Exhibit 99.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED NORTHERN TIER ENERGY LP

2012 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

Section 1. Purpose and History of the Plan . The Amended and Restated Northern Tier Energy LP 2012 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) was originally adopted by Northern Tier Energy LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”) acting through its general partner, Northern Tier Energy GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ General Partner ”). The Plan was adopted to promote the interests of the General Partner, the Partnership and their Affiliates by providing to Employees and Directors incentive compensation awards to encourage superior performance. The Plan is also contemplated to enhance the ability of the General Partner, the Partnership and their Affiliates to attract and retain the services of individuals who are essential for the growth and profitability of the Partnership and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to advancing the business of the Partnership. The original effective date of the Plan was July 24, 2012.

On December 21, 2015, Western Refining, Inc. (“ WNR ”), Western Acquisition Co, LLC (“ MergerCo ”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of WNR, the Partnership and the General Partner (who is also an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of WNR), entered into an agreement and plan of merger (as such agreement may be amended from time to time, the “ Merger Agreement ”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, on June 23, 2016 MergerCo merged with and into the Partnership (the “ Merger ”), with the Partnership surviving the Merger as an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of WNR. In connection with the Merger, WNR elected to adopt and assume the Plan, which reflects the terms and conditions of the Plan as in effect immediately prior to the Merger, with modifications only as necessary to reflect the substance of the Merger and certain other changes applicable to a corporation, as described below. This Plan has been amended and restated as of the Effective Date.

Terms of the Plan Amended by the Merger

Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference in the Plan to (i) the “Partnership” or the “General Partner” means WNR; (ii) “Unit” means a share of WNR common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Stock ”); and (iii) the “Committee,” the “Board of Directors” or the “Board” means the applicable committees or board of directors of WNR, as applicable. All references in the Plan relating to the status of a Participant as an employee or director of the Partnership (or an Affiliate of the Partnership) will now refer to such Participant’s status as an employee or director of WNR (or an Affiliate of WNR, including the Partnership). All other terms and conditions shall be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with the effects of the Merger and the assumption of the Plan by WNR. With respect to definitions that could impact a Section 409A Award (including, without limitation, the definition of a “Change of Control”), WNR shall also interpret such definitions in good faith in a manner that is consistent with Section 409A of the Code and the 409A Regulations.

Securities Issuable Pursuant to the Plan; Section 4 of the Plan

As a result of the Merger, the Partnership securities issuable pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, as assumed by WNR, will now be shares of Stock. In the Merger, each Partnership Unit, except for Partnership units owned by WNR or any of its subsidiaries, outstanding as of the effective time of the Merger was converted into the right to receive $15.00 in cash without interest and 0.2986 of a share of Stock (the “ Standard Mix of Consideration ”). Instead of receiving the Standard Mix of Consideration, each Partnership common unitholder other than WNR and its subsidiaries had an opportunity to make an election to receive $26.06 in cash without interest (the “ Cash Election ”) or to receive 0.7036 of a share of Stock (the “ Stock Election ”), for each Partnership Unit they owned immediately prior to the Merger. All Unit numbers reflected in the Plan are stated in terms of Partnership Units and must be adjusted to reflect the Stock Election. Accordingly, the number 9,195,000 in Section 4(a) of the Plan is amended to be 1,087,226.

For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of Section 4(b) of the Plan, the source of shares of Stock to be delivered pursuant to an Award may include authorized but unissued shares of Stock and Stock held in the treasury of WNR.

Section 5 of the Plan

Notwithstanding anything within Section 5 of the Plan, only individuals who become Employees or Directors following the Merger or Employees and Directors who were providing services to or on behalf of the Partnership and were eligible to receive awards under the Plan prior to the Merger will be eligible to receive new Awards under the Plan following the Merger. The restriction on eligibility for the Plan will be interpreted in accordance with the requirements of Rule 303A.08 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, as amended.

Section 2. Definitions . As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(a) “409A Award ” means an Award that constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of the 409A Regulations, whether by design, due to a subsequent modification in the terms and conditions of such Award or as a result of a change in applicable law following the date of grant of such Award, and that is not exempt from Section 409A of the Code pursuant to an applicable exemption.

(b) “ 409A Regulations” means the applicable Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance promulgated pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.

(c) “Acon ” means ACON Investments, L.L.C.

(d) “Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

(e) “Award ” means an Option, Unit Appreciation Right, Restricted Unit, Phantom Unit, Unit Award, Substitute Award, Other Unit-Based Award or Cash Award granted under the Plan or Performance Awards and includes, as appropriate, any tandem DERs granted with respect to an Award (other than a Restricted Unit or Unit Award).

(f) “Award Agreement ” means the written or electronic agreement by which an Award shall be evidenced.

(g) “Board ” means the Board of Directors of the General Partner.

(h) “Cash Award ” means an award denominated in cash.

(i) “Change of Control ” means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon one or more of the following events:

 

(i) any “person” or “group” within the meaning of those terms as used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, other than members of the General Partner, the Partnership, an Affiliate of either the General Partner or the Partnership, Acon, or TPG shall become the beneficial owner, by way of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or otherwise, of 50% or more of the voting power of the voting securities of the General Partner or the Partnership;

(ii) the limited partners of the General Partner or the Partnership approve, in one transaction or a series of transactions, a plan of complete liquidation of the General Partner or the Partnership;

(iii) the sale or other disposition by either the General Partner or the Partnership of all or substantially all of its assets in one or more transactions to any Person other than an Affiliate;

(iv) the General Partner or an Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership ceases to be the general partner of the Partnership; or

(v) any other event specified as a “ Change of Control ” in an applicable Award Agreement.

Notwithstanding the above, (A) with respect to a 409A Award, for purposes of a payment or settlement of such 409A Award, a “Change of Control” shall not occur unless that Change of Control also constitutes a “change in the ownership of a corporation,” a “change in the effective control of a corporation,” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of a corporation’s assets,” in each case, within the meaning of Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the 409A Regulations, as applied to non-corporate entities, and (B) the initial public offering of the General Partner or any entity that is controlled by the General Partner shall not result in a “Change of Control” for purposes of this Plan. If any payment that must be delayed under clause (A) of the preceding sentence, such payment shall be paid at the earliest time thereafter permitted under Section 409A such that the payment does not result in additional taxes under Section 409A, the Code and the 409A Regulations.

(j) “Chief Executive Officer ” means the then-current Chief Executive Officer of the General Partner.

(k) “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

(l) “ Committee ” means the Board or such committee as may be appointed by the Board to administer the Plan, which alternative committee may be the board of directors or managers of any Affiliate or a committee therefore.

(m) “ Director ” means a member of the Board or the board of directors or similar governing authority of an Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership who is not an Employee.

(n) “ Distribution Equivalent Right ” or “ DER ” means a contingent right, granted alone or in tandem with a specific Award (other than a Restricted Unit or Unit Award), to receive with respect to each Unit subject to the Award an amount in

cash, Units and/or Phantom Units, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, equal in value to the distributions made by the Partnership with respect to a Unit during the period such Award is outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a DER is automatically granted hereunder in connection with the grant of an Option, Unit Appreciation Right or Phantom Unit.

 

(o) “ Effective Date ” means June 23, 2016.

(p) “ Employee ” means an employee of the General Partner, the Partnership or their Affiliates.

(q) “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(r) “Fair Market Value” means, on any relevant date, the closing sales price of a Unit on the principal national securities exchange or other market in which trading in Units occurs on the last market trading day prior to the applicable day (or, if there is no trading in the Units on such date, on the next preceding day on which there was trading) as reported in The Wall Street Journal (or other reporting service approved by the Committee). If Units are not traded on a national securities exchange or other market at the time a determination of Fair Market Value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of Fair Market Value shall be made by the Committee in good faith using a “reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method” within the meaning of the 409A Regulations (specifically, Section 1.409A-l(b)(5)(iv)(B) of the 409A Regulations).

(s) “ General Partner ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.

(t) “ Option ” means an option to purchase Units granted under the Plan.

(u) “ Other Unit-Based Award ” means an Award granted to an Employee or Director pursuant to Section 6(f).

(v) “ Participant ” means an Employee or Director granted an Award under the Plan.

(w) “ Partnership ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.

(x) “ Performance Award ” means a right granted to an Employee or Director pursuant to Section 6(i), to receive an Award based upon performance criteria specified by the Committee.

(y) “ Person ” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, governmental agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

(z) “ Phantom Unit ” means a notional Unit granted under the Plan which upon vesting entitles the Participant to receive, at the time of settlement, a Unit or an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

(aa) “ Plan ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.

(bb) “ Qualified Member ” means a member of the Committee who is a “nonemployee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3).

(cc) “ Restricted Period ” means the period established by the Committee with respect to an Award during which the Award remains subject to forfeiture and is either not exercisable by or payable to the Participant, as the case may be.

(dd) “ Restricted Unit ” means a Unit granted under the Plan that is subject to a Restricted Period.

 

(ee) “ Rule 16b-3 ” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act or any successor rule or regulation thereto as in effect from time to time.

(ff) “ SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor thereto.

(gg) “ Substitute Award ” means an award granted pursuant to Section 6(h) of the Plan.

(hh) “ TPG ” means TPG Capital, L.P.

(ii) “ Unit ” means a partnership interest representing a common unit of the Partnership as set forth in the Partnership’s partnership agreement.

(jj) “ Unit Appreciation Right ” means a contingent right granted under the Plan that entitles the holder to receive, in cash or Units, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the exercise date of the Unit Appreciation Right (or another specified date) over the exercise price of the Unit Appreciation Right.

(kk) “ Unit Award ” means a grant of a Unit that is not subject to a Restricted Period.

(ll) “ Unit Distribution Right ” or “ UDR ” means a distribution made by the Partnership with respect to a Restricted Unit.

Section 3. Administration .

