EX-10.26 3 tcbk-20191231xex1026tr.htm EX-10.26 Document

        Exhibit 10.26
TRICO BANCSHARES
2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

1.
PURPOSES.
(a) Eligible Award Recipients. The persons eligible to receive Awards are the Employees, Directors and Consultants of the Company and its Affiliates.
(b) Available Awards. The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which eligible recipients of Awards may be given an opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock through the granting of the following Awards: (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonstatutory Stock Options, (iii) Performance Awards, (iv) Restricted Stock, (v) Restricted Stock Unit Awards, and (vi) Stock Appreciation Rights.
(c) General Purpose. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of the group of persons eligible to receive Awards, to secure and retain the services of new members of this group and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and its Affiliates.
(d) Establishment. This Plan was adopted by the Board on April 16, 2019 and shall become effective on the date that it is approved by the Company’s shareholders (the “Effective Date”), unless sooner terminated by the Board.
 
2.
DEFINITIONS.
(a) “Affiliate” means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, whether now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code.
(b) “Award” means any right granted under the Plan, including an Option, a Performance Award, Restricted Stock, a Restricted Stock Unit Award, and a Stock Appreciation Right.
(c) “Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of an Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Award grant. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(d) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) “Capitalization Adjustment” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(a).
(f) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events with respect to the Company:
(i) Merger: A merger into or consolidation with another corporation, or merger of another corporation into the Company or any Subsidiary, and as a result of which less than 50% of the combined voting power of the resulting corporation immediately after the merger or consolidation is held in the same proportion by persons who were shareholders of the Company or any Subsidiary immediately before the merger or consolidation;
(ii) Acquisition of Significant Share Ownership: One person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company or any Subsidiary (this constitutes acquisition of “Effective Control”). No Change in Control shall occur if additional voting shares are acquired by a person or persons who possessed Effective Control prior to acquiring additional shares. This subsection (ii) shall not apply to beneficial ownership of voting shares held in a fiduciary capacity by an entity of which the Company or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly beneficially owns 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities, or voting shares held by an employee benefit plan maintained for the benefit of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s employees.
(iii) Change in Board Composition: A majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company or any Subsidiary is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company or any Subsidiary before the date of the appointment or election, in each case other than in connection with a threatened proxy contest or a similar action. This subparagraph shall only apply with respect to the Company if no other corporation is a majority shareholder of the Company.
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(iv) Disposition of Securities: A sale or other disposition of at least ninety percent (90%) of the outstanding securities of the Company;
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Plan, the definition of Change in Control (or any analogous term) in an individual written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant shall supersede the foregoing definition with respect to Awards subject to such agreement (it being understood, however, that if no definition of Change in Control or any analogous term is set forth in such an individual written agreement, the foregoing definition shall apply). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the holders of Common Stock immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company immediately following such transaction or series of transactions and (ii) to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred under the Plan with respect to any Award that constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code only if a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company shall also be deemed to have occurred under Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of this definition of Change in Control, the term “person” shall not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company.
(g) “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.
(h) “Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(i) “Committee” means a committee of two or more members of the Board appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 3(b).
(j) “Company” means TriCo Bancshares, a California corporation.
(k) “Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, (i) engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and who is compensated for such services or (ii) serving as a member of the Board of Directors of an Affiliate and who is compensated for such services. However, the term “Consultant” shall not include Directors who are not compensated by the Company for their services as Directors, and the payment of a director’s fee by the Company for services as a Director shall not cause a Director to be considered a “Consultant” for purposes of the Plan.
 
