EXHIBIT 10.13

NOVUSTERRA INC.

2023 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

NOVUSTERRA INC.

2023 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

			Page
ARTICLE I Establishment, Purpose, Duration			1
	Section 1.1	Purposes of the Plan	1
	Section 1.2	Effective Date and Duration	1
ARTICLE II Definitions			1
	Section 2.1	Affiliate	1
	Section 2.2	Alternative Award	1
	Section 2.3	Award	1
	Section 2.4	Award Agreement	1
	Section 2.5	Board or Board of Directors	1
	Section 2.6	Cash-Based Award	1
	Section 2.7	Cause	2
	Section 2.8	Change in Control	2
	Section 2.9	Code	3
	Section 2.10	Committee	3
	Section 2.11	Company	3
	Section 2.12	Disability or Disabled	4
	Section 2.13	Employee	4
	Section 2.14	ERISA	4
	Section 2.15	Exchange Act	4
	Section 2.16	Fair Market Value	4
	Section 2.17	Good Reason	4
	Section 2.18	Grant Price	5
	Section 2.19	Incentive Stock Option or ISO	5
	Section 2.20	Independent Contractor	5
	Section 2.21	Nonemployee Director	5
	Section 2.22	Nonqualified Stock Option or NQSO	5
	Section 2.23	Option	5
	Section 2.24	Option Exercise Price	5
	Section 2.25	Participant	5
	Section 2.26	Performance Goal	5
	Section 2.27	Performance Measure	6
	Section 2.28	Performance Period	6
	Section 2.29	Performance Shares	6
	Section 2.30	Performance Unit	6
	Section 2.31	Period of Restriction	6
	Section 2.32	Plan	7
	Section 2.33	Restricted Stock	7
	Section 2.34	Restricted Stock Unit or RSU	7
	Section 2.35	Retirement	7
	Section 2.36	Service	7
	Section 2.37	Shares	7
	Section 2.38	Stock Appreciation Right or SAR	7
	Section 2.39	Subsidiary	7
	Section 2.40	Substitute Award	7
	Section 2.41	Tandem SAR	7

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Table of Contents

(continued)

			Page
ARTICLE III Administration			8
	Section 3.1	Administration by the Committee	8
	Section 3.2	Powers of the Committee	8
	Section 3.3	Action by the Committee	9
	Section 3.4	Indemnification	9
ARTICLE IV Stock Subject to the Plan			10
	Section 4.1	Aggregate Shares	10
	Section 4.2	Share Counting	10
	Section 4.3	Adjustment to Number of Shares	10
	Section 4.4	Corporate Transactions	11
	Section 4.5	Minimum Vesting Requirements	11
ARTICLE V Eligibility and Participation			11
	Section 5.1	Eligibility to Receive Awards	11
	Section 5.2	Participation in the Plan	11
	Section 5.3	Nonemployee Director Limitations	11
ARTICLE VI Options			12
	Section 6.1	Grant of Options	12
	Section 6.2	Option Exercise Price	12
	Section 6.3	Exercise of Options	12
	Section 6.4	Payment of Option Exercise Price	12
	Section 6.5	Termination of Service	13
	Section 6.6	Additional Rules for Incentive Stock Options	13
	Section 6.7	Other Terms	14
ARTICLE VII Stock Appreciation Rights			14
	Section 7.1	Grant of SARs	14
	Section 7.2	Grant Price	14
	Section 7.3	Term of SAR	14
	Section 7.4	Special Rules for Exercise of Tandem SARs	15
	Section 7.5	Termination of Service	15
	Section 7.6	Payment	15
	Section 7.7	Other Terms	15

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Table of Contents

(continued)

			Page
ARTICLE VIII Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units			15
	Section 8.1	Grants	15
	Section 8.2	Period of Restriction	15
	Section 8.3	Certificates	16
	Section 8.4	Lapse of Restrictions	16
	Section 8.5	Termination of Service	16
	Section 8.6	Code Section 83(b) Election	16
	Section 8.7	Other Terms	17
ARTICLE IX Performance Shares Awards			17
	Section 9.1	Grants of Performance Shares	17
	Section 9.2	Performance Period and Performance Goals	17
	Section 9.3	Delivery of Shares	17
	Section 9.4	Termination of Service	17
	Section 9.5	Other Terms	17
ARTICLE X Performance Units			17
	Section 10.1	Grant of Performance Units	17
	Section 10.2	Performance Period and Performance Goals	18
	Section 10.3	Value of Performance Units	18
	Section 10.4	Payment of Performance Units	18
	Section 10.5	Termination of Service	18
	Section 10.6	Other Terms	18
ARTICLE XI Cash-Based Awards			18
	Section 11.1	Grant of Cash-Based Awards	18
	Section 11.2	Performance Period and Performance Goals	18
	Section 11.3	Value of Cash-Based Awards	18
	Section 11.4	Payment of Cash-Based Awards	19
	Section 11.5	Termination of Service	19
	Section 11.6	Other Terms	19
ARTICLE XII Other Stock-Based Awards			19
ARTICLE XIII Dividends and Dividend Equivalents			19
ARTICLE XIV Beneficiary Designation			20
ARTICLE XV Change in Control			20
	Section 15.1	Effect of Change in Control	20
	Section 15.2	Participant Elections to Minimize Code Section 4999 Excise Tax	21
ARTICLE XVI Deferrals			22
ARTICLE XVII Withholding			22
	Section 17.1	Tax Withholding	22
	Section 17.2	Share Withholding	22

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Table of Contents

(continued)

