COTERRA ENERGY INC. 2023 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN Adopted by the Board of Directors on February 21, 2023 Approved by the Companys stockholders on May 4, 2023
Contract Categories:
Human Resources
- Bonus & Incentive Agreements
EX-10.1 2 ctra-03312023ex10_1.htm EX-10.1 Document
Exhibit 10.1
COTERRA ENERGY INC. 2023 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Adopted by the Board of Directors on February 21, 2023
Approved by the Company’s stockholders on May 4, 2023
1.ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF PLAN
Coterra Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby establishes the Coterra Energy Inc. 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) as set forth in this document. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the success of the Company and to increase stockholder value by providing an additional means to attract, motivate, retain and reward selected employees, non-employee directors, and other eligible persons through the grant of equity and cash Awards (as defined below) that align the interests of Plan participants with the interests of the Company’s stockholders. The Plan is intended to replace the Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation 2014 Incentive Plan (the “Prior Cabot Plan”) and the Cimarex Energy Co. Amended and Restated 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Prior Cimarex Plan,” and together with the Prior Cabot Plan, the “Prior Plans”), subject to stockholder approval of the Plan. After the effective date of the Plan, no awards may be granted under the Prior Plans. From the date of approval of the Plan by the Company’s Board of Directors through the date of the Company’s 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, new awards under the Prior Plans may be made only to the extent the number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such awards does not exceed an aggregate of 200,000.
2. DEFINITIONS
2.1 Defined Terms. Whenever used in the Plan, the following capitalized terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
a.“Administrator” shall mean the Board or one or more committees appointed by the Board (or appointed by another committee within that committee’s delegated authority) to administer all or certain aspects of the Plan, as set forth in Section 3.
b.“Affiliate” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act.
c.“Award” shall mean a grant under the Plan of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Stock Unit, Other Stock-Based Award or cash.
d.“Award Agreement” shall mean a written or electronic agreement or document evidencing the grant of an Award under the Plan and containing the terms and conditions of such Award, as determined by the Administrator.
e.“Board” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.
f.“Cause” shall mean, with respect to any Participant, as determined by the Administrator and unless otherwise provided in an applicable agreement between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, (i) gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with performance of duties; (ii) conviction of a criminal offense (other than minor traffic offenses); or (iii) material breach of any term of any employment, consulting or other services, confidentiality, intellectual property or non-competition agreement, if any, between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate. Any determination by the Administrator whether an event constituting Cause has occurred will be final, binding and conclusive.
g.“Change in Control” shall mean and shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of any one of the following:
1.the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 30 percent or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of Common Stock (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (1), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (D) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (3) below;
2.during any period of 12 months beginning after the Effective Date, individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director at the beginning of such 12-month period, whose election, appointment or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;
3.the closing of a reorganization, share exchange or merger (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60 percent of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including a corporation which as a result of such transaction will own the Company through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be and (ii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination or were elected, appointed or nominated by the Board; or
4.the closing of (i) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, other than to a corporation, with respect to which following such sale or other disposition, (A) more than 60 percent of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, and (B) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of such corporation were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company or were elected, appointed or nominated by the Board.
If required for compliance with Section 409A of the Code, in no event will a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred if the transaction is not also a “change in
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).
h.“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
i.“Common Stock” shall mean the common stock of the Company, par value $0.10 per share, and such other securities or property as may become the subject of Awards under the Plan pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 8.1.
j.“Company” shall mean Coterra Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation.
k.“Disability” shall mean, unless otherwise provided in an employment, consulting or other services agreement, if any, or Award Agreement between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, the Participant (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company.
l.“Effective Date” shall mean the date on which the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company.
m.“Eligible Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.
n.“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
o.“Fair Market Value” shall mean, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as of a particular date, determined as follows: (i) the closing sale price reported for such share of Common Stock on the national securities exchange or national market system on which such stock is principally traded, or if no sale of shares of Common Stock is reported for such trading day, on the most recent day on which a sale was reported, or (ii) if the shares of Common Stock are not then listed on a national securities exchange or national market system, or the value of such shares is not otherwise determinable, such value as determined by the Committee in good faith in its sole discretion consistent with the requirements under Section 409A of the Code.
p.“Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” shall mean an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
q.“Non-Qualified Stock Option” or “NSO” shall mean an Option other than an Incentive Stock Option.
r.“Option” shall mean a compensatory stock option granted pursuant to Section 6.1.1.
s.“Other-Stock Based Award” shall mean a stock-based Award issued pursuant to Section 6.1.7.
t.“Participant” shall mean any Eligible Person that has been issued an Award under the Plan.
u.“Performance Stock Unit” or “PSU” shall mean a performance stock unit Award issued pursuant to Section 6.1.5.
v.“Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.
w.“Restricted Stock” shall mean shares of forfeitable Common Stock issued pursuant to Section 6.1.3.
x.“Restricted Stock Unit” or “RSU” shall mean a restricted stock unit issued pursuant to Section 6.1.4.
y.“Section 409A” shall mean section 409A of the Code and related Treasury regulations and pronouncements thereunder.
z.“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
aa.“Share Limit” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
bb. “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” shall mean a stock appreciation right granted pursuant to Section 6.1.2.
cc. “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation or other entity controlled by the Company directly or indirectly though one or more intermediaries.
dd. “Substitute Awards” shall mean Awards granted or shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, in each case by a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines.
2.2 Construction. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine, the plural shall include the singular, and the singular shall include the plural. Unless the context otherwise requires, whenever the
words “including,” “include” or “includes” are used herein, they shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”
3. PLAN ADMINISTRATION
3.1 Plan Administrator. The Plan shall be administered by, and all Awards under the Plan shall be authorized by, the Administrator. Any committee appointed by the Board to act as the Administrator shall be comprised solely of one or more directors or such other number of directors as may be required under applicable law. A committee may delegate some or all of its authority to another committee so constituted. The Board or a committee comprised solely of directors may also delegate, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to one or more officers of the Company, its powers under the Plan (a) to determine the Eligible Persons who will receive grants of Awards under the Plan, and (b) to determine the number of shares subject to, and the other terms and conditions of, such Awards. The Board may delegate different levels of authority to different committees with administrative and grant authority under the Plan. Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws of the Company or the applicable charter of any Administrator: (a) a majority of the members of the acting Administrator shall constitute a quorum, and (b) the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present assuming the presence of a quorum or the unanimous written consent of the members of the Administrator shall constitute due authorization of an action by the acting Administrator.
