Document:

Forms of Restricted Stock, Performance Share and Option Agreements

 Exhibit 10.2 
 RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT 
 (Non-Employee Directors) 

 
  

 
 This Restricted Stock Agreement
(“Agreement”) is made between Qwest Communications International Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and
                     (the “Grantee”). 
 WHEREAS, pursuant to the Qwest Communications International Inc. Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), the Company desires to grant shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Company (“Common Stock”) to the Grantee subject to the restrictions and on the terms and conditions specified below. 
 NOW THEREFORE,
in connection with the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows, intending to be legally bound: 

 

	1.	DEFINITIONS; CONFLICTS. 

Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given thereto in the Plan. The terms and provisions of the
Plan are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between the terms and provisions of the Plan and the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Plan shall govern and control. In the
event of a conflict or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any agreement between Grantee and U S WEST, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall govern and control. 

 

	2.	GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK. 

The Company hereby grants to the Grantee 13,000 shares (the “Shares”) of Common Stock (the “Restricted Stock”),
effective as of January 3, 2011 (the “Transfer Date”). After the Grantee becomes the holder of record with respect to the Restricted Stock, the Grantee shall be treated as the beneficial owner of the Restricted Stock and shall
have the right to receive all amounts, including cash and property of any kind, distributed with respect to the Restricted Stock. 
  

	3.	RESTRICTIONS. 

 The
Grantee shall not sell, assign, transfer by gift or otherwise, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of, by operation of law or otherwise, any of the Shares for the period commencing on the Transfer Date and ending on the Expiration Date (as
defined in Section 4 below), except as otherwise provided in Section 4 or Section 6 or as otherwise permitted by this Agreement or the terms of the Plan. 

 If any transfer of Shares is made or attempted to be made contrary to the terms of this
Agreement, the Company shall have the right to acquire for its own account, without the payment of any consideration therefor, such Shares from the owner thereof or his or her transferee, at any time before or after such prohibited transfer. In
addition to any other legal or equitable remedies it may have, the Company may enforce its rights to specific performance to the extent permitted by law and may exercise such other equitable remedies then available to it. The Company may refuse for
any purpose to recognize any transferee who receives Shares contrary to the provisions of this Agreement as a stockholder of the Company and may retain and/or recover all dividends on such Shares that were paid or payable subsequent to the date on
which the prohibited transfer was made or attempted. 
  

	4.	VESTING; LAPSE OF RESTRICTIONS. 

 Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Shares of Restricted Stock shall vest one hundred percent (100%) on January 3, 2012 (the “Expiration Date”), provided that the
Grantee has remained in continuous service as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Directorship”) from the Transfer Date until the Expiration Date. 
 The Restricted Stock shall be fully vested and this Agreement shall terminate on the Expiration Date. Shares that have become vested and as to which the restrictions have lapsed shall be referred to as
Vested Shares. Shares that have not become vested and as to which the restrictions have not lapsed shall be referred to as Unvested Shares. 
 Notwithstanding the vesting schedule set forth above, the Unvested Shares will become Vested Shares in the event of the Grantee’s death or Disability or under the circumstances described in
Section 6 below. 
 The Grantee may, at Grantee’s discretion and subject to the policies of the Company, sell, assign,
transfer by gift or otherwise, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of, by operation of law or otherwise, any of the Vested Shares not withheld by the Company for tax withholding purposes pursuant to Section 9. 

 

	5.	TERMINATION OF DIRECTORSHIP; FORFEITURE OF UNVESTED SHARES. 

 In the event the Grantee’s Directorship is terminated for any reason other than due to death or Disability or under the circumstances described in Section 6 below, all Unvested Shares shall be
forfeited and the Grantee shall immediately transfer and assign to the Company, without the requirement of consideration, all Unvested Shares, which shall promptly be tendered to the Company by the delivery of certificates, if any, for such Unvested
Shares, duly endorsed in blank by the Grantee or the Grantee’s representative or with stock powers attached thereto duly endorsed, at the Company’s principal offices, all in form suitable for the transfer of such Shares to the Company
without the payment of any consideration therefor by the Company. After the time at which any such Shares are required to be delivered to the Company for transfer to the Company, the Company shall not pay any dividend to the Grantee on account of
such Shares or permit the Grantee to exercise any of the privileges or rights of a stockholder with respect to such Shares, but shall, in so far as permitted by law, treat the Company as the owner of such Shares. 

  
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	6.	CHANGE IN CONTROL 

 All
restrictions imposed under this Agreement shall lapse and all Unvested Shares shall become Vested Shares: 
  

	 	(a)	if a Change in Control occurs as a result of the completion of the Company’s pending merger with CenturyLink, Inc. and the Grantee is not appointed as a
member of the Board of Directors of CenturyLink, Inc. effective as of the effective time of the merger; or 

  

	 	(b)	if a Change in Control occurs for any reason other than the completion of the Company’s pending merger with CenturyLink, Inc.

  

	7.	ADJUSTMENT OF THE SHARES. 

Upon the occurrence of an event described in Article IV of the Plan, the Shares shall be adjusted in accordance with Article IV.

  

	8.	ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIONS. 

