Document:

ex10-2.htm

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

CUSTOMERS BANCORP, INC.

2010 STOCK OPTION PLAN

ARTICLE 1

PURPOSE

 

1.1       GENERAL.  The purpose of this Plan is to promote the success and enhance the value of Customers Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”), by linking the personal interests of executive and senior management-level employees and directors of the Company and subsidiaries of the Company (“Subsidiaries”) to those of shareholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance in order to generate superior returns to shareholders.  The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company and Subsidiaries in their ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of employees, directors, officers, and executives upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s and the Subsidiaries operations are largely dependent.

 

ARTICLE 2

EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM

 

2.1       EFFECTIVE DATE.  The Plan became effective as of December 9, 2010, the date it was approved by the shareholders of the Bank.  The Plan has been amended by the Board to reflect the terms of the Plan of Merger and Reorganization approved by the shareholders of the Bank, which became effective as of September 17, 2011 .

 

2.2       TERM.  Unless sooner terminated by the Board, the Plan shall terminate on the Plan Termination Date, and no Options may be granted under the Plan thereafter.  The termination of the Plan shall not affect any Option that is outstanding on the termination date, without the consent of the Participant.

 

ARTICLE 3

DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

 

3.1       DEFINITIONS.  When a word or phrase appears in this Plan with the initial letter capitalized, and the word or phrase does not commence a sentence, the word or phrase shall generally be given the meaning ascribed to it in this Section or in Sections 1.1 or 2.1 unless a clearly different meaning is required by the context.  The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)        “Bank” means Customers Bank.

 

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

 

(c)        “Capital Raising Transaction” means the sale of equity securities of the Bank pursuant to the offering described in the Confidential Private Offering Memorandum dated January 20, 2010 (as supplemented by the Supplement thereto dated January 21, 2010), and any subsequent sale of equity securities, or subsequent offering of equity securities in connection with an acquisition or business combination, the result of which it to increase the tangible net worth of the Bank or, after September 17, 2011, the Company. 

(d)       “Cause” means actions of or failure to act by a Participant which would authorize the forfeiture of fringe benefits or other remuneration under his or her written contract of employment with the Company or a Subsidiary or, if there is no written contract of employment, (l) the willful material failure to perform the duties to the Company or a Subsidiary required of the Participant (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness of the Participant or material changes in the direction and policies of the Board of Directors of the Company or a Subsidiary), if such failure continues for fifteen (15) days after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Participant by the Company or a Subsidiary which specifically identifies the manner in which it is believed that the Participant has failed to attempt to perform his duties hereunder; (2) the willful engaging by the Participant in misconduct materially injurious to the Company or a Subsidiary; (3) receipt by the Company or a Subsidiary of a notice (which shall not have been appealed by the Participant  or shall have become final and non-appealable) of any governmental body or entity having jurisdiction over the Company or a Subsidiary requiring termination or removal of the Participant from his then present position, or receipt of a written directive or order of any governmental body or entity having jurisdiction over the Company or a Subsidiary (which shall not have been appealed by Participant or shall have become final and non-appealable) requiring termination or removal of the Participant from his then present position; or (4) personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, willful breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit or conviction of a felony.  For purposes of this paragraph, no act, or failure to act, on the Participant's part shall be considered ''willful'' unless done or omitted to be done by the Participant in bad faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interest of Company or a Subsidiary.  Any act or omission to act by the Participant in reliance upon a written opinion of counsel to Company or a Subsidiary shall not be deemed to be willful.

 

 

 

 

  

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(e)       “Change in Control” means:

 

(1)        there occurs a merger, consolidation or other business combination or reorganization to which the Company is a party, whether or not approved in advance by the Board, in which (A) the members of the Board immediately preceding the consummation of such transaction do not constitute a majority of the members of the Board of the resulting corporation and of any parent corporation thereof immediately after the consummation of such transaction, and (B) the shareholders of the Company immediately before such transaction do not hold more than fifty  percent (50%) of the voting power of securities of the resulting corporation;

 

(2)           There occurs a sale, exchange, transfer, or other disposition of substantially all of the assets of the Company to another entity, whether or not approved in advance by the Board (for purpose of this Agreement, a sale of more than one-half of the branches of the Bank would constitute a Change in Control, but for purposes of this paragraph, no branches or assets will be deemed to have been sold if they are leased back contemporaneously with or promptly after their sale);

(3)       A plan of liquidation or dissolution is adopted for the Company; or

(4)       Any “person” or any group of “persons” (as such term is defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than existing holders of shares of the Company’s common stock, is or shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities.

(f)        “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(g)       “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

 

(h)       “Company” means Customers Bancorp, Inc.

(i)        "Employee" shall mean an individual who is an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary under general common law principles. An individual who is an "Employee," as so defined, may also be a member of the Board or the Board of Directors of a Subsidiary (but not a Non-Employee Director).

 

(j)        “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(k)       “Fair Market Value” means, as of any given date, the fair market value of Stock on a particular date determined in accordance with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(l)        “Incentive Stock Option” means an option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(m)      “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board or the Board of Directors of the Bank who is not an Employee.

 

 

 

 

  

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(n)      “Option” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 7 of the Plan to purchase Stock at a specified price during specified time periods.

 

(o)      “Option Agreement” means a writing, in such form as the Committee in its discretion shall prescribe, evidencing an Option.

 

(p)      “Participant” means a person who has been granted an Option under the Plan.

 

(q)      “Plan” means the Customers Bancorp, Inc. 2010 Stock Option Plan as set forth herein.

 

(r)       “Plan Termination Date” means the date that is ten (10) years after the Effective Date.

 

(s)       “Stock” means (i) prior to March 6, 2012, the voting common stock of the Company and such other securities of the Company which may be substituted therefor pursuant to Article 8, and (ii) on and after March 6, 2012, the voting or non-voting common stock of the Company and such other securities of the Company which may be substituted therefor pursuant to Article 8.

(t)       “Subsidiary” means a subsidiary corporation with respect to the Company as described in Section 424(f) of the Code.

ARTICLE 4

ADMINISTRATION

 

4.1        COMMITTEE; BOARD APPROVAL.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, during any period in which the Company may be subject to the Exchange Act, either: (i) the Committee shall consist of at least two individuals and each member of the Committee shall qualify as a Non-Employee Director; or (ii) (A) at least two members of the Committee must qualify as Non-Employee Directors, (B) any member of the Committee who does not qualify as a “Non-Employee Director” may not participate in any action of the Committee with respect to any Option awarded under the Plan, and (C) the Plan shall be deemed to be administered by the full Board, the actions of the Committee under the Plan shall be deemed merely advisory to the Board, and the Board’s approval shall be required for all actions of the Committee under the Plan, including without limitation the grant of each Option.  To the extent necessary or desirable (as may be determined by the Board from time to time) each member of the Committee shall also qualify as an “outside director” under Section 162(m) of the Code.  The members of the Committee shall meet such additional criteria as may be necessary or desirable to comply with regulatory or stock exchange rules or exemptions.  The Company will pay all reasonable expenses of the Committee.

 

4.2        AUTHORITY OF COMMITTEE.  Subject to any specific designation in the Plan, the Committee (or the Board, in cases where the Board administers the Plan pursuant to Section 4.1) has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:

 

(a)       Designate Participants to receive Options;

 

(b)       Determine the type or types of Options to be granted to each Participant;

 

(c)       Determine the number of shares of Stock to which an Option will relate;

 

(d)       Determine the terms and conditions of any Option granted under the Plan including but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any restrictions or limitations on the Option, any restrictions on the exercisability of an Option, and accelerations or waivers thereof, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines;

 

(e)       Amend, modify, or terminate any outstanding Option, with the Participant’s consent unless the Committee has the authority to amend, modify, or terminate an Option without the Participant’s consent under any other provision of the Plan.

