AMENDED AND RESTATED 2005 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN OF ACXIOM CORPORATION

---

---

1. Establishment and Purpose.  This Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Compensation Plan of Acxiom Corporation (the “Plan”) was originally established under the name of the 2000 Associate Stock Option Plan of Acxiom Corporation.  The Plan has been amended from time to time and hereby is amended and restated as set forth herein, effective May 13, 2013, subject to the approval of Acxiom Corporation (“Company”) stockholders.  The purpose of the Plan is to further the growth and development of the Company and any of its present or future Subsidiaries and Affiliated Companies (as defined below) by allowing certain Associates (as defined below) to acquire or increase equity ownership in the Company, thereby offering such Associates a proprietary interest in the Company’s business and a more direct stake in its continuing welfare, and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders.  The Plan is also intended to assist the Company in attracting and retaining talented Associates, who are vital to the continued development and success of the Company.

 

2. Definitions.  The following capitalized terms, when used in the Plan, have the following meanings:

 

“Non-Employee Directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, and each of whom is “independent” as set forth in the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or Nasdaq or any stock exchange upon which the Shares may be listed in the future; provided, however, that the failure of a member of such Committee to so qualify shall not be deemed to invalidate any Award granted by such Committee.

 

(j)           “Covered Associate” shall mean a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto.

(k)           “Date of Grant” means the date specified by the Committee or the Board, as applicable, on which a grant of an Award will become effective.

 

(l)           “Exercise Period” means the period during which an Option shall vest and become exercisable by a Participant (or his or her representatives or transferees) as specified in Section 6(c) below.

(m)           “Exercise Price” means the purchase price per share payable upon exercise of an Option.

 

(n)           “Fair Market Value” means, as of any applicable determination date or for any applicable determination period, the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock as reported by Nasdaq (or any other stock exchange upon which the Common Stock may be listed for trading).

 

(o)           “Grant Documents” means any written or electronic Award Agreement, memorandum, notice, and/or other document or instrument evidencing the terms and conditions of the grant of an Award by the Committee or the Board under the Plan, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by both the Company and the Participant.

 

(p)           “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to be and designated as an “Incentive Stock Option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(q)           “Legal Requirements” means any laws, or any rules or regulations issued or promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service (including Section 422 of the Code), the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., Nasdaq (or any other stock exchange upon which the Common Stock may be listed for trading), or any other governmental or quasi-governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Company, the Common Stock, or the Plan.

 

(r)           “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means any Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(s)           “Option” means an option granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan to acquire a certain number of Shares at such price(s) and during such period(s) and under such other terms and conditions as the Committee or Board shall determine from time to time.

(t)           “Other Stock Unit Award” means any right granted to a Participant by the Committee or Board pursuant to Section 10 hereof.

 

(u)           “Participant” means an Associate who is selected by the Committee or the Board to receive an Award under the Plan.

 

(v)           “Performance Award” means any Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units pursuant to Section 9 hereof.

(w)           “Performance Goals” means the pre-established objective performance goals established by the Committee for each Performance Period.  The Performance Goals may be based upon the performance of the Company (or a division, organization or other business unit thereof), a Subsidiary, an Affiliated Company, or of an individual Participant, using one or more of the Performance Measures selected by the Committee in its discretion.  Performance Goals may be set at a specific level, or may be expressed as a relative percentage to the comparable measure at comparison companies or a defined index.  Performance Goals shall, to the extent applicable, be based upon generally accepted accounting principles, but shall be adjusted by the Committee to take into account the effect of the following:  changes in accounting standards that may be

 

required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board after the Performance Goal is established; realized investment gains and losses; extraordinary, unusual, non-recurring, or infrequent items; “non-gaap financial measures” that have been included in Acxiom’s quarterly earnings releases and disclosed to investors in accordance with SEC regulations; and other items as the Committee determines to be required so that the operating results of the Company (or a division, organization or other business unit thereof), a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Company shall be computed on a comparative basis from Performance Period to Performance Period.  Determinations made by the Committee shall be based on relevant objective information and/or financial data, and shall be final and conclusive with respect to all affected parties.

