Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is by and among First Busey Corporation  (“First Busey”), Busey Bank (the “Bank,” and together with First Busey, “Employer”) and John J. Powers (“Executive,” and together with Employer, the “Parties”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.                                    The Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Busey.

 

B.                                    Employer has determined it to be in its best interests to secure the employment of Executive and to enter into this Agreement pertaining to the employment of Executive as of and following the Effective Date, as defined below.

 

C.                                    Executive desires to be employed by Employer as of and following the Effective Date in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the respective covenants and agreements of the Parties contained herein, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENTS

 

Section 1.                                          Term with Automatic Renewal Provision.  This Agreement shall be effective as of the first (1st) day of Executive’s employment with Employer (the “Effective Date”), which shall be no later than January 1, 2012.  Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the term of this Agreement (the “Term”) and Executive’s employment hereunder shall be for a period of one (1) year commencing as of the Effective Date.  The Term shall automatically renew for one (1) additional year at the end of the then existing Term, unless either Party provides written notice to the other Party not less than ninety (90) days prior to the end of the then existing Term that such Party does not intend to extend the Term.

 

Section 2.                                          Employment.

 

(a)                                 Positions and Duties.  Subject to the terms of this Agreement, Executive shall devote Executive’s full business time, energies and talent to serving as the Executive Vice President, General Counsel of First Busey and the Bank, at the direction of the Chief Executive Officer of First Busey (the “CEO”).  Executive shall perform all duties assigned to Executive faithfully, loyally and efficiently, and shall have such duties, authority and responsibilities as may be assigned to Executive from time to time by the CEO, which duties, authority and responsibilities shall include those customarily held by such officer of comparable companies, subject always to the charter and bylaw provisions and the policies of Employer and the directions of the CEO.  Executive shall perform the duties required by this Agreement at Employer’s principal place of business unless the nature of such duties requires otherwise.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the Term, Executive may devote reasonable time to activities other than those required under this Agreement, including activities of a charitable, educational, religious or similar nature (including professional associations) to the extent such activities do not in any material way inhibit, prohibit, interfere with or conflict with Executive’s duties under this Agreement or conflict in any material way with the business of Employer.

 

 

During the Term, Executive shall at all times maintain in good standing Executive’s law license in the State of Illinois.  Employer shall pay or reimburse Executive for (i) all license fees and pre-approved bar association dues and expenses, (ii) the cost of adequate professional liability insurance in connection with the Executive’s duties hereunder and (iii) all reasonable expenses incurred by Executive in complying with any continuing legal education requirements.

 

(b)                                 Transfers.  The Board of Directors of First Busey (the “Board”) may, in its sole discretion, cause Executive’s employment to be transferred from Employer to any wholly-owned subsidiary of First Busey, in which case all references in this Agreement to “Employer” shall be deemed to refer to such subsidiary (and First Busey, if applicable).

 

Section 3.                                          Compensation and Benefits.  Subject to the terms of this Agreement, during the Term of this Agreement, Employer shall compensate Executive for Executive’s services as follows:

 

(a)                                 Base Compensation.  Executive’s annual base salary rate shall be two hundred and thirty-seven thousand dollars ($237,000.00) (the “Base Salary”), which shall be payable in accordance with Employer’s normal payroll practices as are in effect from time to time.  Beginning in 2012 and annually thereafter, the Board shall review Executive’s Base Salary at such time as it reviews its executives’ compensation to determine whether Executive’s Base Salary should be maintained at its existing level or increased, with any increase being effective as determined by the Board.

 

(b)                                 Discretionary Performance Bonus.  Employer shall consider Executive for a bonus each year during the Term based on performance criteria established by the Board and/or the CEO and any other factors deemed by the Board to be appropriate.  Bonuses shall be awarded, if at all, in the sole discretion of the Board, and nothing in this Agreement shall require the payment of a bonus in any given year.  For purposes of this Agreement, bonuses shall be considered earned when all corporate action has been taken to determine such bonuses.  Payment of any such bonus shall be made as soon as practicable after it is earned, but in no event later than two and one-half (21⁄2) months following the end of the calendar year in which it is earned.    Provided Executive is employed by Employer on the payment date, Executive shall be entitled to a bonus of not less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), when bonuses are paid to other senior executives of Employer for the 2011 year, but in no event later than May 1, 2012.

 

(c)                                  Long Term Incentive Program.  Executive shall be eligible to participate in Employer’s long-term equity incentive program, as determined in the sole discretion of the Board (or an authorized committee thereof).  Executive shall be recommended for a grant of restricted stock or restricted stock units when such equity awards are granted to other senior executives of Employer on or around July 1, 2012.  In addition to the foregoing, Employer shall recommend to the Board that the Board grant, on or before January 31, 2012, a restricted stock or restricted stock unit award, with a grant date value of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), which shall vest annually in three equal installments over a period of three (3) years from the grant date.

 

(d)                                 Profit Sharing Benefit.  Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual profit sharing benefit based on the combined amount of Executive’s Base Salary and, if applicable, Executive’s discretionary performance bonus, after Executive meets the eligibility

 

2

 

requirements of the applicable profit sharing plan.  The Board shall decide the exact amount of this benefit annually in its sole discretion.  Employer shall contribute this benefit for the account of Executive to Employer’s tax-qualified retirement plan and/or any nonqualified deferred compensation plan that Employer establishes or maintains.  All such profit sharing benefit payments shall be determined and governed by the terms of the applicable plan.  Employer shall have no obligation to continue to maintain any particular benefit plan or arrangement and the profit sharing benefit described in this Section 3(d) may be amended or terminated by Employer at any time for any reason or no reason, provided such amendment or termination applies to all other similarly situated officers of Employer.

 

(e)                                  Reimbursement of Expenses.  Employer shall reimburse Executive for all travel, entertainment and other out-of-pocket expenses that Executive reasonably and necessarily incurs in the performance of Executive’s duties under this Agreement.  Executive shall document these expenses to the extent necessary to comply with all applicable laws and Employer policies.  Any reimbursement payments hereunder shall be made as soon as practicable, and when taxable to Executive, in no event later than two and one-half (21⁄2) months following the end of the year in which the corresponding expenses are incurred.

 

(f)                                   Other Benefits.  Executive shall be eligible to participate, subject to the terms thereof, in all Employer retirement plans and health, dental, life and similar plans, as may be in effect from time to time with respect to similarly situated senior executives.  In addition to the foregoing benefits, Executive shall be eligible to participate in Employer’s key life insurance program on the first entry date following the Effective Date (which entry date is March 1, 2012) with a death benefit amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00), subject to insurability and all other terms of such program.

 

(g)                                 Vacations.  Executive shall be subject to Employer’s general vacation policy as may be in effect from time to time, but shall accrue not less than twenty (20) days of paid vacation annually.

 

(h)                                 Withholding.  Employer may withhold any applicable federal, state and local withholding and other taxes from payments that become due or allowances that are provided to Executive.

 

Section 4.                                          Rights and Payments Upon Termination.  Either Party may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement pursuant to the terms of this Section 4.  Executive’s right to benefits and payments, if any, for periods after the effective date of Executive’s termination of employment with Employer (the “Termination Date”) shall be determined in accordance with this Section 4:

 

(a)                                 Termination Without Cause.  Either Party may terminate this Agreement and Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason by delivering written notice of termination to the other Party no fewer than thirty (30) days before the Termination Date (provided that such notice shall not be required in a Termination for Cause), which date shall be specified in the notice of termination.  Employer may provide for an earlier Termination Date, provided Employer pays to Executive the Base Salary that would have been earned during such notice period.  Any payment in lieu of notice pursuant to this Section 4(a) shall be made in a

 

3

 

single lump sum on the first payroll date following the Termination Date.  If Executive voluntarily terminates Executive’s employment under this Agreement other than pursuant to Section 4(c) (Termination for Good Reason) or Section 4(d) (Termination upon Change in Control), then Employer shall be required to pay Executive the Accrued Amounts, and Employer shall have no further obligations to Executive under this Agreement.  “Accrued Amounts” shall include the following amounts as have accrued through the Termination Date: (i) earned but unpaid Base Salary, (ii) earned but unpaid bonus under Section 3(b), (iii) accrued but unpaid vacation pay; and (iv) provided Executive submits the required documentation in accordance with established policies and within thirty (30) days of the Termination Date, unreimbursed business expenses incurred during the Term.

 

(b)                                 Termination for Cause.  Employer may terminate this Agreement and Executive’s employment hereunder immediately for Cause by delivering written notice of termination to Executive (with such notice being delivered no less than thirty (30) day before the effective date of termination in the event of a termination based on either a curable breach under subsection (vii) below or subsection (viii) below).  “Cause” for termination shall exist if:  (i) Executive engages in one (1) or more unsafe and unsound banking practices or material violations of a law or regulation applicable to Employer or any subsidiary; (ii) Executive engages in any repeated violations of a policy of Employer after being warned in writing by the Board or the CEO not to violate such policy; (iii)  Executive engages in any single violation of a policy of Employer if such violation materially and adversely affects the business or affairs of Employer; (iv) Executive fails to timely implement a direction or order of the Board or the CEO, unless such direction or order would violate the law; (v) Executive engages in a breach of fiduciary duty or act of dishonesty involving the affairs of Employer; (vi) Executive is removed or suspended from banking pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act or any other applicable state or federal law; (vii) Executive commits a material breach of Executive’s obligations under this Agreement, and if such breach is determined to be curable by the CEO or the Board, Executive fails to cure such breach during the thirty (30) day notice period, if applicable; (viii) Executive materially fails to perform Executive’s duties to Employer with the degree of skill, care or competence expected by the Board or the CEO following written notice by the CEO or the Board; or (ix) Executive is found guilty of, or pleads nolo contendere to, a felony or an act of dishonesty in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties as an officer of Employer, or an act that disqualifies Executive from serving as an officer or director of Employer.  If Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to this Section 4(b), then Employer shall be required to pay Executive the Accrued Amounts, and Employer shall have no further obligations to Executive under this Agreement.

