Document:

RTI Biologics, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan

 Exhibit 10.1 

RTI BIOLOGICS, INC. 

2010 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN 

1. Background. The purpose of the RTI Biologics, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to facilitate the ability of
RTI Biologics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and its Affiliates (as defined below) to attract, motivate and retain key personnel through the use of equity-based incentive compensation awards (“Awards”).

 2. Certain Definitions. Under the Plan, except where the context otherwise indicates, the following definitions shall apply:

 (a) “Affiliate” shall mean any entity, whether now or hereafter existing, which controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with, the Corporation (including, but not limited to, joint ventures, limited liability companies, and partnerships). For this purpose, “control” shall mean ownership of 50% or more of the total
combined voting power or value of all classes of stock or interests of the entity. 
 (b) “Board” shall
mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation. 
 (c) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended. 
 (d) “Common Stock” shall mean shares of the Corporation’s common stock, par
value of $.001 per share. 
 (e) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. 
 (f) “Fair Market Value” of a share of Common Stock, as of any date, shall mean, unless
otherwise required by the Code or determined by the Committee: 
 (i) the last reported sale price of the Common
Stock on the Nasdaq National Market or, if no such reported sale takes place on any such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, or 

(ii) if such Common Stock shall then be listed on a national securities exchange, the last reported sale price or, if no
such reported sale takes place on any such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading, or 

(iii) if such Common Stock shall not be quoted on such National Market nor listed or admitted to trading on a national
securities exchange, then the average of the closing bid and asked prices, as reported by The Wall Street Journal for the over-the-counter market, or 

(iv) if none of the foregoing is applicable, then the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be determined in
good faith by the Committee (as defined below) in its discretion. 
 (g) “Grant Agreement” shall mean a
written document memorializing the terms and conditions of an Award granted pursuant to the Plan and shall incorporate the terms of the Plan. 

(h) “Performance-Based Exemption” shall mean the qualified performance-based compensation exemption from the
deduction limitation provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code. 
 (i) “Securities Act” shall mean
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 
 3. Administration. 

(a) Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a committee (the “Committee”) comprised of at
least two members of the Board, each of whom shall qualify as an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) or the Code and as a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) under the Exchange
Act. If for any reason the Committee does not satisfy the requirements of the preceding sentence, such non-compliance shall not affect the validity of the awards, interpretations or other actions of the Committee. The members of the Committee shall
be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board. 

 (b) Responsibility and Authority of Committee. Subject to the provisions of
the Plan, the Committee, acting in its discretion, shall have responsibility and full power and authority to (1) select the persons to whom Awards shall be made, (2) prescribe the terms and conditions of each Award and make amendments
thereto, (3) construe, interpret and apply the provisions of the Plan and of any Grant Agreement, and (4) make any and all determinations and take any and all other actions as it deems necessary or desirable in order to carry out the terms
of the Plan. In exercising its responsibilities under the Plan, the Committee may obtain at the Corporation’s expense such advice, guidance and other assistance from outside compensation consultants and other professional advisers as it deems
appropriate. 
 (c) Delegation of Authority. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Committee may
delegate to any person or group or subcommittee of persons (who may, but need not be, members of the Committee) such Plan-related functions within the scope of its responsibility, power and authority as it deems appropriate. 

(d) Committee Actions. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Committee may act by the
vote of a majority of its members present at a meeting at which there is a quorum or by unanimous written consent. The decisions of the Committee as to any disputed question arising in connection with the Plan and any Award made under the Plan,
including questions of construction, interpretation and administration, shall be final and conclusive on all persons. The Committee shall keep a record of its proceedings and acts and shall keep or cause to be kept such books and records as may be
necessary in connection with the proper administration of the Plan. 
 (e) Indemnification. The Corporation shall
indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee (or person, group or subcommittee appointed by the Committee) and any employee or director of the Corporation or of an Affiliate to whom any duty or power relating to the administration or
interpretation of the Plan is delegated from and against any loss, cost, liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of the Board), damage and expense (including legal and other expenses incident thereto) arising out
of or incurred in connection with the Plan, unless and except to the extent attributable to such person’s fraud or willful misconduct. 

4. Limitations on Awards Under the Plan. 

(a) Aggregate Share Limitation. The number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan may not exceed
5,000,000. Subject to applicable law, shares are not considered issued for this purpose if such shares are (1) covered by the unexercised portion of an option that terminates, expires, is canceled or is settled in cash, (2) repurchased by
the Corporation or forfeited by the recipient of an Award, (3) subject to an Award that is forfeited, canceled, terminated or settled in cash, or (4) withheld or surrendered as payment of the exercise or purchase price under an Award or
the tax withholding obligations associated with the exercise, vesting or settlement of an Award. 
 (b) Annual
Individual Award Limitations. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock covered by options and stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) granted to an employee in a calendar year is 500,000. The maximum number of shares that may be earned by
an employee with respect to any calendar year pursuant to Awards under Section 9 (that are intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exemption), other than options and SARs, is 100,000. Any unused portion of the annual limitation on such
performance-based Awards that may be earned by an employee may be carried forward on a cumulative basis. 
 (c)
Special Rules. For purposes of applying the limitations of Section 4(b), (1) an employee’s Award is “earned” upon satisfaction of the applicable performance condition(s), without regard to whether settlement of the Award is
deferred or remains subject to a continuing service or other non-performance based condition, and (2) an employee’s annual performance limit is “used” at the time of grant of the Award, without regard to whether the Award is
subsequently earned. 
 5. Eligibility. The Corporation may grant Awards under the Plan to any present or future directors,
officers, other employees and other key personnel (including, consultants) of the Corporation or an Affiliate. 
  

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 6. Stock Option Awards. 

(a) General. Stock options granted under the Plan shall have such vesting and other terms and conditions as the Committee,
acting in its discretion in accordance with the Plan, may determine. The Committee may impose restrictions on shares acquired upon, and/or make or impose such other arrangements or conditions as it deems appropriate for the deferral of income
attributable to, the exercise of options granted under the Plan. 
 (b) Minimum Exercise Price. The exercise
price per share of Common Stock covered by an option may not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the option is granted (110% in the case of “incentive stock options” (within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Code) granted to an employee who is a 10% stockholder within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code). 

