NMI Holdings, Inc. Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan

EX-10.11 2 a2014amendedandrestatedpla.htm EX-10.11 Document

EXHIBIT A
NMI HOLDINGS, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED
2014 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

Section 1.     Purpose; Definitions

The purpose of this Plan is to give the Company a competitive advantage in attracting, retaining and motivating officers, employees, directors and/or consultants and to provide the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates with a compensation plan providing incentives for future performance of services directly linked to the profitability of the Company’s businesses and increases in Company shareholder value.

For purposes of this Plan, the following terms are defined as set forth below:

(a)     “Affiliate” means a corporation or other entity controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company.

(b)    “Applicable Exchange” means the NASDAQ or such other securities exchange as may at the applicable time be the principal market for the Common Stock.

(c)    “Award” means a Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Unit, Other Stock-Based Award or Cash-Based Award granted pursuant to the terms of this Plan.

(d)     “Award Agreement” means a written or electronic document or agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of a specific Award.

(e)    “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning given in Rule 13d3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

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

(g)    “Business Combination” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(e)(iii).

(h)    “Cash-Based Award” means an Award denominated in a dollar amount.

(i)    “Cause” means, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, (1) “Cause” as defined in any Individual
Agreement to which the Participant is a party as of the Grant Date, or (2) if there is no such Individual Agreement or if it does not define Cause: (A) conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere by, the Participant for committing a felony under federal law or the law of the state in which such action occurred, (B) willful and deliberate failure on the part of the Participant to perform his or her employment duties in any material respect, (C) dishonesty in the course of fulfilling the Participant’s employment duties, (D) a material violation of the Company’s ethics and compliance program or (E) prior to a Change in Control, such other events as shall be determined by the Committee. Notwithstanding the general rule of Section 2(c), following a Change in Control, any determination by the Committee as to whether “Cause” exists shall be subject to de novo review.

(j)    “Change in Control” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(e).

(k)    “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto, the Treasury Regulations thereunder and other relevant interpretive guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service or the Treasury Department. Reference to any specific section of the Code shall be deemed to include such regulations and guidance, as well as any successor provision of the Code.

(l)    “Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.





(m)    “Committee” means the Committee referred to in Section 2.

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

(o)    “Company” means NMI Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or its successor.

(p)    “Corporate Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(d).

(q)    “Disability” means, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, the Company or an Affiliate having cause to terminate a Participant’s employment or service on account of “disability,” as defined in any existing Individual Agreement, or, in the absence of such an Individual Agreement or if it does not define disability, a condition entitling the Participant to receive benefits under a long-term disability plan of the Company or an Affiliate or, in the absence of such a plan, the complete and permanent inability by reason of illness or accident to perform the duties of the occupation at which a Participant was employed or served when such disability commenced or, as determined by the Committee, based upon medical evidence acceptable to it. Notwithstanding the above, with respect to each Award that constitutes a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, the foregoing definition shall apply for purposes of vesting of such Award, provided that such Award shall not be settled until the earliest of: (i) the Participant’s “disability” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, (ii) the Participant’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and (iii) the date such Award would otherwise be settled pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.

(r)    “Disaffiliation” means a Subsidiary’s or Affiliate’s ceasing to be a Subsidiary or Affiliate for any reason (including, without limitation, as a result of a public offering, or a spinoff or sale by the Company, of the stock of the Subsidiary or Affiliate) or a sale of a division of the Company and its Affiliates.

(s)    “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(a).

(t)    “Eligible Individuals” means any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or any prospective employee and consultant who has accepted an offer of employment or consultancy from the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, who are or will be responsible for, or contribute to, the management, growth or profitability of the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates.

(u)    “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any
successor thereto.

(v)    “Fair Market Value” means, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, the closing price of a Share on the Applicable Exchange on the date of measurement or, if Shares were not traded on the Applicable Exchange on such measurement date, then on the next preceding date on which Shares were traded on the Applicable Exchange, as reported by such source as the Committee may select. If there is no regular public trading market for such Common Stock, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be determined by the Committee in good faith and, to the extent applicable, such determination shall be made in a manner that satisfies Sections 409A and Sections 422(c)(1) of the Code.

(w)    “Free-Standing SAR” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(b).

(x)    “Full-Value Award” means any Award other than a Cash-Based Award, Stock Option or Stock Appreciation
Right.

(y)    “Grant Date” means (i) the date on which the Committee by resolution selects an Eligible Individual to receive a grant of an Award and determines the number of Shares, or the formula for earning a number of Shares, to be subject to such Award or the cash amount subject to such Award, or (ii) such later date as the Committee shall provide in such resolution.




EXHIBIT A
(z)    “Incentive Stock Option” means any Stock Option designated in the applicable Award Agreement as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, and that in fact so qualifies.

(aa)    “Incumbent Board” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(e)(ii).

(bb)    “Individual Agreement” means an employment, consulting or similar agreement between a Participant and the
Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, and, after a Change in Control, a change in control or salary continuation agreement between a Participant and the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates. If a Participant is party to both an employment agreement and a change in control or salary continuation agreement, the employment agreement shall be the relevant “Individual Agreement” prior to a Change in Control, and the change in control or salary continuation agreement shall be the relevant “Individual Agreement” after a Change in Control.

(cc)    “Nonqualified Stock Option” means any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

(dd)    “Other Stock-Based Award” means Awards of Common Stock and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based upon, Common Stock, including (without limitation) unrestricted stock, dividend equivalents, and convertible debentures.

