Document:

Exhibit 10.77 2011 Equity Incentive Plan as Amended

Exhibit 10.77

APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORPORATION
2011 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN 
Termination Date: April 26, 2021
Approved by Board: May 20, 2015
Approved by Stockholders: August 4, 2015

1. GENERAL. 
(a) Adoption. This Plan was adopted by the Board on the Adoption Date to be effective as provided in Section 11 on the Effective Date.  This Plan was amended and restated by the Board on October 22, 2013 (which amendment did not require the approval of the Company’s stockholders) and was amended by the Board on May 20, 2015, subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders at the 2015 annual meeting of such stockholders.  Following the Effective Date of this Plan, no additional stock awards shall be granted under the Applied Micro Circuits Corporation 1992 Equity Incentive Plan or its predecessor, the Applied Micro Circuits Corporation 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (together, the “Prior Plans”).  Any shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to the exercise or settlement of stock awards under the Prior Plans shall not be added to the share reserve of this Plan or available for issuance pursuant to Stock Awards granted hereunder. All outstanding stock awards granted under the Prior Plans shall remain subject to the terms of the Prior Plans. However, any shares subject to outstanding stock awards granted under the Prior Plans as of the Effective Date that expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise or settlement shall be added to the share reserve of this Plan and become available for issuance pursuant to Stock Awards granted hereunder. All Stock Awards granted subsequent to the Effective Date of this Plan shall be subject to the terms of this Plan. 
(b) Eligible Award Recipients. The persons eligible to receive Awards are Employees, Directors and Consultants. 
(c) Available Awards. The Plan provides for the grant of the following Awards: (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonstatutory Stock Options, (iii) Restricted Stock Awards, (iv) Restricted Stock Unit Awards, (v) Stock Appreciation Rights, (vi) Performance Stock Awards, (vii) Performance Cash Awards, and (viii) Other Stock Awards. 
(d) General Purpose. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to secure and retain the services of the group of persons eligible to receive Awards as set forth in Section 1(b), to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and any Affiliate and to provide a means by which such eligible recipients may be given an opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock through the granting of Stock Awards. 
2. ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) Administration by Board. The Board shall administer the Plan unless and until the Board delegates administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees, as provided in Section 2(c). 
(b) Powers of Board. The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan: 
(i) To determine from time to time (A) which of the persons eligible under the Plan shall be granted Awards; (B) when and how each Award shall be granted; (C) what type or combination of types of Award shall be granted; (D) the provisions of each Award granted (which need not be identical), including the time or times when a person shall be permitted to receive cash or Common Stock pursuant to a Stock Award; and (E) the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which a Stock Award shall be granted to each such person. 
(ii) To construe and interpret the Plan and Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Award Agreement or in the written terms of a Performance Cash Award, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan or Award fully effective. 
(iii) To settle all controversies regarding the Plan and Awards granted under it. 
(iv) To accelerate the time at which a Stock Award may first be exercised or the time during which an Award or any part thereof will vest in accordance with the Plan, notwithstanding the provisions in the Award stating the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it will vest. 
(v) To suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Suspension or termination of the Plan shall not materially impair rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted while the Plan is in effect except with the written consent of the affected Participant. 

(vi) To amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable, including, without limitation, relating to Incentive Stock Options and certain nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code and/or to bring the Plan or Stock Awards granted under the Plan into compliance therewith, subject to the limitations, if any, of applicable law, and subject to the last sentence of this subsection 2(b)(vi). However, except as provided in Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, stockholder approval shall be required for any amendment of the Plan that either (A) materially increases the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan, (B) materially expands the class of individuals eligible to receive Awards under the Plan, (C) materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan or materially reduces the price at which shares of Common Stock may be issued or purchased under the Plan, (D) materially extends the term of the Plan, or (E) expands the types of Awards available for issuance under the Plan, but only to the extent required by applicable law or listing requirements. Rights under any Award granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be materially impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless (1) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and (2) such Participant consents in writing. 
(vii) To submit any amendment to the Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of (i) Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder regarding the exclusion of performance-based compensation from the limit on corporate deductibility of compensation paid to Covered Employees, (ii) Section 422 of the Code regarding Incentive Stock Options or (iii) Rule 16b-3. 
(viii) To approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan and to amend the terms of any one or more Awards, including, but not limited to, amendments to provide terms more favorable than previously provided in the Award Agreement, subject to any specified limits in the Plan that are not subject to Board discretion; provided however, that, the Participant’s rights under any Award shall not be materially impaired by any such amendment unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and (ii) such Participant consents in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the limitations of applicable law, if any, and without the affected Participant’s consent, the Board may amend the terms of any one or more Awards if necessary to maintain the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option or to bring the Award into compliance with Section 409A of the Code and the related guidance thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued or amended after the Effective Date. 
(ix) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company and that are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan or Awards. 
(x) To adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit or facilitate participation in the Plan by Employees, Directors or Consultants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States.  
(c) Delegation to Committee. 
(i) General. The Board may delegate some or all of the administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees. If administration of the Plan is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board that have been delegated to the Committee, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee of the Committee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may retain the authority to concurrently administer the Plan with the Committee and may, at any time, revest in the Board some or all of the powers previously delegated. 
(ii) Section 162(m) and Rule 16b-3 Compliance. In the sole discretion of the Board, the Committee may consist solely of two or more Outside Directors, in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code, or solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors, in accordance with Rule 16b-3. In addition, the Board or the Committee, in its sole discretion, may (A) delegate to a Committee of Directors who need not be Outside Directors the authority to grant Awards to eligible persons who are either (I) not then Covered Employees and are not expected to be Covered Employees at the time of recognition of income resulting from such Stock Award, or (II) not persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, or (B) delegate to a Committee of Directors who need not be Non-Employee Directors the authority to grant Stock Awards to eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. 
(d) Delegation to an Officer. The Board may delegate to one or more Officers the authority to do one or both of the following (i) designate Employees who are not Officers to be recipients of Options (and, to the extent permitted by Delaware law, other Stock Awards) and the terms thereof, and (ii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be subject to such Stock Awards granted to such Employees; provided, however, that the Board resolutions regarding such delegation shall specify the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to the Stock Awards granted by such Officer and that such Officer may not grant a Stock Award to himself or herself. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2(d), the Board may not delegate to an Officer authority to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock pursuant to Section 13(v)(ii) below. 
(e) Effect of Board’s Decision. All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Board in good faith shall not be subject to review by any person and shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons. 