(l) “Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. A change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, shall not terminate a Participant’s Continuous Service. For example, a change in status from an Employee of the Company to a Consultant of an Affiliate or a Director shall not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in the Plan to the contrary, unless (i) otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or (ii) following the date of grant of an Award, determined otherwise by the Board with respect to any Participant who is then an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act or by the chief executive officer of the Company with respect to any other Participant, in the event that a Participant terminates his or her service with the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, the Participant shall cease vesting in any of his or her Awards as of such date of termination, regardless of whether the Participant continues his or her service in the capacity of a Director or Consultant without interruption or termination. The Committee or the chief executive officer of the Company, in that party’s sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered interrupted in the case of any leave of absence approved by that party, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal leave. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a leave of absence shall be treated as Continuous Service for purposes of vesting in an Award only to such extent as may be provided in the Company’s leave of absence policy or in the written terms of the Participant’s leave of absence.
(m) “Director” means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.
(n) “Disability means the permanent and total disability of a person within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
(o) “Effective Date has the meaning set forth in Section 1(d).
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(p) “Employee” means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate. Service as a Director or payment of a director’s fee by the Company or an Affiliate shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company or an Affiliate.
(q) “Entity” means a corporation, partnership or other entity.
(r) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(s) “Exchange Act Person” means any natural person, Entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act), except that “Exchange Act Person” shall not include (A) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (B) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (C) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (D) an Entity Owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of stock of the Company.
(t) “Exercise Pricemeans, (i) with respect to any Option, the per share price at which a holder of such Option may purchase shares issuable upon exercise of such Award, and (ii) with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right, the base price per share of such Stock Appreciation Right.
(u) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined as follows:
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or in the absence of reported sales on such date, the closing sales price on the immediately preceding date on which sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in the Common Stock) on the last market trading day prior to the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable.
(ii) if the Common Stock is publicly traded but not listed or traded on any of the markets or exchanges described in subsection (i), the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such date as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable.
(iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee based upon an independent appraisal in compliance with Section 409A of the Code or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, in compliance with Section 422 of the Code.
(v) “Incentive Compensation” means annual cash bonus and any Award.
(w) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(x) “Non-Employee Director” means a Director who either (i) is not a current Employee or Officer of the Company or its parent or a subsidiary, does not receive compensation (directly or indirectly) from the Company or its parent or a subsidiary for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (“Regulation S-K”)), does not possess an interest in any other transaction as to which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K and is not engaged in a business relationship as to which disclosure would be required under Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule 16b-3.
(y) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
(z) “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
(aa) “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.
(bb) “Option Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and an Optionholder evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
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(cc) “Optionholder” means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Option.
(dd) “Own,” “Owned,” “Owner,” “Ownership” A person or Entity shall be deemed to “Own,” to have “Owned,” to be the “Owner” of, or to have acquired “Ownership” of securities if such person or Entity, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting, with respect to such securities.
(ee) “Parent” means any parent corporation of the Company, whether now or hereafter existing, as such term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(ff) “Participant” means a person to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Award.
(gg) “Performance Award” means a right to receive shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 7(a).
(hh) “Performance Period” means the one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more performance goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to and the payment of a Performance Award.
(ii) “Plan” means this TriCo Bancshares 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.
(jj) “Restricted Stock” means a grant or sale of shares of Common Stock to a Participant subject to a Risk of Forfeiture.
(kk) “Restricted Stock Award” means a right to receive shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 7(b).
(ll) “Restricted Stock Unit Award” means a right to receive shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 7(c).
(mm) “Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted Stock Unit Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Unit Award grant.
(nn) “Risk of Forfeiture” means a limitation on the right of the Participant to retain Restricted Stock, including a right in the Company to reacquire shares of Restricted Stock at less than their then Fair Market Value, because of the occurrence or non-occurrence of specified events or conditions.
(oo) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.
(pp) “Section 16 Officer” means any officer of the Company whom the Board has determined is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, whether or not such individual is a Section 16 Officer at the time the determination to recoup compensation is made.
(qq) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(rr) “Stock Appreciation Right” means a right to receive the appreciation on Common Stock that is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 7(d).
 
(ss) “Stock Appreciation Right Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock Appreciation Right evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Appreciation Right grant. Each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(tt) “Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, (i) any corporation of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, Owned by the Company, and (ii) any partnership in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or capital contribution) of more than fifty percent (50%).
(uu) “Ten Percent Shareholder” means a person who Owns (or is deemed to Own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of
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the Company or of any of its Affiliates. Whether a person is a Ten Percent Shareholder shall be determined with respect to an Option based on the facts existing immediately prior to the grant date of the Option.
 
