Document:

mm09-1911_8ke101.htm

 

 

EXHIBIT 10.1

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), dated as of September 19, 2011, between THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and MARC CEDRIC YANN PROUVÉ, a resident of Mamaroneck, New York (the “Executive” or “you”),

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the Company and its subsidiaries are principally engaged in the business of manufacturing, marketing and selling skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products and related services (the “Business”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive are parties to an employment agreement dated July 1, 2008, as amended July 1, 2009; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the services of the Group President, International and the Executive desires to provide services in such capacity to the Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth; and

 

WHEREAS, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Compensation Committee”) and the Stock Plan Subcommittee of the Compensation Committee have approved the terms of this Agreement; and

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and obligations hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

1.           Employment Term; Effectiveness

 

The Company hereby agrees to continue to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby agrees to continue employment, as Group President, International of the Company subject to termination pursuant to Section 6 hereof.  The period from July 1, 2011 through the date of termination of Executive’s employment with the Company shall be the “Term of Employment”.

 

2.           Duties and Extent of Services.

 

(a)           During the Term of Employment, the Executive shall serve as Group President, International, reporting to the President & CEO.  In such capacity, the Executive shall render such executive, managerial, administrative and other services as customarily are associated with and incident to such positions, and as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably require of him consistent with such positions.

 

(b)           The Executive shall also hold such other positions and executive offices of the Company and/or of any of the Company’s subsidiaries or affiliates as may from time to time be agreed by the Executive or assigned by the Board of Directors, provided that each such position shall be commensurate with the Executive’s standing in the business community as Group President, International.  The Executive shall not be entitled to any compensation other than the compensation provided for herein for serving during the Term of Employment in any other office or position of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates,
unless the Board of

  

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Directors of the Company or the appropriate committee thereof shall specifically approve such additional compensation.

 

(c)           The Executive shall be a full-time “at will” employee of the Company and shall exclusively devote all his business time and efforts faithfully and competently to the Company and shall diligently perform to the best of his ability all of the duties required of him as Group President, International, and in the other positions or offices of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates assigned to him hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the Executive may serve as a non-management director of such business corporations (or in a like capacity in other for-profit or not-for-profit
organizations) as the President & CEO of the Company may approve, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld.

 

(d)           The Executive shall comply with the Company's stock ownership guidelines applicable to the Executive as they may be implemented and/or amended by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

3.           Cash Compensation

 

(a)           Base Salary.  As compensation for all services to be rendered pursuant to this Agreement and as payment for the rights and interests granted by Executive hereunder, the Company shall pay or cause any of its subsidiaries to pay the Executive a base salary (the “Base Salary”) during the Term of Employment subject to the provisions of Section 3(e) at a rate set by the Compensation Committee from time to time.  The Compensation Committee has determined that the annual Base Salary shall be $1,000,000 effective
July 1, 2011for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012 (“Fiscal 2012”).  Subject to Section 6(j) of this Agreement, all amounts of Base Salary provided for hereunder shall be periodically reviewed and, where appropriate in conjunction with the Company’s compensation policies, adjusted and payable in accordance with the regular payroll policies of the Company in effect from time to time.

 

(b)           Incentive Bonus Compensation.  The Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Company’s Executive Annual Incentive Plan or any subsequent Bonus Plan for executives that is approved by the stockholders of the Company (the “Bonus Plan”), with aggregate target bonus opportunities to be reviewed by the Compensation Committee from time to time, but no earlier than in respect of Fiscal 2013.  The Compensation Committee has determined that the aggregate annual target bonus opportunities for Fiscal
2012 shall be equal to $2,100,000.

 

Any target bonus opportunities granted to the Executive shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Bonus Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference; provided, however, that the bonus payout with respect to any fiscal year shall be paid to Executive no later than the 15th day of the third month following the end of such fiscal year.

 

(c)           Deferral.

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
Deferral Elections—In General.  During the Term of Employment the Executive may elect to defer payment of all or any part of any salary payable under Section 3(a) or any incentive bonus compensation payable under Section 3(b) by making an election, in a manner prescribed by the Company, on or before December 31 of the calendar year before the fiscal year begins (or such earlier date as

  

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may be necessary to comply with the applicable tax laws and regulations).

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
Deferral Elections—Performance-Based Compensation.  For any incentive bonus compensation that qualifies as performance-based compensation under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(e) and is based upon a performance period of at least twelve (12) months, the Executive may make a deferral election at any time before the date that is six (6) months before the applicable performance period ends, but only if (i) the incentive bonus compensation is not readily ascertainable when the election is made and (ii) the service provider has performed services continuously from the later of the beginning of the performance period or the date the performance
criteria are established.

 

	
  

	
(iii)

	
Credit on Amounts Deferred.  Any amounts deferred by Executive will be credited to a bookkeeping account in the name of the Executive as of the date scheduled for payment (the “Deferred Compensation Account”).  The Deferred Compensation Account will be credited with interest as of each June 30 during the term of deferral, compounded annually, at an annual rate equal to the annual rate of interest announced by Citibank N.A. in New York, New York as its base rate in effect on such June 30, but limited to a maximum annual rate of 9%.

 

	
  

	
(iv)

	
Payment of Amounts Deferred and Vested.  Subject to Section 6(j), amounts credited to the Executive’s Deferred Compensation Account will be paid to the Executive (or the Executive’s designated beneficiary if the Executive dies before payment), subject to applicable withholding taxes on, or as soon as practicable after, the date the Executive separates from service with the Company (as defined in Treas. Reg. section 1.409A-1(h)).  The Company, in its sole discretion, may provide an investment facility for all or a portion of such deferred amounts, but is not required to do so.

 

4.           Equity-Based Compensation

 

(a)           General.  During his Term of Employment the Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan or such other share incentive plan that is approved by the stockholders of the Company (the “Share Incentive Plan”).  Any awards or opportunities granted to the Executive shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Share Incentive Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference.  The terms of such equity-based compensation awards shall be
set forth in separate grant letters approved by the Stock Plan Subcommittee of the Compensation Committee.

 

(b)           Certain Conditions.  Executive acknowledges and agrees that any grant of equity-based compensation shall be effective as provided only to the extent permitted by the Share Incentive Plan, and this Agreement shall not obligate the Company to adopt any successor plan providing for the grant of equity-based compensation.  If authority over the Company’s equity compensation programs is changed from the Stock Plan Subcommittee to the

  

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Compensation Committee (or other committee), then after such change, references herein to the Stock Plan Subcommittee shall be to the appropriate committee.

 

5.           Benefits.

 

(a)           Standard Benefits.  During the Term of Employment, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all pension and retirement savings, fringe benefit and welfare plans, including group term life insurance, medical, health and accident, disability, and vacation plans and programs maintained by the Company from time to time for employees.  During the Term of Employment, the Executive shall also be entitled to participate in additional benefits and programs as described in Sections 5 (b) through (g) for senior
executives at a level commensurate with his position.  The Executive acknowledges that participation in such programs may result in the receipt by him of additional taxable income.

 

(b)           Perquisite Reimbursement; Financial Counseling.  During the Term of Employment, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for the actual expenses incurred by him in connection with his professional standing, in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Company’s Senior Executive Compensation Program Perquisite Plan and upon presentation of proper expense statements or vouchers or such other supporting information as the Company may reasonably require of the Executive.  Such reimbursement shall generally
occur within seventy-five (75) days after the end of the calendar year of presentment, provided that such presentment occurs within ninety (90) days after the date the related expenses were incurred.  Notwithstanding the above, to the extent that the expenses were incurred in one calendar year and presentment occurs in the following calendar year, such reimbursement shall occur by the end of the calendar year in which the presentment occurs.  In no event shall the gross amount of such reimbursements be greater than $15,000 in respect of any calendar year, nor shall amounts that are not reimbursed in one calendar year up to the $15,000 per year limitation be able to be used in another calendar year or otherwise be made available to the Executive.  Additionally, the Company will pay directly to the service provider following presentment of invoice(s)
reasonably acceptable to the Company up to $5,000 per year for reasonable financial counseling services for the Executive, and in no event shall amounts up to the $5,000 per year limitation that are not paid in one calendar year be able to be used in another calendar year or otherwise be made available to the Executive.  The Executive acknowledges that participation in such programs will result in the receipt by him of additional taxable income.

 

(c)           Executive Auto.  During the Term of Employment, the Executive will participate in the Executive Automobile Program of the Company, and may elect to be provided an automobile having an acquisition value of up to $50,000, with up to an additional $10,000 in value as paid by the Executive. Alternatively, the Executive may receive an automobile allowance in the gross monthly amount of $1,100.  The Executive acknowledges that participation in this program will result in the receipt by him of additional taxable
income.

 

(d)           Expenses.  During the Term of Employment, the Company agrees to reimburse the Executive for all reasonable and necessary travel (inclusive of first class air travel), business entertainment and other business out-of-pocket expenses incurred or expended by him in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder upon presentation of proper expense statements or vouchers or such other supporting information as the Company may reasonably require of the Executive.  The timing of payment of such reimbursements and
presentation by the Executive of expenses incurred shall be in accordance with the rules described in Section 5(b).

  

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(e)           Spousal/Companion Travel.  During the Term of Employment, the Executive may upon prior approval of the President & CEO or his respective designee(s), arrange for his spouse/companion or domestic partner to accompany him on up to two (2) business related travel itineraries per fiscal year, on a reasonable basis, at Company expense.  Any reimbursement for such travel shall require presentation of proper expense statements or vouchers or such other supporting information as the Company may reasonably require of the
Executive, and shall be payable within seventy-five (75) days after the end of the calendar year of presentment.  The Executive acknowledges that participation in this program will result in the receipt by him of additional taxable income.

 

(f)           Executive Term Life Insurance.  During the Term of Employment, the Company shall pay premiums on a term life insurance policy or successor life insurance policy with a face amount of $5,000,000.  Such obligation to pay premiums is subject to standard underwriting conditions.  The Executive acknowledges that this coverage will result in the receipt by him of additional taxable income.

 

(g)           Modification of Benefits.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company reserves the right with respect to any benefit set forth in this Section 5 or in Section 3(d) above to modify such benefit or not to provide such benefit.  Changes in any benefit provided solely to Executive Officers of the Company shall be subject to approval of the Compensation Committee.

