EX-4.3 2 v447719_ex4-3.htm EXHIBIT 4.3

Exhibit 4.3

BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC.
2016 EMPLOYEE EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

ARTICLE 1
PURPOSE

1.1 GENERAL. The purpose of this Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. 2016 Employee Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to promote the success and enhance the value of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. (the “Company”) by linking the personal interests of key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to those of Company stockholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance in order to generate superior returns to stockholders of the Company. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of key employees upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s operation is largely dependent. For purposes of this Plan, “Company” shall be deemed to include direct and indirect subsidiaries of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc., unless the context requires otherwise.

ARTICLE 2
EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM

2.1 EFFECTIVE DATE. The Plan, as hereby amended and restated, will be effective as of February 4, 2016 (the “Effective Date”).

2.2 TERM. Unless sooner terminated by the Board, the Plan shall terminate on the tenth (10^th) anniversary of the Effective Date, and no Awards may be granted under the Plan thereafter. The termination of the Plan shall not affect any Award that is outstanding on the termination date, without the consent of the Participant.

ARTICLE 3
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

3.1 DEFINITIONS. When a word or phrase appears in this Plan with the initial letter capitalized, and the word or phrase does not commence a sentence, the word or phrase shall generally be given the meaning ascribed to it in this Section or in Sections 1.1 or 2.1 unless a clearly different meaning is required by the context. The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

(a) “Award” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Unrestricted Stock Award, or Performance-Based Award granted to a Participant under the Plan.

(b) “Award Agreement” means a writing, in such form as the Committee in its discretion shall prescribe, evidencing an Award.

(d) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(e) “Committee” means the committee of the Board described in Article 4.

(f) “Covered Employee” means an Employee who is a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

(g) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

(h) “Fair Market Value” means, with respect to a share of Stock as of any given date, (i) if the Stock is traded on the over-the-counter market, the mean average of the bid and the asked prices for the Stock at the close of trading on that date, or if that day is not a trading day on the trading day immediately preceding such day; (ii) if the Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, the mean average of the high and low selling prices of the Stock on the composite tape on that date, or if that day in not a trading day on the trading day immediately preceding such given date; and (iii) if the Stock is neither traded on the over-the-counter market nor listed on a national securities exchange, such value as the Committee, in good faith, shall determine.

(i) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

(j) “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who qualifies as a “Non-Employee Director” as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) under the Exchange Act, or any successor definition adopted by the Board.

(k) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.

(l) “Option” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 7 of the Plan to purchase Stock at a specified price during specified time periods. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(m) “Participant” means a person who has been granted an Award under the Plan.

(n) “Performance-Based Awards” means Stock Awards granted to selected Covered Employees pursuant to Article 9, but which are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Article 10. All Performance-Based Awards are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

(o) “Performance Criteria” means the criteria that the Committee selects for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for a Participant for a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish Performance Goals may include, but shall not be limited to, one or more of the following: pre- or after-tax net earnings, sales growth, operating earnings, operating cash flow, working capital, return on net assets, return on stockholders’ equity, return on assets, return on capital, Stock price growth, stockholder returns, gross or net profit margin, earnings per share, price per share of Stock, and market share, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or as compared to results of a peer group. The Committee shall, within the time prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code, define in an objective fashion the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period for such Participant.

(p) “Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period, the goals established in writing by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of a division, business unit, or an individual. The Committee, in its discretion, may, within the time prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code, adjust or modify the calculation of Performance Goals for such Performance Period in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants (i) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event, or development, or (ii) in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, or the financial statements of the Company, or in response to, or in anticipation of, changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, or business conditions.

(q) “Performance Period” means the one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to, and the payment of, a Performance-Based Award.

(r) “Plan” means the Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. 2005 Employee Equity Incentive Plan as set forth herein.

(s) “Restricted Stock Award” means Stock granted to a Participant under Article 9 that is subject to certain restrictions and to risk of forfeiture.

(t) “Stock” means the common stock of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and such other securities that may be substituted for Stock pursuant to Article 12.

(u) “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 8 to receive a payment equal to the difference between the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock as of the date of exercise of the SAR over the grant price of the SAR, all as determined pursuant to Article 8.

(v) “Stock Award” means a Restricted Stock Award or an Unrestricted Stock Award.

(w) “Unrestricted Stock Award” means Stock granted to a Participant under Article 9 that is not subject to restrictions or a risk of forfeiture.