3.
ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Administration by Committee or Board. The Plan shall be administered by a Committee. The Board, in its sole discretion, may exercise any authority of the Committee under the Plan at any time, and in such instances references herein to the Committee shall refer to the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan. The Plan shall be administered, to the extent applicable, in accordance with Rule 16b-3.
(b) The Committee. The Committee shall be comprised of two (2) or more Directors who are not Employees. It is intended that each Committee member shall satisfy the requirements for (i) an “independent director” for purposes of the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Compensation and Management Succession Committee Charter (or any successor or replacement charter), (ii) an “independent director” under rules adopted by the NASDAQ Stock Market, and (iii) a “Non-Employee Director” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise, subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith by the Committee with respect to the Plan or any Award thereunder.
(c) Authority. Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Committee (subject to any restrictions on the authority delegated to it by the Board), shall have the power and authority, without limitation:
(i) to select those Consultants, Employees and Directors who shall be Participants;
(ii) to determine whether and to what extent Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Awards, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Unit Awards or a combination of any of the foregoing, are to be granted hereunder to Participants;
(iii) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(iv) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of each Award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, (1) the restrictions applicable to Performance Awards, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units Awards and the conditions under which restrictions applicable to such Performance Awards, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall lapse, (2) the performance goals and periods applicable to Awards, (3) the Exercise Price of each Option and each Stock Appreciation Rights or the purchase price of any other Award, (4) the vesting schedule and terms applicable to each Award, (5) the number of shares of Common Stock or amount of cash or other property subject to each Award and (6) subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (to the extent applicable) and to Capitalization Adjustments, any amendments to the terms and conditions of outstanding Awards, including, but not limited to, extending the exercise period of such Awards and, subject to Section 4(d), accelerating the vesting and/or payment schedules of such Awards);
(v) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, which shall govern all written instruments evidencing Awards;
(vi) to determine the Fair Market Value in accordance with the terms of the Plan;
(vii) to determine the duration and purpose of leaves of absence which may be granted to a Participant without constituting termination of the Participant’s service or employment for purposes of Awards granted under the Plan;
(viii) to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, regulations, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time to time deem advisable;
(ix) to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of, and supply or correct omissions in, the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan (and any Award Agreement relating thereto), and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan and to exercise all powers and authorities either specifically granted under the Plan or necessary and advisable in the administration of the Plan; and
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(x) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable non-United States laws or for qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable non-United States laws, which rules and regulations may be set forth in an appendix or appendixes to the Plan.
(d) Repricing. Subject to Section 11, neither the Board nor the Committee shall have the authority to reprice or cancel and regrant any Award at a lower exercise, base or purchase price or cancel any Award with an exercise, base or purchase price in exchange for cash, property or other Awards without first obtaining the approval of the Company’s shareholders.
(e) Decisions Conclusive. All decisions made by the Committee or the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company and the Participants.
(f) Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Affiliates.
(g) Governance. Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, any action of the Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall be taken by a majority vote at a meeting at which a quorum is duly constituted or unanimous written consent of the Committee’s members.
  
