As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 20 , 2019

 

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM S-8

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

ROSETTA STONE INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

 

Delaware

 

 

043837082

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

 

(I.R.S Employer Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

1621 North Kent Street, Suite 1200,

Arlington, Virginia

 

 

22209

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

(Zip Code)

 

Rosetta Stone Inc. 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan

(Full title of the plan)

 

Sonia Galindo

General Counsel and Secretary

1621 North Kent Street

Suite 1200

Arlington, Virginia 22209

703-387-5800

(Name, address, and 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, a 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

 

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 (2)

 

Proposed maximum

aggregate offering price (2)

 

Amount of

registration fee

Common Stock, $0.00005 par value per share

 

2,350,000

 

 

$

25.30

 

 

$

59,455,000

 

 

$

7,206

 

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement also covers an additional number of shares as may be necessary to adjust the number of shares being offered or issued pursuant to the plans as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

(2) Estimated in accordance with Rules 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee, based upon the average high and low prices of the Common Stock on May 14, 2019, as reported on the NYSE.

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

Rosetta Stone Inc. (the “Registrant”) has prepared this Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to register an additional 2,350,000 shares of its Common Stock, par value $0.00005 per share, available for grant under the Rosetta Stone Inc. 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2019 Plan”).   The Board of Directors adopted, and on May 16, 2019, the stockholders of the Registrant approved, the 2019 Plan. 

 

Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, this Registration Statement incorporates by reference the Registrant’s following Registration Statements, except as otherwise updated or modified in this Registration Statement: Form S-8 filed with the SEC on May 24, 2017 ( File Number 333-218215 ); Form S-8 filed with the SEC on June 12, 2015 ( File Number 333-204904 ); Form S-8 filed with the SEC on December 17, 2014 ( File Number 333-201025 ); Form S-8 filed with the SEC on August 9, 2013 ( File Number 333-190528 ); Form S-8 filed with the SEC on August 8, 2012 ( File Number 333-183148 ); Form S-8 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2012 ( File Number 333-180483 ); Form S-8 filed with the SEC on April 28, 2009 ( File Number 333-158828 ).

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

ITEM 3.    Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

 

The following documents, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), are incorporated herein by reference:

 

 

1.

The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 ;

 

 

2.

The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Registrant’s quarter ended March 31, 2019 ; and

 

 

3.

The description of the Registrant’s common stock contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on April 13, 2009 .

 

All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than Current Reports on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K, including any exhibits included with such information, unless otherwise indicated therein) after the date of this Registration Statement, but prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing such documents. Our Commission File Number is 001-34283.

 

 


 

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for 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 deeme d, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

ITEM 5.    Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

The validity of the Common Stock offered hereby will be passed upon for the Registrant by Sean J. Klein, Deputy General Counsel of the Registrant.  Mr. Klein owns the Registrant’s Common Stock and holds performance stock units issued pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

 

ITEM 8.    Exhibits.

 

The exhibits listed below are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this Registration Statement.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Exhibit Description

 

 

 

3.1

 

Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-153632) filed on February 23, 2009).

3.2

 

Third Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 22, 2016).

4.1

 

Specimen certificate evidencing shares of Common Stock of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-153632) filed on February 23, 2009).

5.1*

 

Opinion of Counsel regarding legality of securities being registered

23.1*

 

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accounting firm

23.2*

 

Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1*

 

Power of Attorney (included as part of signature page to this Registration Statement)

99.1*

 

Rosetta Stone Inc. 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

*     Filed herewith

 

 


 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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 the County of Arlington, Commonwealth of Virginia, on May 20, 2019.

 

ROSETTA STONE INC.

 

 

By:

/s/ SONIA GALINDO

 

Sonia Galindo

 

General Counsel and Secretary

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

We, the undersigned officers and directors of Rosetta Stone Inc., hereby severally constitute and appoint Thomas M. Pierno and Sonia Galindo, and each of them singly (with full power to each of them to act alone), as our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each of them for each of us and in our name, place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 


 

Name

 

Title

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ A. JOHN HASS III

 

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

 

May 20, 2019

A. John Hass III

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ THOMAS M. PIERNO

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

May 20, 2019

Thomas M. Pierno

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ M. SEAN HARTFORD

 

Vice President, Controller and Principal Accounting Officer

 

May 20, 2019

M. Sean Hartford

 

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ LAURENCE FRANKLIN

 

Director

 

May 20, 2019

Laurence Franklin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ PATRICK W. GROSS

 

Director

 

May 20, 2019

Patrick W. Gross

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ GEORGE A. LOGUE

 

Director

 

May 20, 2019

George A. Logue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ DAVID NIERENBERG

 

Director

 

May 20, 2019

David Nierenberg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ JESSIE WOOLLEY-WILSON

 

Director

 

May 20, 2019

Jessie Woolley-Wilson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ STEVEN P. YANKOVICH

 

Director

 

May 20, 2019

Steven P. Yankovich

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

May 20, 2019

 

Rosetta Stone Inc.

1621 North Kent Street

Suite 1200

Arlington, VA 22209

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

I am Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Rosetta Stone Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and am furnishing this letter in connection with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”) to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), 2,350,000 shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.00005 per share (the “Shares”) to be issued pursuant to the Rosetta Stone Inc. 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

For purposes of this letter, I have examined such documents, records, certificates, resolutions and other instruments deemed necessary as a basis for my opinion, and I have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to me as copies and the authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to me as copies.

 

Based upon and subject to the assumptions and limitations set forth in this letter, I am of the opinion that the Shares to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Plan are duly authorized, and when issued and delivered as described in the Plan and Registration Statement, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The opinion expressed above is subject to the qualification that I express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of any laws except the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

I hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.  In giving such consent, I do not hereby admit that I am in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

This letter is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein.  I assume no obligation to revise or supplement this letter should the present laws of the State of Delaware be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.

 

This letter is furnished to you in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon for any other purpose without my prior written consent.

 

Sincerely,

 

/s/ Sean J. Klein

 

Sean J. Klein

Vice President and Deputy General Counsel

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our reports relating to the consolidated financial statements of Rosetta Stone Inc. and subsidiaries, and the effectiveness of Rosetta Stone Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting dated March 6, 2019, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Rosetta Stone Inc. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

McLean, Virginia

May 20, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

ROSETTA STONE INC.

2019 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

(Effective Upon Stockholder Approval)

 

ARTICLE I

 

ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND DURATION

 

1

1.1

 

Establishment

 

1

1.2

 

Purpose of the Plan

 

1

1.3

 

Duration of Plan

 

1

ARTICLE II

 

DEFINITIONS

 

1

ARTICLE III

 

ELIGIBILITY

 

6

ARTICLE IV

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO AWARDS

 

6

4.1

 

Authority to Grant Awards

 

6

4.2

 

Shares That Count Against Limit

 

7

4.3

 

Non-Transferability

 

8

4.4

 

Requirements of Law

 

8

4.5

 

Changes in the Company's Capital Structure

 

8

4.6

 

Election Under Section 83(b) of the Code

 

10

4.7

 

Forfeiture for Cause

 

10

4.8

 

Forfeiture Events

 

11

4.9

 

Award Agreements

 

11

4.10

 

Amendments of Award Agreements

 

11

4.11

 

Rights as Stockholder

 

11

4.12

 

Issuance of Shares of Stock

 

11

4.13

 

Restrictions on Stock Received

 

11

4.14

 

Compliance With Section 409A

 

11

4.15

 

Date of Grant

 

12

4.16

 

Source of Shares Deliverable Under Awards

 

12

ARTICLE V

 

OPTIONS

 

12

5.1

 

Authority to Grant Options

 

12

5.2

 

Type of Options Available

 

12

5.3

 

Option Agreement

 

12

5.4

 

Option Price

 

13

5.5

 

Duration of Option

 

13

5.6

 

Amount Exercisable

 

13

5.7

 

Exercise of Option

 

13

5.8

 

Transferability—Incentive Stock Options

 

13

5.9

 

Notification of Disqualifying Disposition

 

13

5.10

 

No Rights as Stockholder

 

14

5.11

 

$100,000 Limitation on ISOs

 

14

5.12

 

Separation from Service

 

14

ARTICLE VI

 

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

14

6.1

 

Authority to Grant SAR Awards

 

14

6.2

 

Type of Stock Appreciation Rights Available

 

14

6.3

 

General Terms

 

 

 

 

 

14

6.4

 

SAR Agreement

 

14

6.5

 

Term of SAR

 

15

6.6

 

Exercise of Freestanding SARs

 

15

6.7

 

Exercise of Tandem SARs

 

15

6.8

 

Payment of SAR Amount

 

15

6.9

 

Separation from Service

 

15

6.10

 

Nontransferability of SARs

 

15

6.11

 

No Rights as Stockholder

 

16

6.12

 

Restrictions on Stock Received

 

16

ARTICLE VII

 

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

16

7.1

 

Restricted Stock Awards

 

16

7.2

 

Restricted Stock Award Agreement

 

16

7.3

 

Holder's Rights as Stockholder

 

16

ARTICLE VIII

 

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARDS

 

17

8.1

 

Authority to Grant RSU Awards

 

17

8.2

 

RSU Award

 

17

8.3

 

RSU Award Agreement

 

17

8.4

 

Dividend Equivalents

 

17

8.5

 

Form of Payment Under RSU Award

 

17

8.6

 

Time of Payment Under RSU Award

 

17

8.7

 

Holder's Rights as Stockholder

 

17

ARTICLE IX

 

PERFORMANCE STOCK AWARDS AND PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARDS

 

17

9.1

 

Authority to Grant Performance Stock Awards and Performance Unit Awards

 

17

9.2

 

Performance Goals

 

18

9.3

 

Written Agreement

 

20

9.4

 

Form of Payment Under Performance Unit Award

 

20

9.5

 

Time of Payment Under Performance Unit Award

 

20

9.6

 

Holder's Rights as Stockholder With Respect to a Performance Stock Award

 

20

9.7

 

Dividend Equivalents

 

21

ARTICLE X

 

DIRECTOR AWARDS

 

21

ARTICLE XI

 

OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

 

21

11.1

 