 

6.           Termination.

 

(a)           Permanent Disability.  In the event of the “permanent disability” (as hereinafter defined) of the Executive during the Term of Employment, the Company shall have the right, upon written notice to the Executive, to terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder, effective upon the giving of such notice (or such later date as shall be specified in such notice).  In the event of such termination, the Company shall have no further obligations hereunder, except that the Executive shall be entitled to
receive (i) any accrued but unpaid salary and other amounts to which the Executive otherwise is entitled hereunder prior to the date of his termination of employment, in accordance with Section 3(a) and other applicable payment provisions herein; (ii) bonus compensation earned but not paid under Section 3(b) hereof that relates to any fiscal year ended prior to the date of his termination of employment, in accordance with Section 3(b) hereof; (iii) a pro-rata portion of the annual bonus payout that the Executive would have been entitled to receive had he remained in employment through the end of the fiscal year during which termination due to permanent disability occurred, based on the portion of the fiscal year that has elapsed prior to such termination, and paid in accordance with Section 3(b) hereof (provided, that such payment shall not be made prior to the sixtieth (60th) day
following the Executive’s date of termination); (iv) reimbursement for financial counseling services under Section 5(b) hereof for a period of one (1) year from the date of termination, in accordance with Section 5(b) hereof (provided, that such payment shall not be made prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following the Executive’s date of termination); and (v) his Base Salary at a rate equal to the highest rate during the past twelve (12) months for a period of one (1) year from the date of termination as a result of permanent disability, in accordance with Section 3(a) hereof (the “Disability Continuation Period”), paid in accordance with Section 6(j)(i) hereof (provided, that such payment shall not be made prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following the Executive’s date of termination); further
provided, however, that the Company shall only be required to pay that amount of the Executive’s Base Salary which shall not be covered by short-term disability payments or benefits or long-term disability payments or benefits, if any, to the Executive under any Company plan or arrangement.  In addition, upon termination for

  

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permanent disability, the Executive shall continue to participate, to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations and the applicable benefit plan, program or arrangement, in any and all healthcare, life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance benefit plans, programs or arrangements of the Company during the Disability Continuation Period (disregarding any required delay in payments under Section 6(j)).  Thereafter, the Executive’s rights to participate in such programs and plans, or to receive similar coverage, if any, shall be as determined under such programs.  Because continued participation in any qualified pension and qualified retirement
savings plans of the Company is not permitted during the Disability Continuation Period, the Company shall provide to the Executive, subject to Section 6(j), cash payments, to be paid in accordance with Section 6(j)(i), equal to the sum of (x) the maximum qualified defined contribution retirement savings plan match for pre-tax and after-tax contributions allowable by the plan and by applicable laws and regulations for each year during the Disability Continuation Period (or other period as expressly provided herein), and (v) the excess of the benefit that would have been received by the Executive had he been credited with additional years of age and service equal to the Disability Continuation Period (or other period as expressly provided herein) over the actual benefit to which the Executive is entitled, in each case, under any and all qualified and non-qualified defined benefit
pension plans and qualified defined contribution retirement savings plans in which the Executive participates as of the date of termination of employment, calculated as of and based upon the Executive’s date of termination (such sum the “Pension Replacement Payment”),(provided, that such payment shall not be made prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following the Executive’s date of termination).  Notwithstanding the above, any amounts payable under this Section 6(a) that are separation pay as described under Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A) shall be paid no later than December 31 of the second calendar year following the year in which the Executive’s termination for permanent disability occurs; any amounts payable under this Section 6(a) that are not otherwise exempt from Code section 409A are subject to, and payable in accordance with,
Section 6(j) of this Agreement.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6(a), the Company will have no further obligations under Sections 3, 4 and 5 hereof or otherwise.  For purposes of this Section 6(a), “permanent disability” means any disability as defined under the Company’s applicable disability insurance policy or, if no such policy is available, any physical or mental disability or incapacity that renders the Executive incapable of performing the services required of him in accordance with his obligations under Section 2 hereof for a period of six (6) consecutive months or for shorter periods aggregating six (6) months during any twelve-month period.

 

(b)           Death.  In the event of the death of the Executive during the Term of Employment, Executive’s employment and this Agreement shall automatically terminate.  In the event of such termination the Company shall have no further obligations hereunder, except to pay the Executive’s beneficiary or legal representative (i) any accrued but unpaid salary and other amounts to which the Executive otherwise is entitled hereunder prior to the date of his  death, in accordance with Section 3(a) and other
applicable payment provisions herein; (ii) bonus compensation earned but not paid under Section 3(b) hereof that relates to any fiscal year ended prior to the date of his death, in accordance with Section 3(b) hereof; (iii) a pro-rata portion of the annual bonus payout the Executive would have been entitled to receive had he remained in the employ of the Company through the end of the fiscal year during which termination due to his death occurred, based on the portion of the fiscal year that has elapsed prior to such termination, and paid in accordance with Section 3(b) hereof (provided, that such payment shall not be made prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following the Executive’s date of termination); (iv) reimbursement for financial counseling services under Section 5(b) hereof for a period of one (1) year from the date of termination, in accordance with Section 5(b) hereof
(provided, that such payment shall not be made prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following the Executive’s date of termination); and (v) for a period of one (1) year from the date of his death,

  

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the Executive’s Base Salary as established under Section 3(a) hereof as of the date of his death, in accordance with Section 3(a) hereof (provided, that such payment shall not be made prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following the Executive’s date of termination); further provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in this Section 6(b), the Company will have no further obligations under Sections 3, 4 and 5 hereof or otherwise.

 

(c)           Termination Without Cause.  The Company shall have the right, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice given to the Executive, to terminate the Executive’s employment for any reason whatsoever (except for Cause (as defined below) which is covered by Section 3(d)).  In the event of such termination, the Company shall have no further obligations hereunder, except that the Executive shall be entitled to (i) receive any accrued but unpaid salary and other amounts to which the Executive otherwise is
entitled hereunder prior to the date of his termination without Cause, in accordance with Section 3(a) and other applicable payment provisions herein; (ii) receive bonus compensation earned but not paid under Section 3(b) hereof that relates to any fiscal year ended prior to the date of his termination without Cause, in accordance with Section 3(b) hereof; (iii) receive a pro-rata portion of the annual bonus payout that the Executive would have been entitled to receive had he remained in employment through the end of the fiscal year during which the termination without Cause occurred, based on the portion of the fiscal year that has elapsed prior to such termination, and paid in accordance with Section 3(b) hereof (provided, that such payment shall not be made prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following the Executive’s date of termination); (iv) receive as damages (A) for a period
ending on a date two (2) years from the date of termination without Cause, in accordance with the regular payroll policies of the Company in effect from time to time, his Base Salary as established under and in accordance with Section 3(a) hereof and (B) bonus compensation equal to fifty percent (50%) of the average of the actual annual bonuses paid or payable to the Executive under the Bonus Plan during the past two (2) completed fiscal years paid in accordance with Section 6(j)(i) hereof (provided, that such payment shall not be made prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following the Executive’s date of termination); (v) receive reimbursement for financial counseling services under Section 5(b) hereof for a period of two (2) years from the date of termination, in accordance with Section 5(b) hereof (provided, that such payment shall not be made prior to the sixtieth (60th) day
following the Executive’s date of termination); and (vi) participate for a period ending on a date two (2) years from the date of termination without Cause (the “Without Cause Continuation Period”), to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations and the applicable benefit plan, program or arrangement, in any and all qualified and non-qualified pension and qualified retirement savings, healthcare, life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance benefit plans, programs or arrangements, on terms identical to those applicable to full-term senior officers of the Company.  Because continued participation in any qualified pension and qualified retirement savings plans of the Company is not permitted during the Without Cause Continuation Period, the Company shall provide to the Executive, subject to Section 6(j), cash payments, to be paid
in accordance with Section 6(j)(i), equal to the Pension  Replacement Payment (as defined in Section 6(a)) with respect to the Without Cause Continuation Period (provided, that such payment shall not be made prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following the Executive’s date of termination).  Notwithstanding the above, any amounts payable under this Section 6(c) that are separation pay as described under Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A) shall be paid no later than December 31 of the second calendar year following the year in which the Executive’s termination pursuant to this section 6(c) occurs; any amounts payable under this Section 6(c) that are not otherwise exempt from Code section 409A are subject to, and payable in accordance with, Section 6(j) of this Agreement.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6(c), the Company will have
no further obligations under Sections 3, 4 and 5 hereof or otherwise.  In the event of termination

  

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pursuant to this Section 6(c), the Executive shall not be required to mitigate his damages hereunder.

 

(d)           Cause.  The Company shall have the right, upon notice to the Executive, to immediately terminate the Executive’s employment under this Agreement for “Cause” (as defined below), effective upon the Executive’s receipt of such notice (or such later date as shall be specified in such notice), and the Company shall have no further obligations hereunder, except to pay the Executive his accrued but unpaid salary, in accordance with Section 3(a) hereof, and provide the Executive with any benefit under the
employee benefit programs and plans of the Company as determined under such programs and plans upon and as of such a termination for Cause.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6(d), the Company will have no further obligations under Sections 3, 4 and 5 hereof or otherwise.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” means:

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
a material breach of, or the willful failure or refusal by the Executive to perform and discharge duties or obligations he has agreed to perform or assume under this Agreement (other than by reason of disability or death) that, if capable of correction, is not corrected within ten (10) business days following notice thereof to the Executive by the Company, such notice to state with specificity the nature of the breach, failure or refusal;

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
willful misconduct by the Executive, unrelated to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, that could reasonably be anticipated to have a material adverse effect on the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (the determination of Cause to be made by the Company’s President & CEO in his/her reasonable judgment);

 

	
  

	
(iii)

	
the Executive’s gross negligence, whether related or unrelated to the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates which could reasonably be anticipated to have a material adverse effect on the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates that, if capable of correction, is not corrected within ten (10) business days following notice thereof to the Executive by the Company, such notice to state with specificity the nature of the conduct complained of (the determination of Cause to be made by the Company’s President & CEO in his/her reasonable judgment);

 

	
  

	
(iv)

	
the Executive’s failure to follow a lawful directive of the President & CEO  of the Company that is within the scope of the Executive’s duties for a period of ten (10) business days after notice from the President & CEO of the Company specifying the performance required;

 

	
  

	
(v)

	
any violation by the Executive of a policy contained in the Code of Conduct of the Company (the determination of Cause to be made by the Company’s President & CEO in his/her reasonable judgment);

  

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(vi)

	
drug or alcohol abuse by the Executive that materially affects the Executive’s performance of his duties under this Agreement; or

 

	
  

	
(vii)

	
conviction of, or the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere by the Executive for, any felony.

 

(e)           Termination by Executive.  The Executive shall have the right, exercisable at any time during the Term of Employment, to terminate his employment for any reason whatsoever, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Company.  Upon such termination, the Company shall have no further obligations hereunder other than to (i) pay the Executive his accrued but unpaid salary, in accordance with Section 3(a) hereof; (ii) provide bonus compensation, if any, earned but not paid under Section 3(b) hereof that
relates to any fiscal year ended prior to the date of such a termination by the Executive, in accordance with Section 3(b) hereof; and (iii) provide the Executive with any benefit under the employee benefit programs and plans of the Company as determined under such programs and plans upon and as of such a termination by the Executive.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6(e), the Company will have no further obligations under Sections 3, 4 and 5 hereof or otherwise.

 

(f)           Termination by Executive for Material Breach.  The Executive shall have the right, exercisable by notice to the Company, to terminate his employment effective ninety (90) days after the giving of such notice, if, at any time during the Term of Employment, the Company shall be in material breach of its obligations hereunder; provided,
however, that such notice must be provided to the Company within thirty (30) days of the date on which the Executive obtains knowledge or reasonably should obtain knowledge of such material breach; and provided further, that such termination will not become effective if within thirty (30) days after receiving the notice the Company shall have cured all such material breaches of its obligations hereunder.  For purposes of this Section 6(f), a material breach shall only be, (i) a material reduction in the Executive’s authority, functions, duties or responsibilities
provided in Section 2 hereof, (ii) a material reduction in the Executive’s total aggregate target compensation as effective on July 1, 2011, as set pursuant to Sections 3 (a) and (b) and Section 4(c) hereof, but in no event if the reduction is occasioned as result of similar reductions to executive officers and/or employees generally, or (iii) the Company's failure to pay any award that the Executive is entitled to receive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Such termination shall be deemed to be a termination without Cause and shall be controlled by the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6(f), the Company will have no further obligations under Sections 3, 4 and 5 hereof or otherwise.

 

(g)           Change of Control.

