Century Communities, Inc. 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan

EX-10.1 2 brhc10037179_ex10-1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1

Exhibit 10.1

CENTURY COMMUNITIES, INC.
2022 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

(As Effective May 4, 2022)


Table of Contents
 
1.
Purpose of Plan.
1
2.
Definitions.
1
3.
Plan Administration.
7
4.
Shares Available for Issuance.
9
5.
Participation.
11
6.
Options.
11
7.
Stock Appreciation Rights.
13
8.
Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units.
13
9.
Performance Awards.
15
10.
Annual Performance Cash Awards.
18
11.
Non-Employee Director Awards.
19
12.
Other Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.
19
13.
Dividend Equivalents.
20
14.
Effect of Termination of Employment or Other Service.
20
15.
Payment of Withholding Taxes.
23
16.
Change in Control.
24
17.
Rights of Eligible Recipients and Participants; Transferability.
28
18.
Securities Law and Other Restrictions.
29
19.
Deferred Compensation; Compliance with Section 409A.
30
20.
Amendment, Modification and Termination.
30
21.
Substituted Awards.
31
22.
Effective Date and Duration of this Plan.
31
23.
Miscellaneous.
32


CENTURY COMMUNITIES, INC.
2022 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
 
1.
Purpose of Plan.
 
The purpose of the Century Communities, Inc. 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan (this “Plan”) is to advance the interests of  Century Communities, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and its stockholders by enabling the Company and its Subsidiaries to attract and retain qualified individuals to perform services for the Company and its Subsidiaries, providing incentive compensation for such individuals that is linked to the growth and profitability of the Company and increases in stockholder value and aligning the interests of such individuals with the interests of its stockholders through opportunities for equity participation in the Company. This Plan will become effective upon its approval by the Company’s stockholders and will replace the Century Communities, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the “Prior Plan”); provided, however, that awards outstanding under the Prior Plan as of the Effective Date will remain outstanding in accordance with their terms. After the Effective Date, no more grants of awards will be made under the Prior Plan.
 
2.
Definitions.
 
The following terms will have the meanings set forth below, unless the context clearly otherwise requires.  Terms defined elsewhere in this Plan will have the same meaning throughout this Plan.
 
2.1         “Adverse Action” means any action or conduct by a Participant that the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines to be injurious, detrimental, prejudicial or adverse to the interests of the Company or any Subsidiary, including:  (a) disclosing confidential information of the Company or any Subsidiary to any person not authorized by the Company or Subsidiary to receive it, (b) engaging, directly or indirectly, in any commercial activity that in the judgment of the Committee competes with the business of the Company or any Subsidiary or (c) interfering with the relationships of the Company or any Subsidiary and their respective employees, independent contractors, customers, prospective customers and vendors.
 
2.2       “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with, such Person where “control” will have the meaning given such term under Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
 
2.3         “Annual Performance Cash Awards” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1 of this Plan.
 
2.4       “Applicable Accounting Standard” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, International Financial Reporting Standards or such other accounting principles or standards as may apply to the Company’s financial statements under United States federal securities laws from time to time.
 
2.5         “Applicable Law” means any applicable law, including without limitation, (a) provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (b) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements or regulations, whether federal, state, local or foreign; and (c) rules of any securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system on which the shares of Common Stock are listed, quoted or traded.
 
2.6        “Award” means, individually or collectively, an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, Deferred Stock Unit, Performance Award, Annual Performance Cash Award, Non-Employee Director Award, Other Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award, in each case granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to this Plan.
 

2.7        “Award Agreement” means either: (a) a written or electronic (as provided in Section 23.9) agreement entered into by the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under this Plan, including any amendment or modification thereof, or (b) a written or electronic (as provided in Section 23.9) statement issued by the Company to a Participant describing the terms and provisions of such an Award, including any amendment or modification thereof.
 
2.8         “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
2.9         “Broker Exercise Notice” means a written notice pursuant to which a Participant, upon exercise of an Option, irrevocably instructs a broker or dealer to sell a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock to pay all or a portion of the exercise price of the Option or any related withholding tax obligations and remit such sums to the Company and directs the Company to deliver shares of Common Stock to be issued upon such exercise directly to such broker or dealer or its nominee.
 
2.10       “Cash-Based Award” means an Award made pursuant to this Plan that is denominated in cash.
 
2.11       “Cause” means, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, (a) “Cause” as defined in any employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement between the Participant and the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (an “Individual Agreement”), or (b) if there is no such Individual Agreement or if it does not define Cause: (i) dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, embezzlement or deliberate injury or attempted injury, in each case related to the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) any unlawful or criminal activity of a serious nature; (iii) any intentional and deliberate breach of a duty or duties that, individually or in the aggregate, are material in relation to the Participant’s overall duties; (iv) any material breach by a Participant of any employment, service, confidentiality, non-compete or non-solicitation agreement entered into with the Company or any Subsidiary; or (v) before a Change in Control, such other events as will be determined by the Committee. Before a Change in Control, the Committee will, unless otherwise provided in an Individual Agreement, have the sole discretion to determine whether “Cause” exists with respect to subclauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) above, and its determination will be final.
 
2.12       “Change in Control” means, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or any Individual Agreement, an event described in Section 16.1 of this Plan.
 
2.13       “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Any reference to a section of the Code herein will be deemed to include a reference to any applicable regulations thereunder and any successor or amended section of the Code.
 
2.14      “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or a subcommittee thereof, or any other committee comprised solely of directors designated by the Board to administer this Plan who are (a) “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and (b) “independent directors” within the meaning of the rules of The New York Stock Exchange (or other applicable exchange or market on which the Common Stock may be traded or quoted). The members of the Committee will be appointed from time to time by and will serve at the discretion of the Board.  If the Committee does not exist or cannot function for any reason, the Board may take any action under this Plan that would otherwise be the responsibility of the Committee, except as otherwise provided in this Plan. Any action duly taken by the Committee will be valid and effective, whether or not the members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements of membership provided herein.
 
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2.15      “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share, or the number and kind of shares of stock or other securities into which such Common Stock may be changed in accordance with Section 4.4 of this Plan.
 
2.16       “Company” means Century Communities, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto as provided in Section 23.7 of this Plan.
 
2.17       “Consultant” means a person engaged to provide consulting or advisory services (other than as an Employee or a Director) to the Company or any Subsidiary that: (a) are not in connection with the offer and sale of the Company’s securities in a capital raising transaction and (b) do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.
 
2.18       “Deferred Stock Unit means a right granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan to receive shares of Common Stock (or the equivalent value in cash or other property if the Committee so provides) at a future time as determined by the Committee, or as determined by the Participant within guidelines established by the Committee in the case of voluntary deferral elections.
 
2.19       “Director” means a member of the Board.
 
2.20      “Disability” means, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, with respect to a Participant who is a party to an Individual Agreement, which agreement contains a definition of “disability” or “permanent disability” (or words of like import) for purposes of termination of employment thereunder by the Company, “disability” or “permanent disability” as defined in the most recent of such agreements; or in all other cases, means the disability of the Participant such as would entitle the Participant to receive disability income benefits pursuant to the long-term disability plan of the Company or Subsidiary then covering the Participant or, if no such plan exists or is applicable to the Participant, the permanent and total disability of the Participant within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
 
2.21       “Dividend Equivalents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(l) of this Plan.
 
2.22       “Effective Date” means the date that this Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders.
 
2.23       “Eligible Recipients” means all Employees, all Non-Employee Directors and all Consultants.
 
2.24       “Employee” means any individual performing services for the Company or a Subsidiary and designated as an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary on the payroll records thereof.  An Employee will not include any individual during any period he or she is classified or treated by the Company or Subsidiary as an independent contractor, a consultant, or any employee of an employment, consulting or temporary agency or any other entity other than the Company or Subsidiary, without regard to whether such individual is subsequently determined to have been, or is subsequently retroactively reclassified as a common-law employee of the Company or Subsidiary during such period.  An individual will not cease to be an Employee in the case of: (a) any leave of absence approved by the Company, or (b) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company or any Subsidiaries.  For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract.  If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company or a Subsidiary, as applicable, is not so guaranteed, then three (3) months following the ninety-first (91st) day of such leave, any Incentive Stock Option held by a Participant will cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for tax purposes as a Non-Statutory Stock Option. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a Director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.
 
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2.25       “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Any reference to a section of the Exchange Act herein will be deemed to include a reference to any applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any successor or amended section of the Exchange Act.
 
2.26       “Fair Market Value” means, with respect to the Common Stock, as of any date: (a) the closing sale price of the Common Stock as of such date at the end of the regular trading session, as reported by The New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market, NYSE American or any national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed (or, if no shares were traded on such date, as of the next preceding date on which there was such a trade); (b) if the Common Stock is not so listed, admitted to unlisted trading privileges or reported on any national exchange, the closing sale price as of such date at the end of the regular trading session, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board, OTC Markets or other comparable quotation service (or, if no shares were traded or quoted on such date, as of the next preceding date on which there was such a trade or quote); or (c) if the Common Stock is not so listed or reported, such price as the Committee determines in good faith in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, and consistent with the definition of “fair market value” under Section 409A of the Code.  If determined by the Committee, such determination will be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes and on all persons, including the Company, the stockholders of the Company, the Participants and their respective successors-in-interest.  No member of the Committee will be liable for any determination regarding the fair market value of the Common Stock that is made in good faith.
 
2.27       “Full Value Award” means an Award other than in the form of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, and which is settled by the issuance of shares of Common Stock.
 
2.28       “Grant Date” means the date an Award is granted to a Participant pursuant to this Plan and as determined pursuant to Section 5 of this Plan.
 
2.29      “Incentive Stock Option” means a right to purchase Common Stock granted to an Employee pursuant to Section 6 of this Plan that is designated as and intended to meet the requirements of an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
 
2.30       “Individual Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11 of this Plan.
 
2.31       “Individual Performance Goals” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.4 of this Plan.
 
2.32       “Individual Performance Participants” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.4 of this Plan.
 
2.33     “Insider” means an individual who is, on the relevant date, an officer or Director of the Company, or a more than ten percent (10%) owner of any class of the Company’s equity securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as determined by the Board in accordance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
 
2.34       “Maximum Payout” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.3 of this Plan.
 
2.35       “Non-Employee Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.
 
