Exhibit 10.1
ZOETIS INC.
2013 EQUITY AND INCENTIVE PLAN AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF MAY 19, 2022
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
The purposes of the Zoetis Inc. 2013 Equity and Incentive Plan, as amended and restated as of May 19, 2022, the “Plan”) are to provide long-term incentives to those individuals with significant responsibility for the success and growth of the Company and its Affiliates, to align the interests of such individuals with those of the Company’s stockholders, to assist the Company in recruiting, retaining and motivating qualified Employees, Consultants and Directors and to provide an effective means to link pay to performance for such individuals.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan they shall have the meanings specified below unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.
2.1 “Administrator” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.1 hereof.
2.2 “Affiliate” shall mean (i) any Parent or Subsidiary, (ii) any entity that, directly or through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the Company, or (iii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in each case as determined by the Administrator.
2.3 “Applicable Accounting Standards” shall mean Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States, International Financial Reporting Standards or such other accounting principles or standards as may apply to the Company’s financial statements under United States federal securities laws from time to time.
2.4 “Applicable Laws” shall mean all applicable laws, rules, regulations and requirements, including, but not limited to, all applicable U.S. federal or state laws, any rules or regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares may be listed, quoted or traded, and the applicable laws, rules or regulations of any other country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted under the Plan or Participants reside or provide services or that may otherwise be applicable to Awards, as such laws, rules, and regulations shall be in effect from time to time.
2.5 “Award” shall mean an Option, a Restricted Stock award, a Restricted Stock Unit award, a Performance Award (which includes, but is not limited to, cash bonuses as set forth in Article IX), a Dividend Equivalent award, a Stock Payment award, an award of Stock Appreciation Rights, or Other Incentive Award, which may be awarded or granted under the Plan.
2.6 “Award Agreement” shall mean the written notice, agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through an electronic medium, which shall contain such terms and conditions with respect to an Award as the Administrator shall determine, consistent with the Plan.
2.7 “Beneficial Owner” (or any variant thereof) has the meaning defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.
2.8 “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.9 “Change in Capitalization” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.2(a) hereof.
2.10 “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if an event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred:
(a) any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including the securities beneficially owned by such Person or any securities acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate thereof) representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities, excluding any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction described in clause (1) of paragraph (c) below; or
(b) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving on the Board: individuals who, on the date hereof, constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including, but not limited to, a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the date hereof or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended; or
(c) there is consummated a merger, amalgamation or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than (1) a merger, amalgamation or consolidation which results in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof) at least 50% of the combined voting power of the securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or (2) a merger, amalgamation or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities Beneficially Owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates) representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or (3) a merger, amalgamation or consolidation effected to change the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company; or
(d) there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than (1) a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Company following the completion of such transaction in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or (2) a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets immediately following which the
individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the entity to which such assets are sold or disposed or, if such entity is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of (i) the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the holders of Common Stock immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company immediately following such transaction or series of transactions, or (ii) the consummation of the Distribution (as such term is defined in that certain Global Separation Agreement entered into between Pfizer Inc. and the Company).
For each Award that constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred under the Plan with respect to such Award, resulting in the payment of such Award, only if a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company shall also be deemed to have occurred under Section 409A of the Code. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion and without a Participant’s consent, amend the definition of “Change in Control” to conform to the definition of “Change in Control” under Section 409A of the Code, and the regulations thereunder.
2.11 “Code” shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.12 “Committee” shall mean the Human Resources Committee of the Board, or another committee or subcommittee of the Board described in Article XII hereof.
2.13 “Common Stock” shall mean the common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share.
2.14 “Company” shall mean Zoetis Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor corporation.
2.15 “Consultant” shall mean any person, including an advisor or independent contractor, engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render services to such entity or, subject to Applicable Law, who is otherwise providing services to the Company or an Affiliate.
2.16 “Covered Employee” shall mean any Employee who is a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
2.17 “Director” or “Non-Employee Director” shall mean a non-employee member of the Board, as constituted from time to time.
2.18 “Disaffiliation” means a Subsidiary’s or Affiliate’s ceasing to be a Subsidiary or Affiliate for any reason (including, without limitation, as a result of a public offering, or a spinoff or sale by the Company, of the stock of the Subsidiary or Affiliate) or a sale of a division of the Company or its Affiliates.
2.19 “Dividend Equivalent” shall mean a right to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on Shares, awarded under Section 9.2 hereof.
2.20 “Effective Date” shall mean May 19, 2022.
2.21 “Eligible Individual” shall mean any natural person who is an Employee, Consultant or a Non-Employee Director, as determined by the Administrator.
2.22 “Employee” shall mean any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate, with the status of employment determined pursuant to such factors as are deemed appropriate by the Company in its sole discretion, subject to any requirements of Applicable Laws, including the Code.
2.23 “Exchange Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
2.24 “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as of any given date, the value of a Share determined as follows:
(a) if the Common Stock is (i) listed on any established securities exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Global Select Market), (ii) listed on any national market system or (iii) listed, quoted or traded on any automated quotation system, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for a Share as quoted on such exchange or system for such date or, if there is no closing sales price for a Share on the date in question, the closing sales price for a Share on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;
(b) if the Common Stock is traded only otherwise than on a securities exchange and is not quoted on the NASDAQ, the closing quoted selling price of the Common Stock on such date as quoted in “pink sheets” published by the National Daily Quotation Bureau;
(c) if the Common Stock is not listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system, but the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean of the high bid and low asked prices for such date or, if there are no high bid and low asked prices for a Share on such date, the high bid and low asked prices for a Share on the last preceding date for which such information exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or
(d) if the Common Stock is neither listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system nor regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be established by the Administrator in good faith on the date awarded.