 

(i)           Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement,

 

	
  

	
(A)

	
a “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred upon any of the following events:

 

	
  

	
(1)

	
a change in control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14(A) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or

  

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(2)

	
during any period of two (2) consecutive years, the individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Company’s Board of Directors or any individuals who would be “Continuing Directors” (as defined below) cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

 

	
  

	
(3)

	
the Company’s Class A Common Stock shall cease to be publicly traded; or

 

	
  

	
(4)

	
the Company’s Board of Directors shall approve a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, and such transaction shall have been consummated; or

 

	
  

	
(5)

	
the Company’s Board of Directors shall approve any merger, exchange, consolidation, or like business combination or reorganization of the Company, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of any event described in Section 6(g)(i)(A)(2) or (3) above, and such transaction shall have been consummated.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (X) changes in the relative beneficial ownership among members of the Lauder family and family-controlled entities shall not, by itself, constitute a Change of Control of the Company, (Y) any spin-off of a division or subsidiary of the Company to its stockholders  shall not constitute a Change of Control of the Company.

 

	
  

	
(B)

	
“Continuing Directors” shall mean (1) the directors in office on the date hereof and (2) any successor to such directors and any additional director who after the date hereof was nominated or selected by a majority of the Continuing Directors in office at the time of his or her nomination or selection.

 

	
  

	
(C)

	
“Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following, without the express written consent of the Executive, within two (2) years after the occurrence of a Change in Control:

 

	
  

	
(1)

	
(a) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any material adverse respect with the Executive’s position, authority or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 2 hereof, or (b) any other material adverse change in such position, including title, authority or responsibilities;

  

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(2)

	
any failure by the Company to comply with any provisions of Sections 3, 4 or 5 hereof or a material reduction of the overall amounts set by the Compensation Committee or the Stock Plan Subcommittee and in effect within twelve (12) months prior to the Change in Control, other than an insubstantial or inadvertent failure remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;

 

	
  

	
(3)

	
the Company’s requiring the Executive to be based at any office or location more than fifty (50) miles from that location at which he performed his services specified under the provisions of Section 2 immediately prior to the Change in Control, except for travel reasonably required in the performance of the Executive’s responsibilities; or

 

	
  

	
(4)

	
any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption and agreement to perform this Agreement by a successor as contemplated by Section 14, unless such assumption occurs by operation of law.

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
Termination for Good Reason.  Within two (2) years after the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Executive may terminate his employment for Good Reason.  Such termination shall be deemed to be a termination without Cause and shall be controlled by the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6(g)(ii), the Company will have no further obligations under Sections 3, 4 and 5 hereof or otherwise.

 

(h)           Certain Limitations.

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event that any amount or benefit paid or distributed to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, taken together with any amounts or benefits otherwise paid or distributed to the Executive by the Company or any affiliated company (collectively, the "Covered Payments"), are or become subject to the tax (the "Excise Tax") imposed under Section 4999 of the Code, or any similar tax that may hereafter be imposed, the Covered Payments shall be reduced (but not below zero) until no portion of such payments would be subject to Excise Tax.

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
For purposes of determining whether any of the Covered Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax,

 

	
  

	
(A)

	
such Covered Payments will be treated as "parachute payments" to the extent they exceed the “2.99 base

  

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amount threshold” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and all “parachute payments” in excess of the “base amount” (as defined under Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless, and except to the extent that, in the good faith judgment of the Company's independent certified public accountants appointed prior to the date of the change in ownership or control or tax counsel selected by such accountants (the "Accountants"), the Company has a reasonable basis to conclude that such Covered Payments (in whole or in part) either do not constitute "parachute payments" or are otherwise not subject to such Excise Tax,
and

 

	
  

	
(B)

	
the value of any non-cash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Accountants in accordance with the principles of Section 280G of the Code.

 

	
  

	
(iii)

	
In the event that Covered Payments are to be reduced pursuant to this Section 6(h), such Covered Payments shall be reduced such that the reduction of compensation to be provided to the Executive as a result of this Section 6(h) is minimized.  In applying this principle, the reduction shall be made in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and where two economically equivalent amounts are subject to reduction but payable at different times, such amounts shall be reduced on a pro rata basis (but not below zero).

 

(i)           Effect of Termination.  In addition to the foregoing, in the event that this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to the provisions of subparagraphs 6(a), 6(b) and 6(c) above, and the Executive is not considered to be retirement eligible under the terms and conditions of the Company’s qualified defined benefit pension plan, if any, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Company’s Share Incentive Plan or other similar equity plan, (i) all stock options granted to the Executive during the Term of
Employment shall become immediately exercisable and shall be exercisable until the earlier to occur of (A) the end of the stock option term as set forth in the applicable option agreement(s); or (B) the first anniversary of the date that Base Salary continuation payments end, after which all such option awards shall expire and be of no further force or effect and (ii) all restricted stock units and performance share units granted to the Executive shall continue to vest through the last date that Base Salary continuation payments, if any, are made hereunder.  The vesting and exercisability provided for in the previous sentence shall be subject to all provisions relating to post-employment exercises set forth in the applicable Share Incentive Plan and option agreement(s).  Subject to the preceding sentences, upon the termination of the Executive’s employment
hereunder for any reason, the Company shall have no further obligations hereunder, except as otherwise provided herein.  The Executive, however, shall continue to have the obligations provided for in Sections 7 and 8 hereof. Furthermore, upon any such termination, the Executive shall be deemed to have resigned immediately from all offices and directorships held by him in the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

  

12

  

(j)           Section 409A of the Code.  It is the intention of the parties to this Agreement that no payment or entitlement pursuant to this Agreement will give rise to any adverse tax consequences to the Executive under Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including that issued after the date hereof (collectively, “Section 409A”).  The Agreement shall be interpreted to that end and, consistent with that objective and notwithstanding any
provision herein to the contrary, the Company may unilaterally take any action it deems necessary or desirable to amend any provision herein to avoid the application of an excise tax under Section 409A.  Further, no effect shall be given to any provision herein in a manner that reasonably could be expected to give rise to adverse tax consequences under that provision.  The Company shall from time to time compile a list of "specified employees" as defined in, and pursuant to, Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(i).  Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if the Executive is a specified employee on the date of termination, no payment of compensation under this Agreement shall be made to the Executive during the period lasting six (6) months from the date of termination unless the Company determines that there is no reasonable basis for believing that making
such payment would cause the Executive to suffer any adverse tax consequences pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.  If any payment to the Executive is delayed pursuant to the foregoing sentence, such payment instead shall be made on the first business day following the expiration of the six-month period referred to in the prior sentence, unless specified otherwise in Section 6(j)(i) hereof. Although the Company shall consult with Executive in good faith regarding implementation of this Section 6(j), neither the Company nor its employees or representatives shall have liability to the Executive with respect to any additional taxes that the Executive may be subject to in the event that any amounts under this Agreement are determined to violate Code section 409A.

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
Notwithstanding the above, amounts described as being subject to payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(j)(i) shall be subject to a delay in payment for a six-month period following the date of termination and shall be paid as follows:  For any Base Salary under Section 6(a)(v) or Section 6(c)(iv)(A) to be continued beyond the date of termination and for any Pension Replacement Payment, all payments that would have been made during the six-month period immediately following the date of termination shall be made in a single cash payment on the first business day following the expiration of such six-month period, and as of the first business day following the expiration of such six-month period all such payments shall resume in accordance with the regular payroll practices
of the Company until the end of the specified period; any bonus payments under Section 6(c)(iv)(B) shall be paid in a single lump sum payment on the first business day following the expiration of such six-month period.

 

(k)           Release of Claims.  As a condition precedent to the receipt of payments (other than accrued but unpaid amounts) and benefits pursuant to this Section, the Executive, or, in the case of his death or Disability that prevents the Executive from performing his obligation under this Section 6(l), his personal representative, and his beneficiary, if applicable, will execute an effective general release of claims (in a form satisfactory to the Company) against the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates and their respective
directors, officers, employees, attorneys and agents; provided, however, that such effective release will not affect any right that the Executive, or in the event of his death, his personal representative or beneficiary, otherwise has to any payment or benefit provided for in this Agreement or to any

  

13

  

vested benefits the Executive may have in any employee benefit plan of Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, or any right the Executive has under any other agreement between the Executive and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates that expressly states that the right survives the termination of the Executive’s employment.

 

(l)           Modification of Severance Payments and Benefits.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein except as provided in this Section 6(l), the Company reserves the right with respect to any severance payments or benefits set forth in this Section 6 to modify such payments or benefits or not to provide such payments or benefits.  Changes in any severance payment or benefit provided to the Executive may only be made by the Compensation Committee (or the Stock Plan Subcommittee, if there is one, and the change
relates to matters subject to the authority of such Subcommittee).  Unless agreed to by the Executive, no change to any severance payments or benefits set forth in this Section 6 will be effective until two years after such change is approved by the Compensation Committee (or Stock Plan Subcommittee).  No changes may be made in severance payments or benefits set forth in this Section 6 either (i) at such time the Company is contemplating one or more transactions that will result in a Change of Control or (ii) after a Change of Control.

 

7.           Confidentiality; Ownership.

 

(a)           The Executive agrees that he shall forever keep secret and retain in strictest confidence and not divulge, disclose, discuss, copy or otherwise use or suffer to be used in any manner, except in connection with the Business of the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates and any other business or proposed business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, any “Protected Information” in any “Unauthorized” manner or for any “Unauthorized” purpose (as such terms are hereinafter defined).

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
“Protected Information” means trade secrets, confidential or proprietary information and all other knowledge, know-how, information, documents or materials owned, developed or possessed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, whether in tangible or intangible form, pertaining to the Business or any other business or proposed business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, including, but not limited to, research and development, operations, systems, data bases, computer programs and software, designs, models, operating procedures, knowledge of the organization, products (including prices, costs, sales or content), processes, formulas, techniques, machinery, contracts, financial information or measures, business methods, business plans, details of consultant
contracts, new personnel hiring plans, business acquisition plans, customer lists, business relationships and other information owned, developed or possessed by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates; provided that Protected Information shall not include information that becomes generally known to the public or the trade without violation of this Section 7.

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
“Unauthorized” means: (A) in contravention of the policies or procedures of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates; (B) otherwise inconsistent with the measures taken by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates to protect their

  

14

  

interests in any Protected Information; (C) in contravention of any lawful instruction or directive, either written or oral, of an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates empowered to issue such instruction or directive; or (D) in contravention of any duty existing under law or contract. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 7, the Executive may disclose any Protected Information to the extent required by court order or decree or by the rules and regulations of a governmental agency or as otherwise required by law or to his legal counsel and, in connection with a determination under Section 6(h), to accounting experts;
provided that the Executive shall provide the Company with prompt notice of such required disclosure in advance thereof so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective order in respect of such required disclosure.

 

(b)           The Executive acknowledges that all developments, including, without limitation, inventions (patentable or otherwise), discoveries, formulas, improvements, patents, trade secrets, designs, reports, computer software, flow charts and diagrams, procedures, data, documentation, ideas and writings and applications thereof relating to the Business or any business or planned business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates that, alone or jointly with others, the Executive may conceive, create, make, develop, reduce to practice or acquire during the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates (collectively, the “Developments”) are works made for hire and shall remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company.  The Executive hereby assigns to the Company, in consideration of the payments set forth in Section 3(a) hereof, all of his right, title and interest in and to all such Developments. The Executive shall promptly and fully disclose all future material Developments to the Board of Directors of the Company and, at any time upon request and at the expense of the Company, shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company all instruments that the Company shall prepare, give evidence and take all other actions that are necessary or desirable in the reasonable opinion of the Company to enable the Company to file and prosecute applications for and to acquire, maintain and enforce all letters patent and trademark registrations or
copyrights covering the Developments in all countries in which the same are deemed necessary by the Company.  All memoranda, notes, lists, drawings, records, files, computer tapes, programs, software, source and programming narratives and other documentation (and all copies thereof) made or compiled by the Executive or made available to the Executive concerning the Developments or otherwise concerning the Business or planned business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates shall be the property of the Company or such subsidiaries or affiliates and shall be delivered to the Company or such subsidiaries or affiliates promptly upon the expiration or termination of the Term of Employment.

