Document:

EX-10.1

 

EXHIBIT 10.1

THE DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION

2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

(as amended and restated May 3, 2005)

1. Purpose of the Plan

     The purpose of the Plan is to aid the Company and its Affiliates in securing and retaining key
employees of outstanding ability and to motivate such employees to exert their best efforts on
behalf of the Company and its Affiliates by providing incentives through the granting of Awards.
The Company expects that it will benefit from the added interest which such key employees will have
in the welfare of the Company as a result of their proprietary interest in the Company’s success.

2. Definitions

     The following capitalized terms used in the Plan have the respective meanings set forth in
this Section:

	 	(a)  	Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor
thereto.
	 
	 	(b)  	Affiliate: With respect to the Company, any entity directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, the Company or any other entity
designated by the Board in which the Company or an Affiliate has an interest.
	 
	 	(c)  	Award: An Option, Stock Appreciation Right or Other Stock-Based Award granted
pursuant to the Plan.
	 
	 	(d)  	Beneficial Owner: As such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act (or any
successor rule thereto).
	 
	 	(e)  	Board: The Board of Directors of the Company.
	 
	 	(f)  	Change in Control: The occurrence of any of the following events:

     (i) any Person (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, or any company owned, directly
or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as
their ownership of stock of the Company), becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or
indirectly, of securities of the

1

 

Company representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then
outstanding securities;

     (ii) during any period of twenty-four months (not including any period prior to the
Effective Date), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and
any new director (other than (A) a director nominated by a Person who has entered into an
agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(e)(i), (iii) or
(iv) of the Plan, (B) a director nominated by any Person (including the Company) who
publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions (including, but not
limited to, an actual or threatened proxy contest) which if consummated would constitute a
Change in Control or (C) a director designated by any Person who is the Beneficial Owner,
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 10% or more of the
combined voting power of the Company’s securities) whose election by the Board or
nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved in advance by a vote of
at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors
at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously
so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof;

     (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the
Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation (A) which would
result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the
voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after
such merger or consolidation and (B) after which no Person would hold 20% or more of the
combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company or such surviving
entity; or

     (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the
Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially
all of the Company’s assets.

	 	(g)  	Code: The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor
thereto.
	 
	 	(h)  	Committee: The Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board, or
any successor thereto or other committee designated by the Board to assume the
obligations of the Committee hereunder.

2

 

	 	(i)  	Company: The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation.
	 
	 	(j)  	Disability: Inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity
by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which constitutes
a permanent and total disability, as defined in section 22(e)(3) of the Code (or any
successor section thereto). The determination whether a Participant has suffered a
Disability shall be made by the Committee based upon such evidence as it deems
necessary and appropriate. A Participant shall not be considered disabled unless he or
she furnishes such medical or other evidence of the existence of the Disability as the
Committee, in its sole discretion, may require.
	 
	 	(k)  	Effective Date: The date on which the Plan takes effect, as defined
pursuant to Section 17 of the Plan.
	 
	 	(l)  	Fair Market Value: On a given date, the arithmetic mean of the high
and low prices of the Shares as reported on such date on the Composite Tape of the
principal national securities exchange on which such Shares are listed or admitted to
trading, or, if no Composite Tape exists for such national securities exchange on such
date, then on the principal national securities exchange on which such Shares are
listed or admitted to trading, or, if the Shares are not listed or admitted on a
national securities exchange, the arithmetic mean of the per Share closing bid price
and per Share closing asked price on such date as quoted on the National Association
of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (or such market in which such prices
are regularly quoted), or, if there is no market on which the Shares are regularly
quoted, the Fair Market Value shall be the value established by the Committee in good
faith. If no sale of Shares shall have been reported on such Composite Tape or such
national securities exchange on such date or quoted on the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System on such date, then the immediately
preceding date on which sales of the Shares have been so reported or quoted shall be
used.
	 
	 	(m)  	ISO: An Option that complies with section 422 (or any successor
provision) of the Code.
	 
	 	(n)  	LSAR: A limited stock appreciation right granted pursuant to Section
8(d) of the Plan.
	 
	 	(o)  	Other Stock-Based Awards: Awards granted pursuant to Section 9 of the
Plan.
	 
	 	(p)  	Option: A stock option granted pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan.

3

 

	 	(q)  	Option Price: The purchase price per Share of an Option, as determined pursuant
to Section 7(a) of the Plan.
	 
	 	(r)  	Participant: An individual who is selected by the Committee to participate in
the Plan pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan.
	 
	 	(s)  	Performance-Based Awards: Other Stock-Based Awards granted pursuant to Section
9(b) of the Plan.
	 
	 	(t)  	Person: As such term is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Act
(or any successor section thereto).
	 
	 	(u)  	Plan: The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation 2000 Stock Incentive Plan.
	 
	 	(v)  	Post-Retirement Exercise Period: As such term is defined in Section 7(g) of the
Plan.
	 
	 	(w)  	Retirement: Termination of employment with the Company or an Affiliate after
such Participant has attained age 55 and five years of service with the Company; or, with
the prior written consent of the Committee that such termination be treated as a Retirement
hereunder, termination of employment under other circumstances.
	 