 

 

 

 

  

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(f)        Determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances the exercise price of an Option may be paid in, cash, Stock or other property, or an Option may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;

 

(g)       Prescribe the form of each Option Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant;

 

(h)       Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Option;

 

(i)        Establish, adopt, revise, amend or rescind any guidelines, rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan; and

 

(j)        Interpret the terms of, and rule on any matter arising under, the Plan or any Option Agreement;

 

(k)       Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required under the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan; and

 

(l)        Retain counsel, accountants and other consultants to aid in exercising its powers and carrying out its duties under the Plan.

 

4.3       DECISIONS BINDING.  The Committee’s interpretation of the Plan, any Options granted under the Plan, any Option Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan shall (if approved or ratified by the Board during any period when the Board is deemed to administer the Plan pursuant to Section 4.1) be final, binding, and conclusive on all parties and any other persons claiming an interest in any Option or under the Plan.

 

ARTICLE 5

SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

 

5.1       NUMBER OF SHARES.  Subject to adjustment provided in Section 8.1, the aggregate number of shares of Stock reserved and available for grant under the Plan shall be the that number representing fifteen percent (15%) of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Bank as of the Effective Date; provided that such number shall be increased, as and when unexercised options and warrants to acquire capital stock of the Bank outstanding as of the Effective Date are exercised or anti-dilution obligations become performable by the Bank, by fifteen percent (15%) of the shares of capital stock that become outstanding as a result of such exercises or the honoring of such anti-dilution rights; and provided, further, that the total number of shares available for grant under the Plan shall not exceed the lesser of (a) three million, three hundred and thirty-three thousand, three hundred and thirty-four (3,333,334) shares or (b) fifteen percent (15%) of the number of shares of Stock and Class B Non-Voting Common Stock issued in consideration of cash or other property after December 31, 2009 by the Company or the Bank; and provided further that the exchange of one (1) share of common stock of the Company for three (3) shares of common stock of the Bank pursuant to the Plan of Merger and Reorganization which was effective as of September 17, 2011 shall be taken into account in applying the foregoing percentages.

 

5.2       LAPSED OPTIONS.  To the extent that an Option terminates, is cancelled, expires, lapses or is forfeited for any reason, any shares of Stock subject to the Option will again be available for the grant of an Option under the Plan.

 

5.3       STOCK DISTRIBUTED.  Any Stock distributed pursuant to an Option may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Stock, treasury Stock or Stock purchased on the open market.

 

5.4       LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF SHARES SUBJECT TO OPTIONS.  Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, and subject to the adjustment in Section 8.1, but subject to any restrictions of applicable law and the other terms and conditions of the Plan, the maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to Options may be granted to any one Participant during a fiscal year of the Company shall be two million, two hundred and twenty-two thousand, two hundred and twenty-three (2,222,223) shares.

 

 

 

 

  

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ARTICLE 6

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

 

6.1          ELIGIBILITY.  Employees and Non-Employee Directors shall be potentially eligible to receive Options under the Plan.  In making determinations regarding the potential eligibility of any Employee or Non-Employee Director, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by such Employee or Non-Employee Director, his or her present and potential contributions to the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s success and such other factors as the Committee in its discretion shall deem relevant.

 

6.2          ACTUAL PARTICIPATION.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from among all eligible individuals those to whom Options shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Option.  No individual shall have any right to be granted an Option under this Plan.

 

ARTICLE 7

STOCK OPTIONS

 

7.1          GENERAL.  The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)       EXERCISE PRICE.  The exercise price per share of Stock under an Option shall not be less than the Fair Market Value as of the date of grant.

 

(b)       TERM OF OPTION.  No Option shall be exercisable after the date that is 10 years from the date it is granted.

 

(c)       TIME AND CONDITIONS OF EXERCISE. Options shall be exercisable only to the extent provided below.

 

(1)        A Participant shall have a vested right to exercise an Option upon the first to occur of (A) the fifth (5 th ) one (1)-year anniversary of the Capital Raising Transaction to which it relates, (B) a Change in Control, (C) the Participant’s termination of employment without Cause, (D) the Participant’s death, or (E) such other event as the Committee shall specify in the Option Agreement as necessary to comply with the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s obligations under an employment agreement with the Participant.  All unvested Options shall be forfeited upon the Participant’s termination of employment for Cause or as a result of his or her voluntary resignation from employment.

(2)        Notwithstanding the achievement of a vested right to exercise pursuant to paragraph (1) above, an Option shall be exercisable only when (a) if the Stock under the Option is not listed on a national stock market or other national securities quotation system at the time the Option is granted, the “Fully Diluted Tangible Book Value” (as hereinafter defined) of the Stock first equals or exceeds one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the Fully Diluted Tangible Book Value of the Stock per share as of the date of grant of the option, or, if after the date of grant the Stock under the Option becomes listed on a national stock market or other national securities quotation system, the Fair Market Value of the Stock per share first equals or exceeds one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the Fully Diluted Tangible Book Value of the Stock as of the date of grant of the option, or (b) if the Stock under the Option is listed on a national stock market or other national securities quotation system at the time the Option is granted, the trading price of such Stock as quoted by such stock market or quotation system equals or exceeds one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the Fair Market Value of the Stock per share as of the date of the grant of the option.  For this purpose, the Fully Diluted Tangible Book Value of the Stock shall be determined as (A) the amount derived by dividing the common shareholders’ equity, minus intangible assets and goodwill, by the number of shares of common stock outstanding, (B) assuming that all outstanding option and warrants to acquire stock are then exercised, and (C) assuming performance of all anti-dilution obligations under such options and warrants and other anti-dilution agreements as of the date of determination.  If the condition set forth in this paragraph (2) is satisfied prior to the achievement of a vested right to exercise an Option pursuant to paragraph (1) above, the Option shall be exercisable immediately upon achievement of a vested right to exercise pursuant to paragraph (1).

 

 

 

 

  

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(3)        Nothing in this subsection (c) shall be construed to extend the exercise period of any Option beyond the tenth (10 th ) anniversary of the date of its grant.

(d)         TRANSFERABILITY.  Each Option granted under the Plan shall, by its terms, not be transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  No right or interest of a Participant in any Option may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Company, or shall be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the Company; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be deemed to imply any obligation of the Company to lend against or accept a lien or pledge of any Option for any reason.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any other provision of this Plan, a Participant who holds Options (but not Incentive Stock Options) may transfer such Options to his or her spouse, lineal ascendants, lineal descendants, or to a duly established trust for the benefit of one or more of these individuals.  Options so transferred may thereafter be transferred only to the Participant who originally received the grant or to an individual or trust to whom the Participant could have initially transferred the Options pursuant to this Section 7.1(d).  Options which are transferred pursuant to this Section 7.1(d) shall be exercisable by the transferee according to the same terms and conditions as applied to the Participant (for example, such Options shall terminate automatically, upon the termination of employment or service as a Director of the Participant for Cause)

 

(e)         PAYMENT.  An Option shall be exercised by giving a written notice to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company stating the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Option is being exercised and containing such other information as the Committee may require and by tendering payment therefore with a cashier's check, certified check, or with existing holdings of Stock held for more than six months. In addition, if the terms of a Stock Option so provide, the optionee may pay the exercise price by directing the Company to withhold from those shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be received upon the exercise of the Stock Option that number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate fair market value as of the date of exercise equal to the Stock Option’s exercise price, or the applicable portion of the Stock Option’s exercise price if the Stock Option is not exercised in full.  The shares of Common Stock so withheld shall not be deemed to have been issued for purposes of the aggregate-share limitation set forth in Section 4, above.

