Exhibit 10.1

 

BANNER CORPORATION

2014 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

(AMENDED AND RESTATED)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	Section 8.4	Performance Goals	16
	Section 8.5	Discretionary Adjustments	16
	Section 8.6	Payment of Awards	16
	Section 8.7	Termination of Employment or Service Due to Death, Disability or Retirement	16
	Section 8.8	Termination of Employment or Service For Other Reasons	16
	Section 8.9	Nontransferability	17
ARTICLE IX OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS AND CASH AWARDS			17
	Section 9.1	Other Stock Based Awards	17
	Section 9.2	Cash Awards	17
	Section 9.3	Section 409A Compliance	17
ARTICLE X QUALIFIED PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION			19
	Section 10.1	General	19
	Section 10.2	Qualifying Perforance Measures	19
ARTICLE XI ADDITIONAL TAX PROVISION			19
	Section 11.1	Tax Withholding Rights	19
ARTICLE XII AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION			20
	Section 12.1	Termination	20
	Section 12.2	Amendment	20
	Section 12.3	Adjustments in the Event of Business Reorganization	20
ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS			21
	Section 13.1	Status as an Employee Benefit Plan	21
	Section 13.2	No Right to Continued Service	21
	Section 13.3	Construction of Language	21
	Section 13.4	Severability	21
	Section 13.5	Governing Law	21
	Section 13.6	Headings	21
	Section 13.7	Non-Alienation of Benefits	21
	Section 13.8	Notices	22
	Section 13.9	Approval of Shareholders	22
	Section 13.10	Clawback	22
	Section 13.11	Compliance with Section 409A	22

 

 

Banner Corporation

2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan

(Amended and Restated)

ARTICLE I

ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND  DURATION

 

Section 1.1                      Establishment of the Plan.

 

The Company hereby establishes an incentive compensation plan to be known as the “Banner Corporation 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan” (the “Plan”), as set forth in this document. The Plan permits the granting of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Other Stock-Based Awards and Cash Awards.

 

Section 1.2                      Purpose of the Plan.

 

The purpose of the Plan is to promote the success, and enhance the value, of the Company by linking the personal interests of Employees and Directors with those of Company shareholders.  The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of Employees and Directors upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of its operation largely is dependent.

 

Section 1.3                      Duration of the Plan.

 

Subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company, the Plan shall commence on the Effective Date, as described in Section 1.1 herein, and shall remain in effect, subject to the right of the Board to terminate the Plan at any time pursuant to Article XII herein.  However, in no event may an Award be granted under the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.

 

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

 

The following definitions shall apply for the purposes of this Plan, unless a different meaning is plainly indicated by the context:

 

Affiliate means any “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” of the Company, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code.

 

Award means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, Other Stock-Based Awards or Cash Awards.

 

Award Agreement means a written instrument evidencing an Award under the Plan and establishing the terms and conditions thereof.

 

Beneficiary means the Person designated by a Participant to receive any Shares subject to a Restricted Stock Award made to such Participant that become distributable, to have the right to exercise any Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted to such Participant that are exercisable, or to receive any cash or Shares paid out under an Award to such Participant where such payout is made following the Participant’s death.

 

Board means the Board of Directors of Banner Corporation and any successor thereto.

 

Cash Award means an Award pursuant to Article IX.

 

Change in Control means the first to occur of a “change in the ownership of the Company,” a “change in the effective control of the Company” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets,” as those phrases are determined under Section 409A.

 

Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

Committee means the Committee described in Article IV.

 

Company means Banner Corporation, a Washington corporation, and any successor thereto.

 

Director means any individual who is a member of the Board or the board of directors of an Affiliate or an advisory or emeritus director of the Company or an Affiliate who is not currently an Employee.

 

Disability means a total and permanent disability, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, as determined by the Committee in good faith, upon receipt of sufficient competent medical advice from one or more individuals, selected by the Committee, who are qualified to give professional medical advice.

 

Domestic Relations Order means a domestic relations order that satisfies the requirements of Section 414(p)(1)(B) of the Code, or any successor provision, as if such section applied to the applicable Award.

 

Employee means a full-time or part-time employee of the Company or an Affiliate.  Directors who are not otherwise employed by the Company or an Affiliate shall not be considered Employees under the Plan.

 

Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Exercise Period means the period during which an Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised.

 

Exercise Price means the price per Share at which Shares subject to an Option may be purchased upon exercise of the Option and on the basis of which the Shares due upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right is computed.

 

Fair Market Value means, with respect to a Share on a specified date:

 

(a)   If the Shares are listed on any U.S. national securities exchange registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“National Exchange”), the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales

 

 

(b)   If the Shares are not listed on a National Exchange but are traded on the over-the-counter market or other similar system, the mean between the closing bid and the asked price for the Shares at the close of trading in the over-the-counter market or other similar system on the applicable date, or if the applicable date is not a trading day, on the trading day immediately preceding the applicable date; and

 

(c)   In the absence of such markets for the Shares, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Committee.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the determination of Fair Market Value shall comply with Section 409A, where necessary for the Award or benefit provided thereunder to comply with Section 409A.

 

Family Member means with respect to any Participant, any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, registered domestic partner (as determined under state law), former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father­ in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the Participant’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which these persons have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Participant) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Participant) own more than fifty percent of the voting interests.

 

Incentive Stock Option means a right to purchase Shares that is granted to an Employee that is designated by the Committee to be an Incentive Stock Option and that satisfies the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

 

Involuntary Separation from Service means an “involuntary separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(n), which shall include a voluntary separation from service for good reason as defined therein.

 

Non-Qualified Stock Option means a right to purchase Shares that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

Option means either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

Option Holder means, at any relevant time with respect to an Option, the person having the right to exercise the Option.

 

Other Stock-Based Award has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1 herein.

 

Participant means any Employee or Director who is selected by the Committee to receive an Award.

 

Performance Period means the period of time as specified by the Committee over which Performance Shares or Performance Units are to be earned.

 

Performance Shares means an Award granted pursuant to Article VIII herein which entitles a Participant to receive Shares based on the achievement of performance goals (including, but not limited to, Qualifying Performance Goals) during a Performance Period.

 

Performance Units means an Award granted pursuant to Article VIII herein which entitles a Participant to receive cash, Shares or a combination thereof, based on the achievement of performance goals (including, but not limited to, Qualifying Performance Goals) during a Performance Period.

 

Period of Restriction means the period during which the entitlement of a Participant under an Restricted Stock Award is limited in some way or subject to forfeiture, in whole or in part, based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance goals (which may, but need not, include Qualifying Performance Goals), or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, in its discretion.

 

Person means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a joint-stock company, a trust, an estate, an unincorporated organization and any other business organization or institution.

 

Plan means the Banner Corporation 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

Qualified Performance-Based Compensation means compensation under an Award that is granted in order to provide remuneration solely on account of the attainment of one or more Qualifying Performance Goals under circumstances that satisfy Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

Qualifying Performance Goal means a performance criterion selected by the Committee for a given Award based on one or more Qualifying Performance Measures.

Qualifying Performance Measures means measures as described in Article X on which Qualifying Performance Goals may be based.

Restricted Stock means an award of Shares subject to a Period of Restriction granted pursuant to Article VII herein.

