Zoran Corporation 2005 Outside Directors Equity Plan
Exhibit 10.1
Zoran Corporation
2005 Outside Directors Equity Plan
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. | ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN | 1 | ||||
1.1 | Establishment | 1 | ||||
1.2 | Purpose | 1 | ||||
1.3 | Term of Plan | 1 | ||||
2. | DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION | 1 | ||||
2.1 | Definitions | 1 | ||||
2.2 | Construction | 5 | ||||
3. | ADMINISTRATION | 5 | ||||
3.1 | Administration by the Board | 5 | ||||
3.2 | Authority of Officers | 5 | ||||
3.3 | Powers of the Board | 5 | ||||
3.4 | Option or SAR Repricing | 6 | ||||
3.5 | Indemnification | 6 | ||||
4. | SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN | 6 | ||||
4.1 | Maximum Number of Shares Issuable | 6 | ||||
4.2 | Share Accounting | 7 | ||||
4.3 | Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure | 7 | ||||
5. | ELIGIBILITY, PARTICIPATION AND AWARD LIMITATIONS | 7 | ||||
5.1 | Persons Eligible for Awards | 7 | ||||
5.2 | Annual Award Limits | 7 | ||||
6. | OUTSIDE DIRECTOR AWARDS | 8 | ||||
7. | STOCK OPTIONS | 8 | ||||
7.1 | Exercise Price | 8 | ||||
7.2 | Exercisability and Term of Options | 8 | ||||
7.3 | Payment of Exercise Price | 8 | ||||
7.4 | Effect of Termination of Service | 9 | ||||
7.5 | Transferability of Options | 10 | ||||
8. | STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS | 10 | ||||
8.1 | Types of SARs Authorized | 10 | ||||
8.2 | Exercise Price | 10 | ||||
8.3 | Exercisability and Term of SARs | 10 | ||||
8.4 | Exercise of SARs | 11 |
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8.5 | Deemed Exercise of SARs | 11 | ||||
8.6 | Effect of Termination of Service | 11 | ||||
8.7 | Transferability of SARs | 11 | ||||
9. | RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARDS | 11 | ||||
9.1 | Purchase Price | 11 | ||||
9.2 | Vesting | 11 | ||||
9.3 | Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions | 11 | ||||
9.4 | Effect of Termination of Service | 12 | ||||
9.5 | Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards | 12 | ||||
9.6 | Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards | 12 | ||||
10. | DEFERRED COMPENSATION AWARDS | 12 | ||||
10.1 | Establishment of Deferred Compensation Award Programs | 12 | ||||
10.2 | Terms and Conditions of Deferred Compensation Awards | 13 | ||||
11. | STANDARD FORMS OF AWARD AGREEMENT | 13 | ||||
11.1 | Award Agreement | 13 | ||||
11.2 | Authority to Vary Terms | 13 | ||||
12. | CHANGE IN CONTROL | 13 | ||||
12.1 | Effect of Change in Control on Options and SARs | 13 | ||||
12.2 | Effect of Change in Control on Restricted Stock Unit Awards and Deferred Compensation Awards | 14 | ||||
13. | COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAW | 14 | ||||
14. | TAX WITHHOLDING | 14 | ||||
14.1 | Tax Withholding in General | 14 | ||||
14.2 | Withholding in Shares | 15 | ||||
15. | AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN | 15 | ||||
16. | COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A | 15 | ||||
16.1 | Awards Subject to Section 409A | 15 | ||||
16.2 | Deferral and/or Distribution Elections | 15 | ||||
16.3 | Subsequent Elections | 16 | ||||
16.4 | Distributions Pursuant to Deferral Elections | 16 | ||||
16.5 | Unforeseeable Emergency | 16 | ||||
16.6 | Disabled | 17 | ||||
16.7 | Death | 17 | ||||
16.8 | No Acceleration of Distributions | 17 | ||||
17. | MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS | 17 | ||||
17.1 | Repurchase Rights | 17 | ||||
17.2 | Provision of Information | 17 |
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17.3 | Rights as Outside Director | 18 | ||||
17.4 | Rights as a Stockholder | 18 | ||||
17.5 | Delivery of Title to Shares | 18 | ||||
17.6 | Fractional Shares | 18 | ||||
17.7 | Beneficiary Designation | 18 | ||||
17.8 | Severability | 18 | ||||
17.9 | No Constraint on Corporate Action | 18 | ||||
17.10 | Unfunded Obligation | 18 | ||||
17.11 | Choice of Law | 19 |
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Zoran Corporation
2005 Outside Directors Equity Plan
(Amended and Restated as of April 22, 2009)
1. ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN.
1.1 Establishment. The Zoran Corporation 2005 Outside Directors Equity Plan (the Plan) is hereby established effective as of July 13, 2005 the date of its approval by the stockholders of the Company (the Effective Date).
1.2 Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the Participating Company Group and its stockholders by providing an incentive to attract, retain and reward persons performing services as Outside Directors of the Company and by motivating such persons to contribute to the growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group. The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Compensation Awards.
1.3 Term of Plan. The Plan shall continue in effect until its termination by the Board; provided, however, that all Awards shall be granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the Effective Date.
2. DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.
2.1 Definitions. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their respective meanings set forth below:
(a) Affiliate means (i) an entity, other than a Parent Corporation, that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities, controls the Company or (ii) an entity, other than a Subsidiary Corporation, that is controlled by the Company directly or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities. For this purpose, the term control (including the term controlled by) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the relevant entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; or shall have such other meaning assigned such term for the purposes of registration on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.
(b) Award means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Compensation Award granted under the Plan.
(c) Award Agreement means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award granted to the Participant.
(d) Board means the Board of Directors of the Company. If one or more Committees have been appointed by the Board to administer the Plan, Board also means such Committee(s).
(e) Change in Control means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined with respect to an Award by the Participants Award Agreement, the occurrence of any of the following:
(i) any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than (1) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities of the Company under an employee benefit plan of a Participating Company or (2) a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the stock of the Company, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of (i) the outstanding shares of common stock of
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the Company or (ii) the total combined voting power of the Companys then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; or
(ii) an Ownership Change Event or series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, a Transaction) in which the stockholders of the Company immediately before the Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company or, in the case of an Ownership Change Event described in Section 2.1(w)(iii), the entity to which the assets of the Company were transferred (the Transferee), as the case may be; or
(iii) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
For purposes of the preceding sentence, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company or the Transferee, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities. The Board shall have the right to determine whether multiple sales or exchanges of the voting securities of the Company or multiple Ownership Change Events are related, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.
(f) Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder.
(g) Committee means the Compensation Committee and such other committee or subcommittee of the Board, if any, duly appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers in each instance as shall be specified by the Board. Unless the powers of the Committee have been specifically limited, the Committee shall have all of the powers of the Board granted herein, including, without limitation, the power to amend or terminate the Plan at any time, subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable limitations imposed by law.
(h) Company means Zoran Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or any successor corporation thereto.
(i) Consultant means a person engaged to provide consulting or advisory services (other than as an Employee or a Director) to a Participating Company.
(j) Deferred Compensation Award means an award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 10.
(k) Director means a member of the Board.
(l) Disability means the permanent and total disability of the Participant within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
(m) Dividend Equivalent means a credit, made at the discretion of the Board or as otherwise provided by the Plan, to the account of a Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one share of Stock for each share of Stock represented by an Award held by such Participant.
(n) Employee means any person treated as an employee (including an Officer or a Director who is also treated as an employee) in the records of a Participating Company; provided, however, that neither service as a Director nor payment of a directors fee shall be sufficient to constitute employment for purposes of the Plan.
(o) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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(p) Fair Market Value means, as of any date, the value of a share of Stock or other property as determined by the Board, in its discretion, or by the Company, in its discretion, if such determination is expressly allocated to the Company herein, subject to the following:
(i) Except as otherwise determined by the Board, if, on such date, the Stock is listed on a national or regional securities exchange or market system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock as quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market or such other national or regional securities exchange or market system constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Company deems reliable. If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange or market system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established shall be the last day on which the Stock was so traded prior to the relevant date, or such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Board, in its discretion.
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may, in its discretion, determine the Fair Market Value on the basis of the opening, closing, or average of the high and low sale prices of a share of Stock on such date, the preceding trading day or the next succeeding trading day; and, for purposes other than determining the exercise price or purchase price of shares pursuant to an Award, the high or low sale price of a share of Stock on such date, the preceding trading day or the next succeeding trading day, the average of any such prices determined over a period of trading days or the actual sale price of a share of Stock received by a Participant. The Board may vary its method of determination of the Fair Market Value as provided in this Section for different purposes under the Plan.
(iii) If, on such date, the Stock is not listed on a national or regional securities exchange or market system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by the Board in good faith without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse.
(q) Full Value Award means any Award settled in Stock, other than (i) an Option, (ii) a Stock Appreciation Right or (iii) a Deferred Compensation Award which is an elective cash compensation reduction award described in Section 10.1(a) or a stock issuance deferral award described in Section 10.1(b).
(r) Insider Trading Policy means the written policy of the Company pertaining to the purchase, sale, transfer or other disposition of the Companys equity securities by Directors, Officers, Employees or other service providers who may possess material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or its securities.
(s) Net-Exercise means a procedure by which the Participant will be issued a number of shares of Stock determined in accordance with the following formula:
N = X(A-B)/A, where
N = the number of shares of Stock to be issued to the Participant upon exercise of the Option;
X = the total number of shares with respect to which the Participant has elected to exercise the Option;
A = the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock determined on the exercise date; and
B = the exercise price per share (as defined in the Participants Award Agreement)
(t) Officer means any person designated by the Board as an officer of the Company.
(u) Option means a right to purchase Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 7. Each Option shall be a nonstatutory stock option, that is an option not intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.
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(v) Outside Director means a Director who is not an Employee.
(w) Ownership Change Event means the occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Company: (i) the direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related transactions by the stockholders of the Company of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting stock of the Company; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a party; or (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than a sale, exchange or transfer to one or more subsidiaries of the Company).
(x) Parent Corporation means any present or future parent corporation of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(y) Participant means any eligible person who has been granted one or more Awards.
(z) Participating Company means the Company or any Parent Corporation, Subsidiary Corporation or Affiliate.
(aa) Participating Company Group means, at any point in time, all entities collectively which are then Participating Companies.
(bb) Restricted Stock Unit or Stock Unit means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 or Section 10, respectively, to receive a share of Stock on a date determined in accordance with the provisions of such Sections, as applicable, and the Participants Award Agreement.
