Document:

1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan

 EXHIBIT 10.5 
 1999 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN 
 OF 
 D&E COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 
 ARTICLE I. 
 GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 1.1 PURPOSES 
 The purposes of the 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) are to advance the long-term success of D&E Communications, Inc. (the
“Company” or “D&E”), and to increase shareholder value by providing the incentive of long-term stock-based rewards to officers, directors and key employees. The Plan is designed to: (1) encourage stock ownership by
Participants to further align their interest in increasing the value of the Company, (2) ensure that compensation practices are competitive in the industry and (3) to assist in the attraction and retention of key employees vital to the
Company’s success. 
 1.2 DEFINITIONS 
 For
the purpose of the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: 
 (a) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the
Company. 
 (b) “Cash Incentive Awards” means a right to receive a cash payment pursuant to any award made pursuant to Article VII
hereof. 
 (c) “Change in Control” means a situation where: (1) any person acquires beneficial ownership of 20 percent or more
of the then outstanding voting stock of the Company and within five years thereafter a change in the composition of the Board occurs such that the existing members and their approved successors do not constitute a majority of the Board; (2) a
merger or consolidation involving the Company occurs that results in the holders of the Company’s voting securities immediately prior to such merger or consolidation holding less than 66 2/3% of the voting securities of the resulting entity; or
(3) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets occurs which, in either case, is approved by the shareholders. 
 (d) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any successor law thereto. 
 (e) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or the full Board, as the case may be. 
 (f) “Common Stock” means the Common Stock of the Company, par value $.16 per share. 

 (g) “Company,” means D&E Communications, Inc. and solely for purposes of determining
(i) eligibility for participation in the Plan, (ii) employment, and (iii) the establishment of performance goals, shall include any corporation, partnership, or other organization of which D&E owns or controls, directly or
indirectly, not less than 50 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or other equity interests. For purposes of this Plan, the terms “D&E” and “Company” shall include any successor to D&E
Communications, Inc. 
 (h) “Disability” means total and permanent disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the
Code. 
 (i) “Dividend Equivalent” means an amount equal to the cash dividend paid on one share of Common Stock for each Performance
Restricted Share granted during the Performance Period. All Dividend Equivalents will be reinvested in Performance Restricted Shares at a purchase price equal to the Fair Market Value on the dividend date. 
 (j) “Employee or employment” means with respect to any Non-Employee Director (as defined herein), service on the Board. 
 (k) “Fair Market Value” means as of any date: (i) the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such date of the Common Stock as
quoted by NASDAQ; or (ii), as the case may be, the last reported sales price of the Common Stock on such date as reported by the NASDAQ National Market or the principal national securities exchange on which such stock is listed and traded, or in
each such case where there is no trading on such date, on the first previous date on which there is such trading. 
 (l) “Incentive Stock
Option” means a Stock Option which meets the definition under Section 422 of the Code. 
 (m) “Non-Employee Director”
means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company. 
 (n) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means a Stock Option which
does not meet the definition of an Incentive Stock Option. 
 (o) “Participant” means any officer, director or key employee who has
met the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 1.6 hereof and to whom a grant has been made and is outstanding under the Plan. 
 (p) “Performance Measures” shall mean the Performance Measures described in Section 4.4 of the Plan. 
 (q)
“Performance Period” means, in relation to Performance Restricted Shares or Cash Incentive Awards, any period for which performance goals have been established. 
 (r) “Performance Restricted Share” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article IV. 
  

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 (s) “Restricted Stock Award” means an award of Common Stock granted to a Participant pursuant
to Article V which is subject to a Restriction Period. 
 (t) “Restriction Period” means in relation to Restricted Stock Awards, the
period of time (if any) during which (i) such shares are subject to forfeiture pursuant to the Plan and (ii) such shares may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by the Participant. 
 (u) “Retirement” means termination from employment with the Company after the Participant has attained age 55 and has completed a minimum of
five years of service with the Company or termination of employment under circumstances which the Committee deems equivalent to retirement. 
 (v) “Stock Appreciation Right” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article III to surrender to the Company all or any portion of the related Stock Option and to receive in cash or in shares of Common Stock an amount
equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value over the option price on the date of such exercise. 
 (w) “Stock Award” means an award
of Common Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Article V which is not subject to a Restriction Period. 
 (x) “Stock Option”
means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article II, to purchase, before a specified date and at a specified price, a specified number of shares of Common Stock. 
 1.3 ADMINISTRATION 
 The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board which shall
consist of not fewer than three directors of the Company or the full Board; provided, however, that the Board shall administer the Plan as it relates to the terms, conditions and grant of awards to Non-Employee Directors. For purposes of the Plan,
the term Committee shall refer to the Compensation Committee of the Board or the full Board, as the case may be. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a
quorum is present, or acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee, shall be deemed the acts of the Committee. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and to directions by the Board, the Committee is authorized to interpret the Plan, to
adopt administrative rules, regulations, and guidelines for the Plan, and to impose such terms, conditions, and restrictions on grants as it deems appropriate. The Committee, in its discretion, may allow certain optionees holding unexercised
Incentive Stock Options to convert such options to Nonstatutory Stock Options. The Committee may, with respect to Participants who are not subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or “covered employees” within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Code (“Section 162(m)”), delegate such of its powers and authority under the Plan as it deems appropriate to designated officers or employees of the Company. 
 1.4 TYPES OF GRANTS UNDER THE PLAN 
 Grants under the Plan
may be in the form of anyone or more of the following: 
 (a) Nonstatutory Stock Options; 
  

