As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 6, 2017

Registration No. 333-             

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Edgewater Technology, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   71-0788538

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

200 Harvard Mill Square, Suite 210

Wakefield, MA

  01880-3209
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Edgewater Technology, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan

(Full Title of the Plan)

Jeffrey Rutherford

Chairman, Interim President and Interim Chief Executive Officer

Edgewater Technology, Inc.

200 Harvard Mill Square, Suite 210

Wakefield, MA 01880-3209

(Name and Address of Agent For Service)

(781) 246-3343

(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer   ☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Securities

to be Registered

 

Amount

to be
Registered(1)

  Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share
 

Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price

 

Amount of

Registration Fee

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

  1,500,000 shares(2)   $6.7700(3)   $10,155,000(3)   $1,176.96

 

 

(1) In accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement shall be deemed to cover any additional securities that may from time to time be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
(2) Represents shares issuable under the Edgewater Technology, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
(3) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant’s Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on June 29, 2017.

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item 1. Plan Information.

The information required by Item 1 is included in documents sent or given to participants in the plan covered by this registration statement pursuant to Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.

The written statement required by Item 2 is included in documents sent or given to participants in the plan covered by this registration statement pursuant to Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The Registrant is subject to the informational and reporting requirements of Sections 13(a), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). The following documents, which are on file with the Commission, are incorporated in this registration statement by reference:

(a) The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Commission on March 15, 2017, including the information incorporated by reference into the Annual Report on Form 10-K from the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the Commission on Schedule 14A on April 25, 2017;

(b) The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 filed with the Commission on May 5, 2017;

(c) The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 3, 2017 (as amended by a Form 8-K/A filed on January 3, 2017), February 23, 2017 (as amended by a Form 8-K/A filed on February 27, 2017), March 9, 2017, March 16, 2017, April 14, 2017, May 5, 2017 and June 15, 2017; and

(d) The description of the securities contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on September 17, 1996, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for the purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.

 

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Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Delaware General Corporation Law

Section 145(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware General Corporation Law”) provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 145(b) of the Delaware General Corporation Law states that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

Section 145(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that to the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

 

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Section 145(d) of the Delaware General Corporation Law states that any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145. Such determination shall be made with respect to a person who is a director or officer of the corporation at the time of such determination (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.

Section 145(e) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director of the corporation in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized by Section 145. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents of the corporation or by persons serving at the request of the corporation as directors, officers, employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.

Section 145(f) of the Delaware General Corporation Law states that the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.

Section 145(g) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of Section 145.

Section 145(j) of the Delaware General Corporation Law states that the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

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Bylaws

The Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the Registrant shall indemnify any person who was or is party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was or has agreed to become a director or officer of the Registrant, or is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request to the Registrant as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, and may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to such an action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was or has agreed to become an employee or agent of the Registrant, or is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Registrant, as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, except that in the case of an action or suit by or in the right of the Registrant to procure a judgment in its favor (1) such indemnification shall be limited to expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in the defense or settlement of such action or suit, and (2) no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Registrant unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.

Any indemnification of a director or officer of the Registrant under the Amended and Restated Bylaws (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Registrant unless a determination is made that indemnification of the director or officer is not proper in the circumstances because he or she has not met the applicable standard of conduct. Any indemnification of an employee or agent of the Registrant under the Amended and Restated Bylaws (unless ordered by a court) may be made by the Registrant upon a determination that indemnification of the employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct. Any such determination shall be made (1) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such actions, suit or proceeding, or (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders.

Unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines in a specific case, expenses incurred by a director or officer in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Registrant in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Registrant as authorized by the Amended and Restated Bylaws. Such expenses incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate. The Board of Directors may authorize the Registrant’s legal counsel to represent such director, officer, employee or agent in any action, suit or proceeding, whether or not the Registrant is a party to such action, suit or proceeding.

 

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Certificate of Incorporation

Article Seven of the Registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Registrant’s directors will not be personally liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors except (a) for any breach of the duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which makes directors liable for unlawful dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions, or (d) for transactions from which directors derive improper personal benefit. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to permit further elimination or limitation of the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Registrant shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as so amended. Any repeal or modification of Article Seven shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Registrant existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

Article Eight of the Registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same may be amended from time to time, the Registrant shall indemnify any and all of its directors or any person who may have served at the Registrant’s request as a director and the indemnification provided for therein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders, vote of disinterested directors or otherwise, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such persons and the Registrant may but is not required to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any director to the extent permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Indemnification Agreements

The Registrant has also entered into indemnification agreements (each, an “Indemnification Agreement”) with its directors and officers (each, an “Indemnitee”), as further described below.

Indemnification. Subject to the determination of Indemnitee’s right to indemnification in certain instances and subject to specified exclusions from indemnification, the Registrant agrees to indemnify Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware in effect on the date of the Indemnification Agreement, or as such laws may from time to time be amended to increase the scope of such permitted indemnification, against any and all losses if Indemnitee was or is or becomes a party to or participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or participant in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative, investigative or other, and whether made pursuant to federal, state or other law, or any inquiry, hearing or investigation that Indemnitee determines might lead to the institution of any such action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism (collectively, a “Claim”) by reason of or arising in part out of any event or occurrence, whether occurring before, on or after the date of the Indemnification Agreement, related to the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant or any subsidiary of the Registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity or enterprise or by reason of an action or inaction by Indemnitee in any such capacity (whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any loss is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under the Indemnification Agreement) (collectively, an “Indemnifiable Event”), including, without limitation, Claims brought by or in the right of the Registrant, Claims brought by third parties, and Claims in which Indemnitee is solely a witness.

 

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Advancement of Expenses. Under the Indemnification Agreement, Indemnitee has the right to advancement by the Registrant, prior to the final disposition of any Claim by final adjudication to which there are no further rights of appeal, of any and all expenses actually and reasonably paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Claim arising out of an Indemnifiable Event. Indemnitee’s right to such advancement is not subject to the satisfaction of any standard of conduct. Indemnitee agrees to repay any amounts paid, advanced or reimbursed by the Registrant in respect of expenses relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Claim in respect of which it shall be determined, following the final disposition of such Claim, that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under the Indemnification Agreement. Indemnitee’s obligation to reimburse the Registrant for expense advances is unsecured, and no interest will be charged thereon.

Right to Indemnification. If Indemnitee is successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Claim, or Indemnitee’s involvement relates to preparation and service as a witness and not as a party, Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified against all losses incurred in connection therewith to the fullest extent allowable by law, and the Registrant need not determine if Indemnitee satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Delaware law. If Indemnitee must satisfy a standard of conduct to be entitled to indemnification under Delaware law, the Indemnification Agreement provides procedures, presumptions and defenses relating to such determination.

Non-Exclusivity. The rights of Indemnitee under the Indemnification Agreement are in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Registrant’s restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, the Delaware General Corporation Law, any other contract or otherwise (collectively, “Other Indemnity Provisions”); provided, however, that (a) to the extent that Indemnitee otherwise would have any greater right to indemnification under any Other Indemnity Provision, Indemnitee will be deemed to have such greater right under the Indemnification Agreement and (b) to the extent that any change is made to any Other Indemnity Provision which permits any greater right to indemnification than that provided under the Indemnification Agreement, Indemnitee will be deemed to have such greater right thereunder.

Insurance

The Registrant also maintains a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

The Exhibit Index immediately preceding the exhibits is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9. Undertakings.

1. Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K . The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

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(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however , that paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

2. Item 512(b) of Regulation S-K . The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

3. Item 512(h) of Regulation S-K . Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Wakefield, Massachusetts, on this 6th day of July, 2017.