(a) Authority of the Committee . The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of the members of the Committee who are present at any meeting thereof at which a quorum is present, or acts unanimously approved by the members of the Committee in writing, shall be the acts of the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of Units to be covered by Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award, consistent with the terms of the Plan, which terms may include any provision regarding the acceleration of vesting or waiver of forfeiture restrictions or any other condition or limitation regarding an Award, based on such factors as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be vested, settled, exercised, canceled, or forfeited; (vi) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to an Award made under the Plan; (vii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (viii) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or an Award Agreement in such manner and to such extent as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate. The determinations of the Committee on the matters referred to in this Section 3(a) shall be final and conclusive.

(b) Manner and 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 Partnership 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 all purposes of the Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons, including, without limitation, the General Partner, the Partnership, any Affiliate, any Participant, and any beneficiary of 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 the power or authority of the Committee. Subject to the Plan and any applicable law, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may delegate any or all of its powers and duties under the Plan, including the power to grant Awards under the Plan, to the Chief Executive Officer, subject to such limitations on such delegated powers and duties as the Committee may impose, if any, and provided that the Committee may not delegate its duties where such delegation would violate state partnership or limited liability company law, or with respect to making Awards to, or otherwise with respect to Awards granted to, Participants who are subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Upon any such delegation, all references in the Plan to the “Committee,” other than in Section 7, shall be deemed to include the Chief Executive Officer. Any such delegation shall not limit such Chief Executive Officer’s right to receive Awards under the Plan; provided, however, such Chief Executive Officer may not grant Awards to himself, a Director or any executive officer of the General Partner or an Affiliate, or take any action with respect to any Award previously granted to himself, an individual who is an executive officer or a Director. Under no circumstances shall any such delegation 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 Partnership.

(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 General Partner, the Partnership or their Affiliates, the General Partner’s or the Partnership’s legal counsel, independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan. Members of the Committee and any officer or employee of the General Partner, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates 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 General Partner with respect to any such action or determination.

(d) Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability . It is the intent of the General Partner 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(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 16b-3 or another applicable exemption (except for transactions acknowledged by the Participant in writing to be non-exempt). Accordingly, if any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or such other exemption 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) of the Exchange Act.

Section 4. Units .

(a) Limits on Units Deliverable . Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c) and Section 7, the number of Units that may be delivered with respect to Awards under the Plan is 9,195,000. Units withheld from an Award or surrendered by a Participant to satisfy the Partnership’s or an Affiliate’s tax withholding obligations (including the withholding of Units with respect to Restricted Units) or to satisfy the payment of any exercise price with respect to the Award shall be considered to be Units delivered under the Plan for this purpose. If any Award is forfeited, cancelled, exercised, settled in cash, or otherwise terminates or expires without the actual delivery of Units pursuant to such Award (the grant of Restricted Units is not a delivery of Units for this purpose), the Units subject to such Award shall be available for Awards under the Plan (including Units not delivered in connection with the exercise of an Option or Unit Appreciation Right). There shall not be any limitation on the number of Awards that may be granted and paid in cash in the aggregate.

(b) Sources of Units Deliverable Under Awards . The Partnership may satisfy its obligations hereunder to deliver Units pursuant to an Award, in whole or in part, with Units issued by the Partnership or with Units acquired in the open market, from any Affiliate, or any other Person, or any combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

(c) Anti-dilution Adjustments . Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 7, with respect to any “equity restructuring” event that could result in an additional compensation expense to the General Partner or the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of FASB Accounting Standards Codification, Topic 718 (“ Topic 718 ”) if adjustments to Awards with respect to such event were discretionary, the Committee shall equitably adjust the number and type of Units covered by each outstanding Award and the terms and conditions, including the exercise price and performance criteria (if any), of such Award to equitably reflect such restructuring event and shall adjust the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted after such event. With respect to any other similar event that would not result in an accounting charge under Topic 718 if the adjustment to Awards with respect to such event were subject to discretionary action, the Committee shall have complete discretion to adjust Awards in such manner as it deems appropriate with respect to such other event. In the event the Committee makes any adjustment pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 4(c), the Committee shall make a corresponding and proportionate adjustment with respect to the maximum number of Units that may be delivered with respect to Awards under the Plan as provided in Section 4(a) and the kind of Units or other securities available for grant under the Plan.

(d) Additional Issuances . Except as expressly provided herein, the issuance by the General Partner or the Partnership of Units for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale, or upon the conversion of Units or obligations of the General Partner or the Partnership convertible into such Units, 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 Units subject to Awards theretofore granted pursuant to the Plan.

Section 5. Eligibility . Each Director shall be eligible to be designated a Participant and receive an Award under the Plan. Employees that are eligible to be designated as a Participant and receive an Award under this Plan will be (a) Employees that are director-level individuals or members of the senior management team of the Partnership, the General Partner or their Affiliates, and (b) Employees that are designated by the Chief Executive Officer. If the Units issuable pursuant to an Award are intended to be registered with the SEC on Form S-8, then only Employees and Directors of the Partnership or a parent or subsidiary of the Partnership (within the meaning of General Instruction A.1(a) to Form S-8) will be eligible to receive such an Award.

Section 6. Awards.

(a) General . 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 7(a)), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of employment by the Participant, or termination of the Participant’s service as a Director of the General Partner, the Partnership, or their Affiliates, and terms permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her Award. The Committee shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive or modify, at any time, any term or condition of an Award that is not mandatory under the Plan; provided , however , that the Committee shall not have any discretion to accelerate the terms of payment of any 409A Award if such acceleration would subject a Participant to additional taxes under Section 409A the Code and the 409A Regulations.

(b) Options . The Committee may grant Options that are intended to comply with Section 1.409A-l(b)(5)(i)(A) of the 409A Regulations only to Employees or Directors performing services on the date of grant for the Partnership or a corporation or other type of entity in a chain of corporations or other entities in which each corporation or other entity has a “controlling interest” in another corporation or entity in the chain, starting with the Partnership and ending with the corporation or other entity for which the Employee or Director performs services. For purposes of this Section 6(b), “controlling interest” means (i) in the case of a corporation, ownership of stock possessing at least 50% of total combined voting power of all classes of stock of such corporation entitled to vote or at least 50% of the total value of shares of all classes of stock of such

corporation; (ii) in the case of a partnership, ownership of at least 50% of the profits interest or capital interest of such partnership; (iii) in the case of a sole proprietorship, ownership of the sole proprietorship; or (iv) in the case of a trust or estate, ownership of an actuarial interest (as defined in Section 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(ii) of the 409A Regulations) of at least 50% of such trust or estate. The Committee may grant Options that are otherwise exempt from or compliant with Section 409A of the Code to any eligible Employee or Director. The Committee shall have the authority to determine the number of Units to be covered by each Option, the purchase price therefor and the Restricted Period and other conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Option, including the following terms and conditions and such additional terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.

(i) Exercise Price . The exercise price per Unit purchasable under an Option that does not provide for the deferral of compensation under the 409A Regulations shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Option is granted but, except with respect to Substitute Awards, may not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Unit as of the date of grant of the Option. For purposes of this Section 6(b)(i), the Fair Market Value of a Unit shall be determined as of the date of grant. The exercise price per Unit purchasable under an Option that does not provide for the deferral of compensation by reason of satisfying the short-term deferral rule set forth in the 409A Regulations or that is compliant with Section 409A of the Code shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Option is granted.

(ii) Time and Method of Exercise . The Committee shall determine the exercise terms and the Restricted Period with respect to an Option grant, which may include, without limitation, a provision for accelerated vesting upon the achievement of specified performance goals or other events, and the method or methods by which payment of the exercise price with respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been made, which may include, without limitation, cash, check acceptable to the General Partner, withholding Units from an Award, a “cashless-broker” exercise through procedures approved by the General Partner, or any combination of the above methods, having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price.

(c) Forfeitures . Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the Award Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s employment to the General Partner, the Partnership and their Affiliates or upon the termination of Participant’s service on the Board or the board of directors or similar governing authority of an Affiliate of the General Partner, the Partnership or their respective Affiliates, whichever is applicable, for any reason during the applicable Restricted Period, all unvested Options shall be forfeited by the Participant. The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Options; provided that the waiver contemplated under this Section 6(b)(iii) shall be effective only to the extent that such waiver will not cause the Participant’s Options that are designed to satisfy Section 409A of the Code to fail to satisfy such Section. Unit Appreciation Rights . The Committee may grant Unit Appreciation Rights that are intended to comply with Section 1.409A-l(b)(5)(i)(B) of the 409A Regulations only to Employees or Directors performing services on the date of grant for the Partnership or a corporation or other type of entity in a chain of corporations or other entities in which each corporation or other entity has a “controlling interest” in another corporation or entity in the chain, starting with the Partnership and ending with the corporation or other entity for which the Employee or Director performs services. For purposes of this Section 6(c), “controlling interest” means (i) in the case of a corporation, ownership of stock possessing at least 50% of total combined voting power of all classes of stock of such corporation entitled to vote or at least 50% of the total value of shares of all classes of stock of such corporation; (ii) in the case of a limited liability company, ownership of at least 50% of the membership interests of such limited liability company; (iii) in the case of a partnership, ownership of at least 50% of the profits interest or capital interest of such partnership; (iv) in the case of a sole proprietorship, ownership of the sole proprietorship; or (v) in the case of a trust or estate, ownership of an actuarial interest (as defined in Section 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(ii) of the 409A Regulations) of at least 50% of such trust or estate. The Committee may grant Unit Appreciation Rights that are otherwise exempt from or compliant with Section 409A of the Code to any eligible Employee or Director. The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees and Directors to whom Unit Appreciation Rights shall be granted, the number of Units to be covered by each grant, whether Units or cash shall be delivered upon exercise, the exercise price therefor and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Unit Appreciation Rights, including the following terms and conditions and such additional terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.

(i) Exercise Price . The exercise price per Unit Appreciation Right that does not provide for the deferral of compensation under the 409A Regulations shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Unit Appreciation Right is granted but, except with respect to Substitute Awards, may not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Unit as of the date of grant of the Unit Appreciation Right. For purposes of this Section 6(c)(i), the Fair Market Value of a Unit shall be determined as of the date of grant. The exercise price per Unit Appreciation Right that does not provide for the deferral of compensation by reason of satisfying the short-term deferral rule set forth in the 409A Regulations or that is compliant with Section 409A of the Code shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Unit Appreciation Right is granted.