Award grants, and transactions in or involving Awards, intended to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, must be duly and timely authorized by the Board or a committee consisting solely of two or more non-employee directors (as this requirement is applied under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act). To the extent required by any applicable stock exchange, the Plan shall be administered by a committee composed entirely of independent directors (as defined by the rules of the applicable stock exchange). Awards granted to non-employee directors shall not be subject to the discretion of any officer or employee of the Company and shall be administered exclusively by the Board or a committee consisting solely of independent directors.
3.2 Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Administrator is authorized and empowered to do all things necessary or desirable in connection with the authorization of Awards and the administration of the Plan (in the case of a committee or delegation to one or more officers, within the authority delegated to that committee or person(s)), including the authority to:
a.determine eligibility and, from among those persons determined to be eligible, the particular Eligible Persons who will receive Awards under the Plan;
b.grant Awards to Eligible Persons, determine the price at which securities will be offered or Awarded and the number of securities to be offered or Awarded to any of such persons, determine the other specific terms and conditions of such Awards consistent with the express limits of the Plan, establish the installments (if any) in which such Awards shall become exercisable or shall vest (which may include, without limitation, performance, time-based
schedules or any combination thereof), or determine that no delayed exercisability or vesting is required, establish any applicable performance targets, and establish the events of termination or reversion of such Awards;
c.approve the forms of Award agreements (which need not be identical either as to type of Award or among Participants);
d.construe and interpret the Plan and any Award Agreements defining the rights and obligations of the Company, its Subsidiaries, and Participants under the Plan, further define the terms used in the Plan, and prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of the Plan or the Awards granted under the Plan;
e.cancel, modify, or waive the Company’s rights with respect to, or modify, discontinue, suspend, or terminate any or all outstanding Awards, subject to any required consent under Section 10.5.5;
f.accelerate or extend the vesting or exercisability or extend the term of any or all such outstanding Awards (in the case of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, within the maximum ten-year term of such Awards) in such circumstances as the Administrator may deem appropriate (including in connection with a termination of employment or services or other events of a personal nature) subject to any required consent under Section 10.5.5;
g.adjust the number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Award, adjust the price of any or all outstanding Awards or otherwise change previously imposed terms and conditions, in such circumstances as the Administrator may deem appropriate, in each case subject to compliance with applicable stock exchange requirements, Sections 4 and 10.5.5, and provided that in no case (except due to an adjustment contemplated by Section 8) shall the terms of any outstanding Awards be amended (by amendment, cancellation and regrant, or other means) to reduce the per share exercise or base price of any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right or other Award granted under the Plan, or be exchanged for cash, other Awards or Option or Stock Appreciation Rights with an exercise price that is less than the per share exercise price of the original Option or Stock Appreciation Rights, in any other manner that would be treated as a repricing under the rules and regulations of the principal securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are traded, in any such case without stockholder approval, and further provided that any adjustment or change in terms made pursuant to this Section 3.2(g) shall be made in a manner that, in the good faith determination of the
Administrator will not likely result in the imposition of additional taxes or interest under Section 409A of the Code;
h.determine the date of grant of an Award, which may be a designated date after but not before the date of the Administrator’s action (unless otherwise designated by the Administrator, the date of grant of an Award shall be the date upon which the Administrator took the action granting an Award);
i.determine whether, and the extent to which, adjustments are required pursuant to Section 8 and authorize the termination, conversion, substitution, acceleration or succession of Awards upon the occurrence of an event of the type described in Section 8;
j.acquire or settle rights under Awards in cash, stock of equivalent value, or other consideration, subject to the provision of the Plan; and
k.determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock or Awards under the Plan from time to time and the manner in which such value will be determined.
3.3 Binding Determinations. Any action taken by, or inaction of, the Company, any Subsidiary, or the Administrator relating or pursuant to the Plan and within its authority hereunder or under applicable law shall be within the absolute discretion of that entity or body and shall be conclusive and binding upon all persons. Neither the Board, the Administrator, nor any Board committee, nor any member thereof or person acting at the direction thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with the Plan (or any Award made under the Plan), and all such persons shall be entitled to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including legal fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law. The foregoing right of indemnification shall be in addition to any right of indemnification set forth in the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as the same may be amended from time to time, or under any directors and officers liability insurance coverage or written indemnification agreement with the Company that may be in effect from time to time.
3.4 Reliance on Experts. In making any determination or in taking or not taking any action under the Plan, the Administrator may obtain and may rely upon the advice of experts, including professional advisors to the Company. The Administrator shall not be liable for any such action or determination taken or made or omitted in good faith based upon such advice.
3.5 Delegation of Non-Discretionary Functions. In addition to the ability to delegate certain grant authority to officers of the Company as set forth in Section 3.1, the Administrator may also delegate ministerial, non-discretionary functions to individuals who are officers or employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to third parties.
4. SHARES OF COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN; SHARE LIMIT
4.1 Shares of Common Stock Subject to the Plan; Share Limit. Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2 and 8.1, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan (the “Share Limit”) will be equal to 22,950,000 shares of Common Stock. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8.1, 12,000,000 shares of Common Stock shall be available under the Plan for issuance as Incentive Stock Options. Common Stock issued under the Plan shall be either authorized but unissued shares or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, shares of Common Stock that have been reacquired by the Company or any Subsidiary.
