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8-K - FORM 8-K - MENTOR GRAPHICS CORPd8k.htm

Exhibit 10.A

Mentor Graphics Corporation

2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan

Article 1. Establishment, Purpose, and Duration

1.1 Establishment. Mentor Graphics Corporation, an Oregon corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), establishes an incentive compensation plan to be known as the Mentor Graphics Corporation 2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”), as set forth in this document. This Plan permits the issuance of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. This Plan shall become effective upon stockholder approval and shall remain in effect as provided in Section 1.3 hereof.

1.2 Purpose of this Plan. The purpose of this Plan is to provide a means whereby Employees, Non-employee Directors, and Third Party Service Providers of the Company develop a sense of proprietorship and personal involvement in the development and financial success of the Company, and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to the business of the Company, thereby advancing the interests of the Company and its stockholders. A further purpose of this Plan is to provide a means through which the Company may attract and retain able individuals to become Employees, Non-employee Directors or Third Party Service Providers of the Company. This Plan is intended to provide a means whereby those individuals upon whom the responsibilities of the successful administration and management of the Company are of importance can acquire and maintain stock ownership, thereby strengthening their concern for the welfare of the Company.

1.3 Duration of this Plan. Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this Plan shall terminate on March 10, 2020; provided, however, that the term of this Plan shall be extended for ten years following any action by the Board approving an increase in the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan, which action is subsequently approved within 12 months by the stockholders. After this Plan is terminated, no Awards may be granted but Awards previously granted shall remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and this Plan’s terms and conditions.

Article 2. Definitions

Whenever used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below, and when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word shall be capitalized.

2.1 “Affiliate” shall mean any corporation or other entity (including, but not limited to, a partnership or a limited liability company) that is affiliated with the Company through an interest of more than fifty percent (50%) by reason of stock or equity ownership or otherwise, and is designated as an Affiliate for purposes of this Plan by the Committee.

2.2 “Annual Award Limit” or “Annual Award Limits” have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.

2.3 “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under this Plan of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards, in each case subject to the terms of this Plan.

2.4 “Award Agreement” means either (i) a written or electronic agreement entered into by the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under this Plan, including any amendment or modification thereof, or (ii) a written or electronic statement issued by the Company to a Participant describing the terms and provisions of such Award, including any amendment or modification thereof. The Committee may modify the Company’s Award process from time to time in its sole discretion, including by providing for the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper Award Agreements, and the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper means for the acceptance thereof and actions thereunder by a Participant.

 

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2.5 “Beneficial Owner” or “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

2.6 “Board” or “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.7 “Cash-Based Awards” means an Award, denominated in cash, granted to a Participant as described in Article 10.

2.8 “Change of Control” means a situation where any of the following events occur:

(a) Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. The acquisition by any Person of Beneficial Ownership of 40% or more of either the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or the Outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that, for purposes of this Section 2.8(a), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, or (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;

(b) Change in Board of Directors. Individuals who, as of the Grant Date of an Award, constitute the Board, and any new director 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 were directors on the Grant Date or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved (collectively, the “Continuing Directors”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

(c) Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless immediately following such Business Combination: (i) all or substantially all of the Persons who were Beneficial Owners of Outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 51% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction either owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more Subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the Outstanding Voting Securities; (ii) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 40% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to such Business Combination; and (iii) at least a majority of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were Continuing Directors at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;

(d) Liquidation. The approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement or series of agreements for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than factoring the Company’s current receivables or escrows due (or, if such approval is not required, the decision by the Board to proceed with such a liquidation, sale or disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions); or

(e) Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar or successor item on any similar or successor schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

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2.9 “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. For purposes of this Plan, references to sections of the Code shall be deemed to include references to any applicable regulations and any successor or similar provision.

2.10 “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or another committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan. Each member of the Compensation Committee or any other such committee must be an “independent director” under NASDAQ rules, an “outside director” for purposes of Code Section 162(m), and a “non-employee director” under Rule 16b-3(b)(3) under the Exchange Act, as such requirements may change from time to time.

2.11 “Company” means Mentor Graphics Corporation, an Oregon corporation, and any successor thereto as provided in Article 19 herein.

2.12 “Covered Employee” means any Employee who is or may become a “Covered Employee,” as defined in Code Section 162(m), and who is designated, either as an individual Employee or class of Employees, by the Committee within the shorter of (i) ninety (90) days after the beginning of the Performance Period, or (ii) twenty-five percent (25%) of the Performance Period has elapsed, as a “Covered Employee” under this Plan for such applicable Performance Period.

2.13 “Deferred Stock Unit” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 8 giving the Participant a contractual right to receive a stated number of Shares or, if provided by the Committee on the Grant Date, cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such Shares, under the Plan at the end of a specified period of time or upon the occurrence of a specified event.

