EX-10.1 2 brhc10038967_ex10-1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1
Exhibit 10.1
ADMA BIOLOGICS, INC.
 
2022 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN
 
Effective June 21, 2022
The purpose of the ADMA Biologics, Inc. 2022 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to provide employees of ADMA Biologics, Inc. (the “Company”) and its Subsidiaries (as defined below), certain consultants and advisors who perform services for the Company or its Subsidiaries, and non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company with the opportunity to receive grants of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, stock units and other stock-based awards.
The Company believes that the Plan will encourage the participants to contribute materially to the growth of the Company, thereby benefitting the Company’s stockholders, and will align the economic interests of the participants with those of the stockholders.
The Plan is a successor to the ADMA Biologics, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated (the “Prior Plan”). No additional grants shall be made under the Prior Plan after the Effective Date. Outstanding grants under the Prior Plan shall continue in effect according to their terms, consistent with the applicable terms of the Prior Plan.
Section 1. Definitions
The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below for purposes of the Plan:
(a) “Award” shall mean an Option, SAR, Stock Award, Stock Unit or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.
(b) “Award Agreement” shall mean the written agreement or statement that sets forth the terms and conditions of an Award, including all amendments thereto. The Committee may provide for the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper Award Agreements and the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper means for the acceptance thereof and actions thereunder by the Participant.
(c) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) “Cause” shall have the meaning given to that term in any written employment agreement, offer letter, consulting agreement or severance agreement between the Employer and the Participant, or if no such agreement exists or if such term is not defined therein, and unless otherwise defined in the Award Agreement, “Cause” shall mean a finding by the Committee of conduct involving one or more of the following: (i) the substantial and continuing failure of the Participant, after notice thereof, to render services to the Company or its Subsidiaries in accordance with the terms or requirements of his or her employment, engagement as a Non-Employee Director or a Key Advisor; (ii) disloyalty, gross negligence, willful misconduct, dishonesty or breach of fiduciary duty to the Company or a Subsidiary; (iii) the commission of an act of embezzlement or fraud; (iv) deliberate disregard of the rules or policies of the Company or a Subsidiary which results in direct or indirect loss, damage or injury to the Company or a Subsidiary; (v) the unauthorized disclosure of any trade secret or confidential information of the Company or a Subsidiary; or (vi) the Participant’s breach of any written non-competition, non-solicitation, invention assignment or confidentiality agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(e) “CEO” shall mean the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
(f) A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if:
(i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by a “person” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Voting Securities”); provided, however, that the following acquisitions of Voting Securities shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition by or from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) any acquisition by any underwriter in any firm commitment underwriting of securities to be issued by the Company, or (C) any acquisition by any corporation (or other entity) if, immediately following such acquisition, 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of common stock (or other equity unit) of such corporation (or other entity) and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation (or other entity), are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals or entities who, immediately prior to such
2
acquisition, were the beneficial owners of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock and the Voting Securities in substantially the same proportions, respectively, as their ownership immediately prior to the acquisition of the shares of Common Stock and Voting Securities; or
(ii) the consummation of the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or to a holding company of which the Company is a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary prior to such transaction; or
(iii) the consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company, other than a reorganization, merger or consolidation, which would result in the Voting Securities outstanding immediately prior to the transaction continuing to represent (whether by remaining outstanding or by being converted to voting securities of the surviving entity) 50% or more of the Voting Securities or the voting power of the voting securities of such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such transaction; or
(iv) the consummation of a plan of complete liquidation of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Award constitutes deferred compensation subject to section 409A of the Code and the Award provides for payment upon a Change in Control, then, for purposes of such payment provisions, no Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred upon an event described in items (i) – (iv) above unless the event would also constitute a change in ownership or effective control of, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of, the Company under section 409A of the Code.
(g) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(h) “Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board or another committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan. The Committee shall also consist of directors who are “non-employee directors” as defined under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and “independent directors,” as determined in accordance with the independence standards established by the stock exchange on which the Common Stock is at the time primarily traded.
(i) “Common Stock” shall mean common stock, without par value, of the Company.
(j) “Company” shall mean ADMA Biologics, Inc. and shall include its successors.
(k) “Disability” or “Disabled” shall mean, with respect to a Participant, unless otherwise set forth in the Award Agreement or other agreement between the Employer and the Participant that otherwise defines “disability”, that the Participant has been determined to be (1) disabled and entitled to receive benefits under the applicable Employer’s long-term disability plan and (2) disabled under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A 3(i)(4) or its successor. The date on which a Participant shall be deemed to have incurred a Disability shall be the first date both requirements are satisfied as determined by the Committee or its designee.
(l) “Dividend Equivalent” shall mean an amount determined by multiplying the number of shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock Unit or Other Stock-Based Award by the per-share cash dividend paid by the Company on its outstanding Common Stock, or the per-share Fair Market Value of any dividend paid on its outstanding Common Stock in consideration other than cash. If interest is credited on accumulated divided equivalents, the term “Dividend Equivalent” shall include the accrued interest.
(m) “Effective Date” shall mean June 21, 2022, subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders.
(n) “Employee” shall mean an employee of the Employer (including an officer or director who is also an employee), but excluding any person who is classified by the Employer as a “contractor” or “consultant,” no matter how characterized by the Internal Revenue Service, other governmental agency or a court. Any change of characterization of an individual by the Internal Revenue Service or any court or government agency shall have no effect upon the classification of an individual as an Employee for purposes of this Plan, unless the Committee determines otherwise.