2.36       “Non-Employee Director Award” means any Non-Statutory Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right or Full Value Award granted, whether singly, in combination, or in tandem, to an Eligible Recipient who is a Non-Employee Director, pursuant to such applicable terms, conditions and limitations as the Board or Committee may establish in accordance with this Plan, including any Non-Employee Director Option.
 
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2.37       “Non-Employee Director Option” means a Non-Statutory Stock Option granted to a Non-Employee Director pursuant to Section 11 of this Plan.
 
2.38       “Non-Statutory Stock Option” means a right to purchase Common Stock granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to Section 6 of this Plan that is not intended to meet the requirements of or does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
 
2.39       “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Statutory Stock Option, including a Non-Employee Director Option.
 
2.40       “Other Cash-Based Award” means an Award, denominated in cash, not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan, granted pursuant to Section 12 of this Plan.
 
2.41       “Other Stock-Based Award” means an Award, denominated in Shares, not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan, granted pursuant to Section 12 of this Plan.
 
2.42       “Participant” means an Eligible Recipient who receives one or more Awards under this Plan.
 
2.43       “Participation Factor” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2 of this Plan.
 
2.44      “Performance Award” means a right granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to Section 9 of this Plan to receive an amount of cash, number of shares of Common Stock, or a combination of both, contingent upon and the value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a function of the extent of the achievement of one or more Performance Goals during a specified Performance Period or the achievement of other objectives during a specified period.
 
2.45       “Performance Goals” mean with respect to any applicable Award, one or more targets, goals or levels of attainment required to be achieved in terms of any one or more of the measures described in Section 9.4 of this Plan or any other performance measures as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement during the specified Performance Period, as set forth in the related Award Agreement:
 
2.46       “Performance Period” means the period of time, as determined by the Committee, during which the Performance Goals must be met in order to determine the degree of payout or vesting with respect to an Award.
 
2.47       “Performance Share Unit” means a Performance Award denominated in or paid out in shares of Common Stock granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to Section 9 of this Plan.
 
2.48       “Period of Restriction” means the period when a Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Units are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (based on the passage of time, the achievement of Performance Goals, or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, in its discretion), as provided in Section 8 of this Plan.
 
2.49       “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or any other entity of whatever nature.
 
2.50       “Plan” means the Century Communities, Inc. 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time.
 
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2.51       “Plan Year” means the Company’s fiscal year.
 
2.52      “Previously Acquired Shares” means shares of Common Stock that are already owned by the Participant or, with respect to any Award, that are to be issued to the Participant upon the grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of such Award.
 
2.53       “Prior Plan” means the Century Communities, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended and restated.
 
2.54      “Restricted Stock Award” means an award of Common Stock granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan that is subject to the restrictions on transferability and the risk of forfeiture imposed by the provisions of such Section 8.
 
2.55       “Restricted Stock Unit” means an award denominated in shares of Common Stock granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan.
 
2.56       “Scale Back” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.10.
 
2.57      “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  Any reference to a section of the Securities Act herein will be deemed to include a reference to any applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any successor or amended section of the Securities Act.
 
2.58       “Separation from Service” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.2(b) of this Plan.
 
2.59       “Stock Appreciation Right” means a right granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to Section 7 of this Plan to receive, upon exercise, a payment from the Company, in the form of shares of Common Stock, cash or a combination of both, equal to the difference between the Fair Market Value of one or more shares of Common Stock and the grant price of such shares under the terms of such Stock Appreciation Right.
 
2.60      “Stock-Based Award” means any Award, denominated in Shares, made pursuant to this Plan, including Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards.
 
2.61       “Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity, whether domestic or foreign, in which the Company has or obtains, directly or indirectly, an interest of more than fifty percent (50%) by reason of stock ownership or otherwise.
 
2.62       “Successor” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.2 of this Plan.
 
2.63       “Target Payout” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2 of this Plan.
 
2.64      “Tax Date” means the date any withholding or employment related tax obligation arises under the Code or any Applicable Law for a Participant with respect to an Award.
 
2.65       “Tax Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 23.11 of this Plan.
 
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3.
Plan Administration.
 
3.1         The Committee.  The Plan will be administered by the Committee.  The Committee will act by majority approval of the members at a meeting or by unanimous written consent, and a majority of the members of the Committee will constitute a quorum.  The Committee may exercise its duties, power and authority under this Plan in its sole discretion without the consent of any Participant or other party, unless this Plan specifically provides otherwise.  The Committee will not be obligated to treat Participants or Eligible Recipients uniformly, and determinations made under this Plan may be made by the Committee selectively among Participants or Eligible Recipients, whether or not such Participants and Eligible Recipients are similarly situated.  Each determination, interpretation or other action made or taken by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of this Plan will be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes and on all persons, and no member of the Committee will be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to this Plan or any Award granted under this Plan.
 
3.2        Authority of the Committee.  In accordance with and subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Committee will have full and exclusive discretionary power and authority to take such actions as it deems necessary and advisable with respect to the administration of this Plan, including the following:
 
(a)         To designate the Eligible Recipients to be selected as Participants;
 
(b)         To determine the nature, extent and terms of the Awards to be made to each Participant, including the amount of cash or number of shares of Common Stock to be subject to each Award, any exercise price or grant price, the manner in which Awards will vest, become exercisable, settled or paid out and whether Awards will be granted in tandem with other Awards, and the form of Award Agreement, if any, evidencing such Award;
 
(c)         To determine the time or times when Awards will be granted;
 
(d)         To determine the duration of each Award;
 
(e)         To determine the terms, restrictions and other conditions to which the grant of an Award or the payment or vesting of Awards may be subject;
 
(f)         To construe and interpret this Plan and Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its administration and in so doing, to correct any defect, omission, or inconsistency in this Plan or in an Award Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it will deem necessary or expedient to make this Plan fully effective;
 
(g)         To determine Fair Market Value in accordance with Section 2.26 of this Plan;
 
(h)         To amend this Plan or any Award Agreement, as provided in this Plan;
 
(i)          To adopt subplans or special provisions applicable to Awards regulated by the laws of a jurisdiction other than, and outside of, the United States, which except as otherwise provided in this Plan, such subplans or special provisions may take precedence over other provisions of this Plan;
 
(j)        To authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any Award Agreement or any other instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Committee;
 
(k)         To determine whether Awards will be settled in shares of Common Stock, cash or in any combination thereof;

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(l)       To determine whether Awards will be adjusted for dividend equivalents, with “Dividend Equivalents” meaning a credit, made at the discretion of the Committee, to the account of a Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one share of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock represented by an Award held by such Participant, subject to Section 13 of this Plan and any other provision of this Plan and which Dividend Equivalents may be subject to the same conditions and restrictions as the Awards to which they attach and may be settled in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, or in any combination of both; and
 
(m)      To impose such restrictions, conditions or limitations as it determines appropriate as to the timing and manner of any resales by a Participant or other subsequent transfers by the Participant of any shares of Common Stock, including restrictions under an insider trading policy, stock ownership guidelines, restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such resales or other transfers and other restrictions designed to increase equity ownership by Participants or otherwise align the interests of Participants with the Company’s stockholders.
 
3.3         Delegation.  To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or more officers of the Company or any Subsidiary or to one or more agents or advisors such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable, and the Committee or any individuals to whom it has delegated duties or powers as aforesaid may employ one or more individuals to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee or such individuals may have under this Plan.  The Committee may, by resolution, authorize one or more directors of the Company or one or more officers of the Company to do one or both of the following on the same basis as can the Committee:  (a) designate Eligible Recipients to be recipients of Awards pursuant to this Plan; and (b) determine the size of any such Awards; provided, however, that (x) the Committee will not delegate such responsibilities to any such director(s) or officer(s) for any Awards granted to an Eligible Recipient: (i) who is a Non-Employee Director, or who is subject to the reporting and liability provisions of Section 16 under the Exchange Act, or (ii) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder; provided, further; that any delegation of administrative authority will only be permitted to the extent it is permissible under Applicable Law; (y) the resolution providing such authorization will set forth the type of Awards and total number of each type of Awards such director(s) or officer(s) may grant; and (z) such director(s) or officer(s) will report periodically to the Committee regarding the nature and scope of the Awards granted pursuant to the authority delegated. At all times, the delegate appointed under this Section 3.3 will serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Committee.
 
3.4         No Re-pricing.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan other than Section 4.4 of this Plan, the Committee may not, without prior approval of the Company’s stockholders, seek to effect any re-pricing of any previously granted, “underwater” Option or Stock Appreciation Right by: (a) amending or modifying the terms of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right to lower the exercise price or grant price; (b) canceling the underwater Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for (i) cash; (ii) replacement Options or Stock Appreciation Rights having a lower exercise price or grant price; or (iii) other Awards; (c) repurchasing the underwater Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and granting new Awards under this Plan; or (d) a re-pricing within the meaning of the Applicable Accounting Standard.  For purposes of this Section 3.4, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be deemed to be “underwater” at any time when the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock is less than the exercise price of the Option or grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right.
 
3.5        Participants Based Outside of the United States.  In addition to the authority of the Committee under Section 3.2(i) and notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of this Plan or Awards with respect to Participants resident outside of the United States or employed by a non-U.S. Subsidiary in order to comply with local legal requirements, to otherwise protect the Company’s or Subsidiary’s interests or to meet objectives of this Plan, and may, where appropriate, establish one or more sub-plans (including the adoption of any required rules and regulations) for the purposes of qualifying for preferred tax treatment under foreign tax laws.  The Committee will have no authority, however, to take action pursuant to this Section 3.5:  (a) to reserve shares of Common Stock or grant Awards in excess of the limitations provided in Section 4.1 of this Plan; (b) to effect any re-pricing in violation of Section 3.4 of this Plan; (c) to grant Options or Stock Appreciation Rights having an exercise price or grant price less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Grant Date in violation of Section 6.3 or Section 7.3 of this Plan; or (d) for which stockholder approval would then be required pursuant to Section 20.2 of this Plan.
 
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4.
Shares Available for Issuance.
 
4.1        Maximum Number of Shares Available.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.4 of this Plan, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that will be available for issuance under this Plan will be the sum of:
 
(a)         3,100,000 shares of Common Stock; plus
 
(b)        the number of shares of Common Stock remaining available for issuance under the Prior Plan but not subject to outstanding awards as of the Effective Date; plus
 
(c)         the number of additional shares of Common Stock subject to awards outstanding under the Prior Plan as of the Effective Date but only to the extent that such outstanding awards are forfeited, cancelled, expire or otherwise terminate without the issuance of such shares of Common Stock after the Effective Date.
 
