FTI CONSULTING, INC. 2006 GLOBAL LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

EX-10.1 2 dex101.htm FTI CONSULTING, INC. 2006 GLOBAL LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN FTI Consulting, Inc. 2006 Global Long-Term Incentive Plan

Exhibit 10.1

FTI CONSULTING, INC.

2006 GLOBAL LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

[Amended and Restated Effective October 25, 2006]

1. Establishment, Purpose and Types of Awards

FTI Consulting, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company” or “FTI”), hereby establishes the FTI Consulting, Inc. 2006 Global Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The general purposes of the Plan are to promote the long-term financial interest of FTI, including growth in the value of FTI’s equity and enhancement of long-term stockholder return, by: (i) attracting and retaining persons eligible to participate in the Plan; (ii) motivating Plan participants, by means of appropriate incentives, to achieve long-range goals; (iii) providing incentive compensation opportunities that are competitive with those of other similar companies; and (iv) further aligning Plan participants’ interests with those of other stockholders of FTI through compensation that is based on FTI’s common stock.

2. Definitions

Under the Plan, except where the context otherwise indicates, the following definitions apply:

(a) “Affiliate” means any entity, whether now or hereafter existing, which controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company (including, but not limited to, joint ventures, limited liability companies, and partnerships), as determined by the Committee.

(b) “Award” means any stock option, stock appreciation right, stock award, phantom stock award, performance award, or other stock-based award relating to the Common Stock or other securities of the Company granted pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, or any cash-based awards granted pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.

(c) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(d) “Change in Control” means: (1) the acquisition (other than from the Company) in one or more transactions by any Person, as defined in this Section 2(d), of the beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of (A) the then outstanding shares or the securities of the Company, or (B) the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Company Voting Stock”); (2) the closing of a sale or other conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (3) the effective time of any merger, share exchange, consolidation, or other business combination involving the Company if immediately after such transaction persons who hold a majority of the outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the surviving entity (or

 

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the entity owning 100% of such surviving entity) are not persons who, immediately prior to such transaction, held the Company Voting Stock; provided, however, that for purposes of any Award or sub-plan that constitutes a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” or that provides for the “deferral of compensation,” as such terms are defined under Code Section 409A, the Committee, in its discretion, may specify a different definition of Change in Control in order to comply with the provisions of Code Section 409A under any Award or sub-plan; provided, further, that the Committee may specify a different definition of Change in Control for any Award as the Committee deems necessary or desirable. For purposes of this Section 2(d), a “Person” means any individual, entity or group within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, other than employee benefit plans sponsored or maintained by the Company or by entities controlled by the Company.

(e) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder. A reference to any provision of the Code shall include reference to any successor provision of the Code.

(f) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board (or any successor Board committee as may be designated by the Board from time to time), comprised of directors who are independent directors as defined in the New York Stock Exchange’s Listed Company Manual, who are “outside directors” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m), and who are “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act.

(g) “Common Stock” means shares of common stock, par value of $0.01 per share, of the Company.

(h) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor thereto.

(i) “Fair Market Value” means, with respect to a share of the Common Stock on the relevant date, the closing price, regular way, reported on the New York Stock Exchange or if no sales of the Common Stock are reported on the New York Stock Exchange for that date, the closing price for the last previous day for which sales were reported on the New York Stock Exchange. If the Common Stock is no longer listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the Committee may designate such other exchange, market or source of data as it deems appropriate for determining such value for the purposes of the Plan. For all purposes under the Plan, the term “relevant date” as used in this Section 2(i) means either the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined or the next preceding date on which public trading of the Common Stock occurs, as determined in the Committee’s discretion.

(j) “Grant Agreement” means a written or electronic document memorializing the terms and conditions of an Award granted pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.

3. Administration

(a) Administration of the Plan. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.

 

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(b) Powers of the Committee. The Committee shall have all the powers vested in it by the terms of the Plan, such powers to include authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to grant Awards under the Plan, prescribe Grant Agreements evidencing such Awards and establish programs for granting Awards.