 If a certificate or certificates representing Shares is issued, it shall bear the following legend: 
 “The Shares of stock represented by this Certificate are subject to all of the terms of a Restricted Stock Agreement between Qwest Communications International Inc. and the registered owner of this
Certificate (the “Agreement”) and to the terms of the Qwest Communications International Inc. Equity Incentive Plan. Copies of the Agreement and the Plan are on file at the office of the Company. The Agreement, among other things, limits
the right of the Owner to transfer the Shares represented hereby and provide in certain circumstances that all or a portion of the Shares must be returned to the Company.” 
 The Company may, in its sole discretion, require the Grantee to keep the certificate, if any, representing the Unvested Shares, duly endorsed, in the custody of the Company while the Unvested Shares are
subject to the restrictions contained in Section 3. The Company may, in its sole discretion, require that the certificate, if any, representing the Unvested Shares, duly endorsed, be held in the custody of a third party while the Unvested
Shares are subject to the restrictions contained in Section 3. 
 The Company’s Insider Trading Policy 100.110 requires
that all Insiders must pre-clear with the Law Department all proposed transactions in Qwest Securities prior to the transaction. 

  
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	9.	TAX WITHHOLDING. 

Notwithstanding any Plan provision to the contrary, upon the vesting of any portion of the Shares, the Company shall withhold from the
Vested Shares a number of Shares having a value equal to the minimum amount that would be required to be withheld under applicable federal income tax laws (the, “Withholding Tax”) if Grantee was regarded, solely for purposes of such
Withholding Tax, as an employee of the Company. In such case, the value of the Shares to be withheld shall be based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the date the amount of the
Withholding Tax is determined (the “Tax Date”). 
  

	10.	BINDING EFFECT. 

 This
Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and successors of the parties hereto. 
  

	11.	WAIVER OF RIGHT TO JURY TRIAL. 

 By signing this Agreement, Grantee voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waives any right he or she may have to a jury trial for all claims relating to this Agreement and any other claim relating to
Grantee’s Directorship. The Company also hereby voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently waives any right it might otherwise have to a jury trial for all claims relating to this Agreement and any other claim relating to Grantee’s
Directorship. 
  

	12.	GOVERNING LAW. 

 This
Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws provisions of any state. Any action to enforce this Agreement shall be brought in Colorado state or federal
district court and the parties waive any objection to the jurisdiction or venue of such courts. 
  

	13.	HEADINGS. 

 Headings are
for the convenience of the parties and are not deemed to be part of this Agreement. 

  
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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the dates set forth opposite their
signatures to be effective as of the Transfer Date. 
  

					
		 	QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
			
	Date:                     	 	By:	  	  

		 		  	Richard N. Baer
		 		  	 Executive Vice President, General Counsel
 and Chief Administrative Officer

		
		 	GRANTEE
		
		 	  

	Date:                     	 	[Name]

  
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 RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT 

 
  

 
 This Restricted Stock Agreement
(“Agreement”) is made and entered into between Qwest Communications International Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and
                     (the “Grantee”). 
 WHEREAS, pursuant to the Qwest Communications International Inc. Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), the Company desires to grant shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Company (the “Common Stock”) to the Grantee subject to the restrictions and other terms and conditions herein. 
 NOW THEREFORE, in
connection with the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows: 

 

	1.	DEFINITIONS; CONFLICTS. 

Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein will have the meanings given to them in the Plan. The terms and provisions of the
Plan are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between the terms and provisions of the Plan and the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Plan will govern and control. Unless
the context requires otherwise, references in this Agreement to the “Company” include Qwest Communications International Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. 

 

	2.	GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK. 

The Company hereby grants to the Grantee              shares
(the “Shares”) of Common Stock (the “Restricted Stock”), effective as of                      (the “Transfer
Date”). Effective as of the Transfer Date, the Grantee will be the holder of record of the Restricted Stock and will have the right to receive all amounts, including cash and property of any kind, distributed with respect to the Restricted
Stock. 
  

	3.	RESTRICTIONS. 

 The
Grantee will not sell, assign, transfer by gift or otherwise, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of, by operation of law or otherwise, any of the Shares for the period commencing on the Transfer Date and ending on the Expiration Date (as
defined in Section 4), except as otherwise provided in Section 4 or Section 5 or as otherwise permitted by this Agreement or the Plan. 
 If any transfer of Shares is made or attempted to be made contrary to the terms of this Agreement or the Plan, the Company will have the right to acquire for its own account, without the payment of any
consideration therefor, those Shares from the owner thereof or his transferee, at any time before or after the prohibited transfer. In addition to any other legal or equitable remedies it may have, the Company may enforce its rights to

 
specific performance to the extent permitted by law and may exercise any other equitable remedies then available to it. The Company may refuse for any purpose to recognize any transferee who
receives Shares contrary to the provisions of this Agreement or the Plan as a stockholder of the Company and may retain and/or recover all dividends on those Shares that were paid or payable subsequent to the date on which the prohibited transfer
was made or attempted. 
  