			Page
ARTICLE XVIII Compliance with Code Section 409A			22
	Section 18.1	Awards Subject to Code Section 409A	22
	Section 18.2	No Acceleration of Distributions	23
	Section 18.3	Separation from Service	23
	Section 18.4	Timing of Payment to a Specified Employee	23
ARTICLE XIX Amendment and Termination			24
	Section 19.1	Amendment, Modification, and Termination of the Plan	24
	Section 19.2	Amendment of Awards	24
ARTICLE XX Miscellaneous			24
	Section 20.1	Approval Restrictions	24
	Section 20.2	Securities Law Compliance	24
	Section 20.3	Gender and Number	25
	Section 20.4	Rights as a Stockholder	25
	Section 20.5	Forfeiture	25
	Section 20.6	Rights as Employee, Independent Contractor, or Nonemployee Director	25
	Section 20.7	Fractional Shares	25
	Section 20.8	Effect on Other Plans	25
	Section 20.9	No Constraint on Corporate Action	26
	Section 20.10	Over/Under Payments	26
	Section 20.11	Unfunded Obligation	26
	Section 20.12	No Liability With Respect to Adverse Tax Treatment	27
	Section 20.13	Severability	27
	Section 20.14	Requirements of Law	27
	Section 20.15	Governing Law	27
	Section 20.16	Successors	27
	Section 20.17	Provisions Regarding Transferability of Awards	27
	Section 20.18	Non-ERISA Plan	28

 

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NOVUSTERRA INC.

2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan

ARTICLE I

Establishment, Purpose, Duration

Section 1.1 Purposes of the Plan. The Plan is designed to promote the achievement of both short-term and long-term objectives of the Company by (a) aligning compensation of Participants with the interests of Company stockholders, (b) enhancing the interest of Participants in the growth and success of the Company, and (c) attracting and retaining Participants of outstanding competence.

Section 1.2 Effective Date and Duration. This Plan shall be effective as of January 1, 2023 and shall remain in effect, subject to the right of the Board or the Committee to amend and terminate the Plan at any time as provided in this Plan, until all Shares subject to it shall have been purchased or acquired according to the Plan’s provisions. In no event, however, may an Award be granted under the Plan more than ten years after the date the Plan was approved by the stockholders.

ARTICLE II

Definitions

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

Section 2.1 Affiliate. “Affiliate” means any entity that is a Subsidiary or a parent corporation, as defined in Code Section 424(e), of the Company, or any other entity designated by the Committee as covered by the Plan in which the Company has, directly or indirectly, at least a 20% voting interest.

Section 2.2 Alternative Award. “Alternative Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.1.

Section 2.3 Award. “Award” means any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Cash-Based Award, or other Article XII stock-based award granted to a Participant under the Plan.

Section 2.4 Award Agreement. “Award Agreement” means a written or electronic statement or agreement prepared by the Company that sets forth the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to Awards granted under the Plan.

Section 2.5 Board or Board of Directors. “Board” or “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

Section 2.6 Cash-Based Award. “Cash-Based Award” means an Award granted to a Participant, as described in Article XI herein.

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Section 2.7 Cause. “Cause,” unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined with respect to an Award by the Participant’s Award Agreement, shall be as defined in any employment agreement between the Company and a Participant; provided however, that if there is no such employment agreement, “Cause” shall mean any of the following: (a) the Participant’s conviction of any criminal violation involving dishonesty, fraud or breach of trust; (b) the Participant’s willful engagement in any misconduct in the performance of his or her duty that materially injures the Company; (c) the Participant’s performance of any act which would adversely impact the business of the Company; or (d) the Participant’s willful and substantial nonperformance of assigned duties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall have sole discretion with respect to the application of the provisions of subsections (a)‑(d) above, and such exercise of discretion shall be conclusive and binding upon the Participant and all other persons.

Section 2.8 Change in Control. “Change in Control” means, except as otherwise may be provided in an Award Agreement or employment or other applicable agreement, the occurrence of any of the following events described below:

(a)	The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization, if the Company’s stockholders immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or reorganization cease to directly or indirectly own immediately after such merger, consolidation or reorganization at least a majority of the combined voting power of the continuing or surviving entity’s securities outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation or reorganization;
(b)	The consummation of the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (other than (x) to a corporation or other entity of which at least a majority of its combined voting power is owned directly or indirectly by the Company, (y) to a corporation or other entity owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Shares of the Company or (z) to a continuing or surviving entity described in subsection (a) above in connection with a merger, consolidation or reorganization that does not result in a Change in Control under subsection (a);
(c)	A change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date that a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12) month period by Nonemployee Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election; or

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(d) The consummation of any transaction as a result of which any Person becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities. For purposes of this Section 2(h), the term “Person” shall have the same meaning as when used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act but shall exclude:

 

1.	a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or an affiliate of the Company;
2.	a corporation or other entity owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Common Stock of the Company;
3.	the Company; and
4.	a corporation or other entity of which at least a majority of its combined voting power is owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

 

A transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transactions. In addition, if any Person (as defined above) is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered to cause a Change in Control. If required for compliance with Code Section 409A, in no event will a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred if such transaction is not also a “change in the ownership or effective control of” the Company or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of” the Company as determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder).

Section 2.9 Code. “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. Reference to a specific sect ion of the Code or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing, or superseding such section or regulation.

Section 2.10 Committee. “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, or such other committee as the Board shall appoint from time to time, which shall consist of two or more directors all of whom are intended to satisfy the requirements for a “Nonemployee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, and an “independent director” under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (or any other national securities exchange which is the principal exchange on which the Shares may then be traded); provided, however, that any action taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective whether or not members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership specified above.

Section 2.11 Company. “Company” means Novusterra Inc. , a Florida corporation, or any successor thereto.

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Section 2.12 Disability or Disabled. “Disability” or “Disabled” means a condition that (a) causes the Participant to be unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, (b) causes the Participant, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, to receive income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company or its Affiliates or (c) causes the Participant to be eligible to receive Social Security disability payments. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the date of any Disability.

Section 2.13 Employee. “Employee” means any person who is an employee of the Company or any Affiliate; provided, however, that with respect to ISOs, “Employee” means any person who is considered an employee of the Company or any Affiliate for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h).

