Document:

exhibit_10-1.htm

EXHIBIT 10.1

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Registration Rights Agreement ("Agreement"), dated December 10, 2014, is made by and between ANDALAY SOLAR, INC. a Delaware corporation ("Company"), and SOUTHRIDGE PARTNERS II LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the "Investor").

RECITALS

WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Equity Purchase Agreement ("Purchase Agreement"), between the Investor and the Company, the Company has agreed to issue and sell to the Investor shares (the "Put Shares") of its common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the "Common Stock") from time to time for an aggregate investment price of up to Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) (the "Registered Securities"); and

WHEREAS, to induce the Investor to execute and deliver the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the "Securities Act"), and applicable state securities laws with respect to the Registered Securities;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Investor hereby agree as follows:

1. Definitions.

(a) As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meaning:

(i) "Subscription Date" means the date of this Agreement.

(ii) "Investor" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

(iii) "Register," "registered" and "registration" refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or Statements in compliance with the Securities Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any successor rule providing for offering securities on a delayed or continuous basis ("Rule 415"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

(iv) "Registered Securities" will have the same meaning as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

(v) "Registration Statement" means the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, or any similar registration statement of the Company filed with SEC under the Securities Act with respect to the Registered Securities.

(vi) "EDGAR" means the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System.

(vii) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, all as the same will then be in effect.

(b) Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

2. [RESERVED]

 

  

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3. Obligation of the Company. In connection with the registration of the Registered Securities, the Company shall do each of the following:

(a) Prepare promptly and file with the SEC within one hundred twenty (120) days after the date hereof, a Registration Statement with respect to not less than the maximum allowable under Rule 415 of Registered Securities, and thereafter use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement relating to the Registered Securities to become effective within five (5) business days after notice from the Securities and Exchange Commission that such Registration Statement may be declared effective, and keep the Registration Statement effective at all times prior to the termination of the Purchase Agreement until the earliest of (i) the date that is three months after the completion of the last Closing Date under the Purchase Agreement, (ii) the date when the Investor may sell all Registered Securities under Rule 144 without volume limitations, or (iii) the date the Investor no longer owns any of the Registered Securities (collectively, the "Registration Period"), which Registration Statement (including any amendments or supplements, thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to the Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with the Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective at all times during the Registration Period, and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registered Securities of the Company covered by the Registration Statement until the expiration of the Registration Period.

(c) With respect to the Registered Securities, permit counsel designated by Investor to review the Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto a reasonable period of time (but not less than two (2) business days) prior to their filing with the SEC, and not file any document in a form to which such counsel reasonably objects.

(d) As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of the following facts, the Company shall notify Investor and Investor’s legal counsel identified to the Company and (if requested by any such person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one (1) business day thereafter (i): (A) when a prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is filed; (B) with respect to the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registered Securities or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; and (iii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registered Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.

(e) Unless available to the Investor without charge through EDGAR, the SEC's website or the Company's website, furnish to Investor, promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the SEC, or received by the Company, one (1) copy of the Registration Statement, each preliminary prospectus and the prospectus, and each amendment or supplement thereto;

(f) Use all commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register and/or qualify the Registered Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Investor may reasonably request and in which significant volumes of shares of Common Stock are traded, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof at all times during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualification in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registered Securities for sale in such jurisdictions: provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (A) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(f), (B) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, (C) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction, (D) provide any undertakings that cause more than nominal expense or burden to the Company or (E) make any change in its charter or by-laws or any then existing contracts, which in each case the Board of Directors of the Company determines to be contrary to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders;

(g) As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, notify the Investor of the happening of any event of which the Company has knowledge, as a result of which the prospectus included in the Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading ("Registration Default"), and promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement or other appropriate filing with the SEC to correct such untrue statement or omission, and take any other commercially reasonable steps to cure the Registration Default, and, unless available to the Investor without charge through EDGAR, the SEC's website or the Company's website, deliver a number of copies of such supplement or amendment to the Investor as the Investor may reasonably request.

(h) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED];

(i) Use its commercially reasonable efforts, if eligible, either to (i) cause all the Registered Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be listed on a national securities exchange and on each additional national securities exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registered Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange, or (ii) secure designation of all the Registered Securities covered by the Registration Statement as a National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System ("Nasdaq”) security within the meaning of Rule 11Aa2-1 of the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the quotation of the Registered Securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market; or if, despite the Company’s commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy the preceding clause (i) or (ii), the Company is unsuccessful in doing so, to use its commercially reasonable efforts to secure authorization of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and quotation for such Registered Securities on the over-the-counter bulletin board and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing;

 

  

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(j) Provide a transfer agent for the Registered Securities not later than the Subscription Date under the Purchase Agreement;