(c) Limitation on Repricing of Options. Unless and except to the extent otherwise approved by the stockholders of the
Corporation, the “repricing” of options granted under the Plan shall not be permitted. For this purpose, “repricing” means: (1) amending the terms of an option after it is granted to lower its exercise price, (2) any
other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles, and (3) canceling an option at a time when its exercise price is equal to or greater than the fair market value of the underlying shares, in exchange
for another option, restricted stock or other equity; provided, however, that a cancellation, exchange or other modification to an option that occurs in connection with a merger, acquisition, spin-off or other corporate transaction, including under
Section 10 (relating to capital and other corporate changes) shall not be deemed a repricing. A cancellation and exchange described in clause (3) of the preceding sentence shall be considered a repricing regardless of whether the option,
restricted stock or other equity is delivered simultaneously with the cancellation, regardless of whether it is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles, and regardless of whether it is voluntary on the part of the
optionee. 
 (d) Maximum Duration. Unless sooner terminated in accordance with its terms, an option shall
automatically expire on the tenth anniversary of the date it is granted (the fifth anniversary of the date it is granted in the case of an “incentive stock option” granted to an employee who is a 10% stockholder). 

(e) Effect of Termination of Employment or Other Service. At the time an option is granted or, if no rights of the
optionee are thereby reduced, thereafter, the Committee may establish such exercisability and other conditions applicable to the option following the termination of the optionee’s employment or other service with the Corporation and its
Affiliates as the Committee deems appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no extension of exercisability or other modification of an option or SAR is permitted if and to the extent such extension or other modification would cause the option or
SAR to be subject to Section 409A of the Code. 
 (f) Nontransferability. No option shall be assignable or
transferable except upon the optionee’s death to a beneficiary designated by the optionee in a manner prescribed or approved for this purpose by the Committee, or if there is no designated beneficiary or if no designated beneficiary shall
survive the optionee, pursuant to the optionee’s will or by the laws of descent and distribution. During an optionee’s lifetime, options may be exercised only by the optionee or the optionee’s guardian or legal representative.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may permit the inter vivos transfer of an optionee’s options (other than options designated as “incentive stock options”) by gift to any “family member” on such terms and
conditions as the Committee deems appropriate. For this purpose, a “family member” includes any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law,
son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the optionee’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which such persons have a majority of the beneficial
interest, a foundation in which the management of assets is controlled by such persons (or the optionee), and any other entity in which a majority of voting interests are owned by such persons (or the optionee). 

(g) Manner of Exercise. An outstanding and exercisable option may be exercised by transmitting to the Secretary of the
Corporation (or other person designated for this purpose by the Committee) a written notice 
  

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identifying the option that is being exercised and specifying the number of shares to be purchased pursuant to that option, together with payment of the exercise price, and by satisfying the
applicable tax withholding obligations pursuant to Section 11. The Committee, acting in its sole discretion, may permit the exercise price to be paid in whole or in part in cash or by check, by means of a cashless exercise procedure to the
extent permitted by law, in the form of unrestricted shares of Common Stock (to the extent of the fair market value thereof) if the surrender or withholding of such shares does not result in the recognition of additional accounting expense by the
Corporation or, subject to applicable law, by any other form of consideration deemed appropriate. In addition, the Committee may permit optionees to elect to defer the delivery of shares representing the profit upon exercise of an option, subject to
such terms, conditions and restrictions as the Committee may specify. 
 (h) Rights as a Stockholder. No shares
of Common Stock shall be issued in respect of the exercise of an option until payment of the exercise price and the applicable tax withholding obligations have been satisfied or provided for to the satisfaction of the Corporation. 

7. Stock Awards. The Committee may grant stock Awards upon such terms and conditions as the Committee, acting in its discretion in
accordance with the Plan, may determine. A stock Award may take the form of the issuance and transfer to the recipient of shares of Common Stock or a grant of stock units representing a right to receive shares of Common Stock in the future and, in
either case, may be subject to designated vesting conditions and transfer restrictions. 
 (a) Minimum Purchase
Price. The purchase price payable for shares of Common Stock transferred pursuant to a stock Award must be at least equal to their par value, unless other lawful consideration is received by the Corporation for the issuance of the shares or treasury
shares are delivered in connection with the Award. 
 (b) Stock Certificates for Non-Vested Stock. Shares of
Common Stock issued pursuant to a non-vested stock Award may be evidenced by book entries on the Corporation’s stock transfer records pending satisfaction of the applicable vesting conditions. If a stock certificate for shares is issued before
the stock Award vests, the certificate shall bear an appropriate legend to reflect the nature of the conditions and restrictions applicable to the shares, and the Corporation may require that any or all such stock certificates be held in custody by
the Corporation until the applicable conditions are satisfied and other restrictions lapse. The Committee may establish such other conditions as it deems appropriate in connection with the issuance of certificates for shares issued pursuant to
non-vested stock Awards, including, without limitation, a requirement that the recipient deliver a duly signed stock power, endorsed in blank, for the shares covered by the Award. 

(c) Stock Certificates for Vested Stock. The recipient of a stock Award that is or becomes vested shall thereupon be
entitled to receive a certificate, free and clear of conditions and restrictions (except as may be imposed in order to comply with applicable law), for the vested shares covered by the Award, subject, however, to the payment or satisfaction of
withholding tax obligations in accordance with Section 11. The delivery of vested shares covered by an Award of stock units may be deferred if and to the extent provided by the terms of the Award or directed by the Committee; provided that any
such deferral complies with the distribution and election timing requirements of Section 409A of the Code. 

(d) Rights as a Stockholder. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, (1) the recipient of a stock Award shall
be entitled to receive dividend payments (or, in the case of an Award of stock units, dividend equivalent payments) on or with respect to the shares that remain covered by the Award (which the Committee may specify are payable on a deferred basis
and are forfeitable to the same extent as the underlying Award), (2) the recipient of a non-vested stock Award may exercise voting rights if and to the extent that shares of Common Stock have been issued to the recipient pursuant to the Award,
and (3) the recipient shall have no other rights as a stockholder with respect to such shares unless and until the shares are issued to the recipient free of all conditions and restrictions under the Plan. 

(e) Nontransferability. With respect to any stock Award, unless and until all applicable vesting conditions, if any, are
satisfied and vested shares are issued, neither the stock Award nor any shares of 
  

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Common Stock issued pursuant to the Award may be sold, assigned, transferred, disposed of, pledged or otherwise hypothecated other than to the Corporation in accordance with the terms of the
Award or the Plan. Any attempt to do any of the foregoing before such time shall be null and void and, unless the Committee determines otherwise, shall result in the immediate forfeiture of the shares or the Award, as the case may be. 