 

(c)           During the Term of Employment, the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates shall have the exclusive right to use the Executive’s name and image throughout the world in its advertising and promotional materials in connection with the advertising and promotion of the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates, and their products.  After the expiration of the Term of Employment, the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates shall have the non-exclusive right in perpetuity to use the Executive’s name and image throughout the world solely in connection with promotional materials related to the history of the Company, its
subsidiaries and affiliates, and their products.  The consideration for such rights is the payments set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.  The rights conveyed hereby may be assigned by the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates to a successor in the interest of the Company or the relevant subsidiary or affiliate or their businesses or product lines.

  

15

  

(d)           The provisions of this Section 7 shall, without any limitation as to time, survive the expiration or termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder, irrespective of the reason for any termination.

 

8.           Covenant Not to Compete.

 

The Executive agrees that during the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates and for a period of two (2) years commencing upon the expiration or termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason whatsoever (the “Non-Compete Period”), the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company:

 

(a)           solicit, entice, persuade or induce any employee, consultant, agent or independent contractor of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries or affiliates to terminate his, her or its employment with the Company or such subsidiary or affiliate, to become employed by any person, firm or corporation other than the Company or such subsidiary or affiliate or approach any such employee, consultant, agent or independent contractor for any of the foregoing purposes, or authorize or assist in the taking of any such actions by any third party (for purposes of this Section 8 (a), the terms “employee,” “consultant,”
“agent” and “independent contractor” shall include any persons with such status at any time during the six (6) months preceding any solicitation in question); or

 

(b)           directly or indirectly engage, participate, or make any financial investment in, or become employed by or render consulting, advisory or other services to or for any person, firm, corporation or other business enterprise, wherever located, which is engaged, directly or indirectly, in competition with the Business or any business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates as conducted or any business proposed to be conducted at the time of the expiration or termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates;
provided, however, that nothing in this Section 8(b) shall be construed to preclude the Executive from making any investments in the securities of any business enterprise whether or not engaged in competition with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, to the extent that such securities are actively traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market in the United States or on any foreign securities exchange and represent, at the time of acquisition, not more than 3% of the aggregate voting power of such business enterprise.

 

To ensure that the Company is able to enforce these provisions in Sections 8(a) and (b) above, the Executive and the Company further agree that if such noncompetition and nonsolicitation requirements should be violated during this additional two-year period after the Executive's termination of employment, the remedy (determined at the Company's option) shall be either equitable relief (in the form of an injunction to stop the violation), or liquidated damages payable by the Executive to the Company in an amount equal to (a) (i) (A) twenty-four (24) minus (B) the number of full months between the date of Executive’s termination and the date of breach (“Months Complied”) divided by (ii)
12, times (b) one year’s Base Salary in effect at the time of termination.  In other words:

 

	
Twenty-four (24) – Months Complied

	
  x           One Year’s Base Salary

	
12

 

  

16

  

If equitable relief is elected by the Company as an alternative to liquidated damages, any equitable relief shall not include any forfeiture or cash refund of monies or benefits.  If liquidated damages is elected by the Company, the Company may elect not to pay amounts that would otherwise be payable but for the breach; provided that, the Executive would remain liable to the Company to the extent that the liquidated damages exceeded the amounts not paid by the Company. The foregoing shall have no impact on the operation of the provisions of any other compensation program of the Company or its subsidiaries, including without limitation the Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive
Plan.

 

(c)           During the Non-Compete Period, to the extent that the Executive is not receiving termination payments pursuant to Section 6 hereof, the Company shall pay or cause to be paid to the Executive his Base Salary under Section 3(a) hereof and continue to provide the Executive with benefits hereunder to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations and the applicable benefit plan, program or arrangement, in any and all healthcare, life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance benefit plans, programs or arrangements, on terms identical to those applicable to full-term senior officers of the Company for that portion of
the Non-Compete Period during which the Executive is required to comply and does comply with the provisions of this Section 8 (“the Non-Compete Period”).  Notwithstanding the above, any amounts payable under this Section 8 that are separation pay as described under Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A) shall be paid no later than December 31 of the second calendar year following the year in which the Executive’s termination pursuant to this Section 6 occurs; any amounts payable under this Section 8 that are not otherwise exempt from Code section 409A are subject to, and payable in accordance with, Section 6(j) of this Agreement.

 

9.           Specific Performance.

 

The Executive acknowledges that the services to be rendered by the Executive are of a special, unique and extraordinary character and, in connection with such services, the Executive will have access to confidential information vital to the Company’s Business and the other current or planned businesses of it and its subsidiaries and affiliates.  By reason of this, the Executive consents and agrees that if the Executive violates any of the provisions of Sections 7 or 8 hereof, the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates would sustain irreparable injury and that monetary damages would not provide adequate remedy to the Company and that the Company shall be entitled to have Section 7 or
8 hereof specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction.  Nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates from pursuing any other remedies available to it or them for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages from the Executive.  This provision shall, without any limitation as to time, survive the expiration or termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder, irrespective of the reason for any termination.

 

10.           Deductions and Withholding.

 

The Executive agrees that the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, as applicable, shall withhold from any and all compensation paid to and required to be paid to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, all Federal, state, local and/or other taxes which the Company determines are required to be withheld in accordance with applicable statutes or regulations from time to time in effect and all amounts required to be deducted in respect of the Executive’s coverage under applicable employee benefit plans.  For purposes of this Agreement and calculations hereunder, all such deductions and withholdings shall be deemed to have been paid to and received by the Executive.

  

17

  

11.           Entire Agreement.

 

Except for the Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan, the Executive’s outstanding stock option and other equity-compensation agreements, the Executive Annual Incentive Plan, the Executive Perquisites Program, the Executive Automobile Program, the term life insurance arrangement between the Company and the Executive, the Company’s qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans, the Company’s qualified defined contribution retirement savings plan and applicable successor plans or agreements, this Agreement embodies the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the Executive’s employment, compensation, perquisites and related items and supersedes any
other prior oral or written agreements, arrangements or understandings between the Executive and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, and any such prior agreements, arrangements or understandings are hereby terminated and of no further effect.    This Agreement may not be changed or terminated orally but only by an agreement in writing signed by the parties hereto.

 

12.           Waiver.

 

The waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the Executive shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by him. The waiver by the Executive of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the Company shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by the Company.

 

13.           Governing Law; Jurisdiction.

 

(a)           This Agreement shall be subject to, and governed by, the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed therein, without regard to conflict of laws principles.

 

(b)           Any action to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be brought in a court of the State of New York located in the Borough of Manhattan of the City of New York or in a Federal court located within the Southern District of New York.  The parties consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and to the service of process in any manner provided by New York law.  Each party irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court and any claim that such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court has been
brought in an inconvenient forum and agrees that service of process in accordance with the foregoing sentences shall be deemed in every respect effective and valid personal service of process upon such party.

 

14.           Assignability.

 

The obligations of the Executive may not be delegated and, except with respect to the designation of beneficiaries in connection with any of the benefits payable to the Executive hereunder, the Executive may not, without the Company’s written consent thereto, assign, transfer, convey, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of this Agreement or any interest herein.  Any such attempted delegation or disposition shall be null and void and without effect.  The Company and the Executive agree that this Agreement and all of the Company’s rights and obligations hereunder may be assigned or transferred by the Company to and shall be assumed by and be binding upon any
successor to the Company.  Unless assumption occurs by operation of law, the Company shall require any successor by an

  

18

  

agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.  The term “successor” means, with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any corporation or other business entity which, by merger, consolidation, purchase of the assets or otherwise acquires all or a majority of the operating assets or business of the Company.

 

15.           Severability.

 

If any provision of this Agreement or any part thereof, including, without limitation, Sections 7 and 8 hereof, as applied to either party or to any circumstances shall be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void or unenforceable, the same shall in no way affect any other provision of this Agreement or remaining part thereof, or the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, which shall be given full effect without regard to the invalid or unenforceable part thereof.

 

If any court construes any of the provisions of Section 7 or 8 hereof, or any part thereof, to be unreasonable because of the duration of such provision or the geographic scope thereof, such court may reduce the duration or restrict or redefine the geographic scope of such provision and enforce such provision as so reduced, restricted or redefined.

 

16.           Notices.

 

All notices to the Company or the Executive permitted or required hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, by telecopier or by courier service providing for next-day or two-day delivery or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the following addresses:

 

The Company:

 

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

767 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York 10153

Attn:           General Counsel

Tel:           (212) 572-3980

Fax:           (212) 572-3989

 

The Executive:

 

Marc Cedric Yann Prouvé

767 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York 10153

Tel: (212) 572-4191

 

Either party may change the address to which notices shall be sent by sending written notice of such change of address to the other party.  Any such notice shall be deemed given, if delivered personally, upon receipt; if telecopied, when telecopied; if sent by courier service providing for next-day or two-day delivery, the next business day or two business days, as applicable, following deposit with such courier service; and if sent by certified or registered mail, three days after deposit (postage prepaid) with the U.S. mail service.

  

19

  

17.           No Conflicts.

 

The Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that his execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and any other agreement to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement will not (i) require the consent, approval or action of any other person or (ii) violate, conflict with or result in the breach of any of the terms of, or constitute (or with notice or lapse of time or both, constitute) a default under, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the Executive’s employment to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound or subject.  The Executive hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors, officers,
employees, agents, representatives and affiliates (and such affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives) from and against any and all losses, liabilities or claims (including interest, penalties and reasonable attorneys’ fees, disbursements and related charges) based upon or arising out of the Executive’s breach of any of the foregoing representations and warranties.

 

18.           Legal Fees.

 

Following a Change of Control, the Company shall reimburse the Executive up to $20,000, in the aggregate, for all legal fees and related expenses (including the costs of experts, evidence and counsel) reasonably and in good faith incurred by the Executive in an action (i) by the Executive to obtain or enforce any right or benefit to which the Executive is entitled under this Agreement or (ii) by the Company to enforce a post-termination covenant referred to in Section 7 or 8 against the Executive, in each case, provided that the Executive substantially prevails in such action.  Such amount shall be reimbursed to the Executive by the end of the calendar year in which the Executive substantially
prevails in such action, based on the date of any settlement, judgment, or other official document evidencing same.

 

19.           Cooperation.

 

During the Term of Employment and thereafter, Executive shall provide reasonable cooperation in connection with any action or proceeding (or any appeal therefrom) that relates to events occurring during Executive’s employment with the Company.

 

20.           Paragraph Headings.

 

The paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpreta­tion of this Agreement.

 

  

20

  

21.           Counterparts.

 

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	  	
THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

	  	  
	  	  
	  	  
	  	
By:

	
 /s/  Amy DiGeso

	  	
Name:

	
Amy DiGeso

	  	  	
Executive Vice President,

	  	  	
Global Human Resources

	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	
By:

	
 /s/  Marc Cedric Yann Prouvé

	  	  	
Marc Cedric Yann Prouvé

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21d1227556_ex4-4.htm

Exhibit 4.4

 

 

STAR BULK CARRIERS CORP.

2011 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

ARTICLE I.

General

 

1.1.          Purpose

 

The Star Bulk Carriers Corp. 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is designed to provide certain key persons, whose initiative and efforts are deemed to be important to the successful conduct of the business of Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (the "Company"), with incentives to (a) enter into and remain in the service of the Company or its Affiliates (as defined below), (b) acquire a proprietary interest in the success of the Company, (c) maximize their performance and (d) enhance the long-term performance of the Company.