 

EDGEWATER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
By:   /s/ Jeffrey Rutherford
 

Jeffrey Rutherford

Chairman, Interim President and Interim Chief Executive Officer

 

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POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES

We, the undersigned officers and directors of Edgewater Technology, Inc., hereby severally constitute and appoint Jeffrey Rutherford and Timothy Oakes, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to them, and each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, the registration statement on Form S-8 filed herewith and any and all subsequent amendments to said registration statement, and generally to do all such things in our names and on our behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Edgewater Technology, Inc. to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said registration statement and any and all amendments thereto.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Jeffrey Rutherford

Jeffrey Rutherford

   Chairman, Interim President and Interim Chief Executive Officer ( Principal Executive Officer )   July 6, 2017

/s/ Timothy R. Oakes

Timothy R. Oakes

   Chief Financial Officer ( Principal Financial and Accounting Officer )   July 6, 2017

/s/ Stephen Bova

Stephen Bova

   Director   July 6, 2017

/s/ Matthew Carpenter

Matthew Carpenter

   Director   July 6, 2017

/s/ Frederick DiSanto

Frederick DiSanto

   Director   July 6, 2017

/s/ Timothy Whelan

Timothy Whelan

   Director   July 6, 2017

/s/ Kurtis Wolf

Kurtis Wolf

   Director   July 6, 2017

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Number

 

Description

4.1(1)   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant
4.2(2)   Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant, as amended to date
5   Opinion of McDonald Hopkins LLC, counsel to the Registrant
23.1   Consent of McDonald Hopkins LLC (included in Exhibit 5)
23.2   Consent of BDO USA, LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
24   Power of attorney (included on the signature pages of this registration statement)
99   Edgewater Technology, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

(1) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) as an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 (File No. 000-20971) and incorporated herein by reference.
(2) Previously filed with the Commission as an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (File No. 000-20971) and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Exhibit 5

July 6, 2017

Edgewater Technology, Inc.

200 Harvard Mill Square, Suite 210

Wakefield, MA 01880

 

  Re: Edgewater Technology, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Edgewater Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) its Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) for the purpose of registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Shares”), to be granted under the Company’s 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

We have examined the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company, each as amended and restated to date, and originals, or copies certified to our satisfaction, of all pertinent records of the meetings of the directors and stockholders of the Company, the Plan, the Registration Statement and such other documents relating to the Company as we have deemed material for the purposes of this opinion.

In our examination of the foregoing documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, photostatic or other copies, the authenticity of the originals of any such documents and the legal competence of all signatories to such documents.

We assume that the appropriate action will be taken, prior to the offer and sale of the Shares in accordance with the Plan, to register and qualify the Shares for sale under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws. We express no opinion herein as to the laws of any state or jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United States of America.

It is understood that this opinion is to be used only in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares while the Registration Statement is in effect. Please note that we are opining only as to the matters expressly set forth herein, and no opinion should be inferred as to any other matters.

Based on the foregoing and subject to the limitations and qualifications stated herein, we are of the opinion that (i) the Company presently has at least 1,500,000 authorized but unissued shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, from which the 1,500,000 Shares proposed to be granted pursuant to the terms of the Plan may be issued, and (ii) assuming that the Company maintains an adequate number of authorized but unissued shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, available for issuance to those persons who may receive Shares in accordance with the Plan, the Shares, when and if issued pursuant to the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.


We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission in connection with the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

 

Very truly yours,

 

McDonald Hopkins LLC

/s/ McDonald Hopkins LLC

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our reports dated March 15, 2017, relating to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of Edgewater Technology, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

July 6, 2017

Exhibit 99

 

 

EDGEWATER TECHNOLOGY, INC.

2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

 


EDGEWATER TECHNOLOGY, INC.

2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

Edgewater Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), sets forth herein the terms of its 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), as follows:

 

1. PURPOSE

The Plan is intended to enhance the Company’s and its Affiliates’ (as defined herein) ability to attract and retain highly qualified officers, directors, key employees, and other persons, and to motivate such persons to serve the Company and its Affiliates and to expend maximum effort to improve the business results and earnings of the Company, by providing to such persons an opportunity to acquire or increase a direct proprietary interest in the operations and future success of the Company. To this end, the Plan provides for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units (or RSUs), unrestricted stock, dividend equivalent rights, and cash awards. Any of these awards may, but need not, be made as performance incentives to reward attainment of annual or long-term performance goals in accordance with the terms hereof. Stock options granted under the Plan may be non-qualified stock options or incentive stock options, as provided herein, except that stock options granted to outside directors and any consultants or advisers providing services to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company shall in all cases be non-qualified stock options.

 

2. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of interpreting the Plan and related documents (including Award Agreements), the following definitions shall apply:

2.1 “Administrator” means the Board or, where pursuant to Section 3.2 the Board has delegated its authority to the Committee or one or more directors of the Company, the Committee or such directors.

2.2 “Affiliate” means, with respect to any person or entity (such as the Company), any company or other trade or business that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such person or entity (such as the Company) within the meaning of Rule 405 of Regulation C under the Securities Act, including, without limitation, any subsidiary of such entity (such as a Subsidiary). For purposes of granting stock options or stock appreciation rights, an entity may not be considered an Affiliate if it results in noncompliance with Code Section 409A. Such noncompliance with Code Section 409A may result where stock options or stock appreciation rights are issued by an entity that is not in the chain of entities, including the Company, in which each entity has a controlling interest in another entity in the chain, ending with the entity for which the Service Provider provides direct services on the date of grant of such stock option or stock appreciation right.

2.3 “Annual Incentive Award” means an Award made subject to attainment of performance goals (as described in Section 14 ) over a performance period of up to one year (the Company’s fiscal year, unless otherwise specified by the Committee).

2.4 “Award” means a grant of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Unrestricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Dividend Equivalent Right, Performance Share, Performance Unit or cash award under the Plan.

2.5 “Award Agreement” means the agreement between the Company and a Grantee that evidences and sets out the terms and conditions of an Award.

2.6 “Benefit Arrangement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15 hereof.

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

2.8 “Cause” means, as determined by the Administrator and unless otherwise provided in an applicable agreement with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company, that a termination of Service shall have taken place as a result of (i) any act of personal dishonesty by a Grantee in connection with his or her responsibilities as a Service Provider and intended to result in substantial personal enrichment to the Grantee, (ii) the Grantee’s willful act constituting Gross Misconduct and which is injurious to the Company, or (iii) a Grantee’s conviction or plea of a felony which the Administrator reasonably believes had or will have a material detrimental effect on the Company’s reputation or business.

2.9 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.

 

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2.10 “Committee” means a committee of, and designated from time to time by resolution of, the Board (including the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors), which shall be constituted as provided in Section 3.2 .

2.11 “Company” means Edgewater Technology, Inc.

2.12 “Corporate Transaction” means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) any person or group of persons (as defined in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) together with its Affiliates, excluding employee benefit plans of the Company, is or becomes, directly or indirectly, the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or (ii) a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation or entity is consummated regardless of which entity is the survivor, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (iii) the Company is completely liquidated or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets are sold.

2.13 “Covered Employee” means a Grantee who is a covered employee within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.

2.14 “Disability” means the Grantee is unable to perform each of the essential duties of such Grantee’s position by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which is potentially permanent in character or which can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; provided, however, that, with respect to rules regarding expiration of an Incentive Stock Option following termination of the Grantee’s Service, Disability shall mean the Grantee is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

2.15 “Dividend Equivalent Right” means a right, granted to a Grantee under Section 13 hereof, to receive cash, Stock, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments.

2.16 “Effective Date” means June 14, 2017, the date the Plan was approved by the stockholders.

2.17 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.

2.18 “Fair Market Value” means the value of a share of Stock, determined as follows: if on the Grant Date the Stock is listed on an established national or regional stock exchange, or is publicly traded on an established securities market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of the Stock on such exchange or in such market (if there is more than one such exchange or market the Administrator shall determine the appropriate exchange or market) on the Grant Date (or if there is no such reported closing price, the Fair Market Value shall be the mean between the high and low sale prices on such trading day) or, if no sale of Stock is reported for such trading day, on the next preceding day on which any sale shall have been reported. If the Stock is not listed on such an exchange, quoted on such system or traded on such a market, Fair Market Value shall be the value of the Stock as determined by the Administrator by the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method in a manner consistent with Code Section 409A.

2.19 “Family Member” means a person who is a spouse, former spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother, sister, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, of the Grantee, any person sharing the Grantee’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which any one or more of these persons have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which any one or more of these persons (or the Grantee) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which one or more of these persons (or the Grantee) own more than fifty percent of the voting interests.