(f) Termination of Service Before Vesting; Forfeiture. Unless the Committee determines otherwise at or after the time of
the grant, a non-vested stock Award shall be forfeited upon the recipient’s termination of employment or other service with the Corporation and its Affiliates. If a non-vested stock Award is forfeited, any certificate representing shares
subject to such Award shall be canceled on the books of the Corporation and the recipient shall be entitled to receive from the Corporation an amount equal to the purchase price, if any, paid for such shares. If an Award of stock units is forfeited,
the recipient shall have no further right to receive the shares of Common Stock represented by such units. 
 8. Other
Equity-Based Awards. The Committee may grant SARs, dividend equivalent payment rights, phantom shares, bonus shares and other forms of equity-based Awards to eligible persons, subject to such terms and conditions as it may establish. Awards made
pursuant to this Section may entail the transfer of shares of Common Stock to an Award recipient or the payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of shares of Common Stock and may include, without limitation, Awards designed to
comply with or take advantage of applicable tax and/or other laws. Shares of Common Stock covered by an Award made under this Section shall be deemed to have been issued under the Plan for the purpose of applying the aggregate share limitation of
Section 4(a) if and when such shares or the Award to which such shares relate shall become vested. An SAR constitutes a conditional right of the recipient to receive, in cash or shares of equivalent value (as determined by the Committee, in its
sole discretion), an amount equal to the fair market value of a share at an exercise or designated settlement date minus a specified base price, which shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the
SAR is granted. 
 9. Performance-Based Awards. 

(a) General. The Committee may condition the grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of Awards on the achievement of
specified performance goals. The provisions of this Section shall apply to a performance-based Award that is intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exemption (other than an option or an SAR). Any performance-based Award that is not intended
to qualify for the Performance-Based Exemption may, but shall not be required, to satisfy the terms and conditions of this Section. The performance period during which achievement of such performance goals may be measured may be any period specified
by the Committee. 
 (b) Objective Performance Goals. A performance goal established in connection with an Award
covered by this Section must be (1) objective, so that a third party having knowledge of the relevant facts could determine whether the goal is met, (2) prescribed in writing by the Committee before the beginning of the applicable
performance period or at such later date when fulfillment is substantially uncertain not later than 90 days after the commencement of the performance period and in any event before completion of 25% of the performance period, and (3) based on
any one or more of the following business criteria applied to an individual, a subsidiary, a business unit or division, or the Corporation and any one or more of its subsidiaries or Affiliates as a group, all as determined by the Committee:

 (i) total revenue or any key component thereof; 

(ii) operating income, pre-tax or after-tax income from continuing operations, EBITA, EBITDA or net income; 

(iii) cash flow (including, without limitation, free cash flow, cash flow return on investment (discounted or otherwise),
net cash provided by operations or cash flow in excess of cost of capital); 
 (iv) earnings per share or
earnings per share from continuing operations (basic or diluted); 
 (v) return on capital employed, return on
invested capital, return on assets or net assets; 
 (vi) after-tax return on stockholders’ equity;

  

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 (vii) economic value created; 

(viii) operating margins or operating expenses; 

(ix) value of the Common Stock or total return to stockholders; 

(x) value of an investment in the Common Stock assuming the reinvestment of dividends; 

(xi) strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified market penetration
goals, business expansion goals, implementation of efficiencies or cost savings, cost targets, employee satisfaction, management of employment practices and employee benefits, or supervision of litigation or information technology goals, or goals
relating to acquisitions or divestitures of subsidiaries, Affiliates or joint ventures; and/or 
 (xii) a
combination of any or all of the foregoing criteria. 
 The targeted level or levels of performance with respect
to such business criteria may be established at such levels and in such terms as the Committee may determine, in its discretion, including in absolute terms, as a goal relative to performance in prior periods, or as a goal compared to the
performance of one or more comparable companies or an index covering multiple companies. If and to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may provide for the adjustment of such performance goals to reflect changes
in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including, without limitation, dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar types of events or circumstances occurring during the applicable performance period. 

(c) Calculation of Performance-Based Award. At the expiration of the applicable performance period, the Committee shall
determine the extent to which the performance goals established pursuant to this Section are achieved and the extent to which each performance-based Award has been earned. The Committee may not exercise its discretion to enhance the value of an
Award that is subject to performance-based conditions imposed under this Section. 
 10. Capital Changes, Reorganization, Sale.

 (a) Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization. The aggregate number and class of shares issuable under the
Plan, the maximum number and class of shares with respect to which options, SARs or other Awards may be granted to or earned by any employee in any calendar year, the number and class of shares and the exercise price per share covered by each
outstanding option, the number and class of shares and the base price per share covered by each outstanding SAR, and the number and class of shares covered by each outstanding stock unit or other Award, and any per-share base or purchase price or
target market price included in the terms of any such Award, and related terms shall be adjusted proportionately or as otherwise appropriate to reflect any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a split-up
or consolidation of shares or any like capital adjustment, or the payment of any stock dividend, and/or to reflect a change in the character or class of shares covered by the Plan arising from a readjustment or recapitalization of the
Corporation’s capital stock. 
 (b) Cash, Stock or Other Property for Stock. Except as otherwise provided in
this Section, in the event of an Exchange Transaction (as defined below), all optionees shall be permitted to exercise their outstanding options in whole or in part (whether or not otherwise exercisable) immediately prior to such Exchange
Transaction, and any outstanding options which are not exercised before the Exchange Transaction shall thereupon terminate. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if, as part of an Exchange Transaction, the stockholders of the Corporation receive
capital stock of another corporation (“Exchange Stock”) in exchange for their shares of Common Stock (whether or not such Exchange Stock is the sole consideration), and if the Board, in its sole discretion, so directs, then all outstanding
options shall be converted into options to purchase shares of Exchange Stock. The amount and price of converted options shall be determined by adjusting the amount and price of the options granted hereunder on the same basis as the determination of
the number of shares of Exchange Stock the holders of Common Stock shall receive in the Exchange Transaction and, unless the Board determines otherwise, the vesting conditions with respect to the converted

  

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options shall be substantially the same as the vesting conditions set forth in the original Grant Agreement. The Board, acting in its discretion, may accelerate vesting of non-vested stock Awards
and other Awards, provide for cash settlement and/or make such other adjustments to the terms of any outstanding Award as it deems appropriate in the context of an Exchange Transaction. 