 

1.2.          Administration

 

(a)           Administration.  The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee (the "Compensation Committee") of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") or such other committee of the Board as may be designated by the Board to administer the Plan (the Compensation Committee or such committee, as applicable, the "Administrator"); in the event the Company is subject to Section 16 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), the Administrator shall be composed of two or more directors, each of whom is a "Non-Employee
Director" (a "Non-Employee Director") under Rule 16b-3 (as promulgated and interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the 1934 Act, or any successor rule or regulation thereto as in effect from time to time, Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Administrator by the Plan, the Administrator shall have the full power and authority to: (1) designate the Persons to receive Awards (as defined below) under the Plan; (2) determine the types of Awards granted to a participant under the Plan; (3) determine the number of shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights or other matters are to be calculated with respect to, Awards; (4) determine the terms and conditions of any Awards; (5) determine whether, and to what extent,
and under what circumstances, Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or cancelled, forfeited or suspended, and the methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, cancelled, forfeited or suspended; (6) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, shares, other securities, other Awards, other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred, either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or the Administrator; (7) construe, interpret and implement the Plan and any Award Agreement (as defined below); (8) prescribe, amend, rescind or waive rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules governing its operation, and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; (9) make all
determinations necessary or advisable in administering the Plan; (10) correct any defect, supply any omission and reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement; and (11) make any other determination and take any other action that the Administrator deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.  Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Administrator, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Persons.

 

(b)           General Right of Delegation.  Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law, the applicable rules of a stock exchange or any charter, by-laws or other agreement governing the Administrator, the Administrator may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities to any Person or Persons selected by it and may revoke any such allocation or delegation at any time.

 

(c)           Indemnification.  No member of the Board, the Administrator or any employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates (each such Person, a "Covered Person") shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder.  Each Covered Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (i) any loss, cost, liability or expense (including attorneys' fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Covered Person in connection with or resulting
from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Covered Person may be a party or in which such Covered Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Plan or any Award Agreement and (ii) any and all amounts paid by such Covered Person, with the Company's approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Covered Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Covered Person; provided that the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding and, once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company's choice.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to a Covered
Person to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment or other final adjudication, in either case not subject to further appeal, determines that the acts or omissions of such Covered Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Covered Person's bad faith, fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by law or by the Company's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which Covered Persons may be entitled under the Company's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such Persons or hold them harmless.

 

(d)           Delegation of Authority to Senior Officers.  The Administrator may, in accordance with the terms of Section 1.2(b), delegate, on such terms and conditions as it determines, to one or more senior officers of the Company the authority to make grants of Awards to employees (other than officers) of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including any such prospective employee) and consultants of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided,
however, that in no event shall any such officer be delegated the authority to grant Awards to, or amend Awards held by, the following individuals: (i) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act, or (ii) officers of the Company (or directors of the Company) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder.

 

 

  

  

  

 

(e)           Awards to Non-Employee Directors.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant Awards to Non-Employee Directors or administer the Plan with respect to such Awards.  In any such case, the Board shall have all the authority and responsibility granted to the Administrator herein.

 

1.3.          Persons Eligible for Awards

 

The Persons eligible to receive Awards under the Plan are those directors, officers and employees (including any prospective officer or employee) of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates and consultants and service providers (including individuals who are employed by or provide services to any entity that is itself such a consultant or service provider) to the Company and its Subsidiaries an Affiliates (collectively, "Key Persons") as the Administrator shall select.

 

1.4.          Types of Awards

 

Awards may be made under the Plan in the form of (a) stock options, (b) stock appreciation rights, (c) restricted stock, (d) restricted stock units and (e) unrestricted stock, all as more fully set forth in the Plan.  The term "Award" means any of the foregoing that are granted under the Plan.

 

1.5.          Shares Available for Awards; Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization

 

(a)           Maximum Number.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 1.5(c), the aggregate number of shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 ("Common Stock"), with respect to which Awards may at any time be granted under the Plan shall be 2,000,000.  The following shares of Common Stock shall again become available for Awards under the Plan: (i) any shares that are subject to an Award under the Plan and that remain unissued upon the cancellation or termination of such Award for any reason whatsoever; (ii) any shares of restricted
stock forfeited pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement; provided that any dividend equivalent rights with respect to such shares that have not theretofore been directly remitted to the grantee are also forfeited; and (iii) any shares in respect of which an Award is settled for cash without the delivery of shares to the grantee.  Any shares tendered or withheld to satisfy the grant or exercise price or tax withholding obligation pursuant to any Award shall again become available to be delivered pursuant to Awards under the Plan.

 

(b)           Source of Shares.  Shares issued pursuant to the Plan may be authorized but unissued Common Stock or treasury shares.  The Administrator may direct that any stock certificate evidencing shares issued pursuant to the Plan shall bear a legend setting forth such restrictions on transferability as may apply to such shares.

 

(c)           Adjustments.  i)  In the event any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Company shares, other securities or other property), stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, combination, repurchase or exchange of Company shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Company shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event, other than an Equity Restructuring, affects the Company shares such that an adjustment is
determined by the Administrator to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to an Award, then the Administrator shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of the number of shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan.

 

(ii)           The Administrator is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including the events described in Section 1.5(c)(i) or the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined below), other than an Equity Restructuring) affecting the Company, any of its Affiliates, or the financial statements of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or of changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange, accounting principles or law, whenever the Administrator determines that such
adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to an Award, including providing for (A) adjustment to (1) the number of shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards or to which outstanding Awards relate and (2) the Exercise Price (as defined below) with respect to any Award and (B) a substitution or assumption of Awards, accelerating the exercisability or vesting of, or lapse of restrictions on, Awards, or accelerating the termination of Awards by providing for a period of time for exercise prior to the occurrence of such event, or, if deemed appropriate or desirable, providing for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award in consideration for the
cancellation of such Award (it being understood that, in such event, any option or stock appreciation right having a per share Exercise Price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value (as defined below) of a share subject to such option or stock appreciation right may be cancelled and terminated without any payment or consideration therefor; provided, however, that with respect to options and stock appreciation rights, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, such adjustment shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 424(h) of the Code.

 

(iii)           In the event of (A) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (B) a sale of all or substantially all the Company's assets or (C) a merger, reorganization or consolidation involving the Company or one of its Subsidiaries (as defined below), the Administrator shall have the power to:

 

 

 

  

  

  

 

(1)  provide that outstanding options, stock appreciation rights and/or restricted stock units (including any related dividend equivalent right) shall either continue in effect, be assumed or an equivalent award shall be substituted therefor by the successor corporation or a parent corporation or subsidiary corporation;

 

(2)  cancel, effective immediately prior to the occurrence of such event, options, stock appreciation rights and/or restricted stock units (including each dividend equivalent right related thereto) outstanding immediately prior to such event (whether or not then exercisable) and, in full consideration of such cancellation, pay to the holder of such Award a cash payment in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Administrator) of the shares subject to such Award over the aggregate Exercise Price of such Award (it being understood that, in such event, any option or stock appreciation right having a per share Exercise Price equal to, or in excess
of, the Fair Market Value of a share subject to such option or stock appreciation right may be cancelled and terminated without any payment or consideration therefor; or

 

(3)  notify the holder of an option or stock appreciation right in writing or electronically that each option and stock appreciation right shall be fully vested and exercisable for a period of 30 days from the date of such notice, or such shorter period as the Administrator may determine to be reasonable, and the option or stock appreciation right shall terminate upon the expiration of such period (which period shall expire no later than immediately prior to the consummation of the corporate transaction).

 

(iv)           In connection with the occurrence of any Equity Restructuring, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 1.5(c):

 

(A)           The number and type of securities or other property subject to each outstanding Award and the Exercise Price or grant price thereof, if applicable, shall be equitably adjusted; and

 

(B)           The Administrator shall make such equitable adjustments, if any, as the Administrator may deem appropriate to reflect such Equity Restructuring with respect to the aggregate number and kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations set forth in Sections 1.5(a)).  The adjustments provided under this Section 1.5(c)(iv) shall be nondiscretionary and shall be final and binding on the affected participant and the Company.

 

1.6.         Definitions of Certain Terms

 

(a)           The "Fair Market Value" of a share of Common Stock on any day shall be the closing price on the stock exchange upon which such shares are listed, as reported for such day in The Wall Street Journal, or, if no such price is reported for such day, the average of the high bid and low asked price of Common Stock as reported for such day.  If no quotation is made for the applicable day, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on such day shall be determined in the manner set forth in the preceding sentence for the next preceding trading day.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if there is no reported closing price or high
bid/low asked price that satisfies the preceding sentences, or if otherwise deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on any day shall be determined by such methods and procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Administrator.  The "Fair Market Value" of any property other than Common Stock shall be the fair market value of such property determined by such methods and procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Administrator.

 

(b)           Unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement, in connection with a termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or a dismissal from Board membership, for purposes of the Plan, the term "for Cause" shall be defined as follows:

 

(i)      if there is an employment, severance, consulting, service, change in control or other agreement governing the relationship between the grantee, on the one hand, and the Company or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, that contains a definition of "cause" (or similar phrase), for purposes of the Plan, the term "for Cause" shall mean those acts or omissions that would constitute "cause" under such agreement; or

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

(ii)      if the preceding clause (i) is not applicable to the grantee, for purposes of the Plan, the term "for Cause" shall mean any of the following:

 

(A)           any failure by the grantee substantially to perform the grantee's employment or consultancy/service or Board membership duties;

 

(B)           any excessive unauthorized absenteeism by the grantee;

 

(C)           any refusal by the grantee to obey the lawful orders of the Board or any other Person to whom the grantee reports;

 

(D)           any act or omission by the grantee that is or may be injurious to the Company or any of its Affiliates, whether monetarily, reputationally or otherwise;

 

(E)           any act by the grantee that is inconsistent with the best interests of the Company or any of its Affiliates;

 

(F)           the grantee's gross negligence that is injurious to the Company or any of its Affiliates, whether monetarily, reputationally or otherwise;

 

(G)           the grantee's material violation of any of the policies of the Company or any of its Affiliates, as applicable, including, without limitation, those policies relating to discrimination or sexual harassment;

 

(H)           the grantee's material breach of his or her employment or service contract with the Company or any of its Affiliates;

 

(I)           the grantee's unauthorized (1) removal from the premises of the Company or any of its Affiliates of any document (in any medium or form) relating to the Company or any of its Affiliates or the customers or clients of the Company or any of its Affiliates or (2) disclosure to any Person or entity of any of the Company's, or any of its Affiliates', confidential or proprietary information;

 

(J)           the grantee's being convicted of, or entering a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any crime that constitutes a felony or involves moral turpitude; and

 

(K)           the grantee's commission of any act involving dishonesty or fraud.

 

Any rights the Company or any of its Affiliates may have under the Plan in respect of the events giving rise to a termination or dismissal "for Cause" shall be in addition to any other rights the Company or any of its Affiliates may have under any other agreement with a grantee or at law or in equity.  Any determination of whether a grantee's employment, consultancy/service relationship or Board membership is (or is deemed to have been) terminated "for Cause" shall be made by the Administrator.  If, subsequent to a grantee's voluntary termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or voluntarily resignation from the Board or involuntary termination of employment or
consultancy/service relationship without Cause or removal from the Board other than "for Cause", it is discovered that the grantee's employment or consultancy/service relationship or Board membership could have been terminated "for Cause", the Administrator may deem such grantee's employment or consultancy/service relationship or Board membership to have been terminated "for Cause" upon such discovery and determination by the Administrator.