 

(c)                                  Termination for Good Reason.  Prior to Executive’s termination for Good Reason (as defined below), Executive shall give Employer written notice of the occurrence of the event or condition that Executive believes constitutes a Good Reason within thirty (30) days of the initial existence of such event or condition, which written notice shall provide detailed facts, and not mere conclusions, to support Executive’s claim of termination for Good Reason.  If Employer determines that the events or conditions exist as alleged by Executive, and does not cure such events or conditions within thirty (30) days of Executive’s written notice, then this Agreement and Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate on the thirtieth (30th) day following Executive’s written notice.  “Good Reason” means the occurrence of any one (1) or more of the following, without Executive’s prior consent:  (i) a material adverse change in the

 

4

 

nature, scope or status of Executive’s position, authorities or duties from those in effect in accordance with Section 2(a) immediately following the Effective Date; (ii) a reduction in Executive’s Base Salary, unless such reduction applies to all similarly situated senior executives of Employer; (iii)  Employer changes the primary location of Executive’s employment to a place that is more than fifty (50) miles from Executive’s primary location of employment as of the Effective Date; or (iv) Employer otherwise commits a material breach of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(d)                                 Termination upon Change in Control.  Following a Change in Control, this Agreement and Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated in accordance with Section 4(a), (b), or (c) by delivering written notice of termination to the other Party no less than thirty (30) days before the Termination Date.

 

(i)                                    A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred upon the first to occur of the following:  (A) any “person” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”)), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of First Busey or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of First Busey in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of First Busey, is or becomes a “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of First Busey; (B) during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, the individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board (and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for election by First Busey’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors when 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 a majority of the Board; or (C) the consummation of (1) a merger or consolidation of First Busey with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation that would result in the voting securities of First Busey outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of First Busey or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (2) a complete liquidation or dissolution or an agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of First Busey.

 

(ii)                                Notwithstanding Section 4(d)(i), a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred if Executive agrees in writing that the transaction or event in question does not constitute a Change in Control for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

(e)                                  Termination upon Disability.  Employer shall not terminate this Agreement and Executive’s employment hereunder if Executive becomes “disabled” within the meaning of Employer’s then current employee disability program or, at Employer’s election, as determined by a physician selected by Employer, unless, as a result of such disability, Executive is unable to perform Executive’s duties with the requisite level of skill and competence for a period of six (6) consecutive months.  Thereafter, Employer may terminate this Agreement for Cause in accordance with Section 4(b).

 

5

 

(f)                                   Termination upon Death.  This Agreement shall terminate if Executive dies during the Term, effective on the date of Executive’s death.  Any payments that are owing to Executive under this Agreement or otherwise at the time of Executive’s death shall be made to whomever Executive may designate in writing as Executive’s beneficiary, or absent such a designation, to the executor or administrator of Executive’s estate.  Termination of this Agreement under this Section 4(f) shall be deemed to be a termination in accordance with Section 4(b).

 

(g)                                 Severance Benefits.  Employer shall pay severance benefits to Executive as follows:

 

(i)                                    If this Agreement and Executive’s employment hereunder are terminated by Employer without Cause pursuant to Section 4(a), or by Executive for Good Reason pursuant to Section 4(c), Employer shall pay Executive an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) (or two hundred percent (200%) if the foregoing terminations occur within one (1) year after the occurrence of a Change in Control) of Executive’s then applicable Base Salary (the “Severance Payment”).  Employer shall also reimburse Executive for up to twelve (12) months (or eighteen (18) months if the foregoing terminations occur within one (1) year after the occurrence of a Change in Control) for continuing coverage under Employer’s health insurance pursuant to the health care continuation rules of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), provided that Executive remains eligible for, and elects, such COBRA continuation for such period following the effective date of termination, provided further that to the extent Executive paid a portion of the premium for such benefit while employed Executive shall continue to pay such portion during the period of continuation hereunder and any period of continuation hereunder shall be credited against the continuation rights under COBRA.

 

(ii)                                All payments that become due to Executive under this Section 4(g) shall be made in substantially equal installments in accordance with Employer’s regular payroll practices then in effect over the one (1)-year period following termination (two (2) year period if following a Change in Control); provided that the initial payment shall be made on the first regular payroll date occurring on or after the thirtieth (30th) day following the Termination Date; provided, however, that no payment or benefit shall ever be due to Executive under this Section 4(g) unless Executive has delivered to Employer on or before the thirtieth (30th) day following the Termination Date an irrevocable general release and waiver of claims as required by Section 4(j).  For avoidance of doubt, any applicable revocation period associated with such release and waiver shall expire on or before the thirtieth (30th) day following the Termination Date in order for Executive to be eligible to receive any payments or benefits under this Section 4(g).  Employer shall be obligated to make all payments that become due to Executive under this Section 4(g) whether or not Executive obtains other employment following termination or takes steps to mitigate any damages that Executive claims to have sustained as a result of termination.  The payments provided for in this Section 4(g) are intended to supplement any compensation or other benefits that have accrued or vested with respect to Executive or for Executive’s account as of the Termination Date.

 

(iii)                            Employer and Executive intend that no portion of any payment under this Agreement, or payments to or for the benefit of Executive under any other agreement

 

6

 

or plan, be deemed to be an “Excess Parachute Payment” as defined in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”).  The present value of any payments to or for the benefit of Executive in the nature of compensation, as determined by the legal counsel or certified public accountants for Employer in accordance with Code Section 280G(d)(4), receipt of which is contingent on the Change in Control of Employer, and to which Code Section 280G applies (in the aggregate “Total Payments”), shall be reduced, as necessary, such that the payment does not exceed an amount equal to one dollar ($1.00) less than the maximum amount that Employer may pay without loss of deduction under Code Section 280G(a), provided that any such reduction shall be in accordance with Code Section 409A.

 

(iv)                             If Employer is not permitted to make any payments that may become due to Executive under this Section 4(g) because First Busey or the Bank is not in compliance with any regulatory-mandated minimum capital requirements or if making the payments would cause the Bank’s capital to fall below such minimum capital requirements, then Employer shall delay making such payments until the earliest possible date it could resume making the payments without violating such minimum capital requirements.  Further, if Employer is not permitted to make any payments that may become due to Executive under this Section 4(g) because of the operation of any other applicable law or regulation, then Employer shall delay making such payments until the earliest possible date it could resume making the payments without violating such applicable law or regulation.

 

(h)                                 Payment Equalization.  If Employer is paying, or in the case of a lump sum, has paid, Executive a Severance Payment pursuant to Section 4(g)(i), then Executive shall not seek or apply for unemployment compensation under the Illinois Unemployment Act 820 ILCS 405/100 et seq. or any other state or federal unemployment compensation law at any time prior to a date following the final payment made hereunder or with respect to the period during which such payments were or were to be made until the final payment is made.

 

(i)                                    Specified Employee.  If at the time of any payment hereunder Executive is considered to be a Specified Employee (as defined below) and such payment is required to be treated as deferred compensation under Code Section 409A, then, to the extent required by Code Section 409A, payments may be delayed to the date that is six (6) months after the Termination Date.  For purposes of Code Section 409A, all installment payments of deferred compensation made hereunder, or pursuant to another plan or arrangement, shall be deemed to be separate payments and, accordingly, the aforementioned deferral shall only apply to separate payments that would occur during the six (6)-month deferral period and all other payments shall be unaffected.

 

(i)                                    All payments delayed pursuant to this Section 4(i) shall be accumulated and paid in a lump-sum, catch-up payment as of the first (1st) day of the seventh (7th) month following the Termination Date (or, if earlier, the date of death of Executive), with all such delayed payments being credited with interest (compounded monthly) for such period of delay equal to the prime rate in effect on the first (1st) day of such six (6)-month period.  Any portion of the benefits hereunder that were not otherwise due to be paid during the six (6)-month period following the Termination Date shall be paid to Executive in accordance with the payment schedule established herein.

 

7

 

(ii)                                The term “Specified Employee” means any person who holds a position with Employer of senior vice president or higher and has compensation greater than that stated in Code Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i).  The determination of whether Executive is a Specified Employee shall be based upon the twelve (12)-month period ending on each December 31st (such twelve (12)-month period is referred to below as the “identification period”).  If Executive is determined to be a Specified Employee during the identification period, he shall be treated as a Specified Employee for purposes of this Agreement during the twelve (12)-month period that begins on the April 1st following the close of such identification period.  For purposes of determining whether Executive is a Specified Employee under Code Section 416(i), compensation shall mean Executive’s W-2 compensation as reported by Employer for a particular calendar year.

 

(j)                                    Release.  As a condition to Employer’s obligation to pay any severance benefit under Section 4(g), Executive shall execute a general release of, and waiver of claims against, Employer and its subsidiaries and affiliates, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A on or before the thirtieth (30th) day following the Termination Date.  For the avoidance of doubt, in order for such release to be deemed effective for purposes of this Agreement, any applicable revocation period with respect to such release and wavier must have expired on or before such thirtieth (30th) day.

 

Section 5.                                          Confidentiality.  Executive acknowledges that the nature of Executive’s employment shall require that Executive produce and have access to records, data, trade secrets and information that are not available to the public regarding Employer and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Confidential Information”).  Executive shall hold in confidence and not directly or indirectly disclose any Confidential Information to third parties unless disclosure becomes reasonably necessary in connection with Executive’s performance of Executive’s duties hereunder, or the Confidential Information lawfully becomes available to the public from other sources, or Executive is authorized in writing by Employer to disclose it or Executive is required to make disclosure by a law or pursuant to the authority of any administrative agency or judicial body.  All Confidential Information and all other records, files, documents and other materials or copies thereof relating to the business of Employer or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates that Executive prepares or uses shall be the sole property of Employer.  Executive’s access to and use of Employer’s computer systems, networks and equipment, and all Employer information contained therein, shall be restricted to legitimate business purposes on behalf of Employer; any other access to or use of such systems, network and equipment is without authorization and is prohibited.  The restrictions contained in this Section 5 shall extend to any personal computers or other electronic devices of Executive that are used for business purposes relating to Employer.  Executive shall not transfer any Employer information to any personal computer or other electronic device that is not otherwise used for any business purpose relating to Employer.  Executive shall promptly return all originals and copies of any Confidential Information and other records, files, documents and other materials to Employer if Executive’s employment with Employer is terminated for any reason.

