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):

October 19, 2015 (October 13, 2015)

 

 

First Data Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-11073   47-0731996
(State or other
Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

  (Commission File
Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification
Number)

225 Liberty Street, 29 th Floor

New York, New York 10281

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(800) 735-3362

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information set forth under Item 5.03 below is incorporated by reference in this Item 3.03.

 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan

Effective October 14, 2015, the Board of Directors of First Data Corporation (the “ Company ”), a Delaware corporation, adopted, and its sole stockholder previously approved, the First Data Corporation 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “ Omnibus Incentive Plan ”), a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference. The Omnibus Incentive Plan provides for the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, other stock-based awards, other-cash based awards and performance-based awards to employees, directors or other persons having a service relationship with the Company and its subsidiaries. For further information regarding the Omnibus Incentive Plan, see “Management—Compensation Arrangements to be Adopted in Connection with This Offering—First Data Corporation 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan” in the Company’s prospectus, dated October 14, 2015, filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Prospectus ”).

The above description of the Omnibus Incentive Plan is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 10.1.

2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Effective October 14, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted, and its sole stockholder previously approved, the First Data Corporation 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ ESPP ”), a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated herein by reference. The ESPP provides certain employees of the Company and its designated affiliates with an opportunity to purchase the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Class A Common Stock ”), through accumulated payroll deductions. For further information regarding the ESPP, see “Management—Compensation Arrangements to be Adopted in Connection with This Offering—First Data Corporation 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan” in the Prospectus.

The above description of the ESPP is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 10.2.

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

As contemplated in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-205750) (the “ Registration Statement ”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 1, 2015, the Company’s Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “ Charter ”) became effective as of October 19, 2015. The Charter, among other things, provides that the Company’s authorized capital stock consists of 1,600,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, 800,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

The Company’s bylaws were also amended and restated as of October 19, 2015, as contemplated in the Registration Statement (the “ Bylaws ”).

For further information regarding the foregoing and other provisions of the Charter and the Bylaws, see “Description of Capital Stock” in the Prospectus. The Charter and the Bylaws are filed as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2 hereto, respectively, and such exhibits are incorporated by reference herein.

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


The Board of Directors of the Company approved certain actions deemed appropriate to effect the initial public offering (the “ Offering ”) of the Company’s Class A Common Stock. On October 13, 2015, the following were submitted to and approved by the sole stockholder of the Company by written consent:

 

    the Eighth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company;

 

    the Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company;

 

    the First Data Corporation 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan; and

 

    the First Data Corporation 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Except for the Eighth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, which became effective before the Company registered its Class A Common Stock under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, each of the foregoing documents is described in the Prospectus and included as an exhibit hereto.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On October 14, 2015, the Company priced its Offering of 160,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock for cash consideration of $16.00 per share ($15.48 per share net of underwriting discounts) to a syndicate of underwriters led by joint-book running managers Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and KKR Capital Markets LLC. The Offering of 160,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock is expected to settle on October 20, 2015, subject to customary closing conditions, and the Company expects to receive approximately $2.5 billion in net proceeds (without giving effect to any exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option).

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

See the Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference.


Signatures

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

 

      FIRST DATA CORPORATION
Date: October 19, 2015     By:   /s/ Adam L. Rosman
    Name:   Adam L. Rosman
    Title:   Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

3.1    Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of First Data Corporation
3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of First Data Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to First Data Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on October 1, 2015)
10.1    First Data Corporation 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan
10.2    First Data Corporation 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Exhibit 3.1

NINTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

FIRST DATA CORPORATION

First Data Corporation (the “ Corporation ”), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“ DGCL ”), does hereby certify as follows:

(1) The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 7, 1989. The name under which the Corporation was originally incorporated is “American Express Information Services Company.” The original Certificate of Incorporation was restated on November 13, 2007 and further amended and restated on October 13, 2015 and October 14, 2015 (as amended and restated, the “ Eighth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”).

(2) This Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended or modified from time to time, this “ Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”) was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the DGCL.

(3) This Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation restates and integrates and further amends the Eighth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation in its entirety.

(4) The text of the current Eighth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation hereby is amended and restated in entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the Corporation is First Data Corporation.

ARTICLE II

REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19808. The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.


ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.

ARTICLE IV

CAPITAL STOCK

 

I. Authorized Capital.

The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 2,500,000,000, which shall be divided into three classes as follows: 1,600,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Class A Common Stock ”); 800,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Class B Common Stock ” and, together with Class A Common Stock, the “ Common Stock ”); and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Preferred Stock ”).

The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then-outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of either the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor, unless a vote of any such holder is required pursuant to this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock).

 

II. Common Stock.

A. Voting Rights .

1. Except as otherwise provided in this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise required by applicable law, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall at all times vote together as one class on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to a vote or for the consent of the stockholders of the Corporation.

2. Each holder of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Class A Common Stock held as of the applicable record date on any matter that is submitted to a vote or for the consent of the stockholders of the Corporation.

3. Except as otherwise provided in this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise required by applicable law, each holder of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to ten votes for each share of Class B Common Stock held as of the applicable date on any matter that is submitted to a vote or for the consent of the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

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B. Dividends . Subject to the preferences applicable to any series of Preferred Stock, if any, outstanding at any time, the holders of Class A Common Stock and the holders of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to share equally, on a per share basis, in such dividends and other distributions of cash, property or shares of stock of the Corporation as may be declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) from time to time with respect to the Common Stock out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor; provided , however , that in the event that such dividend is paid in the form of shares of Common Stock or rights to acquire Common Stock, the holders of Class A Common Stock shall receive Class A Common Stock or rights to acquire Class A Common Stock, as the case may be, and the holders of Class B Common Stock shall receive Class B Common Stock or rights to acquire Class B Common Stock, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors may pay or make a disparate dividend or distribution per share of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (whether in the amount of such dividend or distribution payable per share, the form in which such dividend or distribution is payable, the timing of the payment, or otherwise) if such disparate dividend or distribution is approved in advance by the affirmative vote (or written consent) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.

C. Liquidation . Subject to the preferences applicable to any series of Preferred Stock, if any, outstanding at any time, in the event of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or winding up of the Corporation, all assets of the Corporation of whatever kind available for distribution to the holders of Common Stock shall be divided among and paid ratably to the holders of the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock treated as a single class unless disparate or different treatment of the shares of each such class with respect to distributions upon any such liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or winding up is approved in advance by the affirmative vote (or written consent) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.

D. Subdivision, Combination or Reclassification . If the Corporation in any manner subdivides, combines or reclassifies the outstanding shares of one class of Common Stock, the outstanding shares of the other class of Common Stock will be subdivided, combined or reclassified in the same manner; provided , however , that shares of one such class of Common Stock may be subdivided, combined or reclassified in a different or disproportionate manner if such subdivision, combination or reclassification is approved in advance by the affirmative vote (or written consent) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.

E. Equal Status . Except as expressly provided in this Article IV, Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall have the same rights and privileges and rank equally (including as to dividends and distributions, and upon any liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or winding up of the Corporation), share ratably and be identical in all respects as to all matters.

 

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F. Conversion of Class B Common Stock .

1. Voluntary Conversion . Each share of Class B Common Stock shall be convertible into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock at the option of the holder thereof with the prior written consent of the Corporation. Before any holder of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled voluntarily to convert any shares of such Class B Common Stock, such holder shall surrender the certificate or certificates therefor (if any), duly endorsed, at the principal corporate office of the Corporation or of any transfer agent for the Class B Common Stock, and shall give written notice to the Corporation at its principal corporate office of the election to convert the same and shall state therein the name or names (a) in which the certificate or certificates representing the shares of Class A Common Stock into which the shares of Class B Common Stock are so converted are to be issued if such shares are certificated or (b) in which such shares are to be registered in book entry if such shares are uncertificated. The Corporation, if it so consents to such conversion, shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, issue and deliver at such office to such holder of Class B Common Stock, or to the nominee or nominees of such holder, a certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled as aforesaid (if such shares are certificated) or, if such shares are uncertificated, register such shares in book-entry form. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such surrender of the shares of Class B Common Stock to be converted following or contemporaneously with the written notice of such holder’s election to convert and the prior written consent of the Corporation required by this Section II.F.1 of Article IV, and the person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Class A Common Stock as of such date. Each share of Class B Common Stock that is converted pursuant to this Section II.F.1 of Article IV shall be retired by the Corporation and shall not be available for reissuance.

2. Automatic Conversion . (a) Each share of Class B Common Stock shall automatically, without further action by the holder thereof, be converted into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock upon the occurrence of a Transfer (as defined below), other than a Permitted Transfer (as defined below), of such share of Class B Common Stock, and (b) all shares of Class B Common Stock shall automatically, without further action by any holder thereof, be converted into an identical number of shares of fully paid and nonassessable Class A Common Stock (i) if, on the record date for any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the number of shares of Class B Common Stock then outstanding constitutes less than 10% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding, as determined by the Board of Directors, or (ii) upon the occurrence of an event, specified by the affirmative vote (or written consent) of the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares Class B Common Stock, voting as a separate class (the occurrence of an event described in clause (a) or (b) of this Section II.F.2 of Article IV, a “ Conversion Event ”). Each outstanding stock certificate that, immediately prior to a Conversion Event, represented one or more shares of Class B Common Stock subject to such Conversion Event shall, upon such Conversion Event, be deemed to represent an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock, without the need for surrender or exchange thereof. The Corporation, or any transfer agent of the Corporation, shall, upon the request of any holder whose shares of Class B Common Stock have been converted into shares of Class A Common Stock as

 

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a result of a Conversion Event and upon surrender by such holder to the Corporation of the outstanding certificate(s) formerly representing such holder’s shares of Class B Common Stock (if any), issue and deliver to such holder certificate(s) representing the shares of Class A Common Stock into which such holder’s shares of Class B Common Stock were converted as a result of such Conversion Event (if such shares are certificated) or, if such shares are uncertificated, register such shares in book-entry form. Each share of Class B Common Stock that is converted pursuant to this Section II.F.2 of Article IV shall thereupon be retired by the Corporation and shall not be available for reissuance.

3. The Corporation may, from time to time, establish such policies and procedures, not in violation of applicable law or the other provisions of this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, relating to the conversion of the Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock, as it may deem necessary or advisable in connection therewith. If the Corporation has a reasonable basis to believe that a Transfer giving rise to a conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock has occurred but has not theretofore been reflected on the books of the Corporation, the Corporation may request in writing that the holder of such shares furnish affidavits or other reasonable evidence to the Corporation as the Corporation deems necessary to determine whether a conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock to Class A Common Stock has occurred and if such holder does not, within thirty days after receipt of such written request, furnish reasonable evidence to the Corporation to enable the Corporation to determine that no such conversion has occurred, any such shares of Class B Common Stock, to the extent not previously converted, shall be automatically converted into shares of Class A Common Stock and the same shall thereupon be registered on the books and records of the Corporation. In connection with any action of stockholders taken at a meeting or by written consent, the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be presumptive evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders or in connection with any such written consent and the class or classes or series of shares held by each such stockholder and the number of shares of each class or classes or series held by such stockholder.

4. Reservation of Stock . The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the shares of Class B Common Stock, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock.

5. Protective Provisions . The Corporation shall not, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, amend, alter, repeal or waive this Section II of Article IV (or adopt any provision inconsistent therewith), unless such action is first approved by the affirmative vote (or written consent) of the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, voting as a separate class, in addition to any other vote required by applicable law, this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (as defined in Article V), and the holders of Class A Common Stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

 

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G. Definitions . For purposes of this Article IV:

1. “ Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person.

2. “ control ” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), with respect to the relationship between or among two or more Persons, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the affairs or management of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

3. “ KKR Permitted Holder ” shall mean Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (“KKR”) and its Affiliates.

4. “ Permitted Transfer ” shall mean any of the following: (A) any Transfer of shares of Class B Common Stock to a broker or other nominee; provided that the transferor, immediately following such Transfer, retains (1) Voting Control, (2) control over the disposition of such shares, and (3) the economic consequences of ownership of such shares; (B) any Transfer of shares of Class B Common Stock to a KKR Permitted Holder; and (C) any Transfer approved by a majority of the shares of Class B Common Stock held by KKR and its Affiliates.

5. “ Person ” shall mean any individual, corporation, limited liability company, limited or general partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity, whether domestic or foreign.

6. “ Transfer ” (including the term “Transferred”) of a share of Class B Common Stock shall mean, directly or indirectly, any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, hypothecation or other transfer or disposition of such share or any legal or beneficial interest in such share, whether or not for value and whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law (including by merger, consolidation or otherwise), including, without limitation, the transfer of, or entering into a binding agreement with respect to, Voting Control over such share, by proxy or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shall not be considered a “Transfer” within the meaning of this Article IV:

a) the granting by a stockholder of a proxy to (y) officers or directors of the Corporation at the request of the Board of Directors, or (z) a representative of such stockholder, in connection with actions to be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders or in connection with any action by written consent of the stockholders;

b) the pledge of shares of Class B Common Stock by a stockholder that creates a mere security interest in such shares pursuant to a bona fide loan or indebtedness transaction for so long as such stockholder continues to exercise Voting Control over such pledged shares; provided , however , that a foreclosure on such shares or other similar action by the pledgee shall constitute a “Transfer” unless such foreclosure or similar action qualifies as a “Permitted Transfer” at such time; or

c) any change in the trustees or the Person(s) acting as a fiduciary with respect to a KKR Permitted Holder having or exercising Voting Control over shares of Class B Common Stock of a KKR Permitted Holder; provided that following such change such KKR Permitted Holder continues to be a Permitted Holder.

