2019 PIP Stock Option Award Agreement

EX-10.(III)(A)(58) 5 ipg12312010kex10iiia58.htm EX-10.(III)(A)(58) Document

Exhibit 10(iii)(A)(58)

THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES 2019 PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN

NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT

THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby grants an Option (the “Option” or “Award”) to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Shares”) to the Participant named below. The terms and conditions of the Option are set forth in this Award Agreement (the “Agreement”), and in The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. 2019 Performance Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.


Date of Option Grant			Participant's Name
Expiration Date			4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the tenth Exercise Price Per Share $ anniversary of the date of grant
Number of Shares Underlying Option
Vesting			Subject to (i) the terms of the Plan, (ii) the forfeiture, cancellation, and rescission provisions of this Agreement and (iii) Participant's execution of the restrictive covenant agreement that is attached hereto as Exhibit B, the scheduled Vesting Date for the Option is as provided in the Participant’s award letter. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this Agreement, any portion of this Award that is not vested upon the Participant’s Termination of Employment shall be forfeited.

The terms of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference. All capitalized terms that are not defined in this Agreement have the meanings set forth in the Plan. In case of any conflict between this Agreement and the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.

Please (i) review the rest of this Agreement, the Plan document and the restrictive covenant agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B, and (ii) execute this Agreement and Exhibit B by checking the box below. By checking the box below, you are effectively executing and agreeing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the forfeiture and cancellation provisions and the restrictive covenant agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B.

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.

Kenneth Lareau

Senior Vice President, Global Executive Compensation and Benefits

The Interpublic Group of Companies 2001 Performance Incentive Plan Nonstatutory Stock Option Award Agreement

The following terms and conditions supplement the terms of the Plan and govern the Option:


Termination of Employment			As set forth in the Plan, the period during which the Participant may exercise this Option after a Termination of Employment is limited. For purposes of this Option, the Participant’s Termination of Employment will be deemed to occur on the date the Participant ceases to be an employee of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates.
Death or Disability			If the Participant terminates service due to Disability or death, the Participant shall vest in a portion of the Option as determined in accordance with the below: The vested portion of the Option shall equal a fraction (not to exceed 1.0), the numerator of which is the Participant’s number of completed months of service with the Company and its Subsidiaries or Affiliates from the Date of Option Grant to the Participant’s Termination of Employment, and the denominator of which is the number of months from the Date of Option Grant to the final scheduled Vesting Date.
Change of Control			The Option shall not vest or become immediately exercisable merely upon the occurrence of a Change of Control. However, If prior to the final scheduled Vesting Date and within 24 months after the Change of Control, the Participant has a Termination of Employment either (1) by the Company (including its successor) or the Participant’s employer without Cause or (2) if the Participant has “good reason” rights under the Company’s Executive Severance Plan or an employment agreement, by the Participant for “good reason” (as defined in the applicable plan or agreement), then the Option shall become immediately vested and exercisable by the Participant.
Withholding			The Option is subject to withholding for taxes at the time and in the amount determined by the Company or the Employer. Regardless of any action the Company or the Employer takes with respect to any or all income tax (including U.S. federal, state and local taxes and/or non-U.S. taxes), social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax–related items resulting from the Option (“Tax-Related Items”), the Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax–Related Items legally due by the Participant is and remains the Participant's responsibility and may exceed the amount actually withheld by the Company or the Participant’s employer. Neither the Company nor the Employer: (a) make any representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Option, including the grant of the Option, the vesting or exercise of the Option and the subsequent sale of any Shares acquired pursuant to the Option; or (b) commit to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Option to reduce or eliminate the Participant's liability for Tax-Related Items. If the Participant relocates to another jurisdiction, the Participant is responsible for notifying the Company of such relocation and is responsible for compliance with all applicable tax requirements. If the Participant is subject to taxation in more than one jurisdiction, the Participant acknowledges that the Company or the Participant's employer may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction. By accepting this Option, the Participant expressly consents to the withholding methods as provided for hereunder or any other method permitted under applicable law and under the Plan. All other Tax-Related Items related to the Option and any Shares delivered following the exercise thereof are the Participant's sole responsibility. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is responsible for any liability or penalty relating to taxes (including excise taxes) on compensation (including imputed compensation) or other income attributed to the Participant (or a Beneficiary) pursuant to this Agreement, whether as a result of the Participant failing to make timely payments of tax or otherwise.