ARTICLE 4
ADMINISTRATION

4.1 COMMITTEE; BOARD APPROVAL. The Plan shall be administered by a Committee appointed by, and which serves at the discretion of, the Board. The Board may designate the Compensation Committee of the Board as the “Committee” hereunder provided the Compensation Committee meets the requirements of this Section. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, at all times the Committee shall consist of at least two individuals and each member of the Committee shall qualify as a Non-Employee Director. To the extent necessary or desirable (as may be determined by the Board from time to time) each member of the Committee shall also qualify as an “outside director” under Code Section 162(m) and the regulations issued thereunder. The members of the Committee shall meet such additional criteria, as may be necessary or desirable to comply with regulatory or stock exchange rules or exemptions. The Company will pay all reasonable expenses of the Committee.

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4.2 AUTHORITY OF COMMITTEE. Subject to any specific designation in the Plan, the Committee has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:

(a) Designate Participants to receive Awards;

(b) Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;

(d) Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan including but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines;

(e) Amend, modify, or terminate any outstanding Award (including re-pricing), with the Participant’s consent unless the Committee has the authority to amend, modify, or terminate an Award without the Participant’s consent under any other provision of the Plan.

(f) Determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;

(g) Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement which need not be identical for each Participant;

(h) Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;

(i) Establish, adopt, revise, amend or rescind any guidelines, rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan; and

(j) Interpret the terms of, and rule on any matter arising under, the Plan or any Award Agreement;

(k) Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required under the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan, including but not limited to, the determination of whether and to what extent any Performance Goals have been achieved; and

(l) Retain counsel, accountants and other consultants to aid in exercising its powers and carrying out its duties under the Plan.

4.3 DECISIONS BINDING. The Committee’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted under the Plan, any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan shall be final, binding, and conclusive on all parties and any other persons claiming an interest in any Award or under the Plan.

ARTICLE 5
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

5.1 NUMBER OF SHARES. One million (1,000,000) shares of Stock shall be available for Awards on and after the Effective Date; provided, however, each Award shall be conditioned upon the approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company. The number of shares set forth in this Section 5.1 shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12.1.

5.2 LAPSED AWARDS. To the extent that an Award terminates, is cancelled, expires, lapses or is forfeited for any reason, including, but not limited to, the failure to achieve any Performance Goals, any shares of Stock subject to the Award will again be available for the grant of an Award under the Plan.

5.3 STOCK DISTRIBUTED. Any Stock distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Stock, treasury Stock or Stock purchased on the open market.

5.4 LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF SHARES SUBJECT TO AWARDS. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, and subject to the adjustment in Section 12.1, the maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that may be granted to any one Participant during a fiscal year of the Company shall be One Hundred Thousand (100,000) shares.

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ARTICLE 6
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

6.1 ELIGIBILITY. Persons eligible to participate in this Plan include all executive officers and other key employees of the Company, as determined by the Committee.

6.2 ACTUAL PARTICIPATION. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from among all eligible individuals those to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award. No individual shall have any right to be granted an Award under this Plan.

ARTICLE 7
STOCK OPTIONS

7.1 GENERAL. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

(a) EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price per share of Stock under an Option shall be not less than the Fair Market Value as of the date of grant.

(b) TERM OF OPTION. No Option shall be exercisable after the date that is ten years from the date it is granted.

(c) TIME AND CONDITIONS OF EXERCISE. Except as provided herein, the Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part. The Committee shall also determine the performance or other conditions, if any, that must be satisfied before all or part of an Option may be exercised.

(d) PAYMENT. An Option shall be exercised by giving a written notice to the Company stating the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Option is being exercised and containing such other information as the Committee may require and by tendering payment therefore with a cashier’s check or certified check. In addition, if the Award Agreement with respect to an Option so provides, or upon exercise of discretion by the Committee in accordance with the terms of the Award Agreement, the Participant may pay the exercise price by (i) to the extent permitted by applicable law, delivering the Participant’s note payable to the Company over such period of time, at such rate of interest and in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee, (ii) transferring shares of Stock previously acquired by the Participant, (iii) directing the Company to withhold that number of shares of Stock acquired upon exercise having an aggregate Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise equal to the Option’s exercise price, or the applicable portion of the Option’s exercise price if the Option is not exercised in full, (iv) an open market broker-assisted sale transaction pursuant to which the Company is promptly delivered the amount of proceeds necessary to satisfy the exercise price, (v) a combination of the methods described above, or (vi) such other method as may be approved by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement.

