EX1A-6 MAT CTRCT 7 ea177248ex6-2_ingen.htm 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

Exhibit 6.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INGEN DYNAMICS INC.

 

2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section 1. Purpose 1
     
Section 2. Definitions 1
     
Section 3. Administration 5
     
(a) Authority of the Committee 5
(b) Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority 5
(c) Limitation of Liability 6
     
Section 4. Stock Subject to Plan 6
     
(a) Overall Number of Shares Available for Delivery 6
(b) Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards 6
(c) Availability of Shares Not Delivered under Awards 6
(d) Stock Offered 6
     
Section 5. Eligibility; Per Person Award Limitations 7
     
Section 6. Specific Terms of Awards 7
     
(a) Grant of Awards; Performance-Based Compensation; Section 409A 7
(b) Options 7
(c) Exercise Price 7
(d) Time and Method of Exercise 7
(e) ISOs 8
(f) Stock Appreciation Rights 8
(g) Right to Payment 8
(h) Rights Related to Options 8
(i) Right Without Option 9
(j) Terms 9
(k) Restricted Stock 9
(l) Phantom Stock 10
(m) Bonus Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations 11
(n) Dividend Equivalents 11
(o) Other Stock-Based Awards 11
     
Section 7. Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards 12
     
(a) Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards 12
(b) Term of Awards 12
(c) Form and Timing of Payment under Awards 12
(d) Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability 12
(e) Non-Competition Agreement 12
     
Section 8. Performance and Annual Incentive Awards 12
     
(a) Performance Conditions 12
(b) Performance Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees 13
(c) Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees 14
(d) Written Determinations 15
(e) Status of Section 8(b) and Section 8(c) Awards under Section 162(m) of the Code 15

 

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Section 9. Recapitalization or Reorganization 16
     
(a) Existence of Plans and Awards 16
(b) Subdivision or Consolidation of Shares 16
(c) Corporate Restructuring 17
(d) Change in Control Price 17
(e) Non-Option Awards 17
(f) Additional Issuances 17
(g) Restricted Stock Awards 18
     
Section 10. General Provisions 18
     
(a) Transferability 18
(b) Taxes 19
(c) Changes to this Plan and Awards 19
(d) Limitation on Rights Conferred under Plan 19
(e) Unfunded Status of Awards 20
(f) Nonexclusivity of this Plan 20
(g) Payments in the Event of Forfeitures; Fractional Shares 20
(h) Severability 20
(i) Compliance with Legal and Exchange Requirements 20
(j) Governing Law 21
(k) Conditions to Delivery of Stock 21
(l) Headings and Captions 21
(m) Plan Effective Date 21

  

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INGEN DYNAMICS INC.

 

2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Section 1. Purpose.

 

The purpose of the Ingen Dynamics Inc. Equity-Based Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to provide a means to assist Ingen Dynamics Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto (the “Company”), in attracting and retaining able persons to serve as employees, directors, officers, advisors and consultants of the Company. Through the Plan, these individuals, upon whom the responsibilities of the successful administration, management, operation and/or growth of the Company rests, and whose present and potential contributions to the welfare of the Company are of importance, can acquire and maintain ownership of Company stock, or receive grants or awards having a value which is tied to the performance of the Company’s stock, thereby strengthening their concern for the welfare of the Company and their desire to remain in the employ of, or to provide services for, the Company and aligning their interests with those of other stockholders of the Company.

 

This Plan provides for the granting of Incentive Stock Options, Options which do not constitute Incentive Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Stock Appreciation Rights, Phantom Stock Awards, other-stock based awards or any combination of the foregoing, as is best suited to the circumstances of the Company and the particular grantee at the time of such grant, as provided herein.

 

This Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders on April 20, 2023, to be effective as of that date.

 

Section 2. Definitions.

 

For purposes of this Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below, in addition to such terms defined in Section 1 hereof:

 

(a) “Annual Incentive Award” means a conditional right granted to a Participant under Section 8(c) hereof to receive a cash payment, Stock or other Award, pursuant to a determination to be made by the Committee, at its discretion, after the end of a specified fiscal year.

 

(b) “Award” means any Option, SAR (including Limited SAR), Restricted Stock Award, Phantom Stock Award, Stock granted as a bonus or in lieu of another award, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock-Based Award, Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award, together with any other right or interest granted to a Participant under this Plan.

 

(c) “Beneficiary” means one or more persons, trusts or other entities which have been designated by a Participant in his or her most recent written beneficiary designation filed with the Committee to receive the benefits specified under this Plan upon such Participant’s death or to which Awards or other rights are transferred if and to the extent permitted under Section 10(a) hereof. If, upon a Participant’s death, there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the term Beneficiary means the persons, trusts or other entities entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive such benefits.

 

(d) “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act and any successor to such Rule.

 

(e) “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

(f) “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in the state of California are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

 

 

 

(g) “Change in Control” means the first to occur after the date this Plan is adopted by the Board of any of the following events:

 

(i) The acquisition or the completion of a tender offer for beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of section 13(d)3 or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (each, a “Person”), of 35% or more of either (x) the then outstanding shares of Stock (the “Outstanding Stock”) or (y) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition by the Company, (B) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C) any acquisition by any Person pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of paragraph (iii) below; or

 

(ii) A majority of the members of the Board is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members constituting the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election; or

 

(iii) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or an acquisition of assets of another corporation (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company, or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or the corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership of the Company existed prior to the Business Combination and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2(g), in the event an Award issued under the Plan is subject to section 409A of the Code, then, in lieu of the foregoing definition and to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of section 409A of the Code, the definition of “Change in Control” for purposes of such Award shall be the definition provided for under section 409A of the Code and the regulations or other guidance issued thereunder.

 

(h) “Change in Control Price” means the amount calculated in accordance with Section 9 of this Plan.

 

(i) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.

 

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(j) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or a committee of two or more directors designated by the Board to administer this Plan or portions hereof; provided, however, that, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more directors, each of whom shall be (i) a “nonemployee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, (ii) an “outside director” as defined under section 162(m) of the Code, unless administration of this Plan by “outside directors” is not then required in order to qualify for tax deductibility under section 162(m) of the Code, and (iii) “independent” under any applicable listing requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Board shall have the authority to designate a separate committee of two or more directors to administer and grant awards under this Plan to members of the Board, and in the event such separate committee has been designated, any references to “Committee” contained herein shall be deemed to include such separate committee.

