Acasti Pharma Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan

The Plan is intended to (a) provide eligible persons with an incentive to contribute to the success of the Company and to operate and manage the Company’s business in a manner that will provide for the Company’s long-term growth and profitability to benefit its stockholders and other important stakeholders, including its employees and customers, and (b) provide a means of obtaining, rewarding and retaining key personnel. To this end, the Plan provides for the grant of awards of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, deferred stock units, unrestricted stock, dividend equivalent rights, performance-based awards, and other equity-based awards. Any of these awards may, but need not, be made as performance incentives to reward the holders of such awards for the achievement of performance goals in accordance with the terms of the Plan. Stock options granted under the Plan may be nonqualified stock options or incentive stock options, as provided in the Plan.

For purposes of interpreting the Plan documents (including the Plan and Award Agreements), the following definitions will apply:

2.1 “Affiliate” means any company or other entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 of Regulation C under the Securities Act, including any Subsidiary. For purposes of grants of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, an entity may not be considered an Affiliate unless the Company holds a “controlling interest” in such entity within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i); provided that (a) except as specified in clause (b) below, an interest of “at least 50 percent” shall be used instead of an interest of “at least 80 percent” in each case where “at least 80 percent” appears in Treasury Regulations Section 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i), and (b) where the grant of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights is based upon a legitimate business criterion, an interest of “at least 20 percent” shall be used instead of an interest of “at least 80 percent” in each case where “at least 80 percent” appears in Treasury Regulations Section 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i).

2.2 “Applicable Laws” means the legal requirements relating to the Plan and the Awards under (a) applicable provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any rules or regulations thereunder, and any other laws, rules, regulations, and government orders of any jurisdiction applicable to the Company or its Affiliates, (b) applicable provisions of the corporate, securities, tax, and other laws, rules, regulations, and government orders of any jurisdiction applicable to Awards granted to residents thereof, and (c) the rules of any Stock Exchange or Securities Market on which the Common Stock is listed or publicly traded.

2.3 “Award” means a grant under the Plan of an Option, a Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, a Restricted Stock Unit, a Deferred Stock Unit, Unrestricted Stock, a Dividend Equivalent Right, a Performance-Based Award, or an Other Equity-Based Award.

2.4 “Award Agreement” means the written agreement between the Company and a Grantee that evidences and sets out the terms and conditions of an Award.

2.8 “Cause” means, (a) conviction of, or the entry of a plea of guilty or no contest to, any criminal or quasi-criminal offence that causes the Company or its Affiliates public disgrace or disrepute, or adversely affects the Company’s or its Affiliate’s operations or financial performance; (b) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or any of its Affiliates in the course of his or her service to the Company or any of its Affiliates; (c) refusal, failure or inability to perform any material obligation or fulfil any duty (other than any duty or obligation of the type described in clause (e) below) to the Company or any of its Affiliates (other than due to Disability), which failure, refusal or inability is not cured within 10 days after delivery of notice thereof; (d) material breach of any agreement with or duty owed to the Company or any of its Affiliates; (e) any breach of any obligation or duty to the Company or any of its Affiliates (whether arising by statute, common law, contract or otherwise) relating to confidentiality, non-competition, non-solicitation or proprietary rights; or (f) any other conduct that constitutes “cause” at common law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Grantee and the Company (or any of its Affiliates) have entered into an employment agreement, consulting agreement or other similar agreement that specifically defines “cause”, then, with respect to such Grantee, “Cause” shall have the meaning defined in that employment agreement, consulting agreement or other agreement. Any determination by the Committee whether an event constituting Cause has occurred will be final, binding, and conclusive.

(a) a change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any Person or Persons acting as a group, acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person(s), constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided that for purposes of this Plan, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control (i) any change in the ownership of the stock of the Company as a result of a private financing of the Company that is approved by the Board will not be considered a Change in Control, (ii) any acquisition by the Company or any Affiliate, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any subsidiary, or (iv) the acquisition of securities pursuant to an offer made to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; or

(b) 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 hold, directly or indirectly, either (i) 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 (ii) 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; or

(c) a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets, which occurs on the date that any Person or group of Persons acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such Person or Persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than fifty percent (50%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For purposes of this subsection (c), gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to change the jurisdiction of incorporation or domicile of the Company, (ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the stockholders of the Company immediately before the transaction, or (iii) its sole purpose is to perform an internal restructuring of the Company, as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion.

The Board shall have full and final authority, in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control, and any incidental matters relating thereto.

2.10 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as now in effect or as hereafter amended, and any successor thereto. References in the Plan to any Code Section will be deemed to include, as applicable, regulations promulgated under such Code Section.

2.11 “Committee” means a committee of, and designated from time to time by resolution of, the Board, which will be constituted as provided in Section 3.1(b) and Section 3.1(c) (or, if no Committee has been so designated, the Board).

2.12 “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, or any security that shares of Common Stock may be changed into or for which shares of Common Stock may be exchanged as provided in Section 17.1.

2.15 “Determination Date” means the Grant Date or such other date as of which the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock is required to be established for purposes of the Plan.

2.16 “Disability” means the inability of a Grantee to perform each of the essential duties of such Grantee’s position by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that is potentially permanent in character or that can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; provided that, with respect to rules regarding expiration of an Incentive Stock Option following termination of a Grantee’s Service, Disability will mean the inability of such Grantee to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

2.17 “Dividend Equivalent Right” means a right, granted to a Grantee pursuant to Section 13, to receive cash, Common Stock, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends or other periodic payments paid or made with respect to a specified number of shares of Common Stock.

2.18 “Effective Date” means the date of the Company’s domestication as a Delaware corporation, the Plan having been adopted by the Board on June 20, 2024 and approved by the Company's stockholders on September 30, 2024.

2.19 “Employee” means, as of any date of determination, an employee (including an officer) of the Company or an Affiliate.

2.20 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.

2.21 “Fair Market Value” means the fair market value of a share of Common Stock for purposes of the Plan, which will be determined as of any Determination Date as follows:

(a) If on such Determination Date the shares of Common Stock are listed on a Stock Exchange, or is publicly traded on another established securities market (a “Securities Market”), the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock will be the closing price of the Common Stock on such Determination Date as reported on such Stock Exchange or such Securities Market (provided that, if there is more than one such Stock Exchange or Securities Market, the Committee will designate the appropriate Stock Exchange or Securities Market for purposes of the Fair Market Value determination). If there is no such reported closing price on such Determination Date, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock will be the closing price of the Common Stock on the immediately preceding day on which any sale of Common Stock will have been reported on such Stock Exchange or such Securities Market.

(b) If on such Determination Date the shares of Common Stock are not listed on a Stock Exchange or publicly traded on a Securities Market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock will be the value of the Common Stock on such Determination Date as determined by the Committee by the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method, in a manner consistent with Code Section 409A.

Notwithstanding this Section 2.21 or Section 18.3, for purposes of determining taxable income and the amount of the related tax withholding obligation pursuant to Section 18.3, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in good faith using any reasonable method it deems appropriate.

2.22 “Family Member” means, with respect to any Grantee as of any date of determination, (a) a person who is a spouse, former spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother, sister, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, of such Grantee, (b) any person sharing such Grantee’s household (other than a tenant or employee), (c) a trust in which any one or more of the persons specified in clauses (a) and (b) above (and such Grantee) own more than 50% of the beneficial interest, (d) a foundation in which any one or more of the persons specified in clauses (a) and (b) above (and such Grantee) control the management of assets, and (e) any other entity in which one or more of the persons specified in clauses (a) and (b) above (and such Grantee) own more than 50% of the voting interests.