(cc) Retirement means a termination of the Participants Service as a result of either of the following, provided that the Participant has served continuously on the Board for at least two (2) years: (i) the Participants resignation from the Board or (ii) the expiration of the Participants term as a Director after the Participant has declined to stand for reelection.
(dd) Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation.
(ee) SAR or Stock Appreciation Right means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8 to receive payment, for each share of Stock subject to such SAR, of an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price.
(ff) Section 409A means Section 409A of the Code (including regulations or administrative guidelines thereunder).
(gg) Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(hh) Service means a Participants employment or service with the Participating Company Group, whether in the capacity of an Employee, a Director, or a Consultant. A Participants Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders such Service or a change in the Participating Company for which the Participant renders such Service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participants Service. Furthermore, a Participants Service shall not be deemed to have terminated if the Participant takes any military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company. However, if any such leave taken by a Participant exceeds ninety (90) days, then on the ninety-first (91st) day following the commencement of such leave the Participants Service shall be deemed to have terminated, unless the Participants right to return to Service is guaranteed by statute or contract. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise designated by the Company or required by law, a leave of absence shall not be treated as Service for purposes of determining vesting under the Participants Award Agreement. A Participants Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the entity for which the Participant performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company. Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in
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its discretion, shall determine whether the Participants Service has terminated and the effective date of such termination.
(ii) Stock means the common stock of the Company, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.3.
(jj) Subsidiary Corporation means any present or future subsidiary corporation of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
(kk) Vesting Conditions mean those conditions established in accordance with the Plan prior to the satisfaction of which shares subject to an Award remain subject to forfeiture or a repurchase option in favor of the Company exercisable for the Participants purchase price for such shares upon the Participants termination of Service.
2.2 Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term or is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
3. ADMINISTRATION.
3.1 Administration by the Board. The Plan shall be administered by the Board, including any duly appointed Committee of the Board. At any time that any class of equity security of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Plan shall be administered in compliance with the requirements, if any, of Rule 16b-3. All questions of interpretation of the Plan or of any Award shall be determined by the Board, and such determinations shall be final and binding upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Award.
3.2 Authority of Officers. Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, determination or election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company herein, provided the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, determination or election.
3.3 Powers of the Board. In addition to any other powers set forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:
(a) to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock or units to be subject to each Award;
(b) to determine the type of Award granted;
(c) to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock or other property;
(d) to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Award (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise or purchase price of shares pursuant to any Award, (ii) the method of payment for shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with Award, including by the withholding or delivery of shares of Stock, (iv) the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, (v) the time of the expiration of any Award, (vi) the effect of the Participants termination of Service on any of the foregoing, and (vii) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any Award or shares acquired pursuant thereto not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;
(e) to approve one or more forms of Award Agreement;
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(f) to amend, modify, extend, cancel or renew any Award or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto;
(g) to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including with respect to the period following a Participants termination of Service;
(h) without the consent of the affected Participant and notwithstanding the provisions of any Award Agreement to the contrary, to unilaterally substitute at any time a Stock Appreciation Right providing for settlement solely in shares of Stock in place of any outstanding Option, provided that such Stock Appreciation Right covers the same number of shares of Stock and provides for the same exercise price (subject in each case to adjustment in accordance with Section 4.3) as the replaced Option and otherwise provides substantially equivalent terms and conditions as the replaced Option, as determined by the Board;
(i) to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to the Plan, or to adopt sub-plans or supplements to, or alternative versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Board deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws or regulations of or to accommodate the tax policy, accounting principles or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose citizens may be granted Awards; and
(j) to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any Award as the Board may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or applicable law.
3.4 Option or SAR Repricing. Without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Stock cast in person or by proxy at a meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which a quorum representing a majority of all outstanding shares of Stock is present or represented by proxy, the Board shall not approve either (a) the cancellation of outstanding Options or SARs and the grant in substitution therefor of new Options or SARs having a lower exercise price or (b) the amendment of outstanding Options or SARs to reduce the exercise price thereof or (c) the cancellation of outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for cash or other awards for the purpose of repricing the Option or SAR.
3.5 Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or officers or employees of the Participating Company Group, members of the Board and any officers or employees of the Participating Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board or the Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any right granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however, that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend the same.
4. SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN.
4.1 Maximum Number of Shares Issuable. Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2 and 4.3, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be equal to one million two hundred thousand (1,200,000) shares, and shall consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of Stock or any combination thereof.
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4.2 Share Accounting.
(a) Each share of Stock subject to an Award other than a Full Value Award shall be counted against the limit set forth in Section 4.1 as one (1) share. Each share of Stock subject to a Full Value Award shall be counted against the limit set forth in Section 4.1 as one and three-tenths (1.3) shares.
(b) If an outstanding Award for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, or if shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company for an amount not greater than the Participants purchase price, the shares of Stock allocable to the terminated portion of such Award or such forfeited or repurchased shares of Stock shall again be available for issuance under the Plan. Shares withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations pursuant to Section 14.2 shall not again be available for issuance under the Plan. Upon payment in shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of an SAR, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the SAR is exercised. If the exercise price of an Option is paid by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Participant, or by means of a Net-Exercise, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the Option is exercised.
