UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


                                


FORM 8-K


CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  May 3, 2018 (May 2, 2018)

 


EVERSOURCE ENERGY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Massachusetts

1-5324

04-2147929

(State or other jurisdiction

of organization)

(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)


300 Cadwell Drive

Springfield, Massachusetts


01104

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)


Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 286-5000


Not Applicable

 (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company


If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.


Section 5

Corporate Governance and Management


Item 5.02

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.


(d)

On May 2, 2018, at the meeting of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Eversource Energy conducted after the 2018 Annual Meeting (as defined in Item 5.07, below), the Board elected Linda Dorcena Forry to serve as a Trustee, effective immediately.  The Board also appointed Ms. Forry to serve on the Corporate Governance and Finance Committees.


Ms. Forry’s initial term as a Trustee will continue until Eversource Energy’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in May 2019.  Ms. Forry will receive an annual cash retainer in the amount of $115,000 for service on the Board during her term of office, including participation in all Board and Committee meetings, prorated to reflect her election on May 2, 2018.  Ms. Forry will also be entitled to receive a grant under the Eversource Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) on June 1, 2018, equal to that number of Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) resulting from dividing $135,000 by the average closing price of Eversource Energy common shares as reported on the New York Stock Exchange for the 10 trading days immediately preceding the date of grant, rounded to the nearest whole RSU, and prorated to reflect her election on May 2, 2018.


Ms. Forry, age 45, currently serves as Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations for the Northeast region of Suffolk Construction, a building contracting company that provides pre-construction, management, general contracting and design-build services.  Ms. Forry is a former member of the Massachusetts Senate, and represented the 1st Suffolk District from June 2013 – January 2018.  She previously represented the 12th Suffolk District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives after winning a special election in April 2005.  


There is no arrangement or understanding between Ms. Forry and any other person pursuant to which she was elected as Trustee.  Ms. Forry does not have any transactions with related persons in which Eversource Energy is a participant that would require disclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.


A copy of Eversource Energy’s news release announcing Ms. Forry’s election is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.  


(e)

At the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Eversource Energy, which was held on May 2, 2018, (the “2018 Annual Meeting”), the Company’s shareholders approved the 2018 Eversource Energy Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”).  The 2018 Plan was previously approved, subject to shareholder approval, by the Board of Trustees of the Company.


A summary of the material terms and conditions of the 2018 Plan and awards thereunder is included in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 23, 2018 (the “Proxy Statement”) under “Item 3: Approval of the 2018 Eversource Energy Incentive Plan,” which section is incorporated herein by reference.  The preceding summary is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, the 2018 Plan, which is attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.



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Item 5.07

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.


(a)

On May 2, 2018, the Company held its 2018 Annual Meeting.  


(b)

Shareholders voted on the proposals set forth below.  For more information on the following proposals, see the Company’s Proxy Statement dated March 23, 2018.  On March 6, 2018, the record date for the Annual Meeting, there were 316,885,808 common shares outstanding and entitled to vote.  At the Annual Meeting, 279,651,723 common shares were represented, in person or by proxy, constituting a quorum.


(1)

Election of Trustees.   The shareholders elected each of the 10 nominees to the Board of Trustees for a one-year term by a majority of the outstanding common shares:


Trustee

For

 


Against

Abstained

Broker

Non-Votes

Cotton M. Cleveland

236,205,615

 

4,153,280

737,552

38,553,782

Sanford Cloud, Jr.