2.23 “Grant Date” means, as determined by the Committee, the latest to occur of (a) the date as of which the Committee approves the Award, (b) the date on which the recipient of an Award first becomes eligible to receive an Award under Section 6, or (c) such subsequent date specified by the Committee in the corporate action approving the Award.

2.25 “Incentive Stock Option” means an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Code Section 422, or the corresponding provision of any subsequently enacted tax statute, as amended from time to time.

2.31 “Other Equity-Based Award” means an Award representing a right or other interest that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, shares of Common Stock, other than an Option, a Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, a Restricted Stock Unit, a Deferred Stock Unit, Unrestricted Stock, or a Dividend Equivalent Right.

2.33 “Performance-Based Award” means an Award made subject to the achievement of performance goals (as provided in Section 14) over a Performance Period specified by the Committee.

2.34 “Performance Measures” means performance criteria on which performance goals under Performance-Based Awards are based other than the mere continuation of Service or the mere passage of time, the satisfaction of which is a condition for the grant, exercisability, vesting or full enjoyment of a Performance-Based Award. A Performance Measure and any targets with respect thereto need not be based upon an increase, a positive or improved result or avoidance of loss. A Performance Measure will mean an objectively determinable measure or objectively determinable measures of performance including but not limited to any, or any combination of, the following (measured either absolutely or comparatively (including, without limitation, by reference to an index or indices or the performance of one or more companies) and determined either on a consolidated basis or, as the context permits, on a divisional, subsidiary, line of business, project or geographical basis or in combinations thereof and subject to such adjustments, if any, as the Committee specifies: attainment of research and development milestones; sales bookings; business divestitures and acquisitions; capital raising; cash flow; cash position; contract awards or backlog; corporate transactions; customer renewals; customer retention rates from an acquired company, subsidiary, business unit or division; earnings (which may include any calculation of earnings, including but not limited to earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before taxes, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and net taxes); earnings per share; expenses; financial milestones; gross margin; growth in stockholder value relative to the moving average of the S&P 500 Index or another index; internal rate of return; leadership development or succession planning; license or research collaboration arrangements; market share; net income; net profit; net sales; new product or business development; new product invention or innovation; number of customers; operating cash flow; operating expenses; operating income; operating margin; overhead or other expense reduction; patents; procurement; product defect measures; product release timelines; productivity; profit; regulatory milestones or regulatory-related goals; retained earnings; return on assets; return on capital; return on equity; return on investment; return on sales; revenue; revenue growth; sales results; sales growth; savings; stock price; time to market; total stockholder return; working capital; unadjusted or adjusted actual contract value; unadjusted or adjusted total contract value; and individual objectives such as peer reviews or other subjective or objective criteria. The Administrator may provide in the case of any Performance-Based Award that one or more of the Performance Measures applicable to such Performance-Based Award will be adjusted in an objectively determinable manner to reflect events (for example, but without limitation, acquisitions or dispositions) occurring during the performance period that affect the applicable Performance Measures.

2.35 “Performance Period” means the period of time during which the performance goals under Performance-Based Awards must be met to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to any such Performance-Based Awards.

2.36 “Person” means any individual, entity, or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act).

2.37 “Plan” means this Acasti Pharma Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and/or restated from time to time.

2.38 “Prior Plans” means the Acasti Pharma Inc. Stock Option Plan and the Acasti Pharma Inc. Equity Incentive Plan.

2.41 “Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of one share of Common Stock awarded to a Grantee pursuant to Section 10.

2.43 “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.

2.44 “Service” means service qualifying a Grantee as a Service Provider to the Company or an Affiliate. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee’s change in position or duties will not result in interrupted or terminated Service, so long as such Grantee continues to be a Service Provider to the Company or an Affiliate. Subject to the preceding sentence, any determination by the Committee whether a termination of Service will have occurred for purposes of the Plan will be final, binding and conclusive. If a Service Provider’s employment or other service relationship is with an Affiliate and the applicable entity ceases to be an Affiliate, a termination of Service will be deemed to have occurred when such entity ceases to be an Affiliate unless the Service Provider transfers his or her employment or other service relationship to the Company or any other Affiliate.

2.45 “Service Provider” means an Employee, officer or director of the Company or an Affiliate, or any other service provider to the Company or an Affiliate (including a consultant or advisor) who is a natural person, provided such person is currently providing direct services to the Company or an Affiliate.

2.47 “Stock Exchange” means the Nasdaq Stock Market or another established national or regional stock exchange.

2.48 “Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) or non-corporate entity with respect to which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock, membership interests or other ownership interests of any class or kind ordinarily having the power to vote for the directors, managers or other voting members of the governing body of such corporation or non-corporate entity. In addition, any other entity may be designated by the Committee as a Subsidiary, provided that (a) such entity could be considered as a subsidiary according to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, (b) in the case of an Award of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right, such Award would be considered to be granted in respect of “service recipient stock” under Code Section 409A and (c) purposes of Incentive Stock Options, “Subsidiary” means any “subsidiary corporation” of the Company within the meaning of Code Section 424(f).

2.49 “Substitute Award” means an Award granted upon assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted under a compensatory plan by a business entity acquired or to be acquired by the Company or an Affiliate or with which the Company or an Affiliate has combined or will combine.

2.50 “Ten Percent Stockholder” means a natural person who owns more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding voting securities of the Company, the Company’s parent (if any) or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries. In determining share ownership, the attribution rules of Code Section 424(d) will be applied.

The Committee will administer the Plan and will have such powers and authorities related to the administration of the Plan as are consistent with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Applicable Laws. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee will have full power and authority to take all actions and to make all determinations required or provided for under the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement, and will have full power and authority to take all such other actions and make all such other determinations not inconsistent with the specific terms and provisions of the Plan that the Committee deems to be necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement. All such actions and determinations will be made by (a) the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present, or (b) the unanimous consent of the members of the Committee executed in writing in accordance with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Applicable Laws. Unless otherwise expressly determined by the Board, the Committee will have the authority to interpret and construe all provisions of the Plan, any Award and any Award Agreement, and any such interpretation or construction, and any other determination contemplated to be made under the Plan or any Award Agreement, by the Committee will be final, binding and conclusive whether or not expressly provided for in any provision of the Plan, such Award or such Award Agreement.

In the event that the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement provides for any action to be taken by the Board or any determination to be made by the Board, such action may be taken or such determination may be made by the Committee constituted in accordance with this Section 3.1 if the Board has delegated the power and authority to do so to such Committee.

The Committee will be a committee composed of not fewer than two members of the Board designated by the Board to administer the Plan. During any time when the Company has a class of equity security registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, each member of the Committee will be a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and an independent director in accordance with the rules of any Stock Exchange on which the Common Stock is listed; provided that any action taken by the Committee will be valid and effective whether or not members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership set forth in this Section 3.1(b) or otherwise provided in any charter of the Committee. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee may be the Governance and Human Resources Committee of the Board or similar compensation committee of the Board or, in either case, a subcommittee thereof if the Governance and Human Resources Committee or other such committee of the Board or such subcommittee satisfies the foregoing requirements.

The Board also may appoint one or more committees of the Board, each composed of one or more directors of the Company who need not be Non-Employee Directors, which committee may administer the Plan with respect to Grantees who are not “officers” as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act or members of the Board, may grant Awards under the Plan to such Grantees, and may determine all terms of such Awards, subject to the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and the rules of the Stock Exchange on which the Common Stock is listed.