	4.	VESTING; LAPSE OF RESTRICTIONS. 

 On the earlier of the closing date of the Company’s pending merger with CenturyLink, Inc. or July 1, 2011, the Company will determine the number of Shares that will be “Earned Shares”
for purposes of this Agreement, using the guidelines described on Appendix A. Any Shares that are not determined to be Earned Shares will be immediately forfeited. 
 Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Earned Shares will vest and become unrestricted in one-third installments upon each of March 5, 2012, March 5, 2013, and March 5,
2014; provided that, with respect to each installment, the Grantee has remained in continuous employment with the Company from the Transfer Date until the date the installment is designated to vest. 

The Earned Shares will be fully vested and unrestricted and this Agreement will terminate on the last vesting installment date described
in the paragraph immediately above (the “Expiration Date”). Shares that have vested and become unrestricted are referred to as “Vested Shares.” Shares that have not vested and become unrestricted, and that have not been
forfeited, are referred to as “Unvested Shares.” 
 Notwithstanding the vesting schedule set forth above, any Unvested
Shares will immediately become Vested Shares: 
  

	 	(a)	in the event of the Grantee’s death or Disability, or 

  

	 	(b)	if, within the two-year period after a Change in Control: 

  

	 	(i)	the Grantee’s employment with the Company is involuntarily terminated without Cause (as defined by the severance agreement between the Company and the Grantee (the
“Severance Agreement”)), or 

  

	 	(ii)	the Grantee terminates his or her employment with the Company for Good Reason (as defined by the Severance Agreement) and the Company fails to remedy the condition
triggering Good Reason during the 30-day remedy period under the Severance Agreement; provided, however, that if: 

  

	 	(A)	the Change in Control occurs as a result of the closing of the Company’s pending merger with CenturyLink, Inc., 

  
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	 	(B)	at least 60 days before the date of the Change in Control, CenturyLink requests in writing that the Grantee continue his or her employment for a transition period of
not more than 12 months after the date of the Change in Control, and 

  

	 	(C)	during the requested transition period, there is no reduction of either the Grantee’s base salary or target annual bonus (each as in effect immediately before the
Change in Control) and no requirement that the Grantee’s primary work location be moved to a location that is greater than 35 straight line miles from the Grantee’s primary work location immediately before the Change in Control,

 then any vesting that would otherwise occur under this paragraph (b)(ii) will be deferred until the last day of
the requested transition period and will occur only if the Grantee remains employed with the Company for the entire requested transition period. 
 The Grantee may, at Grantee’s discretion and subject to the policies of the Company, sell, assign, transfer by gift or otherwise, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of, by operation of law or
otherwise, any of the Vested Shares not withheld by the Company for tax withholding purposes pursuant to Section 8. 
  

	5.	TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; FORFEITURE OF UNVESTED SHARES. 

 In the event the Grantee’s employment with the Company terminates for any reason (other than a termination that results in Unvested Shares becoming Vested Shares under Section 4), all Unvested
Shares will be forfeited and the Grantee will immediately transfer and assign to the Company, without the requirement of consideration, all Unvested Shares, which will promptly be tendered to the Company by the delivery of certificates, if any, for
the Unvested Shares, duly endorsed in blank by the Grantee or the Grantee’s representative or with stock powers attached thereto duly endorsed, at the Company’s principal offices, all in form suitable for the transfer of those Shares to
the Company without the payment of any consideration therefor by the Company. After the time at which those Shares are required to be delivered to the Company for transfer to the Company, the Company will not pay any dividend to the Grantee on
account of those Shares or permit the Grantee to exercise any of the privileges or rights of a stockholder with respect to those Shares, but will, in so far as permitted by law, treat the Company as the owner of those Shares. 

 

	6.	ADJUSTMENT OF THE SHARES. 

Upon the occurrence of an event described in Article IV of the Plan, the Shares will be adjusted in accordance with Article IV.

  
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	7.	ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIONS. 

 If a certificate or certificates representing Unvested Shares is issued, it will bear the following legend: 
 “The Shares of stock represented by this Certificate are subject to all of the terms of a Restricted Stock Agreement between Qwest Communications International Inc. and the registered owner of this
Certificate (the “Agreement”) and to the terms of the Qwest Communications International Inc. Equity Incentive Plan. Copies of the Agreement and the Plan are on file at the office of the Company. The Agreement, among other things, limits
the right of the Owner to transfer the Shares represented hereby and provide in certain circumstances that all or a portion of the Shares must be returned to the Company.” 
 The Company may, in its sole discretion, require the Grantee to keep the certificate, if any, representing the Unvested Shares, duly endorsed, in the custody of the Company or a third party while the
Unvested Shares are subject to the restrictions contained in Section 3. 
 The Company’s Insider Trading Policy 110
requires that all Insider Employees and Section 16 Insiders (as defined in that policy) must pre-clear with the Law Department all proposed transactions in Qwest securities prior to transaction. 

 

	8.	TAX WITHHOLDING. 

Notwithstanding any Plan provision to the contrary, upon the vesting of any portion of the Shares, the Company will withhold from those
Shares a number of Shares having a value equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld under applicable federal, state and local income and other tax laws (collectively, the “Withholding Taxes”). In that case, the value of the Shares
to be withheld will be based on the closing market price of the Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the date the amount of the Withholding Taxes is determined. 