Compliance with Local Laws			If the Participant is a resident of or employed in a country other than the United States, the Participant agrees, as a condition of the Option, to repatriate all payments attributable to the Option in accordance with local foreign exchange rules and regulations in the Participant's country of residence (and country of employment, if different). In addition, the Participant agrees to take any and all actions, and consents to any and all actions taken by the Company and the Employer as may be required to allow the Company and the Employer to comply with local laws, rules and regulations in the Participant's country of residence (and country of employment, if different). Finally, the Participant agrees to take any and all actions that may be required to comply with the Participant's personal legal and tax obligations under local laws, rules and regulations in the Participant's country of residence (and country of employment, if different).
EU Age Discrimination Rules			If the Participant is resident and/or employed in a country that is a member of the European Union, the grant of the Option and this Agreement are intended to comply with the age discrimination provisions of the EU Equal Treatment Framework Directive, as implemented into local law (the “Age Discrimination Rules”). To the extent that a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, under the Age Discrimination Rules, the Company, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to revise or strike such provision to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable to the full extent permitted under local law.
Forfeiture of Option			Before accepting this Option, the Participant must disclose to the Company in writing all grants to the Participant of options, shares and other equity rights with respect to any Subsidiary of the Company ("Subsidiary Grants") that are still outstanding. Failure to disclose in writing the existence of any such outstanding Subsidiary Grants shall result in immediate cancellation and forfeiture of the Option set forth in this Agreement, unless the Administrator determines in its sole discretion that such failure was reasonable under the circumstances.
Cancellation and Rescission for Prohibited Activity			Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, the Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company may cancel, rescind, suspend, withhold, modify, amend or otherwise limit or restrict this Option (whether vested or not vested) at any time if the Participant is not in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Agreement and the Plan, or if the Participant engages in any “Prohibited Activity.” For purposes of this Agreement, “Prohibited Activity” means: (i) any activity that would enable the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate where the Participant is employed) to terminate the Participant’s employment for cause (as defined in the Plan or any employment agreement or other plan or arrangement that covers the Participant); (ii) a material violation of any rule, policy or procedure of the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate where the Participant is employed), including but not limited to the Code of Conduct of the Company (and any such Subsidiary or Affiliate); (iii) before a Change of Control, a failure to be in compliance with any share ownership objectives of the Company applicable to the Participant, or (iv) before a Change of Control, any other conduct or act that the Company determines is injurious, detrimental or prejudicial to any interest of the Company. The Participant agrees that the cancellation and rescission provisions of this Agreement are reasonable and agrees not to challenge the reasonableness of such provisions, even where forfeiture of this Agreement is the penalty for violation; provided that the Participant may challenge the reasonableness of any forfeiture that occurs after a Change of Control.
No Employment Rights			The grant of the Award shall not be interpreted to form an employment contract between the Participant and the Company or the Participant's employer.
Extraordinary Benefit			The Participant's participation in the Plan is voluntary. The value of this Option and any other awards granted under the Plan is an extraordinary item of compensation outside the scope of the Participant's employment (and the Participant's employment contract, if any). Any grant under the Plan, including the grant of this Option, is not part of the Participant's normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, holiday pay, pension, or retirement benefits or similar payments.