4.2 Counting of Shares. The Administrator may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting and to avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute Awards) as it may deem necessary or desirable in its sole discretion. For each share delivered pursuant to an Award, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by one share. Shares shall be counted against those reserved to the extent shares have been delivered pursuant to an Award and are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Accordingly, to the extent that an Award under the Plan, in whole or in part, is canceled, expired, forfeited, settled in cash, or otherwise terminated without delivery of shares to the Participant, the shares retained by or returned to the Company will not be deemed to have been delivered under the Plan, as applicable, and will be deemed to remain available under the Plan in the same amount as they otherwise would have counted against the Share Limit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares that are withheld from such an Award or separately surrendered by the Participant in payment of the exercise price or taxes relating to such an Award, and the total number of shares subject to the exercised portion of a stock-settled SAR (regardless of the actual lesser of number shares delivered to the Participant), shall be deemed to have been issued hereunder and shall reduce the number of shares remaining available for issuance under the Plan.
4.3 Reservation of Shares; No Fractional Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve a number of shares of Common Stock sufficient to cover the Company’s obligations and contingent obligations to deliver shares with respect to Awards then outstanding under the Plan. No fractional shares shall be delivered under the Plan. The Administrator may pay cash in lieu of any fractional shares in settlements of Awards under the Plan.
5. ELIGIBILITY
5.1 Eligible Persons. The Administrator may grant Awards under the Plan only to those persons that the Administrator determines to be Eligible Persons. An “Eligible Person” is any person who is either: (a) an officer (whether or not a director) or employee of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; (b) a non-employee director of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; or (c) an individual consultant who renders bona fide services (other than services in connection with the offering or sale of securities of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries in a capital-raising transaction or as a market maker or promoter of securities of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries) to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries and who is selected to participate in the Plan by the Administrator; provided, however, that a person who is otherwise an Eligible Person under clause (c) above may participate in the Plan only if such participation would not adversely affect either the Company’s eligibility to use Form S-8 to register under the Securities Act, the
offering and sale of shares issuable under the Plan by the Company, or the Company’s compliance with any other applicable laws.
5.2 Participation. The Administrator shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, select from among the Eligible Employees those individuals who shall receive Awards and become Participants under the Plan. There is no right of any Eligible Person to receive an Award under the Plan, and the Administrator has absolute discretion to treat Eligible Employees differently from one another under the Plan. Receipt of an Award by a Participant shall not create the right to receive future Awards under the Plan, but a Participant who has been granted an Award may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional Awards if the Administrator shall so determine.
6. AWARDS
6.1 Type and Form of Awards. The Administrator shall determine the type or types of Awards to be made to each selected Eligible Person. Awards may be granted singly, in combination or in tandem. Awards also may be made in combination or in tandem with, in replacement of, as alternatives to, or as the payment form for grants or rights under any other employee or compensation plan of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries. The types of Awards that may be granted under the Plan are:
6.1.1 Stock Options. An Option is the grant of a right to purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock during a specified period at a fixed exercise price as determined by the Administrator.
a.General Option Provisions. Options may only be granted to Eligible Persons for whom the Company would be deemed to be an “eligible issuer of service recipient stock,” as defined in Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E). An Option may be intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option. The Award agreement for an Option will indicate if the Option is intended as an ISO; otherwise it will be deemed to be a Nonqualified Stock Option. The maximum term of each Option (ISO or NSO) shall be ten (10) years. The per share exercise price for each Option shall be not less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant of the Option. Each Option shall become exercisable at such times and under such conditions and shall be subject to such other terms as may be determined by the Administrator in its discretion. When an Option is exercised, the exercise price for the shares to be purchased shall be paid in full in cash or such other method permitted by the Administrator consistent with Section 6.4. In no event may dividends or dividend equivalents be paid or accrue with respect to any Award of Options.
b.Additional Rules Applicable to ISOs. Notwithstanding the general option rules set forth in subsection (a), above, the following rules shall apply to options intended to qualify as ISOs. ISOs may only be granted to employees of the Company or one of its subsidiaries (for this purpose, the term “subsidiary” is used as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code, which generally requires an unbroken chain of ownership of at least 50 percent of
the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of each subsidiary in the chain beginning with the Company and ending with the subsidiary in question). To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant of the applicable option) of stock with respect to which ISOs first become exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year exceeds $100,000, taking into account both Common Stock subject to ISOs under the Plan and stock subject to ISOs under all other plans of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries (or any parent or predecessor corporation to the extent required by and within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder), such options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options. In reducing the number of options treated as ISOs to meet the $100,000 limit, the most recently granted options shall be reduced first. To the extent a reduction of simultaneously granted options is necessary to meet the $100,000 limit, the Administrator may, in the manner and to the extent permitted by law, designate which shares of Common Stock are to be treated as shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO. There shall be imposed in any Award agreement relating to ISOs such other terms and conditions as from time to time are required in order that the option be an “incentive stock option” as that term is defined in Section 422 of the Code. No ISO may be granted to any person who, at the time the option is granted, owns (or is deemed to own under Section 424(d) of the Code) shares of outstanding Common Stock possessing more than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, unless the exercise price of such option is at least 110 percent of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the option and such option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date such option is granted.
6.1.2 Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right or “SAR” is an Award that entitles the Participant to receive, upon exercise of the SAR, a payment in cash or Common Stock or any combination thereof, equal to (or having a Fair Market Value equal to) the product of (x) number of SARs being exercised multiplied by (y) the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the SAR is exercised, over (ii) the “base price” applicable to the SAR. SARs may only be granted to Eligible Persons for whom the Company would be deemed to be an “eligible issuer of service recipient stock,” as defined in Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E). The base price of the SAR shall be determined by the Administrator but shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant. The maximum term of a SAR shall be ten (10) years. SARs shall become exercisable at such times and under such conditions and shall be subject to such other terms as may be determined by the Administrator in its discretion consistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan. In no event may dividends or dividend equivalents be paid or accrue with respect to any Award of SARs.