(ee)    “Outstanding Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(e)(i).

(ff)    “Outstanding Company Voting Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(e)(i).

(gg)    “Participant” means an Eligible Individual to whom an Award is or has been granted.

(hh)    “Performance Goals” means the performance goals established by the Committee in connection with the grant of an Award. Such goals shall be based on the attainment of specified levels of one or more of the following measures: new insurance written (“NIW”) volume, insurance in force levels (“IIF”), policies in force, market share, premiums written, premiums earned, investment income, total operating revenue (excluding net realized investment gains (losses) and gain (loss) from change in fair value of warrant liability), total underwriting expense, total incurred or paid losses, loss ratio, expense ratio, combined ratio, cost/expense management, net income (loss) (including earnings before tax, earnings before interest and tax and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization), operating earnings (loss) (excluding net realized investment gains (losses) and gain (loss) from change in fair value of warrant liability), return on equity or assets, book value, book value including net operating loss (“NOL”) carry forward, return on investment portfolio (absolute and relative to a benchmark), cash flow (excluding net realized investment gains (losses) and gain (loss) from change in fair value of warrant liability), capital management/liquidity, average premium (“BPS”) of portfolio, earned premium yield of portfolio, average FICO score of portfolio, average LTV of portfolio, delinquency rate of portfolio, objective customer service measures or indices, employee management, common stock share price, and total return to shareholders, in each case with respect to the Company or any one or more Subsidiaries, divisions, business units or business segments thereof, either in absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more other companies (including an index covering multiple companies).

(ii)    “Performance Period” means that period established by the Committee at the time any Performance Unit or Cash-Based Award is granted or at any time thereafter during which any Performance Goals specified by the Committee with respect to such Award are to be measured.

(jj)    “Performance Unit” means any Award granted under Section 8 of a unit valued by reference to a designated amount of cash or other property other than Shares, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such Performance Goals during the Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

(kk)    “Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(e)(i).

(ll)    “Plan” means the NMI Holdings, Inc. Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as set forth




herein and as hereinafter amended from time to time.

(mm)    “Replaced Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b)

(nn)    “Replacement Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b).

(oo)    “Restatement Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(a).

(pp)    “Restricted Stock” means an Award granted under Section 6.

(qq)    “Restricted Stock Unit” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

(rr)    “Restriction Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(c)(ii).

(ss)    “Section 16(b)” has the meaning set forth in Section 12(d).

(tt)    “Share” means a share of Common Stock.

(uu)    “Stock Appreciation Right” means an Award granted under Section 5(b) or 5(c).

(vv)    “Stock Option” means an Award granted under Section 5(a).
(ww)    “Subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity
during any period in which at least a 50% voting or profits interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or any successor to the Company.

(xx)    “Tandem SAR” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(b).

(yy)    “Term” means the maximum period during which a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right may remain
outstanding, subject to earlier termination upon Termination of Employment or otherwise, as specified in the applicable Award Agreement.

(zz)    “Termination of Employment” means the termination of the applicable Participant’s employment with, or
performance of services for, the Company and any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, (i) if a Participant’s employment with the Company and its Affiliates terminates but such Participant continues to provide services to the Company and its Affiliates in a non-employee capacity, such change in status shall not be deemed a Termination of Employment and (ii) a Participant employed by, or performing services for, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate or a division of the Company and its Affiliates shall also be deemed to incur a Termination of Employment if, as a result of a Disaffiliation, such Subsidiary, Affiliate or division ceases to be a Subsidiary, Affiliate or division, as the case may be, and the Participant does not immediately thereafter become an employee of, or service provider for, the Company or another Subsidiary or Affiliate. Temporary absences from employment because of illness, vacation or leave of absence and transfers among the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates shall not be considered Terminations of Employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition, with respect to any Award that constitutes a “non-qualified deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, a Participant shall not be considered to have experienced a “Termination of Employment” unless the Participant has experienced a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (a “Separation from Service”).

In addition, certain other terms used herein have definitions given to them in the first place in which they are used.

Section 2.    Administration

(a)    Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Board directly, or if the Board elects, by the Compensation Committee or such other committee of the Board as the Board may from time to time designate, which committee shall be



EXHIBIT A
composed of not less than two directors, and shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board. All references in this Plan to the “Committee” refer to the Board as a whole, unless a separate committee has been designated or authorized consistent with the foregoing.

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, the Committee shall have absolute authority:

(i)    To select the Eligible Individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;

(ii)    To determine whether and to what extent Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units, Other Stock-Based Awards, Cash-Based Awards or any combination thereof are to be granted hereunder;

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

(iv)    To approve the form of any Award Agreement and determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder, including, but not limited to, the exercise price (subject to Section 5(d)), any vesting condition, restriction or limitation (which may be related to the performance of the Participant, the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate) and any vesting acceleration or forfeiture waiver regarding any Award and the shares of Common Stock relating thereto, based on such factors as the Committee shall determine;

(v)    To modify, amend or adjust the terms and conditions of any Award (subject to Sections 5(d) and 13(d)), at any time or from time to time, including, but not limited to, Performance Goals;

(vi)    To determine to what extent and under what circumstances Common Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred;

(vii)    To determine under what circumstances an Award may be settled in cash, Shares, other property or a combination of the foregoing;

(viii)    To determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances cash, Shares 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 Participant;

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

(x)    To establish any “blackout” period that the Committee in its sole discretion deems necessary or advisable, but in no event shall such blackout period conflict with or be more permissive than the blackout period determined under the Company’s Insider Trading Policy as may be in effect from time to time;

(xi)    To interpret the terms and provisions of this Plan and any Award issued under this Plan (and any Award Agreement relating thereto);

(xii)    To decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award; and

(xiii)    To otherwise administer this Plan.