To the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, the Committee may by resolution delegate some or all of its authority with respect to the Plan and Awards to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and/or any other officer of the Company designated by the Committee, provided that the Committee may not delegate its authority hereunder (i) to make Awards to members of the Board, (ii) to make Awards to Employees who are (A) “officers” as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act or (B) officers of the Company who are delegated authority by the Committee pursuant to this Section 3.1(d), or (iii) to interpret the Plan or any Award. Any delegation hereunder will be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Committee specifies at the time of such delegation or thereafter. Nothing in the Plan will be construed as obligating the Committee to delegate authority to any officer of the Company, and the Committee may at any time rescind the authority delegated to an officer of the Company appointed hereunder and delegate authority to one or more other officers of the Company. At all times, an officer of the Company delegated authority pursuant to this Section 3.1(d) will serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Committee. Any action undertaken by any such officer of the Company in accordance with the Committee’s delegation of authority will have the same force and effect as if undertaken directly by the Committee, and any reference in the Plan to the “Committee” will, to the extent consistent with the terms and limitations of such delegation, be deemed to include a reference to each such officer.

The Board from time to time may exercise any or all of the powers and authorities related to the administration and implementation of the Plan, as set forth in Section 3.1 and other applicable provisions of the Plan, as the Board will determine, consistent with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Applicable Laws.

(iv) establish the terms and conditions of each Award (including the Option Price of any Option or the purchase price for Restricted Stock), the nature and duration of any restriction or condition (or provision for lapse thereof) relating to the vesting, exercise, transfer, or forfeiture of an Award or the shares of Common Stock subject thereto, the treatment of an Award in the event of a Change in Control (subject to applicable agreements), and any terms or conditions that may be necessary to qualify Options as Incentive Stock Options;

(vii) subject to the limitation on repricing in Section 3.4, amend, modify or supplement the terms of any outstanding Award, which authority will include the authority, in order to effectuate the purposes of the Plan but without amending the Plan, to make Awards or to modify outstanding Awards made to eligible natural persons who are foreign nationals or are natural persons who are employed outside the United States to reflect differences in local law, tax policy, or custom, provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, modification or supplement of the terms of any outstanding Award will, without the consent of the Grantee thereof, impair such Grantee’s rights under such Award;

(ix) adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Service Providers who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States (provided that approval will not be necessary for immaterial modifications to the Plan or any Award Agreement that are required for compliance with the laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction).

The Committee may reserve the right in an Award Agreement to cause a forfeiture of the gain realized by a Grantee with respect to an Award thereunder on account of actions taken by, or failed to be taken by, such Grantee in violation or breach of or in conflict with any (i) employment agreement, (ii) non-competition agreement, (iii) agreement prohibiting solicitation of Employees or clients of the Company or an Affiliate, (iv) confidentiality obligation with respect to the Company or an Affiliate, (v) Company policy or procedure, (vi) other agreement, or (vii) any other obligation of such Grantee to the Company or an Affiliate, as and to the extent specified in such Award Agreement. The Committee may annul an outstanding Award if the Grantee is an Employee of the Company or an Affiliate and is terminated for Cause as defined in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement or for “cause” as defined in any other agreement between the Company or such Affiliate and the Grantee, as applicable.

Any Award granted pursuant to the Plan will be subject to mandatory repayment by the Grantee to the Company to the extent the Grantee is, or in the future becomes, subject to (i) any Company “clawback” or recoupment policy that is adopted to comply with the requirements of any Applicable Law, rule or regulation, or otherwise, or (ii) any law, rule or regulation that imposes mandatory recoupment, under circumstances set forth in such law, rule or regulation.

Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property), stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, change in control, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares of Common Stock or other securities or similar transaction), the Company may not, without obtaining stockholder approval: (a) amend the terms of outstanding Options or SARs to reduce the exercise price of such outstanding Options or the strike price of such outstanding SARs; (b) cancel outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for or substitution of Options or SARs with an exercise price or strike price, as applicable, that is less than the exercise price or strike price, as applicable, of the original Options or SARs; (c) cancel outstanding Options or SARs with an exercise price or strike price, as applicable, above the current stock price in exchange for cash or other securities; or (d) take any other action that is treated as a repricing under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

The Committee may permit or require the deferral of any payment pursuant to any Award into a deferred compensation arrangement, subject to such rules and procedures as it may establish, which may include provisions for the payment or crediting of interest or Dividend Equivalent Rights and, in connection therewith, provisions for converting such credits into Deferred Stock Units and for restricting deferrals to comply with hardship distribution rules affecting tax-qualified retirement plans subject to Code Section 401(k)(2)(B)(IV), provided that no Dividend Equivalent Rights may be granted in connection with, or related to, an Award of Options or SARs. Any such deferrals will be made in a manner that complies with Code Section 409A, including, if applicable, with respect to when a “separation from service” (as defined for purposes of Code Section 409A) occurs.

No member of the Board or the Committee will be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the ownership of the shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan may be evidenced in such a manner as the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, including by book-entry or direct registration (including transaction advices) or the issuance of one or more share certificates.

Subject to such additional shares of Common Stock as will be available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4.2, and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 16, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan will be equal to 1,350,000 shares of Common Stock. Such shares of Common Stock may be authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock or treasury shares of Common Stock or any combination of the foregoing, as may be determined from time to time by the Board or by the Committee. Any of the shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan may be used for any type of Award under the Plan, and any or all of the shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan will be available for issuance pursuant to Incentive Stock Options.

In connection with mergers, reorganizations, separations, or other transactions to which Code Section 424(a) applies, the Committee will have the right to cause the Company to assume awards previously granted under a compensatory plan by another business entity that is a party to such transaction and to substitute Awards under the Plan for such awards. The number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4.1 will be increased by the number of shares of Common Stock subject to any such assumed Awards and substitute Awards. Shares available for issuance under a stockholder-approved plan of a business entity that is a party to such transaction (as appropriately adjusted, if necessary, to reflect such transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and will not reduce the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise available for issuance under the Plan, subject to applicable rules of any Stock Exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed.

(b) Any shares of Common Stock that are subject to Awards, including shares of Common Stock acquired through dividend reinvestment pursuant to Section 10.4, will be counted against the share issuance limit set forth in Section 4.1 as one share of Common Stock for every one share of Common Stock subject to such Award. Any shares of Common Stock that are subject to an Award of a SAR will be counted against the share issuance limit set forth in Section 4.1 as one share of Common Stock for every one share of Common Stock subject to such Award regardless of the number of shares of Common Stock actually issued to settle such SARs upon the exercise thereof. The target number of shares issuable under a Performance-Based Award will be counted against the share issuance limit set forth in Section 4.1 as of the Grant Date, but such number will be adjusted to equal the actual number of shares issued upon settlement of the Performance-Based Award to the extent different from such target number of shares.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4.1, any shares of Common Stock related to Awards under the Plan that thereafter terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation, or otherwise without the issuance of such shares will be available again for issuance under the Plan in the same amount as such shares were counted against the limit set forth in Section 4.1. Shares of Common Stock tendered or withheld or subject to an Award other than an Option or SAR surrendered in connection with the purchase of shares of Common Stock or deducted or delivered from payment of an Award other than an Option or SAR in connection with the Company’s tax withholding obligations as provided in Section 18.3 will not be available again for issuance under the Plan.

(d) The number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan will not be increased by the number of shares of Common Stock (i) tendered or withheld or subject to an Award surrendered in connection with the purchase of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of an Option as provided in Section 12.2, (ii) deducted or delivered from payment of an Award of an Option or SAR in connection with the Company’s tax withholding obligations as provided in Section 18.3 or (iii) purchased by the Company with proceeds from Option exercises.

The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted to any Non-Employee Director pursuant to Awards in any calendar year shall be limited to a number that, combined with any cash fees or other compensation paid to such Non-Employee Director during such calendar year, shall not exceed $750,000 in total value, with the value of any such Non-Employee Director Awards based on the grant date fair value of such Awards for financial reporting purposes; provided, however, that in the calendar year in which a Nonemployee Director first joins the Board, the aggregate limit for services as a member of the Board or a committee of the Board shall not exceed $1,000,000; provided, further, however, that the foregoing limitations shall not apply to the extent that the Non-Employee Director has been or becomes an Employee during the calendar year. For the avoidance of doubt, the limits in this subsection do not apply to compensation to a Non-Employee Director for service to the Company other than service as a member of the Board or a committee of the Board.