(f) Cancellation and Re-Grant of Stock Awards. Neither the Board nor any Committee shall have the authority to: (i) amend the terms of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights to reduce the exercise or strike price thereof, (ii) cancel and re-grant at a lesser price any outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan, or (iii) cancel outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with an exercise or strike price above the current stock price in exchange for cash or other securities, unless the stockholders of the Company have approved such an action within the preceding twelve (12) months or such action relates to a Capitalization Adjustment pursuant to Section 9(a). 
3. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. 
(a) Share Reserve. Subject to the provisions of Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards from and after the Effective Date shall not exceed Eighteen Million One Hundred Thirty-Two Thousand Forty-Seven (18,132,047) shares of Common Stock (such number consisting of (i) Three Million Three Hundred Thousand (3,300,000) shares approved by the Board on May 20, 2015 and by the stockholders at the 2015 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, (ii) Four Million Two Hundred Thousand (4,200,000) shares approved by the stockholders at the 2011 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company held on August 16, 2011 as part of the approval of this Plan, and (iii) Ten Million Six Hundred Thirty-Two Thousand Forty-Seven (10,632,047) shares subject to outstanding stock awards granted under the Prior Plans as of the Effective Date.  As of May 20, 2015, giving effect to the Six Million Nine Hundred Thirty Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety-Two (6,930,892) shares of Common Stock previously issued under the Plan as of such date, the maximum remaining number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards was Eleven Million Two Hundred One Thousand One Hundred Fifty-Five (11,201,155), consisting of (i) Five Million Eight Hundred Fifty-Six Thousand Six Hundred Four (5,856,604) shares subject to previously granted and outstanding Stock Awards under the Plan, and (ii) Five Million Three Hundred Forty-Four Thousand Five Hundred Fifty-One (5,344,551) shares reserved for future grants of new Stock Awards. For clarity, except as provided herein, the limitation in this subsection 3(a) is a limitation in the number of shares of the Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the Plan. Accordingly, this subsection 3(a) does not limit the granting of Stock Awards except as provided in subsection 7(a). Shares may be issued in connection with a merger or acquisition as permitted by NASDAQ Rule 5635 and IM 5635-1 or, if applicable, NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 303A.08, or NYSE MKT Company Guide Section 711 (or any successor rule or regulation thereto) and such issuance shall not reduce the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan. Furthermore, if a Stock Award (i) expires or otherwise terminates without having been exercised in full or (ii) is settled in cash (i.e., the holder of the Stock Award receives cash rather than stock), such expiration, termination or settlement shall not reduce (or otherwise offset) the number of shares of the Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the Plan; provided that with respect to exercises of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights after May 20, 2015, (i) shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations pursuant to subsection 8(g) upon the exercise of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right intended to be settled in shares of Common Stock and shares withheld or reacquired (either by actual delivery or attestation) as payment of the consideration for exercise of an Option shall not be treated as settled in cash for this purpose and shall reduce the number of available shares under the Plan, and (ii) when Stock Appreciation Rights to be settled in shares of Common Stock are exercised, such exercise shall reduce the number of shares available under the Plan by one share for each share covered by the Stock Appreciation Rights exercised without regard to the number of shares used to settle such Stock Appreciation Rights on exercise.  
(b) Reversion of Shares to the Share Reserve. If any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to a Stock Award are forfeited back to the Company because of the failure to meet a contingency or condition required to vest such shares in the Participant, then the shares which are forfeited shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. Also, except as provided in Section 3(a) in connection with the exercise after May 20, 2015 of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right to be settled in shares of Common Stock, any shares withheld or reacquired by the Company pursuant to subsection 8(g) or withheld or reacquired as consideration for the exercise of an Option shall again become available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection 3(b), any such shares shall not be subsequently issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options. 
(c) Incentive Stock Option Limit. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3, subject to the provisions of Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments to the extent consistent with Section 422 of the Code, the aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted after the Effective Date shall be Four Million Two Hundred Thousand (4,200,000) shares of Common Stock. 
(d) Section 162(m) Limitation on Annual Grants. Subject to the provisions of Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, at such time as the Company may be subject to the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, no Employee shall be eligible to be granted during any calendar year Stock Awards whose value is determined by reference to an increase over an exercise or strike price of at least one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the Stock Award is granted covering more than Four Million Two Hundred Thousand (4,200,000) shares of Common Stock. 
(e) Source of Shares. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the Company. 

4. ELIGIBILITY. 
(a) Eligibility for Specific Stock Awards. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or a parent corporation or subsidiary corporation (as such terms are defined in Code Sections 424(e) and (f)). Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants. 
(b) Ten Percent Stockholders. A Ten Percent Stockholder shall not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the exercise price of such Option is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant. 
(c) Consultants. A Consultant shall be eligible for the grant of a Stock Award only if, at the time of grant, a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act (“Form S-8”) is available to register either the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such Consultant because of the nature of the services that the Consultant is providing to the Company, because the Consultant is a natural person, or because of any other rule governing the use of Form S-8.  
5. OPTION PROVISIONS. 
Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. All Options shall be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates shall be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option. If an Option is not specifically designated as an Incentive Stock Option, then the Option shall be a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The provisions of separate Options need not be identical; provided, however, that each Option Agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions: 
(a) Term. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of its grant or such shorter period specified in the Option Agreement. 
(b) Exercise Price. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the exercise price of each Option shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may be granted with an exercise price lower than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code (whether or not such options are Incentive Stock Options). 
(c) Consideration. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable law and as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, by any combination of the methods of payment set forth below. The Board shall have the authority to grant Options that do not permit all of the following methods of payment (or otherwise restrict the ability to use certain methods) and to grant Options that require the consent of the Company to utilize a particular method of payment. The methods of payment permitted by this Section 6(c) are: 
(i) by cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company; 
(ii) pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of the stock subject to the Option, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds; 
(iii) by delivery to the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock; 
(iv) by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price; provided, however, that the Company shall accept a cash or other payment from the Participant to the extent of any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued; provided, further, that shares of Common Stock will no longer be outstanding under an Option and will not be exercisable thereafter to the extent that (A) shares are used to pay the exercise price pursuant to the “net exercise,” (B) shares are delivered to the Participant as a result of such exercise, and (C) shares are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations; or 
(v) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board.  
(d) Transferability of Options. The Board may, in its sole discretion, impose such limitations on the transferability of Options as the Board shall determine. In the absence of such a determination by the Board to the contrary, the following restrictions on the transferability of Options shall apply: 
(i) Restrictions on Transfer. An Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder; provided, however, that the Board may, in 

its sole discretion, permit transfer of the Option in a manner consistent with applicable tax and securities laws upon the Optionholder’s request. 
(ii) Domestic Relations Orders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may be transferred pursuant to a domestic relations order, provided, however, that an Incentive Stock Option may be deemed to be a Nonqualified Stock Option as a result of such transfer. 
(iii) Beneficiary Designation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted under the terms of the applicable Option Agreement, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form provided by or otherwise satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option. 
(e) Vesting Generally. The total number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option may vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may or may not be equal. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may or may not be exercised (which may be based on the satisfaction of Performance Goals or other criteria) as the Board may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary. The provisions of this Section 5(e) are subject to any Option provisions governing the minimum number of shares of Common Stock as to which an Option may be exercised. 
(f) Termination of Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Option Agreement or other agreement between the Optionholder and the Company, in the event that an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholder’s death or Disability), the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination of Continuous Service) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date ninety (90) days following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein or in the Option Agreement (as applicable), the Option shall terminate. 
(g) Extension of Termination Date. An Optionholder’s Option Agreement may provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service (other than upon the Optionholder’s death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the applicable period of time after the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration requirements, or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. 
(h) Disability of Optionholder. In the event that an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder’s Disability, the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination of Continuous Service), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve (12) months following such termination of Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein or in the Option Agreement (as applicable), the Option shall terminate. 
 