2.25 “Greater Than 10% Stockholder” shall mean an individual then-owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” (as defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code, respectively).
2.26 “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option and conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.
2.27 “Individual Award Limit” shall mean the cash and Share limits applicable to Awards granted under the Plan, as set forth in Section 3.3 hereof.
2.28 “Non-Qualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option, or which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option but does not meet the applicable requirements of the Code.
2.29 “Option” shall mean a right to purchase Shares at a specified exercise price, granted under Article VI hereof. An Option shall be either a Non-Qualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option; provided, however, that Options granted to Non-Employee Directors and Consultants shall only be Non-Qualified Stock Options.
2.30 “Other Incentive Award” shall mean an Award denominated in, linked to or derived from Shares or value metrics related to Shares, granted pursuant to Section 9.4 hereof.
2.31 “Parent” shall mean any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities ending with the Company if each of the entities other than the
Company beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.
2.32 “Participant” shall mean an Eligible Individual who has been granted an Award.
2.33 “Performance Award” shall mean an Award that is granted under Section 9.1 hereof.
2.34 “Performance-Based Compensation” shall mean any compensation that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.
2.35 “Performance Goals” shall mean the performance goals (and adjustments) established by the Administrator for a Performance Period, based on one or more of the following criteria:
(a) (i) net earnings (either before or after one or more of the following: (A) interest, (B) taxes, (C) depreciation, (D) amortization and (E) non-cash equity-based compensation expense); (ii) gross or net sales or revenue; (iii) net income (either before or after taxes); (iv) adjusted net income; (v) operating earnings or profit; (vi) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow); (vii) return on assets; (viii) return on capital; (ix) return on stockholders’ equity; (x) total stockholder return; (xi) return on sales; (xii) gross or net profit or operating margin; (xiii) costs; (xiv) funds from operations; (xv) expenses; (xvi) working capital; (xvii) earnings per Share; (xviii) adjusted earnings per Share; (xix) price per Share; (xx) implementation or completion of critical projects; (xxi) market share; (xxii) debt levels or reduction; (xxiii) customer retention; (xxiv) sales-related goals; (xxv) customer satisfaction and/or growth; (xxvi) research and development achievements; (xxvii) financing and other capital raising transactions; (xxviii) capital expenditures, (xxix) economic profit or (xxx) any other measures of performance selected by the Administrator, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms for the Company or any operating unit of the Company or as compared to any
incremental increase or decrease or as compared to results of a peer group or to market performance indicators or indices or in any other manner determined by the Administrator.
(b) Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance, or the performance of an Affiliate or one or more divisions, business units or product lines or in any other manner determined by the Administrator. In addition, such Performance Goals may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of performance under one or more of the measures described above relative to the performance of other corporations or the performance of an index, survey or other benchmark or in any other manner determined by the Administrator.
(c) The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, provide that one or more objectively determinable adjustments shall be made to one or more of the Performance Goals. Such adjustments may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: (i) items related to a change in accounting principles; (ii) items relating to financing activities; (iii) expenses for restructuring or productivity initiatives; (iv) other non-operating items; (v) items related to acquisitions; (vi) items attributable to the business operations of any entity acquired by the Company during the Performance Period; (vii) items related to the disposal or sale of a business or segment of a business; (viii) items related to discontinued operations that do not qualify as a segment of a business under Applicable Accounting Standards; (ix) items attributable to any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of stock occurring during the Performance Period; (x) any other items of significant income or expense which are determined to be appropriate adjustments; (xi) items relating to unusual or extraordinary corporate transactions, events or developments; (xii) items related to amortization of acquired intangible assets; (xiii) items that are outside the scope of the Company’s core, on-going business activities; (xiv) items
related to acquired in-process research and development; (xv) items relating to changes in tax laws; (xvi) items relating to major licensing or partnership arrangements; (xvii) items relating to asset impairment charges; (xviii) items relating to gains or losses for litigation, arbitration and contractual settlements; or (xix) items relating to any other unusual or nonrecurring events or changes in Applicable Laws, accounting principles or business conditions.
2.36 “Performance Period” shall mean one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Administrator may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals or other specific criteria will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to, and the payment of, a Performance Award.
2.37 “Person” shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of Shares of the Company.
2.38 “Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Article I.
2.39 “Restricted Stock” shall mean an Award of Shares made under Article VII hereof that is subject to certain restrictions and may be subject to risk of forfeiture or repurchase.
2.40 “Restricted Stock Unit” shall mean a contractual right awarded under Article VIII hereof to receive in cash or Shares the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock.
2.41 “Restriction Period” shall mean the period of time specified by the Administrator during which an Award of Restricted Stock shall be subject to restrictions.
2.42 “Securities Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2.43 “Share Limit” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.1(a) hereof.
2.44 “Shares” shall mean shares of Common Stock.
2.45 “Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean a stock appreciation right granted under Article X hereof.
2.46 “Stock Payment” shall mean a payment in the form of Shares awarded under Section 9.3 hereof.
