Attached files

file filename
EX-99.3 - EX-99.3 - CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCa16-5887_1ex99d3.htm
EX-99.1 - EX-99.1 - CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCa16-5887_1ex99d1.htm
8-K - 8-K - CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCa16-5887_18k.htm

EXHIBIT 99.2

 

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated
2010 Stock Incentive Plan, as Amended Effective May 28, 2015

 

NOTICE OF GRANT AND STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT AND/OR STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

 

Notice is hereby given of the following Option Grant to purchase Shares and/or Award of Stock Units of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (“Company”), pursuant to the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended effective May 28, 2015 (“Plan”).  In consideration of the promises and of the mutual agreements contained in this Notice of Grant and Stock Option Agreement and/or Stock Unit Agreement (“Agreement”), the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.  Definitions.  Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Plan.  Otherwise, as used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

 

Date of Grant

 

 

 

 

 

Participant

 

 

 

 

 

No. of Stock Units Awarded- EBITDA Performance Condition

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Units Vesting Date(s)-EBITDA Performance Condition

 

Subject to achievement of a performance condition based on the Company’s cumulative Fiscal Year EBITDA being greater than or equal to: 

 

·      million for Fiscal Years 20   and 20  , or


·
      million for Fiscal Years 20  , 20   and 20   whichever occurs earlier. 

 

If the EBITDA Performance Condition is satisfied, then all EBITDA Performance Condition Stock Units awarded hereunder then shall be subject to the following incrementally time based vesting condition (with the number of vesting Stock Units rounded to the nearest whole number): 

 

 

 

Stock Units Vesting Date

 

Incremental Vesting Percentage

 

 

 

, 20

 

60

%

 

 

, 20

 

20

%

 

 

, 20

 

20

%

 

Target No. of Stock Units Awarded- EPS Performance Condition

 

          . Actual Stock Units vesting may be at a lower or higher amount or none at all, dependent upon the level of achievement of the EPS Performance Condition, within a range between the Threshold EPS Performance Condition and the

 

1



 

 

 

Maximum EPS Performance Condition, inclusive.

 

 

 

Targeted EPS Performance Condition

 

The Company’s cumulative fully diluted earnings per share growth over Fiscal Years:

·        20,

·        20, and

·        20

being equal to:
$   , which is a   % increase over the Company’s fully diluted earnings per share for the Fiscal Year ending prior to the Date of Grant

 

 

 

Maximum EPS Performance Condition

 

   % of the Targeted EPS Performance Condition (i.e.$    cumulative fully diluted EPS growth over the Fiscal Year ending prior to the Date of Grant)

 

 

 

Threshold EPS Performance Condition

 

% of the Targeted EPS Performance Condition (i.e., $   cumulative fully diluted EPS growth over the Fiscal Year ending prior to the Date of Grant)

 

Stock Units Vesting Date(s)-EPS Performance Condition

 

Subject to achievement of at least the Threshold EPS Performance Condition, the applicable percentage of then-outstanding Stock Units-EPS Performance Condition that are eligible to vest shall be as shown on the attached Exhibit A. The Stock Units-EPS Performance Condition that remain outstanding after the degree of achievement of the EPS Performance Condition under Exhibit A has been determined, then shall be subject to the following incrementally time based vesting condition (with the number of vesting Stock Units rounded to the nearest whole number): 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Units Vesting Date

 

Incremental Vesting Percentage

 

 

 

, 20

 

60

%

 

 

, 20

 

20

%

 

 

, 20

 

20

%

 

 

 

No. of Non-Statutory Option Shares Granted

 

 

 

 

 

Option Exercise Price

 

$  .  per share

 

 

 

Option Expiration Date

 

         , 20  

 

 

 

Option Vesting Date(s)

 

    Option Shares on        ,20  

 

 

    Option Shares on        ,20  

 

 

    Option Shares on        ,20  

 

 

    Option Shares on        ,20  

 

 

    Option Shares on        ,20  

 

 

 

Award

 

The Options to purchase stock and/or Stock Units subject to the performance condition(s) granted in accordance with this

 

2



 

 

 

Agreement

 

 

 

Code

 

The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

 

 

Company

 

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated, a Delaware corporation.

