Exhibit10.11 MATTHEWSINTERNATIONAL CORPORATION 2007EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN, ASAMENDED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 26, 2008 SECTION1 Purpose;Definitions

 

1.1           Purpose.  The purposes of the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended through September 26, 2008 (the "Plan") are to encourage eligible employees of Matthews International Corporation (the "Corporation") and its Subsidiaries to increase their efforts to make the Corporation and each Subsidiary more successful, to provide an additional inducement for such employees to remain with the Corporation or a Subsidiary, to reward such employees by providing an opportunity to acquire shares of Common Stock on favorable terms and to provide a means through which the Corporation may attract able persons to enter the employ of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries.

1.2 Certain Definitions.  In addition to terms defined herein in the first place where they are used, the following terms are defined as set forth below:

(a)           “Award” means a stock option, a stock appreciation right, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units or other stock-based award granted under the Plan.

(b)           “Base Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3.

(c)           "Common Stock" shall mean the Class A Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Corporation.

(d)           “Fair Market Value” with respect to a share of the Common Stock shall mean the mean between the following prices, as applicable, for the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined as quoted in The Wall Street Journal (or in such other reliable publication as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may  determine to rely upon):  (i) if the Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the highest and lowest sales prices per share of the Common Stock as quoted in the NYSE-Composite Transactions listing for such date, (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on such exchange, the highest and lowest sales prices per share of Common Stock for such date on (or on any composite index including) the principal United States of America securities exchange registered under the 1934 Act on which the Common Stock is listed or (iii) if the Common Stock is not listed on any such exchange, the highest and lowest sales prices per share of the Common Stock for such date on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System or any successor system then in use ("NASDAQ").  If there are no such sale price quotations for the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined but there are such sale price quotations within a reasonable period both before and after such date, then Fair Market Value shall be determined by taking a weighted average of the means between the highest and lowest sales prices per share of the Common Stock as so quoted on the nearest date before and the nearest date after the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined.  The average should be weighted inversely by the respective numbers of trading days between the selling dates and the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined.  If there are no such sale price quotations on or within a reasonable period both before and after the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined, then Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be the mean between the bona fide bid and asked prices per share of Common Stock as so quoted for such date on NASDAQ, or if none, the weighted average of the means between such bona fide bid and asked prices on the nearest trading date before and the nearest trading date after the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined, if both such dates are within a reasonable period.  The average is to be determined in the manner described above in this definition.  If the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock cannot be determined on the basis previously set forth in this definition on the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined, the Committee shall in good faith and in conformance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable to an Award, determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on such date.  Fair Market Value shall be determined without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse.

(e)           “Free-Standing SARs” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2.

(f)           “Participant” means an eligible employee selected by the Committee who has received an Award under the Plan and any transferee or transferees of such employee to the extent the transfer is permitted under the Plan.

(g)           “Performance Goals” means the performance goals, if any, established by the Committee in connection with the grant of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units or other Awards.  In the case of Qualified Performance-Based Awards, the “Performance Goals” means such performance goals based on one or more of the following:

(i)

The following criteria for the Corporation on a consolidated basis, one or more of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries, and/or one or more divisions of the foregoing, either in absolute terms or relative to the performance of (x) the Corporation, its Subsidiaries or divisions (for a different period), (y) one or more other companies or (z) an index covering multiple companies:

1.	net income
2.	economic value added (earnings less a capital charge)
3.	EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization)
4.	sales
5.	costs
6.	gross margin
7.	operating margin
8.	pre-tax profit or income
9.	market share
10.	return on net assets
11.	return on assets
12.	return on capital
13.	return on invested capital
14.	cash flow
15.	free cash flow
16.	operating cash flow
17.	operating income
18.	earnings before interest and taxes
19.	working capital
20.	innovation as measured by a percentage of sales from new products

(ii)	The following criteria for the Corporation, either in absolute terms or relative to the performance of the Corporation (for a different period), one or more other companies or an index covering multiple companies:

1.	stock price
2.	return on shareholders’ equity
3.	earnings per share
4.	cash flow per share
5.	total shareholder return (stock price appreciation plus dividends)

(h)           “Qualified Performance-Based Award” means an Award intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption, as provided in Section 12.

(i)           "Subsidiary" means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Corporation if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain owns an equity interest possessing at least fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other entities in the chain.

(j)           “Tandem SARs” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2.

2.1.                                                                                                                                Committee.  The Plan shall be administered by a Committee (the "Committee") appointed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board") and consisting of not less than two members of the Board, who, at the time of their appointment to the Committee and at all times during their service as members of the Committee, are (a) "Non-Employee Directors" as then defined under Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), or any successor rule, (b) "outside directors" under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (the “Code”) or any successor provision, and (c) independent directors under the applicable rules of any applicable stock exchange or NASDAQ, if the Common Stock is subject to such rules.  The Committee shall have plenary authority to interpret the Plan and prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures in connection with the operations of the Plan as it shall deem to be necessary and advisable for the administration of the Plan consistent with the purposes of the Plan.  Without limitation of the foregoing, the Committee shall have the authority, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan:

(a) to select the employees to whom Awards may be made;

(b) to determine whether and to what extent incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units, other Awards of or based upon Common Stock, or any combination thereof, are to be granted hereunder;

(c) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award made hereunder;

(d) to determine the terms and conditions of each Award made hereunder, based on such factors as the Committee shall determine;

(e) subject to Section 2.5, to modify, amend or adjust the terms and conditions of any Award;

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

(g) to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award under the Plan (and any agreement under Section 2.5 relating thereto);

(h) subject to Section 2.5, to accelerate the vesting or lapse of restrictions on any outstanding Award, other than a Qualified Performance-Based Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines;

(i) to decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;

(j) to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances cash, shares of Common Stock and other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award under this Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the employee;

(k) to establish any “blackout” period that the Committee in its sole discretion deems necessary or advisable; and

(l)	to otherwise administer the Plan.

In determining any Award to be made to any eligible employee, the Committee shall consider the position and the responsibilities of the employee being considered, the nature and value to the Corporation or a Subsidiary of his or her services, his or her present and/or potential contribution to the success of the Corporation or a Subsidiary and such other factors as the Committee may deem relevant.  The Committee may, except to the extent prohibited by applicable law or the listing standards of the stock exchange which is the principal market for the Common Stock, allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members and may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers to any officers of the Corporation or committee of officers of the Corporation selected by it, except with respect to Awards (including Qualified Performance-Based Awards) to any covered employees as defined in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code (“Covered Employees”) or persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

           2.2.                      Committee Action.  The Committee shall keep records of action taken at its meetings.  A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum at any meeting and the acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, or acts approved in writing by all members of the Committee, shall be the acts of the Committee.

2.3           Committee Discretion.  Any determination made by the Committee or by an appropriately delegated officer pursuant to delegated authority under the provisions of the Plan with respect to any Award shall be made in the sole discretion of the Committee or such officer at the time of the Award or, unless in contravention of any express term of the Plan, at any time thereafter. All decisions made by the Committee or any appropriately delegated officer pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons, including the Corporation and the employees eligible under the Plan.

