HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, INC. 2010 EQUITY AND INCENTIVE PLAN As Amended and Restated November 16, 2010

EX-10.6 3 a10-24334_1ex10d6.htm HEI EX-10.6

HEI Exhibit 10.6

 

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, INC.

2010 EQUITY AND INCENTIVE PLAN

 

As Amended and Restated November 16, 2010

 

Section 1.  Purpose of Plan.

 

The name of this Plan is the Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to provide an additional incentive to selected employees of the Company or its Affiliates whose contributions are essential to the growth and success of the Company’s business, in order to strengthen the commitment of such persons to the Company and its Affiliates, motivate such persons to faithfully and diligently perform their responsibilities and attract and retain competent and dedicated persons whose efforts will result in the long-term growth and profitability of the Company. To accomplish such purposes, the Plan provides that the Company may grant Options, Share Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Other Share-Based Awards, Other Cash-Based Awards or any combination of the foregoin g.

 

As of the Effective Date, no new awards shall be made under the Company’s 1987 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

Section 2.  Definitions.

 

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

 

(a)           “Administrator” means the Board, or, if and to the extent the Board does not administer the Plan, the Committee in accordance with Section 3 hereof.

 

(b)           “Affiliate” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified. An entity shall be deemed an Affiliate of the Company for purposes of this definition only for such periods as the requisite ownership or control relationship is maintained.

 

(c)           “Award” means any Option, Share Appreciation Right, Restricted Share, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Other Share-Based Award or Other Cash-Based Award granted under the Plan.

 

(d)           “Award Agreement” means any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award.

 

(e)           “Bylaws” mean the amended and restated bylaws of the Company, as may be amended and/or restated from time to time.

 

(f)            “Beneficial Owner” (or any variant thereof) has the meaning defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

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

 

(h)           “Cause” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in any individual employment or severance agreement or Award Agreement with the Participant or, if no such agreement exists or the agreement does not define “Cause,” Cause shall mean (i) the refusal or neglect of the Participant to perform substantially his or her employment-related duties, (ii) the Participant’s personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct or breach of fiduciary duty, (iii) the Participant’s indictment for, conviction of or entering a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a crime constituting a felony or his or her willful violation of any applicable law (other than a traffic violation or other offense or violation outside of the course of employment which in no way adversely affects the Company and its Subsidiaries or their reputation or the ability of the Participant to perform his or her employment-related duties or to represent the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that employs such Participant), (iv) the Participant’s failure to reasonably cooperate, following a request to do so by the Company, in any internal or governmental investigation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (v) the Participant’s material breach of any written covenant or agreement with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries not to disclose any information pertaining to the Company or such Subsidiary or not to compete or interfere with the Company or such Subsidiary.

 



 

(i)            “Certificate of Incorporation” means the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company, as may be further amended and/or restated from time to time.

 

(j)            “Change in Capitalization” means any (i) merger, consolidation, reclassification, recapitalization, spin-off, spin-out, repurchase or other reorganization or corporate transaction or event, (ii) dividend (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock or other property), stock split or reverse stock split, (iii) combination or exchange of shares, (iv) other change in corporate structure or (v) declaration of a special dividend (including a cash dividend) or other distribution, which, in any such case, the Administrator determines, in its sole discretion, affects the Shares such that an adjustment pursuant to Section 6 hereof is appropriate.

 

(k)           “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if an event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred:

 

(i)            any Person is or becomes (other than in connection with a transaction described in Paragraph (iii) below) the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) representing more than thirty percent (30%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or

 

(ii)           during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including without limitation a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the begin ning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

 

(iii)          consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company with any other company, other than (A) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (B) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transact ion) in which no Person acquires more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or

 

(iv)          the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company; or

 

(v)           there is consummated an agreement for the sale, disposition or long-term lease by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change in Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred (1) by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the Common Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in one or more entities which, singly or together, immediately following such transaction or series of transactions, own all or substantially all of the assets of the Company as constituted immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions, or (2) with respect to any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code, unless the applicable event also constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company und er Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code and regulations thereunder.

 

(l)            “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor thereto.

 

(m)          “Committee” means any committee the Board may appoint to administer the Plan or a subcommittee thereof. Subject to the discretion of the Board, the Committee shall be composed entirely of individuals who meet the qualifications of an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and any other qualifications required by the applicable stock exchange on which the Common Stock is traded. If at any time or to any extent the Board shall not administer the Plan, then the functions of the Administrator specified in the Plan shall be exercised by the Committee. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or

 



 

Bylaws, any action of the Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall be taken by a majority vote at a meeting at which a quorum is duly constituted or unanimous written consent of the Committee’s members.