(b)    Procedures.

(i)    The Committee may act only by a majority of its members then in office, except that the Committee may, except to the extent prohibited by applicable law or the listing standards of the Applicable Exchange and subject to Section 11, allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its




members and may (to the extent permitted by applicable law) delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers to any person or persons selected by it. Any such allocation or delegation may be revoked by the Committee at any time.

(ii)    Subject to Section 12(c), any authority granted to the Committee may be exercised by the full Board. To the extent that any permitted action taken by the Board conflicts with action taken by the Committee, the Board action shall control.

(c)    Discretion of Committee. Subject to Section 1(i), any determination made by the Committee or pursuant to delegated authority under the provisions of this Plan with respect to any Award shall be made in the sole discretion of the Committee or such delegate at the time of the grant of the Award or, unless in contravention of any express term of this Plan, at any time thereafter. All decisions made by the Committee or any appropriately delegated officer pursuant to the provisions of this Plan shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons, including the Company, Participants and Eligible Individuals.

(d)    Cancellation or Suspension. Subject to Section 5(d), the Committee shall have full power and authority to
determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances any Award shall be canceled or suspended.

(e)    Award Agreements. The terms and conditions of each Award, as determined by the Committee, shall be set forth in a written (or electronic) Award Agreement, which shall be delivered to the Participant receiving such Award upon, or as promptly as is reasonably practicable following, the grant of such Award; provided, however, that the terms of a Cash-Based Award may, but are not required to, be set forth in an Award Agreement. The effectiveness of an Award shall be subject to the Award Agreement being signed by the Company and the Participant receiving the Award unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement. Award Agreements may be amended only in accordance with Section 13(d) hereof.

Section 3.    Common Stock Subject to Plan

(a)    Plan Maximums. The maximum number of Shares that may be granted pursuant to Awards under this Plan shall be 8,250,000 Shares (which amount includes, for the avoidance of doubt the number of Shares subject to outstanding awards and otherwise available for issuance under the Prior Plan). The maximum number of Shares that may be granted pursuant to Stock Options intended to be Incentive Stock Options shall be 6,000,000 Shares. Shares subject to an Award under this Plan may be authorized and unissued Shares.

(b)    Individual Limits.

(i)    No Participant may be granted Performance Units (other than Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights) covering in excess of 1,000,000 Shares during any calendar year. No Participant may be granted Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights covering in excess of 1,000,000 Shares during any calendar year.

(ii)    During any given calendar year, no Participant who is a non-employee member of the Board may be granted Awards (other than Cash-Based Awards) with a value in excess of $600,000 in respect of such Board service. For purposes of this Section 3(b)(ii), the value of an Option or Stock Appreciation right shall be determined in accordance with the Black-Scholes or other pricing model used to determine Option values in the Company’s most recent report on Form 10-K and the value of any Award of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Units or Other Stock-Based Awards shall be determined based on the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares on the grant date of the Award.

(c)    Rules for Calculating Shares Delivered. To the extent that any Award is forfeited, terminates, expires or lapses instead of being exercised, or any Award is settled for cash, the Shares subject to such Awards not delivered as a result thereof shall again be available for Awards under this Plan. If the tax withholding obligations relating to any Award are satisfied by delivering Shares (either actually or through a signed document affirming the Participant’s ownership and delivery of such Shares) or withholding Shares relating to such Award, the net number of Shares subject to the Award after payment of



EXHIBIT A
the tax withholding obligations shall be deemed to have been granted for purposes of the first sentence of Section 3(a), and the number of Shares delivered or withheld to satisfy the tax withholding obligations shall again be available for Awards under the Plan. If any Shares subject to a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right are not delivered to a Participant because the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right is exercised through a reduction of Shares subject to the Award (i.e., “net exercised”), the number of Shares that are not delivered to the Participant shall no longer be available for issuance under the Plan. If any Shares are reacquired by the Company as consideration for the exercise of a Stock Option or a Stock Appreciation Right, such Shares shall no longer be available for issuance under the Plan.

(d)    Adjustment Provisions.

(i)    In the event of a merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or shares, stock rights offering, liquidation, disposition for consideration of the Company’s direct or indirect ownership of a Subsidiary or Affiliate (including by reason of a Disaffiliation), or similar event affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “Corporate Transaction”), the Committee or the Board may in its discretion make such substitutions or adjustments as it deems appropriate and equitable to (i) the aggregate number and kind of Shares or other securities reserved for issuance and delivery under this Plan, (ii) the various maximum limitations set forth in Sections 3(a) and 3(b) upon certain types of Awards and upon the grants to individuals of certain types of Awards, (iii) the number of Shares considered delivered based on the type of Award granted as set forth in Section 3(c), (iv) the number and kind of Shares or other securities subject to outstanding Awards; (v) the Performance Goals applicable to outstanding Awards; and (vi) the exercise price of outstanding Awards.

(ii)    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 Company, or a Disaffiliation, separation or spinoff, in each case without consideration, or other extraordinary dividend of cash or other property to the Company’s shareholders, the Committee or the Board shall make such substitutions or adjustments as it deems appropriate and equitable to (A) the aggregate number and kind of Shares or other securities reserved for issuance and delivery under this Plan, (B) the various maximum limitations set forth in Sections 3(a) and 3(b) upon certain types of Awards and upon the grants to individuals of certain types of Awards, (C) the number and kind of Shares or other securities subject to outstanding Awards; (D) the Performance Goals applicable to outstanding Awards; and (E) the exercise price of outstanding Awards.