(o) “Employed by, or providing service to, the Employer” shall mean employment or service as an Employee, Key Advisor or member of the Board (so that, for purposes of exercising Options and SARs and
3
satisfying conditions with respect to Stock Awards, Stock Units and Other Stock-Based Awards, a Participant shall not be considered to have terminated employment or service until the Participant ceases to be an Employee, Key Advisor or member of the Board), unless the Committee determines otherwise. If a Participant’s relationship is with a Subsidiary of the Company and that entity ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company, the Participant will be deemed to cease employment or service when the entity ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company, unless the Participant transfers employment or service to an Employer.
(p) “Employer” shall mean the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(q) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(r) “Exercise Price” shall mean the per share price at which shares of Common Stock may be purchased under an Option, as designated by the Committee.
(s) “Fair Market Value” shall mean:
(i) If the Common Stock is publicly traded, the Fair Market Value per share shall be determined as follows: (A) if the principal trading market for the Common Stock is a national securities exchange, the closing sales price during regular trading hours on the relevant date or, if there were no trades on that date, the latest preceding date upon which a sale was reported, or (B) if the Common Stock is not principally traded on any such exchange, the last reported sale price of a share of Common Stock during regular trading hours on the relevant date, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board;
(ii) If the Common Stock is not publicly traded or, if publicly traded, is not subject to reported transactions as set forth above, the Fair Market Value per share shall be determined by the Committee through any reasonable valuation method authorized under the Code.
(t) “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of an incentive stock option under section 422 of the Code.
(u) “Key Advisor” shall mean a consultant or advisor of the Employer.
(v) “Non-Employee Director” shall mean a member of the Board who is not an Employee.
(w) “Nonqualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is not intended to be taxed as an incentive stock option under section 422 of the Code.
(x) “Option” shall mean an option to purchase shares of Common Stock, as described in Section 6.
(y) “Other Stock-Based Award” shall mean any Award based on, measured by or payable in Common Stock (other than an Option, Stock Unit, Stock Award, or SAR), as described in Section 10.
(z) “Participant” shall mean an Employee, Key Advisor or Non-Employee Director designated by the Committee to participate in the Plan.
(aa) “Performance Objectives” shall mean the performance objectives established in the sole discretion of the Committee for Participants who are eligible to receive Awards under the Plan. Performance Objectives may be described in terms of Company-wide objectives or objectives that are related to the performance of the individual Participant or the Subsidiary, division, department or function within the Company or one of its Subsidiaries in which the Participant is employed. Performance Objectives may be measured on an absolute or relative basis. Relative performance may be measured by a group of peer companies or by a financial market index. Any Performance Objectives may include, but is not limited to: cash flow; cash flow from operations; earnings (including, but not limited to, gross earnings, operating earnings, earnings before interest and taxes. earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization); earnings per share, diluted or basic; earnings per share from continuing operations; net asset turnover; inventory turnover; bookings; backlog; capital expenditures; debt; debt reduction; working capital; return on investment; return on sales; net or gross sales; market share; economic value added; cost of capital; change in assets; expense reduction levels; productivity; delivery performance; safety record; stock price; return on equity; total stockholder return;
4
return on capital; return on assets or net assets; revenue; income or net income; gross income, operating income or net operating income; operating profit or net operating profit; gross margin, operating margin or profit margin; completion of acquisitions, business expansion, product diversification, new or expanded market penetration, and market share.
(bb) “Plan” shall mean this ADMA Biologics, Inc. 2022 Equity Compensation Plan, as in effect from time to time.
(cc) “Restriction Period” shall have the meaning given that term in Section 7(a).
(dd) “SAR” shall mean a stock appreciation right, as described in Section 9.
(ee) “Stock Award” shall mean an award of Common Stock, as described in Section 7.
(ff) “Stock Unit” shall mean an award of a phantom unit representing a share of Common Stock, as described in Section 8.
(gg) “Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” shall mean a corporation or other entity of which 50% or more of the Voting Securities or 50% or more of the equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.
(hh) “Substitute Awards” shall have the meaning given that term in Section 4(c).
Section 2. Administration
(a) Committee. The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Committee; provided. The Committee may delegate authority to one or more subcommittees, as it deems appropriate. Subject to compliance with applicable law and the applicable stock exchange rules, the Board, in its discretion, may perform any action of the Committee hereunder. To the extent that the Board, the Committee, a subcommittee or the CEO, as described below, administers the Plan, references in the Plan to the “Committee” shall be deemed to refer to the Board, the Committee or such subcommittee or the CEO.
(b) Delegation to CEO. Subject to compliance with applicable law and applicable stock exchange requirements, the Committee may delegate all or part of its authority and power to the CEO, as it deems appropriate, with respect to Awards to Employees or Key Advisors who are not executive officers or directors under section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(c) Committee Authority. The Committee shall have the sole authority to (i) determine the individuals to whom Awards shall be made under the Plan, (ii) determine the type, size, terms and conditions of the Awards to be made to each such individual, (iii) determine the time when the Awards will be made and the duration of any applicable exercise or restriction period, including the criteria for exercisability and the acceleration of exercisability, (iv) amend the terms of any previously issued Award, subject to the provisions of Section 17 below, and (v) deal with any other matters arising under the Plan.
