Document:

Exhibit
10.20

 

HEARTLAND
PAYMENT SYSTEMS, INC.

 

2002
PEPShares PLAN

 

SECTION
1.  PURPOSE

 

The purposes of this 2002
PEPShares Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel for
positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive to
PEPShare Employees and HeartlandShare Employees providing services to the
Company and its Subsidiaries, and to promote the success of the Company’s
business and thereby enhance long-term shareholder value. Among other things,
the Plan allows PEPShare Employees and HeartlandShare Employees to defer the
receipt of income, to receive awards of Options based on the amount of
compensation deferred by such employee and to use the deferred compensation to
pay for the exercise of the granted Options. Options granted under the Plan
shall be “incentive stock options” (as defined under Section 422 of the Code)
(subject to the applicable provisions of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder) or “nonqualified stock options” (to the extent they do not
qualify as incentive stock options).

SECTION 2.  DEFINITIONS

As used herein, the
following definitions shall apply:

2.1           “Account”
means the separate bookkeeping account representing the separate and unsecured
general obligation of the Company established under this Plan for the benefit
of a Participant.

2.2           “Administrator”
means a committee of directors designated by the Board to administer the Plan.
If such a committee has been designated but its authority has been limited by
the Board, any responsibilities of the Administrator not assigned to such
committee shall be retained by the Board.

2.3           “Affiliate”
means (a) any entity that, directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, is controlled by the Company or controls the Company and (b)
any entity in which the Company, through a significant equity interest or
otherwise, possesses control, in each case as determined by the Administrator,
and may include a Parent or Subsidiary.

2.4           “Applicable
Laws” means any legal requirements applicable to the Plan, including those
pursuant to U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws,
the Code and the rules of any applicable Stock Exchange.

2.5           “Award”
means the grant of an Option to an Employee.

2.6           “Award
Agreement” means a written stock option agreement between the Company and a
Participant relating to an Award under the Plan.

2.7           “Board”
means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2.8           “Cause”
means misconduct with respect to, or that is harmful to, the Company or any of
its Affiliates including, but not limited to, (a) the commission of a felony or
other crime or offense that materially affects the Company (whether or not the
offense is indictable); (b) any statement or act which violates the Company’s
personnel policies then in effect or which, in the reasonable judgment of the
Administrator, might expose the Company to any claim or legal action (including
any statement or act relating to the disability, race, religion, color,
national origin, sexual preference, sex or age of any individual); (c) the
performance of any act or failure to perform any act (other than in good faith)
to the detriment of the business of the Company; (d) any act constituting
fraud or dishonesty; (e) the issuance by a court or regulatory body against an
Employee of any final consent decree, cease-and-desist or similar order
relating to any violation or alleged violation of any federal or state law
governing the business of the Company; or (f) performing any act or failing to
perform any act, the performance or non-performance of which is stated in any
agreement with the Company to be cause for termination.

2.9           “Change
in Control” shall mean any of the following:

(a)           the
acquisition of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the
combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities by any
person or group of persons, except a Permitted Shareholder (as defined below),
acting in concert. A “Permitted Shareholder” means a holder, as of the date of
adoption of this Plan, of voting capital stock of the Company;

(b)           a
consolidation or merger of the Company in which the Company is not the
continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to which shares of the
Company’s outstanding capital stock are converted into cash, securities or
other property, other than a consolidation or merger of the Company in which
the Company’s shareholders immediately prior to the consolidation or merger
have the same proportionate ownership of voting capital stock of the surviving
corporation immediately after the consolidation or merger;

(c)           the
sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Company; or

(d)           in
the event that the shares of voting capital stock of the Company are traded on
an established securities market: a public announcement that any person, other
than a Permitted Shareholder has acquired or has the right to acquire
beneficial ownership of securities of the Company representing more than 30% of
the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities, and for
this purpose the terms “person “and “beneficial ownership” shall have the
meanings provided in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act or related rules
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission; or the commencement of
or public announcement of an intention to make a tender offer or exchange offer
for securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the combined voting
power of the Company’s then outstanding securities.

2.10         “Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

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2.11         “Common
Stock” means the common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company.

2.12         “Company”
means Heartland Payment Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

2.13         “Compensation”
means that portion of an Employee’s compensation which is paid as regular base
wages or commission based wages while he or she is an Employee, disregarding
any adjustment occasioned by contributions to a 401(k) plan (or such other
similar plans) or any Elective Deferral made under this Plan and disregarding
any severance pay.

2.14         “Continuous
Status as an Employee” means the absence of any interruption or termination
of service as an Employee. Continuous Status as an Employee shall not be
considered interrupted in the case of: (a) sick leave, military leave or any
other leave of absence approved by the Administrator, provided that such leave
is for a period of not more than ninety (90) days (or longer if re-employment
upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute) unless
provided otherwise pursuant to Company policy adopted from time to time; or (b)
transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its
Affiliates or their respective successors.

2.15         “Disability”
means permanent and total disability as defined in Code section 22(e)(3).

2.16         “Election
Form” means the participation election form as approved and prescribed by
the Administrator.