(c) Definition of Exchange Transaction. For purposes hereof, the term “Exchange Transaction” means a merger
(other than a merger of the Corporation in which the holders of Common Stock immediately prior to the merger have the same proportionate ownership of Common Stock in the surviving corporation immediately after the merger), consolidation, acquisition
or disposition of property or stock, separation, reorganization (other than a mere reincorporation or the creation of a holding company), liquidation of the Corporation or any other similar transaction or event so designated by the Board in its sole
discretion, as a result of which the stockholders of the Corporation receive cash, stock or other property in exchange for or in connection with their shares of Common Stock. 

(d) Fractional Shares. In the event of any adjustment in the number of shares covered by any Award pursuant to the
provisions hereof, any fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be disregarded, and each such Award shall cover only the number of full shares resulting from the adjustment. 

(e) Determination Final. All adjustments under this Section shall be made by the Committee, and its determination as to
what adjustments shall be made, and the extent thereof, shall be final, binding and conclusive. 
 11. Tax Withholding. As a
condition to the exercise of any Award or the delivery of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any Award or the lapse of restrictions on any Award, or in connection with any other event that gives rise to a federal or other governmental tax
withholding obligation on the part of the Corporation or an Affiliate relating to an Award (including, without limitation, an income tax deferral arrangement pursuant to which employment tax is payable currently), the Corporation and/or the
Affiliate may (a) deduct or withhold (or cause to be deducted or withheld) from any payment or distribution to an Award recipient whether or not pursuant to the Plan or (b) require the recipient to remit cash (through payroll deduction or
otherwise), in each case in an amount sufficient in the opinion of the Corporation to satisfy such withholding obligation. If the event giving rise to the withholding obligation involves a transfer of shares of Common Stock, then, at the sole
discretion of the Committee, the recipient may satisfy the withholding obligation described under this Section by electing to have the Corporation withhold shares of Common Stock or by tendering previously-owned shares of Common Stock, in each case
having a fair market value equal to the amount of tax to be withheld (or by any other mechanism as may be required or appropriate to conform with local tax and other rules); provided, however, that no shares may be withheld if and to the extent that
such withholding would result in the recognition of additional accounting expense by the Corporation. 
 12. Amendment and
Termination. The Board may amend or terminate the Plan, provided, however, that no such action may have an adverse effect on a holder’s rights under an outstanding Award without the holder’s written consent. Any amendment that would
increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan or the maximum number of shares with respect to which options, SARs or other Awards may be granted to any employee in any calendar year, or that would modify the class
of persons eligible to receive Awards shall be subject to the approval of the Corporation’s stockholders. The Committee may amend the terms of any Grant Agreement or Award made hereunder at any time and from time to time, provided, however,
that any amendment which would have an adverse effect on a holder’s rights under an outstanding Award may not be made without the holder’s written consent. 

13. General Provisions. 

(a) Shares Issued Under Plan. Shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan may be authorized and unissued,
held by the Corporation in its treasury or otherwise acquired for purposes of the Plan. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued under the Plan. 
  

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 (b) Compliance with Law. The Corporation shall not be obligated to issue or
deliver shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan unless the issuance and delivery of such shares complies with applicable law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the requirements of any stock exchange or
market upon which the Common Stock may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Corporation with respect to such compliance. 

(c) Transfer Orders; Placement of Legends. All certificates for shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan shall be
subject to such stock-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Corporation may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange or market upon which the Common
Stock may then be listed, and any applicable federal or state securities law. The Corporation may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. 

(d) No Employment or other Rights. Nothing contained in the Plan or in any Grant Agreement shall confer upon any recipient
of an Award any right with respect to the continuation of his or her employment or other service with the Corporation or an Affiliate or interfere in any way with the right of the Corporation and its Affiliates at any time to terminate such
employment or other service or to increase or decrease, or otherwise adjust, the other terms and conditions of the recipient’s employment or other service. 

(e) Decisions and Determinations Final. All decisions and determinations made by the Board pursuant to the provisions
hereof and, except to the extent rights or powers under the Plan are reserved specifically to the discretion of the Board, all decisions and determinations of the Committee, shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons. 

(f) Nonexclusivity of the Plan. No provision of the Plan, and neither its adoption by the Board or submission to the
stockholders for approval, shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements, apart from the Plan, as it may deem desirable, including incentive arrangements
and Awards which do not qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. 
 14.
Governing Law. All rights and obligations under the Plan and each Grant Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its principles of conflict of laws. 

15. Term of the Plan. The Plan shall become effective on the date it is approved by the Corporation’s stockholders (the
“Effective Date”). Unless sooner terminated by the Board, the Plan shall terminate on tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. The rights of any person with respect to an Award made under the Plan that is outstanding at the time of the
termination of the Plan shall not be affected solely by reason of the termination of the Plan and shall continue in accordance with the terms of the Award and of the Plan, as each is then in effect or is thereafter amended. 

 

 8California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. Severance Plan

 Exhibit 10.1 

CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN, INC. 

SEVERANCE PLAN 

(AND SUMMARY PLAN DESCRIPTION) 

This Severance Plan (the “Plan”) sets forth the terms of severance benefits for certain employees of California
Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (the “Company”) in the event of a termination of employment with the Company under the circumstances described below. For purposes of this Plan, “Company” will include any
subsidiary of the Company (as defined below) and any successor to substantially all of the business, shares or assets of the Company. 

The Plan is an employee welfare benefit plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(“ERISA”). This Plan document is also the summary plan description of the Plan. References in the Plan to “You” or “Your” are references to an employee of the Company. 

1. Eligibility and Participation. In order to be eligible for benefits under this Plan, you must, immediately prior to your date
of termination of employment, be a regular full-time or part-time employee of the Company who is not subject to disciplinary action or on a formal performance improvement plan. You will continue to be considered an employee of the Company for
purposes of this Plan if you are on a Company-approved leave of absence immediately prior to the date of your termination of employment and your regular full-time or regular part-time status for purposes of determining your severance benefits under
this Plan will be determined based on your status immediately prior to the commencement of such leave. This Plan applies to employees of the Company who (i) hold a title of Vice President or above, (ii) are determined to be participants in
the Plan by the Board or the Compensation Committee and (iii) have received written notification of such determination. You will not be eligible for benefits under this Plan if you are a party to any individual employment agreement or
severance agreement, approved by the Board or the Compensation Committee, in effect as of the date of your termination. 
 2.
Severance Benefit. If you are an eligible employee under the Plan and you have an Involuntary Termination (as defined below) within 12 months following a Corporate Transaction (as defined below), subject to your compliance with Sections 3 and 4
below, you will be eligible to receive the benefits set forth below: 
 (a) Accrued Obligations. On the date your
employment terminates, you will receive a cash lump sum payment in an amount equal to (i) your fully earned but unpaid base salary, through the date of termination, at the rate then in effect, and (ii) your accrued but unused vacation
through the date of termination. 
 (b) Severance Benefit. You will receive a cash lump sum payment in an amount
equal to twelve (12) months of your Base Salary (your “Severance Benefit”). Your “Base Salary” will be the rate of your base salary from the Company as in effect on the date of your termination of
employment with the Company. For this purpose, your base salary will not include any bonus, incentive compensation, benefits or expense reimbursements or equity awards. 