(e) EVIDENCE OF GRANT. All Options shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. The Award Agreement shall include such additional provisions as may be specified by the Committee.

7.2 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. The terms of any Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan must comply with the following additional rules, which in case of conflict shall control over other provisions of this Plan that might otherwise be applicable:

(a) EXERCISE. In no event may any Incentive Stock Option be exercisable for more than ten years from the date of its grant.

(b) INDIVIDUAL DOLLAR LIMITATION. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time an Award is made) of all shares of Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year may not exceed $100,000.00 or such other limitation as imposed by Section 422(d) of the Code, or any successor provision. To the extent that Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in excess of such limitation, the excess shall be considered Non-Qualified Stock Options.

(c) TEN PERCENT OWNERS. An Incentive Stock Option may be granted to any individual who, at the date of grant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of Stock of the Company only if such Option is granted at a price that is not less than 110% of Fair Market Value on the date of grant and the Option is exercisable for no more than five years from the date of grant.

(d) RIGHT TO EXERCISE. During a Participant’s lifetime, an Incentive Stock Option may be exercised only by the Participant.

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ARTICLE 8
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

8.1 GRANT OF SARS. The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

(a) RIGHT TO PAYMENT. Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant to whom it is granted has the right to receive the excess, if any, of:

(1) The Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise; over

(2) The grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as determined by the Committee, which shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant.

(b) OTHER TERMS. All such Awards shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. The terms, methods of exercise, methods of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award and shall be reflected in the Award Agreement, except that in all events a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable only when the underlying Incentive Stock Option may be exercised. For purposes of the Plan, a Stock Appreciation Right shall be considered to be granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option if the exercise of one results in an automatic forfeiture of the other, or if the exercise of one results in the automatic exercise of the other.

ARTICLE 9
STOCK AWARDS

9.1 GRANT OF STOCK. The Committee is authorized to grant Unrestricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Awards to Participants in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee. All such Awards shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.

9.2 ISSUANCE AND RESTRICTIONS. An Unrestricted Stock Award may provide for a transfer of shares of Stock to a Participant at the time the Award is granted, or it may provide for a deferred transfer of shares of Stock subject to conditions prescribed by the Committee. Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture as the Committee may impose. These restrictions and risks may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as the Committee determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter.

9.3 FORFEITURE. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of employment during the applicable restriction period, Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited, provided, however, that the Committee may provide in any Restricted Stock Award that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to the Stock will be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to the Stock.

9.4 CERTIFICATES FOR RESTRICTED STOCK. Restricted Stock Awards granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing shares of Stock subject to Restricted Stock Awards are registered in the name of the Participant, certificates must bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such shares, and the Company may, at its discretion, retain physical possession of the certificate until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse.

ARTICLE 10
PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS

10.1 PURPOSE. The purpose of this Article 10 is to provide the Committee the ability to qualify the Awards under Article 9 as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. If the Committee, in its discretion, decides to grant a Performance-Based Award to a Covered Employee, the provisions of this Article 10 shall control over any contrary provision contained in Article 9.

10.2 APPLICABILITY. This Article 10 shall apply only to those Covered Employees selected by the Committee to receive Performance-Based Awards. The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Awards other than Performance-Based Awards to Covered Employees that do not satisfy the requirements of this Article 10. The designation of a Covered Employee as a Participant for a Performance Period shall not in any manner entitle the Participant to receive an Award for the period. Moreover, designation of a Covered Employee as a Participant for a particular Performance Period shall not require designation of such Covered Employee as a Participant in any subsequent Performance Period and designation of one Covered Employee as a Participant shall not require designation of any other Covered Employees as a Participant in such period or in any other period.

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10.3 DISCRETION OF COMMITTEE WITH RESPECT TO PERFORMANCE AWARDS. With regard to a particular Performance Period, the Committee shall have full discretion to select the length of such Performance Period, the type of Performance-Based Awards to be issued, the kind and/or level of the Performance Goal, and whether the Performance Goal is to apply to the Company or any division or business unit thereof or to particular Participants or other individuals.

10.4 PAYMENT OF PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS. Unless otherwise provided in the relevant Award Agreement, a Participant must be employed by the Company on the last day of the Performance Period to be eligible for a Performance-Based Award for such Performance Period. In determining the actual size of an individual Performance-Based Award, the Committee may reduce or eliminate the amount of the Performance-Based Award earned for the Performance Period, if in its sole and absolute discretion, such reduction or elimination is appropriate.