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

Income from operations, before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, less impairments or other accounting related charges.

 

 

 

EPS

 

Earnings per share of the Company’s Common Stock

 

Dividend Equivalents (as defined below in Section 7(b))

 

Shall not be credited to this Award while it is outstanding.

 

 

 

Option

 

The option to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock granted to Participant pursuant to the Plan and this Agreement. The Option is not intended to constitute an “incentive stock option” as that term is used in Code section 422.

 

 

 

QDRO

 

A domestic relations order as defined in Code section 414(p)(1)(B).

 

 

 

Settlement Date

 

With respect to any outstanding Stock Unit that becomes vested, the date that such Stock Unit is settled with Shares and/or cash and such date shall be the applicable Stock Unit Vesting Date.

 

 

 

Stock Units

 

The Stock Units awarded to Participant pursuant to the Plan and this Agreement. A Stock Unit is a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of one Share as described in the Plan.

 

Section 2. Designation of Award.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, the Company grants to Participant the Option to purchase the number of Option Shares shown above and/or grants to Participant the number of Stock Units shown above.

 

Section 3. Interpretation.  The terms and provisions of the Plan are hereby incorporated into this Agreement as if set forth herein in their entirety.  Participant hereby agrees to be bound by the terms of the Plan and this Agreement and acknowledges that the Option is, and/or Stock Units are, granted subject to and in accordance with the Plan and this Agreement.  In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control.  By execution below, Participant acknowledges receipt of a copy of the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan Summary and Prospectus. A copy of the Plan is available, without charge, upon request to the Company’s Stock Plan Administrator.

 

Section 4.  Exercise of Option; Sale of Shares. (a) This Option is exercisable during its term in accordance with the Option vesting dates set out in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Agreement. This Option is exercisable in a manner and pursuant to such procedures as the Committee may determine. No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of this Option unless such issuance and exercise complies with applicable laws.

 

3



 

Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes, the Shares shall be considered transferred to the Participant on the date the Option is exercised with respect to such Shares.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or anywhere else, the Option shall not be exercisable after the Option Expiration Date.

 

(b)                                 Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price and any applicable tax withholding obligation shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Participant:  (i) cash; or (ii) check; or (iii) consideration received by the Company using a Cashless Exercise; or (iv) with the Committee’s consent, consideration received by the Company through a Net Exercise; or (v) with the Committee’s consent, surrender of other Shares, provided that such Shares in the case of Shares acquired from the Company, have been vested and owned by the Participant for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender.  Utilization of the methods described in clauses (iii), (iv) and (v) shall in all cases be subject to the Company’s Special Trading Policy and Procedures and the Addendum thereto.

 

(c)                                  The sale of Shares received from the exercise of the Option may at the Company’s discretion be delayed in order to restrict sale of the Shares received from the exercise of an Option during any period in which trading in the Company’s securities is restricted under the Company’s Special Trading Policy and Procedures or otherwise as required under applicable securities’ laws.

 

(d)                                 The sale of Shares received from the exercise of an Option may at the Company’s discretion be delayed if in the Company’s judgment trading market conditions would be adversely impacted by the exercise and sale of such Shares.  The Company may also at its discretion place any reasonable restrictions or conditions on the sale of Shares received upon exercise of the Option as it believes would be in the best interests of the trading market for the Company’s securities.