4.
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
(a) Share Reserve. Subject to the provisions of Section 11(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Awards shall not exceed in the aggregate 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock. Subject to the provisions of Section 11(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall be 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock. Subject to Section 4(b), the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by: (i) one (1) share for each share of Common Stock issued pursuant to an Option granted under Section 6; (ii) the total number of Stock Appreciation Rights issued pursuant to Section 7(d) that are exercised, including any shares of Common Stock underlying such Awards that are not actually issued to the Participant as the result of a net settlement; (iii) two (2) shares for each share of Common Stock issued pursuant to a Performance Award under Section 7(a), a Restricted Stock award under Section 7(b), or a Restricted Stock Unit Award under Section 7(c); and (iv) any shares of Common Stock used to pay any exercise price or tax withholding obligation with respect to any Award. Any Award settled in cash shall not be counted as shares of Common Stock for any purpose under this Plan.
(b) Reversion of Shares to the Share Reserve. If any Award under the Plan expires, or is terminated, surrendered or forfeited, in whole or in part, the unissued Common Stock covered by such Award shall again be available for the grant of Awards under the Plan. If shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan are repurchased by, or are surrendered or forfeited to the Company at no more than cost, such shares of Common Stock shall again be available for the grant of Awards under the Plan. Any shares of Common Stock repurchased by the Company with cash proceeds from the exercise of Options shall not be added back to the pool of shares available for grant under the Plan set forth in Section 4(a) above. To the extent there is issued a share of Common Stock pursuant to an Award that counted as two (2) shares against the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4(a) and such share of Common Stock again becomes available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to this Section 4(b), then the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall increase by two (2) shares.
(c) Source of Shares. The shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or reacquired shares, bought on the market or otherwise.
(d) Minimum Vesting Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan except for Section 11(c) of the Plan, any Awards granted under the Plan (other than such Awards representing a maximum of five percent (5%) of the shares reserved for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof) shall be granted subject to a minimum vesting period of at least twelve (12) months.
(e) Substitute Awards in Corporate Transactions. Awards may be issued in connection with a merger or acquisition. An Award granted in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a corporation or other entity acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or with which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries combines by merger or otherwise shall not reduce the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance pursuant to Awards under the Plan. The terms and conditions of any such Awards may vary from the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan to the extent the Committee at the time of grant may deem appropriate, subject to applicable laws. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee may grant Awards under the Plan to an employee or director of another corporation who becomes eligible, in accordance with the terms of this Plan, to receive Awards hereunder by reason of any such corporate transaction in substitution for awards previously granted by such corporation
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or entity to such person. The terms and conditions of the substitute Awards may vary from the terms and conditions that would otherwise be required by the Plan solely to the extent the Committee deems necessary for such purpose. or the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. Shares of Common Stock underlying a forfeited substitute Award shall not again be available for Awards under the Plan.

5.
ELIGIBILITY.
(a) Eligibility for Specific Awards. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any provision in the Plan to the contrary, Employees, Directors and Consultants of a Parent shall not be eligible to receive any Awards under the Plan.
(b) Ten Percent Shareholders. A Ten Percent Shareholder shall not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the Exercise Price of such Option is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant.
(c) Consultants. A Consultant shall not be eligible for the grant of an Award if, at the time of grant, a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act is not available to register either the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such Consultant because of the nature of the services that the Consultant is providing to the Company, because the Consultant is not a natural person, or because of any other rule governing the use of such form.
 
6.OPTION PROVISIONS.
Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate. All Options shall be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates shall be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option. The provisions of separate Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(a) Term. Subject to the provisions of Section 5(b) regarding Ten Percent Shareholders, no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date on which it was granted.
(b) Exercise Price of an Incentive Stock Option. Subject to the provisions of Section 5(b) regarding Ten Percent Shareholders, the Exercise Price of each Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option may be granted with an Exercise Price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.
(c) Exercise Price of a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The Exercise Price of each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Nonstatutory Stock Option may be granted with an Exercise Price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.
(d) Consideration. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and regulations and as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, by any combination of the methods of payment set forth below. The Committee shall have the authority to grant Options that do not permit all of the following methods of payment (or otherwise restrict the ability to use certain methods) and to grant Options that require the consent of the Company to utilize a particular method of payment. The methods of payment permitted by this Section 6(d) are:
(i) by cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company;
(ii) pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of the stock subject to the Option, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the aggregate Exercise Price to the Company from the sales proceeds;
(iii) by delivery to the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock;
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(iv) by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the sum of the aggregate Exercise Price and required tax withholdings; provided, however, that the Company shall accept a cash or other payment from the Participant to the extent of any remaining balance of the aggregate Exercise Price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued; or
(v) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee.
Unless otherwise specifically provided in the Option or determined by the Committee, the purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option that is paid by delivery to the Company of other Common Stock acquired, directly or indirectly from the Company, shall be paid only by shares of the Common Stock of the Company that have been held for more than six (6) months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes). At any time that the Company is incorporated in Delaware, payment of the Common Stock’s “par value,” as defined in the Delaware General Corporation Law, shall not be made by deferred payment.
(e) Transferability of an Incentive Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.
(f) Transferability of a Nonstatutory Stock Option. A Nonstatutory Stock Option shall not be transferable to the extent provided in the Option Agreement except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.
(g) Vesting Generally. The total number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option may, but need not, vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised (which may be based on performance or other criteria) as the Committee may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary. The provisions of this Section 6(g) are subject to any Option provisions governing the minimum number of shares of Common Stock as to which an Option may be exercised.
(h) Termination of Continuous Service. In the event that an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholder’s death or Disability), the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time as set forth in the Award Agreement.
(i) Forfeiture of Options. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, any Nonstatutory Stock Option that has not become exercisable when a Director, Consultant or Employee ceases to provide Continuous Service shall be forfeited.