2.20 “Grant Date” means, as determined by the Administrator, the latest to occur of (i) the date as of which the Administrator approves an Award, (ii) the date on which the recipient of an Award first becomes eligible to receive an Award under Section 6 hereof, or (iii) such other date as may be specified by the Administrator in the Award.

2.21 “Grantee” means a person who receives or holds an Award under the Plan.

2.22 “Gross Misconduct” means (i) theft or damage of Company property; (ii) use, possession, sale or distribution of illegal drugs; (iii) being under the influence of alcohol or drugs (except to the extent medically prescribed) while on duty or on Company premises; (iv) involvement in activities representing conflicts of interest; (v) improper disclosure of confidential information; (vi) conduct endangering, or likely to endanger, the health or safety of another Service Provider; or (vii) falsifying or misrepresenting information on Company records.

 

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2.23 “Incentive Stock Option” means an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, or the corresponding provision of any subsequently enacted tax statute, as amended from time to time.

2.24 “Non-qualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

2.25 “Option” means an option to purchase one or more shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan.

2.26 “Option Price” means the exercise price for each share of Stock subject to an Option.

2.27 “Other Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15 hereof.

2.28 “Outside Director” means a member of the Board who is not an officer or employee of the Company.

2.29 “Performance Award” means an Award made subject to the attainment of performance goals (as described in Section 14 ) over a performance period of up to five (5) years.

2.30 “Performance-Based Compensation” means compensation under an Award that is intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for certain performance-based compensation paid to Covered Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Plan shall be construed to mean that an Award which does not satisfy the requirements for performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m) does not constitute performance-based compensation for other purposes, including Code Section 409A.

2.31 “Performance Measures” means measures as described in Section 14 on which the performance goals are based and which are approved by the Company’s shareholders pursuant to this Plan in order to qualify Awards as Performance-Based Compensation.

2.32 “Performance Period” means the period of time during which the performance goals must be met in order to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to an Award.

2.33 “Performance Share” means an Award under Section 14 herein and subject to the terms of this Plan, denominated in Shares, the value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a function of the extent to which corresponding performance criteria have been achieved.

2.34 “Performance Unit” means an Award under Section 14 herein and subject to the terms of this Plan, denominated in units, the value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a function of the extent to which corresponding performance criteria have been achieved. Unless otherwise stated as payable in shares of Stock, each Performance Unit is valued at one dollar.

2.35 “Plan” means this Edgewater Technology, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

2.36 “Purchase Price” means the purchase price for each share of Stock pursuant to a grant of Restricted Stock or Unrestricted Stock.

2.37 “Reporting Person” means a person who is required to file reports under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

2.38 “Restricted Stock” means shares of Stock, awarded to a Grantee pursuant to Section 10 hereof.

2.39 “Restricted Stock Unit” or “RSU” means a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of one share of Stock awarded to a Grantee pursuant to Section 10 hereof.

2.40 “SAR Exercise Price” means the per share exercise price of a SAR granted to a Grantee under Section 9 hereof.

2.41 “SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

2.42 “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.

2.43 “Service” means service as a Service Provider to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee’s change in position or duties shall not result in interrupted or terminated Service, so long as such Grantee continues to be a Service Provider to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company. Subject to the preceding sentence, whether a termination of Service shall have occurred for purposes of the Plan shall be determined by the Administrator, which determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

2.44 “Service Provider” means an employee, officer or director of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company, or a consultant or adviser (who is a natural person) currently providing services to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

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2.45 “Stock” means the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company.

2.46 “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted to a Grantee under Section 9 hereof.

2.47 “Subsidiary” means any “subsidiary corporation” of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.

2.48 “Substitute Awards” means Awards granted under the Plan in connection with a corporate transaction, such as a merger, combination, consolidation, or acquisition of property or stock, upon assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company or other entity acquired by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company or with which the Company or any Affiliate of the Company combines.

2.49 “Ten Percent Stockholder” means an individual who owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of the Company, its parent or any of its Subsidiaries. In determining stock ownership, the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall be applied.

2.50 “Unrestricted Stock” means an Award pursuant to Section 11 hereof.

 

3. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

 

  3.1. Board.

The Board shall have such powers and authorities related to the administration of the Plan as are consistent with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and by-laws and applicable law. The Board shall have full power and authority to take all actions and to make all determinations required or provided for under the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement, and shall have full power and authority to take all such other actions and make all such other determinations not inconsistent with the specific terms and provisions of the Plan that the Board deems to be necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement. All such actions and determinations shall be by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board present at a meeting or by unanimous consent of the Board executed in writing in accordance with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and by-laws and applicable law. The interpretation and construction by the Board of any provision of the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

  3.2. Committee.

The Board from time to time may delegate to the Committee such powers and authorities related to the administration and implementation of the Plan, as set forth in Section 3.1 above and other applicable provisions, as the Board shall determine, consistent with the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company and applicable law.

(i) Except as provided in Subsection (ii) and except as the Board may otherwise determine, the Committee, if any, appointed by the Board to administer the Plan shall consist of two or more Outside Directors of the Company who: (a) qualify as “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and who (b) qualify as “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 (or its successor) under the Exchange Act and who (c) comply with the independence requirements of the stock exchange on which the Stock is listed.

(ii) The Board may also appoint one or more separate committees of the Board, each composed of one or more directors of the Company who need not be Outside Directors, but one of whom must be the Chief Executive Officer (or functional equivalent), who may administer the Plan with respect to employees or other Service Providers who are not officers or directors of the Company, may grant Awards under the Plan to such employees or other Service Providers, and may determine all terms of such Awards.

In the event that the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement entered into hereunder provides for any action to be taken by or determination to be made by the Board, such action may be taken or such determination may be made by an Administrator if the power and authority to do so has been delegated to such Administrator by the Board as provided for in this Section. Unless otherwise expressly determined by the Board, any such action or determination by the Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive. To the extent permitted by law, the Committee may delegate its authority under the Plan to a member of the Board.

 

  3.3. Terms of Awards.

Subject to the other terms and conditions of the Plan or any restrictive delegation of authority by the Board or any Committee, the Administrator shall have full and final authority to:

(i) designate Grantees,

(ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be made to a Grantee,

 

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(iii) determine the number of shares of Stock to be subject to an Award,

(iv) establish the terms and conditions of each Award (including, but not limited to, the exercise price of any Option, the nature and duration of any restriction or condition (or provision for lapse thereof) relating to the vesting, exercise, transfer, or forfeiture of an Award or the shares of Stock subject thereto, the treatment of an Award in the event of a change of control, and any terms or conditions that may be necessary to qualify Options as Incentive Stock Options),

(v) prescribe the form of each Award Agreement evidencing an Award, and

(vi) subject to Section 3.4 , amend, modify, or supplement the terms of any outstanding Award. Such authority specifically includes the authority, in order to effectuate the purposes of the Plan but without amending the Plan, to modify Awards to eligible individuals who are foreign nationals or are individuals who are employed outside the United States to recognize differences in local law, tax policy, or custom. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, modification or supplement of any Award shall, without the consent of the Grantee, impair the Grantee’s rights under such Award or give rise to a modification for purposes of Code Section 409A. A change in the terms of an Award that directly or indirectly reduces the exercise price of the Award will generally be treated as a modification for purposes of Code Section 409A.

The Company may retain the right in an Award Agreement to cause a forfeiture of the gain realized by a Grantee on account of actions taken by the Grantee in violation or breach of or in conflict with any employment agreement, non-competition agreement, any agreement prohibiting solicitation of employees or clients of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company thereof or any confidentiality obligation with respect to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company thereof or otherwise in competition with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company thereof, to the extent specified in such Award Agreement applicable to the Grantee. In addition, the Company may annul an Award if the Grantee is an employee of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company thereof and is terminated for Cause as defined in the applicable Award Agreement or the Plan, as applicable.

If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and any Grantee who knowingly engaged in the misconduct, was grossly negligent in engaging in the misconduct, knowingly failed to prevent the misconduct or was grossly negligent in failing to prevent the misconduct, shall be obligated if so required by the Administrator, to reimburse the Company for the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award earned or accrued during the twelve-(12)month period following the first public issuance or filing with the SEC (whichever first occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement.