 

Restricted Stock Award means an award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units pursuant to Article VII.

 

Restricted Stock Units means an Award denominated in units subject to a Period of Restriction granted pursuant to Article VII herein.

Retirement means, subject to the terms of an Award, in the case of an Employee, the termination of a Participant’s employment with the Company and its Affiliates, other than a Termination for Cause, after the Participant has attained age 65.

 

Section 409A means Section 409A of the Code and any regulations or guidance of general applicability thereunder.

 

Service means, unless the Committee provides otherwise in an Award Agreement, employment or service in any capacity as a Director or  Employee of the Company or any Affiliate.

 

Share means a share of common stock of Banner Corporation.

 

Stock Appreciation Right means the right to receive a payment in Shares or cash measured by the increase in the Fair Market Value of a Share over the Exercise Price of that Stock Appreciation Right.

 

Stock Appreciation Right Holder means, at any relevant time with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right, the person having the right to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right.

 

Termination for Cause means termination of Service upon an intentional failure to perform stated duties, a breach of a fiduciary duty involving personal dishonesty which results in material loss to the Company or any of its Affiliates or a willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) or a final cease-and-desist order which results in material loss to the Company or one of its Affiliates.  No act or failure to act on Participant’s part shall be considered willful unless done, or omitted to be done, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.  Notwithstanding the above, if a Participant is subject to a different definition of termination for cause in an employment or severance or similar agreement with the Company or any Affiliate, such other definition shall control.

 

Vesting Date means the date or dates on which the grant of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right is eligible to be exercised, or the date or dates on which a Restricted Stock Award ceases to be forfeitable (i.e., at the end of a Period of Restriction).

 

ARTICLE III

AVAILABLE SHARES - ELIGIBILITY - PARTICIPATION

 

Section 3.1                      Shares Available Under the Plan.

 

Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12.3, the total number of Shares available for grant under the Plan shall be 900,000 (the “Limit”).  These Shares may be either authorized but unissued, or Shares that have been reacquired by the Company.  Awards that are not settled in Shares shall not be counted against the Limit.  Shares representing tandem Stock Appreciation Rights shall for such purpose only be counted as either Shares representing Options outstanding or Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding, but not as both.

 

Section 3.2                      Maximum Awards.

 

The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Options that are Incentive Stock Options is 900,000, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12.3 herein.   Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12.3 herein, the maximum aggregate number of Shares with respect to one or more Awards that may be granted to any one person during any calendar year shall be 100,000 (or 10,000 in the case of non-employee Directors), the maximum aggregate number of Shares with respect to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights that may be granted to any one person during any calendar year shall be 100,000, and the maximum aggregate amount that may be paid to any one person during any calendar year with respect to one or more Cash Awards shall be $3,000,000.

 

Section 3.3                      Computation of Shares Issued.

 

For purposes of this Article III, Shares shall be considered issued pursuant to the Plan only if actually issued upon the exercise of an Award.  Any Award subsequently forfeited, in whole or in part, shall not be considered issued. If any Award granted under the Plan terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason, any Shares subject to such Award again shall be available for the grant of an Award under the Plan.  Shares used to pay the Exercise Price of an Option and Shares used to satisfy tax withholding obligations shall not be available for future Awards under the Plan.  To the extent that Shares are delivered pursuant to the exercise of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right, the number of underlying Shares as to which the exercise is related shall be counted against the number of Shares available for Awards, as opposed to only counting the Shares issued.  The number of underlying Shares related to Restricted Stock Units shall be counted against the number of Shares available for Awards even if the Restricted Stock Unit is satisfied in cash  rather than Shares.

 

Section 3.4                      Eligibility.

 

Persons eligible to participate in the Plan include all Employees and Directors.

 

Section 3.5                      Actual Participation.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from all Employees and Directors, those to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature, type and amount of each Award.  No Employee or Director shall be entitled to be granted an Award under the Plan.

 

ARTICLE IV

ADMINISTRATION

 

Section 4.1                      Committee.

 

(a)           The Plan shall be administered by a Committee appointed by the Board for that purpose and consisting of not less than two (2) members of the Board.  Each member of the Committee shall be an “Outside Director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code or a successor rule or regulation, a “Non-Employee Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3)(i) under the Exchange Act or a successor rule or regulation and an “Independent Director” under the corporate governance rules and regulations imposing independence standards on

 

committees performing similar functions promulgated by any national securities exchange or quotation system on which Shares are listed.

 

(b)           The act of a majority of the members present at a meeting duly called and held shall be the act of the Committee.  Any decision or determination reduced to writing and signed by all members shall be as fully effective as if made by unanimous vote at a meeting duly called and held.

 

(c)           The Committee’s decisions and determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants are similarly situated.

 

Section 4.2                      Committee Powers.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and such limitations as may be imposed by the Board, the Committee shall be responsible for the overall management and administration of the Plan.  The Committee shall have full power except as limited by law or by the charter or by-laws of the Company or by resolutions adopted by the Board, and subject to the provisions herein, to determine the size and types of Awards; to determine the terms and conditions of such Awards in a manner consistent with the Plan; to construe and interpret the Plan and any agreement or instrument entered into under the Plan; to establish, amend, or waive rules and regulations for the Plan's administration; and (subject to the provisions of Article XII herein) to amend or otherwise modify the Plan or the terms and conditions of any outstanding Award to the extent such terms and conditions are within the discretion of the Committee as provided in the Plan and, if the Award is subject to Section 409A, does not cause the Plan or the Award to violate Section 409A.  Further, the Committee shall make all other determinations which may be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.  As permitted by law, rule, or regulation, the Committee may delegate its authorities as identified hereunder.  All decisions, determinations and other actions of the Committee made or taken in accordance with the terms of the Plan shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties having an interest therein.

ARTICLE V

STOCK OPTIONS

 

Section 5.1                      Grant of Options.

 

(a)           Subject to the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may, in its discretion, grant to a Participant an Option to purchase Shares.  An Option must be designated as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option and, if not designated as either, shall be a Non-Qualified Stock Option.  Only Employees may receive Incentive Stock Options.

 

(b)           Any Option granted shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall:

 

(i)   specify the number of Shares covered by the Option;

 

(ii)   specify the Exercise Price;

 

(iii)   specify the Exercise Period;

 

(iv)   specify the Vesting Date; and

 

(v)   contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee may, in its discretion, prescribe.

 

No Option terms shall be permitted that would cause the Option to be subject to Section 409A.

 

Section 5.2                      Size of Option.

 

Subject to the restrictions of the Plan, the number of Shares as to which a Participant may be granted Options shall be determined by the Committee, in its discretion.

 

Section 5.3                      Exercise Price.

 

The price per Share at which an Option may be exercised shall be determined by the Committee, in its discretion; provided, however, that the Exercise Price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date on which the Option is granted.

 

Section 5.4                      Exercise Period.

 

The Exercise Period during which an Option may be exercised shall commence on the Vesting Date.  It shall expire on the earliest of:

 

(a)   the date specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement;

 

(b)   unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, the last day of the three-month period commencing on the date of the Participant’s termination of Service, other than on account of death, Disability, Retirement or a Termination for Cause;

 

(c)   unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, the last day of the three-month  period commencing on the date of the Participant’s termination of Service due to death, Disability or Retirement;

 

(d)   as of the time and on the date of the Participant’s termination of Service due to a Termination for Cause; or

 

(e)   the last day of the ten-year period commencing on the date on which the Option was granted.