Section 2.14 ERISA. “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

Section 2.15 Exchange Act

. “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Section 2.16 Fair Market Value. “Fair Market Value” means, on any given date and as may be specified in an Award Agreement, (a) the closing sales price per share (or, if otherwise specified by the Committee, a price that is based on the opening, actual, high, low, or average sales prices per Share) of the Company’s common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Capital Market stock exchange or such other established securities market on which the Shares are traded, or, if there were no reported sales of Shares on such date, then, unless otherwise required under the Code, the business day immediately preceding such date; or (b) if (a) does not apply, the price that the Committee in good faith determines through any reasonable valuation method that a Share might change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under compulsion to buy or to sell and both having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts. Notwithstanding the above, for purposes of broker-facilitated cashless exercises of Awards involving Shares under the Plan, “Fair Market Value” shall mean the real-time selling price of such Shares as reported by the broker facilitating such exercises.

Section 2.17 Good Reason. “Good Reason” means, with respect to a Participant, (a) there is a significant diminution in the nature or the scope of the Participant’s authorities or duties; (b) there is a significant reduction in the Participant’s monthly rate of base salary or the Participant’s target opportunity under the incentive bonus compensation plan maintained by Company in which the Participant participates; (c) the Company changes by 150 miles or more the principal location at which the Participant is required to perform services as of the date of a Change in Control; or (d) the Company or any successor materially breaches any Award Agreement or Alternative Award with the Participant granted in accordance with this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in order to terminate employment for Good Reason, (i) within 30 days of the occurrence of an event described in Clauses (a)-(d) above, Participant shall deliver written notice in accordance with the notice provisions set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement of his or her intention to terminate employment for Good Reason, which notice specifies in reasonable detail the circumstances claimed to give rise to the Participant’s right to terminate employment for Good Reason, (ii) the Company shall not have cured such circumstances within 30 days following the Company’s receipt of such notice, and (iii) the Participant terminates his or her employment within 60 days following the expiration of the cure period. If, however, the Company cures such conditions, any subsequent termination of employment by the Participant will not be considered to be made for Good Reason.

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Section 2.18 Grant Price. “Grant Price” means the price established at the time of grant of an SAR pursuant to Article VII (Stock Appreciation Rights), used to determine whether there is any payment due upon exercise of the SAR.

Section 2.19 Incentive Stock Option or ISO. “Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means an Option that is an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Code Section 422.

Section 2.20 Independent Contractor. “Independent Contractor” means any person, including an advisor, consultant, or agent, engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render services to such entity or who renders, or has rendered, services to the Company or an Affiliate and is compensated for such services.

Section 2.21 Nonemployee Director. “Nonemployee Director” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.

Section 2.22 Nonqualified Stock Option or NQSO. “Nonqualified Stock Option” or “NQSO” means an option to purchase Shares that does not constitute an Incentive Stock Option under Code Section 422 (or any successor Code Section).

Section 2.23 Option. “Option” means a right to purchase Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.

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

Section 2.25 Participant. “Participant” means an Employee, Independent Contractor, or Nonemployee Director who is selected to receive an Award or who has outstanding an outstanding Award granted under the Plan.

Section 2.26 Performance Goal. “Performance Goal” means a formula or standard determined by the Committee with respect to each Performance Period based on or more of the following Performance Measures and any adjustments thereto established by the Committee: (1) sales or non-sales revenue; (2) return on revenues; (3) operating income; (4) income or earnings including operating income; (5) income or earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; (6) income or earnings from continuing operations; (7) net income; (8) pre-tax income or after-tax income; (9) net income excluding amortization of intangible assets, depreciation and impairment of goodwill and intangible assets and/or excluding charges attributable to the adoption of new accounting pronouncements; (10) raising of financing or fundraising; (11) project financing; (12) revenue backlog; (13) gross margin; (14) operating margin or profit margin; (15) capital expenditures, cost targets, reductions and savings and expense management; (16) return on assets (gross or net), return on investment, return on capital, or return on stockholder equity; (17) cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on investment (discounted or otherwise), net cash provided by operations, or cash flow in excess of cost of capital; (18) performance warranty and/or guarantee claims; (19) stock price or total stockholder return; (20) earnings or book value per share (basic or diluted); (21) economic value created; (22) pre-tax profit or after-tax profit; (23) strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified market penetration or market share, completion of strategic agreements such as licenses, joint ventures, acquisitions, and the like, geographic business expansion, objective customer satisfaction or information technology goals, intellectual property asset metrics; (24) objective goals relating to divestitures, joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions and similar transactions; (25) objective goals relating to staff management, results from staff attitude and/or opinion surveys, staff satisfaction scores, staff safety, staff accident and/or injury rates, compliance, headcount, performance management, completion of critical staff training initiatives; (26) objective goals relating to projects, including project completion, timing and/or achievement of milestones, project budget, technical progress against work plans; and (27) enterprise resource planning. Awards issued to Participants may take into account other criteria (including subjective criteria). Performance Goals may differ from Participant to Participant, Performance Period to Performance Period and from Award to Award. Any criteria used may be measured, as applicable, (i) in absolute terms, (ii) in relative terms (including, but not limited to, any increase (or decrease) over the passage of time and/or any measurement against other companies or financial or business or stock index metrics particular to the Company), (iii) on a per share and/or share per capita basis, (iv) against the performance of the Company as a whole or against any affiliate(s), or a particular segment(s), a business unit(s) or a product(s) of the Company or individual project company, (v) on a pre-tax or after-tax basis, and/or (vi) using an actual foreign exchange rate or on a foreign exchange neutral basis.

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Section 2.27 Performance Measure. “Performance Measure” means one or more business criteria to be used by the Committee in establishing Performance Goals.

Section 2.28 Performance Period. “Performance Period” means the time period during which Performance Goals or other vesting provisions must be satisfied for Performance Shares or Performance Units.

Section 2.29 Performance Shares. “Performance Shares” means an Award designated as Performance Shares and granted to a Participant in accordance with Article IX of the Plan.