2.17         “Elective
Deferral” means the portion of a Participant’s Compensation which a Participant
irrevocably elects to contribute to this Plan by a written Election Form. An
Elective Deferral may not exceed $2,500 in any calendar month or be less than
(a) $500 in any calendar month in the case of a PEPShare Employee or (b) $200
in any calendar month in the case of a HeartlandShare Employee. The amount of
such Elective Deferral shall be denominated in increments of $100. In the event
that an Employee receives Compensation from the Company other than once per
calendar month, such Employee’s Elective Deferral for any such month shall be
deducted and contributed to the Plan on pro rata basis based on the number of
times such Employee is paid during such month.

2.18         “Employee”
means any person, except officers and directors, employed by the Company or any
Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, with the status of employment determined
based upon such minimum number of hours, periods worked or commission sales
base as shall be determined by the Administrator in its discretion, subject to
any requirements of the Code.

2.19         “Final
Vesting Date” means December 31, 2005.

2.20         “Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

2.21         “Fair
Market Value” means, as of any date, the fair market value of Common Stock
determined as follows:

 

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(a)           If
the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national
market system, including without limitation the National Market of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System (“Nasdaq”),
its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the
closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such system or exchange,
or, if there is more than one such system or exchange, the system or exchange
with the greatest volume of trading in Common Stock for the last market trading
day prior to the time of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal
or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

(b)           If
the Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq (but not on the National Market
thereof) or regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling
prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean between the
high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock for the last market trading
day prior to the time of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal
or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

(c)           In
the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market
Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator in
accordance with objective standards consistently applied thereby.

2.22         “HeartlandShare
Employees” means those Employees (a) whose compensation consists of a
pre-determined fixed salary payable on a regular basis, or (b) who would
qualify as a PEPShare Employee but for the requirement set forth in Section
2.32(c) below.

2.23         “HeartlandShare
Option” means an Incentive Stock Option granted to a HeartlandShare
Employee pursuant to Section 6.1(a) of this Plan.

2.24         “Incentive
Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock
option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

2.25         “IPO
Date” means the date on which the Company has an initial public offering of
Shares pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities
Act, other than pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or
any similar or successor form.

2.26         “Nonqualified
Stock Option” means an Option that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock
Option.

2.27         “Notice
of Eligibility” means a notice issued by the Administrator informing an
Employee that he or she is eligible to participate in this Plan.

2.28         “Option”
means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

2.29         “Optionee”
means an Employee who receives an Option.

2.30         “Parent”
means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in
Section 424(e) of the Code, or any successor provision.

 

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2.31         “Participant”
means an Employee granted an Award under the Plan.

2.32         “PEPShare
Employees” means those at -will Employees (a) whose salary consists of
residual commissions on their merchant portfolio equity, (b) who have entered
into an agreement with the Company with respect thereto, and (c) who have been
deemed by the Company to be vested in such residuals.

2.33         “PEPShare
Option” means an Incentive Stock Option granted to a PEPShare Employee
pursuant to Section 6.1(a) of this Plan.

2.34         “Plan”
means this 2002 PEPShares Plan.

2.35         “Plan
Year” means January 1st through December 31st of any year in
which this Plan is in effect.

2.36         “Portfolio
Purchase Option” means an Incentive Stock Option issued to a PEPShare
Employee pursuant to Section 6.1(b) of this Plan.

2.37         “Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

2.38         “Share”
means a share of the Common Stock, as may be adjusted as permitted under the
Plan.

2.39         “Stock
Exchange” means any stock exchange or consolidated stock price reporting
system on which prices for the Common Stock are quoted at any given time.

2.40         “Subsidiary”
means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined
in Section 424(f) of the Code, or any successor provision.

SECTION
3.  ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

3.1           Powers
of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any
required approval of any relevant authority, the Administrator shall have the
broadest possible power to exercise its discretion to interpret the terms of
this Plan and to resolve any question regarding any person’s rights under the
Plan. Any such interpretation shall be final and binding upon a Participant,
his or her spouse and heirs. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the Administrator shall have the right, in its sole discretion:

(a)           to
select the Employees to whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder;

(b)           to
determine whether and to what extent Awards are granted hereunder;

(c)           to
determine the number of Shares to be covered by each such Award granted
hereunder and the type of each such Award;

(d)           to
approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;

 

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(e)           to
construe and interpret the terms of the Plan, Awards and Award Agreements
granted under the Plan;

(f)            to
determine vesting schedules and any other terms and conditions of Awards, not
inconsistent with this Plan;

(g)           to
determine whether and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in
Common Stock or other consideration instead of cash;

(h)           to
remove any Participant from participation in the Plan in accordance with the
terms of the Plan; and

(i)            to
make any other determination and take any other action that the Administrator
deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

SECTION
4.  PARTICIPATION

4.1           Participation
by Selection.  Participation in this
Plan shall be limited to those PEPShare Employees and HeartlandShare Employees
of the Company selected from time to time by the Administrator for
participation.

4.2           Election
to Participate Following Selection. 
Except as otherwise set forth by the Administrator in a Notice of
Eligibility, an Employee shall have a period of not less than 10 nor more than
30 days following delivery by the Administrator of a Notice of Eligibility to
complete an Election Form and elect to participate in this Plan. Except as may
be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, an Employee selected
for participation in this Plan shall become a Participant as of the first day
of the calendar month following the month in which the Administrator receives
and approves such Employee’s Election Form.