(x)           “Performance Measures” means one or more of the following criteria, on which Performance Goals may be based:  (a) earnings (either in the aggregate or on a per-Share basis, reflecting dilution of Shares as the Committee deems appropriate and, if the Committee so determines, net of or including dividends) before or after interest and taxes (“EBIT”) or before or after interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”); (b) gross or net revenue or changes in annual revenues; (c) cash flow(s) (including operating, free or net cash flows); (d) financial return ratios; (e) total stockholder return, stockholder return based on growth measures or the attainment by the Shares of a specified value for a specified period of time, (f) Share price, or Share price appreciation; (g) earnings growth or growth in earnings per Share; (h) return measures, including return or net return on assets, net assets, equity, capital, investment, or gross sales; (i) adjusted pre-tax margin; (j) pre-tax profits; (k) operating margins; (l) operating profits; (m) operating expenses; (n) dividends; (o) net income or net operating income; (p) growth in operating earnings or growth in earnings per Share; (q) value of assets; (r) market share or market penetration with respect to specific designated products or product groups and/or specific geographic areas; (s) aggregate product price and other product measures; (t) expense or cost levels, in each case, where applicable, determined either on a company-wide basis or in respect of any one or more specified divisions; (u) reduction of losses, loss ratios or expense ratios; (v) reduction in fixed costs; (w) operating cost management; (x) cost of capital; (y) debt reduction; (z) productivity improvements; (aa) satisfaction of specified business expansion goals or goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures; (bb) customer satisfaction based on specified objective goals or a Company-sponsored customer survey; or (cc) Associate diversity goals.

 

Performance Measures may be applied on a pre-tax or post-tax basis, and may be based upon the performance of the Company (or a division, organization or other business unit thereof), a Subsidiary, an Affiliated Company, or of an individual Participant.  The Committee may, at time of grant, in the case of an Award intended to be a Qualified Performance-Based Award, and in the case of other grants, at any time, provide that the Performance Goals for such Award may include or exclude items to measure specific objectives, such as losses from discontinued operations, extraordinary gains or losses, the cumulative effect of accounting changes, acquisitions or divestitures, foreign exchange impacts, and any unusual nonrecurring gain or loss.

 

(y)           “Performance Period” means that period established by the Committee or the Board at the time any Award is granted or at any time thereafter during which any performance goals specified by the Committee or the Board with respect to such Award are to be measured.

(z)           “Performance Share” means any grant pursuant to Section 9 hereof of a right to receive the value of a Share, or a portion or multiple thereof, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee or Board shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the Performance Period as the Committee or the Board shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

 

(aa)           “Performance Unit” means any grant pursuant to Section 9 hereof of a right to receive the value of property other than a Share, or a portion or multiple thereof, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee or Board shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such Performance Goals during the Performance Period as the Committee or the Board shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter

(bb)           “Qualified Performance-Based Award” means an Award to a Covered Associate who is a salaried employee of the Company or to an Associate that the Committee determines may be a Covered Associate at the time the Company would be entitled to a deduction for such Award, which Award is intended to provide “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m).

(cc)           “Restricted Stock” means any Share issued with the restriction that the holder may not sell, transfer, pledge, or assign such Share and with such other restrictions as the Committee or the Board, in their sole discretion, may impose (including, without limitation, any forfeiture condition or any restriction on the right to vote such Share, and the right to receive any cash dividends), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee or the Board may deem appropriate.

 

(dd)           “Restricted Stock Award” means an award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units under Section 8 hereof.

 

(ee)           “Restricted Stock Unit” means a right awarded to a Participant that, subject to Section 8(c), may result in the Participant’s ownership of Shares upon, but not before, the lapse of restrictions related thereto.

 

(ff)           “Restriction Period” means the period of time specified by the Committee or Board pursuant to Sections 8 and 10 below.

 

(gg)           “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 under Section 16 of the Act, as such Rule may be in effect from time to time.