2.4           Cancellation; Suspension; Clawback.  Any or all outstanding Awards to a Participant may, at any time between the date of grant and the third anniversary of any exercise, payment or vesting of such Awards, in the Committee’s sole discretion and subject to such terms and conditions established by the Committee, be cancelled, suspended, or required to be repaid to the Corporation if the Participant (whether during or after termination of employment with the Corporation and its Subsidiaries) (i) engages in the operation or management of a business (whether as owner, partner, officer, director, employee or otherwise) which is in competition with the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) induces or attempts to induce any customer, supplier, licensee or other individual, corporation or other business organization having a business relationship with the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries to cease doing business with the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or in any way interferes with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee or other person and the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) solicits any employee of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries to leave the employment thereof or in any way interferes with the relationship of such employee with the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) makes any statements or comments, orally or in writing, of a defamatory or disparaging nature regarding the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries (including but not limited to regarding any of their respective businesses, officers, directors, personnel, products or policies), provided, however, that this sentence shall not apply following the occurrence of a Section 11 Event (as defined in Section 11) unless the agreement under Section 2.5 specifically so provides.  Whether a Participant has engaged in any such activities shall also be determined, in its sole discretion, by the Committee, and any such determination by the Committee shall be final and binding.

2.5           Agreements.  The terms and conditions of each Award shall be set forth in a written (or electronic) agreement, which shall be delivered to the Participant receiving such Award upon, or as promptly as is reasonably practicable following, the making of such Award.  The effectiveness of an Award shall be subject to the agreement being signed by the Corporation and the Participant receiving the Award unless otherwise provided in the agreement.  Unless otherwise provided in the agreement, each agreement or amendment thereto shall be executed on behalf of the Corporation by the Chief Executive Officer (if other than the President), the President or any Vice President and by the Participant.  The agreement confirming a stock option shall specify whether the stock option is an incentive stock option or a nonstatutory stock option.  The provisions of such agreements need not be identical.  Without the consent of the Participant, upon notice to the Participant thereof, the Committee may amend any Award to the Participant and the corresponding agreement in any respect not materially adverse to the Participant.  All other amendments to the agreement shall be in writing (including electronic amendments) and executed on behalf of the Corporation and by the Participant.  Any reference in the Plan to the agreement under Section 2.5 shall include any amendment to such agreement.

Those employees of the Corporation or any Subsidiary (including, but not limited to, Covered Employees) who share responsibility for the management, growth or protection of the business of the Corporation or any Subsidiary shall be eligible to receive Awards as described herein, provided however, that incentive stock options may be granted only to employees of the Corporation and Subsidiaries which are its subsidiaries within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.

4.1           Number of Shares.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.5, the maximum aggregate number of shares of the Common Stock for which Awards may be made under the Plan shall be 2,200,000 shares.  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted pursuant to options intended to be incentive stock options shall be 1,000,000 shares.

4.2           Individual Limit.  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock as to which Awards other than performance units under Section 8 or Awards under Section 9 may be made under the Plan to any one Participant in any one calendar year is 250,000 shares, subject to adjustment and substitution as set forth in Section 4.5.  For the purposes of this limitation, any adjustment or substitution made pursuant to Section 4.5 in a calendar year with respect to the maximum number of shares set forth in the preceding sentence shall also be made with respect to any shares subject to Awards previously granted under the Plan to such Participant in the same calendar year.

4.3	Share Counting.

(a)           For purposes of the limit set forth in the first sentence of Section 4.1 (but not for purposes of Section 4.2), each share of Common Stock which is subject to an Award other than a stock option or a stock appreciation right shall be counted as two (2) shares rather than one (1) share, provided, however, that in case of performance units, shares of Common Stock shall be counted as two (2) shares rather than one (1) share for each actual share issued only at the time, if any, of the actual issuance of shares pursuant to the performance unit Award.

(b)           Except in the case of performance unit Awards (where shares of Common Stock are counted only upon actual issuance of the shares pursuant to Section 4.3(a)) to the extent that any Award is forfeited, or any option and the Tandem SAR (if any) or any Free-Standing SAR terminates, expires or lapses without being exercised, or any Award is settled for cash, the shares of Common Stock subject to such Awards shall again be available for Awards under the Plan under Section 4.1.  However, shares of Common Stock subject to such Awards shall continue to be counted for purposes of Section 4.2 or Section 9, as applicable.

(c)           If the exercise price of any option and/or the tax withholding obligations relating to any Awards are satisfied by delivering shares (either actually or through attestation) or withholding shares relating to such Award, the gross number of shares subject to the Award shall nonetheless be deemed to have been granted for purposes of Sections 4.1 and 4.2 and any shares which are delivered will not be added to the aggregate number of shares under Section 4.1 for which Awards may be made under the Plan.

(d)           If a Tandem SAR is granted, each share of Common Stock subject to both the Tandem SAR and related stock option shall be counted as only one share of Common Stock for purposes of Sections 4.1 and 4.2.

(e)           Each share of Common Stock subject to a stock option (with or without a Tandem SAR) or a Free-Standing SAR shall be counted as one share of Common Stock for purposes of Sections 4.1 and 4.2.

(f)           All shares of Common Stock covered by a stock appreciation right, to the extent it is exercised and shares of Common Stock are actually issued upon exercise of the right, shall be counted for purposes of Sections 4.1 and 4.2, regardless of the number of shares used to settle the stock appreciation right upon exercise.

4.4           Common Stock.  To the extent that the Corporation has such shares of Common Stock available to it and can issue such shares without violating any law or regulation, the Corporation will reserve Common Stock for issuance with respect to an Award payable in Common Stock.  The shares of Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan may be either authorized but unissued shares or shares previously issued and thereafter acquired by the Corporation or partly each, as shall be determined from time to time by the Board.