 

(n)           “Common Stock” means the common stock, no par value per share, of the Company.

 

(o)           “Company” means Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (or any successor corporation, except as the term “Company” is used in the definition of “Change in Control” above).

 

(p)           “Covered Employee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(q)           “Disability” means, with respect to any Participant, that such Participant (i) as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company or an Affiliate thereof.

 

(r)            “Effective Date” means the date as of which this Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Company.

 

(s)           “Eligible Recipient” means any regular full-time employee of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company who has been selected as an eligible participant by the Administrator.

 

(t)            “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

u)            “Exercise Price” means, with respect to any Award under which the holder may purchase Shares, the per share price at which a holder of such Award granted hereunder may purchase Shares issuable upon exercise of such Award.

 

(v)           “Fair Market Value” means, as of any given date, with respect to any Awards granted hereunder: (i) the closing sale price of a share of Common Stock on such date on the national securities exchange on which the Company’s equity securities are principally listed or traded, or, if on such date no trade was conducted, the most recent preceding date on which there was such a trade; (ii) if the shares of Common Stock are then traded in an over-the-counter market, the average of the closing bid and asked prices for the shares of Common Stock in such over-the-counter market for the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Common Stock in such market; (iii) the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined in accordance with a method prescribed in the applicable Award Agreement ; or (iv) the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as otherwise determined by the Administrator in the good faith exercise of its discretion and, as required, in compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

 

(w)          “Free Standing Rights” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 9 hereof.

 

(x)            “Good Reason” means any material reduction in the Participant’s annual base compensation (except a reduction pursuant to across-the-board reductions that similarly affect all similarly situated employees of the Company or any Affiliate, as applicable).

 

(y)           “Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means any Option intended to be an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(z)            “Non-Qualified Stock Option” or “NQSO” means any Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option, including any Option that provides (as of the time such Option is granted) that it will not be treated as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(aa)         “Option” means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to Section 8 hereof. An Option may be either an ISO or an NQSO.

 

(bb)         “Other Cash-Based Award” means a cash Award granted to a Participant under Section 11 hereof, including cash awarded as a bonus or upon the attainment of Performance Goals or otherwise as permitted under the Plan.

 



 

(cc)         “Other Share-Based Award” means a right or other interest granted to a Participant under the Plan that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Common Stock, including, but not limited to, unrestricted Shares, restricted stock units, dividend equivalents or performance units, each of which may be subject to the attainment of Performance Goals or a period of continued employment or other terms or conditions as permitted under the Plan.

 

(dd)         “Participant” means any Eligible Recipient selected by the Administrator, pursuant to the Administrator’s authority provided for in Section 3 hereof, to receive grants of Options, Share Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Other Share-Based Awards, Other Cash-Based Awards or any combination of the foregoing, and, upon his or her death, his or her successors, heirs, executors and administrators, as the case may be.

 

(ee)         “Performance Goals” means performance goals based on one or more of the following criteria: (i) total return to shareholders; (ii) earnings per share of Common Stock; (iii) net income (before or after taxes); (iv) earnings before all or any interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization (“EBIT”, “EBITA”, or “EBITDA”); (v) gross revenue; (vi) return on assets; (vii) market share; (viii) cost reduction goals; (ix) earnings from continuing operations, levels of expense, cost or liability; (x) performance against operational budgets; (xi) a Participant’s individual operational project goals; (xii) return on average common equity; (xiii) individual performance goals; (xiv) free cash flow; (xv) modif ied free cash flow (net income plus depreciation and amortization less net capital expenditures); (xvi) shareholder value added; (xvii) pre-tax, pre-provision income; (xviii) efficiency ratio; (xix) net charge offs; and (xx) any combination of, or a specified increase or decrease of one or more of the foregoing over a specified period. Where applicable, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of attaining a specified level of the particular criteria or the attainment of a percentage increase or decrease in the particular criteria, and may be applied to one or more of the Company or Affiliate thereof, or a division or strategic business unit of the Company, or may be applied to the performance of the Company relative to a market index, a group of other companies or a combination thereof, all as determined by the Committee. The Performance Goals may include a threshold level of performance below which no payment shall be made (or no vesting shall occur), levels of performance a t which specified payments shall be made (or specified vesting shall occur), and a maximum level of performance above which no additional payment shall be made (or at which full vesting shall occur). Each of the foregoing Performance Goals shall be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and shall be subject to certification by the Committee; provided, that the Committee shall have the authority to make equitable adjustments to the Performance Goals in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company or any Affiliate thereof or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate thereof, in response to changes in applicable laws or regulations, or to account for items of gain, loss or expense determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment of a business or related to a change in accounting principles, in any case to the extent such adjustment does not cause a loss of deductio n under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(ff)           “Performance Shares” means Shares that are subject to restrictions that lapse upon the attainment of specified performance objectives and that are granted pursuant to Section 10 hereof.