 

(hh)           “Shares” means the shares of  Common Stock of the Company, $.10 par value.

 

(ii)           “Stock Appreciation Right” means the right pursuant to an Award granted under Section 7 of the Plan, to surrender to the Company all (or a portion) of such right and, if applicable, a related Option, and receive cash or shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.

 

(jj)           “Strike Price” shall have the meaning set forth for such term in Section 7(b) of the Plan.

 

(kk)           “Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company owns or controls, directly or indirectly, not less than 50% of the total combined voting power or equity interests represented by all classes of stock, membership or other interests issued by such corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity.

 

(ll)           “Substitute Awards” shall mean Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, by a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines.

 

 

3. Administration.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee and the Board.  Except as otherwise provided herein, each of the Committee or the Board has the full authority and discretion to administer the Plan, and to take any action that is necessary or advisable in connection with the administration of the Plan including, without limitation, the authority and discretion to:

 

(b)

determine whether and to what extent Awards are to be granted;

         

 

Each of the Committee and the Board shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time to time deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award granted under thereunder (and any Grant Documents relating thereto); and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

 

Each of the Committee and the Board shall also have the authority to provide, in their discretion, for the rescission, forfeiture, cancellation or other restriction of any Award granted under the Plan, or for the forfeiture, rescission or repayment to the Company by a Participant or former Participant of any profits or gains related to any Award granted hereunder, or other limitations, upon the occurrence of such prescribed events and under such circumstances as the Committee or the Board shall deem necessary and reasonable for the benefit of the Company; provided, however, that this provision shall have no application after a change in control transaction (as defined below in Section 11) has occurred.

 

All decisions made by the Committee and the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be made in the Committee’s or Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons including the Company and any Participant.  No member of the Committee or Board will be liable for any such action or determination made in good faith.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee shall have the exclusive authority and discretion to award, administer or otherwise take any action required or permitted to be taken with respect to Qualified Performance-Based Awards or under any provisions of the Plan with respect to Awards that are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

 

(a)

The total number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to the Plan shall not exceed 24,325,000 million Shares.  Such Shares may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares, as determined in the discretion of the Committee or the Board.

 

5.           Eligible Participants.  All Associates shall be eligible to receive Awards and thereby become Participants in the Plan, regardless of such Associate’s prior participation in the Plan or any other benefit plan of the Company, provided that (1) only Associates who are employees of the Company or a Subsidiary may receive Incentive Stock Options; and (2) for any Performance Period for which Awards are intended to be Qualified Performance-Based Awards to eligible classes of Associates as set forth in Section 13, the Committee shall designate the Associates eligible to be granted Awards no later than the 90th day after the start of the fiscal year (or in the case of a Performance Period based upon a time period other than a fiscal year, no later than the date 25% of the Performance Period has elapsed).  No executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table of the Company’s then current Proxy Statement shall be eligible to receive in excess of 400,000 Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in any one-year period.

 

6.           Options.

 

 

Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined on the Date of Grant) of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall not exceed the maximum amount specified by Section 422 of the Code, as amended from time to time (currently $100,000).

 

           

(i)

The Exercise Price for each share of Common Stock purchasable under any Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share on the Date of Grant as the Committee or Board shall specify.  All such Exercise Prices shall be subject to adjustment as provided for in Section 15 hereof.

 

(ii)

If any Participant to whom an Incentive Stock Option is to be granted under the Plan is on the Date of Grant the owner of stock (as determined under Section 425(d) of the Code) possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliated Companies, then the Exercise Price per share of Common Stock subject to such Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant.

 

 

(d)

Exercise of Option.  Subject to Section 11 hereof, an Option may be exercised by a Participant at any time and from time to time during the Exercise Period by giving written notice of such exercise to the Company specifying the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased by the Participant.  Such notice shall be accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price in accordance with subsection (e) below.