(i) Death of Optionholder. In the event that (i) an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder’s death, or (ii) the Optionholder dies within the period (if any) specified in the Option Agreement after the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service for a reason other than death, then the Option may be exercised (to the extent the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of death) by the Optionholder’s estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or, if applicable, by a person designated to exercise the option upon the Optionholder’s death, but only within the period ending on the earlier of (A) the date twelve (12) months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement), or (B) the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after the Optionholder’s death, the Option is not exercised within the time specified herein or in the Option Agreement (as applicable), the Option shall terminate. 
(j) Non-Exempt Employees. No Option granted to an Employee that is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act shall be first exercisable for any shares of Common Stock until at least six months following the date of grant of the Option. The foregoing provision is intended to operate so that any income derived by a non-exempt employee in connection with the exercise or vesting of an Option will be exempt from his or her regular rate of pay. 

6. PROVISIONS OF STOCK AWARDS OTHER THAN OPTIONS. 
(a) Restricted Stock Awards. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. To the extent consistent with the Company’s Bylaws, at the Board’s election, shares of Common Stock may be (x) held in book entry form subject to the Company’s instructions until any restrictions relating to the Restricted Stock Award lapse; or (y) evidenced by a certificate, which certificate shall be held in such form and manner as determined by the Board. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Award Agreements need not be identical, provided, however, that each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions: 
(i) Consideration. A Restricted Stock Award may be awarded in consideration for (A) past or future services actually or to be rendered to the Company or an Affiliate, or (B) any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in its sole discretion and permissible under applicable law. 
(ii) Vesting. Shares of Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement may be subject to forfeiture to the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board. Generally, except for Restricted Stock Awards (A) granted to Non-Employee Directors, or (B) that vest based on the satisfaction of Performance Goals (which generally shall vest over a Performance Period not less than one (1) year), no Restricted Stock Award shall vest at a rate more favorable to the Participant than over a three (3)-year period measured from the date of grant, except upon a Corporate Transaction in which such Restricted Stock Award is not assumed or continued, or upon an event related to a Change in Control.  Other examples of Restricted Stock Awards that may vest at a rate more favorable to the Participant than over a three (3)-year period or, if based on the satisfaction of  Performance Goals, over a Performance Period less than one (1) year include, without limitation, awards granted by the Board in consideration for extraordinary past or future services actually or to be rendered to the Company or an Affiliate, or to recruit, retain or incent executive or other talent deemed critical to the Company's continuing or future success.
(iii) Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. In the event a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Company may receive via a forfeiture condition, any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant which have not vested as of the date of termination of Continuous Service under the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement. 
(iv) Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall be transferable by the Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, as the Board shall determine in its sole discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement remains subject to the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement. 
 
(b) Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements need not be identical, provided, however, that each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall include (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions: 
(i) Consideration. At the time of grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid by the Participant upon delivery of each share of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award. The consideration to be paid (if any) by the Participant for each share of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award may be paid in any form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in its sole discretion and permissible under applicable law. 
(ii) Vesting. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of the Restricted Stock Unit Award as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. Generally, except for Restricted Stock Unit Awards (x) granted to Non-Employee Directors, or (y) that vest based on the satisfaction of Performance Goals (which generally shall vest over a Performance Period not less than one (1) year), no Restricted Stock Unit Award shall vest at a rate more favorable to the Participant than over a three (3)-year period measured from the date of grant, except upon a Corporate Transaction in which such Restricted Stock Unit Award is not assumed or continued, or upon an event related to a Change in Control.  Other examples of Restricted Stock Unit Awards that may vest at a rate more favorable to the Participant than over a three (3)-year period or, if based on the satisfaction of  Performance Goals, over a Performance Period less than one (1) year include, without limitation, awards granted by the Board in consideration for extraordinary past or future services actually or to be rendered to the Company or an Affiliate, or to recruit, retain or incent executive or other talent deemed critical to the Company's continuing or future success.
(iii) Payment. A Restricted Stock Unit Award may be settled by the delivery of shares of Common Stock, their cash equivalent, any combination thereof or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. 

(iv) Additional Restrictions. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board, as it deems appropriate, may impose such restrictions or conditions that delay the delivery of the shares of Common Stock (or their cash equivalent) subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award to a time after the vesting of such Restricted Stock Unit Award. 
(v) Dividend Equivalents. Dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares of Common Stock covered by a Restricted Stock Unit Award, as determined by the Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. At the sole discretion of the Board, such dividend equivalents may be converted into additional shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award in such manner as determined by the Board. Any additional shares covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award credited by reason of such dividend equivalents will be subject to all the terms and conditions of the underlying Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement to which they relate. 
(vi) Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, such portion of the Restricted Stock Unit Award that has not vested will be forfeited upon the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service. 
(vii) Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, any Restricted Stock Unit Award granted under the Plan that is not exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code shall contain such provisions so that such Restricted Stock Unit Award will comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Such restrictions, if any, shall be determined by the Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement evidencing such Restricted Stock Unit Award. For example, such restrictions may include, without limitation, a requirement that any Common Stock that is to be issued in a year following the year in which the Restricted Stock Unit Award vests must be issued in accordance with a fixed pre-determined schedule. 
(c) Stock Appreciation Rights. Each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted as stand-alone Stock Awards or in tandem with other Stock Awards. The terms and conditions of Stock Appreciation Right Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Stock Appreciation Right Agreements need not be identical; provided, however, that each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall include (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions: 
(i) Term. No Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of its grant or such shorter period specified in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement. 
(ii) Strike Price. Each Stock Appreciation Right will be denominated in shares of Common Stock equivalents. The strike price of each Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock equivalents subject to the Stock Appreciation Right on the date of grant. 
(iii) Calculation of Appreciation. The appreciation distribution payable on the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right will be not greater than an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right) of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock equivalents in which the Participant is vested under such Stock Appreciation Right, and with respect to which the Participant is exercising the Stock Appreciation Right on such date, over (B) the strike price that will be determined by the Board at the time of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right. 
(iv) Vesting. At the time of the grant of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Board may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of such Stock Appreciation Right as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. 
(v) Exercise. To exercise any outstanding Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant must provide written notice of exercise to the Company in compliance with the provisions of the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such Stock Appreciation Right. 
(vi) Payment. The appreciation distribution in respect to a Stock Appreciation Right may be paid in Common Stock, in cash, in any combination of the two or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Board and contained in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such Stock Appreciation Right. 
(vii) Termination of Continuous Service. In the event that a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Participant may exercise his or her Stock Appreciation Right (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Stock Appreciation Right as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (A) the date ninety (90) days following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement), or (B) the expiration of the term of the Stock Appreciation Right as set forth in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement. If, after termination, the Participant does not exercise his or her Stock Appreciation Right within the time specified herein or in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement (as applicable), the Stock Appreciation Right shall terminate. 