 

(gg)         “Person” shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(hh)         “Plan” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 1 hereof.

 

(ii)           “Related Rights” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 9 hereof.

 

(jj)           “Restricted Period” means any such period as may be set by the Administrator commencing on the date of grant of an Award, subject to the provisions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, during which the Participant shall not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge or assign shares subject to such Award granted under the Plan; provided, however, that the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, provide for the lapse of such restrictions in installments and may accelerate or waive such restrictions in whole or in part based on such factors and such circumstances as the Administrator may determine, in its sole discretion, including, but not limited to, the attainment of certain performance related goals, the Participant’s termination of employment with the Company or any of its Affiliate s, the Participant’s death or Disability, or the occurrence of a Change in Control.

 



 

(kk)         “Restricted Shares” means Shares granted pursuant to Section 10 hereof subject to certain restrictions that lapse at the end of a specified period or periods.

 

(ll)           “Restricted Stock Units” means the right granted pursuant to Section 10 hereof to receive Shares at the end of a specified deferral period or periods and/or upon attainment of specified performance objectives.

 

(mm)       “Retirement” means a termination of a Participant’s employment, other than for Cause, on or after the attainment of age fifty-five (55) with at least five (5) years of continuous employment.

 

(nn)         “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time.

 

(oo)         “Shares” means shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan, as adjusted pursuant to the Plan, and any successor (pursuant to a merger, consolidation or other reorganization) security.

 

(pp)         “Share Appreciation Right” means the right pursuant to an Award granted under Section 9 hereof to receive an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value, as of the date such Award or portion thereof is surrendered, of the Shares covered by such Award or such portion thereof, over (ii) the aggregate Exercise Price of such Award or such portion thereof.

 

(qq)         “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such first Person owns or otherwise controls, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting shares or other similar interests or a sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such other Person. An entity shall be deemed a Subsidiary of the Company for purposes of this definition only for such periods as the requisite ownership or control relationship is maintained.

 

Section 3.  Administration.

 

(a)           The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator and shall be administered in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code (but only to the extent necessary and desirable to maintain qualification of awards under the Plan under Section 162(m) of the Code) and, to the extent applicable, Rule 16b-3. The Plan is intended to comply, and shall be administered in a manner that is intended to comply, with Section 409A of the Code and shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that an Award, issuance and/or payment is subject to Section 409A of the Code, it shall be awarded and/or issued or paid in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, including any applicable regulations or guidance issued by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto.

 

(b)           Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator, subject, in the case of any Committee, to any restrictions on the authority delegated to it by the Board, shall have the power and authority, without limitation:

 

(1)           to select those Eligible Recipients who shall be Participants;

 

(2)           to determine whether and to what extent Options, Share Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Other Share-Based Awards, Other Cash-Based Awards or a combination of any of the foregoing, are to be granted hereunder to Participants;

 

(3)           to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

(4)           to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of each Award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, (i) the restrictions applicable to Restricted Shares or Restricted Stock Units and the conditions under which restrictions applicable to such Restricted Shares or Restricted Stock Units shall lapse, (ii) the Performance Goals or other performance related objectives and periods applicable to Performance Shares, (iii) the Exercise Price of each Award, (iv) the vesting schedule applicable to each Award, (v) the number of Shares subject to each Award and (vi) subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (to the extent applicable), any amendments to the terms and conditions of outstanding Awards, including, but not limited to, extending the exercise period of such Awards and accelerating the vesting schedule of such Awards);

 

(5)           to permit a Participant to elect to defer receipt of all or any portion of the cash or shares of Common Stock that are payable under an Award and provide that such deferred amount shall be credited with an

 



 

interest rate or such other rate of return as shall be specified by the Administrator, all on such terms and conditions as may be established by the Administrator; provided, however, that any such election and deferral shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code;

 

(6)           to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, which shall govern all written instruments evidencing Options, Share Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares or Other Share-Based Awards, Other Cash-Based Awards or any combination of the foregoing granted hereunder;

 

(7)           to determine the Fair Market Value;

 

(8)           to determine the duration and purpose of leaves of absence which may be granted to a Participant without constituting termination of the Participant’s employment for purposes of Awards granted under the Plan;

 

(9)           to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time to time deem advisable; and

 

(10)         to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan (and any Award Agreement relating thereto), and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan and to exercise all powers and authorities either specifically granted under the Plan or necessary and advisable in the administration of the Plan.