222,288,442

 

18,132,020

677,479

38,553,782

James S. DiStasio

229,639,536

 

10,745,425

712,141

38,553,782

Francis A. Doyle

238,195,004

 

2,239,680

662,534

38,553,782

James J. Judge

231,710,280

 

7,625,140

1,762,521

38,553,782

John Y. Kim

238,102,776

 

2,164,352

829,974

38,553,782

Kenneth R. Leibler

236,691,158

 

3,586,297

819,764

38,553,782

William C. Van Faasen

229,478,784

 

10,945,233

673,924

38,553,782

Frederica M. Williams

238,555,782

 

1,936,346

604,974

38,553,782

Dennis R. Wraase

229,437,502

 

10,965,356

694,360

38,553,782


(2)

The shareholders approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s 2017 Named Executive Officers:


For

Against

Abstained

Broker Non-Votes

215,393,033

23,831,741

1,873,166

38,553,782


(3)

The shareholders approved the 2018 Eversource Energy Incentive Plan:


For

Against

Abstained

Broker Non-Votes

227,190,446

12,295,499

1,611,995

38,553,782


(4)

The shareholders ratified the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for 2018:


For

Against

Abstained

Broker Non-Votes

267,950,438

10,589,763

1,111,521

0



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Section 9

Financial Statements and Exhibits


Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits


Exhibit

Number

Description

99.1

News Release announcing the election of Linda Dorcena Forry as a Trustee, issued by Eversource Energy, dated May 3, 2018 .

99.2

2018 Eversource Energy Incentive Plan .


[The remainder of this page left blank intentionally.]



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SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.








May 3, 2018

EVERSOURCE ENERGY

(Registrant)




By:

/s/ G REGORY B . B UTLER

Gregory B. Butler

Executive Vice President and General Counsel



5

 

Exhibit 99.1

Linda Forry Named Eversource Trustee


HARTFORD, Conn. and BOSTON, Mass. (May 3, 2018) – Eversource Energy today announced the election of Linda Dorcena Forry to its board of trustees, effective May 2, 2018.  Forry is Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations, Northeast Region, at Suffolk Construction, where she is responsible for strengthening its diversity and inclusion program, developing long-term talent, and ensuring compliance with local workforce requirements.

 

Prior to joining Suffolk Construction, Forry served in the Massachusetts State Senate where she was appointed to leadership as Assistant Majority Whip. She was the first woman and person of color elected to represent the First Suffolk Senate District, which includes Dorchester, Hyde Park, Mattapan and South Boston.  


“Linda brings to our board her invaluable experience in public service, community economic development, and her perspective as an advocate for those without a voice,” said Eversource Chairman, President and CEO Jim Judge. “We are deeply honored to have Linda on our team.”


Forry also previously served in the state House of Representatives. As the only Haitian American elected official in Massachusetts at the time, she rallied her colleagues to advocate for immigrant groups across the state.


“I am looking forward to joining the board of Eversource and becoming part of this New England institution,” said Forry. “I am excited to offer my experience and assist the company in advancing its goals of providing excellent service to its customers, empowering its communities, and supporting the region’s future growth.”


Forry holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Boston College Carroll School of Management earned her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She serves on numerous boards and civic organizations, including the John F. Kennedy Library Advisory Board, the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester, and the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti.


About Eversource:

Eversource (NYSE: ES) transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to approximately 4 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Recognized as the top U.S. utility for its energy efficiency programs by the sustainability advocacy organization Ceres, Eversource harnesses the commitment of about 8,000 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. For more information, please visit our website ( www.eversource.com ) and follow us on Twitter ( @EversourceCorp ) and Facebook ( facebook.com/EversourceEnergy ). For more information on our water services, visit www.aquarionwater.com.


CONTACT:

Caroline Pretyman

617-424-2460

caroline.pretyman@eversource.com




EXHIBIT 99.2


2018 EVERSOURCE ENERGY
INCENTIVE PLAN

1.      PURPOSE     

        The purpose of the 2018 Eversource Energy Incentive Plan (the Plan) is to attract and retain employees of the Company, to provide an incentive for Participants to generate shareholder value by contributing to the appreciation of shares of Company Stock, to enable Participants to share in the growth of the Company through the grant of Awards, and to provide non-employee Trustees with Equity Awards.

2.      DEFINED TERMS     

         Exhibit A , which is incorporated by reference, defines the terms used in the Plan and includes certain operational rules related to those terms.

