EX-10.16 4 ex1016seniorexecutivebonus.htm EX-10.16 Document
Exhibit 10.16
APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
SENIOR EXECUTIVE BONUS PLAN
(September 8, 2023 Restatement)
SECTION 1
ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE
1.1     Purpose. Applied Materials, Inc. having established the Applied Materials, Inc. Senior Executive Bonus Plan (the “Plan”) effective as of September 23, 1994, and having subsequently amended and restated the Plan, hereby amends and restates the Plan again effective as of September 8, 2023. The Plan is intended to increase stockholder value and the success of the Company by motivating key executives (a) to perform to the best of their abilities, and (b) to achieve the Company’s objectives. The Plan’s goals are to be achieved by providing such executives with incentive awards based on the achievement of goals relating to the performance of the Company and its individual business units and to individual Participant performance.
SECTION 2
DEFINITIONS
The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:
2.1         “Actual Award” means as to any Performance Period, the actual amount (if any) payable to a Participant for the Performance Period. Each Actual Award is determined by the Payout Formula for the Performance Period, subject to the Committee’s authority under Section 3.5 to reduce the award otherwise determined by the Payout Formula.
2.2     “Affiliate” means any corporation or other entity (including, but not limited to, partnerships and joint ventures) controlled by the Company.
2.3     “Base Salary” means as to any Performance Period, 100% of the Participant’s annualized salary rate on the last day of the Performance Period. Such Base Salary shall be before both (a) deductions for taxes or benefits, and (b) deferrals of compensation pursuant to Company sponsored plans.
2.4     “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.
2.5     “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
2.6    “Committee” means the committee appointed by the Board (pursuant to Section 5.1) to administer the Plan. The Committee shall consist of no fewer than two (2) members of the Board. Until such time as the Board appoints a different committee, the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board shall serve as the Committee.
2.7     “Company” means Applied Materials, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

2.8     “Disability” means a permanent and total disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, unless the Committee, in its discretion, may determine that a different definition of Disability shall apply in accordance with standards adopted by the Committee from time to time.

2.9     “Fiscal Quarter” means a fiscal quarter within a Fiscal Year of the Company.
2.10     “Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.