 

(c)           All decisions made by the Administrator pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company and the Participants. No member of the Board or the Committee, nor any officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof acting on behalf of the Board or the Committee, shall be personally liable for any action, omission, determination, or interpretation taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and all members of the Board or the Committee and each and any officer or employee of the Company and of any Subsidiary thereof acting on their behalf shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company in respect of any such action, omission, determination or interpretation.

 

Section 4.  Shares Reserved for Issuance Under the Plan.

 

(a)           Subject to subsection (b) below and Section 6 hereof, the number of shares of Common Stock that are reserved and available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan is 4,000,000 shares. Shares of Common Stock that are issued in connection with all Awards other than Options and Share Appreciation Rights or Awards whose vesting, exercisability or payment is subject to the attainment of Performance Goals shall be counted against the 4,000,000 limit described above as four shares of Common Stock for every share of Common Stock that is issued in connection with such Award. Shares issued under the Plan may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued Shares or Shares that shall have been or may be reacquired by the Company in the open market, in private transactions or otherwise.

 

(b)           If any Shares subject to an Award are forfeited, cancelled, exchanged or surrendered or if an Award otherwise terminates or expires without a distribution of shares to the Participant, the Shares with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, exchange, surrender, termination or expiration, again be available for Awards under the Plan. If any Award (other than a Share Appreciation Right) is settled in part or in full in cash, the Shares settled in cash shall again be available for issuance in connection with future Awards granted under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Shares surrendered or withheld as payment of either the exercise price of an Award granted hereunder (including Shares otherwise underlying an Award of a Share Appreciation Right that are retained by the Company to account for the grant price of such Share Appreciation Right) and/or withholding taxes in respect of such an Award shall no longer be available for grant under the Plan.

 

(c)           All Shares may be made subject to Awards of ISOs.

 

Section 5.  Overall Award Limitations; Section 162(m) of the Code

 

(a)           To the extent required to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, the aggregate number of Shares subject to Awards (other than Other Cash-Based Awards) awarded to any one Participant during any calendar year may not, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6 hereof, exceed 100,000 Shares.

 



 

(b)           To the extent required to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, the maximum value of the aggregate payment that any Participant may receive with respect to Other Cash-Based Awards pursuant to Section 11 hereof in any calendar year is $2,000,000.

 

(c)           To the extent that the Plan is subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, no payment shall be made to a Participant who is likely to be a Covered Employee prior to the certification by the Committee that the Performance Goals (if any) have been attained.

 

Section 6.  Equitable Adjustments.

 

In the event of any Change in Capitalization, an equitable substitution or proportionate adjustment shall be made, in each case, as may be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, in (i) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan and the maximum number of Shares that may be subject to Awards granted to any Participant in any calendar or fiscal year, (ii) the kind, number and Exercise Price subject to outstanding Options and Share Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan, and (iii) the kind, number and purchase price of Shares subject to outstanding Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares or Other Share-Based Awards granted under the Plan, in each case as may be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, provided, however, that any fractional shares resulting from the adjus tment shall be eliminated. Such other equitable substitutions or adjustments shall be made as may be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. No such adjustment shall be made that would cause any Award that is or could be subject to Section 409A of the Code to fail to comply with the requirements of such section, and with respect to ISOs, any adjustment shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 424(h) of the Code and any regulations or guidance promulgated thereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in connection with a Change in Capitalization, the Administrator may provide, in its sole discretion, for the cancellation of any outstanding Award granted hereunder in exchange for payment in cash or other property having an aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares covered by such Award, reduced by the aggregate Exercise Price or purchase price thereof, if any. Any Awards with an aggregate exercise price (or aggregate base in the case of a Share Appreciation Right) or part thereof canceled that is greater than the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Award or part thereof canceled, may be cancelled for no consideration. The Administrator’s determinations pursuant to this Section 6 shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

Section 7.  Eligibility.

 

The Participants under the Plan shall be selected from time to time by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, from among Eligible Recipients. Awards may be granted to Eligible Recipients; provided, however, that ISOs shall be granted only to employees (including officers and directors who are also employees) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 8.  Options.

 

(a)  General.  The grant of each Option shall be memorialized in an Award Agreement, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, including among other things the Exercise Price of the Option, the term of the Option, provisions regarding exercisability of the Option, and whether the Option granted thereunder is an ISO or an NQSO. The provisions of each Option need not be the same with respect to each Participant. More than one Option may be granted to the same Participant and be outstanding concurrently hereunder. Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 8 and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(b)  Exercise Price.  The Exercise Price of Shares purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion at the time of grant, but in no event shall the exercise price of an Option be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. If a Participant owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules applicable under Section 424(d) of the Code) more than ten percent (10%) of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such Participant, the Exercise Price of such Incentive Stock Option (to the extent required at the time of grant by the Code) shall be no less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted.