 

(e)

Payment for Shares.  Full payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares purchased upon exercise of an Option, together with the amount of any tax or excise due in respect of the sale and issue thereof, may be made in one of the following forms of payment:

 

(ii)

Pursuant to procedures approved by the Company, through the sale (or margin) of Shares acquired upon exercise of the Option through a broker-dealer to whom the Participant has submitted an irrevocable notice of exercise and irrevocable instructions to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale (or if applicable margin loan) proceeds sufficient to pay for the Exercise Price, together with, if requested by the Company, the amount of federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes payable by reason of such exercise;

 

(iii)

By delivering previously-owned shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant for a period of at least six months having a Fair Market Value on the date upon which the Participant exercises his or her Option equal to the Exercise Price, or by delivering a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate Exercise Price;

 

(iv)

By authorizing the Company to withhold a number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon exercise of an Option having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date upon which the Participant exercises his or her Option equal to the aggregate Exercise Price; or

        

Provided, however, that the payment methods described in clause (iv) immediately above shall not be available to a Participant without the prior consent of either the Committee or its authorized designee(s), or if at any time the Company is prohibited from purchasing or acquiring Shares under applicable law.  The Committee or the Board may permit a Participant to exercise an Option and defer the issuance of any Shares, subject to such rules and procedures as the Committee or Board may establish.

 

The Company will issue no certificates for Shares until full payment of the Exercise Price has been made, and a Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder until certificates for the Shares purchased are issued; provided however, that for purposes of this Section 6, full payment shall be deemed to have been received by the Company upon evidence of delivery to a broker-dealer of the irrevocable instructions contemplated by clause (ii) immediately above.

 

(f)

Withholding Taxes.  The Company may require a Participant exercising a Non-Qualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted hereunder to reimburse the Company (or the entity which employs the Participant) for taxes required by any government to be withheld or otherwise deducted and paid by such corporation in respect of the issuance of the Shares.  Such withholding requirements may be satisfied by any one of the following methods:

 

(i)

A Participant may deliver cash in an amount which would satisfy the withholding requirement;

 

(ii)

A Participant may deliver previously-owned Shares (based upon the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise) in an amount which would satisfy the withholding requirement; or

 

(iii)

With the prior consent of either the Committee or the Board, or its authorized designees, a Participant may request that the Company (or the entity which employs the Participant) withhold from the number of Shares otherwise issuable to the Participant upon exercise of an Option such number of Shares (based upon the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise) as is necessary to satisfy the withholding requirement.

 

7.           Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

(a)

When granted, Stock Appreciation Rights may, but need not be, identified with a specific Option (including any Option granted on or before the Date of Grant of the Stock Appreciation Rights) in a number equal to or different from the number of Stock Appreciation Rights so granted.  If Stock Appreciation Rights are identified with Shares subject to an Option, then, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Documents, the Participant’s associated Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate upon the expiration, termination, forfeiture or cancellation of such Stock Option or the exercise of such Option.

 

 

 

(a)

Issuance.  A Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to restrictions imposed by the Committee or the Board during a period of time specified by the Committee or Board (the “Restriction Period”).  Restricted Stock Awards may be issued hereunder to Participants for no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan.  The provisions of Restricted Stock Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

 

(b)

Restricted Stock.

          (i)           The Company may grant Restricted Stock to those Associates the Committee or the Board may select in their sole discretion.  Each Award of Restricted Stock shall have those terms and conditions

           that are expressly set forth in or are required by the Plan and the Grant Documents as the Committee or the Board may determine in their discretion.

 

(ii)           While any restriction applies to any Participant’s Restricted Stock, (a) unless the Committee or the Board provides otherwise, the Participant shall receive the dividends paid on the Restricted Stock and shall not be required to return those dividends to the Company in the event of the forfeiture of the Restricted Stock; (b) the Participant shall receive the proceeds of the Restricted Stock in any stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization, or other change in the capital structure of the Company, which proceeds shall automatically and without need for any other action become Restricted Stock and be subject to all restrictions then existing as to the Participant’s Restricted Stock; and (c) the Participant shall be entitled to vote the Restricted Stock during the Restriction Period.

