Document:

Amended and Restated 2001 Omnibus Stock Ownership Plan

 Exhibit 10.a 
  
 McDONALD’S CORPORATION AMENDED AND RESTATED 2001 OMNIBUS STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN 
  
 The Plan 
  
 McDonald’s Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), established the McDonald’s Corporation 2001 Omnibus
Stock Ownership Plan (the “Plan”) effective as of May 17, 2001, and the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the May 17, 2001 Annual Meeting. The Plan as originally so established permitted the grant of stock options,
restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, performance units, stock bonuses and other stock-based awards. 
  
 The Plan has been amended and restated effective as of March 18, 2004 (the “Effective Date”), subject to the approval of the Company’s
stockholders at the May 20, 2004 Annual Meeting. The Plan as so amended permits the grant of stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, stock bonuses, dividend equivalents and other stock-based awards. 
  
 The terms and conditions of the Plan as in effect before the Effective Date
shall continue to apply to Awards granted before the Effective Date. 
  
 1. PURPOSE 
  
 The purpose of this Plan is to
advance the interest of the Company by encouraging and enabling the acquisition of a larger personal financial interest in the Company by those employees and non-employee directors and senior directors upon whose judgment and efforts the Company is
largely dependent for the successful conduct of its operations. It is anticipated that the acquisition of such financial interest and Stock ownership will stimulate the efforts of such employees and directors on behalf of the Company, strengthen
their desire to continue in the service of the Company, and encourage shareholder and entrepreneurial perspectives through Stock ownership. It is also anticipated that the opportunity to obtain such financial interest and Stock ownership will prove
attractive to promising new employees and will assist the Company in attracting such employees. 
  
 2. DEFINITIONS 
  
 As used in this Plan, the terms set forth below shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the
terms defined): 
  

	 	(a)	“Affiliate Service” of a Grantee who is an employee of the Company means the Grantee’s Company Service plus the Grantee’s aggregate number of years of
employment with any Subsidiary during the period before it became a Subsidiary, unless the Committee determines otherwise in connection with an entity’s becoming a Subsidiary. 

  

	 	(b)	“Award” means any stock options, shares of restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, stock bonuses, dividend equivalents and other stock-based awards granted
under this Plan. In addition, for purposes of Section 3(d) only, “Award” means any award granted under any Prior Plan. 

  

	 	(c)	“Award Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 4(c)(iv). 

  

	 	(d)	“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company. 

  

	 	(e)	“Business Combination” has the meaning specified in Section 2(g)(iii). 

  

	 	(f)	“Cause” means (i) in the case of a Grantee who is an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary, the Grantee’s commission of any act or acts involving dishonesty,
fraud, illegality or moral turpitude, and (ii) in the case of a Grantee who is a non-employee director or senior director of the Company, cause pursuant to Article Thirteenth (c) of the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

  

	 	(g)	“Change in Control” means the happening of any of the following events: 

  

	 	(i)	the acquisition by any Person of “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act) of 20% or more of either (A) the then-outstanding
shares of Stock (“Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (B) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting
Securities”); provided, however, that, for purposes of this Section 2(g)(i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company, (2) any acquisition by the Company, (3) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity controlled by the Company or (4) any acquisition by any entity pursuant to a transaction that complies with Sections 2(g)(iii)(A), (B)
and (C); or 

  

	 	(ii)	individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided,
however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the
Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, 

  

 Exhibit 10.a     1 

 for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual
or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or 
  

	 	(iii)	consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving the Company and/or any entity controlled by the
Company, or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by the Company or any entity controlled by the Company (each, a “Business
Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting
Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of
the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company
Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any entity resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially
owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such
corporation, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the
Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or 

  

	 	(iv)	approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company. 

  

	 	(h)	“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations and rulings thereunder. References to a particular section of, or rule under, the Code
shall include references to successor provisions. 

  

	 	(i)	“Committee” has the meaning specified in Section 4(a). 

  

	 	(j)	“Company” has the meaning specified in the first paragraph. 

  

	 	(k)	“Company Service” of a Grantee who is an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary means the Grantee’s aggregate number of years of employment with the Company
and its Subsidiaries during periods when those entities were Subsidiaries. 

  

	 	(l)	“Disability” as it regards employees means, a “disability” within the meaning of the Company’s Profit Sharing and Savings Program, as amended from
time to time. 

  
 “Disability”as it regards non-employee directors and senior directors means a physical or mental condition that prevents the director from performing his or her duties as a member of the Board or a senior director, as
applicable, and that is expected to be permanent or for an indefinite duration exceeding one year. 
  

	 	(m)	“Disaffiliation” of a Subsidiary means the Subsidiary’s ceasing to be a Subsidiary for any reason (including, without limitation, as a result of a public
offering, or a spinoff or sale by the Company, of the stock of the Subsidiary). 

  

	 	(n)	“dividend equivalent” means an Award made pursuant to Section 6(g). 

  

	 	(o)	“Effective Date” means March 18, 2004. 

  

	 	(p)	“Fair Market Value” of any security of the Company means, as of any applicable date, the closing price of the security at the close of normal trading hours on the
New York Stock Exchange, or, if no such sale of the security shall have occurred on such date, on the next preceding date on which there was such a sale. 

  

	 	(q)	“Foreign Equity Incentive Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 14. 

  

	 	(r)	“Grant Date” has the meaning specified in Section 6(a)(i). 

  

	 	(s)	“Grantee” means an individual who has been granted an Award. 

  

	 	(t)	“Immediate Family” means a Grantee’s spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, stepparents, grandparents, siblings, nieces, nephews and in-laws.

  

	 	(u)	“including” or “includes” means “including, without limitation,” or “includes, without limitation.” 

 

 2    Exhibit 10.a 

	 	(v)	“Incumbent Board” has the meaning specified in Section 2(g)(ii). 

  

	 	(w)	“Minimum Consideration” means $.01 per share or such larger amount determined pursuant to resolution of the Board to be “capital” (within the meaning of
Section 154 of the Delaware General Corporation Law). 

  

	 	(x)	“Minimum Vesting Requirement” means a requirement that (A) in the case of Awards to which the Minimum Vesting Requirement applies covering up to an aggregate of 2.5
million shares (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 22), that such Awards become nonforfeitable not sooner than the first anniversary of the Grant Date; and (B) in the case of all other Awards to which the Minimum Vesting Requirement
applies, that such Awards become nonforfeitable not more rapidly than in three equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the Grant Date; in either case, subject to Sections 12, 13 and 21. 

  

	 	(y)	“1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and regulations and rulings thereunder. References to a particular section of, or rule under, the
1934 Act shall include references to successor provisions. 

  

	 	(z)	“non-employee director” means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company. 

  

	 	(aa)	“Option Price” means the per-share purchase price of Stock subject to a stock option. 

  

	 	(bb)	“other stock-based award” means an Award made pursuant to Section 6(h). 

  

	 	(cc)	“Outstanding Company Common Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 2(g)(i). 

  

	 	(dd)	“Outstanding Company Voting Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 2(g)(i). 

  

	 	(ee)	“Performance Percentage” has the meaning specified in Section 6(f)(i)(C). 

  

	 	(ff)	“Permissible Transferee” has the meaning specified in Section 8. 

  

	 	(gg)	“Person” means any “individual,” “entity” or “group,” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act.

  

	 	(hh)	“Plan” means this McDonald’s Corporation Amended and Restated 2001 Omnibus Stock Ownership Plan. 

  

	 	(ii)	“Prior Plan” means the McDonald’s Corporation 1992 Stock Ownership Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, and the McDonald’s Corporation 1975 Stock
Ownership Option Plan, as amended and restated. 

  

	 	(jj)	“Qualified Performance-Based Award” means any Award that is intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption, as provided in Section 23.

  

	 	(kk)	“Qualified Performance Goal” means a performance goal established by the Committee in connection with the grant of a Qualified Performance-Based Award, which (i) is
based on the attainment of specified levels of one or more Specified Performance Goals, and (ii) is set by the Committee within the time period prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code; provided, that in the case of a stock option or stock
appreciation right, the Qualified Performance Goal shall be considered to have been established without special action by the Committee, by virtue of the fact that the Stock subject to such Award must increase in value over its Fair Market Value on
the Grant Date (or over a higher value) in order for the Grantee to realize any compensation from exercising the stock option or stock appreciation right. 

  

	 	(ll)	“Retirement” as it regards employees means a Termination of Employment any time after attaining either (i) age 60 with at least 20 years of Affiliate Service, or
(ii) combined age and years of Affiliate Service equal to or greater than 70, other than a Termination of Employment for Cause. 

  
 “Retirement” as it regards non-employee directors and senior directors means Termination of Directorship with at least 10
years of service as a member of the Board and/or a senior director or after age 70. 
  

	 	(mm)	“Section 16 Grantee” means an individual subject to potential liability under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act with respect to transactions involving equity securities
of the Company. 

  

	 	(nn)	“Section 162(m) Exemption” means the exemption from the limitation on deductibility imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code that is set forth in Section 162(m)(4)(C)
of the Code. 

  

	 	(oo)	“Service-Vesting Award” means an Award, the vesting of which is contingent solely on the continued service of the Grantee as an employee of the Company and its
Subsidiaries or as a non-employee director or a senior director of the Company. 

  

	 	(pp)	“Special Circumstances” for a Termination of Employment of a Grantee means (i) the Grantee’s employment was terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary without
Cause, or (ii) the Grantee becomes an owner-operator of a McDonald’s restaurant in connection with the Termination of Employment. 

  

	 	(qq)	“Specified Performance Goal” means any of the following measures as applied to the Company as a whole or to any Subsidiary, division or other unit of the Company:
revenue; operating income; net income; basic or diluted earnings per share; return on revenue; return on assets; return on equity; return on total capital; or total shareholder return. 

  

 Exhibit 10.a     3 

	 	(rr)	“Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share. 

  

	 	(ss)	“Subsidiary” means any entity in which the Company directly or through intervening subsidiaries owns 25% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all
classes of stock, or, in the case of an unincorporated entity, a 25% or more interest in the capital and profits. 

  

	 	(tt)	“Tendered Restricted Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 9(a). 

  

	 	(uu)	“Termination of Directorship” means the first date upon which a non-employee director or a senior director is neither a member of the Board nor a senior director.

  

	 	(vv)	“Termination of Employment” of a Grantee means the termination of the Grantee’s employment with the Company and the Subsidiaries. A Grantee employed by a
Subsidiary also shall be deemed to incur a Termination of Employment if there occurs a Disaffiliation of that Subsidiary, unless either (i) the Grantee is, immediately after the Disaffiliation, an employee of the Company or one of the remaining
Subsidiaries, or (ii) in connection with the Disaffiliation, the Awards held by the Grantee are assumed, or replaced with new awards, by the former Subsidiary or an entity that controls the former Subsidiary following the Disaffiliation.

  

	 	(ww)	“Unit Value” has the meaning specified in Section 9(c)(iii). 

  

3. SCOPE OF THIS PLAN 
  

	 	(a)	The total number of shares of Stock delivered to Grantees pursuant to this Plan shall not exceed 116,511,331 shares (including 2,511,331 shares available as of the Effective Date
under the McDonald’s Corporation 1975 Stock Ownership Option Plan, as amended and restated), subject to the other provisions of this Section 3 and to adjustment as provided in Section 22. Such shares may be treasury shares or newly-issued
shares or both, as may be determined from time to time by the Board or by the Committee appointed pursuant to Section 4. 