7. “ Voting Control ” shall mean, with respect to a share of Class B Common Stock, the power (whether exclusive or shared) to vote or direct the voting of such share by proxy, voting agreement or otherwise.

 

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III. Preferred Stock .

A. Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time by the Corporation for such consideration as may be fixed by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions, to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for one or more series of Preferred Stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix, without further stockholder approval, the designation of such series, the powers (including voting powers), preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of such series of Preferred Stock and the number of shares of such series, and as may be permitted by the DGCL. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of each series of Preferred Stock, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.

B. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL.

C. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of any series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to only such voting rights, if any, as shall expressly be granted thereto by this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock).

ARTICLE V

AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS

A. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, once no shares of Class B Common Stock remain outstanding, the following provisions in this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of

 

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Incorporation may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconsistent therewith or herewith may be adopted, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66  2 3 % in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class: this Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article VIII, Article IX and Article X. For the purposes of this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, beneficial ownership of shares shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”) (except, for the avoidance of doubt, holders of Class B Common Stock will not be deemed to be beneficial owners of Class A Common Stock).

B. The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind, in whole or in part, the amended and restated bylaws of the Corporation (as in effect from time to time, the “ Bylaws ”) without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. For so long as shares of Class B Common Stock remain outstanding, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend, repeal or rescind, in whole or in part, any provision of the Bylaws or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote of the stockholders, once no shares of Class B Common Stock remain outstanding, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required herein (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock), the Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66  2 3 % in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend, repeal or rescind, in whole or in part, any provision of the Bylaws or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith.

ARTICLE VI

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A. Except as otherwise provided in this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV (including any certificate of designation with respect to any series of Preferred Stock) and this Article VI relating to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors, the total number of directors shall be determined from time to time exclusively by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. The directors (other than those directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be) shall be divided into three classes designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of such directors. Class I directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the date the Common Stock is first publicly traded (the “ IPO Date ”), Class II directors shall initially serve

 

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for a term expiring at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the IPO Date and Class III directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the IPO Date. At each succeeding annual meeting, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a term expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders. If the number of such directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any such additional director of any class elected to fill a newly created directorship resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors remove or shorten the term of any incumbent director. Any such director shall hold office until the annual meeting at which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or his or her death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. The Board of Directors is authorized to assign members of the Board of Directors already in office to their respective class.

B. Subject to the rights granted to the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, any newly-created directorship on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors (whether by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause) shall be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, by a sole remaining director or by the stockholders; provided , however , that once no shares of Class B Common Stock remain outstanding, any newly-created directorship on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors shall be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by the stockholders). Any director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

C. Any or all of the directors (other than the directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be) may be removed at any time either with or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of all outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class; provided , however , that once no shares of Class B Common Stock remain outstanding, any such director or all such directors may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66  2 3 % in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.

D. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws shall so provide.

E. During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more series, have the right to elect additional directors, then upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such

 

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Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions, and (ii) each such additional director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Except as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in the resolution or resolutions establishing such series, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such stock, the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be reduced accordingly.

ARTICLE VII

LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR LIABILITY

A. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or its stockholders.

B. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption of any provision of this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, any modification of law shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any right or protection of a current or former director of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification.

ARTICLE VIII

CONSENT OF STOCKHOLDERS IN LIEU OF MEETING; ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

A. For as long as shares of Class B Common Stock remain outstanding, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the books in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be made by hand, overnight courier or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Once no shares of Class B Common Stock remain outstanding, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such holders; provided , however , that any action

 

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required or permitted to be taken by the holders of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided by the applicable certificate of designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock.

B. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time only by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors; provided , however , that at any time when shares of Class B Common Stock remain outstanding, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes shall also be called by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors at the request of KKR and its Affiliates.

C. An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, if any, on such date, and at such time as shall be fixed exclusively by resolution of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof.

ARTICLE IX

COMPETITION AND CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES

A. In recognition and anticipation that (i) certain directors, principals, members, officers, associated funds, employees and/or other representatives of KKR and its Affiliates (as defined below) may serve as directors, officers or agents of the Corporation, (ii) KKR and its Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, and (iii) members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of the Corporation (“ Non-Employee Directors ”) and their respective Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article IX are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve any of KKR, the Non-Employee Directors or their respective Affiliates and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its directors, officers and stockholders in connection therewith.

B. None of (i) KKR or any of its Affiliates or (ii) any Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of the Corporation in both his or her director and officer capacities) or his or her Affiliates (the Persons (as defined below) identified in (i) and (ii) above being referred to, collectively, as “ Identified Persons ” and, individually, as an “ Identified Person ”) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (1) engaging in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (2) otherwise competing with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, and, to the

 

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fullest extent permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation hereby renounces any interest or expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for an Identified Person and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section D of this Article IX. Subject to said Section D of this Article IX, in the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other matter or business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, such Identified Person shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have no fiduciary duty or other duty (contractual or otherwise) to communicate, present or offer such transaction or other business opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty or other duty (contractual or otherwise) as a stockholder, director or officer of the Corporation solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself, offers or directs such corporate opportunity to another Person, or does not present such corporate opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates.

C. The Corporation and its Affiliates do not have any rights in and to the business ventures of any Identified Person, or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the Corporation agrees that each of the Identified Persons may do business with any potential or actual customer or supplier of the Corporation or may employ or otherwise engage any officer or employee of the Corporation.

D. The Corporation does not renounce its interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of this Corporation) if such opportunity is expressly offered to such person in writing solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation, and the provisions of Section B of this Article IX shall not apply to any such corporate opportunity.

E. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that (i) the Corporation is neither financially or legally able, nor contractually permitted to undertake, (ii) from its nature, is not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to the Corporation or (iii) is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

F. For purposes of this Article IX, (i) “ Affiliate ” shall mean (a) in respect of KKR, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by KKR, controls KKR or is under common control with KKR and shall include any principal, member, director, partner, stockholder, officer, employee or other representative of any of the foregoing (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation), (b) in respect of a Non-Employee Director, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by such Non-Employee Director (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation) and (c) in respect of the Corporation, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Corporation; and (ii) “ Person ” shall mean any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association or any other entity.

 

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G. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article IX. Neither the alteration, amendment, addition to or repeal of this Article IX, nor the adoption of any provision of this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) inconsistent with this Article IX, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article IX in respect of any business opportunity first identified or any other matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article IX, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, addition, repeal or adoption.

ARTICLE X

DGCL SECTION 203 AND BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

A. The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

B. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point in time at which the Corporation’s Class A Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

1. prior to such time, the Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

2. upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned (i) by persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

3. at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66  2 3 % of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

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C. For purposes of this Article X, references to:

1. “ affiliate ” means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person.

2. “ associate ,” when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.

3. “ KKR Direct Transferee ” means any person that acquires (other than in a registered public offering or through a broker’s transaction executed on any securities exchange or other over-the-counter market) directly from KKR or any of its affiliates or successors or any “group”, or any member of any such group, of which such persons are a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act beneficial ownership of 5% or more of the then-outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

4. “ KKR Indirect Transferee ” means any person that acquires (other than in a registered public offering or through a broker’s transaction executed on any securities exchange or other over-the-counter market) directly from any KKR Direct Transferee or any other KKR Indirect Transferee beneficial ownership of 5% or more of the then-outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

5. “ business combination ,” when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:

(i) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with the interested stockholder, or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section B of this Article X is not applicable to the surviving entity;

(ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation;

(iii) any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested

 

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stockholder, except: (a) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (b) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (c) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (d) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (e) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided , however , that in no case under items (c)-(e) of this subsection (iii) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments);

(iv) any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder; or

(v) any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subsections (i)-(iv) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary.

6. “ control ,” including the terms “ controlling ,” “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article X, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

7. “ interested stockholder ” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an affiliate or

 

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associate of the Corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder, and the affiliates and associates of such person; provided , however , that “interested stockholder” shall not include or be deemed to include, in any case, (a) KKR, any KKR Direct Transferee, any KKR Indirect Transferee or any of their respective affiliates or successors or any “group”, or any member of any such group, to which such persons are a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, or (b) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation, provided further that such person shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

8. “ owner ,” including the terms “ own ” and “ owned ,” when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:

(i) beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly; or

(ii) has (a) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided , however , that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (b) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided , however , that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more persons; or

(iii) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (b) of subsection (ii) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.

9. “ person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.

 

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10. “ stock ” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.

11. “ voting stock ” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

A. If any provision or provisions of this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

B. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, or other employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, creditors or other constituents, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (as either may be amended and/or restated from time to time) or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided , that, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state court sitting in the State of Delaware. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section B of Article XI.

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , First Data Corporation has caused this Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by its duly authorized officer on this 19th day of October, 2015.

 

First Data Corporation
By:  

/s/ Adam L. Rosman

Name:   Adam L. Rosman
Title:   Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary

[Signature Page to Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]

Exhibit 10.1

FIRST DATA CORPORATION

2015 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

1. Purpose . The purpose of the First Data Corporation 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan is to provide a means through which the Company and the other members of the Company Group may attract and retain key personnel and to provide a means whereby directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors of the Company and the other members of the Company Group can acquire and maintain an equity interest in the Company, or be paid incentive compensation, including incentive compensation measured by reference to the value of Common Stock, thereby strengthening their commitment to the welfare of the Company Group and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders.

2. Definitions . The following definitions shall be applicable throughout the Plan.

(a) “ 2007 Plan ” means the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan for Employees of First Data Corporation and its Affiliates, as it may be amended and restated from time to time.

(b) “ Absolute Share Limit ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5(b) of the Plan.

(c) “ Adjustment Event ” has the meaning given such term in Section 12(a) of the Plan.

(d) “ Affiliate ” means any Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company. The term “control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting or other securities, by contract or otherwise.

(e) “ Award ” means, individually or collectively, any Incentive Stock Option, Nonqualified Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Other Stock-Based Award, Other Cash-Based Award and Performance Compensation Award granted under the Plan.

(f) “ Award Agreement ” means the document or documents by which each Award (other than an Other Cash-Based Award) is evidenced, which may be in written or electronic form.

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

(h) “ Cause ” means, as to any Participant, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise, (1) “Cause”, as defined in any employment, change in control or consulting agreement between the Participant and the Service Recipient in effect at the time of the Participant’s Termination, or (2) in the absence of any such employment, change in control or consulting agreement (or the absence of any definition of “Cause” contained therein), “Cause” shall be determined by the Company in its sole discretion and shall include any actions contrary to or in violation of the Company’s policies, procedures, values or Code of Conduct, including, but not limited to, those items that could constitute Misconduct (as defined in the Company


severance policy). A termination by the Company or another Service Recipient for Cause shall be deemed to include a determination by the Committee or its designee following a Participant’s Termination that circumstances existing prior to such Termination would have entitled the Company or another Service Recipient to have terminated the Participant’s employment for Cause. All rights a Participant has or may have under the Plan shall be suspended automatically during the pendency of any investigation by the Committee or its designee, or during any negotiations between the Committee or its designee and the Participant, regarding any actual or alleged act or omission by the Participant of the type described in the applicable definition of Cause.

(i) “ Change in Control ” means:

(1) the acquisition (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, combination or other similar transaction) by any Person of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% (on a fully diluted basis) of either (A) the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, taking into account as outstanding for this purpose such Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or warrants, the conversion of convertible stock or debt, and the exercise of any similar right to acquire such Common Stock or (B) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; provided, however , that for purposes of this Plan, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (I) any acquisition by the Company or any Affiliate; (II) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate; or (III) in respect of an Award held by a particular Participant, any acquisition by the Participant or any group of Persons including the Participant (or any entity controlled by the Participant or any group of Persons including the Participant);

(2) during any period of twelve (12) months, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board (the “ Incumbent Directors ”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to October 14, 2015, whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director; provided, however , that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest, as such terms are used in Rule 14a-12 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act, with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director; or

(3) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company Group (taken as a whole) to any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company.

(j) “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, regulations or guidance.

 

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(k) “ Committee ” means the Governance, Compensation and Nominations Committee of the Board or any properly delegated subcommittee thereof or, if no such committee or subcommittee thereof exists, the Board.

(l) “ Common Stock ” means the Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (and any stock or other securities into which such Common Stock may be converted or into which it may be exchanged).

(m) “ Company ” means First Data Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto.

(n) “ Company Group ” means, collectively, the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(o) “ Confidential Information ” means, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise, any data, information or documentation (including such that is received by third parties) that is competitively sensitive or commercially valuable and not generally known to the public, including data, information or documentation related or pertaining to: (1) finance, supply or service; (2) customers, suppliers or consumers, including customer lists, relationships and profiles; (3) marketing or product information, including product planning, marketing strategies, marketing results, marketing forecasts, plans, finance, operations, reports, sales estimates, business plans and internal performance results relating to past, present or future business activities, clients and suppliers; and (4) scientific or technical information, design, process, procedure, formula or improvement, computer software, object code, source code, specifications, inventions or systems information, whether or not patentable or copyrightable, and that is not otherwise a Trade Secret.

(p) “ Date of Grant ” means the date on which the granting of an Award is authorized, or such other date as may be specified in such authorization.

(q) “ Designated Foreign Subsidiaries ” means all members of the Company Group that are organized under the laws of any jurisdiction or country other than the United States of America that may be designated by the Board or the Committee from time to time.