(ii) Time of Exercise . The Committee shall determine the Restricted Period and the time or times at which a Unit Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part, which may include, without limitation, accelerated vesting upon the achievement of specified performance goals or other events.

(iii) Forfeitures . Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the Award Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s employment with the General Partner, the Partnership and their Affiliates or membership on the Board or the board of directors or similar governing authority of an Affiliate of the General Partner, the Partnership or their respective Affiliates, whichever is applicable, for any reason during the applicable Restricted Period, all outstanding Unit Appreciation Rights awarded to the Participant shall be automatically forfeited on such termination. The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Unit Appreciation Rights.

(d) Restricted Units and Phantom Units . The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees and Directors to whom Restricted Units or Phantom Units shall be granted, the number of Restricted Units or Phantom Units to be granted to each such Participant, the Restricted Period, the conditions under which the Restricted Units or Phantom Units may become vested or forfeited and such other terms and conditions as the Committee may establish with respect to such Awards.

(i) UDRs . UDRs will be granted with respect to Restricted Unit Awards and shall be subject to the same forfeiture and other restrictions as the underlying Restricted Unit, and if restricted, such distributions shall be held, without interest, until the Restricted Unit vests or is forfeited with the UDR being paid or forfeited at the same time, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, UDRs shall only be paid in a manner that is either exempt from or compliant with Section 409A of the Code.

(ii) Forfeitures . Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s employment with the General Partner, the Partnership and its Affiliates or membership on the Board or the board of directors or similar governing authority of an Affiliate of the General Partner, the Partnership or their respective Affiliates, whichever is applicable, for any reason during the applicable Restricted Period, all outstanding, unvested Restricted Units and Phantom Units awarded to the Participant shall be automatically forfeited on such termination. The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Restricted Units and/or Phantom Units; provided that the waiver contemplated under this Section 6(d)(ii) shall be effective only to the extent that such waiver will not cause the Participant’s Restricted Units and/or Phantom Units that are designed to satisfy Section 409A of the Code to fail to satisfy such Section.

(iii) Lapse of Restrictions .

(A) Phantom Units . No later than the 15 ^th calendar day following the vesting of each Phantom Unit, subject to the provisions of Section 8(b), the Participant shall be entitled to settlement of such Phantom Unit and shall receive one Unit or an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit (for purposes of this Section 6(f)(iii), as calculated on the last day of the Restricted Period), as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

(B) Restricted Units . Upon the vesting of each Restricted Unit, subject to satisfying the tax withholding obligations of Section 8(b), the Participant shall be entitled to have the restrictions removed from his or her Award so that the Participant then holds an unrestricted Unit.

(e) Unit Awards . The Committee shall have the authority to grant a Unit Award under the Plan to any Employee or Director in a number determined by the Committee in its discretion, as a bonus or additional compensation or, subject to the Employee’s or Director’s consent,in lieu of cash compensation the individual is otherwise entitled to receive, in such amounts as the Committee determines to be appropriate.

(f) Other Unit-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, Units, 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 Units, purchase rights for Units, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Partnership or any other factors designated by the Committee, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Units or the value of securities of or the performance of specified Affiliates of the General Partner or the Partnership. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards. Units delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(f) shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Units, other Awards, or other property, as the Committee shall determine. Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to, or independent of any other Award under this Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 6(f).

(g) DERs . To the extent provided by the Committee, in its discretion, an Award (other than a Restricted Unit or Unit Award) may include a tandem DER grant, which may provide that such DERs shall be paid directly to the Participant, be

reinvested into additional Awards, be credited to a bookkeeping account (with or without interest in the discretion of the Committee) subject to the same vesting restrictions as the tandem Award, or be subject to such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion. DERs shall be paid to the Participant without restriction at the same time as ordinary cash distributions are paid by the Partnership to its unitholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, DERs shall only be paid in a manner that is either exempt from or compliant with Section 409A of the Code.

(h) Substitute Awards . Awards may be granted under the Plan in substitution for similar awards held by individuals who become Employees or Directors as a result of a merger, consolidation or acquisition by the Partnership or an Affiliate of another entity or the assets of another entity. Such Substitute Awards that are Options or Unit Appreciation Rights may have exercise prices less than the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the date of the substitution if such substitution complies with Section 409A of the Code and the 409A Regulations and other applicable laws and exchange rules.

(i) Performance Awards . The right of a Participant to receive a grant, and 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, all of which shall be set forth in the Award Agreement. 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, all of which shall be set forth in the Award Agreement.

(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 6(i). 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. The Committee shall establish any such performance conditions and goals based on one or more business criteria for the Partnership, on a consolidated basis, and/or for specified Affiliates or business or geographical units of the Partnership or its downstream Affiliates, as determined by the Committee in its discretion, which may include (but are not limited to) one or more of the following: (A) earnings per Unit, (B) increase in revenues, (C) increase in cash flow, (D) increase in cash flow from operations, (E) increase in cash flow return, (F) return on net assets, (G) return on assets, (H) return on investment, (I) return on capital, (J) return on equity, (K) economic value added, (L) operating margin, (M) contribution margin, (N) net income, (O) net income per Unit, (P) pretax earnings, (Q) pretax earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization, (R) pretax operating earnings after interest expense and before incentives, service fees, and extraordinary or special items, (S) total unitholder return, (T) debt reduction, (U) market share, (V) change in the Fair Market Value of the Units, (W) operating income, (X) barrels per day, and (Y) any of the above goals determined on an absolute or relative basis or as compared to the performance of (i) 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 or (ii) other companies in a comparable business. Performance goals may differ for Performance Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants.

(ii) Performance Periods . Achievement of performance goals in respect of such Performance Awards shall be measured over a performance period of up to ten years, as specified by the Committee. Performance goals shall be established by the Committee prior to the grant of Performance Awards subject thereto.

(iii) Settlement . At the end of each performance period, the Committee shall determine the amount, if any, of the amount of the potential Performance Award otherwise payable to each Participant and such amount shall be paid to the Participant no later than March 15 of the year following the year that included the last day of the performance period. Settlement of such Performance Awards shall be in cash, Units, other Awards or other property, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce or increase the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with such Performance Awards. The Committee shall specify in the applicable Award Agreement 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.

(j) Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards .

(i) Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem and Substitute Awards . Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for any other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under any other plan of the Partnership or any Affiliate. Awards granted in addition to, in substitution for, or in tandem with other Awards or awards granted under any other plan of the Partnership or any Affiliate may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards. 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; provided, however, any Award granted in substitution or exchange for another Award must be of at least comparable economic value (taking into account tax considerations). Awards under the

Plan may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the General Partner, the Partnership, or any Affiliate, in which the value of Units subject to the Award is equivalent in value to the cash compensation (taking into account tax considerations), 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 Units minus the value of the cash compensation surrendered. Awards granted pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be designed, awarded and settled in a manner that does not result in additional taxes under Section 409A the Code and the 409A Regulations.

(ii) Limits on Transfer of Awards .

(A) Except as provided in Section 6(j)(ii)(C) below, each Option and Unit Appreciation Right shall be exercisable only by the Participant during the Participant’s lifetime, or by the Person to whom the Participant’s rights shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

(B) Except as provided in Section 6(j)(ii)(C) below, no Award and no right under any such Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the General Partner, the Partnership or any Affiliate.

(C) To the extent specifically provided by the Committee with respect to an Option or Unit Appreciation Right, an Option or Unit Appreciation Right may be transferred by a Participant without consideration to immediate family members or related family trusts, limited partnerships or similar entities or on such terms and conditions as the Committee may from time to time establish.

(iii) Term of Awards . The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee.

(iv) Form and Timing of Payment under Awards; Deferrals . Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by or on behalf of the the Partnership 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, Units, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis; provided, however, that any such deferred payment will be set forth in the agreement evidencing such Award and/or otherwise made in a manner that will not result in additional taxes under Section 409A the Code and the 409A Regulations. Except as otherwise provided herein, the settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Units 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 of Control). Installment or deferred payments may be required by the Committee (subject to Section 7(a) of the Plan, including the consent provisions thereof in the case of any deferral of an outstanding Award not provided for in the original Award Agreement) or permitted at the election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by the Committee and in compliance with Section 409A the Code and the 409A Regulations. Payments may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of DERs or other amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in Units. This Plan is not intended to constitute an “employee benefit plan” for purposes of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

(v) Issuance of Units . The Units or other securities of the Partnership delivered pursuant to an Award may be evidenced in any manner deemed appropriate by the Committee in its sole discretion, including, but not limited to, in the form of a certificate issued in the name of the Participant or by book entry, electronic or otherwise and shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which such Units or other securities are then listed, and any applicable federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be inscribed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

(vi) Consideration for Grants . Awards may be granted for such consideration, including services, as the Committee shall determine.

(vii) Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability . It is the intent of the General Partner 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 such Section 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) of the Exchange Act.

(viii) Delivery of Units or other Securities and Payment by Participant of Consideration . Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, delivery of Units pursuant to the exercise, vesting and/or settlement of an Award may be deferred for any period during which, in the good faith determination of the Committee, the Partnership is not reasonably able to deliver Units pursuant to such Award without violating applicable law or the applicable rules or regulations of any governmental agency or authority or securities exchange. No Units or other securities shall be delivered pursuant to any Award until payment in full of any amount required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement (including, without limitation, any exercise price or tax withholding) is received by the General Partner.

(ix) Additional Agreements . Each Employee or Director to whom an Award is granted under this Plan may be required to agree in writing, as a condition to the grant of such Award or otherwise, to subject an Award that is exercised or settled following such Person’s termination of employment or services as a Director with the General Partner, the Partnership or their Affiliates to a general release of claims and/or a noncompetition agreement in favor of the General Partner, the Partnership, and their Affiliates, with the terms and conditions of such agreement(s) to be determined in good faith by the Committee.