(viii) Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, any Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan that are not exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code shall contain such provisions so that such Stock Appreciation Rights will comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Such restrictions, if any, shall be determined by the Board and contained in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such Stock Appreciation Right. For example, such restrictions may include, without limitation, a requirement that a Stock Appreciation Right that is to be paid wholly or partly in cash must be exercised and paid in accordance with a fixed pre-determined schedule.  
(d) Performance Awards. 
(i) Performance Stock Awards. A Performance Stock Award is a Stock Award that may be granted, may vest, or may be exercised based upon the attainment during a Performance Period of certain Performance Goals. A Performance Stock Award may, but need not, require the completion of a specified period of Continuous Service. The length of any Performance Period, the Performance Goals to be achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained shall be conclusively determined by the Board in its sole discretion. The maximum number of shares that may be granted to any Participant in a calendar year attributable to Stock Awards described in this Section 6(d)(i) shall not exceed Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand (750,000) shares of Common Stock. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the applicable Award Agreement, the Board may determine that cash may be used in payment of Performance Stock Awards. Any additional shares covered by the Performance Stock Award credited by reason of any dividends or dividend equivalent rights will be subject to all the terms and conditions of the underlying Performance Stock Award Agreement (including vesting) applicable to the shares of Common Stock to which they relate. 
(ii) Performance Cash Awards. A Performance Cash Award is a cash award that may be granted upon the attainment during a Performance Period of certain Performance Goals. A Performance Cash Award may also require the completion of a specified period of Continuous Service. The length of any Performance Period, the Performance Goals to be achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained shall be conclusively determined by the Board in its sole discretion. The maximum value that may be granted to any Participant in a calendar year attributable to cash awards described in this Section 6(d)(ii) shall not exceed Four Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($4,200,000). The Board may provide for or, subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify, may permit a Participant to elect for, the payment of any Performance Cash Award to be deferred to a specified date or event. The Board may specify the form of payment of Performance Cash Awards, which may be cash or other property, or may provide for a Participant to have the option for his or her Performance Cash Award, or such portion thereof as the Board may specify, to be paid in whole or in part in cash or other property. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the applicable Award Agreement, the Board may determine that Common Stock authorized under this Plan may be used in payment of Performance Cash Awards, including additional shares in excess of the Performance Cash Award as an inducement to hold shares of Common Stock. 
(e) Other Stock Awards. Other forms of Stock Awards valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock may be granted either alone or in addition to Stock Awards provided for under Section 5 and the preceding provisions of this Section 6. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Other Stock Awards will be granted, the number of shares of Common Stock (or the cash equivalent thereof) to be granted pursuant to such Other Stock Awards and all other terms and conditions of such Other Stock Awards. Generally, except for Other Stock Awards (x) granted to Non-Employee Directors, or (y) that vest based on the satisfaction of Performance Goals (which generally shall vest over a Performance Period not less than one (1) year), no Other Stock Award shall vest at a rate more favorable to the Participant than over a three (3)-year period measured from the date of grant, except upon a Corporate Transaction in which such Other Stock Award is not assumed or continued, or upon an event related to a Change in Control.  Other examples of Other Stock Awards that may vest at a rate more favorable to the Participant than over a three (3)-year period or, if based on the satisfaction of Performance Goals, over a Performance Period less than one (1) year include, without limitation, awards granted by the Board in consideration for extraordinary past or future services actually or to be rendered to the Company or an Affiliate, or to recruit, retain or incent executive or other talent deemed critical to the Company's continuing or future success.
7. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. 
(a) Availability of Shares. During the terms of the Stock Awards, the Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock reasonably required to satisfy such Stock Awards. 
(b) Securities Law Compliance. The Company shall seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to grant Stock Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Stock Awards; provided, however, that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan, any Stock Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Stock Award; and provided that this undertaking shall not require the Company to grant Stock Awards in any jurisdiction outside the United States if the Company determines, in its discretion, that compliance with local securities laws is unduly burdensome. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority that counsel for the Company deems 

necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority is obtained. 
(c) No Obligation to Notify. The Company shall have no duty or obligation to any holder of a Stock Award to advise such holder as to the time or manner of exercising such Stock Award. Furthermore, the Company shall have no duty or obligation to warn or otherwise advise such holder of a pending termination or expiration of a Stock Award or a possible period in which the Stock Award may not be exercised. The Company has no duty or obligation to minimize the tax consequences of a Stock Award to the holder of such Stock Award. 
8. MISCELLANEOUS. 
(a) Use of Proceeds from Sales of Common Stock. Proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Stock Awards shall constitute general funds of the Company. 
(b) Corporate Action Constituting Grant of Stock Awards. Corporate action constituting a grant by the Company of a Stock Award to any Participant shall be deemed completed as of the date of such corporate action, unless otherwise determined by the Board, regardless of when the instrument, certificate, or letter evidencing the Stock Award is communicated to, or actually received or accepted by, the Participant. 
(c) Stockholder Rights. No Participant shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Common Stock subject to such Stock Award unless and until such Participant has exercised the Stock Award pursuant to its terms and the Participant shall not be deemed to be a stockholder of record until the issuance of the Common Stock pursuant to such exercise has been entered into the books and records of the Company. 
(d) No Employment or Other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan, any Stock Award Agreement or other instrument executed thereunder or in connection with any Award granted pursuant to the Plan shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Stock Award was granted or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (i) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without cause, (ii) the service of a Consultant pursuant to the terms of such Consultant’s agreement with the Company or an Affiliate, or (iii) the service of a Director pursuant to the Bylaws of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may be. 
(e) Incentive Stock Option $100,000 Limitation. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Affiliates) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options, notwithstanding any contrary provision of the applicable Option Agreement(s). 
(f) Investment Assurances. The Company may require a Participant, as a condition of exercising or acquiring Common Stock under any Stock Award, (i) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Participant’s knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and/or to employ a purchaser representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and experienced in financial and business matters and that he or she is capable of evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser representative, the merits and risks of exercising the Stock Award; and (ii) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant is acquiring Common Stock subject to the Stock Award for the Participant’s own account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the Common Stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, shall be inoperative if (x) the issuance of the shares upon the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Stock Award has been registered under a then currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or (y) as to any particular requirement, a determination is made by counsel for the Company that such requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the then applicable securities laws. The Company may, upon advice of counsel to the Company, place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, legends restricting the transfer of the Common Stock. 
(g) Withholding Obligations. Unless prohibited by the terms of a Stock Award Agreement, the Company may, in its sole discretion, satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to an Award by any of the following means (in addition to the Company’s right to withhold from any compensation paid to the Participant by the Company) or by a combination of such means: (i) causing the Participant to tender a cash payment; (ii) withholding shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise issuable to the Participant in connection with the Award; (iii) withholding cash from an Award settled in cash; or (iv) by such other method as may be set forth in the Award Agreement. 
(h) Electronic Delivery. Any reference herein to a “written” agreement or document shall include any agreement or document delivered electronically or posted on the Company’s intranet. 