(k) Cooperate with the Investor to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates for the Registered Securities to be offered pursuant to the Registration Statement and enable such certificates for the Registered Securities to be in such denominations or amounts as the case may be, as the Investor may reasonably request and registration in such names as the Investor may request; and, within five (5) business days after a Registration Statement which includes Registered Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel selected by the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for the Registered Securities (with copies to the Investor) an appropriate instruction and opinion of such counsel, if so required by the Company’s transfer agent; and

(l) Take all other commercially reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate distribution to the Investor of the Registered Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

4. Obligations of the Investor. In connection with the registration of the Registered Securities, the Investor shall have the following obligations;

(a) It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registered Securities of the Investor that the Investor shall timely furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registered Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of the Registered Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of such Registered Securities and shall timely execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request.

(b) The Investor by such Investor’s acceptance of the Registered Securities agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement hereunder; and

(c) The Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(d)(ii) or (iii) or 3(g) above, the Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registered Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registered Securities until the Investor receives the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(d)(ii) or (iii) or 3(g) and, if so directed by the Company, the Investor shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a certificate of destruction) all copies in the Investor’s possession, of the prospectus covering such Registered Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.

5. Expenses of Registration. All reasonable expenses incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Section 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing, and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company shall be borne by the Company.

6. Indemnification. After Registered Securities are included in a Registration Statement under this Agreement:

(a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless, the Investor, the directors, if any, of such Investor, the officers, if any, of such Investor, each person, if any, who controls the Investor within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each, an "Indemnified Person"), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (joint or several) incurred (collectively, "Claims") to which any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereof or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law or any rule or regulation under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being collectively referred to as "Violations"). Subject to Section 6(b) hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Investor, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any reasonable legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a) shall not (i) apply to any Claims arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, if such prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof; (ii) with respect to any preliminary prospectus, inure to the benefit of any such person from whom the person asserting any such Claim purchased the Registered Securities that are the subject thereof (or to the benefit of any person controlling such person) if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus was corrected in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, if such prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof; (iii) be available to the extent such Claim is based on a failure of the Investor to deliver or cause to be delivered the prospectus made available by the Company; or (iv) apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Investor will indemnify the Company, its officers, directors and agents (including legal counsel) against any claims arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company, by or on behalf of the Investor, expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, subject to such limitations and conditions set forth in the previous sentence.

 

  

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(b) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action), such Indemnified Person shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person, as the case may be; provided, however, that an Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the reasonable fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such Indemnified Person and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. In such event, the Company shall pay for only one separate legal counsel for the Investor selected by the Investor. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified Person under this Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such action. The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as such expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred and is due and payable.

7. Contribution. To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that (a) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in Section 6; (b) no seller of Registered Securities guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any seller of Registered Securities who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation; and (c) contribution by any seller of Registered Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Registered Securities.

8. Reports under Exchange Act. With a view to making available to the Investor the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investor to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration ("Rule 144"), the Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to:

(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;

(b) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act for so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements, and the filing of such reports is required for sales under Rule 144;

(c) furnish to the Investor so long as the Investor owns Registered Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (ii) unless available to the Investor without charge through EDGAR, the SEC's website or the Company's website, a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investors to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration; and

(d) at the request of any Investor of Registered Securities, give its Transfer Agent instructions (supported by an opinion of Company counsel, if required or requested by the Transfer Agent) to the effect that, upon the Transfer Agent’s receipt from such Investor of:

(i) a certificate (a “Rule 144 Certificate”) certifying (A) that such Investor has held the shares of Registered Securities which the Investor proposes to sell (the “Securities Being Sold”) for a period of not less than (6) months and (B) as to such other matters as may be appropriate in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and

(ii) an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company (for which purposes it is agreed that the initial Investor’s counsel shall be deemed acceptable if such opinion is not given by Company counsel) that, based on the Rule 144 Certificate, Securities Being Sold may be sold pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144, even in the absence of an effective Registration Statement,

the Transfer Agent is to effect the transfer of the Securities Being Sold and issue to the buyer(s) or transferee(s) thereof one or more stock certificates representing the transferred Securities Being Sold without any restrictive legend and without recording any restrictions on the transferability of such shares on the Transfer Agent’s books and records (except to the extent any such legend or restriction results from facts other than the identity of the Investor, as the seller or transferor thereof, or the status, including any relevant legends or restrictions, of the shares of the Securities Being Sold while held by the Investor). If the Transfer Agent requires any additional documentation at the time of the transfer, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered all such reasonable additional documentation as may be necessary to effectuate the issuance of an unlegended certificate.

9. Miscellaneous.

(a) Registered Owners. A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of Registered Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record such Registered Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more persons or entities with respect to the same Registered Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from the registered owner of such Registered Securities.

