PerkinElmer, Inc. AMENDED AND RESTATED 2001 INCENTIVE PLAN

EX-10.1 2 dex101.htm AMENDED AND RESTATED 2001 INCENTIVE PLAN Amended and Restated 2001 Incentive Plan

Exhibit 10.1

PerkinElmer, Inc.

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2001 INCENTIVE PLAN

1. Purpose

The purpose of this 2001 Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of PerkinElmer, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company”), is to advance the interests of the Company’s stockholders by enhancing the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who make (or are expected to make) important contributions to the Company by providing such persons with equity ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives and thereby better aligning the interests of such persons with those of the Company’s stockholders. Except where the context otherwise requires, the term “Company” shall include any of the Company’s present or future subsidiary corporations as defined in Section 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Code”) and any other business venture (including, without limitation, a joint venture or limited liability company) in which the Company has a significant interest, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”).

2. Eligibility

All of the Company’s employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors (and any individuals who have accepted an offer for employment) are eligible to be granted options, restricted stock awards, performance units, other stock-based awards or cash performance awards (each, an “Award”) under the Plan. Each person who has been granted an Award under the Plan shall be deemed a “Participant”.

3. Administration, Delegation

(a) Administration by Board of Directors. The Plan will be administered by the Board. The Board shall have authority to grant Awards and to adopt, amend and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan as it shall deem advisable. The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. All decisions by the Board shall be made in the Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or in any Award. No director or person acting pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board shall be liable for any action or determination relating to or under the Plan made in good faith.

(b) Delegation to Executive Officers. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate to one or more executive officers of the Company the power to make Awards and exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Board may determine, provided that the Board shall fix (i) the maximum number of shares subject to Awards and (ii) the maximum number of shares for any one Participant to be made by such executive officers.

(c) Appointment of Committees. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a “Committee”). The Board shall appoint one such Committee of not less than two members, each member of which shall be an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and a “non-employee director” as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). All references in the Plan to the “Board” shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board or the executive officer referred to in Section 3(b) to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee or executive officer.

4. Stock Available for Awards

(a) Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Section 9, Awards may be made under the Plan for up to the Total Authorized Shares (as defined below). For purposes of the Plan, “Total Authorized Shares” shall mean a number of shares of the common stock, $1.00 par value per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) as is equal to the sum of:

(i) 4,400,000;

(ii) the number of shares of Common Stock covered by, but not ultimately issued pursuant to, any Award under this Plan that (A) expires or is terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised or (B) is forfeited in whole or in part (including as a result of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award being repurchased by the Company at the original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right), subject, however, in the case of Awards of Incentive Stock Options (as hereinafter defined), to any limitation required under the Code;

(iii) the number of shares of Common Stock that were available for issuance under the Company’s 1999 Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plan”) to the extent not issued or subject to an Award under the Prior Plan on the date of approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company (the “Approval Date”); and

(iv) the number of shares of Common Stock that become available under the Prior Plan after the Approval Date because an Award made under the Prior Plan (A) expires or is terminated, surrendered or canceled after the Approval Date without having been fully exercised or (B) is forfeited in whole or in part (including as a result of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award being repurchased by the Company at the original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right) after the Approval Date, subject, however, in the case of Awards of Incentive Stock Options (as hereinafter defined), to any limitation required under the Code.

Shares issued under the Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.

(b) Per-Participant Limit. Subject to adjustment under Section 9, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which an Award may be granted to any Participant under the Plan shall be 1,000,000 per calendar year. The per-Participant limit described in this Section 4(b) shall be construed and applied consistently with Section 162(m) of the Code.

(c) Other Limits. Subject to adjustment under Section 9, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to all Awards that are not Options, including without limitation Restricted Stock Awards, shall be 400,000. The principles of the second sentence of Section 4(a) shall apply to this Section 4(c).

5. Stock Options

(a) General. The Board may grant options to purchase Common Stock (each, an “Option”) and determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option, including conditions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers necessary or advisable. An Option which is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (as hereinafter defined) shall be designated a “Nonstatutory Stock Option”.

(b) Incentive Stock Options. An Option that the Board intends to be an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an “Incentive Stock Option”) shall only be granted to employees of the Company and shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Option (or any part thereof) which is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option is not an Incentive Stock Option.