4.3 Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, in the event of any change in the Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (excepting normal cash dividends) that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the number and kind of shares subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Awards, in the Award limits set forth in Section 5.2 and in the exercise or purchase price per share under any outstanding Award in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants rights under the Plan. For purposes of the foregoing, conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as effected without receipt of consideration by the Company. If a majority of the shares which are of the same class as the shares that are subject to outstanding Awards are exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise become (whether or not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event) shares of another corporation (the New Shares), the Board may unilaterally amend the outstanding Awards to provide that such Awards are for New Shares. In the event of any such amendment, the number of shares subject to, and the exercise or purchase price per share of, the outstanding Awards shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner as determined by the Board, in its discretion. Any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 4.3 shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and in no event may the exercise or purchase price under any Award be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to such Award. The Board in its sole discretion, may also make such adjustments in the terms of any Award to reflect, or related to, such changes in the capital structure of the Company or distributions as it deems appropriate. The adjustments determined by the Board pursuant to this Section shall be final, binding and conclusive.
5. ELIGIBILITY, PARTICIPATION AND AWARD LIMITATIONS.
5.1 Persons Eligible for Awards. Only those persons who, at the time of grant, are serving as Outside Directors shall be eligible to become Participants and to be granted Awards.
5.2 Annual Award Limits. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, no Participant may be granted within any fiscal year of the Company one or more Awards for more than twenty thousand (20,000) shares; provided, however, that the foregoing annual limit shall be increased by one or more of the following additions, as applicable: (i) an additional forty thousand (40,000) shares in the fiscal year in which the Participant is first appointed or elected to the Board as an Outside Director, (ii) an additional ten thousand (10,000) shares in any fiscal year in which the Participant is serving as the Chairman of the Board or Lead Director, (iii) an additional two thousand five hundred (2,500) shares per committee in any fiscal year in which the Participant is serving on one or more committees of the Board other than as the chairman of the committee, and (iv) an additional five thousand (5,000) shares per committee in any fiscal year in which the Participant is serving on one or more committees of the Board as the chairman of the committee.
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6. OUTSIDE DIRECTOR AWARDS.
From time to time, the Board shall set the amount(s) and type(s) of Awards that shall be granted to all Outside Directors on a periodic, nondiscriminatory basis pursuant to the Plan, as well as the additional amount(s) and type(s) of Awards, if any, to be awarded, also on a periodic, nondiscriminatory basis, in consideration of one or more of the following: (a) the initial election or appointment of an individual to the Board as an Outside Director, (b) an Outside Directors service as Chairman of the Board or Lead Director, (c) an Outside Directors service other than as chairman on one or more of the committees of the Board, and (d) an Outside Directors service as the chairman of one or more committees of the Board. The terms and conditions of each Award shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Plan. Subject to the limits set forth in Section 5.2 and the foregoing, the Board shall grant Awards having such terms and conditions as it shall from time to time determine.
7. STOCK OPTIONS.
Options shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such form as the Board shall from time to time establish. No Option or purported Option shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Award Agreement. Award Agreements evidencing Options may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference, including the provisions of Section 16 with respect to Section 409A if applicable, and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
7.1 Exercise Price. The exercise price for each Option shall be the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may be granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner that would qualify under the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.
7.2 Exercisability and Term of Options. Options shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Board and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option; provided, however, that no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such Option. Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Board in the grant of an Option, each Option shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the Option, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.
7.3 Payment of Exercise Price.
(a) Forms of Consideration Authorized. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash or by check or cash equivalent, (ii) by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value not less than the exercise price, (iii) by delivery of a properly executed notice of exercise together with irrevocable instructions to a broker providing for the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to some or all of the shares being acquired upon the exercise of the Option (including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) (a Cashless Exercise), (iv) by delivery of a properly executed notice electing a Net-Exercise, (v) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Board from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (vi) by any combination thereof. The Board may at any time or from time to time grant Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.
(b) Limitations on Forms of Consideration.
(i) Tender of Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock to the extent such tender
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or attestation would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Companys stock.
(ii) Cashless Exercise. The Company reserves, at any and all times, the right, in the Companys sole and absolute discretion, to establish, decline to approve or terminate any program or procedures for the exercise of Options by means of a Cashless Exercise, including with respect to one or more Participants specified by the Company notwithstanding that such program or procedures may be available to other Participants.
7.4 Effect of Termination of Service.
(a) Option Exercisability. Subject to earlier termination of the Option as otherwise provided herein and unless otherwise provided by the Board in the grant of an Option and set forth in the Award Agreement, an Option shall terminate immediately upon the Participants termination of Service to the extent that it is then unvested and shall be exercisable after the Participants termination of Service to the extent it is then vested only during the applicable time period determined in accordance with this Section and thereafter shall terminate:
(i) Disability. If the Participants Service terminates because of the Disability of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participants Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant (or the Participants guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months after the date on which the Participants Service terminated, but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Options term as set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option (the Option Expiration Date); provided, however, that if the Participant has served continuously on the Board for at least two (2) years prior to such termination of Service, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participants Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant (or the Participants guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the Option Expiration Date.
(ii) Death. If the Participants Service terminates because of the death of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participants Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participants legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by reason of the Participants death at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months after the date on which the Participants Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date; provided, however, that if the Participant has served continuously on the Board for at least two (2) years prior to such termination of Service, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participants Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant (or the Participants guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the Option Expiration Date. The Participants Service shall be deemed to have terminated on account of death if the Participant dies within three (3) months after the Participants termination of Service.