 

(f)          STOCK CERTIFICATES.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates evidencing shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of any Options, unless and until the Board has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the shares of Stock are listed or traded as well as the terms of this Plan and any other terms, conditions or restrictions that may be applicable.  All Stock certificates delivered under the Plan are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with Federal, state, or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws, rules and regulations and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted, or traded.  The Committee may place legends on any Stock certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock.  In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements.

 

(g)         EVIDENCE OF GRANT.  All Options shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement.  The Option Agreement shall include such additional provisions as may be specified by the Committee which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 7.1.

 

7.2          INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan must comply with the following additional rules, which in case of conflict shall control over other provisions of this Plan that might otherwise be applicable:

(a)         INDIVIDUAL DOLLAR LIMITATION.  The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time an Option is granted) of all shares of Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year may not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or such other limitation as imposed by Section 422(d) of the Code, or any successor provision.  To the extent that Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in excess of such limitation, the excess shall be considered Options that are not Incentive Stock Options.

 

 

 

 

  

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(b)        TEN PERCENT OWNERS.  An Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any individual who, at the date of grant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company only if such Option is granted at a price that is not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant and the Option is exercisable for no more than five years from the date of grant.

(c)         RIGHT TO EXERCISE.  During a Participant’s lifetime, an Incentive Stock Option may be exercised only by the Participant.

ARTICLE 8

CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE

 

8.1          GENERAL.

 

(a)       SHARES AVAILABLE FOR GRANT.  In the event of any change in the number of shares of Stock outstanding by reason of any stock dividend or split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, combination or exchange of shares or similar corporate change, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Committee may grant Options shall be appropriately adjusted.  In the event of any change in the number of shares of Stock outstanding by reason of any other event or transaction, the Committee may, but need not, make such adjustments in the number and class of shares of Stock with respect to which Options may be granted as the Committee may deem appropriate.

 

(b)       OUTSTANDING OPTIONS – INCREASE OR DECREASE IN ISSUED SHARES WITHOUT CONSIDERATION.  Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company, in the event of any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Stock resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of shares of Stock or the payment of a stock dividend (but only on the shares of Stock), or any other increase or decrease in the number of such shares effected without receipt or payment of consideration by the Company, the Committee shall proportionally adjust the number of shares of Stock subject to each outstanding Option and the exercise price per share of Stock of each such Option.

 

(c)       OUTSTANDING OPTIONS – CERTAIN MERGERS.  Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company, in the event that the Company shall be the surviving corporation in any merger or consolidation (except a merger or consolidation as a result of which the holders of shares of Stock receive securities of another corporation), each Option outstanding on the date of such merger or consolidation shall pertain to and apply to the securities which a holder of the number of shares of Stock subject to such Option would have received in such merger or consolidation.

 

(d)       OUTSTANDING OPTIONS – CERTAIN OTHER TRANSACTIONS.  In the event of (i) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, (iii) a merger or consolidation involving the Company in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or (iv) a merger or consolidation involving the Company, or any other reorganization transaction in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the holders of shares of Stock receive securities of another corporation and/or other property, including cash, the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, have the power to:

 

(1)     cancel, effective immediately prior to the occurrence of such event, each Option outstanding immediately prior to such event (whether or not then exercisable), and, in full consideration of such cancellation, pay to the Participant to whom such Option was granted an amount in cash, for each share of Stock subject to such Option, respectively, equal to the excess of (A) the value, as determined by the Committee in its absolute discretion, of the property (including cash) received by the holder of a share of Stock as a result of such event over (B) the exercise price of such Option; or

(2)     provide for the exchange of each Option outstanding immediately prior to such event (whether or not then exercisable) for an option with respect to, as appropriate, some or all of the property for which such Stock is exchanged and, incident thereto, make an equitable adjustment as determined by the Committee in its absolute discretion in the exercise price or value of the option, or the number of shares or amount of property subject to the option, or, if appropriate, provide for a cash payment to the Participant to whom such Option was granted in partial consideration for the exchange of the Option, or any combination thereof.

 

 

 

 

  

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(e)        OUTSTANDING OPTIONS – OTHER CHANGES.  In the event of any other change in the capitalization of the Company or corporate change other than those specifically referred to in this Article, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, make such adjustments in the number and class of shares subject to Options outstanding on the date on which such change occurs and in the per share exercise price of each Option as the Committee may consider appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.

 

(f)        NO ADDITIONAL SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL REQUIRED IN CERTAIN CASES.  Except to the extent required by applicable law, no adjustment in the number of shares subject to outstanding Options, and no adjustment in the number of shares available for grant under this Plan, shall require additional shareholder approval, and all such future adjustments shall be deemed approved by the approval of this Plan, to the extent that such adjustment, whether automatic or discretionary, is proportional to and accompanies an equivalent adjustment in the number of shares held by the Company’s shareholders.

 

(g)       NO OTHER RIGHTS.  Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class or any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation.  Except as expressly provided in the Plan, 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 of shares of Stock subject to an Option or the exercise price of any Option.

 

 

 

 

  

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ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION

 

9.1        AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION.  At any time and from time to time, the Board may terminate, amend or modify the Plan; provided, however, that the Board shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holder of a majority of the shares of each class of voting stock of the Company, make any amendment which would (i) abolish the Committee without designating such other committee, change the qualifications of its members, or withdraw the administration of the Plan from its supervision, (ii) except strictly as and to the extent provided in this Plan and permitted by applicable law, increase the maximum number of shares of Stock for which Options may be granted under the Plan, (iii) amend the formula for determination of the exercise price of Options, (iv) extend the term of the Plan, and (v) amend the requirements as to the employees eligible to receive Options; and further provided that no other amendment shall be made without shareholder approval to the extent shareholder approval is necessary to comply with any applicable law, regulations or stock exchange rule.

 

9.2        OPTIONS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, including without limitation, the provisions of Article 8, no termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Option previously granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the Participant.

 

ARTICLE 10

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

10.1      NO RIGHTS TO OPTIONS.  No Participant, employee, or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Option under the Plan, and neither the Company, a Subsidiary nor the Committee is obligated to treat Participants, employees, and other persons uniformly.

 

10.2      NO STOCKHOLDERS RIGHTS.  No Option gives the Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until shares of Stock are in fact issued to such person in connection with such Option.

 

10.3      WITHHOLDING.  The Company or a Subsidiary shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company or a Subsidiary, an amount sufficient to satisfy Federal, state, and local taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan.  A Participant may elect to have the Company withhold from those shares of Stock that would otherwise be received upon the exercise of any Option, a number of shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s applicable federal, state, local and foreign income and employment tax withholding obligations.

 

10.4     NO RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICES.  Nothing in the Plan or any Option Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, a Subsidiary or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries to terminate any Participant’s employment or services at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company, a Subsidiary or such affiliates or subsidiaries.

 

10.5     INDEMNIFICATION.  To the extent allowable under applicable law, each member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company and any of its applicable subsidiaries from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her provided he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s or any of its applicable subsidiaries’ Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company or any of its applicable subsidiaries may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

 

 

  

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10.6       FRACTIONAL SHARES.  No fractional shares of stock shall be issued and the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated by rounding up or down as appropriate.

 

10.7       GOVERNMENT AND OTHER REGULATIONS.  The obligation of the Company to transfer shares of Stock shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by government agencies as may be required.  The Company shall be under no obligation to register, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any other federal or state securities laws, any of the shares of Stock transferred under the Plan.  If the shares paid under the Plan may in certain circumstances be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or applicable state laws, the Company may restrict the transfer of such shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.