 

(k) “Covered Employee” means an Eligible Person who is a Covered Employee as specified in Section 8(e) of this Plan.

 

(l) “Disability” means, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, a physical or mental impairment of sufficient severity that either the Participant is unable to continue performing the duties he performed before such impairment or the Participant’s condition entitles him to disability benefits under any insurance or employee benefit plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries and that impairment or condition is cited by the Company as the reason for termination of the Participant’s employment or participation as a member of the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2(l), in the event an Award issued under the Plan is subject to section 409A of the Code, then, in lieu of the foregoing definition and to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of section 409A of the Code, the definition of “Disability” for purposes of such Award shall be the definition of “disability” provided for under section 409A of the Code and the regulations or other guidance issued thereunder.

 

(m) “Dividend Equivalent” means a right, granted to a Participant under Section 6(g), to receive cash or Stock equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock.

 

(n) “Eligible Person” means all officers and employees of the Company or of any Subsidiary, and other persons who provide services to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including directors of or consultants to the Company. An employee on leave of absence may be considered as still in the employ of the Company or a Subsidiary for purposes of eligibility for participation in this Plan (however, in the case of ISOs, only to the extent permitted under applicable law).

 

(o) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.

 

(p) “Fair Market Value” means, as of a particular date:

 

(i) If the shares of Stock are listed on any established national securities exchange, the closing sales price per share of Stock on the consolidated transaction reporting system for the principal securities exchange for the Stock on such date, or, if there shall have been no such sale so reported on that date, on the last preceding date on which such a sale was so reported,

 

(ii) If the shares of Stock are not so listed on an established national securities exchange but are quoted on the Nasdaq National Market System (or any successor thereof), the closing sales price per share of Stock on the Nasdaq National Market System (or any successor thereof) on such date, or, if there shall have been no such sale so reported on that date, on the last preceding date on which such a sale was so reported,

 

(iii) If the Stock is not so listed on an established national securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market System (or any successor thereof), the mean between the closing bid and asked price on such date, or, if there are no quotations available for such date, on the last preceding date on which such quotations shall be available, as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market, or, if not reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market, by Pink OTC Markets, Inc. (or any successor thereof), or

 

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(iv) If none of (i) through (iii) above is applicable, such amount as may be determined by the Committee, in good faith, to be the fair market value per share of Stock.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan or in any applicable Award agreement, as of any particular day, Fair Market Value shall be determined, for purposes of Incentive Stock Option grants, in accordance with the requirements of section 422 of the Code (and the regulations issued thereunder), and for purposes of grants of any Awards intended to be in compliance with section 409A of the Code, in accordance with section 409A of the Code and Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iv) of the regulations issued thereunder or any successor provisions thereto.

 

(q) “Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means any Option intended to be and designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

 

(r) “Independent Third Party” means an individual or entity independent of the Company having experience in providing investment banking or similar appraisal or valuation services and with expertise generally in the valuation of securities or other property for purposes of this Plan. The Committee may utilize one or more Independent Third Parties.

 

(s) “Limited SAR” means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(g) hereof.

 

(t) “Option” means a right, granted to a Participant under Section 6(b) hereof, to purchase Stock at a specified price during specified time periods.

 

(u) “Other Stock-Based Awards” means Awards granted to a Participant under Section 6(o) hereof.

 

(v) “Participant” means a person who has been granted an Award under this Plan which remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.

 

(w) “Performance Award” means a right, granted to a Participant under Section 8 hereof, to receive a cash payment or Stock based upon performance criteria specified by the Committee.

 

(x) “Phantom Stock” means a right, granted to a Participant under Section 6(l) hereof, to receive Stock, cash or a combination thereof at the end of a specified vesting period.

 

(y) “Qualified Member” means a member of the Committee who is a “Non-Employee Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3), an “outside director” within the meaning of regulation 1.162-27 under section 162(m) of the Code, and “independent” within the meaning of any applicable listing requirements.

 

(z) “Restricted Stock” means Stock granted to a Participant under Section 6(k) hereof, that is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.

 

(aa) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under section 16 of the Exchange Act, as from time to time in effect and applicable to this Plan and Participants.

 

(bb) “Rule 701” means Rule 701, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act, as from time to time in effect and applicable to the Plan and Participants.

 

(cc) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor law, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

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(dd) “Stock” means the Company’s Common Stock, par value $.00001 per share, and such other securities as may be substituted (or resubstituted) for Stock pursuant to Section 9.

 

(ee) “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(f) hereof.

 

(ff) “Subsidiary” means (i) any corporation in which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, stock possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote of such corporation or more than 50% of the total value of shares of all classes of stock of such corporation, and (ii) any other business organization, regardless of form, in which the Company possesses, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the total combined equity interests of such organization.

 

Section 3. Administration.

 

(a) Authority of the Committee

 

This Plan shall be administered by the Committee except to the extent the Board elects to administer this Plan, in which case, or in the event no Committee has been established or none is then in existence, all of the references herein to the “Committee” shall be deemed to include references to the “Board.” Subject to the express provisions of the Plan and Rule 16b-3, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to (i) adopt, amend, and rescind administrative and interpretive rules and regulations relating to the Plan; (ii) determine the Eligible Persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted; (iii) determine the amount of cash and the number of shares of Stock or any combination thereof that shall be the subject of each Award; (iv) determine the terms and provisions of each Award agreement (which need not be identical), including provisions defining or otherwise relating to (A) the term and the period or periods and extent of exercisability of the Options, (B) the extent to which the transferability of shares of Stock issued or transferred pursuant to any Award is restricted, (C) the effect of termination of employment of a Participant on the Award, and (D) the effect of approved leaves of absence (consistent with any applicable regulations of the Internal Revenue Service); (v) accelerate the time of exercisability of any Option that has been granted; (vi) construe the respective Award agreements and the Plan; (vii) make determinations of the Fair Market Value of the Stock pursuant to the Plan; (viii) delegate its duties under the Plan to such agents as it may appoint from time to time, provided that the Committee may not delegate its duties with respect to making Awards to, or otherwise with respect to Awards granted to, Eligible Persons who are subject to section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or section 162(m) of the Code; (ix) subject to ratification by the Board, terminate, modify, or amend the Plan; and (x) make all other determinations, perform all other acts, and exercise all other powers and authority necessary or advisable for administering the Plan, including the delegation of those ministerial acts and responsibilities as the Committee deems appropriate. Subject to Rule 16b-3 and section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, in any Award, or in any Award agreement in the manner and to the extent it deems necessary or desirable to carry the Plan into effect, and the Committee shall be the sole and final judge of that necessity or desirability. The determinations of the Committee on the matters referred to in this Section 3(a) shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.