4.2       Limits on Incentive Stock Options and Non-Employee Director Compensation.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Plan to the contrary and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.4 of this Plan,
 
(a)        the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that will be available for issuance pursuant to Incentive Stock Options under this Plan will be 3,100,000 shares; and
 
(b)        the sum of any cash compensation, or other compensation, and the value (determined as of the grant date in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor thereto) of Awards granted to a Non-Employee Director as compensation for services as a Non-Employee Director during any fiscal year of the Company may not exceed $1,000,000 (increased to $1,500,000 with respect to any Non-Employee Director serving as Chairman of the Board or Lead Independent Director or in the fiscal year of a non-employee Director’s initial service as a Non-Employee Director) (with any compensation that is deferred counting towards this limit for the year in which the compensation is first earned, and not a later year of settlement).
 
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4.3        Accounting for Awards.  Shares of Common Stock that are covered by an Award shall be counted as used only to the extent they are actually issued; provided, however, that the full number of shares of Common Stock subject to a stock-settled Stock Appreciation Right will be counted against the shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under this Plan, regardless of the number of shares of Common Stock actually issued upon settlement of such Stock Appreciation Right. Furthermore, any shares of Common Stock withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations on Awards issued under this Plan, any shares of Common Stock withheld to pay the exercise price or grant price of Awards under this Plan and any shares of Common Stock not issued or delivered as a result of the “net exercise” of an outstanding Option pursuant to Section 6.5 or settlement of a Stock Appreciation Right in shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 7.7 will be counted against the shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under this Plan and will not be available again for grant under this Plan.  Shares of Common Stock subject to Awards settled in cash will again be available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan. Any shares of Common Stock repurchased by the Company on the open market using the proceeds from the exercise of an Award will not increase the number of shares of Common Stock available for future grant of Awards.  Any shares of Common Stock related to Awards granted under this Plan or under the Prior Plan that terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation or otherwise without the issuance of the shares of Common Stock, will be available again for grant under this Plan and correspondingly increase the total number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under this Plan under Section 4.1. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, shares of Common Stock issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form of combination by the Company or a Subsidiary pursuant to Section 21 of this Plan or otherwise will not be counted against shares of Common Stock available for issuance pursuant to this Plan. The shares of Common Stock available for issuance under this Plan may be authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.
 
4.4         Adjustments to Shares and Awards.
 
(a)        In the event of any reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, rights offering, divestiture or extraordinary dividend (including a spin off) or any other similar change in the corporate structure or shares of Common Stock the Company, the Committee (or, if the Company is not the surviving corporation in any such transaction, the board of directors of the surviving corporation) will make appropriate adjustment or substitutions (which determination will be conclusive) as to: (i) the number and kind of securities or other property (including cash) available for issuance or payment under this Plan, including the sub-limits set forth in Section 4.2 of this Plan, and (ii) in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants, the number and kind of securities or other property (including cash) subject to outstanding Awards and the exercise price of outstanding Awards; provided, however, that this Section 4.4 will not limit the authority of the Committee to take action pursuant to Section 16 of this Plan in the event of a Change in Control.  The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments and/or substitutions, if any, will be final, conclusive and binding on Participants under this Plan.
 
(b)        Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, without affecting the number of shares of Common Stock reserved or available hereunder and the limits in Section 4.2 of this Plan, the Committee may authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits under this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to compliance with the rules under Sections 422, 424 and 409A of the Code, as and where applicable.
 
4.5       Minimum Vesting Requirements on Awards. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, but subject to Sections 4.4 and 16 of the Plan, equity-based Awards granted under the Plan will vest no earlier than the one-year anniversary of the date the Award is granted and any Awards under this Plan which vest upon the attainment of Performance Goals will provide for a Performance Period of at least one (1) year; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Awards that result in the issuance of an aggregate of up to five percent (5%) of the shares of Common Stock available pursuant to Section 4.1 above may be granted to any one or more eligible Directors, Consultants or Employees without respect to such minimum vesting condition. Nothing in this Section 4.5 shall preclude the Committee from taking action, in its sole discretion, to accelerate the vesting of any Award in connection with or following a Participant’s death, disability, termination of employment or service or otherwise, or the consummation of a Change in Control. This Section 4.5 will be inapplicable to (i) substitute Awards granted pursuant to Section 21 of this Plan, (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.
 
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4.6         Limitations Applicable to Insiders.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, if a Participant is an Insider, this Plan, the Award, and the Award Agreement will be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule, and such additional limitations will be deemed to be incorporated by reference into such Award to the extent permitted by Applicable Law.
 
5.
Participation.
 
Participants in this Plan will be those Eligible Recipients who, in the judgment of the Committee, have contributed, are contributing or are expected to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Company or its Subsidiaries.  Eligible Recipients may be granted from time to time one or more Awards, singly or in combination or in tandem with other Awards, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.  Awards will be deemed to be granted as of the date specified in the grant resolution of the Committee, which date will be the Grant Date of any related Award Agreement with the Participant.
 
6.
Options.
 
6.1         Grant.  An Eligible Recipient may be granted one or more Options under this Plan, and such Options will be subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of this Plan, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.  Incentive Stock Options may be granted solely to Eligible Recipients who are Employees of the Company or a Subsidiary. The Committee may designate whether an Option is to be considered an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Statutory Stock Option.  To the extent that any Incentive Stock Option (or portion thereof) granted under this Plan ceases for any reason to qualify as an “incentive stock option” for purposes of Section 422 of the Code, such Incentive Stock Option (or portion thereof) will continue to be outstanding for purposes of this Plan but will thereafter be deemed to be a Non-Statutory Stock Option. Options may be granted to an Eligible Recipient for services provided to a Subsidiary only if, with respect to such Eligible Recipient, the underlying shares of Common Stock constitute “service recipient stock” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii) promulgated under the Code.
 
6.2        Award Agreement.  Each Option grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price of the Option, the maximum duration of the Option, the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Option pertains, the conditions upon which an Option will become vested and exercisable, and such other provisions as the Committee will determine which are not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan.  The Award Agreement also will specify whether the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Statutory Stock Option.
 
6.3         Exercise Price.  The per share price to be paid by a Participant upon exercise of an Option granted pursuant to this Section 6 will be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion at the time of the Option grant; provided, however, that such price will not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Grant Date (one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value if, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, the Participant owns, directly or indirectly, more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company).
 
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6.4         Exercisability and Duration.  An Option will become exercisable at such times and in such installments and upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion at the time of grant, including (a) the achievement of one or more of the Performance Goals; or that (b) the Participant remain in the continuous employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary for a certain period; provided, however, that no Option may be exercisable after ten (10) years from the Grant Date (five (5) years from the Grant Date in the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to a Participant who owns, directly or indirectly, more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the exercise of an Option that is exercisable in accordance with its terms is prevented by the provisions of Section 18 of this Plan, the Option will remain exercisable until thirty (30) days after the date such exercise first would no longer be prevented by such provisions, but in any event no later than the expiration date of such Option.
 
6.5         Payment of Exercise Price.
 
(a)         The total purchase price of the shares of Common Stock to be purchased upon exercise of an Option will be paid entirely in cash (including check, bank draft or money order); provided, however, that the Committee, in its sole discretion and upon terms and conditions established by the Committee, may allow such payments to be made, in whole or in part, by (i) tender of a Broker Exercise Notice; (ii) by tender, either by actual delivery or attestation as to ownership, of Previously Acquired Shares; (iii) a “net exercise” of the Option (as further described in paragraph (b), below); (iv) by a combination of such methods; or (v) any other method approved or accepted by the Committee in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a Director or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act will be permitted to make payment with respect to any Awards granted under this Plan, or continue any extension of credit with respect to such payment with a loan from the Company or a loan arranged by the Company in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.
 
(b)        In the case of a “net exercise” of an Option, the Company will not require a payment of the exercise price of the Option from the Participant but will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise by the largest number of whole shares that has a Fair Market Value on the exercise date that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price for the shares exercised under this method.  Shares of Common Stock will no longer be outstanding under an Option (and will therefore not thereafter be exercisable) following the exercise of such Option to the extent of (i) shares used to pay the exercise price of an Option under the “net exercise,” (ii) shares actually delivered to the Participant as a result of such exercise and (iii) any shares withheld for purposes of tax withholding pursuant to Section 15 of this Plan.
 
(c)         For purposes of such payment, Previously Acquired Shares tendered or covered by an attestation will be valued at their Fair Market Value on the exercise date of the Option.
 
6.6        Manner of Exercise.  An Option may be exercised by a Participant in whole or in part from time to time, subject to the conditions contained in this Plan and in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option, by delivery in person, by facsimile or electronic transmission or through the mail of written notice of exercise to the Company at its principal executive office (or to the Company’s designee as may be established from time to time by the Company and communicated to Participants) and by paying in full the total exercise price for the shares of Common Stock to be purchased in accordance with Section 6.5 of this Plan.
 
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7.
Stock Appreciation Rights.
 
7.1         Grant.  An Eligible Recipient may be granted one or more Stock Appreciation Rights under this Plan, and such Stock Appreciation Rights will be subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of this Plan, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to an Eligible Recipient for services provided to a Subsidiary only if, with respect to such Eligible Recipient, the underlying shares of Common Stock constitute “service recipient stock” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii) promulgated under the Code.
 
7.2        Award Agreement.  Each Stock Appreciation Right will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right, the term of the Stock Appreciation Right, and such other provisions as the Committee will determine which are not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan.
 
7.3         Grant Price.  The grant price of a Stock Appreciation Right will be determined by the Committee, in its discretion, at the Grant Date; provided, however, that such price may not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Grant Date.
 
7.4         Exercisability and Duration.  A Stock Appreciation Right will become exercisable at such times and in such installments as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion at the time of grant; provided, however, that no Stock Appreciation Right may be exercisable after ten (10) years from its Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right that is exercisable in accordance with its terms is prevented by the provisions of Section 18 of this Plan, the Stock Appreciation Right will remain exercisable until thirty (30) days after the date such exercise first would no longer be prevented by such provisions, but in any event no later than the expiration date of such Stock Appreciation Right.
 
7.5         Manner of Exercise.  A Stock Appreciation Right will be exercised by giving notice in the same manner as for Options, as set forth in Section 6.6 of this Plan, subject to any other terms and conditions consistent with the other provisions of this Plan as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
 
7.6       Settlement.  Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:
 
(a)         The excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise over the per share grant price; by
 
(b)         The number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.
 