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 (b) Incentive Stock Options; 
 (c) Stock Appreciation Rights; 
 (d)
Performance Restricted Shares; 
 (e) Restricted Stock Awards; 
 (f) Stock Awards; 
 (g) Cash Incentive Awards. 
 1.5 SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN AND INDIVIDUAL AWARD LIMITATION 
 (a) A maximum of 525,000 shares of Common
Stock may be issued under the Plan. All such shares may be granted in the form of Incentive Stock Options, Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Awards and Stock Awards. The total
number of shares authorized is subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8.1 hereof. Shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan may be treasury shares or authorized but unissued shares. No fractional shares shall be issued under the Plan.

 (b) If any Stock Option granted under the Plan expires or terminates, the underlying shares of Common Stock may again be made available
for the purposes of the Plan. Any shares of Common Stock that have been granted as Restricted Stock Awards, or that have been reserved for distribution in payment for Performance Restricted Shares but are later forfeited or for any other reason are
not payable under the Plan, may again be made available for the purposes of the Plan. Furthermore, shares of Common Stock that are: (i) tendered or withheld in payment of the exercise price of any Stock Option or in satisfaction of withholding
tax obligations arising from any Award; and (ii) shares of Common Stock repurchased by the Company that have been designated for allocation to the Plan, shall be available for issuance under the Plan. 
 (c) The aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted to any Participant in the form of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation
Rights, Performance Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Awards in anyone calendar year is 25,000. 
 1.6 ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION 
 Participation in the Plan shall be limited to officers, who may also be members of the Board, other key employees of the Company who are so designated by
the Committee in its discretion and Non-Employee Directors. 
  

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 ARTICLE II. 
 STOCK OPTIONS 
 2.1 GRANT OF STOCK OPTIONS 
 The Committee may from time to time, subject to the provisions of the Plan, grant Stock Options to Participants. The Committee shall determine the number
of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Stock Option and shall have the authority to grant Incentive Stock Options, Nonstatutory Stock Options or a combination thereof; provided, however, that Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to
Participants who are employees of the Company and may not be granted to Non-Employee Directors. Furthermore, the Committee may grant a Stock Appreciation Right in connection with a Stock Option, as provided in Article III . 
 2.2 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION EXERCISE LIMITATIONS 
 The
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time an Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which an Incentive Stock Option is exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year
(under all plans of the Company) shall not exceed $100,000 or such other limit as may be established from time to time under the Code. 
 2.3 OPTION
DOCUMENTATION 
 Each Stock Option shall be evidenced by a written Stock Option agreement between the Company and the Participant to whom such
option is granted, specifying the number of shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by its exercise and containing such terms and conditions consistent with the Plan as the Committee shall determine. 
 2.4 EXERCISE PRICE 
 The price at which each share covered by
a Stock Option may be acquired shall be determined by the Committee at the time the option is granted and shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of the underlying shares of Common Stock on the day the Stock Option is granted. If an Incentive
Stock Option is granted to an employee who, at the time such Option is granted, owns shares of the Company possessing more than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or its subsidiaries (“10%
Shareholder”), the exercise price of such Option shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the underlying shares of Common Stock on the day such Option is granted. The exercise price will be subject to adjustment in accordance
with the provisions of Section 8.1 of the Plan. 
 2.5 EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS 
 (a) Exercisability. Stock Options shall become exercisable at such times and upon the satisfaction of such conditions and in such installments as the
Committee may provide at the time of grant. 
 (b) Option Period. For each Stock Option granted the Committee shall specify the period during
which the Stock Option may be exercised, provided that (i) no Stock 

  

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Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date the option was granted and (ii) in the case of a 10% Shareholder, no Stock
Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date the option was granted. 
 (c) Exercise in the Event of
Termination of Employment. 
 (i) Death: Unless otherwise provided by the Committee at the time of grant, in the event of the death of the
Participant, the option must be exercised by the Participant’s estate or beneficiaries within one year following the death of the Participant and prior to its expiration. Each option may be exercised as to all or any portion thereof regardless
of whether or not fully exercisable under the terms of the grant. 
 (ii) Disability: Unless otherwise provided by the Committee at the time
of grant, in the event of the Disability of the Participant, the option must be exercised within one year following the Participant’s termination of employment and prior to its expiration. Each option may be exercised as to all or any portion
thereof regardless of whether or not fully exercisable under the terms of the grant. 
 (iii) Retirement: Unless otherwise provided by the
Committee at the time of grant, in the event of the Retirement of the Participant the option must be exercised within one year following the Participant’s termination of employment and prior to its expiration. An unexercised Incentive Stock
Option will cease to be treated as such and will become a Nonstatutory Stock Option three months following the date of Retirement. Each option may be exercised as to all or any portion thereof regardless of whether or not fully exercisable under the
terms of the grant. 
 (iv) Other Terminations: Unless otherwise provided by the Committee at the time of grant, in the event a Participant
ceases to be an employee of the Company for any reason other than death, Disability, or Retirement, options which are exercisable on the date of termination must be exercised within three months after termination and prior to the expiration date of
any such option. All options which are not exercisable on the date of termination shall be canceled. 
 (v) Extension of Exercise Period:
Notwithstanding all other provisions under Section 2.5(c) in the event a Participant’s employment is terminated, the Committee may, in its sale discretion, extend the post-termination period during which the option may be exercised,
provided however that such period may not extend beyond the original option period. 
 (d) Exercise In the Event of Change in Control. In the
event of any Change in Control, all Stock Options shall immediately become exercisable without regard to the exercise period set forth in 2.5(a). 
 2.6
METHOD OF EXERCISE 
 The option may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time by written request received by the Treasurer of the
Company. The option price of each share acquired pursuant to an option shall be paid in full at the time of each exercise of the option either (i) in cash, (ii) by 