Authority to Grant Other Stock-Based Awards

 

21

11.2

 

Value of Other Stock-Based Award

 

21

11.3

 

Payment of Other Stock-Based Award

 

21

11.4

 

Separation from Service

 

21

11.5

 

Time of Payment of Other Stock-Based Award

 

21

11.6

 

Dividends and Dividend Equivalents

 

21

ARTICLE XII

 

CASH-BASED AWARDS

 

22

12.1

 

Authority to Grant Cash-Based Awards

 

22

12.2

 

Value of Cash-Based Award

 

22

12.3

 

Payment of Cash-Based Award

 

22

12.4

 

Separation from Service

 

22

12.5

 

Time of Payment of Cash-Based Award

 

22

ARTICLE XIII

 

SUBSTITUTION AWARDS

 

22

ARTICLE XIV

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

23

14.1

 

Awards

 

23

14.2

 

Authority of the Committee

 

23

14.3

 

Decisions Binding

 

24

14.4

 

No Liability

 

24

ARTICLE XV

 

AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN

 

24

15.1

 

Amendment, Modification, Suspension, and Termination

 

24

15.2

 

Awards Previously Granted

 

24

ARTICLE XVI

 

PARACHUTE LIMITATIONS

 

24

ARTICLE XVII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

25

17.1

 

Unfunded Plan/No Establishment of a Trust Fund

 

25

17.2

 

No Employment Obligation

 

25

17.3

 

Tax Withholding

 

26

17.4

 

Indemnification of the Committee

 

26

17.5

 

Gender and Number

 

27

17.6

 

Severability

 

27

17.7

 

Headings

 

27

17.8

 

Other Compensation Plans

 

27

17.9

 

Retirement and Welfare Plans

 

27

17.10

 

Other Awards

 

27

17.11

 

Successors

 

27

17.12

 

Law Limitations/Governmental Approvals

 

27

17.13

 

Delivery of Title

 

27

17.14

 

Inability to Obtain Authority

 

28

17.15

 

Investment Representations

 

28

17.16

 

Persons Residing Outside of the United States

 

28

17.17

 

Arbitration of Disputes

 

28

17.18

 

No Fractional Shares

 

28

17.19

 

Governing Law

 

28

 

 

 

 

 


 

ROSETTA STONE INC.

2019 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

(Effective Upon Stockholder Approval)

 

ARTICLE I

ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND DURATION

 

1.1    Establishment.     The Company establishes the Rosetta Stone Inc. 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the " Plan "), as set forth in this document.  The Plan was approved by the Board on March 30, 2019, and shall become effective on May 16, 2019, subject to approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders on such date (the “ Effective Date ”).  The Plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options, Non-qualified Stock Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, RSUs, Performance Stock Awards, Performance Unit Awards, Other Stock-Based Awards and Cash-Based Awards.

 

1.2    Purpose of the Plan.     The Plan is intended to advance the best interests of the Company, its Affiliates and its stockholders by providing those persons who have substantial responsibility for the management and growth of the Company and its Affiliates with additional performance incentives and an opportunity to obtain or increase their proprietary interest in the Company, thereby encouraging them to continue in their employment or affiliation with the Company or its Affili ates.

 

1.3    Duration of Plan.     The Plan shall continue indefinitely until it is terminated pursuant to Section 16.1. No Awards may be granted under the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. The applicable provisions of the Plan will continue in effect with respect to an Award granted under the Plan for as long as such Award remains outstanding.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Incentive Stock Options may be granted more than ten years after the earlier of (a) adoption of the Pl an by the Board, and (b) the Effective Date.

 

ARTICLE II

 

DEFINITIONS

 

The words and phrases defined in this Article shall have the meaning set out below throughout the Plan, unless the context in which any such word or phrase appears reasonably requires a broader, narrower or different meaning.

 

2.1  " Affiliate " means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or association, trust or other entity or organization which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company. For purposes of the preceding sentence, "control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlled by" and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any entity or organization, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power (a) to vote more than fifty percent (50%) of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of the controlled entity or organization, or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the controlled entity or organization, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.

 

        2.2  " Authorized Shares " shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 4.1(a).

        2.3  " Award " means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, RSUs, Performance Stock Awards, Performance Unit Awards,

 

 


 

Other Stock-Based Awards and Cash-Based Awards, in each cas e subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan.

        2.4  " Award Agreement " means an agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan.

 

        2.5  " Benefit Arrangement " shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Article XVI.

        2.6  " Board " means the board of directors of the Company.

        2.7  " Cash-Based Award " means an Award granted pursuant to Article XII.

 

2.8  " Code " means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

        2.9  " Committee " means (a) in the case of an Award granted to a Director, the Board, and (b) in the case of any other Award granted under the Plan, the Compensation Committee of the Board or, if the Compensation Committee of the Board chooses to delegate it duties, a committee of at least two persons who are members of the Compensation Committee of the Board and are appointed by the Compensation Committee of the Board to administer the Plan. As to Awards, grants or other transactions that are authorized by the Committee and that are intended to be exempt under Rule 16b-3, the requirements of Rule 16b-3(d)(1) with respect to committee action must also be satisfied.

 

        2.10  " Company " means Rosetta Stone Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor (by reincorporation, merger or otherwise).

 

2.11  " Corporate Change " shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 4.5(c).

        2.12  " Director " means a director of the Company who is not an Employee.

 

2.13  " Disability " means as determined by the Committee in its discretion exercised in good faith, (a) in the case of an Award that is exempt from the application of the requirements of Section 409A, a physical or mental condition of the Holder that would entitle him to payment of disability income payments under the Company's long-term disability insurance policy or plan for employees as then in effect; or in the event that the Holder is a Director or is not covered, for whatever reason, under the Company's long-term disability insurance policy or plan for employees or in the event the Company does not maintain such a long-term disability insurance policy, "Disability" means a permanent and total disability as defined in section 22(e)(3) of the Code and (b) in the case of an Award that is not exempt from the application of the requirements of Section 409A, (i) the Holder is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (ii) the Holder is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company. A determination of Disability may be made by a physician selected or approved by the Committee and, in this respect, the Holder shall submit to an examination by such physician upon request by the Committee.

        2.14  " Dividend Equivalent " means a payment equivalent in amount to dividends paid to the Company's stockholders.

 

 


 

        2.15  " Effective Dat e" shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 1.1.

        2.16  " Employee " means (a) a person employed by the Company or any Affiliate as a common law employee or (b) a person who has agreed to become a common law employee of the Company or any Affiliate and is expected to become such within six (6) months from the date of a determination made for purposes of the Plan.

        2.17  " Exchange Act " means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor act.

 

        2.18   " Fair Market Value " of the Stock as of any particular date means a price that is based on the opening, closing, actual, high, low, or average selling prices of a share of Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange (" NYSE ") or other established stock exchange (or exchanges) on the applicable date, the preceding trading day, the next succeeding trading day, or an average of trading days, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, Fair Market Value means

 

 

(a)

the closing sale price of the Stock on that date, if the Stock is traded on that date, or

 

 

(b)

the closing sale price of the Stock on the last trading date immediately preceding that date, if the Stock is not traded on that date;

 

provided, however, that (x) if the Stock is not so traded, or (y) if, in the discretion of the Committee, another means of determining the fair market value of a share of Stock at such date shall be necessary or advisable, the Committee may provide for another method or means for determining such fair market value, which method or means shall comply with the requirements of a reasonable valuation method as described under Section 409A.

 

        2.19  " Fiscal Year " means the calendar year.

 

        2.20  " Freestanding SAR " means a SAR that is granted independently of any Options, as described in Article VI.

 

        2.21  " Full Value Award " means an Award other than in the form of an ISO, NQSO, or SAR, and which is settled by the issuance of shares of Stock.

 

        2.22  " Holder " means a person who has been granted an Award or any person who is entitled to receive shares of Stock or cash under an Award.

 

        2.23  " Incentive Stock Option " or " ISO " means an option to purchase Stock granted pursuant to Article V that is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and that is intended to satisfy the requirements of section 422 of the Code.

        2.24  " Insider " shall mean an individual who is, on the relevant date, an officer, a Director, or more than ten percent (10%) “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of any class of the Company's equity securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as determined by the Board in accordance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

        2.25  " Minimum Statutory Tax Withholding Obligation " means, with respect to an Award, the amount the Company or an Affiliate is required to withhold for federal, state, local and foreign taxes based upon the applicable

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minimum statutory withholding rates required by the relevant tax authorities.

        2.26  " Nonqualified Stock Option " or " NQSO " means a "nonqualified stock option" to purchase Stock granted pursuant to Article V that does not satisfy the requirements of section 422 of the Code.

        2.27  " Option " means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.

        2.28 " Option Price " shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 5.4.

 

        2.29  " Other Agreement " shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Article XVI.

 

        2.30  " Other Stock-Based Award " means an equity-based or equity-related Award not otherwise described by the terms and provisions of the Plan that is granted pursuant to Article XI.

 

        2.31  " Parachute Payment " shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Article XVI.

 

        2.32  " Parent Corporation " means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if, at the time of the action or transaction, each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing 50 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain.

        2.33  " Performance Goals " shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 9.2.

        2.34  " Performance Stock Award " means an Award designated as a performance stock award granted to a Holder pursuant to Article IX.

        2.35  " Performance Unit Award " means an Award designated as a performance unit award granted to a Holder pursuant to Article IX.

        2.36  " Period of Restriction " means the period during which Restricted Stock is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (based on the passage of time, the achievement of Performance Goals, or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, in its discretion), as provided in Article VII.

 

        2.37  " Permissible under Section 409A " means with respect to a particular action (such as, the grant, payment, vesting, settlement or deferral of an amount or award under the Plan) that such action shall not subject the compensation at issue to be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Section 409A.

 

        2.38  " Plan " shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 1.1.

 

        2.39  “ Prior Plan ” means the Rosetta Stone Inc. Amended and Restated 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

        2.40  " Restricted Stock " means shares of restricted Stock issued or granted under the Plan pursuant to Article VII.

        2.41  " Restricted Stock Award " means an authorization by the Committee to issue or transfer Restricted Stock to a Holder.