(b) Rights Cumulative; Waivers. The rights of each of the parties under this Agreement are cumulative. The rights of each of the parties hereunder shall not be capable of being waived or varied other than by an express waiver or variation in writing. Any failure to exercise or any delay in exercising any of such rights shall not operate as a waiver or variation of that or any other such right. Any defective or partial exercise of any of such rights shall not preclude any other or further exercise of that or any other such right. No act or course of conduct or negotiation on the part of any party shall in any way preclude such party from exercising any such right or constitute a suspension or any variation of any such right.

(c) Benefit; Successors Bound. This Agreement and the terms, covenants, conditions, provisions, obligations, undertakings, rights, and benefits hereof, shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the undersigned parties and their successors.

  

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(d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. There are no promises, agreements, conditions, undertakings, understandings, warranties, covenants or representations, oral or written, express or implied, between them with respect to this Agreement or the matters described in this Agreement, except as set forth in this Agreement and in the other documentation relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Any such negotiations, promises, or understandings shall not be used to interpret or constitute this Agreement.

(e) Amendment. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and Investor. Any amendment or waiver affected in accordance with this Section 9 shall be binding upon the Company.

(f) Severability. Each part of this Agreement is intended to be severable. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is found by any court or other authority of competent jurisdiction to be illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall be severed or modified to the extent necessary to render it enforceable and as so severed or modified, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

(g) Notices. Notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be sufficiently given when personally delivered (by hand, by courier, by telephone line facsimile transmission, receipt confirmed, email or other means) or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, properly addressed and with proper postage pre-paid (i) if to the Company, at its executive office and (ii) if to the Investor, at the address set forth under its name in the Purchase Agreement, with a copy to its designated attorney, or at such other address as each such party furnishes by notice given in accordance with this Section 9(g), and shall be effective, when personally delivered, upon receipt and, when so sent by certified mail, five (5) business days after deposit with the United States Postal Service.

(h) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to the principles of conflicts of law. Each of the Company and Investor hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States Federal and state courts located in New York with respect to any dispute arising under this Agreement, the agreements entered into in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

(i) Consents. The person signing this Agreement on behalf of each party hereby represents and warrants that he has the necessary power, consent and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement on behalf of that party.

(j) Further Assurances. In addition to the instruments and documents to be made, executed and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, the parties hereto agree to make, execute and deliver or cause to be made, executed and delivered, to the requesting party such other instruments and to take such other actions as the requesting party may reasonably require to carry out the terms of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

(k) Section Headings. The Section headings in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

(l) Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires, when used herein, the singular shall be deemed to include the plural, the plural shall be deemed to include each of the singular, and pronouns of one or no gender shall be deemed to include the equivalent pronoun of the other or no gender.

(m) Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to the other party hereto by email of a .pdf or telephone line facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement. A facsimile transmission or email of a .pdf of this signed Agreement shall be legal and binding on all parties hereto.

[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

  

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[SIGNATURE PAGE]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the day and year first above written.

COMPANY:

ANDALAY SOLAR, INC.

  

By: /s/ Steven Chan

Name: Steven Chan

Title: CEO

INVESTOR:

SOUTHRIDGE PARTNERS II LP

  

By: /s/ Stephen Hicks

Name: Stephen Hicks

Title: Manager

  

6EX-10.1

 Exhibit 10.1 

THE DUN & BRADSTREET CAREER TRANSITION PLAN 

(As amended and restated effective January 1, 2015) 

The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation (the “Company”) wishes to define those circumstances under which it will provide
assistance to an Eligible Employee in the event of his or her Eligible Termination (as such terms are defined herein). Accordingly, the Company maintains The Dun & Bradstreet Career Transition Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan is hereby
amended and restated effective January 1, 2015. 
 SECTION 1 

DEFINITIONS 
 1.1. “Base
Salary” shall mean an employee’s annualized base salary, excluding the following items: (a) overtime, (b) bonuses and commissions, whether fixed or variable payments, (c) employer contributions to or benefits under any
employee benefit plan or deferred compensation arrangement, (d) any special or one-time payments, including without limitation, automobile or relocation allowances, and (e) other accrued benefits, including without limitation, vacation.

 1.2. “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. 

1.3. “C&BC Reviewed Employees” shall mean those employees whose compensation is directly reviewed and approved by the
Compensation & Benefits Committee, whether such action is required by Charter of, or undertaken at the request of, the Compensation & Benefits Committee. 