(iii)    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 a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall for this purpose be deemed to equal the excess, if any, of the value (as determined by the Board) of the consideration being paid for each Share pursuant to such Corporate Transaction over the exercise price of such Stock 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 Company and securities of entities other than the Company) for the Shares subject to outstanding Awards; and (3) in connection with any Disaffiliation, 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 Company and securities of entities other than the Company), by the affected Subsidiary, Affiliate, or division or by the entity that controls such Subsidiary, Affiliate, or division following such Disaffiliation (as well as any corresponding adjustments to Awards that remain based upon Company securities). The Committee may 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 Company’s financial statements, notes to the financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis or other the Company’s filings with the Commission.

(iv)    Any adjustments made pursuant to this Section 3(d) 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; and (ii) any adjustments made pursuant to Section 3(d) 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 adjustments, either (A) the Awards continue not to be subject to Section 409A of the Code or (B) there does not result in the imposition of any penalty taxes under Section 409A of the Code in respect of such Awards.

(v)    Any adjustment under this Section 3(d) need not be the same for all Participants.

Section 4.     Awards

(a)    Eligibility. Awards may be granted under this Plan to Eligible Individuals; provided, however, that Incentive
Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries or parent corporation (within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code).

(b)    Vesting. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Plan to the contrary, Awards granted under the Plan (i)
that vest based upon the continued service of the applicable Participant shall vest over a minimum service period of one year and (ii) that vest based on the attainment of Performance Goals shall vest over a minimum Performance Period of one year; provided, however, that (x) the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that such restrictions may lapse (in whole or in part) in the event of a Participant’s death or disability or other termination of employment or services or upon a Change in Control and (y) up to 5% of the total number of Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 3(a) may be subject to Awards granted after the Restatement Effective Date which do not meet the preceding vesting or acceleration limitations.

(c)    Dividends. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Plan to the contrary, no dividends (whether payable in cash or Common Stock) shall be paid in respect of an Award of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Units or Other Stock-Based Awards until the restrictions and risks of forfeiture applicable to the underlying Award (or portion thereof) have lapsed; provided, however, that the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide that any such dividends may be accumulated and paid upon the date on which such restrictions or risks of forfeiture have lapsed in respect of the associated Award.

Section 5.     Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights

(a)    Types of Stock Options. Stock Options may be granted alone or in addition to other Awards granted under this Plan and may be of two types: Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options. The Award Agreement for a Stock Option shall indicate whether the Stock Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.

(b)    Types and Nature of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights may be “Tandem SARs,” which are granted in conjunction with a Stock Option, or “Free-Standing SARs,” which are not granted in conjunction with a Stock Option. Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant shall be entitled to receive an amount in cash, Shares, or both, in value equal to the product of (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of one Share over the exercise price of the applicable Stock Appreciation Right, multiplied by (ii) the number of Shares in respect of which the Stock Appreciation Right has been exercised. The applicable Award Agreement 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.




EXHIBIT A
(c)    Tandem SARs. A Tandem SAR may be granted at the Grant Date of the related Stock Option. A Tandem SAR shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that the related Stock Option is exercisable in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5, and shall have the same exercise price as the related Stock Option. 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.

(d)    Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share subject to a Stock Option or Free-Standing SAR shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, and shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of the Common Stock on the applicable Grant Date. In no event may any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under this Plan be amended, other than pursuant to Section 3(d), to decrease the exercise price thereof, be canceled in exchange for cash or other Awards or in conjunction with the grant of any new Stock Option or Free-Standing SAR with a lower exercise price, or otherwise be subject to any action that would be treated, under the Applicable Exchange listing standards or for accounting purposes, as a “repricing” of such Stock Option or Free-Standing SAR, unless such amendment, cancellation, or action is approved by the Company’s shareholders.

(e)    Term. The Term of each Stock Option and each Free-Standing SAR shall be fixed by the Committee, but no Stock Option or Free-Standing SAR shall be exercisable more than 10 years after its Grant Date.

(f)    Exercisability. Except as otherwise provided herein, Stock Options and Free-Standing SARs shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee.

(g)    Method of Exercise. Subject to the provisions of this Section 5, Stock Options and Free-Standing SARs may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time during the Term thereof by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Option or Free-Standing SAR to be purchased.

In the case of the exercise of a Stock Option, such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate purchase price (which shall equal the product of such number of Shares subject to such Stock Options multiplied by the applicable exercise price) per Share by certified or bank check, wire transfer, or such other instrument or method as the Company may accept. If provided for in the applicable Award Agreement as approved by the Committee, payment in full or in part may also be made as follows:

(i)    In the form of unrestricted Common Stock (by delivery of such shares or by attestation) already owned by the Participant of the same class as the Common Stock subject to the Stock Option (based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the Stock Option is exercised); provided, however, that, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Participant shall only have the right to make a payment in the form of already owned shares of Common Stock of the same class as the Common Stock subject to the Stock Option if such right is set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

(ii)    To the extent permitted by applicable law, by delivering a properly executed exercise notice to the Company, together with a copy of irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale necessary to pay the purchase price, and, if requested, by the amount of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes. To facilitate the foregoing, the Company may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, enter into agreements for coordinated procedures with one or more brokerage firms.