 

(c)  Option Term.  The maximum term of each Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Option shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such Option is granted; provided, however, that if an employee owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than ten percent (10%) of the

 



 

combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such employee, the term of such Incentive Stock Option (to the extent required by the Code at the time of grant) shall be no more than five (5) years from the date of grant. Each Option’s term is subject to earlier expiration pursuant to the applicable provisions in the Plan and the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator shall have the authority to accelerate the exercisability of any outstanding Option at such time and under such circumstances as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

 

(d)  Exercisability.  Each Option shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions, including the attainment of preestablished corporate performance goals, as shall be determined by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement. The Administrator may also provide that any Option shall be exercisable only in installments, and the Administrator may waive such installment exercise provisions at any time, in whole or in part, based on such factors as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, an Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a share.

 

(e)  Method of Exercise.  Options may be exercised in whole or in part by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of Shares to be purchased, accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares so purchased in cash or its equivalent, as determined by the Administrator. As determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, with respect to any Option or category of Options, payment in whole or in part may also be made (i) by means of consideration received under any cashless exercise procedure approved by the Administrator (including the withholding of Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise), (ii) in the form of unrestricted Shares already owned by the Participant which, in the case of unrestricted Shares acquired upon exercise of an Option, (x) have been owned by the Participant for more than six (6)&nb sp;months on the date of surrender, and (y) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which such Option shall be exercised, (iii) any other form of consideration approved by the Administrator and permitted by applicable law or (iv) any combination of the foregoing.

 

(f)  Rights as Shareholder.  A Participant shall have no rights to dividends or any other rights of a shareholder with respect to the Shares subject to an Option until the Participant has given written notice of the exercise thereof, has paid in full for such Shares and has satisfied the requirements of Section 15 hereof, and the Shares are delivered to the Participant.

 

(g)  Termination of Employment.

 

(1)           Unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise, in the event that the employment of a Participant with the Company and all Affiliates thereof shall terminate for any reason other than Cause, Retirement, Disability, or death, (A) Options granted to such Participant, to the extent that they are exercisable at the time of such termination, shall remain exercisable until the date that is one year after such termination, on which date they shall expire, and (B) Options granted to such Participant, to the extent that they were not exercisable at the time of such termination, shall expire at the close of business on the date of such termination. The one year period described in this Section 8(g)(1) shall be extended to three (3) years after the date of such termination in the event of the Participan t’s death during such one year period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of its term.

 

(2)           Unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise, in the event that the employment of a Participant with the Company and all Affiliates thereof shall terminate on account of the Retirement, Disability, or death of the Participant, Options granted to such Participant, to the extent that they were exercisable at the time of such termination, shall become fully vested as to all Shares covered thereby and shall remain exercisable until the date that is three (3) years after such termination, on which date they shall expire. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of its term.

 

(3)           In the event of the termination of a Participant’s employment for Cause, all outstanding Options granted to such Participant shall expire at the commencement of business on the date of such termination.

 

(h)  Other Change in Employment Status.  An Option shall be affected, both with regard to vesting schedule and termination, by leaves of absence, changes from full-time to part-time employment, partial disability or other changes in the employment status of an Participant, in the discretion of the Administrator.

 

(i)  Annual Limit on Incentive Stock Options.  To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted to a Participant under this Plan and all other option plans of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company become exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year exceeds $100,000 (as determined in accordance with Section 422(d) of the Code), the portion of such Incentive Stock Options in excess of $100,000 shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options.

 



 

Section 9.  Share Appreciation Rights.

 

(a)  General.  Share Appreciation Rights may be granted either alone (“Free Standing Rights”) or in conjunction with all or part of any Option granted under the Plan (“Related Rights”). Subject to Section 409A of the Code, in the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, Related Rights may be granted either at or after the time of the grant of such Option. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, Related Rights may be granted only at the time of the grant of the Incentive Stock Option. The Administrator shall determine the Eligible Recipients to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Share Appreciation Rights shall be made, the number of Shares to be awarded, the price per Share, and all other conditions of Share Appreciation Rights. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Related Right may be granted for more Shares than are subject to th e Option to which it relates and any Share Appreciation Right must be granted with an Exercise Price not less than the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the date of grant. The provisions of Share Appreciation Rights need not be the same with respect to each Participant. Share Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions set forth in this Section 9 and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable, as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(b)  Awards; Rights as Shareholder.  The grant of each Share Appreciation Right shall be memorialized in an Award Agreement, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion. A Participant shall have no rights to dividends or any other rights of a shareholder with respect to the Shares subject to a Share Appreciation Right until the Participant has given written notice of the exercise thereof, has paid in full for such Shares and has satisfied the requirements of Section 15 hereof, and the Shares are delivered to the Participant.