(r) “ Detrimental Activity ” means any of the following: (1) unauthorized use, disclosure or dissemination of Confidential Information or Trade Secrets pertaining to the business of any member of the Company Group; (2) any activity that would be grounds to terminate the Participant’s employment or service with the Service Recipient for Cause; or (3) a breach by the Participant of any restrictive covenant by which such Participant is bound, including, without limitation, any covenant not to compete or not to solicit, in any agreement with any member of the Company Group; provided, however, that the activity described under clause (1) of this definition does not apply to (x) any Confidential Information or Trade Secrets which have become generally known to competitors of a member of the Company Group through no act or omission by the Participant or (y) a Participant’s communications that are required by law or judicial process ( e.g ., subpoena). Further, this definition does not preclude a Participant from communicating, cooperating or filing a complaint with any U.S. federal, state or

 

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local governmental or law enforcement branch, agency or entity (collectively, a “ Governmental Entity ”) with respect to possible violations of any U.S. federal, state or local law or regulation, or otherwise making disclosures to any Governmental Entity, in each case, that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any such law or regulation, provided that, in each case, such communications and disclosures are consistent with applicable law and provided further that under no circumstance is the Participant authorized to disclose any information covered by the Company’s or its Affiliates’ attorney-client privilege or attorney work product or Trade Secrets without prior written consent of the Board or its designee.

(s) “ Disability ” means, as to any Participant, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise, (1) “Disability”, as defined in any employment, change in control or consulting agreement between the Participant and the Service Recipient in effect at the time of the Participant’s Termination; or (2) in the absence of any such employment, change in control or consulting agreement (or the absence of any definition of “Disability” contained therein), a condition entitling the Participant to receive benefits under a long-term disability plan of the Service Recipient or other member of the Company Group in which such Participant is eligible to participate, or, in the absence of such a plan, the complete and permanent inability of the Participant by reason of illness or accident to perform the duties of the occupation at which the Participant was employed or served when such disability commenced. Any determination of whether Disability exists in the absence of a long-term disability plan shall be made by the Company (or designee) in its sole and absolute discretion.

(t) “ Effective Date ” means September 28, 2015.

(u) “ Eligible Director ” means a person who is (1) with respect to actions intended to obtain an exemption from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, (2) with respect to actions intended to obtain the exception for performance-based compensation under 162(m) of the Code, an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, and (3) with respect to actions undertaken to comply with the rules of the NYSE or any other securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted, an “independent director” under the rules of the NYSE or any other securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted, or a person meeting any similar requirement under any successor rule or regulation.

(v) “ Eligible Person ” means any (1) individual employed by any member of the Company Group; provided, however , that no such employee covered by a collective bargaining agreement shall be an Eligible Person unless and to the extent that such eligibility is set forth in such collective bargaining agreement or in an agreement or instrument relating thereto, (2) director or officer of any member of the Company Group, or (3) consultant or advisor to any member of the Company Group who may be offered securities registrable pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act, who, in the case of each of clauses (1) through (3) above has entered into an Award Agreement or who has received written notification from the Committee or its designee that such individual has been selected to participate in the Plan.

 

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(w) “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of (or rule promulgated under) the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or guidance.

(x) “ Exercise Price ” has the meaning given such term in Section 7(b) of the Plan.

(y) “ Fair Market Value ” means, on a given date, (1) if the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Common Stock reported on the primary exchange on which the Common Stock is listed and traded on such date, or, if there are no such sales on that date, then on the last preceding date on which such sales were reported, (2) if the Common Stock is not listed on any national securities exchange but is quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system on a last sale basis, the average between the closing bid price and ask price reported on such date, or, if there is no such sale on that date, then on the last preceding date on which a sale was reported, or (3) if the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system on a last sale basis, the amount determined by the Committee in good faith to be the fair market value of the Common Stock; provided , however , as to any Awards granted on or with a Date of Grant of the date of the pricing of the Company’s initial public offering, “Fair Market Value” shall be equal to the per share price at which the Common Stock is offered to the public in connection with such initial public offering.

(z) “ GAAP ” has the meaning given such term in Section 7(d) of the Plan.

(aa) “ Immediate Family Members ” has the meaning given such term in Section 14(b)(2) of the Plan.

(bb) “ Incentive Stock Option ” means an Option which is designated by the Committee as an incentive stock option as described in Section 422 of the Code and otherwise meets the requirements set forth in the Plan.

(cc) “ Indemnifiable Person ” has the meaning given such term in Section 4(e) of the Plan.

(dd) “ Negative Discretion ” means the discretion authorized by the Plan to be applied by the Committee to eliminate or reduce the size of a Performance Compensation Award consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code.

(ee) “ Nonqualified Stock Option ” means an Option which is not designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option.

(ff) “ Non-Employee Director ” means a member of the Board who is not an employee of any member of the Company Group.

(gg) “ NYSE ” means the New York Stock Exchange.

(hh) “ Option ” means an Award granted under Section 7 of the Plan.

 

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(ii) “ Option Period ” has the meaning given such term in Section 7(c)(1) of the Plan.

(jj) “ Other Cash-Based Award ” means an Award that is not a Stock Appreciation Right or Restricted Stock Unit granted under Section 10 of the Plan that is denominated and/or payable in cash.

(kk) “ Other Stock-Based Award ” means an Award that is not an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit or Performance Compensation Award, that is granted under Section 10 of the Plan and is (1) payable by delivery of Common Stock and/or (2) measured by reference to the value of Common Stock.

(ll) “ Participant ” means an Eligible Person who has been selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan and to receive an Award pursuant to the Plan.

(mm) “ Performance Compensation Award ” means any Award designated by the Committee as a Performance Compensation Award pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan.

(nn) “ Performance Criteria ” means the criterion or criteria that the Committee shall select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goals for a Performance Period with respect to any Performance Compensation Award under the Plan.

(oo) “ Performance Formula ” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more objective formulae applied against the relevant Performance Goal to determine, with regard to the Performance Compensation Award of a particular Participant, whether all, some portion but less than all, or none of the Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period.

(pp) “ Performance Goals ” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria.

(qq) “ Performance Period ” means the one or more periods of time of not less than 12 months, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to, and the payment of, a Performance Compensation Award.

(rr) “ Permitted Transferee ” has the meaning given such term in Section 14(b)(2) of the Plan.

(ss) “ Person ” means any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act).

(tt) “ Plan ” means this First Data Corporation 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as it may be amended and restated from time to time.

(uu) “ Restricted Period ” means the period of time determined by the Committee during which an Award is subject to restrictions, including vesting conditions.

 

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(vv) “ Restricted Stock ” means Common Stock, subject to certain specified restrictions (which may include, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous services for a specified period of time), granted under Section 9 of the Plan.

(ww) “ Restricted Stock Unit ” means an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver shares of Common Stock, cash, other securities or other property, subject to certain restrictions (which may include, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous services for a specified period of time), granted under Section 9 of the Plan.

(xx) “ SAR Period ” has the meaning given such term in Section 8(c)(1) of the Plan.

(yy) “ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of (or rule promulgated under) the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or guidance.

(zz) “ Service Recipient ” means, with respect to a Participant holding a given Award, the member of the Company Group by which the original recipient of such Award is, or following a Termination was most recently, principally employed or to which such original recipient provides, or following a Termination was most recently providing, services, as applicable.

(aaa) “ Share Pool ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5(b) of the Plan.

(bbb) “ Stock Appreciation Right ” or “ SAR ” means an Award granted under Section 8 of the Plan.

(ccc) “ Strike Price ” has the meaning given such term in Section 8(b) of the Plan.

(ddd) “ Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of such entity’s voting securities (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

(2) any partnership (or any comparable foreign entity) (A) the sole general partner (or functional equivalent thereof) or the managing general partner of which is such Person or Subsidiary of such Person or (B) the only general partners (or functional equivalents thereof) of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).

(eee) “ Substitute Award ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5(f) of the Plan.

 

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(fff) “ Sub-Plans ” means any sub-plan to this Plan that has been adopted by the Board or the Committee for the purpose of permitting the offering of Awards to employees of certain Designated Foreign Subsidiaries or otherwise outside the United States of America, with each such sub-plan designed to comply with local laws applicable to offerings in such foreign jurisdictions. Although any Sub-Plan may be designated a separate and independent plan from the Plan in order to comply with applicable local laws, the Absolute Share Limit, the Share Pool and the other limits specified in Section 5(b) shall apply in the aggregate to the Plan and any Sub-Plan adopted hereunder.

(ggg) “ Termination ” means the termination of a Participant’s employment or service, as applicable, with the Service Recipient for any reason (including death or Disability).

(hhh) “ Trade Secrets ” means, without limitation, (1) any data or information that is competitively sensitive or commercially valuable and not generally known to the public and (2) any scientific or technical information, design, process, procedure, formula or improvement, computer software, object code, source code, specification, invention or systems information, whether or not patentable or copyrightable, provided that this definition of Trade Secrets shall have the broadest meaning as permitted by law and shall extend beyond the definition of “trade secrets” as set forth in the Delaware Uniform Trade Secrets Act.

3. Effective Date; Duration . The Plan shall be effective as of October 14, 2015. The expiration date of the Plan, on and after which date no Awards may be granted hereunder, shall be the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however , that such expiration shall not affect Awards then outstanding, and the terms and conditions of the Plan shall continue to apply to such Awards.

4. Administration .

(a) The Committee shall administer the Plan. To the extent required to comply with the provisions of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (if the Board is not acting as the Committee under the Plan) or necessary to obtain the exception for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, as applicable, it is intended that each member of the Committee shall, at the time such member takes any action with respect to an Award under the Plan that is intended to qualify for the exemptions provided by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, as applicable, be an Eligible Director. However, the fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify as an Eligible Director shall not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee that is otherwise validly granted under the Plan.

(b) Subject to the provisions of the Plan and applicable law, the Committee shall have the sole and plenary authority, in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, to: (1) designate Participants; (2) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (3) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards; (4) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (5) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled in, or exercised for, cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities, other Awards or other

 

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property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (6) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances the delivery of cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities, other Awards or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant or of the Committee; (7) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, the Plan; (8) establish, amend, suspend, or waive any rules and regulations and appoint such agents as the Committee shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; (9) adopt Sub-Plans; and (10) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

(c) Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules and regulations of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed or traded, the Committee may allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members and may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers to any person or persons selected by it. Any such allocation or delegation may be revoked by the Committee at any time. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee may delegate to one or more officers of any member of the Company Group, the authority to act on behalf of the Committee with respect to any matter, right, obligation, or election which is the responsibility of, or which is allocated to, the Committee herein, and which may be so delegated as a matter of law, except for grants of Awards to Non-Employee Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 4(c), it is intended that any action under the Plan intended to qualify for an exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, and/or the exception under Section 162(m) of the Code related to persons who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act and/or who are, or who are reasonably expected to be, “covered employees” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, will be taken only by the Board or by a committee or subcommittee of two or more Eligible Directors. However, the fact that any member of such committee or subcommittee shall fail to qualify as an Eligible Director shall not invalidate any action that is otherwise valid under the Plan.

(d) Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Persons, including, without limitation, any member of the Company Group, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, and any stockholder of the Company.

(e) No member of the Board, the Committee or any employee or agent of any member of the Company Group (each such Person, an “ Indemnifiable Person ”) shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder (unless constituting fraud or a willful criminal act or omission). Each Indemnifiable Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense (including attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Indemnifiable Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Indemnifiable Person may be a party or in which such Indemnifiable

 

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Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken or determination made with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder and against and from any and all amounts paid by such Indemnifiable Person with the Company’s approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Indemnifiable Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Indemnifiable Person, and the Company shall advance to such Indemnifiable Person any such expenses promptly upon written request (which request shall include an undertaking by the Indemnifiable Person to repay the amount of such advance if it shall ultimately be determined, as provided below, that the Indemnifiable Person is not entitled to be indemnified); provided , that the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding and once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’s choice. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to an Indemnifiable Person to the extent that a final judgment or other final adjudication (in either case not subject to further appeal) binding upon such Indemnifiable Person determines that the acts, omissions or determinations of such Indemnifiable Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Indemnifiable Person’s fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by law or by the organizational documents of any member of the Company Group. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of or otherwise supersede any other rights of indemnification to which such Indemnifiable Person may be entitled under the organizational documents of any member of the Company Group, as a matter of law, under an individual indemnification agreement or contract or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such Indemnifiable Person or hold such Indemnifiable Person harmless.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan, the Board may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant Awards and administer the Plan with respect to such Awards. Any such actions by the Board shall be subject to the applicable rules of the NYSE or any other securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted. In any such case, the Board shall have all the authority granted to the Committee under the Plan.

5. Grant of Awards; Shares Subject to the Plan; Limitations .

(a) The Committee may, from time to time, grant Awards to one or more Eligible Persons.

(b) Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following limitations: (1) subject to Section 12 of the Plan, no more than 71,182,033 shares of Common Stock, plus any shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, subject to outstanding awards granted under the 2007 Plan that, after the Effective Date, are forfeited, terminated, canceled, expire unexercised, withheld in payment of the exercise price or withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations, which shares of Class B common stock shall automatically be converted on a one-for one basis into shares of Common Stock (such aggregate number of shares, the “ Absolute Share Limit ” and such shares, the “ Share Pool ”) shall be available for Awards under the Plan; (2) subject to Section 12 of the Plan, grants of Options or SARs under the Plan in respect of no more than 6,327,292 shares of Common Stock may be made to any individual Participant during any single fiscal year of the Company (for this

 

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purpose, if a SAR is granted in tandem with an Option (such that the SAR expires with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock for which the Option is exercised), only the shares underlying the Option shall count against this limitation); (3) subject to Section 12 of the Plan, no more than the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Absolute Share Limit may be issued in the aggregate pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan; (4) subject to Section 12 of the Plan, no more than 3,163,646 shares of Common Stock may be issued in respect of Performance Compensation Awards denominated in shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan to any individual Participant for a single fiscal year during a Performance Period (or with respect to each single fiscal year in the event a Performance Period extends beyond a single fiscal year), or in the event such share-denominated Performance Compensation Award is paid in cash, other securities, other Awards or other property, no more than the Fair Market Value of such shares of Common Stock on the last day of the Performance Period to which such Award relates; and (5) the maximum amount that can be paid to any individual Participant for a single fiscal year during a Performance Period (or with respect to each single fiscal year in the event a Performance Period extends beyond a single fiscal year) pursuant to a Performance Compensation Award denominated in cash (described in Section 11(a) of the Plan) shall be $25,000,000.