Discretionary Nature of Award			The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Plan is discretionary in nature and may be amended, canceled or terminated by the Company, in its sole discretion, at any time. The grant of the Option under the Plan is a one-time benefit and does not create any contractual or other right to receive a grant of Options or any other forms of award permitted under the Plan or other benefits in lieu thereof in the future. Future grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company, including, but not limited to, the form and timing of any grant, the type of grant, the value and/or number of Shares covered by a grant, and the vesting provisions. Any amendment, modification or termination of the Plan shall not constitute a change or impairment of the terms and conditions of the Participant's employment with the Participant’s employer.
Value of Benefit			The future value of this Option, and of Shares purchased pursuant to this Option, is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty. The Company shall not be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation, where applicable, between the Participant's local currency and the United States dollar that may affect the value of the Option or the subsequent sale of any Shares acquired pursuant to Participant’s exercise of the Option.
No Public Offering			The grant of this Option is not intended to be a public offering of securities in the Participant's country of residence (and country of employment, if different). The Company has not submitted any registration statement, prospectus or other filings with the local securities authorities outside of the United States (unless otherwise required under local law). No employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is permitted to advise the Participant on whether the Participant should acquire Shares under the Plan and provide the Participant with any legal, tax or financial advice with respect to the grant of this Option. The acquisition of Shares involves certain risks, and the Participant should carefully consider all risk factors and tax considerations relevant to the acquisition and disposition of Shares under the Plan. Further, the Participant should carefully review all of the materials related to this Option and the Plan, and the Participant should consult with the Participant's personal legal, tax and financial advisors for professional advice in relation to the Participant's personal circumstances.
Insider Trading Laws			By participating in the Plan, the Participant expressly agrees to comply with the Company’s insider trading policies and all other policies regarding insider trading or personal account dealing applicable to the Participant. Further, the Participant expressly acknowledges and agrees that, depending on the country of residence of the Participant or the Participant’s broker, or where Shares are listed, the Participant may be subject to insider trading restrictions and/or market abuse laws which may affect the Participant's ability to accept, acquire, sell or otherwise dispose of Shares, rights to Shares or rights linked to the value of Shares, during such times the Participant is considered to have “inside information” or similar types of information regarding the Company as defined by the laws or regulations in the applicable country. Local insider trading laws and regulations may prohibit the cancellation or amendment of orders the Participant places before the Participant possessed such information. Furthermore, the Participant may be prohibited from (a) disclosing such information to any third party (other than on a “need to know” basis) and (b) “tipping” third parties or causing them otherwise to buy or sell securities (including other employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates). Any restriction under these laws or regulations is separate from and in addition to any restrictions that may be imposed under any applicable Company policies. The Participant expressly acknowledges and agrees that it is the Participant's responsibility to comply with any applicable restrictions, and the Participant should consult the Participant’s personal advisor for additional information on any trading restrictions that may apply to the Participant.


Recoupment			Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Option, any Shares acquired pursuant thereto and/or any amount received with respect to any sale of such Shares are subject to potential cancellation, recoupment, rescission, payback or other action in accordance with the terms of any recoupment policy the Company may establish or adopt ("Recoupment Policy") and as the Recoupment Policy may be amended from time to time. The Participant agrees and consents to the Company's application, implementation and enforcement of (a) the Recoupment Policy, and (b) any provision of applicable law relating to cancellation, recoupment, rescission or payback of compensation and expressly agrees that the Company may take such actions as are necessary to effectuate the Recoupment Policy (as applicable to the Participant) or applicable law without further consent or action being required by the Participant. For purposes of the foregoing, the Participant expressly and explicitly authorizes the Company to issue instructions, on the Participant's behalf, to any brokerage firm and/or third party administrator engaged by the Company to hold the Participant's Shares and other amounts acquired under the Plan to re-convey, transfer or otherwise return such Shares and/or other amounts to the Company. To the extent that the terms of this Agreement and the Recoupment Policy conflict, the terms of the Recoupment Policy shall prevail.
English Language			If the Participant is resident outside of the United States, the Participant acknowledges and agrees that it is the Participant's express intent that this Agreement, the Plan and all other documents, notices and legal proceedings entered into, given or instituted pursuant to the Option be drawn up in English. If the Participant receives this Agreement, the Plan or any other document related to the Option translated into a language other than English, and if the meaning of the translated version is different than the English version, the English version will control.
Electronic Delivery			The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to the Option or other awards granted to the Participant under the Plan by electronic means. The Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.