7.7         Form of Payment.  Payment, if any, with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right settled in accordance with Section 7.6 of this Plan will be made in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof, as the Committee determines.
 
8.
Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units.
 
8.1         Grant.  An Eligible Recipient may be granted one or more Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units under this Plan, and such Awards will be subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of this Plan, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.  Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units will be similar to Restricted Stock Awards except that no shares of Common Stock are actually awarded to the Participant on the Grant Date of the Restricted Stock Units. Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units will be denominated in shares of Common Stock but paid in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock as the Committee, in its sole discretion, will determine, and as provided in the Award Agreement.
 
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8.2        Award Agreement. Each Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the type of Award, the period(s) of restriction, the number of shares of restricted Common Stock, or the number of Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units granted, and such other provisions as the Committee will determine that are not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan.
 
8.3         Conditions and Restrictions.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, including Sections 4.5 and 4.6 of this Plan, the Committee will impose such conditions or restrictions on a Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units granted pursuant to this Plan as it may deem advisable including a requirement that Participants pay a stipulated purchase price for each share of Common Stock underlying a Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific Performance Goals, time-based restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the Performance Goals, time-based restrictions, restrictions under Applicable Laws or holding requirements or sale restrictions placed on the shares of Common Stock by the Company upon vesting of such Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units.
 
8.4        Voting Rights.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in a Participant’s Award Agreement, to the extent permitted or required by Applicable Law, as determined by the Committee, Participants holding a Restricted Stock Award granted hereunder will be granted the right to exercise full voting rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying such Restricted Stock Award during the Period of Restriction. A Participant will have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units granted hereunder.
 
8.5         Dividend Rights.
 
(a)        Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in a Participant’s Award Agreement, to the extent permitted or required by Applicable Law, as determined by the Committee, Participants holding a Restricted Stock Award granted hereunder will have the same dividend rights as the Company’s other stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing any such dividends as to a Restricted Stock Award that is subject to vesting requirements will be subject to forfeiture and termination to the same extent as the Restricted Stock Award to which such dividends relate and the Award Agreement may require that any cash dividends be reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award and subject to the same conditions and restrictions as the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which the dividends were paid. In no event will dividends with respect to Restricted Stock Awards that are subject to vesting be paid or distributed until the vesting provisions of such Restricted Stock Award lapse.
 
(b)        Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in a Participant’s Award Agreement, to the extent permitted or required by Applicable Law, as determined by the Committee, prior to settlement or forfeiture, any Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Unit awarded under this Plan may, at the Committee’s discretion, carry with it a right to Dividend Equivalents. Such right entitles the Participant to be credited with any amount equal to all cash dividends paid on one share of Common Stock while the Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit is outstanding.  Dividend Equivalents may be converted into additional Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units and may (and will, to the extent required below) be made subject to the same conditions and restrictions as the Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units to which they attach. Settlement of Dividend Equivalents may be made in the form of cash, in the form of shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of both. Dividend Equivalents as to Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units will be subject to forfeiture and termination to the same extent as the corresponding Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units as to which the Dividend Equivalents relate. In no event will Participants holding Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units receive any Dividend Equivalents on such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units until the vesting provisions of such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units lapse.
 
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8.6        Enforcement of Restrictions.  To enforce the restrictions referred to in this Section 8, the Committee may place a legend on the stock certificates or book-entry notations representing Restricted Stock Awards referring to such restrictions and may require the Participant, until the restrictions have lapsed, to keep the stock certificates, together with duly endorsed stock powers, in the custody of the Company or its transfer agent, or to maintain evidence of stock ownership, together with duly endorsed stock powers, in a certificateless book-entry stock account with the Company’s transfer agent. Alternatively, Restricted Stock Awards may be held in non-certificated form pursuant to such terms and conditions as the Company may establish with its registrar and transfer agent or any third-party administrator designated by the Company to hold Restricted Stock Awards on behalf of Participants.
 
8.7         Lapse of Restrictions; Settlement. Except as otherwise provided in this Plan, including without limitation this Section 8 or Section 17.4 of this Plan, shares of Common Stock underlying a Restricted Stock Award will become freely transferable by the Participant after all conditions and restrictions applicable to such shares have been satisfied or lapse (including satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding obligations).  Upon the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit, the Restricted Stock Unit will be settled, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement, (a) in cash, based upon the Fair Market Value of the vested underlying shares of Common Stock, (b) in shares of Common Stock or (c) a combination thereof, as provided in the Award Agreement, except to the extent that a Participant has properly elected to defer income that may be attributable to a Restricted Stock Unit under a Company deferred compensation plan or arrangement.
 
8.8         Section 83(b) Election for Restricted Stock Award.  If a Participant makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to a Restricted Stock Award, the Participant must file, within thirty (30) days following the Grant Date of the Restricted Stock Award, a copy of such election with the Company and with the Internal Revenue Service, in accordance with the regulations under Section 83 of the Code.  The Committee may provide in the Award Agreement that the Restricted Stock Award is conditioned upon the Participant’s making or refraining from making an election with respect to the award under Section 83(b) of the Code.
 
9.
Performance Awards.
 
9.1       Grant.  An Eligible Recipient may be granted one or more Performance Awards under this Plan, and such Awards will be subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of this Plan, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, including the achievement of one or more Performance Goals.
 
9.2         Award Agreement. Each Performance Award will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the amount of cash, shares of Common Stock, other Awards, or combination of both to be received by the Participant upon payout of the Performance Award, any Performance Goals upon which the Performance Award is subject, any Performance Period during which any Performance Goals must be achieved and such other provisions as the Committee will determine which are not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan.
 
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9.3         Vesting.  Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Committee may impose such restrictions or conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan, to the vesting of such Performance Awards as it deems appropriate, including the achievement of one or more of the Performance Goals and any additional time-based restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the Performance Goals.
 
9.4        Performance Goals.  The Performance Goals may be based on any one or more of the following performance measures, among any other measures as determined by the Committee: gross revenue, sales allowances, net revenue, invoiced revenue, collected revenue, revenues from new products, bad debts, home closings, orders, backlog, annual or multi-year “net-back” sales”, direct material costs, direct labor costs, indirect labor costs, direct manufacturing costs, indirect manufacturing costs, cost of goods sold, sales, general and administrative expenses, operating expenses, non-cash expenses, tax expense, non-operating expenses, total expenses, gross margin, net operating income, EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes), net operating income after taxes (NOPAT), net income, net income before taxes, net cash flow, net cash flow from operations, maintenance or improvement of profit margins, cash, excess cash, accounts receivable, inventory (WIP or finished goods), inventory days on hand, days sales outstanding, current assets, working capital, total capital, fixed assets, total assets, change in net assets, purchase price variance, accounts payable, current accrued liabilities, total current liabilities, total debt, debt principal payments, net current borrowings, total long-term debt, credit rating, retained earnings, total preferred equity, total common equity, total equity, cash-to-debt, interest coverage, liquidity, earnings per share (diluted and fully diluted), stock price, dividends, shares repurchased, total return to stockholders, price/earnings ratio, market capitalization, book value, debt coverage ratios, return on assets, return on equity, return on invested capital, economic profit (for example, economic value added), customer satisfaction, customer retention, customer service/care, brand awareness and perception, market share, warranty rates, product quality, inventory, strategic business objectives, introduction of new products, procurement of land/well located lots, mortgage capture rates, acquisition/entrance into new markets, land and other asset acquisitions, strategic asset sales or acquisitions, improvements in capital structure, headcount, employee performance, employee productivity, standard hours, employee engagement/satisfaction, employee turnover, employee diversity, safety, quality, satisfactory completion of major project or organizational initiative, environmental initiatives or metrics, social initiatives or metrics, governance initiatives or metrics. Any of these or other performance measures may be used to measure the performance of the Company or Subsidiary as a whole or any division or business unit of the Company, product or product group, region or territory, or Subsidiary, or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate.  Any performance measure(s) can be used in an algebraic formula (e.g., averaged over a period, combined into a ratio, compared to a budget or standard, compared to previous periods or other formulaic combinations) or compared to the performance of a peer group or published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or the Company may select any performance measure(s) above as compared to various stock market indices.
 
9.5         Earning of Performance Award Payment.  Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Award Agreement or an Individual Agreement, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Awards will be entitled to receive payout on the value and number of Performance Awards earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding Performance Goals have been achieved and such other restrictions or conditions imposed on the vesting and payout of the Performance Awards has been satisfied.
 
9.6         Reassignment. If prior to the end of a Performance Period, but after the conclusion of one year of the Performance Period, a Participant holding Performance Awards is reassigned to a position with the Company or any Subsidiary, and that position is not eligible to participate in such a Performance Award, but the Participant does not terminate employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary, as the case may be, the Committee may, in its sole discretion: (a) cause shares of Common Stock to be delivered or payment made with respect to the Participant’s Performance Award in accordance with Section 9.11 of this Plan, but only if otherwise earned for the entire Performance Period or (b) cause shares of Common Stock to be delivered or payment made with respect to the Participant’s Performance Award in accordance with Section 9.11 of this Plan, but only if otherwise earned for the entire Performance Period and only with respect to the portion of the applicable Performance Period completed at the date of such reassignment, with proration based on the number of months or years such Participant served in the prior position during the Performance Period.
 
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9.7       Evaluation of Performance.  The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement that any evaluation of performance or achievement of Performance Goals may include or exclude certain items or events that occur during a Performance Period, including without limitation any of the following: (a) items related to a change in accounting principles; (b) items relating to financing activities; (c) expenses for restructuring or productivity initiatives; (d) other non-operating items; (e) items related to acquisitions; (f) items attributable to the business operations of any entity acquired by the Company during the Performance Period; (g) items related to the disposal of a business or segment of a business; (h) items related to discontinued operations that do not qualify as a segment of a business under applicable accounting standards; (i) items attributable to any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of stock occurring during the Performance Period; (j) any other items of significant income or expense which are determined to be appropriate adjustments; (k) items relating to unusual or extraordinary corporate transactions, events or developments; (l) items related to amortization of acquired intangible assets; (m) items that are outside the scope of the Company’s core, on-going business activities; (n) items related to acquired in-process research and development; (o) items relating to changes in tax laws; (p) items relating to major licensing or partnership arrangements; (q) items relating to asset impairment charges; (r) items relating to gains or losses for litigation, arbitration and contractual settlements; (s) foreign exchange gains and losses; or (t) items relating to any other unusual or nonrecurring events or changes in applicable laws, accounting principles or business conditions.
 