 

	9.	BINDING EFFECT. 

 This
Agreement will be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and successors of the parties hereto. 
  

	10.	WAIVER OF RIGHT TO JURY. 

By signing this Agreement, the Grantee voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waives any right he or she may have to a jury trial for
all claims relating to this Agreement and any other claim relating to the Grantee’s employment with Company. The Company also hereby voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently waives any right it might otherwise have to a jury trial for all
claims relating to this Agreement and any other claim relating to the Grantee’s employment with the Company. 

  
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	11.	GOVERNING LAW. 

 This
Agreement will be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws provisions of any state. Any action to enforce this Agreement will be brought in Colorado state or federal
district court and the parties waive any objection to the jurisdiction or venue of those courts. 
  

	12.	HEADINGS. 

 Headings are
for the convenience of the parties and are not a part of this Agreement. 
  

	13.	EXECUTION. 

 This
Agreement is voidable by the Company if the Grantee does not execute this Agreement within 30 days of execution by the Company. 
 IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the dates set forth opposite their signatures to be effective as of the Transfer Date. 
  

 

									
		 		 		 	QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
					
	Date:	 	  
	 		 	By:	  	  

		 		 		 		  	Executive Vice President,
		 		 		 		  	General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer
				
		 		 		 	GRANTEE:
				
	Date:	 	  
	 		 	  

 
  

	
	  

  
 10 

 Appendix A 
 Guidelines for Determining Earned Shares 
  

	•	 	 The Shares will be divided into two amounts – a 2010 Amount, and a 2011 Amount – based on the proportionate number of full months in 2010 and
2011 between September 1, 2010, and the date on which the determination occurs 

  

	•	 	 The 2010 Amount will be multiplied by the applicable percentage noted below based on the Company’s performance as compared to pre-established
revenue and EBITDA goals for 2010: 

  

	 	•	 	 100% if both goals are met 

  

	 	•	 	 50% if only one goal is met 

  

	 	•	 	 0% if neither goal is met 

  

	•	 	 The 2011 Amount will be adjusted similarly based on the Company’s performance as compared to certain financial goals for 2011

  

	•	 	 The Company will assess the Grantee’s individual performance between September 1, 2010, and the date on which the determination occurs and
assign the Grantee an individual performance percentage from 0% to 100%; the Company in its sole discretion has the right to reduce this individual performance percentage (to 0%, if necessary), and has the right to reduce any other future
compensation to which the Grantee does not have a contractual entitlement, to account for any difference between (1) the payout that the Grantee received in settlement of performance share awards that were subject to accelerated vesting
pursuant to an Amendment Agreement, dated December 20, 2010, between the Company and the Grantee and (2) the payout that the Grantee would have received if those performance share awards had vested in accordance with their original terms
(including vesting in connection with the closing of the Company’s pending merger with CenturyLink, Inc.) 

  

	•	 	 The “Earned Shares” will equal the sum of the 2010 Amount and the 2011 Amount (each as adjusted for corporate performance as described
above), multiplied by the Grantee’s individual performance percentage and rounded to the nearest 1,000 sharesForm of Amendment Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2010

 Exhibit 10.29 

AMENDMENT AGREEMENT1 
 This Amendment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of December 20, 2010 (the “Effective Date”), by and between QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL
INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and                      (the “Executive”). 

WHEREAS, the Company, CenturyLink, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (f/k/a CenturyTel, Inc.) (“CenturyLink”), and SB44
Acquisition Company, a Delaware corporation, have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 21, 2010 (the “Merger Agreement”); and 
 WHEREAS the Company anticipates that the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will be consummated in calendar year 2011 (such consummation, the “Closing”); and 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive have previously entered into restricted stock agreements (the “Restricted Stock
Agreements”) and performance share agreements (the “Performance Share Agreements”) with respect to the restricted stock and performance share awards referenced on Exhibit A; and 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive have previously entered into the severance agreement listed on Exhibit B (the “Severance
Agreement”); and 
 WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive wish to amend the Restricted Stock Agreements,
Performance Share Agreements and Severance Agreement (collectively, the “Prior Agreements”) by this Agreement; 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Executive and the Company have agreed and do hereby agree, to amend the Prior Agreements as follows: 
 1. All terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Prior Agreements. 
 2. The Restricted Stock Agreements are hereby amended to provide that all shares of Restricted Stock granted under such Agreements which are unvested (the “Accelerating Restricted
Stock”) on the Effective Date (or such other date on or before December 31, 2010, as may be set by the Company’s Board of Directors) (the “Acceleration Date”) shall become vested and cease to be subject to any
risk of forfeiture on the Acceleration Date. The Performance Share Agreements are hereby amended to provide that each Performance Period shall end, and all Performance Shares granted under such Agreements (the “Accelerating 

 
  

