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): March 13, 2014

 

 

Ally Financial Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

DELAWARE   1-3754   38-0572512

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

200 Renaissance Center

P.O. Box 200

Detroit, Michigan

48265-2000

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (866) 710-4623

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:

 

  ¨ 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))

 

 

 


Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

On March 13, 2014, the board of directors (the “Board”) of Ally Financial Inc. (“Ally”) adopted an amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Charter”) and amended and restated bylaws (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”). The Amended and Restated Charter and the Amended and Restated Bylaws are conditioned upon, and become effective on or after the pricing of an initial public offering (an “IPO”) by Ally of shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”).

The Amended and Restated Charter and the Amended and Restated Bylaws would replace in their entirety the previous provisions contained in Ally’s pre-IPO certificate of incorporation and bylaws if an IPO occurs.

The foregoing information is qualified by reference to the Amended and Restated Charter and the Amended and Restated Bylaws, which are attached as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

Prior to implementing the Amended and Restated Charter and the Amended and Restated Bylaws described above, Ally submitted proposals for such actions to certain holders of Ally’s Common Stock for consent and approval. In addition, Ally submitted proposed 2014 compensation plans, a voting agreement between Ally and the United States Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) and a stockholders agreement among Ally, Treasury and FIM Holdings LLC (“FIM”) to such holders for consent and approval. Stockholder consents were provided on March 14, 2014 by stockholders holding a majority of Ally’s outstanding shares of Common Stock.

The 2014 compensation plans will become effective upon the pricing of an IPO. The 2014 compensation plans are attached as Exhibits 3.5 through 3.8 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

The voting agreement provides that, effective upon the consummation of an IPO and until the termination of the voting agreement, Treasury will vote its shares of Ally’s Common Stock at any meeting (whether annual or special) with respect to each matter on which common stockholders are entitled to vote, other than certain designated matters, in the same proportion as all other shares of the Common Stock are voted with respect to each such matter. Designated matters are (i) the election and removal of directors, (ii) the approval of any merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar transaction that requires the approval of Ally’s stockholders, (iii) the approval of a sale of all or substantially all of Ally’s assets or property, (iv) the approval of Ally’s dissolution, (v) the approval of any issuance of Ally’s securities on which common stockholders are entitled to vote, (vi) the approval of any amendment to Ally’s Amended and Restated Charter or Amended and Restated Bylaws on which common stockholders are entitled to vote and (vii) the approval of any other matters reasonably incidental to clauses (i) through (vi) as determined by Treasury. The rights, restrictions, and obligations under the voting agreement shall terminate when Treasury beneficially owns less than 2% of the shares of Ally’s Common Stock then issued and outstanding.

The stockholders agreement will become effective upon the consummation of an IPO. The stockholders agreement provides that so long as (a) Treasury holds at least 20% of the shares of Ally’s outstanding Common Stock, Treasury will have the right to designate two nominees to Ally’s Board and (b) Treasury holds at least 9.9% of the shares of Ally’s outstanding Common Stock, Treasury will have the right to designate one nominee to Ally’s Board; provided that for Ally’s 2014 annual meeting, Treasury agrees to select its nominee(s) from among its existing designees. In addition, so long as FIM and its affiliates hold at least 5% of the shares of Ally’s outstanding Common Stock, FIM will have the right to designate one nominee to Ally’s Board, provided that FIM’s right to designate a nominee will not apply if Mr. Stephen A. Feinberg remains a member of the Board. In addition, for so long as FIM and its affiliates hold any share of outstanding Common Stock, they will be entitled to appoint one non-voting observer to the Board. Additionally, for so long as Treasury and its affiliates hold at least 9.9% of the then outstanding Common Stock, they will be entitled to appoint one non-voting observer to the Board. Pursuant to its terms, the stockholders agreement will terminate and be of no further force or effect upon the earliest of (i) the date that Treasury ceases to hold at least 9.9% of the Common Stock, (ii) with respect to FIM, the date FIM and its affiliates cease to own any Common Stock, and (iii) the date of a written agreement of Ally, Treasury and FIM.


The voting agreement and the stockholders agreement are attached as Exhibits 3.3 and 3.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed as part of this Report.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description of Exhibits

3.1    Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
3.2    Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws
3.3    Form of Voting Agreement between Ally Financial Inc. and United States Department of the Treasury
3.4    Form of Stockholders Agreement among Ally Financial Inc., FIM Holdings LLC and United States Department of the Treasury
3.5    Form of Ally Financial Inc. 2014 Executive Performance Plan
3.6    Form of Ally Financial Inc. 2014 Incentive Compensation Plan
3.7    Form of Ally Financial Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
3.8    Form of Ally Financial Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Directors Equity Compensation Plan


SIGNATURES

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.

 

   

Ally Financial Inc.

(Registrant)

Date: March 14, 2014       By:   /s/ David J. DeBrunner
        Name:   David J. DeBrunner
        Title:   Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller

Exhibit 3.1

Ally Financial Inc.

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

ARTICLE I

The name of the corporation is Ally Financial Inc. (“Corporation”).

ARTICLE II

The Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is c/o The Corporation Trust Company, The Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware 19801, and its registered agent at this address is The Corporation Trust Company.

ARTICLE III

The Corporation’s purpose is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

ARTICLE IV

 

A. The Corporation is authorized to issue 1,400,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which:

 

  1. 1,100,000,000 shares are shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”); and

 

  2. 300,000,000 shares are shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share of which:

 

    40,870,560 are designated as Preferred Stock, Series A ( “Class A Preferred Stock”)

 

    2,576,601 are designated as Preferred Stock, Series G (“Class G Preferred Stock”)

 

    15,000 are designated as Preferred Stock, Series H (“Class H Preferred Stock”)

in each case, upon the applicable terms, designations, powers, preferences as set forth in the applicable certificate of designation attached as exhibits to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

 

B. From time to time, the Corporation may issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series, and the Board of Directors of the Corporation (“Board”) is hereby authorized to fix:

 

  1. The voting rights (if any), designations, powers, preferences, and the relative, participation, optional, or other rights (in each case, if any), and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of any unissued series of preferred stock.

 

  2. The number of shares constituting any such series of preferred stock, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such series (but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding).

 

C. Except as otherwise provided by law, or pursuant to any certificate of designation designating the rights, powers and preferences of any series of preferred stock, the holders of the outstanding Common Stock have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other purposes.

 

  1. Each share of Common Stock has one vote.


  2. The holders of the Common Stock vote together as a single class.

ARTICLE V

 

A. The number of directors of the Corporation will be determined in the manner stated in the Bylaws of the Corporation (“Bylaws”).

 

B. Election of directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot, unless and to the extent required by the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI

 

A. The Board has the power to adopt, change, or repeal the Bylaws.

 

B. Bylaws may be adopted, changed, or repealed in the manner set forth in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VII

 

A. The Board reserves the right to change or repeal any provision contained in, and/or to insert additional provisions to, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, subject to and in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by applicable law.

 

B. All rights, preferences, and privileges of whatsoever nature conferred upon stockholders are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article VII.

 

C. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken only upon the vote of stockholders at an annual or special meeting duly noticed and called in accordance with Delaware law, and may not be taken by written consent of stockholders without a meeting.

 

D. Any change to any certificate of designation for a series of preferred stock does not require the vote or any other action by a stockholder that is not a holder of that series of preferred stock.

ARTICLE VIII

 

A. To the extent permitted by the law of the State of Delaware, no director is personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty by such director as a director.

 

B. To the fullest extent permitted by, and subject to the requirements of, Delaware law, and to the extent of its assets legally available for this purpose, the Corporation will indemnify and hold harmless each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in or participates as a witness with respect to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (each a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation (collectively, the “Indemnified AFI Persons”) from and against any and all loss, cost, damage, fine, expense (including reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys and other advisors and any court costs incurred by any Indemnified AFI Person) or liability actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the Proceeding.

 

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C. To the fullest extent permitted by, and subject to the requirements of, Delaware law, and to the extent of its assets legally available for this purpose, the Corporation will indemnify and hold harmless each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in or participates as a witness with respect to any Proceeding, by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was serving at the written request of the Corporation as a manager, director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of another entity (collectively, the “Indemnified Non- AFI Persons”) from and against any and all loss, cost, damage, fine, expense (including reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys and other advisors and any court costs incurred by any Indemnified Non-AFI Person) or liability actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the Proceeding, in each case at the discretion of the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IX

The Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the sole and exclusive forum for:

 

A. Any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation.

 

B. Any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or its stockholders by any director, officer, or other employee of the Corporation.

 

C. Any action asserting a claim arising under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, and/or the Bylaws.

 

D. Any other action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine.

ARTICLE X

This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is subject to any stockholders’ agreement(s), including any voting agreement(s), that may be in effect from time to time.

This amended and restated certificate of incorporation has been signed under the seal of the Corporation on [insert date], 2014.

 

Ally Financial Inc.
By:    
Name: Cathy L. Quenneville
Title: Secretary

 

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EXHIBITS

Exhibit A–Fixed Rate / Floating Rate Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A

Exhibit G–Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series G

Exhibit J–Participating Preferred Stock, Series H

 

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Exhibit 3.2

ALLY FINANCIAL INC.

BYLAWS

[date], 2014

 

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ALLY FINANCIAL INC. BYLAWS

Article I Stock, Transfer, Dividends, and Stockholder Meetings

 

A . Authorized Stock . The authorized classes and shares of stock of Ally Financial Inc. (“Corporation”) are stated in the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

 

B . Authorization and Issuances of Stock . Any authorization or issuance of additional common or preferred stock of the Corporation (beyond that currently authorized and outstanding) requires prior approval of the Ally Financial Inc. Board of Directors (“Board”).

 

C . Non-certificated Stock . Stock of the Corporation is issued in non- certificated form, but if directed by the Board, the Corporation will issue one or more certificates of common stock to a stockholder of record representing the shares of stock held by that stockholder.

 

D . Transfer of Stock . Common stock of the Corporation is transferrable.

 

  1 . Transfer Instructions . The Corporation will effect a transfer of common stock only upon instructions received from the stockholder of record or his or her authorized designee.

 

  2 . Validity . No transfer of common stock is valid against the Corporation for any purpose until properly recorded in the Corporation’s stock register.

 

  3 . Registration Rights of Certain Common Holders . The common stockholders have the registration rights contained in the attached Exhibit F, which is part of these Bylaws.

 

E . Dividends . Dividends on common stock of the Corporation will be paid if, as, and when declared by the Board, and dividends on each series of preferred stock of the Corporation will be paid in accordance with their respective certificates of designation.

 

F . Stockholder Meetings .

 

  1 . Annual Meeting . The annual meeting of common stockholders will be held on the date determined by the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, subject to applicable legal requirements.

 

  2 . Special Meetings . The Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation may call special meetings of common stockholders from time to time.

 

  a . Any special meeting of the common stockholders will be held on the date, and at the time, and for the purpose(s) stated in the notice of the meeting, in all cases subject to any rules and procedures adopted by the Board.

 

  b . The party who requested the special meeting may revoke the request at any time before the meeting occurs by sending written notice of the revocation to the Secretary of the Corporation.

 

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  3 . Director Nomination and Other Stockholder Business . At any stockholder meeting, the only business that will be conducted is that which is properly brought before the stockholders.

 

  a. For annual meetings, nominations of individuals for election to the Board, or proposals of other business to be transacted, may be made only through one of the following means:

 

  i. Pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of the annual stockholder meeting (or any supplement to it).

 

  ii. By, or at the direction of, the Board or any committee of the Board.

 

  iii. By anyone who:

 

  A. Is a common stockholder of record of the Corporation both at the time such common stockholder gives the notices contemplated by this Section I.F.3 and at the time of such annual stockholder meeting, and

 

  B. Who is entitled to vote at the meeting, and

 

  C. Complies with the procedures of this Section I.F.3 and applicable legal requirements.

 

  c. For special meetings, nominations of individuals for election to the Board and proposals for other business to be transacted must comply with this Section I.F.3.

 

  d. A common stockholder that intends to nominate a director for election or re-election, or to propose any other business, at a stockholder meeting must submit to the Secretary of the Corporation a timely written notice of this intent that complies with the Bylaws and/or Regulation 14A, as applicable, (“Notice of Intent”).

 

  i. For an annual meeting, a Notice of Intent is “timely” given only if the Secretary of the Corporation receives the Notice of Intent at least 120 calendar days before that annual meeting but not more than 180 calendar days before that annual meeting.

 

  ii. For a special meeting called under Section I.F.2 above, a Notice of Intent is “timely” given only if the Secretary of the Corporation receives the Notice of Intent at least 60 calendar days before the special meeting.

 

  e. Each Notice of Intent submitted to the Secretary of the Corporation in connection with an annual stockholder meeting under Section I.F.3.a.iii above must include the following information:

 

  i. For each individual that the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, all information that is required to be disclosed in connection with soliciting proxies for the election of directors, or that is otherwise required, under Regulation 14A (including, without limitation, the individual’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director, if elected or re-elected).

 

  ii. As to any business other than the nomination of directors, a brief description of the business to be addressed, including relevant background and context; reasons for raising the matter at the stockholder meeting; and any material interest of the stockholder (and any beneficial owner of stock on whose behalf the stockholder is acting) related to the business.

 

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  iii. As to the stockholder submitting the Notice of Intent, the following:

 

    The stockholder’s name and address and whether it is a nominal stockholder acting on behalf of, or for the benefit of, someone else.

 

    The class and number of shares of common stock and any other securities of the Corporation held by the stockholder.

 

    Description of any agreement, arrangement, or understanding between the stockholder on one hand, and any beneficial owner of stock on whose behalf the stockholder is acting on the other hand, and their respective affiliates, and any other person(s) in connection with the nomination or proposal of other business.

 

    Description of any agreement, arrangement, or understanding (including, without limitation, any derivative, long or short positions, profit interests, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares, in each case regardless of the form of settlement) that has been entered into by or on behalf of the stockholder, in each case where the effect or intent of the agreement, arrangement, or understanding with respect to the Corporation’s securities is to: create or mitigate loss to; manage risk or benefit of share price changes for; or increase or decrease the voting power of; the stockholder (or any beneficial owner on whose behalf the stockholder is acting), or a person nominated for election as a director.

 

    A representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the contemplated stockholder meeting and will appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to bring the nomination or other business before the meeting.

 

    A representation as to whether the stockholder (or any beneficial owner of stock on whose behalf the stockholder is acting) will, or is part of a group that will, either deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding common stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or to elect each identified nominee, and/or otherwise solicit proxies from stockholders in support of that proposal or nomination.

 

  f . With respect to stockholder proposals to be included in any proxy statement of the Corporation, stockholders must comply with the requirements of Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 14a-8, if applicable, instead of this Section I.F.

 

  g. The Board will determine any question as to whether and to what extent the Bylaws’ requirements related to stockholder meetings have been satisfied, and its determination will be conclusive and binding on all stockholders and the Corporation.

 

  i. If the Board determines that any requirement has not been satisfied as to a particular meeting, then it may elect to waive the deficiency for that meeting, or disregard the nomination or decline to allow the proposed business to be transacted at the meeting.

 

  ii. If a stockholder, or its qualified representative, does not appear at a stockholder meeting to make its nomination or proposal of other business, then the nomination will be disregarded and the proposed business will not be transacted, even if the Corporation has received proxies with respect to votes on those matters.

 

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    As used above, “qualified representative” means a person who is a duly authorized officer, manager, or partner of the absent stockholder, or another individual who is authorized in a writing signed by the absent stockholder, or an electronic transmission delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation by the absent stockholder, to act as its proxy at the stockholder meeting and who produces the writing or the electronic transmission or a reliable reproduction of either.

 

  h. Notwithstanding any contrary provision or inference in these Bylaws, nothing in these Bylaws limits any legal or stock exchange listing requirements applicable to stockholders as to director nominations or proposals as to any other business to be transacted at any stockholder meeting.

 

  4. Meeting Location . Unless the Board decides to hold a physical meeting, all common stockholder meetings will be held by telephone, video conference, or similar communications equipment that allows all meeting participants to hear each other.

 

  a . Any physical meetings of the common stockholders will be held at a location determined by the Board, which may, but is not required to, be in the State of Delaware.

 

  b . As to any physical meetings of the common stockholders, any common stockholders may participate in the meeting by telephone, video conference, or similar communications equipment that allows all meeting participants to hear each other.

 

  c . Any stockholder that participates in a meeting by telephone, video conference, or similar communications equipment that allows all meeting participants to hear each other is deemed to have been present at the meeting and to have waived any deficiency of notice.

 

  5 . Notices . The Corporation will give notices to stockholders as follows:

 

  a. Notice for the annual meeting will be given to common stockholders entitled to the notice between ten and sixty calendar days before the meeting date.

 

  b. Notice for any special meeting called by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board will be given to common stockholders entitled to the notice between ten and sixty calendar days before the meeting date.

 

  c. Any and all notices may be given by: in-person delivery; United States mail; commercial delivery company; facsimile, electronic mail, or other electronic means; issuing a press release in accordance with applicable securities laws and regulations; and/or by filing a report with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K.

 

  6. Waiver of Notice . Meetings may be held without notice if all holders of common stock entitled to vote at the meeting are present in person or by proxy, or if notice is waived in writing by those not present, either before or after the meeting.

 

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  a. Any stockholder who is present in person or by proxy at a common stockholder meeting is conclusively presumed to have:

 

  i. Waived notice of the meeting, except when he or she attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

  ii. Assented to any action taken, unless his or her dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless his written dissent or abstention is filed with the person acting as secretary of the meeting before it adjourns or is forwarded by registered mail to the Secretary of the Corporation immediately after the meeting.