Section 2.30 Performance Unit. “Performance Unit” means an Award designated as a Performance Unit and granted to a Participant in accordance with Article X of this Plan.

Section 2.31 Period of Restriction. “Period of Restriction” means the period during which the transfer of Shares or cash underlying an Award is limited in some way, or the Shares or cash are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.

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Section 2.32 Plan. “Plan” means the Novusterra Inc. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time.

Section 2.33 Restricted Stock. “Restricted Stock” means an Award that is a grant of Shares delivered to a Participant, subject to restrictions described in Article VIII of this Plan.

Section 2.34 Restricted Stock Unit or RSU. “Restricted Stock Unit” or “RSU” means an Award that is subject to the restrictions described in Article VIII of this Plan and is a promise of the Company to deliver at the end of a Period of Restrictions (a) one Share for each RSU, (b) cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share for each RSU, or (c) a combination of (a) and (b), as determined by the Committee.

Section 2.35 Retirement. “Retirement” means, with respect to Employees, retirement as defined in the Company’s tax-qualified pension plan, unless defined otherwise in an Award Agreement.

Section 2.36 Service. “Service” means a Participant’s work for the Company or an Affiliate, either as an Employee, Independent Contractor, or Nonemployee Director.

Section 2.37 Shares. “Shares” means the shares of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share.

Section 2.38 Stock Appreciation Right or SAR. “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award designated as an SAR in accordance with the terms of Article VII of the Plan.

Section 2.39 Subsidiary. “Subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, or other entity in which the Company has a majority voting interest; provided, however, that with respect to ISOs, the term “Subsidiary” shall include only an entity that qualifies under Code Section 424(f) as a “subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company.

Section 2.40 Substitute Award. “Substitute Award means an Award granted under this Plan upon the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding equity awards previously granted by a company or other entity in connection with a corporate transaction, including a merger, combination, consolidation or acquisition of property or stock; provided, however, that in no event shall the term “Substitute Award be construed to refer to an award made in connection with the cancellation and repricing of an Option or SAR.

Section 2.41 Tandem SAR. “Tandem SAR” means a SAR that is granted in connection with a related Option, the exercise of which shall require forfeiture of the right to purchase a Share under the related Option (with a similar cancellation of the Tandem SAR when a Share is purchased under the Option). Except for the medium of payment, the terms of a Tandem SAR shall be identical in all material respects to the terms of the related Option.

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ARTICLE III

Administration

Section 3.1 Administration by the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. All questions of interpretation of the Plan, of any Award Agreement or of any other form of agreement or other document employed by the Company in the administration of the Plan or of any Award shall be determined by the Committee, and such determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Award, unless fraudulent or made in bad faith. Any and all actions, decisions and determinations taken or made by the Committee in the exercise of its discretion pursuant to the Plan or Award Agreement or other agreement thereunder (other than determining questions of interpretation pursuant to the preceding sentence) shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing and except as otherwise determined by the Board, the Board shall perform the functions of the Committee for purposes of granting Awards under the Plan to Nonemployee Directors.

Section 3.2 Powers of the Committee. In addition to any other powers set forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:

(a)	to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted and the number of Shares to be subject to each Award;
(b)	to determine the type of Award granted;
(c)	to determine the Fair Market Value of Shares or other property where applicable;
(d)	to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Award (which need not be identical) and any Shares acquired pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise or purchase price of Shares pursuant to any Award, (ii) the method of payment for Shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with Award, including by the withholding or delivery of Shares, (iv) the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any Shares acquired pursuant thereto, (v) the time of the expiration of any Award, (vi) the effect of the Participants termination of Service on any of the foregoing, and (vii) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any Award or Shares acquired pursuant thereto not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;
(e)	to determine how an Award will be settled, as provided under an Award Agreement;
(f)	to approve one or more forms of Award Agreement;

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(g)	to amend, modify, extend, cancel or renew any Award or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or any Shares acquired upon the exercise thereof;
(h)	to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability of any Award or the vesting of any Shares acquired upon the exercise thereof, including with respect to the period following a Participants termination of Service;
(i)	to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to the Plan, or to adopt sub-plans or supplements to, or alternative versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Committee deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws or regulations of or to accommodate the tax policy, accounting principles or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose citizens may be granted Awards; and
(j)	to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any Award as the Committee may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or applicable law.

 

Section 3.3 Action by the Committee. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for any meeting of the Committee, and the act of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present or the act approved in writing by a majority of all the members of the Committee shall be the act of the Committee. In the performance of their duties under this Plan, the Committee members shall be entitled to rely upon information and advice furnished by the Company’s officers, employees, accountants or counsel, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company or the Committee to assist in the administration of this Plan.

The Committee may delegate some or all of its power and authority hereunder to the Board (or any members thereof) or, subject to applicable law, to a subcommittee of the Board, a member of the Board, the CEO or other executive officer of the Company as the Committee deems appropriate; provided, however, that the Committee may not delegate its power and authority to a member of the Board, the CEO or other executive officer of the Company with regard to the selection for participation in this Plan of an officer, director or other person subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or decisions concerning the timing, pricing or amount of an Award to such an officer, director or other person.

Section 3.4 Indemnification. No member of the Board or of the Committee, and neither the CEO nor any other executive officer to whom the Committee delegates any of its power and authority hereunder, shall be liable for any action taken, or determination made, hereunder in good faith and the members of the Board and the Committee and the CEO or other executive officer shall be entitled to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including attorneys’ fees) arising therefrom to the full extent permitted by law (except as otherwise may be provided in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and/or By-laws) and under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that may be in effect from time to time.