6.1.3 Restricted Stock.
a.General Restricted Stock Provisions. Restricted Stock is Common Stock subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of
forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Administrator may impose, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on achievement of performance goals or future service requirements), in such installments or otherwise, as the Administrator may determine at the date of grant or thereafter. Except to the extent restricted under the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement relating to the Restricted Stock, a Participant granted Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including the right to vote the Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends thereon (subject to the provisions of Section 6.1.3(c) below).
b.Certificates for Shares. Shares of Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator shall determine. If certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Administrator may require that such certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, that the Company retain physical possession of the certificates, and that the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Stock. The Administrator may require that shares of Restricted Stock are held in escrow until all restrictions lapse.
c.Dividends and Splits. As a condition to the grant of an Award of Restricted Stock, any stock distributed in connection with a stock split or stock dividend, and any other property, other than cash, distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such dividend or distribution was made.
6.1.4 Restricted Stock Units.
a.Grant of Restricted Stock Units. A restricted stock unit, or “RSU”, represents the right to receive from the Company on the respective scheduled vesting or payment date for such RSU, one share of Common Stock or, if specified in the applicable Award agreement, the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock paid in cash. The vesting or payment of an Award of RSUs may be subject to the attainment of specified performance goals or targets, forfeitability provisions and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine, subject to the provisions of the Plan.
b.Rights as a Stockholder. Subject to the restrictions imposed under the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, each Participant receiving RSUs shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to such RSUs until such time as shares of
Common Stock are issued to the Participant. In the event an RSU is settled in cash, the Participant receiving RSUs shall never receive stockholder rights with respect to such Award. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued at the time a RSU is granted, and the Company will not be required to set aside a fund for the payment of any such Award.
6.1.5 Performance Stock Units.
a.Grant of Performance Stock Units. A Performance Stock Unit, or “PSU,” is a performance-based Award that entitles the Participant to receive shares of Common Stock or, if specified in the Award Agreement, the Fair Market Value of such shares of Common Stock paid in cash, based on the attainment of one or more performance goals. Each Award of PSUs shall designate a target number of PSUs covered by the Award, with the actual number of shares of Common Stock earned (if any) to be based on a formula set forth in the Award Agreement related to the attainment of one or more performance goals set forth in the Award Agreement.
b.Rights as a Stockholder. Subject to the restrictions imposed under the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, each Participant receiving PSUs shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to such PSUs until such time as shares of Common Stock are issued to the Participant. In the event a PSU is settled in cash, the Participant receiving PSUs shall never receive stockholder rights with respect to such Award. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued at the time a PSU is granted, and the Company will not be required to set aside a fund for the payment of any such Award.
c.Other Terms Related to Performance-Based Awards. Any performance goals that are financial metrics may be determined in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), in accordance with accounting principles established by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB Principles”), or may be adjusted when established to include or exclude any items otherwise includable or excludable under GAAP or under IASB Principles. Such performance goals also may be based solely by reference to the Company’s performance or the performance of a Subsidiary, division, business segment or business unit of the Company or a Subsidiary, or based upon performance relative to performance of other companies or upon comparisons of any of the indicators of performance relative to performance of other companies. The Administrator may provide for exclusion of the impact of an event or occurrence which the Administrator determines should appropriately be excluded, including (a) restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, and other unusual, infrequently occurring or non-recurring charges or events, (b) asset write-downs, (c) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (d) acquisitions or divestitures, (e) reorganization or change in the corporate structure or capital structure of the Company, (f) an event either not directly related to
the operations of the Company, Subsidiary, division, business segment or business unit or not within the reasonable control of management, (g) foreign exchange gains and losses, (h) a change in the fiscal year of the Company, (i) the refinancing or repurchase of bank loans or debt securities, (j), unbudgeted capital expenditures, (k) the issuance or repurchase of equity securities and other changes in the number of outstanding shares, (l) conversion of some or all of convertible securities to common stock, (m) any business interruption event, (n) the cumulative effects of tax or accounting changes in accordance with GAAP, or (o) the effect of changes in other laws or regulatory rules affecting reported results.
6.1.6 Cash Awards. The Administrator may, from time to time, subject to the provisions of the Plan and such other terms and conditions as it may determine, grant cash bonuses (including discretionary Awards, Awards based on objective or subjective performance criteria, Awards subject to other vesting criteria or Awards granted consistent with Section 6.1.7 below). Cash Awards shall be Awarded in such amount and at such times during the term of the Plan as the Administrator shall determine.
6.1.7 Other Awards. The other types of Awards that may be granted under the Plan include: (a) stock bonuses or similar rights to purchase or acquire shares, whether at a fixed or variable price or ratio related to the Common Stock (subject to compliance with applicable laws), upon the passage of time, the occurrence of one or more events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other conditions, or any combination thereof; or (b) any similar securities or rights with a value derived from the value of or related to the Common Stock or returns thereon.
6.2 Award Agreements. Each Award (other than cash Awards described in Section 6.1.6) shall be evidenced by a written or electronic Award Agreement in the form approved by the Administrator and, if required by the Administrator, executed or accepted by the recipient of the Award. The Administrator may authorize any officer of the Company (other than the particular Award recipient) to execute any or all Award Agreements on behalf of the Company (electronically or otherwise). The Award agreement shall set forth the material terms and conditions of the Award as established by the Administrator consistent with the express limitations of the Plan.
6.3 Deferrals and Settlements. Except as otherwise set forth herein, payment of Awards may be in the form of cash, Common Stock, other Awards or combinations thereof as the Administrator shall determine, and with such restrictions as it may impose. The Administrator may also require or permit Participants to elect to defer the issuance of shares of Common Stock or the settlement of Awards in cash under such sub-plans, rules or procedures as it may establish under the Plan. The Administrator may also provide that deferred settlements include the payment or crediting of interest or other earnings on the deferral amounts, or the payment or crediting of dividend equivalents where the deferred amounts are denominated in shares. All mandatory or elective deferrals of the issuance of shares of Common Stock or the settlement of cash Awards shall be structured in a manner that is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
6.4 Consideration for Common Stock or Awards. The purchase price for any Award granted under the Plan or the Common Stock to be delivered pursuant to an Award, as applicable, may be paid by means of any lawful consideration as determined by the Administrator and subject to compliance with applicable laws, including one or a combination of the following methods:
a.services rendered by the recipient of such Award;
b.cash, check payable to the order of the Company, or electronic funds transfer;
c.third-party payment in such manner as may be authorized by the Administrator;
d.the delivery of previously owned shares of Common Stock that are fully vested and unencumbered;
e.by a reduction in the number of shares otherwise deliverable pursuant to the Award; or
f.subject to such procedures as the Administrator may adopt, pursuant to a “cashless exercise” with a third party who provides financing for the purposes of (or who otherwise facilitates) the purchase or exercise of Awards.