2.47 “Subsidiary” shall mean any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.
2.48 “Substitute Award” means any Award granted in assumption of, or in substitution for, an award of a company or business (that is not, prior to the applicable transaction, a Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company) acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate or with which the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate combines.
2.49 “Termination of Service” shall mean, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, the termination of the applicable Participant’s employment with, or performance of services for, the Company and any of its Affiliates. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, a Participant employed by, or performing services for, an Affiliate or a division of the Company or its Affiliates shall be deemed to incur a Termination of Service if, as a result of a
Disaffiliation, such Affiliate, or division ceases to be an Affiliate or division, as the case may be, and the Participant does not immediately become an employee of, or service provider for, the Company or another Affiliate. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, temporary absences from employment because of illness, vacation, or leave of absence, and transfers among the Company and its and Affiliates, shall not be considered Terminations of Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award that constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, “Termination of Service” shall mean a “separation from service” as defined under Section 409A of the Code to the extent required to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
2.50 “Vesting Period” shall mean the period of time before unrestricted Shares become non-forfeitable and/or issuable to a Participant pursuant to the applicable Award Agreement.
ARTICLE III
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
3.1 Number of Shares.
(a) Subject to Section 3.2 hereof, the maximum aggregate number of Shares available for the grant of Awards and issuance under the Plan (the “Share Limit”) shall be equal to 30,000,000 Shares. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, subject to Sections 3.2 hereof, the maximum number of Shares available for the grant of Awards and issuance under the Plan with respect to Incentive Stock Options shall be the number of Shares that is equal to fifty percent (50%) of the Share Limit. Any performance-based Awards having variable payout potential, shall be counted at maximum payout against the Share Limit. Awards that can only be settled in cash shall not count against the Share Limit.
(b) Shares issued under the Plan may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued Shares or Shares that shall have been or may be reacquired by the Company in the open market, in private transactions, or otherwise. To the extent an Award is forfeited, cancelled or otherwise terminates or expires without a distribution of Shares to the Participant, the Shares with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, termination or expiration, again be available for Awards under the Plan, including, without limitation, any Shares that are not earned under performance-based Awards having variable payout potential. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Plan the following shall no longer be available for grant under the Plan: (i) Shares tendered, surrendered or withheld as payment of either the exercise price of an Award and/or withholding taxes in respect of an Award, (ii) for any Awards that may be settled in cash or Shares, Shares that are paid out in cash, (iii) any Shares withheld to cover the exercise price of a Stock Appreciation Right (iv) any vested and/or exercised Shares subject to an Award (whether or not issued to the Participant); and (v) Shares repurchased by the Company using stock option exercise proceeds. In addition, in the case of any Substitute Award, Shares delivered or deliverable in connection with such Substitute Award shall not be deemed granted or issued under the Plan for purposes of Sections 3.1 or 3.3.
3.2 Adjustments.
(a) In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of Shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, amalgamation, consolidation, reclassification, recapitalization, spin-off,
spin-out, repurchase or other reorganization or corporate transaction or event, or any other change affecting the Shares or the Share price (any such occurrence or event, a “Change in Capitalization”), the Administrator shall make equitable adjustments, if any, to reflect such change with respect to (i) the aggregate number and kind of Shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the Share Limit and Individual Award Limits); (ii) the number and kind of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and/or (iv) the grant or exercise price per Share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan; provided, however, that the Administrator shall make such equitable adjustments as it determines to be appropriate and equitable, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in connection with a Change in Capitalization, the Administrator may provide, in its sole discretion, for the cancellation of any outstanding Award granted hereunder in exchange for payment in cash or other property having an aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares covered by such award, reduced by the aggregate exercise price or purchase price thereof, if any. In the case where the exercise price per Share of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right exceeds the Fair Market Value per Share, in connection with a Change in Capitalization, the Administrator may cancel, in its sole discretion, such Option or Stock Appreciation Right for no payment. The Administrator’s determinations pursuant to this Section 3.2(a) shall be final, binding and conclusive.
(b) Any adjustment affecting an Award intended as Performance-Based Compensation shall be made consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code unless otherwise determined by the Administrator. No action shall be taken under this Section 3.2(b) which shall cause an Award to fail to comply with Section 409A of the Code or an exemption therefrom, in either case, to the extent applicable to such Award.
3.3 Individual Award Limits. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, and subject to Section 3.2:
(a) the aggregate number of Shares subject to Options and Stock Appreciation Rights awarded to any one Participant during any calendar year may not exceed 1.5 million Shares;
(b) the aggregate number of Shares subject to Awards other than Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (excluding Awards referenced in Section 3.3(c) below) awarded to any one Participant during any calendar year may not exceed 1.5 million Shares, with any performance-based Awards having variable payout potential counted at maximum payout for purposes of such limit;
(c) the aggregate amount of compensation awarded to any one Participant in respect to all Awards denominated in cash in any calendar year is $10 million, calculated based on maximum potential payout; and
(d) the aggregate grant date fair value (computed as of the date of grant in accordance with applicable financial accounting rules) of all Awards granted to any Director during any single calendar year, together with any cash fees paid to such Director during such calendar year for services on the Board shall not exceed $850,000. Such applicable limit shall include the value of any Awards that are received in lieu of all or a portion of any annual committee cash retainers or other similar cash-based payments. For the avoidance of doubt, neither Awards granted or compensation paid to an individual for services as an Employee or Consultant, nor any amounts paid to an individual as a reimbursement of an expense will count against the foregoing limitation.