(iii) Retirement. If the Participants Service terminates because of the Retirement of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participants Service terminated, may be exercised at any time prior to the Option Expiration Date.
(iv) Other Termination of Service. If the Participants Service terminates for any reason, except Disability, death or Retirement, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participants Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant at any time prior to the expiration of three (3) months after the date on which the Participants Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.
(b) Extension if Exercise Prevented by Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the exercise of an Option within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 7.4(a) is prevented by the provisions of Section 13 below, the Option shall remain exercisable until three (3) months after the date the Participant is notified by the Company that the Option is exercisable, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.
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(c) Extension if Participant Subject to Section 16(b). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a sale within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 7.4(a) of shares acquired upon the exercise of the Option would subject the Participant to suit under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Option shall remain exercisable until the earliest to occur of (i) the tenth (10th) day following the date on which a sale of such shares by the Participant would no longer be subject to such suit, (ii) the one hundred and ninetieth (190th) day after the Participants termination of Service, or (iii) the Option Expiration Date.
7.5 Transferability of Options. During the lifetime of the Participant, an Option shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participants guardian or legal representative. An Option shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participants beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act.
8. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.
Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Board shall from time to time establish. No SAR or purported SAR shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Award Agreement. Award Agreements evidencing SARs may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference, including provisions of Section 16 with respect to Section 409A if applicable, and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
8.1 Types of SARs Authorized. SARs may be granted in tandem with all or any portion of a related Option (a Tandem SAR) or may be granted independently of any Option (a Freestanding SAR). A Tandem SAR may only be granted concurrently with the grant of the related Option.
8.2 Exercise Price. The exercise price for each SAR shall be established in the discretion of the Board; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share subject to a Tandem SAR shall be the exercise price per share under the related Option and (b) the exercise price per share subject to a Freestanding SAR shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the SAR.
8.3 Exercisability and Term of SARs.
(a) Tandem SARs. Tandem SARs shall be exercisable only at the time and to the extent, and only to the extent, that the related Option is exercisable, subject to such provisions as the Board may specify where the Tandem SAR is granted with respect to less than the full number of shares of Stock subject to the related Option. The Board may, in its discretion, provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Tandem SAR that such SAR may not be exercised without the advance approval of the Company and, if such approval is not given, then the Option shall nevertheless remain exercisable in accordance with its terms. A Tandem SAR shall terminate and cease to be exercisable no later than the date on which the related Option expires or is terminated or canceled. Upon the exercise of a Tandem SAR with respect to some or all of the shares subject to such SAR, the related Option shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the Tandem SAR was exercised. Upon the exercise of an Option related to a Tandem SAR as to some or all of the shares subject to such Option, the related Tandem SAR shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the related Option was exercised.
(b) Freestanding SARs. Freestanding SARs shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Board and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR; provided, however, that no Freestanding SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such SAR.
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8.4 Exercise of SARs. Upon the exercise (or deemed exercise pursuant to Section 8.5) of an SAR, the Participant (or the Participants legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the SAR by reason of the Participants death) shall be entitled to receive payment of an amount for each share with respect to which the SAR is exercised equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price. Payment of such amount shall be made solely in shares of Stock. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement evidencing a Freestanding SAR, payment upon the exercise of each SAR shall be made in a lump sum as soon as practicable following the date of exercise of the SAR. The Award Agreement evidencing any Freestanding SAR may provide for deferred payment in a lump sum or in installments in compliance with Section 409A. The number of shares to be issued in payment of an SAR shall be determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR. For purposes of Section 8, an SAR shall be deemed exercised on the date on which the Company receives notice of exercise from the Participant or as otherwise provided in Section 8.5.
8.5 Deemed Exercise of SARs. If, on the date on which an SAR would otherwise terminate or expire, the SAR by its terms remains exercisable immediately prior to such termination or expiration and, if so exercised, would result in a payment to the holder of such SAR, then any portion of such SAR which has not previously been exercised shall automatically be deemed to be exercised as of such date with respect to such portion.
8.6 Effect of Termination of Service. Subject to earlier termination of the SAR as otherwise provided herein and unless otherwise provided by the Board in the grant of an SAR and set forth in the Award Agreement, an SAR shall be exercisable after a Participants termination of Service only to the extent and during the applicable time period determined in accordance with Section 7.4 (treating the SAR as if it were an Option) and thereafter shall terminate.
8.7 Transferability of SARs. During the lifetime of the Participant, an SAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participants guardian or legal representative. An SAR shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participants beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an SAR shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act.
9. RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARDS.
Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award, in such form as the Board shall from time to time establish. No Restricted Stock Unit Award or purported Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Award Agreement. Award Agreements evidencing Restricted Stock Units may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference, including the provisions of Section 16 with respect to Section 409A, if applicable, and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
9.1 Purchase Price. No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding, if any) shall be required as a condition of receiving a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock issued upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit Award.
9.2 Vesting. Restricted Stock Units shall be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria as shall be established by the Board and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award.
9.3 Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Restricted Stock Units until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Board, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any
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Restricted Stock Unit Award that the Participant shall be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalents with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to the particular shares subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated. Such Dividend Equivalents, if any, shall be paid by crediting the Participant with additional whole Restricted Stock Units as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock. The number of additional Restricted Stock Units (rounded to the nearest whole number) to be so credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on such date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Restricted Stock Units previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on such date. Such additional Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions and shall be settled in the same manner and at the same time (or as soon thereafter as practicable) as the Restricted Stock Units originally subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participants Restricted Stock Unit Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than normal cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as are applicable to the Award.