The Committee shall have full power and authority to take all other actions necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of the Plan, including, but not limited to, the authority to: (1) determine the eligible persons to whom, and the time or times at which Awards shall be granted; (2) determine the types of Awards to be granted; (3) determine the number of shares to be covered by or used for reference purposes for each Award; (4) impose such terms, limitations, restrictions and conditions upon any such Award as the Committee shall deem appropriate; (5) subject to the limitations of Sections 6(a)(2) and 6(b)(2), modify, amend, extend or renew outstanding Awards, or accept the surrender of outstanding Awards and substitute new Awards (provided however, that, except as otherwise specifically provided under the Plan, any modification that would materially adversely affect any outstanding Award shall not be made without the consent of the holder); (6) accelerate or otherwise change the time in which an Award may be exercised or becomes payable and to waive or accelerate the lapse, in whole or in part, of any restriction or condition with respect to such Award, including, but not limited to, any restriction or condition with respect to the vesting or exercisability of an Award following termination of any grantee’s employment or other relationship with the Company or its Affiliate; provided, however, (a) the Board may accelerate vesting terms and conditions and lapse of restrictions of outstanding Awards for reasons of (i) death, (ii) disability, (iii) Change in Control, (iv) retirement, or (v) an event of termination (including termination by the Company or its Affiliate without cause, termination by grantee for good reason, or settlement or waiver of claims or proceedings arising out of a termination by the Company or its Affiliate without cause), and (b) no such waiver or acceleration of lapse restrictions shall (i) be allowed with regard to a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 409A, except as otherwise permitted under such Code section, or (ii) be made with respect to a performance-based stock Award granted to an executive officer of the Company if such waiver or acceleration is inconsistent with Code Section 162(m); and (7) establish objectives and conditions, if any, for earning Awards and determining whether Awards will be paid after the end of a performance period.

The Committee shall have full power and authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to administer and interpret the Plan, Grant Agreements and all other documents relevant to the Plan and Awards issued hereunder, and to adopt and interpret such rules, regulations, agreements, guidelines and instruments for the administration of the Plan and for the conduct of its business as the Committee deems necessary or advisable. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee may delegate administrative and ministerial duties to officers or employees of the Company as the Committee deems necessary or advisable in its sole and absolute discretion. The Committee may appoint accountants, actuaries, counsel, advisors and other persons that it deems necessary or desirable in connection with the administration of the Plan.

(c) Non-Uniform Determinations. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan (including, without limitation, determinations of the persons to receive Awards, the form, amount and timing of such Awards, the terms and provisions of such Awards and the Grant Agreements evidencing such Awards) need not be uniform and may be made by the Committee selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards under the Plan, whether or not such persons are similarly situated.

 

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(d) Limited Liability. To the maximum extent permitted by law, no member of the Committee shall be liable for any action taken or decision made in good faith relating to the Plan or any Award hereunder.

(e) Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted by law and by the Company’s charter and by-laws, the members of the Committee shall be indemnified by the Company in respect of all their activities under the Plan.

(f) Effect of Committee’s Decision. All actions taken and decisions and determinations made by the Committee on all matters relating to the Plan and Awards issued hereunder pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be in the Committee’s sole and absolute discretion and shall be conclusive and binding on all parties concerned, including the Company, its stockholders, any participants in the Plan and any other employee, consultant, or director of the Company, and their respective successors in interest.

