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S-1/A - AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO FORM S-1 - PAGEFLEX INC.d247227ds1a.htm
EX-23.1 - CONSENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP - PAGEFLEX INC.d247227dex231.htm
EX-23.3 - CONSENT OF SEYFARTH SHAW LLP - PAGEFLEX INC.d247227dex233.htm
EX-23.2 - CONSENT OF KOST FORER GABBAY & KASIERER - PAGEFLEX INC.d247227dex232.htm

Exhibit 10.7

MARLBOROUGH SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT HOLDINGS INC.

2012 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1.

     PURPOSE      1   

2.

     DEFINITIONS      1   

3.

     ADMINISTRATION      4   

4.

     STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN      5   

5.

     ELIGIBILITY; PER-PERSON AWARD LIMITATIONS      6   

6.

     SPECIFIC TERMS OF AWARDS      6   

7.

     CERTAIN PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS      11   

8.

     PERFORMANCE AND ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS      12   

9.

     CHANGE IN CONTROL      16   

10.

     COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A      18   

11.

     GENERAL PROVISIONS      19   


MARLBOROUGH SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT HOLDINGS INC.

2012 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

 

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to assist Marlborough Software Development Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and its subsidiaries in attracting, retaining and rewarding high-quality executives, employees and other persons who provide services to the Company and/or its subsidiaries, enabling such persons to acquire or increase a proprietary interest in the Company to strengthen the mutuality of interests between such persons and the Company’s shareholders, and providing such persons with annual and long-term performance incentives to expend their maximum efforts in the creation of shareholder value. The Plan is also intended to qualify certain compensation awarded under the Plan for tax deductibility under Code Section 162(m) to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, as that term is defined below, (or any successor committee) of the Board.

 

2. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

(a) “Annual Incentive Award” means a conditional right granted to a Participant under Section 8(c) hereof to receive a cash payment, Stock or other Award, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, after the end of a specified fiscal year.

(b) “Award” means any Option (including a New MSDH Option), Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Other Stock-Based Award, Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award, together with any other right or interest granted to a Participant under the Plan.

(c) “Beneficiary” means the person, persons, trust or trusts which have been designated by a Participant in his or her most recent written beneficiary designation filed with the Committee to receive the benefits specified under the Plan upon such Participant’s death or to which Awards or other rights are transferred if and to the extent permitted under Section 11(b) hereof. If, upon a Participant’s death, there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the term “Beneficiary” means person, persons, trust or trusts entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive such benefits.

(d) “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act and any successor to Rule 13d-3.

(e) “Bitstream” means Bitstream Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is initially the sole shareholder of the Company until it distributes the Stock pursuant to the Spin-Off.

(f) “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

(g) “Change in Control” means Change in Control as defined in Section 9(b) of the Plan.


(h) “Change in Control Price” means the amount calculated in accordance with Section 9(c) of the Plan.

(i) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.

(j) “Committee” means a committee of two or more directors designated by the Board to administer the Plan; provided, however, that, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more directors, each of whom shall be

(i) a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, unless administration of the Plan by “non-employee directors” is not then required in order for exemptions under Rule 16b-3 to apply to transactions under the Plan, and

(ii) an “outside director” as defined under Code Section 162(m), unless administration of the Plan by “outside directors” is not then required in order to qualify for tax deductibility under Code Section 162(m).

(k) “Company” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

(l) “Covered Employee” means an Eligible Person who is a Covered Employee as specified in Section 8(e) of the Plan.

(m) “Eligible Person” means each Executive Officer and other officers and employees of the Company or of any subsidiary, and other persons who provide services to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including directors of the Company. An employee on leave of absence may be considered as still in the employ of the Company or a subsidiary for purposes of eligibility for participation in the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any person who holds an option on Bitstream common stock at the time of the Spin-Off shall constitute an Eligible Person even if he is not continuing as an officer or employee of the Company or any subsidiary, but only with respect to the receipt of New MSDH Options.

(n) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.

(o) “Executive Officer” means an executive officer of the Company as defined under the Exchange Act.

(p) “Fair Market Value” means the fair market value of Stock, Awards or other property as determined by the Committee or under procedures established by the Committee. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Fair Market Value of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock, as quoted on the OTC Markets Group, Inc., quotation system, or stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Company’s stock is then listed or quoted, on the date on which the determination of fair market value is being made or, if no shares of Stock were traded on such date, the last trading date prior thereto.

 

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(q) “Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means any Option intended to be and designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Code Section 422 or any successor provision thereto.

(r) “Merger” means the transaction pursuant to which Bitstream will be merged into a wholly-owned subsidiary of Monotype Imaging Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation

(s) “New MSDH Option” means an Option granted to a Participant in respect to an option on Bitstream stock held by the Participant at the time of the Spin-Off.

(t) “Option” means a right, granted to a Participant under Section 6(c) hereof, to purchase Stock at a specified price during specified time periods.

(u) “Other Stock-Based Awards” means Awards granted to a Participant under Section 6(g) hereof.