9.4 Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Board and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Unit Award, if a Participants Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participants death or disability), then the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any Restricted Stock Units pursuant to the Award which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participants termination of Service.
9.5 Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The Company shall issue to a Participant on the date on which Restricted Stock Units subject to the Participants Restricted Stock Unit Award vest or on such other date determined by the Board, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement one (1) share of Stock (and/or any other new, substituted or additional securities or other property pursuant to an adjustment described in Section 9.3) for each Restricted Stock Unit then becoming vested or otherwise to be settled on such date, subject to the withholding of applicable taxes, if any. If permitted by the Board, subject to the provisions of Section 16 with respect to Section 409A, the Participant may elect in accordance with terms specified in the Award Agreement to defer receipt of all or any portion of the shares of Stock or other property otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Section, and such deferred issuance date(s) elected by the Participant shall be set forth in the Award Agreement. The Board, in its discretion, may provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Unit Award that, if the settlement of the Award with respect to any shares would otherwise occur on a day on which the sale of such shares would violate the Companys Insider Trading Policy, then the settlement with respect to such shares shall occur on the next day on which the sale of such shares would not violate the Insider Trading Policy.
9.6 Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The right to receive shares pursuant to a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participants beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Unit Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participants guardian or legal representative.
10. DEFERRED COMPENSATION AWARDS.
10.1 Establishment of Deferred Compensation Award Programs. This Section 10 shall not be effective unless and until the Board determines to establish a program pursuant to this Section. The Board, in its discretion and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, subject to the provisions of Section 16 with respect to Section 409A, may establish one or more programs pursuant to the Plan under which Participants may irrevocably elect, prior to a date specified by the Board and complying with Section 409A, to reduce such Participants compensation otherwise payable in cash (subject to any minimum or maximum reductions imposed by the Board) and to be granted automatically at such time or times as specified by the Board one or more Awards of Stock Units with respect to such numbers of shares of Stock as determined in accordance with the rules of the program established by the Board and having such other terms and conditions as established by the Board.
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10.2 Terms and Conditions of Deferred Compensation Awards. Deferred Compensation Awards granted pursuant to this Section 10 shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Board shall from time to time establish. No such Deferred Compensation Award or purported Deferred Compensation Award shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Award Agreement. Award Agreements evidencing Deferred Compensation Awards may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference, including the provisions of Section 16 with respect to Section 409A, and, except as provided below, shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 9.
(a) Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Stock Units until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, a Participant shall be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalents with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date the Stock Units are granted automatically to the Participant and ending on the earlier of the date on which such Stock Units are settled or the date on which they are forfeited. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be paid by crediting the Participant with additional whole Stock Units as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock. The number of additional Stock Units (rounded to the nearest whole number) to be so credited shall be determined by dividing (i) the amount of cash dividends paid on the dividend payment date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Stock Units previously credited to the Participant by (ii) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on such date. Such additional Stock Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions and shall be settled in the same manner and at the same time (or as soon thereafter as practicable) as the Stock Units originally subject to the Stock Unit Award. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participants Stock Unit Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than normal cash dividends) to which the Participant would entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Award.
(b) Settlement of Stock Unit Awards. A Participant electing to receive an Award of Stock Units pursuant to this Section 10 shall specify at the time of such election a settlement date with respect to such Award which complies with Section 409A. The Company shall issue to the Participant on the settlement date elected by the Participant, or as soon thereafter as practicable, a number of whole shares of Stock equal to the number of vested Stock Units subject to the Stock Unit Award. Such shares of Stock shall be fully vested, and the Participant shall not be required to pay any additional consideration (other than applicable tax withholding) to acquire such shares.
11. STANDARD FORMS OF AWARD AGREEMENT.
11.1 Award Agreement. Each Award shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the appropriate form of Award Agreement approved by the Board and as amended from time to time. Any Award Agreement may consist of an appropriate form of Notice of Grant and a form of Agreement incorporated therein by reference, or such other form or forms, including electronic media, as the Board may approve from time to time.
11.2 Authority to Vary Terms. The Board shall have the authority from time to time to vary the terms of any standard form of Award Agreement either in connection with the grant or amendment of an individual Award or in connection with the authorization of a new standard form or forms; provided, however, that the terms and conditions of any such new, revised or amended standard form or forms of Award Agreement are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.
12. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
12.1 Effect of Change in Control on Options and SARs.
(a) Accelerated Vesting. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event of a Change in Control, each Option or SAR held by a Participant whose Service has not terminated prior to the date of such Change in Control, to the extent such Option or SAR is then outstanding or
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unvested, shall become immediately exercisable and vested in full as of such date, subject to the consummation of the Change in Control.
(b) Assumption or Substitution. In the event of a Change in Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (the Acquiror), may, without the consent of any Participant, either assume or continue the Companys rights and obligations under outstanding Options and SARs or substitute for outstanding Options and SARs substantially equivalent options and stock appreciation rights (as the case may be) for the Acquirors stock. Any Options or SARs which are neither assumed or continued by the Acquiror in connection with the Change in Control nor exercised as of the time of consummation of the Change in Control shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the time of consummation of the Change in Control.