9.8       Adjustment of Performance Goals, Performance Periods or other Vesting Criteria.  The Committee may amend or modify the vesting criteria (including any Performance Goals or Performance Periods) of any outstanding Awards based in whole or in part on the financial performance of the Company (or any Subsidiary or division, business unit or other sub-unit thereof) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including but not limited to the events described in Sections 9.7 or 4.4(a) of this Plan) affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company or of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles. The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, will be final, conclusive and binding on Participants under this Plan.
 
9.9         Committee Discretion to Make Adjustments.  Subject to the terms of an Individual Agreement, the Committee retains the discretion to adjust Awards either upward or downward, either on a formula or discretionary basis or any combination, as the Committee determines.
 
9.10      Committee Discretion to Scale Back Awards.  At any time during a Performance Period of more than one fiscal year, the Committee may, in its discretion, cancel a portion of a Performance Award prior to the conclusion of the Performance Period (a “Scale Back”), provided that:
 
(a)        the Performance Award has not yet vested;
 
(b)       based on financial information contained in the financial statements or similar internal reports of the Company or any Subsidiary, as the case may be, the Committee determines that the Performance Goals for the Performance Period cannot be achieved at the maximum levels established at the time of grant;
 
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(c)         once a Performance Award is Scaled Back, it may not again be increased to add or recover a Performance Award that was canceled; and
 
(d)       Performance Awards canceled in a Scale Back will again be available to the Committee for grant of new Performance Awards for any future Performance Period.  This provision will not be used in any manner that could have the effect of repricing a previous Performance Award.
 
9.11      Form and Timing of Performance Award Payment.  Subject to the terms of this Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Awards will be entitled to receive payment on the value and number of Performance Awards earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding Performance Goals have been achieved. Payment of earned Performance Awards will be as determined by the Committee and as evidenced in the Award Agreement.  Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Awards in the form of cash, in shares of Common Stock or other Awards (or in a combination thereof) equal to the value of the earned Performance Awards at the close of the applicable Performance Period. Payment of any Performance Award will be made as soon as practicable after the Committee has determined the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been achieved and not later than the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) month immediately following the later of the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the Performance Period ends and any additional vesting restrictions are satisfied or the end of the calendar year in which the Performance Period ends and any additional vesting restrictions are satisfied, except to the extent that a Participant has properly elected to defer payment that may be attributable to a Performance Award under a Company deferred compensation plan or arrangement.  The determination of the Committee with respect to the form and time of payment of Performance Awards will be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the Performance Award.  Any shares of Common Stock or other Awards issued in payment of earned Performance Awards may be granted subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee, including that the Participant remain in the continuous employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary for a certain period.
 
9.12       Voting Rights.  A Participant will have no voting rights with respect to any Performance Award granted hereunder.
 
9.13      Dividend Rights.  If provided in an Award Agreement, a Participant holding a Performance Award granted under this Plan may receive cash dividends or Dividend Equivalents based on the dividends declared on shares of Common Stock that are subject to such Performance Award during the period between the date that such Performance Award is granted and the date such Performance Award is settled; provided, however, that such cash dividends or Dividend Equivalents may not be paid out until the vesting provisions of such Performance Award lapse.
 
10.
Annual Performance Cash Awards.
 
10.1      Grant.  Subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of this Plan, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant to Eligible Recipients Awards denominated in cash in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee may determine, based on the achievement of specified Performance Goals for annual periods or other time periods as determined by the Committee (the “Annual Performance Cash Awards”).
 
10.2      Target Payout.  The target amount that may be paid with respect to an Annual Performance Cash Award (the “Target Payout”) may be based on a percentage of a Participant’s actual annual base compensation at the time of grant (“Participation Factor”).  The Chief Executive Officer may approve modifications to the Participation Factor for any non-executive officer Participant.  The Committee may establish curves, matrices or other measurements for prorating the amount of payments for achievement of Performance Goals at less or greater than the Target Payout.
 
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10.3      Maximum Payout. The Committee also may establish a maximum potential payout amount (the “Maximum Payout”) with respect to an Annual Performance Cash Award in the event Performance Goals are exceeded by an amount established by the Committee at the time Performance Goals are established.  The Committee may establish curves, matrices or other measurements for prorating the amount of payments for achievement of Performance Goals at greater than the Target Payout but less than the Maximum Payout.
 
10.4      Individual Performance Goals.  Subject to the terms of an Individual Agreement, at the time an Annual Performance Cash Award is granted, the Committee may provide for an increase or decrease in the Target Payout and the Maximum Payout (as either may be prorated in accordance with Sections 10.2 and 10.3 of this Plan) for selected Participants (“Individual Performance Participants”) to reflect the achievement of individual performance goals (“Individual Performance Goals”) established at that time by the Committee.
 
10.5      Payment.  Payment of any earned Annual Performance Cash Awards will be made as soon as possible after the Committee has determined the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals and Individual Performance Goals have been achieved and not later than the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) month immediately following the later of the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the Performance Period ends or the end of the calendar year in which the Performance Period ends, except to the extent that a Participant has properly elected to defer payment that may be attributable to an Annual Performance Cash Award under a Company deferred compensation plan or arrangement.
 
11.
Non-Employee Director Awards.
 
11.1      Automatic and Non-Discretionary Awards to Non-Employee Directors.  Subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of this Plan, the Committee at any time and from time to time may approve resolutions providing for the automatic grant to Non-Employee Directors of Non-Employee Director Awards granted under this Plan and may grant to Non-Employee Directors such discretionary Non-Employee Director Awards on such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of this Plan, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, and set forth in an applicable Award Agreement. Such Non-Employee Director Awards will not be subject to management’s discretion.
 
11.2      Deferral of Award Payment; Election to Receive Award in Lieu of Retainers.  The Committee may permit Non-Employee Directors the opportunity to defer the payment of an Award pursuant to such terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe from time to time. In addition, the Committee may permit Non-Employee Directors to elect to receive, pursuant to the procedures established by the Board or a committee of the Board, all or any portion of their annual retainers, meeting fees, or other fees in Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units or other Stock-Based Awards as contemplated by this Plan in lieu of cash.
 
12.
Other Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.
 
12.1       Other Cash-Based Awards.  Subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of this Plan, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Other Cash-Based Awards to Eligible Recipients not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee may determine.
 
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12.2       Other Stock-Based Awards.  Subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of this Plan, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, the Committee may grant Other Stock-Based Awards to Eligible Recipients not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted shares of Common Stock) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee will determine.  Such Awards may involve the transfer of actual shares of Common Stock to Participants as a bonus or in lieu of obligations to pay cash or deliver other property under this Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of shares of Common Stock, and may include Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.
 
12.3       Value of Other Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.  Each Other Cash-Based Award will specify a payment amount or payment range as determined by the Committee.  Each Other Stock-Based Award will be expressed in terms of shares of Common Stock or units based on shares of Common Stock, as determined by the Committee.  The Committee may establish Performance Goals in its discretion for any Other Cash-Based Award or any Other Stock-Based Award.  If the Committee exercises its discretion to establish Performance Goals for any such Awards, the number or value of Other Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards that will be paid out to the Participant will depend on the extent to which the Performance Goals are met.
 
12.4       Payment of Other Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.  Payment, if any, with respect to an Other Cash-Based Award or an Other Stock-Based Award will be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash for any Other Cash-Based Award and in cash or shares of Common Stock for any Other Stock-Based Award, as the Committee determines, except to the extent that a Participant has properly elected to defer payment that may be attributable to an Other Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award under a Company deferred compensation plan or arrangement.
 
13.
Dividend Equivalents.
 
Subject to the provisions of this Plan and any Award Agreement, any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted Dividend Equivalents based on the dividends declared on shares of Common Stock that are subject to any Award (including any Award that has been deferred), to be credited as of dividend payment dates, during the period between the date the Award is granted and the date the Award is exercised, vests, settles, is paid or expires, as determined by the Committee. Such Dividend Equivalents will be converted to cash or additional shares of Common Stock by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Committee and the Committee may provide that such amounts (if any) will be deemed to have been reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock or otherwise reinvested.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not grant Dividend Equivalents based on the dividends declared on shares of Common Stock that are subject to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right; and further, no dividend or Dividend Equivalents will be paid out with respect to any Awards until they are vested.
 
14.
Effect of Termination of Employment or Other Service.
 
14.1     Termination Due to Cause.  Unless otherwise expressly provided by the Committee in its sole discretion in an Award Agreement or the terms of an Individual Agreement between the Participant and the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or a plan or policy of the Company applicable to the Participant specifically provides otherwise, and subject to Sections 14.4 and 14.5 of this Plan, in the event a Participant’s employment or other service with the Company and all Subsidiaries is terminated for Cause:
 
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(a)         All outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights held by the Participant as of the effective date of such termination will be immediately terminated and forfeited;
 
(b)        All outstanding but unvested Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards Other Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards held by the Participant as of the effective date of such termination will be terminated and forfeited; and
 
(c)         All other outstanding Awards to the extent not vested will be immediately terminated and forfeited.
 
14.2       Termination Due to Death or Disability.  Unless otherwise expressly provided by the Committee in its sole discretion in an Award Agreement between the Participant and the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or the terms of an Individual Agreement or a plan or policy of the Company applicable to the Participant specifically provides otherwise, and subject to Sections 14.4, 14.5 and 16 of this Plan, in the event a Participant’s employment or other service with the Company and all Subsidiaries is terminated by reason of death or Disability of a Participant:
 
(a)         All outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights held by the Participant as of the effective date of such termination will, to the extent exercisable as of the date of such termination, remain exercisable for a period of one (1) year after the date of such termination (but in no event after the expiration date of any such Option or Stock Appreciation Right) and Options and Stock Appreciation Rights not exercisable as of the date of such termination will be terminated and forfeited;
 
(b)         All outstanding unvested Restricted Stock Awards held by the Participant as of the effective date of such termination will be terminated and forfeited;
 
(c)         All outstanding unvested Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards, Other Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards held by the Participant as of the effective date of such termination will be terminated and forfeited; provided, however, that with respect to any such Awards the vesting of which is based on the achievement of Performance Goals, if a Participant’s employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary, as the case may be, is terminated prior to the end of the Performance Period of such Award, but after the conclusion of a portion of the Performance Period (but in no event less than one year), the Committee may, in its sole discretion, cause shares of Common Stock to be delivered or payment made (except to the extent that a Participant has properly elected to defer income that may be attributable to such Award under a Company deferred compensation plan or arrangement) with respect to the Participant’s Award, but only if otherwise earned for the entire Performance Period and only with respect to the portion of the applicable Performance Period completed at the date of such event, with proration based on the number of months or  years that the Participant was employed or performed services during the Performance Period.  The Committee will consider the provisions of Section 14.5 of this Plan and will have the discretion to consider any other fact or circumstance in making its decision as to whether to deliver such shares of Common Stock or other payment, including whether the Participant again becomes employed; and
 
(d)       If the effective date of such termination is before the end of the Performance Period to which an Annual Performance Cash Award relates, then any such Annual Performance Cash Award held by a Participant will be terminated and forfeited; and if the effective date of such termination is on or after the end of the Performance Period to which an Annual Performance Cash Award relates, then any such Annual Performance Cash Award held by a Participant will be paid to the Participant in accordance with the payment terms of such Award.
 