4.3           Yearly
Selection; Presumption of Eligibility. The Administrator shall select
Employees for participation in this Plan on a Plan Year by Plan Year basis.
Selection for one Plan Year does not entitle an Employee to be selected the
next Plan Year; however, an Employee who has been selected by the
Administrator shall be presumed to be selected for subsequent Plan Years unless
and until the Administrator evidences a contrary intention.

SECTION
5.  CREDITS TO ACCOUNTS

5.1           Election
to Defer.

(a)           Unless
otherwise set forth in a Notice of Eligibility or Award Agreement, a
Participant’s initial Elective Deferral shall, in accordance with Section 4.2
above, become effective as of the first day of the calendar month following the
month in which such Employee becomes a Participant.

(b)           An
Elective Deferral made by a Participant shall remain in effect until the
earlier of (i) any Plan Year for which the Participant is not selected for
participation in this Plan or (ii) the Participant withdraws from the Plan in
accordance with Section 10.1 hereof.

 

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(c)           Each
Elective Deferral shall:

(i)            be irrevocable for the Plan Year with respect to which it
is made once it has been accepted by the Administrator; provided, however, that a
Participant may decrease the amount of his or her Elective Deferral once within
90 days of such Participant’s initial submission of an Election Form. In the
event a Participant chooses to make such a reduction, the Participant’s future
Elective Deferral amount shall be adjusted accordingly, but the Participant
shall not be entitled to a refund of any previously retained Elective Deferrals
(except in accordance with the terms of this Plan);

(ii)           designate the amount of the Participant’s Compensation
which is earned during any month in that Plan Year (without regard to whether
it would be paid during that month or Plan Year or a subsequent month or Plan
Year) which shall not be paid to the Participant but instead shall be credited
to an Account established by the Administrator and thereafter paid in
accordance with the terms of this Plan. The amount of compensation to be
deferred shall be designated as a dollar amount. Such amount shall not be
greater than $2,500 per month or less than (A) $500 per month in the case of a
PEPShare Employee or (B) $200 per month in the case of a HeartlandShare
Employee, and shall be denominated in increments of $100; and

(iii)          be in writing upon such Election Form(s) as the
Administrator shall establish.

5.2           Accounts.
The Administrator shall establish and maintain an Account for each Participant,
and such other Accounts as may be necessary or appropriate to fully record a
Participant’s interest under the Plan. The Administrator shall credit to the
Account of each Participant the amount, if any, of Compensation the Participant
elected to defer. Such amount shall be credited as nearly as practicable as of
the time or times when the compensation would have been paid to the Participant
but for the election to defer. As of the last business day of each calendar
quarter, the Administrator shall provide each Participant with a statement of
his or her Account reflecting the income, gains and losses (realized or
unrealized), amounts of deferrals, and distributions of such Account since the
prior statement.

5.3           Interest.
Each Participant’s Account shall be credited with interest at such rate as may
be established by the Administrator from time to time, if any.

SECTION
6.  OPTION PARTICIPATION

6.1           Issuance
of Options.

(a)           Issuance
of PEPShare Options/HeartlandShare Options. On each date on which a
Participant enrolled in this Plan has Compensation withheld due to an Elective
Deferral under this Plan and for so long as this Plan is in effect, such
Participant shall (i) if a PEPShare Employee, receive a PEP Share Option, and
(ii) if a HeartlandShare Employee, receive a HeartlandShare Option, to purchase
Shares. The number of Shares for which each such PEPShare Option or
HeartlandShare Option may be exercised shall

 

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be equal to the quotient
of (x) the amount of a Participant’s monthly Elective Deferral, divided by (y)
the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Common Stock on the first day of such
calendar month. For purposes of the foregoing calculation, if on the date of
such grant a Participant owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or
Subsidiary, the “Fair Market Value” of the Company’s Common Stock shall be
adjusted in accordance with Section 6.4.

(b)           Portfolio
Purchase Options. In addition to any other Options issuable to a
Participant hereunder, each PEPShare Employee that becomes a Participant shall,
upon being approved to participate in this Plan by the Administrator, receive a
Portfolio Purchase Option to purchase Shares. The number of Shares for which
each such Portfolio Purchase Option may be exercised shall be equal to the
quotient of (x) thirty times the amount of a Participant’s initial monthly
Elective Deferral, divided by (y) the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Common
Stock at the time such Portfolio Purchase Option is granted. For purposes of
the foregoing calculation, if on the date of such grant a Participant owns more
than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the “Fair Market Value” of
the Company’s Common Stock shall be adjusted in accordance with Section 6.4. If
a Participant decreases his or her initial monthly Elective Deferral amount,
either in accordance with Section 5.1(c)(i), the Administrator shall decrease
the number of Portfolio Purchase Options granted to such Participant in its
sole discretion. If the number of Portfolio Purchase Options is decreased
pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the appropriate number of
vested and unvested Portfolio Purchase Options reflecting such decrease shall
be deemed forfeited by the Participant and shall be immediately canceled.