(v) “Participant” means a person who has been granted an Award under the Plan which remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.

(w) “Performance Award” means a right, granted to a Participant under Section 8 hereof, to receive Awards based upon performance criteria specified by the Committee.

(x) “Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, and shall include a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.

(y) “Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

(z) “Qualified Member” means a member of the Committee who is a “Non- Employee Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) and an “outside director” within the meaning of Regulation 1.162-27 under Code Section 162(m).

(aa) “Restricted Stock” means Stock granted to a Participant under Section 6(e) hereof, that is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.

(bb) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(f) hereof, to receive a share of Stock at the time, and subject to the conditions, specified by the Committee.

(cc) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3, as from time to time in effect and applicable to the Plan and Participants, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

(dd) “Section 409A Award” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10(a).

(ee) “Spin-Off” means the transaction pursuant to which Bitstream will distribute to its shareholders all of the Stock, at the rate of one share of Stock for each share of Bitstream

 

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common stock owned by such shareholders, immediately prior to and in connection with the Merger.

(ff) “Stock” means the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and such other securities as may be substituted (or resubstituted) for Stock pursuant to Section 11(c) hereof.

(gg) “Stock Appreciation Right” means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(d) hereof, to receive upon exercise an amount, payable in either cash or Stock, equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise, over an amount specified by the Committee that is not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant, at the times, and subject to the conditions, specified by the Committee.

 

3. ADMINISTRATION

(a) Authority of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee except to the extent the Board elects to administer the Plan, or except to the extent applicable law limits the Board’s authority to delegate any responsibility, in either such case references herein to the “Committee” shall be deemed to include or be references to the “Board,” as the case may be. The Committee shall have full and final authority, in each case subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, to select Eligible Persons to become Participants, grant Awards, determine the type, number and other terms and conditions of, and all other matters relating to, Awards, prescribe Award agreements (which need not be identical for each Participant) and rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan, construe and interpret the Plan and Award agreements and correct defects, supply omissions or reconcile inconsistencies therein, and to make all other decisions and determinations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

(b) Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority. At any time that a member of the Committee is not a Qualified Member, any action of the Committee relating to an Award granted or to be granted to a Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company, or relating to an Award intended by the Committee to qualify as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder, may be taken either

(i) by a subcommittee, designated by the Committee, composed solely of two or more Qualified Members, or

(ii) by the Committee, but with each such member who is not a Qualified Member abstaining or recusing himself or herself from such action; provided, however, that, upon such abstention or recusal, the voting members group of the Committee remains composed solely of two or more Qualified Members.

Such action, authorized by such a subcommittee or by the Committee upon the abstention or recusal of such non-Qualified Member(s), shall be the action of the Committee for purposes of the Plan. Any action of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its subsidiaries, Participants, Beneficiaries, transferees under Section

 

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11(b) hereof or other persons claiming rights from or through a Participant, and shareholders. The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. To the extent permitted under applicable law, the Committee may delegate to officers or managers of the Company or any subsidiary, or committees thereof, the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to perform such functions, including administrative functions, as the Committee may determine, to the extent that such delegation will not result in the loss of an exemption under Rule 16b-3(d)(1) for Awards granted to Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company and will not cause Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m) to fail to so qualify. The Committee may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan. The Committee may revoke any delegation or allocation of authority at any time, in accordance with applicable law.

(c) Limitation of Liability. The Committee and each member thereof shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any executive officer, other officer or employee of the Company or a subsidiary, the Company’s independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan. Members of the Committee and any officer or employee of the Company or a subsidiary acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.

 

4. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN

(a) Overall Number of Shares Available for Delivery. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11(c) hereof, the total number of shares of Stock reserved and available for delivery in connection with Awards under the Plan shall be

(i) 1,073,000, plus

(ii) the number of shares of Stock subject to the New MSDH Options.

(b) Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards. No Award may be granted if the number of shares of Stock to be delivered in connection with such Award or the number of shares to which such Award relates, exceeds the number of shares of Stock remaining available under the Plan minus the number of shares of Stock issuable in settlement of or relating to then-outstanding Awards. The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards) and make adjustments if the number of shares of Stock actually delivered differs from the number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award.

(c) Availability of Shares Not Delivered under Awards. Shares of Stock subject to an Award under the Plan that is canceled, expired, forfeited, settled in cash or otherwise terminated without a delivery of shares to the Participant, including

(i) the number of shares withheld in payment of any exercise or purchase price of an Award or award or taxes relating to Awards or awards, and

 

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(ii) the number of shares surrendered in payment of any exercise or purchase price of an Award or award or taxes relating to any Award or award,

will again be available for Awards under the Plan, except that if any such shares could not again be available for Awards to a particular Participant under any applicable law or regulation, such shares shall be available exclusively for Awards to Participants who are not subject to such limitation.