Furthermore, if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, and the Company has adopted a policy for the recovery of erroneously awarded compensation in accordance with rules promulgated by the SEC under Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, any current or former executive officer of the Company who received any Awards under the Plan during the three-year period preceding the date on which the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement, based on the erroneous data, shall reimburse the Company in accordance with such policy and rules for any incentive-based compensation in excess of what would have been paid to such executive officer under the accounting restatement.

 

  3.4. No Repricing.

Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, no amendment or modification may be made to an outstanding Option or SAR, including, without limitation, by replacement of Options or SARs with cash or other award type, that would be treated as a repricing under the rules of the stock exchange on which the Stock is listed, in each case, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, provided, that, appropriate adjustments may be made to outstanding Options and SARs pursuant to Section 5.3 or Section 17 and may be made to make changes to achieve compliance with applicable law, including Internal Revenue Code Section 409A.

 

  3.5. No Liability.

No Administrator shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement.

 

  3.6. Share Issuance/Book-Entry.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, the issuance of the Stock under the Plan may be evidenced in such a manner as the Administrator, in its discretion, deems appropriate, including, without limitation, book-entry registration or issuance of one or more Stock certificates.

 

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4. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

 

  4.1. Number of Shares Available for Awards.

Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 17 hereof, the number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be equal to [one million five hundred thousand (1,500,000)], all of which may be granted as Incentive Stock Options. Stock issued or to be issued under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued shares or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, issued shares that have been reacquired by the Company.

 

  4.2. Adjustments in Authorized Shares.

The Administrator shall have the right to substitute or assume Awards in connection with mergers, reorganizations, separations, or other transactions to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies. The number of shares of Stock reserved pursuant to Section 4 shall be increased by the corresponding number of Awards assumed and, in the case of a substitution, by the net increase in the number of shares of Stock subject to Awards before and after the substitution. No substitution or assumption shall be made if the same would be treated as a grant of new stock right or a change in the form of payment for purposes of Code Section 409A. A change in the terms of an Award that directly or indirectly reduces the exercise price of the Award will generally be treated as the grant of a new stock right.

 

  4.3. Share Usage.

Shares covered by an Award shall be counted as used as of the Grant Date. Any shares of Stock that are subject to Awards of Options shall be counted against the limit set forth in Section 4.1 as one (1) share for every one (1) share subject to an Award of Options. With respect to SARs, the number of shares subject to an award of SARs will be counted against the aggregate number of shares available for issuance under the Plan regardless of the number of shares actually issued to settle the SAR upon exercise. Any shares that are subject to Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against the limit set forth in Section 4.1 as 1.63 shares for every one (1) share granted. If any shares covered by an Award granted under the Plan are not purchased or are forfeited or expire, or if an Award otherwise terminates without delivery of any Stock subject thereto or is settled in cash in lieu of shares, then the number of shares of Stock counted against the aggregate number of shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, termination or expiration, again be available for making Awards under the Plan in the same amount as such shares were counted against the limit set forth in Section 4.1 . The number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall not be increased by (i) any shares of Stock tendered or withheld or Award surrendered in connection with the purchase of shares of Stock upon exercise of an Option as described in Section 12.2 , (ii) any shares of Stock deducted or delivered from an Award payment in connection with the Company’s tax withholding obligations as described in Section 18.3 or (iii) any shares of Stock repurchased by the Company using Option exercise proceeds.

 

5. EFFECTIVE DATE, DURATION AND AMENDMENTS

 

  5.1. Effective Date.

The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date.

 

  5.2. Term.

The Plan shall terminate automatically ten (10) years after the Effective Date and may be terminated on any earlier date as provided in Section 5.3 .

 

  5.3. Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

The Board may, at any time and from time to time, amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan as to any shares of Stock as to which Awards have not been made. An amendment shall be contingent on approval of the Company’s stockholders to the extent stated by the Board, required by applicable law or required by applicable stock exchange listing requirements. No Awards shall be made after termination of the Plan. No amendment, suspension, or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of the Grantee, impair rights or obligations under any Award theretofore awarded under the Plan.

 

6. AWARD ELIGIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS

 

  6.1. Service Providers and Other Persons.

Subject to this Section 6 , Awards may be made under the Plan to: (i) any Service Provider to the Company or of any Affiliate of the Company, including any Service Provider who is an officer or director of the Company, or of any Affiliate of the Company, as the Administrator shall determine and designate from time to time and (ii) any other individual whose participation in the Plan is determined to be in the best interests of the Company by the Administrator.

 

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  6.2. Successive Awards and Substitute Awards.

An eligible person may receive more than one Award, subject to such restrictions as are provided herein. Notwithstanding Sections 8.1 and 9.1 , the Option Price of an Option or the grant price of a SAR that is a Substitute Award may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the original date of grant; provided, that, the Option Price or grant price is determined in accordance with (i) the principles of Code Section 424 and the regulations thereunder; and (ii)  Section 4.2 hereof.

 

  6.3. Limitation on Shares of Stock Subject to Awards and Cash Awards.

During any time when the Company has a class of equity security registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act:

(i) the maximum number of shares of Stock subject to Options or SARs that can be awarded under the Plan to any person eligible for an Award under Section 6 hereof is two hundred thousand (200,000) per twelve-month period; provided, however, the maximum number of shares of Stock subject to Options or SARs that can be awarded under the Plan to any person eligible for an Award under Section 6 in the year that the person is first employed by the Company is three hundred thousand (300,000);

(ii) the maximum number of shares that can be awarded under the Plan, other than pursuant to Options or SARs, to any person eligible for an Award under Section 6 hereof is fifty thousand (50,000) per twelve-month period; provided, however, the maximum number of shares of Stock subject to Awards other than Options or SARs that can be awarded under the Plan to any person eligible for an Award under Section 6 in the year that the person is first employed by the Company is one hundred thousand (100,000); and

(iii) the maximum amount that may be earned as an Annual Incentive Award or other cash Award in any twelve-month period by any person eligible for an Award shall be one million dollars ($1,000,000) and the maximum amount that may be earned as a Performance Award or other cash Award in respect of a performance period by any person eligible for an Award shall be two million dollars ($2,000,000).

The preceding limitations in this Section 6.3 are subject to adjustment as provided in Section 17 hereof.

 

7. AWARD AGREEMENT

Each Award granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, in such form or forms as the Administrator shall from time to time determine. Award Agreements granted from time to time or at the same time need not contain similar provisions but shall be consistent with the terms of the Plan. Each Award Agreement evidencing an Award of Options shall specify whether such Options are intended to be Non-qualified Stock Options or Incentive Stock Options, and in the absence of such specification such options shall be deemed Non-qualified Stock Options.

 

8. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS

 

  8.1. Option Price.

The Option Price of each Option shall be fixed by the Administrator and stated in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option. Except in the case of Substitute Awards, the Option Price of each Option shall be at least the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date of a share of Stock; provided , however , that in the event that a Grantee is a Ten Percent Stockholder, the Option Price of an Option granted to such Grantee that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Grant Date. In no case shall the Option Price of any Option be less than the par value of a share of Stock.

 

  8.2. Vesting.

Subject to Sections 8.3 and 17.3 hereof, each Option granted under the Plan shall become exercisable at such times and under such conditions as shall be determined by the Administrator and stated in the Award Agreement. For purposes of this Section 8.2 , fractional numbers of shares of Stock subject to an Option shall be rounded down to the next nearest whole number.

 

  8.3. Term.

Each Option granted under the Plan shall terminate, and all rights to purchase shares of Stock thereunder shall cease, upon the expiration of ten years from the date such Option is granted, or under such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is set forth in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Administrator and stated in the Award Agreement relating to such Option; provided , however , that in the event that the Grantee is a Ten Percent Stockholder, an Option granted to such Grantee that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five years from its Grant Date. If on the day preceding the date on which a Grantee’s Options would otherwise terminate, the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock underlying a Grantee’s Options is greater than the Option Price of such Options, the Company shall, prior to the termination of such Options and without any action being taken on the part of the Grantee, consider such Options to have been exercised by the Grantee. The Company shall deduct from the shares of Stock deliverable to the Grantee upon such exercise the number of shares of Stock necessary to satisfy payment of the Option Price and all withholding obligations.