6.2           Type
of Options. Participants shall be granted Incentive Stock Options; provided, that
to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common
Stock with respect to which such Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for
the first time by any Optionee during any calendar year (under all plans of the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds the limit set forth in Code
Section 422(d) (currently $100,000), such excess Options shall be treated as
Nonqualified Stock Options. For purposes of this requirement, Incentive Stock
Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted,
and the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to an Incentive
Stock Option shall be determined as of the date of the grant of such Option.

6.3           Term
of Option. The term of each Option shall expire on December 31, 2006.

6.4           Option
Exercise Price. The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued
pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be no less than one hundred percent
(100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant, it being
understood that the Fair Market Value on the date of adoption of this Plan is
deemed to be $10 per Share; provided, that in the case of an Incentive
Stock Option that is granted to a Participant who, at the time of the grant of
such Incentive Stock Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent
(10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company
or any Parent or Subsidiary, the 

 

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per Share exercise price shall be no less than one
hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of
grant.

6.5           Stock
Subject to the Plan.  Subject to the
provisions for adjustment under the terms of this Plan, the maximum aggregate
number of Shares that may be made subject to Awards under the Plan is 1,200,000
shares (the “Maximum Shares”) of Common Stock per Plan Year, less any
other grants of options or restricted stock pursuant to any other stock
incentive plan of the Company during the Plan Year; provided, however, that the
Maximum Shares shall be no more than 500,000 shares of Common Stock (excluding
grants of options or restricted stock other than pursuant to the Plan) for the
Plan Year ending December 31, 2002, and may be similarly limited in subsequent
Plan Years at the discretion of the Administrator. If the aggregate number of
Shares purchasable upon exercise of Options granted in any particular Plan Year
shall exceed the Maximum Shares, the Administrator shall reduce each
Participant’s PEPShare Options pro rata based on the number of Options to be
granted under Section 6.1(a) and any Deferred Compensation relating to the
reduced amount of Options shall be distributed to the applicable Participant.
The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock. If an
Award should expire or become unexercisable for any reason without having been
exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares that were subject thereto shall,
unless the Plan shall have been terminated, become available for future grant
under the Plan. In addition, any Shares which are retained by the Company upon
exercise of an Award in order to satisfy the exercise price for such Award or
any withholding taxes due with respect to such exercise shall be treated for
purposes of this limitation as not issued and shall continue to be available
under the Plan. Shares repurchased by the Company pursuant to any repurchase
right which the Company may have shall not be available for future grant under
the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the number of Shares available for
granting Incentive Stock Options under the Plan shall not exceed 1,200,000
subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan and subject to the provisions of
Section 422 or 424 of the Code or any successor provision.

SECTION
7.  VESTING; MATURITY

7.1           Accounts.

(a)           Each
Account shall be fully (100%) vested and nonforfeitable at all times unless stated
otherwise in an Award.

(b)           Each
Account shall mature and shall become payable in accordance with the terms of
this Plan upon the earliest to occur of any of the following events:

(i)            the Participant’s termination of employment as provided
in accordance with Sections 9.1, 9.2 or 9.3 below;

(ii) the Participant’s
exercise of PEPShare Options or HeartlandShare Options, as the case may be, on
or after the earlier of the Final Vesting Date or the IPO Date; or

(iii)          the termination of this Plan.

7.2           Options.

 

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(a)           Vesting
Schedule. Except as authorized by the Administrator and as permitted under
the terms of this Plan, no Option will be exercisable until it has vested.
Subject to Section 9 below and modifications made to the vesting schedule by
the Administrator at the time of grant of the Option, all Options issued
pursuant to this Plan to a Participant, so long as such Participant has had
Continuous Status as an Employee up to an including such date, shall vest in
full as follows:

(i)            twenty percent (20%) of the total number of Options
granted in the current Plan Year or any prior Plan Year shall vest on December
31st of each Plan Year, and

(ii)           all unvested Options shall become vested on the Final
Vesting Date.

(b)           Acceleration
of Vesting.

(i)            The vesting of one or more outstanding Options may be
accelerated by the Administrator at such times and in such amounts as it
determines in its sole discretion, including upon the achievement of
performance objectives with respect to the Company or a Subsidiary, and/or
Optionee.

(ii)           In the case of a Participant who is also a PEPShare
Employee, all of such Participant’s previously granted Options shall vest on
the IPO Date if he or she has performed at 105% or more of his or her personal
quota (as calculated on or before the vesting date in accordance with the Award
Agreement entered into by such Participant) for the period from January 1,
2002, to the IPO Date. With respect to any PEPShare Options that do not vest as
a result of a Participant’s failure to meet such specified performance quota,
such Options may be accelerated after the IPO Date if such Participant applies
to the Administrator and demonstrates to the Administrator’s satisfaction that
he or she has performed at 105% or more of his or her personal quota for the
period from January 1, 2002, to a date on or around the date of such
application to the Administrator.

(iii)          In the case of a Participant who is also a HeartlandShare
Employee, all of such Participant’s previously granted Options shall vest on
the IPO Date.

(iv)          In addition to the foregoing, the vesting of Options may
also be accelerated in connection with certain corporate transactions, as more
fully set forth in Sections 11.2 and 11.3 below. As a result of such
acceleration, certain of such Participant’s Options may be treated as
Nonqualified Stock Options in accordance with Section 6.2.

