment in respect of an Award shall be settled in cash.

(v)Detrimental Activity. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any Award Agreement, if a Participant has engaged in any Detrimental Activity, as determined by the Committee, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for one or more of the following:

(1)    cancellation of any or all of such Participant’s outstanding Awards; or

(2)    forfeiture by the Participant of any gain realized on the vesting or exercise of Awards, and to repay any such gain to promptly to the Company.

(w)Clawback/Repayment. All Awards shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent necessary to comply with (1) any clawback, forfeiture or other similar policy adopted by the Board or the Committee and as in effect from time to time, and (2) applicable law, whether such policy or law becomes effective prior to or following the Effective Date or the 

Date of Grant of an Award. Furthermore, to the extent that the Participant receives any amount in excess of the amount that the Participant should otherwise have received under the terms of the Award for any reason (including, without limitation, by reason of a financial restatement, mistake in calculations or other administrative error), the Participant shall be required to repay any such excess amount to the Company. By accepting an Award under the Plan, a Participant shall thereby be deemed to have acknowledged and consented to the Company’s application, implementation and enforcement of any clawback, forfeiture or other similar policy adopted by the Board or the Committee, whether adopted prior to or following the Date of Grant of the Award, and any provision of applicable law relating to reduction cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment, and to have agreed that the Company may take such actions as may be necessary to effectuate any such policy or applicable law, without further consideration or action.

* * *

As adopted by the Board of Directors on April 24, 2018, and approved by the shareholders, of Universal Electronics Inc. on June 4, 2018.

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