 

(b) Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority

 

At any time that a member of the Committee is not a Qualified Member, any action of the Committee relating to an Award granted or to be granted to a Participant who is then subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company, or relating to an Award intended by the Committee to qualify as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder, may be taken either (i) by a subcommittee, designated by the Committee, composed solely of two or more Qualified Members, or (ii) by the Committee but with each such member who is not a Qualified Member abstaining or recusing himself or herself from such action; provided, however, that, upon such abstention or recusal, the Committee remains composed solely of two or more Qualified Members. Such action, authorized by such a subcommittee or by the Committee upon the abstention or recusal of such non-Qualified Member(s), shall be the action of the Committee for purposes of this Plan. Any action of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its Subsidiaries, stockholders, Participants, Beneficiaries, and transferees under Section 10(a) hereof or other persons claiming rights from or through a Participant. The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. The Committee may delegate to officers or managers of the Company or any Subsidiary, or committees thereof, the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to perform such functions, including administrative functions, as the Committee may determine, to the extent that such delegation will not result in the loss of an exemption under Rule 16b-3(d)(1) for Awards granted to Participants subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company and will not cause Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code to fail to so qualify. The Committee may appoint agents to assist it in administering this Plan.

 

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(c) Limitation of Liability

 

The Committee and each member thereof shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or employee of the Company or a Subsidiary, the Company’s legal counsel, independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of this Plan. Members of the Committee and any officer or employee of the Company or a Subsidiary acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to this Plan, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be indemnified and held harmless by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.

 

Section 4. Stock Subject to Plan.

 

(a) Overall Number of Shares Available for Delivery

 

Subject to adjustment in a manner consistent with any adjustment made pursuant to Section 9, the total number of shares of Stock reserved and available for delivery in connection with Awards under this Plan, from inception, is one million (1,000,000), all of which may be granted, among other awards, as Incentive Stock Options if permitted by law.

 

(b) Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards

 

No Award may be granted if (i)(A) the number of shares of Stock to be delivered in connection with such Award or, (B) in the case of an Award relating to shares of Stock but settleable only in cash (such as cash-only SARs), the number of shares to which such Award relates exceeds (ii) the number of shares of Stock remaining available under this Plan minus the number of shares of Stock issuable in settlement of or relating to then-outstanding Awards. The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards) and make adjustments if the number of shares of Stock actually delivered differs from the number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award.

 

(c) Availability of Shares Not Delivered under Awards

 

Shares of Stock subject to an Award under this Plan that expire or are canceled, forfeited, settled in cash or otherwise terminated without a delivery of shares to the Participant, including (i) the number of shares withheld in payment of any exercise or purchase price of an Award or taxes relating to Awards, and (ii) the number of shares surrendered in payment of any exercise or purchase price of an Award or taxes relating to any Award, will again be available for Awards under this Plan, except that if any such shares could not again be available for Awards to a particular Participant under any applicable law or regulation, such shares shall be available exclusively for Awards to Participants who are not subject to such limitation.

 

(d) Stock Offered

 

The shares to be delivered under the Plan shall be made available from (i) authorized but unissued shares of Stock, (ii) Stock held in the treasury of the Company, or (iii) previously issued shares of Stock reacquired by the Company, including shares purchased on the open market, in each situation as the Board or the Committee may determine from time to time at its sole option.

 

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Section 5. Eligibility; Per Person Award Limitations.

 

Awards may be granted under this Plan only to Eligible Persons. In each fiscal year during any part of which this Plan is in effect, a Covered Employee may not be granted Options or SARs relating to more than 1,000,000 shares of Stock, subject to adjustment in a manner consistent with any adjustment made pursuant to Section 9, and in the case of Performance Awards intended to comply with the requirements of section 162(m) of the Code which have an aggregate value of more than $10,000 (provided that if such Performance Awards involve the issuance of shares of Stock, said aggregate value shall be based on the Fair Market Value of such shares at the time of grant of such Performance Award).

 

Section 6. Specific Terms of Awards.

 

(a) Grant of Awards; Performance-Based Compensation; Section 409A

 

Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6. In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 10(c)), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of employment by the Participant and terms permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her Award. Except in cases in which the Committee is authorized to require other forms of consideration under this Plan, or to the extent other forms of consideration must be paid to satisfy the requirements of the Delaware General Corporation Law, no consideration other than services may be required for the grant (but not the exercise) of any Award. The Committee shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive, amend or modify, at any time, any term or condition of an Award or an Award agreement that is not mandatory under this Plan; provided, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan:

 

(i) To the extent that the Committee determines on the grant date that an Award shall qualify as “other performance-based compensation” for purposes of section 162(m) of the Code, the Board and the Committee shall not exercise any discretion to accelerate, waive, amend or modify any term or condition of such Award or Award agreement that would cause such Award to fail to qualify as “other performance-based compensation”; and

 

(ii) It is intended that all Awards be exempt from the application of section 409A of the Code. Accordingly, the Board and the Committee shall not exercise any discretion to accelerate, waive, amend or modify any term or condition of such Award or Award agreement that would cause such Award to become subject to section 409A of the Code.

 

(b) Options

 

The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the terms and conditions set forth in Sections 6(c), (d) and (e) hereof.

 

(c) Exercise Price

 

Each Option agreement shall state the exercise price per share of Stock (the “Exercise Price”); provided, however, that the Exercise Price per share of Stock subject to an Option shall not be less than the greater of (A) the par value per share of the Stock or (B) 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock on the date of grant of the Option or in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an individual who owns stock possessing more than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation or its parent or any Subsidiary 110% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock on the date of grant.

 

(d) Time and Method of Exercise

 

The Committee shall determine the time or times at which or the circumstances under which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the methods by which such exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid, the form of such payment, including without limitation cash, Stock, other Awards or awards granted under other plans of the Company or any Subsidiary, or other property (including notes or other contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred basis), and the methods by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, including, but not limited to, the delivery of Restricted Stock subject to Section 6(k). In the case of an exercise whereby the Exercise Price is paid with Stock, such Stock shall be valued as of the date of such of exercise in accordance with the applicable law.