	 	(x)  	Shares: Shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per Share, of the Company.
	 
	 	(y)  	Special Exercise Period: As such term is defined in Section 7(g) of the Plan.
	 
	 	(z)  	Spread Value: With respect to a Share subject to an Award, an amount equal to
the excess of the Fair Market Value, on the date such value is determined, over the Award’s
exercise or grant price, if any.
	 
	 	(aa)  	Stock Appreciation Right: A stock appreciation right granted pursuant to
Section 8 of the Plan.

4

 

	 	(bb)  	Subsidiary: A subsidiary corporation, as defined in section 424(f) of the Code
(or any successor section thereto).

3. Shares Subject to the Plan

     The total number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan is 9,700,000. Against the shares
remaining in the Plan, awards granted under the Plan (excluding other stock-based awards granted
pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan) count as 1 issued share; whereas, other stock-based awards
granted pursuant to Section 9 of the amended and restated Plan (approved as of the 2005 Annual
Meeting) count as 2.6 issued shares. The maximum number of Shares for which Options and Stock
Appreciation Rights may be granted during a calendar year to any Participant shall be 700,000. The
Shares may consist, in whole or in part, of unissued Shares or treasury Shares. The issuance of
Shares or the payment of cash upon the exercise of an Award shall reduce the total number of Shares
available under the Plan, as applicable. Shares which are subject to Awards which terminate or
lapse may be granted again under the Plan.

4. Administration

     The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which may delegate its duties and powers in
whole or in part to any subcommittee thereof consisting solely of at least two individuals who are
intended to qualify as “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Act (or
any successor rule thereto) and “outside directors” within the meaning of section 162(m) of the
Code (or any successor section thereto); provided, however, that any action permitted to be taken
by the Committee may be taken by the Board, in its discretion. Awards may, in the discretion of the
Committee, be made under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards
previously granted by a company acquired by the Company or its Affiliates or with which the Company
or its Affiliates combines. The number of Shares underlying such substitute awards shall be counted
against the aggregate number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan. The Committee is
authorized to interpret the Plan, to establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations
relating to the Plan, and to make any other determinations that it deems necessary or desirable for
the administration of the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or
reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems
necessary or desirable. Any decision of the Committee in the interpretation and administration of
the Plan, as described herein, shall lie within its sole and absolute discretion and shall be
final, conclusive and binding on all parties concerned (including, but not limited to, Participants
and their beneficiaries or successors). Determinations made by the Committee under the Plan need
not be uniform and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants are
similarly situated. The Committee shall require payment of any amount it may determine to be
necessary to withhold for federal, state, local or other taxes as a result of the exercise or grant
of an Award. Unless the Committee specifies otherwise, the Participant may elect to pay a portion
or all of such

5

 

withholding taxes by (a) delivery in Shares or (b) having Shares withheld by the Company from
any Shares that would have otherwise been received by the Participant. The number of Shares so
delivered or withheld shall have an aggregate Fair Market Value sufficient to satisfy the
applicable withholding taxes. If the chief executive officer of the Company is a member of the
Board, the Board by specific resolution may constitute such chief executive officer as a committee
of one which shall have the authority to grant Awards of up to an aggregate of 200,000 Shares in
each calendar year to Participants who are not subject to the rules promulgated under Section 16 of
the Act (or any successor section thereto); provided, however, that such chief executive officer
shall notify the Committee of any such grants made pursuant to this Section 4.

5. Eligibility

     Key employees (but not members of the Committee or any person who serves only as a director)
of the Company and its Affiliates, who are from time to time responsible for the management, growth
and protection of the business of the Company and its Affiliates, are eligible to be granted Awards
under the Plan. Participants shall be selected from time to time by the Committee, in its sole
discretion, from among those eligible, and the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion,
the number of Shares to be covered by the Awards granted to each Participant.

6. Limitations

     No Award may be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but
Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.

7. Terms and Conditions of Options

     Options granted under the Plan shall be, as determined by the Committee, nonqualified,
incentive or other stock options for federal income tax purposes, as evidenced by the related Award
agreements, and shall be subject to the foregoing and the following terms and conditions and to
such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent therewith, as the Committee shall determine:

     (a) Option Price. The Option Price per Share shall be determined by the Committee, but
shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date an Option is
granted.

     (b) Exercisability. Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time
and upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee, but in no event shall an
Option be exercisable more than ten years after the date it is granted.

     (c) Exercise of Options. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in an Award
agreement, an Option may be exercised for all, or from time to time any part, of the Shares for
which it is then exercisable. For purposes of Section 7 of the Plan, the exercise date of an Option
shall be the later of the date a notice of exercise is received by

6

 

the Company and, if applicable, the date payment is received by the Company pursuant to
clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) in the following sentence. The purchase price for the Shares as to which
an Option is exercised shall be paid to the Company in full at the time of exercise at the election
of the Participant (i) in cash or its equivalent (e.g., by check), (ii) to the extent permitted by
the Committee, in Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Option Price for the
Shares being purchased and satisfying such other requirements as may be imposed by the Committee;
provided, that such shares of Common Stock have been held by the Participant for no less than six
months (or such other period as established from time to time by the Committee), (iii) partly in
cash and, to the extent permitted by the Committee, partly in such Shares, or (iv) through the
delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal
to the aggregate Option Price for the Shares being purchased. No Participant shall have any rights
to dividends or other rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to an Option until the
occurrence of the exercise date (determined as set forth above) and, if applicable, the
satisfaction of any other conditions imposed by the Committee pursuant to the Plan.