(x) Termination of Employment . Except as provided herein, the treatment of an Award upon a termination of employment with, or the termination of services as a Director to, the General Partner, the Partnership, or any Affiliate shall be specified in the Award Agreement controlling such Award.

Section 7. Amendment and Termination . Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law:

(a) Amendments to the Plan and Awards . Except as required by applicable law or the rules of the principal securities exchange, if any, on which the Units are traded, the Board or the Committee may, by at least a majority decision, amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan in any manner, including increasing the number of Units available for Awards under the Plan, without the consent of any partner, Participant, other holder or beneficiary of an Award, or any other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter any Award theretofore granted, provided that no change, other than pursuant to Section 7(b), 7(c), 7(d), 7(e), or 7(g) below, in any Award shall materially reduce the rights or benefits of a Participant with respect to an Award without the consent of such Participant.

(b) Subdivision or Consolidation of Units . The terms of an Award and the number of Units 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 Partnership shall subdivide as a whole (by reclassification, by a Unit split, by the issuance of a distribution on Units payable in Units, or otherwise) the number of Units then outstanding into a greater number of Units, then, as appropriate, (A) the maximum number of Units available for the Plan or in connection with Awards as provided in Section 4 shall be increased proportionately, and the kind of other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of Units (or other kind of securities) that may be acquired under any then outstanding Award shall be increased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the exercise price) for each Unit (or other kind of 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 Partnership shall consolidate as a whole (by reclassification, by reverse Unit split, or otherwise) the number of Units then outstanding into a lesser number of Units, (A) the maximum number of Units for the Plan or available in connection with Awards as provided in Section 4 shall be decreased proportionately, and the kind of other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of Units (or other kind of securities) that may be acquired under any then outstanding Award shall be decreased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the exercise price) for each Unit (or other kind of 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 Units subject to outstanding Awards and the price for each Unit subject to outstanding Awards are required to be adjusted as provided in this Section 7(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 Units, other securities, cash, or property purchasable subject to each Award after giving effect to the adjustments. The Committee shall promptly provide each affected Participant with such notice.

(iv) Adjustments under Sections 7(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.

(c) Recapitalizations . If the Partnership recapitalizes, reclassifies its equity securities, or otherwise changes its capital structure (a “ recapitalization ”) without a Change of Control, the number and class of Units covered by an Award theretofore granted shall be adjusted so that such Award shall thereafter cover the number and class of Units 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 Units then covered by such Award and the Unit limitations provided in Section 4 shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with the recapitalization.

(d) Additional Issuances . Except as expressly provided herein, the issuance by the Partnership of units of any class or securities convertible into units of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of units or obligations of the Partnership convertible into such units 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 Units of Stock subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per Unit, if applicable.

 

(e) Change of Control . Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, upon a Change of Control the Committee, acting in its sole discretion without the consent or approval of any holder, may affect one or more of the following alternatives, which may vary among individual holders and which may vary among Awards: (i) remove any applicable forfeiture restrictions on any Award; (ii) accelerate the time of exercisability or the time at which the Restricted Period shall lapse to a specific date, before or after such Change of Control, specified by the Committee; (iii) require the mandatory surrender to the General Partner or the Partnership by selected holders of some or all of the outstanding Awards held by such holders (irrespective of whether such Awards are then subject to a Restricted Period or other restrictions pursuant to the Plan) as of a date, before or after such Change of Control, specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel such Awards and pay to each holder an amount of cash per Unit equal to the amount calculated in Section 7(f) (the “ Change of Control Price ”) less the exercise price, if any, applicable to such Awards; provided, however, that to the extent the exercise price of an Option or a Unit Appreciation Right exceeds the Change of Control Price, no consideration will be paid with respect to that Award; (iv) cancel Awards that remain subject to a Restricted Period as of the date of a Change of Control without payment of any consideration to the Participant for such Awards; or (v) make such adjustments to Awards then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Change of Control (including, but not limited to, the substitution of Awards for new awards); provided, however, that the Committee may determine in its sole discretion that no adjustment is necessary to Awards then outstanding.

(f) Change of Control Price . The “ Change of Control Price ” shall equal the amount determined in clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v), whichever is applicable, as follows: (i) the per Unit price offered to Unit holders in any merger or consolidation, (ii) the per Unit value of the Units immediately before the Change of Control without regard to assets sold in the Change of Control and assuming the General Partner or the Partnership, as applicable, has received the consideration paid for the assets in the case of a sale of the assets, (iii) the amount distributed per Unit in a dissolution transaction, (iv) the price per Unit offered to Unit holders in any tender offer or exchange offer whereby a Change of Control takes place, or (v) if such Change of Control occurs other than pursuant to a transaction described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this Section 7(f), the Fair Market Value per Unit of the Units that may otherwise be obtained with respect to such Awards or to which such Awards track, as determined by the Committee as of the date determined by the Committee to be the date of cancellation and surrender of such Awards. In the event that the consideration offered to unitholders of the Partnership in any transaction described in this Section 7(f) or Section 7(e) 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.

(g) Impact of Corporate Events on Awards Generally . In the event of changes in the outstanding Units by reason of a recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange or other relevant change in capitalization occurring after the date of the grant of any Award and not otherwise provided for by this Section 7, any outstanding Awards and any Award Agreements evidencing such Awards shall be subject to adjustment by the Committee at its discretion, which adjustment may, in the Committee’s discretion, be described in the Award Agreement and may include, but not be limited to, adjustments as to the number and price of Units or other consideration subject to such Awards, accelerated vesting (in full or in part) of such Awards, conversion of such Awards into awards denominated in the securities or other interests of any successor Person, or the cash settlement of such Awards in exchange for the cancellation thereof. In the event of any such change in the outstanding Units, the aggregate number of Units available under this Plan may be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive.

Section 8. General Provisions .

(a) No Rights to Award . No Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.

(b) Tax Withholding . Unless other arrangements have been made that are acceptable to the General Partner or an Affiliate, the Partnership or Affiliate is authorized to deduct, withhold, or cause to be deducted or withheld, from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the maximum amount (in cash, Units, Units that would otherwise be issued pursuant to such Award or other property) of any applicable taxes payable in respect of the grant or settlement of an Award, its exercise, the lapse of restrictions thereon, or any other payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan, provided that the withholding would not result in an liability-based accounting treatment under Topic 718 with respect to shares used to pay taxes unless otherwise approved by the Committee and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the General Partner or an Affiliate, the Partnership or Affiliate to satisfy its withholding obligations for the payment of such taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Participant who is subject to Rule 16b-3, such tax withholding automatically shall be effected by the General Partner either by (i) “netting” or withholding Units otherwise deliverable to the Participant on the vesting or payment of such Award, or (ii) requiring the Participant to pay an amount equal to the applicable taxes payable in cash.

(c) No Right to Employment or Services . The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the General Partner or any Affiliate, to provide consulting services, or to remain on the Board, as applicable. Furthermore, the General Partner, the Partnership or their Affiliates may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or his or her service relationship free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, any Award Agreement or other agreement.

(d) Governing Law . The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflicts of laws principles.

(e) Severability . If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable law or, if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect. If any of the terms or provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (as those terms or provisions are applied to Participants who are subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act), 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).

(f) Other Laws . The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Units or other consideration under an Award if, in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Units or such other consideration would reasonably be likely to violate any applicable law or regulation, the rules of the principal securities exchange on which the Units are then traded, or entitle the Partnership or an Affiliate to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the General Partner by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary.

(g) No Trust or Fund Created . Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the General Partner or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Partnership (or the General Partner acting on behalf of the Partnership) or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the Partnership, General Partner or such Affiliate.

(h) No Fractional Units . No fractional Units shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Units or whether such fractional Units or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated with or without consideration.

(i) Headings . Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

(j) Facility of Payment . Any amounts payable hereunder to any individual under legal disability may be paid to the legal representative of such individual, or may be applied for the benefit of such individual in any manner that the Committee

may select, and the Partnership (or the General Partner acting on behalf of the Partnership) shall be relieved of any further liability for payment of such amounts.

(k) Allocation of Costs . Nothing herein shall be deemed to override, amend, or modify any cost sharing arrangement, omnibus agreement, or other arrangement between the General Partner, the Partnership, and any Affiliate regarding the sharing of costs between those entities.

(l) Gender and Number . Words in the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.

(m) Compliance with Section 409A . Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall operate or be construed to cause the Plan or an Award to fail to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The applicable provisions of Section 409A the Code and the 409A Regulations are hereby incorporated by reference and shall control over any Plan or Award Agreement provision in conflict therewith. All 409A Awards shall be designed to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

(n) Specified Employee under Section 409A of the Code . Subject to any other restrictions or limitations contained herein, in the event that a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) becomes entitled to a payment under a 409A Award on account of a “separation from service” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder), to the extent required by the Code, such payment shall not occur until the earlier of the date that is six months plus one day from the date of such separation from service, the date of the death of such employee, or such other date as may be permitted under Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. Any payment that must be delayed as provided in this Section 9(n) will be aggregated and paid in a lump sum without interest at the earliest date as determined in the immediately preceding sentence.

(o) No Guarantee of Tax Consequences . None of the Board, the Committee, the Partnership or the General Partner makes any commitment or guarantee that any federal, state or local tax treatment will (or will not) apply or be available to any Participant. Each Participant is advised to obtain advice from a tax professional or attorney regarding the tax treatment of any Award.

 

Section 9. Term of the Plan . The Plan originally became effective on July 24, 2012 and shall continue until the earliest of (i) the date terminated by the Board, (ii) all Units available under the Plan have been delivered to Participants, or (iii) the 10th anniversary of the Plan’s original effective date. However, any Award granted prior to such termination, and the authority of the Board or Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under such Award, shall extend beyond such termination date.

 

Exhibit 99.2

2010 INCENTIVE PLAN

OF

WESTERN REFINING, INC.