 

(c)           "Affiliate" shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by, controls or is under common control with, the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in either case as determined by the Administrator.

 

(d)           "Subsidiary" shall mean any entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, has a 50% or more equity interest.

 

(e)           "Exercise Price" shall mean (i) in the case of options, the price specified in the applicable Award Agreement as the price-per-share at which such share can be purchased pursuant to the option or (ii) in the case of stock appreciation rights, the price specified in the applicable Award Agreement as the reference price-per-share used to calculate the amount payable to the grantee.

 

(f)           "Equity Restructuring" shall mean a non-reciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the shares of Common Stock (or other securities of the Company) or the share price thereof and causes a change in the per share value of the shares underlying outstanding Awards.

 

(g)           "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, governmental body or other entity of any kind.

 

(h)           "Repricing" shall mean (i) lowering the Exercise Price of an option or a stock appreciation right after it has been granted, (ii) cancellation of an option or a stock appreciation right in exchange for cash or another Award when the Exercise Price exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying shares subject to the Award and (iii) any other action with respect to an option or a stock appreciation right that is treated as a repricing under (A) generally accepted accounting principles or (B) any applicable stock exchange rules.

 

 

  

  

  

 

ARTICLE II.

Awards Under The Plan

 

2.1.          Agreements Evidencing Awards

 

Each Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by a written certificate ("Award Agreement"), which shall contain such provisions as the Administrator may deem necessary or desirable and which may, but need not, require execution or acknowledgment by a grantee.  The Award shall be subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

2.2.          Grant of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights

 

(a)           Stock Option Grants.  The Administrator may grant stock options ("options") to purchase shares of Common Stock from the Company to such Key Persons, and in such amounts and subject to such vesting and forfeiture provisions and other terms and conditions, as the Administrator shall determine, subject to the provisions of the Plan.  No option will be treated as an "incentive stock option" for purposes of the Code.  The Administrator shall not grant an Award in the form of stock options to an individual who is then subject to the requirements of
Section 409A of the Code with respect to such Award if the Common Stock (as defined below) underlying such Award does not then qualify as "service recipient stock" for purposes of Section 409A.

 

(b)           Option Exercise Price.  Each Award Agreement with respect to an option shall set forth the Exercise Price of such Award and, unless otherwise specifically provided in the Award Agreement, the Exercise Price of an option shall equal the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant; provided that in no event may such Exercise Price be less than the greater of (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant and (ii) the par value of a share of Common
Stock.  Repricing of options granted under the Plan shall not be permitted (1) to the extent such action could cause adverse tax consequences to the grantee under Sections 409A or 457A of the Code or (2) without prior shareholder approval, to the extent such approval would be required to be obtained by the Company pursuant to the rules of any applicable stock exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed, and any action that would be deemed to result in a Repricing of an option shall be deemed null and void if it would cause such adverse tax consequences or if any requisite shareholder approval related thereto is not obtained prior to the effective time of such action.

 

(c)           Stock Appreciation Right Grants; Types of Stock Appreciation Rights.  The Administrator may grant stock appreciation rights to such Key Persons, and in such amounts and subject to such vesting and forfeiture provisions and other terms and conditions, as the Administrator shall determine, subject to the provisions of the Plan.  The terms of a stock appreciation right may provide that it shall be automatically exercised for a payment upon the happening of a specified event that is outside the
control of the grantee and that it shall not be otherwise exercisable.  Stock appreciation rights may be granted in connection with all or any part of, or independently of, any option granted under the Plan.  The Administrator shall not grant an Award in the form of stock appreciation rights to any Key Person (i) who is then subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code with respect to such Award if the Common Stock (as defined below) underlying such Award does not then qualify as "service recipient stock" for purposes of Section 409A or (ii) if such Award would create adverse tax consequences for such Key Person under Section 457A of the Code.

 

(d)           Nature of Stock Appreciation Rights.  The grantee of a stock appreciation right shall have the right, subject to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, to receive from the Company an amount equal to (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise of the stock appreciation right over the Exercise Price of the stock appreciation right, multiplied by (ii) the number of shares with respect to which the stock appreciation right is exercised.  Each Award Agreement with respect to a stock
appreciation right shall set forth the Exercise Price of such Award and, unless otherwise specifically provided in the Award Agreement, the Exercise Price of a stock appreciation right shall equal the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant; provided that in no event may such Exercise Price be less than the greater of (A) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant and (B) the par value of a share of Common Stock.  Payment upon exercise of a stock appreciation right shall be in cash or in shares of Common Stock (valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the stock appreciation right) or any combination of both, all as the Administrator shall determine.  Repricing of stock appreciation rights granted under the Plan shall not
be permitted (1) to the extent such action could cause adverse tax consequences to the grantee under Sections 409A or 457A of the Code or (2) without prior shareholder approval, to the extent such approval would be required to be obtained by the Company pursuant to the rules of any applicable stock exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed, and any action that would be deemed to result in a Repricing of a stock appreciation right shall be deemed null and void if it would cause such adverse tax consequences or if any requisite shareholder approval related thereto is not obtained prior to the effective time of such action.  Upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right granted in connection with an option, the number of shares subject to the option shall be reduced by the number of shares with respect to which the stock appreciation right is
exercised.  Upon the exercise of an option in connection with which a stock appreciation right has been granted, the number of shares subject to the stock appreciation right shall be reduced by the number of shares with respect to which the option is exercised.

 

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

2.3.          Exercise of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights

 

Subject to the other provisions of this Article II and the Plan, each option and stock appreciation right granted under the Plan shall be exercisable as follows:

 

(a)           Timing and Extent of Exercise.  Options and stock appreciation rights shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the corresponding Award Agreement, but in no event shall any portion of such Award be exercisable subsequent to the tenth anniversary of the date on which such Award was granted.  Unless the applicable Award Agreement otherwise provides, an option or stock appreciation right may be exercised from time to time as to all or part of the shares as to which such Award is then
exercisable.

 

(b)           Notice of Exercise.  An option or stock appreciation right shall be exercised by the filing of a written notice with the Company or the Company's designated exchange agent (the "Exchange Agent"), on such form and in such manner as the Administrator shall prescribe.

 

(c)           Payment of Exercise Price.  Any written notice of exercise of an option shall be accompanied by payment for the shares being purchased.  Such payment shall be made: (i) by certified or official bank check (or the equivalent thereof acceptable to the Company or its Exchange Agent) for the full option Exercise Price; (ii) with the consent of the Administrator, which consent shall be given or withheld in the sole discretion of the Administrator, by delivery of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value (determined as of the exercise date) equal to
all or part of the option Exercise Price and a certified or official bank check (or the equivalent thereof acceptable to the Company or its Exchange Agent) for any remaining portion of the full option Exercise Price; or (iii) at the sole discretion of the Administrator and to the extent permitted by law, by such other provision, consistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator may from time to time prescribe (whether directly or indirectly through the Exchange Agent), or by any combination of the foregoing payment methods.

 

(d)           Delivery of Certificates Upon Exercise.  Subject to Sections 3.2, 3.4 and 3.13, promptly after receiving payment of the full option Exercise Price, or after receiving notice of the exercise of a stock appreciation right for which the Administrator determines payment will be made partly or entirely in shares, the Company or its Exchange Agent shall (i) deliver to the grantee, or to such other Person as may then have the right to exercise the Award, a certificate or certificates for the shares of Common Stock for which the Award has been exercised or, in the case
of stock appreciation rights, for which the Administrator determines will be made in shares or (ii) establish an account evidencing ownership of the stock in uncertificated form.  If the method of payment employed upon an option exercise so requires, and if applicable law permits, an optionee may direct the Company or its Exchange Agent, as the case may be, to deliver the stock certificate(s) to the optionee's stockbroker.

 

(e)           No Stockholder Rights.  No grantee of an option or stock appreciation right (or other Person having the right to exercise such Award) shall have any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to shares subject to such Award until the issuance of a stock certificate to such Person for such shares.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 1.5(c), no adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights (whether ordinary or extraordinary, and whether in cash, securities or other property) for which the record date is prior to
the date such stock certificate is issued.

 

 

  

  

  

 

2.4.         Termination of Employment; Death Subsequent to a Termination of Employment

 

(a)           General Rule.  Except to the extent otherwise provided in paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) of this Section 2.4 or Section 3.5(b)(iii), a grantee who incurs a termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the Board may exercise any outstanding option or stock appreciation right on the following terms and conditions: (i) exercise may be made only to the extent that the grantee was entitled to exercise the Award on the date of termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the
Board, as applicable; and (ii) exercise must occur within three months after termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the Board but in no event after the original expiration date of the Award.

 

(b)           Dismissal "for Cause".  If a grantee incurs a termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the Board "for Cause", all options and stock appreciation rights not theretofore exercised shall immediately terminate upon the grantee's termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the Board.

 

(c)           Retirement.  If a grantee incurs a termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the Board as the result of his or her retirement (as defined below), then any outstanding option or stock appreciation right shall, to the extent exercisable at the time of such retirement, remain exercisable for a period of three years after such retirement; provided that in no event may such option or stock appreciation right be exercised following the original expiration date of the
Award.  For this purpose, "retirement" shall mean a grantee's resignation of employment or consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the Board, with the Company's or its applicable Affiliate's prior consent, on or after (i) his or her 65th birthday, (ii) the date on which he or she has attained age 60 and completed at least five years of service with the Company or one or more of its Affiliates (using any method of calculation the Administrator deems appropriate) or (iii) if approved by the Administrator, on or after his or her having completed at least 20 years of service with the Company or one or more of its Affiliates (using any method of calculation the Administrator deems appropriate).

 

(d)           Disability.  If a grantee incurs a termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or a dismissal from the Board by reason of a disability (as defined below), then any outstanding option or stock appreciation right shall, to the extent exercisable at the time of such termination or dismissal, remain exercisable for a period of one year after such termination or dismissal of employment; provided that in no event may such option or stock appreciation right be exercised following the original
expiration date of the Award.  For this purpose, "disability" shall mean any physical or mental condition that would qualify the grantee for a disability benefit under the long-term disability plan maintained by the Company or its Affiliate, as applicable, or, if there is no such plan, a physical or mental condition that prevents the grantee from performing the essential functions of the grantee's position (with or without reasonable accommodation) for a period of six consecutive months.  The existence of a disability shall be determined by the Administrator.

 

(e)           Death.

 

(i)      Termination of Employment as a Result of Grantee's Death.  If a grantee incurs a termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or leaves the Board as the result of his or her death, then any outstanding option or stock appreciation right shall, to the extent exercisable at the time of such death, remain exercisable for a period of one year after such death; provided that in no event may such option or stock appreciation right be exercised following the original expiration date of the Award.

 

(ii)         Restrictions on Exercise Following Death.  Any such exercise of an Award following a grantee's death shall be made only by the grantee's executor or administrator or other duly appointed representative reasonably acceptable to the Administrator, unless the grantee's will specifically disposes of such Award, in which case such exercise shall be made only by the recipient of such specific disposition.  If a grantee's personal representative or the recipient of a specific disposition under the grantee's will shall be entitled to exercise any Award pursuant to the preceding sentence,
such representative or recipient shall be bound by all the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement which would have applied to the grantee.

 

(f)           Administrator Discretion.  The Administrator may, in writing, may waive or modify the application of the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.4.

 

 

 

  

  

  

 

2.5.         Transferability of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights

 

Except as otherwise provided in an applicable Award Agreement evidencing an option or stock appreciation right, during the lifetime of a grantee, each such Award granted to a grantee shall be exercisable only by the grantee, and no such Award shall be assignable or transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  The Administrator may, in any applicable Award Agreement evidencing an option or stock appreciation right, permit a grantee to transfer all or some of the options or stock appreciation rights to (a) the grantee's spouse, children or grandchildren ("Immediate Family Members"), (b) a trust or trusts for the exclusive benefit of such Immediate Family Members
or (c) other parties approved by the Administrator.  Following any such transfer, any transferred options and stock appreciation rights shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to the transfer.