4. Shares Available for the Plan; Maximum Awards

Subject to adjustments as provided in Section 7(c) of the Plan, the shares of Common Stock that may be issued with respect to Awards granted under the Plan shall not exceed an aggregate of 3,500,000 shares of Common Stock. Stock appreciation rights to be settled in shares of Common Stock shall be counted in full against the number of shares available for award under the Plan, regardless of the number of shares issued upon settlement of the stock appreciation right. The Company shall reserve such number of shares for Awards under the Plan, subject to adjustments as provided in Section 7(c) of the Plan. The shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan may come from authorized and unissued shares, treasury shares or shares purchased by the Company in the open market. If any Award, or portion of an Award, under the Plan expires or terminates unexercised, becomes unexercisable, is settled in cash without delivery of shares of Common Stock, or is forfeited or otherwise terminated as to any shares, or if any shares of Common Stock are repurchased by the Company in connection with any Award, the shares subject to such Award and the repurchased shares shall thereafter be available for further Awards under the Plan; provided, however, that any such shares that are repurchased by the Company in connection with any Award or that are otherwise forfeited after issuance shall not be available for purchase pursuant to incentive stock options intended to qualify under Code section 422.

Subject to adjustments as provided in Section 7(c) of the Plan, the following additional maximums are imposed under the Plan:

(1) The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards of any combination that may be granted during any calendar year to any one individual under this Plan shall be limited to 750,000 shares. Such per-individual limit shall not be adjusted to reflect any Award (and related shares of Common Stock) of an individual which is terminated, surrendered or canceled.

 

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(2) The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued with respect to Awards granted under the Plan that are described in Section 6(c), 6(d), 6(e), 6(f) or 6(h) shall not exceed an aggregate of 1,100,000 shares of Common Stock.

(3) Not more than five percent (5%) of stock based Awards granted under the Plan that are described in Section 6(c), 6(d), 6(e) or 6(f) shall be granted with pro rata vesting periods ending less than (a) in the case of stock based Awards granted under the Plan that are described in Section 6(e), one- year measured from the date of grant, and (b) in the case of stock based Awards granted under the Plan that are described in Section 6(c), 6(e) or 6(f), three years measured from the date of grant.

(4) The maximum dollar award that may be paid to any one individual as cash based Awards under the Plan as described in Section 6(g) in any year shall not exceed the aggregate amount of $15.0 million.

5. Participation

Participation in the Plan shall be open to all employees, officers, and directors of, and other individuals providing bona fide services to or for, the Company, or of any Affiliate of the Company, as may be selected by the Committee from time to time, subject to any restrictions imposed by applicable law. The Committee may also grant Awards to individuals in connection with hiring, retention or otherwise, prior to the date the individual first performs services for the Company or an Affiliate, provided that such Awards shall not become vested or exercisable prior to the date the individual first commences performance of such services.

6. Awards

The Committee, in its sole discretion, establishes the terms of all Awards granted under the Plan. Awards may be granted individually or in tandem with other types of Awards. All Awards are subject to the terms and conditions provided in the Grant Agreement. Subject to any applicable requirements of Code Section 409A, the Committee may permit or require a recipient of an Award to defer such individual’s receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Common Stock that would otherwise be due to such individual by virtue of the exercise of, payment of, or lapse or waiver of restrictions respecting, any Award. If any such payment deferral is required or permitted, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, establish rules and procedures for such payment deferrals. The maximum term for any Award shall not exceed ten years from the date of the grant of such Award.

(a) Stock Options.

(1) In General. The Committee may from time to time grant to eligible participants Awards of incentive stock options or nonstatutory stock options; provided, however, that Awards of incentive stock options shall be limited to employees of the Company or of any current or hereafter existing “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation,” as defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively, of the Company and any other individuals who are eligible to receive incentive stock options

 

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under the provisions of Section 422 of the Code. All stock options must have an exercise price at least equal to Fair Market Value as of the date of grant. No stock option shall be an incentive stock option unless so designated by the Committee at the time of grant or in the Grant Agreement evidencing such stock option, and which otherwise meets the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

(2) Prohibition on Option Repricing & Cancellation. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, neither the Board nor the Committee may reprice, replace or regrant any option granted under the Plan, (i) through cancellation and replacement or regrant with lower priced options, (ii) through exchange, replacement, or buyouts of awarded options with cash, or (iii) by lowering the option exercise price of a previously granted Award, without the prior approval of FTI’s stockholders.

(b) Stock Appreciation Rights.