 

  7 . List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote . Before every meeting of stockholders, the Secretary of the Corporation will prepare a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting in compliance with the requirements of the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

  8 . Quorum . A quorum for the transaction of business at a stockholder meeting consists of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote on the business to be transacted, who are present in person or by proxy at the meeting.

 

  9 . Absence of Quorum . If a quorum is not present within sixty minutes after the designated starting time for the meeting, the meeting may be adjourned and the Secretary may reschedule the meeting to occur within three to ten business days after the adjourned meeting.

 

  1 0 . Voting . At any meeting of the common stockholders, each common stockholder is entitled to vote in accordance with the number of voting shares it holds of record and voting powers of those shares.

 

  a. Each common stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock it holds.

 

  b. Unless otherwise required by law, the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, all matters subject to a vote of the stockholders will be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote on the matter and who are present in person or by proxy at the meeting.

 

  c. Election of directors will be decided by a plurality of the votes cast by the common stockholders.

 

  d. Holders of common stock will vote together as a single class.

 

  e. Notwithstanding any contrary provision or inference in these Bylaws, holders of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation have no right to vote on or approve any matter, except as provided in their respective certificates of designation.

 

  f. Any changes to Article IX of the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation requires the vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote on the matter and who are present in person or by proxy at the meeting.

 

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  12. Proxies . Each common stockholder entitled to vote, approve, consent, or otherwise act on a matter may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy, but the proxy, whether revocable or irrevocable, must comply with the requirements of applicable laws of the State of Delaware.

 

  13 . Conduct of Stockholder Meetings . The Board may adopt rules and procedures for the conduct of stockholder meetings (including, without limitation, advance notice requirements, meeting notice content requirements, disclosure requirements, etc.), which will be binding on the stockholders.

ARTICLE II Board of Directors

 

A. Responsibility . The business and affairs of the Corporation are managed by, or under the direction of, the Board.

 

B. Number of Directors . The number of directors on the Board will be between nine and thirteen, as determined by the Board in its discretion, and is initially fixed at eleven.

 

C. Chairperson . The Board will elect a chairperson from among the independent directors on the Board, and the chairperson (or in the chairperson’s absence, an alternate director designated by the chairperson) will preside at Board meetings.

 

D. Term . Each director will hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, or removal for cause.

 

E. Resignation . Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chief Executive Officer, or to the Secretary, of the Corporation.

 

  1. Effective date . The resignation takes effect upon receipt or notice of it, or at any later time that is specified in the notice.

 

  2. Acceptance Unnecessary . Unless specified in the resignation notice, acceptance of it is not necessary to make it effective.

 

F. Removal . Directors may be removed from the Board by the common stockholders only for cause.

 

G. Vacancies . Any vacancy on the Board created by reason of the death, removal for cause, or resignation of a director, or by increase in the number of directors on the Board, may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining members of the Board even if they do not constitute a quorum.

 

H. Meetings . The Board will hold regular meetings of the Board at least four times during any twelve month period, and at least once during any consecutive three month period.

 

  1. Special Meetings . The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, the chairperson of the Board, or a majority of the directors on the Board may call a special meeting of the Board at any time, subject to the advance notice requirements in Section II.H.2 below.

 

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  2. Notice of Meetings . The Corporation will give written notice of each regular and special Board meeting at least three calendar days before the meeting date, if sent by United States mail or commercial delivery company, or at least twenty-four before the meeting date, if sent by e-mail or facsimile or delivered in person.

 

  3. Meetings Without Notice . Meetings may be held without notice if all directors entitled to vote at the meeting are present in person, or if notice is waived in writing by those not present either before or after the meeting.

 

  4. Waiver of Notice . Any director who is present in person at a meeting of the Board or a Board committee is conclusively presumed to have:

 

  a. Waived notice of the meeting, except when he or she attends for the express purpose of objecting or abstaining at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

  b. Assented to any action taken unless his dissent or abstention is entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless his written dissent or abstention is filed with the person acting as secretary of the meeting before it adjourns or is forwarded by registered mail to the Secretary of the Corporation immediately after the meeting.

 

  5. Meeting Location . Board meetings will be held at a location determined by the Board, which may, but is not required to, be in the State of Delaware

 

I. Quorum . The presence of directors constituting a majority of the full Board constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

 

  1. If a quorum is not present within sixty minutes after the time appointed for a Board meeting, the meeting may be adjourned and the chairperson may reschedule the meeting to be held between two and ten business days from the date of the adjourned meeting.

 

  2. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in these Bylaws, interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or of a Board committee that authorizes any interested party contract or transaction.

 

J. Voting . Each director is entitled to cast one vote as to each matter brought before the Board or any committee of the Board of which that director is a member, and all matters to be determined by the Board will be determined by a majority vote of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present.

 

K. Action Without a Meeting . Any action requiring a vote of the Board may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice or vote, if all directors consent in writing (including facsimile, e-mail, or other electronic means) to the contemplated action.

 

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L. Telephonic Meetings . Board meetings may be held, and directors may participate in any Board meeting (regardless of how it is held), by telephone, video conference, or similar communications equipment that allows all meeting participants to hear each other, and participation in a meeting under this section constitutes presence at the meeting (and participation “in person”) and waiver of any deficiency of notice.

 

M. Compensation of Directors . Directors that are not also officers or employees of the Corporation may receive compensation for their services as directors, including service on any Board committee, in the form and amount as determined by the Board from time to time.

 

  1. Directors that are Officers . Directors that are also officers or employees of the Corporation will not receive any separate compensation for services in their capacity as directors.

 

  2. Expense Reimbursement . The Corporation will reimburse directors for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board, subject to the Corporation’s internal expense policies, including requirements as to reporting and documenting of those expenses.

 

N. Conflicts of Interest . If any director has an actual or potential conflict of interest as against the Corporation (including vis-à-vis any stockholder), he or she will disclose the conflict to the Board and the Ally Legal Staff and address the conflict in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

 

O. Independence . A director qualifies as an independent director if the Board affirmatively determines that the director meets the independence standards issued by the New York Stock Exchange.

 

P. Fiduciary Duties . To the extent permitted under the laws of the State of Delaware, no director is personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty by such director as a director.

ARTICLE III COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

A. Designation of Committee . The Board may designate one or more committees of the Board and delegate to it responsibility and authority for any matter.

 

  1. Committee Composition . A Board committee may consist of only one director.

 

  2. Alternate Committee Members . The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace absent or disqualified directors at any meeting of that committee, subject to any limitations imposed by the Board.

 

  3. Quorum . The presence of directors constituting a majority of the Board committee constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business by the committee.

 

  4. Majority Vote . Any action to be taken by a Board committee requires the vote of a majority of the directors of the committee.

 

  5. Reports . Each committee of the Board will report its activities to the full Board on a regular basis.

 

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  6. Removal . Any committee member may be removed, or any authority granted to a committee may be revoked (subject to applicable law), at any time for any reason by the Board.

 

  7. Committee Authority . To the extent provided in any resolution of the Board, any committee of the Board has and may exercise all of the authority of the full Board.

 

  8. Committee Rules of Procedure . Each committee of the Board may fix its own rules of procedure, subject to these Bylaws or resolution of the Board, and will hold its meetings in accordance with those rules.

 

B. The current standing committees of the Board are the Audit Committee; the Compensation, Nominating, and Governance Committee; and the Risk and Compliance Committee.

 

  1. Audit Committee . The Audit Committee has and may exercise the powers, authority, and responsibilities that are normally appropriate for the functions of an audit committee.

 

  2. Compensation, Nominating, and Governance Committee . The Compensation Committee has and may exercise the powers, authority, and responsibilities as delegated to it by the Board.

 

  3. Risk and Compliance Committee . The Risk and Compliance Committee has and may exercise the powers, authority, and responsibilities as delegated to it by the Board.

ARTICLE IV OFFICERS

 

A. Officer Positions . The officers of the Corporation are the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Treasurer, Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, General Counsel, any Vice President, and any other position with the designation “officer” in the title.

 

B. Additional Officer Positions . The Board may create additional officer positions beyond those listed in Section IV.A above.

 

C. Appointment and Removal of Officers . The Board will appoint any and all officers of the Corporation, and only the Board may remove an officer from the office he or she holds, except as provided below.

 

  1. The Board may delegate authority to the director that is also the Chief Executive Officer to appoint and remove any officer of the Corporation who is not, and will not be, an executive officer of the Corporation at the time of appointment or removal.

 

  2. Each such appointment or removal by the director that is also the Chief Executive Officer is deemed to be the act of the full Board.

 

D. Number of Offices . A person may hold any number of offices.

 

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E. Officer Responsibilities and Authorities . Each officer of the Corporation has and must exercise the powers and authorities as generally pertain to, or are necessarily incident to, the office(s) he or she holds, subject to the direction of the Board and/or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.

 

  1. Specific Officer Responsibilities and Authorities . The following officers have the responsibilities and authorities indicated:

 

  a. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation is its principal executive officer, and subject to the direction of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer:

 

  i. Has full responsibility and authority for, and must exercise, direct charge of, and general supervision over, the business and affairs of the Corporation;

 

  ii. Has any and all other powers and must perform such other duties, as may be specifically assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board; and

 

  iii. Is fully responsible for carrying into effect all resolutions and orders of the Board, and may delegate to any other officer(s) or employee(s) of the Corporation any of his powers and his duties.

 

  b. The Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation has full responsibility and authority for the financial records, books, and accounts of the Corporation.

 

  c. The President of the Corporation has full responsibility and authority for the global automotive services (including insurance) business of the Corporation.

 

  d. The Corporate Treasurer of the Corporation has custody of the Corporation’s funds and securities and is fully responsible for maintaining accounts in the name of the Corporation for the deposit of funds to the Corporation’s credit; for the disbursement of funds on behalf of the Corporation; and maintaining accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in the Corporation’s books.

 

  e. The General Counsel of the Corporation has full responsibility and authority for all legal affairs of the Corporation, subject to applicable rules of professional conduct for lawyers.

 

  f. The Secretary of the Corporation will attend all meetings of the common stockholders and of the Board and its committees and will record all votes and the minutes of all meetings.

 

  i. The Secretary will give notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board and its committees.

 

  ii . The Secretary will perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

  2. Reservation of Authorities . Any power or authority not specifically reserved to the Board or the common stockholders under these Bylaws, the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the laws of the State of Delaware, or resolution of the Board is within the powers and authorities of each of the Chief Executive Officer and any other applicable officer(s) of the Corporation.

 

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F. Conflicts of Interest . If any officer of the Corporation has an actual or potential conflict of interest as against the Corporation (including vis-à-vis any stockholder), he or she will address the conflict in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

ARTICLE V Principal Office, Seal, and Fiscal Year

 

A. Offices . The Corporation’s principal office is located at 200 Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI 48265, or any other location as determined by the Board, and its registered office is located at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware.

 

  1. Registered Agent The name of the Corporation’s registered agent is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

  2. Location of Corporate Books . The books of the Corporation may be kept inside or outside the State of Delaware.

 

B. Seal . The corporate seal will have inscribed upon it the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization, and the words “Corporate Seal” and “Delaware”.

 

C. Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation begins on January 1st and ends on December 31st in each year.

ARTICLE VI Exclusive Forum

The Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the sole and exclusive forum for:

 

A. Derivative Actions . Any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation.

 

B. Fiduciary Duty Claims . Any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty to the Corporation or its stockholders owed by any director, officer, or other employee of the Corporation.

 

C. Claims Under Delaware Law and Organizational Documents . Any action asserting a claim arising under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and/or these Bylaws.

 

D. Internal Affairs Doctrine . Any other action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine.

ARTICLE VII Amendments

 

A. Amendments by the Board . The Board may change, or repeal these Bylaws, or adopt additional bylaws.

 

B. Amendments by Common Stockholders . Holders of at least 75% of the outstanding common stock may vote to change, or repeal these Bylaws, or adopt additional bylaws at any annual or special meeting of the common stockholders, in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

C. Amendment of Exhibit F . Notwithstanding the foregoing,

 

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  1. Exhibit F of these Bylaws may not be changed or repealed in any manner or through any means without the consent of Eligible Holders (as defined in Exhibit F) holding a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities (as defined in Exhibit F), and no change or repeal of Exhibit F will be effective against an Eligible Holder without such Eligible Holder’s consent if it reduces or limits (other than in an immaterial respect) the rights of such Eligible Holder or otherwise disadvantages (other than in an immaterial respect) such Eligible Holder.

 

  2. No change or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation, combination, reclassification or otherwise, of Section VII.C.1 above may be made without the prior consent of Eligible Holders (as defined in Exhibit F) holding a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities (as defined in Exhibit F), and no change or repeal of Section VII.C.1 above or this Section VII.C.2 will be effective against an Eligible Holder without such Eligible Holder’s consent if it reduces or limits (other than in an immaterial respect) the rights of such Eligible Holder or otherwise disadvantages (other than in an immaterial respect) such Eligible Holder.

ARTICLE VIII Stockholder Agreements

These Bylaws are subject to any stockholders’ agreement, including any voting agreement(s), that may be in effect from time to time.

 

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EXHIBIT

Exhibit F — Registration Rights of Certain Common Holders

 

14

Exhibit 3.3

VOTING AGREEMENT

between

ALLY FINANCIAL INC.

and

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Dated as of [        ], 2014

This VOTING AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of [            ], 2014 between Ally Financial Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and the United Stated Department of the Treasury (“ UST ”).

WHEREAS, UST holds 571,971 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation (“ Common Stock ”);

WHEREAS, the Corporation and UST wish to enter into this Agreement to govern the rights and obligations of the parties with respect to certain matters relating to the Corporation and UST’s ownership and voting of the Common Stock;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the value, receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1. Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings set forth below:

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, whether through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with such Person.

Beneficial Ownership ” or “ Beneficially Owned ” have the meanings given to such terms in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act.

Board ” means the board of directors of the Corporation.

Business Combination ” means a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar transaction that requires the approval of the Corporation’s stockholders.

Control ” means the direct or indirect power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, general partnership interests or management member interests, by contract or trust agreement, pursuant to a voting trust or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have the correlative meanings.


Designated Matters ” means (i) the election and removal of directors, (ii) the approval of any Business Combination, (iii) the approval of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets or property of the Corporation, (iv) the approval of a dissolution of the Corporation, (v) the approval of any issuance of any securities of the Corporation on which holders of Common Stock are entitled to vote, (vi) the approval of any amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or Bylaws of the Corporation on which holders of Common Stock are entitled to vote and (vii) the approval of any other matters reasonably incidental to the foregoing subclauses (i) through (vi) as determined by UST.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Governmental Authority ” means any United States federal, state or local government or other political subdivision thereof, any entity, authority, agency or body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of any such government or political subdivision, and any supranational organization of sovereign states exercising such functions for such sovereign states.

IPO ” means an underwritten sale to the public of Common Stock pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the SEC on Form S-1 and after which the Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange; provided that an IPO shall not include any issuance of Common Stock in any merger or other business combination, and shall not include any registration of the issuance of Common Stock to existing securityholders or employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries on Form S-4 or Form S-8.

IPO Date ” means the date of the closing of an IPO.

Owned Shares ” means the shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by UST as of the relevant time.

Person ” means any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, limited liability company, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Proxy ” or “ Proxies ” has the meaning given to such term in Rule 14a-1 of the Exchange Act.

SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

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Transfer ” means, directly or indirectly, to sell, transfer, distribute, assign, pledge, hedge, encumber, hypothecate or similarly dispose of, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, distribution, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or similar disposition with or without consideration, voluntarily or by operation of law.

Voting Securities ” means securities of the Corporation, including Common Stock, with the power to vote with respect to the election of directors of the Corporation generally and all securities convertible into or exchangeable for securities of the Corporation with the power to vote with respect to the election of directors of the Corporation generally.

ARTICLE II

VOTING AGREEMENT

Section 2.1. Effectiveness . This Agreement shall become effective and binding upon the consummation of the IPO and shall have no force and effect prior to such date; provided, however, that this Agreement shall be null and void ad initio and of no force or effect if the IPO shall not have occurred on or prior to April 30, 2014.

Section 2.2. UST Participation to Establish a Quorum. From and after the IPO Date to and including the date of termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 3, at any meeting (whether annual or special and each adjournment or postponement thereof) of the Corporation’s stockholders, however called, to the extent required to establish a quorum at such meeting, UST will appear at such meeting or otherwise cause all shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by UST as of the relevant time to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum.

Section 2.3. Agreement to Vote. From and after the IPO Date to and including the date of termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 3, at any meeting (whether annual or special and each adjournment or postponement thereof) of the Corporation’s stockholders, however called, UST agrees that it will vote, or cause to be voted, or exercise its right to consent (or cause its right to consent to be exercised) with respect to, all Owned Shares beneficially owned by it and its controlled Affiliates (and which are entitled to vote on such matter) with respect to each matter on which holders of Common Stock are entitled to vote or consent, other than a Designated Matter, in the same proportion (for, against or abstain) as all other shares of the Common Stock are voted or consents are given with respect to each such matter. UST shall retain the right to vote in its sole discretion all Owned Shares beneficially owned by it and its controlled Affiliates (and which are entitled to vote on such matter) on any Designated Matter.