3.      ADMINISTRATION     

        The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee. The Board may in any instance perform any of the Plan functions of the Compensation Committee, and the Compensation Committee may delegate such of its Plan duties, powers and responsibilities as it may determine to any other person, including the grant of Awards, in accordance with applicable legal requirements and the Compensation Committee's charter. References to the Compensation Committee in this Plan shall include the Board or the person or persons so delegated to the extent of such delegation, as applicable.

        The Compensation Committee shall select the persons eligible to receive Awards and shall determine the terms and conditions of the Awards. The Compensation Committee has discretionary authority, subject only to the express provisions of the Plan, to interpret the Plan; determine eligibility for and grant Awards; determine, modify or waive the terms and conditions of any Award; determine the form of settlement of Awards (whether in cash, shares of Stock, other property or a combination thereof); prescribe forms, rules and procedures; and otherwise do all things necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of the Plan. Determinations of the Compensation Committee made under the Plan will be conclusive and will bind all parties.

4.      ELIGIBILITY FOR ANNUAL CASH INCENTIVE AWARDS     

        Each employee of the Company employed in a position classified as a Vice President or higher (an Executive Employee) shall be eligible to receive an Annual Cash Incentive Award under the Plan. As soon as practicable after the start of each fiscal year, but in any event within 90 days thereafter, the Compensation Committee shall set performance goals for the Company, which shall be the basis for determining the Annual Cash Incentive Award to be paid to each Executive Employee for such fiscal year, unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee shall communicate to each Executive Employee the target and the percentages (including minimums and maximums) of the Annual Cash Incentive Award that such employee is eligible to receive. The Compensation Committee may permit an Executive Employee to defer an Annual Cash Incentive Award in accordance with such procedures as the Compensation Committee may from time to time specify, subject to compliance with Section 409A.

        The Compensation Committee shall certify and announce the Annual Incentive Awards that will be paid by the Company to each Executive Employee as soon as practicable following the final determination of the Company's financial results for the relevant fiscal year. Payment of an Annual Incentive Award that an Executive Employee has not expressly deferred shall be made in cash after the end of the relevant fiscal year but not later than two and one-half months after the end of such fiscal year, only if the employment of the Executive Employee has not been terminated prior to the date that

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payment is due, except as otherwise specifically provided in a written agreement between the Company and the Executive Employee. The Compensation Committee may provide for complete or partial exceptions to this requirement if an Executive Employee's employment terminates on account of his or her Retirement, death or Disability, or is terminated by the Company without Cause or in connection with a Change in Control.

5.      ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION FOR EQUITY AWARDS     

        The Compensation Committee shall select Participants from among key Employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, it being understood that no Employee whose terms and conditions of employment are subject to negotiation with a collective bargaining agent will be eligible to receive an Equity Award under the Plan until the agreement between the Company and such collective bargaining agent with respect to the Employee provides for eligibility to participate in the Plan. Eligibility for ISOs is limited to individuals described in the first sentence of this Section 5 who are employees of the Company or of a "parent corporation" or "subsidiary corporation" of the Company as those terms are defined in Section 424 of the Code. Eligibility for Stock Options, other than ISOs and SARs, is limited to individuals described in the first sentence of this Section 5 who are providing direct services on the date of grant of the Award to the Company or to a subsidiary of the Company that would be described in the first sentence of Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E) of the Treasury Regulations. Non-employee Trustees shall also participate in the Plan through Stock Awards made as a component of Trustee compensation.