 

(iii)           The Restricted Stock will be delivered to the Participant subject to the understanding that while any restriction applies to the Restricted Stock, the Participant shall not have the right to sell, transfer, assign, convey, pledge, hypothecate, grant any security interest in or mortgage on, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any shares of Restricted Stock or any interest therein.  As a result of the retention of rights in the Restricted Stock by the Company, except as required by any applicable law, neither any shares of the Restricted Stock nor any interest therein shall be subject in any manner to any forced or involuntary sale, transfer, conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition or to any charge, liability, debt, or obligation of the Participant, whether as the direct or indirect result of any action of the Participant or any action taken in any proceeding, including any proceeding under any bankruptcy or other creditors’ rights law.  Any action attempting to effect any transaction of that type shall be void.

 

(iv)           Unless other provisions are specified in the Grant Documents or Plan guidelines which may be adopted by the Committee or the Board from time to time, any Restricted Stock held by the Participant at the time the Participant ceases to be an Associate for any reason shall be forfeited by the Participant to the Company and automatically re-conveyed to the Company.

(v)           The Committee or the Board may withhold, in accordance with Section 16(f) hereof, any amounts necessary to collect any withholding taxes upon any taxable event relating to Restricted Stock.

         

(vii)           The Restricted Stock will be book-entry Shares only unless the Committee or the Board decides to issue certificates to evidence any shares of Restricted Stock.  The Company may place stop-transfer instructions with respect to all Restricted Stock on its stock transfer records.

(viii)           At the time of grant of Restricted Stock (or at such earlier or later time as the Committee or the Board determines to be appropriate in light of the provisions of Code Section 409A), the Committee or the Board may permit a Participant of an Award of Restricted Stock to defer receipt of his or her Restricted Stock in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee or the Board.  Alternatively, the Committee or the Board may, in their discretion and at the times provided above, permit an individual who would have been a Participant with respect to an Award of Restricted Stock, to elect instead to receive an equivalent Award of Restricted Stock Units, and the Committee or the Board may permit the Participant to elect to defer receipt of Shares under the Restricted Stock Units in accordance with Section 8(c)(viii).

(ix)           The minimum Restriction Period applicable to any Award of Restricted Stock that is not subject to performance conditions restricting the grant size, the transfer of the shares, or the vesting of the award shall be two (2) years from the date of grant; provided, however, that a Restriction Period of less than two (2) years may be approved under the Plan for such Awards with respect to up to a total of 100,000 Shares.

(i)    The Company may grant Restricted Stock Units to those Associates as the Committee or the Board may select in its sole discretion.  Restricted Stock Units represent the right to receive Shares in

 

 

(iii)           Upon the lapse of the restrictions, the Participant holder of Restricted Stock Units shall, except as noted below, be entitled to receive, as soon as administratively practical, (a) that number of Shares subject to the Award that are no longer subject to restrictions, (b) cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the number of Shares subject to the Award that are no longer subject to restrictions, or (c) any combination of Shares and cash, as the Committee or the Board shall determine in their sole discretion, or shall have specified at the time the Award was granted.

 

(iv)           Restricted Stock Units and the entitlement to Shares, cash, or any combination thereunder will be forfeited and all rights of a Participant to such Restricted Stock Units and the Shares thereunder will terminate if the applicable restrictions are not satisfied.

(v)           A Participant holder of Restricted Stock Units is not entitled to any rights of a holder of the Shares (e.g., voting rights and dividend rights), prior to the receipt of such Shares pursuant to the Plan.  The Committee or the Board may, however, provide in the Grant Documents that the Participant shall be entitled to receive dividend equivalent payments on Restricted Stock Units, on such terms and conditions as the Grant Documents may specify.

(vi)           The Committee or the Board may withhold, in accordance with Section 16(f) hereof, any amounts necessary to collect any withholding taxes upon any taxable event relating to any Restricted Stock Units.

 

(vii)           The granting of Restricted Stock Units and the delivery of any Shares is subject to compliance by the Company with all applicable laws.