(iii)    By instructing the Company to withhold a number of such shares having a Fair Market Value (based
on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the applicable Stock Option is exercised) equal to the product of (A) the exercise price per Share multiplied by (B) the number of shares of Common Stock in respect of which the Stock Option shall have been exercised.

(h)    Delivery; Rights of Shareholders. A Participant shall not be entitled to delivery of Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right until the exercise price therefor has been fully paid and applicable taxes have been withheld. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5(l), a Participant shall have all of the rights of a shareholder of




the Company holding the class or series of Common Stock that is subject to such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right (including, if applicable, the right to vote the applicable Shares), when the Participant (i) has given written notice of exercise, (ii) if requested, has given the representation described in Section 15(a) and (iii) in the case of a Stock Option, has paid in full for such Shares.

(i)    Nontransferability of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. No Stock Option or Free-Standing SAR shall be transferable by a Participant other than, for no value or consideration, (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; or (ii) in the case of a Nonqualified Stock Option or Free-Standing SAR, as otherwise expressly permitted by the Committee including, if so permitted, pursuant to a transfer to such Participant’s family members, whether directly or indirectly or by means of a trust or partnership or otherwise (for purposes of this Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, “family member” shall have the meaning given to such term in General Instructions A.1(a)(5) to Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor thereto). A Tandem SAR shall be transferable only with the related Stock Option as permitted by the preceding sentence. Any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable, subject to the terms of this Plan, only by the Participant, the guardian or legal representative of the Participant, or any person to whom such Stock Option is transferred pursuant to this Section 5(i), it being understood that the term “holder” and “Participant” include such guardian, legal representative and other transferee; provided, however, that the term “Termination of Employment” shall continue to refer to the Termination of Employment of the original Participant.

(j)    Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or provided in the applicable Award Agreement, upon a Participant’s Termination or Employment, his or her Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be treated as set forth below:

(i)    Termination by Reason of Death. If a Participant incurs a Termination of Employment by reason of death, any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right held by such Participant shall immediately vest in full and may thereafter be exercised until the earlier of (A) the third anniversary of such Participant’s Termination of Employment and (B) the expiration of the stated full Term thereof. In the event of Termination of Employment by reason of death, if an Incentive Stock Option is exercised after the expiration of the post-termination exercise periods that apply for purposes of Section 422 of the Code, such Stock Option will thereafter be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option.

(ii)    Termination by Reason of Disability. If a Participant incurs a Termination of Employment by reason of Disability, any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right held by such Participant shall immediately vest in full and may thereafter be exercised until the earlier of (A) the third anniversary of such Participant’s Termination of Employment and (B) the expiration of the stated full Term thereof. In the event of Termination of Employment by reason of Disability, if an Incentive Stock Option is exercised after the expiration of the exercise periods that apply for purposes of Section 422 of the Code, such Stock Option will thereafter be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option.

(iii)    Termination by the Company for Cause. If a Participant incurs a Termination of Employment for Cause, any Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights held by such Participant, whether vested or unvested, shall thereupon terminate.

(iv)    Other Termination. If a Participant incurs a Termination of Employment for any reason other than death, Disability, or for Cause, and except as otherwise set forth in this Section 5(j), any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right held by such Participant, to the extent it was then exercisable at the time of termination, or, subject to Section 4(b), on such accelerated basis as the Committee may determine, may be exercised for the lesser of (A) 90 days following the date of such Termination of Employment and (B) the balance of the stated full Term thereof.

(v)    Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Section 5(j) and subject to Section 4(b), the Committee shall have the power, in its discretion, to apply different rules concerning the consequences of a Termination



EXHIBIT A
of Employment, provided that if such rules are less favorable to the Participant than those set forth above, such rules are set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

(k)    Additional Rules for Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, no Stock Option which is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option may be granted to any Eligible Employee who at the time of such grant owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary, unless at the time such Stock Option is granted the exercise price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share and such Stock Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date such Stock Option is granted. In addition, the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Common Stock (determined at the time a Stock Option for the Common Stock is granted) for which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an optionee during any calendar year, under all of the incentive stock option plans of the Company and of any Subsidiary, may not exceed $100,000. To the extent a Stock Option that by its terms was intended to be an Incentive Stock Option exceeds this $100,000 limit, the portion of the Stock Option in excess of such limit shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option.

(l)    Dividends and Dividend Equivalents. Dividends (whether paid in cash or Shares) and dividend equivalents may not be paid or accrued on Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights; provided that Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be adjusted under certain circumstances in accordance with the terms of Section 3(d).

Section 6.    Restricted Stock

(a)    Administration. Shares of Restricted Stock are actual Shares issued to a Participant and may be awarded either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under this Plan. The Committee shall determine the Eligible Individuals to whom and the time or times at which grants of Restricted Stock will be awarded, the number of shares to be awarded to any Eligible Individual, the conditions for vesting, the time or times within which such Awards may be subject to forfeiture and any other terms and conditions of the Awards, in addition to those contained in Section 6(c).

(b)    Book Entry Registration or Certificated Shares. Shares of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced in such manner as the Committee may deem appropriate, including book-entry registration or issuance of one or more stock certificates. If any certificate is issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, such certificates shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate 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 NMI Holdings, Inc. 2014 Amended and Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan and an Award Agreement. Copies of such Plan and Agreement are on file at the offices of NMI Holdings, Inc.

The Committee may require that the certificates evidencing such shares be held in custody by the Company until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed and that, as a condition of any Award of Restricted Stock, the applicable Participant shall have delivered a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Common Stock covered by such Award.