6.      LIMITS ON GRANTS AND COMPENSATION UNDER THE PLAN     

         (a)      Number of Shares .     Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8(b), the maximum number of shares of Company Stock that may be issued in satisfaction of Equity Awards under the Plan on and after the Effective Date shall be 3,200,000 shares. For purposes of this Section 6(a), the number of shares of Company Stock issued in satisfaction of Equity Awards will be determined (i) by including shares of Company Stock withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price or purchase price of the Award or in satisfaction of tax withholding requirements with respect to the Award, (ii) by including the full number of shares covered by a SAR any portion of which is settled in Company Stock (and not only the number of shares of Company Stock delivered in settlement), and (iii) by excluding any shares of Company Stock underlying Awards settled in cash or property (other than Company Stock) or that expire, become unexercisable, terminate or are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company without the issuance of Company Stock. For the avoidance of doubt, the number of shares of Company Stock available for delivery under the Plan will not be increased by any shares of Company Stock delivered under the Plan that are subsequently repurchased using proceeds directly attributable to Stock Option exercises. The limits set forth in this Section 6(a) will be construed to comply with Section 422.

         (b)      Substitute Awards .     The Compensation Committee may grant Substitute Awards under the Plan in substitution for equity awards of an acquired company. To the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 422 and the regulations thereunder and other applicable legal requirements (including applicable stock exchange requirements), Company Stock issued under Substitute Awards will be in addition to and will not reduce the number of shares available for Awards under the Plan set forth in Section 6(a), but, notwithstanding anything in Section 6(a) to the contrary, if any Substitute Award is settled in cash or expires, becomes unexercisable, terminates or is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company without the issuance of Company Stock, the shares of Company Stock previously subject to such Award will not be available for future grants under the Plan. The Compensation Committee will determine the extent to which the terms and conditions of the Plan apply to Substitute Awards, if at all.

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         (c)      Type of Shares .     Shares of Company Stock delivered by the Company under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares of Company Stock or previously issued shares of Company Stock acquired by the Company.

         (d)      Individual Limits .     

7.      RULES APPLICABLE TO AWARDS     

         (a)      All Awards.     

3





provided herein. Awards under a particular section of the Plan need not be uniform as among the Participants.

4





5





7




         (b)      Stock Options and SARs .     

7




8.      EFFECT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS     

         (a)    Except as otherwise expressly provided in an Award agreement, Company plan, or other individual agreement, or by the Compensation Committee, the following provisions will apply in the event of a Corporate Transaction or a Change in Control:

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         (b)      Changes in and Distributions with Respect to Company Stock .     

9.      LEGAL CONDITIONS ON DELIVERY OF COMPANY STOCK     

        The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Company Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove any restriction from shares of Company Stock previously delivered under the Plan until: (i) the Company is satisfied that any legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been addressed and resolved; (ii) if the outstanding Company Stock is at the time of delivery listed on any stock exchange or national market system, the shares to be delivered have been listed or authorized to be listed on such exchange or system upon official notice of issuance; and

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(iii) all conditions of the Award have been satisfied or waived. The Company may require, as a condition to the exercise of an Award or the delivery of shares of Company Stock under an Award, such representations or agreements as counsel for the Company may consider appropriate to avoid violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any applicable state or non-U.S. securities law. Any Company Stock required to be issued to Participants under the Plan will be evidenced in such manner as the Compensation Committee may deem appropriate, including book-entry registration or delivery of stock certificates. In the event that the Compensation Committee determines that stock certificates will be issued to Participants under the Plan, the Compensation Committee may require that certificates evidencing Company Stock issued under the Plan bear an appropriate legend reflecting any restriction on transfer applicable to such Company Stock, and the Company may hold the certificates pending lapse of the applicable restrictions.

10.      AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION     

        The Compensation Committee may at any time or times amend the Plan or any outstanding Award for any purpose which may at the time be permitted by law, and may at any time terminate the Plan as to any future grants of Awards; provided, however , that except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, the Compensation Committee may not, without the Participant's consent, alter the terms of an Award so as to affect materially and adversely the Participant's rights under the Award, unless the Compensation Committee expressly reserved the right to do so at the time the Award was granted. Any amendments to the Plan will be conditioned upon shareholder approval to the extent, if any, such approval is required by law (including the Code) or applicable stock exchange requirements, as determined by the Compensation Committee.