 (c) Continued Health Benefits. If you elect to receive COBRA benefits on a
timely basis, the Company shall pay you, in one lump sum cash payment, an amount equal to six (6) times the monthly COBRA premium for the group medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits coverage for you and your covered dependents
(the “Continued Health Benefit”) determined immediately prior to the date of your termination of employment, provided that you will be solely responsible for all matters relating to your coverage pursuant to COBRA,
including, without limitation, your election of such coverage and your timely payment of premiums. 
 In no event will you
receive benefits under this Plan in the event of a termination of your employment as a result of your death or disability. 

3. Release Prior to Payment of Benefits. Prior to the payment of any benefits described in Section 2 above, and as a
condition to such payment, you will be required to execute a waiver and release of claims agreement in the form and substance attached as Appendix C hereto (the “Release”) within twenty-one (21) days (or
forty-five (45) days if necessary to comply with applicable law) after the date of your termination of employment. 
 You
may revoke such Release within seven (7) calendar days after execution of the Release. You must execute the Release within the applicable time period and not revoke the Release in order to be entitled to benefits under this Plan. With respect
to each participant in the Plan, his or her “Release Effective Date” will be the day upon which the seven (7)-day revocation period applicable to such Release expires without a revocation of such Release by the participant.

 Your Release Effective Date must be within 55 days following the date of your termination of employment. If your Release
Effective Date does not occur within 55 days of your termination of employment, you will not be entitled to benefits under this Plan. 

4. Restrictive Covenants. 

(a) You acknowledge that you are subject to the provisions of all Company policies regarding confidential information and ethics. You
acknowledge that, in connection with the execution of the Release you will also be required to sign a confidentiality agreement in form and substance acceptable to the Company. 

(b) If you breach or threaten to commit a breach of any of the provisions of this Section 4, the Company shall have the right to
cease all payments to you under Section 2 above, in addition to any other rights and remedies available to the Company under law or in equity. 

5. Effectiveness of the Plan. This Plan shall become effective upon the consummation of a Corporate
Transaction and shall be of no force or effect prior to a Corporate Transaction. In the event that a Corporate Transaction does not occur on or prior to the first anniversary of the date on which this Plan is adopted, the Plan shall thereupon
automatically terminate and shall have no force or effect. The Compensation Committee will have the power to amend or terminate this Plan from time to time in is sole and absolute discretion, provided,

  

 2 

 
however, that after the consummation of a Corporate Transaction no such termination or amendment shall impair your rights to benefits under the terms and conditions of the Plan, as in
effect prior to such termination or amendment, without your written consent. 
 6. Claims Procedures. 

(a) Normally, you do not need to present a formal claim to receive benefits payable under this Plan. 

(b) If any person (the “Claimant”) believes that benefits are being denied improperly, that the Plan is not being
operated properly, that fiduciaries of the Plan have breached their duties, or that the Claimant’s legal rights are being violated with respect to the Plan, the Claimant must file a formal claim, in writing, with the Plan Administrator (as
defined in Section 7(a) below). This requirement applies to all claims that any Claimant has with respect to the Plan, including claims against fiduciaries and former fiduciaries, except to the extent the Plan Administrator determines, in its
sole discretion, that it does not have the power to grant all relief reasonably being sought by the Claimant. 
 (c) A formal
claim must be filed within 90 days after the date the Claimant first knew or should have known of the facts on which the claim is based, unless the Plan Administrator in writing consents otherwise. The Plan Administrator will provide a Claimant, on
request, with a copy of the claims procedures established under subsection (d). 
 (d) The Plan Administrator has adopted
procedures for considering claims (which are set forth in Appendix A), which it may amend from time to time, as it sees fit. These procedures will comply with all applicable legal requirements. These procedures may provide that final and
binding arbitration will be the ultimate means of contesting a denied claim (even if the Plan Administrator or its delegates have failed to follow the prescribed procedures with respect to the claim). The right to receive benefits under this Plan is
contingent on a Claimant using the prescribed claims procedures to resolve any claim. 
 7. Plan Administration.

 (a) The Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee and/or its delegate which will be one or more senior
officers of the Company (the “Plan Administrator”). The Plan Administrator is responsible for the general administration and management of the Plan and will have all powers and duties necessary to fulfill its
responsibilities, including, but not limited to, the discretion to interpret and apply the Plan and to determine all questions relating to eligibility for benefits. The Plan will be interpreted in accordance with its terms and their intended
meanings. All actions taken and all determinations made in good faith by the Plan Administrator or by Plan fiduciaries will be final and binding on all persons claiming any interest in or under the Plan. 

(b) If, due to errors in drafting, any Plan provision does not accurately reflect its intended meaning, as demonstrated by consistent
interpretations or other evidence of intent, or as determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion, the provision will be considered ambiguous and will be interpreted by the Plan Administrator and all Plan fiduciaries in a fashion
consistent with its intent, as determined in the sole discretion of the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator will amend the Plan retroactively to cure any such ambiguity. 

 

 3 

 (c) No Plan fiduciary will have the authority to answer questions about any pending or final
business decision of the Company or any affiliate that has not been officially announced, to make disclosures about such matters, or even to discuss them, and no person will rely on any unauthorized, unofficial disclosure. Thus, before a decision is
officially announced, no fiduciary is authorized to tell any person, for example, that he or she will or will not be laid off or that the Company will or will not offer exit incentives in the future. Nothing in this subsection will preclude any
fiduciary from fully participating in the consideration, making, or official announcement of any business decision. 
 (d) This
Section may not be invoked by any person to require the Plan to be interpreted in a manner inconsistent with its interpretation by the Plan Administrator or other Plan fiduciaries. 