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        2.42  " RSU " means a restricted stock unit credited to a Holder's ledger account maintained by the Company pursuant to Article VIII.

        2.43  " RSU Award " means an Award granted pursuant to Article VIII.

        2.44  " SAR " means a stock appreciation right granted under the Plan pursuant to Article VI.

        2.45  " Section 409A " means section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury rules and regulations issued thereunder.

        2.46 " Separation from Service " means the termination of the Award recipient's employment or service relationship with the Company and all Affiliates as determined under Section 409A. "Separation from Service" means, in the case of an ISO, the termination of the Employee's employment relationship with all of the Company, any Parent Corporation, any Subsidiary Corporation and any parent or subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of section 422(a)(2) of the Code) of any such corporation that issues or assumes an ISO in a transaction to which section 424(a) of the Code applies.

        2.47  " Stock " means the common stock of the Company, $0.00005 par value per share (or such other par value as may be designated by act of the Company's stockholders).

        2.48  " Subsidiary Corporation " means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of the action or transaction, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in an unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain.

        2.49  " Substantial Risk of Forfeiture " shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 409A.

        2.50  " Tandem SAR " means a SAR that is granted in connection with a related Option pursuant to Article VI herein, the exercise of which shall require forfeiture of the right to purchase a share of Stock under the related Option (and when a share of Stock is purchased under the Option, the Tandem SAR shall similarly be canceled).

 

2.51  " Tax Withholding Obligation " shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 18.3.

 

       2.52  " Ten Percent Stockholder " means an individual, who, at the time the applicable Option is granted, owns stock possessing 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. An individual shall be considered as owning the stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for his brothers and sisters (whether by the whole or half blood), spouse, ancestors, and lineal descendants; and stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for a corporation, partnership, estate, or trust, shall be considered as being owned proportionately by or for its stockholders, partners, or beneficiaries.

        2.53  " Third Party Service Provider " means any consultant, agent, representative, advisor, or independent contractor who renders services to the Company or an Affiliate that (a) are not in connection with the offer and sale of the Company's securities in a capital raising transaction, and (b) do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company's securities.

 

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ARTICLE III

 

ELIGIBILITY

 

Except as otherwise specified in this Article III, the persons who are eligible to receive Awards under the Plan are Employees, Directors and Third Party Service Providers, provided, however, that (a) only those persons who are, on the dates of grant, key employees of the Company or any Parent Corporation or Subsidiary Corporation are eligible for grants of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan and (b) Directors and Third Party Service Providers are only eligible to receive NQSO, SAR and Full Value Awards. Awards other than ISOs, Performance Stock Awards or Performance Units Awards may also be granted to a person who is expected to become a key Employee within six months.

 

AR TICLE IV

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO AWARDS

 

        4.1     Authority to Grant Awards .     The Committee may grant Awards to those Employees, Directors and Third Party Service Providers as the Committee shall from time to time determine, under the terms and conditions of the Plan. Subject only to any applicable limitations set out in the Plan, the number of shares of Stock or other value to be covered by any Award to be granted under the Plan shall be as determined by the Committee in its sole discreti on.

 

(a)   Unless otherwise authorized by the shareholders of the Company and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.5, the total number of shares of Stock available for grant under the Plan may not exceed 2,350,000 shares plus additional shares of Stock underlying awards outstanding as of the Effective Date under the Prior Plan that thereafter terminate or expire unexercised, or are cancelled, forfeited or lapse for any reason (the " Authorized Shares ").

 

(b)   The aggregate number of shares of Stock with respect to which ISOs may be granted under the Plan is equal to the Authorized Shares.

 

(c)   (i)  The maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to which ISOs may be granted to an Employee during a Fiscal Year is 235,000.

 

(ii)  The maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to which NQSOs may be granted to an Employee during a Fiscal Year is 235,000.

 

(iii)  The maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to which SARs may be granted to an Employee during a Fiscal Year is 235,000.

 

(iv)  The maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to which Performance Stock Awards may be granted to an Employee during a Fiscal Year is 235,000.

 

(v)  The maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to which Performance Unit Awards payable in shares of Stock may be granted to an Employee during a Fiscal Year is 235,000.

 

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(vi)  The maximum value of cash with respect to which Performance Unit Awards payable in cash may be granted to an Employee during a Fiscal Year, determined as of the dates of grants of the Performance Unit Awards, is $5,000,000.

 

(vii)  The maximum amount that may be paid to an Employee under Cash-Based Award(s) granted to an Employee during a Fiscal Year is $5,000,000.  

 

(viii)  The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be granted to any Director pursuant to Awards in any Fiscal Year shall be limited to a number that, combined with any cash fees or other compensation paid to such Director, shall not exceed $500,000 in total value, with the value of any such Director Awards based on the grant date fair value of such Awards for financial reporting purposes; provided, however, that (A) the foregoing limitation shall not apply to the extent that the Director has been or becomes an Employee during the Fiscal Year and (B) the Board may make exceptions to this limit for individual Directors in extraordinary circumstances as the Board may determine in its sole discretion, so long as (1) the aggregate limit for services as a member of the Board or a committee of the Board does not exceed $750,000 in total value during a Fiscal Year and (2) the Director receiving such additional compensation does not participate in the decision to award such compensation or in other contemporaneous compensation decisions involving Directors.  For the avoidance of doubt, the limits in this subsection do not apply to compensation to a Director for service to the Company other than service as a member of the Board or a committee of the Board.

 

(d)   Each of the foregoing numerical limits stated in this Section 4.1 shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.5.

 

        4.2     Shares That Count Against Limit.     The following rules shall apply in determining the number of shares of Stock remaining available for grant un der the Plan:

 

(a)   While an Award is outstanding, it shall be counted against the authorized pool of shares of Stock, regardless of its vested status.

 

(b)   The grant of an Option or SAR shall reduce the shares of Stock available for grant under the Plan by one (1) share of Stock for each share of Stock subject to such Award.

 

(c)   Each grant of a Restricted Stock Award, RSU Award, Performance Stock Award, Performance Unit Award, or any Other Stock-Based Award which is a Full Value Award shall reduce the Authorized Shares by 1.75 shares of Stock for each share of Stock subject to such Full Value Award.

 

(d)   To the extent that an Award is settled in cash rather than in shares of Stock, the shares of Stock reserved for such Award shall not be deducted from the Authorized Shares, and such number of credited shares of Stock may again be made subject to Awards under the Plan.

 

(e)   To the extent shares of Stock are withheld from any Award by the Company as full or partial payment of taxes applicable to any Award, such shares shall not be added back to the number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan.

 

(f)    Shares of Stock tendered by a Participant to pay the exercise price of any Option or to satisfy tax-withholding obligations of any Award shall not be added back to the number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan.

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(g)   When a SAR is settled in shares of Stock, the number of shares of Stock subject to the SAR will be counted against the aggregate number of shares of Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan as one (1) share for every share subject to the SAR, regardless of the number of shares used to settled the SAR upon exercise.

 

(h)   If any Award granted under this Plan is canceled, forfeited, terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason, any shares of Stock subject to such Award again shall be available for the grant of an Award under the Plan. Without limiting the foregoing, to the extent a Full Value Award is forfeited prior to the expiration of the applicable Period of Restriction or Performance Goal  period (as applicable), the same number of shares of Stock shall be added to the Authorized Shares as were deducted when such Award first was granted.

 

        4.3     Non-Transferability.     Except as specified in the applicable Award Agreement or in domestic relations court orders, an Award shall not be transferable by the Holder other than by will or under the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable, during the Holder's lifetime, only by him or her; provided, however, no Award may be transferred for value. Any attempted assignment of an Award in violation of this Section shall be null and void. In the discretion of the Committee, any attempt to transfer an Award other than under the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement may terminate the Award.

 

        4.4     Requirements of Law.     The Company shall not be required to sell or issue any shares of Stock under any Award if issuing those shares of Stock would constitute or result in a violation by the Holder or the Company of any provision of any law, statute or regulation of any governmental authority. Specifically, in connection with any applicable statute or regulation relating to the registration of securities, upon exercise of any Option or pursuant to any other Award, the Company shall not be required to issue any shares of Stock unless the Committee has received evidence satisfactory to it to the effect that the Holder will not transfer the shares of Stock except in accordance with applicable law, including receipt of an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company to the effect that any proposed transfer complies with applicable law. The determination by the Committee on this matter shall be final, binding and conclusive. The Company may, but shall in no event be obligated to, register any shares of Stock covered by the Plan pursuant to applicable securities laws of any country or any political subdivision. In the event the shares of Stock issuable on exercise of an Option or pursuant to any other Award are not registered, the Company may imprint on the certificate evidencing the shares of Stock any legend that counsel for the Company considers necessary or advisable to comply with applicable law, or, should the shares of Stock be represented by book or electronic entry rather than a certificate, the Company may take such steps to restrict transfer of the shares of Stock as counsel for the Company considers necessary or advisable to comply with applicable law. The Company shall not be obligated to take any other affirmative action in order to cause or enable the exercise of an O ption or any other Award, or the issuance of shares of Stock pursuant thereto, to comply with any law or regulation of any governmental authority.

 

        4.5     Changes in the Company's Capital Structure.

 

(a)   The existence of outstanding Awards shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the Company's capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference shares ahead of or affecting the Stock or Stock rights, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

 

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(b)   If the Company shall effect a subdivision or consolidation of Stock or other capital readjustment, the payment of a Stock dividend, or other increase or reduction of the num ber of shares of Stock outstanding, without receiving compensation therefor in money, services or property, then (1) the number, class or series and per share price of Stock subject to outstanding Awards under the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted in su ch a manner as to entitle a Holder to receive upon exercise of an Award, for the same aggregate cash consideration, the equivalent total number and class or series of Stock the Holder would have received had the Holder exercised his or her Award in full im mediately prior to the event requiring the adjustment, and (2) the number and class or series of Stock then reserved to be issued under the Plan shall be adjusted by substituting for the total number and class or series of Stock then reserved, that number and class or series of Stock that would have been received by the owner of an equal number of outstanding shares of Stock of each class or series of Stock as the result of the event requiring the adjustment.