4.5           Adjustment and Substitution of Shares.  In the event of a merger, consolidation, acquisition of shares, stock rights offering, liquidation, separation, spinoff, disaffiliation of a Subsidiary from the Corporation, extra-ordinary dividend of cash or other property, or similar event affecting the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “Corporate Transaction”), the Committee or the Board shall make such substitutions or adjustments as it deems appropriate and equitable to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants to (A) the aggregate number and kind of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance and delivery under the Plan, (B) the various maximum limitations set forth in Sections 4.1 and 4.2 upon certain types of Awards and upon the Awards to individuals, (C) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding Awards; and (D) the exercise price of outstanding Awards.  In the event of a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, share combination, or recapitalization or similar event affecting the capital structure of the Corporation (each, a “Share Change”), the Committee or the Board shall make such substitutions or adjustments as it deems appropriate and equitable to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants to (A) the aggregate number and kind of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance and delivery under the Plan, (B) the various maximum limitations set forth in Sections 4.1 and 4.2 upon certain types of Awards and upon the Awards to individuals, (C) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding Awards; and (D) the exercise price of outstanding Awards. In the case of Corporate Transactions, such adjustments may include, without limitation, (1) the cancellation of outstanding Awards in exchange for payments of cash, property or a combination thereof having an aggregate value equal to the value of such Awards, as determined by the Committee or the Board in its sole discretion (it being understood that in the case of a Corporate Transaction with respect to which shareholders of Common Stock receive consideration other than publicly-traded equity securities of the ultimate surviving entity, any such determination by the Committee that the value of an option or stock appreciation right shall for this purpose be deemed to equal the excess, if any, of the value of the consideration being paid for each share pursuant to such Corporate Transaction over the exercise price of such option or stock appreciation right shall conclusively be deemed valid); (2) the substitution of other property (including, without limitation, cash or other securities of the Corporation and securities of entities other than the Corporation) for the shares subject to outstanding Awards; and (3) in connection with any disaffiliation of a Subsidiary, arranging for the assumption of Awards, or replacement of Awards with new Awards based on other property or other securities (including, without limitation, other securities of the Corporation and securities of entities other than the Corporation), by the affected Subsidiary, or by the entity that controls such Subsidiary following such disaffiliation (as well as any corresponding adjustments to Awards that remain based upon Corporation securities). The Committee shall adjust the Performance Goals applicable to any Awards to reflect any unusual or non-recurring events and other extraordinary items, impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, and the cumulative effects of accounting or tax changes, each as defined by generally accepted accounting principles or as identified in the Corporation’s financial statements, notes to the financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis or other of the Corporation’s SEC filings, provided that in the case of Performance Goals applicable to any Qualified Performance-Based Awards, such adjustment does not violate Section 162(m) of the Code or cause such Awards not to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption, as defined in Section 12.1.  No adjustment or substitution provided in this Section 4.5 shall require the Corporation or any other entity to issue or sell a fraction of a share or other security.  Except as provided in this Section 4.5, a Participant shall not have any rights with respect to any Corporate Transaction or Share Change.

4.6           Section 409A; Section 162(m); Incentive Stock Options.  Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) any adjustments made pursuant to Section 4.5 to Awards that are considered “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code; (ii) any adjustments made pursuant to Section 4.5 to Awards that are not considered “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be made in such a manner as to ensure that after such adjustment, the Awards either (A) continue not to be subject to Section 409A of the Code or (B) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code; and (iii) in any event, neither the Committee nor the Board shall have the authority to make any adjustments pursuant to Section 4.5 to the extent the existence of such authority would cause an Award that is not intended to be subject to Section 409A of the Code at the grant date of the Award to be subject thereto.  If any such adjustment or substitution provided for in Section 4.5 requires the approval of shareholders in order to enable the Corporation to grant incentive stock options or to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, then no such adjustment or substitution shall be made without the required shareholder approval.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of incentive stock options, if the effect of any such adjustment or substitution would be to cause the option to fail to continue to qualify as an incentive stock option or to cause a modification, extension or renewal of such option within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code, the Committee may determine that such adjustment or substitution not be made but rather shall use reasonable efforts to effect such other adjustment of each then outstanding incentive stock option as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall deem equitable and which will not result in any disqualification, modification, extension or renewal (within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code) of such incentive stock option.

5.1           Types of Options; Limit on Incentive Stock Options.  The Committee shall have authority, in its sole discretion, to grant "incentive stock options" pursuant to Section 422 of the Code, to grant "nonstatutory stock options" (i.e., stock options which do not qualify under Sections 422 or 423 of the Code) or to grant both types of stock options (but not in tandem).  Notwithstanding any other provision contained in the Plan or in any agreement under Section 2.5, but subject to the possible exercise of the Committee's discretion contemplated in the last sentence of this Section 5.1, the aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of grant of the shares with respect to which such incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year under all plans of the corporation employing such Participant, any parent or subsidiary corporation of such corporation and any predecessor corporation of any such corporation shall not exceed $100,000.  If the date on which one or more incentive stock options could first be exercised would be accelerated pursuant to any provision of the Plan or any agreement under Section 2.5 and the acceleration of such exercise date would result in a violation of the $100,000 restriction set forth in the preceding sentence, then, notwithstanding any such provision, but subject to the provisions of the next succeeding sentence, the exercise dates of such incentive stock options shall be accelerated only to the extent, if any, that does not result in a violation of such restriction and, in such event, the exercise dates of the incentive stock options with the lowest option prices shall be accelerated to the earliest such dates.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, authorize the acceleration of the exercise date of one or more incentive stock options even if such acceleration would violate the $100,000 restriction set forth in the second sentence of this Section 5.1 and even if one or more such incentive stock options are thereby converted in whole or in part to nonstatutory stock options.

5.2           Types and Nature of Stock Appreciation Rights.  Stock appreciation rights may be tandem stock appreciation rights which are granted in conjunction with incentive stock options or nonstatutory stock options (“Tandem SARs”), or stock appreciation rights which are not granted in conjunction with options (“Free-Standing SARs”).  Upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right, the Participant shall be entitled to receive an amount in cash, shares of Common Stock, or both, in value equal to the product of (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of exercise of the stock appreciation right over, in the case of a Tandem SAR, the exercise price of the related option, or in the case of a Free-Standing SAR, the Base Price per share (the “Spread”), multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock in respect of which the stock appreciation right has been exercised.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee at the time it grants a stock appreciation right may provide that the Spread covered by such stock appreciation right may not exceed a lower specified amount.  The applicable agreement under Section 2.5 governing the stock appreciation rights shall specify whether such payment is to be made in cash or Common Stock or both, or shall reserve to the Committee or the Participant the right to make that determination prior to or upon the exercise of the stock appreciation right.  Tandem SARs may be granted at the grant date of the related stock options or, in the case of a related nonstatutory stock option, also at a later date.  At the time a Tandem SAR is granted, the Committee may limit the exercise period for such Tandem SAR, before and after which period no Tandem SAR shall attach to the underlying stock option.  In no event shall the exercise period for a Tandem SAR exceed the exercise period for the related stock option.  A Tandem SAR shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that the related option is exercisable in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.  A Tandem SAR shall terminate or be forfeited upon the exercise or forfeiture of the related stock option, and the related stock option shall terminate or be forfeited upon the exercise or forfeiture of the Tandem SAR.  Any Tandem SAR granted with a related incentive stock option shall be exercisable only when the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock exceeds the exercise price for a share of Common Stock under the related incentive stock option.

5.3           Exercise Price and Base Price.  The exercise price per share of Common Stock subject to an option and any Tandem SAR, and the base price per share for any Free-Standing SAR (the “Base Price”), shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable agreement under Section 2.5, and shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of the Common Stock on the applicable grant date, except that in the case of an incentive stock option granted to a Participant who, immediately prior to such grant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation or any Subsidiary which is a corporation (a "Ten Percent Employee"), the exercise price shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.  For purposes of this Section 5.3, an individual (i) shall be considered as owning not only shares of stock owned individually but also all shares of stock that are at the time owned, directly or indirectly, by or for the spouse, ancestors, lineal descendants and brothers and sisters (whether by the whole or half blood) of such individual and (ii) shall be considered as owning proportionately any shares owned, directly or indirectly, by or for any corporation, partnership, estate or trust in which such individual is a shareholder, partner or beneficiary.  In no event may any option or stock appreciation right granted under this Plan, other than pursuant to Section 4.5, be amended to decrease the exercise price or Base Price thereof, be cancelled in conjunction with the grant of any new option or stock appreciation right with a lower exercise price or Base Price, be cancelled or repurchased for cash, property, or another Award at a time when the exercise price or Base Price is greater than the Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Stock, or otherwise be subject to any action that would be treated, for accounting purposes, as a “repricing” of such option or stock appreciation right, unless such amendment, cancellation, or action is approved by the Corporation’s shareholders.