  

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delivering to the Company previously-owned shares of Common Stock or (iii) in the discretion of the Committee, by delivering to the Treasurer of the
Company a notice of exercise with an irrevocable direction to a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to sell a sufficient portion of the shares and deliver the sale proceeds directly to the Company to pay
the exercise price; (iv) in the discretion of the Committee, through an election to have shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant withheld to pay the exercise price of such option; or (v) in the discretion of the
Committee, through any combination of the payment procedures set forth in (i) through (iv) above. However, shares of Common Stock previously acquired by the Participant under the Plan or any other incentive plan of the Company shall not be
utilized for purposes of payment upon the exercise of an option unless those shares have been owned by the Participant for a six-month period or such longer period as the Committee may determine. 
 2.7 STOCK RETENTION OPTIONS 
 The Committee, in its
discretion, may authorize “stock retention Stock Options” which provide, upon the exercise of a Stock Option previously granted under this Plan (a “prior Option”) using previously owned shares, for the automatic issuance of a new
Stock Option under this Plan with an exercise price equal to the current Fair Market Value and for up to the number of shares equal to the number of previously-owned shares delivered in payment of the exercise price and any related withholding taxes
of the prior Stock Option. Such stock retention Stock Option shall have the same Option Period as the prior Stock Option. 
 ARTICLE III.

 STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS 
 3.1
GRANT OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS 
 The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Stock Appreciation Rights in connection with all or any part
of an option granted under the Plan. Any Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an option shall be governed by the terms of the Stock Option agreement and the Plan. 
 3.2 EXERCISE OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS 
 Stock Appreciation Rights shall become exercisable under the
Stock Option terms set forth in Section 2.5 but shall be exercisable only when the Fair Market Value of the shares subject thereto exceeds the option price of the related option. 
 3.3 METHOD OF EXERCISE 
 (a) Stock Appreciation Rights shall permit the Participant, upon exercise of such
rights, to surrender the related option, or any portion thereof, and to receive, without payment to the Company (except for applicable withholding taxes), an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value over the option price. Such amount
shall be paid in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise or in cash, or any combination of shares and cash, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. 
  

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 (b) Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right and surrender of the related option, or portion
thereof, such option, to the extent surrendered, shall be terminated, and the shares covered by the option so surrendered shall no longer be available for purposes of the Plan. 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 PERFORMANCE RESTRICTED SHARES 
 4.1 GRANT OF PERFORMANCE RESTRICTED SHARES 
 The Committee
may from time to time grant Performance Restricted Shares to Participants under which payment may be made in shares of Common Stock if the performance of the Company meets certain goals established by the Committee. Such Performance Restricted
Shares shall be subject to the provisions of the Plan terms and conditions, and, if earned, a vesting period as the Committee shall determine. 
 4.2
PERFORMANCE RESTRICTED SHARE AGREEMENT 
 Each grant of Performance Restricted Shares shall be evidenced by a written agreement between the
Company and Participant to whom such shares are granted. The agreement shall specify the number of Performance Restricted Shares granted, the terms and conditions of the grant, the duration of the Performance Period, the performance goals to be
achieved, and the vesting period applicable to shares of Common Stock earned. 
 4.3 COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENT 
 Each Performance Restricted Share shall be credited to an account to be maintained for each such Participant during the Performance Period and shall be
deemed to be the equivalent of one share of Common Stock. At the conclusion of the Performance Period, Performance Restricted Shares earned, if any, shall be converted to shares of Common Stock subject to a vesting period. 
 4.4 PERFORMANCE GOALS 
 Performance Restricted Share awards
shall be conditioned upon the Company’s attainment of a specified goal with respect to one or more of the following performance measures: (i) total shareholder return; (ii) return on shareholders’ equity; (iii) return on
capital; (iv) earnings per share; (v) sales; (vi) earnings; (vii) cash flow; (viii) operating income; (ix) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; and (x) Fair Market Value of Common Stock.
The Committee shall determine a minimum performance level below which no Performance Restricted Shares shall be payable and a performance schedule under which the number of shares earned may be less than, equal to, or greater than the number of
Performance Restricted Shares granted based upon the Company’s performance. The Committee may adjust the performance goals and measurements to reflect significant unforeseen events; provided, however, that the Committee may not make any such
adjustment with respect to any award of Performance Restricted Shares to an individual who is then a “covered employee” as such term is defined in Regulation 1.162-27 (c) (2) promulgated under Section 162 (m), if such
adjustment would cause compensation pursuant to such Performance Restricted Share award to cease to be performance-based compensation under Section 162(m). 
  