1.4. “Cause” shall mean (a) willful malfeasance or willful misconduct by the Eligible Employee in connection with his or her
employment, (b) continuing failure of the Eligible Employee to perform such legally-permissible duties as are requested by any employee to whom the Eligible Employee reports or the Participating Company’s board of directors,
(c) failure by the Eligible Employee to observe material policies of the Participating Company applicable to the Eligible Employee or (d) the commission by an Eligible Employee of (i) any felony or (ii) any misdemeanor involving
moral turpitude under applicable law. 
 1.5. “Compensation & Benefits Committee” shall mean the Compensation &
Benefits Committee of the Board. 
 1.6. “Eligible Employee” shall mean a full-time
salaried employee or regular part-time salaried employee of any Participating Company who is on the United States payroll of a Participating Company as of the date of his or her Separation from Service other
than an employee who is otherwise eligible for severance benefits pursuant to an employment agreement or other individual agreement with any Participating Company. 

  
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 1.7. “Eligible Termination” shall mean a Separation from Service that is (a) an
involuntary termination of employment with a Participating Company by reason of a reduction in force program, job elimination or unsatisfactory performance in the execution of an Eligible Employee’s duties or (b) a resignation for Good
Reason that is mutually agreed to in writing by the Participating Company and the Eligible Employee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Eligible Termination shall not include (w) a unilateral resignation, (x) a termination by a
Participating Company for Cause, (y) a termination as a result of a sale (whether in whole or in part, of stock or assets), an elimination or reduction of any operations in connection with the purchase of comparable operations from a
third-party vendor (including an outsourcing), a merger or other combination, spin-off, reorganization or liquidation, dissolution or other winding up or other similar transaction involving a Participating Company, in any case, where an offer of
employment at a Comparable Base Salary (as defined herein) is made to the Eligible Employee by the purchaser, acquirer or successor or surviving entity (including a third-party vendor) concurrently with his or her termination, or (z) any
termination where an offer of employment with a Participating Company at a Comparable Base Salary is made to the Eligible Employee concurrently with his or her termination. An offer of employment shall be deemed to be a “Comparable Base
Salary” if it is not less than the Eligible Employee’s Base Salary at the time of his or her Eligible Termination. For purposes of this Section 1.7, an Eligible Employee shall be treated as receiving an offer of employment at a
Comparable Base Salary if the Plan Administration Committee in good faith determines that the Eligible Employee would have received such an offer but for the Eligible Employee’s failure to diligently apply for such employment. 

1.8. “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: 

(a) A material diminution in the Eligible Employee’s base salary in effect immediately prior to the Eligible Termination;

 (b) A material diminution in the Eligible Employee’s authority, duties, or responsibilities in effect immediately
prior to the Eligible Termination; 
 (c) The relocation of the Company’s offices at which the Eligible Employee is
principally employed immediately prior to the effective date of the Eligible Termination to a location more than fifty miles (or such longer distance that is the minimum permissible distance under the circumstances for purposes of the involuntary
separation from service standards under the Treasury Regulations or other guidance under Code Section 409A) from such location, except for required travel on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with the Eligible
Employee’s business travel obligations prior to the effective date of the Eligible Termination; provided, however, that a relocation of the Company’s offices at which the Eligible Employee is principally employed immediately prior to the
effective date of the Eligible Termination to New York City shall not constitute “Good Reason”; or 
 (d) A
material breach by the Participating Company of the agreement, if any, under which the Eligible Employee provides services. 

  
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 The conditions described in paragraphs (a) – (d) above shall not constitute Good
Reason unless the Eligible Employee provides notice to the Participating Company of the existence of existence of the event or circumstances constituting Good Reason specified in any of the preceding clauses within 90 days of the initial existence
of such event or circumstances, upon the notice of which the Participating Company shall have 60 days during which to cure such event or circumstances. If an Eligible Employee initiates the termination of the Eligible Employee’s employment for
Good Reason, the actual termination of employment must occur within thirty (30) days after expiration of the cure period. An Eligible Employee’s failure to timely give notice of the occurrence of a specific event that would otherwise
constitute Good Reason will not constitute a waiver of the Eligible Employee’s right to give notice of any new subsequent event that would constitute Good Reason that occurs after such prior event (regardless of whether the new subsequent event
is of the same or different nature as the preceding event). An Eligible Employee’s continued employment, through the thirtieth (30th) day following expiration of the cure period, shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with
respect to, the event or circumstances constituting Good Reason to which such cure period applies. 
 1.9. “Named Fiduciaries”
shall be the Compensation & Benefits Committee and the Plan Administration Committee. 
 1.10. “Participating Company”
shall mean the Company or any other affiliated entity more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests of which are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and which has elected to participate in the Plan by action of its board of
directors. 
 1.11. “Plan Administration Committee” shall mean the Plan Administration Committee appointed by the Board or by the
Compensation & Benefits Committee. 
 1.12. “Plan Benefits Committee” shall mean the Plan Benefits Committee appointed by
the Board or by the Compensation & Benefits Committee. 
 1.13. “Retirement Benefits” shall mean retirement or pension
benefits an Eligible Employee is entitled to receive from a Participating Company or any other entity, including without limitation benefits under the Federal Social Security Act and retirement or pension benefits under any plan sponsored by a
Participating Company or any other entity, whether or not intended to meet the requirements of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 