(1) In general. The Committee may from time to time grant to eligible participants Awards of Stock Appreciation Rights (“SAR”). An SAR entitles the grantee to receive, subject to the provisions of the Plan and the Grant Agreement, a payment having an aggregate value equal to the product of (1) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of one share of Common Stock over (B) the base price per share specified in the Grant Agreement, times (2) the number of shares specified by the SAR, or portion thereof, which is exercised. The base price per share specified in the Grant Agreement shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the grant date. Payment by the Company of the amount receivable upon any exercise of an SAR may be made by the delivery of Common Stock or cash, or any combination of Common Stock and cash, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. If upon settlement of the exercise of an SAR a grantee is to receive a portion of such payment in shares of Common Stock, the number of shares shall be determined by dividing such portion by the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the exercise date. No fractional shares shall be used for such payment and the Committee shall determine whether cash shall be given in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated.

(2) Prohibition on SAR Repricing & Cancellation. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, neither the Board nor the Committee may reprice, replace or regrant any SAR granted under the Plan, (i) through cancellation and replacement or regrant with lower priced SARs, (ii) through exchange, replacement, or buyouts of awarded SARs with cash, or (iii) by lowering the SAR base price of a previously granted Award, without the prior approval of FTI’s stockholders.

(c) Stock Awards. The Committee may from time to time grant restricted or unrestricted stock Awards to eligible participants in such amounts, on such terms and conditions, and for such consideration, including no consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by law, as it shall determine.

 

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(d) Phantom Stock. The Committee may from time to time grant Awards to eligible participants denominated in stock-equivalent units (referred to as “phantom stock”, “phantom stock units”, “restricted stock units”, and “stock units”) in such amounts and on such terms and conditions as it shall determine. Stock-equivalent units granted to a participant shall be credited to a bookkeeping reserve account solely for accounting purposes and shall not require a segregation of any of the Company’s assets. An Award of stock-equivalent units may be settled in Common Stock, in cash, or in a combination of Common Stock and cash, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Agreement, the grantee shall not have the rights of a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock represented by a stock-equivalent unit solely as a result of the grant of a stock-equivalent unit to the grantee.

(e) Performance Awards. The Committee may, in its discretion, grant performance awards which become vested or payable on account of attainment of one or more performance goals during a specified period as established by the Committee. Performance awards may be paid by the delivery of Common Stock or cash, or any combination of Common Stock and cash, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. Performance goals established by the Committee shall be based on objectively determinable performance goals selected by the Committee that apply to an individual or group of individuals, a business unit, or the Company or an Affiliate as a whole, over such performance period as the Committee may designate. For Awards intended to be “performance-based compensation,” the grant of the performance awards and the establishment of the performance measures shall be made during the period required under Code Section 162(m) and in accordance with Code Section 409A to the extent applicable

The performance goals shall be based on one or more of the following criteria: EBITDA, stock price, earnings per share, net earnings, operating or other earnings, profits, revenues, net cash flow, financial return ratios, return on assets, stockholder return, return on equity, growth in assets, market share or strategic business criteria consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified revenue goals, market penetration goals, geographic business expansion goals or goals relating to acquisitions or strategic partnerships. EBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. At any time prior to the final determination of the performance awards, the Committee may adjust the performance goals and awards for participants to the extent the Committee deems appropriate considering the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code. Upon completion of a performance period, the Committee shall determine whether the performance goals have been met and certify in writing to the extent such goals have been satisfied.

(f) Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may from time to time grant other stock-based awards to eligible participants in such amounts, on such terms and conditions, and for such consideration, including no consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by law, as it shall determine. Other stock-based awards may be denominated in cash, in Common Stock or other securities, in stock-equivalent units, in stock appreciation units, in securities or debentures convertible into Common Stock, or in any combination of the foregoing and may be paid in Common Stock or other securities, in cash, or in a combination of Common Stock or other securities and cash, all as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

 

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(g) Cash-Based Awards. The Committee may from time to time grant cash-based awards to eligible participants in such amounts, on such terms and conditions, and for such consideration, including no consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by law, as it shall determine. Cash-based awards shall be credited to a bookkeeping reserve account solely for accounting purposes and shall not require a segregation of any of the Company’s assets, and shall be payable in cash.