     (d) ISOs. The Committee may grant Options under the Plan that are intended to be ISOs.
Such ISOs shall comply with the requirements of section 422 of the Code (or any successor section
thereto). Unless otherwise permitted under section 422 of the Code (or any successor section
thereto), no ISO may be granted to any Participant who at the time of such grant, owns more than
ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any
Subsidiary, unless (i) the Option Price for such ISO is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of a
Share on the date the ISO is granted and (ii) the date on which such ISO terminates is a date not
later than the day preceding the fifth anniversary of the date on which the ISO is granted. Any
Participant who disposes of Shares acquired upon the exercise of an ISO either (i) within two years
after the date of grant of such ISO or (ii) within one year after the transfer of such Shares to
the Participant, shall notify the Company of such disposition and of the amount realized upon such
disposition.

     (e) Attestation. Wherever in this Plan or any agreement evidencing an Award a
Participant is permitted to pay the exercise price of an Option or taxes relating to the exercise
of an Option by delivering Shares, the Participant may, subject to procedures satisfactory to the
Committee, satisfy such delivery requirement by presenting proof of beneficial ownership of such
Shares, in which case the Company shall treat the Option as exercised without further payment and
shall withhold such number of Shares from the Shares acquired by the exercise of the Option.

     (f) Exercisability Upon Termination of Employment by Death or Disability. If a
Participant’s employment with the Company and its Affiliates terminates by reason of death or
Disability after the first anniversary of the date of grant of an Option, (i) the unexercised
portion of such Option shall immediately vest in full and (ii) such portion may thereafter be
exercised during the shorter of (A) the remaining stated term of the Option or (B) five years after
the date of death or Disability.

7

 

     (g) Exercisability Upon Termination of Employment by Retirement. If a Participant’s
employment with the Company and its Affiliates terminates by reason of Retirement after the first
anniversary of the date of grant of an Option, an unexercised Option may thereafter be exercised
during the shorter of (i) the remaining stated term of the Option or (ii) five years after the date
of such termination of employment (the “Post-Retirement Exercise Period”), but only to the extent
to which such Option was exercisable at the time of such termination of employment or becomes
exercisable during the Post-Retirement Exercise Period; provided, however, that if a Participant
dies within a period of five years after such termination of employment, an unexercised Option may
thereafter be exercised, during the shorter of (i) the remaining stated term of the Option or (ii)
the period that is the longer of (A) five years after the date of such termination of employment or
(B) one year after the date of death (the “Special Exercise Period”), but only to the extent to
which such Option was exercisable at the time of such termination of employment or becomes
exercisable during the Special Exercise Period.

     (h) Effect of Other Termination of Employment. If a Participant’s employment with the
Company and its Affiliates terminates (i) for any reason (other than death, Disability or
Retirement after the first anniversary of the date of grant of an Option as described above) or
(ii) for any reason on or prior to the first anniversary of the date of grant of an Option, an
unexercised Option may thereafter be exercised during the period ending 30 days after the date of
such termination of employment, but only to the extent to which such Option was exercisable at the
time of such termination of employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its
sole discretion, accelerate the vesting of unvested Options held by a Participant if such
Participant is terminated from employment without “cause” (as such term is defined by the Committee
in its sole discretion) by the Company.

     (i) Nontransferability of Stock Options. Except as otherwise provided in this Section
7(i), a stock option shall not be transferable by the optionee otherwise than by will or by the
laws of descent and distribution and during the lifetime of an optionee an option shall be
exercisable only by the optionee. An option exercisable after the death of an optionee or a
transferee pursuant to the following sentence may be exercised by the legatees, personal
representatives or distributees of the optionee or such transferee. The Committee may, in its
discretion, authorize all or a portion of the options previously granted or to be granted to an
optionee to be on terms which permit irrevocable transfer for no consideration by such optionee to
any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law,
father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive
relationships, of the optionee, trusts for the exclusive benefit of these persons, and any other
entity owned solely by these persons (“Eligible Transferees”), provided that (x) the stock option
agreement pursuant to which such options are granted must be approved by the Committee, and must
expressly provide for transferability in a manner consistent with this Section and (y) subsequent
transfers of transferred options shall be prohibited except those in accordance with the first
sentence of this Section 7(i). The Committee may, in its discretion; amend the definition of
Eligible Transferees to conform to the coverage rules

8

 

of Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933 or any comparable Form from time to time in
effect. Following transfer, any such options shall continue to be subject to the same terms and
conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer. The events of termination of service
of Sections 7(f), 7(g) and 7(h) hereof shall continue to be applied with respect to the original
optionee, following which the options shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent,
and for the periods specified, in Sections 7(f), 7(g) and 7(h). The Committee may delegate to a
committee consisting of employees of the Company the authority to authorize transfers, establish
terms and conditions upon which transfers may be made and establish classes of options eligible to
transfer options, as well as to make other determinations with respect to option transfers.

8. Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights

     (a) Grants. The Committee also may grant (i) a Stock Appreciation Right independent of
an Option or (ii) a Stock Appreciation Right in connection with an Option, or a portion thereof. A
Stock Appreciation Right granted pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence (A) may be
granted at the time the related Option is granted or at any time prior to the exercise or
cancellation of the related Option, (B) shall cover the same Shares covered by an Option (or such
lesser number of Shares as the Committee may determine) and (C) shall be subject to the same terms
and conditions as such Option except for such additional limitations as are contemplated by this
Section 8 (or such additional limitations as may be included in an Award agreement).

     (b) Terms. The exercise price per Share of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be an
amount determined by the Committee but in no event shall such amount be less than the greater of
(i) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Stock Appreciation Right is granted or, in the
case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in conjunction with an Option, or a portion thereof, the
Option Price of the related Option and (ii) an amount permitted by applicable laws, rules, by-laws
or policies of regulatory authorities or stock exchanges. Each Stock Appreciation Right granted
independent of an Option shall entitle a Participant upon exercise to an amount equal to (i) the
excess of (A) the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of one Share over (B) the exercise price
per Share, times (ii) the number of Shares covered by the Stock Appreciation Right. Each Stock
Appreciation Right granted in conjunction with an Option, or a portion thereof, shall entitle a
Participant to surrender to the Company the unexercised Option, or any portion thereof, and to
receive from the Company in exchange therefore an amount equal to (i) the excess of (A) the Fair
Market Value on the exercise date of one Share over (B) the Option Price per Share, times (ii) the
number of Shares covered by the Option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered. The date a notice
of exercise is received by the Company shall be the exercise date. Payment shall be made in Shares
or in cash, or partly in Shares and partly in cash, valued at such Fair Market Value, all as shall
be determined by the Committee. Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised from time to time upon
actual receipt by the Company of written notice of exercise stating the number of Shares with
respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is being exercised. No fractional

9

 

Shares will be issued in payment for Stock Appreciation Rights, but instead cash will be paid
for a fraction or, if the Committee should so determine, the number of Shares will be rounded
downward to the next whole Share.

     (c) Limitations. The Committee may impose, in its discretion, such conditions upon the
exercisability or transferability of Stock Appreciation Rights as it may deem fit.

     (d) Limited Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may grant LSARs that are
exercisable upon the occurrence of specified contingent events. Such LSARs may provide for a
different method of determining appreciation, may specify that payment will be made only in cash
and may provide that any related Awards are not exercisable while such LSARs are exercisable.
Unless the context otherwise requires, whenever the term “Stock Appreciation Right” is used in the
Plan, such term shall include LSARs.

9. Other Stock-Based Awards

     (a) Generally. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may grant Awards of Shares,
Awards of restricted Shares and Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are
otherwise based on the Fair Market Value of, Shares (“Other Stock-Based Awards”). Such Other
Stock-Based Awards shall be in such form, and dependent on such conditions, as the Committee shall
determine, including, without limitation, the right to receive one or more Shares (or the
equivalent cash value of such Shares) upon the completion of a specified period of service, the
occurrence of an event and/or the attainment of performance objectives. Other Stock-Based Awards
may be granted alone or in addition to any other Awards granted under the Plan. Subject to the
provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall determine to whom and when Other Stock-Based Awards
will be made; the number of Shares to be awarded under (or otherwise related to) such Other
Stock-Based Awards; whether such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be settled in cash, Shares or a
combination of cash and Shares; and all other terms and conditions of such Awards (including,
without limitation, the vesting provisions thereof). Where the value of an Other Stock-Based Award
is based on the Spread Value, the grant or exercise price for such an Award will not be less than
100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.

     (b) Performance-Based Awards. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, certain
Other Stock-Based Awards granted under this Section 9 may be granted in a manner which is
deductible by the Company under section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor section thereto)
(“Performance-Based Awards”). A Participant’s Performance-Based Award shall be determined based on
the attainment of written performance goals approved by the Committee for a performance period
established by the Committee (i) while the outcome for that performance period is substantially
uncertain and (ii) no more than 90 days after the commencement of the performance period to which
the