 

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(e) ISOs

 

The terms of any ISO granted under this Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of section 422 of the Code. Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of this Plan relating to ISOs (including any SAR in tandem therewith) shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under this Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify either this Plan or any ISO under section 422 of the Code, unless the Participant has first requested the change that will result in such disqualification. ISOs shall not be granted more than ten years after the earlier of the adoption of this Plan or the approval of this Plan by the Company’s stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock subject to an ISO and the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares of stock of any parent or Subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) subject to any other incentive stock option (within the meaning of section 422 of the Code)) of the Company or a parent or Subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) that first becomes purchasable by a Participant in any calendar year may not (with respect to that Participant) exceed $100,000, or such other amount as may be prescribed under section 422 of the Code or applicable regulations or rulings from time to time. As used in the previous sentence, Fair Market Value shall be determined as of the date the incentive stock options are granted. Failure to comply with this provision shall not impair the enforceability or exercisability of any Option, but shall cause the excess amount of shares to be reclassified in accordance with the Code.

 

(f) Stock Appreciation Rights

 

The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Participants on the terms and conditions set forth in Sections 6(g), (h), (i) and (j) hereof.

 

(g) Right to Payment

 

An SAR shall confer on the Participant to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of exercise (or, in the case of a “Limited SAR,” the Fair Market Value determined by reference to the Change in Control Price, as defined under Section 2(h) hereof) over (ii) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of grant or such other “Base Price” as may be determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement .

 

(h) Rights Related to Options

 

A Stock Appreciation Right granted pursuant to an Option shall entitle a Participant, upon exercise, to surrender that Option or any portion thereof, to the extent unexercised, and to receive payment of an amount computed pursuant to Subsection 6(h)(ii). That Option shall then cease to be exercisable to the extent surrendered. Stock Appreciation Rights granted in connection with an Option shall be subject to the terms of the Award agreement governing the Option, which shall comply with the following provisions in addition to those applicable to Options:

 

(i) A Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an Option shall be exercisable only at such time or times and only to the extent that the related Option is exercisable and shall not be transferable except to the extent that the related Option is transferable.

 

(ii) Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right related to an Option, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company of an amount determined by multiplying:

 

1.the difference obtained by subtracting the exercise price of a share of Stock specified in the related Option from the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right, by

 

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2.the number of shares as to which that Stock Appreciation Right has been exercised.

 

(i) Right Without Option

 

A Stock Appreciation Right granted independent of an Option shall be exercisable as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award agreement governing the Stock Appreciation Right, which Award agreement shall comply with the following provisions:

 

(i) Each Award agreement shall state the total number of shares of Stock to which the Stock Appreciation Right relates.

 

(ii) Each Award agreement shall state the time or periods in which the right to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right or a portion thereof shall vest and the number of shares of Stock for which the right to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right shall vest at each such time or period.

 

(iii) Each Award agreement shall state the date at which the Stock Appreciation Rights shall expire if not previously exercised.

 

(iv) Each Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle a Participant, upon exercise thereof, to receive payment of an amount determined by multiplying:

 

(a) the difference obtained by subtracting the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right from the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of that Stock Appreciation Right, by

 

(b) the number of shares as to which the Stock Appreciation Right has been exercised.

 

(j) Terms

 

The Committee shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter, the time or times at which and the circumstances under which an SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, method by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, whether or not an SAR shall be in tandem or in combination with any other Award, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR. Limited SARs, which may only be exercised in connection with a Change in Control or other event as specified by the Committee, may be granted on such terms, not inconsistent with this Section 6(j), as the Committee may determine. SARs and Limited SARs may be either freestanding or in tandem with other Awards.

 

(k) Restricted Stock

 

The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i) Grant and Restrictions

 

Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine at the date of grant or thereafter. Except to the extent restricted under the terms of this Plan and any Award agreement relating to the Restricted Stock, a Participant granted Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights of a stockholder, including the right to vote the Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends thereon (subject to any mandatory reinvestment or other requirement imposed by the Committee). During the restricted period applicable to the Restricted Stock, the Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant.

 

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(ii) Forfeiture

 

Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of employment during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Restricted Stock.

 

(iii) Certificates for Stock

 

Restricted Stock granted under this Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Committee may require that such certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, that the Company retain physical possession of the certificates, and that the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Stock.

 

(iv) Dividends and Splits

 

As a condition to the grant of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee may require or permit a Participant to elect that any cash dividends paid on a share of Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Stock or applied to the purchase of additional Awards under this Plan. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Stock distributed in connection with a Stock split or Stock dividend, and other property distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Stock or other property has been distributed.

 

(l) Phantom Stock

 

The Committee is authorized to grant Phantom Stock to Participants, which are rights to receive Stock, cash, or a combination thereof at the end of a specified vesting period, subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(i) Vesting and Settlement

 

A Participant shall vest in an Award of Phantom Stock upon expiration of the vesting period specified by the Committee, which vesting conditions may be based on the achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements. As soon as reasonably practicable after the lapse of the vesting period and before the later of (x) the end of the calendar year which includes the date on which the vesting period lapsed and (y) the 15th day of the third calendar month following the date on which the vesting period lapsed, the Company shall deliver Stock or cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the specified number of shares of Stock covered by the Phantom Stock, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee at the date of grant or thereafter.

 

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(ii) Forfeiture

 

Upon termination of employment during the applicable vesting period (as provided in the Award agreement evidencing the Phantom Stock), all Phantom Stock that is at that time subject to vesting shall be forfeited; provided that, subject to Sections 6(a)(ii) and 6(a)(iii), the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that forfeiture conditions relating to Phantom Stock shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Phantom Stock.

 

(iii) Dividend Equivalents

 

At the date of grant, the Committee shall specify that Dividend Equivalents, if any, on the specified number of shares of Stock covered by an Award of Phantom Stock be either (A) paid with respect to such Phantom Stock on the dividend payment date in cash or in shares of unrestricted Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, or (B) automatically deemed reinvested in additional Phantom Stock covered by the Award.