SECTION
8.  PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISING OPTIONS

8.1           Procedure
for Exercise.  An Option shall be
deemed to be exercised when written notice of such exercise has been given to
the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award Agreement by the person
entitled to exercise the Option, and the Company has received 

 

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full payment for the Shares with respect to which the
Option is exercised. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
Full payment may, as authorized by the Administrator, consist of any
consideration and method of payment as described in Section 8.3 below.

8.2           Consideration.
The consideration to be paid for the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon
exercise of an Option shall be equal to the product of (x) the number of Shares
for which such Option is being exercised, times (y) the stated exercise price
for such Shares in the terms of the Option. The method of payment for the
exercise of an Option shall be as follows:

(a)           PEPShare
Options/HeartlandShare Options.

(i)            In the case of PEPShare Options or HeartlandShare Options
exercised prior to the earlier of the Final Vesting Date or the IPO Date,
payment shall, at the discretion of the Administrator, consist of any form of
consideration set forth in Section 8.3 below.

(ii)           In the case of PEPShare Options or HeartlandShare Options
exercised on or after the earlier of the Final Vesting Date or the IPO Date,
payment shall consist of a debit to the Participant’s Account for the full
amount of the exercise price of such Options. In the event that the amount in a
Participant’s Account shall be insufficient to pay such consideration due to
any withholding taxes as described in Section 12.1 hereof or for any other
reason, the Administrator shall elect such other form of consideration as it
deems appropriate pursuant to Section 8.3 below. Any balance in a Participant’s
Account following his or her exercise of all of his or her PEPShare Options or
HeartlandShare Options after the Final Vesting Date shall be distributed to the
Participant in a single lump sum. For tax purposes, the use of funds in a
Participant’s Account to pay for the exercise of such Options in accordance
with this Section 8.2 (a) shall be deemed to be taxable income to the
Participant.

(b)           Portfolio
Purchase Options. In the case of Portfolio Purchase Options, payment shall
consist entirely of a purchase by the Company of a portion of such
Participant’s merchant portfolio equity in accordance with the terms of the
Award Agreement entered into by such Participant. For tax purposes, the
proceeds of such purchase shall be treated as taxable income to the
Participant.

8.3           Forms
of Consideration. Notwithstanding the provisions set forth above with
respect to form of consideration, the Administrator may, in its sole
discretion, choose to accept a different method of payment, including, but not
limited to, (a) cash or check, (b) cancellation of indebtedness of the Company
to an Optionee, (c) a promissory note for not more than 80% of the amount due
to the Company, with such other 20% being paid to the Company at the time of
exercise (subject to approval by the Company, and provided that such note is
for a term of not greater than five years, is a full recourse loan and provides
for a reasonable rate of interest and for collateral to be given with a value
at least equal to the promissory note), (d) surrender of other Shares that (i)
have been owned by Optionee for more than six months on the date of surrender
or such other period as may be required to avoid a charge to the Company’s
earnings, and (ii) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to
the aggregate exercise price

 

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of Shares to be purchased by Optionee as to which such
Option shall be exercised, (e) in the case of Participants who are PEPShare
Employees, purchase by the Company of a portion of such Participant’s merchant
portfolio equity, (f) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment, or
(g) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares
to the extent permitted under Applicable Laws. In making its determination as
to the type of consideration to accept, the Administrator shall consider if
acceptance of such consideration may be reasonably expected to benefit the
Company or result in the recognition of compensation expense (or additional
compensation expense) for financial reporting purposes.

8.4           Buyout
Provisions. The Company may at any time offer to buy out for a payment in
cash or Shares, an Option previously granted, based on such terms and
conditions as the Administrator shall establish and communicate to an Optionee
at the time that such offer is made. In the event thereof, Options purchased by
the Company shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.

SECTION
9.  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

9.1           Termination
of Employment. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award
Agreement, in the event of termination of a Participant’s Continuous Status as
an Employee, (a) such Participant’s unexercised Options shall terminate, and
(b) the Administrator shall make a single lump sum payment to the Participant
in an amount equal to such Participant’s Account balance.

9.2           Disability
or Death of Participant. Notwithstanding Section 9.1 above, in the event of
termination of a Participant’s Continuous Status as an Employee as a result of
his or her Disability or death, the Participant or, in the case of termination
as a result of a Participant’s death, the Participant’s estate or the person
who acquired the right to exercise such Participant’s Options by bequest or
inheritance (the “Participant’s Estate”) may exercise Options as follows:

(a)           PEPShare
Options/HeartlandShare Options: The Participant or the Participant’s
Estate, as the case may be, may exercise his or her PEPShare Options or
HeartlandShare Options within twelve (12) months of the date of termination
(but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of such Option as
set forth in the Award Agreement or Section 6.3 hereof), but only to the extent
that such Participant would have been entitled to exercise such PEPShare
Options or HeartlandShare Options pursuant to the terms of this Plan on or
prior to the date of such termination. To the extent that such Options would
not have been exercisable prior to such date, or if the Participant or the
Participant’s Estate, as the case may be, does not exercise such Options to the
extent so entitled within the time specified herein, (a) such Options shall
terminate, and (b) the Administrator shall make a single lump sum payment to
the Participant or the Participant’s Estate, as the case may be, in an amount
equal to such Participant’s Account balance.