7.
PROVISIONS OF STOCK AWARDS OTHER THAN OPTIONS.
(a) Performance Awards. Each Performance Award agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of Performance Award agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Performance Award agreements need not be identical, but each Performance Award agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(i) Consideration. A Performance Award may be awarded in consideration for past services actually rendered to the Company or an Affiliate for its benefit.
(ii) Vesting. Shares of Common Stock awarded under the Performance Award agreement may, but need not, be subject to a share repurchase option in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Committee.
(iii) Performance Grants. A Performance Award may be granted or may vest based upon service conditions, upon the attainment during a Performance Period of certain performance goals, or both.
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(iv) Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, in the event that a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Performance Award shall be forfeited and, to the extent applicable, the Company may reacquire any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant that have not vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the Performance Award agreement.
(v) Transferability. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under the Performance Award agreement shall be transferable by the Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Performance Award agreement, as the Committee shall determine in its discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the Performance Award agreement remains subject to the terms of the Performance Award agreement.
(b) Restricted Stock Awards. Each Restricted Stock Award agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Award agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Award agreements need not be identical, but each Restricted Stock Award agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(i) Consideration. At the time of grant of a Restricted Stock Award, the Committee will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid by the Participant upon delivery of each share of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award. The consideration to be paid (if any) by the Participant for each share of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award may be paid in any form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion and permissible under applicable law.
(ii) Vesting. Shares of Common Stock acquired under the Restricted Stock purchase or grant agreement may, but need not, be subject to a share repurchase option in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Committee.
 
(iii) Issuance of Certificates. Each Participant receiving a Restricted Stock Award, subject to subsection (iv) below, may be issued a stock certificate in respect of such shares of Restricted Stock. Any stock certificate shall be registered in the name of such Participant and, if applicable, shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Award in substantially the following form:

The transferability of this certificate and the shares represented by this certificate are subject to the terms and conditions of the TriCo Bancshares 2019 Equity Incentive Plan and a Restricted Stock Agreement entered into by the registered owner and TriCo Bancshares. Copies of such Plan and Agreement are on file in the offices of TriCo Bancshares.

(iv) Escrow of Shares. The Company may require that the stock certificates evidencing shares of Restricted Stock be held in custody by a designated escrow agent (which may but need not be the Company) until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that the Participant deliver a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Common Stock covered by such Award.