 

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  8.4. Termination of Service.

Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Grantee shall have the right to exercise the Option following termination of the Grantee’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of Service.

 

  8.5. Limitations on Exercise of Option.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in no event may any Option be exercised, in whole or in part, prior to the date the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company as provided herein or after the occurrence of an event referred to in Section 17 hereof which results in termination of the Option.

 

  8.6. Method of Exercise.

Subject to the terms of Article 12 and Section 18.3 , an Option that is exercisable may be exercised by the Grantee’s delivery to the Company of notice of exercise on any business day, at the Company’s principal office, on the form specified by the Company. Such notice shall specify the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Option is being exercised and shall be accompanied by payment in full of the Option Price of the shares for which the Option is being exercised plus the amount (if any) of federal and/or other taxes which the Company may, in its judgment, be required to withhold with respect to an Award.

 

  8.7. Rights of Holders of Options.

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, an individual holding or exercising an Option shall have none of the rights of a stockholder (for example, the right to receive cash or dividend payments or distributions attributable to the subject shares of Stock or to direct the voting of the subject shares of Stock) until the shares of Stock covered thereby are fully paid and issued to him or her. Except as provided in Section 17 hereof, no adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date of such issuance.

 

  8.8. Delivery of Stock Certificates.

Promptly after the exercise of an Option by a Grantee and the payment in full of the Option Price, such Grantee shall be entitled to the issuance of a stock certificate or certificates or, as provided in Section 3.6 , a book entry registration evidencing his or her ownership of the shares of Stock subject to the Option.

 

  8.9. Transferability of Options.

Except as provided in Section 8.10 , during the lifetime of a Grantee, only the Grantee (or, in the event of legal incapacity or incompetency, the Grantee’s guardian or legal representative) may exercise an Option. Except as provided in Section 8.10 , no Option shall be assignable or transferable by the Grantee to whom it is granted, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

  8.10. Family Transfers.

If authorized in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee may transfer, not for value, all or part of an Option which is not an Incentive Stock Option to any Family Member. For the purpose of this Section 8.10 , a “not for value” transfer is a transfer which is (i) a gift, (ii) a transfer under a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights; or (iii) a transfer to an entity in which more than fifty percent of the voting interests are owned by Family Members (or the Grantee) in exchange for an interest in that entity. Following a transfer under this Section 8.10 , any such Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer. Subsequent transfers of transferred Options are prohibited except to Family Members of the original Grantee in accordance with this Section 8.10 or by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The events of termination of Service of Section 8.4 hereof shall continue to be applied with respect to the original Grantee, following which the Option shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent, and for the periods specified, in Section 8.4 .

 

  8.11. Limitations on Incentive Stock Options.

An Option shall constitute an Incentive Stock Option only (i) if the Grantee of such Option is an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; (ii) to the extent specifically provided in the related Award Agreement; and (iii) to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the Option is granted) of the shares of Stock with respect to which all Incentive Stock Options held by such Grantee become exercisable for the first time during any calendar year (under the Plan and all other plans of the Grantee’s employer and its Affiliates) does not exceed $100,000. This limitation shall be applied by taking Options into account in the order in which they were granted.

 

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  8.12. Notice of Disqualifying Disposition.

If any Grantee shall make any disposition of shares of Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option under the circumstances described in Code Section 421(b) (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions), such Grantee shall notify the Company of such disposition within ten (10) days thereof.

 

9. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

  9.1. Right to Payment and Grant Price.

A SAR shall confer on the Grantee to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the SAR as determined by the Administrator. The Award Agreement for a SAR shall specify the grant price of the SAR, which shall be at least the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant. SARs may be granted in conjunction with all or part of an Option granted under the Plan or at any subsequent time during the term of such Option, in conjunction with all or part of any other Award or without regard to any Option or other Award; provided that a SAR that is granted subsequent to the Grant Date of a related Option must have a SAR Price that is no less than the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the SAR Grant Date.

 

  9.2. Other Terms.

The Administrator shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter, the time or times at which and the circumstances under which a SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the time or times at which SARs shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of Service or upon other conditions, the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, method by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Grantees, whether or not a SAR shall be in tandem or in combination with any other Award, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR.

 

  9.3. Term.

Each SAR granted under the Plan shall terminate, and all rights thereunder shall cease, upon the expiration of ten years from the date such SAR is granted, or under such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is set forth in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Administrator and stated in the Award Agreement relating to such SAR.

 

  9.4. Transferability of SARS.

Except as provided in Section 9.5 , during the lifetime of a Grantee, only the Grantee (or, in the event of legal incapacity or incompetency, the Grantee’s guardian or legal representative) may exercise a SAR. Except as provided in Section 9.5 , no SAR shall be assignable or transferable by the Grantee to whom it is granted, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

  9.5. Family Transfers.

If authorized in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee may transfer, not for value, all or part of a SAR to any Family Member. For the purpose of this Section 9.5 , a “not for value” transfer is a transfer which is (i) a gift, (ii) a transfer under a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights; or (iii) a transfer to an entity in which more than fifty percent of the voting interests are owned by Family Members (or the Grantee) in exchange for an interest in that entity. Following a transfer under this Section 9.5 , any such SAR shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer. Subsequent transfers of transferred SARs are prohibited except to Family Members of the original Grantee in accordance with this Section 9.5 or by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

10. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

  10.1. Grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may be made for no consideration (other than par value of the shares which is deemed paid by Services already rendered).

 

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  10.2. Restrictions.

At the time a grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units is made, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, establish a period of time (a “restricted period”) applicable to such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units. Each Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may be subject to a different restricted period. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, at the time a grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units is made, prescribe restrictions in addition to or other than the expiration of the restricted period, including the satisfaction of corporate or individual performance objectives, which may be applicable to all or any portion of the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units as described in Article 14 . Neither Restricted Stock nor Restricted Stock Units may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of during the restricted period or prior to the satisfaction of any other restrictions prescribed by the Administrator with respect to such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

 

  10.3. Restricted Stock Certificates.

The Company shall issue, in the name of each Grantee to whom Restricted Stock has been granted, stock certificates representing the total number of shares of Restricted Stock granted to the Grantee, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Grant Date. The Administrator may provide in an Award Agreement that either (i) the Secretary of the Company shall hold such certificates for the Grantee’s benefit until such time as the Restricted Stock is forfeited to the Company or the restrictions lapse, or (ii) such certificates shall be delivered to the Grantee, provided , however , that such certificates shall bear a legend or legends that comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and makes appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed under the Plan and the Award Agreement. In the alternative, as provided in Section 3.6 , the Company may make a book entry registration evidencing a Grantee’s ownership of shares of Restricted Stock.

 

  10.4. Rights of Holders of Restricted Stock.

Unless the Administrator otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, holders of Restricted Stock shall have the right to vote such Stock and the right to receive any dividends declared or paid with respect to such Stock. The Administrator may provide that any dividends paid on Restricted Stock must be reinvested in shares of Stock, which may or may not be subject to the same vesting conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock. All distributions, if any, received by a Grantee with respect to Restricted Stock as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares, or other similar transaction shall be subject to the restrictions applicable to the original Grant.

 

  10.5. Rights of Holders of Restricted Stock Units.

10.5.1. Voting and Dividend Rights.

Holders of Restricted Stock Units shall have no rights as stockholders of the Company. The Administrator may provide in an Award Agreement evidencing a grant of Restricted Stock Units that the holder of such Restricted Stock Units shall be entitled to receive, upon the Company’s payment of a cash dividend on its outstanding Stock, a cash payment for each Restricted Stock Unit held equal to the per-share dividend paid on the Stock. Such Award Agreement may also provide that such cash payment will be deemed reinvested in additional Restricted Stock Units at a price per unit equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date that such dividend is paid. No rights of a Restricted Stock Unit issued hereunder shall be directly or indirectly contingent upon the exercise of a Stock right.

10.5.2. Creditor’s Rights.

A holder of Restricted Stock Units shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Restricted Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement.