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 4.5 PERFORMANCE PERIOD 
 The Committee shall establish a Performance Period applicable to each grant of Performance Restricted Shares. Each such Performance Period shall commence on January 1 of the calendar year in which grants are
made. There shall be no limitation on the number of Performance Periods established by the Committee, and more than one Performance Period may encompass the same calendar year. The Committee may shorten any Performance Period if it determines that
unusual or unforeseen events so warrant. 
 4.6 DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS DURING PERFORMANCE PERIOD 
 During the Performance Period, a Participant shall be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalents which shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional
Performance Restricted Shares at the same time as such underlying Common Stock cash dividend is paid. Performance Restricted Shares granted through such reinvestment shall be credited to the Participant’s account and shall be payable to the
Participant in the same manner and at the same time as the Performance Restricted Shares with respect to which such Dividend Equivalents were issued. 
 4.7
CONVERSION OF PERFORMANCE RESTRICTED SHARES 
 (a) At the conclusion of the Performance Period, the Committee shall determine the number of
Performance Restricted Shares, if any, which have been earned on the basis of Company performance in relation to the established performance goals. In no event shall such number exceed 300% of the shares contingently granted. 
 (b) Performance Restricted Shares earned shall be converted to shares of Common Stock and shall be represented by a stock certificate registered in the
name of the Participant. Certificates evidencing such shares shall be held in custody by the Company until the restrictions thereon are no longer in effect. 
 4.8 VESTING PERIOD 
 At the time a Performance Restricted Share grant is made, the Committee shall establish a vesting period
applicable to such shares earned, if any, which shall begin at the end of the Performance Period. After the lapse or waiver of the restrictions imposed, the Company shall deliver in the Participant’s name one or more stock certificates,
evidencing the shares of Common Stock earned through the end of the Performance Period. The Committee may accelerate or waive the performance goals attached to a particular grant, in whole or in part, based on service and such other factors as the
Committee may determine. 
 4.9 OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS 
 Performance Restricted Shares shall be subject to the following terms and conditions: 
 (a) Except as
otherwise provided in the Plan or in the Performance Restricted Share agreement, the Participant shall not have the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including the right to vote the shares. 
  

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 (b) Cash dividends paid with respect to Performance Restricted Shares shall be reinvested to purchase
additional shares of Common Stock that shall be subject to the same terms, conditions, and restrictions that apply to the Performance Restricted Shares with respect to which such dividends were issued. 
 4.10 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT PROVISIONS DURING A PERFORMANCE PERIOD 
 (a) In the event a Participant terminates employment during a Performance Period by reason of death, Disability, or Retirement, and the Participant had completed a minimum of one year of employment during the
Performance Period, the Participant shall be entitled to that number of shares earned (if any) determined by multiplying the full number of shares earned (if any) by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full months of employment the
Participant had completed in such Performance Period and the denominator of which are the total number of full months in such Performance Period. All applicable restrictions shall lapse with respect to such shares and such shares of Common Stock
shall be issued to the Participant or the Participant’s designated beneficiary following the Performance Period. In the event the Participant had not completed one year of employment during the Performance Period, the Participant shall forfeit
all rights to earn such Performance Restricted Shares. 
 (b) If a Participant terminates employment during a Performance Period for any
reason other than death, Disability, or Retirement, the Participant shall forfeit all rights to earn such Performance Restricted Shares. 
 (c) Notwithstanding Sections 4.10(a) and 4.10(b), in the event a Participant’s employment is terminated during a Performance Period under special circumstances, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, continue a Participant’s
rights to earn any or all Performance Restricted Shares and waive in whole or in part any or all remaining restrictions. 
 4.11 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
PROVISIONS FOLLOWING A PERFORMANCE PERIOD 
 (a) In the event a Participant terminates employment following a Performance Period by reason of
death, Disability, or Retirement, all shares of Common Stock (formerly Performance Restricted Shares) shall immediately vest and shares of Common Stock shall be issued to the Participant or the Participant’s designated beneficiary. 

(b) If a Participant terminates employment following a Performance Period for any reason other than death, Disability, or Retirement, the Participant
shall forfeit all shares of Common Stock (formerly Performance Restricted Shares) which have not yet vested. Shares of Common Stock which have vested shall be issued to the Participant. 
  