ARTICLE IV
GRANTING OF AWARDS
4.1 Participation. The Administrator may, from time to time, select from among all Eligible Individuals, those to whom one or more Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award, which shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of the Plan. No Eligible Individual shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.
4.2 Award Agreement. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement stating the terms and conditions applicable to such Award, consistent with the requirements of the Plan.
4.3 Stand-Alone and Tandem Awards. Awards granted pursuant to the Plan may, in the sole discretion of the Administrator, be granted either alone, in addition to or in tandem with, any other Award granted pursuant to the Plan. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards.
4.4 Minimum Vesting. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, all Awards granted under the Plan after the Effective Date shall have a minimum vesting period of one-year measured from the date of grant; provided, however, that Awards covering up to 5% of the Shares available for future distribution under this Plan as of the Effective Date may be granted without such minimum vesting requirement. Nothing in this Section 4.4 shall (i) limit the Company’s ability to grant awards that contain rights to accelerated vesting on a Termination of Service (or to otherwise accelerate vesting) or (ii) limit any rights to accelerated vesting in connection with a Change in Control. In addition, the minimum vesting requirement set forth in this Section 4.4 shall not apply to Substitute Awards.
ARTICLE V
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS INTENDED TO QUALIFY AS PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION
5.1 Purpose. The provisions of this Article V apply to Awards that were granted prior to the Effective Date that were intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation and remain eligible for the “performance-based compensation” as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code. For the avoidance of doubt, any Awards to Eligible Individuals that are based on Performance Goals and are granted on or after the Effective Date are not intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation.
5.2 Payment of Performance-Based Awards. Performance Awards shall be paid, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, no later than 2 1∕2 months after the tax year in which the Performance Award vests, consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Performance Goals or Award Agreement, a Participant shall be eligible to receive payment pursuant to such Awards for a Performance Period only if and to the extent the Performance Goals for such applicable Performance Period are achieved. The achievement of each Performance Goal shall be (i) determined in accordance with Applicable Accounting Standards, to the extent applicable and (ii) for all Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, certified in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.
5.3 Additional Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan and except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, any Award which is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation and remains eligible for the “performance-based compensation” as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code shall be subject to any additional limitations imposed under Section 162(m) of the Code that are requirements for qualification as Performance-Based Compensation, and the Plan and the Award Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements. Determinations by the Administrator in respect of all Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be made within the time prescribed by, and otherwise in compliance with, Section 162(m) of the Code, and payment in respect of such Awards may be decreased, but not increased, in the discretion of the Administrator.
ARTICLE VI
OPTIONS
6.1 Granting of Options to Eligible Individuals. The Administrator is authorized to grant Options to Eligible Individuals from time to time, in its sole discretion, on such terms and conditions as it may determine which shall not be inconsistent with the Plan.
6.2 Eligibility for Incentive Stock Options. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any individual who is not an Employee of the Company or any “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” of the Company (as defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code, respectively).
6.3 Option Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share subject to each Option shall be set by the Administrator, but shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted (or, as to Incentive Stock Options, on the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code). In addition, in the case of Incentive Stock Options granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder, such price shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted (or the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code).
6.4 Option Term. The term of each Option shall be set forth in the Award Agreement; provided, however, that the term shall not be more than ten (10) years from the date the Option is granted, or five (5) years from the date an Incentive Stock Option is granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder. The Award Agreement shall set forth the time period, including the time period following a Termination of Service, during which the Participant has the right to exercise the vested Options, which time period may not extend beyond the stated term of the Option. Except as limited by the requirements of Section 409A or Section 422 of the Code, the Administrator may extend the term of any outstanding Option, and may extend the time period during which vested Options may be exercised, and, subject to Section 13.1 hereof, may amend any other term or condition of such Option relating to a Termination of Service.
6.5 Option Vesting.
(a) The terms and conditions pursuant to which an Option vests in the Participant and becomes exercisable shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Such vesting may be based on service with the Company or any Affiliate, attainment of one or more of the
Performance Goals, or any other criteria selected by the Administrator. At any time after the grant of an Option, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion and subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects, accelerate the vesting of the Option, including following a Termination of Service; provided, that in no event shall an Option become exercisable following its expiration, termination or forfeiture.
(b) No portion of an Option which is unexercisable at a Participant’s Termination of Service shall thereafter become exercisable, except as may be otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or by action of the Administrator following the grant of the Option.
6.6 Treatment of Options upon Certain Events. The applicable Award Agreement shall provide for the treatment of each Option upon a Termination of Service.
6.7 Substitution of Stock Appreciation Rights. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, substitute an Award of Stock Appreciation Rights for an outstanding Option at any time prior to or upon exercise of such Option; provided, however, that such Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable with respect to the same number of Shares for which such substituted Option would have been exercisable, and shall also have the same exercise price and remaining term as the substituted Option.
6.8 Partial Exercise of Options. An exercisable Option may be exercised in whole or in part. However, an Option shall not be exercisable with respect to fractional Shares and the Administrator may require that, by the terms of the Option, a partial exercise must be with respect to a minimum number of Shares.