2.14 “Director” means any individual who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.15 “Employee” means any individual performing services for the Company, an Affiliate, or a Subsidiary and designated as an employee of the Company, the Affiliate, or the Subsidiary on the payroll records. An Employee shall not include any individual during any period he or she is classified or treated by the Company, Affiliate, or Subsidiary as a contingent worker, independent contractor, consultant, or any employee of a franchise, master distributor, employment, consulting, or temporary agency or any other entity other than the Company, Affiliate, or Subsidiary, without regard to whether such individual is subsequently determined to have been, or is subsequently retroactively reclassified as a employee of the Company, Affiliate, or Subsidiary during such period. An individual shall not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company for purposes protected under law including, without limitation, medical leave, leave to care for a family member, maternity- paternity- or adoptive leave, leave for military service or leave to participate in mandatory legal process or (ii) transfers or Company-initiated relocations between locations of the Company or between the Company, any Affiliates, or any Subsidiaries. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed three (3) months, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, then three (3) months following the commencement of such leave, any Incentive Stock Option held by a Participant shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated for tax purposes as a Nonqualified Stock Option. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company shall be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

2.16 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor act thereto.

2.17 “Fair Market Value” or “FMV” means

(a) A price of a Share that is based on the opening, closing, actual, high, low, or average selling prices of a Share reported on any established stock exchange or national market system including without limitation the New York Stock Exchange and the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System on the applicable date, the

 

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preceding trading day, the next succeeding trading day, or an average of trading days, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, Fair Market Value on any day shall be deemed to be equal to the closing price of a Share of the Company’s common stock on NASDAQ on that day or, if that day is not a trading day, on the prior trading day.

(b) If Shares are regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for a Share on the day of determination or, if that day is not a trading day, the last market trading day prior to the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable.

(c) In the event Shares are not publicly traded at the time a determination of their value is required to be made hereunder, the price of a Share as determined by the Committee in such manner as it deems appropriate.

2.18 “Grant Date” means the date an Award is granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan.

2.19 “Grant Price” means the price established at the time of grant of an SAR pursuant to Article 7, used to determine whether there is any payment due upon exercise of the SAR.

2.20 “Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means an Option to purchase Shares granted under Article 6 to an Employee and that is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and that is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422, or any successor provision.

2.21 “Non-employee Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.

2.22 “Nonqualified Stock Option” or “NQSO” means an Option that is not intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422, or that otherwise does not meet such requirements.

2.23 “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, as described in Article 6.

2.24 “Option Price” means the price at which a Share may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to an Option.

2.25 “Other Stock-Based Award” means an equity-based or equity-related Award not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan, granted pursuant to Article 10.

2.26 “Outstanding Voting Securities” shall mean the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

2.27 “Participant” means any eligible individual as set forth in Article 5 to whom an Award is granted.

2.28 “Performance-Based Compensation” means compensation under an Award that is intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for certain performance-based compensation paid to Covered Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Plan is intended nor shall be construed to mean that an Award which does not satisfy the requirements for performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m) does not constitute performance-based compensation for other purposes, including Code Section 409A.

2.29 “Performance Measures” means measures, as described in Article 12, on which the performance goals are based and which are approved by the Company’s stockholders pursuant to this Plan in order to qualify Awards as Performance-Based Compensation.

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

 

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2.31 “Performance Share” means an Award under Article 9 and subject to the terms of this Plan, denominated in Shares, the value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a function of the extent to which corresponding performance goals, as described in Article 12, have been achieved.

2.32 “Performance Unit” means an Award under Article 9 and subject to the terms of this Plan, denominated in units, the value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a function of the extent to which corresponding performance goals, as described in Article 12, have been achieved.

2.33 “Period of Restriction” means the period, if any, when Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance goals, or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, in its discretion), as provided in Article 8.

2.34 “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, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.

2.35 “Plan” means the Mentor Graphics Corporation 2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

2.36 “Plan Year” means the Company’s fiscal year that begins February 1 and ends January 31.

2.37 “Prior Plans” means the Mentor Graphics Corporation 1982 Stock Option Plan, the Mentor Graphics Corporation Nonqualified Stock Option Plan, the Mentor Graphics Corporation 1986 Stock Plan and the Mentor Graphics Corporation 1987 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Plan.

2.38 “Restricted Stock” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 8 under which Shares are actually issued to the Participant on the Grant Date, subject to forfeiture or repurchase during the Period of Restriction.

2.39 “Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 8, except no Shares are actually issued to the Participant on the Grant Date.

2.40 “Share” means a share of common stock of the Company.

2.41 “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award, designated as an SAR, pursuant to the terms of Article 7.

2.42 “Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity, whether domestic or foreign, in which the Company has or obtains, directly or indirectly, an interest of more than fifty percent (50%) by reason of stock ownership or otherwise.

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

Article 3. Administration

3.1 General. The Committee shall be responsible for administering this Plan, subject to this Article 3 and the other provisions of this Plan. The Committee may employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, agents, and other individuals, any of whom may be an Employee, and the Committee, the Company, and its officers and Directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions, or valuations of any such individuals. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee shall be final and binding upon the Participants, the Company, and all other interested individuals.