 

Section 6.                                          Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Covenants.  The primary service area of Employer’s business in which Executive will actively participate extends separately to an area that encompasses a twenty-five (25)-mile radius from each banking and other office location of Employer and its subsidiaries and affiliates and a fifty (50)-mile radius

 

8

 

from Employer’s main office in Champaign, Illinois (collectively, the “Restrictive Area”).  As an essential ingredient and in consideration of this Agreement and Executive’s employment by Employer, Executive shall not, for a period of one (1) year after termination of Executive’s employment with Employer for any reason and whether such termination of employment is during the Term or after the termination or expiration of the Term (the “Restrictive Period), directly or indirectly compete with the business of Employer, including by doing any of the following (the “Restrictive Covenant”):

 

(a)                                 engage or invest in, own, manage, operate, control, finance, participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, be employed by, associate with or in any manner be connected with, serve as an employee, officer or director of or consultant to, lend his name or any similar name to, lend his credit to, or render services or advice to any person, firm, partnership, corporation, trust or other entity that owns or operates, a bank, savings and loan association, credit union or similar financial institution (a “Financial Institution”) with any office located, or to be located at an address identified in a filing with any regulatory authority, within the Restrictive Area;

 

(b)                                 directly or indirectly, for himself or any Financial Institution: (i) induce or attempt to induce any officer of Employer or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, or any employee who previously reported to Executive, to leave the employ of Employer or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates; (ii) in any way interfere with the relationship between Employer or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates and any such officer or employee; (iii) employ, or otherwise engage as an employee, independent contractor or otherwise, any such officer or employee; or (iv) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee or business relation of Employer of any of its subsidiaries or affiliates to cease doing business with Employer or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or in any way interfere with the relationship between Employer or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates and any of their respective customers, suppliers, licensees or business relations, where Executive had personal contact with, or has accessed Confidential Information in the preceding twelve (12) months with respect to, such customers, suppliers, licensees or business relations; or

 

(c)                                  directly or indirectly, for himself or any Financial Institution, solicit the business of any person or entity known to Executive to be a customer of Employer or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, where Executive, or any person reporting to Executive, had personal contact with such person or entity, with respect to products, activities or services that compete in whole or in part with the products, activities or services of Employer or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

 

The foregoing Restrictive Covenant shall not prohibit Executive from (i) owning directly or indirectly capital stock or similar securities that are listed on a securities exchange or quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System that do not represent more than one percent (1%) of the outstanding capital stock of any Financial Institution, or (ii) subject to Executive’s compliance with Section 5, practicing law as a sole practitioner or as a member of a law firm, whether as a partner, shareholder, associate or of counsel.

 

9

 

Section 7.                                          Remedies for Breach.  Executive has reviewed the provisions of this Agreement with legal counsel, or has been given adequate opportunity to seek such counsel, and Executive acknowledges that the covenants contained herein are reasonable with respect to their duration, geographical area and scope.  Executive further acknowledges that the restrictions contained in this Agreement are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the legitimate business interests of Employer, that they create no undue hardships, that any violation of these restrictions would cause substantial injury to Employer and its interests, that Employer would not have agreed to enter into this Agreement without receiving Executive’s agreement to be bound by these restrictions and that such restrictions were a material inducement to Employer to enter into this Agreement.  During the Restrictive Period, Employer shall have the right to communicate the existence and terms of this Agreement to any third party with whom Executive may seek or obtain future employment or other similar arrangement.  In addition, in the event of any violation or threatened violation of the restrictions contained in this Agreement, Employer, in addition to and not in limitation of, any other rights, remedies or damages available to Employer under this Agreement or otherwise at law or in equity, shall be entitled to preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to prevent or restrain any such violation by Executive and any and all persons directly or indirectly acting for or with him, as the case may be.  If Executive violates the Restrictive Covenant and Employer brings legal action for injunctive or other relief, Employer shall not, as a result of the time involved in obtaining such relief, be deprived of the benefit of the full period of the Restrictive Covenant.  Accordingly, the Restrictive Covenant shall be deemed to have the duration specified herein computed from the date the relief is granted but reduced by the time between the period when the Restrictive Period began to run and the date of the first violation of the Restrictive Covenant by Executive.

 

Section 8.                                          Indemnity; Other Protections.

 

(a)                                 Indemnification.  Employer shall indemnify Executive (and, upon Executive’s death, Executive’s heirs, executors and administrators) to the fullest extent permitted by law against all expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, court and investigative costs, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (collectively, “Expenses”) reasonably incurred by Executive in connection with or arising out of any pending, threatened or completed action, suit or proceeding in which Executive becomes involved by reason of Executive’s having been an officer or director of Employer.  The indemnification rights provided for herein are not exclusive and shall supplement any rights to indemnification that Executive may have under any applicable bylaw or charter provision of Employer, or any resolution of Employer or any applicable statute.

 

(b)                                 Advancement of Expenses.  In the event that Executive becomes a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any pending, threatened or completed action, suit or proceeding for which Employer is permitted or required to indemnify Executive under this Agreement, any applicable bylaw or charter provision of Employer, any resolution of Employer, or any applicable statute, Employer shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, advance all Expenses incurred by Executive in connection with the investigation, defense, settlement, or appeal of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, subject to receipt by Employer of a written undertaking from Executive to reimburse Employer for all Expenses actually paid by Employer to or on behalf of Executive in the event it shall be ultimately determined that Employer cannot lawfully indemnify Executive for such Expenses, and to assign

 

10

 

to Employer all rights of Executive to indemnification under any policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance to the extent of the amount of Expenses actually paid by Employer to or on behalf of Executive.

 

(c)                                  Litigation.  Unless precluded by an actual or potential conflict of interest, Employer shall have the right to recommend counsel to Executive to represent Executive in connection with any claim covered by this Section 8.  Further, Executive’s choice of counsel, Executive’s decision to contest or settle any such claim and the terms and amount of the settlement of any such claim shall be subject to Employer’s prior written approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld by Employer.

 

Section 9.                                          General Provisions.

 

(a)                                 Amendment.  Except as set forth explicitly herein, this Agreement may not be amended or modified except by written agreement signed by Executive and First Busey.

 

(b)                                 Successors; Assignment.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Executive, Employer and their respective personal representatives, successors and assigns.  For the purposes of this Agreement, any successor or assign of Employer shall be deemed to be “Employer.”  Employer shall require any successor or assign of Employer or any direct or indirect purchaser or acquirer of all or substantially all of the business, assets or liabilities of Employer, whether by transfer, purchase, merger, consolidation, stock acquisition or otherwise, to assume and agree in writing to perform this Agreement and Employer’s obligations hereunder in the same manner and to the same extent as Employer would have been required to perform them if no such transaction had occurred.

 

(c)                                  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties concerning the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior negotiations, undertakings, agreements and arrangements with respect thereto, whether written or oral.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be regarded as divisible and separate; if any provision is declared invalid or unenforceable, the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected.  In the event any provision of this Agreement (including any provision of the Restrictive Covenant) is held to be overbroad as written, such provision shall be deemed to be amended to narrow the application of such provision to the extent necessary to make such provision enforceable according to applicable law.

 

(d)                                 Survival.  The provisions of Section 5 (Confidentiality), Section 6 (Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Covenants), Section 7 (Remedies for Breach), Section 8 (Indemnity; Other Protections) and Section 9 (General Provisions) shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement for any reason.

 

(e)                                  Governing Law and Enforcement.  This Agreement shall be construed and the legal relations of the Parties shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois without reference to the law regarding conflicts of law.

 

(f)                                   Arbitration.  Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration conducted at a location selected

 

11

 

by Employer within fifty (50) miles from Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association.

 

(g)                                 Prevailing Party Legal Fees.  Should either Party initiate any action or proceeding to enforce this Agreement or any provision hereof, or for damages by reason of any alleged breach of this Agreement or of any provision hereof, or for a declaration of rights hereunder, the prevailing Party in any such action or proceeding shall be entitled to receive from the other Party all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by the prevailing Party in connection with such action or proceeding; provided, however, that reasonable attorneys’ fees shall be limited to the fees of the last attorney to represent the Party and to the lesser of the fees incurred as a result of the reasonable hourly rate of the attorney or any contingent or other arrangement for the payment of legal fees.  The payment, if any, of costs and expenses to either Party under this Section 9(g) shall be made no later than two and one-half (21⁄2) months following the end of the year in which a final adjudication is made in the action or proceeding.

 

(h)                                 Waiver.  No waiver by either Party at any time of any breach by the other Party of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other Party shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same time or any prior or subsequent time.

 

(i)                                    Notices.  Notices pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when received; and, if mailed, shall be mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; and if to Employer, addressed to the principal headquarters of First Busey, attention: President and Chief Executive Officer; and if to Executive, to the address for Executive as most currently reflected in the corporate records or to such other address as Executive has most recently provided to Employer.

 

(j)                                    Code Section 409A.  To the extent any provision of this Agreement or action by the Company would subject Executive to liability for interest or additional taxes under Code Section 409A, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by Employer.  It is intended that this Agreement will comply with Code Section 409A, and this Agreement shall be administered accordingly, and interpreted and construed on a basis consistent with such intent.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no termination or other similar payments and benefits hereunder shall be payable on account of Executive’s termination of employment unless Executive’s termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.  To the extent any reimbursements or in-kind benefit payments under this Agreement are subject to Code Section 409A, such reimbursements and in-kind benefit payments shall be made in accordance with Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv).  This Agreement may be amended to the extent necessary (including retroactively) by Employer to maintain to the maximum extent practicable the original intent of this Agreement while avoiding the application of taxes or interest under Code Section 409A.  The preceding shall not be construed as a guarantee of any particular tax effect for Executive’s compensation and benefits and Employer does not guarantee that any compensation or benefits provided under this Agreement will satisfy the provisions of Code Section 409A.