 

5. ELIGIBILITY; PER-PERSON AWARD LIMITATIONS

Awards may be granted under the Plan only to Eligible Persons. In each fiscal year during any part of which the Plan is in effect, an Eligible Person may not be granted Awards (not including the New MSDH Options) relating to more than 200,000 shares of Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11(c), under each of Sections 6(c), 6(d), 6(e), 6(f), 6(g), 8(b) and 8(c). In addition, the maximum cash amount that may be earned under the Plan as a final Annual Incentive Award or other cash annual Award in respect of any fiscal year by any one Participant shall be $1,000,000 and the maximum cash amount that may be earned under the Plan as a final Performance Award or other cash Award in respect of a performance period other than an annual period by any one Participant on an annualized basis shall be $1,000,000.

 

6. SPECIFIC TERMS OF AWARDS

(a) General. Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6. In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 11(e)), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of employment by the Participant and terms permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her Award. The Committee shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive or modify, at any time, any term or condition of an Award that is not mandatory under the Plan; provided, however, that the Committee shall not have any discretion to accelerate, waive or modify any term or condition of an Award that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Code Section 162(m) if such discretion would cause the Award not to so qualify. Except in cases in which the Committee is authorized to require other forms of consideration under the Plan, or to the extent other forms of consideration must be paid to satisfy the requirements of the Delaware General Corporation Law, no consideration other than services may be required for the grant (but not the exercise) of any Award.

(b) New MSDH Options. Prior to the effective date of the Spin-Off, the Company shall grant to each person who holds an unexercised option (a “Bitstream Option”) on common stock of Bitstream issued pursuant to an equity plan adopted by Bitstream, an option (the “New MSDH Options”) to acquire the same number of shares of Stock as the number of shares of Bitstream stock that were subject to the Bitstream Option. New MSDH Options shall be considered Options for purposes of the Plan, and shall generally be subject to the same provisions of the Plan that govern Options, except as set forth herein:

 

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(i) Exercise Price. The exercise price of each New MSDH Option shall equal the exercise price of the Bitstream Option multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the per-share appraised value of the Company at the time of the Merger and the denominator of which is the sum of the per-share appraised value of the Company and the per-share merger compensation to be paid to shareholders of Bitstream pursuant to the merger.

(ii) Vesting. Each New MSDH Option shall be fully vested from the date of issuance.

(iii) Term. The term of each New MSDH Option, including the period following a termination of employment during which the New MSDH Option may be exercised, shall be the same as the term of the Bitstream Option.

(iv) Other Terms and Conditions. The terms and conditions of each New MSDH Option shall be the same as the terms and conditions of the Bitstream Option, with such modifications as the Committee shall determine to be necessary to comply with the requirements of the Plan.

(c) Options. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

(i) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Stock purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee, provided that such exercise price shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant of such Option.

(ii) Time and Method of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which or the circumstances under which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the methods by which such exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid, the form of such payment including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards or awards granted under other plans of the Company or any subsidiary, or other property (including other contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred basis), and the methods by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants. In no event may an Option remain exercisable more than ten (10) years following the date of grant. To the extent that the Committee permits the use of a “cashless exercise” to exercise any Option, the Committee may designate a securities brokerage firm or firms through which all such exercises must be effected. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in no event will the Plan permit a “reload feature,” in which replacement stock options are issued to any Participant in exchange for stock held by that Participant upon exercise of an Option.

(iii) ISOs. The terms of any ISO granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Code Section 422. Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of the Plan relating to ISOs shall be interpreted, amended or

 

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altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify the Plan under Code Section 422.

(d) Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee is authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

(i) Payment Upon Exercise. Each Stock Appreciation Right shall represent the right to receive upon exercise a payment equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise over an amount which shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant, but which shall in no event be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant of such Stock Appreciation Right. Such amount may be paid either in cash, or in shares of Stock valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise, or a combination of the two, as the Committee may determine.

(ii) Time and Method of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which or the circumstances under which a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the methods by which such exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid, the form of such payment including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards or awards granted under other plans of the Company or any subsidiary, or other property (including other contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred basis), and the methods by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants. In no event may a Stock Appreciation Right remain exercisable more than ten (10) years following the date of grant.

(iii) Stand-Alone and Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted either as an independent award, or in tandem with an Option. If a Stock Appreciation Right is granted in tandem with an Option, then the number of shares of Stock subject to the Option and the Stock Appreciation Right shall be counted only once, and upon the exercise of either the Option or the Stock Appreciation Right, the other Award shall immediately expire with respect to the number of shares of Stock subject to the exercise.

(e) Restricted Stock. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

(i) Grant and Restrictions. Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine at the date of grant or thereafter. Except to the extent restricted under the terms of the Plan and any Award agreement relating to the Restricted Stock, a Participant granted Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights of a shareholder, including the right to vote the Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends thereon

 

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(subject to any mandatory reinvestment or other requirement imposed by the Committee). During the restricted period applicable to the Restricted Stock, subject to Section 11(b) below, the Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant.

(ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of employment during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Restricted Stock.

(iii) Certificates for Stock. Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Committee may require that such certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, that the Company retain physical possession of the certificates, and that the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Stock.