 

  10.6. Termination of Service.

Unless the Administrator otherwise provides in an Award Agreement or in writing after the Award Agreement is issued, upon the termination of a Grantee’s Service, any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units held by such Grantee that have not vested, or with respect to which all applicable restrictions and conditions have not lapsed, shall immediately be deemed forfeited. Upon forfeiture of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, the Grantee shall have no further rights with respect to such Award, including but not limited to any right to vote Restricted Stock or any right to receive dividends with respect to shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

 

  10.7. Purchase of Restricted Stock.

The Grantee shall be required, to the extent required by applicable law, to purchase the Restricted Stock from the Company at a Purchase Price equal to the greater of (i) the aggregate par value of the shares of Stock represented by such Restricted Stock or (ii) the Purchase Price, if any, specified in the Award Agreement relating to such Restricted Stock. The Purchase Price shall be payable in a form described in Section 12 or, in the discretion of the Administrator, in consideration for past or future Services rendered to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

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  10.8. Delivery of Stock.

Upon the expiration or termination of any restricted period and the satisfaction of any other conditions prescribed by the Administrator, the restrictions applicable to shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units settled in Stock shall lapse, and, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, a stock certificate for such shares shall be delivered, free of all such restrictions, to the Grantee or the Grantee’s beneficiary or estate, as the case may be. Neither the Grantee, nor the Grantee’s beneficiary or estate, shall have any further rights with regard to a Restricted Stock Unit once the share of Stock represented by the Restricted Stock Unit has been delivered.

 

11. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at par value or such other higher purchase price determined by the Administrator) an Unrestricted Stock Award to any Grantee pursuant to which such Grantee may receive shares of Stock free of any restrictions (“Unrestricted Stock”) under the Plan. Unrestricted Stock Awards may be granted or sold as described in the preceding sentence in respect of past services and other valid consideration, or in lieu of, or in addition to, any cash compensation due to such Grantee.

 

12. FORM OF PAYMENT FOR OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED STOCK

 

  12.1. General Rule.

Payment of the Option Price for the shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option or the Purchase Price for Restricted Stock shall be made in cash or in cash equivalents acceptable to the Company.

 

  12.2. Surrender of Stock.

To the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option or the Purchase Price for Restricted Stock may be made all or in part through the tender or attestation to the Company of shares of Stock, which shall be valued, for purposes of determining the extent to which the Option Price or Purchase Price has been paid thereby, at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise or surrender.

 

  12.3. Cashless Exercise.

With respect to an Option only (and not with respect to Restricted Stock), to the extent permitted by law and to the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option may be made all or in part by delivery (on a form acceptable to the Administrator) of an irrevocable direction to a licensed securities broker acceptable to the Company to sell shares of Stock and to deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company in payment of the Option Price and any withholding taxes described in Section 18.3 .

 

  12.4. Other Forms of Payment.

To the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for shares purchased pursuant to exercise of an Option or the Purchase Price for Restricted Stock may be made in any other form that is consistent with applicable laws, regulations and rules, including, without limitation, Service.

 

13. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS

 

  13.1. Dividend Equivalent Rights.

A Dividend Equivalent Right is an Award entitling the recipient to receive credits based on cash distributions that would have been paid on the shares of Stock specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other award to which it relates) if such shares had been issued to and held by the recipient. A Dividend Equivalent Right may be granted hereunder to any Grantee. The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be specified in the grant. Dividend equivalents credited to the holder of a Dividend Equivalent Right may be paid currently or may be deemed to be reinvested in additional shares of Stock, which may thereafter accrue additional equivalents. Any such reinvestment shall be at Fair Market Value on the date of reinvestment. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or Stock or a combination thereof, in a single installment or installments, all determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award may provide that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall be settled upon exercise, settlement, or payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, such other award, and that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall expire or be forfeited or annulled under the same conditions as such other award. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award may also contain terms and conditions different from such other award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Dividend Equivalent Right shall be directly or indirectly contingent upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

 

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  13.2. Termination of Service.

Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Agreement or in writing after the Award Agreement is issued, a Grantee’s rights in all Dividend Equivalent Rights or interest equivalents shall automatically terminate upon the Grantee’s termination of Service for any reason.

 

14. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PERFORMANCE SHARES, PERFORMANCE UNITS, PERFORMANCE AWARDS AND ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS

 

  14.1. Grant of Performance Units/Performance Shares.

Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Performance Units and/or Performance Shares to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine. The Award Agreement evidencing any Performance Unit and/or Performance Share that does not fall within an exception to Code Section 409A shall include appropriate acceleration, deferral, and timing limitations required to comply with Code Section 409A.

 

  14.2. Value of Performance Units/Performance Shares.

Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Administrator at the time of grant. The Administrator shall set performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the value and/or number of Performance Units/Performance Shares that will be paid out to the Participant.

 

  14.3. Earning of Performance Units/Performance Shares.

Subject to the terms of this Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units/Performance Shares shall be entitled to receive payout on the value and number of Performance Units/Performance Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance goals have been achieved.

 

  14.4. Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units/Performance Shares.

Payment of earned Performance Units/Performance Shares shall be as determined by the Administrator and as evidenced in the Award Agreement. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units/Performance Shares in the form of cash or in shares (or in a combination thereof) equal to the value of the earned Performance Units/Performance Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period, or as soon as practicable after the end of the Performance Period. Any Shares may be granted subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee. The determination of the Committee with respect to the form of payout of such Awards shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the Award.

 

  14.5. Performance Conditions.

The right of a Grantee to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Administrator. The Administrator may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions. If and to the extent required under Code Section 162(m), any power or authority relating to an Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m), shall be exercised by the Committee.

 

  14.6. Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees.

If and to the extent that the Administrator determines that an Award to be granted to a Grantee who is designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Code Section 162(m), the grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Award shall be contingent upon achievement of pre-established performance goals and other terms set forth in this Section 14.6 .

14.6.1. Performance Goals Generally.

The performance goals for such Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 14.6 . Performance goals shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder including the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in the achievement of performance goals being “substantially uncertain.” The Committee may determine that such Awards shall be granted, exercised and/or settled upon achievement of any one performance goal or that two or more of the performance goals must be achieved as a condition to grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Awards. Performance goals may differ for Awards granted to any one Grantee or to different Grantees.

 

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14.6.2. Timing For Establishing Performance Goals.

Performance goals shall be established not later than the earlier of (i) 90 days after the beginning of any performance period applicable to such Awards and (ii) the day on which 25% of any performance period applicable to such Awards has expired, or at such other date as may be required or permitted for “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m).

14.6.3. Settlement of Awards; Other Terms.

Settlement of such Awards shall be in cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with such Awards. The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of Service by the Grantee prior to the end of a performance period or settlement of Awards.

14.6.4. Performance Measures.

The performance goals upon which the payment or vesting of an Award to a Covered Employee that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be limited to the following Performance Measures:

 

  (a) net earnings;

 

  (b) operating earnings;

 

  (c) pretax earnings;

 

  (d) earnings (or loss) per share;

 

  (e) share price, including growth measures and total stockholder return and appreciation in and/or maintenance of the price of the shares of Stock or any publicly traded securities of the Company;

 

  (f) earnings (or losses), including earnings or losses before taxes, earnings (or losses) before interest and taxes, earnings (or losses) before interest, taxes and depreciation, earnings (or losses) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or earnings (or losses) before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and/or stock-based compensation or other similar adjustments to earnings (or losses);

 

  (g) sales or revenue, or sales or revenue growth, whether in general, by type of product or service, or by type of customer;

 

  (h) net income (or loss) before or after taxes and before or after allocation of corporate overhead and bonus;

 

  (i) operating income (or loss) before or after taxes;

 

  (j) gross, cash or operating margins;

 

  (k) gross profits;

 

  (l) return measures, including return on assets or net assets, capital (including total capital or invested capital), investment, equity, sales or net sales, or revenue;

 

  (m) cash flow, including operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity, cash flow return on investment, and cash flow per share (before or after dividends);

 

  (n) economic value added models or equivalent metrics;

 

  (o) productivity ratios;

 

  (p) expense targets;

 

  (q) market share;

 

  (r) financial ratio targets or financial ratios as provided in credit agreements of the Company and its subsidiaries;

 

  (s) working capital targets;

 

  (t) year-end cash;

 

  (u) reductions in cost;

 

  (v) improvement in or attainment of expense levels or working capital levels;

 

  (w) shareholder equity;

 

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  (x) implementation, completion or attainment of measurable objectives with respect to research, development, products or projects, recruiting and maintaining personnel, and strategic and operational initiatives;

 

  (y) completion of acquisitions of businesses or companies;

 

  (z) completion of divestitures and asset sales; and

 

  (aa) any combination of any of the foregoing business criteria.