Data Privacy			The Company is located at 909 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022, United States of America, and grants Options under the Plan to employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates in its sole discretion. In conjunction with the Company’s grant of the Option under the Plan and its ongoing administration of such awards, the Company is providing the following information about its data collection, processing and transfer practices. In accepting the grant of the Option, the Participant expressly and explicitly consents to the personal data activities as described herein. a.Data Collection, Processing and Usage. The Company collects, processes and uses the Participant’s personal data, including the Participant’s name, home address, email address, telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other identification number, salary, citizenship, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the Company, and details of all Awards or any other equity compensation awards granted, canceled, exercised, vested, or outstanding in the Participant’s favor, which the Company receives from the Participant or the Participant’s employer. In granting Options under the Plan, the Company will collect the Participant’s personal data for purposes of allocating Shares in following the exercise of the Option and implementing, administering and managing the Plan. The Company’s legal basis for the collection, processing and usage of the Participant’s personal data is the Participant’s consent. b.Stock Plan Administration Service Provider. The Company transfers the Participant’s personal data to UBS Financial Services, an independent service provider based in the United States of America, which assists the Company with the implementation, administration and management of the Plan (the “Stock Plan Administrator”). In the future, the Company may select a different Stock Plan Administrator and share the Participant’s personal data with another company that serves in a similar manner. The Stock Plan Administrator will open an account for the Participant to receive and trade Shares acquired under the Plan. The Participant will be asked to agree on separate terms and data processing practices with the Stock Plan Administrator, which is a condition to the Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan. c.International Data Transfers. The Company and the Stock Plan Administrator are based in the United States of America. The Participant should note that the Participant’s country of residence may have enacted data privacy laws that are different from the United States of America. The Company’s legal basis for the transfer of the Participant’s personal data to the United States of America is the Participant’s consent. d.Voluntariness and Consequences of Consent Denial or Withdrawal. The Participant’s participation in the Plan and his or her grant of consent is purely voluntary. The Participant may deny or withdraw his or her consent at any time. If the Participant does not consent, or if the Participant later withdraws his or her consent, the Participant may be unable to participate in the Plan. This would not affect the Participant’s existing employment or salary; instead, the Participant merely may forfeit the opportunities associated with the Plan. e.Data Subjects Rights. The Participant may have a number of rights under the data privacy laws in the Participant’s country of residence. For example, the Participant’s rights may include the right to (i) request access to or copies of personal data the Company processes, (ii) request rectification of incorrect personal data, (iii) request deletion of personal data, (iv) place restrictions on the processing of personal data, (v) lodge complaints with competent authorities in the Participant’s country of residence, and/or (vi) request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Participant’s personal data. To receive clarification regarding the Participant’s rights or to exercise his or her rights, the Participant should contact the Participant’s local HR manager
Successors and Assigns			The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Agreement will be binding upon the Participant and the Participant's beneficiaries, executors or administrators.


Severability			The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of the Plan or this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, and each provision of the Plan and this Agreement will be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.
Additional Requirements			The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on the Option, any Shares acquired pursuant to the Option and the Participant's participation in the Plan to the extent the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that such other requirements are necessary or advisable in order to comply with local law or to facilitate the operation and administration of the Option and the Plan. Such requirements may include (but are not limited to) requiring the Participant to sign any agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.
Beneficiary			As set forth in the Plan, rights under this Option may be passed by will or the laws of descent or distribution. The person(s) to whom the Option is so passed is the Participant’s “Beneficiary.”
Adjustments			If a Corporate Transaction has occurred that affects the Common Stock, an anti-dilution adjustment would automatically be completed to preserve, or to prevent enlargement of, the benefits or potential benefits available under the Option, in such manner as to adjust the number and kind of shares that are subject to the Option and/or the exercise price of the Option.
Postponement of Exercise and/or Delivery			The exercise of this Option and/or issuance or delivery of Shares may be postponed under certain circumstances specified in the Plan; provided that such postponement shall not be exercised in a manner that would constitute a feature for the deferral of compensation or a modification of the Option that results in the Option being subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Interpretation and Construction			This Agreement and the Plan shall be construed and interpreted by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. Any interpretation or other determination by the Administrator (including, but not limited to, correction of any defect or omission and reconciliation of any inconsistency in this Agreement or the Plan) shall be binding and conclusive. All determinations regarding enforcement, waiver or modification of the cancellation and rescission and other provisions of this Agreement (including the provisions relating to Termination of Employment, death and Disability) shall be made in the Company’s sole discretion. Determinations made under this Agreement and the Plan need not be uniform and may be made selectively among individuals, whether or not such individuals are similarly situated.
Entire Understanding			This Agreement (including the restrictive covenant agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B) and the terms of the Plan constitute the entire understanding between Participant and the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates regarding the Option. Any prior agreements, commitments, or negotiations concerning the Option are superseded.
Participant’s Acknowledgement and Agreement			By accepting the grant of the Option, the Participant acknowledges that the Participant has read this Agreement, the Plan, and the restrictive covenant agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B, and the Participant specifically accepts and agrees to the provisions therein.