 

Section 5.  Termination of Option.  (a) The term of the Option shall commence on the Date of Grant and expire on the earlier of (i) the Option Expiration Date set forth above, (ii) the eight (8) year anniversary of the Date of Grant; or (iii) if Participant’s Service is terminated, and such termination of Service occurs by reason of (A) death or Disability, twelve (12) months from the death or Disability Termination Date; (B) Retirement, twelve (12) months from the Retirement Termination Date, provided, however, that such twelve (12) month period shall instead be thirty-six (36) months if the Participant has completed at least twenty (20) continuous years of Service as of the Termination Date; or (C) other than for Retirement, death or Disability, or Cause, three (3) months from the Termination Date unless a later time period is specified in Participant’s employment agreement with the Company, if any, in which case such later time period shall apply. Notwithstanding the above, if Participant’s termination of Service occurs by reason of Cause, neither the Participant nor the Participant’s estate nor such other person who may then hold the Option shall be entitled to exercise such Option on or after the Termination Date.

 

(b) In accordance with Plan Section 4(g), to the extent that during the entire last two (2) weeks prior to the termination of a vested, in-the-money Option due to the Participant’s termination of Service for any reason other than by the Company for Cause, a sale of Shares underlying such Option would violate Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or would otherwise be

 

4



 

prohibited by Company policy or applicable law or regulations, then such Options shall instead remain exercisable for two (2) weeks after the first business day that all such prohibitions to sale are no longer applicable (subject in all cases to the term of the Option as set forth in Section 5 above).

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or anywhere else, the Option shall not be exercisable after the Option Expiration Date.

 

Section 6.  Stock Units and Forfeiture.  The unvested portion of the Stock Units are subject to forfeiture.  Except as provided in this Agreement, in order to vest in and not forfeit Stock Units, the Participant must remain in Service until the applicable Stock Units Vesting Date (as such date may be accelerated pursuant to Section 8 below). Participant may not transfer (within the meaning described in Section 9) Stock Units (the “Restrictions”).

 

Section 7.  Other Terms and Conditions of Stock Units

 

(a)                                 A holder of Stock Units shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company.  Subject to the terms of this Agreement, a holder of outstanding Stock Units shall have none of the rights and privileges of a stockholder of the Company, including no right to vote and no dividend rights except as may be set forth in Section 7(b).  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Stock Units create no fiduciary duty of the Company to Participant and only represent an unfunded and unsecured contractual obligation of the Company.  The Stock Units shall not be treated as property or as a trust fund of any kind.  Participant, or Participant’s estate or heirs, has no rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Stock Units underlying this Award until Shares have been issued to Participant as settlement for such Stock Units. Stock Units that do not remain eligible to vest under Exhibit A or otherwise under this Agreement shall be immediately forfeited without consideration. In the event of any acceleration of vesting under the Plan, this Agreement or any other agreement, the date of such acceleration of vesting also shall be the Stock Units Vesting Date for such Stock Units.

 

(b)                                 The provisions of this Section 7(b) shall only be applicable if Section 1 states that Dividend Equivalents shall be credited to this Award.  If Section 1 does not state that Dividend Equivalents shall be credited to this Award then the following provisions of this Section 7(b) shall have no force or effect.  If the Company declares and pays a dividend on the Shares, Participant shall be credited with dividend equivalents equal to the dividends Participant would have received if Participant had been the owner of a number of Shares (as opposed to Stock Units) on such dividend payment date (the “Dividend Equivalents”).  Any Dividend Equivalents deriving from a cash dividend shall be converted under the Plan into additional Stock Units based on the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the dividend payment date, rounded down to the nearest whole number.  Any Dividend Equivalents deriving from a dividend of Shares shall be converted into additional Stock Units on a one-for-one basis (rounded down to the nearest whole number).  Participant shall continue to be credited with Dividend Equivalents with respect to any outstanding Stock Units until the Settlement Date of such Stock Units.  The Dividend Equivalents so credited shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as this Award, and they shall vest (or, if applicable, be forfeited) and be settled, without interest thereon, in the same manner and at the same time as the Stock Units to which they attach as if they had

 

5



 

been granted on the Date of Grant.  Any Dividend Equivalents so credited which do not vest shall be forfeited and retained, without consideration, by the Company.  Participant’s rights to Dividend Equivalents (if any) shall cease upon forfeiture or settlement of the Stock Units to which they attach.