(c) Awards granted under the Plan shall also be subject to the following limitation: the maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards granted during a single fiscal year to any Non-Employee Director, taken together with any cash fees paid to such Non-Employee Director during the fiscal year, shall not exceed $2,500,000 in total value (calculating the value of any such Awards based on the grant date fair value of such Awards for financial reporting purposes).

(d) Other than with respect to Substitute Awards, to the extent that an Award expires or is canceled, forfeited, terminated, settled in cash, or otherwise is settled without delivery to the Participant of the full number of shares of Common Stock to which the Award related, the undelivered shares will again be available for grant from the Share Pool. Shares of Common Stock withheld in payment of the Exercise Price or taxes relating to an Award and shares equal to the number of shares surrendered in payment of any Exercise Price or taxes relating to an Award, shall be deemed to constitute shares not issued to the Participant and shall be deemed to again be available for Awards from the Share Pool under the Plan; provided, however , that such shares shall not become available for issuance hereunder if either: (1) the applicable shares are withheld or surrendered following the termination of the Plan; or (2) at the time the applicable shares are withheld or surrendered, it would constitute a material revision of the Plan subject to stockholder approval under any then-applicable rules of the national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed.

(e) Shares of Common Stock issued by the Company in settlement of Awards may be authorized and unissued shares, shares held in the treasury of the Company, shares purchased on the open market or by private purchase or a combination of the foregoing. Following the closing of the initial public offering of shares of Common Stock, no further awards shall be granted under the 2007 Plan.

(f) Awards may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be granted under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an entity directly or indirectly acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines

 

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(“ Substitute Awards ”). Substitute Awards shall not be counted against the Absolute Share Limit and the Share Pool; provided , that Substitute Awards issued in connection with the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding options intended to qualify as “incentive stock options” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code shall be counted against the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. Subject to applicable stock exchange requirements, available shares under a stockholder-approved plan of an entity directly or indirectly acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the acquisition or combination transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan.

6. Eligibility . Participation in the Plan shall be limited to Eligible Persons.

7. Options.

(a) General . Each Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which agreement need not be the same for each Participant. Each Option so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. All Options granted under the Plan shall be Nonqualified Stock Options unless the applicable Award Agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option. Incentive Stock Options shall be granted only to Eligible Persons who are employees of a member of the Company Group, and no Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any Eligible Person who is ineligible to receive an Incentive Stock Option under the Code. No Option shall be treated as an Incentive Stock Option unless the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company in a manner intended to comply with the stockholder approval requirements of Section 422(b)(1) of the Code, provided that any Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall not fail to be effective solely on account of a failure to obtain such approval, but rather such Option shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option unless and until such approval is obtained. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the terms and conditions of such grant shall be subject to, and comply with, such rules as may be prescribed by Section 422 of the Code. If for any reason an Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (or any portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option or portion thereof shall be regarded as a Nonqualified Stock Option appropriately granted under the Plan.

(b) Exercise Price . Except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the case of Substitute Awards, the exercise price (“ Exercise Price ”) per share of Common Stock for each Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such share (determined as of the Date of Grant); provided, however , that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an employee who, at the time of the grant of such Option, owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of any member of the Company Group, the Exercise Price per share shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per share on the Date of Grant.

 

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(c) Vesting and Expiration; Termination .

(1) Options shall vest and become exercisable in such manner and on such date or dates or upon such event or events as determined by the Committee; provided , however , that notwithstanding any such vesting dates or events, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting of any Options at any time and for any reason. Options shall expire upon a date determined by the Committee, not to exceed ten (10) years from the Date of Grant (the “ Option Period ”); provided , that if the Option Period (other than in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) would expire at a time when trading in the shares of Common Stock is prohibited by the Company’s insider trading policy (or Company-imposed “blackout period”), then the Option Period shall be automatically extended until the 30 th day following the expiration of such prohibition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Option Period exceed five (5) years from the Date of Grant in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who on the Date of Grant owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of any member of the Company Group.

(2) Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, whether in an Award Agreement or otherwise, in the event of: (A) a Participant’s Termination by the Service Recipient for Cause, all outstanding Options granted to such Participant shall immediately terminate and expire; (B) a Participant’s Termination due to death or Disability, each outstanding unvested Option granted to such Participant shall immediately terminate and expire, and each outstanding vested Option shall remain exercisable for one year thereafter (but in no event beyond the expiration of the Option Period); and (C) a Participant’s Termination for any other reason, each outstanding unvested Option granted to such Participant shall immediately terminate and expire, and each outstanding vested Option shall remain exercisable for ninety (90) days thereafter (but in no event beyond the expiration of the Option Period).

(d) Method of Exercise and Form of Payment . No shares of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the Exercise Price therefor is received by the Company and the Participant has paid to the Company an amount equal to any Federal, state, local and non-U.S. income, employment and any other applicable taxes required to be withheld. Options which have become exercisable may be exercised by delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company (or telephonic instructions to the extent provided by the Committee) in accordance with the terms of the Option accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price. The Exercise Price shall be payable: (1) in cash, check, cash equivalent and/or shares of Common Stock valued at the Fair Market Value at the time the Option is exercised (including, pursuant to procedures approved by the Committee, by means of attestation of ownership of a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock in lieu of actual issuance of such shares to the Company); provided , that such shares of Common Stock are not subject to any pledge or other security interest and have been held by the Participant for at least six (6) months (or such other period as established from time to time by the Committee in order to avoid adverse accounting treatment applying generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”)); or (2) unless otherwise provided by the Committee, whether in an Award Agreement or otherwise: (A) in other property having a fair market value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price; (B) if there is a public market for the shares of Common Stock at such time, by means of a broker-assisted “cashless exercise” pursuant to which the Company is delivered (including telephonically to the extent permitted by the Committee) a copy of

 

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irrevocable instructions to a stockbroker to sell the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the Exercise Price; (C) a “net exercise” procedure effected by withholding the minimum number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable in respect of an Option that are needed to pay the Exercise Price; or (D) by such other method as the Committee may permit, in its sole discretion. Any fractional shares of Common Stock shall be settled in cash.

(e) Notification upon Disqualifying Disposition of an Incentive Stock Option . Each Participant awarded an Incentive Stock Option under the Plan shall notify the Company in writing immediately after the date the Participant makes a disqualifying disposition of any Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Incentive Stock Option. A disqualifying disposition is any disposition (including, without limitation, any sale) of such Common Stock before the later of (A) the date that is two years after the Date of Grant of the Incentive Stock Option or (B) the date that is one year after the date of exercise of the Incentive Stock Option. The Company may, if determined by the Committee and in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, retain possession, as agent for the applicable Participant, of any Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option until the end of the period described in the preceding sentence, subject to complying with any instructions from such Participant as to the sale of such Common Stock.

(f) Compliance With Laws, etc . Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall a Participant be permitted to exercise an Option in a manner which the Committee determines would violate the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as it may be amended from time to time, or any other applicable law or the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or the applicable rules and regulations of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed or traded.

8. Stock Appreciation Rights .

(a) General . Each SAR granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each SAR so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 8, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. Any Option granted under the Plan may include tandem SARs. The Committee also may award SARs to Eligible Persons independent of any Option.

(b) Strike Price . Except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the case of Substitute Awards, the strike price (“ Strike Price ”) per share of Common Stock for each SAR shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such share (determined as of the Date of Grant). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a SAR granted in tandem with (or in substitution for) an Option previously granted shall have a Strike Price equal to the Exercise Price of the corresponding Option.

(c) Vesting and Expiration; Termination .

(1) A SAR granted in connection with an Option shall become exercisable and shall expire according to the same vesting schedule and expiration provisions as the corresponding Option. A SAR granted independent of an Option shall vest and become

 

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exercisable in such manner and on such date or dates or upon such event or events as determined by the Committee; provided , however , that, notwithstanding any such vesting dates or events, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting of any SAR at any time and for any reason. SARs shall expire upon a date determined by the Committee, not to exceed ten (10) years from the Date of Grant (the “ SAR Period ”); provided , that if the SAR Period would expire at a time when trading in the shares of Common Stock is prohibited by the Company’s insider trading policy (or Company-imposed “blackout period”), then the SAR Period shall be automatically extended until the 30th day following the expiration of such prohibition.

(2) Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, whether in an Award Agreement or otherwise, in the event of: (A) a Participant’s Termination by the Service Recipient for Cause, all outstanding SARs granted to such Participant shall immediately terminate and expire; (B) a Participant’s Termination due to death or Disability, each outstanding unvested SAR granted to such Participant shall immediately terminate and expire, and each outstanding vested SAR shall remain exercisable for one (1) year thereafter (but in no event beyond the expiration of the SAR Period); and (C) a Participant’s Termination for any other reason, each outstanding unvested SAR granted to such Participant shall immediately terminate and expire, and each outstanding vested SAR shall remain exercisable for ninety (90) days thereafter (but in no event beyond the expiration of the SAR Period).

(d) Method of Exercise . SARs which have become exercisable may be exercised by delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award, specifying the number of SARs to be exercised and the date on which such SARs were awarded.

(e) Payment . Upon the exercise of a SAR, the Company shall pay to the Participant an amount equal to the number of shares subject to the SAR that is being exercised multiplied by the excess of the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Common Stock on the exercise date over the Strike Price, less an amount equal to any Federal, state, local and non-U.S. income, employment and any other applicable taxes required to be withheld. The Company shall pay such amount in cash, in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee. Any fractional shares of Common Stock shall be settled in cash.

9. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units .

(a) General . Each grant of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 9, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement.

(b) Stock Certificates and Book-Entry; Escrow or Similar Arrangement . Upon the grant of Restricted Stock, the Committee shall cause a stock certificate registered in the name of the Participant to be issued or shall cause share(s) of Common Stock to be registered in the name of the Participant and held in book-entry form subject to the Company’s directions and, if

 

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the Committee determines that the Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company or in escrow rather than issued to the Participant pending the release of the applicable restrictions, the Committee may require the Participant to additionally execute and deliver to the Company (1) an escrow agreement satisfactory to the Committee, if applicable and (2) the appropriate stock power (endorsed in blank) with respect to the Restricted Stock covered by such agreement. If a Participant shall fail to execute and deliver (in a manner permitted under Section 14(a) of the Plan or as otherwise determined by the Committee) an agreement evidencing an Award of Restricted Stock and, if applicable, an escrow agreement and blank stock power within the amount of time specified by the Committee, the Award shall be null and void. Subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 9 and the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant generally shall have the rights and privileges of a stockholder as to shares of Restricted Stock, including, without limitation, the right to vote such Restricted Stock; provided , that if the lapsing of restrictions with respect to any grant of Restricted Stock is contingent on satisfaction of performance conditions (other than, or in addition to, the passage of time), any dividends payable on such shares of Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company and delivered (without interest) to the Participant within fifteen (15) days following the date on which the restrictions on such Restricted Stock lapse (and the right to any such accumulated dividends shall be forfeited upon the forfeiture of the Restricted Stock to which such dividends relate). To the extent shares of Restricted Stock are forfeited, any stock certificates issued to the Participant evidencing such shares shall be returned to the Company, and all rights of the Participant to such shares and as a stockholder with respect thereto shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company. A Participant shall have no rights or privileges as a stockholder as to Restricted Stock Units.

(c) Vesting; Termination .

(1) Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall vest, and any applicable Restricted Period shall lapse, in such manner and on such date or dates or upon such event or events as determined by the Committee; provided , however , that, notwithstanding any such dates or events, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting of any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit or the lapsing of any applicable Restricted Period at any time and for any reason.

(2) Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, whether in an Award Agreement or otherwise, in the event of a Participant’s Termination for any reason prior to the time that such Participant’s Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, as applicable, have vested, (A) all vesting with respect to such Participant’s Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, as applicable, shall cease and (B) unvested shares of Restricted Stock and unvested Restricted Stock Units, as applicable, shall be forfeited to the Company by the Participant for no consideration as of the date of such Termination.

 

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(d) Issuance of Restricted Stock and Settlement of Restricted Stock Units .

(1) Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any shares of Restricted Stock, the restrictions set forth in the applicable Award Agreement shall be of no further force or effect with respect to such shares, except as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. If an escrow arrangement is used, upon such expiration, the Company shall issue to the Participant, or the Participant’s beneficiary, without charge, the stock certificate (or, if applicable, a notice evidencing a book-entry notation) evidencing the shares of Restricted Stock which have not then been forfeited and with respect to which the Restricted Period has expired (rounded down to the nearest full share). Dividends, if any, that may have been withheld by the Committee and attributable to any particular share of Restricted Stock shall be distributed to the Participant in cash or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value (on the date of distribution) equal to the amount of such dividends, upon the release of restrictions on such share and, if such share is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such dividends.