Any Performance Measures may be used to measure the performance of the Company, any Subsidiary, and/or any Affiliate of the Company as a whole or any business unit of the Company, any Subsidiary, and/or any Affiliate of the Company or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, and any of the above Performance Measures may be compared to the performance of a group of comparator companies, or published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or the Company may compare any Performance Measures against various stock market indices. Performance measures may be measured on an absolute or relative basis and on a GAAP (United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) or non-GAAP basis. 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 Measures specified in this Section 14 .

14.6.5. Evaluation of Performance.

The Committee may provide in any such Award that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events that occur during a Performance Period: (a) asset write-downs; (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results; (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs; (e) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to shareholders for the applicable year; (f) acquisitions or divestitures or costs relating thereto; and (g) foreign exchange gains and losses. To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect Awards to Covered Employees, they shall be prescribed in a form that meets the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for deductibility.

14.6.6. Adjustment of Performance-Based Compensation.

Awards that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation may not be adjusted upward. The Administrator shall retain the discretion to adjust such Awards downward, either on a formula or discretionary basis, or any combination as the Committee determines.

14.6.7. Administrator Discretion.

In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit Administrator discretion to alter the governing Performance Measures without obtaining shareholder approval of such changes, the Administrator shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining shareholder approval provided the exercise of such discretion does not violate Code Section 409A. In addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is advisable to grant Awards that shall not qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Committee may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and base vesting on Performance Measures other than those set forth in Section 14.6.4 .

 

  14.7. Status of Section Awards Under Code Section 162(m).

It is the intent of the Company that Awards under Section 14.6 hereof granted to persons who are designated by the Committee as likely to be Covered Employees within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder shall, if so designated by the Committee, constitute “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, the terms of Section 14.6 , including the definitions of Covered Employee and other terms used therein, shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, because the Committee cannot determine with certainty whether a given Grantee will be a Covered Employee with respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term Covered Employee as used herein shall mean only a person designated by the Committee, at the time of grant of an Award, as likely to be a Covered Employee with respect to that fiscal year. If any provision of the Plan or any agreement relating to such Awards does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of Code Section 162(m) or regulations thereunder, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.

 

15. PARACHUTE LIMITATIONS

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or of any other agreement, contract, or understanding heretofore or hereafter entered into by a Grantee with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, except an agreement, contract, or understanding that expressly addresses Section 280G or Section 4999 of the Code (an “Other Agreement”), and notwithstanding any formal or informal plan or other arrangement for the direct or indirect provision of compensation to the Grantee (including groups or classes of Grantees

 

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or beneficiaries of which the Grantee is a member), whether or not such compensation is deferred, is in cash, or is in the form of a benefit to or for the Grantee (a “Benefit Arrangement”), if the Grantee is a “disqualified individual,” as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code, any Option, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share or Performance Unit held by that Grantee and any right to receive any payment or other benefit under this Plan shall not become exercisable or vested (i) to the extent that such right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit, taking into account all other rights, payments, or benefits to or for the Grantee under this Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements, would cause any payment or benefit to the Grantee under this Plan to be considered a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code as then in effect (a “Parachute Payment”) and (ii) if, as a result of receiving a Parachute Payment, the aggregate after-tax amounts received by the Grantee from the Company under this Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements would be less than the maximum after-tax amount that could be received by the Grantee without causing any such payment or benefit to be considered a Parachute Payment. In the event that the receipt of any such right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit under this Plan, in conjunction with all other rights, payments, or benefits to or for the Grantee under any Other Agreement or any Benefit Arrangement would cause the Grantee to be considered to have received a Parachute Payment under this Plan that would have the effect of decreasing the after-tax amount received by the Grantee as described in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, then the Grantee shall have the right, in the Grantee’s sole discretion, to designate those rights, payments, or benefits under this Plan, any Other Agreements, and any Benefit Arrangements that should be reduced or eliminated so as to avoid having the payment or benefit to the Grantee under this Plan be deemed to be a Parachute Payment; provided, however, that in order to comply with Code Section 409A, the reduction or elimination will be performed in the order in which each dollar of value subject to an Award reduces the Parachute Payment to the greatest extent.

 

16. REQUIREMENTS OF LAW

The Company shall not be required to sell or issue any shares of Stock under any Award if the sale or issuance of such shares would constitute a violation by the Grantee, any other individual exercising an Option, or the Company of any provision of any law or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation any federal or state securities laws or regulations. If at any time the Company shall determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of any shares subject to an Award upon any securities exchange or under any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the issuance or purchase of shares hereunder, no shares of Stock may be issued or sold to the Grantee or any other individual exercising an Option pursuant to such Award unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company, and any delay caused thereby shall in no way affect the date of termination of the Award. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in connection with the Securities Act, upon the exercise of any Option or any SAR that may be settled in shares of Stock or the delivery of any shares of Stock underlying an Award, unless a registration statement under such Act is in effect with respect to the shares of Stock covered by such Award, the Company shall not be required to sell or issue such shares unless the Administrator has received evidence satisfactory to it that the Grantee or any other individual exercising an Option may acquire such shares pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Any determination in this connection by the Administrator shall be final, binding, and conclusive. The Company may, but shall in no event be obligated to, register any securities covered hereby pursuant to the Securities Act. The Company shall not be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of an Option or a SAR or the issuance of shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan to comply with any law or regulation of any governmental authority. As to any jurisdiction that expressly imposes the requirement that an Option (or SAR that may be settled in shares of Stock) shall not be exercisable until the shares of Stock covered by such Option (or SAR) are registered or are exempt from registration, the exercise of such Option (or SAR) under circumstances in which the laws of such jurisdiction apply shall be deemed conditioned upon the effectiveness of such registration or the availability of such an exemption.

 

17. EFFECT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION

 

  17.1. Changes in Stock.

If the number of outstanding shares of Stock is increased or decreased or the shares of Stock are changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company on account of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse split, combination of shares, exchange of shares, stock dividend or other distribution payable in capital stock, or other increase or decrease in such shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company occurring after the Effective Date, the number and kinds of shares for which grants of Options and other Awards may be made under the Plan, including, without limitation, the limits set forth in Sections 4.1 and 6.3 , shall be adjusted proportionately and accordingly by the Company. In addition, the number and kind of shares for which Awards are outstanding shall be adjusted proportionately and accordingly so that the proportionate interest of the Grantee immediately following such event shall, to the extent practicable, be the same as immediately before such event. Any such adjustment in outstanding Options or SARs shall not change the aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price payable with respect to shares that are subject to the unexercised portion of an outstanding Option or SAR, as applicable, but shall include a corresponding proportionate adjustment in the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price per share. The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as an increase in shares effected without receipt of consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any distribution to the Company’s stockholders of securities of any other entity or other

 

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assets (including an extraordinary dividend but excluding a non-extraordinary dividend of the Company) without receipt of consideration by the Company, the Company shall, in such manner as the Company deems appropriate, adjust (i) the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards and/or (ii) the exercise price of outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to reflect such distribution.