 

12

 

(k)                                 Construction.  This Agreement shall be deemed drafted equally by the Parties.  Any presumption or principle that the language of this Agreement is to be construed against any Party shall not apply.  Whenever used in this Agreement, the singular includes the plural and vice versa (where applicable); the words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereto,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole (including exhibits); all references to sections, schedules and exhibits are to sections, schedules and exhibits in or to this Agreement unless otherwise specified; the words “include,” “includes” and “including” means “include, without limitation,” “includes, without limitation” and “including, without limitation,” respectively; any reference to a document or set of documents, and the rights and obligations of the parties under any such documents, means such document or documents as amended from time to time, and any and all modifications, extensions, renewals, substitutions or replacements thereof; and references to a statute shall refer to the statute and any amendments and any successor statutes, and to all regulations promulgated under or implementing the statute, as amended, or its successors, as in effect at the relevant time.  The headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only, shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof, and shall not be deemed to limit, characterize or in any way affect the construction or enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of identical counterparts, any of which may contain the signatures of less than all Parties, and all of which together shall constitute a single agreement.  All remedies of any Party are cumulative and not alternative, and are in addition to any other remedies available at law, in equity or otherwise.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

13

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

 

	
FIRST   BUSEY CORPORATION and 
   BUSEY BANK
    	
 
    	
EXECUTIVE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:   
    	
/s/   VAN DUKEMAN
    	
 
    	
/s/   JOHN J. POWERS
    
	
 
    	
Van   Dukeman
    	
 
    	
John J. Powers
    
	
 
    	
President   and Chief Executive Officer of First Busey Corporation
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

Signature Page to J. Powers Employment Agreement

 

 

Exhibit A to Employment Agreement

 

AGREEMENT AND RELEASE

 

This Agreement and Release (this “Release”) is made and entered into as of                                                    (the “Release Date”), by and among First Busey Corporation (“First Busey”), Busey Bank (the “Bank” and together with First Busey, “Employer”) and                                                    (“Executive,” and together with Employer, the “Parties”).  In consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                          Separation.  Executive’s employment with Employer shall end effective                                                   .

 

Section 2.                                          Payment and Benefits.  In consideration of the promises made in this Release, First Busey has agreed to pay Executive the compensation and benefits as provided in that certain employment agreement made and entered into as of                                                   , by and among the Parties (the “Employment Agreement”).  Executive understands and acknowledges that the compensation and benefits provided under this Section 2 constitute an amount in excess of that to which Executive would be entitled without entering into this Release.  Executive acknowledges that such compensation and benefits are being provided by First Busey as consideration for Executive entering into this Release, including the release of claims and waiver of rights provided in Section 3 of this Release.

 

Section 3.                                          Release of Claims and Waiver of Rights.  Executive, on Executive’s own behalf and that of Executive’s heirs, executors, attorneys, administrators, successors and assigns, fully releases and discharges Employer, its predecessors, successors, subsidiaries, affiliates and assigns, and its and their directors, officers, trustees, employees, and agents, in their individual and official capacities, and the current and former trustees and administrators of any retirement or other benefit plan applicable to the employees or former employees of Employer, in their individual and official capacities (the “Released Parties”), from any and all liability, claims, demands and actions, including liability, claims, demands and actions arising under Employer’s policies and procedures, whether formal or informal; the United States or State of Illinois Constitutions; the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Illinois Human Rights Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; Executive Order 11246; and any other federal, state or local statute, ordinance or regulation with respect to employment, and in addition thereto, from any other liability, claims, demands and actions with respect to Executive’s employment with Employer or other association with Employer through the Release Date, including the termination of Executive’s employment with Employer, any right of payment for disability or any other statutory or contractual right of payment or any claim for relief on the basis of any alleged tort or breach of contract under the common law of the State of Illinois or any other state, including defamation, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, promissory estoppel, and negligence.  Executive represents that Executive has not assigned or filed any claim, demand, action or charge against the Released Parties.  Executive further acknowledges that Executive is aware that statutes exist that render null and void releases and discharges of any claims, rights, demands, liabilities, actions and causes of action that are unknown to the releasing or discharging party at the time of execution of the release and discharge.  Executive hereby expressly waives, surrenders and

 

A-1

 

agrees to forego any protection to which Executive would otherwise be entitled by virtue of the existence of any such statute in any jurisdiction, including the State of Illinois.

 

Section 4.  Covenant Not to Sue.  Executive shall not bring, file, charge, claim, sue or cause, assist, or permit to be brought, filed, charged or claimed any action, cause of action, or proceeding regarding or in any way related to any of the claims described in Section 3 of this Release; Executive’s release of claims and waiver of rights provided in Section 3 of this Release is, shall constitute and may be pleaded as, a bar to any such claim, action, cause of action or proceeding.  If any government agency or court assumes jurisdiction of any charge, complaint or cause of action covered by this Release, Executive shall not seek and shall not accept any personal equitable or monetary relief in connection with any investigation, civil action, suit or legal proceeding.

 

Section 5.  Mutual Non-Disparagement.  At all times following the signing of this Release, neither Party shall engage in any vilification of the other, and each Party shall refrain from making any false, negative, critical or disparaging statements, implied or expressed, concerning the other, including management style, methods of doing business, the quality of products and services, role in the community, or treatment of employees.  Executive acknowledges that the only persons whose statements may be attributed to Employer for purposes of this covenant not to make disparaging statements shall be each member of the Board of Directors of Employer, the CEO and executive officers that report directly to the CEO.  The Parties shall do nothing that would damage the other’s business reputation or good will.

 

Section 6.                                          Representations by Executive.  Executive warrants that Executive is legally competent to execute this Release and that Executive has not relied on any statements or explanations made by Employer or its attorneys.  Moreover, Executive acknowledges that Executive has been afforded the opportunity to be advised by legal counsel regarding the terms of this Release, including the release of all claims and waiver of rights set forth in Section 3 of this Release.  Executive acknowledges that Executive has been offered [twenty-one (21)] days to consider this Release.  After being so advised, and without coercion of any kind, Executive freely, knowingly and voluntarily enters into this Release.  [Executive further acknowledges that Executive may revoke this Release within seven (7) days after Executive has signed this Release and further understands that this Release shall not become effective or enforceable until seven (7) days after Executive has signed this Release, as evidenced by the date set forth below Executive’s signature on this Release.  Any revocation of this Release by Executive must be in writing and addressed to the principal headquarters of First Busey, attention: President and Chief Executive Officer.  If sent by mail, any revocation must be postmarked within the seven (7)-day period and sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.]  In addition, Executive represents that Executive has returned all property of Employer that is in Executive’s possession, custody or control, including all documents, records and tangible property that are not publicly available and reflect, refer or relate to Employer or Employer’s business affairs, operations or customers, and all copies of the foregoing.

 

Section 7.                                          No Admissions.  Employer denies that it or any of its employees or agents have taken any improper action against Executive.  This Release shall not be admissible in any proceeding as evidence of improper action by Employer or any of its employees or agents.

 

A-2

 

Section 8.                                          Confidentiality.  Executive and Employer shall keep the existence and the terms of this Release confidential, except for Executive’s immediate family members or their legal or tax advisors in connection with services related hereto and except as may be required by law or in connection with the preparation of tax returns.

 

Section 9.                                          Non-Waiver.  Employer’s waiver of a breach of this Release by Executive shall not be construed or operate as a waiver of any subsequent breach by Executive of the same or of any other provision of this Release.

 

Section 10.  Restrictive Covenants.  Executive shall abide by the terms set forth in Sections 5 and 6 of the Employment Agreement.

 

Section 11.  Construction.  The terms set forth in Section 9 of the Employment Agreement shall apply to this Release, provided that the word “Release” shall take the place of the word “Agreement” in such Section 9, where applicable.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Release as of dates set forth below their respective signatures below.

 

	
FIRST   BUSEY CORPORATION and 
   BUSEY BANK
    	
 
    	
EXECUTIVE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[Name]
    	
 
    	
[Name]
    
	
 
    	
President   and Chief Executive Officer of First Busey Corporation
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Date:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Date:
    	
 
    
							

 

A-3Exhibit 10.1

 

2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

As amended through May 7, 2013 (subject to stockholder approval)

 

Article 1. Establishment, Purpose, and Duration

 

1.1    Establishment.    NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), establishes an incentive compensation plan to be known as the NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”), as set forth in this document.

 

This Plan permits the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Cash-Based Awards, and Other Stock-Based Awards.

 

This Plan was originally effective on May 12, 2005 (the “Effective Date”). The Plan is hereby amended and restated effective March 26, 2013, provided, however, that the amendments to Articles 4 and 12 shall be effective May 7, 2013 with respect to Awards granted on or after such date, subject to stockholder approval on such date. The Plan shall remain in effect as provided in Section 1.3 hereof.

 

1.2    Purpose of this Plan.    This Plan has been established by the Company to provide a means by which Employees, Directors, and Third Party Service Providers of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates may be given the opportunity to benefit from increases in the value of Shares through the granting of Awards under this Plan. The Company seeks to (a) retain the services of present Employees, Directors, and Third Party Service Providers; (b) secure and retain the services of new Employees, Directors, and Third Party Service Providers; and, (c) provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and thereby promote the long-term interests of the Company, including the growth in value of the Company’s equity and enhancement of long-term stockholder return.

 

1.3    Duration of this Plan.    Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this Plan shall terminate ten (10) years from the Effective Date. After this Plan is terminated, no Awards may be granted but Awards previously granted shall remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and this Plan’s terms and conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Incentive Stock Options may be granted more than ten (10) years after the earlier of (a) adoption of this Plan by the Board, or (b) the Effective Date.

 

Article 2. Definitions

 

Whenever used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below, and when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word shall be capitalized.

 

2.1   “Affiliate” shall mean any corporation or other entity (including, but not limited to, a partnership or a limited liability company), that is affiliated with the Company through stock or equity ownership or otherwise, and is designated as an Affiliate for purposes of this Plan by the Committee.

 

2.2   “Annual Award Limit” or “Annual Award Limits” have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.

 

2.3   “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under this Plan of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Cash-Based Awards, or Other Stock-Based Awards, in each case subject to the terms of this Plan.

 

2.4   “Award Agreement” means either (i) a written agreement entered into by the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under this Plan, or (ii) a written or electronic statement issued by the Company to a Participant describing the terms and provisions of such Award, including any amendment or modification thereof. The Committee may

 

1

 

provide for the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper Award Agreements, and the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper means for the acceptance thereof and actions thereunder by a Participant.