 

An Option that remains unexercised at the close of business on the last day of the Exercise Period shall be canceled without consideration at the close of business on that date.

 

Section 5.5                      Vesting Date.

 

(a)           The Vesting Date for each Option Award shall be determined by the Committee and specified in the Award Agreement.

 

(b)           Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or specified in the Award Agreement:

 

(i)   if the Participant of an Option Award terminates Service prior to the Vesting Date for any reason other than death, Disability or a Change in Control, any unvested Option shall be forfeited without consideration; provided, however, that with the exception of a Termination for Cause, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the right to waive such forfeiture and to immediately make exercisable all or any portion of such Options;

 

(ii)   if the Participant of an Option Award terminates Service prior to the Vesting Date on account of death or Disability, the Vesting Date shall be accelerated to the date of the Participant’s termination of Service; and

 

(iii)   if a Change in Control occurs prior to the Vesting Date of an Option Award that is outstanding on the date of the Change in Control, and the Participant experiences an Involuntary Separation from Service during the 365-day period following the date of such Change in Control, then the Vesting Date for any non-vested Option Award shall be accelerated to the date of the Participant’s Involuntary Separation from Service.  

 

Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if at the effective time of the Change in Control the successor to the Company’s business and/or assets does not either assume the outstanding Option Award or replace the outstanding Option Award with an award that is determined by the Committee to be at least equivalent in value to such outstanding Option Award on the date of the Change in Control, then the Vesting Date of such outstanding Option Award shall be accelerated to the earliest date of the Change in Control.

 

Section 5.6                      Additional Restrictions on Incentive Stock Options.

 

An Option designated by the Committee to be an Incentive Stock Option shall be subject to the following provisions:

 

(a)   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, no Participant may receive an Incentive Stock Option under the Plan if such Participant, at the time the award is granted, owns (after application of the rules contained in Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten (10) percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its Affiliates, unless (i) the option price for such Incentive Stock Option is at least 110 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to such Incentive Stock Option on the date of grant, and (ii) such Option is not exercisable after the date five (5) years from the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted.

 

(b)   Each Participant who receives Shares upon exercise of an Option that is an Incentive Stock Option shall give the Company prompt notice of any sale of Shares prior to a date which is two years from the date the Option was granted or one year from the date the Option was exercised.  Such sale shall disqualify the Option as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(c)   The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined with respect to each Incentive Stock Option at the time such Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under this Plan or any other plan of the Company or an Affiliate) shall not exceed $100,000 and the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall not be more than ten years.

 

(d)   Any Option under this Plan which is designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option but fails, for any reason, to meet the foregoing requirements shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

Section 5.7                      Method of Exercise.

 

(a)           Subject to the limitations of the Plan and the Award Agreement, an Option Holder may, at any time on or after the Vesting Date and during the Exercise Period, exercise his or her right to purchase all or any part of the Shares to which the Option relates; provided, however, that the minimum number of Shares which may be purchased at any time shall be 100, or, if less, the total number of Shares relating to the Option which remain un-purchased.  An Option Holder shall exercise an Option to purchase Shares by:

 

(i)   giving written notice to the Committee, in such form and manner as the Committee may prescribe, of his or her intent to exercise the Option;

 

(ii)   delivering to the Committee full payment for the Shares as to which the Option is to be exercised; and

 

(iii)   satisfying such other conditions as may be prescribed in the Award Agreement.

 

(b)           The Exercise Price of Shares to be purchased upon exercise of any Option shall be paid in full:

 

(i)   in cash (by certified or bank check or such other instrument as the Company may accept); or

 

(ii)   if and to the extent permitted by the Committee, in the form of Shares already owned by the Option Holder as of the exercise date and having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date the Option is exercised equal to the aggregate Exercise Price to be paid; or

 

(iii)   if and to the extent permitted by the Committee, by the Company withholding Shares otherwise issuable upon the exercise having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date the Option is exercised equal to the aggregate Exercise Price to be paid; or

 

(iv)   by a combination thereof.

 

Payment for any Shares to be purchased upon exercise of an Option may also be made by delivering a properly executed exercise notice to the Company, together with a copy of irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the purchase price and applicable tax withholding amounts (if any), in which event the Shares acquired shall be delivered to the broker promptly following receipt of payment.

 

(c)           When the requirements of this Section have been satisfied, the Committee shall take such action as is necessary to cause the issuance of a stock certificate or cause Shares to be issued by book-entry procedures, in either event evidencing the Option Holder's ownership of such Shares. The Person exercising the Option shall have no right to vote or to receive dividends, nor have any other rights with respect to the Shares, prior to the date the Shares are transferred to such Person on the stock transfer records of the Company, and no adjustments shall be made for any dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date as of which the transfer is affected.

 

Section 5.8                      Limitations on Options.

 

(a)           An Option by its terms shall not be transferable by the Option Holder other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or pursuant to the terms of a Domestic Relations Order, and shall be exercisable, during the life of the Option Holder, only by the Option Holder or an alternate payee designated pursuant to such a Domestic Relations Order (but such transfer shall cause an Incentive Stock Option to become an Non-Qualified Stock Option as of the day of the transfer); provided, however, that a Participant may, at any time at or after the grant of a Non-Qualified Stock Option under the Plan, apply to the Committee for approval to transfer all or any portion of such Non-Qualified Stock Option which is then unexercised to such Participant’s Family Member; and provided further , than an Incentive Stock Option may be transferred to a trust if, under Section 671 of the Code and applicable state law, the Participant is considered the sole beneficial owner of the Incentive Stock Option while it is held by the trust. The Committee may approve or withhold approval of such transfer in its sole and absolute discretion. If such transfer is approved, it shall be effected by written notice to the Company given in such form and manner as the Committee may prescribe and actually received by the Company prior to the death of the person giving it. Thereafter, the transferee shall have all of the rights, privileges and obligations which would attach thereunder to the Participant. If a privilege of the Option depends on the life, Service or other status of the Participant, such privilege of the Option for the transferee shall continue to depend upon the life, Service or other status of the Participant. The Committee shall have full and exclusive authority to interpret and apply the provisions of the Plan to transferees to the extent not specifically addressed herein.

 

(b)           The Company's obligation to deliver Shares with respect to an Option shall, if the Committee so requests, be conditioned upon the receipt of a representation as to the investment intention of the Option Holder to whom such Shares are to be delivered, in such form as the Committee shall determine to be necessary or advisable to comply with the provisions of applicable federal, state or local law. It may be provided that any such representation shall become inoperative upon a registration of the Shares or upon the occurrence of any other event eliminating the necessity of such representation. The Company shall not be required to deliver any Shares under the Plan prior to:

 

(i)   the admission of such Shares to listing on any stock exchange or trading on any automated quotation system on which Shares may then be listed or traded; or

 

(ii)   the completion of such registration or other qualification under any state or federal law, rule or regulation as the Committee shall determine to be necessary or advisable.