 

(m) Bonus Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations

 

The Committee is authorized to grant Stock as a bonus, or to grant Stock or other Awards in lieu of obligations to pay cash or deliver other property under this Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements; provided that, in the case of Participants subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act, the amount of such grants remains within the discretion of the Committee to the extent necessary to ensure that acquisitions of Stock or other Awards are exempt from liability under section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and from coverage under section 409A of the Code. Stock or Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to such other terms as shall be determined by the Committee. In the case of any grant of Stock to an officer of the Company or a Subsidiary in lieu of salary or other cash compensation, the number of shares granted in place of such compensation shall be reasonable, as determined by the Committee.

 

(n) Dividend Equivalents

 

The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to a Participant, entitling the Participant to receive cash or Stock equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock. Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award. Except Dividend Equivalents deemed reinvested in Phantom Stock pursuant to Section 6(l)(iii), Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed no later than the 15th day of the third month following the fiscal year in which the Board declares the dividend.

 

(o) Other Stock-Based Awards

 

The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of this Plan, including without limitation convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Stock, purchase rights for Stock and Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or any other factors designated by the Committee. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards; provided, that any Award granted under this Section 6(o) shall satisfy the requirements for exemption from the application of section 409A of the Code, and the Board and the Committee shall not exercise any discretion to accelerate, waive, amend or modify any term or condition of such Award or Award agreement that would cause such Award to become subject to section 409A of the Code. Stock delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(o) shall be purchased for such consideration (which shall not be less than Fair Market Value), paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, as the Committee shall determine. Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other Award under this Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 6(o).

 

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Section 7. Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards.

 

(a) Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards

 

Awards granted under this Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, any Subsidiary, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary, or any other right of a Participant to receive payment from the Company or any Subsidiary. Such additional, tandem and substitute or exchange Awards may be granted at any time. If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award, the Committee shall require the surrender of such other Award in consideration for the grant of the new Award. In addition, Awards may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company or any Subsidiary, in which the value of Stock subject to the Award is equivalent in value to the cash compensation (for example, Phantom Stock or Restricted Stock), or in which the exercise price, grant price or purchase price of the Award in the nature of a right that may be exercised is equal to the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock minus the value of the cash compensation surrendered.

 

(b) Term of Awards

 

The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee; provided that in no event shall the term of any Option or SAR exceed a period of ten years (or such shorter term as may be required in respect of an ISO under section 422 of the Code).

 

(c) Form and Timing of Payment under Awards

 

Subject to the terms of this Plan and any applicable Award agreement, payments to be made by the Company or a Subsidiary upon the exercise of an Option or other Award or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine, including without limitation cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, and shall be made in a single payment or transfer. The settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Stock in connection with such settlement, in the discretion of the Committee or upon occurrence of one or more specified events (in addition to a Change in Control), provided such acceleration would not cause such Award to violate the requirements of section 409A of the Code. This Plan shall not constitute an “employee benefit plan” for purposes of section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

(d) Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability

 

It is the intent of the Company that the grant of any Awards to or other transaction by a Participant who is subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be exempt from section 16 pursuant to an applicable exemption (except for transactions acknowledged in writing to be non-exempt by such Participant). Accordingly, if any provision of this Plan or any Award agreement does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 as then applicable to any such transaction, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 so that such Participant shall avoid liability under section 16(b).

 

(e) Non-Competition Agreement

 

Each Participant to whom an Award is granted under this Plan may be required to agree in writing as a condition to the granting of such Award not to engage in conduct in competition with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for a period after the termination of such Participant’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries as determined by the Committee.

 

Section 8. Performance and Annual Incentive Awards.

 

(a) Performance Conditions

 

The right of a Participant to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Committee. The Committee may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions, and may exercise its discretion to reduce or increase the amounts payable under any Award subject to performance conditions, except as limited under Sections 8(b) and 8(c) hereof in the case of a Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under section 162(m) of the Code.

 

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(b) Performance Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees

 

If the Committee determines that a Performance Award to be granted to an Eligible Person who is designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of section 162(m) of the Code, the grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Award may be contingent upon achievement of pre-established performance goals and other terms set forth in this Section 8(b).

 

(i) Performance Goals Generally

 

The performance goals for such Performance Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria or individual performance criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 8(b). Performance goals shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder (including Treasury Regulation §1.162-27 and successor regulations thereto), including the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in the achievement of performance goals being “substantially uncertain.” The Committee may determine that such Performance Awards shall be granted, exercised and/or settled upon achievement of any one performance goal or that two or more of the performance goals must be achieved as a condition to grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Awards. Performance goals may differ for Performance Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants.

 

(ii) Business Criteria

 

One or more of the following business criteria for the Company, on a consolidated basis, and/or for specified Subsidiaries or business or geographical units of the Company (except with respect to the total stockholder return and earnings per share criteria), shall be used by the Committee in establishing performance goals for such Performance Awards: (1) earnings per share; (2) increase in revenues; (3) increase in cash flow; (4) increase in cash flow return; (5) return on net assets, return on assets, return on investment, return on capital, or return on equity; (6) economic value added; (7) operating margin or contribution margin; (8) net income; pretax earnings; pretax earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization; pretax operating earnings after interest expense and before incentives, service fees, and extraordinary or special items; or operating income; (9) total stockholder return; (10) debt reduction; and (11) any of the above goals determined on an absolute or relative basis or as compared to the performance of a published or special index deemed applicable by the Committee including, but not limited to, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index or a group of comparable companies. One or more of the foregoing business criteria shall also be exclusively used in establishing performance goals for Annual Incentive Awards granted to a Covered Employee under Section 8(c) hereof.

 

(iii) Individual Performance Criteria

 

The grant, exercise and/or settlement of Performance Awards may also be contingent upon individual performance goals established by the Committee. If required for compliance with section 162(m) of the Code, such criteria shall be approved by the stockholders of the Company.

 

(iv) Performance Period; Timing for Establishing Performance Goals

 

Achievement of performance goals in respect of such Performance Awards shall be measured over a performance period (the Performance Period”) of at least 12 months and up to ten years, as specified by the Committee. Performance goals shall be established not later than 90 days after the beginning of any Performance Period applicable to such Performance Awards, or at such other date as may be required or permitted for “performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code.

 

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(v) Performance Award Pool

 

The Committee may establish a Performance Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of measuring performance of the Company in connection with Performance Awards. The amount of such Performance Award pool shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the criteria set forth in Section 8(b)(ii) and (iii) hereof during the Performance Period, as specified by the Committee in accordance with Section 8(b)(iv) hereof. The Committee may specify the amount of the Performance Award pool as a percentage of any of such criteria, a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or as another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such criteria.