5.4           Term; Vesting and Exercisability.  The term of each option and each stock appreciation right shall be fixed by the Committee, but shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant (five years in the case of an incentive stock option granted to a Ten Percent Employee).  Except as otherwise provided herein, options and stock appreciation rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee and may be exercisable commencing with the grant date.

5.5           Method of Exercise.  Subject to the provisions of this Section 5, options and stock appreciation rights may be exercised, in whole or in part (unless otherwise specified by the Committee in its sole discretion), at any time during the applicable term by giving written notice of exercise to the Corporation specifying the number of shares of Common Stock as to which the option or stock appreciation rights is being exercised.  In the case of the exercise of an option, such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the exercise price in United States of America dollars by certified or bank check or wire of immediately available funds. If approved by the Committee (at the time of grant in the case of an incentive stock option or at any time in the case of a nonstatutory stock option), payment, in full or in part, may also be made as follows:

(a)           Payment may be made in the form of unrestricted shares of Common Stock (by delivery of such shares or by attestation) of the same class as the Common Stock subject to the option already owned by the Participant (based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the option is exercised) provided however, that any portion of the exercise price representing a fraction of a share shall be paid in cash;

(b)           To the extent permitted by applicable law, payment may be made by delivering a properly executed exercise notice to the Corporation, together with a copy of irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the Corporation the amount of sale or loan proceeds necessary to pay the exercise price, and, if requested, the amount of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes. To facilitate the foregoing, the Corporation may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, enter into agreements for coordinated procedures with one or more brokerage firms.  In the event the broker sells any shares on behalf of a Participant, the broker shall be acting solely as the agent of the Participant, and the Corporation disclaims any responsibility for the actions of the broker in making any such sales; and/or

(c)           With such other instrument as approved by the Committee, including Corporation loans, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

5.6           Delivery; Rights of Shareholders.  No shares shall be delivered pursuant to the exercise of an option until the exercise price for the option has been fully paid and applicable taxes have been withheld.  Unless otherwise specified by the Committee, the applicable Participant shall have all of the rights of a shareholder of the Corporation holding Common Stock with respect to the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon the exercise of the option or stock appreciation right (including the right to vote the applicable shares and the right to receive dividends), when the Participant (i) has given written notice of exercise in accordance with the procedures established by the Committee, (ii) if requested, has given the representation described in Section 10, and (iii) in the case of an option, has paid in full the exercise price for such shares.

5.7           Nontransferability of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.  Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine in the case of nonstatutory stock options and stock appreciation rights and limited to a transfer without the payment of value or consideration to the Participant, (i) no option or stock appreciation right shall be transferable by a Participant other than by will, or if the Participant dies intestate, by the laws of descent and distribution of the state of domicile of the Participant at the time of death, and (ii) all stock options and stock appreciation rights shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant (or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative).  Any Tandem SAR shall be transferable only when the related stock option is transferable and with the related stock option.

5.8           Termination of Employment.  Unless the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall otherwise determine at the time of grant of the Award or, other than in the case of incentive stock options, thereafter, but subject to the provisions of Section 5.1 in the case of incentive stock options:

(a)           If the employment of a Participant who is not disabled within the meaning of Section 422(c)(6) of the Code (a "Disabled Participant") is voluntarily terminated with the consent of the Corporation or a Subsidiary or a Participant retires under any retirement plan of the Corporation or a Subsidiary, any then outstanding incentive stock option held by such Participant shall be exercisable by the Participant (but only to the extent exercisable by the Participant immediately prior to the termination of employment) at any time prior to the expiration date of such incentive stock option or within three months after the date of termination of employment, whichever is the shorter period;

(b)           If the employment of a Participant who is not a Disabled Participant is voluntarily terminated with the consent of the Corporation or a Subsidiary or a Participant retires under any retirement plan of the Corporation or a Subsidiary, any then outstanding nonstatutory stock option or stock appreciation right held by such Participant shall be exercisable by the Participant (but only to the extent exercisable by the Participant immediately prior to the termination of employment) at any time prior to the expiration date of such nonstatutory stock option or stock appreciation right or within one year after the date of termination of employment, whichever is the shorter period;

(c)           If the employment of a Participant who is a Disabled Participant is voluntarily terminated with the consent of the Corporation or a Subsidiary, any then outstanding stock option or stock appreciation right held by such Participant shall be exercisable in full (whether or not so exercisable by the Participant immediately prior to the termination of employment) by the Participant at any time prior to the expiration date of such stock option or stock appreciation right or within one year after the date of termination of employment, whichever is the shorter period;

(d)           Following the death of a Participant during employment, any outstanding stock option or stock appreciation right held by the Participant at the time of death shall be exercisable in full (whether or not so exercisable by the Participant immediately prior to the death of the Participant) by the person entitled to do so under the will of the Participant, or, if the Participant shall fail to make testamentary disposition of the stock option or stock appreciation right or shall die intestate, by the legal representative of the Participant at any time prior to the expiration date of such stock option or stock appreciation right or within one year after the date of death, whichever is the shorter period;

(e)           Following the death of a Participant after termination of employment during a period when a stock option or stock appreciation right is exercisable, any outstanding stock option or stock appreciation right held by the Participant at the time of death shall be exercisable by such person entitled to do so under the will of the Participant or by such legal representative (but only to the extent the stock option or stock appreciation right was exercisable by the Participant immediately prior to the death of the Participant) at any time prior to the expiration date of such stock option or stock appreciation right or within one year after the date of death, whichever is the shorter period; and

(f)           Unless the exercise period of a stock option or stock appreciation right following termination of employment has been extended as provided in Section 11.3, if the employment of a Participant terminates for any reason other than voluntary termination with the consent of the Corporation or a Subsidiary, retirement under any retirement plan of the Corporation or a Subsidiary or death, all outstanding stock options and stock appreciation rights held by the Participant at the time of such termination of employment shall automatically terminate.

Whether termination of employment is a voluntary termination with the consent of the Corporation or a Subsidiary and whether a Participant is a Disabled Participant shall be determined in each case, in its sole discretion, by the Committee (or, in the case of Participants who are not (i) Covered Employees as of the end of the Corporation’s immediately preceding fiscal year or (ii) the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, by such Chief Executive Officer, in his sole discretion) and any such determination by the Committee or such Chief Executive Officer shall be final and binding.  Without limitation of the foregoing, a termination of employment by the Participant shall not be a voluntary termination with the consent of the Corporation unless the Committee or, if applicable, such Chief Executive Officer, in its or his sole discretion, specifically consents to the termination of employment in writing.