 

(c)                                  Vested Stock Units may be settled in (i) Shares, (ii) cash, or (iii) a combination of both, as determined by the Committee.  Until the Award is settled, the number of Stock Units subject to the Award shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan.  Whenever cash is used to settle some or all of Participant’s Stock Units (or Dividend Equivalents), the Fair Market Value (determined as of the Settlement Date) shall be used to determine the amount of cash to be provided to Participant.  Vested Stock Units will entitle Participant to receive upon the Settlement Date a whole number of Shares and/or cash such that the aggregate value provided to Participant equals the Fair Market Value multiplied by the total number of vested Stock Units being settled.  Settled Stock Units (and Dividend Equivalents) shall be immediately canceled and no longer outstanding and Participant shall have no further rights or entitlements related to those settled Stock Units (and Dividend Equivalents).

 

Section 8.  Vesting Date; Lapse of Restrictions.

 

Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this Agreement, the Option Vesting Date and/or the Stock Units Vesting Date shall occur as follows:

 

(a)                                 The Option, or portion thereof, shall be exercisable on an applicable Option Vesting Date (as such date may be accelerated pursuant to this Section 8 below) provided the Participant is in Service and in good standing on the applicable Vesting Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of Participant’s death or Disability, the portion of the Option that would have otherwise vested during the period beginning on the date of such death or the Termination Date due to such Disability and ending on the date that is twenty-four (24) months thereafter shall vest as of the date of the Participant’s death or the Termination Date due to such Disability.

 

(b)                                 The Restrictions on the Stock Units shall lapse on the Stock Units Vesting Date; provided, however, that except as provided in this Section 8 below (or Plan Sections 3(b)(iv) or 12)) in no event shall the Restrictions on Stock Units lapse prior to one (1) year from the Date of Grant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, and in accordance with Plan Sections 3(b)(iv) and 10(c), in the event of Participant’s death or Disability, the Restrictions that would have otherwise lapsed during the period beginning on the date of such death or Termination Date due to such Disability and ending on the date that is twenty-four (24) months thereafter shall lapse as of the date of the Participant’s death or the Termination Date due to such Disability.

 

(c)                                  In the event that a Change in Control occurs and there is no assumption or continuation of some or all outstanding Awards pursuant to Plan Section 12(a), then as to those Awards that are not assumed or continued under Plan Section 12(a), the Option shall fully vested and become exercisable with respect to all Option Shares issued hereunder and the Restrictions on the Stock Units awarded hereunder shall lapse and the Stock Units shall become fully vested and settled, as of immediately before such Change in Control. Pursuant to Plan Section 12(b), Participant shall be given written notice at least thirty (30) days prior to the consummation of

 

6



 

such Change in Control that the Awards that are not assumed or continued under Plan Section 12(a) will be canceled as of the Change in Control.

 

(d)                                 In the event a Change in Control occurs and (i) the acquiring entity assumes or continues some or all outstanding Awards pursuant to Plan Section 12(a), (ii) within eighteen (18) months thereafter an event occurs which constitutes a “Constructive Termination” or a termination for “Good Reason” by Participant (as defined under Participant’s written employment agreement with the Company, if any), and (iii) Participant’s terminates from Service, then with respect to the Awards issued hereunder that are so assumed or continued, all installments of Awards that are held by the Participant and scheduled to vest, or to become exercisable, or to be subject to lapse of restrictions, at any time within twenty-four (24) months after the date Participant terminates from Service shall become exercisable, and vest, and any restriction shall lapse, as of such termination date; provided, however, that any vesting, exercisability or lapse of restriction on any Award which is contingent upon satisfaction of a Company performance-based condition or performance goal under this Agreement shall continue to be subject to such performance-based condition or performance goal and will only be deemed satisfied and vested if and when (if ever) such Company performance-based condition or performance goal is actually achieved as provided herein (but shall not be subject to further time based vesting).