  

	 	(b)	Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 22, the maximum number of shares of Stock for which stock options and stock appreciation rights may be granted to any Grantee in any
one-year period shall be 2 million, and the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be granted to any Grantee in any one-year period in the form of restricted stock, dividend equivalents (other than dividend equivalents that are part of another
Award), and other stock-based awards, in each case that are Qualified Performance-based Awards, shall be 500,000 (provided, that in the case of dividend equivalents, the number of shares taken into account for this purpose shall be the number of
shares with respect to which the dividend equivalents are calculated). Subject to the other provisions of this Section 3 and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 22, not more than 500,000 bonus shares of Stock may be granted under this Plan.

  

	 	(c)	If and to the extent an Award granted under this Plan shall, after the Effective Date, expire or terminate for any reason without having been exercised in full, or shall be
forfeited or settled for cash, the shares of Stock (including restricted stock) associated with the expired, terminated or forfeited portion of such Award shall become available for other Awards. In no event shall the number of shares of Stock
considered to be delivered pursuant to the exercise of a stock appreciation right include the shares that represent the grant or exercise price thereof, which shares are not delivered to the Grantee upon exercise. 

  

	 	(d)	If and to the extent an Award granted under a Prior Plan shall, after the Effective Date, expire or terminate for any reason without having been exercised in full, or shall be
forfeited or settled for cash, the shares of Stock (including restricted stock) associated with the expired, terminated or forfeited portion of such Award shall become available for Awards under this Plan. If, after the Effective Date, a Grantee
uses shares of Stock owned by the Grantee (by either actual delivery or by attestation) to pay the Option Price of any stock option granted under this Plan or a Prior Plan or to satisfy any tax-withholding obligation with respect to an Award granted
under this Plan or a Prior Plan, the number of shares of Stock delivered or attested to shall be added to the number of shares of Stock available for delivery under this Plan. To the extent any shares of Stock subject to a stock option granted under
this Plan are withheld, after the Effective Date, to satisfy the Option Price of that stock option, or any shares of Stock subject to an Award granted under this Plan are withheld to satisfy any tax-withholding obligation, such shares shall not be
deemed to have been delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of Stock available for delivery under this Plan. To the extent any shares of Stock subject to an Award granted under a Prior Plan are withheld, after the
Effective Date, to satisfy any tax-withholding obligation, such shares shall be added to the maximum number of shares of Stock available for delivery under this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no shares of Stock that become available for Awards
granted under this Plan pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3(d) shall be available for grants of incentive stock options pursuant to Section 6(c). 

  

 4    Exhibit 10.a 

 4. ADMINISTRATION 
  

	 	(a)	Subject to Section 4(b), this Plan shall be administered by a committee appointed by the Board (the “Committee”). All members of the Committee shall be “outside
directors” (as defined or interpreted for purposes of the Section 162(m) Exemption). The composition of the Committee also shall be subject to such limitations as the Board deems appropriate to permit transactions in Stock pursuant to this Plan
to be exempt from liability under Rule 16b-3 under the 1934 Act and to satisfy the “independence” requirements of any national securities exchange on which the Stock is listed. 

  

	 	(b)	The Board may, in its discretion, reserve to itself any or all of the authority and responsibility of the Committee. To the extent that the Board has reserved to itself the
authority and responsibility of the Committee, all references to the Committee in this Plan shall be deemed to refer to the Board. 

  

	 	(c)	The Committee shall have full and final authority, in its discretion, but subject to the express provisions of this Plan (including without limitation Section 23(e)), as follows:

  

	 	(i)	to grant Awards, 

  

	 	(ii)	to determine (A) when Awards may be granted, and (B) whether or not specific Awards shall be identified with other specific Awards, and, if so, whether they shall be exercisable
cumulatively with or alternatively to such other specific Awards, 

  

	 	(iii)	to interpret this Plan and to make all determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan, 

  

	 	(iv)	to determine all terms and provisions of all Awards, including without limitation any restrictions or conditions (including specifying such performance criteria as the Committee
deems appropriate, and imposing restrictions with respect to Stock acquired upon exercise of a stock option, which restrictions may continue beyond the Grantee’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Directorship, as applicable), which
shall be set forth in a written agreement for each Award (the “Award Agreements”), which need not be identical, and, with the consent of the Grantee, to modify any such Award Agreement at any time, 

  

	 	(v)	to authorize foreign Subsidiaries to adopt Foreign Equity Incentive Plans as provided in Section 14, 

  

	 	(vi)	to delegate any or all of its duties and responsibilities under this Plan to any individual or group of individuals it deems appropriate, except its duties and responsibilities with
respect to Section 16 Grantees and with respect to Qualified Performance-Based Awards, and (A) the acts of such delegates shall be treated hereunder as acts of the Committee and (B) such delegates shall report to the Committee regarding the
delegated duties and responsibilities, 

  

	 	(vii)	to accelerate the exercisability of, and to accelerate or waive any or all of the restrictions and conditions applicable to, any Award or any group of Awards, other than the Minimum
Vesting Requirement, for any reason, 

  

	 	(viii)	subject to Section 6(a)(ii), to extend the time during which any Award or group of Awards may be exercised or earned, 

  

	 	(ix)	to make such adjustments or modifications to Awards to Grantees working outside the United States as are necessary and advisable to fulfill the purposes of this Plan,

  

	 	(x)	to impose such additional conditions, restrictions and limitations upon the grant, exercise or retention of Awards as the Committee may, before or concurrently with the grant
thereof, deem appropriate, including requiring simultaneous exercise of related identified Awards and limiting the percentage of Awards that may from time to time be exercised by a Grantee, and 

  

	 	(xi)	to prescribe rules and regulations concerning the transferability of any Awards, and to make such adjustments or modifications to Awards transferable pursuant to Section 8 as are
necessary and advisable to fulfill the purposes of this Plan. 

  

	 	(d)	The determination of the Committee on all matters relating to this Plan or any Award Agreement shall be made in its sole discretion, and shall be conclusive and final. No member of
the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to this Plan or any Award. 

  

 Exhibit 10.a     5 

 5. ELIGIBILITY 
  
 Awards may be granted to any employee (including any officer) of the Company or any of its domestic Subsidiaries, any employee, officer or
director of any of the Company’s foreign Subsidiaries, and to any non-employee director or senior director of the Company. In selecting the individuals to whom Awards may be granted, as well as in determining the number of shares of Stock
subject to, and the other terms and conditions applicable to, each Award, the Committee shall take into consideration such factors as it deems relevant in promoting the purposes of this Plan. 
  
 6. CONDITIONS TO GRANTS 
  

	 	(a)	General conditions. 

  

	 	(i)	The “Grant Date” of an Award shall be the date on which the Committee grants the Award or such later date as specified in advance by the Committee.

  

	 	(ii)	The term of each Award shall be a period of 10 years from the Grant Date; provided, that the Committee may determine that the term of an Award will be a different period, not longer
than 15 years from the Grant Date; and provided, further, that in any event the term of each Award shall be subject to earlier termination as herein provided. 

  

	 	(iii)	A Grantee may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional Awards in any combination. 

  

	 	(b)	Grant of Stock Options and Option Price. A stock option represents the right to purchase a share of Stock at a predetermined Option Price. No later than the Grant Date of any
stock option, the Committee shall establish the Option Price of such stock option. The per-share Option Price of a stock option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of the Stock on the Grant Date. Such Option Price shall
be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 22. The applicable Award Agreement may provide that the stock option shall be exercisable for restricted stock. 

  

	 	(c)	Grant of Incentive Stock Options. At the time of the grant of any stock option, the Committee may designate such stock option as an “incentive stock option” as
defined in Section 422 of the Code. Any stock option not so designated shall not be an incentive stock option, even if it otherwise meets the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. Any stock option so designated that nevertheless fails (either at
the time of grant or at any time thereafter as a result of accelerated vesting or otherwise) to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, in whole or in part, shall be treated as a stock option that is not an incentive stock option to the
extent of such failure. The terms of any incentive stock option shall require the Grantee to notify the Committee or its designee of any “disqualifying disposition” (as defined in Section 421(b) of the Code) of any Stock issued pursuant to
the exercise of the incentive stock option within 10 days after such disposition. 

  

	 	(d)	Grant of Shares of Restricted Stock. 

  

	 	(i)	Shares of restricted stock are shares of Stock that are awarded to a Grantee and that, during a restricted period, may be forfeitable to the Company upon such conditions as may be
set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Restricted stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered during the restricted period. 

  

	 	(ii)	The Committee shall, in its discretion, determine the amount, if any, that a Grantee shall pay for shares of restricted stock, subject to the following sentence. Except with respect
to shares of restricted stock that are treasury shares, for which no payment need be required, the Committee shall require the Grantee to pay at least the Minimum Consideration for each share of restricted stock granted to such Grantee. Such payment
shall be made in full by the Grantee before the delivery of the shares and in any event no later than 10 days after the Grant Date for such shares. 

  

	 	(iii)	The Committee may, but need not, provide that all or any portion of a Grantee’s Award of restricted stock, or restricted stock acquired upon exercise of a stock option, shall
be forfeited: 

  

	 	(A)	except as otherwise specified in the Award Agreement, upon the Grantee’s Termination of Employment as provided in Section 12, or 

  

	 	(B)	if the Company or the Grantee does not achieve specified performance goals (if any) within a specified time period after the Grant Date and before the Grantee’s Termination of
Employment, or 

  

	 	(C)	upon failure to satisfy such other conditions as the Committee may specify in the applicable Award Agreement; 

  
 provided, that each such Award that is a Service-Vesting Award shall be
subject to the Minimum Vesting Requirement. 
  

 6    Exhibit 10.a 

	 	(iv)	If a share of restricted stock is forfeited, then, if the Grantee was required to pay for such share or acquired such share upon the exercise of a stock option: (A) the Grantee
shall be deemed to have resold such share to the Company at the lesser of (1) the amount paid or, if the restricted stock was acquired on exercise of a stock option, the Option Price paid by the Grantee for such share, or (2) the Fair Market Value
of a share of Stock on the date of such forfeiture; (B) the Company shall pay to the Grantee the amount determined under clause (A) of this sentence as soon as is administratively practical; and (C) such share shall cease to be outstanding, and
shall no longer confer on the Grantee thereof any rights as a stockholder of the Company, from and after the later of the date the event causing the forfeiture occurred or the date of the Company’s tender of the payment specified in clause (B)
of this sentence, whether or not such tender is accepted by the Grantee. 

  

	 	(v)	The Committee may provide that any share of restricted stock shall be held (together with a stock power executed in blank by the Grantee) in escrow by the Secretary of the Company
until such share becomes nonforfeitable or is forfeited. Any share of restricted stock shall bear an appropriate legend specifying that such share is non-transferable and subject to the restrictions set forth in this Plan and the applicable Award
Agreement. If any share of restricted stock becomes nonforfeitable, the Company shall cause the certificate for such share to be issued or reissued without such legend. 

  

	 	(e)	Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. A stock appreciation right represents the right to receive a payment, in cash, shares of Stock or both (as determined by the Committee)
equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value, on the date such Fair Market Value is determined, of a specified number of shares of Stock, over the Award’s grant or exercise price, if any. When granted, stock appreciation rights may, but need
not, be identified with shares of Stock subject to a specific stock option or specific shares of restricted stock of the Grantee (including any stock option or shares of restricted stock granted on or before the Grant Date of the stock appreciation
rights) in a number equal to or different from the number of shares of Stock subject to the stock appreciation rights so granted. If stock appreciation rights are identified with shares of Stock subject to a stock option or with shares of restricted
stock then, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Grantee’s associated stock appreciation rights shall terminate upon, and to the extent of, (i) the expiration, termination, forfeiture or cancellation of such stock
option or shares of restricted stock, or (ii) the date such shares of restricted stock become nonforfeitable. 