 

10.8       RECOVERY.  Plan benefits shall be subject to recovery by the Company under any clawback, recovery, recoupment or similar policy hereafter adopted or continued by the Company, whether in connection with Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, as amended from time to time, or otherwise required by law.

10.9       GOVERNING LAW.  The Plan and the terms of all Options shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania without regard to rules of choice of law or conflict of laws, except to the extent such laws may be pre-empted by the federal laws of the United States of America.

 

 

 

 

 

 10ex10-7.htm

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.7

AMENDED AND RESTATED  

CUSTOMERS BANCORP, INC.

2004 INCENTIVE EQUITY

AND

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

ARTICLE 1

PURPOSE

 

1.1           GENERAL.   The purpose of the Amended and Restated Customers Bancorp, Inc. 2004 Incentive Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to promote the success and enhance the value of Customers Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) by linking the personal interests of directors, employees, officers and executives of the Company and Subsidiaries of the Company (“Subsidiaries”) to those of Company shareholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance in order to generate superior returns to shareholders of the Company.  The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company and the Subsidiaries in their ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of directors, employees, officers, and executives upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s and the Subsidiaries’ operations are largely dependent.

 

ARTICLE 2

EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM

 

2.1           EFFECTIVE DATE.  The Plan became effective as of September 6, 2011, the date it was approved by the shareholders of the Bank (the “Effective Date”).  The Plan has been amended by the Board to reflect the terms of the Plan of Merger and Reorganization approved by the shareholders of the Bank, which became effective as of September 17, 2011.

 

2.2           TERM.  Unless sooner terminated by the Board, the Plan shall terminate on the Plan Termination Date, and no Awards may be granted under the Plan thereafter.  The termination of the Plan shall not affect any Award that is outstanding on the termination date, without the consent of the Participant.

 

ARTICLE 3

DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

 

3.1           DEFINITIONS.  When a word or phrase appears in this Plan with the initial letter capitalized, and the word or phrase does not commence a sentence, the word or phrase shall generally be given the meaning ascribed to it in this Section or in Sections 1.1 or 2.1 unless a clearly different meaning is required by the context.  The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)           “Award” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Unrestricted Stock Award, or Performance-Based Award granted to a Participant under the Plan. 

 

(b)           “Award Agreement” means a writing, in such form as the Committee in its discretion shall prescribe, evidencing an Award.

 

(c)           “Bank” means Customers Bank.

 

(d)           “Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

(e)           “Cause” means actions of or failure to act by a Participant which would authorize the forfeiture of fringe benefits or other remuneration under his or her written contract of employment with the Company or a Subsidiary or, if there is no written contract of employment, and with respect to non-employee Directors, (i) willful misconduct materially injurious to the Company or a Subsidiary;  (ii) dishonesty, (iii) the commission of a crime, or (iv) gross negligence of the Participant in the performance of his or her duties.

 

 

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

(f)           “Change in Control” means:

 

(1)          the acquisition by a person or persons acting in concert of the power to vote twenty-five percent (25%) or more of a class of the Company’s voting securities;

(2)          the acquisition by a person of the power to direct the Company’s management or policies, if the Board or the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s primary federal regulator has made a determination that such acquisition constitutes or will constitute an acquisition of control of the Company or a Subsidiary for the purposes of the Change in Bank Control Act or other similar law and the regulations thereunder;

(3)           during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the members of the Board cease, for any reason, to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election of each director who was not a director at the beginning of such period has been approved in advance by directors representing at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then in office who were directors in office at the beginning of the period; provided, however, that for purposes of this clause (3), each director who is first elected to the Board (or first nominated by the Board for election by the shareholders) with the approval of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors who were directors at the beginning of the period shall be deemed to be a director at the beginning of the two-year period;

(4)           the Company shall have merged into or consolidated with another corporation, or merged another corporation into the Company, on a basis whereby less than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the surviving corporation is represented by shares held by persons who were shareholders of the Company immediately before the merger or consolidation; or

(5)           the Company shall have sold to another person substantially all of the Company’s assets.

The term “person” refers to an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, joint venture, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization or other entity.

 

(g)          “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(h)          “Committee” means the committee of the Board described in Article 4.

(i)           “Company” means Customers Bancorp., Inc.

(j)           “Covered Employee” means an Employee who is a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(k)          “Deferred Compensation Account” means the bookkeeping account established for each Participant pursuant to Section 12.2 of this Plan.

 

(l)           “Director” means a member of the Board.

 

(m)         “Disability” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

 

(n)          “Distribution Event” means an event as a result of which a Participant is entitled to receive the balance of his or her Deferred Compensation Account pursuant to Section 12.3 of this Plan, namely (i) with respect to a Participant who is an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary and the portion of his or her Deferred Compensation Account attributable to an Award or other compensation earned as an employee, the date the Participant terminates his or her employment with the Company or a Subsidiary, and (ii) with respect a Participant who is a Director and the portion of his or her Deferred Compensation Account attributable to an Award or other compensation earned as a Director, the earlier of (A) the date the Participant terminates his or her service as a Director, or (B) the Participant’s attainment of the age specified (not younger than age 55) in an election form filed by the Participant with the Committee at such time as he or she first becomes eligible to defer compensation pursuant to Article 12 of this Plan.

 

 

 

  

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(o)          "Employee" shall mean an individual who is an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary under general common law principles. An individual who is an "Employee," as so defined, may also be a member of the Board or the board of directors of a Subsidiary (but not a Non-Employee Director).

 

(p)          “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(q)          “Fair Market Value” means, as of any given date, the fair market value of Stock on a particular date determined in accordance with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(r)           “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

 

(s)           “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.

 

(t)            “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(u)          “Option” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 7 of the Plan to purchase Stock at a specified price during specified time periods.  An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

(v)          “Participant” means a person who, as a Director or an employee, officer, or executive of the Company or a Subsidiary, has been granted an Award under the Plan, or who has been designated as eligible to make an election to defer compensation under this Plan.

 

(w)          “Performance-Based Awards” means Stock Awards granted to selected Covered Employees pursuant to Article 9, but which are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Article 10.  All Performance-Based Awards are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(x)           “Performance Criteria” means the criteria that the Committee selects for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for a Participant for a Performance Period.  The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish Performance Goals may include, but shall not be limited to, one or more of the following:  pre- or after-tax net earnings, sales growth, operating earnings, operating cash flow, working capital, return on net assets, return on stockholders’ equity, return on assets, return on capital, Stock price growth, stockholder returns, gross or net profit margin, earnings per share, price per share of Stock, and market share, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or as compared to results of a peer group.  The Committee shall, within the time prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code, define in an objective fashion the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period for such Participant.

 

(y)           “Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period, the goals established in writing by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria.  Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of a division, business unit, or an individual.  The Committee, in its discretion, may, within the time prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code, adjust or modify the calculation of Performance Goals for such Performance Period in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants (i) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event, or development, or (ii) in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, or the financial statements of the Company, or in response to, or in anticipation of, changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, or business conditions.

 

 

 

 

  

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(z)              “Performance Period” means the one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to, and the payment of, a Performance-Based Award.

 

(aa)            “Plan” means the Amended and Restated Customers Bancorp, Inc. 2004 Incentive Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan as set forth herein.

 

(bb)           “Plan Termination Date” means the date that is ten (10) years after the Effective Date.

 

(cc)            “Restricted Stock Award” means Stock granted to a Participant under Article 9 that is subject to certain restrictions and to risk of forfeiture.

 

(dd)           “Stock” means the common stock of the Company and such other securities of the Company or another entity which may be substituted for Stock pursuant to Article 13.

 

(ee)            “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 8 to receive a payment equal to the difference between the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock as of the date of exercise of the SAR over the grant price of the SAR, all as determined pursuant to Article 8.