 

2.5   “Beneficial Owner” or “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

 

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

 

2.7   “Cash-Based Award” means an Award, denominated in cash, granted to a Participant as described in Article 10.

 

2.8   “Cause” means (i) an act of material dishonesty by the Participant in connection with the Participant’s responsibilities as an Employee, Director, or Third Party Service Provider, (ii) the Participant’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a felony, (iii) the Participant’s gross misconduct in connection with the Participant’s responsibilities as an Employee, Director, or Third Party Service Provider, (iv) the Participant’s violation of the written policies and procedures of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate, as applicable; or (v) the Participant’s continued failure to perform his or her responsibilities as an Employee, Director, or Third Party Service Provider after the Participant has received a written demand for such performance.

 

2.9   “Change in Control” shall have the meaning ascribed to the term in Article 18.

 

2.10 “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. For purposes of this Plan, references to sections of the Code shall be deemed to include references to any applicable regulations thereunder and any successor or similar provision.

 

2.11 “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or a subcommittee thereof, or any other committee designated by the Board to administer this Plan. The Committee shall be composed of not fewer than two members. If the Committee does not exist or cannot function for any reason, the Board may take any action under the Plan that would otherwise be the responsibility of the Committee.

 

2.12 “Company” means NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto as provided in Article 19 herein.

 

2.13 “Covered Employee” means any salaried Employee who is or may become a “Covered Employee,” as defined in Code Section 162(m), and who is designated, either as an individual Employee or class of Employees, by the Committee within the shorter of (i) ninety (90) days after the beginning of the Performance Period, or (ii) twenty-five percent (25%) of the Performance Period has elapsed, as a “Covered Employee” under this Plan for such applicable Performance Period.

 

2.14 “Director” means any individual who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2.15 “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.

 

2.16 “Employee” means any person designated as an employee of the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries on the payroll records thereof. An Employee shall not include any individual during any period he or she is classified or treated by the Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary as an independent contractor, a consultant, or any employee of an employment, consulting, or temporary agency or any other entity other than the Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary, without regard to whether such individual is subsequently determined to have been, or is subsequently retroactively reclassified as a common-law employee of the Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary during such period.

 

2.17 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor act thereto.

 

2.18 “Fair Market Value” or “FMV” means a price that is based on the opening, closing, actual, high, low, or average selling prices of a Share reported on the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System (“Nasdaq”) or other established

 

2

 

stock exchange (or exchanges) on the applicable date, the preceding trading day, the next succeeding trading day, or an average of trading days, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be equal to the closing price of a Share on the most recent date on which Shares were publicly traded. In the event Shares are not publicly traded at the time a determination of their value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of their Fair Market Value shall be made by the Committee in such manner as it deems appropriate. Such definition(s) of FMV shall be specified in each Award Agreement and may differ depending on whether FMV is in reference to the grant, exercise, vesting, settlement, or payout of an Award.

 

2.19 “Freestanding SAR” means an SAR that is granted independently of any Options, as described in Article 7.

 

2.20 “Full Value Award” means an Award other than in the form of an ISO, NQSO, or SAR, and which is settled by the issuance of Shares.

 

2.21 “Grant Price” means the price established at the time of grant of a SAR pursuant to Article 7, used to determine whether there is any payment due upon exercise of the SAR.

 

2.22 “Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means an Option to purchase Shares granted under Article 6 to an Employee and that is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and that is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422, or any successor provision.

 

2.23 “Insider” shall mean an individual who is, on the relevant date, an officer, or Director of the Company, or a more than ten percent (10%) Beneficial Owner of any class of the Company’s equity securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as determined by the Board in accordance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

2.24 “Involuntary Termination” means the termination of employment or service of the Participant after a Change in Control other than for Cause.

 

2.25 “Materially Altered” means without the Participant’s written consent, (i) a material reduction in the Participant’s authority, duties or responsibilities relative to the Participant’s authority, duties or responsibilities in effect prior to such reduction where such reduction was imposed without Cause, (ii) a material diminution in the Participant’s base compensation, where such reduction was imposed without Cause, or (iii) a material change in the geographical location at which the Participant must perform his or her duties as an Employee of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, “Materially Altered” shall only apply to Employees.

 

2.26 “Nonemployee Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.

 

2.27 “Nonemployee Director Award” means any NQSO, SAR, or Full Value Award granted, whether singly, in combination, or in tandem, to a Participant who is a Nonemployee Director pursuant to such applicable terms, conditions, and limitations as the Board or Committee may establish in accordance with this Plan.

 

2.28 “Nonqualified Stock Option” or “NQSO” means an Option that is not intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422, or that otherwise does not meet such requirements.

 

2.29 “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, as described in Article 6.

 

2.30 “Option Price” means the price at which a Share may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to an Option.

 

2.31 “Other Stock-Based Award” means an equity-based or equity-related Award not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan, granted pursuant to Article 10.

 

3

 

2.32 “Participant” means any eligible individual as set forth in Article 5 to whom an Award is granted.

 

2.33 “Performance-Based Compensation” means compensation under an Award that is intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for certain performance-based compensation paid to Covered Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Plan shall be construed to mean that an Award which does not satisfy the requirements for performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m) does not constitute performance-based compensation for other purposes, including Code Section 409A.

 

2.34 “Performance Measures” means measures as described in Article 11 on which the performance goals are based and which are approved by the Company’s stockholders pursuant to this Plan in order to qualify Awards as Performance-Based Compensation.

 

2.35 “Performance Period” means the period of time during which the performance goals must be met in order to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to an Award.

 

2.36 “Performance Share” means an Award under Article 9 herein and subject to the terms of this Plan, denominated in Shares, the value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a function of the extent to which corresponding performance criteria have been achieved.

 

2.37 “Performance Unit” means an Award under Article 9 herein and subject to the terms of this Plan, denominated in units, the value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a function of the extent to which corresponding performance criteria have been achieved.

 

2.38 “Period of Restriction” means the period when Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance goals, or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, in its discretion), as provided in Article 8.

 

2.39 “Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.

 

2.40 “Plan” means the NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

 

2.41 “Plan Year” means the Company’s fiscal year.

 

2.42 “Restricted Stock” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 8.

 

2.43 “Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 8, except no Shares are actually awarded to the Participant on the date of grant.

 

2.44 “Share” means a share of common stock of the Company, par value of $.001 per share.

 

2.45 “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award, designated as a SAR, pursuant to the terms of Article 7 herein.

 

2.46 “Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity, whether domestic or foreign, in which the Company has or obtains, directly or indirectly, a proprietary interest of more than fifty percent (50%) by reason of stock ownership or otherwise.

 

2.47 “Tandem SAR” means an SAR that is granted in connection with a related Option pursuant to Article 7 herein, the exercise of which shall require forfeiture of the right to purchase a Share under the related Option (and when a Share is purchased under the Option, the Tandem SAR shall similarly be canceled).

 

2.48 “Third Party Service Provider” means any consultant, agent, advisor, or independent contractor who renders services to the Company, a Subsidiary, or an Affiliate that (a) are not in

 

4

 

connection with the offer and sale of the Company’s securities in a capital raising transaction, and (b) do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.

 

Article 3. Administration

 

3.1    General.    The Plan shall be administered by or under the direction of the Board unless and until the Board delegates administration to a Committee. The Board may employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, agents, and other individuals, any of whom may be an Employee, and the Board, the Company, and its officers and Directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions, or valuations of any such individuals. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Board shall be final and binding upon the Participants, the Company, and all other interested individuals.

 

3.2    Authority of the Board.    The Board shall have full and exclusive discretionary power to interpret the terms and the intent of this Plan and any Award Agreement or other agreement or document ancillary to or in connection with this Plan, to determine eligibility for Awards and to adopt such rules, regulations, forms, instruments, and guidelines for administering this Plan as the Board may deem necessary or proper. Such authority shall include, but not be limited to, selecting Award recipients, establishing all Award terms and conditions, including the terms and conditions set forth in Award Agreements, granting Awards as an alternative to or as the form of payment for grants or rights earned or due under compensation plans or arrangements of the Company, construing any ambiguous provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement, and, subject to Article 16, adopting modifications and amendments to this Plan or any Award Agreement, including without limitation, any that are necessary to comply with the laws of the countries and other jurisdictions in which the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries operate.

 

3.3    Delegation.

 

(a)   The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to the Committee. All members of the Committee shall be Nonemployee Directors, to the extent necessary to comply with the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3, Section 162(m) and the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board (and references in this Plan to the Board shall in such event, be to the Committee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan.

 

(b)   The Board may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or more officers of the Company, and/or its Subsidiaries and Affiliates or to one or more agents or advisors such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable, and the Board or any individuals to whom it has delegated duties or powers as aforesaid may employ one or more individuals to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Board or such individuals may have under this Plan. The Board may, by resolution, authorize one or more officers of the Company to do one or both of the following on the same basis as can the Board: (a) designate Employees to be recipients of Awards; and (b) determine the size of any such Awards; provided, however, (i) the Board shall not delegate such responsibilities to any such officer for Awards granted to an Employee who is considered an Insider; (ii) the resolution providing such authorization sets forth the total number of Awards such officer(s) may grant; and (iii) the officer(s) shall report periodically to the Board regarding the nature and scope of the Awards granted pursuant to the authority delegated.

 

5

 

Article 4. Shares Subject to this Plan and Maximum Awards

 

4.1    Number of Shares Available for Awards.

 

(a)   Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.4 herein, the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued or transferred to Participants under the Plan shall be equal to the sum of the following: (i) three million five hundred thousand (3,500,000) Shares, plus (ii) the number of Shares subject to outstanding Awards under the Plan as of May 7, 2013, plus (iii) the number of Shares remaining available for issuance under the Plan but not subject to previously exercised, vested or paid Awards as of May 7, 2013; provided that in no event shall the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued or transferred under the Plan exceed twelve million six hundred fifty thousand (12,650,000) Shares (the “Share Authorization”).

 

(b)   The maximum number of Shares of the Share Authorization that may be issued pursuant to ISOs under this Plan shall be twelve million six hundred fifty thousand (12,650,000) Shares.