(d) Committee Determinations. The Committee shall have full power and express discretionary authority to administer and interpret the Plan, to make factual determinations and to adopt or amend such rules, regulations, agreements and instruments for implementing the Plan and for the conduct of its business as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion. The Committee’s interpretations of the Plan and all determinations made by the Committee pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having any interest in the Plan or in any awards granted hereunder. All powers of the Committee shall be executed in its sole discretion, in the best interest of the Company, not as a fiduciary, and in keeping with the objectives of the Plan and need not be uniform as to similarly situated individuals.
(e) Indemnification. No member of the Committee or the Board, and no Employee of the Company shall be liable for any act or failure to act with respect to the Plan, except in circumstances involving his or her bad faith or willful misconduct, or for any act or failure to act hereunder by any other member of the Committee or Employee or by any agent to whom duties in connection with the administration of this Plan have been delegated. The Company shall indemnify members of the Committee and the Board and any
5
agent of the Committee or the Board who is an Employee of the Company or a Subsidiary against any and all liabilities or expenses to which they may be subjected by reason of any act or failure to act with respect to their duties on behalf of the Plan, except in circumstances involving such person’s bad faith or willful misconduct.
Section 3. Awards.
(a) General. Awards under the Plan may consist of Options as described in Section 6, Stock Awards as described in Section 7, Stock Units as described in Section 8, SARs as described in Section 9 and Other Stock-Based Awards as described in Section 10. All Awards shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and to such other terms and conditions consistent with this Plan as the Committee deems appropriate and as are specified in writing by the Committee to the individual in the Award Agreement. All Awards shall be made conditional upon the Participant’s acknowledgement, in writing or by acceptance of the Award, that all decisions and determinations of the Committee shall be final and binding on the Participant, his or her beneficiaries and any other person having or claiming an interest under such Award. Awards under a particular Section of the Plan need not be uniform as among the Participants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any dividends or Dividend Equivalents granted in connection with Awards under the Plan shall vest and be paid only if and to the extent the underlying Awards vest and are paid.
(b) Minimum Vesting. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, Awards granted under the Plan shall not vest over a period of less than one year from the date on which the Award is granted; provided that the following Awards shall not be subject to the foregoing minimum vesting requirement: any (i) Substitute Awards, (ii) Awards to Non-Employee Directors that vest on the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the date of grant and the next annual meeting of stockholders that is at least 50 weeks after the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting, and (iii) any additional Awards that the Committee may grant, up to a maximum of five percent (5%) of the available share reserve authorized for issuance under the Plan, subject to adjustments made in accordance with Section 4(e) below; provided, further, that the Committee may authorize acceleration of vesting of such Awards in the event of the Participant’s death or Disability, or the occurrence of a Change in Control as provided in Section 12.
Section 4. Shares Subject to the Plan
(a) Shares Authorized. Subject to adjustment as described in Section 4(e) below, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued or transferred under the Plan with respect to Awards shall be (i) 18,000,000 shares of Common Stock, plus (ii) up to 5,749,620 shares of Common Stock, which is the number of Shares that remained available for grants under the Prior Plan as of April 25, 2022 (which shall be reduced to reflect any awards granted under the Prior Plan between April 25, 2022 and the Effective Date). In addition, any shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding grants under the Prior Plan that terminate, expire or are canceled, forfeited, exchanged or surrendered without having been exercised, vested or paid under the Prior Plan after the Effective Date, shall be available for issuance under this Plan. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued or transferred under the Plan pursuant to Incentive Stock Options on and after the Effective Date shall not exceed 18,000,000.
(b) Source of Shares; Share Counting. Shares issued or transferred under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or reacquired shares of Common Stock, including shares purchased by the Company on the open market for purposes of the Plan. If (i) Options or SARs granted under the Plan, expire or are canceled, forfeited, exchanged or surrendered without having been exercised, or if any Stock Awards, Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Awards are forfeited, terminated or otherwise not paid in full, the shares subject to such Awards shall again be available for purposes of the Plan and (ii) after the Effective Date, options or stock appreciation rights granted under the Prior Plan, expire or are canceled, forfeited, exchanged or surrendered without having been exercised, or if any stock awards, stock units or other stock-based awards are forfeited, terminated or otherwise not paid in full, the shares subject to such Awards shall again be available for purposes of the Plan. If shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable under the Plan are surrendered in payment of the Exercise Price of an Option granted under the Plan or an option granted under the Prior Plan, then the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced only by the net number of shares actually issued by the Company upon such exercise and not by the gross number of shares as to which such option is exercised. Upon the exercise
6
of any SAR under the Plan or stock appreciation rights under the Prior Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by only by the net number of shares actually issued by the Company upon such exercise. If shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable under the Plan are withheld by the Company in satisfaction of the withholding taxes incurred in connection with the issuance, vesting or exercise of any Award made under the Plan or award made under the Prior Plan or the issuance of Common Stock thereunder, then the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the net number of shares issued, vested or exercised under such award, calculated in each instance after payment of such share withholding. To the extent any Awards made under the Plan or awards made under the Prior Plan are paid in cash, and not in shares of Common Stock, any shares previously subject to such awards shall again be available for issuance or transfer under the Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, if shares are repurchased by the Company on the open market with the proceeds of the Exercise Price of Options granted under the Plan or the proceeds of the exercise price of options granted under the Prior Plan, such shares may not again be made available for issuance under the Plan.