 

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3.2 Authority of the Committee. Subject to any express limitations set forth in the Plan, including, without limitation, the requirements to obtain stockholder approval, the Committee shall have full and exclusive discretionary power and authority to take such actions as it deems necessary and advisable with respect to the administration of the Plan including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) To determine from time to time which of the persons eligible under the Plan shall be granted Awards, when and how each Award shall be granted, what type or combination of types of Awards shall be granted, the provisions of each Award granted (which need not be identical), including the time or times when a person shall be permitted to receive Shares pursuant to an Award;

(b) To construe and interpret the Plan and Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend, and revoke rules and regulations for its administration. The Committee, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission, or inconsistency in the Plan or in an Award Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan fully effective;

(c) To approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan;

(d) To determine Fair Market Value of a Share in accordance with Section 2.17 of the Plan;

(e) To amend the Plan or any Award Agreement as provided in the Plan;

(f) To adopt sub-plans and/or special provisions applicable to Awards regulated by the laws of a jurisdiction other than and outside of the United States. Such sub-plans and/or special provisions may take precedence over other provisions of the Plan, but unless otherwise superseded by the terms of such sub-plans and/or special provisions, the provisions of the Plan shall govern;

(g) To authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to grant an Award previously granted by the Committee;

(h) To determine whether Awards will be settled in Shares, cash, or in any combination;

(i) To determine whether Awards will be adjusted for dividend equivalents, meaning a credit, made at the discretion of the Committee, to the account of a Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one Share for each Share represented by an Award held by such Participant;

(j) To establish a program whereby Participants designated by the Committee may reduce compensation otherwise payable in cash in exchange for Awards under the Plan;

(k) Subject to Section 17.1(b), to authorize a program permitting eligible Participants to surrender outstanding Awards in exchange for newly granted Awards;

(l) To impose such restrictions, conditions, or limitations as it determines appropriate as to the timing and manner of any resales by a Participant or other subsequent transfers by the Participant of any Shares, including, without limitation, (i) restrictions under an insider trading policy and (ii) restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such resales or other transfers; and

(m) To provide, either at the time an Award is granted or by subsequent action, that an Award shall contain as a term thereof, a right, either in tandem with the other rights under the Award or as an alternative thereto, of the Participant to receive, without payment to the Company, a number of Shares, cash or a combination thereof, the amount of which is determined by reference to the value of Shares.

 

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Article 4. Shares Subject to this Plan and Maximum Awards

4.1 Number of Shares Authorized and Available for Awards. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.4 of the Plan, the maximum number of Shares authorized and available for issuance under the Plan shall be 10,000,000, plus the number of Shares subject to outstanding stock options or restricted stock units under the Prior Plans as of the date of stockholder approval of this Plan that thereafter expire or terminate without issuance of the Shares. In connection with approving this Plan, the Board of Directors has approved a resolution that, effective upon receipt of stockholder approval of this Plan, any Shares available for issuance under the Prior Plans that are not subject to outstanding awards under the Prior Plans will no longer be available for issuance under the Prior Plans.

4.2 Shares Available for Issuance. Shares covered by an Award shall be counted as used only to the extent they are issued. Any Shares related to Awards under this Plan or under Prior Plans that terminate by expiration, forfeiture (including through repurchase of the Shares at original cost), cancellation, or otherwise without the issuance of the Shares, or are settled in cash in lieu of Shares, or are exchanged with the Committee’s permission, prior to the issuance of Shares, for Awards not involving Shares, shall be available again for grant under this Plan. In addition, any Shares that are not issued or delivered as a result of the net settlement of an outstanding SAR or Option under this Plan or Prior Plans, and any Shares withheld or used to pay the Option Price or withholding taxes related to an outstanding Award under this Plan or Prior Plans, shall be available again for grant under this Plan. Cash-Based Awards, Performance Units and any other Awards that are not settled by issuance of Shares shall not reduce the Shares available for issuance under the Plan.

4.3 Annual Award Limits. No Participant may be granted Options or SARs under the Plan for more than an aggregate of 1,000,000 Shares in an Plan Year, as may be adjusted pursuant to Section 4.4. The maximum dollar amount payable under all Performance Unit Awards and Cash-Based Awards that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation plus the maximum value of Shares under all Performance Share Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, in the aggregate, granted to any one Participant in any one Plan Year shall not exceed $5,000,000; for this purpose, the value of Shares shall be the FMV of the Shares on the Grant Date of the applicable Award.

4.4 Adjustments in Authorized Shares. Adjustment in authorized Shares available for issuance under the Plan or under an outstanding Award and adjustments in Annual Award Limits shall be subject to the following provisions:

(a) In the event of any corporate event or transaction (including, but not limited to, a change in the Shares of the Company or the capitalization of the Company) such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, separation, partial or complete liquidation, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spin-off, or other distribution of stock or property of the Company, combination of Shares, exchange of Shares, dividend in kind, or other like change in capital structure, number of outstanding Shares or distribution (other than normal cash dividends) to stockholders of the Company, or any similar corporate event or transaction, the Committee, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under this Plan, shall substitute or adjust, as applicable, the number and kind of Shares that may be issued under this Plan or under particular forms of Awards, the number and kind of Shares subject to outstanding Awards, the Option Price or Grant Price applicable to outstanding Awards, the Annual Award Limits, and other value determinations applicable to outstanding Awards; provided that the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the methodology or manner of making such substitution or adjustment. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may also make appropriate adjustments in the terms of any Awards under this Plan to reflect such changes or distributions and may modify any other terms of outstanding Awards, including modifications of performance goals and changes in the length of Performance Periods.

(b) The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be conclusive and binding on Participants under this Plan.

 

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(c) Subject to the provisions of Article 17 and notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, without affecting the number of Shares reserved or available hereunder, the Committee may authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits either under this Plan or outside of this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to compliance with the rules under Code Sections 422, 424 and 409A, as and where applicable.

Article 5. Eligibility and Participation

5.1 Eligibility. Individuals eligible to participate in this Plan include all Employees, Non-employee Directors, and Third Party Service Providers.