10

 

performance goal relates or, if less, the number of days which is equal to 25 percent of the
relevant performance period. The performance goals, which must be objective, shall be based upon
one or more of the following criteria: (i) earnings before or after taxes (including earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization); (ii) net income; (iii) operating income;
(iv) earnings per Share; (v) book value per Share; (vi) return on stockholders’ equity; (vii)
expense management; (viii) return on investment before or after the cost of capital; (ix)
improvements in capital structure; (x) profitability of an identifiable business unit or product;
(xi) maintenance or improvement of profit margins; (xii) stock price; (xiii) market share; (xiv)
revenues or sales; (xv) costs; (xvi) cash flow; (xvii) working capital (xviii) changes in net
assets (whether or not multiplied by a constant percentage intended to represent the cost of
capital) and (xix) return on assets. The foregoing criteria may relate to the Company, one or more
of its Subsidiaries or one or more of its divisions, units, minority investments, partnerships,
joint ventures, product lines or products or any combination of the foregoing, and may be applied
on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or more peer group companies or indices, or any
combination thereof, all as the Committee shall determine. In addition, to the degree consistent
with section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor section thereto), the performance goals may be
calculated without regard to extraordinary items or accounting changes. The maximum amount of a
Performance-Based Award during a calendar year to any Participant shall be $5,000,000. The
Committee shall determine whether, with respect to a performance period, the applicable performance
goals have been met with respect to a given Participant and, if they have, to so certify and
ascertain the amount of the applicable Performance-Based Award. No Performance-Based Awards will be
paid for such performance period until such certification is made by the Committee. The amount of
the Performance-Based Award actually paid to a given Participant may be less than the amount
determined by the applicable performance goal formula, at the discretion of the Committee. The
amount of the Performance-Based Award determined by the Committee for a performance period shall be
paid to the Participant at such time as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion after
the end of such performance period; provided, however, that a Participant may, if and to the extent
permitted by the Committee and consistent with the provisions of section 162(m) of the Code, elect
to defer payment of a Performance-Based Award.

10. Adjustments Upon Certain Events

     Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Plan to the contrary, the following provisions
shall apply to all Awards granted under the Plan:

     (a) Generally. In the event of any change in the outstanding Shares after the
Effective Date by reason of any Share dividend or split, reorganization, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of Shares or other corporate exchange, or any
distribution to stockholders of Shares other than regular cash dividends or any transaction similar
to the foregoing, the Committee shall make such substitution or adjustment, if any, as it, in its
sole discretion and without liability to any person, deems to

11

 

be equitable, as to (i) the number or kind of Shares or other securities issued or reserved
for issuance pursuant to the Plan or pursuant to outstanding Awards, (ii) the maximum number of
Shares for which Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted during a calendar year to any
Participant (iii) the maximum amount of Other Stock-Based Awards based on the Spread Value and
Performance-Based Awards that may be granted during a calendar year to any Participant, (iv) the
Option Price or exercise price of any Stock Appreciation Right and/or (v) any other affected terms
of such Awards.

     (b) Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control, Awards granted under the
Plan shall accelerate as follows: (i) each Option and Stock Appreciation Right shall become
immediately vested and exercisable; provided, however, that if such Awards are not exercised prior
to the date of the consummation of the Change in Control, the Committee, in its sole discretion and
without liability to any person may provide for (A) the payment of a cash amount in exchange for
the cancellation of such Award and/or (B) the issuance of substitute Awards that will substantially
preserve the value, rights and benefits of any affected Awards (previously granted hereunder) as of
the date of the consummation of the Change in Control; (ii) restrictions on Awards of restricted
shares shall lapse; and (iii) Other Stock-Based Awards shall become payable as if targets for the
current period were satisfied at 100%.

11. No Right to Employment

     The granting of an Award under the Plan shall impose no obligation on the Company or any
Subsidiary to continue the employment of a Participant and shall not lessen or affect the Company’s
or Subsidiary’s right to terminate the employment of such Participant.

12. Successors and Assigns

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

13. Nontransferability of Awards

     Except as provided in Section 7(i) of the Plan, an Award shall not be transferable or
assignable by the Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
During the lifetime of a Participant, an Award shall be exercisable only by such Participant. An
Award exercisable after the death of a Participant may be exercised by the legatees, personal
representatives or distributees of the Participant. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
herein, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the authority to waive this Section 13
(or any part thereof) to the extent that this Section 13 (or any part thereof) is not required
under the rules promulgated under any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Company.

12

 

14. Amendments or Termination

     The Board or the Committee may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment,
alteration or discontinuation shall be made which, (a) without the approval of the stockholders of
the Company, would (except as is provided in Section 10 of the Plan), (1) increase the total number
of Shares reserved for the purposes of the Plan or change the maximum number of Shares for which
Awards may be granted to any Participant, (2) result in any Option being repriced either by
lowering the Option Price of any outstanding Option or by canceling an outstanding Option and
granting a replacement Option with a lower Option Price, or (b) without the consent of a
Participant, would impair any of the rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted to
such Participant under the Plan; provided, however, that the Board or the Committee may amend the
Plan in such manner as it deems necessary to permit the granting of Awards meeting the requirements
of the Code or other applicable laws. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the
Committee nor the Board may amend, alter or discontinue the provisions relating to Section 10(b) of
the Plan after the occurrence of a Change in Control. Awards issued prior to termination of the
Plan shall not be affected by such termination.

15. International Participants

     With respect to Participants who reside or work outside the United States of America and who
are not (and who are not expected to be) “covered employees” within the meaning of section 162(m)
of the Code (or any successor section thereto), the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend
the terms of the Plan or Awards with respect to such Participants in order to conform such terms
with the requirements of local law.