(viii)           At the time of grant of Restricted Stock Units (or at such earlier or later time as the Committee or the Board determines to be appropriate in light of the provisions of Code Section 409A), the Committee or the Board may permit a Participant to elect to defer receipt of the Shares or cash to be delivered upon lapse of the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Stock Units in accordance with rules and procedures that may be established from time to time by the Committee or the Board.  Such rules and procedures shall take into account potential tax treatment under Code Section 409A, and may provide for payment in Shares or cash.

9.           Performance Awards.

(b)

Performance Goals.  The Committee or the Board may set Performance Goals which, depending on the extent to which they are met during a Performance Period, will determine the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units that will be delivered to a Participant at the end of the Performance Period.  The Performance Goals may be set at threshold, target, and maximum performance levels, and the number of Performance Shares or Units to be delivered may be tied to the degree of attainment of the various performance levels specified under the various Performance Goals during the Performance Period, which may not be less than one year.  No payment shall be made with respect to a Performance Share if any specified threshold performance level is not attained.

 

    10.           Other Stock Unit Awards.  Other Awards of Shares and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, Shares or other property (“Other Stock Unit Awards”) may be granted hereunder to Participants, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan.  Other Stock Unit Awards may be paid in Shares, cash or any other form of property as the Committee or the Board may determine.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee or the Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Associates to whom such Awards shall be made, the times at which such Awards shall be made, the number of Shares to be granted pursuant to such Awards, and all other terms and conditions of such Awards.  The provisions of Other Stock Unit Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant.  For any Award or Shares subject to any Award made under this Section 10, the vesting of which is conditioned only on the passage of time, such Restriction Period shall be a minimum of two (2) years for full vesting.  Shares (including securities convertible into Shares) subject to Awards granted under this Section 10 may be issued for no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law.

 

    11.           Change in Control.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee or Board may determine, in their discretion, that upon the occurrence of a transaction involving a merger or consolidation of the Company, a sale of all or substantially all of its assets, the acquisition of a significant percentage of the voting power of the Company, or such other form of transaction as the Committee or Board may determine from time to time to constitute a change in control of the Company, which shall not include preliminary transaction activities such as receipt of a letter of interest, receipt of a letter of intent or an agreement in principle, that (i) Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may become immediately exercisable; (ii) restrictions and deferral limitations applicable to any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award may become free of all restrictions and limitations and become fully vested and transferable; (iii) all Performance Awards may be considered to be prorated, and any deferral or other restriction may lapse and such Performance Awards may be immediately settled or distributed; (iv) the restrictions and deferral limitations and other conditions applicable to any Other Stock Unit Awards or any other Awards granted under the Plan may lapse and such Other Stock Unit Awards or such other Awards may become free of all restrictions, limitations or conditions and become fully vested and transferable to the full extent of the Award not previously forfeited or vested.

The Committee or the Board, in their discretion, may also determine that, upon the occurrence of such a change in control transaction, each Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right outstanding hereunder shall terminate within a specified number of days after notice to the holder, and such holder shall receive, with respect to each share of Common Stock subject to such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the Shares immediately prior to the occurrence of such transaction (which shall be no less than the value being paid for such Shares pursuant to such transaction) over the Exercise Price or Strike Price, as applicable, of such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right; such amount shall be payable in cash, in one or more of the kinds of property payable in such transaction, or in a combination thereof, as the Committee or Board in their discretion shall determine.

12.           Transferability of Awards.

 

 

 

 

 

13.	Code Section 162(m) Provisions and Award Limitations.

 

(c)

Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan (other than Section 11 or 14), with respect to any Award that is subject to this Section 13, the Committee may adjust downwards, but not upwards, the amount payable pursuant to such Award, and the Committee may not waive the achievement of the applicable Performance Goals except in the case of the death or disability of the Participant

 

14.           Alteration, Termination, Discontinuance, Suspension, and Amendment.

 

 

 