 

(e)                                  The provisions of this Section 8 are subject to the specific terms of any written employment agreement between the Participant and the Company, which agreement may provide for the acceleration of the Vesting Date of Options or the removal of Restrictions and acceleration of Stock Units Vesting Date upon the occurrence of specified events.  If the conditions under such employment agreement occur for the acceleration of the Vesting Date of Options or the removal of Restrictions and acceleration of the Stock Units Vesting Date, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Option shall become exercisable and fully vested with respect to all Option Shares granted hereunder and the Restrictions on the Stock Units awarded hereunder shall lapse and the Stock Units, as applicable, shall become fully vested as of the date required under such employment agreement, except in no event shall acceleration of any Stock Units result in the lapse of the Restrictions prior to one (1) year from the Date of Grant (except as permitted under Plan Sections 3(b)(iv) or 12)).

 

Section 9.  Restrictions on Transfer.

 

(a)                                 The Option may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of, alienated or encumbered (collectively, a “Transfer”) in any way by Participant, either voluntarily or involuntarily, and may be exercised during the lifetime of Participant only by Participant, or in the event of Participant’s legal incapacity, by Participant’s guardian or legal representative acting in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of Participant under state law.  If Participant dies, the Option shall thereafter be exercisable as provided above and in the Plan.  The Option shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process other than pursuant to a QDRO.

 

(b)                                 Prior to the time that the Restrictions have lapsed with respect to Stock Units, the Stock Units, nor any interest therein, or amount payable in respect thereof may be Transferred in any way, either voluntarily or involuntarily.  The Transfer restrictions in the preceding sentence

 

7



 

shall not apply to: (i) transfers to the Company; (ii) transfers by will or the laws of descent and distribution; or (iii) transfers pursuant to a QDRO.  Upon and after the time any Restrictions shall have lapsed, Participant shall be permitted to transfer the Shares as to which the Restrictions have lapsed subject to applicable securities law requirements, the Company’s Special Trading Policy and Procedures, and any other applicable laws or regulations.

 

(c)                                  Any attempted Transfer of the Option or Stock Units contrary to the provisions hereof, and the levy of any execution, attachment or similar process upon the Option, or Stock Units, except pursuant to a QDRO, shall be null and void and without effect.

 

Section 10.  Award Subject to Clawback Policy.  In accordance with Section 13(d) of the Plan, the Company may (i) cause the cancellation of all or any portion of this Award, (ii) require reimbursement of all or any portion of this Award by the Participant and (iii) effect any other right of recoupment of equity or other compensation provided under the Plan or otherwise in accordance with Company policies and/or applicable law (each, a “Clawback Policy”) in effect as of the Date of Grant of this Award.

 

Section 11.  Designation of Beneficiary.  Participant may designate one or more beneficiaries with respect to this Award or any Awards made under the Plan by timely filing the prescribed beneficiary designation form with the Company.  A beneficiary designation may be changed by filing the prescribed form with the Company at any time prior to the Participant’s death.  If no beneficiary was designated or if no designated beneficiary survives the Participant, then after a Participant’s death any vested portion of the Award shall be transferred or distributed to the Participant’s estate.

 

Section 12.  No Tax or Other Advice from Company.  The Company has not provided any tax, legal or financial advice to Participant, and the Company has not made any recommendations regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan or Participant’s acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares.  Participant is hereby advised to consult with Participant’s own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan or this Agreement.