(v) Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. In the event that a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Company may repurchase or otherwise reacquire any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant that have not vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the purchase or grant agreement with respect to the Restricted Stock.
(vi) Transferability. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, Restricted Stock shall be transferable by the Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Restricted Stock purchase or grant agreement, as the Committee shall determine in its discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock purchase agreement remains subject to the terms of the Restricted Stock purchase or grant agreement.
(vii) Rights Pending Lapse of Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or the applicable Restricted Stock purchase agreement, at all times prior to lapse of any Risk of Forfeiture applicable to, or forfeiture of, an Award of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including the right to vote, and the right to receive any dividends with respect to, the shares of Restricted Stock; provided that such dividend equivalents will be converted into additional shares of Restricted Stock and shall become vested (or forfeited, as applicable) at the same time (if ever) as the shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which such dividend equivalents were paid vest.
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(viii) Lapse of Restrictions. If and when the Risk of Forfeiture lapses without a prior forfeiture of the Restricted Stock, the certificates for such shares shall be delivered to the Participant promptly if not previously delivered.
(c) Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements need not be identical, provided, however, that each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall include (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(i) Consideration. At the time of grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Committee will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid by the Participant upon delivery of each share of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award. The consideration to be paid (if any) by the Participant for each share of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award may be paid in any form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion and permissible under applicable law.
(ii) Vesting. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Committee may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of the Restricted Stock Unit Award as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
(iii) Payment. A Restricted Stock Unit Award may be settled by the delivery of shares of Common Stock, their cash equivalent, any combination thereof or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Committee and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.
(iv) Additional Restrictions. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Committee, as it deems appropriate, may impose such restrictions or conditions that delay the delivery of the shares of Common Stock (or their cash equivalent) subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award to a time after the vesting of such Restricted Stock Unit Award.
(v) Dividend Equivalents. Dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares of Common Stock covered by a Restricted Stock Unit Award, as determined by the Committee and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. At the sole discretion of the Committee, such dividend equivalents may be converted into additional shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award. Any dividend equivalents which are credited in respect of shares of Common Stock covered by a Restricted Stock Unit Award (whether or not converted into additional shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Awards) will be subject to all the terms and conditions of the underlying Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement to which they relate.
(vi) Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, such portion of the Restricted Stock Unit Award that has not vested will be forfeited upon the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service.
 
(d) Stock Appreciation Rights. Each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted as stand-alone Awards or in tandem with other Awards. The terms and conditions of Stock Appreciation Right Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Stock Appreciation Right Agreements need not be identical; provided, however, that each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall include (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(i) Term. No Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of its grant or such shorter period specified in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement.
(ii) Strike Price. Each Stock Appreciation Right will be denominated in shares of Common Stock equivalents. The Exercise Price of each Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock equivalents subject to the Stock Appreciation Right on the date of grant.
(iii) Calculation of Appreciation. The appreciation distribution payable on the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right will be not greater than an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right) of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock equivalents in which the Participant is vested under such Stock Appreciation Right, and with respect to which the Participant is exercising the Stock Appreciation Right on such date, over (B) the Exercise Price that will be determined by the Committee at the time of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right.
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(iv) Vesting. At the time of the grant of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Committee may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of such Stock Appreciation Right as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
(v) Exercise. To exercise any outstanding Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant must provide written notice of exercise to the Company in compliance with the provisions of the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such Stock Appreciation Right.
(vi) Payment. The appreciation distribution in respect of a Stock Appreciation Right may be paid in Common Stock, in cash, in any combination of the two or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Committee and contained in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such Stock Appreciation Right.
(vii) Termination of Continuous Service. In the event that a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Participant may exercise his or her Stock Appreciation Right (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Stock Appreciation Right as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time as specified in the Award Agreement.  
 
9.
USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.
Proceeds from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Awards shall constitute general funds of the Company.
 
10.
MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Shareholder Rights. No Participant shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Common Stock subject to such Award unless and until such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Award pursuant to its terms.
 