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 (c) Notwithstanding Sections 4.11(a) and 4.11{b), in the event a Participant’s employment is
terminated following a Performance Period under special circumstances, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the remaining vesting period (if any) associated with that grant. 
 4.12 CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS 
 In the event of any
Change in Control, (i) all Performance Restricted Shares granted, including those granted pursuant to Dividend Equivalents, shall be deemed to have been earned to the maximum extent permitted pursuant to Section 4.4 for any Performance
Period not yet completed as of the effective date of such Change in Control and (ii) all shares of Common Stock (which have been converted from Performance Restricted Shares earned) not otherwise vested shall immediately vest as of the date of
such Change in Control. 
 ARTICLE V. 
 RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS AND STOCK AWARDS 
 5.1 AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK AWARDS 
 The Committee may grant Restricted Stock Awards and unrestricted Stock Awards to officers and key employees of the Company subject to such terms and
conditions as the Committee shall determine, provided that each Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to a Restriction Period. Restricted Stock Awards and Stock Awards shall be used for the purposes of recruitment, recognition, and retention of
key employees vital to the Company’s success. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, require a Participant to deliver consideration in form of services or cash as a condition to the grant of a Restricted Stock Award or Stock Award.

 5.2 STOCK AWARD AND RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENTS 
 Each Restricted Stock Award and Stock Award shall be evidenced by a written agreement between the Company and the Participant to whom such award is granted. The agreement shall specify the number of shares awarded, the terms and conditions
of the award and, in the case of a Restricted Stock Award, the Restriction Period, and the consequences of forfeiture. 
 5.3 AWARDS AND CERTIFICATES

 Shares of Common Stock awarded pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award or a Stock Award shall be registered in the name of the Participant.
Certificates evidencing Restricted Stock Awards shall be held in custody by the Company until the restrictions thereon are no longer in effect. After the lapse or waiver of the restrictions imposed upon the Restricted Stock Award, the Company shall
deliver in the Participant’s name one or more stock certificates, free of restrictions, evidencing the shares of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award to which the restrictions have lapsed or been waived. 
  

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 5.4 RESTRICTION PERIOD 
 At the time a Restricted Stock Award is made, the Committee shall establish a Restriction Period applicable to such award. The Committee may provide for the lapse of such restrictions in installments and may
accelerate or waive such restrictions, in whole or in part, based on service and such other factors as the Committee may determine. 
 5.5 OTHER TERMS AND
CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS 
 Shares of Common Stock subject to Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions: 
 (a) Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in the Restricted Stock Award agreement, the Participant shall have all the
rights of a shareholder of the Company, including the right to vote the shares. 
 (b) Cash dividends paid with respect to Common Stock
subject to a Restricted Stock Award shall be reinvested to purchase additional shares of Common Stock that shall be subject to the same terms, conditions, and restrictions that apply to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends
were issued. 
 5.6 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT 
 (a) In the event a Participant terminates employment during the Restriction Period by reason of death, Disability or Retirement, and the Participant had completed a minimum of one year of employment during the Restriction Period,
restrictions shall lapse on that number of shares (if any) determined by multiplying the full number of shares subject to restriction by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full months of employment the Participant had completed in
such Restriction Period and the denominator of which is the total number of full months in such Restriction Period. 
 (b) If a Participant
terminates employment for any reason other than death, Disability, or Retirement, the Participant shall forfeit all shares subject to restriction. 
 (c) Notwithstanding Sections 5.6(a) and 5.6(b), in the event a Participant’s employment is terminated under special circumstances, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, waive in whole or in part any or all remaining restrictions.

 5.7 CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS 
 In the
event of any Change in Control, all restrictions applicable to any outstanding Restricted Stock Award shall lapse as of the date of such Change in Control. 
  

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 ARTICLE VI. 
 TAX WITHHOLDING AND DEFERRAL OF PAYMENT 
 6.1 TAX WITHHOLDING 
 (a) The Company may withhold from any payment of cash or Stock to a Participant or other person pursuant to the Plan an amount sufficient to satisfy any
required withholding taxes, including the Participant’s social security and Medicare taxes and federal, state and local income tax with respect to income arising from the payment of the Award. The Company shall have the right to require the
payment of any such taxes before delivering payment or issuing Stock pursuant to the Award. 
 (b) At the discretion of the Committee, share
tax withholding may be included as a term of any grant of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Award. 
 (c) Share tax withholding shall entitle the Participant to elect to satisfy, in whole or in part, any tax withholding obligations in connection with the issuance of shares of Common Stock earned under the Plan by
requesting that the Company either: 
 (i) withhold shares of common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant, or 
 (ii) by accepting delivery of shares of Common Stock previously owned by the Participant. 
 In either case, the Fair Market Value of such shares of Common Stock will generally be determined on the date the Participant elects to satisfy such
withholding tax obligations in such manner. 
 (d) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof to the contrary, the Committee, in its sole
discretion may at any time suspend, terminate, or disallow any or all entitlements to share tax withholding previously granted or extended to any Participant. 
 6.2 DEFERRAL OF PAYMENT 
 At the discretion of the Committee, a Participant may be offered the right to defer the receipt of all or
any portion of Performance Restricted Shares or Restricted Stock Awards otherwise distributable to such Participant. Such right shall be exercised by execution of a written agreement by the Participant (i) with respect to Restricted Stock
Awards, prior to the expiration of the applicable Restriction Period and (ii) with respect to Performance Restricted Shares, prior to the expiration of the applicable vesting period. Upon any such deferral, the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the deferral shall be converted to stock units and a stock unit account shall be maintained by the Company on behalf of the Participant. Such stock units shall represent only a contractual right and shall not represent any interest in or
title to Common Stock. Such units shall be entitled to earn dividend equivalents. All other terms and conditions of deferred payments shall be as contained in said written agreement. 
  