  
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 1.14. “Salary” shall mean an Eligible Employee’s Base Salary at the time his or
her employment terminates. 
 1.15. “Separation from Service” means a “separation from service” as defined in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h). 
 1.16. “Severance and Release Agreement” shall mean an agreement, in a form to be approved
on behalf of the Company by an authorized officer or senior leader, signed by the Eligible Employee prior to the Eligible Employee becoming entitled to any benefits pursuant to this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participating Company may,
by action of its Chief Human Resources Officer or General Counsel, modify the form of Severance and Release Agreement to be signed by an Eligible Employee. However, in all cases, each Severance and Release Agreement shall include a general release
of claims from the Eligible Employee. 
 1.17. “Specified Key Employee” shall mean an Eligible Employee who, at the time of his or
her Separation from Service is a “specified employee” as defined in Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i). Specified Key Employees will be identified by the Company according to procedures adopted by the Board or the Compensation &
Benefits Committee applicable to all plans and agreements sponsored by the Company that are subject to Code Section 409A. 
 1.18.
“Years of Service” shall mean one-twelfth (1/12th) of an Eligible Employee’s total number of full months of regular employment (whether full-time or part-time) with a Participating Company (beginning with his or her initial date of hire). Years of Service will be reduced by any period of regular employment for which an Eligible Employee was previously paid
severance under the Plan. 
 SECTION 2 

SEVERANCE BENEFITS 
 2.1.
Subject to the provisions and requirements of this Section 2, in the event of an Eligible Termination, an Eligible Employee shall become eligible to receive from the Participating Company the benefits set forth on Schedule A hereto, as
applicable. 
 2.2. The Compensation & Benefits Committee is authorized, in its sole discretion, to award benefits as set forth on
Schedule A to an Eligible Employee with respect to a Separation from Service that does not constitute an Eligible Termination. In addition, the Plan Benefits Committee is authorized, in its sole discretion, to award benefits as set forth
on Schedule A to an Eligible Employee who is not a C&BC Reviewed Employee with respect to a Separation from Service that does not constitute an Eligible Termination. As a result, it is possible that an Eligible Employee who is not
otherwise eligible for benefits under the terms of the Plan may be awarded benefits under the Plan pursuant to the terms of a Severance and Release Agreement. 

  
 4 

 2.3. The award of benefits pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2 hereof is conditioned
upon an Eligible Employee’s signing a Severance and Release Agreement and the expiration of any revocation period set forth therein. The Company shall deliver the Severance and Release Agreement to the Eligible Employee within ten
(10) days of the Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service. The Eligible Employee must (i) deliver an original, signed Severance and Release Agreement to the Company within twenty-one or forty-five days after the Eligible Employee
receives the Severance and Release Agreement from the Company, as specified in the Severance and Release Agreement (the “Release Period”), and (ii) not revoke the signed Severance and Release Agreement within the revocation period
specified in the Severance and Release Agreement (the “Revocation Period”). If the Eligible Employee timely signs and does not revoke the Severance and Release Agreement, the Eligible Employee’s severance benefits will commence as
soon as administratively practicable after the end of the Revocation Period but no later than the 74th day after the date of the Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service. Any payments that would otherwise have been paid to the Eligible
Employee prior to the date that the severance benefits commence, pursuant to the Company’s standard payroll practices in effect for the payment of base salary to employees, shall be paid to the Eligible Employee in a lump sum not later than the
74th day after the date of the Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service. If an Eligible Employee does not deliver an original, signed Severance and Release Agreement to the Company within the Release Period or revokes his or her signed
Severance and Release Agreement during the Revocation Period, (i) the Eligible Employee shall have no rights to severance benefits pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2, as applicable, and (ii) the Company shall have no
obligation to pay or provide to the Eligible Employee any such severance benefits. 
 2.4. Notwithstanding any other provision contained
herein, and except with respect to the C&BC Reviewed Employees, the Chief People Officer (“CPO”) of the Company may, at any time, take such action as such officer deems appropriate (upon consultation with the General Counsel of the
Company and only with the prior approval of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company) to reduce or increase by any amount the benefits otherwise payable to an Eligible Employee pursuant to Schedule A or otherwise modify the terms and
conditions of an award to an Eligible Employee under Section 2.1 or Section 2.2. In the event the position of CPO is vacant, the Chief Executive Officer shall, upon consultation with the General Counsel, have the authority to take those
actions granted to the CPO in the immediately preceding sentence. The Compensation & Benefits Committee shall have similar authority with respect to awards to C&BC Reviewed Employees under Section 2.1 or Section 2.2. Benefits
granted hereunder may not exceed an amount nor be paid over a period which would cause the Plan to be other than a “welfare benefit plan” under Section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(“ERISA”).” For purposes of clarification, no change shall be made to the benefits payable to a C&BC Reviewed Employee without the express approval of the Compensation & Benefits Committee. 