In the event that the Administrator allows a Participant to exercise an Award by delivering shares of Common Stock previously owned by such Participant and unless otherwise expressly provided by the Administrator, any shares delivered which were initially acquired by the Participant from the Company (upon exercise of an Option or otherwise) must have been owned by the Participant for such period as may be required by the Administrator in order to avoid adverse accounting treatment. Shares of Common Stock used to satisfy the exercise price of an Option shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares unless and until it receives full payment of the exercise or purchase price therefor and any related withholding obligations under Section 9.1, and any other conditions to exercise or purchase, as established from time to time by the Administrator have been satisfied. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Administrator may at any time eliminate or limit a Participant’s ability to pay the purchase or exercise price of any Award by any method other than cash payment to the Company.
6.5 Minimum Vesting Schedule. Except as provided below, all equity-based Awards granted under the Plan shall have a minimum one year cliff vesting schedule meaning that no portion of any Award may be scheduled to vest prior to one year after the date of grant of such Award (excluding, for this purpose, any (i) Substitute Awards, (ii) shares delivered in lieu of fully vested cash Awards and (iii) Awards to non-employee directors that vest on the earlier of the one year anniversary of the date of grant or the next annual meeting of stockholders which is at least 50 weeks after the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting). Notwithstanding the foregoing, up to five percent (5%) of the total number of shares of Common Stock authorized by the Board and the stockholders for issuance under the Plan (subject to adjustment under Section 8.1) may be granted pursuant to Awards not subject to the minimum vesting schedule described above; and, provided further, for the avoidance of doubt, that the foregoing restriction does not apply to the Administrator’s discretion to provide for accelerated exercisability or vesting of any Award, including in cases of retirement, death, Disability or a Change in Control, in the terms of the Award or otherwise. The Administrator may adopt reasonable counting procedures to
determine whether the five percent (5%) limit in the preceding sentence has been attained. The Administrator may also apply reasonable rules and rounding conventions to determine whether an Award complies with the above-referenced minimum vesting schedule.
6.6 Transfer Restrictions.
6.6.1 Limitations on Exercise and Transfer. Unless otherwise expressly provided in (or pursuant to) this Section 6.6, by applicable law or by the Award agreement, as the same may be amended, (a) all Awards are non-transferable and shall not be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, anticipation, alienation, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge; (b) Awards shall be exercised only by the Participant; and (c) amounts payable or shares issuable pursuant to any Award shall be delivered only to (or for the account of) the Participant.
6.6.2 Exceptions. The Administrator may permit Awards to be exercised by and paid to, or otherwise transferred to, other persons or entities pursuant to such conditions and procedures, including limitations on subsequent transfers, as the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, establish in writing (provided that any such transfer of Awards are not for consideration and provided further that any such transfers of ISOs shall be limited to the extent permitted under the federal tax laws governing ISOs). Any permitted transfer shall be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.
6.6.3 Further Exceptions to Limits on Transfer. The exercise and transfer restrictions in Section 6.6.1 shall not apply to:
a.transfers to the Company,
b.the designation of a beneficiary to receive benefits in the event of the Participant’s death or, if the Participant has died, transfers to or exercise by the Participant’s beneficiary, or, in the absence of a validly designated beneficiary, transfers by will or the laws of descent and distribution,
c.subject to any applicable limitations on ISOs, transfers to a family member (or former family member) pursuant to a domestic relations order if approved or ratified by the Administrator,
d.subject to any applicable limitations on ISOs, if the Participant has suffered a Disability, permitted transfers or exercises on behalf of the Participant by his or her legal representative, or
e.the authorization by the Administrator of “cashless exercise” procedures with third parties who provide financing for the purpose of (or who otherwise facilitate) the exercise of Awards consistent with applicable laws and the express authorization of the Administrator.
f.
6.7 International Awards. One or more Awards may be granted to Eligible Persons who provide services to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries outside of the United States. Any Awards granted to such persons may, if deemed necessary or advisable by the Administrator, be granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of any applicable sub-plans, if any, appended to the Plan and approved by the Administrator.
7. EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE ON AWARDS
7.1 Termination of Employment.
7.1.1 Administrator Determination. The Administrator shall establish the effect of a termination of employment or service on the rights and benefits under each Award under the Plan and in so doing may make distinctions based upon, inter alia, the cause of termination and type of Award. If the Participant is not an employee of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries and provides other services to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, the Administrator shall be the sole judge for purposes of this Plan (unless a contract or the Award agreement otherwise provides) of whether the Participant continues to render services to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries and the date, if any, upon which such services shall be deemed to have terminated.
7.1.2 Stock Options and SARs. For Awards of Options or SARs, unless the Award Agreement provides otherwise, the exercise period of such Options or SARs shall expire: (1) three months after the last day that the Participant is employed by or provides services to the Company or a Subsidiary (provided however, that in the event of the Participant’s death during this period, those persons entitled to exercise the Option or SAR pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution shall have one year following the date of death within which to exercise such Option or SAR); (2) in the case of a Participant whose termination of employment is due to death or Disability (as defined in the applicable Award agreement), 12 months after the last day that the Participant is employed by or provides services to the Company or a Subsidiary; and (3) immediately upon a Participant’s termination for Cause. The Administrator will, in its absolute discretion, determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to a termination of employment, including the question of whether a leave of absence constitutes a termination of employment and whether a Participant’s termination is for Cause.