 

(c)           An Option Holder may designate a Beneficiary to receive any Options that may be exercised after his or her death. Such designation and any change or revocation of such designation shall be made in writing in the form and manner prescribed by the Committee. In the event that the designated Beneficiary dies prior to the Option Holder, or in the event that no Beneficiary has been designated, any Options that may be exercised following the Option Holder's death shall be transferred to the Option Holder's estate. If the Option Holder and his or her Beneficiary shall die in circumstances that cause the Committee, in its discretion, to be uncertain which shall have been the first to die, the Option Holder shall be deemed to have survived the Beneficiary.

 

Section 5.9                      Prohibition Against Option Repricing.

 

Except as provided in Section 12.3 and notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, neither the Committee nor the Board shall have the right or authority following the grant of an Option pursuant to the Plan to amend or modify the Exercise Price of any such Option, or to cancel the Option at a time when the Exercise Price is greater than the Fair Market Value of the Shares in exchange for another Option or Award.

 

ARTICLE VI

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

Section 6.1                      Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

(a)           Subject to the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may, in its discretion, grant to a Participant a Stock Appreciation Right.  A Stock Appreciation Right must be designated as either a tandem Stock Appreciation Right or a stand-alone Stock Appreciation Right and, if not so designated, shall be deemed to be a stand-alone Stock Appreciation Right.  A tandem Stock Appreciation Right may only be granted at the same time as the Option to which it relates.  The exercise of a tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall cancel the related Option for a like number of Shares and the exercise of a related Option shall cancel a tandem Stock Appreciation Right for a like number of Shares.

 

(b)           Any Stock Appreciation Right granted shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall:

 

(i)   specify the number of Shares covered by the Stock Appreciation Right;

 

(ii)   specify the Exercise Price;

 

(iii)   specify the Exercise Period;

 

(iv)   specify the Vesting Date;

 

(v)   specify that the Stock Appreciation Right shall be settled in cash or Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares; and

 

(vi)   contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee may, in its discretion, prescribe.

 

The terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right shall not include provisions that provide for the deferral of compensation other than the recognition of income until the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right (so that the Stock Appreciation Right will not be subject to Section 409A).

 

Section 6.2                      Size of Stock Appreciation Right.

 

Subject to the restrictions of the Plan, the number of Shares as to which a Participant may be granted Stock Appreciation Rights shall be determined by the Committee, in its discretion.

 

Section 6.3                      Exercise Price.

 

The price per Share at which a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised shall be determined by the Committee, in its discretion; provided, however, that the Exercise Price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date on which the Stock Appreciation Right is granted.

 

Section 6.4                      Exercise Period.

 

The Exercise Period during which a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised shall commence on the Vesting Date.  It shall expire on the earliest of:

 

(a)   the date specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement;

 

(b)   unless otherwise determined by the Committee or set forth in the Award Agreement, the last day of the three-month period commencing on the date of the Participant’s termination of Service, other than on account of death, Disability, Retirement or a Termination for Cause;

 

(c)   unless otherwise determined by the Committee or set forth in the Award Agreement, the last day of the three-month period commencing on the date of the Participant’s termination of Service due to death, Disability or Retirement;

 

(d)   as of the time and on the date of the Participant’s termination of Service due to a Termination for Cause; or

 

(e)   the last day of the ten-year period commencing on the date on which the Stock Appreciation Right was granted.

 

A Stock Appreciation Right that remains unexercised at the close of business on the last day of the Exercise Period shall be canceled without consideration at the close of business on that date.

 

Section 6.5                      Vesting Date.

 

(a)           The Vesting Date for each Stock Appreciation Right Award shall be determined by the Committee and specified in the Award Agreement.

 

(b)           Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or specified in the Award Agreement:

 

(i)   if the Participant of a Stock Appreciation Right Award terminates Service prior to the Vesting Date for any reason other than death, Disability or a Change in Control, any unvested Award shall be forfeited without consideration; provided, however, that with the exception of a Termination for Cause, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the right to waive such forfeiture and to make exercisable all or any portion of such Stock Appreciation Rights;

 

(ii)   if the Participant of a Stock Appreciation Right Award terminates Service prior to the Vesting Date on account of death or Disability, the Vesting Date shall be accelerated to the date of the Participant’s termination of Service; and

 

(iii)   if a Change in Control occurs prior to the Vesting Date of a Stock Appreciation Right Award that is outstanding on the date of the Change in Control, and the Participant experiences an Involuntary Separation from Service during the 365-day period following the date of such Change in Control, then the Vesting Date for any non-vested Stock Appreciation Right Award shall be accelerated to the date of the Participant’s Involuntary Separation from Service.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if at the effective time of the Change in Control the successor to the Company’s business and/or assets does not either assume the outstanding Stock Appreciation Right Award or replace the outstanding Stock Appreciation Right Award with an award that is determined by the Committee to be at least equivalent in value to such outstanding Stock Appreciation Right

 

  Award on the date of the Change in Control, then the Vesting Date of such outstanding Stock Appreciation Right Award shall be accelerated to the earliest date of the Change in Control.

 

Section 6.6                      Method of Exercise.

 

(a)           Subject to the limitations of the Plan and the Award Agreement, a Participant may, at any time on or after the Vesting Date and during the Exercise Period, exercise his or her Stock Appreciation Right as to all or any part of the Shares to which the Stock Appreciation Right relates; provided, however , that the minimum number of Shares as to which a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised shall be 100, or, if less, the total number of Shares relating to the Stock Appreciation Right which remain unexercised.  A Stock Appreciation Right Holder shall exercise a Stock Appreciation Right by:

 

(i)   giving written notice to the Committee, in such form and manner as the Committee may prescribe, of his or her intent to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right; and

 

(ii)   satisfying such other conditions as may be prescribed in the Award Agreement.

 

(b)           When the requirements of this Section have been satisfied, the Committee shall take such action as is necessary to cause the remittance to the Stock Appreciation Right Holder (or, in the event of his or her death, his or her Beneficiary) of cash or a number of Shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the excess (if any) of (i) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over (ii) the Exercise Price per Share, times the number of Stock Appreciation Rights exercised.  The Person exercising the Stock Appreciation Right shall have no right to vote or to receive dividends, nor have any other rights with respect to the Shares, prior to the date the Shares are transferred to such Person on the stock transfer records of the Company, and no adjustments shall be made for any dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date as of which the transfer is affected.

 

Section 6.7                      Limitations on Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

(a)           A Stock Appreciation Right by its terms shall not be transferable by the Stock Appreciation Right Holder other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or pursuant to the terms of a Domestic Relations Order, and shall be exercisable, during the life of the Stock Appreciation Right Holder, only by the Stock Appreciation Right Holder or an alternate payee designated pursuant to such a Domestic Relations Order; provided, however, that a Participant may, at any time at or after the grant of a Stock Appreciation Right under the Plan, apply to the Committee for approval to transfer all or any portion of such Stock Appreciation Right which is then unexercised to such Participant’s Family Member.  The Committee may approve or withhold approval of such transfer in its sole and absolute discretion. If such transfer is approved, it shall be effected by written notice to the Company given in such form and manner as the Committee may prescribe and actually received by the Company prior to the death of the person giving it. Thereafter, the transferee shall have, with respect to such Stock Appreciation Right, all of the rights, privileges and obligations which would attach thereunder to the Participant. If a privilege of the Stock Appreciation Right depends on the life, Service or other status of the Participant, such privilege of the Stock Appreciation Right for the transferee shall continue to depend upon the life, Service or other status of the Participant. The Committee shall have full and exclusive authority to interpret and apply the provisions of the Plan to transferees to the extent not specifically addressed herein.