(i) Deferrals. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board, in its sole discretion, may determine that the delivery of Common Stock or the payment of cash, upon the exercise, vesting or settlement of all or a portion of any Award may be deferred and may establish programs and procedures for deferral elections to be made by Participants. Deferrals by Participants will be made in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Consistent with Section 409A of the Code, the Board may provide for distributions while a Participant is still an employee. The Board is authorized to make deferrals of Stock Awards and determine when, and in what annual percentages, Participants may receive payments, including lump sum payments, following the Participant’s termination of employment or retirement, and implement such other terms and conditions consistent with the provisions of the Plan and in accordance with applicable law. 
(j) Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that the Board determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions necessary to avoid the consequences specified in Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code. To the extent applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued or amended after the Effective Date. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the Effective Date the Board determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance (including such Department of Treasury guidance as may be issued after the Effective Date), the Board may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Board determines are necessary or appropriate to (i) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued or amended after the Effective Date.  
9. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK; OTHER CORPORATE EVENTS. 
(a) Capitalization Adjustments. In the event of a Capitalization Adjustment, the Board shall appropriately adjust: (i) the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to Section 3(a), (ii) the class(es) and maximum number of securities that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 3(c), (iii) the class(es) and maximum number of securities that may be awarded to any person pursuant to Section 3(c) and 6(d)(i), and (iv) the class(es) and number of securities and price per share of stock subject to outstanding Stock Awards. The Board shall make such adjustments, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. 
(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. Except as otherwise provided in the Stock Award Agreement, in the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, all outstanding Stock Awards (other than Stock Awards consisting of vested and outstanding shares of Common Stock not subject to the Company’s right of repurchase) shall terminate immediately prior to the completion of such dissolution or liquidation, and the shares of Common Stock subject to the Company’s repurchase option may be repurchased by the Company notwithstanding the fact that the holder of such Stock Award is providing Continuous Service, provided, however, that the Board may, in its sole discretion, cause some or all Stock Awards to become fully vested, exercisable and/or no longer subject to repurchase or forfeiture (to the extent such Stock Awards have not previously expired or terminated) before the dissolution or liquidation is completed but contingent on its completion. 
(c) Corporate Transaction. The following provisions shall apply to Stock Awards in the event of a Corporate Transaction unless otherwise provided in the instrument evidencing the Stock Award or any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the holder of the Stock Award or unless otherwise expressly provided by the Board at the time of grant of a Stock Award. 
(i) Acceleration of Vesting and Exercisability. In the event of a Corporate Transaction, each outstanding Stock Award granted prior to October 22, 2013 shall vest and, if applicable, become immediately exercisable for the number of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be vested and exercisable under the terms of the Stock Award one (1) year after the date of such transaction.  
(ii) Stock Awards May Be Assumed. Except as otherwise stated in the Stock Award Agreement, in the event of a Corporate Transaction, any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company) may assume or continue any or all Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan or may substitute similar stock awards for Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan (including but not limited to, awards to acquire the same consideration paid to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Corporate Transaction), and any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in respect of Common Stock issued pursuant to Stock Awards may be assigned by the Company to the successor of the Company (or the successor’s parent company, if any), in connection with such Corporate Transaction. A surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or its parent) may choose to assume or continue only a portion of a Stock Award or substitute a similar stock award for only a portion of a Stock Award. The terms of any assumption, continuation or substitution shall be set by the Board in accordance with the provisions of Section 2. 

(iii) Stock Awards Held by Current Participants. Except as otherwise stated in the Stock Award Agreement, in the event of a Corporate Transaction in which the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or its parent company) does not assume or continue such outstanding Stock Awards or substitute similar stock awards for such outstanding Stock Awards, then with respect to Stock Awards that have not been assumed, continued or substituted and that are held by Participants whose Continuous Service has not terminated prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction (referred to as the “Current Participants”), the vesting of such Stock Awards (and, if applicable, the time at which such Stock Awards may be exercised) shall (contingent upon the effectiveness of the Corporate Transaction) be accelerated in full to a date prior to the effective time of such Corporate Transaction as the Board shall determine (or, if the Board shall not determine such a date, to the date that is five (5) days prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction), and such Stock Awards shall terminate if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction, and any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to such Stock Awards shall lapse (contingent upon the effectiveness of the Corporate Transaction). 
(iv) Stock Awards Held by Persons other than Current Participants. Except as otherwise stated in the Stock Award Agreement, in the event of a Corporate Transaction in which the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or its parent company) does not assume or continue such outstanding Stock Awards or substitute similar stock awards for such outstanding Stock Awards, then with respect to Stock Awards that have not been assumed, continued or substituted and that are held by persons other than Current Participants, the vesting of such Stock Awards (and, if applicable, the time at which such Stock Award may be exercised) shall not be accelerated and such Stock Awards (other than a Stock Award consisting of vested and outstanding shares of Common Stock not subject to the Company’s right of repurchase) shall terminate if not exercised (if applicable) prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction; provided, however, that any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to such Stock Awards shall not terminate and may continue to be exercised notwithstanding the Corporate Transaction. 
(v) Payment for Stock Awards in Lieu of Exercise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event a Stock Award will terminate if not exercised prior to the effective time of a Corporate Transaction, the Board may provide, in its sole discretion, that the holder of such Stock Award may not exercise such Stock Award but will instead receive a payment, in such form as may be determined by the Board, equal in value to the excess, if any, of (A) the value of the property the holder of the Stock Award would have received upon the exercise of the Stock Award, over (B) any exercise price payable by such holder in connection with such exercise. 
(d) Change in Control. A Stock Award may be subject to additional acceleration of vesting and exercisability upon or after a Change in Control as may be provided in the Stock Award Agreement for such Stock Award or as may be provided in any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant, but in the absence of such provision, no such acceleration shall occur. 
10. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN. 
(a) Plan Term. Unless sooner terminated by the Board pursuant to Section 2, the Plan shall automatically terminate on the day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or approved by the stockholders of the Company, whichever is earlier. No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated. 
(b) No Material Impairment of Rights. Termination of the Plan shall not materially impair rights and obligations under any Award granted while the Plan is in effect except with the written consent of the affected Participant. 
11. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN. 
This Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date. Prior to the Effective Date, the Prior Plans are unaffected by the Plan, and stock awards shall continue to be granted from the Prior Plans. If the Plan has not been approved by the stockholders of the Company by the first anniversary of the Adoption Date, the adoption of the Plan shall be null and void and the Prior Plans shall continue unaffected by the adoption of the Plan.
12. CHOICE OF LAW. 
The law of the State of California shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to such state’s conflict of laws rules. 
 
13. DEFINITIONS. As used in the Plan, the definitions contained in this Section 13 shall apply to the capitalized terms indicated below: 
(a) “Adoption Date” means April 27, 2011, the date the Plan was adopted by the Board. 