  

	 	(f)	Grant of Stock Bonuses. The Committee may, in its discretion, grant shares of Stock to any employee eligible under Section 5 to receive Awards, other than executive officers
of the Company. 

  

	 	(g)	Grant of Dividend Equivalents. The Committee may, in its discretion, grant dividend equivalents, which represent the right to receive cash payments or shares of Stock
measured by the dividends payable with respect to specific shares of Stock or a specified number of shares of Stock. Dividend equivalents may be granted as part of another type of Award or as a separate Award, and shall be subject to such terms and
conditions as the Committee shall determine. 

  

	 	(h)	Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may, in its discretion, grant other stock-based awards. These are Awards, other than stock options, stock appreciation
rights, restricted stock, stock bonuses, and dividend equivalents, that are denominated in, valued, in whole or in part, by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Stock (such as restricted stock units). The purchase, exercise, exchange
or conversion of other stock-based awards granted under this Section 6(h) shall be on such terms and conditions and by such methods as shall be specified by the Committee. If the value of an other stock-based award is based on the difference between
the excess of the Fair Market Value, on the date such Fair Market Value is determined, over such Award’s exercise or grant price, the exercise or grant price for such an Award will not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the Grant
Date. If the value of such an Award is based on the full value of a share of Stock, and the Award is a Service-Vesting Award, then such Award shall be subject to the Minimum Vesting Requirement. 

  
 7. GRANTEE’S AGREEMENT TO SERVE 
  
 The Committee may, in its discretion, require each Grantee who is granted an Award to,
execute such Grantee’s Award Agreement, and to agree that such Grantee will remain in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or remain as a non-employee director or senior director, as applicable, for at least one year after the
Grant Date. No obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as to the length of any Grantee’s employment or service as a non-employee director or senior director shall be implied by the terms of this Plan, any grant of an Award
hereunder or any Award Agreement. The Company and its Subsidiaries reserve the same rights to terminate employment of any Grantee as existed before the Effective Date. 
  

 Exhibit 10.a     7 

 8. NON-TRANSFERABILITY 
  
 Each Award (other than restricted stock) granted hereunder shall not be assignable or transferable other than by will or the laws of descent
and distribution; provided, however, that a Grantee may, in a manner set forth in rules established by the Committee: (a) designate in writing a beneficiary to exercise his or her Award after the Grantee’s death; (b) transfer a stock option
(other than an incentive stock option), stock appreciation right or other stock-based award to a revocable inter vivos trust as to which the Grantee is both the settlor and the trustee; and (c) if permitted by the Committee pursuant to its
rules, transfer an Award (other than restricted stock or an incentive stock option) for no consideration to any of the following permissible transferees (each a “Permissible Transferee”): (i) any member of the Immediate Family of the
Grantee to whom such Award was granted, (ii) any trust for the benefit of members of the Grantee’s Immediate Family, (iii) any partnership whose partners are members of the Grantee’s Immediate Family or (iv) Ronald McDonald House Charities
or any Ronald McDonald House; and further provided that (A) the transferee shall remain subject to all of the terms and conditions applicable to such Award prior to such transfer; (B) any such transfer shall be subject to and in accordance with the
rules and regulations prescribed by the Committee in accordance with Section 4(c)(xi), and (C) except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Plan or in the Transfer Rules, a Permissible Transferee shall have all the rights and obligations of
the Grantee hereunder and the Grantee shall not retain any rights with respect to the transferred Award, and further provided that the payment of any tax attributable to the exercise of an Award shall remain the obligation of the Grantee and the
period during which an Award shall remain exercisable under Section 12 shall depend upon the time and nature of the Grantee’s Termination of Employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, from time to time, in its sole discretion
designate additional individuals, persons or classes as Permissible Transferees, and permit other transfers as the Committee determines to be appropriate. 
  
 Each share of restricted stock shall be non-transferable until such share becomes nonforfeitable. 
  
 9. EXERCISE 
  

	 	(a)	Exercise of Stock Options. Subject to Sections 4(c)(vii), 12, 13 and 21 and such terms and conditions as the Committee may impose, each stock option shall be exercisable as
and when determined by the Committee; provided that, unless the Committee determines otherwise, each stock option shall be exercisable in one or more installments commencing not earlier than the first anniversary of the Grant Date of such stock
option. 

  
 Each stock option shall
be exercised by delivery of notice of intent to purchase a specific number of shares of Stock subject to such stock option. Such notice shall be in a manner specified by and satisfactory to the Company. The Option Price of any shares of Stock or
shares of restricted stock as to which a stock option shall be exercised shall be paid in full at the time of the exercise. Payment may, at the election of the Grantee, be made in any one or any combination of the following: 
  

	 	(i)	cash, 

  

	 	(ii)	Stock owned by the Grantee, valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of exercise, 

  

	 	(iii)	with the approval of the Committee, shares of restricted stock held by the Grantee, each valued at the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock at the time of exercise, or

  

	 	(iv)	unless otherwise determined by the Committee, through simultaneous sale through a broker of shares acquired on exercise, as permitted under Regulation T of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System. 

  
 If
shares of Stock or restricted stock are used to pay the Option Price, such shares of Stock or restricted stock must have been held by the Grantee for more than six months prior to exercise of the stock option, unless otherwise determined by the
Committee. Such payment may be made by actual delivery or attestation. 
  
 If restricted stock is used to pay the Option Price for Stock subject to a stock option (“Tendered Restricted Stock”), then the Committee shall specify which of the following two rules applies: either (i)
all the shares of Stock acquired on exercise of the stock option shall be subject to the same restrictions as the Tendered Restricted Stock, determined as of the date of exercise of the stock option, or (ii) a number of shares of Stock acquired on
exercise of the stock option equal to the number of shares of Tendered Restricted Stock shall be subject to the same restrictions as the Tendered Restricted Stock, determined as of the date of exercise of the stock option. 
  

	 	(b)	Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights. Subject to Sections 4(c)(vii), 12, 13 and 21 and such terms and conditions as the Committee may impose, each stock appreciation right
shall be exercisable as and when determined by the Committee; provided that, unless the Committee determines otherwise, each stock appreciation right shall be exercisable not earlier than the first anniversary of the Grant Date of such stock
appreciation right, to the extent the stock option with which it is identified, if any, may be exercised, or to the extent the restricted stock with which it is identified, if any, has become nonforfeitable. Stock appreciation rights shall be
exercised by delivery to the Company of written notice of intent to exercise a specific number of stock appreciation rights. 

  

 8    Exhibit 10.a 

	 	 
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the exercise of stock appreciation rights that are identified with shares of Stock subject to a
stock option or shares of restricted stock shall result in the cancellation or forfeiture of such stock option or shares of restricted stock, as the case may be, to the extent of such exercise. 

  
 The benefit for each share as to which a stock appreciation
right is exercised shall be equal to: 
  

	 	(i)	the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of such exercise, reduced by 

  

	 	(ii)	an amount equal to: 

  

	 	(A)	for any stock appreciation right identified with shares of Stock subject to a stock option, the Option Price of such stock option, unless the Committee in the grant of the stock
appreciation right specified a higher amount or 

  

	 	(B)	for any other stock appreciation right, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Grant Date of such stock appreciation right, unless the Committee in the grant of the stock
appreciation right specified a higher amount; provided that the Committee, in its discretion, may provide that the benefit for any stock appreciation right shall not exceed such percentage of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on such Grant
Date as the Committee shall specify. 

  
 The
benefit upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right shall be payable in cash, except that the Committee, may, in its discretion, provide in the Award Agreement that benefits, with respect to any particular exercise, may be paid wholly or partly
in Stock. 
  
 10. NOTIFICATION UNDER SECTION
83(B) 
  
 The Committee may, on the Grant Date or any later date, prohibit a
Grantee from making the election described below. If the Committee has not prohibited such Grantee from making such election, and the Grantee shall, in connection with the exercise of any stock option, or the grant of any share of restricted stock,
make the election permitted under Section 83(b) of the Code (i.e., an election to include in such Grantee’s gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Section 83(b) of the Code), such Grantee shall notify the Company of such
election within 10 days of filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service, in addition to complying with any filing and notification required pursuant to regulations issued under the authority of Section 83(b) of the Code.

  
 11. WITHHOLDING TAXES 
  

	 	(a)	Whenever, under this Plan, cash or Stock is to be delivered upon exercise or payment of an Award or a share of restricted stock becomes nonforfeitable, or any other event occurs
that results in taxation of a Grantee with respect to an Award, the Company shall be entitled to require (i) that the Grantee remit an amount sufficient to satisfy all U.S. federal, state and local withholding tax requirements related thereto, (ii)
the withholding of such sums from compensation otherwise due to the Grantee or from any shares of Stock due to the Grantee under this Plan or (iii) any combination of the foregoing; provided, however, that no amount shall be withheld from any cash
payment or shares of Stock relating to an Award that was transferred by the Grantee in accordance with this Plan and such cash payment or delivery to such Permissible Transferee shall in no way be conditioned upon the Grantee’s remittance
obligation described herein. The Grantee shall be permitted to remit such amount in the form of Stock owned by the Grantee, valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of the remittance (by actual delivery or by attestation).

  

	 	(b)	If any disqualifying disposition (as defined in Section 421(b) of the Code) is made with respect to shares of Stock acquired under an incentive stock option granted pursuant to this
Plan or any election described in Section 10 is made, then the individual making such disqualifying disposition or election shall remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy all U.S. federal, state and local withholding taxes thereby
incurred; provided, that in lieu of or in addition to the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to withhold such sums from compensation otherwise due to the Grantee or from any shares of Stock due to the Grantee under this Plan.

  

	 	(c)	Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the amount withheld or remitted in the form of shares of Stock due to a Grantee under this Plan exceed the minimum required by
applicable law. 

  

 Exhibit 10.a     9 

 12. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT 
  

	 	(a)	For Cause. If a Grantee has a Termination of Employment for Cause, 

  

	 	(i)	the Grantee’s shares of restricted stock that are forfeitable shall thereupon be forfeited, subject to the provisions of Section 6(d)(iv) regarding repayment of certain amounts
to the Grantee; 

  

	 	(ii)	any unexercised stock option or stock appreciation right shall terminate immediately upon such Termination of Employment for Cause; and 

  

	 	(iii)	any other Award that has not previously vested shall thereupon be forfeited. 

  

	 	(b)	On Account of Death or Disability. If a Grantee has a Termination of Employment on account of the Grantee’s death or Disability, then: 

  

	 	(i)	the Grantee’s shares of restricted stock that are Service-Vesting Awards and that were forfeitable shall thereupon become nonforfeitable; 

  

	 	(ii)	any unexercised stock option or stock appreciation right (other than a stock appreciation right identified with a share of restricted stock), whether or not exercisable on the date
of such Termination of Employment may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time within three years after such Termination of Employment (or until the 15th anniversary of the Grant Date, if sooner) by the Grantee, or after the Grantee’s
death, by (A) his or her personal representative or by the person to whom the stock option or stock appreciation right is transferred by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution, (B) the Grantee’s beneficiary designated in
accordance with Section 8, (C) the then-acting trustee of the trust described in Section 8(b); or (D) a Permissible Transferee of an Award assigned or transferred in accordance with Section 8; and 

  

	 	(iii)	any other Awards held by the Grantee shall be treated as specified in the applicable Award Agreement. 

  

	 	(c)	On Account of Retirement. 