 

(b)           The Company's obligation to deliver Shares with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right shall, if the Committee so requests, be conditioned upon the receipt of a representation as to the investment intention of the Stock Appreciation Right Holder to whom such Shares are to be delivered, in such form as the Committee shall determine to be necessary or advisable to comply with the provisions of applicable federal, state or local law. It may be provided that any such representation shall become inoperative upon a registration of the Shares or upon the occurrence of any other event eliminating the necessity of such representation. The Company shall not be required to deliver any Shares under the Plan prior to:

 

(i)   the admission of such Shares to listing on any stock exchange or trading on any automated quotation system on which Shares may then be listed or traded; or

 

(ii)   the completion of such registration or other qualification under any state or federal law, rule or regulation as the Committee shall determine to be necessary or advisable.

 

(c)           A Stock Appreciation Right Holder may designate a Beneficiary to receive any Stock Appreciation Right that may be exercised after his or her death. Such designation and any change or revocation of such designation shall be made in writing in the form and manner prescribed by the Committee. In the event that the designated Beneficiary dies prior to the Stock Appreciation Right Holder, or in the event that no Beneficiary has been designated, any Stock Appreciation Rights that may be exercised following the Stock Appreciation Right Holder's death shall be transferred to the Stock Appreciation Right Holder's estate. If the Stock Appreciation Right Holder and his or her Beneficiary shall die in circumstances that cause the Committee, in its discretion, to be uncertain which shall have been the first to die, the Stock Appreciation Right Holder shall be deemed to have survived the Beneficiary.

 

Section 6.8                      Prohibition Against Stock Appreciation Right Repricing.

 

Except as provided in Section 12.3 and notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, neither the Committee nor the Board shall have the right or authority following the grant of a Stock Appreciation Right pursuant to the Plan to amend or modify the Exercise Price of any such Stock Appreciation Right, or to cancel the Stock Appreciation Right at a time when the Exercise Price is greater than the Fair Market Value of the Shares in exchange for another Stock Appreciation Right or Award.

 

ARTICLE VII

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

Section 7.1                      In General.

 

(a)           Each Restricted Stock Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall specify:

 

(i)   the number of shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units covered by the Restricted Stock Award;

 

(ii)   the amount, if any, which the Participant shall be required to pay to the Company in consideration for the issuance of such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units;

 

(iii)   the date of grant of the Restricted Stock Award;

 

(iv)   the Period of Restriction for the Restricted Stock Award and the performance conditions, if any, which must be satisfied in order for the Vesting Date to occur, whether pursuant to Qualifying Performance Goals or otherwise;

 

(v)   as to Awards awarding Restricted Stock, the rights of the Participant with respect to dividends, voting rights and other rights and preferences associated with such Shares; and

 

(vi)   as to Awards awarding Restricted Stock Units, the rights of the Participant with respect to attributes of the Restricted Stock Units which are the equivalent of dividends and other rights and preferences associated with Shares and the circumstances pursuant to which Restricted Stock Units shall be converted to Shares.

 

Restricted Stock Awards may contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee may, in its discretion, prescribe.

 

Restricted Stock Units shall be settled (paid) at such time as is specified in the Restricted Stock Unit Award.  Unless otherwise specified in the Award, when and if Restricted Stock Units become payable, a Participant having received the grant of such units shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in cash, Shares or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee at its sole discretion.

 

As to Awards awarding Restricted Stock Units, the terms of the Award shall either result in the Restricted Stock Units not being subject to Section 409A or, if the Restricted Stock Units are subject to Section 409A, include terms that cause the Restricted Stock Units to comply with Section 409A.

 

 (b)           All Awards consisting of Restricted Stock shall be in the form of issued and outstanding Shares that shall be registered in the name of the Participant, subject to written transfer restriction instructions issued to the Company’s stock transfer agent, together with an irrevocable stock power executed by the Participant in favor of and held by the Committee or its designee, pending the vesting or forfeiture of the Restricted Stock Award.  The Shares shall at all times prior to the applicable Vesting Date be subject to the following restriction, communicated in writing to the Company’s stock transfer agent:

 

These shares of common stock are subject to the terms of an Award Agreement between Banner Corporation and [Name of Participant] dated [Award Date] made pursuant to the terms of the Banner Corporation 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, copies of which are on file at the executive offices of Banner Corporation and may not be sold, encumbered, hypothecated or otherwise transferred, except in accordance with the terms of such Plan and Award Agreement.

 

or such other restrictive communication or legend as the Committee, in its discretion, may specify.

 

(c)           Unless otherwise set forth in the Award Agreement, a Restricted Stock Award by its terms shall not be transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, or pursuant to the terms of a Domestic Relations Order; provided, however, that a Participant may, at any time at or after the grant of a Restricted Stock Award under the Plan, apply to the Committee for approval to transfer all or any portion of such Restricted Stock Award which is then unvested to such Participant’s Family Member.  The Committee may approve or withhold approval of such transfer in its sole and absolute discretion. If such transfer is approved, it shall be effected by written notice to the Company given in such form and manner as the Committee may prescribe and actually received by the Company prior to the death of the person giving it. Thereafter, the transferee shall have, with respect to such Restricted Stock Award, all of the rights, privileges and obligations which would attach thereunder to the Participant. If a privilege of the Restricted Stock Award depends on the life, Service or other status of the Participant, such privilege of the Restricted Stock Award for the transferee shall continue to depend upon the life, Service or other status of the Participant. The Committee shall have full and exclusive authority to interpret and apply the provisions of the Plan to transferees to the extent not specifically addressed herein.

 

Section 7.2                      Vesting Date.

 

(a)           The Period of Restriction and Vesting Date for each Restricted Stock Award shall be determined by the Committee and specified in the Award Agreement.

 

(b)           Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or specified in the Award Agreement:

 

(i)   if the Participant of a Restricted Stock Award terminates Service prior to the Vesting Date for any reason other than death, Disability or a Change in Control, any unvested Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall be forfeited without consideration; provided, however that with the exception of a Termination for Cause, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the right to reduce or eliminate the Period of Restriction with respect to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units following termination of employment or service for any reason, upon such terms and provisions as it deems proper;

 

(ii)   if the Participant of a Restricted Stock Award terminates Service prior to the Vesting Date on account of death or Disability, the Vesting Date shall be accelerated to the date of termination of the Participant’s Service with the Company; and

 

(iii)   if a Change in Control occurs prior to the Vesting Date of a Restricted Stock Award that is outstanding on the date of the Change in Control, and the Participant experiences an Involuntary Separation from Service during the 365-day period following the date of such Change in Control, then the Vesting Date for

 

 

Section 7.3                      Dividend Rights.

 

Unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement:

 

(a)           During the Period of Restriction, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder shall be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to those Shares while they are so held.  If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares shall be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.