(2) Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award Agreement or otherwise, upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any outstanding Restricted Stock Units, the Company shall issue to the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, without charge, one share of Common Stock (or other securities or other property, as applicable) for each such outstanding Restricted Stock Unit; provided, however , that the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to (A) pay cash or part cash and part shares of Common Stock in lieu of issuing only shares of Common Stock in respect of such Restricted Stock Units; or (B) defer the issuance of shares of Common Stock (or cash or part cash and part shares of Common Stock, as the case may be) beyond the expiration of the Restricted Period if such extension would not cause adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code. If a cash payment is made in lieu of issuing shares of Common Stock in respect of such Restricted Stock Units, the amount of such payment shall be equal to the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock as of the date on which the Restricted Period lapsed with respect to such Restricted Stock Units. To the extent provided in an Award Agreement, the holder of outstanding Restricted Stock Units shall be entitled to be credited with dividend equivalent payments (upon the payment by the Company of dividends on shares of Common Stock) either in cash or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends (and interest may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be credited on the amount of cash dividend equivalents at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee), which accumulated dividend equivalents (and interest thereon, if applicable) shall be payable at the same time as the underlying Restricted Stock Units are settled following the date on which the Restricted Period lapses with respect to such Restricted Stock Units, and, if such Restricted Stock Units are forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such dividend equivalent payments (or interest thereon, if applicable).

(e) Legends on Restricted Stock . Each certificate, if any, or book entry representing Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan, if any, shall bear a legend or book entry notation substantially in the form of the following, in addition to any other information the Company deems appropriate, until the lapse of all restrictions with respect to such shares of Common Stock:

 

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TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY IS RESTRICTED PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE FIRST DATA CORPORATION 2015 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN AND A RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT BETWEEN FIRST DATA CORPORATION AND PARTICIPANT. A COPY OF SUCH PLAN AND AWARD AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF FIRST DATA CORPORATION.

10. Other Stock-Based Awards and Other Cash-Based Awards . The Committee may grant Other Stock-Based Awards and Other Cash-Based Awards under the Plan to Eligible Persons, alone or in tandem with other Awards, in such amounts and dependent on such conditions as the Committee shall from time to time in its sole discretion determine. Each Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement and each Other Cash-Based Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced in such form as the Committee may determine from time to time. Each Other Stock-Based Award or Other Cash-Based Award, as applicable, so granted shall be subject to such conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement or other form evidencing such Award, including, without limitation, those set forth in Section 14(c) of the Plan.

11. Performance Compensation Awards .

(a) General . The Committee shall have the authority, at or before the time of grant of any Award, to designate such Award as a Performance Compensation Award intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, if the Company determines that a Participant who has been granted an Award designated as a Performance Compensation Award is not (or is no longer) a “covered employee” (within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code), the terms and conditions of such Award may be modified without regard to any restrictions or limitations set forth in this Section 11 (but subject otherwise to the provisions of Section 13 of the Plan).

(b) Discretion of Committee with Respect to Performance Compensation Awards . With regard to a particular Performance Period, the Committee shall have sole discretion to select the length of such Performance Period, the type(s) of Performance Compensation Awards to be issued, the Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s), the kind(s) and/or level(s) of the Performance Goal(s) that is (are) to apply and the Performance Formula(e). Within the first ninety (90) days of a Performance Period (or, within any other maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee shall, with regard to the Performance Compensation Awards to be issued for such Performance Period, exercise its discretion with respect to each of the matters enumerated in the immediately preceding sentence and record the same in writing.

 

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(c) Performance Criteria . The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s) may be based on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company (and/or one or more members of the Company Group, divisions or operational and/or business units, product lines, brands, business segments, administrative departments, or any combination of the foregoing) and shall be limited to the following, which may be determined in accordance with GAAP or on a non-GAAP basis: (1) net earnings, net income (before or after taxes) or consolidated net income; (2) basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes); (3) net revenue or net revenue growth; (4) gross revenue or gross revenue growth, gross profit or gross profit growth; (5) net operating profit (before or after taxes); (6) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on investment, assets, capital, employed capital, invested capital, equity, or sales); (7) cash flow measures (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, or cash flow return on capital), which may but are not required to be measured on a per share basis; (8) actual or adjusted earnings before or after interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization (including EBIT and EBITDA); (9) gross or net operating margins (including EBIT and EBITDA margins); (10) productivity ratios; (11) share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total stockholder return); (12) expense targets or cost reduction goals, general and administrative expense savings; (13) operating efficiency; (14) objective measures of customer/client satisfaction; (15) working capital targets; (16) measures of economic value added or other ‘value creation’ metrics; (17) enterprise value; (18) sales; (19) stockholder return; (20) customer/client retention; (21) competitive market metrics; (22) employee retention; (23) objective measures of personal targets, goals or completion of projects (including but not limited to succession and hiring projects, completion of specific acquisitions, dispositions, reorganizations or other corporate transactions or capital-raising transactions, expansions of specific business operations and meeting divisional or project budgets); (24) comparisons of continuing operations to other operations; (25) market share; (26) cost of capital, debt leverage year-end cash position or book value; (27) strategic objectives; or (28) any combination of the foregoing. Any one or more of the Performance Criteria may be stated as a percentage of another Performance Criteria, or used on an absolute or relative basis to measure the performance of one or more members of the Company Group as a whole or any divisions or operational and/or business units, product lines, brands, business segments, administrative departments of one or more members of the Company Group or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, or any of the above Performance Criteria may be compared to the performance of a selected group of comparison companies, or a published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or as compared to various stock market indices. The Committee also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of Performance Goals pursuant to the Performance Criteria specified in this paragraph. To the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall, within the first ninety (90) days of a Performance Period (or, within any other maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), define in an objective fashion the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period.

(d) Modification of Performance Goal(s) . In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit Committee discretion to alter the governing Performance Criteria without obtaining stockholder approval of such alterations, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such alterations without obtaining stockholder approval. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time a Performance Compensation Award is granted, the Committee shall, during the first ninety (90) days of a Performance Period (or, within any other maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), or at any time

 

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thereafter to the extent the exercise of such authority at such time would not cause the Performance Compensation Awards granted to any Participant for such Performance Period to fail to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, specify adjustments or modifications to be made to the calculation of a Performance Goal for such Performance Period, based on and in order to appropriately reflect the following events: (1) asset write-downs; (2) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (3) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or regulatory rules affecting reported results; (4) any reorganization and restructuring programs; (5) acquisitions or divestitures; (6) any other specific, unusual or nonrecurring events, or objectively determinable category thereof; (7) foreign exchange gains and losses; (8) discontinued operations and nonrecurring charges; and (9) a change in the Company’s fiscal year.

(e) Payment of Performance Compensation Awards .

(1) Condition to Receipt of Payment . Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant must be employed by the Company on the last day of a Performance Period to be eligible for payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award for such Performance Period.

(2) Limitation . Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant shall be eligible to receive payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award only to the extent that: (A) the Performance Goals for such period are achieved; and (B) all or some portion of such Participant’s Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period based on the application of the Performance Formula to such achieved Performance Goals.

(3) Certification . Following the completion of a Performance Period, the Committee shall review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Goals for the Performance Period have been achieved and, if so, calculate and certify in writing that amount of the Performance Compensation Awards earned for the period based upon the Performance Formula. The Committee shall then determine the amount of each Participant’s Performance Compensation Award actually payable for the Performance Period and, in so doing, may apply Negative Discretion.

(4) Use of Negative Discretion . In determining the actual amount of an individual Participant’s Performance Compensation Award for a Performance Period, the Committee may reduce or eliminate the amount of the Performance Compensation Award earned under the Performance Formula in the Performance Period through the use of Negative Discretion. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall not have the discretion to: (A) grant or provide payment in respect of Performance Compensation Awards for a Performance Period if the Performance Goals for such Performance Period have not been attained; or (B) increase a Performance Compensation Award above the applicable limitations set forth in Section 5 of the Plan.

(f) Timing of Award Payments . Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, Performance Compensation Awards granted for a Performance Period shall be paid to Participants as soon as administratively practicable following completion of the certifications

 

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required by this Section 11. Any Performance Compensation Award that has been deferred shall not (between the date as of which the Award is deferred and the payment date) increase (1) with respect to a Performance Compensation Award that is payable in cash, by a measuring factor for each fiscal year greater than a reasonable rate of interest set by the Committee or (2) with respect to a Performance Compensation Award that is payable in shares of Common Stock, by an amount greater than the appreciation of a share of Common Stock from the date such Award is deferred to the payment date. Any Performance Compensation Award that is deferred and is otherwise payable in shares of Common Stock shall be credited (during the period between the date as of which the Award is deferred and the payment date) with dividend equivalents (in a manner consistent with the methodology set forth in the last sentence of Section 9(d)(2) of the Plan).

12. Changes in Capital Structure and Similar Events . Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary, the following provisions shall apply to all Awards granted hereunder (other than Other Cash-Based Awards):

(a) General . In the event of (1) any dividend (other than regular cash dividends) or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to acquire shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event that affects the shares of Common Stock (including a Change in Control), or (2) unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, including changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements, that the Committee determines, in its sole discretion, could result in substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights intended to be granted to, or available for, Participants (any event in (1) or (2), an “ Adjustment Event ”), the Committee shall, in respect of any such Adjustment Event, make such proportionate substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems equitable, to any or all of (A) the Absolute Share Limit and the Share Pool, or any other limit applicable under the Plan with respect to the number of Awards which may be granted hereunder, (B) the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or other property) which may be issued in respect of Awards or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan or any Sub-Plan, and (C) the terms of any outstanding Award, including, without limitation, (1) the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or other property) subject to outstanding Awards or to which outstanding Awards relate, (2) the Exercise Price or Strike Price with respect to any Award, or (3) any applicable performance measures (including, without limitation, Performance Criteria and Performance Goals); provided , that in the case of any “equity restructuring” (within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor pronouncement thereto)), the Committee shall make an equitable or proportionate adjustment to outstanding Awards to reflect such equity restructuring. Any adjustment under this Section 12 (x) shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes and (y) may provide for the elimination of any fractional shares that might otherwise become subject to an Award.

 

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(b) Adjustment Events . Without limiting the foregoing, except as may otherwise be provided in an Award Agreement, in connection with any Adjustment Event, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for any one or more of the following:

(1) a substitution or assumption of Awards (or awards of an acquiring company), acceleration of the exercisability of, lapse of restrictions on, or termination of, Awards, or a period of time (which shall not be required to be more than ten (10) days) for Participants to exercise outstanding Awards prior to the occurrence of such event (and any such Award not so exercised shall terminate upon the occurrence of such event); and

(2) subject to any limitations or reductions as may be necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code, cancellation of any one or more outstanding Awards and payment to the holders of such Awards that are vested as of such cancellation (including, without limitation, any Awards that would vest as a result of the occurrence of such event but for such cancellation or for which vesting is accelerated by the Committee in connection with such event), the value of such Awards, if any, as determined by the Committee (which value, if applicable, may be based upon the price per share of Common Stock received or to be received by other stockholders of the Company in such event), including, without limitation, in the case of an outstanding Option or SAR, a cash payment in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Option or SAR over the aggregate Exercise Price or Strike Price of such Option or SAR (it being understood that, in such event, any Option or SAR having a per share Exercise Price or Strike Price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock subject thereto may be canceled and terminated without any payment or consideration therefor), or, in the case of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Awards that are not vested as of such cancellation, a cash payment or equity subject to deferred vesting and delivery consistent with the vesting restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Awards prior to cancellation, or the underlying shares in respect thereof.

Payments to holders pursuant to clause (2) above shall be made in cash or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, in the form of such other consideration necessary for a Participant to receive property, cash, or securities (or combination thereof) as such Participant would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of the transaction if the Participant had been, immediately prior to such transaction, the holder of the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Award at such time (less any applicable Exercise Price or Strike Price).

(c) Other Requirements . Prior to any payment or adjustment contemplated under this Section 12, the Committee may require a Participant to (A) represent and warrant as to the unencumbered title to the Participant’s Awards, (B) bear such Participant’s pro rata share of any post-closing indemnity obligations, and be subject to the same post-closing purchase price adjustments, escrow terms, offset rights, holdback terms, and similar conditions as the other holders of Common Stock, subject to any limitations or reductions as may be necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code, and (C) deliver customary transfer documentation as reasonably determined by the Committee.

 

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13. Amendments and Termination .

(a) Amendment and Termination of the Plan . The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided , that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination shall be made without stockholder approval if: (1) such approval is necessary to comply with any regulatory requirement applicable to the Plan (including, without limitation, as necessary to comply with any rules or regulations of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company may be listed or quoted) or for changes in GAAP to new accounting standards; (2) it would materially increase the number of securities which may be issued under the Plan (except for increases pursuant to Section 5 or Section 12 of the Plan); or (3) it would materially modify the requirements for participation in the Plan; provided, further , that any such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment shall be made to Section 13(b)(2) of the Plan without stockholder approval.

(b) Amendment of Award Agreements .

(1) The Committee may, to the extent consistent with the terms of any applicable Award Agreement, waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted or the associated Award Agreement, prospectively or retroactively (including after a Participant’s Termination); provided , that, other than pursuant to Section 12, any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant with respect to any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant.

(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, without stockholder approval, except as otherwise permitted under Section 12 of the Plan, (A) no amendment or modification may reduce the Exercise Price of any Option or the Strike Price of any SAR, (B) the Committee may not cancel any outstanding Option or SAR and replace it with a new Option or SAR (with a lower Exercise Price or Strike Price, as the case may be) or other Award or cash payment that is greater than the intrinsic value (if any) of the cancelled Option or SAR, and (C) the Committee may not take any other action which is considered a “repricing” for purposes of the stockholder approval rules of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed or quoted.