(c) Exercise Price. The Board shall establish the exercise price at the time each Option is granted and specify it in the applicable option agreement; provided, however, that the exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock, as determined by the Board, at the time the Option is granted, or par value, if greater.

(d) Duration of Options. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable option agreement; provided, however, that no Option will be granted for a term in excess of 10 years.

(e) Exercise of Option. Options may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Board together with payment in full as specified in Section 5(f) for the number of shares for which the Option is exercised.

(f) Payment Upon Exercise. Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid for as follows:

(1) in cash or by check, payable to the order of the Company;

(2) except as the Board may, in its sole discretion, otherwise provide in an option agreement, by (i) delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding or (ii) delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding;

(3) when the Common Stock is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, by delivery of vested shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant valued at their fair market value as determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board in good faith (“Fair Market Value”), provided (i) such method of payment is then permitted under applicable law and (ii) such Common Stock, if acquired directly from the Company, was owned by the Participant at least six months prior to such delivery;

(4) to the extent permitted by the Board, in its sole discretion by (i) delivery of a promissory note of the Participant to the Company on terms determined by the Board, or (ii) payment of such other lawful consideration as the Board may determine; or

(5) by any combination of the above permitted forms of payment.

(g) Substitute Options. In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of property or stock of an entity, the Board may grant Options in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted by such entity or an affiliate thereof. Substitute Options may be granted on such terms as the Board deems appropriate in the circumstances, notwithstanding any limitations on Options contained in the other sections of this Section 5 or in Section 2.

6. Restricted Stock

(a) Grants. The Board may grant Awards entitling recipients to acquire shares of Common Stock, subject to the right of the Company to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price (or to require forfeiture of such shares if issued at no cost) from the recipient in the event that conditions specified by the Board in the applicable Award are not satisfied prior to the end of the applicable restriction period or periods established by the Board for such Award (each, a “Restricted Stock Award”).

(b) Terms and Conditions. The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Restricted Stock Award, including the conditions for repurchase (or forfeiture) and the issue price, if any. Any stock certificates issued in respect of a Restricted Stock Award shall be registered in the name of the Participant and, unless otherwise determined by the Board, deposited by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its designee). At the expiration of the applicable restriction periods, the Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to such restrictions to the Participant or if the Participant has died, to the beneficiary designated, in a manner determined by the Board, by a Participant to receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death (the “Designated Beneficiary”). In the absence of an effective designation by a Participant, Designated Beneficiary shall mean the Participant’s estate.

7. Other Stock-Based Awards

The Board shall have the right to grant other Awards based upon the Common Stock having such terms and conditions as the Board may determine, including the grant of shares based upon certain conditions, the grant of securities or other awards convertible into Common Stock and the grant of stock appreciation rights.

8. Performance Awards.

(a) Administration. This Section 8 shall be administered by a Committee appointed by the Board. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall be the Compensation Committee.

(b) Grants. The Committee may grant Performance Awards entitling recipients to receive shares of Common Stock, cash, or any combination thereof, based on Company performance over a specified period. The Committee may grant any number of Performance Awards to any particular participant and a Performance Award may have a performance period that overlaps the performance period of another Performance Award.

(c) Terms and Conditions. Each Performance Award shall establish the performance period, not shorter than one year, over which the performance goals of the Company must be achieved; the performance goals which must be achieved; and the amount of the award which will be earned or forfeited based on the extent to which the performance goals are achieved for the performance period. The Committee may establish objective formulas for determining the size of the Performance Award based on the level of achievement of the performance goals over the performance period.

(d) Performance Goals. The performance goals which the Committee may establish with respect to any Performance Award may include any one or more of (a) earnings per share, (b) return on average equity or average assets with respect to a pre-determined peer group, (c) earnings, (d) earnings growth, (e) revenues, (f) expenses, (g) stock price, (h) market share, (i) return on sales, assets, equity or investment, (j) regulatory compliance, (k) improvement of financial ratings, (l) achievement of balance sheet or income statement objectives, (m) economic value added^®, (n) total shareholder return, (o) net operating profit after tax, (p) pre-tax or after-tax income, (q) cash flow, or (r) such other objective goals established by the Board, and may be absolute in their terms or measured against or in relationship to other companies comparably, similarly or otherwise situated. Such performance goals may be adjusted to exclude any one or more of (i) extraordinary items, (ii) gains or losses on the dispositions of discontinued operations, (iii) the cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, (iv) the writedown of any asset, and (v) charges for restructuring and rationalization programs. Such performance goals may be particular to a Participant or the department, branch, line of business, subsidiary or other unit in which the Participant works and may cover such period (not shorter than one year) as may be specified by the Board.