7.1.3 Other Awards. For all other Awards issued under the Plan, unless the Award Agreement provides otherwise, the portion of such Awards that are unvested at the time that a Participant’s employment or service is terminated shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided however, the Administrator may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that such forfeiture requirement shall be waived in whole or in part.
7.2 Events Not Deemed Terminations of Service. Unless the express policy of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, or the Administrator, otherwise provides, the
employment relationship shall not be considered terminated in the case of (a) sick leave, (b) military leave, or (c) any other paid or unpaid leave of absence authorized by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, or the Administrator; provided that unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or law, such leave is for a period of not more than 3 months. In the case of any employee of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries on an approved leave of absence, continued vesting of the Award while on leave from the employ of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries may be suspended until the employee returns to service, unless the Administrator otherwise provides or applicable law otherwise requires. In no event shall an Award be exercised after the expiration of the term set forth in the Award Agreement.
7.3 Effect of Change of Subsidiary Status. For purposes of the Plan and any Award, if an entity ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company, a termination of employment or service shall be deemed to have occurred with respect to each Eligible Person in respect of such Subsidiary who does not continue as an Eligible Person in respect of the Company or another Subsidiary that continues as such after giving effect to the transaction or other event giving rise to the change in status.
8. ADJUSTMENTS; ACCELERATION
8.1 Adjustments. In the event of (a) any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a stock split in the form of a stock dividend) or reverse stock split, (b) any merger, arrangement, combination, consolidation, or other reorganization, (c) any spin-off, split-up, or similar extraordinary dividend distribution in respect of the Common Stock (whether in the form of securities or property), (d) any exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or (e) any similar unusual or extraordinary corporate event or transaction affecting the Common Stock, the Administrator shall in such manner, to such extent and at such time as it deems appropriate and equitable in the circumstances (but subject to compliance with applicable laws and stock exchange requirements) proportionately adjust any or all of (1) the number and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities) that thereafter may be made the subject of Awards (including the Share Limit and the limit on the number of Incentive Stock Options issuable under the Plan), (2) the number, amount and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to any or all outstanding Awards, (3) the grant, purchase, or exercise price (which term includes the base price of any SAR or similar right) of any or all outstanding Awards, and (4) the securities, cash or other property deliverable upon exercise or payment of any outstanding Awards. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 8.1 shall be made in a manner that, in the good faith determination of the Administrator, will not likely result in the imposition of additional taxes or interest under Section 409A of the Code. With respect to any Award of an ISO, the Administrator may make an adjustment that causes the option to cease to qualify as an ISO without the consent of the affected Participant.
8.2 Change in Control. This Section 8.2 sets forth the treatment of Awards in the event of a Change in Control, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator or as set forth in an Award Agreement (in which case the determination by the Administrator or the terms of the Award Agreement, as applicable, shall control). In the event of a Change in Control, the Administrator shall provide for the assumption or substitution of all outstanding Awards by the surviving or acquiring company or parent thereof, in a manner designed to comply with Section 409A of the Code. All such assumed or substituted time-vested Awards shall continue to vest in accordance with their original vesting terms; provided, however, that in the event the Participant
is terminated without Cause within 12 months following the Change in Control, any then unvested portion of the Award shall vest in full. All such assumed or substituted performance-vested Awards shall be measured on the date of the Change in Control to determine the portion thereof that is earned based on performance through the Change in Control, and the earned portion shall thereafter vest at the same time or times as the award was originally scheduled to vest, except that such vesting shall be based on the Participant’s continued service with the surviving or acquiring company or parent thereof; provided, however, that in the event the Participant is terminated without Cause within 12 months following the Change in Control, any then unvested portion of the Award shall vest in full. In the event the surviving or acquiring company does not assume the outstanding Awards or substitute similar stock awards for those outstanding under the Plan as of the Change in Control, then (a) the vesting of all Awards shall be accelerated in full immediately prior to such Change in Control, with all performance goals or other vesting criteria applicable to any performance-based Awards deemed achieved based on performance measured through the date of the Change in Control, and (b) such outstanding Awards shall terminate or be payable in cash or property (determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion) upon the occurrence of the Change in Control in a manner designed to comply with Code Section 409A, and such payment may be subject to any escrow, earn-out or other contingent or deferred payment arrangement that is contemplated by the Change in Control. The Administrator shall have the authority to take additional actions it deems necessary or advisable in connection with the Change in Control transaction, and may take different actions with respect to different Participants under the Plan, different Awards under the Plan, and different portions of Awards granted under the Plan. Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator shall have full discretion to: (i) provide for the termination of any Award upon the occurrence of the Change in Control, (ii) provide for the cash out and cancellation of any Award (or portion thereof) immediately prior to such Change in Control, which cash out may (in a manner designed to comply with Code Section 409A) be subject to any escrow, earn-out or other contingent or deferred payment arrangement that is contemplated by such Change in Control, (iii) provide that in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, Options and SARs outstanding as of the date of the Change in Control shall be cancelled and terminated without payment if the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock as of the date of the Change in Control is less than the per share Option exercise price or SAR grant price and (iv) take any other actions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable in connection with such Change in Control transaction.
9. TAX PROVISIONS
9.1 Tax Withholding. Upon any exercise, vesting, or payment of any Award, the Company or one of its Subsidiaries shall have the right at its option to:
a.require the Participant (or the Participant’s personal representative or beneficiary, as the case may be) to pay or provide for payment of at least the minimum amount of any taxes which the Company or one of its Subsidiaries may be required to withhold with respect to such Award event or payment; or
b.deduct from any amount otherwise payable in cash to the Participant (or the Participant’s personal representative or beneficiary, as the case may be) the minimum amount of any taxes which the Company or one of its Subsidiaries may be required to withhold with respect to such cash payment.
In any case where a tax is required to be withheld in connection with the delivery of shares of Common Stock under the Plan, the Administrator may in its sole discretion (subject to Section 10.1) grant to the Participant the right to elect, pursuant to such rules and subject to such conditions as the Administrator may establish, to have the Company reduce the number of shares to be delivered by (or otherwise reacquire) the appropriate number of shares, valued in a consistent manner at their Fair Market Value or at the sales price in accordance with authorized procedures for cashless exercises, necessary to satisfy the applicable withholding obligation on exercise, vesting or payment, not in excess of the maximum statutory rates in the Participant’s applicable jurisdictions.