Section 2.4. Inconsistent Voting Agreements. UST hereby agrees that it shall not enter into any agreement, contract or understanding with any Person (prior to the termination of this Agreement) directly or indirectly to vote, grant a Proxy or power of attorney or give instructions with respect to the voting of its Owned Shares in any manner that is inconsistent with this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 3.1 Termination. After the IPO, all rights, restrictions and obligations hereunder shall terminate, and this Agreement shall have no further force and effect, when UST Beneficially Owns less than 2% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock then issued and outstanding.

Section 3.2. Authority. Each of the Corporation and UST represents to the other that (i) it has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or organizational action and no such further action is required, (iii) it has duly and validly executed and delivered this Agreement, and (iv) this Agreement is a legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general equity principles.

Section 3.3. No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of (i) the Corporation and its successors and permitted assigns and (ii) UST and its permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give any Person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement.

Section 3.4. Governing Law; Forum Selection. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement, the relationship of the parties, and/or the interpretation and enforcement of the rights and duties of the parties shall be enforced, governed, and construed in all respects (whether in contract or in tort) in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State provided, that all rights and obligations of UST under this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the federal laws of the United States of America which are applicable to such rights or obligations. Each of the parties hereto agrees (i) to submit to the exclusive jurisdictions and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks jurisdiction, then in the applicable Delaware state court), or if under applicable law exclusive jurisdiction of such suit, action or proceeding is vested in the federal courts, then the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, for any and all civil actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, and (ii) that notice may be served upon the parties at the addresses and in the manner set forth for notices in Section 3.13.

 

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Section 3.5. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. Each of the parties hereto waives any right it may have to trial by jury in respect of any litigation based on, arising out of, under or in connection with the Agreement or any course of conduct, course of dealing, verbal or written statement or action of any party hereto.

Section 3.6. Assignment; Successors and Assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations provided by this Agreement may be assigned by any party (whether by operation of law or otherwise), other than an assignment to an Affiliate of UST in connection with a Transfer made in accordance with this Agreement, without the prior written consent of the other party, and any such assignment without such prior written consent shall be null and void. Subject to the preceding sentence and except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and benefit the Corporation and UST. Except for an Affiliate of UST, no purchaser or recipient of shares of Common Stock from UST shall have any rights under this Agreement.

Section 3.7. After Acquired Securities. All of the provisions of this Agreement shall apply to all of the Voting Securities now Beneficially Owned or that may be issued or Transferred hereafter to UST hereto in consequence of any additional issuance, purchase, exchange or reclassification of any of the Voting Securities, corporate reorganization, or any other form or recapitalization, consolidation, merger, share split or share divide, or that are acquired by UST in any other manner.

Section 3.8. Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

Section 3.9. Severability. Whenever possible, each term and provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under law. If any term or provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or any circumstance, is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (i) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be legal, valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision and (ii) the remainder of this Agreement or such term or provision and the application of such term or provision to other Persons or circumstances shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the legality, validity or enforceability of such term or provision, or the application thereof, in any jurisdiction.

 

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Section 3.10. Enforcement of this Agreement. The parties hereto acknowledge that money damages would not be an adequate remedy at law if any party fails to perform in any material respect any of its obligations hereunder, and accordingly agree that each party, in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled at law or in equity, shall be entitled to seek to compel specific performance of the obligations of any other party under this Agreement, without the posting of any bond, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement in any court of the United States or any State thereof having jurisdiction, and if any action should be brought in equity to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement, none of the parties hereto shall raise the defense that there is an adequate remedy at law. Except as otherwise provided by law, a delay or omission by a party hereto in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon any such breach shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in any such breach. No remedy shall be exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies shall be cumulative. Each party hereto has entered into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder on its own volition. Each such party, on behalf of itself, its Affiliates, successors and assigns, if any, hereby specifically renounces, waives and forfeits all rights to seek, bring or maintain any action in any court of law or equity against UST arising in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereunder, except in its commercial capacity as a party to this Agreement and participant in the transactions contemplated hereunder.

Section 3.11. Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by a duly authorized representative or officer of each of the parties.

Section 3.12. UST. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, UST shall only be bound by this Agreement in its capacity as stockholder and nothing in this Agreement shall be binding on or create any obligation on the part of UST in any other capacity or any branch or agency of the United States government or subdivision thereof.

Section 3.13 . Notices . All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement will be in writing and shall be given when delivered personally, sent via a nationally recognized overnight courier or sent via facsimile or e-mail (with hard copy sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service, with proper postage prepaid) to the recipient. Such notices, demands and other communications will be sent to the address indicated below:

If to the Corporation, to:

Ally Financial Inc.

200 Renaissance Center

Mail Code 482-B09-B11

Detroit, Michigan 48625

Facsimile:  (313) 656-6124

Attention:  William B. Solomon

Email:        William.B.Solomon@ally.com

 

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With a copy to:

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

450 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Facsimile:  (212) 701-5224

Attention:  Richard J. Sandler

E-mail:      richard.sandler@davispolk.com

If to UST to:

United States Department of the Treasury

1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20220

Facsimile:  (202) 927-9225

Attention:  Chief Counsel Office of Financial Stability

E-mail:      john.sturc@treasury.gov

                  martin.gorham@treasury.gov

With a copy to:

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

Facsimile:  (212) 757-3990

Attention:  Neil Goldman

                  John C. Kennedy

E-mail:      ngoldman@paulweiss.com

                  jkennedy@paulweiss.com

or such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party.

 

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Section 3.14. Construction . The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

Section 3.15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts each of which shall be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, being duly authorized, have executed and delivered this Voting Agreement on the date first above written.

 

THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
By:      
Name: Title:  

 

ALLY FINANCIAL INC.
By:    
Name: Title:  

 

9

Exhibit 3.4

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

among

ALLY FINANCIAL INC.,

FIM Holdings LLC,

and

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Dated as of [        ], 2014

This STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of [        ], 2014 among Ally Financial Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), FIM Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ FIM ”), and the United States Department of the Treasury (“ Treasury ”).

WHEREAS, the Company, FIM and Treasury are parties to that certain Stockholders Agreement dated as of August 19, 2013 (the “ 2013 Stockholders Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, the Company is contemplating an initial Public Offering (as defined below);

WHEREAS, Section 3(q) of the 2013 Stockholders Agreement states that in connection with an initial Public Offering (as defined therein), the 2013 Stockholders Agreement will automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect on the consummation of such initial Public Offering and the parties thereto will endeavor in good faith to enter into appropriate arrangements with respect to the future governance of the Company; and

WHEREAS, the parties wish to enter into this Agreement with respect to certain governance matters of the Company;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings set forth below:

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, whether through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with such first Person, excluding any employee benefit plan or related trust.


Board ” means the board of directors of the Company.

Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

Control ,” “ Controlled ” or “ Controlling ” means, with respect to any Person, any circumstance in which such Person is directly or indirectly controlled by another Person by virtue of the latter Person having the power to (i) elect, or cause the election of (whether by way of voting capital stock, by contract, trust or otherwise), the majority of the members of the Board or a similar governing body of the first Person, or (ii) direct (whether by way of voting capital stock, by contract, trust or otherwise) the affairs and policies of such Person.

Entity ” means any general partnership, limited partnership, corporation, association, cooperative, joint stock company, trust, limited liability company, business or statutory trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization or Governmental Entity.

Governmental Entity ” means the United States of America or any other nation, any state, province or other political subdivision, any international or supra-national entity, or any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of government, including any court, in each case having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of the property or other assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

Person ” means any individual or Entity.

Public Offering ” means an underwritten sale to the public of Common Stock pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the SEC on Form S-1 and after which the Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange; provided that a Public Offering shall not include any issuance of Common Stock in any merger or other business combination, and shall not include any registration of the issuance of Common Stock to existing securityholders or employees of the Company and its subsidiaries on Form S-4 or Form S-8.

SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

ARTICLE II

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

(a) Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective and binding upon the consummation of the initial Public Offering and shall have no force and effect prior to such date; provided, however, that this Agreement shall be null and void ab initio and of no force or effect if the initial Public Offering shall not have occurred on or prior to April 30, 2014.

 

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(b) Treasury’s Right to Nominate.

At any time at which the Company’s stockholders shall have the right to, or shall, vote for the election of directors of the Company (whether at an annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders, a special meeting of the Company’s stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors of the Company or at any adjournment or postponement thereof), (x) if Treasury holds at least 20.0% of the outstanding Common Stock, then, and in each such event, the Company hereby agrees that Treasury shall have the right to designate two nominees (each, a “ Treasury Nominee ”), to serve as directors, and (y) if Treasury holds at least 9.9% but less than 20.0% of the outstanding Common Stock, then, and in each such event, the Company hereby agrees that Treasury shall have the right to designate one Treasury Nominee, to serve as a director; provided , that, solely with respect to the 2014 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders (or an adjournment or postponement thereof), Treasury hereby agrees that it shall select the Treasury Nominee(s) for such meeting from among the members of the Board who are Treasury designated directors as of the date hereof pursuant to the 2013 Stockholders Agreement (“ Current Treasury Designees ”), unless such members are unable or unwilling to serve (it being understood that so long as there are two or one Current Treasury Designees, as applicable, who are able and willing to serve, then Treasury shall select the Treasury Nominee(s) from such Current Treasury Designees for the 2014 annual meeting (or an adjournment or postponement thereof)).

The Board shall (i) nominate the Treasury Nominee to be elected a member of the Board and (ii) include the Treasury Nominee in any proxy statement and related materials used by the Company in respect of the election to which such nomination pertains.

(c) Cerberus’ Right to Nominate.

At any time at which the Company’s stockholders shall have the right to, or shall, vote for the election of directors of the Company (whether at an annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders, a special meeting of the Company’s stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors of the Company or at any adjournment or postponement thereof), if FIM and its Affiliates hold at least 5.0% of the outstanding Common Stock, then, and in each such event, the Company hereby agrees that FIM shall have the right to designate one nominee (the “ Cerberus Nominee ”), to serve as a director; provided , however , that the right of FIM to designate a Cerberus Nominee, at any election pursuant to this Section II(c) shall not apply in the event that Stephen A. Feinberg remains a member of the Board.

The Board shall (i) nominate the Cerberus Nominee to be elected a member of the Board and (ii) include the Cerberus Nominee in any proxy statement and related materials used by the Company in respect of the election to which such nomination pertains.

 

3


(d) Board Observers . Subject to Section III(f) hereof and applicable law and stock exchange regulations, the parties hereto agree that each of FIM and its Affiliates and Treasury and its Affiliates (other than the Company) shall be entitled to appoint one non-voting observer to the Board. Subject to applicable law and stock exchange regulations, the parties hereto agree that (i) each such non-voting observer shall have the right to attend all meetings of the Board and all committees thereof and (ii) each such non-voting observer shall receive notice of all meetings of the Board and all committees thereof and all written materials and other information (including minutes of meetings) given to directors in connection with such meetings at the same time such materials and information are given to directors; provided that prior to permitting any such non-voting observer access to any such meetings or any such materials or other information, such non-voting observer shall be required to execute a customary confidentiality agreement with respect to the use and treatment of confidential information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall be permitted to exclude any such non-voting observer from meetings and from receiving certain information if, based on the advice of counsel, such exclusion is necessary to preserve the attorney-client privilege of the Company, provided that to the extent practicable the Company shall provide such non-voting observer advance written notice of any such exclusion.

ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS

(a) Vacancies . Any vacancy on the Board created by reason of the death, removal or resignation of a director shall be filled by an individual designated by the Person(s) authorized to designate such director for election pursuant to this Agreement.

(b) Authority . Each of the parties hereto represents to the other that (i) it has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or organizational action and no such further action is required, (iii) it has duly and validly executed and delivered this Agreement, and (iv) this Agreement is a legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general equity principles.

(c) No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of (i) the Company and its successors and permitted assigns, (ii) Treasury and its permitted assigns and (iii) FIM and its permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give any Person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement.

 

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(d) Treasury . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Treasury shall only be bound by this Agreement in its capacity as stockholder and nothing in this Agreement shall be binding on or create any obligation on the part of Treasury in any other capacity or any branch or agency of the United States government or subdivision thereof.

(e) Amendment and Waiver . The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, without the written consent of each of the parties hereto.

(f) Termination . After the initial Public Offering, this Agreement will automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect immediately upon the earliest to occur of the following events:

(i) when Treasury ceases to hold at least 9.9% of the Common Stock of the Company;

(ii) with respect to FIM, when FIM and its Affiliates collectively cease to own any Common Stock; and

(iii) by written consent of each of the parties hereto.

(g) Entire Agreement . Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision hereof, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein. This Agreement embodies the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

(h) Successors and Assigns . Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations provided by this Agreement may be assigned by any party (whether by operation of law or otherwise), other than an assignment by a party hereto to an Affiliate, without the prior written consent of the other parties, and any such assignment without such prior written consent shall be null and void. Subject to the preceding sentence and except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and benefit the Company, FIM and Treasury. Except for Affiliates of FIM and Treasury (other than the Company) and assignments permitted pursuant to this Article III(d), no purchaser or recipient of shares of Common Stock from FIM or Treasury shall have any rights under this Agreement.

 

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(i) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts each of which shall be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(j) Remedies; Specific Performance . The parties hereto acknowledge that money damages would not be an adequate remedy at law if any party fails to perform in any material respect any of its obligations hereunder, and accordingly agree that each party, in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled at law or in equity, shall be entitled to seek to compel specific performance of the obligations of any other party under this Agreement, without the posting of any bond, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement in any court of the United States or any State thereof having jurisdiction, and if any action should be brought in equity to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement, none of the parties hereto shall raise the defense that there is an adequate remedy at law. Except as otherwise provided by law, a delay or omission by a party hereto in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon any such breach shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in any such breach. No remedy shall be exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies shall be cumulative. Each party hereto has entered into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder on its own volition. Each such party, on behalf of itself, its Affiliates, successors and assigns, if any, hereby specifically renounces, waives and forfeits all rights to seek, bring or maintain any action in any court of law or equity against Treasury arising in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereunder, except in its commercial capacity as a party to this Agreement and participant in the transactions contemplated hereunder.

(k) Notices . All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement will be in writing and shall be given when delivered personally, sent via a nationally recognized overnight courier or sent via facsimile or e-mail (with hard copy sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service, with proper postage prepaid) to the recipient. Such notices, demands and other communications will be sent to the address indicated below:

If to the Company, to:

Ally Financial Inc.

200 Renaissance Center

Mail Code 482-B09-B11

Detroit, Michigan 48625

Facsimile:  (313) 656-6124

Attention:  William B. Solomon

Email:        William.B.Solomon@ally.com

 

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With a copy to:

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

450 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Facsimile:  (212) 701-5224

Attention:  Richard J. Sandler

E-mail:      richard.sandler@davispolk.com

If to FIM, to:

c/o Cerberus Capital Management, L.P

299 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10171

Attention:  Lenard Tessler, Seth Plattus, Mark Neporent

Facsimile:  (212) 750-5212

with a copy to:

Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP

919 Third Avenue

New York NY 10022

Attention:  Alan Waldenberg, David Rosewater

Facsimile:  (212) 593-5955

If to Treasury to:

United States Department of the Treasury

1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20220

Facsimile: (202) 927-9225

Attention:  Chief Counsel Office of Financial Stability

E-mail:      john.sturc@treasury.gov

                  martin.gorham@treasury.gov

With a copy to:

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

Facsimile:  (212) 757-3990

Attention:  Neil Goldman John C. Kennedy

E-mail:      ngoldman@paulweiss.com

                  jkennedy@paulweiss.com

or such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party.

 

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(l) Descriptive Headings . The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

(m) Waiver of Jury Trial . Each of the parties hereto waives any right it may have to trial by jury in respect of any litigation based on, arising out of, under or in connection with the Agreement or any course of conduct, course of dealing, verbal or written statement or action of any party hereto.

(n) Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Venue; Service of Process . This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement, the relationship of the parties, and/or the interpretation and enforcement of the rights and duties of the parties shall be enforced, governed, and construed in all respects (whether in contract or in tort) in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State; provided , that all rights and obligations of Treasury under this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the federal laws of the United States of America applicable to such rights and obligations. Each of the parties hereto agrees (a) to submit to the exclusive jurisdictions and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks jurisdiction, then in the applicable Delaware state court), or if under applicable law exclusive jurisdiction of such suit, action or proceeding is vested in the federal courts, then the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, for any and all civil actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, and (b) that notice may be served upon the parties at the addresses and in the manner set forth for notices in Article III(g) .

(o) Construction . The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

(p) Further Assurances . Each party hereto shall do and perform or cause to be done and performed all such further acts and things and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as any other party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

8


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Stockholders Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
By:    
Name: Title:  

 

FIM HOLDINGS LLC

 

By: Cerberus FIM Investors, LLC, its

Managing Member

 

By: Cerberus FIM, LLC, its Managing Member

By:    
 

Name:

Title:

 

ALLY FINANCIAL INC.
By:    
 

Name:

Title:

 

9

Exhibit 3.5

ALLY FINANCIAL INC.

2014 EXECUTIVE PERFORMANCE PLAN

Ally Financial Inc. (the “Company”) hereby establishes and adopts the following 2014 Executive Performance Plan (the “Plan”) to provide incentive compensation awards that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

1. PURPOSES OF THE PLAN

The purposes of the Plan are to advance the interests of the Company and its shareholders and assist the Company in attracting and retaining executive officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries who, because of the extent of their responsibilities, can make significant contributions to the Company’s success by their ability, industry, loyalty and exceptional services, by providing incentives and financial rewards to such executive officers.