 

4.2    Share Usage.    For each Share that is actually issued pursuant to a Full Value Award, the Share Authorization shall be reduced by one and one half Shares (i.e., on a 1:1.5 ratio) and for each Share that is actually issued pursuant to an Award other than a Full Value Award (other than an Award paid in cash), the Share Authorization shall be reduced by one Share (i.e., on a 1:1 ratio). Any Shares related to Awards which terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation, or otherwise without the issuance of such Shares, are settled in cash in lieu of Shares (other than SARs settled in cash), or are exchanged with the Board’s permission, prior to the issuance of Shares, for Awards not involving Shares, shall be available again for grant under this Plan, taking into account the ratios described above. Moreover, if the Option Price of any Option granted under this Plan or the tax withholding requirements with respect to any Award granted under this Plan are satisfied by tendering Shares already owned by the Participant to the Company (by either actual delivery or by attestation), only the number of Shares issued, taking into account the ratios described above, net of Shares tendered, shall be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for delivery under this Plan. Shares surrendered or withheld in payment of the Option Price of an Option, and Shares withheld or surrendered in satisfaction of any tax withholding requirements with respect to any Award granted under this Plan, shall be deemed delivered in addition to Shares actually issued with respect to any such Award granted under the Plan, taking into account the ratios described above, for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for delivery under this Plan. Upon the exercise of an Option through a net exercise procedure or upon the exercise of an SAR, then both for purposes of calculating the number of Shares remaining available for issuance under the Plan and the number of Shares remaining available for exercise under such Option or SAR, the number of such Shares shall be reduced by the gross number of Shares for which the Option or SAR is exercised and without regard to any cash settlement of an SAR. The Shares available for issuance under this Plan may be authorized and unissued Shares or treasury Shares.

 

4.3    Annual Award Limits.    The limits in this Section 4.3 (each an “Annual Award Limit” and, collectively, “Annual Award Limits”) shall apply to grants of Awards under this Plan. The maximum aggregate number of Shares with respect to which all Awards other than Cash-Based Awards or dividend equivalents that may be granted under the Plan to any Participant during any Plan Year shall be 1,000,000 Shares, subject to adjustment as described in Section 4.4 below. Such Share limit shall apply without regard to whether the Awards are to be paid in Shares or cash. The maximum aggregate dollar value with respect to which Cash-Based Awards that may be granted or dividend equivalents that may accrue to any Participant during any Plan Year shall be $1,000,000.

 

4.4    Adjustments in Authorized Shares.    In the event of any corporate event or transaction (including, but not limited to, a change in the Shares of the Company or the capitalization of the Company) such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, separation, partial or complete liquidation, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spin-off, or other

 

6

 

distribution of stock or property of the Company, combination of Shares, exchange of Shares, dividend in kind, or other like change in capital structure, number of outstanding Shares or distribution (other than normal cash dividends) to stockholders of the Company, or any similar corporate event or transaction, the Board, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under this Plan, shall substitute or adjust, as applicable, the number and kind of Shares that may be issued under this Plan or under particular forms of Awards, the number and kind of Shares subject to outstanding Awards, the Option Price or Grant Price applicable to outstanding Awards, the Annual Award Limits, and other value determinations applicable to outstanding Awards, as the Board deems appropriate in its sole discretion. The Board, in its sole discretion, may also make appropriate adjustments in the terms of any Awards under this Plan to reflect or related to such changes or distributions and to modify any other terms of outstanding Awards. The determination of the Board as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be conclusive and binding on Participants under this Plan.

 

Subject to the provisions of Article 16 and notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, without affecting the number of Shares reserved or available hereunder, the Board may authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits under this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate (including, but not limited to, a conversion of equity awards into Awards under this Plan in a manner consistent with paragraph 53 of FASB Interpretation No. 44), subject to compliance with the rules under Code Sections 409A, 422 and 424, as and where applicable.

 

Article 5. Eligibility and Participation

 

5.1    Eligibility.    Individuals eligible to participate in this Plan include all Employees, Directors, and Third Party Service Providers.

 

5.2    Actual Participation.    Subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Board may, from time to time, select from all eligible individuals, those individuals to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine, in its sole discretion, the nature of, any and all terms permissible by law, and the amount of each Award.

 

Article 6. Stock Options

 

6.1    Grant of Options.    Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, Options may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion; provided that ISOs may be granted only to eligible Employees of the Company or of any parent or subsidiary corporation (as permitted under Code Sections 422 and 424). However, an Employee who is employed by an Affiliate and/or Subsidiary and is subject to Code Section 409A, may only be granted Options to the extent the Affiliate and/or Subsidiary is part of the Company’s consolidated group for United States federal tax purposes, if permitted under Code Section 409A.

 

6.2    Award Agreement.    Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Option Price, the maximum duration of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, the conditions upon which an Option shall become vested and exercisable, and such other provisions as the Board shall determine which are not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan. The Award Agreement also shall specify whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or a NQSO.

 

6.3    Option Price.    The Option Price for each grant of an Option under this Plan shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion and shall be specified in the Award Agreement; provided, however, the Option Price on the date of grant must be at least equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the FMV of the Shares as determined on the date of grant. Notwithtstading the foregoing, an ISO may not be granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any

 

7

 

parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as defined in Code Section 424, unless the Option Price per share is not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.

 

6.4    Term of Options.    Each Option granted to a Participant shall expire at such time as the Board shall determine at the time of grant; provided, however, no Option shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th) anniversary date of its grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for Nonqualified Stock Options granted to Participants outside the United States, the Board has the authority to grant Nonqualified Stock Options that have a term greater than ten (10) years. In addition, no ISO that is granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as defined in Code Section 424, shall be exercisable later than the fifth (5th) anniversary of its date of grant.

 

6.5    Exercise of Options.    Options granted under this Article 6 shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Board shall in each instance approve, which terms and restrictions need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant.

 

6.6    Payment.    Options granted under this Article 6 shall be exercised by the delivery of a notice of exercise to the Company or an agent designated by the Company in a form specified or accepted by the Board, or by complying with any alternative procedures which may be authorized by the Board, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for the Shares.

 

A condition of the issuance of the Shares as to which an Option shall be exercised shall be the payment of the Option Price. The Option Price of any Option shall be payable to the Company in full either: (a) in cash or its equivalent; (b) by tendering (either by actual delivery or attestation) previously acquired Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the Option Price (provided that except as otherwise determined by the Board, the Shares that are tendered must have been held by the Participant for at least six (6) months (or such other period, if any, as the Board may permit) prior to their tender to satisfy the Option Price if acquired under this Plan or any other compensation plan maintained by the Company or have been purchased on the open market); (c) pursuant to a broker-assisted exercise same-day sales program; (d) by a combination of (a) (b), and (c); or (e) any other method approved or accepted by the Board in its sole discretion.

 

Subject to any governing rules or regulations, as soon as practicable after receipt of written notification of exercise and full payment (including satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding), the Company shall deliver to the Participant evidence of book entry Shares, or upon the Participant’s request, Share certificates in an appropriate amount based upon the number of Shares purchased under the Option(s).

 

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, all payments under all of the methods indicated above shall be paid in United States dollars.

 

8

 

6.7    Restrictions on Share Transferability.    The Board may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option granted under this Article 6 as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listed and/or traded, or under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such Shares.

 

6.8    Termination of Employment.    Each Participant’s Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the Option following termination of the Participant’s employment or provision of services to the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to this Article 6, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

 

6.9    Notification of Disqualifying Disposition.    If any Participant shall make any disposition of Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of an ISO under the circumstances described in Code Section 421(b) (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions), such Participant shall notify the Company of such disposition prior to the end of the calendar year in which such disposition occurred.

 

6.10    Retirement of Participant.    Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Plan, in the event a Participant’s employment as an Employee, or service as a Director or Third Party Service Provider terminates due to a Participant’s Retirement, the Participant shall vest in that number of Shares subject to the Option that would have vested had the Participant remained an Employee, Director, or Third Party Service Provider for an additional two (2) years from the date of Retirement. In addition, the Option shall remain exercisable until the expiration of its term. For purposes of this paragraph, “Retirement” shall mean the termination of service of a Participant with the Company, a Subsidiary, or an Affiliate on or after the date on which the Participant’s number of completed years of service with the Company, a Subsidiary, or Affiliate and age equal or exceed seventy (70) (including termination due to death or Disability after such time).

 

Article 7. Stock Appreciation Rights

 

7.1    Grant of SARs.    Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, SARs may be granted to Participants at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Board. The Board may grant Freestanding SARs, Tandem SARs, or any combination of these forms of SARs. However, an Employee who is employed by an Affiliate and/or Subsidiary and is subject to Code Section 409A, may only be granted SARs to the extent the Affiliate and/or Subsidiary is part of the Company’s consolidated group for United States federal tax purposes, if permitted under Code Section 409A.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, the Board shall have complete discretion in determining the number of SARs granted to each Participant and, consistent with the provisions of this Plan, in determining the terms and conditions pertaining to such SARs.

 

The Grant Price for each grant of a Freestanding SAR shall be determined by the Board and shall be specified in the Award Agreement; provided, however, the Grant Price on the date of grant must be at least equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the FMV of the Shares as determined on the date of grant. The Grant Price of Tandem SARs shall be equal to the Option Price of the related Option.

 

7.2    SAR Agreement.    Each SAR Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Grant Price, the term of the SAR, and such other provisions as the Board shall determine.

 

7.3    Term of SAR.    The term of an SAR granted under this Plan shall be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, and except as determined otherwise by the Board and specified in the SAR Award Agreement, no SAR shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th) anniversary date of its

 

9

 

grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for SARs granted to Participants outside the United States, the Board has the authority to grant SARs that have a term greater than ten (10) years.

 

7.4    Exercise of Freestanding SARs.    Freestanding SARs may be exercised upon whatever terms and conditions the Board, in its sole discretion, imposes.