5.9           Other Terms and Conditions.  Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 5 and the other provisions of the Plan, any stock option or stock appreciation right granted under the Plan may be exercised at such times and in such amounts and be subject to such restrictions and other terms and conditions, if any, as shall be determined, in its sole discretion, by the Committee and set forth in the agreement under Section 2.5.

6.1           Restricted Stock Awards; Certificates.  Shares of restricted stock are actual shares of Common Stock issued to a Participant, and shall be evidenced in such manner as the Committee may deem appropriate, including book-entry registration or issuance of one or more stock certificates.  Any certificate issued in respect of shares of restricted stock shall be registered in the name of the applicable Participant and, unless held by or on behalf of the Corporation in escrow or custody until the restrictions lapse or the shares are forfeited, shall bear an appropriate conspicuous legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Award, substantially in the following form:

“The transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture) of the Matthews International Corporation 2007 Equity Incentive Plan and a corresponding agreement. Copies of such Plan and agreement are on file at the offices of Matthews International Corporation, Two NorthShore Center, Pittsburgh, PA ###-###-####.”

The Committee may require that the certificates evidencing such shares be held in escrow or custody by or on behalf of the Corporation until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed or the shares are forfeited and that, as a condition of any Award of restricted stock, the applicable Participant deliver to the Corporation a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Common Stock covered by such Award.

6.2           Terms and Conditions.  Shares of restricted stock shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 15.11 and the following terms and conditions:

(a)           The Committee shall, prior to or at the time of grant, condition the vesting of an Award of restricted stock upon (i) the continued service of the applicable Participant, (ii) the attainment of Performance Goals, or (iii) the attainment of Performance Goals and the continued service of the applicable Participant.  The Committee shall establish at the time the restricted stock is granted the performance periods during which any Performance Goals specified by the Committee with respect to the restricted stock Award are to be measured.  In the event that the Committee conditions the vesting of an Award of restricted stock upon the attainment of Performance Goals or the attainment of Performance Goals and the continued service of the applicable Participant, the Committee may, prior to or at the time of grant, designate an Award of restricted stock as a Qualified Performance-Based Award.  The conditions for vesting and the other provisions of restricted stock Awards (including without limitation any applicable Performance Goals) need not be the same with respect to each recipient, and shall be established by the Committee in its sole discretion.  Except in the case of a Qualified Performance-Based Award and subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 15.11, the Committee at any time after the date of grant, in its sole discretion, may modify or waive any of the conditions applicable to an Award of restricted stock.

(b)           Subject to the provisions of the Plan (including Section 6.3) and the applicable agreement under Section 2.5, during the period, if any, set by the Committee, commencing with the date of such restricted stock Award for which such vesting restrictions apply (the “Restriction Period”), and until the expiration of the Restriction Period, the Participant shall not be permitted to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber shares of such restricted stock.  A restricted stock Award may vest in part on a pro rata basis prior to the expiration of any Restriction Period.

(c)           Except as provided in this Section 6 and in the applicable agreement under Section 2.5, the applicable Participant shall have, with respect to the shares of restricted stock, all of the rights of a shareholder of the Corporation holding the Common Stock that is the subject of the restricted stock, including, if applicable, the right to vote the shares and the right to receive any cash dividends.  If so determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable agreement under Section 2.5 and subject to Section 15.4, cash dividends on the Common Stock that is the subject of the restricted stock Award may be (i) automatically deferred and reinvested in additional restricted stock, and held subject to the same vesting and forfeiture conditions of the underlying restricted stock, or (ii) held by the Corporation in cash (without any payment of interest thereon) subject to the same vesting and forfeiture conditions of the restricted stock with respect to which the dividends are payable.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable agreement under Section 2.5, any Common Stock or other securities payable with respect to any restricted stock as a result of or pursuant to Section 4.5, shall be held subject to the same vesting and forfeiture conditions of the underlying restricted stock.

(d)           As soon as practicable after the applicable Restriction Period has ended, the Committee shall determine and certify (in writing in the case of Qualified Performance-Based Awards) whether and the extent to which the service period and/or the Performance Goals were met for the applicable restricted stock.  If the vesting condition or conditions applicable to the restricted stock are not satisfied by the time the Restriction Period has expired, such restricted stock shall be forfeited.  If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the shares of restricted stock (i) if legended certificates have been issued, unlegended certificates for such shares shall be delivered to the Participant upon surrender of the legended certificates, (ii) if legended certificates have not yet been issued, unlegended certificates (and any related blank stock powers previously executed by the Participant) shall be delivered to the Participant, and (iii) any cash dividends held by the Corporation pursuant to Section 6.2(c) shall be delivered to the Participant.

6.3           Permitted Transfers.  Neither this Section 6 nor any other provision of the Plan shall preclude a Participant from transferring or assigning restricted stock, without the payment of value or consideration to the Participant, to (i) the trustee of a trust that is revocable by such Participant alone, both at the time of the transfer or assignment and at all times thereafter prior to such Participant's death or (ii) the trustee of any other trust to the extent approved in advance by the Committee, in its sole discretion, in writing.  A transfer or assignment of restricted stock from such trustee to any person other than such Participant shall be permitted only to the extent approved in advance by the Committee, in its sole discretion, in writing, and restricted stock held by such trustee shall be subject to all of the conditions and restrictions set forth in the Plan and in the applicable agreement under Section 2.5 as if such trustee were a party to such agreement.

7.1           Restricted Stock Unit Awards.  Restricted stock units are Awards denominated in shares of Common Stock that will be settled, subject to the terms and conditions of the restricted stock units and at the sole discretion of the Committee, in an amount in cash, shares of Common Stock, or both, based upon the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock.

7.2 Terms and Conditions.  Restricted stock units shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 15.11 and the following terms and conditions:

(a)           The Committee shall, prior to or at the time of grant, condition the vesting of restricted stock units upon (i) the continued service of the applicable Participant, (ii) the attainment of Performance Goals or (iii) the attainment of Performance Goals and the continued service of the applicable Participant. In the event that the Committee conditions the vesting of restricted stock units upon the attainment of Performance Goals or the attainment of Performance Goals and the continued service of the applicable Participant, the Committee may, prior to or at the time of grant, designate the restricted stock units as a Qualified Performance-Based Awards.  The Committee shall determine the performance period(s) during which any Performance Goals are to be achieved.  The conditions for grant or vesting and the other provisions of restricted stock units (including without limitation any applicable Performance Goals) need not be the same with respect to each recipient. An Award of restricted stock units shall be settled as and when the restricted stock units vest, as determined and certified (in writing in the case of Qualified Performance-Based Awards) by the Committee, or at a later time specified by the Committee or in accordance with an election of the Participant, if the Committee so permits.  Except in the case of a Qualified Performance-Based Award and subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 15.11, the Committee at any time after the date of grant, in its sole discretion, may modify or waive any of the conditions applicable to an Award of restricted stock units.