6.9 Manner of Exercise of Options. A Participant may exercise an exercisable Option, subject to Applicable Laws and any other applicable requirements established by the Administrator, by paying the full exercise price and applicable withholding taxes to the stock administrator of the Company for the Shares with respect to which the Option, or portion thereof, is exercised, in one or more of the following manners: (i) cash or check, (ii) Shares (including, in the case of payment of the exercise price of an Option, Shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of the Option), in each case, having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate payments required, or (iii) other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Administrator (including cashless exercise via a broker). Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a Director or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to make payment with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan, or continue any extension of credit with respect to such payment, with a loan from the Company or a loan arranged by the Company in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.
6.10 Notification Regarding Disposition. The Participant shall give the Company prompt written or electronic notice of any disposition of Shares acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option which occurs within (a) two (2) years from the date of granting (including the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code) such Option to such Participant, or (b) one (1) year after the transfer of such Shares to such Participant.
ARTICLE VII
RESTRICTED STOCK
7.1 Award of Restricted Stock.
(a) The Administrator is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Eligible Individuals, and shall determine the terms and conditions, including the restrictions, applicable to each award of Restricted Stock, which terms and conditions shall be set forth in the Award Agreement and shall not be inconsistent with the Plan, and may impose such conditions on the issuance of such Restricted Stock as it deems appropriate.
(b) The Award Agreement shall set forth the purchase price, if any, and form of payment for Restricted Stock; provided, however, that if a purchase price is charged, such purchase price shall be no less than the par value of the Shares to be purchased, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Laws. In all cases, legal consideration shall be required for each issuance of Restricted Stock to the extent required by Applicable Laws.
(c) The Award Agreement shall set forth the treatment of each Award of Restricted Stock upon a Termination of Service.
7.2 Rights as Stockholders. Upon issuance of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have, unless otherwise provided herein or in the Award Agreement, all the rights of a stockholder with respect to said Shares. This includes, but is not limited to, the right to vote Shares of Restricted Stock as the record owner thereof, and the right to receive dividends and other distributions payable to an Eligible Individual during the restriction period; provided, however, that, the Award Agreement may provide that any distributions with respect to the Shares shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 7.3 hereof.
7.3 Restrictions. All Shares of Restricted Stock (including any Shares received by Participants thereof with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock as a result of a Change in Capitalization) shall be subject to restrictions and vesting requirements as set forth in the Award Agreement. Such restrictions may include, without limitation, restrictions concerning voting rights and transferability. Such restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times and pursuant to such circumstances or based on such criteria as set forth in the Award Agreement, including, without limitation, criteria based on the Participant’s duration of service with the Company or an Affiliate, the Performance Goals, Company or Affiliate performance, individual performance or other criteria set forth in the Award Agreement. Restricted Stock may not be sold or encumbered until all restrictions are terminated or expire.
7.4 Certificates for Restricted Stock. Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator shall determine. Certificates or book entries evidencing Shares of Restricted Stock must include an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, and the Company may, in its sole discretion, retain physical possession of any stock certificate until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse.
7.5 Section 83(b) Election. If a Participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather than as of the date or dates upon which the Participant would otherwise be taxable under Section 83(a) of the Code, the Participant shall be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service.
ARTICLE VIII
RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
8.1 Award of Restricted Stock Units.
(a) The Administrator is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Units to Eligible Individuals, and shall determine the terms and conditions, including the restrictions, applicable to each award of Restricted Stock Units, which terms and conditions shall be set forth in the Award Agreement and shall not be inconsistent with the Plan, and may impose such conditions on the issuance of such Restricted Stock Units as it deems appropriate. The Award Agreement shall set forth the time and form of payment of each Award of Restricted Stock Units.
(b) The Administrator shall specify, or permit the Participant to elect, the conditions and dates upon which the Shares underlying the Restricted Stock Units shall be issued (or cash in lieu thereof shall be paid), which dates shall not be earlier than the date as of which the Restricted Stock Units vest and become nonforfeitable. Such conditions and dates shall be established in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 409A of the Code or an exemption therefrom.
(c) The Award Agreement shall set forth the treatment of each Award of Restricted Stock Units upon a Termination of Service.
(d) On the distribution dates, the Company shall issue to the Participant one unrestricted, fully transferable Share (or if provided in the Award Agreement, the Fair Market Value of one such Share in cash) for each vested and nonforfeitable Restricted Stock Unit.
ARTICLE IX
PERFORMANCE AWARDS, DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS, STOCK PAYMENTS, OTHER INCENTIVE AWARDS
9.1 Performance Awards.
(a) The Administrator is authorized to grant Performance Awards to any Eligible Individual. The vesting and value of Performance Awards may be linked to any one or more of the Performance Goals or other specific criteria determined by the Administrator, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Performance Awards may be paid in cash, Shares or a combination of both.
(b) Without limiting Section 9.1(a) hereof, the Administrator may grant Performance Awards to any Eligible Individual in the form of a cash bonus payable upon the attainment of objective Performance Goals, or such other criteria, whether or not objective, which are established by the Administrator, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator.
9.2 Dividend Equivalents.
(a) Subject to Section 9.2(b) hereof, Dividend Equivalents may be granted by the Administrator, either alone or in tandem with another Award, based on dividends declared on the Common Stock, to be credited as of dividend payment dates during the period between the date the Dividend Equivalents are granted to a Participant and the date such Dividend Equivalents terminate or expire, as determined by the Administrator. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional Shares by such formula, at such time and subject to such
limitations as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Dividend Equivalents with respect to Shares covered by an Award shall only be paid out to the Participant at the same time or times and to the same extent that the vesting conditions and/or performance goals, if any, are subsequently satisfied and the Award vests with respect to such Shares, and shall not otherwise be paid.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Dividend Equivalents shall be payable with respect to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.