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ARTICLE IV

Stock Subject to the Plan

Section 4.1 Aggregate Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided under the Plan, the total number of Shares that are available for Awards under the Plan shall not exceed in the aggregate 10,000,000 Shares, plus any Shares subject to outstanding awards granted under a Prior Plan and that expire or terminate for any reason shall be available under this Plan. Any of the authorized Shares may be used for any type of Award under the Plan, and any or all of 10,000,000 Shares may be allocated to Incentive Stock Options. Such Shares may be authorized and unissued Shares, treasury Shares, or Shares acquired on the open market.

Section 4.2 Share Counting. To the extent that Shares subject to an outstanding Award granted under the Plan or an outstanding award granted under a Prior Plan, other than Substitute Awards, are not issued or delivered by reason of (a) the expiration, termination, cancellation or forfeiture of such award (excluding shares subject to an Option cancelled upon settlement in shares of a related Tandem SAR or shares subject to a Tandem SAR cancelled upon exercise of a related Option) or (b) the settlement of such award in cash, then such Shares shall again be available under this Plan. Shares tendered or withheld in order to satisfy tax withholding obligations, including with respect awards granted under a Prior Plan, will be available for issuance again under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (a) Shares equal in number to the Shares withheld, surrendered or tendered in payment of the exercise price of an Award, including awards granted under a Prior Plan, and (b) Shares reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of Awards, including awards granted under a Prior Plan, shall not become available for issuance again under the Plan.

Section 4.3 Adjustment to Number of Shares. In the event of any equity restructuring (within the meaning of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation or any successor or replacement accounting standard) that causes the per share value of the Shares to change, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spinoff, rights offering or recapitalization through an extraordinary cash dividend, the number and class of securities available under this Plan, the terms of each outstanding Option and SAR (including the number and class of securities subject to each outstanding Option or SAR and the Option Exercise Price or Grant Price) and the terms of each other outstanding Award (including the number and class of securities subject thereto), shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, such adjustments to be made in the case of outstanding Options and SARs in accordance with Code Section 409A. In the event of any other change in corporate capitalization, including a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or partial or complete liquidation of the Company, such equitable adjustments described in the foregoing sentence may be made as determined to be appropriate and equitable by the Committee to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights of participants. In either case, the decision of the Committee regarding any such adjustment shall be final, binding and conclusive.

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Section 4.4 Corporate Transactions. The number of Shares available for Awards under this Plan shall not be reduced by (a) the number of Shares subject to Substitute Awards or (b) available shares under a stockholder approved plan of a company or other entity which was a party to a corporate transaction with the Company (as appropriately adjusted to reflect such corporate transaction) which become subject to Awards granted under this Plan (subject to applicable stock exchange requirements).

Section 4.5 Minimum Vesting Requirements. No Award granted under the Plan shall become exercisable or vested prior to the one-year anniversary of the date of grant; provided, however, that such restriction shall not apply to Awards granted under this Plan with respect to the number of Shares which, in the aggregate, does not exceed five percent (5%) of the total number of Shares initially available for Awards under this Plan. This Section 4.5 shall not restrict the right of the Committee to accelerate vesting or continue the vesting or exercisability of an award upon or after a termination of employment or otherwise pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Plan or Article XV of the Plan.

ARTICLE V

Eligibility and Participation

Section 5.1 Eligibility to Receive Awards. Persons eligible to receive Awards under the Plan are Employees, Independent Contractors, and Nonemployee Directors, and persons expected to become Employees, Independent Contractors, and Nonemployee Directors of the Company and its Affiliates as the Committee in its sole discretion may select from time to time. Except as otherwise provided for in an Award Agreement, for purposes of this Plan, references to employment by the Company shall also mean employment by an Affiliate, and references to employment shall include service as an Independent Contractor or Nonemployee Director. The Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, the extent to which a Participant shall be considered employed during an approved leave of absence.

Section 5.2 Participation in the Plan. Subject to the other provisions of this Plan, the Committee has the full discretion to grant Awards to eligible persons described in Section 5.1. Eligible persons may be granted more than one Award. Eligibility in accordance with this Section, however, shall not entitle any person to be granted an Award, or, having been granted an Award, to be granted an additional Award.

Section 5.3 Nonemployee Director Limitations. The aggregate value of cash compensation and the grant date fair value of Shares that may be awarded or granted during any fiscal year of the Company to any Nonemployee Director shall not exceed $750,000, increased to $1,000,000 in the calendar year of his or her initial services as a Nonemployee Director. Grant date fair value for purposes of Awards to Nonemployee Directors under the Plan will be calculated as follows: (a) for Options and SARs, grant date fair value will be calculated using the Black-Scholes valuation methodology (or such other methodology approved by the Company’s independent accounting firm) on the date of grant of such Options or SARs, and (b) for all other Awards other than Options and SARs, grant date fair value will be calculated either by (i) calculating the product of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant and the aggregate number of Shares subject to the Award or (ii) calculating the product using an average of the Fair Market Value over a number of trading days and the aggregate number of Shares subject to the Award. Awards granted to an individual while he or she was service in the capacity as an Employee or while he or she was an Independent Contractor but not a Nonemployee Director will not count for purposes of the limitations set forth herein.

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ARTICLE VI

Options

Section 6.1 Grant of Options. Options shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form and not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall approve from time to time. Award Agreements shall specify the Option Exercise Price, the duration of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, provisions for vesting and exercisability, whether the Option is an ISO or NSO, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with the following terms and conditions.

Section 6.2 Option Exercise Price. The Option Exercise Price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the day the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Option that is a Substitute Award, the Option Exercise Price of the Shares subject to such Option may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant, provided, that the excess of: (a) the aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date such Substitute Award is granted) of the shares subject to the Substitute Award, over (b) the aggregate purchase price thereof does not exceed the excess of: (x) the aggregate fair market value (as of the time immediately preceding the transaction giving rise to the Substitute Award, such fair market value to be determined by the Committee) of the shares of the predecessor company or other entity that were subject to the grant assumed or substituted for by the Company, over (y) the aggregate purchase price of such shares.