 

(c)   If while unexercised Awards remain outstanding under the Plan (1) the Company shall not be the surviving entity in any merger, consolidation or other reorganization (or survives only as a subsidiary of an entity other than an entity that was wholly-owned by the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or other reorganization), (2) the Company sells, leases or exchanges or agrees to sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of its assets to any other person or entity (other than an entity wholly-owned by the Company), (3) the Company is to be dissolved or (4) the Company is a party to any other corporate transaction (as defined under section 424(a) of the Code and applicable Department of Treasury regulations) that is not described in clauses (1), (2) or (3) of this sentence (each such event is referred to herein as a " Corporate Change "), then, except as a result of the Committee's effectuation of one or more of the alternatives described below, there shall be no acceleration of the time at which any Award then outstanding may be exercised, and no later than ten days after the consummation of such Corporate Change, the Committee, acting in its sole and absolute discretion without the consent or approval of any Holder, shall act to effect one or more of the following alternatives, which may vary among individual Holders and which may vary among Awards held by any individual Holder (provided that, with respect to a reincorporation merger in which Holders of the Company's ordinary shares will receive one ordinary share of the successor corporation for each ordinary share of the Company, none of such alternatives shall apply and, without Committee action, each Award shall automatically convert into a similar award of the successor corporation exercisable for the same number of ordinary shares of the successor as the Award was exercisable for ordinary shares of Stock of the Company):

 

(1)   accelerate the time at which some or all of the Awards then outstanding may be exercised so that such Awards may be exercised in full for a limited period of time on or before a specified date (before or after such Corporate Change) fixed by the Committee, after which specified date all such Awards that remain unexercised and all rights of Holders thereunder shall terminate;

 

(2)   require the mandatory surrender to the Company by all or selected Holders of some or all of the then outstanding Awards held by such Holders (irrespective of whether such Awards are then exercisable under the provisions of the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement evidencing such Award) as of a date, before or after such Corporate Change, specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel such Award and the Company shall pay to each such Holder an amount of cash per share equal to the excess, if any, of the per share price offered to stockholders of the Company in connection with such Corporate Change over the exercise prices under such Award for such shares;

 

(3)   with respect to all or selected Holders, have some or all of their then outstanding Awards (whether vested or unvested) assumed or have a new award of a similar nature substituted for some or all of their then outstanding Awards under the Plan (whether vested or unvested) by an entity which is a party to the transaction resulting in such Corporate Change and which is then employing such Holder or which is affiliated or associated with such Holder in

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the same or a substantially similar manner as the Company prior to the Corporate Change, or a parent or subsidiary of such entity, provided t hat (A) such assumption or substitution is on a basis where the excess of the aggregate fair market value of the Stock subject to the Award immediately after the assumption or substitution over the aggregate exercise price of such Stock is equal to the exc ess of the aggregate fair market value of all Stock subject to the Award immediately before such assumption or substitution over the aggregate exercise price of such Stock, and (B) the assumed rights under such existing Award or the substituted rights unde r such new Award, as the case may be, will have the same terms and conditions as the rights under the existing Award assumed or substituted for, as the case may be;

 

(4)   provide that the number and class or series of Stock covered by an Award (whether vested or unvested) theretofore granted shall be adjusted so that such Award when exercised shall thereafter cover the number and class or series of Stock or other securities or property (including, without limitation, cash) to which the Holder would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the agreement or plan relating to such Corporate Change if, immediately prior to such Corporate Change, the Holder had been the holder of record of the number of shares of Stock then covered by such Award; or

 

(5)   make such adjustments to Awards then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Corporate Change (provided, however, that the Committee may determine in its sole and absolute discretion that no such adjustment is necessary to reflect such Corporate Change).

 

        4.6     Election Under Section 83(b) of the Code.     No Holder shall exercise the election permitted under section 83(b) of the Code with respect to any Award without the prior written approval of the General Counsel of the Company. Any Holder who makes an election under section 83(b) of the Code with r espect to any Award without the prior written approval of the General Counsel of the Company may, in the discretion of the Committee, forfeit any or all Awards granted to him or her under the Plan.

 

        4.7     Forfeiture for Cause.     Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement, if the Committee finds by a majority vote that a Holder, before or after his Separation from Service (a) committed a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or committed any other act or omission involving fraud, embezzlement or any other act of dishonesty in the course of his employment by the Company or an Affiliate which conduct damaged the Company or an Affiliate; (b) substantially and repeatedly failed to perform duties of the office held by the Holder as reasonably directed by the Company or an Affiliate, (c) committed gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or an Affiliate; (d) committed a material breach of any employment agreement between the Holder and the Company or an Affiliate that is not cured within ten (10) days after receipt of written notice thereof from the Company or the Affiliate, as applicable, (e) failed, within ten (10) days after receipt by the Holder of written notice thereof from the Company or an Affiliate, to correct, cease or otherwise alter any failure to comply with instructions or other action or omission which the Board reasonably believes does or may materially or adversely affect the Company's or an Affiliate's business or operations, (f) committed misconduct which is of such a serious or substantial nature that a reasonable likelihood exists that such misconduct will materially injure the reputation of the Company or an Affiliate, (g) harassed or discriminated against the Company's or an Affiliate's employees, customers or vendors in violation of the Company's policies with respect to such matters, (h) misappropriated funds or assets of the Company or an Affiliate for personal use or willfully violated the Company policies or standards of business conduct as determined in good faith by the Board, (i) failed, due to some action or inaction on the part of the Holder, to have immigration status that permits the Holder to maintain full-time employment with the Company or an Affiliate in the United States in compliance with all applicable immigration law, or (j) disclosed trade secrets of the Company or an Affiliate, then as of the date the Committee makes its finding, any Awards awarded to the Holder that have not been exercised by the Holder (including all Awards that

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have not yet vested) will be forfeited to the Company. The findings and decision of the Committee or the Board, if applicable, with respect to such matter, including those regarding the acts of the Holder and the damage done to the Company, will be final for all purposes. No decision of the Committee, however, will affect the finality of the discharge of the individual by the Company or an Affiliate.

 

        4.8     Forfeiture Events.     The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Holder's rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, Separation from Service for cause, Separation from Service for any other reason, violation of material policies of the Company and its Affiliates, breach of noncompetition, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Holder, or other conduct by the Holder that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company and its Affiliates.

 

        4.9     Award Agreements.     Each Award shall be embodied in a written Award Agreement that shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. The Award Agreement shall be signed by an executive officer of the Company, other than the Holder, on behalf of the Company, and may be signed by the Holder to the extent required by the Committee. The Award Agreement may specify the effect of a change in control of the Company on the Award. The Award Agreement may contain any other provisions that the Committee in its discretion shall deem advisable which are not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan.

 

        4.10     Amendments of Award Agreements.     The terms of any outstanding Award under the Plan may be amended from time to time by the Committee in its discretion in any manner that it deems appropriate and that is consistent with the terms of the Plan. However, no such amendment shall adversely affect in a material manner any right of a Holder without his or her written consent. Except as specified in Section 4.5(b), the Committee may not directly or indirectly lower the exercise price of a previously granted Option or the grant price of a previously granted SAR.

 

        4.11     Rights as Stockholder.     A Holder shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to Stock covered by an Option, a SAR, an RSU Award, a Performance Stock Award, a Performance Unit Award, or an Other Stock-Based Award payable in Stock until the date, if any, such Stock is issued by the Company; and, except as otherwise provided in Section 4.5, no adjustme nt for dividends, or otherwise, shall be made if the record date therefor is prior to the date of issuance of such Stock.

 

        4.12     Issuance of Shares of Stock.     Shares of Stock, when issued, may be represented by a certificate or by book or ele ctronic entry.

 

        4.13     Restrictions on Stock Received.     The Committee may impose such conditions and/or restrictions on any shares of Stock issued pursuant to an Award as it may deem advisable or desirable. These restrictions may include, but shall not be limited to, a requirement that the Holder hold the shares of Stock for a specified period of time.

 

        4.14     Compliance With Section 409A.     Awards shall be designed, granted and administered in such a manner that they are either exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A. The Plan and each Award Agreement under the Plan that is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. If the Committee determines that an Award, Award Agreement, payment, distribution, deferral election, transaction, or any other action or arrangement contemplated by the provisions of the Plan would, if undertaken, cause a Holder to become subject to additional taxes under

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Section 409A, then unless the Committee specifically provides otherwise, such Award, Award Agreement, payment, distribution, deferral election, transaction or other action or arrangement shall not be given effect to the extent it caus es such result and the related provisions of the Plan and/or Award Agreement will be deemed modified, or, if necessary, suspended in order to comply with the requirements of Section 409A to the extent determined appropriate by the Committee, in each case w ithout the consent of or notice to the Holder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company, any of its Affiliates, the Board nor the Committee will have any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any excise tax or penalty on any Holder under Section 409A, and neither the Company, any of its Affiliates, the Board nor the Committee will have any liability to any Holder for such tax or penalty.  The exercisability of an Option or a SAR shall not be extended to the extent that such e xtension would subject the Holder to additional taxes under Section 409A.   Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and tax penalties under Section 409A, 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 a Holder’s Separation from Service will instead be paid on the first payroll date after the six (6)-month anniversary of the H older’s Separation from Service (or the Holder’s death, if earlier).

 

        4.15     Date of Grant.     The date on which an option or SAR is granted shall be the date the Company completes the corporate action constituting an offer of stock for sale to a Holder under the terms and conditions of the Option or SAR; provided that such corporate action shall not be considered complete until the date on which the maximum number of shares that can be purchased under the Option and the minimum Option price are fixed or determinable. If the corporate action contemplates an immediate offer of stock for sale to a class of individuals, then the date of the granting of an Option is the time or date of that corporate action, if the offer is to be made immediately. If the corporate action contemplates a particular date on which the offer is to be made, then the date of grant is the contemplated date of the offer.

 

        4.16     Source of Shares Deliverable Under Awards.     Any shares of Stock delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares of Stock or of treasury shares of Stock.