(h) Awards in Foreign Countries. The Committee has the authority to grant Awards to Employees who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States on any different terms and conditions than those specified in the Plan that the Committee, in its discretion, believes to be necessary or desirable to accommodate differences in applicable law, tax policy or custom, or to qualify for preferred tax treatment under foreign tax laws or otherwise complying with the regulatory requirements of local or foreign jurisdictions, while furthering the purposes of the Plan. The Committee may also establish or approve any sub-plans to the Plan as it believes to be necessary or appropriate for these purposes without altering the terms of the Plan in effect for other Participants; provided, however, that the Committee may not make any sub-plan that (a) increases the limitations contained in Section 4, (b) increases the number of shares available under the Plan, as set forth in Section 4; or (c) causes the Plan to cease to satisfy any conditions under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or causes the grant of any performance Award to fail to qualify for an income tax deduction pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code. Subject to the foregoing, the Committee may amend, modify, administer or terminate such sub-plans, and prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to such sub-plans.

7. Miscellaneous

(a) Withholding of Taxes. Grantees and holders of Awards shall pay to the Company or any of its Affiliates, or make provision satisfactory to the Committee for payment of, any taxes required to be withheld in respect of Awards under the Plan no later than the date of the event creating the tax liability. The Company or any of its Affiliates may, to the extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the grantee or holder of an Award. In the event that payment to the Company or any of its Affiliates of such tax obligations is made in shares of Common Stock, such shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the applicable date for such purposes and shall not exceed in amount the minimum statutory tax withholding obligation.

(b) Transferability. No Award granted under the Plan shall be transferable by a grantee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in accord with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, an Award may be exercised during the lifetime of the grantee, only by the grantee or, during the period the grantee is under a legal disability, by the grantee’s guardian or legal representative.

(c) Adjustments for Corporate Transactions and Other Events.

 

  (1) Stock Dividend, Stock Split and Reverse Stock Split. In the event of a stock dividend of, or stock split or reverse stock split affecting, the Common Stock, (A) the maximum number of shares of such Common

 

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Stock as to which Awards may be granted under this Plan, in the aggregate and with respect to any type of Award, and the maximum number of shares with respect to which Awards may be granted during any one calendar year to any individual, as provided in Section 4 of the Plan and (B) the number of shares covered by and the exercise price and other terms of outstanding Awards, shall, without further action of the Board, be adjusted to reflect such event unless the Board, in its sole discretion, determines, at the time it approves such stock dividend, stock split or reverse stock split, that no such adjustment shall be made with respect to any or all particular Awards. The Committee may make adjustments, in its discretion, to address the treatment of fractional shares and fractional cents that arise with respect to outstanding Awards as a result of the stock dividend, stock split or reverse stock split.

 

  (2) Non-Change in Control Transactions. Except with respect to the transactions set forth in Section 7(c)(1), and subject to the limitations of Sections 6(a)(2) and 6(b)(2), in the event of any change affecting the Common Stock, the Company or its capitalization, by reason of a spin-off, split-up, dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or share exchange, other than any such change that is part of a transaction resulting in a Change in Control of the Company, the Committee, in its discretion and without the consent of the holders of the Awards, may make (A) appropriate adjustments to the maximum number and kind of shares reserved for issuance or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan, in the aggregate, with respect to any type of Award, and with respect to any individual during any one calendar year, as provided in Section 4 of the Plan; and (B) any adjustments in outstanding Awards, including but not limited to modifying the number, kind and price of securities subject to Awards.