9.2 Requirement of Notification of Code Section 83(b) Election. If any Participant shall make an election under Code Section 83(b) (to include in gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Code Section 83(b)) or under a similar provisions of the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, such Participant shall notify the Company of such election within ten (10) days after filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service or other government authority, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to regulations issued under Code Section 83(b) or other applicable provision.
9.3 Requirement of Notification of Disqualifying Disposition. If any Participant shall make any disposition of shares of Common Stock delivered pursuant to the exercise of an ISO under the circumstances described in Code Section 421(b) (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions), such Participant shall notify the Company of such disposition within ten (10) days thereof.
10. OTHER PROVISIONS
10.1 Compliance with Laws. The Plan, the granting and vesting of Awards under the Plan, the offer, issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock, the payment of money under the Plan or under Awards are subject to compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations and to such approvals by any applicable stock exchange listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. The person acquiring any securities under the Plan will, if requested by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, provide such assurances and representations to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries as the Administrator may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal and accounting requirements.
10.2 Future Awards/Other Rights. No person shall have any claim or rights to be granted an Award (or additional Awards, as the case may be) under the Plan, subject to any express contractual rights (set forth in a document other than the Plan) to the contrary.
10.3 No Employment/Service Contract. Nothing contained in the Plan (or in any other documents under the Plan or in any Award) shall confer upon any Eligible Person or other Participant any right to continue in the employ or other service of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, constitute any contract or agreement of employment or other service or affect an employee’s status as an employee at will, nor shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries to change a person’s compensation or other benefits, or to terminate his or her employment or other service, with or without cause. Nothing in this Section
10.3, however, is intended to adversely affect any express independent right of such person under a separate employment or service contract other than an Award agreement.
10.4 Plan Not Funded. Awards payable under the Plan shall be payable in shares of Common Stock or from the general assets of the Company, and no special or separate reserve, fund or deposit shall be made to assure payment of such Awards. No Participant, beneficiary or other person shall have any right, title or interest in any fund or in any specific asset (including shares of Common Stock, except as expressly otherwise provided) of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries by reason of any Award hereunder. Neither the provisions of the Plan (or of any related documents), nor the creation or adoption of the Plan, nor any action taken pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall create, or be construed to create, a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or one of its Subsidiaries and any Participant, beneficiary or other person. To the extent that a Participant, beneficiary or other person acquires a right to receive payment pursuant to any Award hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.
10.5 Effective Date, Termination and Suspension, Amendments.
10.5.1 Effective Date and Termination. The Plan was approved by the Board and shall become effective upon approval by the stockholders of the Company (the “Effective Date”). Unless earlier terminated by the Board, the Plan shall terminate at the close of business ten years after the date on which it was approved by the Board. After the termination of the Plan either upon such stated expiration date or its earlier termination by the Board, no additional Awards may be granted under the Plan, but previously granted Awards (and the authority of the Administrator with respect thereto, including the authority to amend such Awards) shall remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and the terms and conditions of the Plan.
10.5.2 Board Authorization. The Board may, at any time, terminate or, from time to time, amend, modify or suspend the Plan, in whole or in part. No Awards may be granted during any period that the Board suspends the Plan.
10.5.3 Stockholder Approval. To the extent then required by applicable law or any applicable stock exchange rule or required to preserve the intended tax consequences of the Plan, or deemed necessary or advisable by the Board, the Plan and any amendment to the Plan shall be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company.
10.5.4 Amendments to Awards. Without limiting any other express authority of the Administrator under (but subject to) the express limits of the Plan, the Administrator by agreement or resolution may waive conditions of or limitations on Awards to Participants that the Administrator in the prior exercise of its discretion has imposed, without the consent of a Participant, and (subject to the requirements of Sections 3.2 and 10.5.5) may make other changes to the terms and conditions of Awards. Any amendment or other action that would constitute a repricing of an Award is subject to the limitations and stockholder approval requirements set forth in Section 3.2(g).
10.5.5 Limitations on Amendments to Plan and Awards. No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan or change of or affecting any outstanding Award shall, without written consent of the Participant, affect in any manner materially adverse to the Participant any rights or benefits of the Participant or obligations of the Company under any Award granted under the Plan. Changes, settlements and other actions contemplated by Section 8 shall not be deemed to constitute changes or amendments for purposes of this Section 10.5.5.
10.6 Privileges of Stock Ownership. Except as otherwise expressly authorized by the Administrator or the Plan, a Participant shall not be entitled to any privilege of stock ownership as to any shares of Common Stock not actually delivered to and held of record by the Participant. Except as expressly provided herein, no adjustment will be made for dividends or other rights as a stockholder of the Company for which a record date is prior to such date of delivery.
10.7 Governing Law; Construction; Severability.
10.7.1 Choice of Law. The Plan, the Awards, all documents evidencing Awards and all other related documents shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware.
10.7.2 Severability. If a court of competent jurisdiction holds any provision of the Plan invalid and unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the Plan shall continue in effect and the Plan shall be construed and enforced without regard to the illegal or invalid provision.