(iv) Dividends and Splits. As a condition to the grant of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee may require or permit a Participant to elect that any cash dividends paid on a share of Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Stock or applied to the purchase of additional Awards under the Plan. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Stock distributed in connection with a Stock split or Stock dividend, and other property distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Stock or other property has been distributed.

(f) Restricted Stock Units. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Units to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

(i) Grant and Restrictions. Each Restricted Stock Unit shall represent the Participant’s right to receive one share of Stock upon the vesting of the Restricted Stock Unit, subject to the remaining provisions of the Plan. Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine at the date of grant or thereafter. Until the issuance of Stock following the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit, the holder of the Restricted Stock Unit shall have none of the rights of a shareholder, including voting rights or rights to receive dividends.

 

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(ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of employment during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock Units that is that time have not yet vested shall be forfeited; provided that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock Units shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Restricted Stock Units.

(iii) Issuance of Stock. Shares of Stock shall be issued in settlement of Restricted Stock Units as soon as practical after the Restricted Stock Unit vests, but in no event later than March 15 of the year following the year in which the Restricted Stock Unit vests. Shares of Stock issued in settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Committee may require that such certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Stock, that the Company retain physical possession of the certificates, and that the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Stock.

(iv) Dividend Equivalents. In connection with the grant of an Award of Restricted Stock Units, the Committee may provide that the Participant is entitled to receive payments equal to all or a portion of the dividends or other distributions that the Participant would have received had he owned the underlying shares of Stock prior to the date the Restricted Stock Unit vests. Such dividend equivalent payments may either be paid at the same time the dividends are paid to shareholders, or may be accumulated and paid at the same time the Restricted Stock Unit vests and the shares of Stock are transferred in settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit, as specified by the Committee at the time of grant.

(g) Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Stock, purchase rights for Stock, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or any other factors designated by the Committee, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Stock or the value of securities of or the performance of specified subsidiaries. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards. Stock delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(g) shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, as the Committee shall determine. Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other Award under the Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 6(g).

 

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7. CERTAIN PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS

(a) Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards. Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, any subsidiary, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or a subsidiary, or any other right of a Participant to receive payment from the Company or any subsidiary. Such additional, tandem, and substitute or exchange Awards may be granted at any time. If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award or award, the Committee shall require the surrender of such other Award or award in consideration for the grant of the new Award. In addition, Awards may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company or any subsidiary, in which the value of Stock subject to the Award is equivalent in value to the cash compensation (for example, Restricted Stock).

(b) Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee; provided that in no event shall the term of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right exceed a period of 10 (ten) years (or such shorter term as may be required in respect of an ISO under Code Section 422).

(c) Form and Timing of Payment under Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award agreement, payments to be made by the Company or a subsidiary upon the exercise of an Option or other Award or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer or in installments in accordance with applicable law. The settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Stock in connection with such settlement, in the discretion of the Committee or upon occurrence of one or more specified events (in addition to a Change in Control). Installment payments may be required by the Committee (subject to Section 11(e) of the Plan, including the consent provisions thereof in the case of any deferral of an outstanding Award not provided for in the original Award agreement) or permitted at the election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by the Committee. Payments may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment payments or the grant or crediting of other amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in Stock.

(d) Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability. It is the intent of the Company that the grant of any Awards to or other transaction by a Participant who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be exempt from Section 16 pursuant to an applicable exemption (except for transactions acknowledged in writing to be non-exempt by such Participant). Accordingly, if any provision of this Plan or any Award agreement does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 as then applicable to any such transaction, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 so that such Participant shall avoid liability under Section 16(b).

(e) Non-Competition Agreement. Each Participant to whom an Award is granted under the Plan, who has not already done so at the time of such grant, may be required to agree in writing as a condition to the granting of such Award not to engage in conduct in direct

 

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competition with the Company or any of its subsidiaries for one year after the termination of such Participant’s employment with the Company and its subsidiaries.

(f) Limitation on Vesting of Certain Awards and Repricing.

(i) Vesting Limitations. Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Other Stock-Based Awards will vest, in accordance with the vesting schedules established by the Committee or shall be subject to a performance-based vesting schedule, except in the event of a Participant’s death, disability, or retirement, or in the event of a Change in Control or other special circumstances. The foregoing notwithstanding,

(1) Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, and Other Stock-Based Awards as to which either the grant or vesting is based on the achievement of one or more performance conditions generally will vest in accordance with the vesting schedules established by the Committee except in the event of a Participant’s death, disability, or retirement, or in the event of a Change in Control or other special circumstances, and

(2) up to 5% of the shares of Stock authorized under the Plan may be granted as Restricted Stock or Other Stock-Based Awards without any minimum vesting requirements. For purposes of this Section 7(f), vesting over a multi-year period or one-year period will include periodic vesting over such period if the rate of such vesting is proportional throughout such period.