 

(c)  Exercisability.

 

(1)           Share Appreciation Rights that are Free Standing Rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(2)           Share Appreciation Rights that are Related Rights shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that the Options to which they relate shall be exercisable in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 hereof and this Section 9; provided, however, that a Related Right granted in connection with an Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable only if and when the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Incentive Stock Option exceeds the Exercise Price of such Option.

 

(d)  Payment Upon Exercise.

 

(1)           Upon the exercise of a Free Standing Right, the Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but not more than, that number of Shares equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise over the price per share specified in the Free Standing Right multiplied by the number of Shares in respect of which the Free Standing Right is being exercised, with the Administrator having the right to determine the form of payment.

 

(2)           A Related Right may be exercised by a Participant by surrendering the applicable portion of the related Option. Upon such exercise and surrender, the Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but not more than, that number of Shares equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise over the Exercise Price specified in the related Option multiplied by the number of Shares in respect of which the Related Right is being exercised, with the Administrator having the right to determine the form of payment. Options which have been so surrendered, in whole or in part, shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the Related Rights have been so exercised.

 

(3)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may determine to settle the exercise of a Share Appreciation Right in cash (or in any combination of Shares and cash).

 

(e)  Termination of Employment.

 

(1)           Unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise, in the event that the employment of a Participant with the Company and all Affiliates thereof (who has been granted one or more Free Standing Rights) shall terminate for any reason other than Cause, Retirement, Disability, or death, (A) Free Standing Rights granted to such Participant, to the extent that they are exercisable at the time of such termination, shall remain exercisable until the date that is one year after such termination, on which date they shall expire, and (B) Free Standing Rights

 



 

granted to such Participant, to the extent that they were not exercisable at the time of such termination, shall expire at the close of business on the date of such termination. The one year period described in this Section 9(e)(1) shall be extended to three (3) years after the date of such termination in the event of the Participant’s death during such one year period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Free Standing Right shall be exercisable after the expiration of its term.

 

(2)           Unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise, in the event that the employment of a Participant with the Company and all Affiliates thereof (who has been granted one or more Free Standing Rights) shall terminate on account of the Retirement, Disability, or death of the Participant, Free Standing Rights granted to such Participant, to the extent that they were exercisable at the time of such termination, shall become fully vested as to all Shares covered thereby and shall remain exercisable until the date that is three (3) years after such termination, on which date they shall expire. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Free Standing Right shall be exercisable after the expiration of its term.

 

(3)           In the event of the termination of a Participant’s employment for Cause, all outstanding Free Standing Rights granted to such Participant shall expire at the commencement of business on the date of such termination.

 

(4)           In the event of the termination of employment with the Company and all Affiliates thereof of a Participant who has been granted one or more Related Rights, such rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as set forth in the related Options.

 

(f)  Term.

 

(1)           The term of each Free Standing Right shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Free Standing Right shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such right is granted.

 

(2)           The term of each Related Right shall be the term of the Option to which it relates, but no Related Right shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such right is granted.

 

Section 10.  Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units and Performance Shares.

 

(a)  General.  Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares may be issued either alone or in addition to other awards granted under the Plan. The Administrator shall determine the Eligible Recipients to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards of Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares shall be made; the number of Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares to be awarded; the price, if any, to be paid by the Participant for the acquisition of Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares; the Restricted Period, if any, applicable to Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares; the Performance Goals and/or other performance related objectives (if any) applicable to Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares; and all other conditions of the Restricted Shar es, Restricted Stock Units and Performance Shares. If the restrictions, performance objectives and/or conditions established by the Administrator are not attained, a Participant shall forfeit his or her Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares in accordance with the terms of the grant. The provisions of the Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

 

(b)  Awards and Certificates.  The grant of each Award of Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares shall be memorialized in an Award Agreement, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion. Except as otherwise provided below in Section 10(c), (i) each Participant who is granted an Award of Restricted Shares or Performance Shares may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be issued a stock certificate in respect of such Restricted Shares or Performance Shares; and (ii) any such certificate so issued shall be registered in the name of the Participant, and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to any such Award.

 

The Company may require that the stock certificates, if any, evidencing Restricted Shares or Performance Shares granted hereunder be held in the custody of the Company until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a condition of any award of Restricted Shares or Performance Shares, the Participant shall have delivered a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Shares covered by such Award.