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14.3       Termination for Reasons Other than Cause, Death or Disability.  Unless otherwise expressly provided by the Committee in its sole discretion in an Award Agreement or the terms of an Individual Agreement between the Participant and the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or a plan or policy of the Company applicable to the Participant specifically provides otherwise, and subject to Sections 14.4, 14.5 and 16 of this Plan, in the event a Participant’s employment or other service with the Company and all Subsidiaries is terminated for any reason other than for Cause, death or Disability of a Participant:
 
(a)        All outstanding Options (including Non-Employee Director Options) and Stock Appreciation Rights held by the Participant as of the effective date of such termination will, to the extent exercisable as of such termination, remain exercisable for a period of three (3) months after such termination (but in no event after the expiration date of any such Option or Stock Appreciation Right) and Options and Stock Appreciation Rights not exercisable as of such termination will be terminated and forfeited.
 
(b)         All outstanding unvested Restricted Stock Awards held by the Participant as of the effective date of such termination will be terminated and forfeited;
 
(c)        All outstanding unvested Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units, Performance Awards, Annual Performance Cash Awards, Other Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards held by the Participant as of the effective date of such termination will be terminated and forfeited; provided, however, that with respect to any such Awards the vesting of which is based on the achievement of Performance Goals, if a Participant’s employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary, as the case may be, is terminated by the Company without Cause prior to the end of the Performance Period of such Award, but after the conclusion of a portion of the Performance Period (but in no event less than one year), the Committee may, in its sole discretion, cause Shares to be delivered or payment made (except to the extent that a Participant has properly elected to defer income that may be attributable to such Award under a Company deferred compensation plan or arrangement) with respect to the Participant’s Award, but only if otherwise earned for the entire Performance Period and only with respect to the portion of the applicable Performance Period completed at the date of such event, with proration based on the number of months or years that the Participant was employed or performed services during the Performance Period.
 
14.4     Modification of Rights upon Termination.  Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 14, and subject to the terms of an Individual Agreement, upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary, as the case may be, the Committee may, in its sole discretion (which may be exercised at any time on or after the Grant Date, including following such termination) cause Options or Stock Appreciation Rights (or any part thereof) held by such Participant as of the effective date of such termination to terminate, become or continue to become exercisable or remain exercisable following such termination of employment or service, and Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units, Performance Awards, Annual Performance Cash Awards, Non-Employee Director Awards, Other Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards held by such Participant as of the effective date of such termination to terminate, vest or become free of restrictions and conditions to payment, as the case may be, following such termination of employment or service, in each case in the manner determined by the Committee; provided, however, that (a) no Option or Stock Appreciation Right may remain exercisable beyond its expiration date; and (b) any such action by the Committee adversely affecting any outstanding Award will not be effective without the consent of the affected Participant (subject to the right of the Committee to take whatever action it deems appropriate under Section 4.4, 14.5, 16 or 20 of this Plan).
 
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14.5       Additional Forfeiture Events.
 
(a)       Effect of Actions Constituting Cause or Adverse Action.  Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary and in addition to the other rights of the Committee under this Plan, including this Section 14.5, and subject to the terms of an Individual Agreement, if a Participant is determined by the Committee, acting in its sole discretion, to have taken any action that would constitute Cause or an Adverse Action during or within one (1) year after the termination of employment or other service with the Company or a Subsidiary, irrespective of whether such action or the Committee’s determination occurs before or after termination of such Participant’s employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary and irrespective of whether or not the Participant was terminated as a result of such Cause or Adverse Action, (i) all rights of the Participant under this Plan and any Award Agreements evidencing an Award then held by the Participant will terminate and be forfeited without notice of any kind, and (ii) the Committee in its sole discretion will have the authority to rescind the exercise, vesting or issuance of, or payment in respect of, any Awards of the Participant that were exercised, vested or issued, or as to which such payment was made, and to require the Participant to pay to the Company, within ten (10) days of receipt from the Company of notice of such rescission, any amount received or the amount of any gain realized as a result of such rescinded exercise, vesting, issuance or payment (including any dividends paid or other distributions made with respect to any shares of Common Stock subject to any Award).  The Company may defer the exercise of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right for a period of up to six (6) months after receipt of the Participant’s written notice of exercise or the issuance of stock certificates or book-entry notations upon the vesting of any Award for a period of up to six (6) months after the date of such vesting in order for the Committee to make any determination as to the existence of Cause or an Adverse Action.  The Company will be entitled to withhold and deduct from future wages of the Participant (or from other amounts that may be due and owing to the Participant from the Company or a Subsidiary) or make other arrangements for the collection of all amounts necessary to satisfy such payment obligations.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an applicable Award Agreement, this Section 14.5(a) will not apply to any Participant following a Change in Control.
 
(b)         Forfeiture or Clawback of Awards Under Applicable Law and Company Policy.  Subject to the terms of an Individual Agreement, Awards under the Plan shall be subject to any automatic forfeiture or voluntary compensation “clawback,” forfeiture or recoupment provisions under Applicable Law and any compensation “clawback,” forfeiture or recoupment policy of the Company, as in effect from time to time (including, but not limited to, the Company’s Clawback and Forfeiture Policy as adopted in 2018), and such forfeiture and/or penalty conditions or provisions as determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
 
15.
Payment of Withholding Taxes.
 
15.1      General Rules.  The Company is entitled to (a) withhold and deduct from future wages of the Participant (or from other amounts that may be due and owing to the Participant from the Company or a Subsidiary), or make other arrangements for the collection of, all amounts the Company reasonably determines are necessary to satisfy any and all federal, foreign, state and local withholding and employment related tax requirements attributable to an Award, including the grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of, or payment of dividends with respect to, an Award or a disqualifying disposition of stock received upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, or (b) require the Participant promptly to remit the amount of such withholding to the Company before taking any action, including issuing any shares of Common Stock, with respect to an Award.  When withholding shares of Common Stock for taxes is effected under this Plan, it will be withheld only up to an amount based on the maximum statutory tax rates in the Participant’s applicable tax jurisdiction or such other rate that will not trigger a negative accounting impact on the Company.
 
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15.2      Special Rules.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion and upon terms and conditions established by the Committee, permit or require a Participant to satisfy, in whole or in part, any withholding or employment related tax obligation described in Section 15.1 of this Plan by withholding shares of Common Stock underlying an Award, by electing to tender, or by attestation as to ownership of, Previously Acquired Shares, by delivery of a Broker Exercise Notice or a combination of such methods.  For purposes of satisfying a Participant’s withholding or employment-related tax obligation, shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company or Previously Acquired Shares tendered or covered by an attestation will be valued at their Fair Market Value on the Tax Date.
 
16.
Change in Control.
 
16.1      Definition of Change in Control.  Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or Individual Agreement between the Participant and the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, a “Change in Control” will mean the occurrence of any of the following:
 
(a)         The acquisition, other than from the Company, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of fifty percent (50%) or more of either the then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, but excluding, for this purpose, any such acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or any entity with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than fifty percent (50%) of, respectively, the then outstanding equity of such entity and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting equity of such entity entitled to vote generally in the election of all or substantially all of the members of such entity’s governing body is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Common Stock and voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be; or
 
(b)        The consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company, in each case, with respect to which all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the Common Stock and voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation do not, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%)  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 reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
 
(c)         a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
 
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16.2     Continuation, Assumption or Substitution of Outstanding Awards; Treatment Upon Subsequent Termination. In the event of a Change in Control, the surviving or successor organization (or a parent or subsidiary thereof) (the “Successor”) may continue, assume or substitute equivalent awards (with such adjustments as may be required or permitted by Section 4.4 of this Plan). The Successor may elect to continue, assume or substitute only some Awards or portions of Awards. A substitute equivalent award must (i) have a value at least equal to the value of the Award being substituted; (ii) relate to a publicly-traded equity security of the Successor involved in the Change in Control or another entity that is affiliated with the Company or the Successor following the Change in Control; (iii) be the same type of award as the Award being substituted; (iv) be vested to the extent vested at the time of and as a result of the Change in Control and (v) have other terms and conditions (including vesting, exercisability and effect of termination within two (2) years following a Change in Control) that are not less favorable to the Participant than the terms and conditions of the Award being substituted, in each case, as determined by the Committee (as constituted prior to the Change in Control) in its sole discretion. If an Award is continued, assumed or substituted by the Successor and within two (2) years following a Change in Control the Participant is terminated by the Successor (or an Affiliate thereof) without Cause, the following rules will apply to the continued, assumed or substituted Awards, unless otherwise specifically provided in the applicable Award Agreement:
 
(a)      Any and all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights will vest and become immediately exercisable as of the termination or resignation and will remain exercisable until the earlier of the expiration of its full specified term or the first anniversary of the date of such termination or resignation.
 
(b)        All restrictions imposed on Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units that are not performance-based will lapse. Such Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units will be settled and paid in cash or shares of Common Stock as provided in the Award Agreement. If such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units will be paid within thirty (30) days following the termination or resignation. If such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, then the Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units will be paid within the thirty (30) day period following the Participant’s separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) (a “Separation from Service”); provided, however, that if at the time of the Participant’s Separation from Service, such Participant is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A), then payment will be suspended, except as permitted under Code Section 409A, until the first business day after the earlier of (i) the date that is six (6) months after the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service or (ii) the Participant’s death.
 