(c) Substitute Awards. Shares issued or transferred under Awards made pursuant to an assumption, substitution or exchange for previously granted awards of a company acquired by the Company in a transaction (“Substitute Awards”) shall not reduce the number of shares of Common Stock available under the Plan and available shares under a stockholder approved plan of an acquired company (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Plan’s share reserve (subject to applicable stock exchange listing and Code requirements).
(d) Limitations. Subject to adjustment as described in Section 4(e) below, the following Award limitations shall apply:
(i) For Options, SARs, Stock Awards, Stock Units and Other Stock-Based Awards (whether payable in Common Stock, cash or a combination of the two), the maximum number of shares of Common Stock for which such Awards may be made to any Employee or Key Advisor in any calendar year shall not exceed 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate.
(ii) the maximum aggregate grant date value of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards granted to any Non-Employee Director during any calendar year for services rendered as a Non-Employee Director, taken together with any cash fees earned by such Non-Employee Director for services rendered as a Non-Employee Director during the calendar year, shall not exceed $500,000 in total value. For purposes of this limit, the value of such Awards shall be calculated based on the grant date fair value of such Awards for financial reporting purposes.
(e) Adjustments. If there is any change in the number or kind of shares of Common Stock outstanding by reason of (i) a stock dividend, spinoff, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split or combination or exchange of shares, (ii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation, (iii) a reclassification or change in par value, or (iv) any other extraordinary or unusual event affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Company’s receipt of consideration, or if the value of outstanding shares of Common Stock is substantially reduced as a result of a spinoff or the Company’s payment of an extraordinary dividend or distribution, the maximum number and kind of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan, the maximum number and kind of shares of Common Stock for which any individual may receive Awards in any year, the kind and number of shares covered by outstanding Awards, the kind and number of shares issued and to be issued under the Plan, and the price per share or the applicable market value of such Awards shall be equitably adjusted by the Committee to reflect any increase or decrease in the number of, or change in the kind or value of, the issued shares of Common Stock to preclude, to the extent practicable, the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under the Plan and such outstanding Awards; provided, however, that any fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be eliminated. In addition, in the event of a Change in Control, the provisions of Section 12 of the Plan shall apply. Any adjustments to outstanding Awards shall be consistent with section 409A or 424 of the Code, to the extent applicable. The adjustments of Awards under this Section 4(e) shall include adjustment of shares, Exercise Price of Options, base amount of SARs, Performance Objectives or other terms and conditions, as the Committee deems appropriate. The Committee shall have the sole discretion and authority to determine what appropriate adjustments shall be made and any adjustments determined by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive.
7
Section 5. Eligibility for Participation
(a) Eligible Persons. All Employees and Non-Employee Directors shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. Key Advisors shall be eligible to participate in the Plan if the Key Advisors render bona fide services to the Employer, the services are not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and the Key Advisors do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.
(b) Selection of Participants. The Committee shall select the Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors to receive Awards and shall determine the number of shares of Common Stock subject to a particular Award in such manner as the Committee determines.
Section 6. Options
The Committee may grant Options to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor upon such terms as the Committee deems appropriate. The following provisions are applicable to Options:
(a) Number of Shares. The Committee shall determine the number of shares of Common Stock that will be subject to each Award of Options to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors.
(b) Grant of Options and Exercise Price.
(i) The Committee may grant Options in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or its parent or subsidiary corporation, as defined in section 424 of the Code. Nonqualified Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors.
(ii) The Exercise Price of Common Stock subject to an Option shall be determined by the Committee and shall be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Option is granted. However, an Incentive Stock Option may not be granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as defined in section 424 of the Code, unless the Exercise Price per share is not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.
(c) Option Term. The Committee shall determine the term of each Option. The term of any Option shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant. However, an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as defined in section 424 of the Code, may not have a term that exceeds five years from the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that on the last business day of the term of an Option (other than an Incentive Stock Option), the exercise of the Option is prohibited by applicable law, including a prohibition on purchases or sales of Common Stock under the Company’s insider trading policy, the term of the Option shall be extended for a period of 30 days following the end of the legal prohibition, unless the Committee determines otherwise and consistent with Section 409A of the Code.
(d) Exercisability of Options. Options shall become exercisable in accordance with such terms and conditions, consistent with the Plan, as may be determined by the Committee and specified in the Award Agreement. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 12, the Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any or all outstanding Options at any time for any reason.
(e) Awards to Non-Exempt Employees. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, Options granted to persons who are non-exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, may not be exercisable for at least six months after the date of grant (except that such Options may become exercisable, as determined by the Committee, upon the Participant’s death, Disability or retirement, or other circumstances permitted by applicable regulations).
(f) Termination of Employment or Service. Except as provided in the Award Agreement, an Option may only be exercised while the Participant is employed by, or providing services to, the Employer. The Committee shall determine in the Award Agreement under what circumstances and during what time periods a Participant may exercise an Option after termination of employment or service.