 

(b)           Participants shall have no rights to dividends or other distributions paid on the Shares underlying Restricted Stock Units other than dividends and distributions with a record date on or after the date on which the Shares are issued to the Participant.  The Committee may provide for dividend equivalent units in the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award agreement.

 

Section 7.4                      Voting Rights.

 

(a)           Unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement, a Participant who is awarded Shares of Restricted Stock hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares including during the Period of Restriction.

 

(b)           A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to Shares underlying Restricted Stock Units unless and until such Shares are issued to the Participant in settlement of the Restricted Stock Units.

 

Section 7.5                      Designation of Beneficiary.

 

A Participant who has received a Restricted Stock Award may designate a Beneficiary to receive any unvested Restricted Stock or Shares distributed in satisfaction of any unvested Restricted Stock Units that become vested on the date of the Participant’s death.  Such designation (and any change or revocation of such designation) shall be made in writing in the form and manner prescribed by the Committee.  In the event that the Beneficiary designated by a Participant dies prior to the Participant, or in the event that no Beneficiary has been designated, any vested Shares that become available for distribution on the Participant’s death shall be paid to the executor or administrator of the Participant’s estate.

 

Section 7.6                      Manner of Distribution of Awards.

 

The Company's obligation to deliver Shares with respect to a Restricted Stock Award shall, if the Committee so requests, be conditioned upon the receipt of a representation as to the investment intention of the Participant or Beneficiary to whom such Shares are to be delivered, in such form as the Committee shall determine to be necessary or advisable to comply with the provisions of applicable federal, state or local law.  It may be provided that any such representation shall become inoperative upon a registration of the Shares or upon the occurrence of any other event eliminating the necessity of such representation. The Company shall not be required to deliver any Shares under the Plan prior to (i) the admission of such Shares to listing on any stock exchange or trading on any automated quotation system on which Shares may then be listed or traded, or (ii) the completion of such registration or other qualification under any state or federal law, rule or regulation as the Committee shall determine to be necessary or advisable.

 

ARTICLE VIII

PERFORMANCE SHARES AND PERFORMANCE UNITS

 

Section 8.1                      Grant of Performance Shares and Performance Units.

Subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3.1 and 3.2 herein and the other terms of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Performance Shares, or Performance Units, entitling the Participant to future cash payments or Shares or a combination thereof, based upon the level of achievement with respect to one or more pre-established performance goals (which may, but need not, include Qualifying Performance Goals) established for a Performance Period.

Section  8.2                        Amount of Award.

Subject to the limitations of Section 3.1, the Committee shall establish a maximum amount of a Participant’s Award, which amount shall be denominated in Shares in the case of Performance Shares or in units in the case of Performance Units.

Section  8.3                        Award Agreement.

Each Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units shall be evidenced by a Performance Share or Performance Unit Award agreement, including governing provisions such as (but not limited to): (i) the target and maximum amount payable to the Participant pursuant to the Award; (ii) the performance goals and level of achievement versus these goals that shall determine the amount of such payment; (iii) the Performance Period as to which performance shall be measured for determining the amount of any payment; (iv) the timing of any payment earned by virtue of performance; (v) whether and the extent to which Participants holding Performance Shares or Performance Units will receive dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to dividends declared with respect to the Shares; (vi) restrictions on the alienation or transfer of the Award prior to actual payment and restrictions on the sale or transfer of Shares following actual payment of an Award paid in Shares; (vii) forfeiture provisions; (viii) whether the Award shall become payable upon an Involuntary Separation from Service within a specified period following a Change in Control, and in such event the amount of the Performance Share or Performance Unit benefit (or the formula or methodology used to determine such benefit), and (ix) such further terms and conditions, in each case not inconsistent with the Plan, as may be determined from time to time by the Committee.  No Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units may provide for voting rights with respect to the underlying Shares, and any such provision shall be null and void.

Section 8.4                        Performance Goals .

Performance goals established by the Committee shall relate to Company- or Affiliate-wide, group or individual performance, and be based upon such measures as are determined by the Committee; provided, however, that the performance measures for any portion of an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units that is intended by the Committee to satisfy the requirements for Qualified Performance-Based Compensation shall be based on one or more Qualifying Performance Measures selected by the Committee in accordance with Article X herein.  Multiple performance goals may be used and the components of multiple performance goals may be given the same or different weighting in determining the amount of an Award earned, and may relate to absolute performance or relative performance measured against other groups, individuals or entities.

Section 8.5                        Discretionary Adjustments.

Notwithstanding satisfaction of any performance goals, the amount paid under an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units on account of either financial performance or personal performance evaluations may be reduced by the Committee on the basis of such further considerations as the Committee shall determine, if so provided in the terms of the Award.

Section  8.6                      Payment of Awards.

Following the conclusion of each Performance Period (or earlier if so provided in the Award Agreement or otherwise determined by the Committee), the Committee shall determine the extent to which performance goals have been attained, and the satisfaction of any other terms and conditions with respect to an Award relating to such Performance Period. The Committee shall determine what, if any, payment is due with respect to an Award and, in the case of Performance Units, whether such payment shall be made in cash, Shares or a combination thereof. Payment shall be made in a lump sum within 60 days after the Committee determines that a payment is due (or at such other time as provided for in the Performance Share or Performance Unit Award that qualifies as a short-term deferral that is exempt from Section 409A).  This Section 8.6 shall also apply if at the effective time of the Change in Control the successor to the Company’s business and/or assets does not either assume the outstanding Award or replace the outstanding Award with an award that is determined by the Committee to be at least equivalent in value to such outstanding Award on the date of the Change in Control, except that the determination shall be made by the Committee prior to the earliest date of the Change in Control.

Section  8.7                        Termination of Employment or Service Due to Death, Disability or Retirement.

Unless provided otherwise in the Participant’s Award evidencing his or her Performance Shares or Performance Units, if the Service of a Participant shall terminate before the end of a Performance Period by reason of death, Disability or Retirement, then to the extent it is determined by the Committee following the end of the Performance Period in accordance with Section 8.6 that the performance goals have been attained, the Participant shall be entitled to a pro rata payment based on the number of months’ Service during the Performance Period but based on the achievement of performance goals during the entire Performance Period; payment under these circumstances shall be made at the time payments are made to Participants who did not terminate service during the Performance Period, subject to Section 8.6 herein.

Section 8.8                      Termination of Employment or Service for Other Reasons.

Unless provided otherwise in the Participant’s Award evidencing his or her Performance Shares or Performance Units, if the Service of a Participant shall terminate before the end of a Performance Period for any other reason than described in Section 8.7, all outstanding Awards of Performance Shares or Performance Units to such Participant shall be cancelled; provided, however, that in the event of a termination of the Service of the Participant by the Company other than Termination for Cause, the Committee in its sole discretion may waive the foregoing automatic cancellation provision and pay out on a pro rata basis as set forth in Section 8.7 herein.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Award shall not be cancelled on account of this Section 8.8 if and to the extent an Award provides for a payment due to an Involuntary Separation from Service following a Change in Control.

Section 8.9                        Nontransferablity.

 

Except as otherwise provided in the Participant's Award evidencing his or her Performance Shares or Performance Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than upon the Participant’s death, to the Participant’s Beneficiary or, if no Beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, except as otherwise provided in the Participant's agreement evidencing his or her Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units, a Participant's rights under the Plan shall inure during his or her lifetime only to such Participant.