  
 5 

 2.5. In the event a Participating Company, in its sole discretion, grants an Eligible Employee a
period of inactive employee status, then, in such event, any amounts paid to such Eligible Employee during any such period shall offset the benefits payable under this Plan. For this purpose, a period of inactive employee status shall mean the
period beginning on the date such status commences (of which the Eligible Employee shall be notified) and ending on the date of such Eligible Employee’s termination of employment. 

2.6. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Participating Company may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the payment of an
Eligible Employee’s benefit to the extent permitted under the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Code Section 409A. No Eligible Employee shall have any election, direct or indirect, with respect to any such acceleration. 

SECTION 3 
 AMENDMENT AND
TERMINATION 
 3.1. The Company reserves the right to terminate the Plan on behalf of any or all Participating Companies at any time and
without any further obligation by action of the Compensation & Benefits Committee, or such other person or persons to whom the Board properly delegates such authority. Employees do not vest in this benefit. Any other Participating Company
may cease participation in the Plan by action of its board of directors or such other person or persons to whom such board properly delegates such authority. 

3.2. The Company shall have the right to modify or amend the terms of the Plan at any time, or from time to time, to any extent that it may
deem advisable by action of the Board, the Compensation & Benefits Committee, the Plan Benefits Committee or such other person or persons to whom the Board or either of the Committees properly delegates such authority. Any amendment shall
be effective only to the extent of each such delegee’s delegated authority and then only to the extent such amendment does not cause the terms of the Plan or any benefit hereunder to violate the provisions of Code Section 409A or
Section 1.409A of the Treasury Regulations. 
 3.3. All modifications of or amendments to the Plan shall be in writing. 

SECTION 4 
 ADMINISTRATION OF
THE PLAN 
 4.1. The Named Fiduciaries shall severally and not jointly have authority to control and manage the operation and
administration of the Plan and to manage and control its assets. 

  
 6 

 4.2. The Named Fiduciaries may from time to time allocate fiduciary responsibilities among
themselves and may designate persons other than Named Fiduciaries to carry out fiduciary responsibilities under the Plan, and such persons shall be deemed to be fiduciaries under the Plan with respect to such delegated responsibilities. Fiduciaries
may employ one or more persons to render advice with regard to any responsibility such fiduciary has under the Plan. 
 4.3. The Named
Fiduciaries (and their delegees) shall have the exclusive right to interpret any and all of the provisions of the Plan and to determine any questions arising thereunder or in connection with the administration of the Plan. Any decision or action by
the Named Fiduciaries (and their delegees) shall be conclusive and binding upon all Eligible Employees and all other interested parties. In all instances the Named Fiduciaries (and their delegees) shall have complete discretionary authority to
determine eligibility for participation and benefits under the Plan, and to construe and interpret all provisions of the Plan and all documents relating thereto including, without limitation, all disputed and uncertain terms. All deference permitted
by law shall be given to such constructions, interpretations and determinations. 
 4.4. Any action to be taken by a Named Fiduciary shall
be taken by a majority of the members of the Named Fiduciary at a meeting or by written instrument approved by such majority in the absence of a meeting. A written resolution or memorandum signed by one member of the Named Fiduciary and the
secretary of such Named Fiduciary shall be sufficient evidence to any person of any action taken pursuant to the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company’s by-laws or charter require an alternate method for approval of any action,
the method required pursuant to the by-laws or charter shall be followed. 
 4.5. Any person, corporation or other entity may serve in more
than one fiduciary capacity under the Plan. 
 4.6. The Company shall indemnify all directors, officers, fiduciaries and employees of a
Participating Company, or their heirs and legal representatives, against all liability and reasonable expense, including counsel fees, related to any matter or action arising in connection with or pursuant to this Plan, to the greatest extent
permitted by the Company’s charter, by-laws and applicable law. 
 SECTION 5 

MISCELLANEOUS 
 5.1.
Neither the establishment of the Plan nor any action of a Participating Company, the Compensation & Benefits Committee, the Plan Benefits Committee, the Plan Administration Committee or any fiduciary shall be held or construed to confer
upon any person any legal right to continue employment with a Participating Company or to receive any benefits under the Plan. Each Participating Company expressly 

  
 7 

 
reserves the right to discharge any employee whenever the interest of such Participating Company, in its sole judgment, may so require, without any liability on the part of such Participating
Company, the Compensation & Benefits Committee, the Plan Benefits Committee, the Plan Administration Committee, or any fiduciary. 