15.           Adjustment of Shares; Effect of Certain Transactions.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event of any change in the shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan or to any Award (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, issuance of rights to subscribe, or change in capital structure), appropriate adjustments or substitutions shall be made by the Committee or the Board as to the (i) maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan, (ii) maximum number of Shares of Common Stock for which Awards may be granted to any one Associate, and (iii) the number of Shares of Common Stock and price per share subject to outstanding Awards as shall be equitable to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights under previously granted Awards.  The determination of the Committee or Board as to these matters shall be conclusive; provided, however, that (i) any such adjustment with respect to an Incentive Stock Option and any related Stock Appreciation Right shall comply with the rules of Section 424(a) of the Code; and (ii) in no event shall any adjustment be made which would disqualify any Incentive Stock Option granted hereunder as an Incentive Stock Option for purposes of Section 422 of the Code.

 

16.           General Provisions.

(a)

No Associate or Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Associates or Participants under the Plan.

 

 

 

(c)

All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award shall be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee or Board may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Shares are then listed, and any applicable state of Federal securities law, and the Committee or Board may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

(d)

No Award granted hereunder shall be construed as an offer to sell securities of the Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Committee or the Board in their sole discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the U.S. federal securities laws and any other laws to which such offer, if made, would be subject.

(e)

The Committee or the Board shall be authorized to establish procedures pursuant to which the payment of any Award may be deferred.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any Grant Documents, the recipient of an Award (including, without limitation, any deferred Award) may, if so determined by the Committee or the Board, be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, cash dividends, or cash payments in amounts equivalent to cash dividends on Shares (“dividend equivalents”), with respect to the number of Shares covered by the Award, as determined by the Committee or the Board, in their sole discretion, and the Committee or Board may provide that such amounts (if any) shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares or otherwise reinvested.

(f)

The Company shall be authorized to withhold from any Award granted or payment due under the Plan the amount of withholding taxes due in respect of an Award or payment hereunder and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Plan administrator to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes, not to exceed the statutory minimum withholding obligation.  The Committee or Board shall be authorized to establish procedures for election by Participants to satisfy such obligations for the payment of such taxes (i) by delivery of or transfer of Shares to the Company, (ii) with the consent of the Committee or the Board, by directing the Company to retain Shares otherwise deliverable in connection with the Award, (iii) by payment in cash of the amount to be withheld, or (iv) by withholding from any cash compensation otherwise due to the Participant.

(g)

Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if required, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

(h)

The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware and applicable Federal law.

(i)

If any provision of this Plan is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee or the Board, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable law, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee or the Board, materially altering the intent of the Plan, it shall be stricken, and the remainder of the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(j)

Awards may be granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different from those applicable to Awards to Employees employed in the United States as may, in the judgment of the Committee or the Board, be necessary or desirable in order to recognize differences in local law or tax policy.  The Committee or Board also may impose conditions on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to minimize the Company’s obligations with respect to tax equalization for Associates on assignments outside their home country.

(k)

No Award shall be granted or exercised if the grant of the Award or the exercise and the issuance of shares or other consideration pursuant thereto would be contrary to law or the regulations of any duly constituted authority having jurisdiction.

 

(l)

The Plan will not confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliated Company, nor will it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliated Company would otherwise have to terminate a Participant’s employment or other service at any time.

 

 

 

 

Schedule A

   

1.	Purpose and eligibility.

 

The purpose of this addendum to the Plan (the "UK Addendum") is to enable the Board to grant Awards to certain employees and directors of Acxiom Corporation (the "Company") and its Subsidiaries who are based in the United Kingdom.  Awards (which will be unapproved for UK tax purposes) may only be granted under the UK Addendum to employees and directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries.  Awards granted pursuant to the UK Addendum are granted pursuant to an "employees' share scheme" for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

 

2.	Definitions.

 

Definitions are as contained in Section 2 of the Plan, with the following additions, amendments or substitutions:

 

(a)	The definition of "Associate" shall be deleted and the word "Employee" shall be substituted therefor throughout the Plan.

 

(b)	"Control" (for the purposes of the definition of "Subsidiary", below) has the meaning contained in section 995 Income Tax Act 2007.