5.2 Actual Participation. Subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from all eligible individuals, those individuals to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine, in its sole discretion, the nature of, any and all terms permissible by law, and the amount of each Award.

Article 6. Stock Options

6.1 Grant of Options. Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, Options may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.

6.2 Award Agreement. Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Option Price, the maximum duration of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, the conditions upon which an Option shall become vested and exercisable, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine which are not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan. The Award Agreement also shall specify whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or an NQSO.

6.3 Option Price. The Option Price for each grant of an Option under this Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and shall be specified in the Award Agreement; provided, however, the Option Price must be at least equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the FMV of a Share as of the Option’s Grant Date.

6.4 Term of Options. Each Option granted to a Participant shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant; provided, however, no Option shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th) anniversary date of its grant.

6.5 Exercise of Options. Options granted under this Article 6 shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve, which terms and restrictions need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant.

6.6 Payment. Options granted under this Article 6 shall be exercised by the delivery of a notice of exercise to the Company or an agent designated by the Company in a form and using a means specified or accepted by the Committee, or by complying with any alternative procedures which may be authorized by the Committee, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for the Shares. A condition of the issuance of the Shares as to which an Option shall be exercised shall be the payment of the Option Price, as specified in the Award Agreement. The Option Price of any exercised Option shall be payable to the Company in accordance with one of the following methods:

(a) in cash or its equivalent;

(b) by tendering (either by actual delivery or attestation) previously acquired Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the Option Price;

 

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(c) by a cashless (broker-assisted) exercise;

(d) by any combination of (a), (b) and (c); or

(e) any other method approved or accepted by the Committee in its sole discretion.

Subject to any governing rules or regulations, as soon as practicable after receipt of written notification of exercise and full payment (including satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding), the Company shall deliver to the Participant evidence of book entry Shares, or upon the Participant’s request, Share certificates in an appropriate amount based upon the number of Shares purchased under the Option(s). Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, all payments under all of the methods indicated above shall be paid in United States dollars or Shares, as applicable.

6.7 Special Rules Regarding ISOs. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, an ISO granted to a Participant shall be subject to the following rules:

(a) Special ISO Definitions:

(i) “Parent Corporation” shall mean as of any applicable date a corporation in respect of the Company that is a parent corporation within the meaning of Code Section 424(e).

(ii) “ISO Subsidiary” shall mean as of any applicable date any corporation in respect of the Company that is a subsidiary corporation within the meaning of Code Section 424(f).

(iii) A “10% Owner” is an individual who owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its Parent Corporation or any ISO Subsidiary.

(b) Eligible employees. ISOs may be granted solely to eligible Employees of the Company, Parent Corporation, or ISO Subsidiary (as permitted under Code Sections 422 and 424).

(c) Specified as an ISO. The Award Agreement evidencing the grant of an ISO shall specify that such grant is intended to be an ISO.

(d) Option price. The Option Price of an ISO granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and shall be specified in the Award Agreement; provided, however, the Option Price must at least equal one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the ISO’s Grant Date (in the case of a 10% owner, the Option Price may not be not less than 110% of such Fair Market Value).

(e) Right to exercise. Any ISO granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime solely by such Participant or, in the event of the Participant’s death, by his estate or heirs (as permitted under Code Section 422(b)(5)).

(f) Exercise period. The period during which a Participant may exercise an ISO shall not exceed ten (10) years (five (5) years in the case of a Participant who is a 10% Owner) from the date on which the ISO was granted.

(g) Dollar limitation. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of (a) the Shares with respect to which Options designated as Incentive Stock Options plus (b) the shares of stock of the Company, Parent Corporation, and any ISO Subsidiary with respect to which other Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a holder of an ISO during any calendar year under all plans of the Company and any Affiliate and Subsidiary exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options. For purposes of the preceding sentence, (a) Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and (b) the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the time the Incentive Stock Options were granted.

 

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(h) Notification of disqualifying disposition. If any Participant shall make any disposition of Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of an ISO, such Participant shall notify the Company of such disposition within thirty (30) days thereof. The Company shall use such information to determine whether a disqualifying disposition as described in Code Section 421(b) has occurred.

(i) Transferability. No ISO granted under this Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution (as permitted under Code Section 422(b) (5)); provided, however, at the discretion of the Committee, an ISO may be transferred to a grantor trust under which the Participant making the transfer is the sole beneficiary.

Article 7. Stock Appreciation Rights

7.1 Grant of SARs. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, SARs may be awarded to Participants at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, the Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number of SARs granted to each Participant and, consistent with the provisions of this Plan, in determining the terms and conditions pertaining to such SARs.

7.2 Grant Price. The Grant Price for each grant of an SAR shall be determined by the Committee and shall be specified in the Award Agreement; provided, however, the Grant Price must be at least equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the FMV of a Share as of the Grant Date.

7.3 SAR Agreement. Each SAR Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Grant Price, the term of the SAR, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.

7.4 Term of SAR. The term of an SAR granted under this Plan shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, and except as determined otherwise by the Committee and specified in the SAR Award Agreement, no SAR shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th) anniversary date of its grant.

7.5 Exercise of SARs. SARs may be exercised upon whatever terms and conditions the Committee, in its sole discretion, imposes.

7.6 Settlement of SARs. Upon the exercise of an SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:

(a) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the Grant Price; by

(b) the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.