16. Choice of Law

     The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the State of New York.

17. Effectiveness of the Plan

     If the amended and restated Plan is approved by shareholders at the 2005 Annual Meeting, it
will be effective with respect to all awards granted thereafter. If the amended Plan is not so
approved by shareholders, all awards granted under the Plan will be made in compliance with the
original Plan, without amendment.

13EX-10.2

 

EXHIBIT 10.2

2000 DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS’ STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

(as amended May 3, 2005)

1. Purpose of the Plan

     The purpose of the Plan is to aid the Company in attracting, retaining and compensating
non-employee directors and to enable them to increase their ownership of Shares. The Plan will be
beneficial to the Company and its stockholders since it will allow non-employee directors of the
Board to have a greater personal financial stake in the Company through the ownership of Shares, in
addition to underscoring their common interest with stockholders in increasing the value of the
Shares on a long-term basis.

2. Definitions

     The following capitalized terms used in the Plan have the respective meanings set forth in
this Section:

	 	(a)  	Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any
successor thereto.
	 
	 	(b)  	Award: An Option or Other Stock-Based Award granted pursuant to the
Plan.
	 
	 	(c)  	Beneficial Owner: As such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
Act (or any successor rule thereto).
	 
	 	(d)  	Board: The Board of Directors of the Company.
	 
	 	(e)  	Change in Control: The occurrence of any of the following events:

     (i) any “Person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), (other than the Company, any
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the
Company, or any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the
Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company),
is or becomes the

1

 

“Beneficial Owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the combined voting
power of the Company’s then outstanding securities.

     (ii) during any period of twenty-four months (not including any period prior to the
execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute
the Board, and any new Director (other than a Director designated by a person who has
entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause
(a), (c) or (d) of this Section, a Director designated by any Person (including the
Company) who publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions
(including, but not limited to, an actual or threatened proxy contest) which if
consummated would constitute a Change in Control or a Director designated by any Person
who is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing 10% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s securities) whose
election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was
approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors then still in office who
either were Directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for
election was previously so approved cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority
thereof.

     (iii) the shareholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the
Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would
result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the
voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after
such merger or consolidation and after which no Person holds 20% or more of the combined
voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company or such surviving entity;
or

     (iv) the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the
Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially
all of the Company’s assets.

	 	(f)  	Code: The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor
thereto.
	 
	 	(g)  	Company: The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation.

2

 

	 	(h)  	D&B: The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
	 
	 	(i)  	Disability: Inability to continue to serve as a non-employee director
of the Board due to a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which
constitutes a permanent and total disability, as determined by the Board (excluding
any member thereof whose own Disability is at issue in a given case) based upon such
evidence as it deems necessary and appropriate. A Participant shall not be considered
disabled unless he or she furnishes such medical or other evidence of the existence of
the Disability as the Board, in its sole discretion, may require.
	 
	 	(j)  	Effective Date: The date on which the Plan takes effect, as defined
pursuant to Section 14 of the Plan.
	 
	 	(k)  	Fair Market Value: On a given date, the arithmetic mean of the high
and low prices of the Shares as reported on such date on the Composite Tape of the
principal national securities exchange on which such Shares are listed or admitted to
trading, or, if no Composite Tape exists for such national securities exchange on such
date, then on the principal national securities exchange on which such Shares are
listed or admitted to trading, or, if the Shares are not listed or admitted on a
national securities exchange, the arithmetic mean of the per Share closing bid price
and per Share closing asked price on such date as quoted on the National Association
of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (or such market in which such prices
are regularly quoted), or, if there is no market on which the Shares are regularly
quoted, the Fair Market Value shall be the value established by the Board in good
faith. If no sale of Shares shall have been reported on such Composite Tape or such
national securities exchange on such date or quoted on the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System on such date, then the immediately
preceding date on which sales of the Shares have been so reported or quoted shall be
used.
	 
	 	(l)  	Option: A stock option granted pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan.
	 
	 	(m)  	Option Price: The purchase price per Share of an Option, as
determined pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Plan.
	 
	 	(n)  	Other Stock-Based Awards: Awards granted pursuant to Section 7 of the
Plan.

3

 

	 	(o)  	Participant: Any director of the Company who is not an employee of
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company as of the date that an Award is granted.
	 
	 	(p)  	Person: As such term is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d)
of the Act (or any successor section thereto).
	 
	 	(q)  	Plan: The 2000 Dun & Bradstreet Corporation Non-Employee Directors’
Stock Incentive Plan.
	 
	 	(r)  	Retirement: Except as otherwise provided in an Award agreement,
termination of service with the Company or an Affiliate after such Participant has
attained age 70, regardless of the length of such Participant’s service; or, with the
prior written consent of the Board (excluding any member thereof whose own Retirement
is at issue in a given case), termination of service at an earlier age after the
Participant has completed six or more years of service with the Company.
	 
	 	(s)  	Shares: Shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Company.
	 
	 	(t)  	Subsidiary: A subsidiary corporation, as defined in section 424(f)
of the Code (or any successor section thereto).