14. General .

(a) Award Agreements . Each Award (other than an Other Cash-Based Award) under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which shall be delivered to the Participant to whom such Award was granted and shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto, including, without limitation, the effect on such Award

 

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of the death, Disability or Termination of a Participant, or of such other events as may be determined by the Committee. For purposes of the Plan, an Award Agreement may be in any such form (written or electronic) as determined by the Committee (including, without limitation, a Board or Committee resolution, an employment agreement, a notice, a certificate or a letter) evidencing the Award. The Committee need not require an Award Agreement to be signed by the Participant or a duly authorized representative of the Company.

(b) Nontransferability .

(1) Each Award shall be exercisable only by such Participant to whom such Award was granted during the Participant’s lifetime, or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s legal guardian or representative. No Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant (unless such transfer is specifically required pursuant to a domestic relations order or by applicable law) other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against any member of the Company Group; provided , that the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance.

(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit Awards (other than Incentive Stock Options) to be transferred by a Participant, without consideration, subject to such rules as the Committee may adopt consistent with any applicable Award Agreement to preserve the purposes of the Plan, to: (A) any person who is a “family member” of the Participant, as such term is used in the instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act or any successor form of registration statement promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (collectively, the “ Immediate Family Members ”); (B) a trust solely for the benefit of the Participant and the Participant’s Immediate Family Members; (C) a partnership or limited liability company whose only partners or stockholders are the Participant and the Participant’s Immediate Family Members; or (D) a beneficiary to whom donations are eligible to be treated as “charitable contributions” for federal income tax purposes (each transferee described in clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D) above is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Transferee ”); provided , that the Participant gives the Committee advance written notice describing the terms and conditions of the proposed transfer and the Committee notifies the Participant in writing that such a transfer would comply with the requirements of the Plan.

(3) The terms of any Award transferred in accordance with clause (2) above shall apply to the Permitted Transferee and any reference in the Plan, or in any applicable Award Agreement, to a Participant shall be deemed to refer to the Permitted Transferee, except that: (A) Permitted Transferees shall not be entitled to transfer any Award, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; (B) Permitted Transferees shall not be entitled to exercise any transferred Option unless there shall be in effect a registration statement on an appropriate form covering the shares of Common Stock to be acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Option if the Committee determines, consistent with any applicable Award Agreement, that such a registration statement is necessary or

 

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appropriate; (C) neither the Committee nor the Company shall be required to provide any notice to a Permitted Transferee, whether or not such notice is or would otherwise have been required to be given to the Participant under the Plan or otherwise; and (D) the consequences of a Participant’s Termination under the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement shall continue to be applied with respect to the Participant, including, without limitation, that an Option shall be exercisable by the Permitted Transferee only to the extent, and for the periods, specified in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

(c) Dividends and Dividend Equivalents . The Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide a Participant as part of an Award with dividends, dividend equivalents, or similar payments in respect of Awards, payable in cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities, other Awards or other property, on a current or deferred basis, on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, including, without limitation, payment directly to the Participant, withholding of such amounts by the Company subject to vesting of the Award or reinvestment in additional shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock or other Awards; provided , that no dividends, dividend equivalents or other similar payments shall be payable in respect of outstanding (1) Options or SARs; or (2) unearned Performance Compensation Awards or other unearned Awards subject to performance conditions (other than, or in addition to, the passage of time) (although dividends, dividend equivalents or other similar payments may be accumulated in respect of unearned Awards and paid within fifteen (15) days after such Awards are earned and become payable or distributable).

 

(d) Tax Withholding .

(1) A Participant shall be required to pay to the Service Recipient or any other member of the Company Group, and the Service Recipient or any other member of the Company Group shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold, from any cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property issuable or deliverable under any Award or from any compensation or other amounts owing to a Participant, the amount (in cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property) of any required withholding or any other applicable taxes in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Committee or the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such withholding or any other applicable taxes.

(2) Without limiting the generality of clause (1) above, the Committee may (but is not obligated to), in its sole discretion, permit a Participant to satisfy, in whole or in part, the foregoing withholding liability by (A) the delivery of shares of Common Stock (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest) that have been held by the Participant for at least six (6) months (or such other period as established from time to time by the Committee in order to avoid adverse accounting treatment applying GAAP) having a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability or (B) having the Company withhold from the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable or deliverable pursuant to the exercise or settlement of the Award a number of shares with a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability, provided that with respect to shares withheld pursuant to clause (B), the number of such shares may not have a Fair Market Value greater than the minimum required statutory withholding liability unless determined by the Committee not to result in adverse accounting consequences.

 

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(e) Data Protection . By participating in the Plan or accepting any rights granted under it, each Participant consents to the collection and processing of personal data relating to the Participant so that the Company and its Affiliates can fulfill their obligations and exercise their rights under the Plan and generally administer and manage the Plan. This data will include, but may not be limited to, data about participation in the Plan and shares offered or received, purchased, or sold under the Plan from time to time and other appropriate financial and other data (such as the date on which the Awards were granted) about the Participant and the Participant’s participation in the Plan.

(f) No Claim to Awards; No Rights to Continued Employment; Waiver . No employee of any member of the Company Group, or other Person, shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan or, having been selected for the grant of an Award, to be selected for a grant of any other Award. There is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants are similarly situated. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Participant any right to be retained in the employ or service of the Service Recipient or any other member of the Company Group, nor shall it be construed as giving any Participant any rights to continued service on the Board. The Service Recipient or any other member of the Company Group may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or discontinue any consulting relationship, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or any Award Agreement. By accepting an Award under the Plan, a Participant shall thereby be deemed to have waived any claim to continued exercise or vesting of an Award or to damages or severance entitlement related to non-continuation of the Award beyond the period provided under the Plan or any Award Agreement, except to the extent of any provision to the contrary in any written employment contract or other agreement between the Service Recipient and/or any member of the Company Group and the Participant, whether any such agreement is executed before, on or after the Date of Grant.

(g) International Participants . With respect to Participants who reside or work outside of the United States of America and who are not (and who are not expected to be) “covered employees” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of the Plan and create or amend Sub-Plans or amend outstanding Awards with respect to such Participants in order to conform such terms with the requirements of local law or to obtain more favorable tax or other treatment for a Participant or any member of the Company Group.

(h) Designation and Change of Beneficiary . Each Participant may file with the Committee a written designation of one or more Persons as the beneficiary(ies) who shall be entitled to receive the amounts payable with respect to an Award, if any, due under the Plan upon the Participant’s death. A Participant may, from time to time, revoke or change the Participant’s beneficiary designation without the consent of any prior beneficiary by filing a

 

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new designation with the Committee. The last such designation received by the Committee shall be controlling; provided, however , that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received by the Committee prior to the Participant’s death, and in no event shall it be effective as of a date prior to such receipt. If no beneficiary designation is filed by a Participant, the beneficiary shall be deemed to be the Participant’s spouse or, if the Participant is unmarried at the time of death, the Participant’s estate.

(i) Termination . Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, unless determined otherwise by the Committee at any point following such event: (1) neither a temporary absence from employment or service due to illness, vacation or leave of absence (including, without limitation, a call to active duty for military service through a Reserve or National Guard unit) nor a transfer from employment or service with one Service Recipient to employment or service with another Service Recipient (or vice-versa) shall be considered a Termination; and (2) if a Participant undergoes a Termination, but such Participant continues to provide services to the Company Group in a non-employee capacity, such change in status shall not be considered a Termination for purposes of the Plan. Further, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event that any Service Recipient ceases to be a member of the Company Group (by reason of sale, divestiture, spin-off or other similar transaction), unless a Participant’s employment or service is transferred to another entity that would constitute a Service Recipient immediately following such transaction, such Participant shall be deemed to have suffered a Termination hereunder as of the date of the consummation of such transaction.

(j) No Rights as a Stockholder . Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan or any Award Agreement, no Person shall be entitled to the privileges of ownership in respect of shares of Common Stock which are subject to Awards hereunder until such shares have been issued or delivered to such Person.

(k) Government and Other Regulations .

(1) The obligation of the Company to settle Awards in shares of Common Stock or other consideration shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by governmental agencies as may be required. Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of any Award to the contrary, the Company shall be under no obligation to offer to sell or to sell, and shall be prohibited from offering to sell or selling, any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award unless such shares have been properly registered for sale pursuant to the Securities Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission or unless the Company has received an opinion of counsel (if the Company has requested such an opinion), satisfactory to the Company, that such shares may be offered or sold without such registration pursuant to an available exemption therefrom and the terms and conditions of such exemption have been fully complied with. The Company shall be under no obligation to register for sale under the Securities Act any of the shares of Common Stock to be offered or sold under the Plan. The Committee shall have the authority to provide that all shares of Common Stock or other securities of any member of the Company Group issued under the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, the applicable Award Agreement, the Federal securities laws, or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any

 

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securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed or quoted and any other applicable Federal, state, local or non-U.S. laws, rules, regulations and other requirements, and, without limiting the generality of Section 9 of the Plan, the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on certificates representing shares of Common Stock or other securities of any member of the Company Group issued under the Plan to make appropriate reference to such restrictions or may cause such Common Stock or other securities of any member of the Company Group issued under the Plan in book-entry form to be held subject to the Company’s instructions or subject to appropriate stop-transfer orders. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee reserves the right to add any additional terms or provisions to any Award granted under the Plan that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable in order that such Award complies with the legal requirements of any governmental entity to whose jurisdiction the Award is subject.

(2) The Committee may cancel an Award or any portion thereof if it determines, in its sole discretion, that legal or contractual restrictions and/or blockage and/or other market considerations would make the Company’s acquisition of shares of Common Stock from the public markets, the Company’s issuance of Common Stock to the Participant, the Participant’s acquisition of Common Stock from the Company and/or the Participant’s sale of Common Stock to the public markets, illegal, impracticable or inadvisable. If the Committee determines to cancel all or any portion of an Award in accordance with the foregoing, the Company shall, subject to any limitations or reductions as may be necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code, (A) pay to the Participant an amount equal to the excess of (I) the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Award or portion thereof canceled (determined as of the applicable exercise date, or the date that the shares would have been vested or issued, as applicable), over (II) the aggregate Exercise Price or Strike Price (in the case of an Option or SAR, respectively) or any amount payable as a condition of issuance of shares of Common Stock (in the case of any other Award). Such amount shall be delivered to the Participant as soon as practicable following the cancellation of such Award or portion thereof, or (B) in the case of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Awards, provide the Participant with a cash payment or equity subject to deferred vesting and delivery consistent with the vesting restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Awards, or the underlying shares in respect thereof.

(l) No Section 83(b) Elections Without Consent of Company . No election under Section 83(b) of the Code or under a similar provision of law may be made unless expressly permitted by the terms of the applicable Award Agreement or by action of the Committee in writing prior to the making of such election. If a Participant, in connection with the acquisition of shares of Common Stock under the Plan or otherwise, is expressly permitted to make such election and the Participant makes the election, the Participant shall notify the Company of such election within ten (10) days of filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service or other governmental authority, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code or other applicable provision.

 

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(m) Payments to Persons Other Than Participants . If the Committee shall find that any Person to whom any amount is payable under the Plan is unable to care for the Participant’s affairs because of illness or accident, or is a minor, or has died, then any payment due to such Person or the Participant’s estate (unless a prior claim therefor has been made by a duly appointed legal representative) may, if the Committee so directs the Company, be paid to the Participant’s spouse, child, relative, an institution maintaining or having custody of such Person, or any other Person deemed by the Committee to be a proper recipient on behalf of such Person otherwise entitled to payment. Any such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Committee and the Company therefor.

(n) Nonexclusivity of the Plan . Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of equity-based awards otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

(o) No Trust or Fund Created . Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between any member of the Company Group, on the one hand, and a Participant or other Person, on the other hand. No provision of the Plan or any Award shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under the Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any assets, nor shall the Company be obligated to maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Participants shall have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the Company, except that insofar as they may have become entitled to payment of additional compensation by performance of services, they shall have the same rights as other service providers under general law.

(p) Reliance on Reports . Each member of the Committee and each member of the Board shall be fully justified in acting or failing to act, as the case may be, and shall not be liable for having so acted or failed to act in good faith, in reliance upon any report made by the independent public accountant of any member of the Company Group and/or any other information furnished in connection with the Plan by any agent of the Company or the Committee or the Board, other than himself or herself.

(q) Relationship to Other Benefits . No payment under the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, profit sharing, group insurance or other benefit plan of the Company except as otherwise specifically provided in such other plan or as required by applicable law.

(r) Governing Law . The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and performed wholly within the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof. EACH PARTICIPANT WHO ACCEPTS AN AWARD IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION, OR OTHER PROCEEDING INSTITUTED BY OR AGAINST SUCH PARTICIPANT IN RESPECT OF THE PARTICIPANT’S RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER.

 

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(s) Severability . If any provision of the Plan or any Award or 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 the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be construed or deemed stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

(t) Obligations Binding on Successors . The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to substantially all of the assets and business of the Company.

(u) Section 409A of the Code .

(i) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, it is intended that the provisions of the Plan comply with Section 409A of the Code, and all provisions of the Plan shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code. Each Participant is solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on or in respect of such Participant in connection with the Plan (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code), and neither the Service Recipient nor any other member of the Company Group shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold such Participant (or any beneficiary) harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties. With respect to any Award that is considered “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code, references in the Plan to “termination of employment” (and substantially similar phrases) shall mean “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, each of the payments that may be made in respect of any Award granted under the Plan is designated as separate payments.