The Plan will be effective as of the Effective Date, subject to the prior approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders. Following the Effective Date, no awards shall be made under the Prior Plans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares of Common Stock reserved under the Prior Plans to settle awards which are made under the Prior Plans prior to the Effective Date may be issued and delivered following the Effective Date to settle such awards.

The Plan will terminate automatically ten years after the Effective Date and may be terminated on any earlier date as provided in Section 5.3; provided, that Incentive Stock Options may not be granted under the Plan after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date of the Board’s adoption of the Plan.

The Board may, at any time and from time to time, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan as to any shares of Common Stock as to which Awards have not been made. The effectiveness of any amendment to the Plan will be contingent on approval of such amendment by the Company’s stockholders to the extent provided by the Board or required by Applicable Laws (including the rules of any Stock Exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are then listed), provided that no amendment will be made to the no-repricing provisions of Section 3.4 or the Option pricing provisions of Section 8.1 without the approval of the Company’s stockholders. No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan will impair rights or obligations under any outstanding Award made under the Plan without the Grantee’s consent.

Subject to this Section 6, Awards may be made under the Plan to (a) any Service Provider, as the Committee will determine and designate from time to time and (b) any other individual whose participation in the Plan is determined to be in the best interests of the Company by the Committee.

Subject to Section 3.4, Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, (a) any other Award, (b) any award granted under another plan of the Company, an Affiliate, or any business entity that has been a party to a transaction with the Company or an Affiliate, or (c) any other right of a Grantee to receive payment from the Company or an Affiliate. Such additional, tandem and substitute or exchange Awards may be granted at any time. If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award, or for an award granted under another plan of the Company, an Affiliate, or any business entity that has been a party to a transaction with the Company or an Affiliate, the Committee will require the surrender of such other Award or award under such other plan in consideration for the grant of such substitute or exchange Award. In addition, Awards may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash payments under other plans of the Company or an Affiliate. Notwithstanding Section 8.1 and Section 9.1, but subject to Section 3.4, the Option Price of an Option or the SAR Price of a SAR that is a Substitute Award may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the original Grant Date; provided that such Option Price or SAR Price is determined in accordance with the principles of Code Section 424 for any Incentive Stock Option and consistent with Code Section 409A for any other Option or SAR.

Each Award granted pursuant to the Plan will be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which will be in such form or forms as the Committee will from time to time determine. Award Agreements utilized under the Plan from time to time or at the same time need not contain similar provisions, but will be consistent with the terms of the Plan. Each Award Agreement evidencing an Award of an Option will specify whether the Option is intended to be a Nonqualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option, and, in the absence of such specification, the Option will be deemed to constitute Nonqualified Stock Options.

The Option Price of each Option will be fixed by the Committee and stated in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option. Except in the case of Substitute Awards, the Option Price of each Option will be at least the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Grant Date; provided that in the event that a Grantee is a Ten Percent Stockholder, the Option Price of an Option granted to such Grantee that is intended to be an Incentive Share Option will be not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Grant Date. In no case will the Option Price of any Option be less than the par value of a share of Common Stock.

Subject to Sections 8.3 and 17.3, each Option granted under the Plan will become exercisable at such times and under such conditions as will be determined by the Committee and stated in the Award Agreement, in another agreement with the Grantee or otherwise in writing, provided that, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, no Option will be granted to persons who are entitled to overtime under Applicable Laws, that will vest or be exercisable within a six-month period starting on the Grant Date.

Each Option granted under the Plan will terminate, and all rights to purchase shares of Common Stock thereunder will cease, upon the expiration of ten years from the Grant Date of such Option, or under such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is set forth in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Committee and stated in the Award Agreement relating to such Option; provided that in the event that the Grantee is a Ten Percent Stockholder, an Option granted to such Grantee that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option will not be exercisable after the expiration of five years from its Grant Date; and provided further, that, to the extent deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee to reflect differences in local law, tax policy, or custom with respect to any Option granted to a Grantee who is a foreign national or is a natural person who is employed outside the United States, such Option may terminate, and all rights to purchase shares of Common Stock thereunder may cease, upon the expiration of such period longer than ten years from the Grant Date of such Option as the Committee will determine. The Company will deduct from the shares of Common Stock deliverable to the Grantee upon such exercise the number of shares of Common Stock necessary to satisfy payment of the Option Price and all withholding obligations.

Each Award Agreement with respect to the grant of an Option may set forth the extent to which the Grantee thereof, if at all, will have the right to exercise such Option following termination of such Grantee’s Service. Such provisions will be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of Service.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in no event may any Option be exercised, in whole or in part, after the occurrence of an event referred to in Section 17 that results in the termination of such Option.

Subject to the terms of Section 12 and Section 18.3, an Option that is exercisable may be exercised by the Grantee’s delivery to the Company or its designee or agent a notice of exercise on any business day, at the Company’s principal office or the office of such designee or agent, on the form specified by the Company and in accordance with any additional procedures specified by the Committee. The notice of exercise will specify the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which such Option is being exercised and will be accompanied by payment in full of the Option Price of the shares of Common Stock for which such Option is being exercised plus the amount (if any) of federal and/or other taxes that the Company may, in its discretion, be required to withhold with respect to the exercise of such Option.

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee or other person holding or exercising an Option will have none of the rights of a stockholder of the Company (for example, the right to receive cash or dividend payments or distributions attributable to the shares of Common Stock subject to such Option, to direct the voting of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Option, or to receive notice of any meeting of the Company’s stockholders) until the shares of Common Stock subject thereto are fully paid and issued to such Grantee or other person. Except as provided in Section 17, no adjustment will be made for dividends, distributions or other rights with respect to any shares of Common Stock subject to an Option for which the record date is prior to the date of issuance of such shares of Common Stock.

Promptly after the exercise of an Option by a Grantee and the payment in full of the Option Price with respect thereto, such Grantee will be entitled to receive such evidence of such Grantee’s ownership of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Option as will be consistent with Section 3.7.

Except as provided in Section 8.10, during the lifetime of a Grantee of an Option, only such Grantee (or, in the event of such Grantee’s legal incapacity or incompetency, such Grantee’s guardian or legal representative) may exercise such Option. Except as provided in Section 8.10, no Option will be assignable or transferable by the Grantee to whom it is granted, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

If authorized in the applicable Award Agreement and by the Committee, in its sole discretion, a Grantee may transfer, not for value, all or part of an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option to any Family Member. For the purpose of this Section 8.10, a transfer “not for value” is a transfer that is (a) a gift, (b) a transfer under a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights or (c) unless Applicable Laws do not permit such transfer, a transfer to an entity in which more than 50% of the voting interests are owned by Family Members (and/or the Grantee) in exchange for an interest in such entity. Following a transfer under this Section 8.10, any such Option will continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to such transfer, and the shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to such Option will be subject to the same restrictions with respect to transfers of such shares of Common Stock as would have applied to the Grantee thereof. Subsequent transfers of transferred Options will be prohibited except to Family Members of the original Grantee in accordance with this Section 8.10 or by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The provisions of Section 8.4 relating to termination of Service will continue to be applied with respect to the original Grantee of the Option, following which such Option will be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent, and for the periods specified, in Section 8.4.