(b)           Portfolio
Purchase Options: All Portfolio Purchase Options shall terminate upon a
Participant’s Disability or death unless such Options vested prior to the date
of such termination in accordance with the terms of this Plan. The Participant
or the Participant’s Estate, as the case may be, may exercise vested Portfolio
Purchase Options

 

12

 

 

within twelve (12) months
(or, with respect to a Nonqualified Stock Option, such other longer period of
time, if any, as is determined by the Administrator) after the date of such
termination (but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of such
Option as set forth in the Award Agreement or Section 6.3 hereof).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent such Participant’s portfolio
equity has already been purchased pursuant to such Participant’s relationship
manager agreement with the Company, all such vested Portfolio Purchase Options
shall terminate.

9.3           Termination
for Cause. Notwithstanding the above, and unless otherwise set forth in the
Award Agreement, if Participant’s Continuous Status as an Employee is
terminated for Cause, (a) such Participant’s unexercised Options shall
automatically terminate upon first notification to Participant of such
termination, unless the Administrator determines otherwise, and (b) the
Administrator shall make a single lump sum payment to the Participant in an
amount equal to such Participant’s Account balance. If a Participant’s
employment or services are suspended pending an investigation of whether
Participant shall be terminated for Cause, all of Participant’s rights under
this Plan likewise shall be suspended during the period of investigation.

SECTION
10.  WITHDRAWALS

10.1         Early
Withdrawal on Demand. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, a
Participant may, upon written request to the Administrator, elect to receive a
distribution of the entire amount in such Participant’s Account subject to the
penalties described below:

(a)           the
lump sum will be equal to the aggregate amount of Elective Deferrals deposited
in the Participant’s Account, less 10% of the value thereof, less any
interest and any other amounts debited to such Account;

(b)           the
remaining balance of the Account shall be forfeited by the Participant;

(c)           all
Options granted to such Participant will become null and void; and

(d)           the
Participant will not be eligible to make any Elective Deferrals for the
remainder of the current Plan Year or the following Plan Year, and subsequently
only if the Employee is otherwise determined by the Administrator to be
eligible to participate under the terms of the Plan.

SECTION
11.  ADJUSTMENTS

11.1         Changes
in Capitalization.  Subject to any
required action by the shareholders of the Company, the number of Shares
covered by each outstanding Option, and the number of Shares that have been
authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been
granted or that have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration
of an Award, as well as the price per Share covered by each such outstanding
Award, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the
number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse
stock split, stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or reclassification
of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued
shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the
Company; provided,

 

13

 

 however, that, for purposes of Section 11.4 below,
conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to
have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be
made by the Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final,
binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the
Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares
of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall
be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject
to an Award.

11.2         Dissolution
or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of
the Company, the Administrator shall notify Participants at least fifteen (15)
days prior to such proposed action. Immediately prior to the consummation of
such proposed action, (a) to the extent not previously exercised, Awards will
terminate, and (b) the Administrator shall make a single lump sum payment to
the Participant in an amount equal to such Participant’s Account balance.

11.3         Change
in Control Transactions. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the
Award Agreement, in the event of any Change in Control each PEPShare Option
that is then outstanding shall, immediately prior to the specified effective
date for the Change in Control, become 100% vested if such Option would have
vested had the Final Vesting Date been immediately prior to such Change of Control.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, such vesting shall not so accelerate if and to
the extent that in connection with such Change in Control, an Option is either
continued in effect, assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof)
or replaced with a comparable award for the purchase of shares of the capital
stock of the successor corporation (or its parent corporation). If the
Administrator determines that such an assumption or replacement will be made,
the Administrator shall give the Participants notice of such determination, and
of the provisions of such assumption or replacement, and any adjustments made
(x) to the number and kind of shares subject to the outstanding Awards (or to
the options in substitution therefore), (y) to the exercise prices, and/or (z)
to the terms and conditions of the stock options. Any such determination shall
be made in the sole discretion of the Administrator and shall be final,
conclusive and binding on all Participants. To the extent Awards are not
continued or assumed by the successor corporation or an affiliate thereof, all
unexercised Awards shall terminate and cease to remain outstanding immediately
following the consummation of the Change in Control.

11.4         Certain
Distributions. In the event of any distribution to the Company’s
shareholders of securities of any other entity or other assets (other than
dividends payable in cash or stock of the Company) without receipt of
consideration by the Company, the Administrator may, in its discretion,
appropriately adjust the price per share of Common Stock covered by each
outstanding Option to reflect the effect of such distribution.