8
(g) Exercise of Options. A Participant may exercise an Option that has become exercisable, in whole or in part, by delivering a notice of exercise to the Company. The Participant shall pay the Exercise Price for an Option as specified by the Committee (i) in cash, by check or by wire transfer, (ii) unless the Committee determines otherwise, by delivering shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant and having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise at least equal to the Exercise Price or by attestation (on a form prescribed by the Committee) to ownership of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise at least equal to the Exercise Price, (iii) by payment through a broker in accordance with procedures permitted by Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, (iv) if permitted by the Committee, by withholding shares of Common Stock subject to the exercisable Option, which have a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price, or (v) by such other method as the Committee may approve. Shares of Common Stock used to exercise an Option shall have been held by the Participant for the requisite period of time necessary to avoid adverse accounting consequences to the Company with respect to the Option, unless the Committee determines otherwise. Payment for the shares to be issued or transferred pursuant to the Option, and any required withholding taxes, must be received by the Company by the time specified by the Committee depending on the type of payment being made, but in all cases prior to the issuance or transfer of such shares.
(h) Limits on Incentive Stock Options. Each Incentive Stock Option shall provide that, if the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year, under the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company or a parent or Subsidiary, exceeds $100,000, then the Option, as to the excess, shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option.
Section 7. Stock Awards
The Committee may issue or transfer shares of Common Stock to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor under a Stock Award, upon such terms as the Committee deems appropriate. The following provisions are applicable to Stock Awards:
(a) General Requirements. Shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to Stock Awards may be issued for consideration or for no consideration, and subject to restrictions or no restrictions, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, establish conditions under which restrictions on Stock Awards shall lapse over a period of time or according to such other criteria as the Committee deems appropriate, including, without limitation, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific Performance Objectives. The period of time during which the Stock Awards will remain subject to restrictions will be designated in the Award Agreement as the “Restriction Period.”
(b) Number of Shares. The Committee shall determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued or transferred pursuant to a Stock Award and the restrictions applicable to such shares.
(c) Requirement of Employment or Service. If the Participant ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer during a period designated in the Award Agreement as the Restriction Period, or if other specified conditions are not met, the Stock Award shall terminate as to all shares covered by the Award as to which the restrictions have not lapsed, and those shares of Common Stock must be immediately returned to the Company. The Committee may, however, provide for complete or partial exceptions to this requirement as it deems appropriate.
(d) Restrictions on Transfer and Legend on Stock Certificate. During the Restriction Period, a Participant may not sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the shares of a Stock Award except under Section 15 below. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Company will retain possession of certificates for shares of Stock Awards until all restrictions on such shares have lapsed. Each certificate for a Stock Award, unless held by the Company, shall contain a legend giving appropriate notice of the restrictions in the Award. The Participant shall be entitled to have the legend removed from the stock certificate covering the shares subject to restrictions when all restrictions on such shares have lapsed. The Committee may determine that the Company will not issue certificates for Stock Awards until all restrictions on such shares have lapsed, or the Company may issue non-certificated shares.
(e) Right to Vote and to Receive Dividends. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, during the Restriction Period, the Participant shall have the right to vote shares of Stock Awards and to receive any
9
dividends or other distributions paid on such shares, subject to any vesting and other restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee, including, without limitation, the achievement of specific Performance Objectives; provided, however, that dividends shall vest and be paid only if and to the extent that the underlying Stock Award vests, as determined by the Committee, and is paid.
(f) Lapse of Restrictions. All restrictions imposed on Stock Awards shall lapse upon the expiration of the applicable Restriction Period and the satisfaction of all conditions, if any, imposed by the Committee. The Committee may determine, as to any or all Stock Awards, that the restrictions shall lapse without regard to any Restriction Period.
Section 8. Stock Units
The Committee may grant Stock Units, each of which shall represent one hypothetical share of Common Stock, to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor upon such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate. The following provisions are applicable to Stock Units:
(a) Crediting of Units. Each Stock Unit shall represent the right of the Participant to receive a share of Common Stock or an amount of cash based on the value of a share of Common Stock, if and when specified conditions are met. All Stock Units shall be credited to bookkeeping accounts established on the Company’s records for purposes of the Plan.
(b) Terms of Stock Units. The Committee may grant Stock Units that vest and are payable if specified Performance Objectives or other conditions are met, or under other circumstances. Stock Units may be paid at the end of a specified performance period or other period, or payment may be deferred to a date authorized by the Committee. The Committee may accelerate vesting or payment, as to any or all Stock Units at any time for any reason. The Committee shall determine the number of Stock Units to be granted and the requirements applicable to such Stock Units.
(c) Requirement of Employment or Service. If the Participant ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer prior to the vesting of Stock Units, or if other conditions established by the Committee are not met, the Participant’s Stock Units shall be forfeited. The Committee may, however, provide for complete or partial exceptions to this requirement as it deems appropriate.
(d) Payment With Respect to Stock Units. Payments with respect to Stock Units shall be made in cash, Common Stock or any combination of the foregoing, as the Committee shall determine.
Section 9. Stock Appreciation Rights
The Committee may grant SARs to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor separately or in tandem with any Option. The following provisions are applicable to SARs:
(a) General Requirements. The Committee may grant SARs to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor separately or in tandem with any Option (for all or a portion of the applicable Option). Tandem SARs may be granted either at the time the Option is granted or at any time thereafter while the Option remains outstanding. The Committee shall establish the base amount of the SAR at the time the SAR is granted. The base amount of each SAR shall be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of grant of the SAR. The term of any SAR shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that on the last business day of the term of a SAR, the exercise of the SAR is prohibited by applicable law, including a prohibition on purchases or sales of Common Stock under the Company’s insider trading policy, the term shall be extended for a period of 30 days following the end of the legal prohibition, unless the Committee determines otherwise.