(c) Cash-Out. The Board may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of any Participant, determine that, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, each or any Option or SAR outstanding immediately prior to the Change in Control shall be canceled in exchange for a payment with respect to each vested share (and each unvested share, if so determined by the Board) of Stock subject to such canceled Option or SAR in (i) cash, (ii) stock of the Company or of a corporation or other business entity a party to the Change in Control, or (iii) other property which, in any such case, shall be in an amount having a Fair Market Value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Change in Control over the exercise price per share under such Option or SAR (the Spread). In the event such determination is made by the Board, the Spread (reduced by applicable withholding taxes, if any) shall be paid to Participants in respect of the vested portion of their canceled Options and SARs as soon as practicable following the date of the Change in Control and in respect of the unvested portion of their canceled Options and SARs in accordance with the vesting schedule applicable to such Awards as in effect prior to the Change in Control.
12.2 Effect of Change in Control on Restricted Stock Unit Awards and Deferred Compensation Awards. Subject to the provisions of Section 16 with respect to Section 409A if applicable, in the event of a Change in Control, each Restricted Stock Unit Award and each Deferred Compensation Award held by a Participant whose Service has not terminated prior to such date, to the extent such Award is then outstanding and unvested, shall become vested in full as of such date, subject to the consummation of the Change in Control, and shall be settled effective as of the date of the Change in Control.
13. COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAW.
The grant of Awards and the issuance of shares of Stock pursuant to any Award shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state and foreign law with respect to such securities and the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, no Award may be exercised or shares issued pursuant to an Award unless (a) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of such exercise or issuance be in effect with respect to the shares issuable pursuant to the Award or (b) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable pursuant to the Award may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Companys legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares hereunder shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a condition to issuance of any Stock, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.
14. TAX WITHHOLDING.
14.1 Tax Withholding in General. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any and all payments made under the Plan, or to require the Participant, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, to make adequate provision for, the federal, state, local and foreign taxes, if any, required by law to be withheld by the Participating Company Group with respect to an Award or the shares acquired pursuant thereto. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock, to release shares of Stock from an escrow
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established pursuant to an Award Agreement, or to make any payment in cash under the Plan until the Participating Company Groups tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by the Participant.
14.2 Withholding in Shares. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable to a Participant upon the exercise or settlement of an Award, or to accept from the Participant the tender of, a number of whole shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company, equal to all or any part of the tax withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group. The Fair Market Value of any shares of Stock withheld or tendered to satisfy any such tax withholding obligations shall not exceed the amount determined by the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates.
15. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN.
The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. However, without the approval of the Companys stockholders, there shall be (a) no increase in the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of the provisions of Section 4.3) and (b) no other amendment of the Plan that would require approval of the Companys stockholders under any applicable law, regulation or rule, including the rules of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall affect any then outstanding Award unless expressly provided by the Board. Except as provided by the next sentence, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan may adversely affect any then outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Board may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the consent of any Participant, amend the Plan or any Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as it deems necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or such Award Agreement to any present or future law, regulation or rule applicable to the Plan, including, but not limited to, Section 409A.
16. COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A.
16.1 Awards Subject to Section 409A. The provisions of this Section 16 shall apply to any Award or portion thereof that is or becomes subject to Section 409A, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the Plan or the Award Agreement applicable to such Award. Awards subject to Section 409A include, without limitation:
(a) Each Deferred Compensation Award.
(b) Any Restricted Stock Unit Award that either (i) provides by its terms for settlement of all or any portion of the Award on one or more dates following the Short-Term Deferral Period (as defined below) or (ii) permits or requires the Participant to elect one or more dates on which the Award will be settled.
Subject to any applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 409A or other applicable guidance, the term Short-Term Deferral Period means the period ending on the later of (i) the date that is two and one-half months from the end of the Companys fiscal year in which the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or (ii) the date that is two and one-half months from the end of the Participants taxable year in which the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. For this purpose, the term substantial risk of forfeiture shall have the meaning set forth in any applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 409A or other applicable guidance.
16.2 Deferral and/or Distribution Elections. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A or any applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 409A or other applicable guidance, the following rules shall apply to any deferral and/or distribution elections (each, an Election) that may be permitted or required by the Board pursuant to an Award subject to Section 409A:
(a) All Elections must be in writing and specify the amount of the distribution in settlement of an Award being deferred, as well as the time and form of distribution as permitted by this Plan.
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(b) All Elections shall be made by the end of the Participants taxable year prior to the year in which services commence for which an Award may be granted to such Participant; provided, however, that if the Award qualifies as performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 409A and is based on services performed over a period of at least twelve (12) months, then the Election may be made no later than six (6) months prior to the end of such period.
(c) Elections shall continue in effect until a written election to revoke or change such Election is received by the Company, except that a written election to revoke or change such Election must be made prior to the last day for making an Election determined in accordance with paragraph (b) above or as permitted by Section 16.3.
16.3 Subsequent Elections. Any Award subject to Section 409A which permits a subsequent Election to delay the distribution or change the form of distribution in settlement of such Award shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) No subsequent Election may take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the subsequent Election is made;
(b) Each subsequent Election related to a distribution in settlement of an Award not described in Section 16.3(b), 16.4(b), or 16.4(f) must result in a delay of the distribution for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date such distribution would otherwise have been made; and
(c) No subsequent Election related to a distribution pursuant to Section 16.4(d) shall be made less than twelve (12) months prior to the date of the first scheduled payment under such distribution.