(b) “Affiliate” means, at the time of determination, any “parent” or “subsidiary” as such terms are defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. The Board shall have the authority to determine the time or times at which “parent” or “subsidiary” status is determined within the foregoing definition. 
(c) “Award” means a Stock Award or a Performance Cash Award. 
(d) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company. 
(e) “Capitalization Adjustment” means any change that is made in, or other events that occur with respect to, the Common Stock subject to the Plan or subject to any Stock Award after the Effective Date without the receipt of consideration by the Company (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or other transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the Company). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as a transaction “without receipt of consideration” by the Company. 
(f) “Change in Control” means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events: 
(i) any Exchange Act Person becomes the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur (A) on account of the acquisition of securities of the Company by an investor, any affiliate thereof or any other Exchange Act Person from the Company in a transaction or series of related transactions the primary purpose of which is to obtain financing for the Company through the issuance of equity securities or (B) solely because the level of Ownership held by any Exchange Act Person (the “Subject Person”) exceeds the designated percentage threshold of the outstanding voting securities as a result of a repurchase or other acquisition of voting securities by the Company reducing the number of shares outstanding, provided that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of voting securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition, the Subject Person becomes the Owner of any additional voting securities that, assuming the repurchase or other acquisition had not occurred, increases the percentage of the then outstanding voting securities Owned by the Subject Person over the designated percentage threshold, then a Change in Control shall be deemed to occur; 
(ii) there is consummated a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving (directly or indirectly) the Company and, immediately after the consummation of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior thereto do not Own, directly or indirectly, either (A) outstanding voting securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined outstanding voting power of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction or (B) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined outstanding voting power of the parent of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, in each case in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction; 
(iii) the stockholders of the Company approve or the Board approves a plan of complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or a complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company shall otherwise occur, except for a liquidation into a parent corporation; 
 
(iv) there is consummated a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, other than a sale, lease, license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to an Entity, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are Owned by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such sale, lease, license or other disposition; or 
(v) individuals who, on the date this Plan is adopted by the Board, are members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board (provided, however, that if the appointment or election (or nomination for election) of any new Board member was approved or recommended by a majority vote of the members of the Incumbent Board then still in office, such new member shall, for purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board). 
For clarity, the term Change in Control shall not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Plan, the definition of Change in Control (or any analogous term) in an individual written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant shall supersede the foregoing definition with respect to Awards subject to such agreement; provided, however, that if no definition of Change in Control or any analogous term is set forth in such an individual written agreement, the foregoing definition shall apply. 

(g) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 
(h) “Committee” means a committee of one (1) or more Directors to whom authority has been delegated by the Board in accordance with Section 2(c). 
(i) “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company. 
(j) “Company” means Applied Micro Circuits Corporation, a Delaware corporation. 
(k) “Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, who is (i) engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and is compensated for such services, or (ii) serving as a member of the board of directors of an Affiliate and is compensated for such services. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such service, shall not cause a Director to be considered a “Consultant” for purposes of the Plan. 
(l) “Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. A change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, shall not terminate a Participant’s Continuous Service. For example, a change in status from an employee of the Company to a consultant to an Affiliate or to a Director shall not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. To the extent permitted by law, the Board or the chief executive officer of the Company, in that party’s sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered interrupted in the case of any leave of absence approved by that party, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal leave. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a leave of absence shall be treated as Continuous Service for purposes of vesting in a Stock Award only to such extent as may be provided in the Company’s leave of absence policy, in the written terms of any leave of absence agreement or policy applicable to the Participant, or as otherwise required by law.  
(m) “Corporate Transaction” means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events: 
(i) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries; 
(ii) a sale or other disposition of at least ninety percent (90%) of the outstanding securities of the Company; 
(iii) the consummation of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is not the surviving corporation; or 
(iv) the consummation of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger, consolidation or similar transaction are converted or exchanged by virtue of the merger, consolidation or similar transaction into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise. 
(n) “Covered Employee” shall have the meaning provided in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. 
(o) “Director” means a member of the Board. 
(p) “Disability” means, with respect to a Participant, the inability of such Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, as provided in Sections 22(e)(3) and 409A(a)(2)(c)(i) of the Code. 
(q) “Effective Date” means the effective date of this Plan document, which is August 16, 2011, the date of the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company at which this Plan was approved by the stockholders.  
(r) “Employee” means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such services, shall not cause a Director to be considered an “Employee” for purposes of the Plan. 
(s) “Entity” means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity. 
(t) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 
(u) “Exchange Act Person” means any natural person, Entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act), except that “Exchange Act Person” shall not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant 

to an offering of such securities, (iv) an Entity Owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of stock of the Company; or (v) any natural person, Entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) that, as of the Effective Date of the Plan as set forth in Section 11, is the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities. 
(v) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined as follows: 
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange (or the exchange with the greatest volume of trading in the Common Stock) on the date of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, if there is no closing sales price (or closing bid if no sales were reported) for the Common Stock on the date of determination, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price (or closing bid if no sales were reported) on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists. 
(ii) In the absence of such market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Board in good faith. 
(w) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to be, and qualifies as, an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. 
(x) “Non-Employee Director” means a Director who either (i) is not a current employee or officer of the Company or an Affiliate, does not receive compensation, either directly or indirectly, from the Company or an Affiliate for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (“Regulation S-K”)), does not possess an interest in any other transaction for which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in a business relationship for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule 16b-3. 
(y) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means any Option that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. 
(z) “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. 
(aa) “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to the Plan. 
(bb) “Option Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and an Optionholder evidencing the terms and conditions of an Option grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. 
(cc) “Optionholder” means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if permitted under the terms of this Plan, such other person who holds an outstanding Option. 
(dd) “Other Stock Award” means an award based in whole or in part by reference to the Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(d). 
(ee) “Other Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of an Other Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an Other Stock Award grant. Each Other Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. 
(ff) “Outside Director” means a Director who either (i) is not a current employee of the Company or an “affiliated corporation” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Code), is not a former employee of the Company or an “affiliated corporation” who receives compensation for prior services (other than benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan) during the taxable year, has not been an officer of the Company or an “affiliated corporation,” and does not receive remuneration from the Company or an “affiliated corporation,” either directly or indirectly, in any capacity other than as a Director, or (ii) is otherwise considered an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. 
(gg) “Own,” “Owned,” “Owner,” “Ownership” A person or Entity shall be deemed to “Own,” to have “Owned,” to be the “Owner” of, or to have acquired “Ownership” of securities if such person or Entity, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting, with respect to such securities. 
(hh) “Participant” means a person to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Stock Award. 