 

2.6.         Grant of Restricted Stock

 

(a)           Restricted Stock Grants.  The Administrator may grant restricted shares of Common Stock to such Key Persons, in such amounts and subject to such vesting and forfeiture provisions and other terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, subject to the provisions of the Plan.  A grantee of a restricted stock Award shall have no rights with respect to such Award unless such grantee accepts the Award within such period as the Administrator shall specify by accepting delivery of a restricted stock Award Agreement in such form as the Administrator shall
determine and, in the event the restricted shares are newly issued by the Company, makes payment to the Company or its Exchange Agent by certified or official bank check (or the equivalent thereof acceptable to the Administrator) in an amount at least equal to the par value of the shares covered by the Award (which payment may be waived at the time of grant of the restricted stock Award to the extent the restricted shares granted hereunder are otherwise deemed to be fully paid and non-assessable).

 

(b)           Issuance of Stock Certificate.  Promptly after a grantee accepts a restricted stock Award in accordance with Section 2.6(a), subject to Sections 3.2, 3.4 and 3.13, the Company or its Exchange Agent shall issue to the grantee a stock certificate or stock certificates for the shares of Common Stock covered by the Award or shall establish an account evidencing ownership of the stock in uncertificated form.  Upon the issuance of such stock certificates, or establishment of such account, the grantee shall have the rights of a stockholder with respect to the
restricted stock, subject to: (i) the nontransferability restrictions and forfeiture provision described in the Plan (including paragraphs (d) and (e) of this Section 2.6); (ii) in the Administrator's sole discretion, a requirement, as set forth in the Award Agreement, that any dividends paid on such shares shall be held in escrow and, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, shall remain forfeitable until all restrictions on such shares have lapsed; and (iii) any other restrictions and conditions contained in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(c)           Custody of Stock Certificate.  Unless the Administrator shall otherwise determine, any stock certificates issued evidencing shares of restricted stock shall remain in the possession of the Company until such shares are free of any restrictions specified in the applicable Award Agreement.  The Administrator may direct that such stock certificates bear a legend setting forth the applicable restrictions on transferability.

 

(d)           Nontransferability.  Shares of restricted stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of prior to the lapsing of all restrictions thereon, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Plan or the applicable Award Agreement.  The Administrator at the time of grant shall specify the date or dates (which may depend upon or be related to the attainment of performance goals and other conditions) on which the nontransferability of the restricted stock shall lapse.

 

(e)           Consequence of Termination of Employment.  Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, (i) a grantee's termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the Board for any reason other than death or disability (as defined in Section 2.4(d)) shall cause the immediate forfeiture of all shares of restricted stock that have not yet vested as of the date of such termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the Board and (ii) if a grantee incurs a termination of employment or
consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the Board as the result of his or her death or disability, all shares of restricted stock that have not yet vested as of the date of such termination or departure from the Board shall immediately vest as of such date.  Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, all dividends paid on shares forfeited under this Section 2.6(e) that have not theretofore been directly remitted to the grantee shall also be forfeited, whether by termination of any escrow arrangement under which such dividends are held or otherwise.  The Administrator may, in writing, waive or modify the application of the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(e).

 

 

  

  

  

 

2.7.         Grant of Restricted Stock Units

 

(a)           Restricted Stock Unit Grants.  The Administrator may grant restricted stock units to such Key Persons, and in such amounts and subject to such vesting and forfeiture provisions and other terms and conditions, as the Administrator shall determine, subject to the provisions of the Plan.  A restricted stock unit granted under the Plan shall confer upon the grantee a right to receive from the Company, conditioned upon the occurrence of such vesting event as shall be determined by the Administrator and specified in the Award Agreement, the number of such
grantee's restricted stock units that vest upon the occurrence of such vesting event multiplied by the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of vesting.  Payment upon vesting of a restricted stock unit shall be in cash or in shares of Common Stock (valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of vesting) or both, all as the Administrator shall determine, and such payments shall be made to the grantee at such time as provided in the Award Agreement, which shall be (i) if Section 409A of the Code is applicable to the grantee, within the period required by Section 409A such that it qualifies as a "short-term deferral" pursuant to Section 409A and the Treasury Regulations issued thereunder, unless the Administrator shall provide for deferral of the Award in compliance with Section 409A, (ii) if Section 457A of the Code is
applicable to the grantee, within the period required by Section 457A(d)(3)(B) such that it qualifies for the exemption thereunder, or (iii) if Sections 409A and 457A of the Code are not applicable to the grantee, at such time as determined by the Administrator.

 

(b)           Dividend Equivalents.  The Administrator may include in any Award Agreement with respect to a restricted stock unit a dividend equivalent right entitling the grantee to receive amounts equal to the ordinary dividends that would be paid, during the time such Award is outstanding and unvested, on the shares of Common Stock underlying such Award if such shares were then outstanding.  In the event such a provision is included in a Award Agreement, the Administrator shall determine whether such payments shall be (i) paid to the holder of the Award, as
specified in the Award Agreement, either (A) at the same time as the underlying dividends are paid, regardless of the fact that the restricted stock unit has not theretofore vested, or (B) at the time at which the Award's vesting event occurs, conditioned upon the occurrence of the vesting event, (ii) made in cash, shares of Common Stock or other property and (iii) subject to such other vesting and forfeiture provisions and other terms and conditions as the Administrator shall deem appropriate and as shall set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

(c)           Consequence of Termination of Employment.  Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, (i) a grantee's termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the Board for any reason other than death or disability (as defined in Section 2.4(d)) shall cause the immediate forfeiture of all restricted stock units that have not yet vested as of the date of such termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the Board and (ii) if a grantee incurs a termination of employment or
consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the Board as the result of his or her death or disability, all restricted stock units that have not yet vested as of the date of such termination or departure from the Board shall immediately vest as of such date.  Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, any dividend equivalent rights on any restricted stock units forfeited under this Section 2.7(c) that have not theretofore been directly remitted to the grantee shall also be forfeited, whether by termination of any escrow arrangement under which such dividends are held or otherwise.  The Administrator may, in writing, waive or modify the application of the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.7(c).

 

(d)           No Stockholder Rights.  No grantee of a restricted stock unit shall have any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to such Award unless and until a stock certificate is issued with respect to such Award upon the vesting of such Award (it being understood that the Administrator shall determine whether to pay any vested restricted stock unit in the form of cash or Company shares or both), which issuance shall be subject to Sections 3.2, 3.4 and 3.13.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 1.5(c), no adjustment to any
restricted stock unit shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights (whether ordinary or extraordinary, and whether in cash, securities or other property) for which the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate, if any, is issued.

 

(e)           Transferability of Restricted Stock Units.  Except as otherwise provided in an applicable Award Agreement evidencing a restricted stock unit, no restricted stock unit granted under the Plan shall be assignable or transferable.  The Administrator may, in any applicable Award Agreement evidencing a restricted stock unit, permit a grantee to transfer all or some of the restricted stock units to (i) the grantee's Immediate Family Members, (ii) a trust or trusts for the exclusive benefit of such Immediate Family Members or (iii) other parties approved by the
Administrator.  Following any such transfer, any transferred restricted stock units shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to the transfer.

 

 

 

  

  

  

 

2.8.         Grant of Unrestricted Stock

 

The Administrator may grant (or sell at a purchase price at least equal to par value) shares of Common Stock free of restrictions under the Plan to such Key Persons and in such amounts and subject to such forfeiture provisions as the Administrator shall determine.  Shares may be thus granted or sold in respect of past services or other valid consideration.

 

 

ARTICLE III.

Miscellaneous

 

3.1.         Amendment of the Plan; Modification of Awards

 

(a)           Amendment of the Plan.  The Board may from time to time suspend, discontinue, revise or amend the Plan in any respect whatsoever, except that no such amendment shall materially impair any rights or materially increase any obligations under any Award theretofore made under the Plan without the consent of the grantee (or, upon the grantee's death, the Person having the right to exercise the Award).  For purposes of this Section 3.1, any action of the Board or the Administrator that in any way alters or affects the tax treatment of any Award shall not be
considered to materially impair any rights of any grantee.

 

(b)           Stockholder Approval Requirement.  If required by applicable rules or regulations of a national securities exchange or the SEC, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval with respect to any amendment to the Plan that (i) expands the types of Awards available under the Plan, (ii) materially increases the number of shares which may be issued under the Plan, except as permitted pursuant to Section 1.5(c), (iii) materially increases the benefits to participants under the Plan, including any material change to (A) permit, or that has the
effect of, a "re-pricing" of any outstanding Award, (B) reduce the price at which shares or options to purchase shares may be offered or (C) extends the duration of the Plan or (iv) materially expands the class of Persons eligible to receive Awards under the Plan.

 

(c)           Modification of Awards.  The Administrator may cancel any Award under the Plan.  The Administrator also may amend any outstanding Award Agreement, including, without limitation, by amendment which would: (i) accelerate the time or times at which the Award becomes unrestricted, vested or may be exercised; (ii) waive or amend any goals, restrictions or conditions set forth in the Award Agreement; or (iii) waive or amend the operation of Section 2.4, 2.6(e) or 2.7(c) with respect to the termination of the Award upon termination of employment or
consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the Board; provided, however, that no such amendment shall be made without shareholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement applicable to the Award.  However, any such cancellation or amendment that materially impairs the rights or materially increases the obligations of a grantee under an outstanding Award shall be made only with the consent of the grantee (or, upon the grantee's death, the Person having the right to exercise the Award).  In making any modification to an Award (e.g., an amendment resulting in a direct or indirect reduction in the Exercise Price or a waiver or modification under Section 2.4(f), 2.6(e) or 2.7(c)), the Administrator may consider the implications under Sections 409A
and 457A of the Code from such modification.

 

 

  

  

  

 

3.2.         Consent Requirement

 

(a)           No Plan Action Without Required Consent.  If the Administrator shall at any time determine that any Consent (as defined below) is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of any Award under the Plan, the issuance or purchase of shares or other rights thereunder, or the taking of any other action thereunder (each such action being hereinafter referred to as a "Plan Action"), then such Plan Action shall not be taken, in whole or in part, unless and until such Consent shall have been effected or obtained to the full satisfaction of the
Administrator.

 

(b)           Consent Defined.  The term "Consent" as used herein with respect to any Plan Action means (i) any and all listings, registrations or qualifications in respect thereof upon any securities exchange or under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation, (ii) any and all written agreements and representations by the grantee with respect to the disposition of shares, or with respect to any other matter, which the Administrator shall deem necessary or desirable to comply with the terms of any such listing, registration or qualification or to obtain an
exemption from the requirement that any such listing, qualification or registration be made and (iii) any and all consents, clearances and approvals in respect of a Plan Action by any governmental or other regulatory bodies.

 

3.3.         Nonassignability

 

Except as provided in Section 2.4(e), 2.5, 2.6(d) or 2.7(e), (a) no Award or right granted to any Person under the Plan or under any Award Agreement shall be assignable or transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and (b) all rights granted under the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be exercisable during the life of the grantee only by the grantee or the grantee's legal representative or the grantee's permissible successors or assigns (as authorized and determined by the Administrator).  All terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreements will be binding
upon any permitted successors or assigns.