  

	 	(i)	If a Grantee has a Termination of Employment on account of Retirement after age 60 with 20 years or more of Affiliate Service, any unexercised stock option or stock appreciation
right (other than a stock appreciation right identified with a share of restricted stock) that is then exercisable or that would have become exercisable within three years of such Retirement if the Grantee had remained employed by the Company or a
Subsidiary throughout such three-year period, may be exercised, in whole or in part, by the Grantee or Permissible Transferee of an Award assigned or transferred in accordance with Section 8, at any time within three years after the Grantee’s
Retirement or until the 15th anniversary of the Grant Date, if sooner. 

  

	 	(ii)	If a Grantee has a Termination of Employment on account of Retirement with combined age and years of Affiliate Service equal to or greater than 70, any unexercised stock option or
stock appreciation right (other than a stock appreciation right identified with a share of restricted stock) that is then exercisable or that would have become exercisable within three years of such Retirement if the Grantee had remained employed by
the Company or a Subsidiary throughout such three-year period may be exercised, in whole or in part, by the Grantee or Permissible Transferee of an Award assigned or transferred in accordance with Section 8, at any time within three years after the
Grantee’s Retirement or until the end of the stated term of the Award, if sooner; provided, that if and to the extent the Committee or its delegee so determines, the Grantee shall be required, in order to receive the foregoing treatment, (A) to
provide six months’ prior written notice of the Grantee’s intention to retire to the officer in charge of the Benefits and Compensation Department in Oak Brook, Illinois, and/or (B) to execute and deliver to the Company a non-competition
agreement (in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Committee or such delegee). If a Grantee is required to, and does, execute and deliver such a non-competition agreement, and then violates the provisions thereof, all unexercised stock options and
stock appreciation rights (other than stock appreciation rights identified with restricted stock) will immediately terminate and will not be exercisable. 

  

	 	(iii)	The nonforfeitability and exercisability of restricted stock that is a Service-Vesting Award (and any stock appreciation rights identified therewith) held by a Grantee who has a
Termination of Employment on account of Retirement shall be determined under Section 12(f), and any other Awards held by the Grantee shall be treated as specified in the applicable Award Agreement. 

  

 10    Exhibit 10.a 

	 	(d)	On Account of Termination of Employment After Age 60. If a Grantee has a Termination of Employment after attaining age 60, other than a Termination of Employment for Cause or
on account of death, Disability or Retirement, any unexercised stock option or stock appreciation right (other than a stock appreciation right identified with a share of restricted stock) to the extent exercisable on the date of such Termination of
Employment, may be exercised, in whole or in part, by the Grantee or Permissible Transferee of an Award assigned or transferred in accordance with Section 8, at any time within one year after the Grantee’s Termination of Employment or until the
15th anniversary of the Grant Date, if sooner. The nonforfeitability and exercisability of the Grantee’s restricted stock (and any stock appreciation rights identified therewith) that is a Service-Vesting Award shall be determined under Section
12(f), and any other Awards held by the Grantee shall be treated as specified in the applicable Award Agreement. 

  

	 	(e)	Special Circumstances; Disaffiliation. 

  

	 	(i)	If a Grantee has a Termination of Employment under Special Circumstances, the Grantee or Permissible Transferee of an Award assigned or transferred in accordance with Section 8 will
receive an extension of time to exercise any unexercised stock options and stock appreciation rights (other than stock appreciation rights identified with restricted stock) and accelerated vesting of these stock options and stock appreciation rights
based on the following rules that incorporate age and years of Affiliate Service (in the case of a Termination of Employment without Cause) or Company Service (in other Special Circumstances): 

  

			
	 Age and Years of Company
or Affiliate Service

	  	Additional Vesting
and Time to Exercise

	 70 plus years
	  	3 years
	 60 to 69 years
	  	2 years
	 50 to 59 years
	  	1 year  

  
 provided, that the
Committee or its delegee may require, in the case of a Termination of Employment without Cause, that the Grantee execute and deliver to the Company a non-competition agreement (in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Committee or such delegee) in
order to receive the foregoing treatment; and further provided, that in no event may a stock option or stock appreciation right be exercised after the 15th anniversary of the Grant Date. If a Grantee is required to, and does, execute and deliver
such a non-competition agreement, and then violates the provisions thereof, all unexercised stock options and stock appreciation rights (other than stock appreciation rights identified with restricted stock) will immediately terminate and will not
be exercisable. 
  

	 	(ii)	If a Grantee has a Termination of Employment because of a Disaffiliation, the provisions of this Section 12(e)(ii) and Section 12(e)(iii) (and no other provision of this Section 12
that might otherwise apply) shall determine the consequences for such Grantee’s Awards. In such a case, the Grantee or Permissible Transferee of an Award assigned or transferred in accordance with Section 8 will be permitted to exercise any
stock options and stock appreciation rights (other than stock appreciation rights identified with restricted stock) that are unexercised and vested immediately before the Grantee’s Termination of Employment for one year following the
Grantee’s Termination of Employment (or until the 15th anniversary of the Grant Date, if sooner). 

  

	 	(iii)	In addition, if a Grantee has a Termination of Employment because of Special Circumstances or Disaffiliation, the nonforfeitability and exercisability of restricted stock (and any
stock appreciation rights identified therewith) held by the Grantee that is a Service-Vesting Award shall be determined under Section 12(f)(i), and any other Awards held by the Grantee shall be treated as specified in the applicable Award Agreement.

  

	 	(f)	Any Other Reason. If a Grantee has a Termination of Employment for a reason other than those specified in this Section 12, 

  

	 	(i)	the Grantee’s shares of restricted stock (and any stock appreciation rights identified therewith), to the extent forfeitable on the date of the Grantee’s termination of
employment, shall be forfeited on such date; 

  

	 	(ii)	any unexercised stock option or stock appreciation right (other than a stock appreciation right identified with a share of restricted stock) to the extent exercisable on the date of
the Grantee’s Termination of Employment, may be exercised, in whole or in part, by the Grantee or Permissible Transferee of an Award assigned or transferred in accordance with Section 8, not later than the 30th day following the Grantee’s
termination of employment; provided that, if such 30th day is not a business day, such stock option or stock appreciation right may be exercised not later than the first business day following such 30th day; 

  

 Exhibit 10.a    11 

	 	 
and provided, further, that in no event may a stock option or stock appreciation right be exercised after the 15th anniversary of the Grant Date; and

  

	 	(iii)	any other Award that has not previously vested shall thereupon be forfeited. 

  

	 	(g)	Selection of Rule. If a particular Grantee’s Termination of Employment is covered by more than one of the foregoing rules, then except as specifically provided in
Section 12(e)(ii), for each Award held by the Grantee, the applicable rule that is the most favorable to the Grantee shall apply. 

  

	 	(h)	Committee Discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may determine that the consequences of a Termination of Employment or a Termination of Directorship for a
particular Award will differ from those outlined above, either (i) in connection with the grant of the Award, or (ii) if the change is favorable to the Grantee, after it is granted. 

  
 13. TERMINATION OF DIRECTORSHIP 
  

	 	(a)	For Cause. If a Termination of Directorship occurs for Cause, any unexercised stock option or other Awards shall thereupon terminate. 

  

	 	(b)	Retirement. If a Termination of Directorship occurs because of Retirement, any unexercised stock option or stock appreciation right (other than a stock appreciation right
identified with a share of restricted stock), whether or not exercisable on the date of Retirement, may be exercised, in whole or in part, for a period of three years from the Grantee’s Retirement, or until the end of its stated term, if
sooner. Any other unvested Awards shall become vested and payable to the Grantee. 

  

	 	(c)	Death or Disability. If Termination of Directorship occurs because of the death or Disability of the Grantee, any unexercised stock option or stock appreciation right (other
than a stock appreciation right identified with a share of restricted stock), whether or not exercisable on the date of such Termination of Directorship, may be exercised by the Grantee, a Permissible Transferee or by the Grantee’s personal
representative after the Grantee’s death, in whole or in part, at any time within three years after such Termination of Directorship or until the 15th anniversary of the Grant Date, if sooner. Any other unvested Awards shall become vested and
payable to the Grantee, a Permissible Transferee or by the Grantee’s personal representative after the Grantee’s death. 

  

	 	(d)	Other Termination. If a Termination of Directorship occurs for any reason other than for Cause (as described in Section 13(a)) or the death, Disability or Retirement of a
Grantee, any unexercised stock option or stock appreciation right (other than a stock appreciation right identified with a share of restricted stock), to the extent exercisable on the date of the Termination of Directorship, may be exercised, in
whole or in part, at any time within one year after the Termination of Directorship, or until the end of its stated term, if sooner. Any other Awards to the extent the Awards are unvested on the date of Termination of Directorship shall be forfeited
and cancelled. 

  
 14. EQUITY
INCENTIVE PLANS OF FOREIGN SUBSIDIARIES 
  
 The Committee may authorize any
foreign Subsidiary to adopt a plan for granting Awards (a “Foreign Equity Incentive Plan”). All awards granted under such Foreign Equity Incentive Plans shall be treated as grants under this Plan. Such Foreign Equity Incentive Plans shall
have such terms and provisions as the Committee permits not inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan. 
  
 15. SECURITIES LAW MATTERS 
  

	 	(a)	If the Committee deems it necessary to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the regulations and rulings thereunder, the Committee may require a written investment
intent representation by the Grantee and may require that a restrictive legend be affixed to certificates for shares of Stock. 

  

	 	(b)	If, based upon the opinion of counsel for the Company, the Committee determines that the exercise or nonforfeitability of, or delivery of benefits pursuant to, any Award would
violate any applicable provision of (i) U.S. federal or state securities law or (ii) the listing requirements of any national securities exchange on which are listed any of the Company’s equity securities, then the Committee may postpone any
such exercise, nonforfeitability or delivery, as the case may be, but the Company shall use its best efforts to cause such exercise, nonforfeitability or delivery to comply with all such provisions at the earliest practicable date.

  

 12    Exhibit 10.a 

 16. FUNDING 
  
 Benefits payable under this Plan to any person shall be paid directly by the Company. The Company shall not be required to fund, or
otherwise segregate assets to be used for payment of, benefits under this Plan. 
  
 17. NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS 
  
 Neither the establishment of this Plan, nor the granting of any Award, shall be construed to (a) give any Grantee the right to remain employed by the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or to any benefits not specifically provided by this Plan or (b) in any manner modify the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to modify, amend, or terminate any of its employee benefit plans. 
  
 18. RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER 
  
 A Grantee shall not, by reason of any Award (other than restricted stock), have any right as
a stockholder of the Company with respect to the shares of Stock that may be deliverable upon exercise or payment of such Award until such shares have been delivered to him or her. Shares of restricted stock held by a Grantee or held in escrow by
the Secretary of the Company shall confer on the Grantee all rights of a stockholder of the Company, except as otherwise provided in this Plan. The Committee, in its discretion, at the time of grant of restricted stock, may permit or require the
payment of cash dividends thereon to be deferred, and, if the Committee so determines, reinvested in additional restricted stock to the extent shares are available under Section 3 or otherwise reinvested. Stock dividends, other non-cash dividends
and distributions, and deferred cash dividends issued with respect to restricted stock shall be treated as additional shares of restricted stock that are subject to the same restrictions and other terms as apply to the shares with respect to which
such dividends are issued. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide for crediting to and payment of interest on deferred cash dividends. 
  
 19. NATURE OF PAYMENTS 
  
 Any and all grants, payments of cash, or deliveries of shares of Stock hereunder shall constitute special incentive payments to the Grantee, and shall not be taken into
account in computing the amount of salary or compensation of the Grantee for the purposes of determining any pension, retirement, death or other benefits under (a) any pension, retirement, profit-sharing, bonus, life insurance or other employee
benefit plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (b) any agreement between the Company or any Subsidiary, on the one hand, and the Grantee, on the other hand, except as such plan or agreement shall otherwise expressly provide. 