(b) No Employment or Other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Award was granted or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (i) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without cause, (ii) the service of a Consultant pursuant to the terms of such Consultant’s agreement with the Company or an Affiliate or (iii) the service of a Director pursuant to the Bylaws of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may be.
(c) Incentive Stock Option $100,000 Limitation. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Affiliates) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options, notwithstanding any contrary provision of any Award Agreement.
(d) Investment Assurances. The Company may require a Participant, as a condition of exercising or acquiring Common Stock under any Award, (i) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Participant’s knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and/or to employ a purchaser representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and experienced in financial and business matters and that he or she is capable of evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser representative, the merits and risks of exercising the Award; and (ii) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant is acquiring Common Stock subject to the Award for the Participant’s own account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the Common Stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, shall be inoperative if (1) the issuance of the shares of Common Stock upon the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Award has been registered under a then currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (2) as to any particular requirement, a determination is made by counsel for the Company that such requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the then applicable securities laws. The Company may, upon advice of counsel to the Company, place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, legends restricting the transfer of the Common Stock.
(e) Withholding Obligations. To the extent provided by the terms of an Award Agreement, the Participant may satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under an Award by any of the following means (in addition to the Company’s right to withhold from any compensation paid to the Participant by the Company) or by a combination of such means: (i) tendering a cash payment;
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(ii) authorizing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Award; provided, however, that no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the maximum statutory tax rate in the applicable jurisdiction (or such lesser amount as may be necessary to avoid liability accounting); or (iii) delivering to the Company owned and unencumbered shares of Common Stock.
(f) Holding Period. Fifty percent (50%) of all shares of Common Stock issued with respect to any Award under this Plan (including in connection with exercise of an Option, settlement or vesting, as applicable, of Performance Award, vesting of Restricted Stock Award and settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit Award or a Stock Appreciation Right) shall be subject to a minimum holding period until the earlier of (i) twelve (12) months (or if later, when the requirements under the Company’s share ownership guidelines are satisfied) from the later of (A) vesting of such Award or (B) settlement or exercise, as applicable, of such Award or (ii) until employment termination of the Participant.
 
11.
ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK.
(a) Capitalization Adjustments. If a Change in Control or any change is made in, or other event occurs with respect to, the Common Stock subject to the Plan or subject to any Award without the receipt of consideration by the Company (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or other transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the Company or any other change in corporate structure, which, in any such case, the Committee determines, in its sole discretion, affects the shares of Common Stock such that an adjustment pursuant to Section 11 hereof is appropriate (each a “Capitalization Adjustment”)), an equitable substitution or proportionate adjustment shall be made in (i) the aggregate number and kind of securities reserved for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4, (ii) the kind, number of securities subject to, and the Exercise Price subject to outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan, (iii) the kind, number and purchase price of shares of Common Stock or other securities or the amount of cash or amount or type of other property subject to outstanding Performance Awards, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Awards granted under the Plan; and/or (iv) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); provided, however, that any fractional shares resulting from the adjustment shall be eliminated. Such other equitable substitutions or adjustments shall be made as may be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. Further, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, with respect to Awards subject to foreign laws, adjustments made hereunder shall be made in compliance with applicable requirements. Except to the extent determined by the Committee, any adjustments to Incentive Stock Options under this Section 11 shall be made only to the extent not constituting a “modification” within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code. The Committee’s determinations pursuant to this Section 11 shall be final, binding and conclusive.
(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, then all outstanding Awards shall terminate immediately prior to the completion of such dissolution or liquidation.
(c) Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control, any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation may assume any or all Awards outstanding under the Plan or may substitute similar stock awards for Awards outstanding under the Plan (it being understood that similar stock awards include, but are not limited to, awards to acquire the same consideration paid to the shareholders or the Company, as the case may be, pursuant to the Change in Control). A surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or its parent) may choose to assume or continue only a portion of an Award or substitute a similar stock award for only a portion of an Award. In the event that any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation does not assume any or all such outstanding Awards or substitute similar stock awards for such outstanding Awards, then unless otherwise provided by the Committee, any outstanding Awards that have been neither assumed nor substituted may be exercised (to the extent vested) prior to the effective time of the Change in Control, and any such Awards shall terminate if not exercised prior to the effective time of the Change in Control. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in connection with a Change in Control, the Committee may provide, in its sole discretion, but subject in all events to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, for the cancellation of any outstanding Award granted hereunder in exchange for payment in cash or other property having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock, cash or other property covered by such Award, reduced by the aggregate Exercise Price or purchase price thereof, if any; provided, however, that if the Exercise Price or purchase price of any outstanding Award is equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock, cash or other property covered by such Award, the Committee may cancel such Award without the payment of any consideration to the Participant. An Award held by any Participant whose Continuous Service has not terminated prior to the effective time of a Change in Control may be subject to additional acceleration of vesting and exercisability upon or after such event as may be provided in the Award Agreement for such Award or
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as may be provided in any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant, but in the absence of such provision, no such acceleration shall occur.
 