(b) Tandem SARs. In the case of tandem SARs, the number of SARs granted to a Participant that shall be exercisable during a specified period shall not exceed the number of shares of Common Stock that the Participant may purchase upon the exercise of the related Option during such period. Upon the exercise of an Option, the SARs relating to the Common Stock covered by such Option shall terminate. Upon the exercise of SARs, the related Option shall terminate to the extent of an equal number of shares of Common Stock.
(c) Exercisability. An SAR shall be exercisable during the period specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement and shall be subject to such vesting and other restrictions as may be specified in the
10
Award Agreement. The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any or all outstanding SARs at any time for any reason. SARs may only be exercised while the Participant is employed by, or providing service to, the Employer or during the applicable period after termination of employment or service as specified by the Committee. A tandem SAR shall be exercisable only during the period when the Option to which it is related is also exercisable.
(d) Grants to Non-Exempt Employees. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, SARs granted to persons who are non-exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, may not be exercisable for at least six months after the date of grant (except that such SARs may become exercisable, as determined by the Committee, upon the Participant’s death, Disability or retirement, or other circumstances permitted by applicable regulations).
(e) Value of SARs. When a Participant exercises SARs, the Participant shall receive in settlement of such SARs an amount equal to the value of the stock appreciation for the number of SARs exercised. The stock appreciation for an SAR is the amount by which the Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR exceeds the base amount of the SAR as described in subsection (a).
(f) Form of Payment. The appreciation in an SAR shall be paid in shares of Common Stock, cash or any combination of the foregoing, as the Committee shall determine. For purposes of calculating the number of shares of Common Stock to be received, shares of Common Stock shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the SAR.
Section 10. Other Stock-Based Awards
The Committee may grant Other Stock-Based Awards, which are awards (other than those described in Sections 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the Plan) that are based on or measured by Common Stock, to any Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor, on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Other Stock-Based Awards may be awarded subject to the achievement of Performance Objectives or other criteria or other conditions and may be payable in cash, Common Stock or any combination of the foregoing, as the Committee shall determine.
Section 11. Dividend Equivalents
The Committee may grant Dividend Equivalents in connection with Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Awards. Dividend Equivalents may be paid currently or accrued as contingent cash obligations and may be payable in cash or shares of Common Stock, and upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine; provided that Dividend Equivalents shall vest and be paid only if and to the extent the underlying Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Awards vest and are paid, as determined by the Committee. For the avoidance of doubt, no dividends or Dividend Equivalents will be granted in connection with Options or SARs.
Section 12. Consequences of a Change in Control
(a) Assumption of Outstanding Awards. Upon a Change in Control where the Company is not the surviving corporation (or survives only as a subsidiary of another corporation), all outstanding Awards that are not exercised or paid at the time of the Change in Control shall be assumed by, or replaced with grants that have comparable terms by, the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation). After a Change in Control, references to the “Company” as they relate to employment matters shall include the successor employer in the transaction, subject to applicable law.
(b) Vesting Upon Certain Terminations of Employment. Unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement, if a Change in Control occurs and Awards remain outstanding after the Change in Control (or are assumed by, or converted to similar awards with equivalent value as of the date of the Change in Control of, the surviving corporation (or a parent or Subsidiary of the surviving corporation)), and the Company or its successor terminates a Participant’s employment without Cause upon or within one year after, the Change in Control, the Participant’s outstanding Options and SARs shall vest and become exercisable, any restrictions on Stock Awards shall lapse and other Awards shall become payable. Awards that are based on Performance Objectives will vest and be payable in accordance with the terms set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
11
(c) Other Alternatives. If Awards are not assumed by, or replaced with grants that have comparable terms by, the surviving corporation, then in the event of a Change in Control, outstanding Options and SARs shall be fully exercisable, restrictions on outstanding Stock Awards shall lapse, and other Awards shall become payable upon the Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, after providing for the acceleration of such Options or SARs, the Committee may require that Participants surrender their outstanding Options and SARs for cancellation and the Participants shall receive one or more payments by the Company, in cash, Common Stock, or other property (including the property, if any, payable in the transaction), as determined by the Committee, in an amount equal to the amount, if any, by which the then Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Participant’s unexercised Options and SARs exceeds the Exercise Price. Without limiting the foregoing, if the per share Fair Market Value of the Common Stock does not exceed the per share Exercise Price of an Option or SAR, the Company shall not be required to make any payment to the Participant upon surrender of the Option or SAR. Any acceleration, surrender, termination, settlement, or conversion shall take place as of the date of the Change in Control or such other date as the Committee may specify.
Section 13. Deferrals
The Committee may permit or require a Participant to defer receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant in connection with any Award. If any such deferral election is permitted or required, the Committee shall establish rules and procedures for such deferrals and may provide for interest or other earnings to be paid on such deferrals. The rules and procedures for any such deferrals shall be consistent with applicable requirements of section 409A of the Code.
Section 14. Withholding of Taxes
(a) Required Withholding. All Awards under the Plan shall be subject to applicable federal (including FICA), state and local, foreign, or other tax withholding requirements. The Employer may require that the Participant or other person receiving Awards or exercising Awards pay to the Employer an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax withholding requirements with respect to such Awards, or the Employer may deduct from other wages and compensation paid by the Employer the amount of any withholding taxes due with respect to such Awards.