 
 20. NON-UNIFORM DETERMINATIONS 
  
 Neither the Committee’s nor the Board’s determinations under this Plan need be
uniform, and may be made by the Committee or the Board selectively among individuals who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards (whether or not such individuals are similarly situated). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Committee shall be entitled, among other things, to make non-uniform and selective determinations, to enter into non-uniform and selective Award Agreements as to (a) the identity of the Grantees, (b) the terms and provisions of Awards, and (c) the
treatment, under Section 12, of Terminations of Employment. 
  
 21. CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS 
  
 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the provisions of this Section 21 shall apply in the event of a Change in Control, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in connection with the grant of an Award (as
reflected in the applicable Award Agreement). 
  

	 	(a)	Upon a Change in Control, all then-outstanding stock options and stock appreciation rights shall become fully vested and exercisable, and all other then-outstanding Awards that are
Service-Vesting Awards shall vest in full and be free of restrictions, except to the extent that another Award meeting the requirements of Section 21(b) (a “Replacement Award”) is provided to the Grantee pursuant to Section 22 to replace
such Award (the “Replaced Award”). The treatment of any other Awards shall be as determined by the Committee in connection with the grant thereof, as reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. 

  

	 	(b)	An Award shall meet the conditions of this Section 21(b) (and hence qualify as a Replacement Award) if: (i) it is of the same type as the Replaced Award; (ii) it has a value at
least equal to the value of the Replaced Award; (iii) it relates to publicly traded equity securities of the Company or its successor in the Change in Control or another entity that is affiliated with the Company or its successor following the
Change in Control; (iv) its terms and conditions comply with Section 23(c) below; and (v) its other terms and conditions are not less favorable to the Grantee than the terms and conditions of the Replaced Award (including the provisions that would
apply in the event of a subsequent Change in Control). 

  

 Exhibit 10.a    13 

 Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Replacement Award may take the form of a
continuation of the Replaced Award if the requirements of the preceding sentence are satisfied. The determination of whether the conditions of this Section 21(b) are satisfied shall be made by the Committee, as constituted immediately before the
Change in Control, in its sole discretion. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee may determine the value of Awards and Replacement Awards that are stock options by reference to either their intrinsic value or their fair
value. 
  

	 	(c)	Upon a Termination of Employment or Termination of Directorship of a Grantee occurring in connection with or during the period of two years after such Change in Control, other than
for Cause, (i) all Replacement Awards held by the Grantee shall become fully vested and (if applicable) exercisable and free of restrictions, and (ii) all stock options and stock appreciation rights held by the Grantee immediately before the
Termination of Employment or Termination of Directorship that the Grantee held as of the date of the Change in Control or that constitute Replacement Awards shall remain exercisable for not less than two years following such termination or until the
expiration of the stated term of such stock option, whichever period is shorter (provided, that if Section 12 or the applicable Award Agreement provides for a longer period of exercisability, that provision shall control). 

 
 22. ADJUSTMENTS 
  
 The Committee shall make such adjustments (if any) as it deems appropriate and equitable, in
its discretion, to the following: 
  

	 	(a)	the various numbers of shares of Stock referred to in the limitations imposed under Section 2(x) and Section 3, 

  

	 	(b)	the number of shares of Stock covered by an outstanding Award, 

  

	 	(c)	the Option Price of an outstanding stock option, 

  

	 	(d)	the Fair Market Value of Stock to be used to determine the amount of the benefit payable upon exercise of outstanding stock appreciation rights, and 

  

	 	(e)	such other adjustments to outstanding Awards as the Committee may determine to be appropriate and equitable, 

  
 to reflect a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, share combination,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or shares, separation, spinoff, reorganization, stock rights offering, liquidation, Disaffiliation of a Subsidiary or similar event of or by the Company. Such adjustments may include,
without limitation, (i) the cancellation of outstanding Awards in exchange for payments of cash, property or a combination thereof having an aggregate value equal to the value of such Awards, (ii) the substitution of other property (including,
without limitation, other securities and securities of entities other than the Company that agree to such substitution) for the Stock available under this Plan and/or the Stock covered by outstanding Awards, and (iii) in connection with any
Disaffiliation of a Subsidiary, arranging for the assumption, or replacement with new awards, of Awards held by Grantees employed by the affected Subsidiary by the Subsidiary or an entity that controls the Subsidiary following the Disaffiliation.

  
 23. QUALIFIED PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS.

  

	 	(a)	The provisions of this Plan are intended to ensure that all stock options and stock appreciation rights granted hereunder to any Grantee who is or may be a “covered
employee” (within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code) at the time of exercise qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption, and all such Awards shall therefore be considered Qualified Performance-Based Awards and this Plan shall be
interpreted and operated consistent with that intention. The provisions referred to in the preceding sentence include without limitation the limitation on the total amount of such Awards to any Grantee set forth in Section 3(b); the requirement of
Section 4(a) that the Committee satisfy the requirements for being “outside directors” for purposes of the Section 162(m) Exemption; the limitations on the discretion of the Committee with respect to Qualified Performance-Based Awards; and
the requirements of Sections 6(b) and 6(e) that the Option Price of stock options and the base price for determining the value of stock appreciation rights be not less than the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the Grant Date (which requirement
constitutes the Qualified Performance Goal). 

  

	 	(b)	The Committee may designate any Award (other than a stock option or stock appreciation right) as a Qualified Performance-Based Award upon grant, in each case based upon a
determination that (i) the Grantee is or may be a “covered employee” (within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code) with respect to such Award, and (ii) the Committee wishes such Award to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption.
The provisions of this Section 23 shall apply to all such Qualified Performance-Based Awards, notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, other than Section 21. 

  

 14    Exhibit 10.a 

	 	(c)	Each Qualified Performance-Based Award (other than a stock option or stock appreciation right) shall be earned, vested and payable (as applicable) only upon the achievement of one
or more Qualified Performance Goals, together with the satisfaction of any other conditions, such as continued employment, as the Committee may determine to be appropriate; provided that (i) the Committee may provide, either in connection with the
grant thereof or by amendment thereafter, that achievement of such Performance Goals will be waived upon the death or Disability of the Grantee, and (ii) the provisions of Section 21 shall apply notwithstanding this sentence.

  

	 	(d)	Qualified Performance Goals may take the form of absolute goals or goals relative to the performance of one or more other companies comparable to the Company or of an index covering
multiple companies. In establishing Qualified Performance Goals, the Committee may specify that there shall be excluded the effect of restructuring charges, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, cumulative effects of accounting changes, and
other unusual or nonrecurring items, and asset impairment and the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, in each case as those terms are defined under generally accepted accounting principles and provided in each case that such excluded items are
objectively determinable by reference to the Company’s financial statements, notes to the Company’s financial statements and/or management’s discussion and analysis in the Company’s financial statements. 

 

	 	(e)	Except as specifically provided in Section 23(d), no Qualified Performance-Based Award may be amended, nor may the Committee exercise any discretionary authority it may otherwise
have under this Plan with respect to a Qualified Performance-Based Award under this Plan, in any manner to waive the achievement of the applicable Qualified Performance Goals or to increase the amount payable pursuant thereto or the value thereof,
or otherwise in a manner that would cause the Qualified Performance-Based Award to cease to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption. 

  
 24. AMENDMENT OF THIS PLAN 
  
 The Board may from time to time in its discretion amend this Plan or Awards, and the Committee may from time to time in its discretion amend Awards, without the approval
of the stockholders of the Company, except (i) to the extent required under the listing requirements of any national securities exchange on which are listed any of the Company’s equity securities and (ii) to the extent the amendment would
result in the reduction of the Option Price of any Option or of the exercise price of any stock appreciation right. No such amendment shall adversely affect any previously-granted Award without the consent of the Grantee, except for (x) amendments
made to comply with applicable law, stock exchange rules or accounting rules, and (y) amendments that do not materially decrease the value of such Awards. In addition, no such amendment may be made that would cause a Qualified Performance-Based
Award to cease to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption. 
  
 25. TERMINATION OF THIS PLAN 
  
 This Plan shall
terminate on the 10th anniversary of the Effective Date or at such earlier time as the Board may determine. Any termination, whether in whole or in part, shall not affect any Award then outstanding under this Plan. 
  
 26. NO ILLEGAL TRANSACTIONS 
  
 This Plan and all Awards granted pursuant to it are subject to all laws and regulations of
any governmental authority that may be applicable thereto; and, notwithstanding any provision of this Plan or any Award, Grantees shall not be entitled to exercise Awards or receive the benefits thereof and the Company shall not be obligated to
deliver any Stock or pay any benefits to a Grantee if such exercise, delivery, receipt or payment of benefits would constitute a violation by the Grantee or the Company of any provision of any such law or regulation. 
  
 27. CONTROLLING LAW 
  
 The law of the State of Illinois, except its law with respect to choice of law, shall be
controlling in all matters relating to this Plan. 
  
 28. SEVERABILITY 
  
 If all or any part of this Plan is declared by any
court or governmental authority to be unlawful or invalid, such unlawfulness or invalidity shall not serve to invalidate any portion of this Plan not declared to be unlawful or invalid. Any Section or part of a Section so declared to be unlawful or
invalid shall, if possible, be construed in a manner that will give effect to the terms of such Section or part of a Section to the fullest extent possible while remaining lawful and valid. 
  

 Exhibit 10.a    15BUSINESS SENSITIVE
                                LICENSE AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT made and entered into at Richland,  Washington, and effective the
date affixed hereto by the party last signing this Agreement, by and between Web
Safe  Technologies,  Inc.,  having a principal  place of business in Plant City,
Florida,  herein called "LICENSEE",  and Battelle Memorial  Institute,  having a
place of business in Richland, Washington, herein called "BATTELLE".

         WITNESSETH THAT:

WHEREAS,  BATTELLE  has  certain  rights in patents and  copyrights  relating to
evaluating internet and intranet information; and

WHEREAS,  LICENSEE  recognizes  that BATTELLE owns  inventions and  intellectual
property useful in the conduct of LICENSEE's business; and

WHEREAS,  LICENSEE  recognizes  that  its  anticipated  business  activity  will
encompass the practice of  technology  that requires a license under patents and
copyrights owned or controlled by BATTELLE; and

WHEREAS, LICENSEE wishes to acquire the right to practice the inventions of such
patents and copyrights.

NOW,  THEREFORE in  consideration  of the mutual  covenants herein contained and
intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

                                 1. DEFINITIONS
                                 --------------

As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

A.   PATENT or PATENTS means the following  patent  applications,  patents to be
     issued  pursuant  thereto,  and  all  divisions,  continuations,  reissues,
     reexaminations,  substitutes,  and  extensions  thereof,  together with all
     foreign counterparts:

                               Patent Applications
                               -------------------

     Title                              Country   Serial No.   Date Filed
     -----                              -------   ----------   ----------
     A System and Method for              U.S.    10/286/339   October 31, 2002
     Evaluation Internet and Intranet
     Information, (Battelle IPID
     13489-E)*

     _________________________________
     *This Patent Application arose under funding of the U.S. Government.

B.   SOFTWARE means Version 1.0 of the Mozart(TM)Software program in both object
     and  source  code  formats   provided  on  magnetic  media   including  any
     DOCUMENTATION.

<PAGE>

License Agreement No. 514770                                                   2
April 29, 2004
Version #3

C.   DERIVATIVE WORK shall mean a work that is based on one or more pre-existing
     versions  of  the  SOFTWARE  and  that,  if  prepared  without   BATTELLE's
     permission, would constitute a copyright infringement.