(c)    Terms and Conditions. Shares of Restricted Stock shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and such other terms and conditions as are set forth in the applicable Award Agreement (including the vesting or forfeiture provisions applicable upon a Termination of Employment):

(i)    The Committee shall, prior to or at the time of grant, condition (A) the vesting of an Award of Restricted Stock upon the continued service of the applicable Participant, or (B) the grant or vesting of an Award of Restricted Stock upon the attainment of Performance Goals or (C) the grant or vesting of an Award of Restricted Stock upon the attainment of Performance Goals and the continued service of the applicable Participant. The conditions for grant or 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.





(ii)    Subject to the provisions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, 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 Restricted Stock.

(d)    Rights of a Shareholder. Except as provided in this Section 6 and the applicable Award Agreement, the applicable Participant shall have, with respect to the Shares of Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a shareholder of the Company holding the class or series of 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 dividends. As determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement and subject to Section 15(e), (A) cash dividends on the class or series of Common Stock that is the subject of the Restricted Stock Award shall be payable in cash and shall be held subject to the vesting of the underlying Restricted Stock, or held subject to meeting Performance Goals applicable only to dividends, and (B) dividends payable in Common Stock shall be paid in the form of Restricted Stock of the same class as the Common Stock with which such dividend was paid, and shall be held subject to the vesting of the underlying Restricted Stock, or held subject to meeting Performance Goals applicable only to dividends.

(e)    Delivery of Unlegended Certificates. If and when any applicable Performance Goals are satisfied and the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the Shares of Restricted Stock for which legended certificates have been issued, unlegended certificates for such Shares shall be delivered to the Participant upon surrender of the legended certificates.

(f)    Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or provided in the applicable Award Agreement, upon a Participant’s Termination or Employment, his or her Restricted Stock shall be treated as set forth below:

(i)    Termination by Reason of Death or Disability. If a Participant incurs a Termination of Employment by reason of death or Disability, the restrictions, including any Performance Goals, applicable to any Restricted Stock shall lapse (with respect to Performance Goals, be deemed earned in full based on the applicable target level), and such Restricted Stock shall become free of all restrictions and become fully vested and transferable to the full extent of the original grant.

(ii)    Other Termination. If a Participant incurs a Termination of Employment for any reason other than death or Disability during the Restriction Period or before the requisite service period or applicable Performance Goals are satisfied, all Shares still subject to restriction shall be forfeited by the Participant.

Section 7.    Restricted Stock Units

(a)    Nature of Awards. Restricted stock units and deferred share rights (together, “Restricted Stock Units”) are Awards denominated in Shares that will be settled, subject to the terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Units, in an amount in cash, Shares, or both, based upon the Fair Market Value of a specified number of Shares.

(b)    Terms and Conditions. Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and such other terms and conditions as are set forth in the applicable Award Agreement (including the vesting or forfeiture provisions applicable upon a Termination of Employment):

(i)    The Committee shall, prior to or at the time of grant, condition (A) the vesting of Restricted Stock Units upon the continued service of the applicable Participant, or (B) the grant or vesting of Restricted Stock Units upon the attainment of Performance Goals or (C) the grant or vesting of an Award of Restricted Stock Units upon the attainment of Performance Goals and the continued service of the applicable Participant. 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, at a later time specified



EXHIBIT A
by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, or, if the Committee so permits, in accordance with an election of the Participant.

(ii)    Subject to the provisions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, during the Restriction Period, if any, set by the Committee, the Participant shall not be permitted to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber Restricted Stock Units.

(iii)    The Award Agreement for Restricted Stock Units shall specify whether, to what extent and on what terms and conditions the applicable Participant shall be entitled to receive payments of cash, Common Stock or other property corresponding to the dividends payable on the Common Stock (subject to Section 15(e) below).

(c)    Rights of a Shareholder. A Participant to whom Restricted Stock Units are awarded shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to the Shares represented by the Restricted Stock Units unless and until Shares are actually delivered to the participant in settlement thereof. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and subject to Section 15(e), an Award of Restricted Stock Units shall be adjusted to reflect deemed reinvestment in additional Restricted Stock Units of the dividends that would be paid and distributions that would be made with respect to the Award of Restricted Stock Units if it consisted of actual Shares. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, if an adjustment to an Award of Restricted Stock Units is made pursuant to Section 3(d) as a result of any dividend or distribution, no increase to such Award (by means of deemed reinvestment in additional Restricted Stock Units) shall be made under this Section 7(c) as a result of the same dividend or distribution.

(d)    Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or provided in the applicable Award Agreement, upon a Participant’s Termination of Employment, his or her Restricted Stock Units shall be treated as set forth below:

(i)    Termination by Reason of Death or Disability. If a Participant incurs a Termination of Employment by reason of death or Disability, the restrictions, including any Performance Goals, applicable to any Restricted Stock Units shall lapse (with respect to Performance Goals, be deemed earned in full based on the applicable target level), and such Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and settled to the full extent of the original grant.

(ii)    Other Termination. If a Participant incurs a Termination of Employment for any reason other than death or Disability during the Restriction Period or before the applicable Performance Goals are satisfied, all unvested Restricted Stock Units shall be forfeited by the Participant.