SECTION
12.  SATISFACTION OF WITHHOLDING TAX OBLIGATIONS

12.1         Withholding
Tax. At the discretion of the Administrator, Participants may satisfy
withholding obligations as provided in this paragraph. When a Participant
incurs tax liability in connection with an Award, which tax liability is
subject to tax withholding under applicable tax laws (including, but not
limited to, income and payroll withholding taxes), and Participant is obligated
to pay the Company an amount required to be withheld under applicable tax laws,

 

14

 

 

Participant may satisfy the tax withholding obligation
by one or some combination of the following methods: (a) by cash payment, (b)
out of Participant’s current compensation, (c) if permitted by the
Administrator, in its discretion, by surrendering to the Company Shares that
(i) have been owned by Participant for more than six (6) months on the date of
surrender or such other period as may be required to avoid a charge to the
Company’s earnings, and (ii) have a fair market value on the date of surrender
equal to (or less than, if other consideration is paid to the Company to satisfy
the withholding obligation) Participant’s marginal tax rate times the ordinary
income recognized, plus an amount equal to the Participant’s share of any
applicable payroll withholding taxes, (d) if permitted by the Administrator, in
its discretion, by electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be
issued upon exercise of the Award, if any, that number of Shares having a Fair
Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld, (e) in the case of
Participants who are PEPShare Employees, if permitted by the Administrator, in
its discretion, by electing to have the Company purchase from the Participant a
portion of a Participant’s merchant portfolio equity in an amount necessary to
pay for such taxes, or (f) if permitted by the Administrator, in its
discretion, by a full recourse loan at a reasonable rate of interest made by
the Company to the Participant in an amount necessary to pay for such taxes,
which loan shall be evidenced by a promissory note containing such provisions
as the Administrator shall require. For this purpose, the Fair Market Value of
the Shares to be withheld shall be determined on the date that the amount of
tax to be withheld is to be determined (the “Tax Date”). In making its determination
as to the type of consideration to accept, the Administrator shall consider if
acceptance of such consideration may be reasonably expected to benefit the
Company or result in the recognition of compensation expense (or additional
compensation expense) for financial reporting purposes.

12.2         Form
of Election. All elections by a Participant to have Shares withheld to
satisfy tax withholding obligations shall be made in writing in a form
acceptable to the Administrator and shall be subject to the following
additional restrictions:

(a)           the
election must be made on or prior to the applicable Tax Date;

(b)           once
made, the election shall be irrevocable as to the particular Shares of the
Award as to which the election is made; and

(c)           all
elections shall be subject to the consent or disapproval of the Administrator.

12.3         Deferral
of Tax Date. In the event the election to have Shares withheld is made by a
Participant and the Tax Date is deferred under Section 83 of the Code because
no election is filed under Section 83(b) of the Code, Participant shall receive
the full number of Shares with respect to which the Award is exercised but such
Participant shall be unconditionally obligated to tender back to the Company
the proper number of Shares on the Tax Date.

SECTION
13.  MISCELLANEOUS

13.1 Transferability of Options. Except as
otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, Options granted under
this Plan may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any
manner (whether by operation of law or otherwise) other than by will, by

 

15

 

 

applicable laws of descent and distribution or (except
in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) pursuant to a qualified domestic
relations order, and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar
process, and may be exercised or purchased during the lifetime of Optionee only
by Optionee. Upon any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or
otherwise dispose of any Option or of any right or privilege conferred by this
Plan contrary to the provisions hereof, or upon the sale, levy or any
attachment or similar process upon the rights and privileges conferred by this
Plan, such Option shall thereupon terminate and become null and void.

13.2         Date
of Grant. The date of grant of an Award shall, for all purposes, be the
date on which the Administrator (or an officer to whom authority to grant
options has been delegated by the Administrator) makes the determination
granting such Award, or such later date as is determined by the Administrator
or officer. Notice of the determination shall be given to each Employee to whom
an Award is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

13.3         Conditions
Upon Issuance Of Shares. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the
exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance and
delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant
provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the applicable
state securities or “blue sky” laws and the requirements of any Stock Exchange.
As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require the person
exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any such
exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without
any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of
counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by law.

13.4         Rights
as a Shareholder. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry
on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the
Company) of the stock certificate evidencing shares of Common Stock, no right
to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist
with respect to the optioned Common Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the
Option. The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock certificate
promptly upon exercise of the Option. No adjustment will be made for a dividend
or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock
certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 11 of the Plan. Exercise
of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares
that thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale
under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

13.5         Source
of Payment. Neither the Company nor any of its officers nor any member of
the Committee in any way secures or guarantees the payment of any benefit or
amount which may become due and payable hereunder to any Participant or to any
creditor of a Participant. Each Participant (or other person) entitled at any
time to payment from his or her Account pursuant to the terms of this Plan
shall look solely to the assets of the Company for such payments. A Participant
shall be a general unsecured creditor with respect to deferred compensation
deposited in his or her Account. In each case where Accounts shall have been
paid to a former Participant or to the person or any one of a group of persons
entitled jointly to the receipt thereof and which purports to cover in full the
benefit hereunder, such former Participant, or such person or persons, as the
case may be, shall have no further right or interest in the other assets of the
Company. Neither the Company nor any of its officers nor any member of the 

 

 

16

 

Committee shall be under any liability or responsibility
for failure to effect any of the objectives or purposes of this Plan by reason
of the insolvency of the Company.

13.6         Amendment
and Termination.  The Board may at
any time amend, alter, suspend or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment,
alteration, suspension or discontinuation shall be made that would impair the
rights of any Participant under any Award previously granted, unless mutually
agreed otherwise, which agreement must be in writing and signed by Participant
and the Company. In addition, to the extent necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3
or with Section 422 of the Code (or any other applicable law or regulation,
including the requirements of any Stock Exchange), the Company shall obtain
shareholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a
degree as required.