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 ARTICLE VII. 
 CASH INCENTIVE AWARDS 
 7.1 GRANTING OF AWARDS 
 The Committee, in its discretion, may grant Cash Incentive Awards to participants. Each Cash Incentive Award shall be conditioned upon the Company’s
achievement of one or more Performance Goals with respect to the Performance Measure(s) beginning with the applicable Performance Period and set forth in the Award agreement evidencing such Cash Incentive Award. An award may be made in conjunction
with the grant hereunder of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Awards or Stock Awards. In making a Cash Incentive Award, the Committee shall establish a performance level below which the Cash
Incentive Award shall not be payable. The Committee may adjust the performance goals and measurements to reflect significant unforeseen events; provided, however, that the Committee may not make any such adjustment with respect to any award to an
individual who is then a “covered employee” as such term is defined under Section 162(m), if such adjustment would cause compensation pursuant to such award to cease to be performance-based compensation under Section 162(m).

 7.2 OTHER AWARD TERMS 
 The Committee may, in
its sole discretion, establish certain additional performance based conditions that must be satisfied by the Company, a business unit or the Participant as a condition precedent to the payment of all or a portion of any Cash Incentive Awards. Such
conditions precedent may include, among other things, the receipt by a Participant of a specified annual performance rating and the achievement of specified performance goals by the Company, business unit or Participant. 
 7.3 MAXIMUM AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS 
 The aggregate
maximum amount payable to anyone Participant pursuant to a Cash Incentive Award shall be $125,000. 
 ARTICLE VIII. 
 OTHER PROVISIONS 
 8.1 ADJUSTMENT IN NUMBER OF SHARES
AND OPTION PRICES 
 Grants of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Restricted Shares, and Restricted Stock Awards and Stock
Awards shall be subject to adjustment by the Committee as to the number and price of shares of Common Stock or other considerations subject to such grants in the event of changes in the outstanding shares by reason of stock dividends, stock splits,
recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, combinations, exchanges, or other relevant changes in capitalization occurring after the date of grant. In the event of any such change in the outstanding shares, the aggregate number of
shares available under the Plan may be appropriately adjusted by the Committee. 
  

 14 

 8.2 NO RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT 
 Nothing contained in the Plan, nor in any grant pursuant to the Plan, shall confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment by the Company or its subsidiaries, nor interfere in any way
with the right of the Company or its subsidiaries to terminate the employment or change the compensation of any employee at any time. 
 8.3
NONTRANSFERABILITY 
 A Participant’s rights under the Plan, including the right to any shares or amounts payable may not be assigned,
pledged, or otherwise transferred except, in the event of a Participant’s death, to the Participant’s designated beneficiary or, in the absence of such a designation, by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however,
that the Committee may, in its discretion, at the time of grant of a Nonstatutory Stock Option or by amendment of an option agreement for an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option, provide that Stock Options granted to or held by a
Participant may be transferred, in whole or in part, to one or more transferees and exercised by any such transferee, provided further that (i) any such transfer must be without consideration, (ii) each transferee must be a member of such
Participant’s “immediate family” or a trust, family limited partnership or other estate planning vehicle established for the exclusive benefit of one or more members of the Participant’s immediate family; and (iii) such
transfer is specifically approved by the Committee following the receipt of a written request for approval of the transfer; and provided further that any Incentive Stock Option which is amended to permit transfers during the lifetime of the
Participant shall, upon the effectiveness of such amendment, be treated thereafter as a Nonstatutory Stock Option. In the event a Stock Option is transferred as contemplated in this Section, such transfer shall become effective when approved by the
Committee and such Stock Option may not be subsequently transferred by the transferee other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any transferred Stock Option shall continue to be governed by and subject to the terms and conditions
of this Plan and the relevant option agreement, and the transferee shall be entitled to the same rights as the Participant as if no transfer had taken place. As used in this Section, “immediate family” shall mean, with respect to any
person, any spouse, child, stepchild or grandchild, and shall include relationships arising from legal adoption. 
 8.4 COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENT
REGULATIONS 
 (a) The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver shares or make payment upon any right granted under the Plan prior to
complying with the requirements of any governmental authority in connection with the authorization, issuance, or sale of such shares. 
 (b)
The Plan shall be construed and its provisions enforced and administered in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania applicable to contracts entered into and performed entirely in such State. 
 8.5 RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER 
 The recipient of any grant
under the Plan shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect thereto unless and until certificates for shares of Common Stock are issued in the name of such recipient. 
  