3. Shares Subject to the Plan

     The total number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan is 300,000. Against the shares
remaining in the Plan, awards granted under the Plan (excluding other stock-based awards granted
pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan) count as 1 issued share; whereas, other stock-based awards
granted pursuant to Section 7 of the amended Plan (approved as of the 2005 Annual Meeting) count as
2.6 issued shares. The Shares may consist, in whole or in part, of unissued Shares or treasury
Shares. The issuance of Awards shall reduce the total number of Shares available under the Plan.
Shares which are subject to Awards which terminate or lapse may be granted again under the Plan.

4. Administration

     The Plan shall be administered by the Board, which may delegate its duties and powers in whole
or in part to any subcommittee thereof. The Board is authorized to interpret the Plan, to
establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and to make any other
determinations that it deems necessary or desirable for the

4

 

administration of the Plan. The Board may correct any defect or omission or reconcile any
inconsistency in the Plan in the manner and to the extent the Board deems necessary or desirable.
Any decision of the Board in the interpretation and administration of the Plan, as described
herein, shall lie within its sole and absolute discretion and shall be final, conclusive and
binding on all parties concerned (including, but not limited to, Participants and their
beneficiaries or successors).

5. Eligibility

     All Participants shall be eligible to participate under this Plan.

6. Terms and Conditions of Options

     Options granted under the Plan shall be non-qualified stock options for federal income tax
purposes, as evidenced by the related Option agreements, and shall be subject to the foregoing and
the following terms and conditions and to such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent
therewith, as the Board shall determine:

     (a) Option Price. The Option Price per Share shall be determined by the Board, but
shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date an Option is
granted.

     (b) Exercisability. Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time
and upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Board, but in no event shall an
Option be exercisable more than ten years after the date it is granted.

     (c) Attestation. Wherever in this Plan or any agreement evidencing an Award a
Participant is permitted to pay the exercise price of an Option or taxes relating to the exercise
of an Option by delivering Shares, the Participant may, subject to procedures satisfactory to the
Board, satisfy such delivery requirement by presenting proof of beneficial ownership of such
Shares, in which case the Company shall treat the Option as exercised without further payment and
shall withhold such number of Shares from the Shares acquired by the exercise of the Option.

     (d) Exercise of Options. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in a related
Option agreement, an Option may be exercised for all, or from time to time any part, of the Shares
for which it is then exercisable. For purposes of Section 6 of the Plan, the exercise date of an
Option shall be the later of the date a notice of exercise is received by the Company and, if
applicable, the date payment is received by the Company pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) in
the following sentence. The purchase price for the Shares as to which an Option is exercised shall
be paid to the Company in full at the time of exercise at the election of the Participant in cash,
in Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Option Price for the Shares being
purchased and satisfying such other requirements as may be imposed by the Board, partly in cash and
partly in such Shares or through the delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver
promptly to the Company an amount equal to the aggregate Option Price for the Shares being

5

 

purchased. No Participant shall have any rights to dividends or other rights of a stockholder
with respect to Shares subject to an Option until the occurrence of the exercise date (determined
as set forth above) and, if applicable, the satisfaction of any other conditions imposed by the
Board pursuant to the Plan. Unless the vesting of an Option is otherwise accelerated pursuant to
Section 7(e), 7(f) or 7(g), the unvested portion of the Option will terminate upon the
Participant’s termination of employment for any reason.

     (e) Exercisability Upon Termination of Service by Death. If a Participant’s service
with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates by reason of death after the first anniversary of
the date on which an Option is granted, the unexercised portion of such Option shall immediately
vest in full and may thereafter be exercised during the shorter of the remaining term of the Option
or five years after the date of death.

     (f) Exercisability Upon Termination of Service by Disability or Retirement. If a
Participant’s service with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates by reason of Disability or
Retirement after the first anniversary of the date on which an Option is granted, the unexercised
vested portion of such Option may thereafter be exercised during the shorter of the remaining term
of the Option or five years after the date of such termination of service; provided, however, that
if a Participant dies within a period of five years after such termination of service, the
unexercised portion of the Option shall immediately vest in full and may thereafter be exercised,
during the shorter of the remaining term of the Option or the period that is the longer of five
years after the Date of such termination of service or one year after the date of death.

     (g) Effect of Other Termination of Service. If a Participant’s service with the
Company and its Subsidiaries terminates by reason of Disability or Retirement prior to the first
anniversary of the date on which an Option is granted (as described above), then, a pro rata
portion of such Option shall immediately vest in full and may be exercised thereafter, during the
shorter of (A) the remaining term of such Option or (B) five years after the date of such
termination of service, for a prorated number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole number
of Shares), equal to the number of Shares subject to such Option multiplied by a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of days the Participant served on the Board subsequent to the date
on which such Option was granted and the denominator of which is 365. The portion of such Option
which is not so exercisable shall terminate as of the date of Disability or Retirement. If a
Participant’s service with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason other than
death, Disability or Retirement, the unexercised vested portion of such Option shall terminate
thirty days following such termination of service.