	1	 Template for Mueller, Baer, Euteneuer, Taylor, Yost and Ancell. 

  
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Performance Shares”) shall vest, on the Acceleration Date, all Accelerating Performance Shares shall be paid to the Executive based on the Company’s actual performance in
accordance with the performance targets and the process for the calculation of payouts set forth in the applicable Performance Share Agreements, and the Acceleration Date shall be treated as the sole date of the Ending Measurement Period. If the
Executive has chosen to have the Executive’s Performance Shares settled in shares of Common Stock, such Accelerating Performance Shares shall be settled and the shares of Common Stock shall be delivered to the Executive no later than
December 31, 2010. The Accelerating Restricted Stock, together with any shares of Common Stock received in settlement of the Accelerating Performance Shares, are referred to herein as the “Accelerating Shares.” 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the number of Accelerating Performance Shares calculated based on the Acceleration Date being treated
as the sole date of the Ending Measurement Period (the “Issued Performance Shares”) is less than the number of Accelerating Performance Shares that would have been settled or distributed, or cashed out as the case may be, had the
date of the Closing been treated as the sole date of the Ending Measurement Period (the “Closing Performance Shares”), then the number of additional shares of Common Stock which represents the difference between the Issued
Performance Shares and the Closing Performance Shares shall be issued to the Executive as soon as reasonably practicable following the Closing. If the Issued Performance Shares exceed the Closing Performance Shares, then
Executive acknowledges that the Company shall have the right to reduce compensation that might otherwise be paid to the Executive following the Closing Date and in respect of which Executive does not have a contractual
entitlement to payment in an amount that is equal to or less than the value of the difference between the Issued Performance Shares and the Closing Performance Shares. 

[The Restricted Stock Agreements and Performance Share Agreements are hereby amended to provide that the Executive may not sell, assign,
transfer by gift or otherwise, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of, by operation of law or otherwise, any Accelerating Share until: (a) if the Closing occurs and the Executive has not voluntarily resigned employment with the Company,
and the Company has not terminated the Executive’s employment for “Cause” (as defined in the respective Restricted Stock Agreement or Performance Share Agreement), in either case prior to the Closing, immediately following the
occurrence of the Closing; (b) if the Closing occurs and the Executive has voluntarily resigned employment with the Company, or the Company has terminated the Executive’s employment for Cause, in either case prior to the Closing,
December 20, 2019; or (c) if the Closing does not occur prior to the date that an Accelerating Share would have otherwise become vested pursuant to the terms of the Restricted Stock Agreement or Performance Share Agreement pursuant to
which it was granted had this Agreement not been entered into (the “Original Vesting Date”), the Original Vesting Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such restrictions shall be waived: (x) between March 1, 2011 and
March 15, 2011 if the Closing has not occurred as of the date of such sale or other disposition during such period and the Executive has a tax liability for 2010 with respect to such Accelerating Shares which exceeds the amount withheld by the
Company, but only to the extent required for the Executive to satisfy such incremental tax liability and only to the extent permissible under applicable law and any applicable insider trading policy (after consultation with counsel to the
Executive); and (y) in any other circumstance in which such restrictions are waived in writing by (i) prior to the Closing, with respect to any individual who has a title of 

  
 2 

 
Executive Vice President of the Company or higher, and/or who is an officer of the Company for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Compensation and
Human Resources Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, with the prior written consent of CenturyLink; (ii) prior to the Closing, with respect to any other individual, the General Counsel of the Company, with the prior written
consent of CenturyLink; or (iii) on or subsequent to the Closing, with the prior written consent of the General Counsel of CenturyLink.]2 
 [The Restricted Stock Agreements and Performance Share Agreements are hereby amended to provide that the Executive may not sell, assign, transfer by gift or otherwise, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise
dispose of, by operation of law or otherwise, any Accelerating Share until: (a) if the Closing occurs and the Executive has not voluntarily resigned employment with the Company, and the Company has not terminated the Executive’s employment
for “Cause” (as defined in the respective Restricted Stock Agreement or Performance Share Agreement), in either case prior to the date that the Accelerating Share would have otherwise become vested pursuant to the terms of the Restricted
Stock Agreement or Performance Share Agreement pursuant to which it was granted had this Agreement not been entered into (the “Original Vesting Date”), the Original Vesting Date; (b) if the Closing occurs and the Executive has
voluntarily resigned employment with the Company, or the Company has terminated the Executive’s employment for Cause, in either case prior to such Accelerating Share’s Original Vesting Date, December 20, 2019; or (c) if the
Closing does not occur prior to such Accelerating Share’s Original Vesting Date, the Original Vesting Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such restrictions shall be waived: (x) between March 1, 2011 and March 15, 2011 if the
Closing has not occurred as of the date of such sale or other disposition during such period and the Executive has a tax liability for 2010 with respect to such Accelerating Shares which exceeds the amount withheld by the Company, but only to the
extent required for the Executive to satisfy such incremental tax liability and only to the extent permissible under applicable law and any applicable insider trading policy (after consultation with counsel to the Executive); and (y) in any
other circumstance in which such restrictions are waived in writing by (i) prior to the Closing, with respect to any individual who has a title of Executive Vice President of the Company or higher, and/or who is an officer of the Company for
purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, with the prior written consent of CenturyLink; (ii) prior to the Closing,
with respect to any other individual, the General Counsel of the Company, with the prior written consent of CenturyLink; or (iii) on or subsequent to the Closing, with the prior written consent of the General Counsel of CenturyLink.]3 