2.11     “Maximum Award” means as to any Participant for any Fiscal Year, $5 million. The Maximum Award is the maximum amount which may be paid under the Plan to a Participant for any Fiscal Year.
2.12     “Participant” means as to any Performance Period, an officer of the Company or of an Affiliate who has been selected by the Committee for participation in the Plan for that Performance Period.
2.13     “Payout Formula” means as to any Performance Period, the formula or payout matrix established by the Committee pursuant to Section 3.4 in order to determine the Actual Awards, if any, to be paid to Participants. The formula or matrix may differ from Participant to Participant.
2.14     “Performance Goals” means the goal(s) (or combined goal(s)) determined by the Committee, in its discretion, to be applicable to a Participant for a Performance Period. As determined by the Committee, the Performance Goals applicable to each Participant shall provide for a targeted level or levels of achievement using one or more of the following measures: (a) cash flow, (b) customer satisfaction, (c) earnings per share, (d) margin, (e) market share, (f) operating profit, (g) product development and quality, (h) profit, (i) return on capital, (j) return on equity, (k) revenue, and (l) total shareholder return. Each such financial measure shall, except as provided below, be based on U.S. GAAP principles and, with respect to each non-financial measure, pre-established objective criteria. Any Performance Goal used may be measured (1) in absolute terms, (2) in combination with another Performance Goal or Goals (for example, but not by way of limitation, as a ratio or matrix), (3) in relative terms (including, but not limited to, as compared to results for other periods of time, and/or against another company, companies or an index or indices), (4) on a per-share or per-capita basis, (5) against the performance of the Company as a whole or a specific business unit(s), business segment(s) or product(s) of the Company, and/or (6) on a pre-tax or after-tax basis. When setting Performance Goals, the Committee, in its discretion, may determine whether any significant element(s) or item(s) will be included in or excluded from the calculation of any Performance Goal with respect to any Participants (for example, but not by way of limitation, the effect of mergers and acquisitions). As determined in the discretion of the Committee, achievement of Performance Goals for a particular Award may be calculated in accordance with the Company’s financial statements, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or as adjusted for certain costs, expenses, gains and losses to provide non-GAAP measures of operating results.
2.15     “Performance Period” means any Fiscal Year (or period of four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters) or such other period longer than a Fiscal Year but not longer than three Fiscal Years (or period of twelve (12) consecutive Fiscal Quarters) or, with respect to any person at the time that they first become eligible to be a Participant in the Plan, a period of shorter than a Fiscal Year, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. With respect to any Participant, there shall exist no more than four (4) Performance Periods at any one time.
2.16     “Retirement” means, with respect to any Participant, a termination of his or her employment with the Company and all of its Affiliates after: (a) obtaining at least sixty (60) years of age and whose age plus Years of Service with the Company is not less than seventy (70), or (b) obtaining at least sixty-five (65) years of age.
2.17     “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code.
2.18     “Target Award” means the target award payable under the Plan to a Participant for the Performance Period, expressed as a percentage of his or her Base Salary, a dollar amount, or a result of a formula or formulas, as determined by the Committee in accordance with Section 3.3.
2.19     “Years of Service” means the number of months (or a fraction thereof) from a Participant’s latest hire date with the Company or its Affiliate to the date in question, divided by twelve (12). The Participant’s latest hire date will be determined after giving effect to the non-401(k) plan principles of North American Human Resources Policy No. 2-06, Re-Employment of Former Employees/Bridging of Service, as such policy may be amended, revised or superseded from time to time.
SECTION 3
SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS AND DETERMINATION OF AWARDS
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3.1     Selection of Participants. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall select the officers of the Company who shall be Participants for the Performance Period. The Committee, in its sole discretion, also may designate as Participants one or more individuals (by name or position) who are expected to become officers during a Performance Period. Participation in the Plan is in the sole discretion of the Committee, and on a Performance Period by Performance Period basis. Accordingly, an officer who is a Participant for a given Performance Period in no way is guaranteed or assured of being selected for participation in any subsequent Performance Period or Periods.
3.2     Determination of Performance Goals. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall establish the Performance Goals for each Participant for the Performance Period. Such Performance Goals shall be set forth in writing.
3.3     Determination of Target Awards. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall establish a Target Award for each Participant. Each Participant’s Target Award shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, and each Target Award shall be set forth in writing.
3.4     Determination of Payout Formula. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall establish a Payout Formula for purposes of determining the Actual Award, if any, payable to each Participant. Each Payout Formula shall (a) be in writing, (b) be based on a comparison of actual performance to the Performance Goals, (c) provide for the payment of a Participant’s Target Award if the Performance Goals for the Performance Period are achieved, and (d) provide for an Actual Award greater than or less than the Participant’s Target Award, depending upon the extent to which actual performance exceeds or falls below the Performance Goals. Notwithstanding the preceding, no Participant’s Actual Award under the Plan may exceed his or her Maximum Award.
3.5     Determination of Actual Awards. After the end of each Performance Period, the Committee shall certify in writing (for example, in its meeting minutes) the extent to which the Performance Goals applicable to each Participant for the Performance Period were achieved or exceeded, as determined by the Committee. The Actual Award for each Participant shall be determined by applying the Payout Formula to the level of actual performance that has been certified by the Committee. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan, (a) the Committee, in its sole discretion, may eliminate or reduce the Actual Award payable to any Participant below that which otherwise would be payable under the Payout Formula, (b) if a Participant terminates employment with the Company prior to the end of a Performance Period for a reason other than Retirement, Disability or death, he or she shall not be entitled to the payment of an Actual Award for the Performance Period, and (c) the Board or the Committee may require a Participant to forfeit, return or reimburse the Company all or a portion of his or her Actual Award in accordance with Section 4.5 below.

SECTION 4
PAYMENT OF AWARDS
    
4.1     Right to Receive Payment. Each Actual Award that may become payable under the Plan shall be paid solely from the general assets of the Company. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to create a trust or to establish or evidence any Participant’s claim of any right other than as an unsecured general creditor with respect to any payment to which he or she may be entitled.
4.2     Timing of Payment. Payment of each Actual Award shall be made after the end of the Performance Period during which the Actual Award was earned but no later than the fifteen (15th) day of the third (3rd) month after the end of the Fiscal Year in which such Performance Period ended.