(ii) Repricing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan, the Committee will not, without prior approval of the Company’s stockholders, permit any Option or Stock Appreciation Right under the Plan to be cancelled, substituted for, repriced or terminated and re-granted at an exercise price lower than its initial exercise price at the date of grant, or otherwise trigger the disclosure obligations under Item 402(i) of Regulation S-K or any successor provision.

 

8. PERFORMANCE AND ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS

(a) Performance Conditions. The right of a Participant to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Committee. The Committee may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions, and may exercise its discretion to reduce or increase the amounts payable under any Award subject to performance conditions, except as limited under Sections 8(b) and 8(c) hereof in the case of a Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m).

(b) Performance Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees. If the Committee determines that a Performance Award to be granted to an Eligible Person who is designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Code Section 162(m), the grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Award shall be contingent upon achievement of preestablished performance goals and other terms set forth in this Section 8(b).

 

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(i) Performance Goals Generally. The performance goals for such Performance Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 8(b). Performance goals shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder (including Regulation 1.162-27 and successor regulations thereto), including the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in the achievement of performance goals being “substantially uncertain.” The Committee may determine that such Performance Awards shall be granted, exercised and/or settled upon achievement of any one performance goal or that two or more of the performance goals must be achieved as a condition to grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Awards. Performance goals may differ for Performance Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants.

(ii) Business Criteria. Awards under the Plan may be made subject to the attainment of performance goals relating to one or more business criteria which, where applicable, shall be within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and consist of one or more or any combination of the following criteria: cash flow; cost; revenues; sales; ratio of debt to debt plus equity; net borrowing, credit quality or debt ratings; profit before tax; economic profit; earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; gross margin; earnings per share (whether on a pre-tax, after-tax, operational or other basis); operating earnings; capital expenditures; expenses or expense levels; economic value added; ratio of operating earnings to capital spending or any other operating ratios; free cash flow; net profit; net sales; net asset value per share; the accomplishment of mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, public offerings or similar extraordinary business transactions; sales growth; price of the Company’s Common Stock; return on assets, equity, or stockholders’ equity; market share; inventory levels; inventory turn or shrinkage; or total return to stockholders (“Business Criteria”). Any Business Criteria may be used to measure the performance of the Company as a whole or any business unit of the Company and may be measured relative to a peer group or index. Any Business Criteria may include or exclude (i) extraordinary, unusual, and/or non-recurring items of gain or loss, (ii) gains or losses on the disposition of a business, (iii) changes in tax or accounting regulations or laws, or (iv) effect of a merger or acquisition, as identified in the Company’s quarterly and annual earnings releases. In all other respects, Business Criteria shall be calculated in accordance with the Company’s financial statements, under generally accepted accounting principles, or under a methodology established by the Committee prior to the issuance of an Award which is consistently applied and identified in the audited financial statements, including footnotes. However, to the extent Section 162(m) of the Code is applicable, the Committee may not in any event increase the amount of compensation payable to an individual upon the attainment of a Performance Goal.

(iii) Performance Period; Timing for Establishing Performance Goals. Achievement of performance goals in respect of such Performance Awards shall be measured over a performance period of up to ten (10) years, as specified by the Committee. Performance goals shall be established not later than 90 days after the beginning of any performance period applicable to such Performance Awards, or at such

 

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other date as may be required or permitted for “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m).

(iv) Performance Award Pool. The Committee may establish a Performance Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of rewarding performance of the Company and Participants. The amount of such Performance Award pool shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the Business Criteria set forth in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof during the given performance period, as specified by the Committee in accordance with Section 8(b)(iii) hereof. The Committee may specify the amount of the Performance Award pool as a percentage of any of such Business Criteria, a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or as another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such Business Criteria.

(v) Settlement of Performance Awards; Other Terms. After the end of each performance period, the Committee shall determine the amount, if any, of

(1) the Performance Award pool, and the maximum amount of potential Performance Award payable to each Participant in the Performance Award pool, or

(2) the amount of potential Performance Award otherwise payable to each Participant.

Settlement of such Performance Awards shall be in cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with such Performance Awards, but may not exercise discretion to increase any such amount payable to a Covered Employee in respect of a Performance Award subject to this Section 8(b). The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Performance Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of employment by the Participant prior to the end of a performance period or settlement of Performance Awards.

(c) Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees. If the Committee determines that an Annual Incentive Award to be granted to an Eligible Person who is designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Code Section 162(m), the grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Annual Incentive Award shall be contingent upon achievement of preestablished performance goals and other terms set forth in this Section 8(c).

(i) Annual Incentive Award Pool. The Committee may establish an Annual Incentive Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of rewarding performance of the Company and Participants. The amount of such Annual Incentive Award pool shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the Business Criteria set forth in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof during the given performance period, as specified by the Committee in accordance with Section 8(b)(iii)

 

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hereof. The Committee may specify the amount of the Annual Incentive Award pool as a percentage of any of such Business Criteria, a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or as another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such Business Criteria.