 

(vi) Settlement of Performance Awards; Other Terms

 

After the end of each Performance Period, the Committee shall determine the amount, if any, of (A) the Performance Award pool, and the maximum amount of potential Performance Award payable to each Participant in the Performance Award pool, or (B) the amount of potential Performance Award otherwise payable to each Participant. Unless the Committee determines otherwise at or after the grant date, as soon as reasonably practicable after the date on which the Performance Period has lapsed and the Committee has made a determination under clause (A) or (B) above, and before the later of (x) the end of the calendar year which includes the date on which the Performance Period has lapsed and the Committee has made such determination and (y) the 15th day of the third calendar month following the date on which the Performance Period has lapsed and the Committee has made such determination, the Company shall deliver to each Participant Stock or cash equal to the Participant’s Performance Award, if any. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with such Performance Awards, but may not exercise discretion to increase any such amount payable to a Covered Employee in respect of a Performance Award subject to this Section 8(b). The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Performance Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of employment by the Participant prior to the end of a Performance Period or settlement of Performance Awards.

 

(c) Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees

 

If the Committee determines that an Annual Incentive Award to be granted to an Eligible Person who is designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of section 162(m) of the Code, the grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Annual Incentive Award shall be contingent upon achievement of pre-established performance goals and other terms set forth in this Section 8(c).

 

(i) Annual Incentive Award Pool

 

The Committee may establish an Annual Incentive Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of measuring performance of the Company in connection with Annual Incentive Awards. The amount of such Annual Incentive Award pool shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set forth in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof during the given Performance Period, as specified by the Committee in accordance with Section 8(b)(iv) hereof. The Committee may specify the amount of the Annual Incentive Award pool as a percentage of any of such business criteria, a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or as another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such business criteria.

 

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(ii) Potential Annual Incentive Awards

 

Not later than the end of the 90th day of each fiscal year, or at such other date as may be required or permitted in the case of Awards intended to be “performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall determine the Eligible Persons who will potentially receive Annual Incentive Awards, and the amounts potentially payable thereunder, for that fiscal year, either out of an Annual Incentive Award pool established by such date under Section 8(c)(i) hereof or as individual Annual Incentive Awards. In the case of individual Annual Incentive Awards intended to qualify under section 162(m) of the Code, the amount potentially payable shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set forth in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof in the given performance year, as specified by the Committee; in other cases, such amount shall be based on such criteria as shall be established by the Committee. In all cases, the maximum Annual Incentive Award of any Participant shall be subject to the limitation set forth in Section 5 hereof.

 

(iii) Payout of Annual Incentive Awards

 

After the end of each fiscal year, the Committee shall determine the amount, if any, of (A) the Annual Incentive Award pool, and the maximum amount of potential Annual Incentive Award payable to each Participant in the Annual Incentive Award pool, or (B) the amount of potential Annual Incentive Award otherwise payable to each Participant. The Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the amount payable to any Participant as a final Annual Incentive Award shall be increased or reduced from the amount of his or her potential Annual Incentive Award, including a determination to make no final Award whatsoever, but may not exercise discretion to increase any such amount in the case of an Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under section 162(m) of the Code. As soon as reasonably practicable after the date on which the fiscal year has ended and the Committee has made a determination under Clause (A) or (B) above, and before the later of (x) the end of the calendar year which includes the date on which the fiscal year has ended and the Committee has made such determination and (y) the 15th day of the third calendar month following the date on which the fiscal year has ended and the Committee has made such determination, the Company shall deliver to each Participant Stock or cash equal to the Participant’s Annual Incentive Award, if any. The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which an Annual Incentive Award shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of employment by the Participant prior to the end of a fiscal year or settlement of such Annual Incentive Award.

 

(d) Written Determinations

 

All determinations by the Committee as to the establishment of performance goals, the amount of any Performance Award pool or potential individual Performance Awards and as to the achievement of performance goals relating to Performance Awards under Section 8(b), and the amount of any Annual Incentive Award pool or potential individual Annual Incentive Awards and the amount of final Annual Incentive Awards under Section 8(c), shall be made in writing in the case of any Award intended to qualify under section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee may not delegate any responsibility relating to such Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards.

 

(e) Status of Section 8(b) and Section 8(c) Awards under Section 162(m) of the Code

 

It is the intent of the Company that Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards under Sections 8(b) and 8(c) hereof granted to persons who are designated by the Committee as likely to be Covered Employees within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder (including Treasury Regulation §1.162-27 and successor regulations thereto) shall, if so designated by the Committee, constitute “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, the terms of Sections 8(b), (c), (d) and (e), including the definitions of Covered Employee and other terms used therein, shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, because the Committee cannot determine with certainty whether a given Participant will be a Covered Employee with respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term Covered Employee as used herein shall mean only a person designated by the Committee, at the time of grant of Performance Awards or an Annual Incentive Award, who is likely to be a Covered Employee with respect to that fiscal year. If any provision of this Plan as in effect on the date of adoption or any agreements relating to Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards that are designated as intended to comply with section 162(m) of the Code does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of section 162(m) of the Code or regulations thereunder, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.

 

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Section 9. Recapitalization or Reorganization.

 

(a) Existence of Plans and Awards

 

The existence of this Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of or affecting Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.

 

(b) Subdivision or Consolidation of Shares

 

The terms of an Award and the number of shares of Stock authorized pursuant to Section 4 for issuance under the Plan shall be subject to adjustment from time to time, in accordance with the following provisions:

 

(i) If at any time, or from time to time, the Company shall subdivide as a whole (by reclassification, by a Stock split, by the issuance of a distribution on Stock payable in Stock, or otherwise) the number of shares of Stock then outstanding into a greater number of shares of Stock, then (A) the maximum number of shares of Stock available for the Plan as provided in Section 4 shall be increased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of shares of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any Award shall be increased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the exercise price) for each share of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be reduced proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.

 

(ii) If at any time, or from time to time, the Company shall consolidate as a whole (by reclassification, reverse Stock split, or otherwise) the number of shares of Stock then outstanding into a lesser number of shares of Stock, (A) the maximum number of shares of Stock available for the Plan as provided in Section 4 shall be decreased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of shares of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any Award shall be decreased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the exercise price) for each share of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be increased proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.