 

2. DEFINITIONS

2.1. Award ” shall mean the amount of the Incentive Award paid to a Participant pursuant to the Plan.

2.2. Board ” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.

2.3. Cause ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Incentive Compensation Plan (without regard to the reference to a Participant’s Award Agreement), unless the Committee provides otherwise at the time it makes its designations under Section 4.1. In addition, failure to promptly repay any Award that is determined to be owed to the Company pursuant to Section 5.12 below shall also constitute Cause.

2.4. Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.

2.5. Committee ” means the Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board or such other committee as may be designated by the Board. For purposes of satisfying the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, the Committee shall be comprised solely of two or more “outside directors” as such term is defined in Section 162(m) of the Code. If the Board does not designate the Committee, references herein to the “Committee” shall refer to the Board.

2.6. Disability ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Incentive Compensation Plan (without regard to the reference to a Participant’s Award Agreement), unless the Committee provides otherwise at the time it makes its designations under Section 4.1.

2.7. Incentive Award shall mean an amount equal to 3.0%, in the case of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and 1.5%, in the case of each other Participant, of the Company’s Net Income for each full calendar year in the Performance Period (proportionately adjusted for any portion of the Performance Period that is less than a full calendar year).


2.8. Incentive Compensation Plan shall mean Ally Financial Inc. 2014 Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated from time to time.

2.9. Net Income shall mean Net Income after taxes as reported on a consolidated basis in the Company’s audited financial statements for the applicable year.

2.10. Participant ” shall mean the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and each other executive officer of the Company or a Subsidiary selected by the Committee pursuant to Section 4.1 to participate in this Plan.

2.11. Performance Period shall mean the Company’s fiscal year or such other period that the Committee, in its sole discretion, may establish, provided that no Performance Period shall be more than five years in length.

2.12. Qualifying Termination shall have the meaning set forth in the Incentive Compensation Plan.

2.13. Retirement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Incentive Compensation Plan.

2.14. Subsidiary ” shall mean any corporation, partnership or other organization of which the Company owns or controls, directly or indirectly, not less than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or other equity interests.

2.15. Termination of Service shall have the meaning set forth in the Incentive Compensation Plan.

 

3. ELIGIBILITY AND ADMINISTRATION

3.1. Eligibility. The individuals eligible to be selected to participate in the Plan shall be the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and any other executive officer of the Company or a Subsidiary.

3.2. Administration. (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have full power and authority, subject to the provisions of the Plan and subject to such orders or resolutions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as may from time to time be adopted by the Board, to: (i) select the Participants to whom Incentive Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder; (ii) determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, of each Incentive Award, including the length of the Performance Period; (iii) certify the calculation of Net Income and the amount of the Incentive Award payable to each Participant in respect of each Performance Period; (iv) determine the time when Incentive Awards will be paid and the form of such payment; (v) in connection with the determination of the amount of each Award, determine whether and to what extent the Incentive Award shall be reduced based on such factors as the Committee deems appropriate in its discretion; (vi) determine whether payment of Awards may be deferred by Participants in a


manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code; (vii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement entered into in connection with the Plan; (viii) correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Incentive Award in the manner and to the extent that the Committee shall deem desirable to carry it into effect; (ix) establish such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for administration of the Plan.

(b) Decisions of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons or entities, including the Company, any Subsidiary, any Participant and any person claiming any benefit or right under an Incentive Award or under the Plan.

(c) To the extent not inconsistent with applicable law or the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (or such other principal securities market on which the Company’s securities are listed or qualified for trading), including the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company or a committee of officers the authority to take actions on its behalf pursuant to the Plan.

 

4. INCENTIVE AWARDS

4.1. Performance Period; Participants. Not later than 90 days after the commencement of each fiscal year of the Company, the Committee shall, in writing (i) designate one or more Performance Periods for such fiscal year, provided that any Performance Period of less than one year shall be designated no later than the date on which 25% of such Performance Period has lapsed, (ii) designate the Participants for such Performance Period(s), (iii) specify any adjustments to Net Income for the Performance Period and (iv) specify any adjustments to the definitions of Cause and Disability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a person becomes eligible to participate in the Plan after the Committee has made its initial designation of participants, such individual may become Participant if so designated in writing by the Committee.

4.2. Certification. Promptly after the date on which the necessary financial or other information for each Performance Period becomes available, the Committee shall certify, in writing, the amount of the Incentive Award for each Participant for such Performance Period and, by operation of the Plan, such certification will necessarily include a certification that the performance goals and other material terms relating to the Incentive Award were in fact satisfied.

4.3. Payment of Incentive Awards. The amount of the Incentive Award actually paid to a Participant shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion based on such factors as it deems appropriate, including the Participant’s achievement of the performance measures enumerated in Section 9(b) of the Incentive Compensation Plan, provided that the actual Award shall not exceed the Incentive Award with respect to such Participant. The Award amount determined by the Committee for a Performance Period shall be paid in cash or, to the extent provided in such plan, share-based awards under a shareholder-approved stock plan of the Company. Payment to each Participant shall be made no later than the fifteenth day of the third month following the end of the fiscal year of the Company in which the applicable Performance Period ends, unless payment is deferred pursuant to a plan or arrangement satisfying the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.


4.4. Changes in Employment. If a person becomes a Participant during a Performance Period as specified in Section 4.1, or if a Participant incurs a Termination of Service by reason of death, Disability or Retirement, or if the Participant incurs a Termination of Service by the Company without Cause or otherwise in a Qualifying Termination, during a Performance Period, the Incentive Award payable to such a Participant may, in the discretion of the Committee, be proportionately reduced based on the period of actual employment during the applicable Performance Period. For the avoidance of doubt, if a Participant’s Termination of Service is not described in the foregoing sentence, all unpaid Incentive Awards shall be forfeited upon his or her Termination of Service.

 

5. MISCELLANEOUS

5.1. Amendment and Termination of the Plan. The Board may, from time to time, alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan as it shall deem advisable, subject to any requirement for shareholder approval imposed by applicable law, including Section 162(m) of the Code, or by the New York Stock Exchange (or such other principal securities market on which the Company’s securities are listed or qualified for trading). No amendments to, or termination of, the Plan shall materially impair the rights of a Participant under any Incentive Award previously granted without such Participant’s consent.

5.2. Section 162(m) of the Code. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the provisions of this Plan shall be administered and interpreted in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code to ensure the deductibility by the Company of the payment of Incentive Awards.

5.3. Restrictions on Transfer. No Incentive Award under the Plan shall be assignable or transferable by the Participant thereof, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, unless the Committee shall elect to permit such an assignment or transfer in its sole discretion.

5.4. Tax Withholding. The Company or a Subsidiary shall have the right to make all payments or distributions pursuant to the Plan to a Participant, net of any applicable federal, state and local taxes required to be paid or withheld. The Company or a Subsidiary shall have the right to withhold from wages, Awards or other amounts otherwise payable to such Participant such withholding taxes as may be required by law, or to otherwise require the Participant to pay such withholding taxes. If the Participant shall fail to make such tax payments as are required, the Company or a Subsidiary shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to such Participant or to take such other action as may be necessary to satisfy such withholding obligations.

5.5. Right of Discharge Reserved; Claims to Incentive Awards. Nothing in this Plan shall provide any Participant a right to receive any Incentive Award or payment under the Plan with respect to a Performance Period. Nothing in the Plan nor the grant of an Incentive Award hereunder shall confer upon any Participant the right to continue in the employment of the Company or a Subsidiary or affect any right that the Company or a Subsidiary may have to


terminate the employment of (or to demote or to exclude from future Incentive Awards under the Plan) any such Participant at any time for any reason. Except as specifically provided by the Committee, the Company shall not be liable for the loss of existing or potential profit from an Incentive Award granted in the event of the termination of employment of any Participant. No Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Incentive Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants under the Plan.

5.6. Nature of Payments. All Incentive Awards made pursuant to the Plan are in consideration of services performed or to be performed for the Company or a Subsidiary, division or business unit of the Company. Any income or gain realized pursuant to Incentive Awards under the Plan constitute a special incentive payment to the Participant and shall not be taken into account, to the extent permissible under applicable law, as compensation for purposes of any of the employee benefit plans of the Company or a Subsidiary except as may be determined by the Committee or by the Board or board of directors of the applicable Subsidiary.

5.7. Other Plans. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to shareholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

5.8. Severability. If any provision of the Plan shall be held unlawful or otherwise invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall (a) be deemed limited to the extent that such court of competent jurisdiction deems it lawful, valid and/or enforceable and as so limited shall remain in full force and effect, and (b) not affect any other provision of the Plan or part thereof, each of which shall remain in full force and effect. If the making of any payment or the provision of any other benefit required under the Plan shall be held unlawful or otherwise invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such unlawfulness, invalidity or unenforceability shall not prevent any other payment or benefit from being made or provided under the Plan, and if the making of any payment in full or the provision of any other benefit required under the Plan in full would be unlawful or otherwise invalid or unenforceable, then such unlawfulness, invalidity or unenforceability shall not prevent such payment or benefit from being made or provided in part, to the extent that it would not be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, and the maximum payment or benefit that would not be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable shall be made or provided under the Plan.

5.9. Construction. As used in the Plan, the words “ include ” and “ including ,” and variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of limitation, but rather shall be deemed to be followed by the words “ without limitation.

5.10. Unfunded Status of the Plan. The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company.


5.11. Regulatory Compliance. Incentive Awards hereunder may be subject to the requirements of any federal law or regulation that may govern executive compensation and apply to the Company, including but not limited to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and regulations issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury thereunder. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 5.1 to the contrary, the Company shall have the right to change this Plan or any Incentive Award, or interpret their respective provisions, so as to comply with such requirements.

5.12. Clawback. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, any Award, whether paid in cash or share-based awards, is subject to being called for repayment to the Company in accordance with the Company’s policy on the recoupment of incentive compensation, as in effect from time to time, and as required by any federal law or regulation that may govern executive compensation and apply to the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates.

5.13. Governing Law. The Plan and all determinations made and actions taken thereunder, to the extent not otherwise governed by the Code or the laws of the United States, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Michigan, without reference to principles of conflict of laws that might result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction, and shall be construed accordingly.

5.14. Effective Date of Plan. The Plan shall be effective on the date on which the Plan is or has been both adopted by the Board and approved by the shareholders of the Company, which adoption and approval shall be obtained prior to the payment of any Incentive Award under the Plan.

5.15. Captions. The captions in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and are not intended to narrow, limit or affect the substance or interpretation of the provisions contained herein.

Exhibit 3.6

ALLY FINANCIAL INC.

2014 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

SECTION 1. Purpose . The purpose of the Ally Financial Inc. 2014 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “ Plan ”) is to motivate and reward those employees and other individuals who are expected to contribute significantly to the success of Ally Financial Inc. (the “ Company ”) and its Affiliates to perform at the highest level and to further the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

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

(a)  Affiliate ” means (i) any entity that owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, has a significant equity interest; in each case as determined by the Committee.

(b) Award ” means any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, RSU, Performance Award or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.

(c) Award Agreement ” means any agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award granted under the Plan, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by a Participant.

(d) Beneficiary ” means a person entitled to receive payments or other benefits or exercise rights that are available under the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death. If no such person is named by a Participant, or if no Beneficiary designated by the Participant is eligible to receive payments or other benefits or exercise rights that are available under the Plan at the Participant’s death, such Participant’s Beneficiary shall be such Participant’s estate.

(e) Board ” means the board of directors of the Company.

(f)  Business Unit ” means a single business or product line or related group of businesses or product lines of the Company that, in the ordinary course of the Company’s business, managerial and financial reporting are considered and managed as a division, including, but not limited to, the Company’s North American Auto Finance, Insurance and Commercial Finance divisions, and which consist of a group of legal entities rolling up to a holding company that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

(g) Cause ” means, with respect to any Participant, “cause” as defined in any employment agreement between such Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, if any, or if not so defined, except as otherwise provided in such Participant’s Award Agreement, such Participant’s:

(i) felony indictment or misdemeanor conviction;


(ii) failure to perform any material responsibility of the leadership position;

(iii) a course of conduct which would tend to hold the Company or any of its affiliates in disrepute or scandal, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion;

(iv) failure to follow lawful directions of the Board;

(v) any material breach of fiduciary duty to the Company;

(vi) gross negligence;

(vii) willful misconduct;

(viii) failure to comply with a material Company policy;

(ix) any act of fraud, theft, or dishonesty;

(x) breach of any restrictive covenants set forth in Section 13; or

(xi) failure to promptly repay any Award payment that is determined to be owed to the Company pursuant to Section 19(c) below.

(h) Change in Control means the occurrence of any one or more of the following events:

(i) any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), other than an employee benefit plan or trust maintained by the Company, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 30% of the combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

(ii) at any time during a period of 12 consecutive months, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board and any new member of the Board whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority of members of the Board; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened

 

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election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 or Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an individual, corporation, partnership, group, associate or other entity or “person” other than the Board shall in any event be considered to be a director in office at the beginning of such period; or

(iii) the consummation of (A) a merger or consolidation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries with any other corporation or entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or, if applicable, the ultimate parent thereof) at least 60% of the combined voting power and total fair market value of the securities of the Company or such surviving entity or parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (B) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer to any “person” (other than an affiliate of the Company) of assets of the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, having a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40% of the total gross fair market value of the Company and its subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction(s).

(i) Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules, regulations and guidance thereunder. Any reference to a provision in the Code shall include any successor provision thereto.

(j) Committee ” means the Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board or such other committee as may be designated by the Board. For purposes of satisfying the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, the Committee shall be comprised solely of two or more “outside directors” as such term is defined in Section 162(m) of the Code. If the Board does not designate the Committee, references herein to the “Committee” shall refer to the Board.

(k) Competitive Activity means an activity that is in direct competition with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates in any of the states within the United States, or countries within the world, in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates conducts business with respect to a business in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates engaged or was preparing to engage during employment and on the date of the termination of employment.

 

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(l) Covered Employee means an individual who is (i) either a “covered employee” or expected by the Committee to be a “covered employee,” in each case within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code or (ii) expected by the Committee to be the recipient of compensation (other than Section 162(m) Compensation) in excess of $1,000,000 for the tax year of the Company with regard to which a deduction in respect of such individual’s Award would be claimed.

(m) Disability ” means, with respect to any Participant, except as may otherwise be provided in such Participant’s Award Agreement:

(i) a long-term disability that entitles the Participant to disability income payments under any long-term disability plan or policy provided by the Company under which the Participant is covered, as such plan or policy is then in effect; or

(ii) if such Participant is not covered under a long-term disability plan or policy provided by the Company at such time for whatever reason, then the term “Disability” means disability within the meaning of Treasury Reg. Sec. 1.409A-3(i)(4).

(n) Effective Date means the date on which the Plan is or has been both adopted by the Board and approved by the shareholders of the Company.

(o) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules, regulations and guidance thereunder. Any reference to a provision in the Exchange Act shall include any successor provision thereto.

(p) Fair Market Value means (i) with respect to a Share, the closing price of a Share on the date in question (or, if there is no reported sale on such date, on the last preceding date on which any reported sale occurred) on the principal stock market or exchange on which the Shares are quoted or traded, or if Shares are not so quoted or traded, the fair market value of a Share as determined by the Committee, and (ii) with respect to any property other than Shares, the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee. In the case of grants made at the time of an initial public offering, Fair Market Value shall mean the per Share price at which Shares are initially offered for sale to the public by the Company’s underwriters.

(q) Incentive Stock Option means an option representing the right to purchase Shares from the Company, granted in accordance with the provisions of Section 6, that meets the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

(r) Intrinsic Value with respect to an Option or SAR Award means (i) the excess, if any, of the price or implied price per Share in a Change in Control or other event over the exercise or hurdle price of such Award multiplied by (ii) the number of Shares covered by such Award.

 

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(s) Non-Qualified Stock Option ” means an option representing the right to purchase Shares from the Company, granted in accordance with the provisions of Section 6, that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

(t) Option ” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(u) Other Stock-Based Award means an Award granted in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.

(v) Participant ” means the recipient of an Award granted under the Plan.

(w) Performance Award means an Award granted in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.

(x) Performance Period means the period established by the Committee at the time any Performance Award is granted or at any time thereafter during which any performance goals specified by the Committee with respect to such Award are measured.

(y) Qualifying Termination means a Termination of Service as a result of any of the following:

(i) Elimination of current position or reduction in the total number of employees in the same department performing the same or similar job.

(ii) Substantial change in current duties for which the employee no longer qualifies.

(iii) Substantial change in current duties which results in a twenty percent (20%) or more reduction in salary.

(iv) Declining a geographic transfer to a new position offered to employee upon the elimination of current position as an alternative to termination, provided that the expenses associated with the transfer would qualify for receipt of benefits under the Company’s Relocation Program (or any successor program).

(z) Replacement Award means an Award granted in assumption of, or in substitution for, an outstanding award previously granted by a company or other business acquired by the Company or with which the Company, directly or indirectly, combines.

 

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(aa) Retirement ” means Termination of Service other than for Cause following attainment of (i) age 55, and the total of age and years of service to the Company and its Affiliates equals or exceeds 70, or (ii) age 65.

(bb) Restricted Stock means any Share granted in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.

(cc) RSU ” means a contractual right, granted in accordance with the provisions of Section 8, that is denominated in Shares. Each RSU represents a right to receive the value of one Share. Awards of RSUs may include the right to receive dividend equivalents.