(e) Limits. The maximum payment which may be made pursuant to Performance Awards granted to any Participant in any year shall not exceed $3,000,000, valuing Common Stock distributed in the satisfaction of a Performance Award at its fair market value on the date of payment.

(f) Payment. At the end of the performance period with respect to which a Performance Award is granted, the Committee shall determine the amount, if any to be paid to the Participant based on the level of the performance goals established by the Committee for purposes of the Performance Award and shall authorize the Company to

pay the Participant the amount so determined. The Committee may at any time, in its sole discretion, cancel a Performance Award or reduce or eliminate the amount payable with respect to a Performance Award without the consent of the Participant.

9. Adjustments for Changes in Common Stock and Certain Other Events

(a) Changes in Capitalization. In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, reclassification of shares, spin-off or other similar change in capitalization or event, or any distribution to holders of Common Stock other than a normal cash dividend, (i) the number and class of securities available under this Plan, (ii) the per-Participant limit set forth in Section 4(b) and the limits set forth in Section 4(c), (iii) the number and class of securities and exercise price per share subject to each outstanding Option, (iv) the repurchase price per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award, and (v) the terms of each other outstanding Award shall be appropriately adjusted by the Company (or substituted Awards may be made, if applicable) to the extent the Board shall determine, in good faith, that such an adjustment (or substitution) is necessary and appropriate. In particular, the number of shares of Common Stock available under the Plan pursuant to Section 4(a), the per-Participant limit set forth in Section 4(b) and the limit set forth in Section 4(c) shall all be doubled if the two-for-one stock split to be effected as a stock dividend recommended to the Company’s stockholders is approved at the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If this Section 9(a) applies and Section 9(c) also applies to any event, Section 9(c) shall be applicable to such event, and this Section 9(a) shall not be applicable.

(b) Liquidation or Dissolution. In the event of a proposed liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the Board shall upon written notice to the Participants provide that all then unexercised Options will (i) become exercisable in full as of a specified time at least 10 business days prior to the effective date of such liquidation or dissolution and (ii) terminate effective upon such liquidation or dissolution, except to the extent exercised before such effective date. The Board may specify the effect of a liquidation or dissolution on any Restricted Stock Award or other Award granted under the Plan at the time of the grant of such Award.

(1) Definition. An “Acquisition Event” shall mean: (a) any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity as a result of which the Common Stock is converted into or exchanged for the right to receive cash, securities or other property or (b) any exchange of shares of the Company for cash, securities or other property pursuant to a statutory share exchange transaction.

(2) Consequences of an Acquisition Event on Options. Upon the occurrence of an Acquisition Event, or the execution by the Company of any agreement with respect to an Acquisition Event, the Board shall provide that all outstanding Options shall be assumed, or equivalent options shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof). For purposes hereof, an Option shall be considered to be assumed if, following consummation of the Acquisition Event, the Option confers the right to purchase, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Option immediately prior to the consummation of the Acquisition Event, the consideration (whether cash, securities or other property) received as a result of the Acquisition Event by holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held immediately prior to the consummation of the Acquisition Event (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock); provided, however, that if the consideration received as a result of the Acquisition Event is not solely common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), the Company may, with the consent of the acquiring or succeeding corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of Options to consist solely of common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) equivalent in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock as a result of the Acquisition Event.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) does not agree to assume, or substitute for, such Options, then the Board shall, upon written notice to the Participants, provide that all then unexercised Options will become exercisable in full as of a specified time prior to the Acquisition Event and will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Acquisition Event, except to the extent exercised by the Participants before the consummation of such Acquisition Event; provided, however, that in the event of an Acquisition Event under the terms of which holders of Common Stock will receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share of Common Stock surrendered pursuant to such Acquisition Event (the “Acquisition Price”), then the Board may instead provide that all outstanding Options shall terminate upon consummation of such Acquisition Event and that each Participant shall receive, in exchange therefor, a cash payment equal to the amount (if any) by which (A) the Acquisition Price multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such outstanding Options (whether or not then exercisable), exceeds (B) the aggregate exercise price of such Options.