5.2. Benefits payable under the Plan shall be paid out of the general assets of a Participating Company. No Participating Company need fund
the benefits payable under this Plan; however, nothing in this Section 5.2 shall be interpreted as precluding any Participating Company from funding or setting aside amounts in anticipation of paying such benefits, so long as any such
arrangement complies with Code Section 409A. Any benefits payable to an Eligible Employee under this Plan shall represent an unsecured claim by such Eligible Employee against the general assets of the Participating Company that employed such
Eligible Employee. 
 5.3. A Participating Company shall deduct from the amount of any severance benefits payable hereunder the amount
required by law to be withheld for the payment of any taxes and any other amounts properly to be withheld. 
 5.4. Benefits payable under
the Plan shall not be subject to assignment, alienation, transfer, pledge, encumbrance, commutation or anticipation by the Eligible Employee. Any attempt to assign, alienate, transfer, pledge, encumber, commute or anticipate Plan benefits shall be
void. 
 5.5. This Plan shall be interpreted and applied in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, except to the extent
superseded by applicable federal law. All references to statutory provisions and related regulatory provisions used herein shall include any similar or successor provisions. The exclusive jurisdiction and venue for any disputes arising under, or any
action brought to enforce (or otherwise relating to), this Plan shall be exclusively in the courts in the State of New Jersey, including the Federal Courts located therein. 

5.6. This Plan will be of no force or effect to the extent superseded by foreign law. 

5.7. This Plan shall be construed and administered to preserve the exemption from Code Section 409A of payments that qualify as
short-term deferrals pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) and of all additional payments that qualify for the two-times compensation separation pay exemption of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii). With
respect to any amounts that are subject to (not exempt from) Code Section 409A, it is intended, and this Plan shall be so construed, that payment of such amounts shall comply with Code Section 409A and the interpretative guidance
thereunder so as not to subject the Eligible Employee to payment of interest or any additional tax under Code Section 409A. An Eligible Employee’s right to a series of installment payments under the Plan shall be treated as a right to a
series of separate payments in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii). 

  
 8 

 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, with respect to any payment that is subject to (not exempt from) Code Section 409A, (i) such payment will not be made before the date
immediately after the expiration of the six-month period following the date of the Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service (or, if earlier, the date of Eligible Employee’s death) if the Eligible Employee is a Specified Key Employee on
the date of the Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service, and all such payments to which the Eligible Employee otherwise would be entitled during the first six months following the date of the Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service
will be accumulated and paid on the first day of the seventh month following the date of the Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service; and (ii) if the timing of the Eligible Employee’s return of the Release could impact the
calendar year in which any such payment will be made, such payment will be made in the later calendar year. The Company, the Board, the Compensation & Benefits Committee, the Plan Administration Committee, the Plan Benefits Committee and
the Participating Companies make no representations that the Plan, the administration of the Plan, or the benefits hereunder comply with Code Section 409A. If an operational failure occurs with respect to Code Section 409A, any affected
Eligible Employee shall fully cooperate with the Company to correct the failure, to the extent possible, in accordance with any correction procedure established by the Internal Revenue Service. 

5.8. This Plan supersedes any and all prior severance arrangements, policies, plans or practices of the Company and of any Participating
Company (whether written or unwritten). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Plan does not affect the severance provisions of any written individual employment contracts or written agreements between an Eligible Employee and a Participating
Company, nor does it affect any Retirement Benefits. An Eligible Employee will not be entitled to benefits under the Plan if the Eligible Employee is entitled to other severance benefits or termination payments or pay in lieu of notice of
termination from a Participating Company including, but not limited to, amounts payable pursuant to any agreement, plan, policy or law. 
 *
* * * 
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Compensation & Benefits Committee has caused this Plan to be executed by its duly authorized
officer this 12th day of December, 2014, effective as of January 1, 2015. 
  

	
	 /s/ John Reid-Dodick

	John Reid-Dodick
	Chief People Officer

  
 9 

 Schedule A 

This Schedule A is applicable to Eligible Employees covered by Section 1.6 of the Plan. An Eligible Employee entitled to benefits
hereunder shall, subject to Section 2 of the Plan, receive the following: 
 1. Salary Continuation. 

(a) If the Eligible Employee incurs an Eligible Termination, he or she shall be eligible for Salary continuation, payable
pursuant to the Company’s normal payroll practices, through the Salary Continuation Period, as defined in this paragraph 1. 