(b) Share Withholding. The Committee may permit or require the Employer’s tax withholding obligation with respect to Awards paid in Common Stock to be satisfied by having shares withheld up to an amount that does not exceed the Participant’s applicable withholding tax rate for federal (including FICA), state and local, foreign, or other tax liabilities. The Committee may, in its discretion, and subject to such rules as the Committee may adopt, allow Participants to elect to have such share withholding applied to all or a portion of the tax withholding obligation arising in connection with any particular Award. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, share withholding for taxes shall not exceed the Participant’s minimum applicable tax withholding amount.
Section 15. Transferability of Awards
(a) Nontransferability of Awards. Except as described in subsection (b) below, only the Participant may exercise rights under an Award during the Participant’s lifetime. A Participant may not transfer those rights except (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or (ii) pursuant to a “qualified domestic relations order” as defined in the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder.. When a Participant dies, the personal representative or other person entitled to succeed to the rights of the Participant may exercise such rights. Any such successor must furnish proof satisfactory to the Company of his or her right to receive the Award under the Participant’s will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution.
(b) Transfer of Nonqualified Options. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may provide, in an Award Agreement, that a Participant may transfer Nonqualified Options to family members, or one or more trusts or other entities for the benefit of or owned by family members, consistent with the applicable securities laws, according to such terms as the Committee may determine; provided that the Participant receives no consideration for the transfer of an Option and the transferred Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to the Option immediately before the transfer.
12
Section 16. Requirements for Issuance or Transfer of Shares
No Common Stock shall be issued or transferred in connection with any Award hereunder unless and until all legal requirements applicable to the issuance or transfer of such Common Stock have been complied with to the satisfaction of the Committee. The Committee shall have the right to condition any Award on the Participant’s undertaking in writing to comply with such restrictions on his or her subsequent disposition of the shares of Common Stock as the Committee shall deem necessary or advisable, and certificates representing such shares may be legended to reflect any such restrictions. Certificates representing shares of Common Stock issued or transferred under the Plan may be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems appropriate to comply with applicable laws, regulations and interpretations, including any requirement that a legend be placed thereon.
Section 17. Amendment and Termination of the Plan
(a) Amendment. The Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that the Board shall not amend the Plan without stockholder approval if such approval is required in order to comply with the Code or other applicable law, or to comply with applicable stock exchange requirements.
(b) No Repricing of Options or SARs. Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities or property), stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, change in control, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares of Common Stock or other securities, or similar transactions), the Company may not, without obtaining stockholder approval, (i) amend the terms of outstanding Options or SARs to reduce the Exercise Price of such outstanding Options or base price of such SARs, (ii) cancel outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for Options or SARs with an Exercise Price or base price, as applicable, that is less than the Exercise Price or base price of the original Options or SARs or (iii) cancel outstanding Options or SARs with an Exercise Price or base price, as applicable, above the current stock price in exchange for cash or other securities.
(c) Termination of Plan. The Plan shall terminate on the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of its Effective Date, unless the Plan is terminated earlier by the Board or is extended by the Board.
(d) Termination and Amendment of Outstanding Awards. A termination or amendment of the Plan that occurs after an Award is made shall not materially impair the rights of a Participant unless the Participant consents or unless the Committee acts under Section 18(f) below. The termination of the Plan shall not impair the power and authority of the Committee with respect to an outstanding Award. Whether or not the Plan has terminated, an outstanding Award may be terminated or amended under Section 18(f) below or may be amended by agreement of the Company and the Participant consistent with the Plan, provided that the Participant’s consent is not required if any termination or amendment to the Participant’s outstanding Award does not materially impair the rights or materially increase the obligations of the Participant.
Section 18. Miscellaneous
(a) Awards in Connection with Corporate Transactions and Otherwise. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to (i) limit the right of the Committee to make Awards under the Plan in connection with the acquisition, by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business or assets of any corporation, firm or association, including Awards to employees thereof who become Employees, or (ii) limit the right of the Company to grant Options or make other awards outside of the Plan. The Committee may make an Award to an employee of another corporation who becomes an Employee by reason of a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or property, reorganization or liquidation involving the Company, in substitution for an Option or stock award granted by such corporation. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may establish such terms and conditions of the new Awards as it deems appropriate, including setting the Exercise Price of Options or the base price of SARs at a price necessary to retain for the Participant the same economic value as the prior options or rights.
13
(b) Governing Document. The Plan shall be the controlling document. No other statements, representations, explanatory materials or examples, oral or written, may amend the Plan in any manner. The Plan shall be binding upon and enforceable against the Company and its successors and assigns.
(c) Funding of the Plan. The Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of assets to assure the payment of any Awards under the Plan.
(d) Rights of Participants. Nothing in the Plan shall entitle any Employee, Non-Employee Director, Key Advisor or other person to any claim or right to receive an Award under the Plan. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any individual any rights to be retained by or in the employ of the Employer or any other employment rights.
(e) No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. Except as otherwise provided under the Plan, the Committee shall determine whether cash, other awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
(f) Compliance with Law.
(i) The Plan, the exercise of Options and SARs and the obligations of the Company to issue or transfer shares of Common Stock under Awards shall be subject to all applicable laws and regulations, and to approvals by any governmental or regulatory agency as may be required. With respect to persons subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act, it is the intent of the Company that the Plan and all transactions under the Plan comply with all applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange Act. In addition, it is the intent of the Company that, to the extent applicable, Awards comply with the requirements of section 409A of the Code. To the extent that any legal requirement of section 16 of the Exchange Act or section 409A of the Code as set forth in the Plan ceases to be required under section 16 of the Exchange Act or section 409A of the Code, that Plan provision shall cease to apply. The Committee may revoke any Award if it is contrary to law or modify an Award to bring it into compliance with any valid and mandatory government regulation. The Committee may also adopt rules regarding the withholding of taxes on payments to Participants. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, agree to limit its authority under this Section.