(b)           Subject to the provisions of the Plan and the applicable agreement under Section 2.5, during the period, if any, set by the Committee, commencing with the date of grant of such restricted stock units for which such vesting restrictions apply (the “Units Restriction Period”), and until the expiration of the Units Restriction Period, the Participant shall not be permitted to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber restricted stock units.  A restricted stock unit may vest in part prior to the expiration of any Units Restriction Period.

(c)           Participants granted restricted stock units shall not be entitled to any dividends payable on the Common Stock unless the agreement under Section 2.5 for restricted stock units specifies to what extent and on what terms and conditions the applicable Participant shall be entitled to receive current or deferred payments of cash, Common Stock or other property corresponding to the dividends payable on the Common Stock (subject to Section 15.4 below).  Restricted stock units shall not have any voting rights, and holders of restricted stock units shall not be shareholders of the Corporation unless and until shares of Common Stock are issued by the Corporation (in book-entry form or otherwise).

Performance units may be granted hereunder to eligible employees, 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 Committee shall establish at the time the performance unit is granted the performance period(s) during which any Performance Goals specified by the Committee with respect to the Award are to be measured, provided, however, that performance units shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 15.11.  The Performance Goals to be achieved during any performance period(s) and the length of the performance period(s) shall be determined by the Committee upon the grant of each performance unit.  The Committee may, in connection with the grant of performance units, designate them as Qualified Performance-Based Awards.  The conditions for grant or vesting and the other provisions of performance units (including without limitation any applicable Performance Goals) need not be the same with respect to each Participant.  Performance units may be paid in cash, shares of Common Stock, other property or any combination thereof, in the sole discretion of the Committee as set forth in the applicable agreement under Section 2.5.  Performance units shall not have any voting rights, and holders of performance units shall not be shareholders of the Corporation unless and until shares of Common Stock are issued by the Corporation (in book-entry form or otherwise).  The Performance Goals to be achieved for each performance period, whether the Performance Goals have been achieved, and the amount of the Award to be distributed shall be conclusively determined and certified (in writing in the case of Qualified Performance-Based Awards) by the Committee.  Performance units may be paid in a lump sum or in installments following the close of the performance period(s).  The Participant shall not be permitted to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber performance units.  The maximum value of the property, including cash, that may be paid or distributed to any Participant pursuant to a grant of performance units made in any one calendar year shall be five million United States of America dollars ($5,000,000).  Except in the case of a Qualified Performance-Based Award and subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 15.11, the Committee at any time after the grant of performance units, in its sole discretion, may modify or waive any of the conditions applicable to an Award of performance units.

The Committee may award Common Stock and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based upon, Common Stock, including but not limited to, unrestricted stock or dividend equivalents.  Any such Award shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 15.11 and such other terms and conditions as established by the Committee, and may include Qualified Performance-Based Awards.  The maximum value of Common Stock and other property, including cash, that may be paid or distributed to any Participant pursuant to this Section 9 (and not pursuant to other sections of the Plan) in any one calendar year shall be five million United States of America dollars ($5,000,000).

The Committee may require each person purchasing or receiving shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Corporation in writing that such person is acquiring the shares without a view to the distribution thereof.  The certificates for such shares may include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer.  The obligation of the Corporation to issue shares of Common Stock under the Plan shall be subject to (i) the effectiveness of a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to such shares, if deemed necessary or appropriate by counsel for the Corporation, (ii) the condition that the shares shall have been listed (or authorized for listing upon official notice of issuance) upon each stock exchange, if any, on which the shares of Common Stock may then be listed, (iii) all other applicable laws, regulations, rules and orders which may then be in effect and (iv) obtaining any other consent, approval, or permit from any state or federal governmental agency which the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable.

11.1                      Definitions.

For purposes of this Section 11, the following terms shall have the following meaning:

(1)           The term "Person" shall be used as that term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the 1934 Act.

(2)           "Beneficial Ownership" shall be determined as provided in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act as in effect on the effective date of the Plan.

(3)           "Voting Shares" shall mean all securities of a Corporation entitling the holders thereof to vote in an annual election of Directors (without consideration of the rights of any class of stock other than the Common Stock to elect Directors by a separate class vote); and a specified percentage of "Voting Power" of a Corporation shall mean such number of the Voting Shares as shall enable the holders thereof to cast such percentage of all the votes which could be cast in an annual election of directors (without consideration of the rights of any class of stock other than the Common Stock to elect Directors by a separate class vote).

(4)           "Section 11 Event" shall mean the date upon which any of the following events occurs:

(a)           The Corporation acquires actual knowledge that any Person other than the Corporation, a Subsidiary or any employee benefit plan(s) sponsored by the Corporation has acquired the Beneficial Ownership, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation entitling such Person to 20% or more of the Voting Power of the Corporation;

(b)           At any time less than 60% of the members of the Board of Directors shall be individuals who were either (i) Directors on the effective date of the Plan or (ii) individuals whose election, or nomination for election, was approved by a vote (including a vote approving a merger or other agreement providing the membership of such individuals on the Board of Directors) of at least two-thirds of the Directors then still in office who were Directors on the effective date of the Plan or who were so approved;

(c)           The shareholders of the Corporation shall approve an agreement or plan providing for the Corporation to be merged, consolidated or otherwise combined with, or for all or substantially all its assets or stock to be acquired by, another corporation, as a consequence of which the former shareholders of the Corporation will own, immediately after such merger, consolidation, combination or acquisition, less than a majority of the Voting Power of such surviving or acquiring corporation or the parent thereof; or

(d)           The shareholders of the Corporation shall approve any liquidation, sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation (other than to an entity or entities controlled by the Corporation and/or its shareholders following such event);

provided, however, that if securities beneficially owned by a Participant are included in determining the Beneficial Ownership of a Person referred to in paragraph 4(a), then no Section 11 Event with respect to such Participant shall be deemed to have occurred by reason of such event.

11.2                      Acceleration of the Exercise Date of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.  Subject to the provisions of Section 5 in the case of incentive stock options and Section 11.6, unless the agreement under Section 2.5 shall otherwise provide, notwithstanding any other provision contained in the Plan, in case any Section 11 Event occurs all outstanding stock options and stock appreciation rights shall become immediately and fully exercisable whether or not otherwise exercisable by their terms.

11.3                      Extension of the Expiration Date of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.  Subject to the provisions of Section 5 in the case of incentive stock options and Section 11.6, unless the agreement under Section 2.5 shall otherwise provide, notwithstanding any other provision contained in the Plan, all stock options and stock appreciation rights held by a Participant whose employment with the Corporation or a Subsidiary terminates within one year of any Section 11 Event for any reason other than voluntary termination with the consent of the Corporation or a Subsidiary, retirement under any retirement plan of the Corporation or a Subsidiary or death shall be exercisable for a period of three months from the date of such termination of employment, but in no event after the expiration date of the stock option or stock appreciation right.

11.4                      Lapse of Restrictions on Restricted Stock Awards.  Unless the agreement under Section 2.5 shall otherwise provide, notwithstanding any other provision contained in the Plan other than Section 11.6, if any Section 11 Event occurs prior to the scheduled lapse of all restrictions applicable to restricted stock Awards under the Plan (including but not limited to Qualified Performance-Based Awards), all such restrictions shall lapse upon the occurrence of any such Section 11 Event regardless of the scheduled lapse of such restrictions.