 



 

With respect to Restricted Stock Units, at the expiration of the Restricted Period, stock certificates in respect of such Restricted Stock Units may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be delivered to the Participant, or his legal representative, in a number equal to the number of Shares covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award.

 

Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, any Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units (at the expiration of the Restricted Period) or Performance Shares (whether before or after any vesting conditions have been satisfied) may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be issued in uncertificated form pursuant to the customary arrangements for issuing shares in such form.

 

Further, notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, with respect to Restricted Stock Units, at the expiration of the Restricted Period, Shares shall promptly be issued (either in certificated or uncertificated form) to the Participant, unless otherwise deferred in accordance with procedures established by the Company in accordance with Section 409A of the Code, and such issuance shall in any event be made within such period as is required to avoid the imposition of a tax under Section 409A of the Code.

 

(c)  Restrictions and Conditions.  The Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units and Performance Shares granted pursuant to this Section 10 shall be subject to the following restrictions and conditions and any additional restrictions or conditions as determined by the Administrator at the time of grant or, subject to Section 409A of the Code, thereafter:

 

(1)           The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, provide for the lapse of restrictions in installments and may accelerate or waive such restrictions in whole or in part based on such factors and such circumstances as the Administrator may determine, in its sole discretion, including, but not limited to, the attainment of certain performance related goals, the Participant’s termination of employment with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, or the Participant’s death or Disability; provided, however, that this sentence shall not apply to any Award which is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon a Change in Control, the outstanding Awards shall be subject to Section 12 hereof.

 

(2)           Except as provided in Section 16 hereof or in the Award Agreement, the Participant shall generally have the rights of a shareholder of the Company with respect to Restricted Shares or Performance Shares during the Restricted Period. The Participant shall generally not have the rights of a shareholder with respect to Shares subject to Restricted Stock Units during the Restricted Period; provided, however, that, subject to Section 409A of the Code, an amount equal to dividends declared during the Restricted Period with respect to the number of Shares covered by Restricted Stock Units shall, unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement, be paid to the Participant at the same time as dividends are paid to the Company’s shareholders generally, provided that the Participant is then providing services to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company. Certificates for Shares of unrestricted Common Stock may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be delivered to the Participant only after the Restricted Period has expired without forfeiture in respect of such Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares, except as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall otherwise determine.

 

(3)           The rights of Participants granted Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares upon termination of employment with the Company or any Affiliate thereof during the Restricted Period shall be set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

Section 11.  Other Share-Based or Cash-Based Awards.

 

(a)           The Administrator is authorized to grant Awards to Participants in the form of Other Share-Based Awards or Other Cash-Based Awards, as deemed by the Administrator to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan and as evidenced by an Award Agreement. The Administrator shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards, consistent with the terms of the Plan, at the date of grant or thereafter, including any Performance Goals and performance periods. Common Stock or other securities or property delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 11 shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, Shares, other Awards, notes or other property, as the Administrator shall determine, subject to any require d corporate action.

 

(b)           The Committee may establish other rules applicable to the Other Share-Based Awards and the Other Cash-Based Awards as it may determine in its discretion.

 



 

Section 12.  Change in Control; Termination in Connection with a Change in Control.

 

(a)           Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or in an individual agreement between a Participant and the Company, in the event of a Change in Control, the surviving entity or acquiring entity (or the surviving or acquiring entity’s parent company) shall assume all Awards outstanding under the Plan or shall substitute similar awards for Awards outstanding under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent the surviving entity (or acquiring entity or parent company, as the case may be) refuses to assume outstanding Awards or to substitute an equivalent award or right therefor (as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion), all such outstanding Awards shall become fully vested and exercisable and all restrictions on such Awards shall immediately lapse (with all performance goals or other vesting crite ria deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target levels) and, with respect to Options and Share Appreciation Rights, the Participant in the discretion of the Administrator (i) shall have the right to exercise such Awards for a period of time determined by the Administrator or (ii) shall be entitled to receive an amount in cash equal to the excess (if any) of (A) the product of (x) the number of Shares subject to such Awards and (y) the per Share consideration paid as of the date of the occurrence of the Change in Control for the Shares pursuant to the Change in Control, less (B) the aggregate exercise price of such Awards, and all Awards not assumed or continued, or for which an equivalent award or right is not substituted therefor, shall terminate upon the Change in Control.