(dd) Sale of a (or such) Business Unit means whether effected directly or indirectly, or in one transaction or a series of transactions:

(i) any merger, consolidation, reorganization or other business combination pursuant to which a Business Unit and an acquirer and/or all or a substantial portion of their respective business operations are combined in a manner that results in a “change of control” of the Business Unit (utilizing the criteria described in the Section 2(h) Change in Control definition but substituting Business Unit for Company); or

(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the capital stock or assets of the subsidiaries of the Company included in the Business Unit by way of negotiated purchase, tender or exchange offer, option, leveraged buyout, joint venture over which the Company does not exercise voting control or otherwise.

(ee) SAR ” means any right, granted in accordance with the provisions of Section 7, to receive upon exercise by a Participant or settlement the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise or settlement over (ii) the exercise or hurdle price of the right on the date of grant, or if granted in connection with an Option, on the date of grant of the Option.

(ff) Section 162(m) Compensation means “qualified performance-based compensation”, within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

(gg) Shares ” means shares of the Company’s common stock.

(hh) TARP ” means the Troubled Asset Relief Program of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

 

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(ii) Termination of Service ” means, in the case of a Participant who is an employee of the Company or an Affiliate, cessation of the employment relationship such that the Participant is no longer an employee of the Company or Affiliate, or, in the case of a Participant who is an independent contractor or other service provider, the date the performance of services for the Company or an Affiliate has ended; provided, however, that in the case of an employee, the transfer of employment from the Company to an Affiliate, from an Affiliate to the Company, from one Affiliate to another Affiliate or, unless the Committee determines otherwise, the cessation of employee status but the continuation of the performance of services for the Company or an Affiliate as a director of the Board or an independent contractor shall not be deemed a cessation of service that would constitute a Termination of Service.

SECTION 3. Eligibility.

(a) Any employee, consultant or other advisor of, or any other individual who provides services to, the Company or any Affiliate shall be eligible to be selected to receive an Award under the Plan.

(b) Holders of options and other types of awards granted by a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines are eligible for grants of Replacement Awards under the Plan.

SECTION 4. Administration.

(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall be appointed by the Board and shall consist of not less than three directors of the Board. To the extent necessary to comply with applicable regulatory regimes, any action by the Committee shall require the approval of Committee members who are (i) independent, within the meaning of and to the extent required by applicable rulings and interpretations of the principal stock market or exchange on which the Shares are quoted or traded; (ii) each a non-employee director within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act; and (iii) each an outside director within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Board may designate one or more directors as a subcommittee who may act for the Committee if necessary to satisfy the requirements of this Section. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company the authority to grant Awards, except that such delegation shall not be applicable to any Award for a person then covered by Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The Committee may issue rules and regulations for administration of the Plan. It shall meet at such times and places as it may determine.

(b) Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, the Committee (or its delegate) shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards (including Replacement Awards) to be granted to each Participant under the Plan; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by (or with respect to which payments, rights or other matters are to be calculated in connection with) Awards; (iv) determine the

 

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terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other Awards, other property, net settlement, or any combination thereof, or canceled, forfeited or suspended, and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other Awards, other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award under the Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Committee; (vii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (ix) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

(c) All decisions of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties, including the Company, its shareholders and Participants and any Beneficiaries thereof.

SECTION 5. Shares Available for Awards.

(a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5(c), the maximum number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall not exceed 7% of the number of fully diluted Shares outstanding immediately after consummation of the Company’s initial public offering. No Participant may receive under the Plan in any three consecutive calendar year period (A) Options and SARs that relate to more than 1% of the number of fully diluted Shares outstanding immediately after consummation of the Company’s initial public offering; (B) if and to the extent that any such Awards are intended to constitute Section 162(m) Compensation, Restricted Stock, RSUs, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards that in the case of any such Award denominated in Shares, relate to more than 0.3% of the number of fully diluted Shares outstanding immediately after consummation of the Company’s initial public offering. Shares underlying Replacement Awards and Shares remaining available for grant under a plan of an acquired company or of a company with which the Company combines, appropriately adjusted to reflect the combination or acquisition transaction, shall not reduce the number of Shares remaining available for grant hereunder. The maximum number of Shares available for issuance under Incentive Stock Options shall be 7% of the number of fully diluted Shares outstanding immediately after consummation of the Company’s initial public offering.

(b) Any Shares subject to an Award or to an equity-based award granted under a prior plan of the Company (other than a Replacement Award and any Award granted out of the authorized shares of an acquired plan), that expires, is canceled, forfeited or otherwise terminates without the delivery of

 

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such Shares, including (i) the number of Shares surrendered or withheld in payment of any grant, purchase, exercise or hurdle price of any such Award or award or taxes related to an Award or award and (ii) any Shares subject to an Award or award to the extent that Award or award is settled without the issuance of Shares, shall again be, or shall become, available for issuance under the Plan.

(c) In the event that, as a result of any special or extraordinary dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares or other securities), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event affecting the Shares, an adjustment is necessary in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Committee shall adjust equitably any or all of:

(i) the number and type of Shares (or other securities) which thereafter may be made the subject of Awards, including the aggregate and individual limits specified in Section 5(a);

(ii) the number and type of Shares (or other securities) subject to outstanding Awards; and

(iii) the grant, purchase, exercise or hurdle price with respect to any Award or, if deemed appropriate, make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award;

provided, however , that the number of Shares subject to any Award denominated in Shares shall always be a whole number.

(d) Any Shares delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or Shares acquired by the Company.

SECTION 6 . Options. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions, in either case not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine:

(a)  The exercise price per Share under an Option shall be determined by the Committee; provided , however , that, except in the case of Replacement Awards, such exercise price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option.

(b) The term of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee but shall not exceed 10 years from the date of grant of such Option. Other than for Incentive Stock Options, if the Option would expire when trading in Shares is prohibited by law or the Company’s insider trading policy, the term shall extend to 30 days subsequent to the termination of the prohibition.

 

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(c) The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part.

(d) The Committee shall determine the method or methods by which, and the form or forms, including cash, Shares, other Awards, other property, net settlement, or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price, in which payment of the exercise price with respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been made.

(e) The terms of any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code.

SECTION 7. Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Participants with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions, in either case not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine.

(a) SARs may be granted under the Plan to Participants either alone (“freestanding”) or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan (“tandem”) and may, but need not, relate to a specific Option granted under Section 6.

(b) The exercise or hurdle price per Share under a SAR shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that, except in the case of Replacement Awards, such exercise or hurdle price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such SAR (or if granted in connection with an Option, on the date of grant of such Option).

(c) The term of each SAR shall be fixed by the Committee but shall not exceed 10 years from the date of grant of such SAR. If the SAR would expire when trading in Shares is prohibited by law or the Company’s insider trading policy, the term shall extend to 30 days subsequent to the termination of the prohibition.

(d) The Committee shall determine the time or times at which a SAR may be exercised or settled in whole or in part.

(e) The Committee shall determine the method or methods by which, and the form or forms, including cash, Shares, other Awards, other property, net settlement, or any combination thereof, in which payment of the amount owing upon exercise or settlement of an SAR may be made.

 

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SECTION 8. Restricted Stock and RSUs. The Committee is authorized to grant Awards of Restricted Stock and RSUs to Participants with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions, in either case not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine.

(a) Shares of Restricted Stock and RSUs shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose (including any limitation on the right to vote a Share of Restricted Stock or the right to receive any dividend, dividend equivalent or other right), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may deem appropriate. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Award relates to Shares on which dividends are declared during the period that the Award is outstanding, the Award shall not provide for the payment of such dividend (or a dividend equivalent) to the Participant prior to the time at which such Award, or applicable portion thereof, becomes nonforfeitable.

(b) Any share of Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee may deem appropriate, including book-entry registration or issuance of a stock certificate or certificates. In the event any stock certificate is issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock granted under the Plan, such certificate shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.

(c) If and to the extent that the Committee intends that an Award granted under this Section 8 shall constitute or give rise to Section 162(m) Compensation, such Award may be structured in accordance with the requirements of Section 9, including the performance criteria set forth therein, and any such Award shall be considered a Performance Award for purposes of the Plan.

(d) The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement that an Award of Restricted Stock is conditioned upon the Participant making or refraining from making an election with respect to the Award under Section 83(b) of the Code. If a Participant makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to an Award of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall be required to file promptly a copy of such election with the Company.

(e) The Committee may determine the form or forms (including cash, Shares, other property or any combination thereof) in which payment of the amount owing upon settlement of any RSU Award may be made.

 

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SECTION 9. Performance Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Awards to Participants with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions, in either case not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine:

(a)  Performance Awards may be denominated as a cash amount, number of Shares or a combination thereof and are Awards which may be earned upon achievement or satisfaction of performance conditions specified by the Committee. In addition, the Committee may specify that any other Award shall constitute a Performance Award by conditioning the right of a Participant to exercise the Award or have it settled, and the timing thereof, upon achievement or satisfaction of such performance conditions as may be specified by the Committee. The Committee may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the performance goals to be achieved during any Performance Period, the length of any Performance Period, the amount of any Performance Award granted and the amount of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any Performance Award shall be determined by the Committee. If the Performance Award relates to Shares on which dividends are declared during the Performance Period, the Performance Award shall not provide for the payment of such dividend (or dividend equivalent) to the Participant prior to the time at which such Performance Award, or applicable portion thereof, is earned.

(b) Every Performance Award shall, if the Committee intends that such Award should constitute Section 162(m) Compensation, include a pre-established formula, such that payment, retention or vesting of the Award is subject to the achievement during a Performance Period or Performance Periods, as determined by the Committee, of a level or levels of, or increases in, in each case as determined by the Committee, one or more of the following performance measures with respect to the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates, and its business units: overhead costs, general and administration expense, market price of a Share, cash flow, reserve value, net asset value, earnings, net income, operating income, cash from operations, revenue growth, margin, EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), net capital employed, return on assets, stockholder return, reserve replacement, return on equity, return on capital employed, production, assets, unit volume, sales, market share, or strategic business criteria consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures, as consistently applied by the Company where applicable. Performance criteria may be measured on an absolute ( e. g. , plan or budget) or relative basis. Relative performance may be measured against a group of peer companies, a financial market index or other acceptable objective and quantifiable indices. Except in the case of an award intended to qualify as Section 162(m) Compensation, if the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, structure

 

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(including capital structure) of the Company, or the manner in which the Company conducts its business, or other events or circumstances render the performance objectives unsuitable, the Committee may modify the performance objectives or the related minimum acceptable level of achievement, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate and equitable. Performance measures may vary from Performance Award to Performance Award, and from Participant to Participant, and may be established on a stand-alone basis, in tandem or in the alternative. The Committee shall have the power to impose such other restrictions on Awards subject to this Section 9(b) as it may deem necessary or appropriate to ensure that such Awards satisfy all requirements for Section 162(m) Compensation. The Committee may exclude from performance criteria the impact of unusual or non-recurring items (e.g., acquisitions/divestitures, change in tax laws or accounting principles, litigation settlements). The maximum amount of any Performance Award denominated in cash that is intended to constitute Section 162(m) Compensation that may be earned in any calendar year shall not exceed $10,000,000.

(c) Settlement of Performance Awards; Other Terms. Settlement of Performance Awards shall be in cash, Shares, other Awards, other property, or any combination thereof, in the discretion of the Committee. Performance Awards will be settled only after the end of the relevant Performance Period. The Committee may, in its discretion, increase or reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with a Performance Award but may not exercise discretion to increase any amount payable to a Covered Employee in respect of a Performance Award intended to qualify as Section 162(m) Compensation.

SECTION 10. Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares or factors that may influence the value of Shares, including 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 business units thereof or any other factors designated by the Committee, including grants of unrestricted Shares in settlement of awards granted under the Company’s 2014 Executive Performance Plan or any successor thereto. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards. Shares delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 10 shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods and in such forms, including cash, Shares, other Awards, other property, or any combination thereof, as the Committee shall determine, provided that the purchase price therefor shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the date of grant of such right.

 

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SECTION 11. Effect of Termination of Service

Except as may otherwise specifically be provided in an Award Agreement, Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to the following provisions in the event Participant incurs a Termination of Service while such Award is outstanding and prior to the settlement thereof.

(a) If a Participant incurs a Termination of Service as a result of his death or Disability, all unvested Awards shall become nonforfeitable on the date of such Termination of Service; Awards other than SARs and Options shall be settled within 75 days of becoming nonforfeitable, and Options and SARs shall become exercisable and remain outstanding for one year from the date of Termination of Service.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement, if a Participant incurs a Termination of Service by the Company for Cause, all Awards shall be immediately cancelled.

(c) If (i) a Participant’s Termination of Service is by reason of Retirement, (ii) in the case of a Participant employed by a Business Unit, the Participant’s Termination of Service is as a result of a Sale of such Business Unit, or (iii) a Participant who is employed primarily in connection with a Business Unit but incurs a Termination of Service without Cause by the Company or a Qualifying Termination solely as a result of a Sale of such Business Unit (as determined by the Committee) during the twelve months following the Sale of such Business Unit, all unvested Awards will become nonforfeitable on the date of such Termination of Service; Awards other than Options and SARs shall be paid in accordance with their terms (including, without limitation, all applicable restrictive covenants) and Options and SARs shall be immediately exercisable and shall remain outstanding for one year from the date of Termination of Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Award intended to be Section 162(m) Compensation shall be paid only if applicable performance conditions are satisfied.

(d) If a Participant incurs a Termination of Service by the Company without Cause or otherwise in a Qualifying Termination, all unvested Awards, other than those portions of any Award scheduled to become nonforfeitable within the twelve months following the date of Termination of Service, shall be forfeited. Awards and portions thereof not forfeited in accordance with the preceding sentence shall immediately become nonforfeitable; Awards other than Options and SARs shall be paid in accordance with their terms (including, without limitation, all applicable restrictive covenants) and Options and SARs shall be immediately exercisable and shall remain outstanding for one year from the date of Termination of Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Award intended to be Section 162(m) Compensation shall be paid only if applicable performance conditions are satisfied.

 

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(e) If a Participant’s Termination of Service is not described in Sections 11(a)-(d), all unvested Awards shall be forfeited upon his Termination of Service.

SECTION 12. Effect Of Change In Control On Awards.

Notwithstanding the treatment of Awards provided in Section 11, in the event of a Change in Control, unless otherwise specifically provided in an Award Agreement, outstanding Options and SARs shall be treated as described in subsection (a) and outstanding Restricted Stock and RSUs shall be treated as described in subsection (b).

(a) (i) If in connection with the Change in Control, any outstanding Option or SAR is not continued in effect or converted into an option to purchase or right with respect to stock of the survivor or successor parent corporation in a manner that complies with Sections 424 and 409A of the Code, such outstanding Option(s) and SAR(s) shall vest and become fully exercisable.

(ii) If outstanding Options or SARs are continued or converted as described in subsection (a)(i), then upon the occurrence of a Termination of Service by the Company without Cause or a Qualifying Termination of the Participant within twelve months following the Change in Control, such Options shall vest and become exercisable and shall remain exercisable for one year.

(b) (i) If in connection with the Change in Control, any outstanding Restricted Stock or RSU is not continued in effect or converted into a restricted stock or unit representing an interest in stock of the survivor or successor parent corporation on a basis substantially equivalent to the consideration received by shareholders of the Company in connection with the Change in Control, such outstanding Restricted Stock or RSU(s) shall vest and, in the case of RSUs, be immediately due and payable.

(ii) If any outstanding Restricted Stock or RSU(s) is continued or converted as described in subsection (b)(i), then upon the occurrence of a Termination of Service by the Company without Cause or a Qualifying Termination of the holder thereof within twelve months following the Change in Control, such restricted stock or units shall vest in full and, in the case of units, be immediately due and payable.

(c) For purposes of subsections (a) and (b) hereof, no Option, SAR, Restricted Stock or RSU shall be treated as “continued or converted” on a basis consistent with the requirements of subsections (a)(i) or (b)(i), as applicable, unless the stock underlying such award after such continuation or conversion consists of securities of a class that is widely held and publicly traded on a U.S. national securities exchange.

 

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(d) This Section 12(d) shall apply if a Participant would be entitled to amounts under the Plan which, together with any other payments or benefits to such Participant, would constitute a “parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G of the Code. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan or any Award, payments in respect of any Award will be reduced (after first reducing any cash payment, excluding any cash payment with respect to the acceleration of any Award, that is otherwise payable to the Participant and exempt from Section 409A of the Code and then reducing any other payments or benefits otherwise payable to the Participant on a pro rata basis or in such other manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code) if and to the extent that such reduction would result in a greater “Net After-Tax Amount”, as hereinafter defined, than such Participant would be entitled to in the absence of such reduction. For purposes hereof, “ Net After-Tax Amount” shall mean the net amount of all amounts to which such Participant is entitled that would or could constitute a “parachute payment”, after giving effect to all taxes applicable to such payments, including without limitation, any tax under Section 4999 of the Code. The determination of whether and how any such payment reduction shall be effected shall be made by a nationally recognized accounting firm acceptable to the Participant and the Company.

SECTION 13. Restrictive Covenants.

Except to the extent the provisions of any Award Agreement specifically provide to the contrary, by accepting an Award hereunder, the Participant agrees to abide by the following covenants at all times that any Award is outstanding, and for a period of twenty-four months after the termination of employment. Each Participant further agrees, by acceptance of an Award, that the breach of any such covenant during such period will entitle the Company to cancel the Award without consideration, and/or recoup and recover any amount previously paid or benefit realized upon exercise or settlement thereof.