11.      MISCELLANEOUS     

         (a)      Waiver of Jury Trial .     By accepting or being deemed to have accepted an Award under the Plan, each Participant waives any right to a trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim concerning any rights under the Plan and any Award, or under any amendment, waiver, consent, instrument, document or other agreement delivered or which in the future may be delivered in connection therewith, and agrees that any such action, proceedings or counterclaim will be tried before a court and not before a jury. By accepting or being deemed to have accepted an Award under the Plan, each Participant certifies that no officer, representative, or attorney of the Company has represented, expressly or otherwise, that the Company would not, in the event of any action, proceeding or counterclaim, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, nothing herein is to be construed as limiting the ability of the Company and a Participant to agree to submit disputes arising under the terms of the Plan or any Award made hereunder to binding arbitration or as limiting the ability of the Company to require any eligible individual to agree to submit such disputes to binding arbitration as a condition of receiving an Award hereunder.

         (b)      Limitation of Liability .     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, neither the Company, nor any of its subsidiaries, nor the Compensation Committee, nor any person acting on behalf of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or the Compensation Committee, will be liable to any Participant, to any permitted transferee, to the estate or beneficiary of any Participant or any permitted transferee, or to any other holder of an Award by reason of any acceleration of income, or any additional tax (including any interest and penalties), asserted by reason of the failure of an Award to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 or Section 409A or by reason of Section 4999 of the Code, or otherwise asserted with respect to the Award.

         (c)      Funding of the Plan .     This Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of assets to assure the payment of any Awards under this Plan. In no event shall interest be paid or accrued on any Award, including unpaid installments of Awards.

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         (d)      Disclaimer of Liability .     The Declaration of Trust of the Company provides that no shareholder of the Company shall be held to any liability whatever for the payment of any sum of money, or for damages or otherwise under any contract, obligation or undertaking made, entered into or issued by the Board or by any officer, agent or representative elected or appointed by the Board, and no such contract, obligation or undertaking shall be enforceable against the Board or any of them in their or his or her individual capacities or capacity and all such contracts, obligations and undertakings shall be enforceable only against the Board as such contract, obligation or undertaking shall look only to the trust estate for the payment or satisfaction thereof.

12.      ESTABLISHMENT OF SUB-PLANS     

        The Compensation Committee may at any time and from time to time establish one or more sub-plans under the Plan (for local-law compliance purposes or other administrative reasons determined by the Compensation Committee) by adopting supplements to the Plan containing, in each case, such limitations on the Compensation Committee's discretion under the Plan, and such additional terms and conditions, as the Compensation Committee deems necessary or desirable. Each supplement so established will be deemed to be part of the Plan but will apply only to Participants within the group to which the supplement applies, as determined by the Compensation Committee.

13.      GOVERNING LAW     

         (a)      Certain Requirements of Corporate Law .     Equity Awards will be granted and administered consistent with the requirements of applicable Massachusetts law relating to the issuance of stock and the consideration to be received therefor, and with the applicable requirements of the stock exchanges or other trading systems on which the Company Stock is listed or entered for trading, in each case as determined by the Compensation Committee.

         (b)      Other Matters .     Except as otherwise provided by the express terms of an Award agreement, under a sub-plan described in Section 12 or as provided in Section 13(a) above, the domestic substantive laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts govern the provisions of the Plan and of Awards under the Plan and all claims or disputes arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Award under the Plan or relating to the subject matter hereof or thereof without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision or rule that would cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.

         (c)      Jurisdiction .     By accepting an Award, each Participant will be deemed to (a) have submitted irrevocably and unconditionally to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located within the geographic boundaries of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Award; (b) agree not to commence any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon the Plan or an Award, except in the federal and state courts located within the geographic boundaries of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts; and (c) waive, and agree not to assert, by way of motion as a defense or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that he or she is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts that his or her property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that the Plan or an Award or the subject matter thereof may not be enforced in or by such court.