 

Section 13. Tax Withholding.  The Company in its discretion shall be entitled to require a cash payment by or on behalf of Participant and/or deduct from other compensation payable to Participant any sums required by federal, state, local or foreign tax law or regulation to be withheld with respect to the lapsing of any Restrictions.  If Participant makes the election permitted by Section 83(b) of the Code to include in such Participant’s gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Section 83(b) of the Code, then Participant shall notify the Company of such election within 10 days after filing the notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service.  PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS PARTICIPANT’S SOLE RESPONSIBILITY, AND NOT THE COMPANY’S, TO FILE A TIMELY ELECTION UNDER CODE SECTION 83(B), EVEN IF PARTICIPANT REQUESTS THE COMPANY OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES TO MAKE THIS FILING ON PARTICIPANT’S BEHALF.  MOREOVER, PARTICIPANT IS RELYING SOLELY ON PARTICIPANT’S OWN ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT TO FILE A CODE SECTION 83(B) ELECTION.

 

8



 

Section 14.  Notices.  All notices, claims, certificates, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given and delivered if personally delivered or if sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier, by telecopy, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

(a)                                 if to the Company:

 

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated

26901 Malibu Hills Road

Calabasas Hills, California 91301

Attention: General Counsel

 

If to the Company, to exercise an Option:

 

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated

26901 Malibu Hills Road

Calabasas Hills, California 91301

Attn: Stock Plan Administrator

 

(b)                                 if to Participant:

 

The last address set forth in the Company’s records

 

or to such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to the other party in writing in accordance herewith.  Any such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been received (i) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery (or if such date is not a business day, on the next business day after the date of delivery), (ii) in the case of nationally recognized overnight courier, on the next business day after the date sent, (iii) in the case of telecopy transmission, when received (or if not sent on a business day, on the next business day after the date sent), and (iv) in the case of mailing, on the third business day following that date on which the piece of mail containing such communication is posted.

 

Section 15.  Waiver of Breach.  The waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement must be in writing and shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

 

Section 16.  Participant’s Undertaking.  Participant hereby agrees to take whatever additional actions and execute whatever additional documents the Company may in its reasonable judgment deem necessary or advisable in order to carry out or affect one or more of the obligations or restrictions imposed on Participant pursuant to the express provisions of this Agreement and the Plan.

 

Section 17.  Modification of Rights.  The rights of Participant are subject to modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and the Plan.

 

9



 

Section 18.  Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICTING PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF DELAWARE TO BE APPLIED.  IN FURTHERANCE OF THE FOREGOING, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WILL CONTROL THE INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT, EVEN IF UNDER SUCH JURISDICTION’S CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAW ANALYSIS, THE SUBSTANTIVE LAW OF SOME OTHER JURISDICTION WOULD ORDINARILY APPLY.

 

Section 19.  Resolution of Disputes.

 

(a)           Arbitration. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Plan shall be settled by binding arbitration held in Los Angeles, California, in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect, except as specifically otherwise provided in this Section 19.  This Section 19 shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act, notwithstanding any other choice of law provision in this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing:

 

Any party hereto may, in its discretion, apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for equitable relief.  Such an application shall not be deemed a waiver of the right to compel arbitration pursuant to this Section 19.

 

(b)           Arbitrators. The panel to be appointed shall consist of three neutral arbitrators:  one selected by the Company, one selected by the Participant, and one selected by the designees of the Company and Participant.

 

(c)           Procedures.  The arbitrator(s) shall allow such discovery as the arbitrator(s) determine appropriate under the circumstances and shall resolve the dispute as expeditiously as practicable, and if reasonably practicable, within one hundred twenty (120) days after the selection of the arbitrator(s).  The arbitrator(s) shall give the parties written notice of the decision, with the reasons therefor set out, and shall have thirty (30) days thereafter to reconsider and modify such decision if any party so requests within ten (10) days after the decision.

 

(d)           Authority.  The arbitrator(s) shall have authority to award relief under legal or equitable principles, including interim or preliminary relief, and to allocate responsibility for the costs of the arbitration and to award recovery of attorneys’ fees and expenses in such manner as is determined to be appropriate by the arbitrator(s).