 

 

A-i

A-ii

A-iii

A-iv

ARTICLE I

 

Establishment, Purpose and Duration

 

1.1   Establishment.   The Company hereby establishes an incentive compensation plan, to be known as the “2010 Incentive Plan,” as set forth in this document. The Plan permits the grant of Options, SARs, Restricted Shares, RSUs, Performance Share Awards, Performance Unit Awards, Cash-Based Awards and Other Share-Based Awards. The Plan shall become effective on the date the Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Company (the “Effective Date” ).

 

1.2   Purpose of the Plan.   The Plan is intended to advance the best interests of the Company, its Affiliates and its shareholders by providing those persons who have substantial responsibility for the management and growth of the Company and its Affiliates with additional performance incentives and an opportunity to obtain or increase their proprietary interest in the Company, thereby encouraging them to continue in their employment or affiliation with the Company or its Affiliates.

 

1.3   Duration of Plan.   The Plan shall continue indefinitely until it is terminated pursuant to Section 14.1. No ISOs may be granted under the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. The applicable provisions of the Plan will continue in effect with respect to an Award granted under the Plan for as long as such Award remains outstanding.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Definitions

 

The words and phrases defined in this Article shall have the meaning set out below throughout the Plan, unless the context in which any such word or phrase appears reasonably requires a broader, narrower or different meaning.

 

2.1  “Affiliate”  means any Entity that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company. For purposes of the preceding sentence, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Entity, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power (a) to vote more than fifty percent (50%) of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or other governing body) of the controlled Entity, or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the controlled Entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.

 

2.2  “Award”  means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, SARs, Restricted Shares, RSUs, Performance Share Awards, Performance Unit Awards, Other Share-Based Awards and Cash-Based Awards, in each case subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the consideration for which may be services rendered to the Company and/or its Affiliates.

 

2.3  “Award Agreement”  means an agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan.

 

2.4  “Board”  means the board of directors of the Company.

 

2.5  “Cash-Based Award”  means an Award granted pursuant to Article XI.

 

2.6  “Code”  means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

2.7  “Committee”  means a committee of at least two persons, who are members of the Compensation Committee of the Board and are appointed by the Compensation Committee of the Board, or, to the extent it chooses to operate as the Committee, the Compensation Committee of the Board. Each member of the Committee in respect of his or her participation in any decision with respect to an Award intended to satisfy the requirements of section 162(m) of the Code must satisfy the requirements of “outside director” status within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code; provided, however, that the failure to satisfy such requirement shall not affect the validity of the action of any committee otherwise duly authorized and acting in the matter. As to Awards, grants or other transactions that are authorized by the Committee and that are intended to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, the requirements of Rule 16b-3(d)(1) under the Exchange Act with respect to committee action must also be satisfied.

 

2.8  “Company”  means Western Refining, Inc. or any successor or continuing Entity (by acquisition, reincorporation, redomestication, plan or scheme of arrangement, share exchange, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or otherwise).

 

2.9  “Corporate Change”  shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 4.5(c).

 

2.10  “Director”  means a director of the Company who is not an Employee.

 

2.11  “Disability”  means as determined by the Committee in its discretion exercised in good faith, a physical or mental condition of the Holder that would entitle him to payment of disability income payments under the Company’s long-term disability insurance policy or plan for Employees as then in effect; or in the event that the Holder is not covered, for whatever reason, under the Company’s long-term disability insurance policy or plan for Employees or in the event the Company does not maintain such a long-term disability insurance policy, “Disability” means a permanent and total disability as defined in section 22(e)(3) of the Code. A determination of Disability may be made by a physician selected or approved by the Committee and, in this respect, the Holder shall submit to an examination by such physician upon request by the Committee.

 

2.12  “Dividend Equivalent”  means a payment equivalent in amount to dividends paid to the Company’s shareholders.

 

2.13  “Employee”  means a person employed by the Company or any Affiliate.

 

2.14  “Entity”  means any company, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization or any other entity or organization.

 

 

2.15  “Exchange Act”  means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

2.16  “Fair Market Value”  of the Shares as of any particular date means (1) if the Shares are traded on a stock exchange, the closing sale price of the Shares on that date as reported on the principal securities exchange on which the Shares are traded, or (2) if the Shares are traded in the over-the-counter market, the average between the high bid and low asked price on that date as reported in such over-the-counter market; provided that (a) if the Shares are not so traded, (b) if no closing price or bid and asked prices for the Shares were so reported on that date or (c) if, in the discretion of the Committee, another means of determining the fair market value of a Share at such date shall be necessary or advisable, the Committee may provide for another means for determining such fair market value.

 

2.17  “Fiscal Year”  means the Company’s fiscal year.

 

2.18  “Holder”  means a person who has been granted an Award or any person who is entitled to receive Shares or cash under an Award.

 

2.19  “ISO”  means an Option that is intended to be an “incentive stock option” that satisfies the requirements of section 422 of the Code.

 

2.20  “Minimum Statutory Tax Withholding Obligation”  means, with respect to an Award, the amount the Company or an Affiliate is required to withhold for federal, state, cantonal, local or similar taxes based upon the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates required by the relevant tax authorities.

 

2.21  “NSO”  means an Option that is intended to be a “nonqualified stock option” that does not satisfy the requirements of section 422 of the Code.

 

2.22  “Option”  means an option to purchase Shares granted pursuant to Article V.

 

2.23  “Option Price”  shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 5.4.

 

2.24  “Other Share-Based Award”  means an equity-based or equity-related Award not otherwise described by the terms and provisions of the Plan that is granted pursuant to Article X.

2.25  “Parent Corporation”  means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if, at the time of the action or transaction, each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock or shares possessing 50 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or shares in one of the other corporations in the chain.

 

2.26  “Performance Goals”  means one or more of the criteria described in Section 9.2 on which the performance goals applicable to an Award are based.

 

2.27  “Performance Share Award”  means an Award designated as a performance share award granted to a Holder pursuant to Article IX.

 

2.28  “Performance Unit Award”  means an Award designated as a performance unit award granted to a Holder pursuant to Article IX.

 

2.29  “Period of Restriction”  means the period during which Restricted Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (or absolute right of the Company to repurchase), whether based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance goals, or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, in its discretion.

 

2.30  “Plan”  means the 2010 Incentive Plan, as set forth in this document as it may be amended from time to time.

 

 

2.31  “Restricted Shares”  means restricted Shares issued or granted under the Plan pursuant to Article VII.

 

2.32  “Restricted Share Award”  means an authorization by the Committee to issue or transfer Restricted Shares to a Holder.

 

2.33  “RSU”  means a restricted share unit credited to a Holder’s ledger account maintained by the Company pursuant to Article VIII.

 

2.34  “RSU Award”  means an Award granted pursuant to Article VIII.

 

2.35  “SAR”  means a share appreciation right granted under the Plan pursuant to Article VI.

 

2.36  “Section 409A”  means section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury rules and regulations issued thereunder.

 

2.37  “Share” or “Shares”  means a common share or shares, par value U.S.$0.01 per share, of the Company, or, in the event that the Shares are later changed into or exchanged for a different class of shares or securities of the Company or another Entity, that other share or security. Shares may be represented by a certificate or by book or electronic entry.

 

2.38  “Subsidiary Corporation”  means any company or corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of companies or corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of the action or transaction, each of the companies or corporations other than the last company or corporation in an unbroken chain owns stock or shares possessing 50 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or shares in one of the other companies or corporations in the chain.

 

2.39  “Substantial Risk of Forfeiture”  shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury guidance issued thereunder.

 

2.40  “Ten Percent Shareholder”  means an individual who, at the time the Option is granted, owns more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares or series of shares of the Company or of any Parent Corporation or Subsidiary Corporation. An individual shall be considered as owning the shares owned, directly or indirectly, by or for his brothers and sisters (whether by the whole or half blood), spouse, ancestors and lineal descendants; and shares owned, directly or indirectly, by or for a company, corporation, partnership, estate or trust, shall be considered as being owned proportionately by or for its shareholders, partners or beneficiaries.

2.41  “Termination of Employment”  means, in the case of an Award other than an ISO, the termination of the Award recipient’s employment relationship with the Company and all Affiliates. “Termination of Employment”  means, in the case of an ISO, the termination of the Optionee’s employment relationship with all of the Company, any Parent Corporation, any Subsidiary Corporation and any parent or subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of section 422(a)(2) of the Code) of any such corporation that issues or assumes an ISO in a transaction to which section 424(a) of the Code applies.

ARTICLE III

 

Eligibility and Participation

 

3.1   Eligibility.   Except as otherwise specified in this Section 3.1, the persons who are eligible to receive Awards under the Plan are Employees and Directors. In no event will an ISO be granted to any person other than a key Employee.

 

3.2   Participation.   Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select the persons to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

General Provisions Relating to Awards

 

4.1   Authority to Grant Awards.   The Committee may grant Awards to those eligible persons as the Committee shall from time to time determine, under the terms and conditions of the Plan. Subject only to any applicable limitations set out in the Plan, the number of Shares or other value to be covered by any Award to be granted under the Plan shall be as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee may from time to time authorize the Chief Executive Officer of the Company to grant Awards to eligible persons who are not officers or directors of the Company subject to the provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and as inducements to hire prospective Employees who will not be officers or directors of the Company subject to the provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

4.2   Dedicated Shares; Maximum Awards.   The aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan is 3.85 million (3,850,000). The maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options may be granted to an Employee or Director during a Fiscal Year is five hundred thousand (500,000). The maximum number of shares with respect to which SARs may be granted to an Employee during a Fiscal Year is five hundred thousand (500,000). Each of the foregoing numerical limits stated in this Section 4.2 shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.5. The number of Shares stated in this Section 4.2 shall also be increased by such number of Shares as become subject to substitute Awards granted pursuant to Article XII; provided, however,  that such increase shall be conditioned upon the approval of the shareholders of the Company to the extent shareholder approval is required by law or applicable stock exchange rules. If Shares are not issued or are withheld from payment of an Award to satisfy tax obligations with respect to the Award, such Shares will not be added back to the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan but will count against the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan. If Shares are tendered in payment of an Option Price of an Option, such Shares will not be added back to the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan. To the extent that any outstanding Award is forfeited or cancelled for any reason or is settled in cash in lieu of Shares, the Shares allocable to such portion of the Award may again be subject to an Award granted under the Plan. When a SAR is settled in Shares, the number of Shares subject to the SAR under the SAR Award Agreement will be counted against the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan as one Share for every Share subject to the SAR, regardless of the number of Shares used to settle the SAR upon exercise.