(ii) “Performance Cash Award” means an award of cash granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(d)(ii). 
(jj) “Performance Criteria” means the one or more criteria that the Board shall select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goals for a Performance Period. In approving any Award that is subject to Performance Goals, the Board is permitted, but is not obligated, to select Performance Criteria and otherwise structure the Award in  a manner that is intended to comply with the exemption for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.  The Performance Criteria that shall be used to establish  Performance Goals may be based on any one of, or combination of, the following: (i) earnings per share; (ii) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; (iii) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (iv) total stockholder return; (v) return on equity; (vi) return on assets, investment, or capital employed; (vii) operating margin; (viii) gross margin; (ix) operating income; (x) net income (before or after taxes); (xi) net operating income; (xii) net operating income after tax; (xiii) pre-tax profit; (xiv) operating cash flow; (xv) sales or revenue targets; (xvi) increases in revenue or product revenue; (xvii) expenses and cost reduction goals; (xviii) improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; (xix) economic value added (or an equivalent metric); (xx) market share; (xxi) cash flow; (xxii) cash flow per share; (xxiii) share price performance; (xxiv) debt reduction; (xxv) implementation or completion of projects or processes; (xxvi) customer satisfaction; (xxvii) stockholders’ equity; and (xxviii) to the extent that an Award is not intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, other measures of performance selected by the Board. Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in the payment or vesting corresponding to the degree of achievement as specified in the Stock Award Agreement or the written terms of a Performance Cash Award. The Board shall, in its sole discretion, define the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period. 
(kk) “Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Board for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria. Performance Goals may be based on a Company-wide basis, with respect to one or more business units, divisions, Affiliates, or business segments, and in either absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or the performance of one or more relevant indices. At the time of the grant of any Award, the Board is authorized to determine whether, when calculating the attainment of Performance Goals for a Performance Period: (i) to exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (ii) to exclude exchange rate effects, as applicable, for non-U.S. dollar denominated net sales and operating earnings; (iii) to exclude the effects of changes to generally accepted accounting standards required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board; (iv) to exclude the effects of any statutory adjustments to corporate tax rates; and (v) to exclude the effects of any “extraordinary items” as determined under generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, the Board retains the discretion to reduce or eliminate the compensation or economic benefit due upon attainment of Performance Goals. 
(ll) “Performance Period” means the period of time selected by the Board 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 Stock Award or a Performance Cash Award. Performance Periods may be of varying and overlapping duration, at the sole discretion of the Board. 
(mm) “Performance Stock Award” means a Stock Award granted under the terms and conditions of Section 6(d)(i). 
(nn) “Plan” means this Applied Micro Circuits Corporation 2011 Equity Incentive Plan. 
(oo) “Restricted Stock Award” means an award of shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(a).  
(pp) “Restricted Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award grant. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. 
(qq) “Restricted Stock Unit Award” means an unfunded right to receive shares of Common Stock at a future date which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(b). 
(rr) “Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted Stock Unit Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Unit Award grant. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. 
(ss) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time. 
(tt) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 
(uu) “Stock Appreciation Right” means a right to receive the appreciation on Common Stock that is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(c). 

(vv) “Stock Appreciation Right Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock Appreciation Right evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Appreciation Right grant. Each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. 
(ww) “Stock Award” means any right to receive Common Stock granted under the Plan, including an Incentive Stock Option, a Nonstatutory Stock Option, a Restricted Stock Award, a Restricted Stock Unit Award, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Performance Stock Award or any Other Stock Award. 
(xx) “Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. 
(yy) “Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, (i) any corporation of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, Owned by the Company, and (ii) any partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or capital contribution) of more than fifty percent (50%). 
(zz) “Ten Percent Stockholder” means a person who Owns (or is deemed to Own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate.RFP-2015.6.30-EX10.2

	
		
	 
	EXHIBIT 10.2

	
	2015 Short-Term Incentive Plan
Canada/International

	
							
	 
	Purpose
	As a means of rewarding employees for their contribution toward the success of the Company, a 2015 Short-Term Incentive Plan (STIP) has been instituted.  The STIP is designed to link a portion of employees’ total compensation to the attainment of specific, measurable, and bottom-line oriented key company performance indicators.

	 
	Eligibility
	The Plan applies to all non-unionized, regular, salaried, employees of the Company.  Eligibility for or receipt of incentive pay should not be considered as automatic, retroactive or precedent based.

	 
	Performance Period
	The STIP relates to the achievement of performance goals over the period from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015.

	 
	Plan Design
	The STIP is designed to reflect the different employee accountabilities and diversity of positions.  In order to tie incentive payouts to employee performance and the achievement of key performance indicators, the STIP’s design is adapted to all groups of employees: Operations, Sales and Corporate.

	 
	 
	The amount of award a participant is eligible to receive is expressed as a certain percentage of the employee’s base salary as determined by his grade level.  Base salary is the rate in effect at December 31, 2015. The Company determines the threshold, target and maximum incentive payouts to participants, which payout levels vary per grade level.  Supervisors are responsible to inform their employees of their respective threshold, target and maximum incentive award payouts.

	 
	 
	 

	 
	Discretionary Plan and Plan Administration
	›    Incentive payouts are within the complete and sole discretion of the Company.
›    The Company will approve actual achievement of performance measures and individual awards based on actual achievement before awards are granted and paid, subject to the overall maximum incentive payout described below under “Maximum and Minimum Payout”.

	 
	 
	›    The Company has the right to adjust any or all awards; this includes the right to eliminate any or all awards for any year despite achievement of performance measures, even if such decision is made after the end of the performance period.

	 
	 
	›    The Company may modify, suspend, amend or terminate the STIP at any time. 

	 
	 
	›    Any payment made under this plan is subject to the Company's recoupment policy.

	 
	 
	›    With respect to any employee, the Company reserves the right to reduce or even cancel incentive awards in the event an employee has demonstrated a poor level of performance, whether or not the Company or group performance levels have been met. 

	 
	 
	›    The demonstrated effectiveness assessment of each employee must be completed to justify an award under the STIP. 

	 
	 
	›    Adjustments may be made to the financial metrics for closure costs, impairment charges and other related charges, severance costs, net loss or gain on the disposition of assets, strategic capital expenditures and similar items.

	 
	 
	›    Adjustments may be made to the cost metrics for specific reasons such as market downtime, major variation in grade mix, major changes in input price, restructuring or reorganization costs, and similar items.

	 
	 
	›    Any adjustment to the performance metrics has to be formally approved before implementation.
›    Awards under the STIP are to be paid in a lump sum no later than March 31, 2016.

1
This plan text replaces and supersedes any and all prior versions and summary fact sheet.
Revised June 2015
         

	
		
	
	2015 Short-Term Incentive Plan
Canada/International

	
							
	Performance Metrics1
	Performance Metrics & Weighting

	 
	 
	 
	Performance Metrics

	 
	 
	 
	Criteria
	Threshold
	Target
	Maximum

	 
	 
	 
	Income from operations (RFP)
	$ 158M
(80% of Budget)
	$ 197M
(Budget)
	$ 236M
(120% of Budget)

	 
	 
	 
	Manufacturing costs2
	2% > Budget
	Budget
	2% < Budget

	 
	 
	 
	SG&A Cost3
	$ 146M
(3.5% > Budget)
	$ 141M
(Budget)
	$ 136M
(3.5% < Budget)

	 
	 
	 
	Profit per metric ton 4
	

80% of Budget 

	

Budget 

	

120% of Budget 

	 
	 
	 
	Days to pay –
Year-over-year improvement5
	0.8%
	1.6%
	≥ 2%

	 
	 
	 
	Safety – OSHA rate6
	1.05
	0.95
	≤ 0.85

	 
	 
	 
	Safety – Severity rate7
	30
	27
	≤ 24

	 
	 
	 
	Class 1 & 2 environmental incidents –  Year-over-year improvement (RFP) 8
	4%
	8%
	≥ 12%

1    Expressed in U.S. dollars
2    For the Hydro-Saguenay division, threshold is set at budget, target is set at 2% below budget and maximum payout is set at 5% below budget. US Wood Product divisions are tied to the manufacturing costs of the respective paper mills they supply.
		