(ii) Potential Annual Incentive Awards. Not later than the end of the 90th day of each fiscal year, or at such other date as may be required or permitted in the case of Awards intended to be “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m), the Committee shall determine the Eligible Persons who will potentially receive Annual Incentive Awards, and the amounts potentially payable thereunder, for that fiscal year, either out of an Annual Incentive Award pool established by such date under Section 8(c)(i) hereof or as individual Annual Incentive Awards. In the case of individual Annual Incentive Awards intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m), the amount potentially payable shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the Business Criteria set forth in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof in the given performance year, as specified by the Committee; in other cases, such amount shall be based on such criteria as shall be established by the Committee. In all cases, the maximum Annual Incentive Award of any Participant shall be subject to the limitation set forth in Section 5 hereof.

(iii) Payout of Annual Incentive Awards. After the end of each fiscal year, the Committee shall determine the amount, if any, of

(1) the Annual Incentive Award pool, and the maximum amount of potential Annual Incentive Award payable to each Participant in the Annual Incentive Award pool, or

(2) the amount of potential Annual Incentive Award otherwise payable to each Participant.

The Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the amount payable to any Participant as a final Annual Incentive Award shall be increased or reduced from the amount of his or her potential Annual Incentive Award, including a determination to make no final Award whatsoever, but may not exercise discretion to increase any such amount in the case of an Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m). The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which an Annual Incentive Award shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of employment by the Participant prior to the end of a fiscal year or settlement of such Annual Incentive Award.

(d) Written Determinations. All determinations by the Committee as to the establishment of performance goals, the amount of any Performance Award pool or potential individual Performance Awards and as to the achievement of performance goals relating to Performance Awards under Section 8(b), and the amount of any Annual Incentive Award pool or potential individual Annual Incentive Awards and the amount of final Annual Incentive Awards under Section 8(c), shall be made in writing in the case of any Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m). The Committee may not delegate any responsibility relating to such Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards.

 

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(e) Status of Section 8(b) and Section 8(c) Awards under Code Section 162(m). It is the intent of the Company that Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards under Sections 8(b) and 8(c) hereof granted to persons who are designated by the Committee as likely to be Covered Employees within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder (including Regulation 1.162-27 and successor regulations thereto) shall, if so designated by the Committee, constitute “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, the terms of Sections 8(b), (c), (d) and (e), including the definitions of Covered Employee and other terms used therein, shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, because the Committee cannot determine with certainty whether a given Participant will be a Covered Employee with respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term Covered Employee as used herein shall mean only a person designated by the Committee, at the time of grant of Performance Awards or an Annual Incentive Award, as likely to be a Covered Employee with respect to that fiscal year. If any provision of the Plan as in effect on the date of adoption or any agreements relating to Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards that are designated as intended to comply with Code Section 162(m) does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of Code Section 162(m) or regulations thereunder, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.

 

9. CHANGE IN CONTROL

(a) Effect of Change in Control. In the event of a “Change in Control,” the following provisions shall apply unless otherwise provided in the Award agreement:

(i) Any Award carrying a right to exercise that was not previously exercisable and vested shall become fully exercisable and vested as of the time of the Change in Control and shall remain exercisable and vested for the balance of the stated term of such Award without regard to any termination of employment by the Participant, subject to applicable restrictions set forth in Section 11(a) hereof, or to adjustment of the terms of such Award pursuant to Section 11(c) hereof;

(ii) The restrictions, deferral of settlement, and forfeiture conditions applicable to any other Award granted under the Plan shall lapse and such Awards shall be deemed fully vested as of the time of the Change in Control, except to the extent of any waiver by the Participant and subject to applicable restrictions set forth in Section 11(a) hereof, or to adjustment of the terms of such Award pursuant to Section 11(c) hereof; and

(iii) With respect to any outstanding Award subject to achievement of performance goals and conditions under the Plan, such performance goals and other conditions will be deemed to be met if and to the extent so provided in the Award agreement relating to such Award.

(b) Definition of Change in Control. A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if:

 

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(i) any Person (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company, or any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the occurrence with respect to which the evaluation is being made in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the common stock of the Company) acquires securities of the Company and immediately thereafter is the Beneficial Owner (except that a Person shall be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of all shares that any such Person has the right to acquire pursuant to any agreement or arrangement or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options or otherwise, without regard to the sixty day period referred to in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 40% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities (except that an acquisition of securities directly from the Company shall not be deemed an acquisition for purposes of this clause (i));

(ii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause (i), (iii), or (iv) of this paragraph) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved but excluding for this purpose any such new director whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an individual, corporation, partnership, group, associate or other entity or Person other than the Board, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board;

(iii) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than

(1) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving or resulting entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the surviving or resulting entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation or

(2) a merger or consolidation in which no premium is intended to be paid to any shareholder participating in the merger or consolidation;

(iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan or agreement for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company (other than such a sale or disposition immediately after which such assets will be owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as

 

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their ownership of the common stock of the Company immediately prior to such sale or disposition) in which case the Board shall determine the effective date of the Change in Control resulting therefrom; or

(v) any other event occurs which the Board determines, in its discretion, would materially alter the structure of the Company or its ownership.

10. COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A. It is the Company’s intent that any Awards granted under this Plan are structured to be exempt from Code Section 409A, including all Treasury Regulations and other guidance issuance pursuant thereto (“Section 409A”) or are structured to comply with the requirements of deferred compensation subject to Section 409A. To the extent any Award under this Plan constitutes deferred compensation as defined in Section 409A (a “409A Award”), the rules of this Section 10 shall apply to the extent required by Section 409A.

(a) For purposes of this Section 10, an Award shall constitute a 409A Award only if and to the extent either

(i) it is an Award (other than an Option, SAR, or Restricted Stock) that is not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture as defined in Section 409A (by reason of the Participant having attained eligibility for Retirement, having a definition of Resignation for Good Reason in an employment agreement that is inconsistent with Section 409A, or otherwise), and the settlement of which by the taxable payment of cash, stock or other property to the Participant either actually occurs after March 15 of the year following the year in which the Award ceases to be subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, or the terms of the Plan or the Award provide for the Award to be settled after such date, or upon or after the occurrence of any event, that will or may occur later than such March 15; or

(ii) the Committee determines that the Award is a 409A Award.

(b) If any amount becomes payable under any 409A Award by reason of a Participant’s termination of employment, and such Participant incurs a termination of employment as defined by the Plan or the Award that is not a “separation from service,” as defined by Section 409A, then the Participant’s right to such payment, to the extent not already vested, shall be fully vested on the date of the termination of employment, but payment shall be deferred until the earliest of (i) the date the Participant incurs a separation from service (or six months thereafter to the extent required by Section 10(d)), (ii) the date that a “change in control event” with respect to the Participant occurs as defined in Section 409A, (iii) the Participant’s death, and (iv) if the terms of the Award provide for payment upon a specific vesting date, such vesting date. In such case, the Plan and Award shall be construed as if “termination of employment” meant “separation from service.” The Committee shall not exercise its discretion under the Plan in a manner inconsistent with the foregoing provisions.

(c) If any amount becomes payable under any 409A Award by reason of a Change in Control, and a Change in Control occurs as defined by the Plan or the Award that is not a “change in control event” with respect to such Participant, as defined by Section 409A, then the

 

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Participant’s right to such payment, to the extent not already vested, shall be fully vested on the date of the Change in Control, and the amount of such payment shall be determined as of such date, but payment shall be deferred until the earliest of (i) the date on which a change in control event occurs with respect to the Participant, (ii) the date on which the Participant incurs a separation from service (or six months thereafter to the extent required by Section 10(d)), (iii) the Participant’s death, and (iv) if the terms of the Award provide for payment upon a specific vesting date, such vesting date.

(d) No amount that becomes payable under any 409A Award by reason of a Participant’s separation from service (as determined after the application of Section 10(b) and (c)) will be made to a Participant who is a “specified employee” (as defined by Section 409A) until the earlier of: (i) the first day following the sixth month anniversary of the Participant’s separation from service, or (ii) the Participant’s date of death.

(e) To the extent that payment of any amount is required to be deferred to a specific date (the “409A Deferral Date”) by reason of Section 409A, all amounts that would otherwise have been paid prior to the 409A Deferral Date shall be paid in a single lump sum on the first business day following the 409A Deferral Date, with interest at the prime rate of interest as published from time to the in the Wall Street Journal, and the Committee may, in its sole discretion (but shall in no event be required to) permit an earlier payment to a Participant to the extent necessary to alleviate a “severe financial hardship” resulting from an “unforeseeable emergency”, as defined in Section 409A.

(f) For purposes of Section 409A, each “payment” (as defined by Section 409A) made under this Plan with respect to a 409A Award shall be considered a “separate payment” for purposes of Section 409A.

(g) Any payment with respect to a 409A Award that becomes payable upon a specified vesting date, as defined in the Plan or Award, shall be paid as soon as practical after such vesting date, but not later than the last day of the calendar year in which the vesting date occurs.

(h) The Committee shall use commercially reasonably efforts to administer this Plan and each Award in a manner that is consistent with Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Award granted under this Plan would fail to meet the requirements of Section 409A with respect to such Award, then such Award shall remain in effect and be subject to taxation in accordance with Section 409A. Neither the Company nor any member of the Committee shall have any liability for any tax imposed on a Participant by Section 409A, and if any tax is imposed on the Participant, the Participant shall have no recourse against the Company or any member of the Committee for payment of any such tax.

 

11. GENERAL PROVISIONS

(a) Compliance with Legal and Other Requirements. The Company may, to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Committee, postpone the issuance or delivery of Stock or payment of other benefits under any Award until completion of such registration or qualification of such Stock or other required action under any federal or state law, rule or

 

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regulation, listing or other required action with respect to any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Stock or other securities of the Company are listed or quoted, or compliance with any other obligation of the Company, as the Committee may consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to make such representations, furnish such information and comply with or be subject to such other conditions as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of Stock or payment of other benefits in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, listing requirements, or other obligations. The foregoing notwithstanding, in connection with a Change in Control, the Company shall take or cause to be taken no action, and shall undertake or permit to arise no legal or contractual obligation, that results or would result in any postponement of the issuance or delivery of Stock or payment of benefits under any Award or the imposition of any other conditions on such issuance, delivery or payment, to the extent that such postponement or other condition would represent a greater burden on a Participant than existed on the 90th day preceding the Change in Control.