 

(ff)             “Stock Award” means a Restricted Stock Award or an Unrestricted Stock Award.

 

(gg)           “Subsidiary” means a subsidiary corporation with respect to the Company as described in Section 424(f) of the Code.

(hh)           “Unrestricted Stock Award” means Stock granted to a Participant under Article 9 that is not subject to restrictions or a risk of forfeiture.

 

ARTICLE 4

ADMINISTRATION

 

4.1           COMMITTEE; BOARD APPROVAL.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall be the Compensation Committee of the Board.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, during any period in which the Company may be subject to the Exchange Act, either: (i) the Committee shall consist of at least two individuals and each member of the Committee shall qualify as a Non-Employee Director; or (ii) (A) at least two members of the Committee must qualify as Non-Employee Directors, (B) any member of the Committee who does not qualify as a “Non-Employee Director” may not participate in any action of the Committee with respect to any Option awarded under the Plan, and (C) the Plan shall be deemed to be administered by the full Board, the actions of the Committee under the Plan shall be deemed merely advisory to the Board, and the Board’s approval shall be required for all actions of the Committee under the Plan, including without limitation the grant of each Award.  To the extent necessary or desirable (as may be determined by the Board from time to time) each member of the Committee shall also qualify as an “outside director” under Code Section 162(m) and the regulations issued thereunder.  The members of the Committee shall meet such additional criteria as may be necessary or desirable to comply with regulatory or stock exchange rules or exemptions.  The Company will pay all reasonable expenses of the Committee.

 

 

 

  

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4.2           AUTHORITY OF COMMITTEE.  Subject to any specific designation in the Plan, the Committee (or the Board, in cases where the Board administers the Plan pursuant to Section 4.1) has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:

 

(a)           Designate Participants to receive Awards; 

 

(b)           Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;

 

(c)           Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of shares of Stock to which an Award will relate;

 

(d)           Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan including but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines;

 

(e)           Amend, modify, or terminate any outstanding Award, with the Participant’s consent unless the Committee has the authority to amend, modify, or terminate an Award without the Participant’s consent under any other provision of the Plan.

 

(f)           Determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;

 

(g)           Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant;

 

(h)           Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;

 

(i)           Establish, adopt, revise, amend or rescind any guidelines, rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan; and

 

(j)           Interpret the terms of, and rule on any matter arising under, the Plan or any Award Agreement;

 

(k)          Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required under the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan, including but not limited to, the determination of whether and to what extent any Performance Goals have been achieved; and

 

(l)           Retain counsel, accountants and other consultants to aid in exercising its powers and carrying out its duties under the Plan.

 

4.3           DECISIONS BINDING.  The Committee’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted under the Plan, any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan shall (if approved or ratified by the Board during any period when the Board is deemed to administer the Plan pursuant to Section 4.1) be final, binding, and conclusive on all parties and any other persons claiming an interest in any Award or under the Plan. 

 

ARTICLE 5

SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

 

5.1           NUMBER OF SHARES.  Subject to adjustment provided in Section 13.1, the aggregate number of shares of Stock reserved and available for grant under the Plan, in addition to any shares of Stock that become available by reason of the lapse of an Award granted prior to the Effective date, shall be 500,000 shares.

 

 

  

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5.2           LAPSED AWARDS.  To the extent that an Award terminates, is cancelled, expires, lapses or is forfeited for any reason, including, but not limited to, the failure to achieve any Performance Goals, any shares of Stock subject to the Award will again be available for the grant of an Award under the Plan; however, shares subject to an Award granted prior to the Effective Date may not again be available for the grant of an Award after the Plan Termination Date.

 

5.3           STOCK DISTRIBUTED.  Any Stock distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Stock, treasury Stock or Stock purchased on the open market.

 

5.4           LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF SHARES SUBJECT TO AWARDS.  Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, and subject to the adjustment in Section 13.1, but subject to any restrictions of applicable law and the other terms and conditions of the Plan, the maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that may be granted to any one Participant during a fiscal year of the Company shall be 83,334 shares.

 

ARTICLE 6

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

 

6.1           ELIGIBILITY.  Employees and Non-Employee Directors shall be potentially eligible to receive Awards under the Plan.  In making determinations regarding the potential eligibility of any Employee or Non-Employee Director, the Board may take into account the nature of the services rendered by such Employee or Non-Employee Director, their present and potential contributions to the Company’s or the Bank's success and such other factors as the Committee in its discretion shall deem relevant.

 

6.2           ACTUAL PARTICIPATION.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from among all eligible individuals those to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award.  No individual shall have any right to be granted an Award under this Plan.

 

ARTICLE 7

STOCK OPTIONS

 

7.1           GENERAL.  The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions: 

 

(a)           EXERCISE PRICE.  The exercise price per share of Stock under an Option shall be the Fair Market Value as of the date of grant.

 

(b)           TERM OF OPTION.  No Option shall be exercisable after the date that is 10 years from the date it is granted.

 

(c)           TIME AND CONDITIONS OF EXERCISE.  Except as provided herein, the Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part.  The Committee shall also determine the performance or other conditions, if any, that must be satisfied before all or part of an Option may be exercised.  An Option will lapse immediately if a Participant’s employment or service as a Director is terminated for Cause.

 

(d)           TRANSFERABILITY.  Each Option granted under the Plan shall, by its terms, not be transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any other provision of this Plan, a Participant who holds Options may transfer such Options (but not Incentive Stock Options) to his or her spouse, lineal ascendants, lineal descendants, or to a duly established trust for the benefit of one or more of these individuals.  Options so transferred may thereafter be transferred only to the Participant who originally received the grant or to an individual or trust to whom the Participant could have initially transferred the Options pursuant to this Section 7.1(d).  Options which are transferred pursuant to this Section 7.1(d) shall be exercisable by the transferee according to the same terms and conditions as applied to the Participant (for example, such Options shall terminate automatically, upon the termination of employment or service as a Director of the Participant for Cause).

 

 

 

  

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(e)           PAYMENT.  An Option shall be exercised by giving a written notice to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company stating the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Option is being exercised and containing such other information as the Committee may require and by tendering payment therefore with a cashier's check, certified check, or with existing holdings of Stock held for more than six months. In addition, if the terms of a Stock Option so provide, the optionee may pay the exercise price by directing the Company to withhold from those shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be received upon the exercise of the Stock Option that number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate fair market value as of the date of exercise equal to the Stock Option’s exercise price, or the applicable portion of the Stock Option’s exercise price if the Stock Option is not exercised in full.  The shares of Common Stock so withheld shall not be deemed to have been issued for purposes of the aggregate-share limitation set forth in Section 4, above.

 

(f)            EVIDENCE OF GRANT.  All Options shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.  The Award Agreement shall include such additional provisions as may be specified by the Committee.

 

7.2           INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS.  Incentive Stock Options shall be granted only to employees of the Company or “subsidiary corporations” with respect to the Company, within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code, and the terms of any Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan must comply with the following additional rules, which in case of conflict shall control over other provisions of this Plan that might otherwise be applicable: 

 

(a)           EXERCISE.  In no event may any Incentive Stock Option be exercisable for more than ten years from the date of its grant.

 

(b)           INDIVIDUAL DOLLAR LIMITATION.  The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time an Award is made) of all shares of Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year may not exceed $100,000 or such other limitation as imposed by Section 422(d) of the Code, or any successor provision.  To the extent that Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in excess of such limitation, the excess shall be considered Non-Qualified Stock Options.

 

(c)           TEN PERCENT OWNERS.  An Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any individual who, at the date of grant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company only if such Option is granted at a price that is not less than 110% of Fair Market Value on the date of grant and the Option is exercisable for no more than five years from the date of grant.