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

OPTIONS

 

        5.1     Authority to Grant Options.     Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time, and from time to time, may grant Options under the Plan to eligible persons in such number and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine; provided tha t ISOs may be granted only to eligible Employees of the Company or of any Parent Corporation or Subsidiary Corporation (as permitted by section 422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder).

 

         5.2     Type of Options Available.     Options granted under the Plan may be NQSOs or ISOs.

 

        5.3     Option Agreement.     Each Option grant under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify (a) whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or an NQSO, (b) the Option Price, (c) the duration of the Option, (d) the number of shares of Stock to which the Option pertains, (e) the exercise restrictions, if any, applicable to the Option and (f) such other provisions as the Committee shall determine that are not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan. Notwithstanding the designation of an Option as an ISO in the applicable Award Agreement for such Option, to the extent the limitations of Section 5.11 of the Plan are exceeded with respect

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to the Option, the portion of the Option in excess of the limitation shall be treated as a NQSO. An Option granted under the Plan may not be granted with any Dividend Equivalent rights.

 

        5.4     Option Price.     The price at which shares of Stock may be purchased under an Option (the " Option Price ") shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock on the date the Option is granted; provided, however , if the Option is an ISO granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, the Option Price must not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock on the date the ISO is granted. Subject to the limitations set forth in the preceding sentences of this Section 5.4, the Committee shall determine the Option Pr ice for each grant of an Option under the Plan.

 

        5.5     Duration of Option.     An Option shall not be exercisable after the earlier of (i) the general term of the Option specified in the applicable Award Agreement (which shall not exceed ten years, or, in the case of a Ten Percent Stockholder, no ISO shall be exercisable later than the fifth (5 th ) anniversary of the date of its grant) or (ii) the period of time specified in the applicable Award Agreement that follows the Holder's Separation from S ervice.

 

        5.6     Amount Exercisable.     Each Option may be exercised at the time, in the manner and subject to the conditions the Committee specifies in the Award Agreement in its sole discretion.

 

        5.7     Exercise of Option.

 

(a)     General Method of Exercise.     Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, Options may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time by the delivery of written notice in the manner designated by the Committee stating (1) that the Holder wishes to exercise such Option on the date such notice is so delivered, (2) the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Option is to be exercised and (3) the address to which a stock certificate, if any, representing such shares of Stock should be mailed or delivered. Except in the case of exercise by a third party broker as provided below, in order for the notice to be effective the notice must be accompanied by payment of the Option Price by any combination of the following: (a) cash, certified check, bank draft or postal or express money order for an amount equal to the Option Price under the Option, (b) an election to make a cashless exercise through a registered broker-dealer (if approved in advance by the Committee or an executive officer of the Company) or (c) any other form of payment which is acceptable to the Committee.

 

(b)     Exercise Through Third-Party Broker.     The Committee may permit a Holder to elect to pay the Option Price and any applicable tax withholding resulting from such exercise by authorizing a third-party broker to sell all or a portion of the shares of Stock acquired upon exercise of the Option and remit to the Company a sufficient portion of the sale proceeds to pay the Option Price and any applicable tax withholding resulting from such exercise.

 

        5.8     Transferability—Incentive Stock Options .     Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, no ISO granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all ISOs granted to an Employee under this Article V shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Employee.

 

        5.9     Notification of Disqualifying Disposition .     If any Employee shall make any disposition of shares of Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of an ISO under the circumstances described in section 421(b) of the Code (relating to certain disqualifying disp ositions), such Employee shall notify the Company of such disposition within ten (10) days thereof.

 

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        5.10     No Rights as Stockholder .     A Holder of an Option shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to Stock covered by an Option until the date a stock certificate for such Stock is issued by the Company or a book or electronic entry for such Stock is made; and, except as otherwise provided in Section 4.5, no adjustment for dividends, or otherwise, shall be made if the record date t herefor is prior to the date of issuance of such certificate or the date such book or electronic entry is made.

 

        5.11     $100,000 Limitation on ISOs .     To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares of Stock with respect to which ISOs first become exercisable by a Holder in any calendar year exceeds $100,000, taking into account both shares of Stock subject to ISOs under the Plan and Stock subject to ISOs under all other plans of the Company, such Options shall be treated as NQSOs. For this purpose, the "Fair Market Value" of the shares of Stock subject to Options shall be determined as of the date the Options were awarded. In reducing the number of Options treated as ISOs to meet the $100,000 limit, the most recently granted Options shall be reduced first. To the extent a reduction of simultaneously granted Options is necessary to meet the $100,000 limit, the Committee may, in the manner and to the extent permitted by law, designate which shares of Stock are to be treated as shares a cquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO.

 

        5.12     Separation from Service.     Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Holder of an Option shall have the right to exercise the Option following the Holder's Separation from Se rvice. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to the Award Agreement or the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

        6.1     Authority to Grant SAR Awards.     Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time, and from time to time, may grant SARs under the Plan to eligible persons in such number and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number of SARs granted to each Holder and, consistent with the provisions of the Plan, in determining the terms and conditions pertaining to such SARs.

 

        6.2     Type of Stock Appreciation Rights Available .     The Committee may grant Freestanding SARs, Tandem SARs, or any combination of these forms of SARs.

 

        6.3     General Terms.     Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a SAR granted under the Plan shall confer on the recipient a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, an amount equal to the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value of one share of the Stock on the date of exercise over (b) the grant price of the SAR, which shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of one share of the Stock on the date of grant of the SAR. The grant price of Tandem SARs shall be equal to the Option Price of the related Option. A SAR granted under the Plan may not be granted with any Dividend Equivalent rights.

 

        6.4     SAR Agreement.     Each Award of SARs granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify (a) the grant price of the SAR, (b) the term of the SAR, (c) the vesting and termination provisions of the SAR and (d) such other provisions as the Committee shall determine that are not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan. The Committee may impose such additio nal conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any SAR as it may deem appropriate.

 

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        6.5     Term of SAR.     The term of a SAR granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion; provided that no SAR shall be exe rcisable on or after the tenth anniversary date of its grant. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, with respect to a Tandem SAR granted in connection with an ISO: (a) the Tandem SAR will expire no later than the expiration of t he underlying ISO; (b) the value of the payout with respect to the Tandem SAR may be for no more than one hundred percent (100%) of the excess of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock subject to the underlying ISO at the time the Tandem SAR is exerc ised over the Option Price of the underlying ISO; and (c) the Tandem SAR may be exercised only when the Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock subject to the ISO exceeds the Option Price of the ISO.

 

        6.6     Exercise of Freestanding SARs.     Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, Freestanding SARs may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time by the delivery of written notice in the manner designated by the Committee stating (a) that the Holder wishes to exercise such SAR on the date such notice is so delivered, (b) the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the SAR is to be exercised and (c) the address to which the payment due under such SAR should be mailed. In accordance with appli cable law, a Freestanding SAR may be exercised upon whatever additional terms and conditions the Committee, in its sole discretion, imposes.

 

        6.7     Exercise of Tandem SARs.     Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, Tandem SARs may be exercised for all or part of the shares of Stock subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option and by the delivery of written notice in the manner designated by the Committee stating (a) that the Holder wishes to exercise such SAR on the date such notice is so delivered, (b) the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the SAR is to be exercised and (c) the address to which the payment due under such SAR should be mailed. A Tandem SAR may be exercised only with respect to the shares of Stock for which its related Option is then exercisable. In accordance with applicable law, a Tandem SAR may be exercised upon whatever additional terms and conditi ons the Committee, in its sole discretion, imposes.

 

        6.8     Payment of SAR Amount.     Upon the exercise of a SAR, a Holder shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise over the grant price of the SAR by the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the SAR is exercised. At the discretion of the Committee, the payment upon SAR exercise may be in cash, in Stock of equ ivalent value, in some combination thereof or in any other manner approved by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee's determination regarding the form of SAR payout shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the SAR.

 

        6.9     Separation from Service.     Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Holder of a SAR shall have the right to exercise the SAR following the Holder's Separation from Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the s ole discretion of the Committee, may be included in the Award Agreement entered into with the Holder, need not be uniform among all SARs issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination or severance.

 

        6.10     Nontransferability of SARs.     Except as otherwise provided in a Holder's Award Agreement, no SAR granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, except as otherwise provided in a Holder's Award Agreement, all SARs granted to a Holder under the Plan shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by the Holder, and after that time, by the Holder's heirs or estate. Any attempted assignment of a SAR in violation of this Section 6.10 shall be null and void.

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        6.11     No Rights as Stockholder.     A grantee of a SAR award, as such, shall have no rights as a stockholder.

 

        6.12     Restrictions on Stock Received.     The Committee may impose such conditions and/or restrictions on any shares of Stock received upon exercise of a SAR granted pursuant to the Plan as it may deem advisable or desirable. These restrictions may include, but shall not be limited t o, a requirement that the Holder hold the shares of Stock received upon exercise of a SAR for a specified period of time.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

        7.1     Restricted Stock Awards .     Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time, and from time to time, may make Awards of Restricted Stock under the Plan to eligible persons in such number and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine. The amount of, the vesting and the transferability restrictions applicable to any Restricted Stock Award shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. If the Committee imposes vesting or transferability restrictions on a Holder's rights with respect to Restricted Stock, the Committee may issue such instructions to the Company's share transfer agent in connection therewith as it deems appropriate. The Committee may also cause the certificate for shares of Stock issued pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award to be imprinted with any legend which counsel for the Company considers advisable with respect to the restrictions or, should the shares of Stock be represented by book or electronic entry rather than a certificate, the Company may take such steps to rest rict transfer of the shares of Stock as counsel for the Company considers necessary or advisable to comply with applicable law.

 

        7.2     Restricted Stock Award Agreement.     Each Restricted Stock Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that contains any vesting, transferability restrictions and other provisions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee may specify.