4.3     Form of Payment. Each Actual Award normally shall be paid in cash (or its equivalent) in a single lump sum. However, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may declare any Actual Award, in whole or in part, payable in restricted stock granted under the Company’s Employee Stock Incentive Plan. The number of shares granted shall be determined by dividing the cash amount foregone by the fair market value of a share on the date that the cash payment otherwise would have been made. For this purpose, “fair market value” shall mean the closing price on the Nasdaq Global Select Market/National Market for the day in question. Any restricted stock so awarded shall vest over the period determined by the Committee, which shall in no event be a period of more than four years, subject to acceleration for termination of employment due to death, Disability, or Retirement.
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4.4     Payment in the Event of Death. If a Participant dies prior to the payment of an Actual Award earned by him or her prior to death for a completed Performance Period, the Actual Award shall be paid to his or her estate.
4.5    Application of Clawback Policies. In the event that (a) the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement and is required under any applicable clawback policies (any, a “Clawback Policy”) to recover erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation received by a Participant or former Participant and (b) the Board or the Committee, using its discretion under the Clawback Policy to determine the method used to enable the Participant or former Participant to comply with his or her mandatory obligations under a Clawback Policy (such obligations, “Clawback Obligations”), determines such action is appropriate as a method to ensure the enforcement of the Clawback Policy, the Company may recover or require the Participant or former Participant to forfeit, return or reimburse the Company for all or a portion of the Payable Award paid to such Participant or former Participant. Clawback Obligations are not limited to obligations with respect to amounts originally paid under the Plan but extend to all of the Participant’s obligations under a Clawback Policy.

SECTION 5
ADMINISTRATION
5.1     Committee is the Administrator. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall consist of not less than two (2) members of the Board. The members of the Committee shall be appointed from time to time by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Board. Any member of the Committee may resign at any time by notice in writing mailed or delivered to the Secretary of the Company.
5.2     Committee Authority. It shall be the duty of the Committee to administer the Plan in accordance with the Plan’s provisions. The Committee shall have all powers and discretion necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and to control its operation, including, but not limited to, the power to (a) determine which officers shall be granted awards, (b) prescribe the terms and conditions of awards, (c) interpret the Plan and the awards, (d) adopt such procedures and subplans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by officers who are foreign nationals or employed outside of the United States, (e) adopt rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith, and (f) interpret, amend or revoke any such rules.
5.3     Decisions Binding. All interpretations, determinations and decisions made by the Committee, the Board, and any delegate of the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all persons, and shall be given the maximum deference permitted by law.
5.4     Delegation by the Committee. The Committee, in its sole discretion and on such terms and conditions as it may provide, may delegate all or part of its authority and powers under the Plan to one or more directors and/or officers of the Company.
5.5     Tax Withholding. The Company shall withhold all applicable taxes from any payment, including any federal, Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), state, and local taxes.
SECTION 6
GENERAL PROVISIONS
6.1     No Effect on Employment. Nothing in the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or an Affiliate, as applicable, to terminate any Participant’s employment or service at any time, with or without cause. For purposes of the Plan, transfer of employment of a Participant between the Company and any one of its Affiliates (or between Affiliates) shall not be deemed a termination of employment. Employment with the Company and its Affiliates is on an at-will basis only. The Company expressly reserves the right, which may be
exercised at any time and without regard to when during or after a Performance Period such exercise occurs, to terminate any individual’s employment with or without cause, and to treat him or her without regard to the effect which such treatment might have upon him or her as a Participant.
6.2     Section 409A. It is intended that all bonuses payable under this Plan will be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A pursuant to the “short-term deferral” exemption or, in the alternative, will comply
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with the requirements of Section 409A so that none of the payments and benefits to be provided under this Plan will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities or ambiguous terms herein shall be interpreted to so comply or be exempt. Each payment and benefit payable under this Plan is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations. The Company may, in good faith and without the consent of any Participant, make any amendments to this Plan and take such reasonable actions which it deems necessary, appropriate or desirable to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition under Section 409A prior to actual payment to the Participant.
6.3     Participation. No individual shall have the right to be selected to receive an award under this Plan, or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future award.
6.4     Indemnification. Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of the Board, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (a) any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan or any award, and (b) from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such claim, action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, by contract, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or under any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
6.5     Successors. All obligations of the Company and any Affiliate under the Plan, with respect to awards granted hereunder, shall be binding on any successor to the Company and/or such Affiliate, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company or such Affiliate.
6.6     Nonassignability. A Participant shall have no right to assign or transfer any interest under this Plan.
6.7     Nontransferability of Awards. No award granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will, by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to an award granted to a Participant shall be available during his or her lifetime only to the Participant.
6.8     Deferrals. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit a Participant to defer receipt of the payment of cash that would otherwise be delivered to a Participant under the Plan. Any such deferral elections shall be subject to such rules and procedures as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and, unless otherwise expressly determined by the Committee, shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A.
6.9     Governing Law. The Plan shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of California, excluding its conflicts of laws provisions.
SECTION 7
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
7.1     Amendment and Termination. The Board or the Committee may amend or terminate the Plan at any time and for any reason; provided, that the Board or the Committee may not amend the Plan such that it would have a material adverse impact on outstanding Target Awards without the consent of the affected Participants.
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