An Option will constitute an Incentive Stock Option only (a) if the Grantee of such Option is an Employee of the Company or any corporate Subsidiary, (b) to the extent specifically provided in the related Award Agreement and (c) to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time such Option is granted) of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which all Incentive Stock Options held by such Grantee become exercisable for the first time during any calendar year (under the Plan and all other plans of the Company and its Affiliates) does not exceed $100,000. Except to the extent provided in the regulations under Code Section 422, this limitation will be applied by taking Options into account in the order in which they were granted.

If any Grantee makes any disposition of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option under the circumstances provided in Code Section 421(b) (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions), such Grantee will notify the Company of such disposition within ten days thereof.

A SAR will confer on the Grantee to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of exercise and (b) the per share strike price of such SAR (the “SAR Price”) as determined by the Committee. The Award Agreement for a SAR will specify the SAR Price, which will be no less than the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Grant Date of such SAR. SARs may be granted in tandem with all or part of an Option granted under the Plan or at any subsequent time during the term of such Option, in combination with all or any part of any other Award or without regard to any Option or other Award; provided that a SAR that is granted subsequent to the Grant Date of a related Option must have a SAR Price that is no less than the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Grant Date of such SAR.

The Committee will determine on the Grant Date or thereafter the time or times at which and the circumstances under which a SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future Service requirements), the time or times at which SARs will cease to be or become exercisable following termination of Service or upon other conditions, the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, method by or forms in which shares of Common Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Grantees, whether or not a SAR will be granted in tandem or in combination with any other Award, and any and all other terms and conditions of any SAR.

Each SAR granted under the Plan will terminate, and all rights thereunder will cease, upon the expiration of ten years from the Grant Date of such SAR or under such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is set forth in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Committee and stated in the Award Agreement relating to such SAR provided that, to the extent deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee to reflect differences in local law, tax policy, or custom, with respect to any SAR granted to a Grantee who is a foreign national or is a natural person who is employed outside the United States, such SAR may terminate, and all rights thereunder may cease, upon the expiration of such period longer than ten (10) years from the Grant Date of such SAR as the Committee shall determine. If on the day preceding the date on which a Grantee’s SAR would otherwise terminate, the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock underlying a Grantee’s SAR is greater than the SAR Price, the Company will, prior to the termination of such SAR and without any action being taken on the part of the Grantee, consider such SAR to have been exercised by the Grantee.

Except as provided in Section 9.5, during the lifetime of a Grantee of a SAR, only the Grantee (or, in the event of such Grantee’s legal incapacity or incompetency, such Grantee’s guardian or legal representative) may exercise such SAR. Except as provided in Section 9.5, no SAR will be assignable or transferable by the Grantee to whom it is granted, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

If authorized in the applicable Award Agreement and by the Committee, in its sole discretion, a Grantee may transfer, not for value, all or part of a SAR to any Family Member. For the purpose of this Section 9.5, a transfer “not for value” is a transfer that is (a) a gift, (b) a transfer under a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights or (c) unless Applicable Laws do not permit such transfer, a transfer to an entity in which more than 50% of the voting interests are owned by Family Members (and/or the Grantee) in exchange for an interest in such entity. Following a transfer under this Section 9.5, any such SAR will continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were in effect immediately prior to such transfer, and shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to a SAR will be subject to the same restrictions on transfers of such shares of Common Stock as would have applied to the Grantee or such SAR. Subsequent transfers of transferred SARs will be prohibited except to Family Members of the original Grantee in accordance with this Section 9.5 or by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units may be made for consideration or for no consideration, other than the par value of the shares of Common Stock, which will be deemed paid by past Service or, if so provided in the related Award Agreement or a separate agreement, the promise by the Grantee to perform future Service to the Company or an Affiliate.

At the time a grant of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units is made, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, (a) establish a period of time (a “Restricted Period”) applicable to such Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units and (b) prescribe restrictions in addition to or other than the expiration of the Restricted Period, including the achievement of corporate or individual performance goals, which may be applicable to all or any portion of such Award of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units as provided in Section 14. Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of during the Restricted Period or prior to the satisfaction of any other restrictions prescribed by the Committee with respect to such Awards.

Pursuant to Section 3.7, to the extent that ownership of Restricted Stock is evidenced by a book-entry registration or direct registration (including transaction advices), such registration will be notated to evidence the restrictions imposed on such Award of Restricted Stock under the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Subject to Section 3.7 and the immediately following sentence, the Company may issue, in the name of each Grantee to whom Restricted Stock has been granted, share certificates representing the total number of shares of Restricted Stock granted to the Grantee, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Grant Date of such Restricted Stock. The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement with respect to an Award of Restricted Stock that either (a) the Secretary of the Company will hold such share certificates for such Grantee’s benefit until such time as such shares of Restricted Stock are forfeited to the Company or the restrictions applicable thereto lapse and such Grantee will deliver a stock power to the Company with respect to each share certificate, or (b) such share certificates will be delivered to such Grantee, provided that such share certificates will bear legends that comply with applicable securities laws and regulations and make appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed on such Award of Restricted Stock under the Plan and such Award Agreement.

Unless the Committee otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, holders of Restricted Stock will have the right to vote such shares of Restricted Stock and the right to receive any dividends declared or paid with respect to such shares of Restricted Stock. The Committee may provide that any dividends paid on Restricted Stock must be reinvested in shares of Common Stock, which shall be subject to the same vesting conditions and restrictions as the vesting conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock. Dividends paid on Restricted Stock that vests or is earned based upon the achievement of performance goals will not vest unless such performance goals for such Restricted Stock are achieved, and if such performance goals are not achieved, the Grantee of such Restricted Stock will promptly forfeit and repay to the Company such dividend payments, if permissible under Applicable Law. All share distributions, if any, received by a Grantee with respect to Restricted Stock as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, combination of stock, or other similar transaction will be subject to the vesting conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock. No election under Section 83(b) of the Code or under a similar provision of law may be made unless expressly permitted by the terms of the applicable Award agreement or by action of the Committee in writing prior to the making of such election. If a Grantee, in connection with the acquisition of shares of Common Stock under the Plan or otherwise, is expressly permitted to make such election and the Grantee makes the election, the Grantee shall notify the Company of such election within ten days of filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service or other governmental authority, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code or other applicable provision.

Holders of Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units will have no rights as stockholders of the Company (for example, the right to receive cash or dividend payments or distributions attributable to the shares of Common Stock subject to such Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units, to direct the voting of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units, or to receive notice of any meeting of the Company’s stockholders). The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement evidencing a grant of Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units that the holder of such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units will be entitled to receive, upon the Company’s payment of a cash dividend on its outstanding shares of Common Stock, a cash payment for each such Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit that is equal to the per-share dividend paid on such shares of Common Stock. Dividends paid on Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units that vest or are earned based upon the achievement of performance goals will not vest unless such performance goals for such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are achieved, and if such performance goals are not achieved, the Grantee of such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units will promptly forfeit and repay to the Company such dividend payments, if permissible under Applicable Law. Such Award Agreement also may provide that such cash payment will be deemed reinvested in additional Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units at a price per unit equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date on which such cash dividend is paid. Such cash payments paid in connection with Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units that vest or are earned based upon the achievement of performance goals will not vest unless such performance goals for such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are achieved, and if such performance goals are not achieved, the Grantee of such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units will promptly forfeit and repay to the Company such cash payments, if permissible under Applicable Law.

A holder of Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units will have no rights other than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company. Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units represent unfunded and unsecured obligations of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement.

Unless the Committee otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, in another agreement with the Grantee or otherwise in writing after such Award Agreement is entered into, but prior to termination of Grantee’s Service, upon the termination of such Grantee’s Service, any Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units held by such Grantee that have not vested, or with respect to which all applicable restrictions and conditions have not lapsed, will immediately be deemed forfeited. Upon forfeiture of such Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units, the Grantee thereof will have no further rights with respect thereto, including any right to vote such Restricted Stock or any right to receive dividends with respect to such Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units.