11.5                      Vesting of Restricted Stock Units and Performance Units.  Unless the agreement under Section 2.5 shall otherwise provide, notwithstanding any other provision contained in the Plan other than Section 11.6, if any Section 11 Event occurs, all restricted stock units and performance units (including but not limited to Qualified Performance-Based Awards) shall be considered to be earned and payable in full, any vesting conditions shall be considered to have been satisfied, and such restricted stock units and performance units shall be settled in cash as promptly as is practicable.

11.6                      Code Section 409A.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, this Section 11 shall be applicable only to the extent specifically provided in the agreement under Section 2.5 applicable to the Award and permitted pursuant to Section 12.2.

11.7                      Tax Gross-Up Payments.  Unless the agreement under Section 2.5 shall otherwise provide, if the independent auditors of the Corporation most recently selected by the Board determine that (i) any grant, payment or transfer to or for the benefit of a Participant (whether granted, paid or payable or transferred or transferable pursuant to the Plan or otherwise) (a “Payment”) would be deemed to be an “excess parachute payment” for Federal income tax purposes because of Section 280G of the Code, or any successor provision (“Section 280G”), and (ii) any Award, grant, payment or transfer under the Plan to or for the benefit of a Participant within one year of or following the occurrence of a Section 11 Event constitutes in whole or in part a “parachute payment” under Section 280G (without regard to Section 280G(b)(4)) used in calculating such “excess parachute payment,” the Payment will be grossed up through the payment by the Corporation to the Participant in cash of the amount of any excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, or any successor provision (“Section 4999”), on the “excess parachute payment” and the amount of any excise tax under Section 4999 and applicable income tax on the total amount of such gross up payment so that the Participant will receive the full amount of the Payment after the Participant has paid any excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code on the “excess parachute payment” and any excise tax under Section 4999 and applicable income tax on the amount of such gross up payment.  On the later of the date an “excess parachute payment” is paid to or for the benefit of the Participant or the date on which it can be first determined that a Payment would be deemed to be an “excess parachute payment” (but in any event no later than the end of the Participant’s taxable year next following the taxable year in which the Participant remits the taxes subject to the gross up payment), the Corporation shall pay or distribute to or for the benefit of the Participant the gross up payment due to the Participant under this Section 11.7.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amounts shall be payable under this Section 11.7 unless they are either exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

12.1                      Qualified Performance-Based Awards.

(a)           The provisions of this Plan are intended to ensure that all options and stock appreciation rights granted hereunder to any Participant who is or may be a Covered Employee in the tax year in which such option or stock appreciation right is expected to be deductible to the Corporation qualify for the exemption from the limitation on deductions imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code (the “Section 162(m) Exemption”), and all such Awards shall therefore be considered Qualified Performance-Based Awards and this Plan shall be interpreted and operated consistent with that intention.  When granting any Award other than an option or stock appreciation right, the Committee may designate such Award as a Qualified Performance-Based Award, based upon a determination that (i) the recipient is or may be a Covered Employee with respect to such Award, and (ii) the Committee wishes such Award to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption, and the terms of any such Award (and of the grant thereof) shall be consistent with such designation.  Within 90 days after the commencement of a performance period or, if earlier, by the expiration of 25% of a performance period, the Committee will designate one or more performance periods, determine the Participants for the performance periods and establish the Performance Goals for the performance periods.

(b)           Each Qualified Performance-Based Award (other than an option or stock appreciation right) shall be earned, vested and/or payable (as applicable) upon certification in writing by the Committee of the achievement of one or more Performance Goals, together with the satisfaction of any other conditions, such as continued employment, as previously established by the Committee with respect to such Award.

(c)

Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan or in any agreement under Section 2.5, to the extent that any such provision or action of the Committee would cause any Qualified Performance-Based Award not to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption, such provision or action shall be null and void as it relates to Covered Employees, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee.

12.2                      Code Section 409A.  It is the intention of the Corporation that no Award shall be “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code, unless and to the extent that the Committee specifically determines otherwise as provided in the immediately following sentence, and the Plan and the terms and conditions of all Awards shall be interpreted accordingly.  The terms and conditions governing any Awards that the Committee determines will be subject to Section 409A of the Code, including any rules for elective or mandatory deferral of the delivery of cash or shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto and any rules regarding treatment of such Awards in the event of a Section 11 Event, shall be set forth in the applicable agreement under Section 2.5, and shall comply in all respects with Section 409A of the Code.

Neither the adoption of the Plan nor any action of the Board or the Committee pursuant to the Plan shall be deemed to give any employee any right to be granted any Award under the Plan.  Nothing in the Plan, in any Award under the Plan or in any agreement under Section 2.5 providing for any Award under the Plan shall confer any right to any employee to continue in the employ of the Corporation or any Subsidiary or interfere in any way with the rights of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any employee at any time or adjust the compensation of any employee at any time.

The right to amend the Plan at any time and from time to time and the right to terminate the Plan are hereby specifically reserved to the Board; provided that no such amendment of the Plan shall, without shareholder approval (a) increase the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock for which Awards may be made under Section 4.1 of the Plan, (b) increase the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock as to which incentive stock options may be granted under Section 4.1 of the Plan, (c) make any changes in the class of employees eligible to receive Awards under the Plan, (d) change the maximum number of shares of Common Stock as to which Awards may be made to any Participant under Section 4.2 of the Plan, or the maximum amount that may be paid or distributed to any Participant pursuant to a grant of performance units or other stock-based Awards made in any one calendar year under Section 8 or 9 of the Plan, respectively, (e) change the exercise price or Base Price permitted under Section 5.3 of the Plan or the restrictions regarding repricing under Section 5.3 of the Plan,(f) be made if shareholder approval of the amendment is at the time required for Awards under the Plan to qualify for the exemption from Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act provided by Rule 16b-3 or by the rules of the NASDAQ National Market System or any stock exchange on which the Common Stock may then be listed or (g) be made to the extent such approval is needed for Qualified Performance-Based Awards to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption.  No amendment or termination of the Plan shall, without the written consent of the holder of an Award under the Plan, adversely affect the rights of such holder with respect thereto.

15.1                      Additional Compensation Arrangements.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Corporation or any Subsidiary from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements for its employees.

15.2                      Tax Withholding.  No later than the date as of which an amount first becomes includible in the gross income of a Participant for federal, state, local or foreign income or employment or other tax purposes with respect to any Award under the Plan, such Participant shall pay to the Corporation (or, if applicable, a Subsidiary), or make arrangements satisfactory to the Corporation (or, if applicable, a Subsidiary) regarding the payment of, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such amount.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, withholding obligations may be settled with Common Stock, including Common Stock that is part of the Award that gives rise to the withholding requirement, having a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding equal to the minimum amount (and not any greater amount unless otherwise determined by the Committee) required to be withheld for tax purposes, all in accordance with such procedures as the Committee establishes, and provided that any fractional share amount must be paid in cash or withheld from compensation otherwise due to the Participant.  The obligations of the Corporation under the Plan shall be conditional on such payment or arrangements, and the Corporation and its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment otherwise due to such Participant.  The Committee may establish such procedures as it deems appropriate, including making irrevocable elections, for the settlement of withholding obligations with Common Stock.