 

        7.3     Holder's Rights as Stockholder.     Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, each recipient of a Restricted Stock Award shall have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock included in the Restricted Stock Award during the Period of Restriction established for the Restricted Stock Award. Dividends may be paid with respect to Restricted Stock in cash or property other than shares of Stock or rights to acquire shares of Stock, provided that, such dividends shall not be distributed (without interest) to the Holder unless, and only if, the vesting requirements and transferability restrictions imposed on the Restricted Stock Award lapse.  Dividends paid in shares of Stock or rights to acquire shares of Stock shall be added to and become a part of the Restricted Stock. During the Period of Restriction, if stock certificates are issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, such certificates shall be registered in the Holder's name and bear a restrictive legend to the effect that ownership of such Restricted Stock, and the enjoyment of all rights appurtenant thereto, are subject to the restrictions, terms, and conditions provided in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Such certificates shall be deposited by the recipient with the Secretary of the Company or such other officer of the Company as may be designated by the Committee, together with all stock powers or other instruments of assignment, each endorsed in blank, which will permit transfer to the Company of all or any portion of the Restricted Stock which shall be forfeited in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

 

 

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARDS

 

        8.1     Authority to Grant RSU Awards.     Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time, and from time to time, may grant RSU Awards under the Plan to eligible persons in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine. The amount of, the vesting and the transferability restrictions applicable to any RSU Award shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Co mmittee shall maintain a bookkeeping ledger account which reflects the number of RSUs credited under the Plan for the benefit of a Holder.

 

        8.2     RSU Award.     An RSU Award shall be similar in nature to a Restricted Stock Award except that no sh ares of Stock are actually transferred to the Holder until a later date specified in the applicable Award Agreement. Each RSU shall have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock.

 

        8.3     RSU Award Agreement.     Each RSU Award sh all be evidenced by an Award Agreement that contains any vesting, transferability restrictions, form and time of payment provisions and other provisions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee may specify.

 

        8.4     Dividend Equivalents.     An Award Agreement for an RSU Award may specify that the Holder shall be entitled to the payment of Dividend Equivalents under the Award, provided that, no credited Dividend Equivalents shall be distributed (without interest) to the Holder unless, and onl y if, the vesting requirements and transferability restrictions imposed on the RSU Award lapse.

 

        8.5     Form of Payment Under RSU Award.     Payment under an RSU Award shall be made in either cash or shares of Stock as specified in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

        8.6     Time of Payment Under RSU Award.     A Holder's payment under an RSU Award shall be made at such time as is specified in the applicable Award Agreement. The Award Agreement shall specify that the payment will be made (1) by a date that is no later than the date that is two and one-half (2 1 / 2 ) months after the end of the Fiscal Year in which the RSU Award payment i s no longer subject to a Substantial Risk of Forfeiture or (2) at a time that is Permissible under Section 409A.

 

        8.7     Holder's Rights as Stockholder.     Each recipient of an RSU Award shall have no rights of a stockholder with respect to the H older's RSUs. A Holder shall have no voting rights with respect to any RSU Awards.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

PERFORMANCE STOCK AWARDS AND PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARDS

 

        9.1     Authority to Grant Performance Stock Awards and Performance Unit Awards.     Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time, and from time to time, may grant Performance Stock Awards and Performance Unit Awards under the Plan to eligible persons in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine. The amount of, the vesting and the transferability restrictions applicable to any Performance Stock Award or Performance Unit Award shall be based upon the attainment of such Performance Goals as the Committee may determine. If the Committee imposes vesting or transferability restrictions on a

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Holder's rights with respect to Performance Stock Award or Performance Unit Awards, the Committee may issue such instructions to the Company's share transfer agent in connection therewith as it deems appropriate. The Committee may also cause the certificate for shares of Stock issued pursuant to a Performance Stock Award or Performance Unit Award to be imprinted with any legend which counsel for the Company considers advisable with respect to the restr ictions or, should the shares of Stock be represented by book or electronic entry rather than a certificate, the Company may take such steps to restrict transfer of the shares of Stock as counsel for the Company considers necessary or advisable to comply w ith applicable law.

        

9.2     Performance Goals.  The payment or vesting of an Award granted under the Plan may be based on the attainment of such performance goals as may be specified by the Committee, in its sole discretion (the “ Performance Goals ”).  The Performance Goals may be based on such business criteria or other measures of performance as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, which may apply to the Holder, one or more business units or subsidiaries of the Company, or the Comp any as a whole.  Such business criteria may include, without limitation, one or more of the following:

(i.)

 

earnings per share,

(ii.)

 

earnings per share growth,

(iii.)

 

revenue,

(iv.)

 

increased revenue,

(v.)

 

revenue growth rate,

(vi.)

 

revenue ratios (per employee or per customer),

(vii.)

 

sales,

(viii.)

 

sales growth,

(ix.)

 

customer growth,

(x.)

 

stock price,

(xi.)

 

stock price growth,

(xii.)

 

total market value,

(xiii.)

 

market share,

(xiv.)

 

economic value added (net operating profit after tax, minus the sum of capital, multiplied by the cost of capital),

(xv.)

 

return on capital compared to cost of capital,

(xvi.)

 

total shareholder return,

(xvii.)

 

cash return on capitalization,

(xviii.)

 

return on equity,

(xix.)

 

return on stockholders' equity,

(xx.)

 

return on assets,

(xxi.)

 

return on sales,

(xxii.)

 

return on capital,

(xxiii.)

 

return on capital employed,

(xxiv.)

 

return on invested capital,

(xxv.)

 

shareholder value,

(xxvi.)

 

net income,

(xxvii.)

 

adjusted net income (loss), excluding stock-based compensation expenses, restructuring costs, costs associated with mergers and acquisitions and the non-cash tax valuation allowance for deferred tax assets,

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(xxviii.)

 

adjusted net income (loss) per share, excluding stock-based compensation expenses, restructuring costs, costs associated with mergers and acquisitions and the non-cash tax valuation allowance for deferred tax assets,

(xxix.)

 

operating income,

(xxx.)

 

operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA),

(xxxi.)

 

earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT),

(xxxii.)

 

earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (calculated in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP")) (EBITDA),

(xxxiii.)

 

adjusted EBITDA (EBITDA excluding stock-based compensation expenses, restructuring costs and costs associated with mergers and acquisitions),

(xxxiv.)

 

operating EBITDA (GAAP net income or loss plus interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation expenses plus the change in deferred revenue),

(xxxv.)

 

adjusted operating EBITDA (operating EBITDA excluding stock-based compensation expenses, restructuring costs and costs associated with mergers and acquisitions),

(xxxvi.)

 

net cash flow,

(xxxvii.)

 

free cash flow,

(xxxviii.)

 

cash flow,

(xxxix.)

 

cash flow from operations,

(xl.)

 

operating cash flow growth,

(xli.)

 

net cash flow before financing activities,

(xlii.)

 

cost reductions,

(xliii.)

 

cost ratios (per employee or per customer),

(xliv.)

 

cash efficiency,

(xlv.)

 

reduction in expenses,

(xlvi.)

 

proceeds from dispositions,

(xlvii.)

 

project completion time and budget goals,

(xlviii.)

 

completion or progress on the achievement of significant transactions, acquisitions, divestures, product development and/or projects or processes,

(xlix.)

 

credit rating,

(l.)

 

customer satisfaction scores,

(li.)

 

customer satisfaction surveys,

(lii.)

 

brand equity measure (market research),

(liii.)

 

achievement of product and/or service quality goals,

(liv.)

 

application downloads,

(lv.)

 

average revenue per unit or paid subscriber (ARPU),

(lvi.)

 

average deal value (global institutional),

(lvii.)

 

average order value (AOV),

(lviii.)

 

bookings,

(lix.)

 

booking growth,

(lx.)

 

conversion rate on leads captured (consumer and institutional),

(lxi.)

 

customer acquisition cost for consumer (CAC),

(lxii.)

 

leads captured (consumer and institutional),

(lxiii.)

 

licenses/seats (unit metric for global institutional),

(lxiv.)

 

life-time value (LTV),

(lxv.)

 

net economic value,

(lxvi.)

 

paid online learners (consumer),

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(lxvii.)

 

percentage digital sales (percentage of new consumer units sold),

(lxviii.)

 

product engagement (usage metric),

(lxix.)

 

product ratings on e-commerce sites,

(lxx.)

 

product units sold (consumer),

(lxxi.)

 

productivity ratios (quota reps), and

(lxxii.)

 

renewal rate (consumer and institutional).

 

Items (i) through (xii), items (xxv) through (xlix) and items (liii) through (lxxii) may be referred to as " Performance Measures " from time to time. Items (xiv) through (xxiv) may be referred to as " Return Measures " from time to time. Item (xiii) may be referred to as " Market Share Measure " from time to time. Items (l) through (lii) may be referred to as " Customer Satisfaction Measures " from time to time.

The Committee may provide (x) in the Award Agreement at the time the Award is granted or (y) in such other document setting forth the Performance Goals at the time the Performance Goals are established, that the Committee shall appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under a Performance Goal to exclude certain items or events, including, without limitation: (i) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (ii) restructuring costs, transaction costs, and other costs associated with mergers and acquisitions; (iii) adjustments related to recording the non-cash tax valuation allowance for deferred tax assets; (iv) asset write-downs; (v) the effect of changes in, or provisions under, tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results; or (vi) the occurrence of other events that are unusual in nature or infrequently occurring.

Performance Goals may also be based on performance relative to a peer group of companies. Unless otherwise stated, a Performance Goal need not be based upon an increase or positive result under a particular business criterion and could include, for example, maintaining the status quo or limiting economic losses (measured, in each case, by reference to specific business criteria).

        9.3     Written Agreement.     Each Performance Stock Award or Performance Unit Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that contains any vesting, transferability r estrictions and other provisions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee may specify.

 

        9.4     Form of Payment Under Performance Unit Award.     Payment under a Performance Unit Award shall be made in cash and/or shares of Stock as specifie d in the Holder's Award Agreement.

 

        9.5     Time of Payment Under Performance Unit Award.     A Holder's payment under a Performance Unit Award shall be made at such time as is specified in the applicable Award Agreement. The Award Agreement shall specify that the payment will be made (1) by a date that is no later than the date that is two and one-half (2 1 / 2 ) months after the end of the calendar year in which the Performance Unit Award payment is no longer subject to a Substantial Risk of Forfeitu re or (2) at a time that is Permissible under Section 409A.