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EXHIBIT A

Definition of Terms

        The following terms, when used in the Plan, have the meanings and are subject to the provisions set forth below:

        "Accounting Rules":     Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor provision.

        "Annual Cash Incentive Award":     An Award denominated in cash that has a performance period of one (1) year.

        "Board":     The Board of Trustees of the Company.

        "Cash Award":     An Award denominated in cash, including an Annual Cash Incentive Award and a Long-Term Incentive Cash Award.

        "Cause":     Unless otherwise defined in any then effective agreement between a Participant and the Company or its predecessors, "Cause" means, except to the extent specified otherwise by the Committee acting on behalf of the Company, the Participant's conviction of a felony; in the reasonable determination of the Compensation Committee, the Participant's commission of an act of fraud, embezzlement, or theft in connection with the Participant's duties in the course of the Participant's employment with the Company; acts or omissions causing intentional, wrongful damage to the property of the Company or intentional and wrongful disclosure of confidential information of the Company, or engaging in gross misconduct or gross negligence in the course of the Participant's employment with the Company, or the Participant's material breach of his or her obligations under any written agreement with the Company if such breach shall not have been remedied within 30 days after receiving written notice from the Compensation Committee specifying the details thereof. For purposes of this Plan, an act or omission on the part of a Participant shall be deemed "intentional" only if it was not due primarily to an error in judgment or negligence and was done by Participant not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the act or omission was in the best interest of the Company. In the event a Participant's employment or service is terminated for Cause, in addition to the immediate termination of all Grants, the Participant shall automatically forfeit all shares underlying any exercised portion of an Option for which the Company has not yet delivered the share certificates, upon refund by the Company of the Exercise Price paid by the Participant for such shares.

        "Change in Control":     Unless otherwise defined in any then effective agreement between a Participant and the Company or its predecessors, (i) an event in which any person or entity, is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), together with all affiliates and associates (as such terms are used in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such person or entity, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities; (ii) the consummation of the merger or consolidation of the Company with any other company, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity), more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger; or (iii) at any time the Trustees as of the Date of Adoption or Trustees nominated by the Board do not constitute a majority of the Board (or, if applicable, the board of directors of a successor to the Company), provided, however, that any individual becoming a Trustee subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Trustees then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose

A-1




initial assumption of office occurs as a result of actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of Trustees or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any case where the occurrence of a Change in Control could affect the vesting of or payment under an Award subject to the requirements of Section 409A, to the extent required to comply with Section 409A, the term "Change in Control" shall mean an occurrence that both (i) satisfies the requirements set forth above in this definition and (ii) is a "change in control event" as that term is defined in the regulations under Section 409A.

        "Code":     The U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as from time to time amended and in effect, or any successor statute as from time to time in effect.

        "Compensation Committee":     The Compensation Committee of the Board.

        "Company":     Eversource Energy, a Massachusetts voluntary association.

        "Corporate Transaction":     Means any of: (i) a consolidation, merger or similar transaction or series of related transactions, including a sale or other disposition of stock, in which the Company (or an Affiliate) is not the surviving entity or which results in the acquisition of all or substantially all of the then outstanding Company Stock by a single person or entity or by a group of persons and/or entities acting in concert; (ii) a sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the Company's assets or (iii) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company. Where a Corporate Transaction involves a tender offer that is reasonably expected to be followed by a merger described in clause (i) as determined by the Compensation Committee, the Corporate Transaction shall be deemed to have occurred upon consummation of the tender offer.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any case where the occurrence of a Corporate Transaction could affect the vesting of or payment under an Award subject to the requirements of Section 409A, to the extent required to comply with Section 409A, the term "Corporate Transaction" shall mean an occurrence that both (a) satisfies the requirements set forth above in this definition and (b) is a "change in control event" as that term is defined in the regulations under Section 409A.

        "Date of Adoption":     The date the Plan was approved by the Company's Board.