(ii) The Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable. Each Award shall be construed and administered such that the Award either (A) qualifies for an exemption from the requirements of section 409A of the Code or (B) satisfies the requirements of section 409A of the Code. If an Award is subject to section 409A of the Code, (I) distributions shall only be made in a manner and upon an event permitted under section 409A of the Code, (II) payments to be made upon a termination of employment or service shall only be made upon a “separation from service” under section 409A of the Code, (III) unless the Award specifies otherwise, each installment payment shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of section 409A of the Code, and (IV) in no event shall a Participant, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year in which a distribution is made except in accordance with section 409A of the Code.
(iii) Any Award that is subject to section 409A of the Code and that is to be distributed to a Key Employee upon separation from service shall be administered so that any distribution with respect to such Award shall be postponed for six months following the date of the Participant’s separation from service, if required by section 409A of the Code. If a distribution is delayed pursuant to section 409A of the Code, the distribution shall be paid within 15 days after the end of the six-month period. If the Participant dies during such six-month period, any postponed amounts shall be paid within 90 days of the Participant’s death. The determination of Key Employees, including the number and identity of persons considered Key Employees and the identification date, shall be made by the Committee or its delegate each year in accordance with section 416(i) of the Code and the “specified employee” requirements of section 409A of the Code.
(iv) Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award agreement to the contrary, each Participant shall be solely responsible for the tax consequences of Awards under the Plan, and in no event shall the Company or any Subsidiary or affiliate of the Company have any responsibility or
14
liability if an Award does not meet any applicable requirements of section 409A of the Code. Although the Company intends to administer the Plan to prevent taxation under section 409A of the Code, the Company does not represent or warrant that the Plan or any Award complies with any provision of federal, state, local or other tax law.
(g) Beneficiary Designations. Subject to approval of the Committee from time to time, each Participant may name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of his or her death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall 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 Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate. Any payment made to a beneficiary under this Plan in good faith shall fully discharge the Company from all further obligations with respect to that payment.
(h) Nature of Payments. Unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement, Awards shall be special incentive payments to the Participant and shall not be taken into account in computing the amount of salary or compensation of the Participant for purposes of determining any pension, retirement, death or other benefit under (a) any pension, retirement, profit sharing, bonus, insurance, or other employee benefit plan of the Employer, except as such plan shall otherwise expressly provide, or (b) any agreement between (i) the Employer and (ii) the Participant, except as such agreement shall otherwise expressly provide.
(i) Military Service. Awards shall be administered in accordance with Section 414(u) of the Code and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994.
(j) Establishment of Subplans. The Board may from time to time establish one or more sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying applicable blue sky, securities or tax laws of various jurisdictions. The Board shall establish such sub-plans by adopting supplements to the Plan setting forth (i) such limitations on the Committee’s discretion under the Plan as the Board deems necessary or desirable and (ii) such additional terms and conditions not otherwise inconsistent with the Plan as the Board shall deem necessary or desirable. All supplements adopted by the Board shall be deemed to be part of the Plan, but each supplement shall apply only to Participants within the affected jurisdiction and the Employer shall not be required to provide copies of any supplement to Participants in any jurisdiction that is not affected.
(k) Cancellation and Rescission of Awards. Unless the Award Agreement specifies otherwise, the Committee may cancel, rescind, suspend, withhold, or otherwise limit or restrict any unexercised Award at any time if the Participant is not in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan or if the Participant ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer.
(l) Clawback Rights. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Committee may provide in any Award Agreement that if a Participant breaches any restrictive covenant agreement between the Participant and the Employer or otherwise engages in activities that constitute Cause either while employed by, or providing service to, the Employer or within the applicable period of time thereafter, all Awards held by the Participant shall terminate, and the Company may rescind any exercise of an Option or SAR and the vesting of any other Award and delivery of shares upon such exercise or vesting (including pursuant to dividends and Dividend Equivalents), as applicable, on such terms as the Committee shall determine. In the event of any such rescission, the Company shall have the right to require that (i) the Participant shall return to the Company the shares received upon the exercise of any Option or SAR and/or the vesting and payment of any other Award (including pursuant to dividends and Dividend Equivalents) or, (ii) if the Participant no longer owns the shares, the Participant shall pay to the Company the amount of any gain realized or payment received as a result of any sale or other disposition of the shares (or, in the event the Participant transfers the shares by gift or otherwise without consideration, the Fair Market Value of the shares on the date of the breach of the restrictive covenant agreement or activity constituting Cause), net of the price originally paid by the Participant for the shares. Payment by the Participant shall be made in such manner and on such terms and conditions as may be required by the Committee. The Employer shall be
15
entitled to set off against the amount of any such payment any amounts otherwise owed to the Participant by the Employer. In addition, all Awards under the Plan shall be subject to any applicable clawback or recoupment policies, share trading policies and other policies that may be implemented by the Board from time to time.
(m) Governing Law. The validity, construction, interpretation and effect of the Plan and Award Agreements issued under the Plan shall be governed and construed by and determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.
16