 

        9.6     Holder's Rights as Stockholder .    Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, each Holder of a Performance Stock Award shall have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Stock issued to the Holder pursuant to the Award during any period in which such issued shares of Stock are subject to forfeiture and restrictions on transfer, including without limitation, the right to vote such shares of Stock.  Each recipient of a Performance Unit Award shall have no rights of a stockholder and shall have no voting rights with respect to any Performance Unit Awards.

 

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        9.7     Dividend Equivalents .     An Award Agreement for a Performance Stock Award or Performanc e Unit Award may specify that the Holder shall be entitled to the payment of Dividend Equivalents under the Award; provided that, no credited Dividend Equivalents shall be distributed (without interest) to the Holder unless, and only if, the restrictions i mposed on the applicable Performance Stock Award and/or Performance Unit Award lapse.

 

ARTICLE X

 

DIRECTOR AWARDS

 

All Awards to Directors shall be determined by the Board.  Such Awards shall be subject to the limits set forth in Section 4.1(c)(viii) hereof.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

 

        11.1     Authority to Grant Other Stock-Based Awards.     Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time, and from time to time, may grant other types of equity-based or equity-related Awards not otherwise described by the terms and provisions of the Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted shares of Stock) under the Plan to eligible persons in such number and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine. Such Awards may involve the transfer of actual shares of Stock to Holders, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of shares of Stock and may include, without limitation, Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicab le local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.

 

        11.2     Value of Other Stock-Based Award.     Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be expressed in terms of shares of Stock or units based on shares of Stock, as determined by the Committee.

 

        11.3     Payment of Other Stock-Based Award.     Payment, if any, with respect to an Other Stock-Ba sed Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash or shares of Stock as the Committee determines.

 

        11.4     Separation from Service.     The Committee shall determine the extent to which a Holder's rights with respect to Ot her Stock-Based Awards shall be affected by the Holder's Separation from Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee and need not be uniform among all Other Stock-Based Awards issued pursuant to the Plan.

 

        11.5     Time of Payment of Other Stock-Based Award.     A Holder's payment under an Other Stock-Based Award shall be made at such time as is specified in the applicable Award Agreement. If a payment under the Award Agreement is subject to Section 409A, the Award Agreement shall specify that the payment will be made (1) by a date that is no later than the date that is two and one-half (2 1 / 2 ) months after the end of the calendar year in which the Other Stock-Based Award payment is no longer subject to a Substantial Risk of Forfeiture or (2) at a time that is Permissible under Section 409A.

 

        11.6     Dividends and Dividend Equivalents .  Dividends or Dividend Equivalents may be paid with respect to Other Stock-Based Awards in cash or property other than shares of Stock or rights to acquire shares of Stock, provided that, such dividends or Dividend Equivalents shall not be distributed (without interest) to the Holder unless, and only if, any vesting requirements and transferability restrictions imposed on the Other Stock-Based

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Award lapse.  Dividends paid in shares of Stock or rights to acquire shares of Stock shall be added to and become a part of the Other Stock-Based Award.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

CASH-BASED AWARDS

 

        12.1     Authority to Grant Cash-Based Awards.     Subject to the terms and provisions of t he Plan, the Committee, at any time, and from time to time, may grant Cash-Based Awards under the Plan to eligible persons in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine.

        

        12.2     Value of Cash-Based Award.     Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a payment amount or payment range as determined by the Committee. The amount of any Cash-Based Awards may be based on the attainment of such Performance Goals as the Committee may determine and the term, conditions and limitations applicable to any Cash-Based Awards made pursuant to the Plan shall be determined by the Committee.

 

        12.3     Payment of Cash-Based Award.     Payment, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of t he Award, which may be in cash or Stock.

 

        12.4     Separation from Service.     The Committee shall determine the extent to which a Holder's rights with respect to Cash-Based Awards shall be affected by the Holder's Separation from Service. Such pr ovisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee and need not be uniform among all Cash-Based Awards issued pursuant to the Plan.

 

         12.5     Time of Payment of Cash-Based Award.     Payment under a Cash-Based Award shall be made at such time as is specified in the applicable Award Agreement. If a payment under the Award Agreement is subject to Section 409A, the Award Agreement shall specify that the payment will be made (1) by a date that is no later than the date that is two and one-half (2 1 / 2 ) months after the end of the calendar year in which the Cash-Based Award payment is no longer subject to a Substantial Risk of Forfeiture or (2) at a time that is Permissible under Section 409A.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

SUBSTITUTION AWARDS

 

Awards may be granted under the Plan from time to time in substitution for stock options and other awards held by employees of other entities who are about to become Employees, or whose employer is about to become an Affiliate as the result of a merger or consolidation of the Company with another corporation, or the acquisition by the Company of substantially all the assets of another corporation, or the acquisition by the Company of at least fifty percent (50%) of the issued and outstanding stock of another corporation as the result of which such other corporation will become a subsidiary of the Company. The terms and conditions of the substitute Awards so granted may vary from the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan to such extent as the Board at the time of grant may deem appropriate to conform, in whole or in part, to the provisions of the Award in substitution for which they are granted. If shares of Stock are issued under the Plan with respect to an Award granted under this Article such shares of Stock will not count against the aggregate number of shares of Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

        14.1     Awards.     The Plan shall be administered by the Committee or, in the absence of the Committee or in the case of awards issued to Directors, the Plan shall be administered by the Board. The members of the Committee (that is not itself the Board) shall serve at the discretion of the Board. The Committee shall have full and exclusive power a nd authority to administer the Plan and to take all actions that the Plan expressly contemplates or are necessary or appropriate in connection with the administration of the Plan with respect to Awards granted under the Plan.

 

        14.2     Authority of the Committee.     The Committee shall have full and exclusive power to interpret and apply the terms and provisions of the Plan and Awards made under the Plan, and to adopt such rules, regulations and guidelines for implementing the Plan as the Committee may deem necessary or proper, all of which powers shall be exercised in the best interests of the Company and in keeping with the objectives of the Plan. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business relating to the Plan or Awards made under the Plan, and the vote of a majority of those members present at any meeting shall decide any question brought before that meeting. Any decision or determination reduced to writing and signed by all of the members shall be as effective as if it had been made by a majority vote at a meeting properly called and held. All questions of interpretation and application of the Plan, or as to Awards granted under the Plan, shall be subject to the determination, which shall be final and binding, of a majority of the whole Committee. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any act or omission of any other member of the Committee or for any act or omission on his or her own part, including but not limited to the exercise of any power or discretion given to him or her under the Plan, except those resulting from his or her own willful misconduct. In carrying out its authority under the Plan, the Committee shall have full and final authority and discretion, including but not limited to the following rights, powers and authorities to (a) determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which Awards will be made; (b) determine the number and exercise price of shares of Stock covered in each Award subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan; (c) determine the terms, provisions and conditions of each Award, which need not be identical and need not match the default terms set forth in the Plan; (d) accelerate the time at which any outstanding Award will vest; (e) prescribe , amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to administration of the Plan; and (f) make all other determinations and take all other actions deemed necessary, appropriate or advisable for the proper administration of the Plan.

 

The Committee may make an Award to an individual who the Company expects to become an Employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates within six (6) months after the date of grant of the Award, with the Award being subject to and conditioned on the individual actually becoming an Employee within that time period and subject to other terms and conditions as the Committee may establish.

 

The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award to a Holder in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or desirable to further the Plan's objectives. Further, the Committee shall make all other determinations that may be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. As permitted by law and the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or more officers of the Company, and/or its Affiliates or to one or more agents or advisors such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable, and the Committee or any person to whom it has delegated duties or powers as aforesaid may employ one or more persons to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee or such person may have under the Plan. The Committee may, by resolution, authorize one or more officers of the Company to do one or more of the following on the same basis as

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can the Committee: (a) designate Employees to be recipients of Awards; (b) designate Third Party Service Providers to be recipients of Awards; and (c) det ermine the size of any such Awards; provided, however , (i) the Committee shall not delegate such responsibilities to any such officer for Awards granted to an Employee that is considered an Insider; (ii) the resolution providing such authorization sets forth the total number of Awards such officer(s) may grant; and (iii) the officer(s) shall report periodically to the Committee regarding the nature and scope of the Awards granted pursuant to the authority delegated. The Committee may employ attorneys, co nsultants, accountants, agents, and other persons, any of whom may be an Employee, and the Committee, the Company, and its officers and Board shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions, or valuations of any such persons.

 

        14.3     Decisions Binding.     All determinations and decisions made by the Committee or the Board, as the case may be, pursuant to the provisions of the Plan and all related orders and resolutions of the Committee or the Board, as the case may be, shall be final, conclus ive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its Affiliates, its stockholders, Holders and the estates and beneficiaries of Holders.

 

        14.4     No Liability.     Under no circumstances shall the Company, its Affiliates, the Board or the Committee incur liability for any indirect, incidental, consequential or special damages (including lost profits) of any form incurred by any person, whether or not foreseeable and regardless of the form of the act in which such a claim may be brought, with respect to the Plan or the Company's, its Affiliates', the Committee's or the Board's roles in connection with the Plan.

 

ARTICLE XV

 

AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN

 

        15.1     Amendment, Modification, Suspension, and Termination.     Subject to Section 15.2, the Board may, at any time and from time to time, alter, amend, modify, suspend, or terminate the Plan and the Committee may, at any time and from time to time, alter, amend, modify, suspend, or terminate any Award Agreement in whole or in part; provided, however, that, without the prior approval of the Company's stockholders and except as provided in Section 4.5, the Committee shall not directly or indirectly lower the Option Price of a previously granted Option or the grant price of a previously granted SAR, cancel a previously granted Option or previously granted SAR for a payment of cash, other property or other Awards if the aggregate fair market value of such Award is less than the aggregate Option Price of such Award in the case of an Opti on or the aggregate grant price of such Award in the case of a SAR, and no amendment of the Plan shall be made without stockholder approval if stockholder approval is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules.

 

        15.2     Awards Previously Granted.     Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no termination, amendment, suspension, or modification of the Plan or an Award Agreement shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under the Plan, wi thout the written consent of the Holder holding such Award.