 

7.5.    Exercise of Tandem SARs.    Tandem SARs may be exercised for all or part of the Shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option. A Tandem SAR may be exercised only with respect to the Shares for which its related Option is then exercisable.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, with respect to a Tandem SAR granted in connection with an ISO: (a) the Tandem SAR will expire no later than the expiration of the underlying ISO; (b) the value of the payout with respect to the Tandem SAR may be for no more than one hundred percent (100%) of the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the underlying ISO at the time the Tandem SAR is exercised over the Option Price of the underlying ISO; and (c) the Tandem SAR may be exercised only when the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the ISO exceeds the Option Price of the ISO.

 

7.6    Settlement of SAR Amount.    Upon the exercise of an SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:

 

(a)   The excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the Grant Price; by

 

(b)   The number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.

 

At the discretion of the Board, the payment upon SAR exercise may be in cash, Shares, or any combination thereof, or in any other manner approved by the Board in its sole discretion. The Board’s determination regarding the form of SAR payout shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the SAR.

 

7.7    Termination of Employment.    Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the SAR following termination of the Participant’s employment with or provision of services to the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with Participants, need not be uniform among all SARs issued pursuant to this Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

 

7.8    Other Restrictions.    The Board shall impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on any Shares received upon exercise of a SAR granted pursuant to this Plan as it may deem advisable or desirable. These restrictions may include, but shall not be limited to, a requirement that the Participant hold the Shares received upon exercise of a SAR for a specified period of time.

 

Article 8. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

 

8.1    Grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.    Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, the Board, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units to Participants in such amounts as the Board shall determine. Restricted Stock Units shall be similar to Restricted Stock except that no Shares are actually awarded to the Participant on the date of grant.

 

8.2    Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.    Each Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Unit grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Period(s) of Restriction, if any, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock or the number of Restricted Stock Units granted, and such other provisions as the Board shall determine.

 

10

 

8.3    Other Restrictions.    The Board shall impose such other conditions and/or restrictions, if any, on any Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Plan as it may deem advisable including, without limitation, a requirement that Participants pay a stipulated purchase price for each Share of Restricted Stock or each Restricted Stock Unit, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance goals, time-based restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the performance goals, time-based restrictions, and/or restrictions under applicable laws or under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are listed or traded, or holding requirements or sale restrictions placed on the Shares by the Company upon vesting of such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

 

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

 

Except as otherwise provided in this Article 8, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock Award shall become freely transferable by the Participant after all conditions and restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied or lapse (including satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding obligations), and Restricted Stock Units shall be paid in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares as the Board, in its sole discretion shall determine.

 

8.4    Certificate Legend.    In addition to any legends placed on certificates pursuant to Section 8.3, each certificate representing Shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to this Plan may bear a legend such as the following or as otherwise determined by the Board in its sole discretion:

 

THE SALE OR TRANSFER OF SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE, WHETHER VOLUNTARY, INVOLUNTARY, OR BY OPERATION OF LAW, IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AS SET FORTH IN THE NPS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 2005 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN, AND IN THE ASSOCIATED AWARD AGREEMENT. A COPY OF THIS PLAN AND SUCH AWARD AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM NPS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

8.5    Voting Rights.    Unless otherwise determined by the Board and set forth in a Participant’s Award Agreement, to the extent permitted or required by law, as determined by the Board, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may be granted the right to exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares during the Period of Restriction. A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder.

 

8.6    Termination of Employment.    Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units following termination of the Participant’s employment with or provision of services to the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units issued pursuant to this Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

 

8.7    Section 83(b) Election.    The Board may provide in an Award Agreement that the Award of Restricted Stock is conditioned upon the Participant making or refraining from making an election with respect to the Award under Code Section 83(b). If a Participant makes an election pursuant to Code Section 83(b) concerning a Restricted Stock Award, the Participant shall be required to file promptly a copy of such election with the Company.

 

11

 

Article 9. Performance Units/Performance Shares

 

9.1    Grant of Performance Units/Performance Shares.    Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, the Board, at any time and from time to time, may grant Performance Units and/or Performance Shares to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms as the Board shall determine.

 

9.2    Value of Performance Units/Performance Shares.    Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Board at the time of grant. Each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. The Board shall set performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the value and/or number of Performance Units/Performance Shares that will be paid out to the Participant.

 

9.3    Earning of Performance Units/Performance Shares.    Subject to the terms of this Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units/Performance Shares shall be entitled to receive payout on the value and number of Performance Units/Performance Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance goals have been achieved.

 

9.4    Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units/Performance Shares.    Payment of earned Performance Units/Performance Shares shall be as determined by the Board and as evidenced in the Award Agreement. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Board, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units/Performance Shares in the form of cash or in Shares (or in a combination thereof) equal to the value of the earned Performance Units/Performance Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period, or as soon as practicable after the end of the Performance Period. Any Shares may be granted subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Board. The determination of the Board with respect to the form of payout of such Awards shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the Award.

 

9.5    Termination of Employment.    Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain Performance Units and/or Performance Shares following termination of the Participant’s employment with or provision of services to the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Awards of Performance Units or Performance Shares issued pursuant to this Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

 

Article 10. Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards

 

10.1    Grant of Cash-Based Awards.    Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Board, at any time and from time to time, may grant Cash-Based Awards to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms as the Board may determine.

 

10.2    Other Stock-Based Awards.    The Board may grant other types of equity-based or equity-related Awards not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted Shares) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Board shall determine. Such Awards may involve the transfer of actual Shares to Participants, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Shares and may include, without limitation, Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.

 

10.3    Value of Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards.    Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a payment amount or payment range as determined by the Board. Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be expressed in terms of Shares or units based on Shares, as determined by the Board. The Board may establish performance goals in its discretion. If the Board exercises its discretion to establish

 

12

 

performance goals, the number and/or value of Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards that will be paid out to the Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance goals are met.

 

10.4    Payment of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.    Payment, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award or an Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash or Shares as the Board determines.

 

10.5    Termination of Employment.    The Board shall determine the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to receive Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards following termination of the Participant’s employment with or provision of services to the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board, such provisions may be included in an agreement entered into with each Participant, but need not be uniform among all Awards of Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

 

Article 11. Transferability of Awards

 

11.1    Transferability.    Except as provided in Section 11.2 below, during a Participant’s lifetime, his or her Awards shall be exercisable only by the Participant. Awards shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; no Awards shall be subject, in whole or in part, to attachment, execution, or levy of any kind; and any purported transfer in violation hereof shall be null and void. The Board may establish such procedures as it deems appropriate for a Participant to designate a beneficiary to whom any amounts payable or Shares deliverable in the event of, or following, the Participant’s death, may be provided.

 

11.2    Board Action.    The Board may, in its discretion, determine that notwithstanding Section 11.1, any or all Awards (other than ISOs) shall be transferable to and exercisable by such transferees, and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Board may deem appropriate; provided, however, no Award may be transferred for value (as defined in the General Instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended).

 

11.3    Domestic Relations Orders.    Without limiting the generality of Section 11.1, and notwithstanding Section 11.2, no domestic relations order purporting to authorize a transfer of an Award shall be recognized as valid.

 

Article 12. Performance Measures

 

12.1    Performance Measures.    The performance goals upon which the payment or vesting of an Award to a Covered Employee that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be limited to the following Performance Measures:

 

(a)   Net earnings or net income (before or after taxes);

 

(b)   Earnings per share;

 

(c)   Net sales or revenue growth;

 

(d)   Net operating profit;

 

(e)   Return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, sales, or revenue);

 

(f)    Cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity, and cash flow return on investment);

 

(g)   Earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or amortization;

 

(h)   Gross or operating margins;

 

13

 

(i)    Productivity ratios;

 

(j)    Share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return);

 

(k)   Expense targets;

 

(l)    Margins;

 

(m)  Operating efficiency;

 

(n)   Market share;

 

(o)   Customer satisfaction;

 

(p)   Working capital targets;

 

(q)   Economic value added or EVA® (net operating profit after tax minus the sum of capital multiplied by the cost of capital);

 

(r)   Product development;

 

(s)   Growth in assets;

 

(t)    Inventory;

 

(u)   Strategic business measures consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified revenue goals, market penetration goals, geographic business expansion goals or cost targets; and

 

(v)   Goals relating to mergers, acquisitions or divestitures within time deadlines and other parameters set by the Board.

 

Any Performance Measure(s) may be used to measure the performance of the Company, Subsidiary, and/or Affiliate as a whole or any business unit of the Company, Subsidiary, and/or Affiliate or any combination thereof, as the Board may deem appropriate, or any of the above Performance Measures as compared to the performance of a group of comparator companies, or published or special index that the Board, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or the Company may select Performance Measure (j) above as compared to various stock market indices. The Board also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of performance goals pursuant to the Performance Measures specified in this Article 12.

 

12.2    Evaluation of Performance.    The Board may provide in any such Award that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events that occurs during a Performance Period: (a) asset write-downs, (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs, (e) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the applicable year, (f) acquisitions or divestitures, and (g) foreign exchange gains and losses. To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect Awards to Covered Employees, they shall be prescribed in a form that meets the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for deductibility.

 

12.3    Adjustment of Performance-Based Compensation.    Awards that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation may not be adjusted upward. The Board shall retain the discretion to adjust such Awards downward, either on a formula or discretionary basis or any combination, as the Board determines.

 

12.4    Board Discretion.    In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit Board discretion to alter the governing Performance Measures without obtaining stockholder approval

 

14

 

of such changes, the Board shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining stockholder approval. In addition, in the event that the Board determines that it is advisable to grant Awards that shall not qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Board may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and base vesting on Performance Measures other than those set forth in Section 12.1.

 

Article 13. Dividend Equivalents

 

Any Participant selected by the Board may be granted dividend equivalents based on the dividends declared on Shares that are subject to any Award, to be credited as of dividend payment dates, during the period between the date the Award is granted and the date the Award is exercised, vests or expires, as determined by the Board. Such dividend equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional Shares by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Board.

 

Article 14. Beneficiary Designation

 

Each Participant under this Plan may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under this Plan is to be paid in case of his death before he receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Board, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such beneficiary designation, benefits remaining unpaid or rights remaining unexercised at the Participant’s death shall be paid or exercised by the Participant’s executor, administrator, or legal representative.

 

Article 15. Rights of Participants

 

15.1    Employment.    Nothing in this Plan or an Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries, to terminate any Participant’s employment or service on the Board or to the Company at any time or for any reason not prohibited by law, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue his employment or service as a Director or Third Party Service Provider for any specified period of time.