7.7 Form of Payment. Payment, if any, with respect to an SAR settled in accordance with Section 7.6 of the Plan shall be made in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, in cash, Shares, or a combination thereof, as the Committee determines.

7.8 Other Restrictions. The Committee shall impose such other conditions or restrictions on any Shares received upon exercise of an SAR granted pursuant to this Plan as it may deem advisable or desirable. These restrictions may include, but shall not be limited to, a requirement that the Participant hold the Shares received upon exercise of an SAR for a specified period of time.

 

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Article 8. Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units

8.1 Grant of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units. Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may award Shares of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and/or Deferred Stock Units to Participants in such amounts as the Committee shall determine. Restricted Stock Units shall be similar to Restricted Stock except that no Shares are actually issued to the Participant until the Period of Restriction has expired and any other performance-based or other vesting conditions have been satisfied. Deferred Stock Units shall be similar to Restricted Stock Units except that the issuance of Shares shall be further delayed after vesting as specified under the terms of the Award.

8.2 Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit Agreement. Each Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit and/or Deferred Stock Unit award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Period(s) of Restriction, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock or the number of Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units granted, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.

8.3 Other Restrictions. The Committee shall impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on any Shares of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units awarded pursuant to this Plan as it may deem advisable including, without limitation, a requirement that Participants pay a stipulated purchase price for each Share of Restricted Stock or each Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance goals, as provided for in Article 12, time-based restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the performance goals, time-based restrictions, and/or restrictions under applicable laws or under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are listed or traded, or holding requirements or sale restrictions placed on the Shares by the Company upon vesting of such Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units. To the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, the Company may retain the certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock in the Company’s possession until such time as all conditions and/or restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied or lapse. Except as otherwise provided in this Article 8, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock Award shall become freely transferable by the Participant after all conditions and restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied or lapse (including satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding obligations), and Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units shall be paid in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine.

8.4 Certificate Legend. In addition to any legends placed on certificates pursuant to Section 8.3, each certificate representing Shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to this Plan may bear a legend such as the following or as otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion:

The sale or transfer of Shares of stock represented by this certificate, whether voluntary, involuntary, or by operation of law, is subject to certain restrictions on transfer as set forth in the Mentor Graphics Corporation 2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan, and in the associated Award Agreement. A copy of the Plan and such Award Agreement may be obtained from Mentor Graphics Corporation.

8.5 Voting Rights. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in a Participant’s Award Agreement, to the extent permitted or required by law, as determined by the Committee, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock awarded hereunder shall have the right to exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares during the Period of Restriction. A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units awarded hereunder until Shares are issued.

 

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Article 9. Performance Units/Performance Shares

9.1 Award of Performance Units/Performance Shares. Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may award Performance Units and/or Performance Shares to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine.

9.2 Value of Performance Units/Performance Shares. Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant. Each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date. The Committee shall, in its sole discretion, set performance goals, as provided for in Article 12. The extent to which the performance goals are met will determine the value and/or number of Performance Units/Performance Shares that will be paid out to the Participant.

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

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

Article 10. Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards

10.1 Grant of Cash-Based Awards. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Cash-Based Awards to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee may determine.

10.2 Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may grant other types of equity-based or equity-related Awards not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted Shares) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine. Such Awards may involve the transfer of actual Shares to Participants, or payment in cash of amounts based on the value of Shares and may include, without limitation, Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.

10.3 Value of Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards. Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a payment amount or payment range as determined by the Committee. Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be expressed in terms of Shares or units based on Shares, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, establish performance goals, as provided for in Article 12. If the Committee exercises its discretion to establish performance goals, the number and/or value of Other Stock-Based Awards and/or the amount of the Cash-Based Awards that will be paid out to the Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance goals are met.

10.4 Payment of Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards. Payment, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award or an Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash or Shares as the Committee determines.

 

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Article 11. Transferability of Awards and Shares

11.1 Transferability of Awards. Except as provided in Section 11.2, during a Participant’s lifetime, his or her Awards shall be exercisable only by the Participant. Awards shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the consent of the Committee, pursuant to a domestic relation order entered into by a court of competent jurisdiction. No Awards shall be subject, in whole or in part, to attachment, execution or levy of any kind. Any purported transfer in violation of this Section 11.1 shall be null and void. The Committee may establish such procedures as it deems appropriate for a Participant to designate a beneficiary to whom any amounts payable or Shares deliverable in the event of, or following, the Participant’s death may be provided.

11.2 Committee Action. Except as provided in Section 6.7(i), the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that notwithstanding Section 11.1, any or all Awards shall be transferable to and exercisable by such transferees, and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Committee may deem appropriate; provided, however, no Award may be transferred for value without stockholder approval.

11.3 Restrictions on Share Transferability. The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired by a Participant under the Plan as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listed or traded, or under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such Shares.

Article 12. Performance Measures

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

(a) revenue;

(b) bookings;

(c) gross profit or margin;

(d) operating income or margin;

(e) exit rate operating income margin (derived by annualizing the cost of sales and operating expense structure in place at fiscal year-end compared to the actual revenues generated in that fiscal year);

(f) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or amortization;

(g) net earnings or net income (before or after taxes);

(h) earnings per share;

(i) share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total stockholder return);

(j) operating expenses (including cost reductions);

(k) return measures (including return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, sales, or revenue);

(l) cash flow (including operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity, and cash flow return on investment);

(m) asset turnover (including days sales outstanding);

(n) reduction in leverage;

(o) market share;

(p) working capital; and

(q) economic value added or EVA® (net operating profit after tax minus the sum of capital multiplied by the cost of capital).