(c)      All vested and earned Awards that are performance-based for which the Performance Period has been completed as of the date of such termination or resignation but have not yet been paid will be paid in cash or Shares and at such time as provided in the Award Agreement; provided, however that if any such payment is to be made in Shares, the Committee may in its discretion, provide such holders the consideration provided to other similarly situated shareholders in such Change in Control. All performance-based Awards for which the Performance Period has not been completed as of the date of such termination or resignation will immediately vest and be earned in full, and paid out with respect to each Performance Goal based on actual performance achieved through the date of such termination or resignation with the manner of payment to be made in cash or Shares as provided in the Award Agreement within thirty (30) days following the date of such termination or resignation. If such Awards are subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, then the Awards will be paid within the thirty (30) day period following the Participant’s Separation from Service; provided, however, that if at such time, such Participant is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A), then payment will be suspended, except as permitted under Code Section 409A, until to the first business day after the earlier of (i) the date that is six (6) months after the date of the Separation from Service or (ii) the Participant’s death.
 
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16.3       No Continuation, Assumption or Substitution of Outstanding Awards; Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of a Change in Control, any outstanding Awards that are not continued, assumed or substituted with equivalent awards by the Successor pursuant to Section 16.2 of this Plan, or in the case of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, all Awards, will be subject to the following rules, in each case effective immediately prior to such Change in Control but conditioned upon the completion of such Change in Control:
 
(a)        Any Options and Stock Appreciation Rights will be fully vested and exercisable and the Committee will either (1) give a Participant a reasonable opportunity to exercise the Option and Stock Appreciation Right before the transaction resulting in the Change in Control (including cashless exercise by a Participant) or (2) pay the Participant the difference between the exercise price for such Option or the grant price for such Stock Appreciation Right and the per Share consideration provided to other similarly situated stockholders in such Change in Control; provided, however, that if the exercise price of such Option or the grant price of such Stock Appreciation Right exceeds the aforementioned consideration provided, then the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be canceled and terminated without any payment. In either case, such Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be cancelled. The Committee will not be obligated to treat all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights subject to this Section 16.3 in the same manner. The exercise of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right whose exercisability is accelerated as provided in this Section 16.3 will be conditioned upon the consummation of the Change in Control and will be effective only immediately before such consummation.
 
(b)        All restrictions imposed on Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units that are not performance-based will lapse. Such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units will be settled and paid in cash or shares of Common Stock as provided in the Award Agreement. If Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, then the Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units will be paid within thirty (30) days following the Change in Control. If Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, then the time of payment will depend on whether the Change in Control is a distribution event under Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(a)(5) (a “409A Change in Control”). If the Change in Control is a 409A Change in Control, then the Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code will be paid within the thirty (30) day period following the Change in Control. If the Change in Control is not a 409A Change in Control, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code will be paid as of the earlier of the time specified in the Award Agreement or within the thirty (30) day period following the date the Participant has a Separation from Service following such Change in Control; provided, however, that if at the time of the Participant’s Separation from Service, such Participant is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A), then payment will be suspended, except as permitted under Code Section 409A, until the first business day after the earlier of (i) the date that is six (6) months after the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service or (ii) the Participant’s death.
 
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(c)        All vested and earned Awards that are performance-based for which the Performance Period has been completed as of the date of the Change in Control but have not yet been paid will be paid in cash or Shares and at such time as provided in the Award Agreement; provided, however that if any such payment is to be made in Shares, the Committee may in its discretion, provide such holders the consideration provided to other similarly situated shareholders in such Change in Control. All performance-based Awards for which the Performance Period has not been completed as of the date of the Change in Control will immediately vest and be earned in full, and paid out with respect to each Performance Goal based on actual performance achieved through the date of such Change in Control with the manner of payment to be made in cash or Shares as provided in the Award Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable after the Change in Control, but no later than within thirty (30) days following the date of the Change in Control; provided, however that if any such payment is to be made in Shares, the Committee may in its discretion, provide such holders the consideration provided to other similarly situated shareholders in such Change in Control.
 
16.4      Alternative Special Treatment of Performance-Based Awards. Notwithstanding Section 16.2 and 16.3 above, in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee, may decide in its discretion that, in lieu of treatment under Section 16.2 or 16.3 above, with respect to any outstanding Performance Awards, (i) the Performance Period will end as of the date immediately prior to such Change in Control and the Committee will determine the extent to which the Performance Goals applicable to such Performance Award have been satisfied at such time, (ii) the portion of such Performance Award that is deemed to have been earned pursuant to clause (i) above will be converted into a time-vesting Award of equivalent value to which any service vesting requirements applicable to the predecessor Performance Award will continue to apply and (iii) the converted time-vesting Award will be paid or settled on the settlement date or dates as provided under the terms of the predecessor Performance Award that would have applied had a Change in Control not occurred; provided however, that if within two (2) years following a Change in Control the Participant is terminated by the Successor (or an Affiliate thereof) without Cause, any service vesting requirements applicable to any such converted Award will be deemed to have been met and such converted Award will be immediately paid or settled upon such termination. The Committee will not be obligated to treat all Performance Awards subject to this Section 16.4 in the same manner.
 
16.5       Limitation on Change in Control Payments.  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 16 to the contrary, if, with respect to a Participant, the acceleration of the vesting of an Award or the payment of cash in exchange for all or part of a Stock-Based Award (which acceleration or payment could be deemed a “payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), together with any other “payments” that such Participant has the right to receive from the Company or any corporation that is a member of an “affiliated group” (as defined in Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to Section 1504(b) of the Code) of which the Company is a member, would constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), then the “payments” to such Participant pursuant to Section 16.2 of this Plan will be reduced (or acceleration of vesting eliminated) to the largest amount as will result in no portion of such “payments” being subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code; provided, however, that such reduction will be made only if the aggregate amount of the payments after such reduction exceeds the difference between (a) the amount of such payments absent such reduction minus (b) the aggregate amount of the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code attributable to any such excess parachute payments; and provided, further that such payments will be reduced (or acceleration of vesting eliminated) by first reducing or eliminating payments or benefits the full value of which are required to be recognized as contingent upon a Change in Control (determined in accordance with Treasury Regulation § 1.280G-1, Q/A-24), followed by reducing or eliminating payments or benefits which are not payable in cash and then by reducing or eliminating cash payments, in each case in reverse order beginning with payments or benefits which are to be paid the farthest in time from such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if a Participant is subject to a separate agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary that expressly addresses the potential application of Section 280G or 4999 of the Code, then this Section 16.5 will not apply and any “payments” to a Participant pursuant to Section 16 of this Plan will be treated as “payments” arising under such separate agreement; provided, however, such separate agreement may not modify the time or form of payment under any Award that constitutes deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code if the modification would cause such Award to become subject to the adverse tax consequences specified in Section 409A of the Code.
 
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16.6     Exceptions. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 16 to the contrary, individual Award Agreements or Individual Agreements between a Participant and the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates may contain provisions with respect to vesting, payment or treatment of Awards upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, and the terms of any such Award Agreement or Individual Agreement will govern to the extent of any inconsistency with the terms of this Section 16. The Committee will not be obligated to treat all Awards subject to this Section 16 in the same manner. The timing of any payment under this Section 16 may be governed by any election to defer receipt of a payment made under a Company deferred compensation plan or arrangement.
 
17.
Rights of Eligible Recipients and Participants; Transferability.
 
17.1     Employment.  Nothing in this Plan or an Award Agreement will interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment or service of any Eligible Recipient or Participant at any time, nor confer upon any Eligible Recipient or Participant any right to continue employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary.
 
17.2      No Rights to Awards. Subject to the terms of an Individual Agreement, no Participant or Eligible Recipient will have any claim to be granted any Award under this Plan.
 
17.3      Rights as a Stockholder.  Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, a Participant will have no rights as a stockholder with respect to shares of Common Stock covered by any Stock-Based Award unless and until the Participant becomes the holder of record of such shares of Common Stock and then subject to any restrictions or limitations as provided herein or in the Award Agreement.
 
17.4       Restrictions on Transfer.
 
(a)        Except pursuant to testamentary will or the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise expressly permitted by subsections (b) and (c) below, no right or interest of any Participant in an Award prior to the exercise (in the case of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights) or vesting, issuance or settlement of such Award will be assignable or transferable, or subjected to any lien, during the lifetime of the Participant, either voluntarily or involuntarily, directly or indirectly, by operation of law or otherwise.
 
(b)       A Participant will be entitled to designate a beneficiary to receive an Award upon such Participant’s death, and in the event of such Participant’s death, payment of any amounts due under this Plan will be made to, and exercise of any Options or Stock Appreciation Rights (to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 14 of this Plan) may be made by, such beneficiary.  If a deceased Participant has failed to designate a beneficiary, or if a beneficiary designated by the Participant fails to survive the Participant, payment of any amounts due under this Plan will be made to, and exercise of any Options or Stock Appreciation Rights (to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 14 of this Plan) may be made by, the Participant’s legal representatives, heirs and legatees.  If a deceased Participant has designated a beneficiary and such beneficiary survives the Participant but dies before complete payment of all amounts due under this Plan or exercise of all exercisable Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, then such payments will be made to, and the exercise of such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may be made by, the legal representatives, heirs and legatees of the beneficiary.
 
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(c)        Upon a Participant’s request, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit a transfer of all or a portion of a Non-Statutory Stock Option, other than for value, to such Participant’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, any person sharing such Participant’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which any of the foregoing have more than fifty percent (50%) of the beneficial interests, a foundation in which any of the foregoing (or the Participant) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Participant) own more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests.  Any permitted transferee will remain subject to all the terms and conditions applicable to the Participant prior to the transfer.  A permitted transfer may be conditioned upon such requirements as the Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine, including execution or delivery of appropriate acknowledgements, opinion of counsel, or other documents by the transferee.
 
(d)        The Committee may impose such restrictions on any shares of Common Stock acquired by a Participant under this Plan as it may deem advisable, including minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which the Common Stock is then listed or traded, or under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such shares or the Company’s insider trading policy.
 
17.5      Non-Exclusivity of this Plan.  Nothing contained in this Plan is intended to modify or rescind any previously approved compensation plans or programs of the Company or create any limitations on the power or authority of the Board to adopt such additional or other compensation arrangements as the Board may deem necessary or desirable.
 