(ii) Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, if a Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, no payments in respect of any Awards that are “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code and which would otherwise be payable upon the Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code) shall be made to such Participant prior to the date that is six months after the date of such Participant’s “separation from service” or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death. Following any applicable six-month delay, all such delayed payments will be paid in a single lump sum on the earliest date permitted under Section 409A of the Code that is also a business day.

 

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(iii) Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award Agreement or otherwise, in the event that the timing of payments in respect of any Award (that would otherwise be considered “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code) would be accelerated upon the occurrence of (A) a Change in Control, no such acceleration shall be permitted unless the event giving rise to the Change in Control satisfies the definition of a change in the ownership or effective control of a corporation, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of a corporation pursuant to Section 409A of the Code or (B) a Disability, no such acceleration shall be permitted unless the Disability also satisfies the definition of “Disability” pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.

(v) Clawback/Repayment . All Awards shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent necessary to comply with (1) any clawback, forfeiture or other similar policy adopted by the Board or the Committee and as in effect from time to time, and (2) applicable law, whether such policy or law becomes effective prior to or following the Effective Date or the Date of Grant of an Award. Further, to the extent that the Participant receives any amount in excess of the amount that the Participant should otherwise have received under the terms of the Award for any reason (including, without limitation, by reason of a financial restatement, mistake in calculations or other administrative error), the Participant shall be required to repay any such excess amount to the Company. By accepting an Award under the Plan, a Participant shall thereby be deemed to have acknowledged and consented to the Company’s application, implementation and enforcement of any clawback, forfeiture or other similar policy adopted by the Board or the Committee, whether adopted prior to or following the Date of Grant of the Award, and any provision of applicable law relating to reduction cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment, and to have agreed that the Company may take such actions as may be necessary to effectuate any such policy or applicable law, without further consideration or action.

(w) Detrimental Activity . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if a Participant has engaged in any Detrimental Activity, as determined by the Committee, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for one or more of the following:

 

  (1) cancellation of any or all of such Participant’s outstanding Awards; or

 

  (2) forfeiture by the Participant of any gain realized on the vesting or exercise of Awards, and to repay any such gain to promptly to the Company.

(x) Right of Offset . The Company will have the right to offset against its obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock (or other property or cash) under the Plan or any Award Agreement any outstanding amounts (including, without limitation, travel and entertainment or advance account balances, loans, repayment obligations under any Awards, or amounts repayable to the Company pursuant to tax equalization, housing, automobile or other employee programs) that the Participant then owes to any member of the Company Group and any amounts the Committee otherwise deems appropriate pursuant to any tax equalization policy or agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Award is “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Committee will have no right to offset against its obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock (or other property or cash) under the Plan or any Award Agreement if such offset could subject the Participant to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A of the Code in respect of an outstanding Award.

 

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(y) Expenses; Titles and Headings . The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company Group. The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.

 

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Exhibit 10.2

FIRST DATA CORPORATION

2015 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

ARTICLE I - PURPOSE

1.01 Purpose .

The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of the Company and its Designated Affiliates an opportunity to (1) acquire a proprietary interest in the Company and (2) share in the Company’s future success by acquiring shares of Common Stock. It is the Company’s intention to have the Plan (other than any Sub-Plans) qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code. Accordingly, the provisions of the Plan (other than any Sub-Plans) shall be administered in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

ARTICLE II - DEFINITIONS

2.01 Affiliate .

“Affiliate” means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company (as determined in accordance with Section 424 of the Code).

2.02 Base Compensation .

“Base Compensation” means regular base straight-time gross earnings annualized as of the relevant Offering Commencement Date, excluding (1) payments, if any, for overtime, incentive compensation, commissions, shift premiums, bonuses, stock or other equity-based compensation, and (2) any other special or one-time remuneration of a Participant during an Offering Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, establish a different definition of “Base Compensation” for a subsequent Offering Period prior to the Offering Commencement Date of such subsequent Offering Period.

2.03 Board .

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.04 Change in Control .

“Change in Control” has the meaning set forth in the Company’s 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time, or any successor plan thereto.

2.05 Code .

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any regulations or other interpretive guidance under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, regulations or guidance.


2.06 Common Stock .

“Common Stock” means the Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (and any stock or other securities into which such Common Stock may be converted or into which it may be exchanged).

2.07 Company .

“Company” means First Data Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and any successor entity thereto.

2.08 Designated Affiliate .

“Designated Affiliate” means any Affiliate that has been designated by the Board or the Plan Administrator from time to time in its sole discretion as an Affiliate whose employees are eligible to participate in the Plan.

2.09 Designated Foreign Affiliates .

“Designated Foreign Affiliates” means any Designated Affiliate organized under the laws of any jurisdiction or country other than the United States of America.

2.10 Eligible Employees .

“Eligible Employees” means, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 4.02, any individual employed by the Company or a Designated Affiliate who has completed at least twelve (12) months of service with the Company or a Designated Affiliate, except (1) individuals who are not employed by the Company or a Designated Affiliate prior to the beginning of an Offering Period or prior to such other time period specified by the Plan Administrator, (2) individuals who provide services to the Company or any of its Designated Affiliates as independent contractors who are reclassified as common law employees for any reason except for federal income and employment tax purposes, and (3) employees who reside in countries for whom such employees’ participation in the Plan would result in a violation under any applicable corporate, securities or other laws of such country of residence.

2.11 Exchange Act .

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section (or rule promulgated under) the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretive guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or other interpretive guidance.

2.12 Fair Market Value .

“Fair Market Value” means, on a given date, (1) if the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Common Stock reported on the primary exchange on which the Common Stock is listed and traded on such date, or, if there are no such sales on that date, then on the last preceding date on which such sales were reported, (2) if the Common Stock is not listed on any national securities exchange but is quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system on a last sale basis, the average between the closing bid price and ask price reported on such date, or, if there is no such sale on that date, then on the last preceding date on which a sale was reported, or (3) if the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system on a last sale basis, the amount determined by the Plan Administrator in good faith to be the fair market value of the Common Stock.

 

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2.13 New Purchase Date .

“New Purchase Date” means a new Purchase Date, as designated by the Plan Administrator, if the Plan Administrator shortens any Offering Period then in progress.

2.14 Notice Period .

“Notice Period” means the later of (1) the period commencing on the Offering Commencement Date relating to the applicable shares of Common Stock and ending on the second anniversary thereof, or (2) the period commencing on the Purchase Date related to the applicable shares of Common Stock that were purchased and ending on the first anniversary thereof.

2.15 Offering Commencement Date .

“Offering Commencement Date” means the first day of each Offering Period.

2.16 Offering End Date .

“Offering End Date” means the last day of each Offering Period.

2.17 Offering Period .

“Offering Period” means the three-month period or six-month period established by the Plan Administrator in accordance with Section 5.01.

2.18 Participant .

“Participant” means, with respect to an Offering Period, an Eligible Employee who is participating in such Offering Period, as provided in Section 4.01.

2.19 Person .

“Person” means any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act).

2.20 Plan .

“Plan” means this First Data Corporation 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

2.21 Plan Administrator .

“Plan Administrator” means the Board or a committee of two or more individuals (which committee need not be a committee of the Board) designated by the Board to administer the Plan (including any Sub-Plan); provided , that, notwithstanding appointment of a Plan Administrator, the Board may take any action permitted to be exercised by the Plan Administrator under the Plan (including any Sub-Plan) in accordance with Section 10.01 hereof.

2.22 Purchase Date .

“Purchase Date” means, with respect to any Offering Period, the Offering End Date associated with such Offering Period (or such other date established by the Plan Administrator prior to the applicable Offering Commencement Date or pursuant to Section 9.02); provided , however , if any such date is not a Trading Day, the Purchase Date shall be the next business day that is a Trading Day.

 

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2.23 Purchase Price .

“Purchase Price” means an amount per share of Common Stock equal to ninety-five percent (95%) of the lesser of (x) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Offering Commencement Date, or if such Offering Commencement Date is not a Trading Day, the next business day that is a Trading Day, and (y) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Purchase Date, or if such Purchase Date is not a Trading Day, the next business day that is a Trading Day.

2.24 Reserves .

“Reserves” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.01.

2.25 Rule 16b-3 .

“Rule 16b-3” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.

2.26 Securities Act .

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section (or rule promulgated under) the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretive guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or other interpretive guidance.

2.27 Sub-Plan .

“Sub-Plan” means any sub-plan to this Plan that has been adopted by the Board or the Plan Administrator for the purpose of providing employees of Designated Foreign Affiliates or otherwise outside the United States of America the opportunity to (1) acquire a proprietary interest in the Company and (2) share in the Company’s future success by acquiring shares of Common Stock, with each such sub-plan designed to comply with local laws applicable to offerings in such foreign jurisdictions. Although any Sub-Plan may be designated a separate and independent plan from the Plan in order to comply with applicable local laws, the limits specified in Section 3.01 shall apply in the aggregate to the Plan and all Sub-Plans adopted hereunder.

2.28 Subscription .

“Subscription” means an Eligible Employee’s authorization for payment to be made by such Eligible Employee for Common Stock purchases under this Plan (including any Sub-Plan) in the form and manner specified by the Plan Administrator (which may include enrollment by submitting forms, by voice response, internet access or other electronic means).

2.29 Trading Day .

“Trading Day” means a day on which the national stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed is open for trading.

 

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ARTICLE III –SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

3.01 Shares of Common Stock Reserved For the Plan .

(a) Subject to adjustment in connection with any changes in capitalization of the Company, as provided for in Section 9.01, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan shall be 6,327,292.

(b) In connection with each Offering Period, the Plan Administrator may specify a maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be purchased by any Participant on any Purchase Date during such Offering Period, and/or by all Participants on any Purchase Date during such Offering Period. If the total number of shares of Common Stock to be issued on any Purchase Date exceeds the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan, the Company shall (1) make a pro-rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock available for delivery and distribution in as nearly a uniform manner as shall be practicable and the Plan Administrator determines to be equitable, (2) return the balance of payroll deductions credited to the account of each Participant under the Plan as promptly as practicable, and (3) have the discretion to terminate any or all Offering Periods then in effect pursuant to Section 5.01(a). If any rights granted under the Plan terminate for any reason without having been exercised, the shares of Common Stock not purchased under such rights shall again become available for issuance under the Plan.

3.02 Participant’s Interest in Rights to Purchase Common Stock .

(a) Until the applicable shares of Common Stock are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company), a Participant shall only have the rights of an unsecured creditor with respect to such shares of Common Stock, and no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to such shares of Common Stock.

(b) A Participant shall have no interest in the shares of Common Stock covered by a right to purchase such shares of Common Stock under the Plan until such right has been exercised.

ARTICLE IV – ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

4.01 Enrollment and Participation .

(a) Any individual who, on the day preceding an Offering Commencement Date, qualifies as an Eligible Employee may elect to become a Participant in the Plan for such Offering Period by completing and submitting a Subscription, in the form and manner prescribed for this purpose by the Company (including a payroll deduction authorization form). The Subscription shall be filed with the Company in accordance with the procedures as established by the Company, as may be in effect from time to time. Eligible Employees may not have more than one (1) Subscription in effect with respect to any Offering Period.

(b) Once enrolled in the Plan, a Participant shall continue to participate in the Plan until such Participant ceases to be an Eligible Employee or withdraws from the Offering Period or the Plan in accordance with Section 6.03. Under the foregoing automatic enrollment provisions, payroll deductions will continue at the level in effect immediately prior to any new Offering Commencement Date, unless changed in advance by the Participant in accordance with Section 6.03. A Participant who withdraws from the Plan in accordance with Section 6.03 may again become a Participant if such individual is then an Eligible Employee, by following the procedure described in Section 4.01(a).

 

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4.02 Limitations on Participation .

Notwithstanding any provisions of the Plan to the contrary, no Eligible Employee shall be granted a right to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan:

(a) if, immediately after the option is granted, such Eligible Employee owns shares of Common Stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of Common Stock (for purposes of this Section 4.02(a), the rules of Section 424 of the Code shall apply in determining stock ownership of any Eligible Employee), pursuant to the requirements of Section 423(b)(3) of the Code; or

(b) which permits such Eligible Employee to purchase shares of Common Stock under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its Designated Affiliates that shall accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 in Fair Market Value of the Common Stock (determined at the time such right to purchase Common Stock is granted) for each calendar year in which such right is outstanding, pursuant to the requirements of Section 423(b)(8) of the Code. When applying the limitations of this Section 4.02(b), (1) the right to purchase Common Stock under an option accrues when the option (or any portion thereof) first becomes exercisable during the calendar year, (2) the right to purchase Common Stock under an option accrues at the rate provided in the option, but in no case may such rate exceed $25,000 in Fair Market Value of such Common Stock (determined at the time such option is granted) for any one (1) calendar year, and (3) a right to purchase Common Stock which has accrued under one option granted pursuant to the Plan may not be carried over to any other option to purchase Common Stock.