16.4 Distributions Pursuant to Deferral Elections. No distribution in settlement of an Award subject to Section 409A may commence earlier than:
(a) Separation from service (as determined by the Secretary of the United States Treasury);
(b) The date the Participant becomes Disabled (as defined below);
(c) Death;
(d) A specified time (or pursuant to a fixed schedule) that is either (i) specified by the Board upon the grant of an Award and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award or (ii) specified by the Participant in an Election complying with the requirements of Section 16.2 and/or 16.3, as applicable;
(e) To the extent provided by the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, a change in the ownership or effective control or the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company; or
(f) The occurrence of an Unforeseeable Emergency (as defined below).
Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, to the extent that a Participant is a Specified Employee (as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i)) of the Company, no distribution pursuant to Section 16.4(a) in settlement of an Award subject to Section 409A may be made before the date which is six (6) months after such Participants date of separation from service, or, if earlier, the date of the Participants death.
16.5 Unforeseeable Emergency. The Board shall have the authority to provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Award subject to Section 409A for distribution in settlement of all or a portion of such Award in the event that a Participant establishes, to the satisfaction of the Board, the occurrence of an Unforeseeable Emergency. In such event, the amount(s) distributed with respect to such Unforeseeable Emergency cannot exceed the amounts necessary to satisfy such Unforeseeable Emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably
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anticipated as a result of such distribution(s), after taking into account the extent to which such hardship is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise or by liquidation of the Participants assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship). All distributions with respect to an Unforeseeable Emergency shall be made in a lump sum as soon as practicable following the Boards determination that an Unforeseeable Emergency has occurred.
The occurrence of an Unforeseeable Emergency shall be judged and determined by the Board. The Boards decision with respect to whether an Unforeseeable Emergency has occurred and the manner in which, if at all, the distribution in settlement of an Award shall be altered or modified, shall be final, conclusive, and not subject to approval or appeal.
16.6 Disabled. The Board shall have the authority to provide in any Award subject to Section 409A for distribution in settlement of such Award in the event that the Participant becomes Disabled. A Participant shall be considered Disabled if either:
(a) the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or
(b) the Participant is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Participants employer.
All distributions payable by reason of a Participant becoming Disabled shall be paid in a lump sum or in periodic installments as established by the Participants Election, commencing as soon as practicable following the date the Participant becomes Disabled. If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions upon becoming Disabled, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum as soon as practicable following the date the Participant becomes Disabled.
16.7 Death. If a Participant dies before complete distribution of amounts payable upon settlement of an Award subject to Section 409A, such undistributed amounts shall be distributed to his or her beneficiary under the distribution method for death established by the Participants Election as soon as administratively possible following receipt by the Board of satisfactory notice and confirmation of the Participants death. If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions upon death, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum as soon as practicable following the date of the Participants death.
16.8 No Acceleration of Distributions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Plan does not permit the acceleration of the time or schedule of any distribution under this Plan, except as provided by Section 409A and/or the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury.
17. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
17.1 Repurchase Rights. Shares issued under the Plan may be subject to one or more repurchase options, or other conditions and restrictions as determined by the Board in its discretion at the time the Award is granted. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.
17.2 Provision of Information. Each Participant shall be given access to information concerning the Company equivalent to that information generally made available to the Companys common stockholders.
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17.3 Rights as Outside Director. Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall confer on any Participant a right to remain an Outside Director, or interfere with or limit in any way any right of a Participating Company to terminate the Participants Service at any time.
17.4 Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by an Award until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such shares are issued, except as provided in Section 4.3 or another provision of the Plan.
17.5 Delivery of Title to Shares. Subject to any governing rules or regulations, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued the shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award and shall deliver such shares to or for the benefit of the Participant by means of one or more of the following: (a) by delivering to the Participant evidence of book entry shares of Stock credited to the account of the Participant, (b) by depositing such shares of Stock for the benefit of the Participant with any broker with which the Participant has an account relationship, or (c) by delivering such shares of Stock to the Participant in certificate form.
17.6 Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise or settlement of any Award.
17.7 Beneficiary Designation. Subject to local laws and procedures, each Participant may file with the Company a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any benefit under the Plan to which the Participant is entitled in the event of such Participants death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participants lifetime. If a married Participant designates a beneficiary other than the Participants spouse, the effectiveness of such designation may be subject to the consent of the Participants spouse. If a Participant dies without an effective designation of a beneficiary who is living at the time of the Participants death, the Company will pay any remaining unpaid benefits to the Participants legal representative.
17.8 Severability. If any one or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of this Plan shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be modified so as to make it valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions (or any part thereof) of the Plan shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
17.9 No Constraint on Corporate Action. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to: (a) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Companys or another Participating Companys right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets; or (b) limit the right or power of the Company or another Participating Company to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.
17.10 Unfunded Obligation. Participants shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company. Any amounts payable to Participants pursuant to the Plan shall be unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. No Participating Company shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Board or any Participating Company and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participants creditors in any assets of any Participating Company. The Participants shall have no claim against any Participating Company for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.
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17.11 Choice of Law. Except to the extent governed by applicable federal law, the validity, interpretation, construction and performance of the Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of law rules.
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