                Any of the above Performance Measure(s), or any combination thereof, may be used to measure the performance of the Company, Subsidiary, and/or Affiliate as a whole or any business unit of the Company, Subsidiary, and/or Affiliate, as the Committee may deem appropriate. Performance Measures may be compared to (i) the performance of a group of comparator companies, (ii) a published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, and/or (iii) other benchmarks approved by the Committee. The Committee also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of performance goals.

 

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12.2 Evaluation of Performance. The Committee may provide in any such Award that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events or income or expense items that occur during a Performance Period: (a) asset write-downs, (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs, executive termination costs or other special charges, (e) extraordinary items as defined by generally accepted accounting principles or any successor there to, (f) acquisitions or divestitures, including asset sales, (g) the positive or negative impact of foreign exchange movements, (h) stock-based compensation expense, (i) in-process research and development expenses, (j) intangible asset amortization, (k) integration and other one-time expenditures or other adjustments related to acquisitions, (l) acquisition costs, (m) merger costs, including severance, lease and other facility costs of the acquired company, (n) gains or losses associated with either the repurchase or potential settlement of any or all of the Company’s outstanding debt or convertible debt instruments issued by the Company from time to time, and (o) the positive or negative impacts associated with the implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect Awards to Covered Employees that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, they shall be prescribed in a form that meets the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for deductibility.

12.3 Adjustment of Performance-Based Compensation. Subject to Section 12.4, Awards that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation may not be adjusted upward. The Committee shall retain the discretion to adjust such Awards downward, either on a formula or discretionary basis or any combination, as the Committee determines.

12.4 Committee Discretion. In the event that applicable tax or securities laws or regulations or court or regulatory decisions change to permit Committee discretion to alter the governing Performance Measures without obtaining stockholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining stockholder approval. In addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is advisable to grant Awards that shall not qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Committee may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and base vesting on Performance Measures other than those set forth in Section 12.1.

Article 13. Dividend Equivalents

Any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted dividend equivalents based on the dividends declared on Shares that are subject to any Award, to be credited as of dividend payment dates, during the period between the date the Award is granted and the date the Award is exercised, vests, or expires, as determined by the Committee. Such dividend equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional Shares by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not grant dividend equivalents based on the dividends declared on Shares that are subject to a NQSO, ISO, or SAR Award, and if any Award for which dividend equivalents have been granted has its vesting dependent upon the achievement of one or more Performance Measures, then the dividend equivalents shall accrue and only be paid to the extent the Award becomes vested.

Article 14. Beneficiary Designation

Each Participant under this Plan may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under this Plan is to be paid in case of his death before he receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Committee, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such beneficiary designation, benefits remaining unpaid or rights remaining unexercised at the Participant’s death shall be paid to or exercised by the Participant’s executor, administrator, or legal representative.

 

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Article 15. Rights of Participants

15.1 Employment. Nothing in this Plan or an Award Agreement shall (a) interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries, to terminate any Participant’s employment or service on the Board or to the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries at any time or for any reason not prohibited by law, or (b) confer upon any Participant any right to continue his employment or service as a Non-employee Director for any specified period of time. Neither an Award nor any benefits arising under this Plan shall constitute an employment contract with the Company or any Affiliate or Subsidiary and, accordingly, subject to Articles 3 and 17, this Plan and the benefits hereunder may be terminated at any time in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Committee without giving rise to any liability on the part of the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries.

15.2 Participation. No individual shall have the right to be selected to receive an Award under this Plan, or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future Award.

15.3 Rights as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award until the Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares.

Article 16. Change of Control

16.1 Change of Control of the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the provisions of this Article 16 shall apply in the event of a Change of Control, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in connection with the grant of an Award as reflected in the applicable Award Agreement.

(a) Outstanding Options and SARs exchanged for Replacement Awards. Upon a Change of Control, if an award meeting the requirements of Section 16.2 (a “Replacement Award”) is provided to a Participant to replace the Participant’s then outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights (the “Replaced Award”), then the Replaced Award shall be deemed cancelled and shall have no further force or effect and the Company shall have no further obligation with respect to the Replaced Award.

(b) Outstanding Options and SARs not exchanged for Replacement Awards. Upon a Change of Control, to the extent a Participant’s then-outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights are not exchanged for Replacement Awards as provided for in paragraph (a) above, then such Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may become fully vested and exercisable if approved by the Committee or provided for in the Award Agreement.

(c) Service-Based Outstanding Awards other than Options and SARs. Upon a Change of Control, all then-outstanding Awards, other than Options and SARs, that are not vested and as to which vesting depends solely on the satisfaction of a service obligation by a Participant to the Company, Subsidiary, or Affiliate may vest in full and be free of restrictions related to the vesting or transferability of such Awards if approved by the Committee or provided for in the Award Agreement.