10.7.3 Plan Construction.
a.Rule 16b-3. It is the intent of the Company that the Awards and transactions permitted by Awards be interpreted in a manner that, in the case of Participants who are or may be subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, qualify, to the maximum extent compatible with the express terms of the Award, for exemption from matching liability under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no liability to any Participant for Section 16 consequences of Awards or events under Awards if an Award or event does not so qualify.
b.Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. The Board intends that, except as may be otherwise determined by the Administrator, any Awards under the Plan will be either exempt from or satisfy the requirements of Section 409A to avoid the imposition of any taxes, including additional income or penalty taxes, thereunder. If the Administrator determines that an Award, Award Agreement, acceleration, adjustment to the terms of an Award, payment, distribution, deferral election, transaction or any other action or arrangement contemplated by the provisions of the Plan would, if undertaken, cause a Participant’s Award to violate Section 409A,
unless the Administrator expressly determines otherwise, such Award, Award Agreement, payment, acceleration, adjustment, distribution, deferral election, transaction or other action or arrangement shall not be undertaken and the related provisions of the Plan or Award Agreement will be deemed modified or, if necessary, rescinded in order to comply with the requirements of Section 409A to the extent determined by the Administrator without the consent of or notice to the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor the Administrator shall have any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any excise tax or penalty on any Participant under Section 409A. Should any payments made in accordance with the Plan to a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A) be determined to be payments from a nonqualified deferred compensation plan and are payable in connection with a Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined under Section 409A), that are not exempt from Section 409A as a short-term deferral or otherwise, these payments, to the extent otherwise payable within six (6) months after the Participant’s separation from service, and to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of taxes under Section 409A of the Code, will be paid in a lump sum on the earlier of the date that is six (6) months and one day after the Participant’s date of separation from service or the date of the Participant’s death. For purposes of Section 409A, the payments to be made to a Participant in accordance with the Plan shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.
c.No Guarantee of Favorable Tax Treatment. Although the Company intends that Awards under the Plan will be exempt from, or will comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the Company does not warrant that any Award under the Plan will qualify for favorable tax treatment under Section 409A of the Code or any other provision of federal, state, local or foreign law. The Company shall not be liable to any Participant for any tax, interest or penalties the Participant might owe as a result of the grant, holding, vesting, exercise or payment of any Award under the Plan.
10.8 Captions. Captions and headings are given to the sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.
10.9 Stock-Based Awards in Substitution for Stock Options or Awards Granted by Other Corporation. Awards may be granted to Eligible Persons in substitution for or in connection with an assumption of employee stock options, stock appreciation right, restricted stock or other stock-based awards granted by other entities to persons who are or who will become Eligible Persons in respect of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, in connection with a distribution,
arrangement, business combination, merger or other reorganization by or with the granting entity or an affiliated entity, or the acquisition by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, of all or a substantial part of the stock or assets of the employing entity. The Awards so granted need not comply with other specific terms of the Plan, provided the Awards reflect only adjustments giving effect to the assumption or substitution consistent with the conversion applicable to the Common Stock in the transaction and any change in the issuer of the security. Any shares that are delivered and any Awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Company, as a result of the assumption by the Company of, or in substitution for, outstanding Awards previously granted by an acquired company (or previously granted by a predecessor employer (or direct or indirect parent thereof) in the case of persons that become employed by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries in connection with a business or asset acquisition or similar transaction) shall not be counted against the Share Limit or other limits on the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan, except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator at the time of such assumption or substitution or as may be required to comply with the requirements of any applicable stock exchange.
10.10 Non-Exclusivity of Plan. Nothing in the Plan shall limit or be deemed to limit the authority of the Board or the Administrator to grant Awards or authorize any other compensation, with or without reference to the Common Stock, under any other plan or authority.
10.11 No Corporate Action Restriction. The existence of the Plan, the Award agreements and the Awards granted hereunder shall not limit, affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize: (a) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the capital structure or business of the Company or any Subsidiary, (b) any merger, arrangement, business combination, amalgamation, consolidation or change in the ownership of the Company or any Subsidiary, (c) any issue of bonds, debentures, capital, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the capital stock (or the rights thereof) of the Company or any Subsidiary, (d) any dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any Subsidiary, (e) any sale or transfer of all or any part of the assets or business of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (f) any other corporate act or proceeding by the Company or any Subsidiary. No Participant, beneficiary or any other person shall have any claim under any Award or Award Agreement against any member of the Board or the Administrator, or the Company or any employees, officers or agents of the Company or any Subsidiary, as a result of any such action.
10.12 Other Company Benefit and Compensation Programs. Payments and other benefits received by a Participant under an Award made pursuant to the Plan shall not be deemed a part of a Participant’s compensation for purposes of the determination of benefits under any other employee welfare or benefit plans or arrangements, if any, provided by the Company or any Subsidiary, except where the Administrator expressly otherwise provides or authorizes in writing or except as otherwise specifically set forth in the terms and conditions of such other
employee welfare or benefit plan or arrangement. Awards under the Plan may be made in addition to, in combination with, as alternatives to or in payment of grants, Awards or commitments under any other plans or arrangements of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
10.13 Restrictive Covenants, Cause Forfeiture and Clawback Policy.
10.13.1 Restrictive Covenants. The Company may retain the right in an Award Agreement to cause a forfeiture of the gain realized by a Participant on account of actions taken by the Participant in violation or breach of or in conflict with any non-competition agreement, any agreement prohibiting solicitation of employees of the Company or any Affiliate thereof or any confidentiality obligation of post-employment cooperation agreement with respect to the Company or any Affiliate, to the extent specified in such Award Agreement applicable to the Participant.
10.13.2 Annulment upon Termination for Cause. The Administrator may annul an Award if the Participant is an employee of the Company or an Affiliate thereof and is terminated for Cause as defined in the applicable Award Agreement or in the Plan.
10.13.3 Awards Subject to Clawback. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, any Award granted or amount payable or paid under the Plan, including time-based and performance-based Awards, shall be subject to the terms of the Company’s current clawback policy, as may be amended from time to time, and any other compensation recoupment policy then applicable, if any, of the Company, to the extent the policy applies to such award or amount. By accepting an Award or the payment of any amount under the Plan, each Participant agrees and consents to the Company’s application, implementation and enforcement of (a) any such policy (including the Company’s current clawback policy) and (b) any provision of applicable law or stock exchange rule relating to cancellation, rescission, payback or recoupment of compensation and expressly agrees that the Company may take such actions as are permitted under the policy or applicable law without further consent or action being required by such Participant. To the extent that the terms of the Plan and the policy or applicable law or stock exchange rule conflict, then the terms of the policy or applicable law or stock exchange rule shall prevail.