 

Neither an Award nor any benefits arising under this Plan shall constitute an employment contract with the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries and, accordingly, subject to Articles 3 and 16, this Plan and the benefits hereunder may be terminated at any time in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Board without giving rise to any liability on the part of the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries.

 

15.2    Participation.    No individual shall have the right to be selected to receive an Award under this Plan, or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future Award.

 

15.3    Rights as a Stockholder.    Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award until the Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares.

 

Article 16. Amendment, Modification, Suspension, and Termination

 

16.1    Amendment, Modification, Suspension, and Termination.    Subject to Section 16.3, the Board may, at any time and from time to time, alter, amend, modify, suspend, or terminate this Plan and any Award Agreement in whole or in part; provided, however, that, without the prior approval of the Company’s stockholders and except as provided in Section 4.4, Options or SARs issued under this Plan will not be repriced, replaced, or regranted through cancellation, or by lowering the Option Price of a previously granted Option or the Grant Price of a previously granted SAR, and no material amendment of this Plan shall be made without stockholder approval if stockholder approval is required by law, regulation, or stock exchange rule.

 

15

 

16.2    Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events.    The Board may make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in Section 4.4 hereof) affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Board determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent unintended dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Plan. The determination of the Board as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be conclusive and binding on Participants under this Plan.

 

16.3    Awards Previously Granted.    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary (other than Section 16.4), no termination, amendment, suspension, or modification of this Plan or an Award Agreement shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under this Plan, without the written consent of the Participant holding such Award.

 

16.4    Amendment to Conform to Law.    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Board of Directors may amend the Plan or an Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or an Award Agreement to any present or future law relating to plans of this or similar nature (including, but not limited to, Code Section 409A), and to the administrative regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder.

 

Article 17. Withholding

 

17.1    Withholding Generally.    The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, the minimum statutory amount to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan.

 

17.2    Stock Withholding.    When, under applicable tax laws, a Participant incurs tax liability in connection with the vesting of any Award that is subject to tax withholding and the Participant is obligated to pay the Company the amount required to be withheld, the Board shall, subject to compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, allow the Participant to satisfy the minimum withholding tax obligation by electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued upon vesting of the Award that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld, determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. All elections by a Participant to have Shares withheld for this purpose will be made in accordance with the requirements established by the Board and be in writing in a form acceptable to the Board.

 

Article 18. Corporate Transactions

 

18.1    Awards Granted prior to February 13, 2013.    In the event of (a) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation; (b) a reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash, or otherwise; (c) a strategic corporate event, such as a merger or acquisition, where the Company is technically the surviving entity, but where other elements of a change of control are present, i.e., change in management team or Board composition; (d) a transaction which the Board determines in its sole discretion to constitute a change in control of the Company; or (e) any capital reorganization in which fifty percent (50%) of the Shares of the Company entitled to vote are exchanged (the foregoing in this Section 18.1, a “Change in Control”), then, the time during which Awards outstanding under the Plan become vested shall be accelerated and all outstanding Awards shall become immediately exercisable upon such event and such Awards shall continue to be exercisable

 

16

 

until the later of (i) twenty-four (24) months from the effective date of such event, or (ii) the time specified in the Award Agreement during which the Award is exercisable following a Participant’s termination of service; provided, however, that in no event shall the Award be exercisable after the expiration of its term.

 

18.2    Awards Granted on or after February 13, 2013.    In the event of (x) a Change in Control and (y) (1) a Participant’s job prospects are Materially Altered followed by the termination of the Participant’s employment in accordance with the notice and cure requirements set forth below in this Section 18.2, or (2) the Participant’s employment is Involuntarily Terminated, other than for Cause or death or permanent disability, then, the time during which Awards outstanding under the Plan become vested shall be accelerated and all outstanding Awards shall become immediately exercisable upon such event and such Awards shall continue to be exercisable until the later of (i) twenty-four (24) months from the effective date of such event, or (ii) the time specified in the Award Agreement during which the Award is exercisable following a Participant’s termination of service; provided, however, that in no event shall the Award be exercisable after the expiration of its term.

 

In the instance of the Participant’s job prospects being Materially Altered, the Participant must exercise his or her rights under the Plan by providing the Participant’s employer with written notice that his or her job prospects have been Materially Altered within ninety (90) days of the date of such Material Alteration, upon the notice of which the employer will be provided a period of thirty (30) days during which it may remedy the condition giving rise to the Material Alteration of the Participant’s job prospects. In such instance, the Participant’s employment with the employer shall terminate following the expiration of the thirty (30) day cure period without the employer remedying the condition giving rise to the Material Alteration of the Covered Employee’s job prospects, following which, the Participant must sign and not revoke a release of claims in the form approved by his or her employer in a timely manner.

 

Article 19. Successors

 

All obligations of the Company under this Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

Article 20. General Provisions

 

20.1    Forfeiture Events.

 

(a)   The Board may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, termination of employment for Cause, termination of the Participant’s provision of services to the Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary, violation of material Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary policies, breach of noncompetition, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant, or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries.

 

(b)   If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, if the Participant knowingly or grossly negligently engaged in the misconduct, or knowingly or grossly negligently failed to prevent the misconduct, or if the Participant is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Participant shall reimburse the Company the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award earned

 

17

 

or accrued during the twelve (12) month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever just occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement.

 

20.2    Legend.    The certificates for Shares may include any legend which the Board deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer of such Shares.

 

20.3    Gender and Number.    Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine, the plural shall include the singular, and the singular shall include the plural.

 

20.4    Severability.    In the event any provision of this Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of this Plan, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

 

20.5    Requirements of Law.    The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under this Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.

 

20.6    Delivery of Title.    The Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver evidence of title for Shares issued under this Plan prior to:

 

(a)   Obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable; and

 

(b)   Completion of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any applicable national or foreign law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable.

 

20.7    Inability to Obtain Authority.    The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

 

20.8    Investment Representations.    The Board may require any individual receiving Shares pursuant to an Award under this Plan to represent and warrant in writing that the individual is acquiring the Shares for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares.

 

20.9    Employees Based Outside of the United States.    Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries operate or have Employees, Directors, or Third Party Service Providers, the Board, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to:

 

(a)   Determine which Affiliates and Subsidiaries shall be covered by this Plan;

 

(b)   Determine which Employees and/or Directors or Third Party Service Providers outside the United States are eligible to participate in this Plan;

 

(c)   Modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Employees \and/or Directors or Third Party Service Providers outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws;

 

(d)   Establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable. Any subplans and modifications to Plan terms and procedures established under this Section 20.9 by the Board shall be attached to this Plan document as appendices; and

 

18

 

(e)   Take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local government regulatory exemptions or approvals.

 

Notwithstanding the above, the Board may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate applicable law.

 

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

 

20.11    Unfunded Plan.    Participants shall have no right, title, or interest whatsoever in or to any investments that the Company, and/or its Subsidiaries, and/or its Affiliates may make to aid it in meeting its obligations under this Plan. Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant, beneficiary, legal representative, or any other individual. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company, its Subsidiaries, and/or its Affiliates under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company, a Subsidiary, or an Affiliate, as the case may be. All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company, a Subsidiary, or an Affiliate, as the case may be and no special or separate fund shall be established and no segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment of such amounts except as expressly set forth in this Plan.

 

20.12    No Fractional Shares.    No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan or any Award. The Board shall determine whether cash, Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

20.13    Retirement and Welfare Plans.    Neither Awards made under this Plan nor Shares or cash paid pursuant to such Awards, except pursuant to Covered Employee Annual Incentive Awards, may be included as “compensation” for purposes of computing the benefits payable to any Participant under the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s or Affiliate’s retirement plans (both qualified and non-qualified) or welfare benefit plans unless such other plan expressly provides that such compensation shall be taken into account in computing a Participant’s benefit.

 

20.14    Deferred Compensation.    No deferral of compensation (as defined under Code Section 409A or guidance thereto) is intended under this Plan. Notwithstanding this intent, if any Award would be considered deferred compensation as defined under Code Section 409A and if the Plan fails to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A with respect to such Award, then such Award shall be null and void. However, the Board may permit deferrals of compensation pursuant to the terms of a Participant’s Award Agreement, a separate plan or a subplan which meets the requirements of Code Section 409A and any related guidance. To the extent any Award is subject to Code Section 409A, notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Plan does not permit the acceleration of the time or schedule of any distribution related to such Award, except as permitted by Code Section 409A, the regulations thereunder, and/or the Secretary of the United States Treasury. Any Award that is subject to Code Section 409A and that is to be distributed to a Key Employee (as defined below) upon a Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined under Code Section 409A) shall be administered so that any distribution with respect to such Award shall be postponed for six (6) months following the date of the Participant’s separation from service, if required by Code Section 409A. The determination of Key Employees, including the number and identity of persons considered Key Employees and the identification date, shall be made by the Board or its delegate each year in accordance with Code Section 416(i) and the “specified employee” requirements of Code Section 409A. Additionally, to the extent an Award is subject to Code Section 409A, in no event may the Participant, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year in which a distribution is made except in accordance with Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement

 

19

 

to the contrary, each Participant shall be solely responsible for the tax consequences of Awards under the Plan, and in no event shall the Company have any responsibility or liability if an Award does not meet any applicable requirements of Code Section 409A. Although the Company intends to administer the Plan to prevent taxation under section Code Section 409A, the Company does not represent or warrant that the Plan or any Award complies with any provision of federal, state, local or other tax law.

 

20.15    Nonexclusivity of this Plan.    The adoption of this Plan shall not be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or Board to adopt such other compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable for any Participant.

 

20.16    No Constraint on Corporate Action.    Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to: (i) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s or an Affiliate’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets; or, (ii) limit the right or power of the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.

 

20.17    Governing Law.    The Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Plan to the substantive law of another jurisdiction. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, recipients of an Award under this Plan are deemed to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state courts of Delaware, to resolve any and all issues that may arise out of or relate to this Plan or any related Award Agreement.

 

20

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00217-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00217-of-00352.parquet"}]]