D.   DOCUMENTATION  shall mean  SOFTWARE  user  manuals,  help files and related
     information, as defined in Appendix A.

E.   The word "use"  means any form of  utilization  of  SOFTWARE or any portion
     thereof including,  but not limited to, copying the SOFTWARE from any media
     into equipment for processing, or utilizing the SOFTWARE in printed form.

F.   END USER shall mean a party to whom LICENSEE or SUBLICENSEE(S)  (as defined
     in  Paragraph  1G)  provides a copy of the  SOFTWARE  object code under the
     terms of a separate END USER license agreement.

G.   SUBLICENSEE  shall mean any third party whom LICENSEE licenses to reproduce
     and distribute  SOFTWARE and DOCUMENTATION to END USERS under the terms and
     conditions  set forth  herein,  and to END USERS under a separate  END USER
     license agreement.
H.   LICENSED  TERRITORY  shall  be  world  wide  for so  long  as the  SOFTWARE
     copyright  and  trademark  license  granted  herein is in  effect;  if this
     Agreement  shall become  solely a PATENT  license,  the LICENSED  TERRITORY
     shall mean any country in which BATTELLE has pending or issued PATENTS.

I.   LICENSED  FIELD  means,  and is limited to,  systems for use in "world wide
     web" internet sites that may be accessed by minor children,  where children
     are the intended and primary audience thereof, and such internet sites must
     be deemed  appropriate or  "safe-for-kids" as the business objective of the
     END USER.

J.   AFFILIATE or AFFILIATES  means any entity that controls,  is controlled by,
     or is under common control of LICENSEE where control  consists of ownership
     of at least twenty-five  percent (25%) of the outstanding voting securities
     or other ownership  interest of the entity. An AFFILIATE who undertakes the
     rights of the LICENSEE hereunder shall be subject to all obligations of the
     LICENSEE.

K.   GROSS SALES means all revenues  received by LICENSEE (and  AFFILIATES) from
     the  sale,  lease,  rental,  transfer,  or other  disposition  of  LICENSED
     PRODUCTS and/or LICENSED SERVICES without  deduction,  except that LICENSEE
     may exclude  from GROSS SALES any  documented  returns,  and  demonstration
     copies of LICENSED PRODUCTS used for sales purposes, only.

L.   LICENSED PRODUCTS means any device or system utilizing the PATENTS, and any
     copy of the SOFTWARE or any portion thereof.

M.   LICENSED  SERVICES means the  utilization of the PATENTS or the SOFTWARE by
     LICENSEE (and AFFILIATES) and SUBLICENSEES for the benefit of others.

<PAGE>

License Agreement No. 514770                                                   3
April 29, 2004
Version #3

N.   ANNUAL  REVENUE means all income of any kind and from any source derived by
     LICENSEE in a calendar year,  without  deduction,  and shall include income
     not recognized for income tax purposes.

                               2. PATENT LICENSE
                               -----------------

A.   BATTELLE  hereby  grants to LICENSEE and  AFFILIATES,  to the extent of the
     LICENSED FIELD and LICENSED  TERRITORY,  an exclusive license to make, have
     made,  use and sell the products and services  falling within the claims of
     the PATENTS (LICENSED PRODUCTS and LICENSED SERVICES).

B.   The license granted  pursuant to Paragraph A hereof shall be subject to any
     rights the Government of the United States of America may presently have or
     may  assert in the future for any reason  including,  but not  limited  to,
     those  rights set forth in 35 USC ss.202 and ss.203 and 37 C.F.R.  401,  et
     seq.

C.   BATTELLE   reserves  right  to  (i)  practice  the  PATENTS  for  research,
     development  and  demonstration  purposes  for  itself  and others and (ii)
     license  the PATENTS in fields and  territories  not  exclusively  licensed
     herein.

                              3. SOFTWARE LICENSE
                              -------------------

A.   BATTELLE  hereby grants to LICENSEE and  AFFILIATES,  an exclusive  license
     under  any  BATTELLE   copyrights,   trademarks   or  any  other   BATTELLE
     intellectual  property  rights  necessary to  reproduce,  use,  license and
     distribute  the SOFTWARE in the LICENSED  FIELD and the LICENSED  TERRITORY
     and, if applicable,  any tangible  written  material as well as any related
     DOCUMENTATION.  Licensing  and  distribution  shall be by sublicense to END
     USERS or to SUBLICENSEES.

B.   The license granted pursuant to Paragraph A hereof is subject to any rights
     the  Government of The United  States of America may presently  have or may
     assert in the future for any reason.  As to data produced  with  Government
     funding,  the  Government  is granted  for itself and others  acting on its
     behalf a nonexclusive,  paid-up, irrevocable worldwide license in this data
     to reproduce,  prepare  derivative  works, and perform publicly and display
     publicly,  by or on behalf of the  Government.  At the conclusion of a five
     (5) year  period  from which  BATTELLE  was  granted  permission  to assert
     statutory  copyright  (April 10, 2008),  the  Government may be granted for
     itself  and  others   acting  on  its  behalf  a   nonexclusive,   paid-up,
     irrevocable,   worldwide  license  in  this  data  to  reproduce,   prepare
     derivative  works,  distribute  copies to the public,  perform publicly and
     display  publicly,  and to permit others to do so. The specific term of the
     license can be identified  by inquiry made to BATTELLE or DOE.  NEITHER THE
     UNITED STATES NOR THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY,  NOR ANY OF THEIR
     EMPLOYEES,  MAKES ANY  WARRANTY,  EXPRESS OR  IMPLIED OR ASSUMES  ANY LEGAL
     LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS OR USEFULNESS OF
     ANY DATA, APPARATUS,  PRODUCT, OR PROCESS DISCLOSED, OR REPRESENTS THAT ITS
     USE WOULD NOT INFRINGE PRIVATELY OWNED RIGHTS.

C.   The license  granted to the Government in Paragraph B above shall extend to
     subsequent  integer  versions  of the  SOFTWARE  funded  by the  Government
     licensed  hereunder,  and the five (5) year  period set forth  above  shall

<PAGE>

License Agreement No. 514770                                                   4
April 29, 2004
Version #3

     begin  anew for each  such  subsequent  version  of the  SOFTWARE  licensed
     hereunder.

D.   BATTELLE  reserves for itself and its affiliates the right to reproduce and
     use  the  SOFTWARE,  DERIVATIVE  WORKS,  and  DOCUMENTATION  for  research,
     development,  and  demonstration  purposes,  and to license the SOFTWARE in
     other fields of use or territories not exclusively licensed herein.

E.   The SOFTWARE,  DERIVATIVE  WORKS, and  DOCUMENTATION  shall be owned by and
     remain the property of BATTELLE, and LICENSEE shall not receive proprietary
     rights to said SOFTWARE,  DERIVATIVE  WORKS, and DOCUMENTATION by virtue of
     this Agreement, except as specified herein.

                              4. RESPONSIBILITIES
                              -------------------

A.   LICENSEE will provide maintenance and END USER operational  support/service
     for the  SOFTWARE  using  trained  support  specialists.  This will include
     telephone   consultation  END  USER  support   providing  full  operational
     assistance  with problems END USERS may  experience in both  installing the
     SOFTWARE and in day-to-day operation. Problems associated with the SOFTWARE
     (bugs or program errors) shall be referred to BATTELLE for resolution.

B.   LICENSEE  or  SUBLICENSEE(S)  will  provide all  necessary  training to END
     USERS.

C.   LICENSEE  agrees  to  provide  BATTELLE  a  copy  of its  standard  license
     agreement for END USERS.  LICENSEE shall require that each END USER to whom
     a copy of SOFTWARE or DOCUMENTATION is licensed execute an END USER license
     agreement  acceptable  to BATTELLE,  which shall  obligate such END USER to
     maintain the proprietary nature of the SOFTWARE and DOCUMENTATION.

D.   LICENSEE agrees to use and display the licensed trademark in an appropriate
     manner to preserve the trademark status therein.

                 5. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
                 ---------------------------------------------

BATTELLE may disclose  confidential  and proprietary  information  ("Proprietary
Information") to LICENSEE,  consisting of published and unpublished  research or
development  information,  know how and technical data related to the PATENT and
SOFTWARE technology, and business information related to the PATENT and SOFTWARE
technology.  As a result of  LICENSEE's  access to the  Proprietary  Information
disclosed by BATTELLE hereunder,  LICENSEE may generate  information which shall
also  be  considered  Proprietary  Information.   LICENSEE  shall  not  disclose
Proprietary Information to any third party other than its AFFILIATES without the
express written consent of BATTELLE,  until such Proprietary  Information  shall
become publicly  available through no fault or action of LICENSEE.  LICENSEE and
its AFFILIATES shall not use the Proprietary  Information for any use other than
that expressly authorized herein.

<PAGE>

License Agreement No. 514770                                                   5
April 29, 2004
Version #3

                                 6. LICENSE FEE
                                 --------------

Upon  execution of this  Agreement  and as a condition to the grant of rights by
BATTELLE hereunder, LICENSEE shall pay and forward to BATTELLE the nonrefundable
sum of Fifty Thousand United States Dollars ($50,000 US).

                          7. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
                          ---------------------------

A.   LICENSEE  shall fund  research and  development  in the  LICENSED  FIELD at
     BATTELLE's  Pacific  Northwest  Division in the  minimum  amount of Fifteen
     Thousand United States Dollars ($15,000 US). Such development  effort shall
     be for the customization of the SOFTWARE to facilitate its use by LICENSEE.

B.   If LICENSEE  does not fund such  research  and  development  in the minimum
     amount  indicated  in  Paragraph  7A,  above,  BATTELLE,  may,  in its sole
     discretion, elect to convert the exclusive licenses of Paragraphs 2A and 3A
     to nonexclusive licenses, or terminate this Agreement.

                                  8. ROYALTIES
                                  ------------

A.   LICENSEE  shall pay to  BATTELLE a royalty of three  percent  (3%) of GROSS
     SALES of all  products  or services  used or sold under the PATENT  license
     granted under Article 2 hereof.

B.   LICENSEE  shall pay to  BATTELLE a royalty of three  percent  (3%) of GROSS
     SALES of all products or services  used or sold under the SOFTWARE  license
     granted under Article 3 hereof.

C.   In the  event  LICENSEE  practices  under  both the  PATENTS  and  SOFTWARE
     licenses,  LICENSEE shall pay a combined royalty rate of three percent (3%)
     of GROSS SALES of all products or services.

D.   If as a result of litigation financed by LICENSEE,  damages,  royalties, or
     other  consideration  is received by LICENSEE,  BATTELLE  shall receive the
     greater  of:  (i) a royalty  as set forth  above as applied to the level of
     infringing sales determined by a court or as a result of settlement of such
     claims,  or (ii)  twenty-five  percent  (25%)  of all  monies  received  by
     LICENSEE,  after  LICENSEE  deducts all reasonable  out-of-pocket  costs of
     prosecuting such litigation.

E.   No royalty  shall be paid to  BATTELLE  for the  practice  of any PATENT on
     behalf  of  the  U.S.  Government  for  which  the  U.S.  Government  has a
     royalty-free right to use such PATENT.

F.   No royalty  shall be paid to  BATTELLE  for the  practice  of any PATENT on
     behalf  of  the  U.S.  Government  for  which  the  U.S.  Government  has a
     royalty-free  right to use such PATENT,  but LICENSEE shall continue to pay
     the  agreed-upon  royalty  set forth  above on any PATENT for which use the
     U.S. Government does not have such a royalty-free right.