 

  (3) Change in Control Transactions. In the event of any transaction resulting in a Change in Control of the Company, outstanding stock options and other Awards that are payable in or convertible into Common Stock under the Plan will terminate upon the effective time of such Change in Control unless provision is made in connection with the transaction for the continuation or assumption of such Awards by, or for the substitution of the equivalent awards of, the surviving or successor entity or a parent thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the terms of the Grant Agreement shall control to the extent that it otherwise provides different treatment for an Award in the event of any transaction resulting in a Change in Control of the Company. In the event of such termination as described in the first sentence hereof, (A) the outstanding stock options and other Awards that will terminate upon the effective time of the Change in Control shall become fully vested immediately before the effective time of the Change in Control, and (B) the holders of stock options and other Awards under the Plan will be permitted, immediately before the Change in Control, to exercise or convert all portions of such stock options or other Awards

 

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under the Plan that are then exercisable or convertible or which become exercisable or convertible upon or prior to the effective time of the Change in Control.

 

  (4) Unusual or Nonrecurring Events. The Committee is authorized to make, in its discretion and without the consent of holders of Awards, and subject to the limitations of Sections 6(a)(2) and 6(b)(2), adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines, that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.

(d) Substitution of Awards in Mergers and Acquisitions. Awards may be granted under the Plan from time to time in substitution for awards held by employees, officers, consultants or directors of entities who become or are about to become employees, officers, consultants or directors of the Company or any of its Affiliates as the result of a merger or consolidation of the employing entity with the Company or any of its Affiliates, or the acquisition by the Company or any of its Affiliates of the assets or stock of the employing entity. The terms and conditions of any substitute Awards so granted may vary from the terms and conditions set forth herein to the extent that the Committee deems appropriate at the time of grant to conform the substitute Awards to the provisions of the awards for which they are substituted.

(e) Termination, Amendment and Modification of the Plan. The Board may terminate, amend or modify the Plan or any portion hereof at any time; provided, however, that without approval of stockholders of FTI, no such amendment or modification shall be made that (i) would increase the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted under the Plan, in the aggregate, with respect to any type of Award, or with respect to any individual during any one calendar year, as provided in Section 4 of the Plan, in either case except as provided in Section 7(c) and (ii) is required to be submitted to stockholders of the Company for approval pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Stock Exchange or any other governmental or regulatory authority (including any other securities exchange) to which the Company is subject or on which the Company’s equity securities are then listed. Except as otherwise determined by the Board, termination of the Plan shall not affect the Committee’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.

The Committee may take such actions as it deems appropriate to ensure that the Plan and any Awards may comply with any tax, securities or applicable law. Nothing herein shall restrict the Committee’s ability to exercise its discretionary authority as provided in the Plan.

To the extent any provision of the Plan or any Award, or action by the Board or Committee would subject any participant to liability for interest or additional taxes under Code Section 409A(a)(1)(B), it will be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and

 

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deemed advisable by the Board. It is intended that the Plan and any Awards will comply with Code Section 409A to the extent applicable, and the Plan and any Awards shall be interpreted and construed on a basis consistent with such intent. The Plan or any Award may be amended in any respect deemed necessary (including retroactively) by the Board in order to preserve compliance with Code Section 409A. The preceding shall not be construed as a guarantee of any particular tax effect for Plan benefits or Awards.

Following a Change in Control, no action shall be taken under the Plan that will cause any Award that has previously been determined to be (or is determined to be) subject to Code Section 409A to fail to comply in any respect with Code Section 409A without the written consent of the participant.

(f) Non-Guarantee of Employment or Service. Nothing in the Plan or in any Grant Agreement thereunder shall confer any right on an individual to continue in the service of the Company or shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company to terminate such service at any time with or without cause or notice and whether or not such termination results in (1) the failure of any Award to vest; (2) the forfeiture of any unvested or vested portion of any Award; and/or (3) any other adverse effect on the individual’s interests under the Plan.

(g) No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and a grantee or any other person. To the extent that any grantee or other person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.