 

(d)           RIGHT TO EXERCISE.  During a Participant’s lifetime, an Incentive Stock Option may be exercised only by the Participant.

 

ARTICLE 8

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

8.1           GRANT OF SARS.  The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)           RIGHT TO PAYMENT.  Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant to whom it is granted has the right to receive the excess, if any, of:

 

(1)           The Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise; over

 

 

 

  

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(2)           The grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as determined by the Committee, which shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant.

 

(b)           OTHER TERMS.  All such Awards shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.  The terms, methods of exercise, methods of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award and shall be reflected in the Award Agreement, except that in all events a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable only when the underlying Incentive Stock Option may be exercised.  For purposes of the Plan, a Stock Appreciation Right shall be considered to be granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option if the exercise of one results in an automatic forfeiture of the other, or if the exercise of one results in the automatic exercise of the other.

 

 

ARTICLE 9

STOCK AWARDS

 

9.1           GRANT OF STOCK.  The Committee is authorized to grant Unrestricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Awards to Participants in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee.  All such Awards shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.

 

9.2           ISSUANCE AND RESTRICTIONS.  An Unrestricted Stock Award may provide for a transfer of shares of Stock to a Participant at the time the Award is granted, or it may provide for a deferred transfer of shares of Stock subject to conditions prescribed by the Committee.  Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture as the Committee may impose.  These restrictions and risks may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as the Committee determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter.

 

9.3           FORFEITURE.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of employment or service as a Director during the applicable restriction period, Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited, provided, however, that the Committee may provide in any Restricted Stock Award that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to the Stock will be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to the Stock.

 

9.4           CERTIFICATES FOR RESTRICTED STOCK.  Restricted Stock Awards granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine.  If certificates representing shares of Stock subject to Restricted Stock Awards are registered in the name of the Participant, certificates must bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such shares, and the Bank may, at its discretion, retain physical possession of the certificate until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse.

 

ARTICLE 10

PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS

 

10.1           PURPOSE.  The purpose of this Article 10 is to provide the Committee the ability to qualify the Awards under Article 9 as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.  If the Committee, in its discretion, decides to grant a Performance-Based Award to a Covered Employee, the provisions of this Article 10 shall control over any contrary provision contained in Article 9.

 

10.2           APPLICABILITY.  This Article 10 shall apply only to those Covered Employees selected by the Committee to receive Performance-Based Awards.  The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Awards other than Performance-Based Awards to Covered Employees that do not satisfy the requirements of this Article 10.  The designation of a Covered Employee as a Participant for a Performance Period shall not in any manner entitle the Participant to receive an Award for the period.  Moreover, designation of a Covered Employee as a Participant for a particular Performance Period shall not require designation of such Covered Employee as a Participant in any subsequent Performance Period and designation of one Covered Employee as a Participant shall not require designation of any other Covered Employees as a Participant in such period or in any other period.

 

 

 

  

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10.3           DISCRETION OF COMMITTEE WITH RESPECT TO PERFORMANCE AWARDS.  With regard to a particular Performance Period, the Committee shall have full discretion to select the length of such Performance Period, the type of Performance-Based Awards to be issued, the kind and/or level of the Performance Goal, and whether the Performance Goal is to apply to the Company or any division or business unit thereof or to particular Participants or other individuals.

 

10.4           PAYMENT OF PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS.  Unless otherwise provided in the relevant Award Agreement, a Participant must be employed by the Company or a Subsidiary on the last day of the Performance Period to be eligible for a Performance-Based Award for such Performance Period.  In determining the actual size of an individual Performance-Based Award, the Committee may reduce or eliminate the amount of the Performance-Based Award earned for the Performance Period, if in its sole and absolute discretion, such reduction or elimination is appropriate.

 

10.5           SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL.  The Board shall disclose to the shareholders of the Company the material terms of any Performance-Based Award, and shall seek approval of the shareholders of the Performance-Based Award before any Stock is transferred to a Participant, or before any restrictions with respect to same lapse, pursuant to the Award.  The Committee shall certify that the Performance Goals with respect to any Performance - Based Award have been achieved before any Stock is transferred to a Participant, or before any restrictions with respect to same lapse.  Such disclosure, approval and certification shall be effected in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.

 

ARTICLE 11

PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS

 

11.1           STAND-ALONE AND TANDEM AWARDS.  Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with, any other Award granted under the Plan. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards.

 

11.2           EXCHANGE PROVISIONS.  The Committee may at any time offer to exchange or buy out any previously granted Award for a payment in cash, Stock, or another Award, based on the terms and conditions the Committee determines and communicates to the Participant at the time the offer is made.

 

11.3           TERM OF AWARD.  The term of each Award shall be for the period as determined by the Committee, provided that in no event shall the term of any Incentive Stock Option or a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option exceed a period of ten years from the date of its grant.

 

11.4           LIMITS ON TRANSFER.  No right or interest of a Participant in any Award may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Company, or shall be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the Company; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be deemed to imply any obligation of the Company to lend against or accept a lien or pledge of any Award for any reason.  No Award shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, except that the Committee, in its discretion, may permit a Participant to make a gratuitous transfer of an Award that is not an Incentive Stock Option or a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option to his or her spouse, lineal descendants, lineal ascendants, or a duly established trust for the benefit of one or more of these individuals.

 

 

 

  

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11.5           BENEFICIARIES.  Notwithstanding Section 11.4, a Participant may, if and to the extent, and in such manner as may be determined by the Committee from time to time, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Participant’s death.  A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.  If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Participant, payment shall be made to the Participant’s estate.  Subject to the foregoing, if a Participant is entitled to designate a beneficiary, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant at any time in accordance with any procedures or conditions established by the Committee from time to time, provided the change or revocation is filed with the Committee.

 

11.6           STOCK CERTIFICATES.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates evidencing shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of any Awards, unless and until the Board has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the shares of Stock are listed or traded as well as the terms of this Plan and any other terms, conditions or restrictions that may be applicable.  All Stock certificates delivered under the Plan are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with Federal, state, or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws, rules and regulations and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted, or traded.  The Committee may place legends on any Stock certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock.  In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements.

 

ARTICLE 12

DEFERRAL OF COMPENSATION

12.1         RIGHT TO DEFER COMPENSATION.

(a)            TYPES OF DEFERRALS.  Any Participant designated by the Board or by the Committee may elect to defer (i) all or any portion of the Participant's salary, (ii) any percentage of a fiscal year bonus determined by the Board or other duly constituted authority or delegate to be payable to such Participant, or (iii) all or any portion of the Participant’s director’s fees.  Such election shall remain in force for all future years, to the extent applicable, until modified or revoked.  In addition, the Committee, in its discretion, may permit a Participant to elect to defer his or her receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of shares of Stock that would otherwise be due to such Participant pursuant to an Award.  Any election under this Section 12.1 shall be made by written notice delivered to the Board or Committee, specifying the amount (or percentage) of salary and/or bonus and/or directors’ fees and/or the Award to be deferred.

(b)           TIMING OF ELECTIONS.  A Participant may, at any time within 30 days of first becoming eligible to participate in this Plan, make an election to defer salary or director’s fees earned after such election.  Any increase or decrease in future deferrals of salary or director’s fees earned during a calendar year must be made prior to such calendar year.  A Participant may make an initial election to defer a bonus for a fiscal year, or may elect to increase or decrease the amount of a fiscal year bonus to be deferred, if such election is made prior to such fiscal year.  A Participant may make an election to defer the receipt of cash or shares of Stock otherwise payable or transferable to the Participant pursuant to an Award in accordance with the terms of such Award.

 

 

 

 

  

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12.2         DEFERRED COMPENSATION ACCOUNTS.