<PAGE>

License Agreement No. 514770                                                   6
April 29, 2004
Version #3

                                  9. DILIGENCE
                                  ------------

A.   LICENSEE shall pay to BATTELLE  royalties as stated in Article 8, but in no
     event shall royalties for a calendar year, beginning in the month of May of
     calendar  year 2005,  be less than a minimum  amount (i)  equivalent to one
     one-hundredth  of one  percent  (0.01%)  of  ANNUAL  REVENUE  or (ii)  Five
     Thousand United States Dollars ($5,000 US), whichever is greater.

B.   If this  Agreement  is  terminated  for any  reason,  except  for breach of
     contract by  BATTELLE,  during any year that minimum  royalties  are due to
     BATTELLE, upon termination,  LICENSEE shall immediately pay to BATTELLE the
     proportionate  amount of minimum royalties owed to BATTELLE that represents
     that  portion of the year elapsed  prior to  termination.  For example,  if
     LICENSEE  terminates  without  breach by BATTELLE  after the  expiration of
     three (3) months of the new year, LICENSEE shall pay to BATTELLE one-fourth
     (1/4) of the yearly minimum royalty due for that year.

                             10. U.S. MANUFACTURING
                             ----------------------

In order to enhance U.S. industrial competitiveness,  LICENSEE shall ensure that
products  embodying  the PATENTS which are  manufactured  for use or sale in the
United  States  under  the  exclusive   license   granted   hereunder  shall  be
substantially manufactured in the United States.

                                11. SUBLICENSING
                                ----------------

A.   LICENSEE  shall  have the right to  sublicense  in the  LICENSED  FIELD and
     LICENSED  TERRITORY all of the rights obtained by LICENSEE  herein,  except
     the right to sublicense.  The SOFTWARE source code shall not be sublicensed
     except  with  the  advance  approval  of  BATTELLE.  Sublicenses  shall  be
     nonexclusive licenses that are transferable only from LICENSEE to BATTELLE.
     Sublicenses shall be subject to the requirements of Article 10.

B.   BATTELLE shall have the right to approve any sublicense  granted hereunder,
     including the terms and conditions therein. LICENSEE shall provide BATTELLE
     with a copy of each sublicense, and shall not grant to its sublicensees any
     BATTELLE  rights  not  conveyed  by this  Agreement.  The  royalty  paid to
     BATTELLE  under  sublicenses  for all  monies  or  other  consideration  of
     whatever kind received by LICENSEE shall be fifty percent (50%) of any such
     income  received.  The royalty paid to BATTELLE under  sublicenses  for all
     monies or other  consideration  of whatever kind received by LICENSEE shall
     be no less than one and one-half percent (1.5%) of each sublicensee's GROSS
     SALES (as defined for LICENSEE in Article 1). LICENSEE shall not enter into
     any royalty-free sublicenses.

C.   LICENSEE  agrees  to  license  the  SOFTWARE  to  END  USERS  with  license
     agreements that protect  BATTELLE from liability or damages based on claims
     made by such END USERS or others.  BATTELLE shall approve the final form of
     such license agreement. LICENSEE is not required to provide BATTELLE with a
     copy of each license agreement it enters into with an END USER.

D.   If this Agreement is terminated  for any reason,  except breach of contract
     by BATTELLE, LICENSEE shall immediately assign all of its right, title, and
     interest to all  sublicenses  to BATTELLE,  including  the right to receive
     income.

<PAGE>

License Agreement No. 514770                                                   7
April 29, 2004
Version #3

E.   Income  received by LICENSEE from  sublicensees  shall not apply to satisfy
     the minimum  royalty  provisions of Article 9.A (ii), but shall be included
     in determining the amount under Article 9A (i).

                            12. REPORTS AND PAYMENTS
                            ------------------------

A.   Not  later  than the last day of each  January,  April,  July and  October,
     LICENSEE  shall furnish to BATTELLE a written  statement in a form provided
     by  BATTELLE   (Attachment   1)  to  determine  the  amounts  due  and  the
     appropriateness of the royalties paid pursuant to Articles 8 and 11 for the
     quarterly  periods  ended the last days of the preceding  December,  March,
     June and September, respectively, and shall pay to BATTELLE all amounts due
     to BATTELLE.  Such amounts are due at the dates the  statements are due. If
     no amount is accrued during any quarterly  period,  a written  statement to
     that effect shall be furnished.

B.   Royalties earned on sales occurring or under sublicense granted pursuant to
     this  Agreement  in any  country  outside  the United  States  shall not be
     reduced by LICENSEE for any taxes,  fees, or other  charges  imposed by the
     government of such country on the payment of royalty income.

C.   Payments provided for in this Agreement,  shall when overdue, bear interest
     at a rate per annum  equal to three  percent  (3%) in excess of the  "Prime
     Rate"  published by The Wall Street Journal at the time such payment is due
     until payment is received by BATTELLE.

D.   If LICENSEE  makes  payments to BATTELLE  by  Electronic  Funds  Transfers,
     LICENSEE  shall  provide a written  report to  BATTELLE  to the address set
     forth in  Article 29 as  required  in  Paragraph  9A,  above,  along with a
     statement  indicating  that  payments  have been made by  Electronic  Funds
     Transfers. Such payments shall be made to the following account:

                           U. S. Bank of Washington
                           Account Name:  Battelle Memorial Institute
                           ABA No. 125000105
                           Account No. 153502962134

   13. REPRESENTATIONS, HOLD HARMLESS AND LIMITATION OF BATTELLE'S LIABILITY
   -------------------------------------------------------------------------

A.   This Agreement is entered into by BATTELLE in its private  capacity.  It is
     understood  and  agreed  that  the U.S.  Government  is not a party to this
     Agreement  and in no manner  whatsoever  shall be liable for nor assume any
     responsibility  or obligation for any claim, cost or damages arising out of
     or resulting from this Agreement or the subject matter licensed.

B.   (i) Nothing in this  Agreement  shall be deemed to be a  representation  or
     warranty,  except as set forth in Paragraph 13E below, by BATTELLE,  or the
     U.S.  Government,  of the  validity of any of the PATENTS or the  accuracy,
     safety or  usefulness  for any purpose,  of any  SOFTWARE,  techniques,  or
     practices at any time made available by BATTELLE.

     (ii) Neither the U.S. Government nor BATTELLE nor any affiliated company of
     BATTELLE  shall have any  liability  whatsoever  to  LICENSEE  or any other
     person for or on account of any  injury,  loss,  or damage,  of any kind or

<PAGE>

License Agreement No. 514770                                                   8
April 29, 2004
Version #3

     nature  sustained by, or any damage  assessed or asserted  against,  or any
     other  liability  incurred by or imposed upon LICENSEE or any other person,
     arising out of or in connection  with or resulting from (1) the production,
     use or sale of any apparatus or product,  or the practice of the PATENTS by
     LICENSEE; (2) the use by LICENSEE of any SOFTWARE, techniques, or practices
     disclosed  by  BATTELLE;  or  (3)  any  advertising  or  other  promotional
     activities by LICENSEE with respect to any of the foregoing; and

     (iii) LICENSEE shall hold the U.S. Government, BATTELLE, and any affiliated
     company of BATTELLE,  harmless in the event the U.S. Government,  BATTELLE,
     or any  affiliated  company  of  BATTELLE,  is held  liable  as a result of
     actions by LICENSEE as set forth in Paragraphs 13B(ii)(1),  13B(ii)(2), and
     13B(ii)(3) above.

     (iv) Further, LICENSEE agrees to assume the defense of (1) any suit brought
     against BATTELLE or any affiliated  company of BATTELLE  resulting from any
     action of LICENSEE  undertaken  under this License  Agreement,  and (2) any
     action brought  against  LICENSEE or BATTELLE  resulting from any action of
     LICENSEE relating to the licensed PATENTS or the SOFTWARE.

C.   BATTELLE  represents  that it has the  right  to  grant  all of the  rights
     granted  herein,  except as to such rights as the  Government of the United
     States of America may have or may assert.

D.   LICENSEE  understands  and  acknowledges  that the  subject  matter of this
     Agreement has not yet been commercially demonstrated,  and agrees to accept
     the risks  incident to  designing,  manufacturing  and  operating a nascent
     technology.  LICENSEE  recognizes that use of the SOFTWARE for its intended
     purposes shall be dependent on LICENSEE and the data and variables provided
     by LICENSEE.

E.   BATTELLE  staff  responsible  for the  negotiation  of this  Agreement  are
     unaware of any claims that have been, are, or could  reasonably be asserted
     against  BATTELLE by third parties with respect to patent  infringement  or
     any other type of liability  relevant to  licensing  of the PATENTS,  which
     have not been disclosed to LICENSEE as of the date of this Agreement.

                                14. TERMINATION
                                ---------------

A.   The PATENT  License of Article 2 shall end upon the  expiration of the last
     to expire of the PATENTS  included  herein,  or upon the abandonment of the
     last to be abandoned of any patent  applications if no PATENTS have issued,
     or a final  adjudication  of  invalidity  of all PATENTS  included  herein,
     whichever is later, unless the PATENT License is sooner terminated.

B.   The  SOFTWARE  License  of  Article 3 shall  continue  so long as  LICENSEE
     continues to make,  have made,  use and sell products or services using the
     SOFTWARE, and the obligation to pay royalties under Article 8 attributed to
     the  SOFTWARE  License of Article 3 shall end only when all the SOFTWARE is
     no longer confidential or proprietary through no fault of LICENSEE,  or the
     copyrights  and trademark  rights  expire,  unless the SOFTWARE  License is
     sooner terminated.

<PAGE>

License Agreement No. 514770                                                   9
April 29, 2004
Version #3

C.   LICENSEE may terminate both of the PATENT or SOFTWARE  licenses at any time
     upon sixty (60) days' written  notice in advance to BATTELLE,  but LICENSEE
     shall  thereafter  discontinue the practice and use of both of the licensed
     PATENTS and the SOFTWARE.

D.   Except as provided  below in  Paragraph  14E,  if either  party shall be in
     breach of any  obligation  hereunder,  the other party may  terminate  this
     Agreement by giving Notice of  Termination by personal  delivery,  telefax,
     electronic  mail  transmission  or by United States mail,  express mail, or
     courier  service,  with  postage or fees  prepaid,  to the party in breach,
     specifying the basis for termination.  Notice by personal delivery, telefax
     or  electronic  mail is  deemed  to  have  been  given  when  delivered  or
     transmitted.  Notice sent by U.S. mail,  express mail or courier service is
     deemed to have been given when mailed.  If within sixty (60) days after the
     receipt of such Notice of Termination, the party in breach shall remedy the
     condition  forming the basis for  termination,  such Notice of  Termination
     shall cease to be  operative,  and this  Agreement  shall  continue in full
     force;  provided  that if Notice of  Termination  is given by  BATTELLE  to
     LICENSEE  for the third time then this grace  period shall not be available
     unless  permitted in such third Notice of  Termination,  and this Agreement
     shall be finally terminated.

E.   If any report or payment due to BATTELLE is overdue for a third time,  then
     any  subsequent  Notice of Termination is not subject to the sixty (60) day
     cure provision of Paragraph 14D.

F.   LICENSEE  shall  inform  BATTELLE  of its  intention  to  file a  voluntary
     petition in  bankruptcy  or of another's  intention to file an  involuntary
     petition in bankruptcy to be received at least seventy-five (75) days prior
     to filing such a petition.  LICENSEE's  filing  without  conforming to this
     requirement shall be deemed a material,  pre-petition  incurable breach not
     subject to the notice  requirement  of Paragraph 14D, and BATTELLE shall be
     deemed to have  terminated this Agreement  seventy-five  (75) days prior to
     filing such petition.