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS AND CASH AWARDS

Section 9.1                      Other Stock-Based Awards.

The Committee may, subject to the limitations of Sections 3.1 and 3.2 herein, grant to any Participant 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, Shares or factors that may influence the value of Shares, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Shares, purchase rights for Shares, awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or any Affiliate or business unit thereof, or any other factors designated by the Committee, and awards valued by reference to the book value of Shares or the value of securities of, or the performance of specified Affiliates or other business units of the Company (“Other Stock-Based Awards”).  The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Other Stock-Based Awards, including, without limitation, the number of underlying Shares, the purchase price, if any, vesting (which may, but need not, be subject to achievement of Qualifying Performance Goals, or conditioned upon a Change in Control, or a Change in Control followed by an Involuntary Separation from Service, if any, forfeiture and transferability.

Section  9.2                        Cash Awards.

Subject to the limitations of Section 3.2 herein, the Committee may grant cash awards (“Cash Awards”) to any Participant.  The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Cash Awards, including, without limitation, performance criteria which must be satisfied (which may, but need not, include Qualifying Performance Goals).

Section  9.3                        Section 409A Compliance.

To the extent any Award is made pursuant to this Article IX that constitutes “deferred compensation” under Section 409A, the terms of such Award shall be required to comply with Section 409A.

ARTICLE X

QUALIFIED PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION

 

Section 10.1                      General.

Notwithstanding any other terms of the Plan, the vesting, payability, and value (as determined by the Committee) of each Award other than an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that, at the time of grant, the Committee intends to be Qualified Performance-Based Compensation shall be determined by the attainment of one or more Qualifying Performance Goals as determined by the Committee in conformity with Section 162(m) of the Code, together with satisfaction of any other conditions, such as continuation of Service, as may be required by the Plan or otherwise determined by the Committee. The Committee shall specify in writing, by resolution or otherwise, the Participants eligible to receive such an Award (which may be expressed in terms of a class of individuals) and the Qualifying Performance Goal(s) applicable to such Awards within ninety (90) days after the commencement of the period to which the Qualifying Performance Goal(s) relate(s) or such earlier time as is required to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder. No such Award shall be payable unless the Committee certifies in writing, by resolution or otherwise, that the Qualifying Performance Goal(s) applicable to the Award were satisfied. In no case may the Committee increase the value of an Award of Qualified Performance-Based Compensation above the maximum value determined under the performance formula by the attainment of the applicable Qualifying Performance Goal(s), but the Committee may reduce the value below such maximum if the terms of the Award so provide. Qualifying Performance Goals may be different for different Participants, as determined in the discretion of the Committee.

Section 10.2                        Qualifying Performance Measures.

Unless and until the Committee proposes for shareholder vote and the shareholders approve a change in the general Qualifying Performance Measures set forth in this Article X, the Qualifying Performance Goal(s) upon

 

which the payment or vesting of an Award that is intended to qualify as Qualified Performance-Based Compensation shall be limited to the following measures (referred to as “Qualifying Performance Measures”): earnings and earnings per share (before or after taxes and whether or not excluding specific items, including but not limited to stock or other compensation expense); net income and net income per share (before or after taxes and whether or not excluding specific items, including but not limited to stock or other compensation expense); pre-tax, pre-provision earnings and pre-tax, pre-provision earnings per share; core pre-tax, pre-provision earnings and core pre-tax, pre-provision earnings per share; pre-tax, pre-provision earnings or core pre-tax, pre-provision earnings to risk-weighted assets; revenues; profits (net profit, gross profit, operating profit, economic profit, profit margins or other corporate profit measures, in total or with respect to specific categories or business units); operating or cash earnings and operating or cash earnings per share; cash (cash flow, cash generation or other cash measures); return measures (including, but not limited to, total shareholder return, return on average assets, return on average shareholders’ equity, return on investment and cash return on tangible equity); net interest income; net interest income on a tax equivalent basis; net interest margin; net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis; net non-interest expense to average assets; interest-sensitivity gap levels; expense targets, efficiency ratio or other expense measures; assets under management; levels of assets, loans (in total or with respect to specific categories of loans) and/or deposits (in total or with respect to specific categories of deposit accounts, and with respect to number of account relationships or account balance amounts); market share; growth in target market relationships; investments; value of assets; asset quality levels; charge-offs; loan-loss reserves; non-performing assets; business expansion or consolidation (acquisitions and divestitures); strategic plan development and implementation; internal rate of return; Share price; regulatory compliance; satisfactory internal or external audits; book value and book value per share; tangible shareholders’ equity and tangible book value per share; tangible common equity and tangible common equity per share; tangible common equity to tangible assets; tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets; improvement of financial ratings; and achievement of balance sheet or income statement objectives, or other financial accounting or quantitative objectives established by the Committee.

Qualifying Performance Measures may be applied either to the Company as a whole or to an Affiliate or business unit, or to any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee.  Such performance may be measured in absolute terms and/or relative to the performance of a group of other companies or a published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. In the Award Agreement, the Committee may provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of Qualifying Performance Goal(s), subject, in the case of Restricted Stock Awards, to the minimum time-based vesting conditions set forth in the Award.

The Committee may include or exclude extraordinary events or any other objective events or occurrences either establishing the Qualifying Performance Measures or in determining whether the Qualifying Performance Measure has been achieved, including but not limited to: (i) extraordinary, unusual and/or non-recurring items of gain or loss; (ii) asset write-downs; (iii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (iv) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or regulations or provisions affecting reported results under the applicable Qualified Performance Measure(s); (v) any reorganization and restructuring programs; and (vi) acquisitions or divestitures.

In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit Committee discretion to alter the governing Qualifying Performance Measures without obtaining shareholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining shareholder approval. For purposes of clarification, the Committee may, in its discretion, also grant performance-based Awards under the Plan that are not intended to satisfy, and do not satisfy, the requirements of Qualified Performance-Based Compensation.

ARTICLE XI

ADDITIONAL TAX PROVISION

Section 11.1                      Tax Withholding Rights.

 

The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Person to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy Federal, state and local taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any grant, exercise or payment made under or as a result of the Plan.  In this regard, where any Person is entitled to receive Shares, the Company shall have the right to require such

 

Person to pay to the Company the amount of any tax which the Company is required to withhold with respect to such Shares, or, in lieu thereof, to retain, or to sell without notice, a sufficient number of Shares to cover the minimum amount required to be withheld.

 

ARTICLE XII

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

Section 12.1                      Termination

 

The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part at any time prior to the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date by giving written notice of such suspension or termination to the Committee.  Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate automatically on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.  In the event of any suspension or termination of the Plan, all Awards previously granted under the Plan that are outstanding on the date of such suspension or termination of the Plan shall remain outstanding and exercisable for the period and on the terms and conditions set forth in the Award Agreements evidencing such Awards.

 

Section 12.2                      Amendment.

 

The Board may amend or revise the Plan in whole or in part at any time; provided, however , that, to the extent required to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code or the corporate governance standards imposed under the listing or trading requirements imposed by any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Company lists or seeks to list or trade Shares, no such amendment or revision shall be effective if it amends a material term of the Plan unless approved by the holders of a majority of the votes cast on a proposal to approve such amendment or revision.