9.3 Stock Payments. The Administrator is authorized to make one or more Stock Payments to any Eligible Individual. The number or value of Shares of any Stock Payment shall be determined by the Administrator and may be based upon one or more Performance Goals or any other specific criteria, including service to the Company or any Affiliate, determined by the Administrator.
9.4 Other Incentive Awards. The Administrator is authorized to grant Other Incentive Awards to any Eligible Individual, which Awards may cover Shares or the right to purchase Shares or have a value derived from the value of, or an exercise or conversion privilege at a price related to, or that are otherwise payable in or based on, Shares, stockholder value or stockholder return, in each case, on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator. The terms and conditions applicable to such Other Incentive Awards shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Other Incentive Awards may be linked to any one or more of the Performance Goals or other specific criteria determined appropriate by the Administrator and may be payable in cash or Shares.
9.5 Other Terms and Conditions. All applicable terms and conditions of each Award described in this Article IX, including without limitation, as applicable, the term, vesting conditions and exercise/purchase price applicable to the Award, shall be set by the Administrator in its sole discretion, provided, however, that the value of the consideration paid by a Participant for an Award shall not be less than the par value of a Share, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Laws. The rights of Participants granted Performance Awards, Dividend Equivalents, or Other Incentive Awards upon Termination of Service shall be set forth in the Award Agreement.
ARTICLE X
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
10.1 Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) The Administrator is authorized to grant Awards of Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Individuals from time to time, in its sole discretion, on such terms and conditions as it may determine consistent with the Plan.
(b) Each Award of Stock Appreciation Rights shall entitle the Participant (or other individual entitled to exercise the Award of Stock Appreciation Rights pursuant to the Plan) to exercise all or a specified portion of the Award of Stock Appreciation Rights (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company an amount determined by multiplying the difference obtained by subtracting the exercise price per Share of the Stock Appreciation Rights from the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right by the number of Stock Appreciation Rights that shall have been exercised, subject to any limitations the Administrator may impose or set forth in the Award Agreement. Such amount
shall be payable in Shares or in cash, as determined by the Administrator. The exercise price per Share subject to each Award of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be set by the Administrator, but shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value on the date the Stock Appreciation Rights are granted.
(c) The Award Agreement shall set forth the treatment of each Award of Stock Appreciation Rights upon a Termination of Service.
10.2 Stock Appreciation Right Vesting.
(a) The Award Agreement shall set forth the period during which a Participant shall vest in an Award of Stock Appreciation Rights and have the right to exercise such Stock Appreciation Rights (subject to Section 10.4 hereof) in whole or in part. Such vesting may be based on service with the Company or any Affiliate, any of the Performance Goals or any other criteria selected by the Administrator. At any time after grant of an Award of Stock Appreciation Rights, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion and subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects, accelerate the period during which the Stock Appreciation Rights vest.
(b) No portion of an Award of Stock Appreciation Rights which is unexercisable upon Termination of Service shall thereafter become exercisable, except as may be otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or by action of the Administrator following the grant of the Stock Appreciation Rights; provided, that in no event shall an Award of Stock Appreciation Rights become exercisable following its expiration, termination or forfeiture.
10.3 Manner of Exercise. A Participant may exercise an exercisable Stock Appreciation Right as follows, subject to Applicable Laws and any applicable requirements established by the Administrator; full payment of the applicable withholding taxes shall be made to the stock administrator of the Company for the Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Rights, or portion thereof, are exercised, in a manner permitted by Section 6.9 in respect of Options.
10.4 Stock Appreciation Right Term. The term of each Award of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be set forth in the Award Agreement; provided, however, that the term shall not be more than ten (10) years from the date the Stock Appreciation Rights are granted. The Award Agreement shall set forth the time period, including any time period following a Termination of Service, during which the Participant has the right to exercise any vested Stock Appreciation Rights, which time period may not extend beyond the expiration date of the Award term. Except as limited by the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the Administrator may extend the term of any outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights, and may extend
the time period during which vested Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised in connection with any Termination of Service, and, subject to Section 13.1 hereof, may amend any other term or condition of such Stock Appreciation Rights relating to such a Termination of Service.
ARTICLE XI
ADDITIONAL TERMS OF AWARDS
11.1 Change in Control. Unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control:
(a) With respect to each outstanding Award that is assumed or substituted in connection with a Change in Control, in the event the Participant incurs a Termination of Service other than for “cause,” as defined in the applicable Award Agreement, during the 24-month period following such Change in Control, on the date of such Termination of Service (i) such Award shall become fully vested and, if applicable, exercisable, (ii) the restrictions, payment conditions, and forfeiture conditions applicable to any such Award granted shall lapse and (iii) and any performance conditions imposed with respect to such Award shall be deemed to be achieved at target performance levels.
(b) With respect to each outstanding Award that is not assumed or substituted in connection with a Change in Control, immediately prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control (i) such Award shall become fully vested and, if applicable, exercisable, (ii) the restrictions, payment conditions, and forfeiture conditions applicable to any such Award granted shall lapse and (iii) and any performance conditions imposed with respect to such Award shall be deemed to be achieved at target performance levels. In lieu of the foregoing, the Administrator may also provide for the cash-out of vested and unvested Awards (at target performance levels with respect to performance-based Awards).