G.   Termination of this  Agreement  shall not extinguish any rights of BATTELLE
     or obligations of LICENSEE  accrued  hereunder at the time of  termination;
     and  obligations  undertaken  independent  of the  licenses  granted  under
     Articles  2 and 3 shall  survive  termination  to the extent  necessary  to
     permit their complete fulfillment or discharge.

H.   If this Agreement is for any reason  terminated  before all of the payments
     required  to be made by  LICENSEE  as set  forth  herein  have been made to
     BATTELLE, LICENSEE shall immediately pay to BATTELLE any unpaid amounts due
     as of the date of such  termination  even  though the due date  provided in
     Article 12 has not been reached.

                                 15. LITIGATION
                                 --------------

A.   LICENSEE shall notify BATTELLE of any suspected infringement of the PATENTS
     or of the  SOFTWARE  copyrights  in the  LICENSED  FIELD  and the  LICENSED
     TERRITORY,  and each party shall  inform the other of any  evidence of such
     infringement(s).

B.   After LICENSEE or BATTELLE identifies an actual infringement of the PATENTS
     or the SOFTWARE  copyrights in the LICENSED  FIELD and LICENSED  TERRITORY,
     BATTELLE  has the  right  to  require  that  LICENSEE  institute  suit  for
     infringement(s)  in a  court  of  competent  jurisdiction  so  long as this
     Agreement remains exclusive,  and to prosecute such suit to conclusion.  In
     the event LICENSEE receives any monies or other  consideration from a third

<PAGE>

License Agreement No. 514770                                                  10
April 29, 2004
Version #3

     party as a result of LICENSEE's rights under this Agreement, BATTELLE shall
     receive its payment  under Article 8 as applied to all such monies or other
     consideration  whether  such monies or other  consideration  are denoted as
     "royalties",   "damages",   "release"   from  prior  acts,   or  any  other
     designation.

                                  16. PATENTS
                                  -----------

A.   BATTELLE shall have the sole right to file, prosecute,  and maintain all of
     the PATENTS that are the property of BATTELLE,  and shall have the right to
     determine  whether or not,  and  where,  to file a patent  application,  to
     abandon  the  prosecution  of  any  PATENT  or  patent  application,  or to
     discontinue  the  maintenance  of any  PATENT  or patent  application.  All
     reasonable  expenses incurred by BATTELLE  subsequent to the effective date
     of this Agreement in the filing,  prosecution or maintenance of PATENTS, or
     patent applications and patents issued on improvement inventions,  licensed
     hereunder  shall be  reimbursed  to BATTELLE by LICENSEE  within sixty (60)
     days of LICENSEE's receipt of notice setting forth such expenses.

B.   LICENSEE shall disclose to BATTELLE  improvement  inventions made solely by
     LICENSEE.  Improvement  inventions  made  solely by  LICENSEE  shall be the
     exclusive   property  of  LICENSEE,   but  BATTELLE   shall  be  granted  a
     nonexclusive, royalty-free, paid-up research license therein.

                                  17. RECORDS
                                  -----------

LICENSEE  shall keep  accurate  records  of all  operations  affecting  payments
hereunder, and shall permit BATTELLE or its duly authorized agent to inspect all
such records and to make copies of or extracts from such records  during regular
business hours throughout the term of this Agreement and for a reasonable period
of not less than three (3) years thereafter.

                               18. ASSIGNABILITY
                               -----------------

LICENSEE  shall not assign any rights  under  this  Agreement  not  specifically
transferable by its terms without the written consent of BATTELLE.  BATTELLE may
assign its rights hereunder.

                                   19. REFORM
                                   ----------

A.   The parties agree that if any part,  term,  or provision of this  Agreement
     shall be found illegal or in conflict with any valid  controlling  law, the
     validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby.

B.   In the event the  legality of any  provision  of this  Agreement is brought
     into question because of a decision by a court of competent jurisdiction of
     any country in which this Agreement applies, BATTELLE, by written notice to
     LICENSEE, may revise the provision in question or may delete it entirely so
     as to comply with the decision of said court.

                                 20. PUBLICITY
                                 -------------

Any use by  LICENSEE  of the name  BATTELLE  or of any  organization  related to
BATTELLE, including materials designed for the news media, is prohibited without
the express written approval of BATTELLE.

<PAGE>

License Agreement No. 514770                                                  11
April 29, 2004
Version #3

                           21. WAIVER AND ALTERATION
                           -------------------------

A.   The waiver of a breach  hereunder may be effected only by a writing  signed
     by the waiving party and shall not constitute a waiver of any other breach.

B.   A provision of this  Agreement  may be altered only by a writing  signed by
     both parties, except as provided in Article 19, above.

                                  22. MARKING
                                  -----------

A.   LICENSEE shall place in a conspicuous  location on any product made or sold
     under any PATENT coming with this Agreement,  a patent notice in accordance
     with the laws concerning the marking of patented articles.

B.   LICENSEE shall include a marking  provision similar to Paragraph A above in
     every sublicense granted pursuant to Article 11, above.

C.   LICENSEE  shall  place  in a  conspicuous  location  on all  copies  of the
     SOFTWARE and DOCUMENTATION the following copyright notice:

           Copyright (C) 2003 Battelle Memorial Institute
           All Rights Reserved.

D.   LICENSEE  shall place on all copies of the SOFTWARE and  DOCUMENTATION,  in
     the format specified below, the following statement:

           NOTICE:  These data were  produced  by  Battelle  Memorial  Institute
           (BATTELLE)  under  Contract  No.   DE-AC06-76RLO1830  with  the  U.S.
           Department  of Energy  (DOE).  For a five year  period from April 10,
           2003,  the  Government is granted for itself and others acting on its
           behalf a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable worldwide license in this
           data to reproduce, prepare derivative works, and perform publicly and
           display  publicly,  by or on  behalf  of  the  Government.  There  is
           provision  for the possible  extension  of the term of this  license.
           Subsequent to that period or any extension granted, the Government is
           granted  for itself and others  acting on its behalf a  nonexclusive,
           paid-up,  irrevocable  worldwide  license in this data to  reproduce,
           prepare  derivative works,  distribute copies to the public,  perform
           publicly  and display  publicly,  and to permit  others to do so. The
           specific  term of the license can be  identified  by inquiry  made to
           BATTELLE  or DOE.  NEITHER  THE UNITED  STATES NOR THE UNITED  STATES
           DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, NOR BATTELLE, NOR ANY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES, MAKES
           ANY WARRANTY,  EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,  OR ASSUMES ANY LEGAL LIABILITY OR
           RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY,  COMPLETENESS,  OR USEFULNESS OF ANY
           DATA,  APPARATUS,  PRODUCT, OR PROCESS DISCLOSED,  OR REPRESENTS THAT
           ITS USE WOULD NOT INFRINGE PRIVATELY OWNED RIGHTS.

<PAGE>

License Agreement No. 514770                                                  12
April 29, 2004
Version #3

                               23. IMPLEMENTATION
                               ------------------

Each party shall execute any  instruments  necessary to implement the provisions
of this Agreement.

                                24. CONSTRUCTION
                                ----------------

This  Agreement  shall be construed in accordance  with the laws of the State of
Washington of The United States of America and in the English language,  and any
action brought to enforce any provision or obligation hereunder shall be brought
in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Washington.

                    25. EXPORTATION OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION
                    ----------------------------------------

LICENSEE represents and warrants that it shall not export from The United States
of America  directly or  indirectly,  any technical  information  (or the direct
product  thereof)  furnished  to  LICENSEE  either  directly  or  indirectly  by
BATTELLE,   without  first  complying  with  all   requirements  of  the  Export
Administration  Regulations,  including the requirement for obtaining any export
license, if applicable.  LICENSEE agrees to indemnify,  defend and hold harmless
BATTELLE,  its officers,  agents and employees from all liability  involving the
violation  of  such  export  regulations,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  by
LICENSEE.

                               26. CERTIFICATION
                               -----------------

LICENSEE hereby  certifies that no principal of LICENSEE has been an employee of
BATTELLE or any of its  affiliated  companies  in the two (2) years prior to the
date of execution of this Agreement.

                               27. NO PRESUMPTION
                               ------------------

No provision of this Agreement  shall be interpreted for or against any party to
this  Agreement  on the basis  that that  party  was the  drafting  party of the
provision  and no  presumption  or burden of proof  shall arise  disfavoring  or
favoring any party by virtue of the  authorship of any of the provisions of this
Agreement.

                            28. ENTIRE UNDERSTANDING
                            ------------------------

This Agreement  represents  the entire  understanding  between the parties,  and
supersedes  all other  agreements,  express  or  implied,  between  the  parties
concerning  the  subject  matter  of this  Agreement.  Specifically,  no  future
representations made by BATTELLE staff shall be effective to alter any provision
herein  unless  such  representation  shall be made in writing by an  authorized
representative of BATTELLE having the power to do so.

                                 29. ADDRESSES
                                 -------------

For the  purpose  of all  written  communications  between  the  parties,  their
addresses shall be:

<PAGE>

License Agreement No. 514770                                                  13
April 29, 2004
Version #3

                              Web Safe Technologies, Inc.
                              Attention Joel Edelson, Vice President
                              202 South Wheeler Street
                              Plant City, FL 33563
                              Telephone:       (813) 754-4330 ext. 229
                              Fax:             (813) 754-2383
                              Email:           jedelson@utekcorp.com
                                               ---------------------

                              Battelle Memorial Institute
                              Attention Sr. Licensing Associate, Mailstop K1-53
                              P.O. Box 999
                              902 Battelle Blvd.
                              Richland, WA  99352
                              Telephone:       (509) 375-6308
                              Fax:             (509) 375-4487
                              Email:           David.Long@pnl.gov

or any other  addresses  of which  either  party shall notify the other party in
writing.

                                 30. EXPIRATION
                                 --------------

The offer to execute this Agreement shall expire if this Agreement is not signed
by both parties and returned to BATTELLE on or before May 19, 2004.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF  the  parties  have  caused  this  Agreement  to be
executed by their duly  authorized  officers on the respective  dates and at the
respective places hereinafter set forth.

BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE               Web Safe Technologies, Inc.

BY                                        BY
        ----------------------------              ----------------------------

PRINTED                                   PRINTED
NAME      R. M. Schwenk                   NAME     Joel Edelson
        ----------------------------              ----------------------------

TITLE     Contracting Officer             TITLE    Vice President
        ----------------------------              ----------------------------

DATE                                      DATE
        ----------------------------              ----------------------------

<PAGE>

                                  ATTACHMENT 1

                           ROYALTY REPORT TO BATTELLE
                           --------------------------

From:________________________________________________________________________
         (Company Name)

Reporting Period:

From  _______________________  To _______________________ (3 Month Period Ending
March  31,  June 30,  September  30,  and  December  31, to be  Reported  by the
Following April 31, July 31, October 31, and January 31).

1.       Article 8, ROYALTIES

         GROSS SALES (LICENSEE and AFFILIATES)                ____________
                                                              X 0.03

         $ Amount of Royalties Owed:                          $___________

2.       Article 11B  (royalties  from  sublicenses)  50% of all  receipts  from
         Sublicensees  (or  1.5%  of  Sublicensee  GROSS  SALES,   whichever  is
         greater):

         $ Amount Royalties Owed:                              $____________

Total Royalties Due                                            $____________

Signed by__________________________________

Printed name_______________________________   Telephone No.____________________

Date_______________________________________   Telefax No.______________________

<PAGE>

                          LICENSE AGREEMENT NO. 514770

                                     BETWEEN

                           BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE

                                       AND

                           Web Safe Technologies, Inc.

                                   April 2004

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