8. Superseding Plan. This Plan (a) will be the only plan with respect to which benefits may be provided to you as a result of
your discharge by the Company without Cause and (b) will supersede any other plan previously adopted by the Company with respect to severance benefits payable to you. Any of your rights hereunder will be in addition to any rights you may
otherwise have under benefit plans or agreements of the Company (other than severance plans or agreements) to which you are a party or in which you are a participant, including, but not limited to, any Company-sponsored employee benefit plans and
equity incentive award plans and any awards made thereunder. 
 9. Integration with Other Payments. The Severance Benefit
and the Continued Health Benefit under the Plan are not intended to duplicate any other benefits such as workers’ compensation wage replacement benefits, disability benefits, pay-in-lieu-of-notice, severance pay, or similar benefits under other
benefit plans, severance programs, employment contracts, or applicable laws, such as the WARN Act. Should such other benefits be payable, your benefits under this Plan will be reduced accordingly or, alternatively, benefits previously paid under
this Plan will be treated as having been paid to satisfy such other benefit obligations. In either case, the Plan Administrator, in its reasonable discretion, will determine how to apply this provision and may override other provisions in this Plan
in doing so. 
 10. Limitation on Employee Rights. This Plan will not give any employee the right to be
retained in the service of the Company, nor will it interfere with or restrict the right of the Company to discharge or otherwise terminate the employee. 

11. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Plan will not give any rights or remedies to any person other than eligible
employees and the Company. 
 12. Successors. This Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors
of the Company. All of your rights hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. 

 

 4 

 13. Governing Law and Venue. This Plan is a welfare plan subject to
ERISA and it will be interpreted, administered, and enforced in accordance with that law. To the extent that state law is applicable, the statutes and common law of the State of California, excluding any that mandate the use of another
jurisdiction’s laws, will apply. Any suit brought hereon shall be brought in the federal courts sitting in the Central District of California, and you hereby waive any claim or defense that such forum is not convenient or proper. 

14. Miscellaneous. Where the context so indicates, the singular will include the plural and vice versa. Titles are
provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of the Plan. Unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary, a reference to a statute or document will be construed as referring to any
subsequently enacted, adopted, or executed counterpart. 
 15. Notice. For purposes of this Plan, notices and all other
communications provided for in this Plan will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the Company at its
primary office location and to an employee at such employee’s last known address as listed on the Company’s records, provided that all notices to the Company will be directed to the attention of its Secretary, or to such other address as
either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address will be effective only upon receipt. 

16. Withholding. The Company will be entitled to withhold from any payments or deemed payments to you hereunder any amount of
withholding required by law. 
 17. Additional Information. As a participant in the Plan, you are entitled to certain
rights and protections under ERISA, as described in Appendix B. 
 18. Section 409A of the Code. 

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent any payments to you pursuant to Section 2 above are treated as
non-qualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, then (a) no amount shall be payable pursuant to such section unless your termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” with the Company
(as such term is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) and any successor provision thereto) (a “Separation from Service”), and (b) if you, at the time of your Separation from Service, are determined by
the Company to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code and the Company determines that delayed commencement of any portion of the termination benefits payable to you pursuant to this Plan is
required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code (any such delayed commencement, a “Payment Delay”), then such portion of your termination benefits described in
Section 2 shall not be provided to you prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of your Separation from Service, (ii) the date of your death or (iii) such earlier date as is
permitted under Section 409A. Upon the expiration of the applicable Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) deferral period, all payments deferred pursuant to a Payment Delay shall be paid in a lump sum to you within thirty (30) days following
such expiration, and any remaining payments due under this Plan shall be paid as otherwise 
  

 5 

 
provided herein. The determination of whether you are a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code as of the time of your Separation from Service
shall made by the Company in accordance with the terms of Section 409A of the Code and applicable guidance thereunder (including without limitation Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i) and any successor provision thereto). 

(b) Notwithstanding Section 17(a), to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, amounts payable to you pursuant to
Section 2 shall be made in reliance upon Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9) (with respect to separation pay plans) or Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) (with respect to short-term deferrals). 

(c) To the extent the payments and benefits under this Plan are subject to Section 409A of the Code, this Plan shall be interpreted,
construed and administered in a manner that satisfies the requirements of Sections 409A(a)(2), (3) and (4) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (and any applicable transition relief under Section 409A of the Code).

 19. Funding. No provision of this Plan shall require the Company, for purposes of satisfying any obligations under the
Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any assets, nor shall the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of
a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Participants shall have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the Company of its successors. 

20. Definitions. For purposes of this Plan, the following terms will have the following meanings: 

(a) “Board” means the board of directors of California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. 

(b) “Cause” means mean any of the following: (i) your material failure or neglect to perform your duties or
responsibilities to the Company; (ii) any act of fraud, embezzlement, theft, misappropriation, or dishonesty by you relating to the Company or its business or assets; (iii) your commission of a felony or other crime involving moral
turpitude; (iv) your gross negligence or intentional misconduct in the conduct of your duties and responsibilities or services, as applicable, with the Company or which adversely affects the image, reputation or business of the Company; or
(v) your material of any written agreement between you and the Company. 
 (c) “Corporate
Transaction” means any of the following transactions to which the Company is a party: 
 (i) A
transaction or series of transactions whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, an
employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or a “person” that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) directly or
indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the 
  

 6 

 
meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (as defined below)) of securities of the Company possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s voting securities
outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or 
 (ii) The consummation by the Company (whether directly
involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination, (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions, or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction: 

(A) Which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to
represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or
substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately
after the transaction, and 
 (B) After which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities
representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this paragraph (b)(ii) as beneficially owning 50% or more of combined voting power of the
Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction. 
 (d)
“Compensation Committee” means the compensation committee of the Board. 
 (e) “Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time. 
 (f) “Good
Reason” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following events without your written consent: 
 (i) a
reduction by more than 10% in your base salary as in effect immediately prior to the Corporate Transaction; 
 (ii) a material
diminution in your duties, authority or responsibilities; or 
 (iii) a change in the geographic location at which you must
perform services to a location that is greater than twenty-five (25) miles from your location immediately prior to the Corporate Transaction. 
  