[If the Executive has chosen to have the Executive’s Performance Shares settled in cash, then such cash, less any taxes required to
be withheld therefrom, shall be paid to the Executive within five business days after the Acceleration Date. The Executive agrees to contribute such after-tax amount into escrow immediately upon receipt by the Executive, to be released to the
Executive only on the date(s) that the Executive would have been able to sell or otherwise 
  

 

	2	 Delete for Ancell. 

	3	 For Ancell only. 

  
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transfer such Accelerating Share pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, had the Executive elected to receive Common Stock instead of cash in settlement of the Executive’s Performance Share
award, except where such delay is waived, in whole or in part, in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing
paragraph.]4 

[3. Within five business days after the Acceleration Date, Executive shall be paid
$        , less any taxes required to be withheld from such amount (such after-tax amount, the “Severance Amount”). Executive agrees to contribute the Severance Amount into escrow
immediately upon receipt by the Executive, to be released to Executive on the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which occurs the Closing, provided that the Executive has not terminated employment without “Good Reason” or been fired
for “Cause” (each as defined in the Severance Agreement) prior to the Closing; (b) the date on which Executive has a termination of employment which gives rise to the right to receive severance payments under the Severance Agreement;
or (c) December 20, 2014. In connection with the foregoing, the Severance Agreement is hereby amended effective as of the Acceleration Date to reduce the amount of cash severance benefits payable thereunder
by $        . Within five business days after the Acceleration Date, as a separate payment, the Company will pay the Executive an additional amount in connection with the payment pursuant to this
paragraph of the Severance Amount sufficient to cover any additional taxes and costs incurred by the Executive due to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and income taxes on such amount, such that Executive is left in
the same after-tax position as if such Section 409A had not applied. ]5 
 [4. It is the Company’s intention that this
Agreement not cause the Executive to incur additional federal and state tax liability in excess of the liability recognized with respect to the acceleration of the Restricted Stock and Performance Shares [and Severance Amount]6 described above (any such excess, the “Excess Tax”).
Consistent with that intent, the Company shall indemnify the Executive for any Excess Tax imposed on the Executive due to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and for any tax advisor and legal fees incurred by the
Executive in connection with the imposition of the Excess Tax and the calculation of the indemnification payment in a manner such that the Executive is left in the same after-tax position as if that section had not applied. Any such amounts
shall be paid to the Executive no later than the final day of the Executive’s taxable year in which such Excess Tax or fees are paid. For the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement shall not affect the Executive’s rights under
Section 4 of the Severance Agreement. 
 5. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Severance Agreement to the
contrary, the Company shall remain obligated to make all such payments as set forth in Section 4 of the Severance Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, however, if, in accordance with the 

 

	4	 Delete for Ancell. 

	5	 For Taylor only. 

	6	 For Taylor only. 

  
 4 

 
terms of the Severance Agreement as amended by this Agreement, no “Tax Reimbursement Payment” (as defined in the Severance Agreement) is to be made in connection with the Closing or the
transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement, and the applicable taxing authority later determines that an Excise Tax (as defined in the Severance Agreement) is due, then once the amount of such Excise Tax is determined the Company or its
successor shall make a Tax Reimbursement Payment (as defined in Section 4(a) of the Severance Agreement) to put the Executive in the same after tax position as if Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code had not applied (plus any interest or
penalties payable with respect to the amounts to which such Tax Reimbursement Payment relate) within thirty (30) days following such determination (subject to the provisions of Sections 4(d)(3) and 4(d)(4) of the Severance Agreement).

 6. The Company agrees to cause to be maintained in effect for the benefit of the Executive, until the
later of (a) the date that all amounts are paid or provided to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement and, to the extent applicable, Section 4 of the Severance Agreement and (b) the date on which expires the longest of any statutes
of limitations applying to claims with respect to this Agreement and, to the extent applicable, Section 4 of the Severance Agreement, a letter of credit (the “Letter of Credit”) having a face value of not less than $1,000,000.
The Executive shall be entitled to draw upon the Letter of Credit solely to pay for accounting or legal fees to enforce the terms of this Agreement and Section 4 of the Severance Agreement or to provide legal or accounting advice in connection
with any Excess Tax or Tax Reimbursement Payment. The Company shall undertake all necessary steps to ensure that neither the providing of a Letter of Credit nor the maintenance of the Letter of Credit shall result in any income taxes to be imposed
on the Executive by reason of providing or maintenance of such Letter of Credit. Upon the Executive’s request, the Company shall provide evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Executive that the Letter of Credit has been established and is
maintained in accordance with this Agreement and Section 4 of the Severance Agreement and shall provide terms, including terms with respect to distribution of funds, reasonably satisfactory to counsel to Executive and the Company. After the
amount of the Letter of Credit has been exhausted, all liability to pay all amounts, including legal fees, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and Section 4 of the Severance Agreement shall remain in existence in accordance with
their terms. ]7 

[7. The Severance Agreement is hereby amended to add the following Section      at the end thereof:

 [    ].    a.    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by Executive (including any payment or benefit received or to be received in connection with a Change in Control or the termination of Executive’s employment,
whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (all such payments and benefits, including any severance payments or benefits due under this Agreement (the “Severance Payments”), being

  
  

	7	 For Baer, Taylor and Yost. 

  
 5 

 
hereinafter referred to as the “Total Payments”) would be subject (in whole or part), to any excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise
Tax”), then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, any cash Severance Payments that do not constitute deferred
compensation within the meaning of Section 409A shall first be reduced, all other Severance Payments that do not constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A shall be next reduced, and all other Severance Payments
that do constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A shall thereafter be reduced (beginning with those payments last to be paid), to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise
Tax but only if (A) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized
deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (B) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local
income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which Executive would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable
to such unreduced Total Payments); provided, however, that, to the extent permitted by Section 409A, Executive may elect to have the noncash Severance Payments reduced (or eliminated) prior to any reduction of the cash Severance
Payments. 
 b. For purposes of determining whether and the extent to which the Total Payments will be subject
to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (i) no portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which Executive shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within the
meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code shall be taken into account, (ii) no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of tax counsel or other advisor (the “280G Advisor”) reasonably
acceptable to Executive and selected by the Company, does not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code) and, in calculating
the Excise Tax, no portion of such Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of the 280G Advisor, constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the
Code, in excess of the Base Amount allocable to such reasonable compensation, and (iii) the value of any non-cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be determined by the 280G Advisor in accordance
with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. For purposes of this calculation, (1) Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income tax at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation in the calendar year in which
the applicable Total Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of Executive’s residence in the calendar year in which the

  
 6 

 
applicable Total Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes and (2) except to the extent
that Executive otherwise notifies the Company, Executive shall be deemed to be subject to the loss of itemized deductions and personal exemptions to the maximum extent provided by the Code for each dollar of incremental income. 

8. [As of the Effective Date, he Executive hereby waives any right to receive the $10,764,000
severance payment to which he might otherwise be due under the Employment Agreement in connection with his termination of employment on or after the Closing.]8 
 9. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflict of law provisions. 
 10. This Agreement and the Severance Agreement shall be binding on the Company and any successor in interest or assign of the Company, and in the event of any corporate transaction (including the
transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement) pursuant to which any entity becomes the successor in interest or assign of the Company, such entity shall be required to specifically assume this Agreement. 

11. Except as otherwise provided herein, the remaining terms of the Prior Agreements shall remain in full force and effect. 

 
  

	8	 For Mueller only. 

  
 7 

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment or caused it to be
executed on their behalf as of the date first above written. 
  

			
	 QWEST COMMUNICATIONS
 INTERNATIONAL INC.

		
	By:	 	  

		 	Name: Edward A. Mueller
		 	Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
	
	EXECUTIVE
		
	By:	 	  

		 	Name:

  
 8 

 EXHIBIT A 
 [list awards relating to Restricted Stock Agreement and Performance Share Agreements] 

  
 9 

 EXHIBIT B 
 [list Severance Agreement and any amendments thereto] 

  
 10 

 AMENDMENT AGREEMENT1 
 This Amendment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of December 20, 2010 (the “Effective Date”), by and between QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL
INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and                              (the
“Executive”). 
 WHEREAS, the Company, CenturyLink, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (f/k/a CenturyTel, Inc.), and
SB44 Acquisition Company, a Delaware corporation, have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 21, 2010 (the “Merger Agreement”); and 

WHEREAS the Company anticipates that the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will be consummated in calendar year 2011
(such consummation, the “Closing”); and 
 WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive have previously entered into
restricted stock agreements (the “Restricted Stock Agreements”) and performance share agreements (the “Performance Share Agreements”) with respect to the restricted stock and performance share awards
referenced on Exhibit A; and 
 WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive have previously entered into the severance agreement
listed on Exhibit B (the “Severance Agreement”); and 
 WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive wish to
amend the Restricted Stock Agreements, Performance Share Agreements and Severance Agreement (collectively, the “Prior Agreements”) by this Agreement; 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Executive
and the Company have agreed and do hereby agree, to amend the Prior Agreements as follows: 
 1. All terms used herein but not
defined shall have the meanings given them in the Prior Agreements. 
 2. The Restricted Stock Agreements are hereby amended to
provide that all shares of Restricted Stock granted under such Agreements which are unvested (the “Accelerating Restricted Stock”) on the Effective Date (or such other date on or before December 31, 2010, as may be set by the
Company’s Board of Directors) (the “Acceleration Date”) shall become vested and cease to be subject to any risk of forfeiture on the Acceleration Date. The Performance Share Agreements are hereby amended to provide that each
Performance Period shall end, and all Performance Shares granted under such Agreements (the “Accelerating Performance Shares”) shall vest, on the Acceleration Date, and the Acceleration Date shall be 

 
  