 

  17.2. Reorganization in Which the Company Is the Surviving Entity Which does not Constitute a Corporate Transaction.

Subject to Section 17.3 hereof, if the Company shall be the surviving entity in any reorganization, merger, or consolidation of the Company with one or more other entities which does not constitute a Corporate Transaction, any Option or SAR theretofore granted pursuant to the Plan shall pertain to and apply to the securities to which a holder of the number of shares of Stock subject to such Option or SAR would have been entitled immediately following such reorganization, merger, or consolidation, with a corresponding proportionate adjustment of the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price per share so that the aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price thereafter shall be the same as the aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price of the shares remaining subject to the Option or SAR immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or consolidation. Subject to any contrary language in an Award Agreement evidencing an Award, any restrictions applicable to such Award shall apply as well to any replacement shares received by the Grantee as a result of the reorganization, merger or consolidation. In the event of a transaction described in this Section 17.2 , Restricted Stock Units shall be adjusted so as to apply to the securities that a holder of the number of shares of Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Units would have been entitled to receive immediately following such transaction.

 

  17.3. Corporate Transaction in which Awards are not Assumed.

Upon the occurrence of a Corporate Transaction in which outstanding Options, SARs, Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock are not being assumed or continued :

(i) all outstanding shares of Restricted Stock shall be deemed to have vested, and all Restricted Stock Units shall be deemed to have vested and the shares of Stock subject thereto shall be delivered, immediately prior to the occurrence of such Corporate Transaction, and

(ii) either of the following two actions shall be taken:

(A) fifteen days prior to the scheduled consummation of a Corporate Transaction, all Options and SARs outstanding hereunder shall become immediately exercisable and shall remain exercisable for a period of fifteen days, or

(B) the Administrator may elect, in its sole discretion, to cancel any outstanding Awards of Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, and/or SARs and pay or deliver, or cause to be paid or delivered, to the holder thereof an amount in cash or securities having a value (as determined by the Administrator acting in good faith), in the case of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, equal to the formula or fixed price per share paid to holders of shares of Stock and, in the case of Options or SARs, equal to the product of the number of shares of Stock subject to the Option or SAR (the “Award Shares”) multiplied by the amount, if any, by which (I) the formula or fixed price per share paid to holders of shares of Stock pursuant to such transaction exceeds (II) the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price applicable to such Award Shares.

With respect to the Company’s establishment of an exercise window, (i) any exercise of an Option or SAR during such fifteen-day period shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the event and shall be effective only immediately before the consummation of the event, and (ii) upon consummation of any Corporate Transaction, the Plan and all outstanding but unexercised Options and SARs shall terminate. The Administrator shall send notice of an event that will result in such a termination to all individuals who hold Options and SARs not later than the time at which the Company gives notice thereof to its stockholders.

 

  17.4. Corporation Transaction in which Awards are Assumed.

The Plan, Options, SARs, Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock theretofore granted shall continue in the manner and under the terms so provided in the event of any Corporate Transaction to the extent that provision is made in writing in connection with such Corporate Transaction for the assumption or continuation of the Options, SARs, Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock theretofore granted, or for the substitution for such Options, SARs, Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock for new common stock options and stock appreciation rights and new common stock units and restricted stock relating to the stock of a successor entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number of shares (disregarding any consideration that is not common stock) and option and stock appreciation right exercise prices.

 

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  17.5. Adjustments.

Adjustments under this Section 17 related to shares of Stock or securities of the Company shall be made by the Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional shares or other securities shall be issued pursuant to any such adjustment, and any fractions resulting from any such adjustment shall be eliminated in each case by rounding downward to the nearest whole share. The Administrator shall determine the effect of a Corporate Transaction upon Awards other than Options, SARs, Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock, and such effect shall be set forth in the appropriate Award Agreement. The Administrator may provide in the Award Agreements at the time of grant, or any time thereafter with the consent of the Grantee, for different provisions to apply to an Award in place of those described in Sections 17.1 , 17.2 , 17.3 and 17.4 . This Section 17 does not limit the Company’s ability to provide for alternative treatment of Awards outstanding under the Plan in the event of change of control events that are not Corporate Transactions.

 

  17.6. No Limitations on Company.

The making of Awards pursuant to the Plan shall not affect or limit in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, or liquidate, or to sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

18. GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

  18.1. Disclaimer of Rights.

No provision in the Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement shall be construed to confer upon any individual the right to remain in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, or to interfere in any way with any contractual or other right or authority of the Company either to increase or decrease the compensation or other payments to any individual at any time, or to terminate any employment or other relationship between any individual and the Company. In addition, notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, no Award granted under the Plan shall be affected by any change of duties or position of the Grantee, so long as such Grantee continues to be a director, officer, consultant or employee of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company. The obligation of the Company to pay any benefits pursuant to this Plan shall be interpreted as a contractual obligation to pay only those amounts described herein, in the manner and under the conditions prescribed herein. The Plan shall in no way be interpreted to require the Company to transfer any amounts to a third party trustee or otherwise hold any amounts in trust or escrow for payment to any Grantee or beneficiary under the terms of the Plan.

 

  18.2. Nonexclusivity of the Plan.

Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations upon the right and authority of the Administrator to adopt such other incentive compensation arrangements (which arrangements may be applicable either generally to a class or classes of individuals or specifically to a particular individual or particular individuals) as the Administrator in its discretion determines desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options otherwise than under the Plan.

 

  18.3. Withholding Taxes and Tax Liability.

The Company or an Affiliate of the Company, as the case may be, shall have the right to deduct from payments of any kind otherwise due to a Grantee any federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the vesting of or other lapse of restrictions applicable to an Award or upon the issuance of any shares of Stock upon the exercise of an Option or pursuant to an Award. At the time of such vesting, lapse, or exercise, the Grantee shall pay to the Company or such Affiliate, as the case may be, any amount that the Company or such Affiliate may reasonably determine to be necessary to satisfy such withholding obligation. Subject to the prior approval of the Company or such Affiliate, which may be withheld by the Company or such Affiliate, as the case may be, in its sole discretion, the Grantee may elect to satisfy such obligations, in whole or in part, (i) by causing the Company or such Affiliate to withhold shares of Stock otherwise issuable to the Grantee or (ii) by delivering to the Company or such Affiliate shares of Stock already owned by the Grantee. The shares of Stock so delivered or withheld shall have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to such withholding obligations. The Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock used to satisfy such withholding obligation shall be determined by the Company or such Affiliate as of the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. A Grantee who has made an election pursuant to this Section 18.3 may satisfy his or her withholding obligation only with shares of Stock that are not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting, or other similar requirements. The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be withheld from any Award to satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding requirements upon the exercise, vesting, lapse of restrictions applicable to such Award or payment of shares pursuant to such Award, as applicable, cannot exceed such number of shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory amount required by the Company to be withheld and paid to any such federal, state or local taxing authority with respect to such exercise, vesting, lapse of restrictions or payment of shares. Notwithstanding any withholding undertaken by the Company, the Service Provider remains liable for the Service Provider’s portion of any and all state and federal income taxes, social security taxes, Medicare taxes, and other wage-related taxes. The Company makes no representation regarding any tax consequences in connection with any Award issued hereunder and has not undertaken the obligation to draft the Plan to minimize Service Provider’s tax liability resulting from such Award.

 

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  18.4. Captions.

The use of captions in this Plan or any Award Agreement is for the convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning of any provision of the Plan or such Award Agreement.

 

  18.5. Other Provisions.

Each Award granted under the Plan may contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.

 

  18.6. Number and Gender.

With respect to words used in this Plan, the singular form shall include the plural form, the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, etc., as the context requires.

 

  18.7. Severability.

If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be determined to be illegal or unenforceable by any court of law in any jurisdiction, the remaining provisions hereof and thereof shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and all provisions shall remain enforceable in any other jurisdiction.

 

  18.8. Governing Law.

The validity and construction of this Plan and the instruments evidencing the Awards hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, other than any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Plan and the instruments evidencing the Awards granted hereunder to the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

  18.9. Code Section 409A.

The Administrator intends to comply with Code Section 409A, or an exemption to Code Section 409A, with regard to Awards hereunder that constitute nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A. To the extent that the Administrator determines that a Grantee would be subject to the additional 20% tax imposed on certain nonqualified deferred compensation plans pursuant to Code Section 409A as a result of any provision of any Award granted under this Plan, such provision shall be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to avoid application of such additional tax. The nature of any such amendment shall be determined by the Administrator.

*    *    *

Adopted by the Board of Directors of Edgewater Technology, Inc. as of April 19, 2017 and approved by the Company’s stockholders on June 14, 2017.

 

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