ARTICLE V – OFFERING PERIODS

5.01 Offering Periods .

(a) The Plan shall be implemented through consecutive quarterly or semi-annual Offering Periods, as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator prior to the first Offering Period, with new Offering Commencement Dates commencing on the first Trading Day on or after (i) January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year (or at such other times as may be determined by the Plan Administrator) to the extent the Plan Administrator establishes quarterly Offering Periods, and (ii) January 1 and July 1 of each year (or at such other times as may be determined by the Plan Administrator) to the extent the Plan Administrator establishes semi-annual Offering Periods. The first Offering Period is expected to commence on January 1, 2016. Each Offering Period shall comply with the requirements of Section 423(b)(5) of the Code. The Plan Administrator shall have the power to terminate or change the duration and/or frequency of the Offering Periods (including the Offering Commencement Date) with respect to future Offering Periods without stockholder approval. Any such changes shall be announced prior to the scheduled beginning of the affected Offering Period.

(b) A Subscription that is in effect on an Offering End Date will automatically be deemed to be a Subscription for the Offering Period that commences immediately following such Offering End Date, provided that the Participant is still an Eligible Employee and has not withdrawn such Participant’s Subscription in accordance with Section 6.03. Payroll deductions will continue at the level in effect immediately prior to the new Offering Commencement Date, unless changed in advance by the Participant in accordance with Section 6.03.

 

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5.02 Grant of Option .

On each Offering Commencement Date, each Participant will automatically be granted an option to purchase as many shares of Common Stock (rounded down to the nearest whole share of Common Stock) as may be purchased with such Participant’s payroll deductions during the related Offering Period at the Purchase Price, subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3.01 and 4.02.

ARTICLE VI – PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS

6.01 Amount of Payroll Deductions .

An Eligible Employee’s Subscription shall authorize payroll deductions at a rate, in whole percentages, of no less than one percent (1%) and no more than fifteen percent (15%) of such Participant’s Base Compensation, as elected by the Participant, on each payroll date that the Subscription is in effect. Payroll deductions shall commence on the first payroll date following the Offering Commencement Date and shall continue until the Participant changes the rate of such Participant’s payroll deductions or terminates such Participant’s participation in the Plan, in each case, as provided for in Section 6.03.

6.02 Participant’s Account .

All payroll deductions made with respect to a Participant shall be credited to such Participant’s recordkeeping account under the Plan. A Participant may not make any separate cash payment into such account. No interest shall accrue or be paid on any amount withheld from a Participant’s pay under the Plan or credited to the Participant’s account, unless required by law. Except as provided in this Section 6.02, all amounts in a Participant’s account shall be used to purchase whole shares of Common Stock and no cash refunds shall be made from such account. Any amounts that are insufficient to purchase whole shares shall be credited to the Participant’s account, and added to any fractional amounts resulting on subsequent Purchase Dates. Upon liquidation or other closing of a Participant’s account, any fractional amounts shall be paid in cash to the Participant. In addition, any amounts that are withheld but unable to be applied to the purchase of Common Stock because of the limitations of Section 4.02 shall be returned to the Participant without interest and shall not be used to purchase shares of Common Stock with respect to any other Offering Period under the Plan.

6.03 No Changes in Payroll Deductions; Termination of Subscription .

(a) Except as may be permitted by the Plan Administrator, as determined in its sole discretion, following the Offering Commencement Date associated with an Offering Period, a Participant may terminate such Participant’s Subscription for the Offering Period (but may not otherwise increase or decrease such Participant’s level of elected payroll deductions) under the Subscription with respect to such Offering Period.

(b) Any termination of a Subscription shall only be deemed effective if such termination is executed pursuant to procedures established by the Plan Administrator. If a Participant terminates such Participant’s Subscription with respect to an Offering Period, the accumulated payroll deductions in such Participant’s account at the time the Subscription is withdrawn shall be paid without interest to such Participant as soon as practicable after receipt of such Participant’s notice of withdrawal and such Participant’s Subscription for the current Offering Period will be automatically terminated, and no further contributions for the purchase of shares of Common Stock will be made during the Offering Period or subsequent Offering Periods unless and until such Participant re-enrolls in the Plan pursuant to Section 4.01(a). Any re-enrollment in the Plan shall be effective only at the commencement of a subsequent Offering Period.

 

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ARTICLE VII – TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT/FAILURE TO REMAIN AN ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE

7.01 Termination of Employment/Failure to Remain an Eligible Employee .

Termination of a Participant’s employment for any reason, including, but not limited to, retirement and death, or the failure of a Participant to remain an Eligible Employee, in each case, shall immediately terminate such Participant’s participation in the Plan. In such event, the accumulated payroll deductions in such Participant’s account shall be paid without interest to such Participant (or such Participant’s beneficiary) as soon as practicable after such event. In such event, such Participant’s Subscription for the current Offering Period will be automatically terminated, and no further contributions for the purchase of shares of Common Stock will be made during the Offering Period or subsequent Offering Periods. For purposes of this Section 7.01, an Eligible Employee shall not be deemed to have terminated employment in the case of sick leave, military leave, or any other leave of absence approved by the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that such leave of absence is for a period of not more than ninety (90) days or re-employment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute.

ARTICLE VIII – EXERCISE OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

8.01 Automatic Exercise .

(a) Unless a Participant terminates such Participant’s Subscription as provided for in Section 6.03, a Participant’s right to purchase shares of Common Stock will be automatically exercised on each Purchase Date for the applicable Offering Period. The right to purchase shares of Common Stock will be exercised by using the accumulated payroll deductions in such Participant’s account as of each such Purchase Date to purchase the maximum number of whole shares of Common Stock (rounded down to the nearest whole share) that may be purchased at the Purchase Price. The number of whole shares of Common Stock that will be purchased for each Participant on the Purchase Date shall be determined by dividing (1) such Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions in such Participant’s account as of the Purchase Date by (2) the Purchase Price.

(b) At the time an option granted under the Plan is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time some or all of the shares of Common Stock issued to a Participant under the Plan are disposed of, the Participant must make adequate provisions for any applicable federal, state and/or local withholding tax and other applicable tax obligations, if any, which arise upon the Purchase Date or the disposition of the shares of Common Stock. At any time, the Company or a Designated Affiliate may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant’s compensation the amount necessary to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits attributable to the sale or disposition of shares of Common Stock by the Participant earlier than as described in Section 423(a)(1) of the Code.

8.02 Delivery of Common Stock .

(a) As promptly as practicable after each Purchase Date, the number of whole shares of Common Stock purchased by each Participant pursuant to Section 8.01 shall be deposited into an account established in the Participant’s name with the broker designed by the Plan Administrator for such purpose.

(b) Shares of Common Stock that are purchased under the Plan will be held in an account in the Participant’s name in uncertificated form. Furthermore, shares of Common Stock to be delivered to a Participant under the Plan will be registered in the “street name” of such Participant.

 

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ARTICLE IX – CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION; ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGE IN CONTROL

9.01 Changes in Capitalization .

Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, (1) the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each option under the Plan that have not yet been exercised, (2) the number of shares of Common Stock that have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but have not yet been placed under option (collectively, the “ Reserves ”), (3) the number of shares of Common Stock set forth in Section 3.01(a), (4) the Purchase Price per share, and (5) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be purchased by any Participant on any Purchase Date during an Offering Period, shall, if applicable, be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock (including any such change in the number of shares of Common Stock effected in connection with a change in domicile of the Company), or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, or any increase or decrease in the value of a share of Common Stock resulting from a spinoff or split-up; provided , however , that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Plan Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided for herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an option.

9.02 Adjustments Upon Change in Control .

(a) In the event of a Change in Control, the Board may take any action it deems necessary or desirable with respect to any option or ongoing Offering Period, including, but not limited to: (1) terminating the Plan and returning all contributions made by Participants in connection with such termination of the Plan, (2) establishing a New Purchase Date, or (3) providing that each outstanding option under the Plan will be assumed or an equivalent option will be substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation.

(b) For purposes of this Section 9.02, an option granted under the Plan shall be deemed to be assumed upon a Change in Control, if, at the time of issuance of the stock or other consideration, each holder of an option under the Plan would be entitled to receive the same number and kind of shares of stock or the same amount of property, cash or securities as such holder would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of the transaction if the holder had been, immediately prior to the transaction, the holder of the same number of shares of Common Stock covered by the option at such time (after giving effect to any adjustments in the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the option as provided for in Section 9.01); provided , however , that if the consideration received in the transaction is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code), the Plan Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon exercise of the option to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent equal in Fair Market Value to the per share consideration received by holders of shares of Common Stock in the transaction.

 

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ARTICLE X – ADMINISTRATION

10.01 Appointment of Plan Administrator .

The Plan Administrator shall administer the Plan. To the extent required for transactions under the Plan to qualify for the exemptions available under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (“ Rule 16b-3 ”), all actions relating to awards to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be taken by the Board unless each person who serves as the Plan Administrator is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 or such actions are taken by a sub-Plan Administrator of the Plan Administrator (or the Board) comprised solely of “non-employee directors.”

10.02 Authority of Plan Administrator .

The Plan Administrator shall have full and plenary authority, subject to the provisions of the Plan, to (1) promulgate such rules and regulations as it deems necessary for the proper administration of the Plan, (2) interpret the provisions of, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan, and supervise the administration of the Plan, (3) adopt Sub-Plans, and (4) take all action in connection therewith or in relation thereto as it deems advisable. All determinations by the Plan Administrator under the Plan shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be final, conclusive, and binding on all Persons. The Company shall pay all expenses incurred in connection with the administration of the Plan. No individual who serves as the Plan Administrator shall be personally liable for any action, determination, or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and all individuals who serve as the Plan Administrator shall be fully indemnified by the Company with respect to any such action, determination or interpretation, to the fullest extent permitted by law and the Company’s by-laws and certificate of incorporation.

ARTICLE XI – MISCELLANEOUS

11.01 Amendment and Termination .

(a) The Board may at any time and for any reason terminate the Plan. Except as provided in Article IX, no such termination of the Plan may affect options previously granted, provided that the Plan or an Offering Period may be terminated by the Plan Administrator on a Purchase Date or by the Board’s setting a New Purchase Date with respect to an Offering Period then in progress if the Board determines that termination of the Plan and/or the Offering Period is in the best interests of the Company and the stockholders or if continuation of the Plan and/or the Offering Period would cause the Company to incur adverse accounting charges as a result of a change after the effective date of the Plan in the generally accepted accounting principles applicable to the Plan. Either the Board or the Plan Administrator may amend the Plan. Except as provided in Section 9.01 and this Section 11.01, no amendment to the Plan shall make any change in any option previously granted that adversely affects the rights of any Participant. In addition, to the extent necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3 or Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any applicable law or regulation), the Company shall obtain stockholder approval in such a manner and to such a degree as so required.

(b) Without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any Participant’s rights may be considered to have been adversely affected, the Board or the Plan Administrator shall be entitled to change the Offering Period, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering Period, permit tax withholding in excess of the amount designated by a Participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company’s processing of properly completed withholding elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Common Stock for each Participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the Participant’s Base Compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Board or the Plan Administrator determines, in its sole discretion, are advisable and consistent with the Plan.

 

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(c) Upon termination of the Plan, the date of termination shall be considered a Purchase Date, and any cash remaining in Participants’ accounts will be applied to the purchase of Common Stock, unless otherwise determined by the Board. Upon termination of the Plan, the Board shall have the authority to establish administrative procedures regarding the exercise of outstanding rights to purchase shares of Common Stock or to determine that such rights shall not be exercised.

11.02 Use of Funds .

All payroll deductions received or held by the Company or any Designated Affiliate under this Plan may be used by the Company or such Designated Affiliate for any corporate purpose and neither the Company nor any Designated Affiliate shall be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.

11.03 Transferability; Notice of Disposition .

(a) Neither payroll deductions credited to a Participant’s account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of a right to purchase Common Stock or to receive shares of Common Stock under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged, or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or as provided in Section 7.01. Any such attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, or other disposition shall be void ab initio . During a Participant’s lifetime, rights to purchase shares of Common Stock that are held by such Participant shall be exercisable only by such Participant.

(b) Each Participant shall notify the Company, in writing, if such Participant disposes of any of the shares of Common Stock purchased in any Offering Period pursuant to the Plan if such disposition occurs within the Notice Period. The Company may, at any time during the Notice Period, place a legend or legends on any book entry representing shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan requesting that the Company’s transfer agent notify the Company of any transfer of such shares of Common Stock. The obligation of the Participant to provide such notice shall continue notwithstanding the placement of any such legend on the book entry.

11.04 Term; Stockholder Approval of the Plan .

The Plan shall be effective upon its approval by the Board and shall be approved by the stockholders of the Company, in any manner permitted by applicable corporate law, within twelve (12) months before or after the Plan is adopted by the Board. No purchase of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan shall occur prior to such stockholder approval. The Plan shall terminate on the earliest to occur of (1) termination of the Plan by the Plan Administrator (which termination may be effected by the Board at any time), (2) issuance of all of the shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan; or (3) the tenth (10 th ) anniversary of the earlier to occur of approval of the Plan by the Board or approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company.

11.05 No Employment Rights; Effect of the Plan .

(a) The Plan does not, directly or indirectly, create in any employee or class of employees, any right with respect to continuation of employment with the Company or any of its Affiliates, and it shall not be deemed to interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate employing such person to terminate, or otherwise modify, an employee’s employment at any time.

(b) The provisions of the Plan shall, in accordance with its terms, be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, all successors of each Participant, including, without limitation, such Participant’s estate and the executors, administrators or trustees thereof, heirs and legatees, and any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy or representative of creditors of such Participant.

 

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11.06 Governing Law .

The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and performed wholly within the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

11.07 Miscellaneous .

(a) Notices . All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the Person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

(b) Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares of Stock . Shares of Common Stock shall not be issued with respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of such shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, applicable state securities laws and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares of Common Stock may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require the person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the shares of Common Stock are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Common Stock if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.

 

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