(h) Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, of Grant Agreements entered into pursuant to the Plan, and of any rules, regulations, determinations or decisions made by the Committee relating to the Plan or such Grant Agreements, and the rights of any and all persons having or claiming to have any interest herein or hereunder, shall be determined exclusively in accordance with applicable federal laws and the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

(i) Effective Date; Termination Date. The Plan was initially adopted by the Board on March 29, 2006 and was further adopted by the Board on May 26, 2006, subject to approval by the FTI stockholders. The Plan shall be effective as of the date of approval of FTI’s stockholders (the “Effective Date”). No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date (or, if applicable, after the tenth anniversary of the latest stockholder approval of the Plan, including without limitation, any stockholder approval of any amendment to the Plan to increase the share award capacity hereunder). Subject to other applicable provisions of the Plan, all Awards made under the Plan prior to such termination of the Plan shall remain in effect until such Awards have been satisfied or terminated in accordance with the Plan and the terms of such Awards.

(j) Compliance with Securities Laws; Listing and Registration. If at any time the Committee determines that the delivery of Common Stock under the Plan is or may be unlawful under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction, or federal, state or foreign securities laws, the right

 

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to exercise an Award or receive shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award shall be suspended until the Committee determines that such delivery is lawful. The Company shall have no obligation to effect any registration or qualification of the Common Stock under federal, state or foreign laws. Awards under the Plan are intended to satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. If any provision of this Plan or any grant of an Award would otherwise conflict with this intent, that provision will be interpreted and deemed amended so as to avoid conflict. No Participant will be entitled to a grant, exercise, transfer or payment of any Award if the grant, exercise, transfer or payment would violate the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or any other applicable law.

(k) No Lien or Security Interest. No Award and no right under any such Award, may be pledged, attached or otherwise encumbered other than in favor of FTI, and any purported pledge, attachment, or encumbrance thereof other than in favor of FTI shall be void and unenforceable against FTI or any Affiliate.

(l) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or, if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such Person or Award, and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

(m) Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional shares, or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.

(n) Share Certificates. All certificates for shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which such shares are then listed, and any applicable Federal or state securities laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. To the extent that the Committee provides for the issuance of Common Stock or restricted stock awards, the issuance may be affected on a non-certificated basis, subject to applicable law or the applicable rules of any applicable stock exchange.

(o) Treatment for other compensation purposes. Payments and other benefits received by a participant pursuant to an Award shall not be deemed part of a participant’s regular, recurring compensation for purposes of any termination, indemnity or severance pay laws and shall not be included in, nor have any effect on, the determination of benefits under any other employee benefit plan, contract or similar arrangement provided by the Company, unless expressly so provided by such other plan, contract or arrangement.

 

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(p) Code Section 83(b) Elections. The Company, its Affiliates and the Committee have no responsibility for any participant’s election, attempt to elect or failure to elect to include the value of a restricted stock Award or other Award subject to Section 83 in the participant’s gross income for the year of payment pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code. Any participant who makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) will promptly provide the Committee with a copy of the election form.

(q) No Obligation to Exercise Awards; No Right to Notice of Expiration Date. The grant of an Award of a stock option or SAR will impose no obligation upon the participant to exercise the Award. The Company, its Affiliates and the Committee have no obligation to inform a participant of the date on which any Award lapses except in the Grant Agreement.

(r) Right to Offset. Notwithstanding any provisions of the Plan to the contrary, the Company may offset any amounts to be paid to a participant (or, in the event of the participant’s death, to his beneficiary or estate) under the Plan against any amounts that such participant may owe to the Company.

(s) Furnishing Information. A participant will cooperate with the Committee by furnishing any and all information requested by the Committee and take such other actions as may be requested in order to facilitate the administration of the Plan and the payments of benefits hereunder, including but not limited to taking such physical examinations as the Committee may deem necessary.

(t) Construction. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein will also include the feminine; the plural will include the singular and the singular will include the plural.

(u) Effect on other plans. The FTI Consulting, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan, FTI Consulting, Inc. Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan, and the Company’s 1997 Stock Option Plan shall remain in full force and effect on and after the Effective Date. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be deemed to preclude other compensation or equity plans which may be in effect from time to time or be construed to limit the authority of the Company to exercise its corporate rights and powers.

 

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