 

ARTICLE XVI

 

PARACHUTE LIMITATIONS

 

If any Holder is a “disqualified individual,” as defined in Code Section 280G(c), then, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or of any other agreement, contract, or understanding heretofore or hereafter entered into by such Holder with the Company or an Affiliate, except an agreement, contract, or understanding that expressly

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addresses Code Section 280G or Code Section 4999 (an “ Other Agreement ”), and notwithstanding any formal or informal plan or other arrangement for the direct or indirect provision of compensation to the Holder (including groups or classes of Holders or beneficiaries of which the Holder is a member), whether or not such compe nsation is deferred, is in cash, or is in the form of a benefit to or for the Holder (a “ Benefit Arrangement ”), any right of the Holder to any exercise, vesting, payment or benefit under the Plan shall be reduced or eliminated:

 

(a) to the extent that suc h right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit, taking into account all other rights, payments, or benefits to or for the Holder under the Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements, would cause any exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit to the Holder under the Plan to be considered a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(2) as then in effect (a “ Parachute Payment ”); and

 

(b) if, as a result of receiving such Parachute Payment, the aggregate after-tax amounts rece ived by the Holder from the Company under the Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements would be less than the maximum after-tax amount that could be received by the Holder without causing any such payment or benefit to be considered a Parachute Payment.

 

Except as required by Section 409A or to the extent that Section 409A permits discretion, the Company shall have the right, in the Company’s sole discretion, to designate those rights, payments, or benefits under the Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements that should be reduced or eliminated so as to avoid having such rights, payments, or benefits be considered a Parachute Payment; provided, however, to the extent any payment or benefit constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A, in order to comply with Section 409A, the Company shall instead accomplish such reduction by first reducing or eliminating any cash payments (with the payments to be made furthest in the future being reduced first), then by reducing or eliminating any accelerated vesting of Performance Stock Awards or Performance Unit Awards, then by reducing or eliminating any accelerated vesting of Options or SARs, then by reducing or eliminating any accelerated vesting of Restricted Stock or RSUs, then by reducing or eliminating any other remaining Parachute Payments.

 

ARTICLE XVII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

        17.1     Unfunded Plan/No Establishment of a Trust Fund.     Holders shall have no right, title, or interest whatsoever in or to any investments that the Company or any of its Affiliates may make to aid in meeting obligations under the Plan. Nothing contained in the Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Holder, beneficiary, legal representative, or any other person. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under the Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company. All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company and no special or separate fund shall be established and no segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment of such amounts, except as expressly set forth in the Plan. No property shall be set aside nor shall a trust fund of any kind be established to secure the rights of any Holder under the Plan. The Plan is not intended to be subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

        17.2     No Employment Obligation.     The granting of any Award shall not constitute an employment contract, express or implied, nor impose upon the Company or any Affiliate any obligation to employ or continue to employ, or utilize the services of, any Holder. The right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the

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employment of any person shall not be diminished or affected by reason of the fact that an Award has been granted to him, and nothing in the Plan or an Award Agree ment shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or its Affiliates to terminate any Holder's employment at any time or for any reason not prohibited by law.

 

         17.3     Tax Withholding.     The Company or any Affiliate shall be entitled to deduct from other compensation payable to each Holder any sums required by federal, state, local or foreign tax law to be withheld with respect to the vesting or exercise of an Award or lapse of restrictions on an Award. In the alternative, the Company may require the Holder (or other person validly exercising the Award) to pay such sums for taxes directly to the Company or any Affiliate in cash or by check within one day after the date of vesting, exercise or lapse of restrictions. In the discretion of the Committee, and with the consent of the Holder, the Company may reduce the number of shares of Stock issued to the Holder upon such Holder's exercise of an Award or the vesting of an Award to satisfy the tax withholding obligations of the Compa ny or an Affiliate.

 

The Committee may, in its discretion, permit a Holder to satisfy any Minimum Statutory Tax Withholding Obligation (or such greater amount up to the maximum individual statutory rate in the applicable jurisdiction as may be permitted under then-current accounting principles to qualify for equity classification, together with the Minimum Statutory Tax Withholding Obligation, the “ Tax Withholding Obligation ”) arising upon the vesting of or payment under an Award by delivering to the Holder a reduced number of shares of Stock in the manner specified herein. If permitted by the Committee and acceptable to the Holder, at the time of vesting of shares under the Award, the Company shall (a) calculate the amount of the Company's or an Affiliate's Tax Withholding Obligation on the assumption that all such shares of Stock vested under the Award are made available for delivery, (b) reduce the number of such shares of Stock made available for delivery so that the Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock withheld on the vesting date approximates the Company's or an Affiliate's Tax Withholding Obligation and (c) in lieu of the withheld shares of Stock, remit cash to the United States Treasury and/or other applicable governmental authorities, on behalf of the Holder, in the amount of the Tax Withholding Obligation. The Company shall withhold only whole shares of Stock to satisfy its Tax Withholding Obligation. Where the Fair Market Value of the withheld shares of Stock does not equal the amount of the Tax Withholding Obligation, the Company shall withhold shares of Stock with a Fair Market Value slightly less than the amount of the Tax Withholding Obligation and the Holder must satisfy the remaining withholding obligation in some other manner permitted under this Section 17.3. The withheld shares of Stock not made available for delivery by the Company shall be sold, retained as treasury shares or cancelled and the Holder's right, title and interest in such shares of Stock shall terminate.

 

The Company shall have no obligation upon vesting or exercise of any Award or lapse of restrictions on an Award until the Company or an Affiliate has received payment sufficient to cover the Minimum Statutory Tax Withholding Obligation with respect to that vesting, exercise or lapse of restrictions. Neither the Company nor any Affiliate shall be obligated to advise a Holder of the existence of the tax or the amount which it will be required to withhold.

 

        17.4     Indemnification of the Committee.     The Company shall indemnify each present and future member of the Committee against, and each member of the Committee shall be entitled without further action on his or her part to indemnity from the Company for, all expenses (including attorney's fees, the amount of judgments and the amount of approved settlements made with a view to the curtailment of costs of litigation, other than amounts paid to the Company itself) reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which such member may be involved by reason of such member being or having been a member of the Committee, whether or not he or she continues to be a member of the Committee at the time of incurring the expenses, including, without limitation, matters as to which such member shall be finally adjudged in any action, suit or proceeding to have been negligent in the performance of such member's duty as a member of the Committee. However, this indemnity shall not include any expenses incurred by any member of the Committee in respect of

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matters as to which such member shall be finally adjudged in any action, suit or proceeding to have been guilty of willful misconduct in the performance of his or her duty as a member of the Committee. In addition, no right o f indemnification under the Plan shall be available to or enforceable by any member of the Committee unless, within 60 days after institution of any action, suit or proceeding, such member shall have offered the Company, in writing, the opportunity to hand le and defend same at its own expense. This right of indemnification shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors or administrators of each member of the Committee and shall be in addition to all other rights to which a member of the Committee may be entitled as a matter of law, contract or otherwise.

 

        17.5     Gender and Number.     If the context requires, words of one gender when used in the Plan shall include the other and words used in the singular or plural shall include the other.

 

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

 

        17.7     Headings.     Headings of Articles and Sections are included for convenience of reference only and do not constitute part of the Plan and shall not be used in construing the terms and p rovisions of the Plan.

 

        17.8     Other Compensation Plans.     The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other option, incentive or other compensation or benefit plans in effect for the Company or any Affiliate, nor shall the Plan preclude the Company from establishing any other forms of incentive compensation arrangements for Employees, Directors or Third Party Service Providers.

 

        17.9     Retirement and Welfare Plans.     Neither Awards made under the Plan nor shares of Stock or cash paid pursuant to such Awards, may be included as "compensation" for purposes of computing the benefits payable to any person under the Company's or any Affiliate's retirement plans (both qualified and non-qualified) or welfare benefit plans unless such othe r plan expressly provides that such compensation shall be taken into account in computing a participant's benefit.

 

        17.10     Other Awards.     The grant of an Award shall not confer upon the Holder the right to receive any future or other Awards u nder the Plan, whether or not Awards may be granted to similarly situated Holders, or the right to receive future Awards upon the same terms or conditions as previously granted.

 

        17.11     Successors.     All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the bu siness and/or assets of the Company.

 

        17.12     Law Limitations/Governmental Approvals.     The granting of Awards and the issuance of shares of Stock under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such appro vals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.

 

        17.13     Delivery of Title.     The Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver evidence of title for shares of Stock issued under the Plan prior to (a) obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable; and (b) completion of any registration or other qualification of the Stock under any applicable national or foreign law or ruling of any governmen tal body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable.

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        17.14     Inability to Obtain Authority.     The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares of Stock hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares of Stock as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

 

        17.15     Investment Representations.     The Committee may require any person receiving Stock pursuant to an Award under the Plan to represent and warrant in writing that the person is acquiring the shares of Stock for investment and w ithout any present intention to sell or distribute such Stock.

 

        17.16     Persons Residing Outside of the United States.     Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company or any of its Affiliates operates or has Employees, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to (a) determine which Affiliates shall be covered by the Plan; (b) determine which persons employed outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (c) amend or vary the terms and provisions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of any Award granted to persons who reside outside the United States; (d) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable—any subplans and modifications to Plan terms and procedures established under this Section 17.16 by the Committee shall be attached to the Plan document as Appendices; and (e) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain or comply with any necessary local government regulatory exemptions or approvals. Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and n o Awards shall be granted, that would violate the Exchange Act, the Code, any securities law or governing statute or any other applicable law.

 

        17.17     Arbitration of Disputes.     Any controversy arising out of or relating to the Plan or an Awar d Agreement shall be resolved by arbitration conducted in the greater District of Columbia metropolitan area pursuant to the arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration shall be final and binding on the parties.

 

        17.18     No Fractional Shares.     No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, additional Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional sha res of Stock or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

        17.19     Governing Law.     The provisions of the Plan and the rights of all persons claiming thereunder shall be construed, administered and governed under the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan to the substantive law of another jurisdiction. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, recipients of an Award under the Plan are deemed to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia, to resolve any and all issues that may arise out of or relate to the Plan or any related Award Agreement.

 

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