 15 

 8.6 UNFUNDED PLAN 
 Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Plan shall be unfunded and shall not create (or be construed to create) a trust or separate funds. With respect to any payment not yet made to a Participant, nothing contained herein shall
give any Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company. 
 8.7 FOREIGN JURISDICTION 
 The Committee shall have the authority to adopt, amend, or terminate such arrangements, not inconsistent with the intent of the Plan, as it may deem
necessary or desirable to make available tax or other benefits of the laws of foreign countries in order to promote achievement of the purposes of the Plan. 
 8.8 OTHER COMPENSATION PLANS 
 Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Company from adopting other or additional
compensation arrangements, subject to shareholder approval if such approval is required. 
 8.9 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT — CERTAIN FORFEITURES

 Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan (other than provisions regarding Change in Control, including without limitation Sections
2.5(d), 4.12 and 5.7 which shall apply in all events) and except for Performance Restricted Shares or Restricted Stock Awards which would otherwise be free of restrictions and the receipt of which has been deferred pursuant to Section 6.2, a
Participant shall have no right to exercise any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right or receive payment of any Performance Restricted Share or Restricted Stock Award if the Participant is discharged for willful, deliberate, or gross misconduct
as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Furthermore, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that a Participant receives or is entitled to cash or the delivery or vesting of Stock pursuant to an
Award during the 12 month period prior to the Participant’s termination of employment with the Company, then the Committee, in its sole discretion, may require the Participant to return or forfeit the cash and/or Stock received with respect to
an Award (or its economic value as of (i) the date of the exercise of Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights; (ii) the date immediately following the end of the Restricted Period for Restricted Stock Awards or the end of the vesting
period for Performance Restricted Shares, (iii) the date of grant or payment with respect to Stock Awards or Cash Awards, as the case may be) in the event that the Participant: (y) is discharged for willful, deliberate or gross misconduct,
as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, or (z) engages in any business or enters into any employment which the Committee in its sole discretion determines to be (1) directly or indirectly competitive with the business of the
Company or (2) substantially injurious to the Company’s financial interest. A Participant may request the Committee in writing to determine whether any proposed business or employment activity would justify such a forfeiture. Such a
request shall fully describe the proposed activity and the Committee’s determination shall be limited to the specific activity so described. The Committee’s right to require forfeiture under this Section 8.9 must be exercised within
90 days after the discovery of an occurrence triggering the Committee’s right to require forfeiture but in no event later than 24 months after the Participant’s termination of employment with the Company. 
  

 16 

 ARTICLE IX. 
 AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION 
 9.1 AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION 
 The Board of Directors may modify, amend, or terminate the Plan at any time except that, to the extent then required by applicable law, rule, or
regulation, approval of the holders of a majority of shares of Common Stock represented in person or by proxy at a meeting of the shareholders will be required to increase the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for distribution under
the Plan (other than increases due to adjustments in accordance with the Plan). No modification, amendment, or termination of the Plan shall adversely affect the rights of a Participant under a grant previously made to him without the consent of
such Participant. 
 ARTICLE X. 
 EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF PLAN 
 10.1 EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF PLAN 
 The Plan shall become effective as of January 1, 1999, subject to its approval and adoption at the Annual Meeting of the shareholders on
April 22, 1999. All rights granted under the Plan must be granted within ten years from its adoption date by the shareholders of the Company. Any rights outstanding ten years after the adoption of the Plan may be exercised within the periods
prescribed under or pursuant to the Plan. 
  

 17Amendment

 EXHIBIT 10.15 
 AMENDMENT 
 This Amendment, entered into as of the 4th day of January, 2007, by and between D&E
Communications, Inc. and James W. Morozzi. 
 BACKGROUND 
 James W. Morozzi (“Executive”) and D&E Communications, Inc. (“Employer”) are parties to that certain Employment Agreement, dated March 16, 2005
(“Agreement”). The parties desire to amend the Employment Agreement to revise the change of control provisions, as set forth below. 
 Now
Therefore, intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows: 
 1. Section 5(b), Without Cause or for Good Reason, of the
Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following subparagraph thereto: 
 (viii) a requirement by D&E or its successor that Executive,
in his reasonable judgment take an action that would violate the requirements of generally accepted accounting principles, the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, applicable stock exchange listing standards or D&E’s Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics; 
 2. Section 6 of the Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced, in its entirety, with the following: 
 6. Change of Control. 
 (a) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change of Control occurs during the Term and, within the 12 months immediately following the effective date of the Change in Control, Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason or is
terminated by D&E without Cause, D&E or its successor shall pay to Executive (immediately upon termination of employment and without the requirement of notice or the opportunity to cure as provided in Paragraph 5), in lieu of the payment of
any other sum that might otherwise be payable pursuant to Paragraph 5, (i) a lump sum equal to 2.99 times the Executive’s annual Salary, determined as of the date of the Change of Control, (ii) an additional annual retirement benefit
pursuant to the terms of the SERP that provides for an annual supplemental retirement benefit equal to the additional qualified retirement benefit the Executive would accrue under the Qualified Retirement Plan if the Executive was treated as if he
had remained employed by D&E through the end of the Initial Term or any applicable Extended Term (the benefit provided under the SERP is intended to be in addition to the Qualified Retirement Plan benefit payable to the Executive regardless of
whether the Executive has satisfied the vesting requirements of such plan(s)); (iii) payment of the amount that would have been due to the Executive 

  