The Grantee of an Award of Restricted Stock, vested Restricted Stock Units or vested Deferred Stock Units will be required, to the extent required by Applicable Laws, to purchase such Restricted Stock or the shares of Common Stock subject to such vested Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units from the Company at a purchase price equal to the greater of (x) the aggregate par value of the shares of Common Stock represented by such Restricted Stock or such vested Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units or (y) the purchase price, if any, specified in the Award Agreement relating to such Restricted Stock or such vested Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units. Such purchase price will be payable in a form provided in Section 12 or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, in consideration for Service rendered or to be rendered to the Company or an Affiliate.

Upon the expiration or termination of any Restricted Period and the satisfaction of any other conditions prescribed by the Committee, including but not limited to any delayed delivery period, the restrictions applicable to Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units settled in shares of Common Stock will lapse, and, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a book-entry or direct registration (including transaction advices) or a share certificate evidencing ownership of such shares of Common Stock will, consistent with Section 3.7, be issued, free of all such restrictions, to the Grantee thereof or such Grantee’s beneficiary or estate, as the case may be. Neither the Grantee, nor the Grantee’s beneficiary or estate, will have any further rights with regard to a Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit once the shares of Common Stock represented by such Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit have been delivered in accordance with this Section 10.8.

The Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at the par value of a share of Common Stock or at such other higher purchase price as will be determined by the Committee) an Award to any Grantee pursuant to which such Grantee may receive shares of Common Stock free of any restrictions (“Unrestricted Stock”) under the Plan. Unrestricted Stock may be granted or sold to any Grantee as provided in the immediately preceding sentence in respect of past Service or, if so provided in the related Award Agreement or a separate agreement, the promise by the Grantee to perform future Service, to the Company or an Affiliate or other valid consideration, or in lieu of, or in addition to, any cash compensation due to such Grantee.

The Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant Awards in the form of Other Equity-Based Awards, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Awards granted pursuant to this Section 11.2 may be granted with vesting, value and/or payment contingent upon the achievement of one or more performance goals. The Committee will determine the terms and conditions of Other Equity-Based Awards at the Grant Date or thereafter. Unless the Committee otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, in another agreement with the Grantee, or otherwise in writing after such Award Agreement is issued, upon the termination of a Grantee’s Service, any Other Equity-Based Awards held by such Grantee that have not vested, or with respect to which all applicable restrictions and conditions have not lapsed, will immediately be deemed forfeited. Upon forfeiture of any Other Equity-Based Award, the Grantee thereof will have no further rights with respect to such Other Equity-Based Award.

Payment of the Option Price for the shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option or the purchase price, if any, for Restricted Stock will be made in cash or in cash equivalents acceptable to the Company.

To the extent that the applicable Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option or the purchase price, if any, for Restricted Stock may be made all or in part through the tender or attestation to the Company of shares of Common Stock, which will be valued, for purposes of determining the extent to which such Option Price or purchase price has been paid thereby, at their Fair Market Value on the date of such tender or attestation.

To the extent permitted by Applicable Laws and to the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option may be made all or in part by delivery (on a form acceptable to the Committee) of an irrevocable direction to a licensed securities broker acceptable to the Company to sell shares of Common Stock and to deliver all or part of the proceeds of such sale to the Company in payment of such Option Price and any withholding taxes described in Section 18.3.

To the extent the Award Agreement so provides and/or unless otherwise specified in an Award Agreement, payment of the Option Price for shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to exercise of an Option or the purchase price, if any, for Restricted Stock may be made in any other form that is consistent with Applicable Laws, including Service by the Grantee thereof to the Company or an Affiliate.

A Dividend Equivalent Right is an Award entitling the Grantee thereof to receive credits based on cash distributions that would have been paid on the shares of Common Stock specified in such Dividend Equivalent Right (or other Award to which such Dividend Equivalent Right relates) if such shares of Common Stock had been issued to and held by the recipient of such Dividend Equivalent Right as of the record date. A Dividend Equivalent Right may be granted hereunder to any Grantee, provided that no Dividend Equivalent Rights may be granted in connection with, or related to, an Award of an Option or a SAR. The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights will be specified in the Award Agreement therefor. Dividend equivalents credited to the holder of a Dividend Equivalent Right may be deemed to be reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock, which may thereafter accrue additional Dividend Equivalent Rights (with or without being subject to forfeiture or a repayment obligation). Any such reinvestment will be at the Fair Market Value thereof on the date of such reinvestment. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof, in a single installment or in multiple installments, all as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award may provide that such Dividend Equivalent Right will be settled upon exercise, settlement, or payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, such other Award, and that such Dividend Equivalent Right will expire or be forfeited or annulled under the same conditions as such other Award. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award also may contain terms and conditions that are different from the terms and conditions of such other Award, provided that Dividend Equivalent Rights credited pursuant to a Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award will not vest or become payable unless and until the Award to which the Dividend Equivalent Rights correspond becomes vested and settled.

Unless the Committee otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, in another agreement with the Grantee, or otherwise in writing after such Award Agreement is issued, a Grantee’s rights in all Dividend Equivalent Rights will automatically terminate upon such Grantee’s termination of Service for any reason.

Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Performance-Based Awards to a Plan participant in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee will determine.

Each grant of a Performance-Based Award will have an actual or target number of shares of Common Stock or initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant. The Committee will set performance goals in its discretion that, depending on the extent to which they are achieved, will determine the value and/or number of shares of Common Stock subject to a Performance-Based Award that will be paid out to the Grantee thereof.

Subject to the terms of the Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the Grantee of Performance-Based Awards will be entitled to receive a payout on the number of shares of Common Stock or cash value earned under the Performance-Based Awards by such Grantee over such Performance Period.

Payment of earned Performance-Based Awards will be made in the manner described in the applicable Award Agreement as determined by the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance-Based Awards in the form of cash or shares of Common Stock (or a combination thereof) equal to the value of such earned Performance-Based Awards and will pay the Awards that have been earned at the close of the applicable Performance Period, or as soon as reasonably practicable after the Committee has determined that the performance goal or goals relating thereto have been achieved; provided that, unless specifically provided in the Award Agreement for such Awards, such payment will occur no later than the 15th day of the third month following the end of the calendar year in which such Performance Period ends. Any shares of Common Stock paid out under such Performance-Based Awards may be granted subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee. The determination of the Committee with respect to the form of payout of such Performance-Based Awards will be set forth in the Award Agreement therefor.

The right of a Grantee to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Performance-Based Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to the achievement of Performance Measures as may be specified by the Committee. The Committee may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions.

The performance goals for Performance-Based Awards will consist of one or more business criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 14.6. The Committee may determine that such Awards will be granted, exercised and/or settled upon achievement of any single performance goal or of two or more performance goals. Performance goals may differ for Awards granted to any one Grantee or to different Grantees.

Payment of Performance-Based Awards will be in cash, Common Stock, or other Awards, including an Award that is subject to additional Service-based vesting, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, reduce the amount of a payment otherwise to be made in connection with such Awards. The Committee will specify the circumstances in which such Performance-Based Awards will be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of Service by the Grantee prior to the end of a Performance Period or settlement of such Awards. In the event payment of the Performance-Based Award is made in the form of another Award subject to Service-based vesting, the Committee will specify the circumstances in which the payment Award will be paid or forfeited in the event of a termination of Service.