 

(c)	"Employee" shall mean any employee or director of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

 

(d)	"HMRC" means the UK HM Revenue & Customs.

 

(e)	"ITEPA" means the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003.

 

(f)	"PAYE" means the UK Pay-As-You-Earn income tax withholding system governed by the Income Tax (PAYE) Regulations 2003.

 

(g)

"Service" means service as an Employee, subject to such further limitations as may be set forth in the applicable Stock Option Agreement or Restricted Share Agreement.  Service shall be deemed to continue during a bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company in writing if and to the extent that continued crediting of Service for purposes of the Plan is expressly required by the terms of such leave or by applicable law, as determined by the Company.  The Company determines which leaves count toward Service, and when Service terminates for all purposes under the Plan.

 

(h)	The definition of "Subsidiary" shall be restated in its entirety as follows: “Subsidiary” shall mean a company (wherever incorporated) which for the time being is under the Control of the Company.

 

3.

Terms.

 

Awards granted pursuant to the UK Addendum shall be governed by the terms of the Plan, subject to any such amendments set out below and as are necessary to give effect to Section 1 of the UK Addendum, and by the terms of the individual Award Agreement entered into between the Company and the Participant.

 

4.	Participation.

 

For the purpose of granting awards pursuant to the Plan to UK Employees only, the Plan shall be amended by the substitution of the word "Employee" for the word "Associate" throughout.

 

5.	Non-transferability of Awards.

 

An Award granted pursuant to the UK Addendum may not be transferred other than by the laws of intestacy on death of the Participant.

 

 

6.	Withholding obligations.

 

6.1

The Participant shall be accountable for any income tax and, subject to the following provisions, national insurance liability which is chargeable on any assessable income deriving from the exercise of, or other dealing in, the Award.  In respect of such assessable income the Participant shall indemnify the Company and (at the direction of the Company) any Subsidiary which is or may be treated as the employer of the Participant in respect of the following (together, the "Tax Liabilities"):

 

6.2

 

(a)	any income tax liability which falls to be paid to HMRC by the Company (or the relevant employing Subsidiary) under the PAYE system as it applies to income tax under ITEPA and the PAYE regulations referred to in it; and

 

(b)

any national insurance liability which falls to be paid to HMRC by the Company (or the relevant employing Subsidiary) under the PAYE system as it applies for national insurance purposes under the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 and regulations referred to in it, such national insurance liability being the aggregate of:

 

(i)	all the Employee's primary Class 1 national insurance contributions; and

 

(ii)	all the employer's secondary Class 1 national insurance contributions.

 

6.3	Pursuant to the indemnity referred to in clause 6.1, the Participant shall make such arrangements as the Company requires to meet the cost of the Tax Liabilities, including at the direction of the Company any of the following:

 

(a)

making a cash payment of an appropriate amount to the relevant company whether by cheque, banker's draft or deduction from salary in time to enable the company to remit such amount to HMRC before the 14th day following the end of the month in which the event giving rise to the Tax Liabilities occurred; or

 

(b)

appointing the Company as agent and/or attorney for the sale of sufficient Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of, or other dealing in, the Award to cover the Tax Liabilities and authorising the payment to the relevant company of the appropriate amount (including all reasonable fees, commissions and expenses incurred by the relevant company in relation to such sale) out of the net proceeds of sale of the Shares;

 

(c)	entering into an election whereby the employer's liability for secondary Class 1 national insurance contributions is transferred to the Participant on terms set out in the election and approved by HMRC.

 

7.	Section 431 Election.

 

Where the Shares to be acquired on the exercise of, or other dealing in, the Award are considered to be "restricted securities" for the purposes of the UK tax legislation (such determination to be at the sole discretion of the Company), it is a condition of exercise or acquisition of the Shares that the Participant if so directed by the Company enter into a joint election with the Company or, if different, the relevant Subsidiary employing the Participant pursuant to section 431 ITEPA electing that the market value of the Shares to be acquired on the exercise of, or other dealing in, the Award be calculated as if the Shares were not "restricted securities".