13.7         Reservation
of Shares. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times
reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to
satisfy the requirements of the Plan. The inability of the Company to obtain
authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is
deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale
of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect
of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite
authority shall not have been obtained.

13.8         Information
to Optionees. As soon as administratively feasible after making any Award
under the Plan (if not previously provided), the Company shall provide to the
Participant a copy of the Plan, a copy of any relevant agreement(s) and such
other information as may be required by Applicable Laws.

13.9         Employment
Relationship. The Plan shall not confer upon any Participant any right with
respect to continuation of Participant’s employment with the Company, nor shall
it interfere in any way with such Participant’s right or the Company’s right to
terminate the Participant’s employment at any time, with or without cause.

13.10       Term
of Plan.  The Plan shall become
effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board of Directors
or its approval by the shareholders of the Company. It shall continue in effect
for a term of five (5) years unless sooner terminated as permitted herein.

13.11       Shareholder
Approval. Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to approval by the
shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date
the Plan is adopted. Such shareholder approval shall be obtained in the degree
and manner required under applicable state and federal law and the rules of any
Stock Exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed and in accordance with the
Company’s bylaws. All Options issued under the Plan shall become void in the
event such approval is not obtained in a timely manner.

 

This Plan was adopted by the Board
on April 30, 2002.

 

17Exhibit 10.21

 

HEARTLAND PAYMENT SYSTEMS, INC.

 

AMENDMENT

TO

2002 PEPSHARES PLAN

 

THIS AMENDMENT (the “Amendment”) to the Heartland Payment
Systems, Inc. 2002 PEPShares Plan (the “Plan”) is approved and entered
into by the Board of Heartland Payment Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the “Company”), as of October    , 2003.  Capitalized terms used herein and not
defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan.

 

WHEREAS, the Administrator has selected Employees eligible to
participate in the Plan for the remainder of this Plan Year and the following
Plan Year;

 

WHEREAS, in connection therewith, the Board has determined that it is
in the best interests of the Company to amend the Plan as set forth herein and
that such amendments do not impair the rights of any Participant under any
Award previously granted; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 13.6 of the Plan, the Board may at
any time amend the Plan so long as such amendment does not impair the rights of
any Participant under any Award previously granted.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Board hereby amends the Plan as follows:

 

1.                                       Section 2.17
of the Plan is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

“Section 2.17                          “Elective Deferral”
means the portion of a Participant’s Compensation which a Participant
irrevocably elects to contribute to this Plan by a written Election Form.  The Administrator shall, from time to time,
determine the maximum amount and minimum amount of such Elective Deferral for any
calendar month.  The amount of such Elective
Deferral shall be denominated in such increments as the Administrator shall
determine from time to time.”

 

2.                                       Section 2.19
of the Plan is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

“Section 2.19                          “Final Vesting Date”
means December 31, 2005, for Participants who enroll in the Plan during
the 2002 Plan Year for participation in the Plan during 2002 and 2003.  Thereafter, the “Final Vesting Date” shall
be such date as the Administrator shall determine at the time of enrollment.”

 

 

3.                                       Section 5.1(c)(ii)
of the Plan is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

“(ii)                            designate
the amount of the Participant’s Compensation which is earned during any month
in that Plan year (without regard to whether it would be paid during that month
or Plan Year or a subsequent month or Plan Year) which shall not be paid to the
Participant but instead shall be credited to an Account established by the
Administrator and thereafter paid in accordance with the terms of this Plan.  The amount of compensation to be deferred
shall be designated as a dollar amount and be subject to the conditions set
forth in Section 2.17.”

 

4.                                       Section 6.3
of the Plan is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

“6.3                           Term
of Option.       The term of each Option
shall expire on December 31, 2006, for Options issued to Participants who
enroll in the Plan during the 2002 Plan Year for participation in the Plan
during 2002 and 2003.  Thereafter, the
term of each Option shall expire on such date as the Administrator shall
determine at the time of enrollment.”

 

5.                                       Section 7.2(b)(ii)
of the Plan is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

“(ii)                            In
the case of a Participant who is also a Residual Commission Sales Employee, all
of such Participant’s previously granted Options shall vest on the IPO date if
he or she has achieved 100% or more of his or her minimum margin requirement
(as calculated on or before the vesting date in accordance with the Award
Agreement entered into by such Participant) for the period from the first day
of the calendar month following the month in which such Employee becomes a
Participant to the IPO date.  With
respect to any PEPShare Options that do not vest as a result of a Participant’s
failure to meet such minimum margin requirement, such Options may be
accelerated after the IPO date if such Participant applies to the Administrator
and demonstrates to the Administrator’s satisfaction that he or she has
performed at 100% or more of his or her minimum margin requirement for the
period from the first day of the calendar month following the month in which
such Employee becomes a Participant to a date on or around the date of such
application to the Administrator.”

 

6.                                       This Amendment
shall become effective as of the date hereof.

 

7.                                       Except as
modified hereby, all of the terms and provisions of the Plan shall remain in
full force and effect.

 

8.                                       Except to the
extent provided for by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,
this Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws
of

 

 

the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or
conflicts of law provision or rule that would cause the application of the laws
of a jurisdiction other than New York.

 

 

*        *         *

 

 

This Amendment was adopted by the Board on
October     , 2003.

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