 

(iii) Whenever the number of shares of Stock subject to outstanding Awards and the price for each share of Stock subject to outstanding Awards are required to be adjusted as provided in this Section 9(b), the Committee shall promptly prepare a notice setting forth, in reasonable detail, the event requiring adjustment, the amount of the adjustment, the method by which such adjustment was calculated, and the change in price and the number of shares of Stock, other securities, cash, or property purchasable subject to each Award after giving effect to the adjustments. The Committee shall promptly give each Participant such a notice.

 

(iv) Adjustments under Subsections 9(b)(i) and (ii) shall be made by the Committee, and its determination as to what adjustments shall be made and the extent thereof shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional interest shall be issued under the Plan on account of any such adjustments.

 

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(c) Corporate Restructuring

 

If the Company recapitalizes, reclassifies its capital stock, or otherwise changes its capital structure (a “recapitalization”), the number and class of shares of Stock covered by an Option theretofore granted shall be adjusted so that such Option shall thereafter cover the number and class of shares of stock and securities to which the holder would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the recapitalization if, immediately prior to the recapitalization, the holder had been the holder of record of the number of shares of Stock then covered by such Option and the share limitations provided in Sections 4 and 5 shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with the recapitalization. Upon a Change in Control the Committee, shall fully accelerate the forfeiture provisions associated with all outstanding Awards and, acting in its sole discretion without the consent or approval of any holder, effect one of the following alternatives with respect to Options: (1) accelerate the time at which all Options then outstanding may be exercised so that such Options may be exercised in full for a limited period of time on or before a specified date (before or after such Change in Control) fixed by the Committee, after which specified date all unexercised Options and all rights of holders thereunder shall terminate, (2) require the mandatory surrender to the Company of all of the outstanding Options held by such holders (irrespective of whether such Options are then exercisable under the provisions of this Plan) as of a date, before such Change in Control, specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel such Options and pay to each holder an amount of cash per share equal to the excess, if any, of the amount calculated in Section 9(d) (the “Change in Control Price”) of the shares subject to such Option over the exercise price(s) under such Options for such shares, or (3) allow for the conversion of Options into options to purchase a security of a successor to the Company.

 

(d) Change in Control Price

 

The “Change in Control Price” shall equal the amount determined in clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v), whichever is applicable, as follows: (i) the per share price offered to holders of the same class of Stock of the Company in any such merger or consolidation, (ii) the per share value of the Stock immediately before the Change in Control without regard to assets sold in the Change in Control and assuming the Company has received the consideration paid for the assets in the case of a sale of the assets, (iii) the amount distributed per share of Stock in a dissolution transaction, (iv) the price per share offered to holders of the same class of Stock of the Company in any tender offer or exchange offer whereby a Change in Control takes place, or (v) if such Change in Control occurs other than pursuant to a tender or exchange offer, the fair market value per share of the shares into which such Options being surrendered are exercisable, as determined by the Committee as of the date determined by the Committee to be the date of cancellation and surrender of such Options. In the event that the consideration offered to stockholders of the Company in any transaction described in this Section 9(d) or Section 9(c) above consists of anything other than cash, the Committee shall determine the fair cash equivalent of the portion of the consideration offered which is other than cash.

 

(e) Non-Option Awards

 

In the event of changes in the outstanding Stock by reason of recapitalization, reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, combinations, exchanges or other relevant changes in capitalization occurring after the date of the grant of any Award and not otherwise provided for by this Section 9, any outstanding Awards and any agreements evidencing such Awards shall be subject to adjustment by the Committee at its discretion as to the number and price of shares of Stock or other consideration subject to such Awards. In the event of any such change in the outstanding Stock, the aggregate number of shares available under this Plan may be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive.

 

(f) Additional Issuances

 

Except as hereinbefore expressly provided, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefore, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per share, if applicable.

 

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(g) Restricted Stock Awards

 

Plan provisions to the contrary notwithstanding, with respect to any Restricted Stock Awards outstanding at the time a Change in Control as described in Section 2(g) occurs, all Stock awarded to the holder pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award shall fully vest and, upon such vesting, all restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock Award shall terminate as of such date.

 

Section 10. General Provisions.

 

(a) Transferability

 

(i) Permitted Transferees

 

The Committee may, in its discretion, permit a Participant to transfer all or any portion of an Award or authorize all or a portion of such Awards to be granted to an Eligible Person to be on terms which permit transfer by such Participant; provided that, in either case the transferee or transferees must be any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, in each case with respect to the Participant, any person sharing the Participant’s household (other than a tenant or employee of the Company), a trust in which these persons have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Participant) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Participant) own more than fifty percent of the voting interests (collectively, “Permitted Transferees”); provided further that, (X) there may be no consideration for any such transfer and (Y) subsequent transfers of Awards transferred as provided above shall be prohibited except subsequent transfers back to the original holder of the Award and transfers to other Permitted Transferees of the original holder. Agreements evidencing Awards with respect to which such transferability is authorized at the time of grant must be approved by the Committee, and must expressly provide for transferability in a manner consistent with this Subsection 10(a)(i).

 

(ii) Domestic Relations Orders

 

An Award may be transferred, to a Permitted Transferee, pursuant to a domestic relations order entered or approved by a court of competent jurisdiction upon delivery to the Company of written notice of such transfer and a certified copy of such order.

 

(iii) Other Transfers

 

Except as expressly permitted by Subsections 10(a)(i) and 10(a)(ii), Awards shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10, an Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

(iv) Effect of Transfer

 

Following the transfer of any Award as contemplated by Subsections 10(a)(i), 10(a)(ii) and 10(a)(iii), (A) such Award shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer, provided that the term “Participant” shall be deemed to refer to the Permitted Transferee, the recipient under a qualified domestic relations order, the estate or heirs of a deceased Participant, or other transferee, as applicable, to the extent appropriate to enable the Participant to exercise the transferred Award in accordance with the terms of this Plan and applicable law and (B) the provisions of the Award relating to exercisability hereof shall continue to be applied with respect to the original Participant and, following the occurrence of any such events described therein the Awards shall be exercisable by the Permitted Transferee, the recipient under a qualified domestic relations order, the estate or heirs of a deceased Participant, or other transferee, as applicable, only to the extent and for the periods that would have been applicable in the absence of the transfer.