 

(e)           Entry of Judgment.  Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having in personam and subject matter jurisdiction.  Company and Participant hereby submit to the in personam jurisdiction of the Federal and State courts in Los Angeles, California, for the purpose of confirming any such award and entering judgment thereon.

 

10



 

(f)            Confidentiality.  All proceedings under this Section 19, and all evidence given or discovered pursuant hereto, shall be maintained in confidence by all parties and by the arbitrators.

 

(g)           Continued Performance.  The fact that the dispute resolution procedures specified in this Section 19 shall have been or may be invoked shall not excuse any party from performing its obligations under this Agreement and during the pendency of any such procedure all parties shall continue to perform their respective obligations in good faith.

 

(h)           Tolling.  All applicable statutes of limitation shall be tolled while the procedures specified in this Section 19 are pending.  The parties will take such action, if any, required to effectuate such tolling.

 

(i)            Confidentiality.  All proceedings under this Section 19, and all evidence given or discovered pursuant hereto, shall be maintained in confidence by all parties and by the arbitrators.

 

Section 20.  No Employment Commitment by Company; No Effect on Employment Agreements.  Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan constitutes an employment commitment by the Company, affects Participant’s status under any employment agreement between the Company and Participant, confers upon Participant any right to remain employed by the Company or any subsidiary, interferes in any way with the right of the Company or any subsidiary at any time to terminate such employment, or affects the right of the Company or any subsidiary to increase or decrease Participant’s compensation or other benefits.  The preceding sentence is subject, however, to the terms of any written employment agreement between Participant and the Company (which may not be modified by any oral agreement). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event of a conflict between this Agreement and any written employment agreement between Participant and the Company, the written employment agreement shall control provided, however, that if this Agreement provides for earlier vesting schedules, or for the earlier acceleration of vesting of any Option or lapse of Restrictions with respect to Stock Units upon the occurrence of specified events, than this Agreement shall control as to such earlier vesting schedule or earlier acceleration of vesting or lapse of Restrictions upon the occurrence such specified events.

 

Section 21.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one agreement.

 

Section 22.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and the Plan (and the other writings referred to herein) constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior written or oral negotiations, commitments, representations and agreements with respect thereto.

 

Section 23.  Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall be so

 

11



 

narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 24.  Compliance with Section 409A of the Code.  The Option and/or Stock Units awarded under this Agreement, as the case may be, are intended in all respects not to subject the Participant to taxation under Section 409A of the Code.  To the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation, any such regulations or guidance that may be issued after the Date of Grant so that neither the Option nor any Stock Units will be subject to Code Section 409A.  In the event that the Company determines that any amounts will be taxable to Participant under Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance, the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, adopt such amendments to this Agreement (having prospective or retroactive effect), and/or take such other actions, as the Company determines to be necessary or appropriate to avoid the application of Section 409A of the Code to such Option or Stock Units.  No such amendment or other action shall be adopted or taken that will cause the Option and/or the Stock Units to be subject to Section 409A.

 

 

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED,

 

a Delaware corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

Name and title: W. Douglas Benn, Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Its Authorized Officer

 

12



 

BY EXECUTION BELOW I ACCEPT ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTICE OF GRANT AND THE OTHER DOCUMENTS REFERENCED HEREIN

 

 

PARTICIPANT:

 

 

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

 

 

 

 

(Print Name)

 

 

 

Address for Notice:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Please execute and return this Notice of Grant to the Company’s Stock Plan Administrator
at the address above; keep a copy for your records)

 

Attachments:

 

·                  Exhibit A — Stock Units EPS Performance Condition

·                  2010 Stock Incentive Plan Summary and Prospectus

·                  Special Trading Policy and Procedures

·                  Addendum To Special Trading Policy and Procedures for Section 16 Persons

·                  SEC Filing List (prospectus supplement)

·                  Designation of Beneficiary(ies) Form

 

13