10.5 STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. The Board shall disclose to the stockholders of the Company the material terms of any Performance-Based Award, and shall secure approval of the stockholders of the Performance-Based Award before any Stock or cash is transferred or paid to a Participant, or before any restrictions with respect to same lapse, pursuant to the Award. The Committee shall certify that the Performance Goals with respect to any Performance-Based Award have been achieved before any Stock or cash is transferred or paid to a Participant, or before any restrictions with respect to same lapse. Such disclosure, approval and certification shall be effected in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.

ARTICLE 11
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL AWARDS

11.1 STAND-ALONE AND TANDEM AWARDS. Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with, any other Award granted under the Plan. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards.

11.2 EXCHANGE PROVISIONS. The Committee may at any time offer to exchange or buy out any previously granted Award for a payment in cash, Stock, or another Award, based on the terms and conditions the Committee determines and communicates to the Participant at the time the offer is made.

11.3 TERM OF AWARD. The term of each Award shall be for the period as determined by the Committee, provided that in no event shall the term of any Incentive Stock Option or a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option exceed a period of ten years from the date of its grant.

11.4 LIMITS ON TRANSFER. No right or interest of a Participant in any Award may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Company, or shall be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the Company; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be deemed to imply any obligation of the Company to lend against or accept a lien or pledge of any Award for any reason. No Award shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, except that the Committee, in its discretion, may permit a Participant to make a gratuitous transfer of an Award that is not an Incentive Stock Option or a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option to his or her spouse, lineal descendants, lineal ascendants, or a duly established trust for the benefit of one or more of these individuals. Awards so transferred may thereafter be transferred only to the Participant who originally received the Award or to an individual or trust to whom the Participant could have initially transferred the Award pursuant to this Section 11.4.

11.5 BENEFICIARIES. Notwithstanding Section 11.4, a Participant may, if and to the extent, and in such manner as may be determined by the Committee from time to time, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Participant’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Participant, payment shall be made to the Participant’s estate. Subject to the foregoing, if a Participant is entitled to designate a beneficiary, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant at any time in accordance with any procedures or conditions established by the Committee from time to time, provided the change or revocation is filed with the Committee.

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11.6 STOCK CERTIFICATES. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates evidencing shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise or vesting of any Awards, as the case may be, unless and until the Committee has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the shares of Stock are listed or traded as well as the terms of this Plan and any other terms, conditions or restrictions that may be applicable. All Stock certificates delivered under the Plan are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with Federal, state, or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws, rules and regulations and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted, or traded. The Committee may place legends on any Stock certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Committee may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Committee, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements.

11.7 COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A. The terms of all Awards granted under the Plan shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, to the extent subject to Section 409A.

11.8 ClawbackS. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary under the Plan, any Award and any Stock or other consideration granted pursuant to any Award under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s ability to recoup or recover any such Award, Stock or other consideration previously granted pursuant to (i) any compensation recovery or recoupment policy (i.e., clawback policy) to be adopted by the Company from time to time in the future (regardless of whether adopted pursuant to Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or otherwise), or (ii) any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule, including without limitation, Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

ARTICLE 12
CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE

12.1 GENERAL.

(a) SHARES AVAILABLE FOR GRANT. In the event of any change in the number of shares of Stock outstanding by reason of any stock dividend or split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, combination or exchange of shares or similar corporate change, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Committee may grant Awards shall be appropriately adjusted. In the event of any change in the number of shares of Stock outstanding by reason of any other event or transaction, the Committee may, but need not, make such adjustments in the number and class of shares of Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted as the Committee may deem appropriate.

(b) OUTSTANDING AWARDS - INCREASE OR DECREASE IN ISSUED SHARES WITHOUT CONSIDERATION. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, in the event of any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Stock resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of shares of Stock or the payment of a stock dividend (but only on the shares of Stock), or any other increase or decrease in the number of such shares effected without receipt or payment of consideration by the Company, the Committee shall proportionally adjust the number of shares of Stock subject to each outstanding Award and the exercise price per share of Stock of each such Award.

(c) OUTSTANDING AWARDS - CERTAIN MERGERS. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, in the event that the Company shall be the surviving corporation in any merger or consolidation (except a merger or consolidation as a result of which the holders of shares of Stock receive securities of another corporation), each Award outstanding on the date of such merger or consolidation shall pertain to and apply to the securities which a holder of the number of shares of Stock subject to such Award would have received in such merger or consolidation.