18.
Securities Law and Other Restrictions.
 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or any Award Agreements entered into pursuant to this Plan, the Company will not be required to issue any shares of Common Stock under this Plan, and a Participant may not sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to Awards granted under this Plan, unless (a) there is in effect with respect to such shares a registration statement under the Securities Act and any applicable securities laws of a state or foreign jurisdiction or an exemption from such registration under the Securities Act and applicable state or foreign securities laws, and (b) there has been obtained any other consent, approval or permit from any other U.S. or foreign regulatory body which the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable. The Company may condition such issuance, sale or transfer upon the receipt of any representations or agreements from the parties involved, and the placement of any legends on certificates or book-entry notations representing shares of Common Stock, as may be deemed necessary or advisable by the Company in order to comply with such securities law or other restrictions.
 
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19.
Deferred Compensation; Compliance with Section 409A.
 
It is intended that all Awards issued under this Plan be in a form and administered in a manner that will comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, or the requirements of an exception to Section 409A of the Code, and the Award Agreements and this Plan will be construed and administered in a manner that is consistent with and gives effect to such intent.  The Committee is authorized to adopt rules or regulations deemed necessary or appropriate to qualify for an exception from or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  With respect to an Award that constitutes a deferral of compensation subject to Code Section 409A: (a) if any amount is payable under such Award upon a termination of service, a termination of service will be treated as having occurred only at such time the Participant has experienced a Separation from Service; (b) if any amount is payable under such Award upon a Disability, a Disability will be treated as having occurred only at such time the Participant has experienced a “disability” as such term is defined for purposes of Code Section 409A; (c) if any amount is payable under such Award on account of the occurrence of a Change in Control, a Change in Control will be treated as having occurred only at such time a “change in the ownership or effective control of the corporation or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation” as such terms are defined for purposes of Code Section 409A, (d) if any amount becomes payable under such Award on account of a Participant’s Separation from Service at such time as the Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A, then no payment will be made, except as permitted under Code Section 409A, prior to the first business day after the earlier of (i) the date that is six months after the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service or (ii) the Participant’s death, and (e) no amendment to or payment under such Award will be made except and only to the extent permitted under Code Section 409A.
 
20.
Amendment, Modification and Termination.
 
20.1      Generally.  Subject to other subsections of this Section 20 and Sections 3.4 and 20.3 of this Plan, the Board at any time may suspend or terminate this Plan (or any portion thereof) or terminate any outstanding Award Agreement and the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may amend this Plan or amend or modify the terms of an outstanding Award.  The Committee’s power and authority to amend or modify the terms of an outstanding Award includes the authority to modify the number of shares of Common Stock or other terms and conditions of an Award, extend the term of an Award, accelerate the vesting of an Award, accept the surrender of any outstanding Award or, to the extent not previously exercised or vested, authorize the grant of new Awards in substitution for surrendered Awards; provided, however that the amended or modified terms are permitted by this Plan as then in effect, including without limitation Section 3.4 of this Plan and that any Participant adversely affected by such amended or modified terms has consented to such amendment or modification.
 
20.2       Stockholder Approval.  No amendments to this Plan will be effective without approval of the Company’s stockholders if: (a) stockholder approval of the amendment is then required pursuant to Section 422 of the Code, the rules of the primary stock exchange or stock market on which the Common Stock is then traded, applicable state corporate laws or regulations, applicable federal laws or regulations, and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under this Plan; or (b) such amendment would: (i) modify Section 3.4 of this Plan; (ii) increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued or issuable under this Plan; (iii) modify the eligibility requirements for Participants in this Plan; or (iv) reduce the minimum exercise price or grant price as set forth in Sections 6.3 and 7.3 of this Plan.
 
20.3      Awards Previously Granted.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, no termination, suspension or amendment of this Plan may adversely affect any outstanding Award without the consent of the affected Participant; provided, however, that this sentence will not impair the right of the Committee to take whatever action it deems appropriate under Sections 3.4, 4.5, 12.5, 14, 16, 19 or 20.4 of this Plan.
 
20.4      Amendments to Conform to Law.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Committee may amend this Plan or an Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming this Plan or an Award Agreement to any present or future law relating to plans of this or similar nature, and to the administrative regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder.  By accepting an Award under this Plan, a Participant agrees to any amendment made pursuant to this Section 20.4 to any Award granted under this Plan without further consideration or action.
 
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21.
Substituted Awards.
 
The Committee may grant Awards under this Plan in substitution for stock and stock-based awards held by employees of another entity who become employees of the Company or a Subsidiary as a result of a merger or consolidation of the former employing entity with the Company or a Subsidiary or the acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary of property or stock of the former employing corporation. The Committee may direct that the substitute Awards be granted on such terms and conditions as the Committee considers appropriate in the circumstances.
 
22.
Effective Date and Duration of this Plan.
 
This Plan is effective as of the Effective Date.  This Plan will terminate at midnight on the day before the ten (10) year anniversary of the Effective Date, and may be terminated prior to such time by Board action.  No Award will be granted after termination of this Plan, but Awards outstanding upon termination of this Plan will remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and the terms and conditions of this Plan.
 
23.
Miscellaneous.
 
23.1       Usage.  In this Plan, except where otherwise indicated by clear contrary intention, (a) any masculine term used herein also will include the feminine, (b) the plural will include the singular, and the singular will include the plural, (c) “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term, and (d) “or” is used in the inclusive sense of “and/or”.
 
23.2       Unfunded Plan.  Participants will have no right, title or interest whatsoever in or to any investments that the Company or its Subsidiaries may make to aid it in meeting its obligations under this Plan.  Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant, beneficiary, legal representative, or any other individual.  To the extent that any individual acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Subsidiary under this Plan, such right will be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company or the Subsidiary, as the case may be.  All payments to be made hereunder will be paid from the general funds of the Company or the Subsidiary, as the case may be, and no special or separate fund will be established and no segregation of assets will be made to assure payment of such amounts except as expressly set forth in this Plan.
 
23.3     Relationship to Other Benefits. Neither Awards made under this Plan nor shares of Common Stock or cash paid pursuant to such Awards under this Plan will be included as “compensation” for purposes of computing the benefits payable to any Participant under any pension, retirement (qualified or non-qualified), savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare, or benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary unless provided otherwise in such plan.
 
23.4     Effect on Existing Agreements.  Nothing in this Plan is intended to abrogate the rights of any Participant under any contract or agreement existing between the Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary, or any subsequent amendments or modifications of such contract or agreement, and all Awards granted under this Plan and actions taken with respect to this Plan shall be subject to the terms of any contract or agreement between the Participant and the Company.
 
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23.5       Fractional Shares.  No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued or delivered under this Plan or any Award.  The Committee will determine whether cash, other Awards or other property will be issued or paid in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock or whether such fractional shares of Common Stock or any rights thereto will be forfeited or otherwise eliminated by rounding up or down.
 
23.6       Governing Law; Mandatory Jurisdiction.  Except to the extent expressly provided herein or in connection with other matters of corporate governance and authority (all of which will be governed by the laws of the Company’s jurisdiction of incorporation), the validity, construction, interpretation, administration and effect of this Plan and any rules, regulations and actions relating to this Plan will be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, notwithstanding the conflicts of laws principles of any jurisdictions.  Unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award Agreement, the Company and recipients of an Award under this Plan hereby irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction and venue of the Federal or State courts of the States of Colorado and Delaware relative to any and all disputes, issues and/or claims that may arise out of or relate to this Plan or any related Award Agreement.  The Company and recipients of an Award under this Plan further agree that any and all such disputes, issues and/or claims arising out of or related to this Plan or any related Award Agreement will be brought and decided in the Federal or State courts of the States of Colorado or Delaware, with such jurisdiction and venue selected by and at the sole discretion of the Company.
 
23.7       Successors.  All obligations of the Company under this Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder will be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company.
 
23.8      Construction.  Wherever possible, each provision of this Plan and any Award Agreement will be interpreted so that it is valid under the Applicable Law.  If any provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement is to any extent invalid under the Applicable Law, that provision will still be effective to the extent it remains valid.  The remainder of this Plan and the Award Agreement also will continue to be valid, and the entire Plan and Award Agreement will continue to be valid in other jurisdictions.
 
23.9      Delivery and Execution of Electronic Documents.  To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company may:  (a) deliver by email or other electronic means (including posting on a Web site maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company) all documents relating to this Plan or any Award hereunder (including prospectuses required by the Securities and Exchange Commission) and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including annual reports and proxy statements), and (b) permit Participants to use electronic, internet or other non-paper means to execute applicable Plan documents (including Award Agreements) and take other actions under this Plan in a manner prescribed by the Committee.
 
23.10     Corporate Action Constituting Grant of Awards. Corporate action constituting a grant by the Company of an Award to any Participant will be deemed completed as of the date of such corporate action, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, regardless of when the instrument, certificate or letter evidencing the Award is communicated to, or actually received or accepted by, the Participant. In the event that the corporate records (e.g., Board or Committee consents, resolutions or minutes) documenting the corporate action constituting the grant contain terms (e.g., exercise price, vesting schedule or number of shares) that are inconsistent with those in the Award Agreement or related grant documents as a result of a clerical error in the papering of the Award Agreement or related grant documents, the corporate records will control and the Participant will have no legally binding right to the incorrect term in the Award Agreement or related grant documents.
 
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23.11    No Representations or Warranties Regarding Tax Effect; No Obligation to Minimize or Notify Regarding Taxes. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Company and its Subsidiaries, the Board, and the Committee neither represent nor warrant the tax treatment under any federal, state, local, or foreign laws and regulations thereunder (individually and collectively referred to as the “Tax Laws”) of any Award granted or any amounts paid to any Participant under this Plan including, but not limited to, when and to what extent such Awards or amounts may be subject to tax, penalties, and interest under the Tax Laws and have no duty or obligation to minimize the tax consequences of an Award to the holder of such Award. The Company will have no duty or obligation to any Participant to advise such holder as to the time or manner of exercising an Award. Furthermore, the Company will have no duty or obligation to warn or otherwise advise such holder of a pending termination or expiration of an Award or a possible period in which the Award may not be exercised.
 
23.12    Indemnification.  Subject to any limitations and requirements of Delaware law, each individual who is or will have been a member of the Board, or a Committee appointed by the Board, or an officer or Employee of the Company to whom authority was delegated in accordance with Section 3.3 of this Plan, will be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under this Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she will give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his/her own behalf.  The foregoing right of indemnification will not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such individuals may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or pursuant to any agreement with the Company, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.


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