(c) For purposes of this Section 11.1, an Award shall be considered assumed or substituted for if, following the Change in Control, the Award is of comparable value and remains subject to the same terms and conditions that were applicable to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control except that, if the Award related to Shares, the Award instead confers the right to receive common stock of the acquiring entity or in the case of an amalgamation, the amalgamated company or its parent.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, this Section 11.1 shall be applicable only to the extent specifically provided in the Award Agreement and as permitted pursuant to Section 13.5.
11.2 Tax Withholding. The Company and its Affiliates shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company or an Affiliate, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including the Participant’s social security, Medicare and any other employment tax or other obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event or any other liability legally payable by a Participant in connection with any Award. The Administrator may in its sole discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement allow a Participant to elect to have the Company or an Affiliate withhold Shares otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the surrender of Shares), provided that, to the extent necessary to avoid adverse accounting consequences, if any, the number of Shares which may be so withheld or surrendered shall be limited to the number of Shares which have a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding no greater than the amount necessary to satisfy the minimum statutory withholding requirements.
11.3 Transferability of Awards.
(a) No Award under the Plan may be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution;
(b) No Award or interest or right therein shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of the Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy) unless and until such Award has been exercised, or the
Shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed, and any attempted disposition of an Award prior to the satisfaction of these conditions shall be null and void and of no effect;
(c) During the lifetime of the Participant, only the Participant may exercise an Award (or any portion thereof) granted to him or her under the Plan. After the death of the Participant, any exercisable portion of an Award may, prior to the time when such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or Award Agreement, be exercised by his personal representative or by any individual empowered to do so under the deceased Participant’s will or under the then-applicable laws of descent and distribution; and
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit (on such terms, conditions and limitations as it may establish) Awards to be transferred, but only without receiving any consideration for such transfer, to a member of a Participant’s immediate family or to a trust or similar vehicle for the benefit of a Participant’s immediate family members.
11.4 Conditions to Issuance of Shares.
(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Company nor its Affiliates shall be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing Shares pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Administrator has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance of such Shares is in compliance with all Applicable Laws, and the Shares are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration. The Company will have no obligation to complete any registration or other qualification of Shares under any foreign law or regulations, or to effect compliance with the registration, qualification or listing requirements of any foreign securities laws, exchange control regulations, stock exchange or automated quotation system, and the Company will have no liability for any inability or failure to do so. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Administrator may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Administrator, in its discretion, deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with Applicable Laws.
(b) All Share certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan and all Shares issued pursuant to book entry procedures are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with Applicable Laws. The Administrator may place legends on any Share certificate or book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares.
(c) The Administrator shall have the right to require any Participant to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement, distribution or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the sole discretion of the Administrator.
(d) No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares shall be eliminated by rounding down.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or required by any Applicable Laws, the Company and/or its Affiliates may, in lieu of delivering to any Participant certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award, record the issuance of Shares in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).
11.5 Forfeiture and Recoupment Provisions. Pursuant to its general authority to determine the terms and conditions applicable to Awards under the Plan and without limiting
such authority, the Administrator shall have the right to provide, in the terms of Awards made under the Plan, or to require a Participant to agree by separate written or electronic instrument, that: any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit must be paid to the Company, and the Award shall terminate and any unexercised or unsettled portion of the Award (whether or not vested) shall be forfeited, if (i) a Termination of Service occurs prior to a specified date, or within a specified time period following receipt or exercise of the Award, (ii) the Participant at any time, or during a specified time period, engages in any activity which violates any applicable restrictive covenants of the Company, as may be further specified in the Award Agreement or (iii) the Participant incurs a Termination of Service for “cause,” as defined in the applicable Award Agreement. In addition, all Awards made under the Plan shall be subject to any clawback or recoupment policies of the Company, as in effect from time to time, subject to Applicable Laws.
11.6 Prohibition on Repricing. Subject to limitations imposed by Section 409A of the Code or other Applicable Laws and the limitations contained in Section 13.1 below, in no event shall the exercise price with respect to an Award be reduced following the grant of an Award, nor shall an Award be cancelled in exchange for a replacement Award with a lower exercise price or in exchange for another type of Award or cash payment without stockholder approval.
11.7 Leave of Absence. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise (subject to Applicable Laws regarding leaves of absence), vesting of Awards granted hereunder shall continue during any paid or unpaid leave of absence. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, a Participant shall not cease to be considered an Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director, as applicable, in the case of any
(a) leave of absence approved by the Company, or (b) transfer between locations of the Company or between the Company and any of its Affiliates or any successor thereof.
ARTICLE XII
ADMINISTRATION
12.1 Administrator. The Committee (or another committee or a subcommittee of the Board assuming the functions of the Committee under the Plan) shall administer the Plan (except as otherwise permitted herein) and shall be referred to herein as the “Administrator.” Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors appointed by and holding office at the pleasure of the Board, each of whom is intended to qualify as a “non-employee director” as defined by Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code and an “independent director” under the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded, in each case, to the extent required under such provision; provided, however, that any action taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective, whether or not members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership set forth in this Section 12.l or otherwise provided in any charter of the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the full Board, acting by a majority of its members in office, shall conduct the general administration of the Plan with respect to Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors and (b) the Board or Committee may delegate its authority hereunder to the extent permitted by Section 12.5 hereof.