(b) If the Eligible Employee incurs an Eligible Termination for any reason other than unsatisfactory performance, he or she
shall have a “Salary Continuation Period” based on the Eligible Employee’s Years of Service and Salary in accordance with the following table: 
  

					
	 	  	YEARS OF SERVICE
	 ANNUAL BASE SALARY
	  	LESS THAN 5	  	5 AND ABOVE
	 UNDER $100,000
	  	8 weeks	  	24 weeks
	 $100,000 TO $199,999
	  	24 weeks	  	40 weeks
	 $200,000 TO $299,999
	  	32 weeks	  	48 weeks
	 $300,000 AND ABOVE
	  	52 weeks

  
 10 

 (c) If the Eligible Employee incurs an Eligible Termination by reason of
unsatisfactory performance, he or she shall have a “Salary Continuation Period” based on the Eligible Employee’s Years of Service and Salary in accordance with the following table: 

 

					
	 	  	YEARS OF SERVICE
	 ANNUAL BASE SALARY
	  	LESS THAN 5	  	5 AND ABOVE
	 UNDER $100,000
	  	4 weeks	  	12 weeks
	 $100,000 TO $1199,999
	  	12 weeks	  	20 weeks
	 $200,000 TO $299,999
	  	16 weeks	  	24 weeks
	 $300,000 AND ABOVE
	  	26 weeks

 (d) An Eligible Employee’s period of employment with a Participating Company shall be
taken into account only once for purposes of calculating benefits to which the Eligible Employee may be entitled under the Plan. 
 2.
Welfare Benefit Continuation. Medical and dental insurance benefits shall be provided through the end of the month that includes the last day of the Salary Continuation Period at the levels in effect for the Eligible Employee immediately
prior to termination of employment but in no event shall such medical and dental insurance benefits be maintained longer than 18 months or at a level greater than as is in effect for active employees generally during the Salary Continuation Period,
provided that the Eligible Employee shall pay the employee portion of any required premium payments at the level in effect for employees generally of the Participating Company for such benefits. For purposes of determining an Eligible
Employee’s entitlement to continuation coverage as required by Title I, Subtitle B, Part 6 of ERISA, such employee’s 18-month or other period of coverage shall commence on the first of the month
following the last day of the Eligible Employee’s Salary Continuation Period. Life insurance, long-term disability and all other similar benefit coverage shall cease as of the date of termination of employment. 

3. Annual Bonus Payment. Subject to the provisions of this paragraph 3, a cash bonus for the calendar year of termination may be paid
in the event the Eligible Employee was employed by a Participating Company for at least six full months during such year and the Eligible Employee participated in The D&B Annual Bonus Plan (the “Annual Incentive Plan”) immediately
prior to termination of employment. In such event, the Eligible Employee shall receive a bonus in an amount equal to the actual bonus which would have been payable under the Annual Incentive Plan had such employee remained employed through the end
of the year of such termination multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of full months he or she was eligible for the Annual Incentive Plan while employed during the calendar year of termination and the denominator of which is
12. Such bonus shall be payable at the time otherwise payable under the Annual Incentive Plan had employment not terminated, but no later 

  
 11 

 
than the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Eligible Employee’s taxable year (or the Participating Company’s taxable year, if later) during which the termination of
employment occurred). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amount shall be paid under this paragraph 3 in the event the Eligible Employee incurred an Eligible Termination by reason of unsatisfactory performance. The foregoing provisions of this
paragraph 3 shall be appropriately modified in the case of any plan not on a calendar year basis. 
 4. Death. Upon the death of an
Eligible Employee during the Salary Continuation Period, the benefits described in paragraph 1 (salary continuation) and paragraph 3 (annual bonus payment) of this Schedule A shall continue to be paid to his or her estate, as applicable,
at the time or times otherwise provided for herein. 
 5. Equity. The Eligible Employee’s unvested rights in any stock options,
restricted stock or other equity in the Company or any of its affiliates shall be immediately forfeited upon the termination of an Eligible Employee’s employment. All vested rights in any stock options or other equity shall be governed by the
applicable plan documents and/or agreements governing such equity. 
 6. Other Benefits. The Eligible Employee shall be eligible for
such outplacement services during the Salary Continuation Period as shall be provided by the Participating Company. Unless expressly stated in this Plan to the contrary, all other benefits shall terminate upon the termination of the eligible
Employee’s employment with the Company. 
 7. No Further Benefits, Etc. Following an Eligible Employee’s termination of
employment, no further grants, awards, contributions, accruals or continued participation (except as otherwise provided for herein) shall be made to or on behalf of such employee under any plan or program maintained by a Participating Company
including, but not limited to, any annual incentive plan, any stock incentive plan or any qualified or nonqualified retirement, profit sharing, stock option, restricted stock, perquisite, or other benefit plan of the Company or any of its
affiliates. 

  
 12

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