Section 6.3 Exercise of Options. Each Award Agreement shall state the period or periods of time within which the Option may be exercised by the optionee, in whole or in part, which shall be such period or periods of time as may be determined by the Committee, provided that the Option exercise period shall not end later than ten years after the date of the grant of the Option. The Committee shall have the power to permit in its discretion an acceleration of the previously determined exercise terms, within the terms of the Plan, under such circumstances and upon such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate.

Section 6.4 Payment of Option Exercise Price. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, or in any Award Agreement, the optionee shall pay the Option Exercise Price upon the exercise of any Option (i) in cash, (ii) by authorizing a third party with which the optionee has a brokerage or similar account to sell the Shares (or a sufficient portion of such Shares) acquired upon the exercise of the Option and remit to the Company a portion of the sale proceeds sufficient to pay the entire Option Exercise Price to the Company, (iii) by delivering Shares that have an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Option Exercise Price; (iv) by authorizing the Company to withhold from the total number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised the number of Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the aggregate Option Exercise Price for the total number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, (v) by such other means by which the Committee determines to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan and applicable law, or (vi) by any combination of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v). In the case of an election pursuant to (i) above, cash shall mean cash or check issued by a federally insured bank or savings and loan association and made payable to Novusterra, Inc. In the case of payment pursuant to (ii) or (iii) above, the optionee’s authorization must be made on or prior to the date of exercise and shall be irrevocable. In lieu of a separate election governing each exercise of an Option, an optionee may file a blanket election with the Committee, which shall govern all future exercises of Options until revoked by the optionee. Upon exercise of an Option and payment of the applicable Option Exercise Price, the Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised.

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Section 6.5 Termination of Service. Each Option Award Agreement shall set forth the extent, if any, to which the Participant shall have the right to continued or accelerated vesting of the Option following termination of the Participant’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

Section 6.6 Additional Rules for Incentive Stock Options.

(a)	Employees. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees of the Company or a Subsidiary and not to Employees of any Affiliate unless such entity is classified as a “disregarded entity” of the Company or the applicable Subsidiary under the Code. Incentive Stock Options may not be granted to Independent Contractors or Nonemployee Directors.
(b)	Exercise Limitations. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide in each Award Agreement the period or periods of time within which the Option may be exercised by the optionee, in whole or in part, provided that the Option period shall not end later than ten years after the date of the grant of the Option. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined with respect to each Incentive Stock Option at the time of grant) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an individual during any calendar year (under all incentive stock option plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall not exceed $100,000. If the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of the Shares subject to an Option, which first becomes exercisable in any calendar year, exceeds this limitation, so much of the Option that does not exceed the applicable dollar limit shall be an Incentive Stock Option and the remainder shall be a Nonqualified Stock Option; but in all other respects, the original Award Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if an Incentive Stock Option is granted to 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 of its parent or subsidiary corporations, within the meaning of Code Section 422(b)(6), (i) the purchase price of each Share subject to the Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Share on the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted, and (ii) the Incentive Stock Option shall expire, and all rights to purchase Shares thereunder shall cease, no later than the fifth anniversary of the date the Incentive Stock Option was granted.
(c)	Rights Upon Termination of Service. The rules under Section 6.6 of this Plan generally shall apply when an optionee holding an ISO terminates Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in accordance with Code Section 422, if an Incentive Stock Option is exercised more than ninety days after termination of Service, that portion of the Option exercised after such date shall automatically be a Nonqualified Stock Option, but, in all other respects, the original Award Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

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Section 6.7 Other Terms. The Award Agreements with respect to Options shall contain such other terms and provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as shall be determined by the Committee

ARTICLE VII

Stock Appreciation Rights

Section 7.1 Grant of SARs. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form and not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall approve from time to time. Award Agreements shall specify the Grant Price of the SAR, the duration of the SAR, the number of Shares to which the SAR pertains, provisions for vesting and exercisability, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with the following terms and conditions. An SAR may be a Tandem SAR or may not be granted in connection with an Option.

Section 7.2 Grant Price. The Grant Price of a Tandem SAR shall be the Option Exercise Price of the related Option. The Grant Price of an SAR other than a Tandem SAR shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that such Grant Price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such SAR (or, if earlier, the date of grant of the Option for which the SAR is exchanged or substituted). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an SAR that is a Substitute Award, the Grant Price per Share of the Shares subject to such SAR may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant, provided, that the excess of: (a) the aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date such Substitute Award is granted) of the shares subject to the Substitute Award, over (b) the aggregate Grant Price thereof does not exceed the excess of: (x) the aggregate fair market value (as of the time immediately preceding the transaction giving rise to the Substitute Award, such fair market value to be determined by the Committee) of the shares of the predecessor company or other entity that were subject to the grant assumed or substituted for by the Company, over (y) the aggregate base price of such shares.

Section 7.3 Term of SAR. SARs shall be granted for a period of not more than ten years, and shall be exercisable in whole or in part, at such time or times and subject to such other terms and conditions, as shall be prescribed by the Committee at the time of grant, subject to the provisions of this Plan.

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Section 7.4 Special Rules for Exercise of Tandem SARs. Tandem SARs may be exercised for all or part of the Shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option. A Tandem SAR may be exercised only with respect to Shares for which its related Option is then exercisable. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, with respect to a Tandem SAR granted in connection with an ISO: (i) the Tandem SAR will expire no later than the expiration of the underlying ISO; (ii) the value of the payout with respect to the Tandem SAR may be for no more than one hundred percent (100%) of the difference between the Option Exercise Price of the underlying ISO and the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the underlying ISO at the time the Tandem SAR is exercised; and (iii) the Tandem SAR may be exercised only when the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the ISO exceeds the Option Exercise Price of the ISO.

Section 7.5 Termination of Service. Each SAR Award Agreement shall set forth the extent, if any, to which the Participant shall have the right to continued or accelerated vesting of the SAR following termination of the Participant’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

Section 7.6 Payment. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount equal to the product of (i) and (ii) where (i) is the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the Grant Price and (ii) is the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. At the discretion of the Committee and as set forth in the Award Agreement, payment shall be made in cash, in Shares, or in a combination thereof.