4.3   Non-Transferability.   Except as specified in the applicable Award Agreements or in domestic relations court orders, an Award shall not be transferable by the Holder other than by will or under the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable, during the Holder’s lifetime, only by him or her. Any attempted assignment of an Award in violation of this Section 4.3 shall be null and void. In the discretion of the Committee, any attempt to transfer an Award other than under the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement may terminate the Award. No ISO granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, all ISOs granted to an Employee under the Plan shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by the Employee, and after that time, by the Employee’s heirs or estate.

 

4.4   Requirements of Law.   The Company shall not be required to sell or issue any Shares under any Award if issuing those Shares would constitute or result in a violation by the Holder or the Company of any provision of any law, statute or regulation of any governmental authority or applicable stock exchange. Specifically, in connection with any applicable statute or regulation relating to the registration of securities, upon exercise of any Option or pursuant to any other Award, the Company shall not be required to issue any Shares unless the Committee has received evidence satisfactory to it to the effect that the Holder will not transfer the Shares except in accordance with applicable law, including receipt of an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company to the effect that any proposed transfer complies with applicable law. The determination by the Committee on this matter shall be final, binding and conclusive. The Company may, but shall in no event be obligated to, register any Shares covered by the Plan pursuant to applicable securities laws of any country or any political subdivision. In the event the Shares issuable upon exercise of an Option or pursuant to any other Award are not registered, the Company may imprint on the certificate evidencing the Shares any legend that counsel for the Company considers necessary or advisable to comply with applicable law, or, should the Shares be represented by book or electronic entry, rather than a certificate, the Company may take such steps to restrict transfer of the Shares as counsel for the Company considers necessary or advisable to comply with applicable law. The Company shall not be obligated to take any other affirmative action in order to cause or enable the exercise of an Option or any other Award, or the issuance of Shares pursuant thereto, to comply with any law or regulation of any governmental authority.

 

4.5   Changes in the Company’s Capital Structure.

 

(a) The existence of outstanding Awards shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its shareholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any acquisition, merger, redomestication, plan or scheme of arrangement, share exchange, amalgamation or consolidation of the Company, any issue of bonds, debentures or shares, including preferred or prior preference shares ahead of or affecting the Shares or Share rights, the winding up, dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

 

(b) If the Company shall effect a subdivision or consolidation of Shares or other capital readjustment, the payment of a Share dividend or bonus issue, or other increase or reduction of the number of Shares issued and outstanding, without receiving compensation therefor in money, services or property, then (1) the number, class or series and price per Share subject to outstanding Options or other Awards under the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted in such a manner as to entitle a Holder to receive upon exercise of an Option or other Award, for the same aggregate cash consideration, the equivalent total number and class or series of Shares the Holder would have received had the Holder exercised his or her Option or other Award in full immediately prior to the event requiring the adjustment, and (2) the number and class or series of Shares then reserved to be issued under the Plan shall be adjusted by substituting for the total number and class or series of Shares then reserved, that number and class or series of Shares that would have been received by the owner of an equal number of issued and outstanding Shares of each class or series of Shares as the result of the event requiring the adjustment.

 

(c) If while unexercised Options or other Awards remain outstanding under the Plan (1) the Company shall not be the surviving Entity in any acquisition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, reorganization, redomestication, plan or scheme of arrangement, share exchange or other similar transaction (or survives only

as a subsidiary of an Entity), (2) the Company sells, leases or exchanges or agrees to sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of its assets to any other person or Entity (other than an Entity wholly-owned by the Company), (3) the Company is to be wound up or dissolved or (4) the Company is a party to any other corporate transaction (as defined under section 424(a) of the Code and applicable Department of Treasury regulations) that is not described in clauses (1), (2) or (3) of this sentence (each such event is referred to herein as a “Corporate Change” ), then, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or another agreement between the Holder and the Company, or as a result of the Committee’s effectuation of one or more of the alternatives described below, there shall be no acceleration of the time at which any Award then outstanding may be exercised, and no later than ten days after any approval by the shareholders of the Company of such Corporate Change, the Committee, acting in its sole and absolute discretion without the consent or approval of any Holder, subject to applicable law, shall act to effect one or more of the following alternatives, which may vary among individual Holders and which may vary among Awards held by any individual Holder (provided that, with respect to a reincorporation, merger, redomestication, plan or scheme of arrangement, share exchange or amalgamation in which Holders of the Company’s common shares will receive one common share of the successor or continuing Entity for each common share of the Company, none of such alternatives shall apply and, without Committee action, each Award shall automatically convert into a similar award of the successor or continuing Entity exercisable for the same number of common shares of the successor as the Award was exercisable for common Shares of the Company):

 

(1) accelerate the time at which some or all of the Awards then outstanding may be exercised so that such Awards may be exercised in full for a limited period of time on or before a specified date fixed by the Committee, after which specified date all such Awards that remain unexercised and all rights of Holders thereunder shall terminate;

 

(2) require the mandatory surrender to the Company by all or selected Holders of some or all of the then outstanding Awards held by such Holders (irrespective of whether such Awards are then exercisable under the provisions of the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement evidencing such Award) as of a date specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel such Award and the Company shall pay to each such Holder an amount of cash per share equal to the excess, if any, of the per share price offered to shareholders of the Company in connection with such Corporate Change over the exercise prices under such Award for such shares;

 

(3) with respect to all or selected Holders, have some or all of their then outstanding Awards (whether vested or unvested) assumed or have a new award of a similar nature substituted for some or all of their then outstanding Awards under the Plan (whether vested or unvested) by an Entity which is a party to the transaction resulting in such Corporate Change and which is then employing such Holder or which is affiliated or associated with such Holder in the same or a substantially similar manner as the Company prior to the Corporate Change, or a parent or subsidiary of such Entity, provided that (A) such assumption or substitution is on a basis where the excess of the aggregate fair market value of the Shares subject to the Award immediately after the assumption or substitution over the aggregate exercise price of such Shares is not greater than the excess of the aggregate fair market value of all Shares subject to the Award immediately before such assumption or substitution over the aggregate exercise price of such Shares, and (B) the assumed rights under such existing Award or the substituted rights under such new Award, as the case may be, will have the same terms and conditions as the rights under the existing Award assumed or substituted for, as the case may be;

 

(4) provide that the number and class or series of Shares covered by an Award (whether vested or unvested) theretofore granted shall be adjusted so that such Award when exercised shall thereafter cover the number and class or series of Shares or other securities or property (including, without limitation, cash) to which the Holder would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the agreement or plan relating to such Corporate Change if, immediately prior to such Corporate Change, the Holder had been the holder of record of the number of Shares then covered by such Award; or

(5) make such adjustments to Awards then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Corporate Change (provided, however, that the Committee may determine in its sole and absolute discretion that no such adjustment is necessary).

 

In effecting one or more of the alternatives set out in paragraphs (3), (4) or (5) immediately above, and except as otherwise may be provided in an Award Agreement, the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the consent or approval of any Holder, subject to applicable law, may accelerate the time at which some or all Awards then outstanding may be exercised.

 

(d) In the event of changes in the issued and outstanding Shares by reason of recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, redomestications, plans or schemes of arrangement, share exchanges, combinations, subdivisions, 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 4.5, any outstanding Award and any Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall be subject to adjustment by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion as to the number and price of Shares or other consideration subject to such Award. In the event of any such change in the issued and outstanding Shares, the aggregate number of Shares available under the Plan may be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive.

 

(e) After (i) the acquisition of the Company by an Entity, (ii) the merger of one or more Entities into the Company or (iii) a consolidation or amalgamation of the Company and one or more Entities in which the Company shall be the surviving Entity, each Holder shall be entitled to have his Restricted Shares appropriately adjusted based on the manner in which the Shares were adjusted under the terms of the agreement of acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation.

 

(f) The issuance by the Company of shares of any class or series, or securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any class or series, for cash or property, or for labor or services either upon direct sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe for them, or upon conversion or exchange of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares or other securities, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason of such issuance shall be made with respect to, the number, class or series, or price of Shares then subject to outstanding Options or other Awards.

 

4.6   Forfeiture for Cause.   Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement, if the Committee finds by a majority vote that a Holder, before or after his Termination of Employment (a) committed fraud, embezzlement, theft, felony or an act of dishonesty in the course of his employment by the Company or an Affiliate which conduct damaged the Company or an Affiliate or (b) disclosed trade secrets of the Company or an Affiliate, then as of the date the Committee makes its finding, any Awards awarded to the Holder that have not been exercised by the Holder (including all Awards that have not yet vested) will be forfeited to the Company (including by way of an absolute right of the Company to purchase or obligate the transfer of any issued Shares or rights to subscribe therefore for such consideration, if any, as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion). The findings and decision of the Committee with respect to such matter, including those regarding the acts of the Holder and the damage done to the Company, will be final for all purposes. No decision of the Committee, however, will affect the finality of the discharge of the individual by the Company or an Affiliate.

 

4.7   Forfeiture Events.   The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Holder’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, Termination of Employment for cause, termination of the Holder’s provision of services to the Company or its Affiliates, violation of material policies of the Company and its Affiliates, breach of noncompetition, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Holder, or other conduct by the Holder that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company and its Affiliates.