(d) OUTSTANDING AWARDS - CERTAIN OTHER TRANSACTIONS. In the event of (1) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, (iii) a merger or consolidation involving the Company in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or (iv) a merger or consolidation involving the Company in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the holders of shares of Stock receive securities of another corporation and/or other property, including cash, the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, have the power to cancel, effective immediately prior to the occurrence of such event, each Award outstanding immediately prior to such event (whether or not then exercisable), and, in full consideration of such cancellation, pay to the Participant to whom such Award was granted an amount in cash, for each share of Stock subject to such Award, respectively, equal to the excess of (A) the value, as determined by the Committee in its absolute discretion, of the property (including cash) received by the holder of a share of Stock as a result of such event over (B) the exercise price (if any) of such Award.

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(e) OUTSTANDING AWARDS - OTHER CHANGES. In the event of any other change in the capitalization of the Company or corporate change other than those specifically referred to in this Article, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, make such adjustments in the number and class of shares subject to Awards outstanding on the date on which such change occurs and in the per share exercise price of each Award as the Committee may consider appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.

(f) NO ADDITIONAL STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL REQUIRED IN CERTAIN CASES. Except to the extent required by applicable law or stock exchange rule, no adjustment in the number of shares subject to outstanding Awards, and no adjustment in the number of shares available for grant under this Plan, shall require additional stockholder approval, and all such future adjustments shall be deemed approved by the approval of this Plan, to the extent that such adjustment, whether automatic or discretionary, is proportional to and accompanies an equivalent adjustment in the number of shares held by the Company’s stockholders.

(g) NO OTHER RIGHTS. Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class or any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation. Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock subject to an Award or the exercise price of any Award.

ARTICLE 13
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION

13.1 AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION. At any time and from time to time, the Board may terminate, amend or modify the Plan; provided, however, that the Board shall not, without the approval of stockholders, make any amendment which would (i) increase the maximum number of shares of Stock for which Awards may be granted under the Plan, (ii) extend the term of the Plan, or (iii) amend the requirements as to the employees eligible to receive Awards; and further provided that no other amendment shall be made without stockholder approval to the extent stockholder approval is necessary to comply with any applicable law, regulations or stock exchange rule.

13.2 AWARDS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, including without limitation, the provisions of Section 11.8 and Article 12, no termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the Participant.

ARTICLE 14
GENERAL PROVISIONS

14.1 NO RIGHTS TO AWARDS. No employee or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and neither the Company nor the Committee is obligated to treat Participants, employees, and other persons uniformly.

14.2 NO STOCKHOLDERS RIGHTS. No Award gives the Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until shares of Stock are in fact issued to such person in connection with such Award. If stockholder approval of the Plan (or an amendment to the Plan) is required by applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule, Awards may be granted under the Plan prior to such stockholder approval, provided these Awards are subject to the Company receiving the requisite stockholder approval and no shares of Stock can be issued under these Awards (e.g., a Participant cannot exercise an Option) until after the requisite stockholder approval has been obtained.

14.3 WITHHOLDING. The Company shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy Federal, state, and local taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan. A Participant may elect to have the Company withhold from those shares of Stock that would otherwise be received upon the settlement of any Award, a number of shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s applicable federal, state, local and foreign income and employment tax withholding obligations.

14.4 NO RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT. Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate any Participant’s employment at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company.

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14.5 INDEMNIFICATION. To the extent allowable under applicable law, each member of the Committee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her provided he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

14.6 FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of stock shall be issued and the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated by rounding up or down as appropriate.

14.7 GOVERNMENT AND OTHER REGULATIONS. The obligation of the Company to make payment of awards in Stock or otherwise shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by government agencies as may be required. The Company shall be under no obligation to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, any of the shares of Stock paid under the Plan. If the shares paid under the Plan may in certain circumstances be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Company may restrict the transfer of such shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.

14.8 REPRICINGS. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may not reprice Options, nor may the Board amend the Plan to permit repricing of Options, unless the stockholders of the Company provide prior approval for such repricing. The term “repricing” shall have the meaning given that term in Section 303A(8) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, as in effect from time to time.

14.9 GOVERNING LAW. The Plan and the terms of all Awards shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey without regard to rules of choice of law or conflict of laws, except to the extent such laws may be pre-empted by the federal laws of the United States of America.

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