Section 7.7 Other Terms. The Award Agreements with respect to SARs shall contain such other terms and provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as shall be determined by the Committee.

ARTICLE VIII

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

Section 8.1 Grants. The Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock or grant Restricted Stock Units to Participants in such amounts as the Committee shall determine. Each Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit grant 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 issued to the Participant, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. Such Award Agreements shall be consistent with the provisions of this Article VIII.

Section 8.2 Period of Restriction. The end of any Period of Restriction for Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may be conditioned upon the satisfaction of such conditions as are established by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in an applicable Award Agreement. Such conditions include, without limitation, restrictions based upon the continued Service of the Participant, the achievement of specific Performance Targets, time-based restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the Performance Targets, and/or restrictions under applicable federal or state securities laws, prohibitions against transfer, and repurchase by the Company or right of first refusal. The Committee shall have the power to permit in its discretion, an acceleration of the expiration of the applicable Period of Restriction with respect to any part or all of the Shares or number of Restricted Stock Units awarded to a Participant.

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Section 8.3 Certificates. If a certificate is issued in respect of Shares awarded to a Participant, each certificate shall be deposited with the Company, or its designee, and shall bear the following legend:

“This certificate and the shares represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture and restrictions against transfer) contained in the Novusterra Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan and an Award Agreement entered into by the registered owner. Release from such terms and conditions shall be obtained only in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and Award Agreement, a copy of each of which is on file in the office of the Secretary of said Company.”

Section 8.4 Lapse of Restrictions. A Restricted Stock Award Agreement or Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall specify the terms and conditions upon which any restrictions upon Shares awarded or RSUs awarded under the Plan shall lapse, as determined by the Committee. With respect to a Restricted Stock Award, upon termination of any applicable Period of Restriction (and the satisfaction or attainment of applicable Performance Measures), the restrictions shall be removed from the requisite number of any Shares that are held in book entry form, and all certificates evidencing ownership of the requisite number of Shares shall be delivered to the holder of such Award. With respect to a Restricted Stock Unit Award, upon termination of any applicable Period of Restriction (and the satisfaction or attainment of applicable Performance Measures) the Shares or, if applicable, cash payment with respect to the Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be distributed to the Participant in accordance with the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (but no later than the March 15 of the year after the year in which such Period of Restriction ends except as otherwise provided for in the Award Agreement).

Section 8.5 Termination of Service. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall set forth the extent, if any, to which the Participant shall have the right to continued or accelerated vesting of Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units following termination of the Participant’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

Section 8.6 Code Section 83(b) Election. If a Participant makes an election pursuant to Code Section 83(b) with respect to a Restricted Stock Award, the Participant shall be required to promptly file a copy of such election with the Company.

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Section 8.7 Other Terms. The Award Agreements with respect to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall contain such other terms and provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as shall be determined by the Committee.

ARTICLE IX

Performance Shares Awards

Section 9.1 Grants of Performance Shares. The Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Awards of Performance Shares to Participants in such amounts as the Committee shall determine. Each Performance Shares grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the applicable performance period, the number of Shares subject to a Performance Shares Award that are to be delivered to the Participant upon satisfaction of the Performance Targets by the expiration of the performance period, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. Such Award Agreements shall be consistent with the provisions of this Article IX.

Section 9.2 Performance Period and Performance Goals. At the time of award, the Committee, in its sole discretion shall establish a Performance Period and the Performance Goals to be achieved during the applicable Performance Period with respect to an Award of Performance Shares.

Section 9.3 Delivery of Shares. Following the conclusion of each Performance Period, the Committee shall determine the extent to which performance goals have been attained for such period as well as the other terms and conditions established by the Committee. The Committee shall determine the amount of Shares, if any, to be delivered to the Participant in satisfaction of the Award.

Section 9.4 Termination of Service. Each Performance Shares Award Agreement shall set forth the extent, if any, to which the Participant shall have the right to continued or accelerated vesting of Performance Shares following termination of the Participant’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Performance Shares Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

Section 9.5 Other Terms. The Award Agreements with respect to Performance Shares shall contain such other terms and provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as shall be determined by the Committee.

ARTICLE X

Performance Units

Section 10.1 Grant of Performance Units. Subject to the terms of the Plan, Performance Units may be granted to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee. Performance Units shall be evidenced by Award Agreements that are subject to the terms of this Article X.

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Section 10.2 Performance Period and Performance Goals. At the time of award, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall establish a Performance Period and the Performance Goals to be achieved during the applicable Performance Period with respect to an Award of Performance Units.

Section 10.3 Value of Performance Units. At the time Performance Units are granted, the Committee shall establish with respect to each such Award a value for each Performance Unit, which may vary thereafter determinable from criteria specified by the Committee at the time of Award.

Section 10.4 Payment of Performance Units. Following the conclusion of each performance period, the Committee shall determine the extent to which performance targets have been attained for such period as well as the other terms and conditions established by the Committee. The Committee shall determine what, if any, payment is due on the Performance Units. Payment shall be made as soon as practicable after the end of the applicable performance period, but no later than the March 15th of the year after the year in which such performance period ends, in cash, in the form of Shares, or in a combination thereof, as the Committee may determine.

Section 10.5 Termination of Service. Each Performance Unit Award Agreement shall set forth the extent, if any, to which the Participant shall have the right to continued or accelerated vesting of Performance Units following termination of the Participant’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Performance Units Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

Section 10.6 Other Terms. The Award Agreements with respect to Performance Units shall contain such other terms and provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as shall be determined by the Committee.

ARTICLE XI

Cash-Based Awards

Section 11.1 Grant of Cash-Based Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan, Cash-Based Awards may be granted to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee, subject to the terms of this Article XI.