 7 

 You must provide written notice to the Company of the occurrence of any such event without your written
consent within ninety (90) days of the occurrence of such event. The Company or any successor or affiliate shall have a period of thirty (30) days to cure such event or condition after receipt of written notice of such event from you. Any
voluntary termination of your employment for “Good Reason” following such thirty (30) day cure period must occur no later than the date that is six (6) months following the initial occurrence of one of the foregoing events or
conditions without your written consent. 
 (g) “Involuntary Termination” means the termination of your
employment by the Company without Cause or your voluntary resignation for Good Reason. 
 (h) “Successor
Entity” means any entity that acquires or otherwise succeeds to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company following a Corporate Transaction. 

* * * * * 
  

 8 

 Executed at Los Angeles, California, effective as of
            , 2010. 
  

			
	CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN, INC.
		
	By:	 	  

	Name:	 	  

	Title:	 	  

 

 9 

 APPENDIX A 

DETAILED CLAIMS PROCEDURES 

1. Claims Procedure. 

(a) Initial Claims. All claims will be presented to the Plan Administrator in writing. Within 90 days after receiving a claim, a
claims official appointed by the Plan Administrator will consider the claim and issue his or her determination thereon in writing. The claims official may extend the determination period for up to an additional 90 days by giving the Claimant written
notice. The initial claim determination period can be extended further with the consent of the Claimant. Any claims that the Claimant does not pursue in good faith through the initial claims stage will be treated as having been irrevocably waived.

 (b) Claims Decisions. If the claim is granted, the benefits or relief the Claimant seeks will be provided. If the
claim is wholly or partially denied, the claims official will, within 90 days (or a longer period, as described above), provide the Claimant with written notice of the denial, setting forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant:
(i) the specific reason or reasons for the denial; (ii) specific references to the provisions on which the denial is based; (iii) a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect the claim,
together with an explanation of why the material or information is necessary; and (iv) appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to submit his or her claim for review, including the time limits applicable to
such procedures, and a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse decision upon review. If the Claimant can establish that the claims official has failed to respond to the
claim in a timely manner, the Claimant may treat the claim as having been denied by the claims official. 
 (c) Appeals of
Denied Claims. Each Claimant will have the opportunity to appeal the claims official’s denial of a claim in writing to an appeals official appointed by the Plan Administrator (which may be a person, committee, or other entity). A Claimant
must appeal a denied claim within 60 days after receipt of written notice of denial of the claim, or within 60 days after it was due if the Claimant did not receive it by its due date. The Claimant (or his or her duly authorized representative) may
review pertinent documents in connection with the appeals proceeding and may present issues, comments and documents in writing relating to the claim. The review will take into account all comments, documents, records and other information submitted
by the Claimant relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit claim determination. Any claims that the Claimant does not pursue in good faith through the appeals stage, such as
by failing to file a timely appeal request, will be treated as having been irrevocably waived. 
 (d) Appeals Decisions.
The decision by the appeals official will be made not later than 60 days after the written appeal is received by the Plan Administrator, unless special circumstances require an extension of time, in which case a decision will be rendered as soon
as possible, but not later than 120 days after the appeal was filed, unless the Claimant agrees to a further extension of time. The appeal decision will be in writing, will be set forth in a manner

  

 10 

 
calculated to be understood by the Claimant, and will include specific reasons for the decision, specific references to the provisions on which the decision is based, if applicable, a statement
that the Claimant is entitled to receive upon request and free of charge reasonable access to and copies of all documents, records and other information relevant to the Claimant’s claim for benefits, as well as a statement of the
Claimant’s right to bring an action under Section 502(a) of ERISA. If a Claimant does not receive the appeal decision by the date it is due, the Claimant may deem his or her appeal to have been denied. 

(e) Procedures. The Plan Administrator will adopt procedures by which initial claims will be considered and appeals will be
resolved; different procedures may be established for different claims. All procedures will be designed to afford a Claimant full and fair consideration of his or her claim. 

 

 11 

 APPENDIX B 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

RIGHTS UNDER ERISA 

As a participant in the Plan, you are entitled to certain rights and protections under ERISA. ERISA provides that all Plan participants
will be entitled to: 
 Receive Information About Your Plan and Benefits 

1. Examine, without charge, at the Plan Administrator’s office and at certain Company offices, all Plan documents including
collective bargaining agreements, if any, and copies of all documents filed by the Plan with the U.S. Department of Labor, and available at the Public Disclosure Room of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, such as annual reports and Plan
descriptions. 
 2. Obtain, upon written request to the Plan Administrator, copies of documents governing the operation of the
Plan, including collective bargaining agreements and copies of the latest annual report (Form 5500 Series), if any, and updated summary plan description. The Plan Administrator may make a reasonable charge for the copies. 

3. Obtain upon written request to the Plan Administrator information as to whether a particular employer or employer organization is a
sponsor of the Plan and the address of any employer or employer organization that is a plan sponsor. Your beneficiaries also have a right to obtain this information upon written request to the Plan Administrator. 

4. Receive a summary of the Plan’s annual financial report, if any. The Plan Administrator is required by law to furnish each
participant with a copy of any summary annual report. 
 5. Receive a written explanation of why a claim for benefits has been
denied, in whole or in part, and a review and reconsideration of the claim. 
 6. Continue health care coverage for yourself,
spouse or dependent if there is a loss of coverage as a result of a qualifying event. You or your dependents may have to pay for such coverage. Review this Plan and summary plan description on the rules governing your COBRA continuation coverage
rights. 
 Prudent Actions by Plan Fiduciaries 

In addition to creating rights for Plan participants, ERISA imposes duties upon the people who are responsible for the operation of the
employee benefit plan. The people who operate your Plan, called “fiduciaries” of the Plan, have a duty to do so prudently and in the interest of you and other Plan participants and beneficiaries. No one, including the Company, your union,
or any other person, may fire you or otherwise discriminate against you in any way to prevent you from obtaining a welfare benefit or exercising your right under ERISA. However, this rule neither guarantees continued employment, nor affects the
Company’s right to terminate your employment for other reasons. 

 Enforce Your Rights 

If your claim for a welfare benefit is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you have a right to know why this was done, to obtain
copies of documents relating to the decision without charge, and to appeal any denial, all within certain time schedules. 

Under ERISA, there are steps you can take to enforce the above rights. For instance, if you request a copy of plan documents or the
latest annual report from the Plan and do not receive them within thirty (30) days, you may file suit in a Federal court. In such a case, the court may require the Plan Administrator to provide the materials and pay you up to $110 a day until
you receive the materials, unless the materials were not sent because of reasons beyond the control of the Plan Administrator. If you have a claim for benefits which is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you may file suit in a state or Federal
court. In addition, if you disagree with the Plan’s decision or lack thereof concerning the qualified status of a domestic relations order or a medical child support order, you may file suit in Federal court. If it should happen that Plan
fiduciaries misuse the Plan’s money, or if you are discriminated against for asserting your rights, you may seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, or you may file suit in a federal court. The court will decide who should pay court
costs and legal fees. If you are successful, the court may order the person you have sued to pay these costs and fees. If you lose, the court may order you to pay these costs and fees, for example, if it finds your claim is frivolous. 