(3) Consequences of an Acquisition Event on Restricted Stock Awards. Upon the occurrence of an Acquisition Event, the repurchase and other rights of the Company under each outstanding Restricted Stock Award shall inure to the benefit of the Company’s successor and shall apply to the cash, securities or other property which the Common Stock was converted into or exchanged for pursuant to such Acquisition Event in the same manner and to the same extent as they applied to the Common Stock subject to such Restricted Stock Award.

(4) Consequences of an Acquisition Event on Other Awards. The Board shall specify the effect of an Acquisition Event on any other Award granted under the Plan at the time of the grant of such Award.

(d) Change in Control Events

(1) Definitions.

(A) “Change in Control” or “Change in Control Event” shall mean:

(i) the acquisition by an 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 of any capital stock of the Company if, after such acquisition, such Person beneficially owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) 20% or more of either (x) the then-outstanding shares of voting common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (y) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding 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 in Control Event: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an acquisition pursuant to the exercise, conversion or exchange of any security exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or voting securities of the Company, unless the Person exercising, converting or exchanging such security acquired such security directly from the Company or an underwriter or agent of the Company), (B) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (C) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a Business Combination (as defined below) which satisfies the condition set forth in clauses (x) and (y) of subsection (iii) of this definition; or

(ii) such time as the Continuing Directors (as defined below) do not constitute a majority of the Board (or, if applicable, the Board of Directors of a successor corporation to the Company), where the term “Continuing Director” means at any date a member of the Board (1) who was a member of the Board during April, 2002 or (2) who was nominated or elected subsequent to such date by at least a majority of the directors who were Continuing Directors at the time of such nomination or election; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from this clause (2) any individual whose initial assumption of office occurred as a result of 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; or

(iii) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or share exchange or purchase involving the Company or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), unless, immediately following such Business Combination, each of the following two conditions is satisfied: (x) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners 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 the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, respectively, of the resulting or acquiring corporation in such Business Combination (which shall include, without limitation, a corporation which, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or substantially all of the Company’s assets, either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) (such resulting or acquiring corporation is referred to herein as the “Acquiring Corporation”) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, respectively, immediately prior to such Business Combination and (y) no Person (excluding the Acquiring Corporation or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) maintained or sponsored by the Company or by the Acquiring Corporation) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Acquiring Corporation, or of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination).

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

(B) “Good Reason” shall mean:

(i) any reduction in the annual base salary payable to the Participant from and after such Change in Control Event not required by adverse business conditions, or (ii) the relocation of the place of business at which the Participant is principally located to a location that is greater than 25 miles from its location immediately prior to such Change in Control Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the resignation shall not be considered to be for Good Reason if any such circumstances are fully corrected prior to the date of resignation.

any (i) failure by the Participant to perform his or her material responsibilities and fiduciary duties to the Company, (ii) misappropriating the funds or property of the

Company by the Participant, (iii) commission of a felony or causing any injury or harm to any officer, director, employee, consultant, or agent of the Company, (iv) any breach by the Participant of the agreement evidencing an Award, or (v) any breach of the Participant’s Non-Disclosure or Invention Assignment Agreement, as the case may be, with the Company or of any other agreement between the Participant and the Company (including, without limitation, any agreement imposing obligations on the Participant to maintain the confidentiality of the Company’s proprietary information or to assign inventions to the Company). The Participant shall be considered to have been discharged for “Cause” if the Company determines, within 30 days after the Participant’s resignation, that discharge for Cause was warranted.

(2) Consequences of a Change in Control Event on Options.

Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control Event (regardless of whether such event also constitutes an Acquisition Event), except to the extent specifically provided otherwise in the instrument evidencing any Option or in any other agreement between a Participant and the Company, the vesting schedule of such Option shall be fully accelerated if the Participant is terminated without Cause or resigns for Good Reason within twelve months after the Change in Control Event, and all of the Participant’s unvested Options shall immediately vest and become exercisable.