 

Section 12.3                      Adjustments in the Event of Business Reorganization.

 

In the event any recapitalization, forward or reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, exchange of Shares or other securities, stock dividend or other special and nonrecurring dividend or distribution (whether in the form of cash, securities or other property), liquidation, dissolution, or other similar corporate transaction or event, affects the Shares such that an adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of:

 

(i)   the number and kind of securities deemed to be available thereafter for grants of Awards in the aggregate to all Participants;

 

(ii)   the number and kind of securities that may be delivered or deliverable in respect of outstanding Awards; and

 

(iii)   the Exercise Price of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

In addition, the Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards (including, without limitation, cancellation of Awards in exchange for the in-the-money value, if any, of the vested portion thereof, or substitution of Awards using stock of a successor or other entity) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, events described in the preceding sentence) affecting the Company or any Affiliate or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles.

 

 

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 13.1                      Status as an Employee Benefit Plan.

 

This Plan is not intended to satisfy the requirements for qualification under Section 401(a) of the Code or to satisfy the definitional requirements for an "employee benefit plan“ under Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. It is intended to be a non-qualified incentive compensation program that is exempt from the regulatory requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The Plan shall be construed and administered so as to effectuate this intent.

 

Section 13.2                      No Right to Continued Service.

 

Neither the establishment of the Plan nor any provisions of the Plan nor any action of the Board or Committee with respect to the Plan shall be held or construed to confer upon any Participant any right to a continuation of his or her position as an Employee or a Director.  The Company reserves the right to remove any participating member of the Board or dismiss any Participant or otherwise deal with any Participant to the same extent as though the Plan had not been adopted.

 

Section 13.3                      Construction of Language.

 

Whenever appropriate in the Plan, words used in the singular may be read in the plural, words used in the plural may be read in the singular, and words importing the masculine gender may be read as referring equally to the feminine or the neuter. Any reference to an Article or Section number shall refer to an Article or Section of this Plan unless otherwise indicated.

Section 13.4                      Severability.

 

In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

Section 13.5                      Governing Law.

 

The Plan shall be construed, administered and enforced according to the laws of the State of Washington without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof.  The federal and state courts located in the County or contiguous counties in which the Company’s headquarters are located shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim, action, complaint or lawsuit brought under the terms of the Plan. By accepting any Award granted under this Plan, the Participant, and any other person claiming any rights under the Plan, agrees to submit himself, and any such legal action as he shall bring under the Plan, to the sole jurisdiction of such courts for the adjudication and resolution of any such disputes.

 

Section 13.6                      Headings.

 

The headings of Articles and Sections are included solely for convenience of reference.  If there is any conflict between such headings and the text of the Plan, the text shall control.

 

Section 13.7                      Non-Alienation of Benefits.

 

The right to receive a benefit under the Plan shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation or assignment, nor shall such right be liable for or subject to debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts.

 

Section 13.8                      Notices.

 

Any communication required or permitted to be given under the Plan, including any notice, direction, designation, comment, instruction, objection or waiver, shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given at such time as it is delivered personally or three (3) days after mailing if mailed, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to such party at the address listed below, or at such other address as one such party may by written notice specify to the other party:

 

(a)	If to the Committee:
	Banner Corporation  10 South First Avenue Walla Walla, Washington   99362 Attention:   Corporate Secretary
(b)	If to a Participant, to such person’s address as shown in the Company’s records.

 

Section 13.9                      Approval of Shareholders.

 

The Plan shall be subject to approval by the Company’s shareholders within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Board adopts the Plan.

 

Section 13.10                        Clawback.

 

All Awards (whether vested or unvested) shall be subject to such clawback (recovery) as may be required to be made pursuant to law, rule, regulation or stock exchange listing requirement or any policy of the Company adopted pursuant to any such law, rule, regulation or stock exchange listing requirement.

 

Section 13.11                        Compliance with Section 409A.

 

With respect to any amount payable under an Award that constitutes a deferral of compensation within the meaning of Section 409A, the Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A, and the Plan shall be administered, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that an Award or the payment, settlement or deferral thereunder is subject to Section 409A, the Award shall be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will comply with Section 409A, except as otherwise determined by the Committee.  In the case of amounts not intended to be deferrals of compensation subject to Section 409A, payment or settlement of amounts under such Awards shall occur not later than March 15 of the year following the year in which the Participant has a legally-binding right to payment or settlement (or such later time as permitted under Section 409A that does not cause the amount to be considered a deferral of compensation for purposes of Section 409A, or at such other time that complies with Section 409A). In the case of amounts intended to be deferrals of compensation subject to Section 409A, if the amount is subject to a deferral election by the Participant, the initial deferral election shall be made and become irrevocable no later than December 31 of the year immediately preceding the year in which the Participant first performs services related to such compensation, provided that the timing of such initial deferral election may be later as provided in Section 409A with respect to initial participation in the Plan and for “performance-based compensation” as defined under Section 409A.  If an amount that is subject to Section 409A becomes payable under an Award as a result of the Participant's “separation from service” (as defined under Section 409A) other than due to death, and the Participant is a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A), then payment of such amount shall not occur until six (6) months and a day after the date of Participant’s “separation from service” except as permitted under Section 409A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

the Change in Control, then the Vesting Date of such outstanding NQSO shall be accelerated to the earliest date of the Change in Control.     [May be modified at Committee’s election for 280G planning purposes for executive officers, or for directors holding 1% or more of the Company’s outstanding stock.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

Exhibit 10.4

 

	SARs for
Vesting Date	Number of Shares Vesting

3.

Exercise :  The SAR Holder (or in the case of the death of the SAR Holder, the designated legal representative or heir of the SAR Holder) may exercise the SARs during the Exercise Period by giving written notice to the [ include appropriate officer ] in the form required by the Committee (“Exercise Notice”).  The Exercise Notice must specify the number of Shares to be purchased, which shall be at least 100 unless fewer shares remain unexercised.  The exercise date is the date the Exercise Notice is received by the Company.  The Exercise Period commences on the Vesting Date and expires at 5:00 p.m., pacific time, on the date 10 years after the Grant Date (the “Expiration Date”), subject to earlier expiration in the event of a termination of Service as provided in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

Exhibit 10.6

 

Performance Measure	Below Threshold # of Shares	Threshold # of Shares	Target # of Shares	Stretch (Maximum) # of Shares
Pretax Pre- Provision ROAA	___	___	___	___
Total Shareholder Return	___	___	___	___

Sections 6 or 7), in which case such Shares shall not be transferred to the Grantee and instead shall be forfeited to the Company.

Exhibit 10.7

 

forfeited shall end on the date of that termination of Service and the Grantee shall then be vested in the RSUs.

Exhibit 10.8

 

Performance Shares                            ___________________________________

 

[ OR]

 

Performance Units                              ___________________________________

	Relative		Absolute Performance			Weighting % of Target
Performance Measure	Performance Gate		Threshold	Target	Stretch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 4 of 4

Exhibit 10.9

 

	Relative		Absolute Performance			Weighting % of Target
Performance Measure	Performance Gate		Threshold	Target	Stretch