(d) Other Awards. Upon a Change of Control, the treatment of then-outstanding Awards not subject to subparagraphs (a), (b) or (c) above shall be determined by the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

(e) Committee discretion regarding treatment of Awards not exchanged for Replacement Awards. Except to the extent that a Replacement Award is provided to the Participant, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, (i) determine that any or all outstanding Awards granted under the Plan, whether or not exercisable, will be canceled and terminated and that in connection with such cancellation and termination the holder of such Award may receive for each Share subject to such Awards a

 

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cash payment (or the delivery of shares of stock, other securities or a combination of cash, stock and securities equivalent to such cash payment) equal to the difference, if any, between the consideration received by stockholders of the Company in respect of a Share in connection with such transaction and the purchase price per Share, if any, under the Award multiplied by the number of Shares subject to such Award; provided that if such product is zero or less or to the extent that the Award is not then exercisable, the Awards will be canceled and terminated without payment therefore or (ii) provide that the period to exercise Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall be extended (but not beyond the expiration date of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right).

16.2 Replacement Awards. An award shall qualify as a Replacement Award if: (i) it has a value in the aggregate at least equal to the value of the Replaced Award as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; (ii) it relates to publicly traded equity securities of the Company or its successor in the Change of Control or of another entity that is affiliated with the Company or of its successor following the Change of Control; and (iii) its other terms and conditions are in the aggregate not less favorable to the Participant than the terms and conditions of the Replaced Award (including the provisions that would apply in the event of a subsequent Change of Control). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Replacement Award may take the form of a continuation of the Replaced Award if the requirements of the preceding sentence are satisfied. The determination of whether the conditions of this Section 16.2 are satisfied shall be made by the Committee, as constituted immediately before the Change of Control, in its sole discretion.

Article 17. Amendment and Termination

17.1 Amendment and Termination of the Plan and Award Agreements.

(a) Subject to subparagraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 17.1 and Section 17.3 of the Plan, the Board may at any time terminate the Plan or an outstanding Award Agreement and the Committee may, at any time and from time to time, amend the Plan or an outstanding Award Agreement.

(b) Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares), the terms of an outstanding Award may not be amended to reduce the Option Price of outstanding Options or to reduce the Grant Price of outstanding SARs or cancel outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for cash, other awards or options or SARs with an Option Price or Grant Price, as applicable, that is less than the Option Price of the cancelled Options or the Grant Price of the cancelled SARs without stockholder approval.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment of this Plan shall be made without stockholder approval if stockholder approval is required pursuant to rules promulgated by any stock exchange or quotation system on which Shares are listed or quoted or by applicable U.S. state corporate laws or regulations, applicable U.S. federal laws or regulations or the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.

17.2 Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events. Subject to Section 12.3, the Committee may make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in Section 4.4 hereof) affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent unintended dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Plan. The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be conclusive and binding on Participants under this Plan. By accepting an Award under this Plan, a Participant agrees to any adjustment to the Award made pursuant to this Section 17.2 without further consideration or action.

17.3 Awards Previously Granted. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, other than Sections 17.2, 17.4, or 20.14, no termination or amendment of this Plan or an Award Agreement shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under this Plan, without the written consent of the Participant holding such Award.

 

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17.4 Amendment to Conform to Law. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Committee may amend the Plan or an Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or an Award Agreement to any present or future law relating to plans of this or similar nature, and to the administrative regulations and rulings. By accepting an Award under this Plan, a Participant agrees to any amendment made pursuant to this Section 17.4 to any Award granted under the Plan without further consideration or action.

Article 18. Withholding

18.1 Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, the minimum statutory amount to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan.

18.2 Share Withholding. With respect to withholding required upon the exercise of Options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units, or upon the achievement of performance goals related to Performance Shares, or any other taxable event arising as a result of an Award (collectively and individually referred to as a “Share Payment”), Participants may elect, subject to the approval of the Committee, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold from a Share Payment the number of Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date the withholding is to be determined equal to the minimum statutory withholding requirement but in no event shall such withholding exceed the minimum statutory withholding requirement. All such elections shall be irrevocable, made in writing, and signed by the Participant, and shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

Article 19. Successors

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

Article 20. General Provisions

20.1 Forfeiture Events.

(a) The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, termination of employment for cause, termination of the Participant’s provision of services to the Company, Affiliate, or Subsidiary, violation of material Company, Affiliate, or Subsidiary policies, breach of non-competition, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant, or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company, any Affiliate, or Subsidiary.

(b) The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that, if any of the Company’s financial statements are required to be restated resulting from errors, omissions, or fraud, the Company may recover all or a portion of any Award granted or paid to a Participant with respect to any fiscal year of the Company the financial results of which are negatively affected by such restatement. Unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement, the amount to be recovered from the Participant shall be the amount by which the Award exceeded the amount that would have been payable to the Participant

 

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had the financial statements been initially filed as restated, or any greater or lesser amount (including, but not limited to, the entire Award) that the Committee shall determine. In no event shall the amount to be recovered by the Company be less than the amount required to be repaid or recovered as a matter of law (including but not limited to amounts that are required to be recovered or forfeited under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002). The Committee shall determine whether the Company shall effect any such recovery: (i) by seeking repayment from the Participant, (ii) by reducing (subject to applicable law and the terms and conditions of the applicable plan, program or arrangement) the amount that would otherwise be payable to the Participant under any compensatory plan, program, or arrangement maintained by the Company, an Affiliate, or any Subsidiary, (iii) by withholding payment of future increases in compensation (including the payment of any discretionary bonus amount) or grants of compensatory awards that would otherwise have been made in accordance with the company’s otherwise applicable compensation practices, or (iv) by any combination of the foregoing.