(a) Participant shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, whether on behalf of himself or herself or any other person or entity (i) solicit any client and/or customer of the Company or any subsidiary with respect to a Competitive Activity; provided, however, that a subsidiary, division, segment, unit, etc. of the Participant’s subsequent employer(s) being in direct competition with the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate shall not constitute a Competitive Activity so long as the Participant has no direct or indirect responsibility or involvement in such subsidiary, division, segment, unit, etc., or (ii) solicit or employ any employee of the Company or any subsidiary, or any person who was an employee of the Company or any subsidiary during the 60-day period immediately prior to the Participant’s Termination of Service, for the purpose of causing such employee to terminate his or her employment with the Company or such subsidiary.

 

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(b) Participant shall not disclose to anyone or make use of any trade secret or proprietary or confidential information of the Company, including such trade secret or proprietary or confidential information of any customer or client or other entity to which the Company owes an obligation not to disclose such information, which he or she acquires during his or her employment with the company, including but not limited to records kept in the ordinary course of business, except:

(i) as such disclosure or use may be required or appropriate in connection with his or her work as an employee of the Company; or

(ii) when required to do so by a court of law, by any governmental agency having supervisory authority over the business of the Company or by any administrative or legislative body (including a committee thereof) with apparent jurisdiction to order him or her to divulge, disclose or make accessible such information; or

(iii) as to such confidential information that become generally known to the public or trade without his or her violation of this covenant;

(iv) to the Participant’s spouse, attorney, and/or his or her personal tax and financial advisors as reasonably necessary or appropriate to advance the participant’s tax, financial and other personal planning (each an “ Exempt Person”), provided, however, that any disclosure or use of any trade secret or proprietary or confidential information of the Company by an Exempt Person shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 13(b) by the Participant.

(c) Participant shall not make any statements or express any views that disparage the business reputation or goodwill of the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, investors, shareholders, officers, or employees.

(d) If a Participant violates or threatens to violate any provisions of this Section 13, the Company shall not have an adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, the Company shall be entitled to such equitable and injunctive relief, without the posting of a bond, as may be available to restrain the Participant and any business, firm, partnership, individual, corporation or entity participating in the breach or threatened breach from the violation of the provisions of this Section 13. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies available at law or in equity for breach or threatened breach of this Section 13, including the recovery of damages. If the Company is successful in enforcing its rights under this provision, the affected Participant shall reimburse the Company for its legal fees and costs associated with such enforcement action.

 

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SECTION 14. General Provisions Applicable to Awards.

(a) Awards shall be granted for no cash consideration or for such minimal cash consideration as may be required by applicable law.

(b) Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to or in tandem with any other Award or any award granted under any other plan of the Company. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards, or in addition to or in tandem with awards granted under any other plan of the Company, may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.

(c) Subject to the terms of the Plan, payments or transfers to be made by the Company upon the grant, exercise or settlement of an Award may be made in the form of cash, Shares, other Awards, other property, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee in its discretion, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments or on a deferred basis, in each case in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee. Such rules and procedures may include provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of dividend equivalents in respect of installment or deferred payments.

(d) Except as may specifically be permitted by the Committee or as specifically provided in an Award Agreement, (i) no Award and no right under any Award shall be assignable, alienable, saleable or transferable by a Participant otherwise than by will or pursuant to Section 14(e) and (ii) during a Participant’s lifetime, each Award, and each right under any Award, shall be exercisable only by the Participant or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative, provided, however, that the Committee shall not permit, and an Award Agreement shall not provide for, any Award to be transferred or transferable to a third party for value or consideration without the approval of shareholders. The provisions of this Section 14(d) shall not apply to any Award that has been fully exercised or settled, as the case may be, and shall not preclude forfeiture of an Award in accordance with the terms thereof.

(e) A Participant may designate a Beneficiary or change a previous Beneficiary designation at such times prescribed by the Committee by using forms and following procedures approved or accepted by the Committee for that purpose.

(f) All certificates for Shares and/or other securities delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock market or exchange upon which such Shares or other securities are then quoted, traded or listed, and any applicable securities laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

18


SECTION 15. Amendments and Termination.

(a) Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law and unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award Agreement or in the Plan, the Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided, however, that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without (i) shareholder approval if such approval is required by applicable law or the rules of the stock market or exchange, if any, on which the Shares are principally quoted or traded or (ii) the consent of the affected Participant, if such action would materially adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any outstanding Award, except to the extent any such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination is made to cause the Plan to comply with applicable law, stock market or exchange rules and regulations or accounting or tax rules and regulations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, the Committee may amend the Plan in such manner as may be necessary to enable the Plan to achieve its stated purposes in any jurisdiction in a tax-efficient manner and in compliance with local rules and regulations.

(b) The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, without the consent of any relevant Participant or holder or Beneficiary of an Award; provided, however, that no such action shall materially adversely affect the rights of any affected Participant or holder or Beneficiary under any Award theretofore granted under the Plan, except to the extent any such action is made to cause the Plan to comply with applicable law, stock market or exchange rules and regulations or accounting or tax rules and regulations; provided further that, except as provided in Section 5(c), the Committee shall not without the approval of the Company’s shareholders (a) lower the exercise price per Share of an Option or SAR after it is granted or take any other action that would be treated as a repricing of such Award under the rules of the principal U.S. stock market on which the Company’s Shares are traded, or (b) cancel an Option or SAR when the exercise price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value in exchange for cash or another Award (other than in connection with a Change in Control); and provided further, that the Committee’s authority under this Section 15(b) is limited by the provisions of Section 14(d) and, in the case of Awards subject to Section 9(b), as provided in Section 9(b).

(c) Except as provided in Section 9(b), the Committee shall be authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of events (including the events described in Section 5(c)) affecting the Company, or the financial statements of the Company, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.

 

19


(d) The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to carry the Plan into effect.

SECTION 16. Miscellaneous.

(a) No employee, Participant or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of employees, Participants or holders or Beneficiaries of Awards under the Plan. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient. Any Award granted under the Plan shall be a one-time Award that does not constitute a promise of future grants. The Company, in its sole discretion, maintains the right to make available future grants under the Plan.

(b) The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of, or to continue to provide services to, the Company or any Affiliate. Further, the Company or the applicable Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant, free from any liability, or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement or in any other agreement binding the parties. The receipt of any Award under the Plan is not intended to confer any rights on the receiving Participant except as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

(c) Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company from adopting or continuing in effect other or additional compensation arrangements, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

(d) The Company shall be authorized to withhold from any Award granted or any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Shares, other Awards, other property, net settlement, or any combination thereof) of applicable withholding taxes due in respect of an Award, its exercise or settlement or any payment or transfer under such Award or under the Plan and to take such other action (including providing for elective payment of such amounts in cash or Shares by the Participant) as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes. Share withholding from an Award will be at the minimum statutory rate.

 

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(e) If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award Agreement, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award, and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

(f) Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and a Participant or any other person. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.

(g) No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash or other securities shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares, or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.

(h) Awards may be granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed or providing services outside the United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different from those applicable to Awards to Participants who are employed or providing services in the United States as may, in the judgment of the Committee, be necessary or desirable to recognize differences in local law or tax policy. The Committee also may impose conditions on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to minimize the Company’s obligation with respect to tax equalization for Participants on assignments outside their home country.

SECTION 17. Effective Date of the Plan. The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date.

SECTION 18. Term of the Plan. No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the earliest to occur of (i) the tenth year anniversary of the Effective Date, (ii) the maximum number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan have been issued or (iii) the Board terminates the Plan in accordance with Section 15(a). However, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award theretofore granted may extend beyond such date, and the authority of the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue or terminate any such Award, or to waive any conditions or rights under any such Award, and the authority of the Board to amend the Plan, shall extend beyond such date.

 

21


SECTION 19. Regulatory Matters.

(a) With respect to Awards subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and the provisions of the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner that satisfies the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and the Plan shall be operated accordingly. If any provision of the Plan or any term or condition of any Award would otherwise frustrate or conflict with this intent, the provision, term or condition will be interpreted and deemed amended so as to avoid this conflict.

(b) Awards hereunder may be subject to the requirements of any Federal law or regulation that may govern executive compensation and apply to the Company, including but not limited to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and regulations issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury thereunder and administered under the supervision and interpretation of the Office of the Special Master for TARP Executive Compensation. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 15 to the contrary, the Company will have the right to change this Plan or any Award, or interpret their respective provisions, so as to comply with such requirements.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, any Award, and any amount of cash or Shares delivered in settlement thereof to a Participant under this Plan is subject to being called for repayment to the Company in accordance with the Company’s policy on the recoupment of incentive compensation, as in effect from time to time, and as may be directed by the Special Master or otherwise required by any Federal law or regulation that may govern executive compensation and apply to the Company.

SECTION 20. Data Privacy. By participating in the Plan, the Participant consents to the holding and processing of personal information provided by the Participant to the Company or any subsidiary, trustee or third-party service provider, for all purposes relating to the operation of the Plan. These include, but are not limited to:

(i) administering and maintaining Participant records;

(ii) providing information to the Company, Subsidiaries, trustees of any employee benefit trust, registrars, brokers or third-party administrators of the Plan;

(iii) providing information to future purchasers or merger partners of the Company or any subsidiary, or the business in which the Participant works; and

 

22


(iv) transferring information about the Participant to any country or territory that may not provide the same protection for the information as the Participant’s home country.

SECTION 21. Governing Law. The Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Michigan, without application of the conflicts of law principles thereof.

Exhibit 3.7

ALLY FINANCIAL INC.

EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

(Effective [XXXXX], 2014)


EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

1. Purpose . The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of the Company, its Designated Subsidiaries, and Designated Affiliates with an opportunity to purchase Shares. The Plan’s terms are defined in Section 2 below. The Plan is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code. Accordingly, the Plan will be construed so as to extend and limit participation in a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis consistent with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

2. Definitions .

(a) “ Affiliate ” means (a) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by, controls or is under common control with, the Company and (b) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, whether now or hereafter existing.

(b) “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(c) “ Change in Control ” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following events:

 

  (i) any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), other than an employee benefit plan or trust maintained by the Company, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 30% of the combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

  (ii) at any time during a period of 12 consecutive months, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board and any new member of the Board whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority of members of the Board; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 or Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an individual, corporation, partnership, group, associate or other entity or “person” other than the Board shall in any event be considered to be a director in office at the beginning of such period; or

 

  (iii)

the consummation of (A)a merger or consolidation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries with any other corporation or entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or

 

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EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

  consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or, if applicable, the ultimate parent thereof) at least 60% of the combined voting power and total fair market value of the securities of the Company or such surviving entity or parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (B) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer to any “person” (other than an affiliate of the Company) of assets of the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, having a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40% of the total gross fair market value of the Company and its subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction(s).

(d) “ Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

(e) “ Committee ” means the Compensation Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board or such other committee as may be designated by the Board. If the Board does not designate a committee, references herein to the “Committee” shall refer to the Board.

(f) “ Company ” means Ally Financial Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(g) “ Compensation ” means base pay, whether paid in cash, salary stock, or deferred cash, including regular base salary, overtime pay, regularly paid wage premiums (such as evening or shift premiums), and commissions, but excluding income from stock options or equity compensation awards, bonuses, and other compensation that is not part of base pay, unless otherwise determined by the Committee. For Participants outside the U.S., Compensation also includes 13 th /14 th month payments or similar concepts under applicable local law and such other wage components as determined by the Committee. The Committee may not delegate its responsibility regarding the meaning of “Compensation”.

(h) “ Designated Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary selected by the Committee as eligible to participate in the Plan. The Committee may not delegate this responsibility.

(i) “ Director ” means a member of the Board.

(j) “ Effective Date ” means the date the Plan becomes effective in accordance with Section 24.

(k) “ Eligible Employee ” means any individual who is treated as an active employee in the records of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary, as applicable, in each case regardless of any subsequent reclassification by the Company, any Designated Subsidiary any governmental agency, or any court; provided, however , in all cases, only after the first month following the completion of at least 30 days of service as an active employee of the Company, or Designated Subsidiary.

 

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EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

  (i) The Company may, prior to a particular Offering Date for a particular Offering and for all purchase rights to be granted on such Offering Date under such Offering, determine that the definition of Eligible Employee will or will not include an individual if such individual customarily works not more than twenty (20) hours per week or not more than five (5) months in any calendar year (or, in each case, such lesser period of time as the Company may determine); provided , however that any such exclusion is applied with respect to each Offering in a uniform manner to all similarly-situated employees who otherwise would be Eligible Employees for that Offering.

 

  (ii) For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship will be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on military or sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company or the Designated Subsidiary so long as the leave does not exceed three (3) months or if longer than three (3) months, the individual’s right to reemployment is provided by statute or has been agreed to by contract or in a written policy of the Company or the Designated Subsidiary which provides for a right of reemployment following the leave of absence.

 

  (iii) The employment relationship will be treated as continuing intact where an Eligible Employee transfers employment between the Company and Designated Subsidiaries

(l) “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rule, regulations and guidance thereunder. Any reference to a provision in the Exchange Act shall include any successor provision thereto.

(m) “ Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to the Shares, as of any date, determined as follows:

(n) (i) the closing per-share sales price of the Shares (A) as reported by the NYSE composite tape for such date or (B) if the Shares are no longer listed on the NYSE but are listed on any other national stock exchange or national market system, as reported on the stock exchange composite tape for securities traded on such exchange for such date, or, with respect to each of clauses (A) and (B), if there were no sales on such date, on the closest preceding date on which there were sales of Shares;

 

  (ii) in the event there shall be no public market for the Shares on such date, the fair market value of the Shares as determined in good faith by the Company upon the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method; or

 

  (iii) For purposes of the Initial Offering Period (as defined below), the Fair Market Value will be the initial price to the public as set forth in the final prospectus included within the registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the initial public offering of the Common Stock (the “Registration Statement”).

 

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EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

(o) “ NYSE ” means the New York Stock Exchange or any successor thereto.

(p) “ Offering ” means an offer under the Plan of a purchase right that may be exercised during an Offering Period as further described in Section 2(q). For purposes of this Plan, the Company may designate separate Offerings under the Plan (the terms of which need not be identical) in which Eligible Employees, or subsets thereof, will participate, even if the dates of the applicable Offering Periods of each such Offering are identical.

(q) “ Offering Date ” means the first Trading Day of each Offering Period.

(r) “ Offering Period ” means for any period following the Initial Offering Period as defined in Section 4, a period of six months during which a purchase right granted pursuant to the Plan may be offered, or such different period for the offer of the purchase right as may be established by the Committee; provided, however, that the Initial Offering Period shall begin on the first Trading Day on or after the date on which the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission declares the Company’s Registration Statement effective and will end on the last Trading Day in the sixth month after such first Trading Day. In no event may an Offering Period exceed 27 months. The duration and timing of Offering Periods may be changed pursuant to Section 4.

(s) “ Parent ” means a “parent corporation” of the Company whether now or in the future as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

(t) “ Participant ” means any Eligible Employee who participates in the Plan as described in Section 5.

(u) “ Participation Election ” means any written agreement(s), form(s), contract(s), or other instrument(s) or document(s) (in each case in paper or electronic form) established by and satisfactory to the Company evidencing that an Eligible Employee has elected to become a Participant in the Plan, which may, but need not necessarily, require execution by a Participant.

(v) “ Plan ” means the Ally Financial Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan

(w) “ Purchase Date ” means the last Trading Day of each Offering Period.

(x) “ Purchase Price ” means a per-Share amount to be paid by a Participant to purchase a Share on any Purchase Date. Such Purchase Price will be no less than the lower of (i) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Offering Date for the relevant Offering Period or (ii) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Purchase Date for the relevant Offering Period. Such Purchase Price may be established by the Committee by any manner or method the Committee determines and subject to compliance with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule

 

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EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

(y) “ Registration Date ” means the effective date of the first registration statement that is filed by the Company and declared effective pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, with respect to any class of the Company’s securities.

(z) “ Share ” means a share of common stock of the Company or such other security of the Company (i) into which such share will be changed by reason of a recapitalization, merger, consolidation, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or other similar transaction, or (ii) as may be determined by the Company.

(aa) “ Subsidiary ” means a “subsidiary corporation” of the Company whether now or in the future existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

(bb) “ Trading Day ” means a day on which the NYSE or, if the Shares are no longer listed on the NYSE, but are listed on any other national stock exchange or national market system, a day on which such other national stock exchange or national market system on which the Shares are listed is open for trading.

3. Eligibility .

(a) Any individual who is an Eligible Employee immediately prior to the Initial Offering Period will be automatically enrolled in the Initial Offering Period.

(b) Any Eligible Employee on a given Enrollment Date subsequent to the Initial Offering Period will be eligible to participate in the Plan, subject to the requirements of Section 5.

(c) Subject to the foregoing, any Eligible Employee on a given Offering Date is eligible to participate in the Plan; provided, however , that employees who are citizens or residents of a non-U.S. jurisdiction may be excluded from participation in the Plan or an Offering if participation is prohibited under applicable local law or if complying with applicable local laws would cause the Plan or an Offering to violate Section 423 of the Code. Further, notwithstanding any provisions of the Plan to the contrary, no Eligible Employee may be granted a purchase right under the Plan (i) to the extent that, immediately after the grant, such Eligible Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to such Eligible Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own capital stock of the Company and/or hold outstanding purchase rights to purchase capital stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of the capital stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary, or (ii) to the extent that his or her rights to purchase capital stock under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its subsidiaries accrues at a rate that exceeds Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars (US$25,000) worth of such stock (determined at the fair market value of the shares of such stock at the time such purchase right is granted) for each calendar year in which such purchase right is both outstanding and exercisable.