	3  
	Excluding incentive and equity compensation costs.

		
	4  
	Performance measures differ for the Wood Products and South Korea sales forces.

		
	5   
	Results are adjusted for changes in payment terms, early payment discounts and non-payment by major customers.

		
	6 
	The frequency of safety incidents is the OSHA incident rate measured by the number recordable incidents, multiplied by 200,000 and divided by the total number of hours worked. The calculation methodology for the mills/divisions varies from the calculation methodology for corporate. 

7  The severity of safety incidents is measured by the number of days lost due to lost time incidents and incidents resulting in temporary assignments or restricted work, multiplied by 200,000 and divided by the total number of hours worked. 
8  Performance is based on the Company’s year-over-year improvement for all employees, provided that i) pulp and paper mill employees will not be entitled to a payout for the environmental metric if the number of class 1 & 2 incidents recorded at their respective mill is 5 or greater and ii) employees of other facilities and divisions will not be entitled to a payout for the environmental metric if the number of class 1 & 2 incidents recorded at their respective facility or division is 2 or greater. 

2
This plan text replaces and supersedes any and all prior versions and summary fact sheet.
Revised June 2015
         

	
		
	
	2015 Short-Term Incentive Plan
Canada/International

	
					
	% of STIP

	Weighting
	Pulp/paper mills
	Wood products divisions
	Sales1
	Corporate functions

	Income from operations (RFP)
	35%
	35%
	50%
	50%

	Manufacturing costs (mill/division)
	40%
	40%
	 
	 

	SG&A cost control
	 
	 
	5%
	25%

	Profit per metric ton
	 
	 
	12%
	 

	Days to pay
	 
	 
	8%
	 

	Safety – OSHA (mill/division) (RFP)
	15% (mill)
	15% (division)
	15% (RFP)
	15% (RFP)

	Safety – Severity
(mill/division) (RFP)
	5% (mill)
	5% (division)
	5% (RFP)
	5% (RFP)

	Environmental incidents
(RFP) 2
	5%
	5%
	5%
	5%

1  Weighting differs for the Wood Products and South Korea sales forces.
  2 See note 8 of the previous table.

	
		
	Maximum and Minimum Payout
	The overall maximum incentive payout under the STIP cannot exceed 7% of the free cash flow (FCF) generated by the Company in 2015 (maximum available envelope).  If the total payout determined based on actual achievement of performance metrics exceeds the maximum available envelope, all incentive awards are reduced on a prorata basis. If the total payout determined based on actual achievement of performance metrics is lower than the maximum available envelope, the excess envelope is not distributed to participants.
There is no minimum payout under the STIP.

	Cash Flow Measure
	For purpose of the STIP, free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities, less maintenance, safety and environmental capital expenditures, adjusted for:
›    Cash reorganization and restructuring costs
›    Optional pension contributions towards past service
›    Other special items

	 

	Vacation
	Any payment made pursuant to the STIP is deemed to include any and all vacation pay that may be owed pursuant to applicable minimum employment standards.

3
This plan text replaces and supersedes any and all prior versions and summary fact sheet.
Revised June 2015
         

	
		
	
	2015 Short-Term Incentive Plan
Canada/International

	
		
	Administrative Guidelines
	New Hires
An employee hired into a regular position on or before September 30, 2015 is eligible to participate on a prorated basis, effective upon his date of hire.  An employee hired into a regular position on or after October 1, 2015 is not eligible for participation in the STIP.

	 
	Promotion or Status Changes

	 
	›    If an employee is promoted or demoted to a position covered by a different incentive payout level, any incentive payout calculation will be prorated for time spent in respective positions.  In either case, the base salary rate used to determine the prorated incentive payout will be the base salary rate in effect at December 31, 2015.

	 
	›    If an employee is transferred internally, any incentive payout calculation will be prorated for time spent in respective locations or groups. The base salary rate used to determine the prorated incentive payout will be the base salary rate in effect at December 31, 2015. 

	 
	›    If an employee’s status changes from temporary salaried, unionized salaried or hourly to regular non-unionized salaried (and vice versa) during the performance period, the employee will be eligible to participate for time spent as a regular non-unionized salaried employee, and any incentive payout calculation will be prorated for time spent as a regular non-unionized salaried employee. The base salary rate used to determine the prorated incentive payout will be the base salary rate in effect at December 31, 2015.

	 
	 

	

	

Termination

	 
	›    An employee who retires or who dies during the performance period will be entitled to receive a prorated incentive payout, based on actual achievement for time as an active eligible employee, if and when the Board approves the incentive payouts and does not otherwise cancel payment. For the purpose of this plan, an employee is deemed to retire if he is age 57 or above on his last day of active work and has completed at least 2 years of continuous service. Nevertheless, an employee who hands over his resignation to start a new employment within 3 months of his last day of work is considered to have resigned and not deemed to retire. Notwithstanding the above, the Company reserves the right, at its discretion, to make the final decision on the award eligibility.

	 
	›    An employee who is involuntarily terminated and whose last day of active work is on or before June 30, 2015 will not be entitled to receive an incentive payout, unless he is deemed to retire pursuant to the previous paragraph.

	 
	›    An employee who is involuntarily terminated and whose last day of active work is on or after July 1, 2015 will be entitled to receive a prorata amount of an incentive payout, based on actual achievement for time as an active eligible employee, if and when the Board approves the incentive payouts and does not otherwise cancel payment.

	 
	›    An employee who hands in his resignation before payment is made will not be eligible to receive an award.  

	 
	›    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, an employee who is terminated for cause, as determined by the Company or his specific employer, in their discretion, whether during the performance period or after the performance period and before actual payouts, will not receive an award.

4
This plan text replaces and supersedes any and all prior versions and summary fact sheet.
Revised June 2015
         

	
		
	
	2015 Short-Term Incentive Plan
Canada/International

	
		
	Administrative Guidelines
	Leaves

	 
	›    Maternity/parental/adoption leave: The length of the leave is not included in the calculation of any incentive payout.

	 
	›    Leave without pay: The length of the leave is not included in the calculation of any incentive payout.

	 
	›    Short-term absence due to illness: The length of the absence is included in the calculation of the incentive payout if it is a bona fide absence pursuant to the disability medical leave procedure.

	 
	›    Long-term absence due to illness (time on long-term disability): The length of the absence is not included in the calculation of the incentive payout.

Approved by:

Richard Garneau
President and Chief Executive Officer

5
This plan text replaces and supersedes any and all prior versions and summary fact sheet.
Revised June 2015

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