20.2 Legend. The certificates for Shares may include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer of such Shares.

20.3 Gender and Number. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine, the plural shall include the singular, and the singular shall include the plural.

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

20.5 Requirements of Law. The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under this Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required. The Company, in its discretion, may postpone the granting and exercising of Awards, the issuance or delivery of Shares under any Award or any other action permitted under the Plan to permit the Company, with reasonable diligence, to complete such national securities exchange listing or registration or qualification of such Shares or other required action under any federal or state law, rule, or regulation and may require any Participant to make such representations and furnish such information as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of Shares in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations. The Company shall not be obligated by virtue of any provision of the Plan to recognize the exercise of any Award or to otherwise sell or issue Shares in violation of any such laws, rules, or regulations, and any postponement of the exercise or settlement of any Award under this provision shall not extend the term of such Awards. Neither the Company nor its directors or officers shall have any obligation or liability to a Participant with respect to any Award (or Shares issuable thereunder) that shall lapse because of such postponement.

20.6 Delivery of Title. The Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver evidence of title for Shares issued under this Plan prior to:

(a) obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable; and

(b) completion of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any applicable national or foreign law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable.

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

 

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20.8 Investment Representations. The Committee may require any individual receiving Shares pursuant to an Award under this Plan to represent and warrant in writing that the individual is acquiring the Shares for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares.

20.9 Participants Based Outside of the United States. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries operate or have Employees, Non-employee Directors or Third Party Service Providers, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to:

(a) determine which Affiliates and Subsidiaries shall be covered by this Plan;

(b) determine which Employees, Non-employee Directors or Third Party Service Providers outside the United States are eligible to participate in this Plan;

(c) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Employees, Non-employee Directors or Third Party Service Providers outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws;

(d) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable, and any such subplans and modifications to Plan terms and procedures established under this Section 20.9 by the Committee shall be attached to this Plan document as appendices; and

(e) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local government regulatory exemptions or approvals.

Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate applicable law.

20.10 Uncertificated Shares. To the extent that this Plan provides for issuance of certificates to reflect the transfer of Shares, the transfer of such Shares may be effected on a noncertificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange.

20.11 Unfunded Plan. Participants shall have no right, title, or interest whatsoever in or to any investments that the Company, its Subsidiaries, or its Affiliates may make to aid them in meeting their obligations under this Plan. Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant, beneficiary, legal representative, or any other individual. To the extent that any individual acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate or Subsidiary under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company or the Subsidiary or Affiliate, as the case may be. All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company, or the Subsidiary or Affiliate, as the case may be and no special or separate fund shall be established and no segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment of such amounts except as expressly set forth in this Plan.

20.12 No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

20.13 Retirement and Welfare Plans. Neither Awards made under this Plan nor Shares or cash paid pursuant to such Awards may be included as “compensation” for purposes of computing the benefits payable to any Participant under the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s or Affiliate’s retirement plans (both qualified and nonqualified) or welfare benefit plans unless such other plan expressly provides that such compensation shall be taken into account in computing a Participant’s benefit.

 

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20.14 Deferred Compensation.

(a) The Committee may grant Awards under the Plan that provide for the deferral of compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A. It is intended that such Awards comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A so that amounts deferred thereunder are not includible in income and are not subject to an additional tax of twenty percent (20%) at the time the deferred amounts are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or Award Agreement to the contrary, if one or more of the payments or benefits to be received by a Participant pursuant to an Award would constitute deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A and would cause the Participant to incur any penalty tax or interest under Code Section 409A or any regulations or Treasury guidance promulgated thereunder, the Committee may reform the Plan and Award Agreement to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A and to the extent practicable maintain the original intent of the Plan and Award Agreement. By accepting an Award under this Plan, a Participant agrees to any amendments to the Award made pursuant to this Section 20.14(b) without further consideration or action.

20.15 Nonexclusivity of this Plan. The adoption of this Plan shall not be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or Committee to adopt such other compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable for any Participant.

20.16 No Constraint on Corporate Action. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to: (i) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s or an Affiliate’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets; or (ii) limit the right or power of the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.

20.17 Governing Law. The Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Oregon, excluding any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Plan to the substantive law of another jurisdiction. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, recipients of an Award under this Plan are deemed to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state courts of Oregon to resolve any and all issues that may arise out of or relate to this Plan or any related Award Agreement.

20.18 Delivery and Execution of Electronic Documents. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company may (i) deliver by email or other electronic means (including posting on a web site maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company) all documents relating to the Plan or any Award thereunder (including without limitation, prospectuses) and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including without limitation, annual reports and proxy statements) and (ii) permit Participants to electronically execute applicable Plan documents (including, but not limited to, Award Agreements) in a manner prescribed by the Committee.

20.19 No Representations or Warranties Regarding Tax Effect. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Company, its Affiliates and Subsidiaries, the Board and the Committee neither represent nor warrant the tax treatment under any federal, state, local or foreign laws and regulations thereunder (individually and collectively referred to as the “Tax Laws”) of any Award granted or any amounts paid to any Participant under the Plan including, but not limited to, when and to what extent such Awards or amounts may be subject to tax, penalties and interest under the Tax Laws.

 

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