Section 8.    Performance Units

Performance Units may be issued hereunder to Eligible Individuals, 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 this Plan. The Performance Goals to be achieved during any Performance Period and the length of the Performance Period shall be determined by the Committee upon the grant of each Performance Unit. 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 recipient. Performance Units may be paid in cash, Shares, other property or any combination thereof, in the sole discretion of the Committee as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

Section 9.    Other Stock-Based Awards

The Committee may grant Awards of Shares or related to Shares not otherwise described herein in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions consistent with the terms of this Plan as the Committee shall determine. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, each such Other Stock-Based Award may (a) involve the transfer of actual Shares to Participants, either at the time of grant or thereafter, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the




value of Shares, (b) be subject to performance-based and/or service-based conditions, (c) be in the form of phantom stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, deferred share units or share-denominated performance units, or other Awards denominated in, or with a value determined by reference to, a number of Shares that is specified at the time of the grant of such Award, and (d) be designed to comply with applicable laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.

Section 10.    Cash-Based Awards

The Committee may grant Awards to Eligible Individuals that are denominated and payable in cash in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions consistent with the terms of this Plan as the Committee shall determine. With respect to a Cash-Based Award subject to Performance Goals, the Performance Goals to be achieved during any performance period and the length of the performance period shall be determined by the Committee upon the grant of such Cash-Based Award, or (b) the grant or vesting of Cash-Based Awards upon the attainment of Performance Goals or (c) the grant or vesting of a Cash-Based Awards upon the attainment of Performance Goals and the continued service of the applicable Participant.

Section 11.    Change-in-Control Provisions

(a)    General. The provisions of this Section 11 shall, subject to Section 3(d), apply notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, except to the extent the Committee specifically provides otherwise in an Award Agreement.

(b)    Impact of Change in Control. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement: (i) all then-outstanding Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall become fully vested and exercisable, and all Full-Value Awards (other than performance-based Awards) shall vest in full, be free of restrictions, and be deemed to be earned and payable in an amount equal to the full value of such Award, except in each case to the extent that another Award meeting the requirements of Section 11(c) (any award meeting the requirements of Section 11(c), a “Replacement Award”) is provided to the Participant pursuant to Section 3(d) to replace such Award (any award intended to be replaced by a Replacement Award, a “Replaced Award”),and (ii) any performance-based Award that is not replaced by a Replacement Award shall be deemed to be earned and payable in an amount equal to the full value of such performance-based Award (with all applicable Performance Goals deemed achieved at the greater of (x) the applicable target level and (y) the level of achievement of the Performance Goals for the Award as determined by the Committee not later than the date of the Change in Control, taking into account performance through the latest date preceding the Change in Control as to which performance can, as a practical matter, be determined (but not later than the end of the applicable Performance Period)).

(c)    Replacement Awards. An Award shall meet the conditions of this Section 11(c) (and hence qualify as a Replacement Award) if: (i) it is of the same type as the Replaced Award; (ii) it has a value equal to the value of the Replaced Award as of the date of the Change in Control, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion consistent with Section 3(d); (iii) if the underlying Replaced Award was an equity-based award, it relates to publicly traded equity securities of the Company or the entity surviving the Company following the Change in Control; (iv) it contains terms relating to vesting (including with respect to a Termination of Employment) that are substantially identical to those of the Replaced Award; and (v) its other terms and conditions are not less favorable to the Participant than the terms and conditions of the Replaced Award (including the provisions that would apply in the event of a subsequent Change in Control) as of the date of the Change in Control. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Replacement Award may take the form of a continuation of the applicable Replaced Award if the requirements of the preceding sentence are satisfied. The determination whether the conditions of this Section 11(c) are satisfied shall be made by the Committee, as constituted immediately before the Change in Control, in its sole discretion.

(d)    Termination of Employment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary and unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement (or other severance, change in control or employment agreement), upon a Termination of Employment of a Participant by the Company other than for Cause within 24 months following a Change in Control, (i) all Replacement Awards held by such Participant shall vest in full, be free of restrictions, and be deemed to be earned in full (with respect to Performance Goals, unless otherwise agreed in connection with the Change in Control, at the greater of (x) the applicable target level and (y) the level of achievement of the Performance Goals



EXHIBIT A
for the Award as determined by the Committee taking into account performance through the latest date preceding the Termination of Employment as to which performance can, as a practical matter, be determined (but not later than the end of the applicable Performance Period)), and (ii) unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right held by the Participant as of the date of the Change in Control that remains outstanding as of the date of such Termination of Employment may thereafter be exercised until the expiration of the stated full Term of such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

(e)    Definition of Change in Control. For purposes of this Plan, a “Change in Control” shall mean the happening of any of the following events:

(i)    An acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of either (1) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (2) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company, (2) any acquisition by the Company, (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity controlled by the Company, or (4) any acquisition by any entity pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (1), (2) and (3) of subsection (iii) of this Section 11(e); or

(ii)    A change in the composition of the Board such that the individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that, for purposes of this Section 11(e), any individual who becomes a member of the Board subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of those individuals who are members of the Board and who were also members of the Incumbent Board (or deemed to be such pursuant to this proviso) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board; provided further, that any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board shall not be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board; or

(iii)    The consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or securities of another entity by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent securities) and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or, for a non- corporate entity, equivalent securities), as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (excluding any entity resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent securities) of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such entity except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent body or committee) of the entity resulting from such




Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or

(iv)    The approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Section 12.    Section 16(b); Section 409A

(a)    The provisions of this Plan are intended to ensure that no transaction under this Plan is subject to (and all such transactions will be exempt from) the short-swing recovery rules of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (“Section 16(b)”). Accordingly, the composition of the Committee shall be subject to such limitations as the Board deems appropriate to permit transactions pursuant to this Plan to be exempt (pursuant to Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) from Section 16(b), and no delegation of authority by the Committee shall be permitted if such delegation would cause any such transaction to be subject to (and not exempt from) Section 16(b).