	1	 Template for Johnston. 

  
 11 

 
treated as the sole date of the Ending Measurement Period. The Accelerating Restricted Stock, together with any shares of Common Stock received in settlement of the Accelerating Performance
Shares, are referred to herein as the “Accelerating Shares.” 
 The Restricted Stock Agreements and Performance
Share Agreements are hereby amended to provide that the Executive may not sell, assign, transfer by gift or otherwise, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of, by operation of law or otherwise, any Accelerating Share until: (a) if the
Closing occurs and the Executive has not voluntarily resigned employment with the Company, and the Company has not terminated the Executive’s employment for “Cause” (as defined in the respective Restricted Stock Agreement or
Performance Share Agreement), in either case as of the Closing, immediately following the occurrence of the Closing; (b) if the Closing occurs and the Executive has voluntarily resigned employment with the Company, or the Company has terminated
the Executive’s employment for Cause, in either case as of the Closing, December 20, 2019; (c) if the Closing does not occur prior to the date that an Accelerating Share would have otherwise become vested pursuant to the terms of the
Restricted Stock Agreement or Performance Share Agreement pursuant to which it was granted had this Agreement not been entered into (the “Original Vesting Date”), the Original Vesting Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such
restrictions shall be waived: (x) between March 1, 2011 and March 15, 2011 if the Closing has not occurred as of the date of such sale or other disposition during such period and the Executive has a tax liability for 2010 with respect
to such Accelerating Shares which exceeds the amount withheld by the Company, but only to the extent required for the Executive to satisfy such incremental tax liability; and (y) in any other circumstance in which such restrictions are waived
in writing by (i) with respect to any individual who has a title of Executive Vice President of the Company or higher, and/or who is an officer of the Company for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
the Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors; or (ii) with respect to any other individual, the General Counsel of the Company. 
 3. The Severance Agreement is hereby amended to delete Section 2.b. in its entirety and restate it as follows: 
 b. EQUITY AWARDS. The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, periodically grant Executive additional equity awards under the Stock Plan. Notwithstanding the terms of any stock option or other equity
award agreement to the contrary, upon a Change in Control, all equity awards granted to Executive after September 19, 2002 under the Stock Plan will immediately vest and all stock options will remain exercisable for the full term of the option,
except that all equity awards granted to Executive between December 20, 2010 and the date on which occurs the closing of the transactions contemplated by Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into between the Company, CenturyLink, Inc., a
Louisiana corporation (f/k/a CenturyTel, Inc.), and SB44 Acquisition Company, a Delaware corporation, dated as of April 21, 2010, will vest according to the terms of the applicable equity award agreement. 

  
 12 

 4. The Severance Agreement is hereby amended to add the following Section
     at the end thereof: 
 [ ]. a. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, in the
event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by Executive (including any payment or benefit received or to be received in connection with a Change in Control or the termination of Executive’s employment, whether pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (all such payments and benefits, including any severance payments or benefits due under this Agreement (the “Severance Payments”), being hereinafter referred to as
the “Total Payments”) would be subject (in whole or part), to any excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments
provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, any cash Severance Payments that do not constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A shall first be reduced, all other
Severance Payments that do not constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A shall be next reduced, and all other Severance Payments that do constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A shall
thereafter be reduced (beginning with those payments last to be paid), to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (A) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after
subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater
than or equal to (B) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which Executive would be
subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments); provided, however, that, to the extent
permitted by Section 409A, Executive may elect to have the noncash Severance Payments reduced (or eliminated) prior to any reduction of the cash Severance Payments. 

b. For purposes of determining whether and the extent to which the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and
the amount of such Excise Tax, (i) no portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which Executive shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within the meaning of
Section 280G(b) of the Code shall be taken into account, (ii) no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of tax counsel or other advisor (the “280G Advisor”) reasonably acceptable to
Executive and selected by the Company, does not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code) and, in calculating the Excise Tax,
no portion of such Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of the 280G Advisor, constitutes reasonable 

  
 13 

 
compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the Base Amount allocable to such reasonable compensation, and
(iii) the value of any non-cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be determined by the 280G Advisor in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. For purposes of
this calculation, (1) Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income tax at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation in the calendar year in which the applicable Total Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the
highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of Executive’s residence in the calendar year in which the applicable Total Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from
deduction of such state and local taxes and (2) except to the extent that Executive otherwise notifies the Company, Executive shall be deemed to be subject to the loss of itemized deductions and personal exemptions to the maximum extent
provided by the Code for each dollar of incremental income. 
 5. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Delaware without regard to its conflict of law provisions. 
 6. Except as otherwise provided herein, the remaining terms of the
Prior Agreements shall remain in full force and effect. 

  
 14 

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment or caused it to be
executed on their behalf as of the date first above written. 
  

					
	 QWEST COMMUNICATIONS
 INTERNATIONAL INC.

		
	By:	 	  

		 	Name:	 	Richard N. Baer
		 	Title:	 	 Executive Vice President, General
 Counsel and Chief Administrative
 Officer

	
	EXECUTIVE
		
	By:	 	  

		 	Name:	 	

  
 15 

 EXHIBIT A 
 [list awards relating to Restricted Stock Agreement and Performance Share Agreements] 

  
 16 

 EXHIBIT B 
 [list Severance Agreement and any amendments thereto] 

  
 17

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