If any Grantee is a “disqualified individual,” as defined in Code Section 280G(c), then, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or of any other agreement, contract, or understanding heretofore or hereafter entered into by such Grantee with the Company or an Affiliate, except an agreement, contract, or understanding that expressly addresses Code Section 280G or Code Section 4999 (an “Other Agreement”), and notwithstanding any formal or informal plan or other arrangement for the direct or indirect provision of compensation to the Grantee (including groups or classes of Grantees or beneficiaries of which the Grantee is a member), whether or not such compensation is deferred, is in cash, or is in the form of a benefit to or for the Grantee (a “Benefit Arrangement”), any right of the Grantee to any exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit under the Plan will be reduced or eliminated:

(a) to the extent that such right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit, taking into account all other rights, payments, or benefits to or for the Grantee under the Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements, would cause any exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit to the Grantee under the Plan to be considered a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(2) as then in effect (a “Parachute Payment”); and

(b) if, as a result of receiving such Parachute Payment, the aggregate after-tax amounts received by the Grantee from the Company under the Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements would be less than the maximum after-tax amount that could be received by the Grantee without causing any such payment or benefit to be considered a Parachute Payment.

The Company will accomplish such reduction by first reducing or eliminating any cash payments (with the payments to be made furthest in the future being reduced first), then by reducing or eliminating any accelerated vesting of Performance-Based Awards, then by reducing or eliminating any accelerated vesting of Options or SARs, then by reducing or eliminating any accelerated vesting of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units, then by reducing or eliminating any other remaining Parachute Payments.

The Company will not be required to offer, sell or issue any shares of Common Stock under any Award, whether pursuant to the exercise of an Option or SAR or otherwise, if the offer, sale or issuance of such shares of Common Stock would constitute a violation by the Grantee, the Company or an Affiliate, or any other person, of any provision of Applicable Laws, including any federal or state securities laws or regulations. If at any time the Company will determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award upon any securities exchange or under any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the offering, issuance, sale or purchase of shares of Common Stock in connection with any Award, no shares of Common Stock may be offered, issued or sold to the Grantee or any other person under such Award, whether pursuant to the exercise of an Option or SAR or otherwise, unless such listing, registration or qualification will have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company, and any delay caused thereby will in no way affect the date of termination of such Award. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, upon the exercise of any Option or any SAR that may be settled in shares of Common Stock or the delivery of any shares of Common Stock underlying an Award, unless a registration statement under the Securities Act is in effect with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to such Award, the Company will not be required to offer, sell or issue such shares of Common Stock unless the Committee will have received evidence satisfactory to it that the Grantee or any other person exercising such Option or SAR or accepting delivery of such shares may acquire such shares of Common Stock pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Any determination in this connection by the Committee will be final, binding, and conclusive. The Company may register, but will in no event be obligated to register, any shares of Common Stock Or other securities issuable pursuant to the Plan pursuant to the Securities Act. The Company will not be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of an Option or a SAR or the issuance of shares of Common Stock or other securities issuable pursuant to the Plan or any Award to comply with any Applicable Laws. As to any jurisdiction that expressly imposes the requirement that an Option or SAR that may be settled in shares of Common Stock will not be exercisable until the shares of Common Stock subject to such Option or SAR are registered under the securities laws thereof or are exempt from such registration, the exercise of such Option or SAR under circumstances in which the laws of such jurisdiction apply will be deemed conditioned upon the effectiveness of such registration or the availability of such an exemption.

During any time when the Company has a class of equity security registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, it is the intention of the Company that Awards pursuant to the Plan and the exercise of Options and SARs granted hereunder that would otherwise be subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act will qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. To the extent that any provision of the Plan or action by the Committee does not comply with the requirements of such Rule 16b-3, such provision or action will be deemed inoperative with respect to such Awards to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws and deemed advisable by the Committee, and will not affect the validity of the Plan. In the event that such Rule 16b-3 is revised or replaced, the Board may exercise its discretion to modify the Plan in any respect necessary or advisable in its judgment to satisfy the requirements of, or to permit the Company to avail itself of the benefits of, the revised exemption or its replacement.

If the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is increased or decreased or the shares of Common Stock are changed into or exchanged for a different number of shares or kind of equity shares or other securities of the Company on account of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off, combination of stock, exchange of shares, stock dividend or other distribution payable in equity shares, or other increase or decrease in shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company occurring after the Effective Date, the number and kinds of equity shares for which grants of Options and other Awards may be made under the Plan will be adjusted proportionately and accordingly by the Committee. In addition, the number and kind of equity shares for which Awards are outstanding will be adjusted proportionately and accordingly by the Committee so that the proportionate interest of the Grantee therein immediately following such event will, to the extent practicable, be the same as immediately before such event. Any such adjustment in outstanding Options or SARs will not change the aggregate Option Price or SAR Price payable with respect to shares that are subject to the unexercised portion of such outstanding Options or SARs, as applicable, but will include a corresponding proportionate adjustment in the per share Option Price or SAR Price, as the case may be. The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company will not be treated as an increase in shares effected without receipt of consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any distribution to the Company’s stockholders of securities of any other entity or other assets (including an extraordinary dividend, but excluding a non-extraordinary dividend, declared and paid by the Company) without receipt of consideration by the Company, the Board or the Committee constituted pursuant to Section 3.1(b) will, in such manner as the Board or the Committee deems appropriate, adjust (a) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding Awards and/or (b) the aggregate and per share Option Price of outstanding Options and the aggregate and per share SAR Price of outstanding SARs as required to reflect such distribution.

Subject to Section 17.3, if the Company will be the surviving entity in any reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company with one or more other entities that does not constitute a Change in Control, any Option or SAR theretofore granted pursuant to the Plan will pertain to and apply to the securities to which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Option or SAR would have been entitled immediately following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, with a corresponding proportionate adjustment of the per share Option Price or SAR Price so that the aggregate Option Price or SAR Price thereafter will be the same as the aggregate Option Price or SAR Price of the shares of Common Stock remaining subject to the Option or SAR as in effect immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or consolidation. Subject to any contrary language in an Award Agreement or in another agreement with the Grantee, or otherwise set forth in writing, any restrictions applicable to such Award will apply as well to any replacement shares received by the Grantee as a result of such reorganization, merger or consolidation. In the event of any reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company referred to in this Section 17.2, Performance-Based Awards will be adjusted (including any adjustment to the Performance Measures applicable to such Awards deemed appropriate by the Committee) so as to apply to the securities that a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Performance-Based Awards would have been entitled to receive immediately following such reorganization, merger or consolidation.

Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or in another agreement with the Grantee, or as otherwise set forth in writing, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control in which outstanding Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights or Other Equity-Based Awards are not being assumed or continued, the following provisions will apply to such Award, to the extent not assumed or continued:

(a) in each case with the exception of Performance-Based Awards, all outstanding shares of Restricted Stock will be deemed to have vested, all Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units will be deemed to have vested and the shares of Common Stock subject thereto will be delivered, and all Dividend Equivalent Rights will be deemed to have vested and the shares of Common Stock subject thereto will be delivered, immediately prior to the occurrence of such Change in Control, and either of the following two actions will be taken:

(i) 15 days prior to the scheduled consummation of such Change in Control, all Options and SARs outstanding hereunder will become immediately exercisable and will remain exercisable for a period of 15 days, which exercise will be effective upon such consummation; or

(ii) the Committee may elect, in its sole discretion, to cancel any outstanding Awards of Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units and/or Dividend Equivalent Rights and pay or deliver, or cause to be paid or delivered, to the holder thereof an amount in cash or securities having a value (as determined by the Committee acting in good faith), in the case of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units and Dividend Equivalent Rights (for shares of Common Stock subject thereto), equal to the formula or fixed price per share paid to holders of shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Change in Control and, in the case of Options or SARs, equal to the product of the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Options or SARs (the “Award Shares”) multiplied by the amount, if any, by which (x) the formula or fixed price per share paid to holders of shares of Common Stock pursuant to such transaction exceeds (y) the Option Price or SAR Price applicable to such Award Shares.