4. Offering Periods . The “Initial Offering Period” under the Plan will commence with the first Trading Day on or after the date on which the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission declares the Company’s Registration Statement effective and will end on the last Trading Day in the sixth month after such first Trading Day or such other date as the Committee may determine. Subsequently, the Plan will be implemented by consecutive Offering Periods with a new Offering Period commencing approximately every six months, as determined by the Committee. Within the

 

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EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

limitations set forth in Section 2(q), the Committee will have the power to change the duration of Offering Periods (including the commencement dates thereof) with respect to future Offerings without stockholder approval if such change is announced prior to the scheduled beginning of the first Offering Period to be affected thereafter. The Committee may not delegate this responsibility.

5. Participation .

(a) An Eligible Employee will be entitled to continue to participate in the Initial Offering Period pursuant to Section 3(a) only if such individual submits a Participant Election authorizing contributions in a form determined by the Company’s designated plan administrator to the Company’s designated plan administrator (i) no earlier than the effective date of the Form S-8 registration statement with respect to the issuance of Shares under this Plan and (ii) no later than ten (10) business days following the effective date of such S-8 registration statement or such other period of time as the Committee determine (the “Enrollment Window”). An Eligible Employee’s failure to submit the Participant Agreement during the Enrollment Window will result in the automatic termination of such individual’s participation in the Initial Offering Period.

(b) Other than with respect to the Initial Offering Period as set forth in Section 3(a) an Eligible Employee may participate in the Plan in subsequent Offering Periods pursuant to Section 3(b) by (i) submitting to the Company’s stock administration office (or its designee), on or before a date determined by the designated plan administrator prior to an applicable enrollment date, a properly completed subscription agreement authorizing payroll deductions in the form provided by the designated plan administrator for such purpose, or (ii) following an electronic or other enrollment procedure determined by the designated plan administrator.

6. Payroll Deductions or Contributions .

(a) At the time a Participant completes any Participation Election, he or she may elect to have payroll deductions made on each pay day during the Offering Period in an amount not exceeding 10% of the Compensation that he or she receives on each pay day during the Offering Period; provided, however , that should a pay day occur on a Purchase Date, a Participant will have the payroll deductions made on such day applied to his or her account under the new Offering Period, unless otherwise provided by the Company and subject to withdrawal by the Participant as provided in Section 10. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Initial Offering Period payroll deductions will commence on the first pay day on or following the end of the Enrollment Window. The Company may permit Eligible Employees participating in a specified Offering to contribute amounts to the Plan through payment by cash, check or other means to comply with non-U.S. requirements; provided, however , that such contributions do not exceed 10% of the Compensation received each pay day, during the Offering Period. If elected by the Participant, enrollment in the Plan remains in effect for successive Offering Periods unless terminated as provided in Section 10.

(b) Payroll deductions or contributions, as applicable, for a Participant will commence on the first day of the full pay period on or following the Offering Date and end on the last pay day as determined by the Company in the Offering Period to which such authorization is applicable (subject to subsection 6(a)), unless sooner terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 10.

 

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EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

(c) Any payroll deductions or contributions made by a Participant will be in whole percentages only.

(d) A Participant may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan as provided in Section 10 by completing any forms and following any procedures for withdrawal from the Plan as may be established by the Company. However, except to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code as described in Section 3, a Participant’s payroll deductions or contributions may not be increased or decreased during an Offering Period.

(e) At the time that Shares are purchased under the Plan, if applicable or at the time some or all of the Shares issued under the Plan are disposed of, the Participant must make adequate provision for the Company’s, its Subsidiary’s, or its Affiliate’s federal, state, or any other tax liability payable to any authority, national insurance, social security, payment-on-account or other tax obligations, if any, which arise as a result of participation in the Plan, including any liability of the Participant to pay an employer tax or social insurance contribution obligation which liability has been shifted to the Participant as a matter of law or contract. At any time, the Company, Subsidiary, or Affiliate, as applicable, may, but is not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant’s Compensation the amount necessary for the Company, Subsidiary, or Affiliate, as applicable, to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company, its Subsidiary, or Affiliate, as applicable, any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or early disposition of Shares by the Eligible Employee. In addition, the Company, its Subsidiary, or Affiliate, as applicable, may withhold from the proceeds of the sale of Shares (i) a sufficient whole number of Shares otherwise issuable following purchase having an aggregate fair market value to pay applicable withholding obligations or (ii) by any other means set forth in the applicable Participation Election. Where necessary to avoid negative accounting treatment, the Company, its Subsidiary, or Affiliate will withhold taxes at the applicable statutory minimum withholding rates.

7. Grant of Purchase Right . On the Offering Date of each Offering Period other than the Initial Offering Period, each Eligible Employee participating in such Offering Period will be granted a right to purchase on each Purchase Date during such Offering Period (at the applicable Purchase Price) up to a number of Shares determined by dividing such Eligible Employee’s payroll deductions or contributions accumulated prior to such Purchase Date by the applicable Purchase Price. The Eligible Employee may accept the grant of such purchase right with respect to the Initial Offering Period by only submitting a properly completed subscription agreement in accordance with the requirements of Section 5(a). The Committee may, for future Offering Periods, increase or decrease the maximum number of Shares that an Eligible Employee may purchase during each Offering Period. The Committee may not delegate this responsibility. The purchase of Shares pursuant to the purchase right will occur as provided in Section 8, unless the Participant has withdrawn pursuant to Section 10. Each purchase right expires on the last day of the Offering Period.

8. Purchase of Shares .

(a) Unless a Participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 10, on the Purchase Date, the maximum number of Shares as may be purchased with the accumulated payroll deductions or contributions in the Participant’s account will be purchased for such

 

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EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

Participant at the applicable Purchase Price, subject to the limitations in Section 8(b). Fractional shares may not be purchased and in such event, any payroll deductions or contributions accumulated in a Participant’s account which are not sufficient to purchase a full Share will, at the discretion of the Company, be returned to the Participant or be retained in the Participant’s account for the subsequent Offering Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by the Participant as provided in Section 10. During a Participant’s lifetime, Shares may be purchased pursuant to the Participant’s purchase right only by the Participant.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 7, a Participant in the Plan is permitted to purchase shares under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its subsidiaries at a rate that does not exceed $25,000 in Fair Market Value (determined at time the purchase right is granted) for each calendar year in which any stock purchase right is both outstanding and exercisable.

(c) If the Company determines that, on a given Purchase Date, the number of Shares with respect to which purchase rights are to be exercised may exceed (i) the number of Shares that were available for sale under the Plan on the Offering Date of the applicable Offering Period, or (ii) the number of Shares available for sale under the Plan on such Purchase Date, the Company may make a pro-rata allocation of the Shares available for purchase on such Purchase Date in as uniform a manner as practicable to be equitable among all Participants exercising purchase rights on such Purchase Date. The Company may make a pro-rata allocation of the Shares available on the Offering Date of any applicable Offering Period pursuant to the preceding sentence, notwithstanding any authorization of additional Shares for issuance under the Plan by the Company’s stockholders subsequent to such Offering Date.

9. Delivery . By enrolling in the Plan, each Participant is deemed to have authorized the establishment of a brokerage account on his or her behalf at a securities brokerage firm selected by the Company. As soon as reasonably practicable after each Purchase Date on which a purchase of Shares occurs, the Company will arrange for the delivery to each Participant of the Shares purchased upon exercise of his or her purchase right to the Participant’s brokerage or Plan share account in a form determined by the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Company or required by any applicable law, rule or regulation, the Company will not deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any purchase under the Plan, and instead such Shares will be recorded in the books of the brokerage firm selected by the Company, its transfer agent, or such other outside entity which is not a brokerage firm.

10. Withdrawal .

(a) A Participant may decide not to purchase Shares on a given Purchase Date and opt to withdraw all, but not less than all, the payroll deductions or contributions credited to his or her account and not yet used to purchase Shares under the Plan by giving notice in a form or manner and time prescribed by the Company prior to each Purchase Date. All of the Participant’s payroll deductions or contributions credited to his or her account will (i) be retained in Participant’s account and used to purchase Shares at the next Purchase Date or (ii) be paid to such Participant as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of notice of withdrawal and such Participant’s purchase right for the Offering Period will be terminated automatically, and no further payroll deductions or

 

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EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

contributions for the purchase of Shares shall be made for such Offering Period. If a Participant withdraws from an Offering Period, payroll deductions or contributions will not resume at the beginning of the succeeding Offering Period unless he or she completes the process to re-enroll in the Plan.

(b) A Participant’s withdrawal from an Offering Period will have no effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in any similar plan that may hereafter be adopted by the Company or in succeeding Offerings which commence after the termination of the Offering Period from which he or she has withdrawn.

11. No Right to Employment . Participation in the Plan may not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained as an employee of the Company, Subsidiary, or Affiliate, as applicable.

12. Termination of Employment . Unless otherwise determined by the Company, upon a Participant’s employment termination for any reason, he or she will be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan and the payroll deductions or contributions credited to such Participant’s account during the Offering Period but not yet used to purchase Shares under the Plan will be returned to such Participant or, in the case of his or her death, to the person(s) entitled under Section 17, and such Participant’s purchase right will be terminated automatically.

13. Interest . No interest will accrue on the contributions of a Participant in the Plan, except as may be required by applicable law or as determined by the Company. If interest is required to accrue by the laws of a particular jurisdiction, such interest will apply to all Participants in the relevant Offering except to the extent exclusion is permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(f).

14. Shares Available for Purchase under the Plan .

(a) Basic Limitation . Subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 15, the Shares that may be sold under the Plan will not exceed 1% of the number of fully diluted Shares outstanding immediately after consummation of the Company’s initial public offering. For avoidance of doubt, the limitation set forth in this section may be used to satisfy purchases of Shares under the Plan.

(b) Rights as an Unsecured Creditor . Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly-authorized transfer agent of or broker selected by the Company), a Participant will only have the rights of an unsecured creditor with respect to such Shares, and no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to such Shares.

(c) Sources of Shares Deliverable at Purchase . Any Shares issued after purchase may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or of treasury Shares.

 

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EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

15. Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization and Similar Events .

(a) Changes in Capitalization . Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the maximum number of Shares that may be made available for sale under the Plan, over a calendar year under the $25,000 limitation (pursuant to Section 8(b)), and the per Share price used to determine the Purchase Price will be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from any nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders (such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend) that affects the Shares (or other securities of the Company) or the price of Shares (or other securities) and causes a change in the per share value of the Shares underlying outstanding purchase rights. Such adjustment will be made by the Committee, whose determination in that respect is final, binding and conclusive. The Committee may not delegate its authority to make adjustments pursuant to this paragraph. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class will affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof may be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to a purchase right.

(b) Dissolution or Liquidation . In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Offering Period then in progress will be shortened by setting a new Purchase Date (the “New Purchase Date”), and terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed dissolution or liquidation, unless provided otherwise by the Company. The New Purchase Date will occur before the date of the Company’s proposed dissolution or liquidation. The Company will notify each Participant in writing, at least ten (10) U.S. business days prior to the New Purchase Date, that the Purchase Date for the Participant’s purchase right has been changed to the New Purchase Date and that Shares will be purchased automatically for the Participant on the New Purchase Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10.

(c) Change in Control . In the event of a Change in Control, the Offering Period then in progress will be shortened by setting a New Purchase Date and will end on the New Purchase Date. The New Purchase Date will be before the date of the Company’s proposed merger or Change in Control. The Company will notify each Participant in writing, at least ten (10) U.S. business days prior to the New Purchase Date, that the Purchase Date for the Participant’s purchase right has been changed to the New Purchase Date and that Shares will be purchased automatically for the Participant on the New Purchase Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10. The Committee may provide for an alternative process in regard to any Offering Period in progress at the time of the Change in Control that provides Participants with the economic equivalent (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) of the benefits contemplated in this Section 15(c).

16. Administration .

(a) Authority of the Committee . Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, the Committee has the discretionary authority on behalf of the Company to:

 

  (i) interpret, construe, apply, and make final determinations (including fact finding) regarding the Plan;

 

  (ii) resolve any and all disputes and questions that may arise under the Plan;

 

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EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

  (iii) adopt rules of procedure, administrative guidelines, and take such other actions as may be necessary to implement and consistent with the terms of the Plan;

 

  (iv) construe, interpret, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any default in, and supply any omission in the Plan;

 

  (v) apply the terms of the Plan and any Participation Election or other instrument or agreement relating to the Plan;

 

  (vi) determine eligibility under the Plan;

 

  (vii) determine the terms and conditions of any purchase right to purchase Shares under the Plan;

 

  (viii) establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it deems appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan;

 

  (ix) amend an outstanding purchase right or grant a replacement purchase right for a purchase right previously granted under the Plan if, in the Committee’s discretion, it determines that:

(A) the tax consequences of such purchase right to the Company or the Participant differ from those consequences that were expected to occur on the date the purchase right was granted; or

(B) clarifications or interpretations of, or changes to, tax law or regulations permit purchase rights to be granted that have more favorable tax consequences other than initially anticipated; and

 

  (vi) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

 

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EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

(b) Delegation. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the Committee may delegate such of its administrative responsibilities as it deems appropriate provided such delegation is in writing.

 

  (i) As of the Effective Date, by this Plan document, the Committee delegates to the Company’s Chief Human Resources Officer & Group Vice President, the Senior Vice President, Total Rewards, and such of their direct reports as either deems appropriate, the authority to administer the Plan consistent with its terms, subject to any limitations set forth in the Plan, and subject to further review as the Committee deems appropriate.

 

  (ii) Persons to whom the Committee delegates its authority have, subject to the Committee’s reviewing authority, the same authority as the Committee with regard to Plan administration.

 

  (iii) Written sub-delegations are permitted.

(c) Decisions . Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any purchase right to purchase Shares granted under the Plan made by the Committee or its delegate will be final, conclusive, and binding upon all persons, including the Company, Designated Subsidiary, Participant, Eligible Employee, or any beneficiary of such person, as applicable.

(d) Indemnification . To the extent allowable pursuant to applicable law, the Board, each Director, the Committee, the Company’s Chief Human Resources Officer & Group Vice President, the Vice President, Total Rewards, and such of their direct reports to whom authority has been delegated under this Plan (each such person, a “ Covered Person ”) will be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such Covered Person in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided, however , that he or she has acted in accordance with his or her duties and responsibilities to the Company under applicable law, and provided that he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she is a party before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification will not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such Covered Persons may be entitled pursuant to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

17. Death . Unless otherwise provided in an enrollment form or procedures established by the Company from time to time, in the event of the Participant’s death, any accumulated payroll deductions and other contributions not used to purchase Shares will be paid to and any Shares credited to his or her brokerage or Plan share account will be transferred to Participant’s heirs or estate as soon as reasonably practicable following the Participant’s death.

18. Transferability . Payroll deductions, contributions credited to a Participant’s account, and any other rights with regard to the purchase of Shares pursuant to a purchase right or to receive Shares under the Plan may not be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise disposed

 

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EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or as provided in Section 17). Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition will be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw funds from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 10.

19. Use of Funds . All payroll deductions or contributions received or held by the Company under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the Company is not obligated to segregate such payroll deductions or contributions except as may be required by applicable local law, as determined by the Company, and if so required by the laws of a particular jurisdiction, will apply to all Participants in the relevant Offering except to the extent otherwise permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(f). Until Shares are issued, Participants will only have the rights of an unsecured creditor, although Participants in specified Offerings may have additional rights where required under local law, as determined by the Company.

20. Amendment and Termination .

(a) Subject to any applicable law or government regulation and to the rules of the NYSE or any successor exchange or quotation system on which the Shares may be listed or quoted, the Plan may be amended, modified, suspended or terminated by the Board without the approval of the shareholders of the Company. This termination authority may not be further delegated. Except as provided in Section 15, no amendment may make any change in any purchase right previously granted which adversely affects the rights of any Participant or any beneficiary, as applicable, without the consent of the affected Participant or beneficiary. To the extent necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule), the Company will obtain shareholder approval of any amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required.

(b) Without shareholder approval and without regard to whether any Participant rights may be considered to have been “adversely affected,” the Committee may change the Offering Periods, limit the frequency or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering Period, establish the exchange rate applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a Participant to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company’s processing of any properly completed Participation Election(s), establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods, accounting, or crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Shares for each Participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the Participant’s Compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Committee determines. The powers referred to in this Section 20(b) may not be delegated.

21. Notices . All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan will be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form and manner specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

 

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EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

22. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares .

(a) Shares may not be issued with respect to a purchase right unless the purchase of Shares pursuant to such purchase right and the issuance and delivery of such Shares comply with applicable law. This may include, without limitation, U.S. and non-U.S. laws, state and local laws, the rules and regulations promulgated under U.S. securities laws, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed. Share issuance is subject to the approval of legal counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. Any payroll deductions or contributions will be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant or beneficiary, as applicable.

(b) As a condition to the purchase of Shares pursuant to a purchase right, the Company may require the person on whose behalf Shares are purchased to represent and warrant at the time of any such purchase that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of legal counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the applicable provisions of law described in subsection (a) above.

23. Share Issuance . All Shares delivered under the Plan pursuant to the exercise of a purchase right to purchase Shares are subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Company may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the NYSE or any other stock exchange or quotation system upon which such Shares or other securities are then listed or reported and any applicable Federal or state laws, and the Company may take whatever steps are necessary to effect such restrictions.