 

(b)           Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or in an individual agreement between a Participant and the Company, any Award that is assumed or for which a substitution is made in accordance with subsection (a) above shall provide that, if the Participant’s employment with the Company or an Affiliate thereof (or any successor) is terminated within twenty-four (24) months following the Change in Control by the Company or Affiliate without Cause or by the Participant with Good Reason, the Award shall become fully vested and exercisable and all restrictions on such Awards shall immediately lapse (with all performance goals or other vesting criteria deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target levels), and each such Award that is an Option or Share Appreciation Right shall remain exercisable for not less than one (1) year following such termination of employment.

 

Section 13. Amendment and Termination.

 

The Board may amend, alter or terminate the Plan, but no amendment, alteration, or termination shall be made that would impair the rights of a Participant under any Award theretofore granted without such Participant’s consent, or that without the approval of the Company’s shareholders would, (i) except as provided in Section 6 hereof, increase the total number of Shares, (ii) materially increase benefits provided under the Plan, (iii) materially alter the eligibility provisions of the Plan, or (iv) extend the maximum option term under Section 8(c) hereof. Unless the Board determines otherwise, the Board shall obtain approval of the Company’s shareholders for any amendment that would require such approval in order to satisfy the requirements of Sections 162(m) or 422 of the Code or Rule 16b-3, any rules of the stock exchange o n which the Common Stock is traded or other applicable law. The Administrator may amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, but, subject to Section 6 hereof and the immediately preceding sentence, no such amendment shall impair the rights of any Participant without his or her consent; provided, however, that the Administrator may not reduce the Exercise Price of an outstanding Option or Share Appreciation Right by amending the terms of such Option or Share Appreciation Right or by canceling such Option or Share Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or the grant of a new Award without first obtaining approval from the shareholders of the Company.

 

Section 14. Unfunded Status of Plan.

 

The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company.

 

Section 15. Withholding Taxes.

 

Each Participant shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award first becomes includible in the gross income of such Participant for federal and/or state income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator regarding payment of, any federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the Award. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditional on the making of such payments or arrangements, and the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to such Participant. Whenever cash is to be paid pursuant to an award granted hereunder, the Company shall have the right to deduct therefrom an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state and local withholding tax requirements related thereto. Whenever Sh ares are to be delivered pursuant to an Award, the Company shall have the right to require the Participant to remit to the Company in cash an amount sufficient to satisfy any related federal, state and local taxes to be withheld and applied to the tax obligations. With the approval of the Administrator, a Participant may satisfy the foregoing requirement by electing to have the Company withhold from delivery of Shares or by

 



 

delivering already owned unrestricted shares of Common Stock, in each case, having a value not exceeding the federal, state and local taxes to be withheld and applied to the tax obligations. Such shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined. Fractional share amounts shall be settled in cash. Such an election may be made with respect to all or any portion of the Shares to be delivered pursuant to an Award. The Company may also use any other method of obtaining the necessary payment or proceeds, as permitted by law, to satisfy its withholding obligation with respect to any Option or other Award.

 

Section 16. Transfer of Awards.

 

Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or provided in an Award Agreement, Awards shall not be transferable by a Participant except by will or the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of a Participant only by such Participant or his guardian or legal representative. Any purported transfer of an Award or any economic benefit or interest therein in violation of the Plan or an Award Agreement shall be null and void ab initio, and shall not create any obligation or liability of the Company, and any person purportedly acquiring any Award or any economic benefit or interest therein transferred in violation of the Plan or an Award Agreement shall not be entitled to be recognized as a holder of such Shares.

 

Section 17. Continued Employment.

 

The adoption of the Plan shall not confer upon any Eligible Recipient any right to continued employment with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, as the case may be, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate thereof to terminate the employment of any of its Eligible Recipients at any time.

 

Section 18. Effective Date; Shareholder Approval.

 

The Plan was adopted by the Board on February 11, 2010, and shall become effective without further action on the date as of which this Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Company. The grant of any Award hereunder shall be contingent upon shareholder approval of the Plan being obtained within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Board adopts the Plan.

 

Section 19. Term of Plan.

 

No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan on or after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date, but Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.

 

Section 20. Section 409A of the Code.

 

The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under the Plan comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted and be administered to be in compliance therewith. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short-term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable law requires otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to the Plan during the six (6) month period immediately following the Participant’s termination of employment shall instea d be paid on the first business day after the date that is six (6) months following the Participant’s separation from service (or upon the Participant’s death, if earlier). Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Plan, no payment or distribution under this Plan that constitutes an item of deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code and becomes payable by reason of a Participant’s termination of employment will be made to such Participant unless such Participant’s termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” (as such term is defined in Section 409A of the Code). In addition, for purposes of the Plan, each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided to the Participant pursuant to the Plan, which constitutes deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

 

Section 21. Governing Law.

 

The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Hawaii, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law of such state.