(b)    The Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or an exemption or exclusion therefrom and, with respect to amounts that are subject to Section 409A of the Code, it is intended that this Plan be administered in all respects in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Each payment under any Award that constitutes non-qualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. In no event may a Participant, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment to be made under any Award that constitutes non-qualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, if a Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company), amounts that constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code that would otherwise be payable by reason of a Participant’s Separation from Service during the six-month period immediately following such Separation from Service shall instead be paid or provided on the first business day following the date that is six months following the Participant’s Separation from Service. If the Participant dies following the Separation from Service and prior to the payment of any amounts delayed on account of Section 409A of the Code, such amounts shall be paid to the personal representative of the Participant’s estate within 30 days following the date of the Participant’s death.

Section 13.    Term, Amendment and Termination

(a)    Effectiveness. The Plan was approved by the Board on March 21, 2014, and became effective upon approval by the Company’s shareholders on May 8, 2014 (the “Effective Date”). The first amendment and restatement of the Plan was approved by the Board on February 9, 2017 and became effective upon approval by the Company’s shareholders on May 11, 2017. This second amendment and restatement of the Plan was approved by the Board on March 16, 2022, and it will be effective as of the date of such approval by the Company’s shareholders (the “Restatement Effective Date”).

(b)    Termination. The Plan will terminate on the tenth anniversary of the Restatement Effective Date. Awards outstanding as of such date shall not be affected or impaired by the termination of this Plan.

(c)    Amendment of Plan. The Board or the Committee may amend, alter, or discontinue this Plan, but no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made which would materially impair the rights of the Participant with respect to a previously granted Award without such Participant’s consent, except such an amendment made to comply with applicable law, including without limitation Section 409A of the Code, Applicable Exchange listing standards or accounting rules. In addition, no amendment shall be made without the approval of the Company’s shareholders to the extent such approval is required by applicable law or the listing standards of the Applicable Exchange.

(d)    Amendment of Awards. Subject to Section 5(d), the Committee may unilaterally amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, but no such amendment shall without the Participant’s consent materially impair the rights of any Participant with respect to an Award, except such an amendment made to cause this Plan or Award to comply with applicable law, Applicable Exchange listing standards or accounting rules.




EXHIBIT A
Section 14.    Unfunded Status of Plan

It is intended that this Plan constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. The Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under this Plan to deliver Common Stock or make payments; provided, however, that unless the Committee otherwise determines, the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the “unfunded” status of this Plan.

Section 15.    General Provisions

(a)    Conditions for Issuance. The Committee may require each person purchasing or receiving Shares pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company 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. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or agreements made pursuant thereto, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for Shares under this Plan prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions: (i) listing or approval for listing upon notice of issuance, of such Shares on the Applicable Exchange; (ii) any registration or other qualification of such Shares of the Company under any state or federal law or regulation, or the maintaining in effect of any such registration or other qualification which the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion upon the advice of counsel, deem necessary or advisable; and (iii) obtaining any other consent, approval, or permit from any state or federal governmental agency which the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion after receiving the advice of counsel, determine to be necessary or advisable.

(b)    Additional Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements for its employees.

(c)    No Contract of Employment. The Plan shall not constitute a contract of employment, and adoption of this Plan shall not confer upon any employee any right to continued employment, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate to terminate the employment of any employee at any time.

(d)    Required Taxes. 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 this Plan, such Participant shall pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company 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 Company, 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 of up to the maximum amount permitted to be withheld for tax purposes, but in no event less than the minimum amount required to be withheld for tax purposes, all in accordance with such procedures as the Committee establishes. The obligations of the Company under this Plan shall be conditional on such payment or arrangements, and the Company and its Affiliates 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; provided, however, unless otherwise subsequently determined by the Committee, with respect to a Participant subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the withholding of Shares by the Company or any of its Affiliates to satisfy tax, exercise price or other withholding obligations in respect of an Award shall be mandatory.

(e)    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 sufficient Shares are available under Section 3 for such reinvestment or payment (taking into account then-outstanding Awards). If sufficient Shares 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 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(e).





(f)    Designation of Death Beneficiary. The Committee shall establish such procedures as it deems appropriate for a Participant to designate a beneficiary to whom any amounts payable in the event of such Participant’s death are to be paid or by whom any rights of such eligible Individual, after such Participant’s death, may be exercised.

(g)    Subsidiary Employees. In the case of a grant of an Award to any employee of a Subsidiary, the Company may, if the Committee so directs, issue or transfer the Shares, if any, covered by the Award to the Subsidiary, for such lawful consideration as the Committee may specify, upon the condition or understanding that the Subsidiary will transfer the Shares to the employee in accordance with the terms of the Award specified by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of this Plan. All Shares underlying Awards that are forfeited or canceled revert to the Company.

(h)    Governing Law and Interpretation. The Plan and all Awards made and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, 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.

(i)    Non-Transferability. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 5(i), 6(c)(ii) and 7(b)(ii) or as determined by the Committee, Awards under this Plan are not transferable except by will or by laws of descent and distribution.

(j)    Recoupment Policy. Awards shall be subject to any incentive compensation recoupment policy established from time to time by the Company and in all events shall be subject to such forfeiture and recoupment provisions as may be required by applicable law or exchange rule or regulation.