     (h) Nontransferability of Stock Options. Except as otherwise provided in this Section
6(h), an Option shall not be transferable by the Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws
of descent and distribution and during the lifetime of a Participant an

6

 

Option shall be exercisable only by the Participant. An Option exercisable after the death of
a Participant or a transferee pursuant to the following sentence may be exercised by the legatees,
personal representatives or distributees of the Participant or such transferee. The Board may, in
its discretion, authorize all or a portion of the Options previously granted or to be granted to a
Participant to be on terms which permit irrevocable transfer for no consideration by such
Participant to any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling,
mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law,
including adoptive relationships, of the Participant, trusts for the exclusive benefit of these
persons, and any other entity owned solely by these persons (“Eligible Transferees”), provided that
(x) the Option agreement pursuant to which such Options are granted must be approved by the Board,
and must expressly provide for transferability in a manner consistent with this Section and (y)
subsequent transfers of transferred Options shall be prohibited except those in accordance with the
first sentence of this Section 6(h). The Board may, in its discretion, amend the definition of
Eligible Transferees to conform to the coverage rules of Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933
or any comparable Form from time to time in effect. Following transfer, any such Options shall
continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to
transfer. The events of termination of service of Sections 6(e), 6(f) and 6(g) hereof shall
continue to be applied with respect to the original Participant, following which the Options shall
be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent, and for the periods specified, in Sections
6(e), 6(f) and 6(g). The Board may delegate to a committee consisting of employees of the Company
the authority to authorize transfers, establish terms and conditions upon which transfers may be
made and establish classes of Options eligible to transfer options, as well as to make other
determinations with respect to option transfers.

7. Other Stock-Based Awards

     The Board, in its sole discretion, may grant Awards of Shares, Awards of restricted Shares and
Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on the Fair
Market Value of, Shares (“Other Stock-Based Awards”). Such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be in
such form, and dependent on such conditions, as the Board shall determine, including, without
limitation, the right to receive one or more Shares (or the equivalent cash value of such Shares)
upon the completion of a specified period of service, the occurrence of an event and/or the
attainment of performance objectives. Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted alone or in addition
to any other Awards granted under the Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall
determine to whom and when Other Stock-Based Awards will be made; the number of Shares to be
awarded under (or otherwise related to) such Other Stock-Based Awards; whether such Other
Stock-Based Awards shall be settled in cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares; and all
other terms and conditions of such Awards (including, without limitation, the vesting provisions
thereof).

7

 

8. Adjustments Upon Certain Events

     Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Plan to the contrary, the following provisions
shall apply to all Awards granted under the Plan:

     (a) Generally. In the event of any change in the outstanding Shares after the
Effective Date by reason of any Share dividend or split, reorganization, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of Shares or other corporate exchange, or any
distribution to stockholders of Shares other than regular cash dividends or any transaction similar
to the foregoing, the Board in its sole discretion and without liability to any person may make
such substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems to be equitable, as to the number or kind of
Shares or other securities issued or reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan or pursuant to
outstanding Awards, the Option Price and/or any other affected terms of such Awards.

     (b) Change in Control. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, (A) all
restrictions on Shares of restricted stock shall lapse and all Options shall vest and become
exercisable and (B) the Board may, but shall not be obligated to, make provision for a cash payment
to the holder of an outstanding Award in consideration for the cancellation of such Award which, in
the case of Options, shall equal the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject
to such Options over the aggregate Option Price of such Options.

9. No Right to Awards.

     No Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no
obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The
terms and conditions of Awards and the Board’s determinations and interpretations with respect
thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant (whether or not such Participants are
similarly situated).

10. Successors and Assigns

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

11. Amendments or Termination

     The Board may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration or
discontinuation shall be made which, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, would
(except as is provided in Section 8 of the Plan), increase the total number of Shares reserved for
the purposes of the Plan, result in any Option being repriced either by lowering the Option Price
of any outstanding Option or by canceling an outstanding Option and granting a replacement Option
with a lower

8

 

Option Price, or (b) without the consent of a Participant, would impair any of the rights or
obligations under any Award theretofore granted to such Participant under the Plan; provided,
however, that the Board may amend the Plan in such manner as it deems necessary to permit the
granting of Awards meeting the requirements of the Code or other applicable laws.

12. Nontransferability of Awards

     Except as provided in Section 6(h) of the Plan, an Award shall not be transferable or
assignable by the Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
During the lifetime of a Participant, an Award shall be exercisable only by such Participant. An
Award exercisable after the death of a Participant may be exercised by the legatees, personal
representatives or distributees of the Participant. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
herein, the Board, in its sole discretion, shall have the authority to waive this Section 12 (or
any part thereof) to the extent that this Section 12 (or any part thereof) is not required under
the rules promulgated under any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Company.

13. Choice of Law

     The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the State of New York.

14. Effectiveness of the Plan

     If the amended Plan is approved by shareholders at the 2005 Annual Meeting, it will be
effective with respect to all awards granted thereafter. If the amended Plan is not so approved by
shareholders, all awards granted under the Plan will be made in compliance with the original Plan,
without amendment.

9

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00084-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00084-of-00352.parquet"}]]