 

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(v) Procedures and Restrictions

 

Any Participant desiring to transfer an Award as permitted under Subsections 10(a)(i), 10(a)(ii) or 10(a)(iii) shall make application therefore in the manner and time specified by the Committee and shall comply with such other requirements as the Committee may require to assure compliance with all applicable securities laws. The Committee shall not give permission for such a transfer if (A) it would give rise to short-swing liability under section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or (B) it may not be made in compliance with all applicable federal, state and foreign securities laws.

 

(vi) Registration

 

To the extent the issuance to any Permitted Transferee of any shares of Stock issuable pursuant to Awards transferred as permitted in this Section 10(a) is not registered pursuant to the effective registration statement of the Company generally covering the shares to be issued pursuant to this Plan to initial holders of Awards, the Company shall not have any obligation to register the issuance of any such shares of Stock to any such transferee.

 

(b) Taxes

 

The Company and any Subsidiary is authorized to withhold from any Award granted, or any payment relating to an Award under this Plan, including from a distribution of Stock, amounts of withholding and other taxes due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award. This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Stock or other property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant’s tax obligations, either on a mandatory or elective basis in the discretion of the Committee.

 

(c) Changes to this Plan and Awards

 

The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate this Plan or the Committee’s authority to grant Awards under this Plan without the consent of stockholders or Participants, except that any amendment or alteration to this Plan, including any increase in any share limitation, shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders not later than the annual meeting next following such Board action if such stockholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock may then be listed or quoted, and the Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other such changes to this Plan to stockholders for approval; provided that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Board action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award theretofore granted and any Award agreement relating thereto, except as otherwise provided in this Plan; provided that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Committee action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under such Award.

 

(d) Limitation on Rights Conferred under Plan

 

Neither this Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ or service of the Company or a Subsidiary, (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate any Eligible Person’s or Participant’s employment or service at any time, (iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under this Plan or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and employees, or (iv) conferring on a Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until the Participant is duly issued or transferred shares of Stock in accordance with the terms of an Award.

 

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(e) Unfunded Status of Awards

 

This Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for certain incentive awards.

 

(f) Nonexclusivity of this Plan

 

Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including incentive arrangements and awards which do not qualify under section 162(m) of the Code. Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed to prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from taking any corporate action which is deemed by the Company or such Subsidiary to be appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on this Plan or any Award made under this Plan. No employee, beneficiary or other person shall have any claim against the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of any such action.

 

(g) Payments in the Event of Forfeitures; Fractional Shares

 

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event of a forfeiture of an Award with respect to which a Participant paid cash or other consideration to the Company in exchange for such Award, the Participant shall be repaid the amount of such cash or other consideration. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan or any Award. 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.

 

(h) Severability

 

If any provision of this Plan is held to be illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof, but such provision shall be fully severable and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein. If any of the terms or provisions of this Plan or any Award agreement conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (as those terms or provisions are applied to Eligible Persons who are subject to section 16(b) of the Exchange Act) or section 422 of the Code (with respect to Incentive Stock Options), then those conflicting terms or provisions shall be deemed inoperative to the extent they so conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (unless the Board or the Committee, as appropriate, has expressly determined that the Plan or such Award should not comply with Rule 16b-3) or section 422 of the Code. With respect to Incentive Stock Options, if this Plan does not contain any provision required to be included herein under section 422 of the Code, that provision shall be deemed to be incorporated herein with the same force and effect as if that provision had been set out at length herein; provided, further, that, to the extent any Option that is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option cannot so qualify, that Option (to that extent) shall be deemed an Option not subject to section 422 of the Code for all purposes of the Plan.

 

(i) Compliance with Legal and Exchange Requirements.

 

The Plan, the granting and exercising of Awards thereunder, and any obligations of the Company under the Plan, shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any regulatory or governmental agency as may be required, and to any rules or regulations of any exchange on which the Stock is listed. The Company, in its discretion, may postpone the granting and exercising of Awards, the issuance or delivery of shares of Stock under any Award or any other action permitted under the Plan to permit the Company, with reasonable diligence, to complete such stock exchange listing or registration or qualification of such shares or other required action under any federal or state law, rule, or regulation and may require any Participant to make such representations and furnish such information as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of shares of Stock in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations. The Company shall not be obligated by virtue of any provision of the Plan to recognize the exercise of any Award or to otherwise sell or issue shares of Stock in violation of any such laws, rules, or regulations, and any postponement of the exercise or settlement of any Award under this provision shall not extend the term of such Awards. Neither the Company nor its directors or officers shall have any obligation or liability to a Participant with respect to any Award (or shares of Stock issuable thereunder) (i) that shall lapse because of such postponement or (ii) for any failure to comply with the requirements of any applicable law, rules or regulations, including, but not limited to, any failure to comply with the requirements of section 409A of the Code.

 

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(j) Governing Law

 

All questions arising with respect to the provisions of the Plan and Awards shall be determined by application of the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law provisions thereof, except to the extent Delaware law is preempted by federal law. The obligation of the Company to sell and deliver Stock hereunder is subject to applicable federal and state laws and to the approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale or delivery of such Stock.

 

(k) Conditions to Delivery of Stock

 

Nothing herein or in any Award granted hereunder or any Award agreement shall require the Company to issue any shares with respect to any Award if that issuance would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, constitute a violation of the Securities Act or any similar or superseding statute or statutes, any other applicable statute or regulation, or the rules of any applicable securities exchange or securities association, as then in effect. At the time of any exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or at the time of any grant of a Restricted Stock Award or Phantom Stock Award payable in Stock, the Company may, as a condition precedent to the exercise of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right or settlement of any Restricted Stock Award or Phantom Stock Award payable in Stock, require from the Participant (or in the event of his death, his legal representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees) such written representations, if any, concerning the holder’s intentions with regard to the retention or disposition of the shares of Stock being acquired pursuant to the Award and such written covenants and agreements, if any, as to the manner of disposal of such shares as, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, may be necessary to ensure that any disposition by that holder (or in the event of the holder’s death, his legal representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees) will not involve a violation of the Securities Act or any similar or superseding statute or statutes, any other applicable state or federal statute or regulation, or any rule of any applicable securities exchange or securities association, as then in effect.

 

(l) Headings and Captions

 

The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of this Plan and shall not be employed in the construction of this Plan.

 

(m) Plan Effective Date

 

This Plan has been adopted by the Board effective as of April 20, 2023.

 

 

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