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under any Short-term Incentive Plan in effect at the time of Executive’s termination had the Executive remained employed by D&E through the end of
the incentive period relating thereto (any such incentive payment shall be due and payable only at the time and in the manner provided for in the plan relating thereto); and (iv) a lump sum of $17,000 to reimburse Executive for miscellaneous
expenses, in each case subject to the limitations set forth in Paragraph 6(b) below. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change of Control” means: 
 (i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or entity, or persons or entities acting in concert, whether by purchase,
merger, consolidation or otherwise, of voting power over that number of voting shares of the capital stock of D&E which, when combined with the existing voting power of such persons or entities, would enable them to cast fifty percent
(50%) or more of the votes which all shareholders of D&E would be entitled to cast in the election of directors of D&E; 
 (ii) the sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of 75% or more of the assets, other than intangible assets, including good will, of D&E to a transferee other than D&E or an
entity of which a controlling interest is owned by D&E; 
 (iii) the date that, during any period of two consecutive years
“Continuing Directors” cease to make up a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of D&E. “Continuing Directors” shall mean: (x) each individual who, at the beginning of such period, was a member of the
Board of Directors of D&E; and (y) any director elected or nominated for election, by D&E’s shareholders who was first approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Continuing Directors then still in office; provided, however,
that no individual shall be considered a Continuing Director if such individual initially assumed office as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest or proxy contest, including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or
settle any election contest or proxy contest. For purposes of the foregoing, “election contest” means a solicitation with respect to the election or removal of directors that is subject to the provisions of Rule 14a-11 of the 1934 Act, and
“proxy contest” means the solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board of Directors of D&E; or 
 (iv) the voluntary dissolution of D&E. 
 (b) Following the occurrence of a Change in
Control, Executive may terminate his employment without Good Reason and shall be eligible to receive a lump sum equal to the Executive’s then annual Salary, determined as of the date of the Change in Control (the “Transition
Amount”), under the conditions set forth in this Paragraph 6(b); in the event of such election, the provisions of Paragraph 6(a) shall no longer apply. The Transition Amount shall be payable six months (the “Six-Month
Period”) after the later of (i) the date that Executive’s employment terminates or (ii) the date (the “Transition Date”) that is nine (9) months after the effective date of the Change in Control;
provided, however, that (x) Executive shall be required to remain employed with D&E or its successor for the period between such effective date and the Transition Date during which Executive shall continue to perform the duties he was
performing 

  

 2 

 
prior to the Change in Control and/or such transition duties as reasonably requested by D&E or its successor (no Transition Amount would be payable in
the event that the Executive’s employment is terminated prior to the Transition Date by D&E for Cause or by the Executive without Good Reason) and (y) Executive must elect to terminate his employment pursuant to this Paragraph within
ninety (90) days of the effective date of the Change in Control by providing written notice of such election to D&E. This Transition Amount shall be a joint and several obligation of D&E and any person or entity involved in a Change in
Control as provided in 6(a) above. In addition to the Transition Amount, if Executive is eligible to receive the Transition Amount, D&E shall pay Executive: (i) an additional annual retirement benefit pursuant to the terms of the SERP such
that the Executive is treated as if he had remained employed by D&E through the Transition Date (the benefit provided under the SERP is intended to be in addition to the Qualified Retirement Plan benefit payable to the Executive regardless of
whether the Executive has satisfied the vesting requirements of such plan(s)); and (ii) payment of the amount that would have been due to the Executive under any Short Term Incentive Plan in effect at the time of Executive’s termination
had the Executive remained employed by D&E through the Transition Date (any such incentive payment shall be due and payable only at the time and in the manner provided for in the plan relating thereto). Following the election to terminate in
(y) above, Executive shall continue to be paid his normal Salary, all Benefits and continue to participate in all incentive plans through the Transition Date. Following the election in (y ) above, D&E or its successor may, in its
discretion, request that Executive cease to perform his duties under this Agreement at any time following its receipt of such election and prior to the Transition Date but, in such event, Executive shall still be entitled to be paid his normal
Salary, all Benefits and continue to participate in all incentive plans through the Transition Date in addition to the Transition Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Six-Month Period shall apply only in the event the Executive is a key
employee (as defined in Internal Revenue Code Section 416(i)) of the Company as of the last day of the calendar year preceding the date a benefit becomes payable under this Paragraph 6(b). The Six-Month Period may be shortened to the extent
that counsel to D&E believes that it is then permissible under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, without the imposition of an excise tax. 
 (c) In the event the payment described in 6(a) or 6(b), when added to all other amounts or benefits provided to or on behalf of Executive
in connection with his termination of employment, would result in the imposition of an excise tax on Executive under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, such payments shall be retroactively (if necessary) reduced to
the extent necessary to avoid such excise tax imposition. Upon written notice to Executive, together with calculations of D&E’s independent auditors, Executive shall remit to D&E the amount of the reduction (only if such amount has been
paid to the Executive) as may be necessary to avoid the imposition of such excise tax. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any portion of the amount herein payable to Executive is determined to
be non-deductible pursuant to the regulations promulgated under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, D&E shall be required only to pay to Executive the amount determined to be deductible under Section 280G.

 3. In all other respects, the Agreement is ratified and confirmed. 
  

 3 

 4. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Amendment and the Agreement, the Agreement shall be
interpreted in a manner consistent with the provisions of this Amendment. 
 5. This Amendment shall be effective as of the day and date first set forth
above. 
 In Witness Whereof, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the day and date first set forth above. 
  

							
	D&E Communications, Inc.	 	 	 	 
				
	By:	 	  
	 		 	  

		 		 		 	James W. Morozzi

  

 4

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