        "Disability:     A Participant's being determined to be disabled within the meaning of the long-term disability plan or program that is a part of the Eversource Energy Service Company Flexible Benefits Plan (or any successor plan or program).

        "Employee":     Any person who is employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

        "Employment":     A Participant's employment or other service relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Employment will be deemed to continue, unless the Compensation Committee expressly provides otherwise, so long as the Participant is employed by, or otherwise is providing services in a capacity described in Section 5 to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. If a Participant's employment or other service relationship is with any subsidiary of the Company and that entity ceases to be a subsidiary of the Company, the Participant's Employment will be deemed to have terminated when the entity ceases to be a subsidiary of the Company, unless the Participant transfers Employment to the Company or any of its remaining subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in construing the provisions of any Award relating to the payment of "nonqualified deferred compensation" (subject to Section 409A) upon a termination or cessation of Employment, references to termination or cessation of employment, separation from service, retirement, or similar or correlative terms will be construed to require a "separation from service" (as that term is defined in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations) from the Company and from all other corporations and trades or businesses, if any, that would be treated as a single "service recipient" with the Company under Section 1.409A-1(h)(3) of the

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Treasury Regulations. The Company may, but need not, elect in writing, subject to the applicable limitations under Section 409A, any of the special elective rules prescribed in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations for purposes of determining whether a "separation from service" has occurred. Any such written election will be deemed a part of the Plan.

        "Equity Award":     An Award other than a Cash Award.

        "Fair Market Value":     As of a particular date, (i) the closing price for a share of Company Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange (or any other national securities exchange on which the Company Stock is then listed) for that date or, if no closing price is reported for that date, the closing price on the immediately preceding date on which a closing price was reported or (ii) in the event that the Company Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange, the fair market value of a share of Company Stock determined by the Compensation Committee consistent with the rules of Section 422 and Section 409A to the extent applicable.

        "ISO":     A Stock Option intended to be an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section 422. Each Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan will be treated as providing by its terms that it is to be an NSO unless, as of the date of grant, it is expressly designated as an ISO.

        "Long Term Incentive Cash Award":     An Award denominated in cash that has a performance period of greater than 12 months.

        "Involuntary Employment Action":     As to a Participant means the involuntary termination of the Participant's employment with the Company following a Change in Control, as applicable, (i) by the Company other than for Cause or (ii) upon the occurrence of any of the following circumstances, without the Participant's consent: (a) any adverse and/or material alteration and diminution in the Participant's authority, duties or responsibilities (other than a mere change in title or reporting relationship) as they existed immediately prior to the Change in Control, as applicable, or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter, (b) a reduction of the Participant's base salary or a reduction in targeted bonus opportunity, in each case as in effect on the date prior to the Change in Control, as applicable, or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter or (c) relocation of the offices at which the Participant is employed which increases his or her daily commute by more than 50 miles, however , that in any case the Participant notifies the Company in writing of the basis for his or her involuntary termination within ninety (90) days of the occurrence of the circumstances and the Company does not cure such circumstances within thirty (30) days thereafter and the Participant terminates his or her employment within thirty (30) days thereafter.

        "NSO":     A Stock Option that is not intended to be an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section 422.

        "Participant":     Any eligible individual to whom an Award or Grant is made.

        "Performance Award":     An Award subject to Performance Criteria. The Compensation Committee may grant Performance Awards that are intended to qualify for any performance-based compensation exception under applicable law or regulation now or in the future and Performance Awards that are not intended to so qualify.