 

3.4.         Taxes

 

(a)           Withholding.  A grantee or other Award holder under the Plan shall be required to pay, in cash, to the Company, and the Company and Affiliates shall have the right and are hereby authorized to withhold from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan or from any compensation or other amount owing to such grantee or other Award holder, the amount of any applicable withholding taxes in respect of an Award, its grant, its exercise, its vesting, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan, and to take such other action
as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for payment of such taxes.  Whenever shares of Common Stock are to be delivered pursuant to an Award under the Plan, with the approval of the Administrator, which the Administrator shall have sole discretion whether or not to give, the grantee may satisfy the foregoing condition by electing to have the Company withhold from delivery shares having a value equal to the amount of minimum tax required to be withheld.  Such shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the date on which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.  Fractional share amounts shall be settled in cash.  Such a withholding election may be made with respect to all or any portion of the shares to be delivered pursuant to an Award as may be approved by the Administrator in its sole
discretion.

 

(b)           Liability for Taxes.  Grantees and holders of Awards are solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may arise in connection with Awards (including, without limitation, any taxes arising under Sections 409A and 457A of the Code) and the Company shall not have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold any such Person harmless from any or all of such taxes.  The Administrator shall have the discretion to organize any deferral program, to require deferral election forms, and to grant or, notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in the Plan or any Award Agreement, to unilaterally modify any Award in a manner that (i) conforms with the requirements of Sections 409A and 457A of the Code (to the extent applicable), (ii) voids any participant election to the extent it would violate Section 409A or 457A of the Code (to the extent applicable) and (iii) for any distribution event or election that could be expected to violate Section 409A or 457A of the Code, make the distribution only upon the earliest of the first to occur of a "permissible distribution event" within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code or a distribution event that the participant elects in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.  The Administrator shall have the sole discretion to interpret the requirements of the Code, including, without limitation, Sections 409A and 457A, for
purposes of the Plan and all Awards.

 

 

 

  

  

  

 

3.5.         Change in Control

 

(a)           Change in Control Defined.  For purposes of the Plan, "Change in Control" shall mean the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)      any "person" (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the 1934 Act), corporation or other entity (other than (A) the Company, (B) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or (C) any company or other entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the holders of the voting stock of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the aggregate voting power of the capital stock ordinarily entitled to elect directors of the Company) acquires "beneficial ownership" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of
the aggregate voting power of the capital stock ordinarily entitled to elect directors of the Company;

 

(ii)      the sale of all or substantially all the Company's assets in one or more related transactions to a Person or group of Persons, other than such a sale (A) to a Subsidiary which does not involve a change in the equity holdings of the Company or (B) to an entity which has acquired all or substantially all the Company's assets (any such entity described in clause (A) or (B), the "Acquiring Entity") if, immediately following such sale, 50% or more of the aggregate voting power of the capital stock ordinarily entitled to elect directors of the Acquiring Entity (or, if applicable, the ultimate parent entity that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of
more than 50% of the aggregate voting power of the capital stock ordinarily entitled to elect directors of the Acquiring Entity) is beneficially owned by the holders of the voting stock of the Company, and such voting power among the persons who were holders of the voting stock of the Company immediately prior to such sale is, immediately following such sale, held in substantially the same proportions as the aggregate voting power of the capital stock ordinarily entitled to elect directors of the Company immediately prior to such sale;

 

(iii)     any merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event of the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of which the holders of the voting stock of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event do not directly or indirectly hold 50% or more of the aggregate voting power of the capital stock of the surviving entity (or, if applicable, the ultimate parent entity that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the aggregate voting power of the capital stock ordinarily entitled to elect directors of the surviving entity) and such voting power among the Persons who were holders of the voting stock of the Company
immediately prior to such sale is, immediately following such sale, held in substantially the same proportions as the aggregate voting power of the capital stock ordinarily entitled to elect directors of the Company immediately prior to such sale;

 

(iv)     the approval by the Company's stockholders of a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

 

(v)      during any period of 24 consecutive calendar months, individuals:

 

	
  

	
(A)

	
who were directors of the Company on the first day of such period, or

 

	
  

	
(B)

	
whose election or nomination for election to the Board was recommended or approved by at least a majority of the directors then still in office who were directors of the Company on the first day of such period, or whose election or nomination for election were so approved,

 

shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for each Award subject to Section 409A of the Code, a Change in Control shall be deemed to occur under this Plan with respect to such Award only if a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company shall also be deemed to have occurred under Section 409A of the Code, provided that such limitation shall apply to such Award only to the extent necessary to avoid adverse tax effects under Section 409A of the Code.

 

(b)           Effect of a Change in Control.  Unless the Administrator provides otherwise in a Award Agreement, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control:

 

(i)       notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, any Award then outstanding shall become fully vested and any Award in the form of an option or stock appreciation right shall be immediately exercisable;

 

(ii)      to the extent permitted by law and not otherwise limited by the terms of the Plan, the Administrator may amend any Award Agreement in such manner as it deems appropriate;

 

(iii)     a grantee who incurs a termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the Board for any reason, other than a termination or dismissal "for Cause", concurrent with or within one year following the Change in Control may exercise any outstanding option or stock appreciation right, but only to the extent that the grantee was entitled to exercise the Award on the date of his or her termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the Board, until the earlier of (A) the original expiration date of the Award and (B) the later of (x) the date provided for under the terms of Section 2.4 without reference
to this Section 3.5(b)(iii) and (y) the first anniversary of the grantee's termination of employment or consultancy/service relationship or dismissal from the Board.

 

(c)           Miscellaneous.  Whenever deemed appropriate by the Administrator, any action referred to in paragraph (b)(ii) of this Section 3.5 may be made conditional upon the consummation of the applicable Change in Control transaction.  For purposes of the Plan and any Award Agreement granted hereunder, the term "Company" shall include any successor to Star Bulk Carriers Corp.

 

  

  

  

 

3.6.         Operation and Conduct of Business

 

Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be construed as limiting or preventing the Company or any of its Affiliates from taking any action with respect to the operation and conduct of their business that they deem appropriate or in their best interests, including any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations, exchanges or other changes in the capital structure of the Company or any of its Affiliates, any merger or consolidation of the Company or any of its Affiliates, any issuance of Company shares or other securities or subscription rights, any issuance of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Common Stock or other securities or rights
thereof, any dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any of its Affiliates, any sale or transfer of all or any part of the assets or business of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

 

3.7.         No Rights to Awards

 

No Key Person or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan.

 

3.8.          Right of Discharge Reserved

 

Nothing in the Plan or in any Award Agreement shall confer upon any grantee the right to continue his or her employment with the Company or any of its Affiliates, his or her consultancy/service relationship with the Company or any of its Affiliates, or his or her position as a director of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or affect any right that the Company or any of its Affiliates may have to terminate such employment or consultancy/service relationship or service as a director.

 

3.9.         Non-Uniform Determinations

 

The Administrator's determinations and the treatment of Key Persons and grantees and their beneficiaries under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made and determined by the Administrator selectively among Persons who receive, or who are eligible to receive, Awards under the Plan (whether or not such Persons are similarly situated).  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator shall be entitled, among other things, to make non-uniform and selective determinations, and to enter into non-uniform and selective Award Agreements, as to (a) the Persons to receive Awards under the Plan, (b) the types of Awards granted under the Plan, (c) the number of shares to be
covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights or other matters are to be calculated with respect to, Awards and (d) the terms and conditions of Awards.

 

3.10.       Other Payments or Awards

 

Nothing contained in the Plan shall be deemed in any way to limit or restrict the Company from making any award or payment to any Person under any other plan, arrangement or understanding, whether now existing or hereafter in effect.

 

3.11.       Headings

 

Any section, subsection, paragraph or other subdivision headings contained herein are for the purpose of convenience only and are not intended to expand, limit or otherwise define the contents of such subdivisions.

 

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

3.12.       Effective Date and Term of Plan

 

(a)           Adoption; Stockholder Approval.  The Plan was adopted by the Board on August 31st, 2011.  The Board may, but need not, make the granting of any Awards under the Plan subject to the approval of the Company's stockholders.

 

(b)           Termination of Plan.  The Board may terminate the Plan at any time.  All Awards made under the Plan prior to its termination shall remain in effect until such Awards have been satisfied or terminated in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreements.  No Awards may be granted under the Plan following the tenth anniversary of the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board.

 

3.13.       Restriction on Issuance of Stock Pursuant to Awards

 

The Company shall not permit any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan unless such shares of Common Stock are fully paid and non-assessable under applicable law.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or any Award Agreement, at the time of the exercise of any Award, at the time of vesting of any Award, at the time of payment of shares of Common Stock in exchange for, or in cancellation of, any Award, or at the time of grant of any unrestricted shares under the Plan, the Company and the Administrator may, if either shall deem it necessary or advisable for any reason, require the holder of an Award (a) to represent in writing to the Company that
it is the Award holder's then-intention to acquire the shares with respect to which the Award is granted for investment and not with a view to the distribution thereof or (b) to postpone the date of exercise until such time as the Company has available for delivery to the Award holder a prospectus meeting the requirements of all applicable securities laws; and no shares shall be issued or transferred in connection with any Award unless and until all legal requirements applicable to the issuance or transfer of such shares have been complied with to the satisfaction of the Company and the Administrator.  The Company and the Administrator shall have the right to condition any issuance of shares to any Award holder hereunder on such Person's undertaking in writing to comply with such restrictions
on the subsequent transfer of such shares as the Company or the Administrator shall deem necessary or advisable as a result of any applicable law, regulation or official interpretation thereof, and all share certificates delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Company or the Administrator may deem advisable under the Plan, the applicable Award Agreement or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which such shares are listed, and any applicable securities or other laws, and certificates representing such shares may contain a legend to reflect any such restrictions.  The Administrator may refuse to issue or transfer any shares or other consideration under an Award if it determines that the issuance or transfer of such shares or other consideration might violate any applicable
law or regulation or entitle the Company to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a grantee or other Award holder in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant grantee or other Award holder.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Award granted under the Plan shall be construed as an offer to sell securities of the Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Administrator has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance with all applicable requirements of any applicable securities laws.

 

3.14.           Requirement of Notification of Election Under Section 83(b) of the Code

 

If an Award recipient, in connection with the acquisition of Company shares under the Plan, makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code (to include in gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Section 83(b) of the Code), the grantee shall notify the Administrator of such election within ten days of filing notice of the election with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to regulations issued under Section 83(b) of the Code.

 

3.15.           Severability

 

If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Administrator, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws or, if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Administrator, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

 

 

 

  

  

  

 

3.16.       Sections 409A and 457A

 

To the extent applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Sections 409A and 457A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or any applicable Award Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Administrator determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A or 457A of the Code, the Administrator may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Administrator determines are
necessary or appropriate to (i) exempt the Plan and Award from Sections 409A and 457A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (ii) comply with the requirements of Sections 409A and 457A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance and thereby avoid the application of penalty taxes under Sections 409A and 457A of the Code.

 

3.17.       Forfeiture; Clawback

 

The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, specify in the applicable Award Agreement that any realized gain with respect to options or stock appreciation rights and any realized value with respect to other Awards shall be subject to forfeiture or clawback, in the event of (a) a grantee's breach of any non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants with respect to the Company or any of its Affiliates or (ii) a financial restatement that reduces the amount of bonus or incentive compensation previously awarded to a grantee that would have been earned had results been properly reported.

 

3.18.       No Trust or Fund Created

 

Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any of its Affiliates and an Award recipient or any other Person.  To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any of its Affiliates pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or its Affiliates.

 

3.19.       No Fractional Shares

 

No fractional shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Administrator shall determine whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.

 

3.20.       Governing Law

 

The Plan will be construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws.

 

SK 25767 0001 1227556

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