(b) Limits on Transferability; Beneficiaries. No Award or other right or interest of a Participant under the Plan shall be pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or subject to any lien, obligation or liability of such Participant to any party (other than the Company or a subsidiary), or assigned or transferred by such Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or to a Beneficiary upon the death of a Participant, and such Awards or rights that may be exercisable shall be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or his or her guardian or legal representative, except that Awards and other rights (other than ISOs) may be transferred to one or more Beneficiaries or other transferees during the lifetime of the Participant, and may be exercised by such transferees in accordance with the terms of such Award, but only if and to the extent such transfers are permitted by the Committee pursuant to the express terms of an Award agreement (subject to any terms and conditions which the Committee may impose thereon). A Beneficiary, transferee, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award agreement applicable to such Participant, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, and to any additional terms and conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.

(c) Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Stock, or other property), recapitalization, forward or reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution or other similar transaction or event affects the Stock such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of

(i) the number and kind of shares of Stock which may be delivered in connection with Awards granted thereafter,

(ii) the number and kind of shares of Stock by which annual per-person Award limitations are measured under Section 5 hereof,

(iii) the number and kind of shares of Stock subject to or deliverable in respect of outstanding Awards, and

 

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(iv) the exercise price, grant price or purchase price relating to any Award and/or make provision for payment of cash or other property in respect of any outstanding Award.

In the case of a merger or consolidation of the Company with another entity, or a transfer of the business and assets of the Company to another entity, if pursuant to the terms of such transaction any Award is not to be assumed by the successor to the Company, the Committee may provide for such Award to be cancelled upon payment to the Participant of an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the amount to be received by shareholders with respect to their stock in connection with such transaction over the exercise price of such Award, and if such amount is negative, such Awards shall be cancelled without payment of consideration. In addition, the Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards (including Performance Awards and performance goals, and Annual Incentive Awards and any Annual Incentive Award pool or performance goals relating thereto) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, events described in the preceding sentence, as well as acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and assets) affecting the Company, any subsidiary or any business unit, or the financial statements of the Company or any subsidiary, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, tax rates and regulations or business conditions or in view of the Committee’s assessment of the business strategy of the Company, any subsidiary or business unit thereof, performance of comparable organizations, economic and business conditions, personal performance of a Participant, and any other circumstances deemed relevant; provided that no such adjustment shall be authorized or made if and to the extent that such authority or the making of such adjustment would cause Options, Performance Awards granted under Section 8(b) hereof or Annual Incentive Awards granted under Section 8(c) hereof to Participants designated by the Committee as Covered Employees and intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder to otherwise fail to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder.

(d) Taxes. The Company and any subsidiary is authorized to withhold from any Award granted, any payment relating to an Award under the Plan, including from a distribution of Stock, or any payroll or other payment to a Participant, amounts of withholding and other taxes due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award. This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Stock or other property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant’s tax obligations, either on a mandatory or elective basis in the discretion of the Committee.

(e) Changes to the Plan and Awards. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan or the Committee’s authority to grant Awards under the Plan without the consent of shareholders or Participants, except that any amendment or alteration to the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders not later than the annual meeting next following such Board action if such shareholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock may then be listed or quoted, and the Board may otherwise, in its discretion,

 

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determine to submit other such changes to the Plan to shareholders for approval; provided, however, that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Board action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award previously granted and any Award agreement relating thereto, except as otherwise provided in the Plan; provided, however, that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Committee action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under such Award.

(f) Limitation on Rights Conferred under Plan. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as

(i) giving any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ or service of the Company or a subsidiary,

(ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or a subsidiary to terminate any Eligible Person’s or Participant’s employment or service at any time,

(iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and employees, or

(iv) conferring on a Participant any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until the Participant is duly issued or transferred shares of Stock in accordance with the terms of an Award.

(g) Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts. The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for certain incentive awards and deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant or obligation to deliver Stock pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company.

(h) Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor its submission to the shareholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable including incentive arrangements and awards which do not qualify under Code Section 162(m).

(i) Payments in the Event of Forfeitures; Fractional Shares. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event of a forfeiture of an Award with respect to which a Participant paid cash or other consideration, the Participant shall be repaid the amount of such cash or other consideration. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

(j) Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, any rules and regulations under the Plan, and any Award agreement shall be determined in accordance with the

 

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Delaware General Corporation Law, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws, and applicable federal law.

(k) Plan Effective Date and Shareholder Approval. The Plan has been adopted by the Board on January 25, 2012, to be effective upon shareholder approval. The Plan was approved by Bitstream, in its capacity as sole shareholders of the Company on January 25, 2012.

 

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