 

4.8   Award Agreements.   Each Award shall be embodied in a written agreement that shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. The Award Agreement shall be signed by an executive officer of the

Company, other than the Holder, on behalf of the Company, and may be signed by the Holder to the extent required by the Committee. However, the date of grant of any Award for all purposes shall be the date such Award is approved by the Committee (or approved by the Chief Executive Officer for grants pursuant to the authorization permitted under Section 4.1) or such later date as is specified in the relevant approval, and not the date the Award Agreement is signed. The Award Agreement may specify the effect of a change in control on the Award. The Award Agreement may contain any other provisions that the Committee in its discretion shall deem advisable which are not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan.

 

4.9   Amendments of Award Agreements.   The terms of any outstanding Award under the Plan may be amended from time to time by the Committee in its discretion in any manner that it deems appropriate and that is consistent with the terms of the Plan. However, no such amendment shall adversely affect in a material manner any right of a Holder without his or her written consent. Except as specified in Section 4.5(b), the Committee may not directly or indirectly lower the exercise price of a previously granted Option or the grant price of a previously granted SAR.

 

4.10   Rights as Shareholder.   A Holder shall not have any rights as a shareholder with respect to Shares covered by an Option, a SAR, an RSU, a Performance Share Unit, or an Other Share-Based Award until the date, if any, such Shares are issued by the Company; and, except as otherwise provided in Section 4.5, no adjustment for dividends, or otherwise, shall be made if the record date therefor is prior to the date of issuance of such Shares.

 

4.11   Issuance of Shares.   Shares, when issued, may be represented by a certificate or by book or electronic entry.

 

 

4.12   Restrictions on Shares Received.   Subject to applicable law, the Committee may impose such conditions and/or restrictions on any Shares issued pursuant to an Award as it may deem advisable or desirable. These restrictions may include, but shall not be limited to, a requirement that the Holder hold the Shares for a specified period of time.

 

4.13   Compliance With Section 409A.   Awards shall be designed and operated in such a manner that they are either exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A. The exercisability of an Option shall not be extended to the extent that such extension would subject the Holder to additional taxes under Section 409A.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Options

 

5.1   Authority to Grant Options.   Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time, and from time to time, may grant Options under the Plan to eligible persons in such number and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine.

 

5.2   Type of Options Available.   Options granted under the Plan may be NSOs or ISOs.

 

5.3   Option Agreement.   Each Option grant under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify (a) whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or an NSO, (b) the Option Price, (c) the duration of the Option, (d) the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, (e) the exercise restrictions applicable to the Option and (f) such other provisions as the Committee shall determine that are not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan. Notwithstanding the designation of an Option as an ISO in the applicable Option Agreement, to the extent the limitations of Section 5.10 of the Plan are exceeded with respect to the Option, the portion of the Option in excess of the limitation shall be treated as a NSO.

 

5.4   Option Price.   The price at which Shares may be purchased under an Option (the “Option Price” ) shall not be less than 100 percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date the Option is granted. However, in the case of a Ten Percent Shareholder, the Option Price for an ISO shall not be less than 110 percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date the ISO is granted. Subject to the

limitations set forth in the preceding sentences of this Section 5.4, the Committee shall determine the Option Price for each grant of an Option under the Plan.

 

5.5   Duration of Option.   An Option shall not be exercisable after the earlier of (i) the general term of the Option specified in the applicable Award Agreement (which shall not exceed ten years) or (ii) the period of time specified in the applicable Award Agreement that follows the Holder’s Termination of Employment or severance of affiliation relationship with the Company. Unless the applicable Award Agreement specifies a shorter term, in the case of an ISO granted to a Ten Percent Shareholder, the Option shall expire on the fifth anniversary of the date the Option is granted.

5.6   Amount Exercisable.   Each Option may be exercised at the time, in the manner and subject to the conditions the Committee specifies in the Award Agreement in its sole discretion.

 

5.7   Exercise of Option.

 

(a)   General Method of Exercise.   Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, Options may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time by the delivery of written notice in the manner designated by the Committee stating (1) that the Holder wishes to exercise such Option on the date such notice is so delivered, (2) the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised and (3) the address to which any certificate representing such Shares should be mailed. Except in the case of exercise by a third party broker as provided below, in order for the notice to be effective the notice must be accompanied by payment of the Option Price by any combination of the following: (a) cash, certified check, bank draft or postal or express money order for an amount equal to the Option Price under the Option, (b) an election to make a cashless exercise through a registered broker-dealer (if approved in advance by the Committee or an executive officer of the Company) or (c) any other form of payment which is acceptable to the Committee.

 

(b)   Exercise Through Third-Party Broker.   The Committee may permit a Holder to elect to pay the Option Price and any applicable tax withholding resulting from such exercise by authorizing a third-party broker to sell all or a portion of the Shares acquired upon exercise of the Option and remit to the Company a sufficient portion of the sale proceeds to pay the Option Price and any applicable tax withholding resulting from such exercise.

 

5.8   Notification of Disqualifying Disposition.   If any Optionee shall make any disposition of Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of an ISO under the circumstances described in section 421(b) of the Code (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions), such Optionee shall notify the Company of such disposition within ten (10) days thereof.

 

5.9   No Rights as Shareholder.   An Optionee shall not have any rights as a shareholder with respect to Shares covered by an Option until the date such Shares are issued by the Company; and, except as otherwise provided in Section 4.5, no adjustment for dividends, or otherwise, shall be made if the record date therefor is prior to the date of issuance of such shares.

 

 

5.10   $100,000 Limitation on ISOs.   To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares with respect to which ISOs first become exercisable by a Holder in any calendar year exceeds $100,000, taking into account both Shares subject to ISOs under the Plan and Shares subject to ISOs under all other plans of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as such terms are defined in Section 424 of the Code, such Options shall be treated as NSOs. For this purpose, the “Fair Market Value” of the Shares subject to Options shall be determined as of the date the Options were awarded. In reducing the number of Options treated as ISOs to meet the $100,000 limit, the most recently granted Options shall be reduced first. To the extent a reduction of simultaneously granted Options is necessary to meet the $100,000 limit, the Committee may, in the manner and to the extent permitted by law, designate which Shares are to be treated as shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO.

ARTICLE VI

 

Share Appreciation Rights

 

6.1   Authority to Grant SAR Awards.   Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time, and from time to time, may grant SARs under the Plan to eligible persons in such number and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number of SARs granted to each Holder and, consistent with the provisions of the Plan, in determining the terms and conditions pertaining to such SARs.

 

6.2   General Terms.   Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a SAR granted under the Plan shall confer on the recipient a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, an amount equal to the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over (b) the grant price of the SAR, which shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of grant of the SAR.

 

6.3   SAR Agreement.   Each Award of SARs granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify (a) the grant price of the SAR, (b) the term of the SAR, (c) the vesting and termination provisions of the SAR and (d) such other provisions as the Committee shall determine that are not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan. The Committee may impose such additional conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any SAR as it may deem appropriate.

 

6.4   Term of SAR.   The term of a SAR granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion; provided that no SAR shall be exercisable on or after the tenth anniversary date of its grant.

 

6.5   Exercise of SAR.   A SAR may be exercised upon whatever terms and conditions the Committee, in its sole discretion, imposes.

 

6.6   Payment of SAR Amount.   Upon the exercise of a SAR, a Holder shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the grant price of the SAR by the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. At the discretion of the Committee, the payment upon SAR exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, in some combination thereof or in any other manner approved by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee’s determination regarding the form of SAR payout shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the SAR.

 

6.7   Termination of Employment.   Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Holder of a SAR shall have the right to exercise the SAR following the Holder’s Termination of Employment. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, may be included in the Award Agreement entered into with the Holder, need not be uniform among all SARs issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Restricted Share Awards

 

7.1   Restricted Share Awards.   The Committee may make Awards of Restricted Shares to eligible persons selected by it. The amount of, the vesting and the transferability restrictions applicable to any Restricted Share Award shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. If the Committee imposes vesting or transferability restrictions on a Holder’s rights with respect to Restricted Shares, the Committee may issue such instructions to the Company’s share transfer agent in connection therewith as it deems appropriate. The Committee may also cause any certificate for Shares issued pursuant to a Restricted Share Award to be imprinted with any legend which counsel for the Company considers advisable with respect to the restrictions or, should the Shares be represented by book or electronic entry rather than a certificate, the Company may take such steps to restrict transfer of the Shares as counsel for the Company considers necessary or advisable to comply with applicable law.

7.2   Restricted Share Award Agreement.   Each Restricted Share Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that contains any vesting, transferability restrictions and other provisions as the Committee may specify.

 

7.3   Holder’s Rights as Shareholder.   Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, each recipient of a Restricted Share Award shall have all the rights of a shareholder with respect to any issued Restricted Shares included in the Restricted Share Award during the Period of Restriction established for the Restricted Share Award and (i) dividends paid with respect to Restricted Shares in cash or property other than Shares or rights to acquire Shares or shall be paid to the recipient of the Restricted Share Award currently and (ii) dividends paid in Shares or rights to acquire Shares shall be added to and become a part of the Restricted Shares. During the Period of Restriction, certificates representing the Restricted Shares shall be registered in the Holder’s name and bear a restrictive legend to the effect that ownership of such Restricted Shares, and the enjoyment of all rights appurtenant thereto, are subject to the restrictions, terms, and conditions provided in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Such certificates shall be deposited by the recipient with the Secretary of the Company or such other officer of the Company as may be designated by the Committee, together with all share transfer forms or other instruments of assignment, each endorsed in blank, which will permit transfer to or purchase by the Company of all or any portion of the Restricted Shares which shall be forfeited in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

Restricted Share Unit Awards

 

8.1   Authority to Grant RSU Awards.   Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time, and from time to time, may grant RSU Awards under the Plan to eligible persons in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine. The amount of, the vesting and the transferability restrictions applicable to any RSU Award shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee shall maintain a bookkeeping ledger account that reflects the number of RSUs credited under the Plan for the benefit of a Holder.

 

8.2   RSU Award.   An RSU Award shall be similar in nature to a Restricted Share Award except that no Shares are actually issued or transferred to the Holder until a later date specified in the applicable Award Agreement. Each RSU shall have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share.