12.2 Duties and Powers of Administrator. It shall be the duty of the Administrator to conduct the general administration of the Plan in accordance with its provisions. The
Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan and all Award Agreements, and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are not inconsistent with the Plan, to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules and to amend any Award Agreement, provided that the rights or obligations of the holder of the Award that is the subject of any such Award Agreement are not affected adversely by such amendment unless the consent of the Participant is obtained or such amendment is otherwise permitted under Section 13.1 hereof. In its sole discretion, the Board may at any time and from time-to-time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan except with respect to matters which under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, Section 162(m) of the Code, or the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded are required to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.
12.3 Authority of Administrator. Subject to any specific designation in the Plan, the Administrator has the exclusive power, authority and sole discretion to:
(a) Designate Eligible Individuals to receive Awards;
(b) Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to Eligible Individuals;
(c) Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate;
(d) Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any performance criteria, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for vesting, lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, and any provisions related to non-competition and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Administrator in its sole discretion determines;
(e) Determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;
(f) Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant;
(g) Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;
(h) Establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
(i) Interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan or any Award Agreement; and
(j) Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan.
12.4 Decisions Binding. The Administrator’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan or any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Administrator with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.
12.5 Delegation of Authority. To the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, the Board or Committee may from time to time delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board, to one or more officers of the Company the authority to grant or amend Awards or to take other administrative actions pursuant to this Article XII; provided, however, that in no event shall an officer of the Company be delegated the authority to grant Awards to, or amend Awards held by, the following individuals: (a) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act,
(b) Covered Employees with respect to Awards intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation, or (c) officers of the Company (or Directors) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder; provided further, that any delegation of administrative authority shall only be permitted to the extent it is permissible under Section 162(m) of the Code and applicable securities laws or the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded. Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Board or Committee specifies at the time of such delegation, and the Board or Committee may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegatee. At all times, the delegatee appointed under this Section 12.5 shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board and the Committee.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
13.1 Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan. The Plan may be amended or terminated at any time by action of the Board. However, no amendment may, without stockholder approval, except as set forth in Section 3.2 herein, (i) increase the aggregate number of Shares available for Awards, (ii) extend the term of the Plan, (iii) materially expand the types of awards available under the Plan, (iv) change the definition of Eligible Individual to add a category or categories of individuals who are eligible to participate in the Plan, (v) delete or limit the prohibition against repricing of Awards contained in Section 11.6, or (vi) make other changes which require approval by the stockholders of the Company in order to comply with Applicable Laws. No amendment or termination of the Plan may adversely modify any individual’s rights under an outstanding Award unless such individual consents to the modification in writing.
13.2 Paperless Administration. In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless documentation, granting or exercise of Awards by a Participant may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.
13.3 Titles and Headings, References to Sections of the Code or Exchange Act. The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control. References to sections of the Code or the Exchange Act shall include any amendment or successor thereto.
13.4 Governing Law. The Plan and any programs and agreements hereunder shall be administered, interpreted and enforced under the internal laws of the State of Delaware, U.S.A. without regard to conflicts of laws thereof.
13.5 Section 409A. The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under the Plan comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted and be administered to be in compliance therewith. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short-term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless Applicable Laws require otherwise. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the Participant shall not be considered to have
terminated employment or service with the Company for purposes of the Plan and no payment shall be due to the Participant under the Plan or any Award until the Participant would be considered to have incurred a “separation from service” from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to the Plan during the six (6) month period immediately following the Participant’s Termination of Service shall instead be paid on the first business day after the date that is six (6) months following the Participant’s separation from service (or upon the Participant’s death, if earlier). In addition, for purposes of the Plan, each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided to the Participant pursuant to the Plan shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.
13.6 No Rights to Awards. No Eligible Individual or other individual shall have any claim to be granted any Award pursuant to the Plan, and neither the Company nor the Administrator is obligated to treat Eligible Individuals, Participants or any other individuals uniformly.
13.7 Foreign Employees and Foreign Law Considerations. The Administrator may grant Awards to Eligible Individuals who are foreign nationals, who are located outside the United States, who are United States citizens or resident aliens on global assignments in foreign nations, who are not compensated from a payroll maintained in the United States, or who are otherwise subject to (or could cause the Company to be subject to) legal or regulatory provisions of countries or jurisdictions outside the United States, on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Administrator, be necessary or desirable to foster and promote achievement of the purposes of the Plan, and, in furtherance of such purposes, the Administrator may make such modifications, amendments, procedures, or subplans as may be necessary or advisable to comply with such legal or regulatory provisions.
13.8 Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or Award Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.
13.9 Indemnification. To the extent allowable pursuant to Applicable Laws, each member of the Board and any officer or other employee to whom authority to administer any component of the Plan is delegated shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided, however, that he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such individuals may be entitled pursuant to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
13.10 Relationship to other Benefits. No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing,
group insurance, welfare, or other benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.
13.11 Successors. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to substantially all of the assets and business of the Company.
13.12 Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Affiliates.
13.13 Term of Plan. The Plan shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however, any Awards that are outstanding as of the date of the Plan’s termination shall remain in effect, and the terms of the Plan shall apply until such Awards terminate as provided in the applicable Award Agreements.