(b) Performance-Based Awards shall become earned and vested based on the greater of (i) the target level of performance or (ii) actual performance measured as of a date reasonably proximal to the date of consummation of the Change in Control, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if, based on the discretion of the Committee, actual performance is not determinable, the Awards will be treated as though the target level of performance has been achieved. After application of this Section 17.3(b) if any Awards arise from application of this Section 17.3(b), such Awards will be settled under the applicable provisions.

With respect to the Company’s establishment of an exercise window, (a) any exercise of an Option or SAR during the 15-day period referred to above will be conditioned upon the consummation of the applicable Change in Control and will be effective only immediately before the consummation thereof, and (b) upon consummation of any Change in Control, the Plan and all outstanding but unexercised Options and SARs will terminate. The Committee will send notice of an event that will result in such a termination to all natural persons and entities who hold Options and SARs not later than the time at which the Company gives notice thereof to its stockholders.

Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or in another agreement with the Grantee, or as otherwise set forth in writing, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control in which outstanding Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights or Other Equity-Based Awards are being assumed or continued, the following provisions will apply to such Award, to the extent assumed or continued:

The Plan and the Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Other Equity-Based Awards granted under the Plan will continue in the manner and under the terms so provided in the event of any Change in Control to the extent that provision is made in writing in connection with such Change in Control for the assumption or continuation of such Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Other Equity-Based Awards, or for the substitution for such Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Other Equity-Based Awards of new common share options, share appreciation rights, restricted share, common restricted share units, common deferred share units, dividend equivalent rights and other equity-based awards relating to the equity of a successor entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number of shares (disregarding any consideration that is not common shares) and option and share appreciation rights exercise prices. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all incomplete Performance Periods in respect of each Performance-Based Award shall end on the date of the Change in Control and the performance goals applicable to such Award shall be deemed satisfied at either (a) the target level of performance or (b) the actual level of performance measured as of a date reasonably proximal to the date of consummation of the Change in Control, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, in each case, whichever approach results in the greater number of Performance-Based Awards becoming earned. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if, based on the discretion of the Committee, actual performance is not determinable, the performance goals applicable to such Award shall be deemed satisfied at the target level of performance. Each such Performance-Based Award shall thereafter become a time-based Award and shall otherwise vest in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement. In the event an Award is assumed, continued or substituted upon the consummation of any Change in Control and the employment of such Grantee with the Company or an Affiliate is terminated without Cause within 12 months following the consummation of such Change in Control, such Award will be fully vested and may be exercised in full, to the extent applicable, beginning on the date of such termination and for the one-year period immediately following such termination or for such longer period as the Committee will determine.

Adjustments under this Section 17 related to shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company will be made by the Committee, whose determination in that respect will be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional shares or other securities will be issued pursuant to any such adjustment, and any fractions resulting from any such adjustment will be eliminated in each case by rounding downward to the nearest whole share. The Committee may provide in the applicable Award Agreement at the time of grant, in another agreement with the Grantee, or otherwise in writing at any time thereafter with the consent of the Grantee, for different provisions to apply to an Award in place of those provided in Sections 17.1, 17.2, 17.3 and 17.4. This Section 17 will not limit the Committee’s ability to provide for alternative treatment of Awards outstanding under the Plan in the event of a change in control event involving the Company that is not a Change in Control.

The making of Awards pursuant to the Plan will not affect or limit in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, or liquidate, or to sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets (including all or any part of the business or assets of any Subsidiary or other Affiliate) or engage in any other transaction or activity.

No provision in the Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement will be construed to confer upon any individual the right to remain in the employ or Service of the Company or an Affiliate, or to interfere in any way with any contractual or other right or authority of the Company an Affiliate either to increase or decrease the compensation or other payments to any natural person or entity at any time, or to terminate any employment or other relationship between any natural person or entity and the Company or an Affiliate. In addition, notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, in another agreement with the Grantee, or otherwise in writing, no Award granted under the Plan will be affected by any change of duties or position of the Grantee thereof, so long as such Grantee continues to provide Service. The obligation of the Company to pay any benefits pursuant to the Plan will be interpreted as a contractual obligation to pay only those amounts provided herein, in the manner and under the conditions prescribed herein. The Plan and Awards will in no way be interpreted to require the Company to transfer any amounts to a third-party trustee or otherwise hold any amounts in trust or escrow for payment to any Grantee or beneficiary under the terms of the Plan.

Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval will be construed as creating any limitations upon the right and authority of the Board to adopt such other incentive compensation arrangements (which arrangements may be applicable either generally to a class or classes of individuals or specifically to a particular individual or particular individuals) as the Board in its discretion determines desirable.

The Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, will have the right to deduct from payments of any kind otherwise due to a Grantee any federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the vesting of or other lapse of restrictions applicable to an Award or upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an Option or pursuant to any other Award. At the time of such vesting, lapse, or exercise, the Grantee will pay in cash to the Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, any amount that the Company or such Affiliate may reasonably determine to be necessary to satisfy such withholding obligation; provided that if there is a same-day sale of shares of Common Stock subject to an Award, the Grantee will pay such withholding obligation on the day on which such same-day sale is completed. Notwithstanding Section 2.21 or this Section 18.3, for purposes of determining taxable income and the amount of the related tax withholding obligation pursuant to this Section 18.3, for any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award that are sold by or on behalf of a Grantee on the same date on which such shares may first be sold pursuant to the terms of the related Award Agreement, the Fair Market Value of such shares will be the sale price of such shares on such date (or if sales of such shares are effectuated at more than one sale price, the weighted average sale price of such shares on such date), so long as such Grantee has provided the Company, or its designee or agent, with advance written notice of such sale.

The use of captions in the Plan or any Award Agreement is for convenience of reference only and will not affect the meaning of any provision of the Plan or such Award Agreement.

Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in the Plan to “including” will mean “including without limitation.”

Each Award granted under the Plan may contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.

With respect to words used in the Plan, the singular form will include the plural form and the masculine gender will include the feminine gender, as the context requires.

If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement will be determined to be illegal or unenforceable by any court of law in any jurisdiction, the remaining provisions hereof and thereof will be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and all provisions will remain enforceable in any other jurisdiction.

18.9 Governing Law.

The validity and construction of the Plan and the instruments evidencing the Awards hereunder will be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, other than any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan and the instruments evidencing the Awards granted hereunder to the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.

The Plan is intended to comply with Code Section 409A to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan will be interpreted and administered to be in compliance with Code Section 409A. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short-term deferral period” as defined in Code Section 409A will not be treated as deferred compensation unless Applicable Laws require otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and tax penalties under Code Section 409A, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to the Plan during the six-month period immediately following the Grantee’s termination of “separation from service” (as defined for purposes of Code Section 409A) will instead be paid on the first payroll date after the six-month anniversary of the Grantee’s separation from service (or the Grantee’s death, if earlier).

Furthermore, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, in the case of an Award that is characterized as deferred compensation under Code Section 409A, and pursuant to which settlement and delivery of the cash or shares of Common Stock subject to the Award is triggered based on a Change in Control, in no event will a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred for purposes of such settlement and delivery of cash or shares of Common Stock if the transaction is not also a “change in the ownership or effective control of” the Company or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of” the Company as determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder). If an Award characterized as deferred compensation under Code Section 409A is not settled and delivered on account of the provision of the preceding sentence, the settlement and delivery will occur on the next succeeding settlement and delivery triggering event that is a permissible triggering event under Code Section 409A. No provision of this paragraph will in any way affect the determination of a Change in Control for purposes of vesting in an Award that is characterized as deferred compensation under Code Section 409A.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company, any Affiliate nor the Committee will have any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any excise tax or penalty on any Grantee under Section 409A of the Code and neither the Company, any Affiliate nor the Committee will have any liability to any Grantee for such tax or penalty.