12.
AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND STOCK AWARDS.
(a) Amendment of Plan. The Committee at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan. However, except as provided in Section 11(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the shareholders of the Company to the extent shareholder approval is necessary to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
(b) Shareholder Approval. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may submit any other amendment to the Plan for shareholder approval.
(c) Contemplated Amendments. It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible Employees with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options and/or to bring the Plan and/or Incentive Stock Options granted under it into compliance therewith.
(d) No Impairment of Rights. Rights under any Award granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be materially impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (ii) the Participant consents in writing.
(e) Amendment of Awards. The Committee at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms of any one or more Awards; provided, however, that the rights under any Award shall not be materially impaired by any such amendment unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (ii) the Participant consents in writing. Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares), the terms of outstanding awards may not be amended to reduce the Exercise Price of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or cancel outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in exchange for cash, other awards or Options or Stock Appreciation Right s with an Exercise Price that is less than the Exercise Price of the original Options or Stock Appreciation Rights without shareholder approval.
 
13.
TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.
(a) Plan Term. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on the day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date. No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.
(b) No Impairment of Rights. Suspension or termination of the Plan shall not impair rights and obligations under any Award granted while the Plan is in effect except with the written consent of the Participant.
  
14.
CHOICE OF LAW.
The law of the State of California shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to such state’s conflict of laws rules.

15.
CLAWBACK.
If the Company is required to prepare a financial restatement due to the material non-compliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirement, then the Committee may require any Section 16 Officer to repay or forfeit to the Company, and each Section 16 Officer agrees to so repay or forfeit, that part of the Incentive Compensation received by that Section 16 Officer during the three-year period preceding the publication of the restated financial statement that the Committee determines was in excess of the amount that such Section 16 Officer would have received had such Incentive Compensation been calculated based on the financial results reported in the restated financial statement. The Committee may take into account any factors it deems reasonable in determining whether to seek recoupment of previously paid Incentive Compensation and how much Incentive Compensation to recoup from each Section 16 Officer (which need not be the same amount or proportion for each Section 16 Officer), including any determination by the Committee that a Section 16 Officer engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or committed grossly negligent acts or omissions which materially contributed to the events that led to the financial restatement. The amount and form of the Incentive Compensation to be recouped shall be determined by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion, and recoupment of Incentive Compensation may be made, in the Committee’s sole and absolute discretion,
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through the cancellation of vested or unvested Awards, cash repayment or both. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Plan, any Award which is subject to recovery under any applicable laws, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such applicable law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement (or any policy adopted by the Company pursuant to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement).

16.
SECTION 409A.
        The Plan as well as payments and benefits under the Plan are intended to be exempt from, or to the extent subject thereto, to comply with Section 409A of the Code, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted in accordance therewith. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the Participant shall not be considered to have terminated employment or service with the Company for purposes of the Plan and no payment shall be due to the Participant under the Plan or any Award until the Participant would be considered to have incurred a “separation from service” from the Company and its Affiliates within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable law requires otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent that any Awards (or any other amounts payable under any plan, program or arrangement of the Company or any of its Affiliates) are payable upon a separation from service and such payment would result in the imposition of any individual tax and penalty interest charges imposed under Section 409A of the Code, the settlement and payment of such awards (or other amounts) shall instead be made on the first business day after the date that is six (6) months following such separation from service (or death, if earlier). Each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided under this Plan shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. The Company makes no representation that any or all of the payments or benefits described in this Plan will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to any such payment. The Participant shall be solely responsible for the payment of any taxes and penalties incurred under Section 409A.
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