Assistance with Your Questions 

If you have any questions about your Plan, you should contact the Plan Administrator. If you should have any questions about this
statement or about your rights under ERISA, or if you need assistance in obtaining documents from the Plan Administrator, you should contact the nearest office of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, listed
in your telephone directory or the Division of Technical Assistance and Inquires, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U. S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue N. W., Washington, D. C. 20210. You may also obtain certain publications
about your rights and responsibilities under ERISA by calling the publications hotline of the Employee Benefits Security Administration. 
  

 2 

 APPENDIX C 

GENERAL RELEASE AND WAIVER 

FORM OF RELEASE 

For valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned does hereby release and forever
discharge the “Releasees” hereunder, consisting of California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each of the Company’s partners, associates, affiliates, subsidiaries,
predecessors, successors, heirs, assigns, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, and all persons acting by, through, or under them, or any of them, of and from any and all manner of action or actions, cause or causes of action, in
law or in equity, suits, debts, liens, contracts, agreements, promises, liability, claims, demands, damages, losses, costs, attorneys’ fees or expenses, of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, fixed or contingent, which the undersigned now
has or may hereafter have against the Releasees, or any of them, by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever arising from the beginning of time to the date hereof (hereinafter called “Claims”). 

The Claims released herein include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Claims in any way arising out of, based upon,
or related to the undersigned’s employment by the Releasees, or any of them, or the termination thereof; any claim for wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, incentive payments, profit-sharing payments, expense reimbursements, leave, vacation,
severance pay or other benefits; any claim for benefits under any stock option, restricted stock or other equity-based incentive plan of the Releasees, or any of them (or any related agreement to which any Releasee is a party); any alleged breach of
any express or implied contract of employment; any alleged torts or other alleged legal restrictions on the Releasee’s right to terminate the employment of the undersigned; and any alleged violation of any federal, state or local statute or
ordinance including, without limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the California Labor Code, the California Family Rights Act and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, each as amended. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Release shall not operate to release
any rights or claims (and such rights or claims shall not be included in the definition of “Claims”) of the undersigned (i) with respect to payments or benefits to which the undersigned may be entitled under Section 2 of the
California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. Severance Plan, or (ii) to accrued or vested benefits the undersigned may have, if any, under any applicable plan, policy, program, arrangement or agreement of any of the Releasees, including, without limitation,
pursuant to any equity or long-term incentive plans, programs or agreements. 
 THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE
UNDERSIGNED HAS BEEN ADVISED BY LEGAL COUNSEL AND IS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROVISIONS OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE SECTION 1542, WHICH PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS: 

“A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR
HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.” 

 THE UNDERSIGNED, BEING AWARE OF SAID CODE SECTION, HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHTS THE
UNDERSIGNED MAY HAVE THEREUNDER, AS WELL AS UNDER ANY OTHER STATUTES OR COMMON LAW PRINCIPLES OF SIMILAR EFFECT. 
 IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE OLDER WORKERS BENEFIT PROTECTION ACT OF 1990, THE UNDERSIGNED IS HEREBY ADVISED AS FOLLOWS: 

(1) HE HAS THE RIGHT TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE; 

(2) HE HAS FORTY-FIVE (45) DAYS FROM HIS SEPARATION FROM SERVICE (AS DEFINED IN THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT) TO CONSIDER
THIS RELEASE BEFORE SIGNING IT; AND 
 (3) HE HAS SEVEN (7) DAYS AFTER SIGNING THIS RELEASE TO REVOKE IT,
AND THIS RELEASE WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON THE EXPIRATION OF THAT REVOCATION PERIOD. 
 The undersigned represents and warrants
that there has been no assignment or other transfer of any interest in any Claim which the undersigned may have against the Releasees, or any of them, and the undersigned agrees to indemnify and hold the Releasees, and each of them, harmless from
any liability, Claims, demands, damages, costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred by the Releasees, or any of them, as the result of any such assignment or transfer or any rights or Claims under any such assignment or transfer. It is
the intention of the parties that this indemnity does not require payment as a condition precedent to recovery by the Releasees against the undersigned under this indemnity. 

The undersigned agrees that if the undersigned hereafter commences any suit arising out of, based upon, or relating to any of the Claims
released hereunder or in any manner asserts against the Releasees, or any of them, any of the Claims released hereunder, then the undersigned shall pay to the Releasees, and each of them, in addition to any other damages caused to the Releasees
thereby, all attorneys’ fees incurred by the Releasees in defending or otherwise responding to said suit or Claim. Nothing herein shall prevent the undersigned from raising or asserting any defense in any suit, claim, proceeding or
investigation brought by any of the Releasees, and by raising or asserting any such defense, the undersigned shall not become obligated to pay attorneys’ fees under this paragraph. 

The undersigned further understands and agrees that neither the payment of any sum of money nor the execution of this Release shall
constitute or be construed as an admission of any liability whatsoever by the Releasees, or any of them, who have consistently taken the position that they have no liability whatsoever to the undersigned. 

 

 2 

 The undersigned acknowledges that different or additional facts may be discovered in
addition to what is now known or believed to be true by him with respect to the matters released in this Agreement, and the undersigned agrees that this Agreement shall be and remain in effect in all respects as a complete and final release of the
matters released, notwithstanding any different or additional facts. 
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this
Release this     day of             , 20    . 

 

	
	  

	[NAME]

  

 3 

 ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION 

 

			
	Name of Plan:	  	California Pizza, Inc. Severance Plan
		
	Plan Administrator:	  	[            ]
		
	Type of Administration:	  	Self-Administered
		
	Type of Plan:	  	Severance Pay Employee Welfare Benefit Plan
		
	Employer Identification Number:	  	[            ]
		
	Direct Questions Regarding the Plan to:	  	[            ]
		
	Agent for Service of Legal Process:	  	 [            ]

 
 Service of Legal Process may also be made upon the Plan
Administrator

		
	Plan Year:	  	Calendar Year
		
	Plan Number:	  	[            ]

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