24. Term of Plan . The Plan is effective upon the latter of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the stockholders of the Company. Unless sooner terminated by the Board in accordance with Section 20, the Plan will terminate on the date on which all purchase rights are exercised in connection with a dissolution or liquidation pursuant to Section 15(b) or Change in Control pursuant to Section 15(c). No further purchase rights will be granted or Shares purchased, and no further payroll deductions or contributions will be collected under the Plan following such termination.

25. Stockholder Approval . The Plan will be subject to the approval by stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months prior to or after the Effective Date. Such shareholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under applicable law.

26. Code Section 409A; Tax Qualification .

(a) Purchase rights granted under the Plan are exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code. Subject to Section 26(b), in the case of a Participant who would otherwise be subject to Section 409A, to the extent the Company determines that a purchase right or the exercise, payment, settlement or deferral thereof is subject to Section 409A, the purchase right will be granted, exercised, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will comply with Section 409A, including Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date. Anything in the foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall have no liability to a Participant or any other party if the purchase right that is intended to be exempt from, or compliant with Section 409A is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Company with respect thereto.

 

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EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

(b) Although the Company may endeavor to (i) qualify a purchase right for favorable tax treatment under the laws of the U.S. or jurisdictions outside of the U.S. or (ii) avoid adverse tax treatment (e.g., under Section 409A of the Code), the Company makes no representation to that effect and expressly disavows any covenant to maintain favorable or avoid unfavorable tax treatment, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, including Section 26(a). The Company is not constrained in its corporate activities without regard to the potential negative tax impact on Participants under the Plan.

27. Severability . If any particular provision of this Plan is found to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, such determination will not affect the other provisions of the Plan, but the Plan will be construed in all respects as if such invalid provision is omitted.

28. Governing Law . Except to the extent that provisions of this Plan are governed by applicable provisions of the Code or any other substantive provision of federal law, this Plan will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan, without giving effect to Michigan’s conflict of laws principles.

29. TARP Compliance . The Plan is intended to comply fully with the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (“EESA”), the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”), the rules and regulations of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, and any other federal law or regulation that may govern executive compensation to the extent that, and for as long as, such statutes, rules, and regulations are applicable to the Company. The Company may unilaterally take whatever actions, or refrain from taking any action, that it considers in its sole discretion is necessary to comply with these requirements.

30. Headings . Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings may not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan.

31. Date Protection . By participating in the Plan, the Participant consents to the holding and processing of personal information provided by the Participant to the Company or any Subsidiary, trustee or third-party service provider, for all purposes relating to the operation of the Plan. These include, but are not limited to:

(a) administering and maintaining Participant records;

(b) providing information to the Company, Subsidiaries, trustees of any employee benefit trust, registrars, brokers or third-party administrators of the Plan;

(c) providing information to future purchasers or merger partners of the Company or any Subsidiary, or the business in which the Participant works; and

(d) transferring information about the Participant to any country or territory that may not provide the same protection for the information as the Participant’s home country.

 

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Exhibit 3.8

ALLY FINANCIAL INC.

2014 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

SECTION 1. Purpose . The purpose of the Ally Financial Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Directors Equity Compensation Plan (the “ Plan ”) is to attract and retain the services of experienced non-employee directors of Ally Financial Inc. (the “ Company ”) by providing them with equity-based compensation for their services, thereby furthering the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

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

(a) “Annual Award ” means an Award granted under Section 10(a).

(b) Award ” means any Option, DSU or Share award granted under the Plan.

(c) Award Agreement ” means any agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award granted under the Plan, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by a Participant.

(d) Beneficiary ” means a person entitled to receive payments or other benefits or exercise rights that are available under the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death. If no such person is named by a Participant, or if no Beneficiary designated by the Participant is eligible to receive payments or other benefits or exercise rights that are available under the Plan at the Participant’s death, such Participant’s Beneficiary shall be such Participant’s estate.

(e) Board ” means the board of directors of the Company.

(f) “Change in Control ” has the meaning set forth in the Ally Financial Inc. 2014 Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated from time to time.

(g) Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules, regulations and guidance thereunder. Any reference to a provision in the Code shall include any successor provision thereto.

(h) Committee ” means the Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board or other committee of the Board, in either case designated by the Board to administer the Plan, or if no committee is designated, the Board.

(i) Director ” means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any subsidiary thereof.


(j) Disability ” has the meaning set forth in the Ally Financial Inc. 2011 Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated from time to time.

(k) DSU ” means a contractual right granted under the Plan that is denominated in Shares. Each DSU represents a right to receive the value of one Share on the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Awards of DSUs may include the right to receive dividend equivalents.

(l) Effective Date ” means the date on which the Plan is or has been both adopted by the Board and approved by the shareholders of the Company.

(m) Fair Market Value ” means (i) with respect to a Share, the closing price of a Share on the date in question (or, if there is no reported sale on such date, on the last preceding date on which any reported sale occurred) on the principal stock market or exchange on which the Shares are quoted or traded, or if Shares are not so quoted or traded, the fair market value of a Share as determined by the Committee, and (ii) with respect to any property other than Shares, the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee. In the case of grants made at the time of an initial public offering, Fair Market Value shall mean the per Share price at which Shares are initially offered for sale to the public by the Company’s underwriters.

(n) Initial Award ” means an Award granted under Section 9(a) or Section 9(b).

(o) Option ” means an option granted under the Plan to purchase Shares on the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

(p) Participant ” means the recipient of an Award granted under the Plan.

(q) Prorated Annual Award ” means an Award granted under Section 10(b).

(r) Prorated Quarterly Award ” means an Award granted under Section 10(d).

(s) Quarterly Award ” means an Award granted under Section 10(c).

(t) “Shares ” means shares of the Company’s common stock.

SECTION 3 . Eligibility. Each Director shall be eligible to receive an Award under the Plan.

SECTION 4 . Administration.

(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.


(b) Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant under the Plan; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by (or with respect to which payments, rights or other matters are to be calculated in connection with) Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other Awards, other property, net settlement, or any combination thereof, or canceled, forfeited or suspended, and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other Awards, other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award under the Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Committee; (vii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (ix) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

(c) All decisions of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties, including the Company, its shareholders and Participants and any Beneficiaries thereof.

SECTION 5 . Shares Available for Awards.

(a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5(c), the maximum number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall not exceed 0.1 % of the number of fully diluted Shares outstanding immediately after consummation of the Company’s initial public offering.

(b) Any Shares subject to an Award that expires, is canceled, forfeited or otherwise terminates without the delivery of such Shares, including (i) any Shares surrendered or withheld in payment of any grant, purchase or exercise price of an Award and (ii) any Shares subject to an Award to the extent that the Award is settled without the issuance of Shares, shall again be, or shall become, available for issuance under the Plan.

(c) In the event that, as a result of any special or extraordinary dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares or other securities), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event affecting the Shares, an adjustment is necessary in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Committee shall adjust equitably any or all of:

(i) the number and type of Shares (or other securities) which thereafter may be made the subject of Awards, including the Share limit specified in Section 5(a);


(ii) the number and type of Shares (or other securities) subject to outstanding Awards; and

(iii) the grant, purchase, exercise or hurdle price with respect to any Award or, if deemed appropriate, make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award;

provided, however , that the number of Shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole number.

(d) Any Shares delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or Shares acquired by the Company.

SECTION 6 Options. The Committee is authorized to grant and provide for the grant of Options to Participants with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions, in either case not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine:

(a) The exercise price per Share under an Option shall be determined by the Committee; provided , however , that such exercise price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option.

(b) The term of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee but shall not exceed 10 years from the date of grant of such Option.

(c) The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part.

(d) The Committee shall determine the method or methods by which, and the form or forms, including cash, Shares (including Shares underlying an Option), other Awards, other property, or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price, in which payment of the exercise price with respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been made.

SECTION 7. DSUs . The Committee is authorized to grant DSUs to Participants with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions, in either case not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine.

(a) DSUs shall be subject to no restrictions or such restrictions as the Committee may impose (including any limitation on the right to receive any dividend equivalent or other right), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may deem appropriate. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if a DSU Award relates to Shares on which dividends are declared during the period that the Award is outstanding, the Award shall not provide for the payment of a dividend equivalent to the Participant prior to the time at which such Award, or applicable portion thereof, becomes nonforfeitable.


(b) Unless otherwise specifically provided in an Award Agreement, no DSU Award shall be settled and no Shares shall be delivered in respect thereof prior to the Participant’s termination of service.

(c) The Committee may determine the form or forms (including cash, Shares, other property or any combination thereof) in which payment of the amount owing upon settlement of any DSU Award may be made.

SECTION 8. Share Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Shares to Participants with no restrictions or such restrictions as the Committee may impose.

SECTION 9. Initial Award.

(a) Each Director who is in office as of, and will continue in office following consummation of the Company’s initial public offering shall be granted a one-time Award of a number of DSUs equal to the quotient of (i) $100,000 divided by (ii) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of such grant, with each fractional DSU rounded up to the nearest whole DSU.

(b) Each new Director who is elected or appointed to the Board for the first time following consummation of the Company’s initial public offering shall be granted a one-time Award of a number of DSUs equal to the quotient of (i) $100,000 divided by (ii) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of such Director’s initial election or appointment to the Board, with each fractional DSU rounded up to the nearest whole DSU. For the avoidance doubt, any Participant who has received an Initial Award under Section 9(a) shall not be eligible to receive an Initial Award under this Section 9(b).

(c) Notwithstanding Section 9(a) and Section 9(b), prior to the grant date of any Initial Award, the Committee shall have the right to make adjustments to the amount and form of such Initial Award.

SECTION 10. Retainer Awards.

(a) Beginning at the Company’s first Annual Meeting of Shareholders following consummation of the Company’s initial public offering and at each Annual Meeting of Shareholders thereafter, each Director who is to continue in office following such meeting shall be granted an Award of a number of DSUs equal to the quotient of (i) $100,000 divided by (ii) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of such grant, with each fractional DSU rounded up to the nearest whole DSU. For the avoidance of doubt, Annual Award(s) received by a Participant under this Section 10(a) shall be in addition to any Initial Award received by such Participant under Section 9(a) or Section 9(b).


(b) In the event that a Director joins the Board following the grant date of an Annual Award but prior to the date of the Company’s next Annual Meeting of Shareholders, such Director shall be granted a prorated Annual Award of a number of DSUs equal to the product of (i) the number of months from the date he or she joins the Board until the date of the Company’s next Annual Meeting of Shareholders (counting the month of joining and the month of the Company’s next Annual Meeting of Shareholders as full months) multiplied by (ii) the quotient of (a) the number of DSUs in the Annual Award that immediately precedes the grant of such prorated Annual Award divided by (b) 12.

(c) In the event that the Company’s first Annual Meeting of Shareholders following consummation of the Company’s initial public offering occurs more than one calendar quarter after such consummation, beginning at the end of the first calendar quarter following such consummation and at the end of each subsequent calendar quarter until such Annual Meeting of Shareholders, each Director shall be granted a Quarterly Award of a number of DSUs equal to the quotient of (i) $25,000 divided by (ii) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of such grant, with each fractional DSU rounded up to the nearest whole DSU. For the avoidance of doubt, Quarterly Award(s) received by a Participant under this Section 10(c) shall be in addition to any Initial Award received by such Participant under Section 9(a) or Section 9(b).

(d) Any Director who joins the Board between two consecutive grants of Quarterly Awards shall receive a prorated Quarterly Award at the first grant date of Quarterly Awards following his or her commencement of service on the Board based on the length of his or her service on the Board as of such grant date.

(e) Notwithstanding Section 10(a), Section 10(b), Section 10(c) and Section 10(d), prior to the grant date of any Annual Award, Prorated Annual Award, Quarterly Award or Prorated Quarterly Award, the Committee shall have the right to make adjustments to the amount and form of such Annual Award, Prorated Annual Award, Quarterly Award or Prorated Quarterly Award.

SECTION 11 . Effect of Termination of Service on Awards. Except as may otherwise specifically be provided in an Award Agreement, Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to the following provisions in the event a Participant’s service is terminated while such Award is outstanding and prior to the settlement thereof.

(a) If a Participant’s service terminates due to death or Disability, any unvested Awards shall become nonforfeitable on the date of such termination of service.

(b) If a Participant’s service terminates for reasons other than death or Disability, any unvested Awards shall be forfeited on the date of such termination of service.

(c) Any vested Awards other than Options shall be settled within 75 days of termination of service, and any vested Options shall remain exercisable for one year from the date of termination of service.


SECTION 12 . Effect of Change in Control on Awards. In the event of a Change in Control, unless otherwise specifically provided in an Award Agreement, all outstanding Awards shall become fully exercisable, shall vest and shall be settled, as applicable, and any restrictions applicable to any Award shall automatically lapse.

SECTION 13 . General Provisions Applicable to Awards.

(a) Awards shall be granted for no cash consideration or for such minimal cash consideration as may be required by applicable law.

(b) Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to or in tandem with any other Award or any award granted under any other plan of the Company. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards, or in addition to or in tandem with awards granted under any other plan of the Company, may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.

(c) Subject to the terms of the Plan, payments or transfers to be made by the Company upon the grant, exercise or settlement of an Award may be made in the form of cash, Shares, other Awards, other property, net settlement, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee in its discretion, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments or on a deferred basis, in each case in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee. Such rules and procedures may include provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of dividend equivalents in respect of installment or deferred payments.

(d) Except as may specifically be permitted by the Committee or as specifically provided in an Award Agreement, (i) no Award and no right under any Award shall be assignable, alienable, saleable or transferable by a Participant otherwise than by will or pursuant to Section 13(e) and (ii) during a Participant’s lifetime, each Award, and each right under any Award, shall be exercisable only by the Participant or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative; provided, however , that the Committee shall not permit, and an Award Agreement shall not provide for, any Award to be transferred or transferable to a third party for value or consideration without the approval of shareholders. The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not apply to any Award that has been fully exercised or settled, as the case may be, and shall not preclude forfeiture of an Award in accordance with the terms thereof.

(e) A Participant may designate a Beneficiary or change a previous Beneficiary designation at such times prescribed by the Committee by using forms and following procedures approved or accepted by the Committee for that purpose.

(f) All certificates for, or other indicia of, Shares and/or other securities delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities


and Exchange Commission, any stock market or exchange upon which such Shares or other securities are then quoted, traded or listed, and any applicable securities laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

SECTION 14 . Amendments and Termination.

(a) Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law and unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award Agreement or in the Plan, the Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided, however , that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without (i) shareholder approval if such approval is required by applicable law or the rules of the stock market or exchange, if any, on which the Shares are principally quoted or traded or (ii) the consent of the affected Participant, if such action would materially adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any outstanding Award, except to the extent any such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination is made to cause the Plan to comply with applicable law, stock market or exchange rules and regulations or accounting or tax rules and regulations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, the Board may amend the Plan in such manner as may be necessary to enable the Plan to achieve its stated purposes in any jurisdiction in a tax-efficient manner and in compliance with local rules and regulations.

(b) The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, without the consent of any relevant Participant or holder or Beneficiary of an Award; provided, however , that no such action shall materially adversely affect the rights of any affected Participant or holder or Beneficiary under any Award theretofore granted under the Plan, except to the extent any such action is made to cause the Plan to comply with applicable law, stock market or exchange rules and regulations or accounting or tax rules and regulations; provided further that, except as provided in Section 5(c), the Committee shall not without the approval of the Company’s shareholders (i) lower the exercise price per Share of an Option after it is granted or take any other action that would be treated as a repricing of such Award under the rules of the principal U.S. stock market on which the Company’s Shares are traded, or (ii) cancel an Option when the exercise price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value in exchange for cash or another Award (other than in connection with a Change in Control); and provided further that the Committee’s authority under this Section 14(b) is limited by the provisions of Section 13(d).

(c) The Committee shall be authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of events (including the events described in Section 5(c)) affecting the Company, or the financial statements of the Company, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.


(d) The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to carry the Plan into effect.

SECTION 15. Miscellaneous.

(a) The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the service of the Board or the Company. The receipt of any Award under the Plan is not intended to confer any rights on the receiving Participant except as set forth herein and in the applicable Award Agreement.

(b) Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company from adopting or continuing in effect other or additional compensation arrangements, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

(c) The Company shall be authorized to withhold from any Award granted or any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Shares, other Awards, other property, net settlement, or any combination thereof) of applicable withholding taxes due in respect of an Award, its exercise or settlement or any payment or transfer under such Award or under the Plan and to take such other action (including providing for elective payment of such amounts in cash or Shares by the Participant) as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes, to the extent required by applicable law.

(d) If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award Agreement, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award, and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

(e) To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.

(f) No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash or other securities shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares, or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.

SECTION 16 . Effective Date of the Plan. The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date.


SECTION 17. Term of the Plan. No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the earliest to occur of (i) the tenth year anniversary of the Effective Date, (ii) the maximum number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan have been issued or (iii) the Board terminates the Plan in accordance with Section 14(a). However, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award theretofore granted may extend beyond such date, and the authority of the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue or terminate any such Award, or to waive any conditions or rights under any such Award, and the authority of the Board to amend the Plan, shall extend beyond such date.

SECTION 18. Section 409A of the Code. With respect to Awards subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Plan and the applicable Award Agreements are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the provisions of the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner that satisfies the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and the Plan shall be operated accordingly. If any provision of the Plan or any term or condition of any Award would otherwise frustrate or conflict with this intent, the provision, term or condition will be interpreted and deemed amended so as to avoid this conflict.

SECTION 19. Governing Law. The Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Michigan, without application of the conflicts of law principles thereof.