 

8.3   RSU Award Agreement.   Each RSU Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that contains any Substantial Risk of Forfeiture, transferability restrictions, form and time of payment provisions and other provisions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee may specify.

 

8.4   Dividend Equivalents.   An Award Agreement for an RSU Award may specify that the Holder shall be entitled to the payment of Dividend Equivalents under the Award.

 

8.5   Form of Payment Under RSU Award.   Payment under an RSU Award shall be made in either cash or Shares, or any combination thereof, as specified in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

8.6   Time of Payment Under RSU Award.   A Holder’s payment under an RSU Award shall be made at such time as is specified in the applicable Award Agreement. The Award Agreement shall specify that the payment will be made (1) by a date that is no later than the date that is two and one-half (2 1/2) months after the end of the Fiscal Year in which the RSU Award payment is no longer subject to a Substantial Risk of Forfeiture or (2) at a time that is permissible under Section 409A.

 

8.7   No Rights as Shareholder.   Each recipient of a RSU Award shall have no rights of a shareholder with respect to any Shares underlying such RSUs until such date as the underlying Shares are issued.

ARTICLE IX

 

Performance Share Awards and Performance Unit Awards

 

9.1   Authority to Grant Performance Share Awards and Performance Unit Awards.   Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time, and from time to time, may grant Performance Share Awards and Performance Unit Awards under the Plan to eligible persons in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine. The amount of, the vesting and the transferability restrictions applicable to any Performance Share Award or Performance Unit Award shall be based upon the attainment of such Performance Goals as the Committee may determine. If the Committee imposes vesting or transferability restrictions on a Holder’s rights with respect to Performance Share or Performance Unit Awards, the Committee may issue such instructions to the Company’s share transfer agent in connection therewith as it deems appropriate. The Committee may also cause any certificate for Shares issued pursuant to a Performance Shares or Performance Unit Award to be imprinted with any legend which counsel for the Company considers advisable with respect to the restrictions or, should the Shares be represented by book or electronic entry rather than a certificate, the Company may take such steps to restrict transfer of the Shares as counsel for the Company considers necessary or advisable to comply with applicable law.

 

9.2   Performance Goals.   A Performance Goal must be objective such that a third party having knowledge of the relevant facts could determine whether the goal is met. Such a Performance Goal may be based on one or more business criteria that apply to the Holder, one or more business units of the Company, or the Company as a whole, with reference to one or more of the following: earnings per share, total shareholder return, cash return on capitalization, increased revenue, revenue ratios (per employee or per customer), net income, share price, market share, return on equity, return on assets, return on capital, return on capital compared to cost of capital, return on capital employed, return on invested capital, shareholder value, net cash flow, operating income, EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, non-cash impairment losses, depreciation and amortization (or any combinations thereof)), cash flow, cash flow from operations, cost reductions and cost ratios. Goals may also be based on performance relative to a peer group of companies. Unless otherwise stated, such a Performance Goal need not be based upon an increase or positive result under a particular business criterion and could include, for example, maintaining the status quo or limiting economic losses (measured, in each case, by reference to specific business criteria). Performance Goals may be determined by including or excluding, in the Committee’s discretion, items that are determined to be extraordinary, unusual in nature, infrequent in occurrence, related to the disposal or acquisition of a segment of a business, or related to a change in accounting principal, in each case, based on Opinion No. 30 of the Accounting Principles Board (APB Opinion No. 30) or other applicable accounting rules, or consistent with Company accounting policies and practices in effect on the date the Performance Goal is established. In interpreting Plan provisions applicable to Performance Goals and Performance Shares or Performance Unit Awards, it is intended that the Plan will conform with the standards of section 162(m) of the Code and Treasury Regulations § 1.162-27(e)(2)(i), and the Committee in establishing such goals and interpreting the Plan shall be guided by such provisions. Prior to the payment of any compensation based on the achievement of Performance Goals, the Committee must certify in writing that applicable Performance Goals and any of the material terms thereof were, in fact, satisfied. Subject to the foregoing provisions, the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Performance Shares or Performance Unit Awards made pursuant to the Plan shall be determined by the Committee.

 

9.3   Time of Establishment of Performance Goals.   A Performance Goal for a particular Performance Share Award or Performance Unit Award must be established by the Committee prior to the earlier to occur of (a) 90 days after the commencement of the period of service to which the Performance Goal relates or (b) the lapse of 25 percent of the period of service, and in any event while the outcome is substantially uncertain.

 

9.4   Award Agreement.   Each Performance Share Award or Performance Unit Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that contains any vesting, transferability restrictions and other provisions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee may specify.

 

9.5   Form of Payment Under Performance Unit Award.   Payment under a Performance Unit Award shall be made in cash and/or Shares as specified in the Holder’s Award Agreement.

9.6   Time of Payment Under Performance Unit Award.   A Holder’s payment under a Performance Unit Award shall be made at such time as is specified in the applicable Award Agreement. The Award Agreement shall specify that the payment will be made (1) by a date that is no later than the date that is two and one-half (2 1 / 2 ) months after the end of the calendar year in which the Performance Unit Award payment is no longer subject to a Substantial Risk of Forfeiture or (2) at a time that is permissible under Section 409A.

 

9.7   Holder’s Rights as Shareholder With Respect to Performance Awards.   Each Holder of a Performance Share Award shall have all the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Shares issued to the Holder pursuant to the Award during any period in which such issued Shares are subject to forfeiture and restrictions on transfer, including without limitation, the right to vote such Shares. Each Holder of a Performance Unit Award shall have no rights of a shareholder with respect to any Shares underlying such Performance Unit Award until such date as the underlying Shares are issued.

 

9.8   Increases Prohibited.   None of the Committee or the Board may increase the amount of compensation payable under a Performance Shares or Performance Unit Award. If the time at which a Performance Shares or Performance Unit Award will vest or be paid is accelerated for any reason, the number of Shares subject to, or the amount payable under, the Performance Shares or Performance Unit Award shall be reduced if necessary to comply with the Department of Treasury Regulation section 1.162-27(e)(2)(iii) to reasonably reflect the time value of money.

 

9.9   Shareholder Approval.   No issuances of Shares or payments of cash will be made pursuant to this Article IX unless the shareholder approval requirements of Department of Treasury Regulation section 1.162-27(e)(4) are satisfied.

 

 

ARTICLE X

 

Other Share-Based Awards

 

10.1   Authority to Grant Other Share-Based Awards.   The Committee may grant to eligible persons other types of equity-based or equity-related Awards not otherwise described by the terms and provisions of the Plan (including, subject to applicable law, the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted Shares) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine. Such Awards may involve the issue or transfer of Shares to Holders, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Shares and may include, without limitation, Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.

 

10.2   Value of Other Share-Based Award.   Each Other Share-Based Award shall be expressed in terms of Shares or units based on Shares, as determined by the Committee.

 

10.3   Payment of Other Share-Based Award.   Payment, if any, with respect to an Other Share-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash or Shares or any combination thereof as the Committee determines.

 

 

10.4   Termination of Employment.   The Committee shall determine the extent to which a Holder’s rights with respect to Other Share-Based Awards shall be affected by the Holder’s Termination of Employment. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee and need not be uniform among all Other Share-Based Awards issued pursuant to the Plan.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

Cash-Based Awards

 

11.1   Authority to Grant Cash-Based Awards.   Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time, and from time to time, may grant Awards of cash under the Plan to eligible persons in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine.

11.2   Value of Cash-Based Award.   Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a payment amount or payment range as determined by the Committee.

 

11.3   Payment of Cash-Based Award.   Payment, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash.

 

11.4   Termination of Employment.   The Committee shall determine the extent to which a Holder’s rights with respect to Cash-Based Awards shall be affected by the Holder’s Termination of Employment. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee and need not be uniform among all Cash-Based Awards issued pursuant to the Plan.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

Substitution Awards

 

Awards may be granted under the Plan from time to time in substitution for share options and other awards held by employees of other Entities who are about to become Employees, or whose employer is about to become an Affiliate as the result of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation of the Company with another Entity, or the acquisition by the Company of substantially all the assets of another Entity, or the acquisition by the Company of at least fifty percent (50%) of the issued and outstanding stock, shares or securities of another Entity as the result of which such other Entity will become an Affiliate of the Company. The terms and conditions of the substitute Awards so granted may vary from the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan to such extent as the Committee at the time of grant may deem appropriate to conform, in whole or in part, to the provisions of the Award in substitution for which they are granted.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

Administration

 

13.1   Awards.   The Plan shall be administered by the Committee or, in the absence of the Committee, the Plan shall be administered by the Board. The members of the Committee shall serve at the discretion of the Board. The Committee shall have full power and authority to administer the Plan and to take all actions that the Plan expressly contemplates or are necessary or appropriate in connection with the administration of the Plan with respect to Awards granted under the Plan. The Board shall administer the Plan with respect to the grant of Awards to Directors.

 

13.2   Authority of the Committee.   The Committee shall have full power to interpret and apply the terms and provisions of the Plan and Awards made under the Plan, and to adopt such rules, regulations and guidelines for implementing the Plan as the Committee may deem necessary or proper, all of which powers shall be exercised in the best interests of the Company and in keeping with the objectives of the Plan. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of those members present at any meeting shall decide any question brought before that meeting. Any decision or determination reduced to writing and signed by a majority of the members shall be as effective as if it had been made by a majority vote at a meeting properly called and held. All questions of interpretation and application of the Plan, or as to Awards granted under the Plan, shall be subject to the determination, which shall be final and binding, of a majority of the whole Committee. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any act or omission of any other member of the Committee or for any act or omission on his own part, including but not limited to the exercise of any power or discretion given to him under the Plan, except those resulting from his own gross negligence or willful misconduct. In carrying out its authority under the Plan, the Committee shall have full and final authority and discretion, including but not limited to the following rights, powers and authorities to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which Awards will be made; determine the number and exercise price of Shares covered in each Award subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan; determine the terms, provisions and conditions of each Award, which need not be identical and need not match the default terms set forth in the Plan; accelerate the time at which any outstanding Award will vest; prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to