(3) Effect on Other Awards.

Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control Event (regardless of whether such event also constitutes an Acquisition Event) the Board shall specify the effect of the Change of Control Event on any other Award granted under the Plan.

10. General Provisions Applicable to Awards

(a) Transferability of Awards. Except as the Board may otherwise determine or provide in an Award, Awards shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees.

(b) Documentation. Each Award shall be evidenced by a written instrument in such form as the Board shall determine; such written instrument may be in the form of an agreement signed by the Company and the Participant or a written or electronic confirming memorandum from the Company to the Participant. Each Award may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan.

(c) Board Discretion. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, each Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award. The terms of each Award need not be identical, and the Board need not treat Participants uniformly.

(d) Termination of Status. The Board shall determine the effect on an Award of the disability, death, retirement, authorized leave of absence or other change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary may exercise rights under the Award.

(e) Withholding. Each Participant shall pay to the Company, or make provision satisfactory to the Board for payment of, any taxes required by law to be withheld in connection with Awards to such Participant no later than the date of the event creating the tax liability. Except as the Board may otherwise provide in an Award, Participants may, to the extent then permitted under applicable law, satisfy such tax obligations in whole or in part by delivery of shares of Common Stock, including vested shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value; provided, however, that the total tax withholding where stock is being used to satisfy such tax obligations cannot exceed the Company’s minimum statutory withholding obligations (based on minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income). The Company may, to the extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Participant.

(f) Conditions on Delivery of Stock. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove restrictions from shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all conditions of the Award have been met or removed to the satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and any applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements of any applicable laws, rules or regulations.

(g) Acceleration. The Board may at any time provide that any Options shall become immediately exercisable in full or in part, that any Restricted Stock Awards shall be free of restrictions in full or in part or that any other Awards may become exercisable in full or in part or free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the case may be.

(h) Deferral. An optionee who is entitled, by authority of the Board of Directors, to defer his or her compensation pursuant to any deferred compensation plan maintained

by the Company may elect, in accordance with rules established by the Board, to defer receipt of any shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of an option, provided that such election is irrevocable and made at least that number of days prior to the exercise of the option which shall be determined by the Board. The optionee’s account under such deferred compensation plan shall be credited with a number of stock units equal to the number of shares so deferred.

11. Miscellaneous

(a) No Right To Employment or Other Status. No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan, except as expressly provided in the applicable Award.

(b) No Rights As Stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be distributed with respect to an Award until becoming the record holder of such shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of the Common Stock by means of a stock dividend and the exercise price of and the number of shares subject to such Option are adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such dividend), then an optionee who exercises an Option between the record date and the distribution date for such stock dividend shall be entitled to receive, on the distribution date, the stock dividend with respect to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon such Option exercise, notwithstanding the fact that such shares were not outstanding as of the close of business on the record date for such stock dividend.

(c) Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective on the date on which it is adopted by the Board, but no Award granted to a Participant designated by the Board as subject to Section 162(m) of the Code by the Board shall become exercisable, vested or realizable, as applicable to such Award, unless and until the Plan has been approved by the Company’s stockholders to the extent stockholder approval is required by Section 162(m) in the manner required under Section 162(m) (including the vote required under Section 162(m)). No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the completion of ten years from the earlier of (i) the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board or (ii) the date the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date.

(d) Amendment of Plan. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, provided that to the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code, no Award granted to a Participant designated as subject to Section 162(m)

by the Board after the date of such amendment shall become exercisable, realizable or vested, as applicable to such Award (to the extent that such amendment to the Plan was required to grant such Award to a particular Participant), unless and until such amendment shall have been approved by the Company’s stockholders as required by Section 162(m) (including the vote required under Section 162(m)).

(e) Provisions for Foreign Employees. The Board may, without amending the Plan, modify options granted to employees who are foreign nationals or who are employed outside the United States to recognize differences in laws, rules, regulations or customs of such foreign jurisdictions with respect to tax, securities, currency, employee benefits or other matters.

(f) Governing Law. The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to any applicable conflicts of law.