(a)           ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNTS.  A Deferred Compensation Account in the name of each Participant who has elected to defer compensation under the Plan shall be established and maintained as a special ledger account on the books of the Company.  On the last day of each calendar month in which salary or director’s fees deferred under this Plan would have become payable to a Participant (in the absence of an election to defer payment thereof), the amount of such deferred salary or director’s fees shall be credited to the Participant's Deferred Compensation Account.  On the last day of the month in which the bonuses deferred under this Plan would have become payable to a Participant in the absence of an election to defer payment thereof, the amount of such deferred bonus shall be credited to the Participant's Deferred Compensation Account.  On the last day of the month in which an Award would have otherwise become payable or transferable to a Participant in the absence of an election to defer receipt thereof, the amount of such deferred Award shall be credited to the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account.

 

(b)           DEEMED INVESTMENT OF ACCOUNT BALANCE.

 

(1)            Except as otherwise provided by the terms of an Award, the Participant shall, at the time of making a deferred compensation election under this Plan, make an election directing the Company to credit to the Deferred Compensation Account in that calendar year based upon the options made available by the Board or designated Committee which options may include either cash, Stock, or a combination of cash and Stock equal in value to the amount of the current year's salary or bonus deferred under the Plan.  In addition to cash or Stock, the Board or the Committee may offer to the Participant such deemed investment options as it shall decide are appropriate.  Such investment options may include deemed investments in individual stocks or bonds, mutual funds, and such other investment options as the Board or Committee may choose.  The Board or Committee shall not be required to offer the same deemed investment options to each Participant but may restrict certain investment options to designated Participants.  In the absence of a contrary election by a Participant, the amount credited to a Deferred Compensation Account shall be credited as cash. 

 

(2)            If the Participant directs that any amount credited to the Deferred Compensation account be credited in the form of Stock, the Board shall credit to the Deferred Compensation Account sufficient shares of Stock equal in value to the Deferred Compensation Account balance, or such lesser amount as the Participant shall direct.  The value of such Stock shall be determined in accordance with a valuation methodology approved by the Board or by the Committee.  Except as provided in Section 12.4, such Stock credited to the Deferred Compensation Account shall merely constitute a bookkeeping entry of the Company, and (except as provided herein) the Participant shall have no voting, dividend, or other legal or economic rights with respect to such Stock.  At the end of each fiscal quarter, an amount equivalent to all dividends which would otherwise have been payable with respect to such Stock shall be credited to the Deferred Compensation Account as additional Stock.  The amount of the Participant's Deferred Compensation Account that is credited as cash shall accrue interest at a rate no less than the money market deposit account rate charged by the Bank to its depositors (as such rate may change from time to time) and shall not exceed the highest rate paid on Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”) by the Bank plus two percent (2%).  Such interest with respect to a Deferred Compensation Account shall be credited to such account quarterly, based on the weighted average daily prime rate or the IRA rate for the three (3) month period ending on the last day of the quarter.

 

(3)           The Participant shall elect the portion of their deferral to be allocated to Stock or cash or such other option as made available by the Board at the time of making such election to defer compensation.  Such allocation may not be amended with respect to such deferral without the approval of the Committee.  Any allocation to Stock shall be paid in the form of Stock.  No Participant will be granted the right to take payment of the Stock in cash rather than in shares.

 

(4)            If, at any time, the deferral of a Participant is allocated to Stock, and such Participant would otherwise be deemed to have violated the short-swing profit rules of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act through such allocation, the allocation to Stock shall be void and such allocation shall default to cash.

 

 

 

  

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12.3         PAYMENT OF DEFERRED COMPENSATION.

(a)            IN GENERAL.  Amounts credited to a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall be payable upon the Participant’s Distribution Event.  The Participant shall determine the method of distributing the amounts in the Deferred Compensation Account at the time the first election to participate in the Plan is made, which shall be either a single distribution or a series of up to ten (10) consecutive, substantially equal annual installments paid to such Participant or his or her beneficiary, as the case may be, on or before January 15 of each year, commencing in the year following the Distribution Event.  If no such election is made, the method of distribution shall be determined solely by the Board.  If the Participant has elected to receive installment distributions, and less than the full value of the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account balance has been distributed as of the date of his or her death, the balance shall be paid to the Participant’s beneficiary in accordance with the same method in effect at the Participant’s death, except that the beneficiary may elect, with the consent of the Committee, to receive the balance of the Deferred Compensation Account in a single lump sum.  For purposes of this Article 12, a Participant’s “beneficiary” shall mean the person or persons designated by the Participant pursuant to Section 11.5 of this Plan, or, in the absence of such designation or if no such person survives the Participant, the Participant’s estate.  If any portion of the Participant's Deferred Compensation Account is credited with Stock, then distributions from that portion of the Deferred Compensation Account shall be made directly in the form of Stock.  Undistributed amounts shall continue to earn interest or accrue dividends, as the case may be, as provided in accordance with this Plan.

(b)           MODIFICATION OF PAYMENT TERMS.  A Participant may change a Distribution Election at any time at least sixty (90) days prior to a Distribution Event.

(c)           CHANGE IN CONTROL.  In the event of a Change in Control, a Participant shall be permitted to elect to receive a distribution of all or a portion of his or her Deferred Compensation Account, provided that any such election hereunder must be made within the period commencing thirty days prior to such Change in Control and ending on the date of such Change in Control.  Any distribution pursuant to this Section 12.3(c) shall be made (i) in the form of cash and/or Stock as his or her Deferred Compensation Account is allocated and (ii) within seven (7) days subsequent to the Change in Control.

 

(d)           HARDSHIP DISTRIBUTION IN THE CASE OF FINANCIAL EMERGENCY.  Prior to the time a Deferred Compensation Account of a Participant would otherwise become payable, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may elect to distribute all or a portion of the Deferred Compensation Account in the event such Participant requests a distribution by reason of severe financial hardship.  For purposes of this Plan, severe financial hardship shall be deemed to exist in the event the Committee determines that a Participant needs a distribution to meet immediate and heavy financial needs resulting from a sudden or unexpected illness or accident of the Participant, or a member of his or her family, loss of the Participant's property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant.  A distribution based on financial hardship shall not exceed the amount required to meet the immediate financial need created by the hardship. In the event the Participant is a member of the Committee making such determination, the Participant shall not participate in the decision by the Committee.

12.4         TRUST PROVISIONS.

(a)           ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST.  The Company may in its sole discretion establish one or more trusts to provide a source of payment for its obligations under the Plan and such trust shall be permitted to hold cash, Stock, or other assets to the extent of the Company’s obligations hereunder.  The Bank may, but is not required to, utilize a single trust with respect to its obligations to Participants who are members of the Board and Participants who are not members of the Board.  The accounts of multiple Participants may be held under a single trust but in such event each account shall be separately maintained and segregated from each other account.

 

 

 

  

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(b)           CLAIMS OF THE COMPANY’S CREDITORS.  All assets held by any account or trust created hereunder and all distributions to be made by the Company or any trustee pursuant to this Plan and any trust agreement shall be subject to the claims of general creditors of the Company, including judgment creditors and bankruptcy creditors.  The rights of a Participant or his or her beneficiaries in or to any assets of the trust shall be no greater than the rights of an unsecured creditor of the Company.