        "Performance Criteria":     Specified criteria, other than the mere continuation of Employment or the mere passage of time, the satisfaction of which is a condition for the grant, exercisability, vesting or full enjoyment of an Award. A Performance Criterion and any targets with respect thereto need not be based upon an increase, a positive or improved result or avoidance of loss. For purposes of Awards that are intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under applicable law or regulation, a Performance Criterion will mean an objectively determinable measure or objectively determinable measures of performance relating to any, or any combination of, the following (measured

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either absolutely or comparatively (including, without limitation, by reference to an index or indices or the performance of one or more companies) and determined either on a consolidated basis or, as the context permits, on a divisional, subsidiary, line of business, project or geographical basis or in combinations thereof and subject to such adjustments, if any, as the Committee specifies, consistent with the requirements of applicable law or regulation): cash flow; cash flow from operations; earnings (including, but not limited to, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization or operating earnings); earnings per share, diluted or basic; earnings per share from continuing operations; net asset turnover; inventory turnover; capital expenditures; debt; debt reduction; credit rating; working capital; return on investment; return on sales; net or gross sales; market share; economic value added; cost of capital; change in assets; expense reduction levels; unit volume; productivity; delivery performance; service levels; operating performance; customer satisfaction; diversity of new hires and/or promotions; environmental, social and corporate governance objectives and the return on such objectives; safety record; stock price; return on equity; total shareholder return; return on capital; return on assets or net assets; revenue; income or net income; operating income or net operating income; operating profit or net operating profit; gross margin, operating margin or profit margin; and completion of acquisitions, divestitures, business expansion, product diversification, new or expanded market penetration and other non-financial operating and management performance objectives, or other strategic business criteria consisting of one or more objectives based on satisfaction of specified revenue goals, geographic business expansion goals or cost targets. To the extent consistent with the requirements for satisfying any performance-based compensation exception under applicable law or regulation, or as otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee, the Compensation Committee may provide in the case of any Award intended to qualify for such exception that one or more of the Performance Criteria applicable to such Award will be adjusted in an objectively determinable manner to reflect events (for example, but without limitation, acquisitions or dispositions) occurring during the performance period that affect the applicable Performance Criterion or Criteria.

        "Plan":     The 2018 Eversource Energy Incentive Plan, as from time to time amended and in effect.

        "Restricted Stock":     Company Stock subject to restrictions requiring that it be redelivered or offered for sale to the Company if specified service or performance-based conditions are not satisfied.

        "Restricted Stock Unit":     A Company Stock Unit that is, or as to which the delivery of Company Stock or cash in lieu of Stock is, subject to the satisfaction of specified performance, time or other vesting conditions.

        "Retirement".     Termination of employment from the Company, other than for "Cause" on or after the earlier to occur of (x)  attainment of age 65, (y) eligibility for pension payments under the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Officers of the Company, or employment-related agreement with the Company, or (z) attainment of age 55 after completing at least ten years of vesting service under the Company's 401k Plan.

        "SAR":     A right entitling the holder upon exercise to receive an amount (payable in cash or in shares of Company Stock of equivalent value) equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Company Stock subject to the right over the base value from which appreciation under the SAR is to be measured.

        "Section 409A":     Section 409A of the Code.

        "Section 422":     Section 422 of the Code.

        "Stock or Company Stock":     Common shares of the Company, par value $5.00 per share.

        "Stock Option":     An option entitling the holder to acquire shares of Company Stock upon payment of the exercise price.

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        "Stock Unit":     An unfunded and unsecured promise, denominated in shares of Company Stock, to deliver Company Stock or cash measured by the value of Company Stock in the future.

        "Substitute Awards":     Equity Awards issued under the Plan in substitution for equity awards of an acquired company that are converted, replaced or adjusted in connection with the acquisition.

        "Termination".     Termination of employment with the Company and any affiliate of the Company in all capacities, including as a common-law employee and independent contractor. Whether a Participant has had a Termination shall be determined by the Committee based on all relevant facts and circumstances with reference to Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(h) regarding a "separation from service" and the default provisions set forth in Regulations Sections 1.409A-1(h)(1)(ii) and 1.409A-1(n).

        "Treasury Regulations".     The Internal Revenue Service's regulations relating to nonqualified deferred compensation plans.

        "Trustee".     A member of the Board, and with respect to the compensation and benefits of a member of the Board who is also an Employee, a non-employee member of the Board.

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