15.3                      Limitation of Liability.  The grant of any Award shall not:

(a)           give a Participant any rights except as expressly set forth in the Plan or in the agreement under Section 2.5;

(b)           create any fiduciary or other obligation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to take any action or provide to the Participant any assistance or dedicate or permit the use of any assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary that would permit the Participant to be able to attain any Performance Goals associated with any Award;

(c)           create any trust, fiduciary or other duty or obligation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to engage in any particular business, continue to engage in any particular business, engage in any particular business practices or sell any particular product or products; or

(d)           create any obligation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary that shall be greater than the obligation of the Corporation or that Subsidiary to any of their general unsecured creditors.

15.4                      Limitation on Dividend Reinvestment and Dividend Equivalents.  Reinvestment of dividends in additional restricted stock at the time of any dividend payment, and the payment of shares with respect to dividends to Participants holding Awards of restricted stock units, shall only be permissible if authorized by the Committee and if sufficient shares of Common Stock are available under Section 4 for such reinvestment or payment (taking into account then outstanding Awards). In the event that sufficient shares of Common Stock are not available for such reinvestment or payment, such reinvestment or payment shall be made in the form of a grant of restricted stock units equal in number to the shares of Common Stock that would have been obtained by such payment or reinvestment, the terms of which restricted stock units shall provide for settlement in cash and for dividend equivalent reinvestment in further restricted stock units on the terms contemplated by this Section 15.4.

15.5                      Governing Law and Interpretation.  To the extent not preempted by federal Law, the Plan and all Awards made and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Plan are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.

15.6                      Dispute Resolution.  Since Awards are granted in Western Pennsylvania, records relating to the Plan and Awards are located in Western Pennsylvania, and the Plan and Awards are administered in Western Pennsylvania, the Corporation and the Participant to whom an Award is granted, for themselves and their heirs, representatives, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Parties”) irrevocably submit to the exclusive and sole jurisdiction and venue of the state courts of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and the federal courts of the Western District of Pennsylvania with respect to any and all disputes arising out of or relating to the Plan, the subject matter of the Plan or any Awards under the Plan, including but not limited to any disputes arising out of or relating to the interpretation and enforceability of any Awards or the terms and conditions of the Plan.  To achieve certainty regarding the appropriate forum in which to prosecute and defend actions arising out of or relating to the Plan, and to ensure consistency in application and interpretation of the governing law under Section 15.5 of the Plan, the Parties agree that (a) sole and exclusive appropriate venue for any such action shall be the Pennsylvania courts described in the immediately preceding sentence, and no other, (b) all claims with respect to any such action shall be heard and determined exclusively in such Pennsylvania courts, and no other, (c) such Pennsylvania courts shall have sole and exclusive jurisdiction over the Parties and over the subject matter of any dispute relating hereto and (d) the Parties waive any and all objections and defenses to bringing any such action before such Pennsylvania courts, including but not limited to those relating to lack of personal jurisdiction, improper venue or forum non conveniens.

15.7                      Non-Transferability.  Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan or by the Committee and limited to a transfer without the payment of value or consideration to the Participant, Awards under the Plan are not transferable except by will or by laws of descent and distribution of the state of domicile of the Participant at the time of death.

15.8                      Deferrals.  The Committee shall be authorized to establish procedures pursuant to which the payment of any Award may be deferred, provided that any such deferral is consistent with all aspects of Section 409A of the Code. Subject to the provisions of this Plan and any agreement under Section 2.5, the recipient of an Award (including, without limitation, any deferred Award) may, if so determined by the Committee, be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, interest or dividends, or interest or dividend equivalents, with respect to the number of shares covered by the Award, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, and the Committee may provide that such amounts (if any) shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional shares or otherwise reinvested.

15.9                      Integration.  The Plan and any written agreements executed by Participants and the Corporation under Section 2.5 contain all of the understandings and representations between the parties and supersede any prior understandings and agreements entered into between them regarding the subject matter within.  There are no representations, agreements, arrangements or understandings, oral or written, between the parties relating to the subject matter of the Plan which are not fully expressed in the Plan and the written agreements.

15.10                      Foreign Employees and Foreign Law Considerations.  The Committee may grant Awards to eligible employees who are foreign nationals, who are located outside the United States of America or who are not compensated from a payroll maintained in the United States of America, or who are otherwise subject to (or could cause the Corporation to be subject to) legal or regulatory provisions of countries or jurisdictions outside the United States of America, on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Committee, be necessary or desirable to foster and promote achievement of the purposes of the Plan, and, in furtherance of such purposes, the Committee may make such modifications, amendments, procedures, or subplans as may be necessary or advisable to comply with such legal or regulatory provisions.

15.11                      Certain Restrictions on Certain Awards.  Subject to the terms of the Plan and more restrictive terms, if any, of the applicable agreement under Section 2.5, any Award of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units, or other stock-based Awards under Section 9 shall be subject to vesting during a restriction period of at least three (3) years following the date of grant, provided, however, that:

(i)              A restriction period of only at least one (1) year following the date of grant is permissible if vesting is conditional, in whole or in part, upon the achievement of Performance Goals, except that there need not be any minimum restriction period for a Performance Goal based upon stock price if there is also a service-based restriction of at least one (1) year following the date of grant;

(ii)              To the extent permitted by the Committee, in its sole discretion, and specified in the applicable agreement under Section 2.5, an Award with a restriction period of at least three (3) years may vest in part on a pro rata basis prior to the expiration of any such restriction period;

(iii)                      To the extent permitted by the Committee, in its sole discretion, and specified in the applicable agreement under Section 2.5, an Award may vest prior to the expiration of any restriction period required under this Section 15.11 in the event of a Participant’s death or retirement, the Participant becoming a Disabled Participant, or an involuntary termination of the Participant’s employment by the Corporation or a Subsidiary;

(iv)              In the event of the occurrence of a Section 11 Event, an Award may vest prior to the expiration of any restriction period required under this Section 15.11 pursuant to Section 11.4 or 11.5 or as otherwise permitted by the Committee, in its sole discretion, and specified in the applicable agreement under Section 2.5; and

(v)              The Committee may grant Awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units and other stock-based Awards under Section 9 without regard to the foregoing requirements, and the Committee may accelerate the vesting of and lapse any restrictions with respect to, any such Awards (in addition to the potential acceleration under (ii)-(iv) of the foregoing), for up to, collectively for all such Awards, ten percent (10%) of the shares of Common Stock for which Awards may be made under Section 4.1 of the Plan, as adjusted under the terms of the Plan.

The effective date and date of adoption of the Plan shall be November 13, 2007, the date of adoption of the Plan by the Board, and the effective date of the amendments to the Plan by the Board on September 26, 2008 shall be September 26, 2008.  No Award under the Plan may be made subsequent to November 12, 2017.