 

12.5        NON-ASSIGNMENT.  No right or interest of any Participant or any person claiming through or under such Participant in the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall be assignable or transferable in any manner or be subject to alienation, anticipation, sale, pledge, encumbrance or other legal process (including execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, bankruptcy, or otherwise) or in any manner be subject to the debts or liabilities of such Participant.  If any Participant or any such person shall attempt to or shall transfer, assign, alienate, anticipate, sell, pledge or otherwise encumber his or her benefits hereunder or any part thereof, or if by reason of his or her bankruptcy or other event happening at any time such benefits would devolve upon anyone else or would not be enjoyed by him or her, then the Committee, in its discretion, may terminate his or her interest in any such benefit to the extent the Committee considers necessary or advisable to prevent or limit the effects of such occurrence.  Termination shall be effected by filing a written declaration of termination with the Committee’s records and making reasonable efforts to deliver a copy to such Participant or any such other person or his or her legal representative.  As long as any Participant is alive, any amounts affected by the termination shall be retained by the Company or the trustee of any trust established pursuant to Section 12.4 of this Plan and, in the Committee's sole and absolute discretion, may be paid to or expended for the benefit of such Participant, his or her spouse, his or her children, or any other person or persons in fact dependent upon him or her in such a manner as the Committee shall deem proper.

ARTICLE 13

CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE

 

   13.1       GENERAL.

 

(a)           SHARES AVAILABLE FOR GRANT.  In the event of any change in the number of shares of Stock outstanding by reason of any stock dividend or split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, combination or exchange of shares or similar corporate change, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Committee may grant Awards shall be appropriately adjusted.  In the event of any change in the number of shares of Stock outstanding by reason of any other event or transaction, the Committee may, but need not, make such adjustments in the number and class of shares of Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted as the Committee may deem appropriate.

 

(b)           OUTSTANDING AWARDS – INCREASE OR DECREASE IN ISSUED SHARES WITHOUT CONSIDERATION.  Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company, in the event of any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Stock resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of shares of Stock or the payment of a stock dividend (but only on the shares of Stock), or any other increase or decrease in the number of such shares effected without receipt or payment of consideration by the Company, the Committee shall proportionally adjust the number of shares of Stock subject to each outstanding Award and the exercise price per share of Stock of each such Award.

 

(c)           OUTSTANDING AWARDS – CERTAIN MERGERS.  Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company, in the event that the Company shall be the surviving corporation in any merger or consolidation (except a merger or consolidation as a result of which the holders of shares of Stock receive securities of another corporation), each Award outstanding on the date of such merger or consolidation shall pertain to and apply to the securities which a holder of the number of shares of Stock subject to such Award would have received in such merger or consolidation.

 

(d)           OUTSTANDING AWARDS – CERTAIN OTHER TRANSACTIONS.  In the event of (i) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, (iii) a merger or consolidation involving the Company in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or (iv) a merger or consolidation involving the Company, or any other reorganization transaction in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the holders of shares of Stock receive securities of another corporation and/or other property, including cash, the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, have the power to:

 

 

 

  

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(1)           cancel, effective immediately prior to the occurrence of such event, each Award outstanding immediately prior to such event (whether or not then exercisable), and, in full consideration of such cancellation, pay to the Participant to whom such Award was granted an amount in cash, for each share of Stock subject to such Award, respectively, equal to the excess of (A) the value, as determined by the Committee in its absolute discretion, of the property (including cash) received by the holder of a share of Stock as a result of such event over (B) the exercise of such Award; or

 

(2)           provide for the exchange of each Award outstanding immediately prior to such event (whether or not then exercisable) for an option, a stock appreciation right, restricted stock award, performance share award or performance-based award with respect to, as appropriate, some or all of the property for which such Award is exchanged and, incident thereto, make an equitable adjustment as determined by the Committee in its absolute discretion in the exercise price or value of the option, stock appreciate right, restricted stock award, performance share award or performance-based award or the number of shares or amount of property subject to the option, stock appreciation right, restricted stock award, performance share award or performance-based award or, if appropriate, provide for a cash payment to the Participant to whom such Award was granted in partial consideration for the exchange of the Award, or any combination thereof.

(e)           OUTSTANDING AWARDS – OTHER CHANGES.  In the event of any other change in the capitalization of the Company or corporate change other than those specifically referred to in this Article, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, make such adjustments in the number and class of shares subject to Awards outstanding on the date on which such change occurs and in the per share exercise price of each Award as the Committee may consider appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.

 

(f)           NO ADDITIONAL SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL REQUIRED IN CERTAIN CASES.  Except to the extent required by applicable law, no adjustment in the number of shares subject to outstanding Awards, and no adjustment in the number of shares available for grant under this Plan, shall require additional shareholder approval, and all such future adjustments shall be deemed approved by the approval of this Plan, to the extent that such adjustment, whether automatic or discretionary, is proportional to and accompanies an equivalent adjustment in the number of shares held by the Company’s shareholders.

 

(g)           NO OTHER RIGHTS.  Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class or any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation.  Except as expressly provided in the Company, 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 of shares of Stock subject to an Award or the exercise price of any Award.

 

ARTICLE 14

AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION

 

14.1        AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION.  At any time and from time to time, the Board may terminate, amend or modify the Plan; provided, however, that the Board shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holder of a majority of the shares of each class of voting stock of the Bank, make any amendment which would (i) abolish the Committee without designating such other committee, change the qualifications of its members, or withdraw the administration of the Plan from its supervision, (ii) except strictly as and to the extent provided in this Plan and permitted by applicable law, increase the maximum number of shares of Stock for which Awards may be granted under the Plan, (iii) amend the formula for determination of the exercise price of Options, (iv) extend the term of the Plan, and (v) amend the requirements as to the employees eligible to receive Awards; and further provided that no other amendment shall be made without shareholder approval to the extent shareholder approval is necessary to comply with any applicable law, regulations or stock exchange rule.

 

 

 

 

  

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14.2           AWARDS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, including without limitation, the provisions of Article 13, no termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the Participant.

 

ARTICLE 15

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

15.1           NO RIGHTS TO AWARDS.  No Participant, employee, or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and neither the Company, a Subsidiary nor the Committee is obligated to treat Participants, employees, and other persons uniformly.

 

15.2           NO STOCKHOLDERS RIGHTS.  No Award gives the Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until shares of Stock are in fact issued to such person in connection with such Award.

 

15.3           WITHHOLDING.  The Company or a Subsidiary shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company or a Subsidiary, an amount sufficient to satisfy Federal, state, and local taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan.  A Participant may elect to have the Company withhold from those shares of Stock that would otherwise be received upon the exercise of any Option, a number of shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s applicable federal, state, local and foreign income and employment tax withholding obligations.

 

15.4           NO RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICES.  Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, a Subsidiaries or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries to terminate any Participant’s employment or services at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company, a Subsidiary or such affiliates or subsidiaries.

 

15.5           INDEMNIFICATION.  To the extent allowable under applicable law, each member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company and any of its applicable subsidiaries from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her provided he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s or any of its applicable subsidiaries’ Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company or any of its applicable subsidiaries may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

15.6           FRACTIONAL SHARES.  No fractional shares of stock shall be issued and the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated by rounding up or down as appropriate.

 

15.7           GOVERNMENT AND OTHER REGULATIONS.  The obligation of the Company to make payment of awards in Stock or otherwise shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by government agencies as may be required.  The Company shall be under no obligation to register, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any other federal or state securities laws, any of the shares of Stock paid under the Plan.  If the shares paid under the Plan may in certain circumstances be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or applicable state laws, the Company may restrict the transfer of such shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.

 

 

  

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15.8           RECOVERY.  Plan benefits shall be subject to recovery by the Company under any clawback, recovery, recoupment or similar policy hereafter adopted or continued by the Company whether in connection with Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, as amended from time to time, or otherwise as required by law.

15.9           GOVERNING LAW.  The Plan and the terms of all Awards shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania without regard to rules of choice of law or conflict of laws, except to the extent such laws may be pre-empted by the federal laws of the United States of America.

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