Section 11.2 Performance Period and Performance Goals. At the time of award, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall establish a Performance Period and the Performance Goals to be achieved during the applicable Performance Period with respect to Cash-Based Awards.

Section 11.3 Value of Cash-Based Awards. At the time Cash-Based Awards are granted, the Committee shall establish the value of such Awards, which may vary thereafter determinable from criteria specified by the Committee at the time of Award.

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Section 11.4 Payment of Cash-Based Awards. If payable, the Participant’s Cash-Based Award will be distributed to the Participant, or the Participant’s estate in the event of the Participant’s death before payment, in cash in a single sum as soon after the end of the applicable performance period as practicable, but no later than March 15th after the end of the performance period, in accordance with the Company’s payroll practices.

Section 11.5 Termination of Service. With respect to Cash-Based Awards, the Committee shall set forth the extent, if any, to which the Participant shall have the right to continued or accelerated vesting of such Cash-Based Awards following termination of the Participant’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Cash-Based Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

Section 11.6 Other Terms. The Award Agreements with respect to Cash-Based Awards shall contain such other terms and provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as shall be determined by the Committee.

ARTICLE XII

Other Stock-Based Awards

The Committee may from time to time grant Shares and other Awards under the Plan that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based upon and/or payable in Shares. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards, which shall be consistent with the terms and purposes of the Plan.

ARTICLE XIII

Dividends and Dividend Equivalents

No dividends or dividend equivalents may be awarded with respect to any Options or SARs. An Award (other than Options or SARs) may, if so determined by the Committee, provide the Participant with the right to receive dividend payments, or, in the case of Awards that do not involve the issuance of Shares concurrently with the grant of the Award, dividend equivalent payments with respect to Shares subject to the Award (both before and after the Shares are earned, vested or acquired), which payments shall be credited to an account for the Participant, or deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares, which shall be subject to the same vesting and performance conditions as the underlying Award. Dividend or dividend equivalent amounts credited to an account for the Participant may be settled in cash or Shares or a combination of both, as determined by the Committee. Except as provided otherwise in an Award Agreement, any Participant entitled to receive a cash dividends or dividend equivalents pursuant to his applicable Award may, by written election filed with the Company, at least ten days before the date of payment of such dividend equivalent, elect to have such dividend equivalent credited to an account maintained for his benefit under a dividend reinvestment plan maintained by the Company.

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ARTICLE XIV

Beneficiary Designation

Each Participant under the Plan may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of his or her death before he or she 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 Company, 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 designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate.

ARTICLE XV

Change in Control

Section 15.1 Effect of Change in Control.

(a) Upon a Change in Control, no cancellation, termination, acceleration of exercisability or vesting, lapse of any Period of Restriction or settlement or other payment shall occur with respect to any outstanding Award, if the Committee (as constituted immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction constituting the Change in Control) reasonably determines, in good faith, prior to the Change in Control that such outstanding Awards shall be honored or assumed, or new rights substituted (such honored, assumed or substituted Award being hereinafter referred to as an “Alternative Award”) by the successor, provided that any Alternative Award must:

i.	be (A) based on shares of common stock that are traded on a registered U.S. securities exchange or (B) an award of cash having the same economic value;
ii.	provide the Participant (or each Participant in a class of Participants) with rights and entitlements substantially equivalent to or better than the rights, terms and conditions applicable under such Award, including, but not limited to, an identical or better exercise or vesting schedule and identical or better timing and methods of payment;
iii.	have substantially equivalent economic value to such Award (determined at the time of the Change in Control); and
iv.	have terms and conditions which provide that in the event that the Participant suffers an involuntary termination of Service by the Company other than for Cause or a voluntary termination for Good Reason within two years following the Change in Control, any conditions on the Participant’s rights under, or any restrictions on transfer or exercisability applicable to, each such Award held by such Participant shall be waived or shall lapse, as the case may be, and any performance-based restrictions shall be deemed to have been achieved at target level performance.

 

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(b)

All outstanding Awards for which Alternative Awards are not granted in accordance with this section shall become fully exercisable; all restrictions thereon shall terminate; any performance-based restrictions shall be deemed to have been achieved at target level performance; and such Awards shall be immediately payable, except to the extent that later payment is necessary to comply with Code Section 409A.

(c)

Except as otherwise set forth in the Award Agreement, if the Company has terminated the Service of a Participant other than for Cause, or if the Participant has terminated Service for Good Reason, during the year before the consummation of a Change in Control but after a third party and/or the Company had taken steps reasonably calculated to effect such Change in Control, and the Participant reasonably demonstrates that such termination of Service was in connection with or in anticipation of the Change in Control, then: all of the Participant’s outstanding Awards shall become fully exercisable; all restrictions thereon shall terminate; any performance-based restrictions shall be deemed to have been achieved at target level performance; and such Awards shall be payable within 60 days after the Change in Control, except to the extent that later payment is necessary to comply with Code Section 409A,

 

Section 15.2 Participant Elections to Minimize Code Section 4999 Excise Tax.

(a)

Excess Parachute Payment. In the event that any acceleration of vesting pursuant to an Award and any other payment or benefit received or to be received by a Participant would subject the Participant to any excise tax pursuant to Code Section 4999 due to the characterization of such acceleration of vesting, payment or benefit as an excess parachute payment under Code Section 280G, the Participant may elect, in his or her sole discretion, to reduce the amount of any acceleration of vesting called for under the Award in order to avoid such characterization. Such an election, however, may not change the time and form of any payment in a manner that would cause the Participant to incur additional taxes or penalties under Code Section 409A.

(b)

Determination by Independent Accountants. To aid the Participant in making any election called for under part (a) above, no later than the date of the occurrence of any event that might reasonably be anticipated to result in an excess parachute payment to the Participant as described in part (a) above, the Company shall request a determination in writing by independent public accountants selected by the Company (the “Accountants”). As soon as practicable thereafter, the Accountants shall determine and report to the Company and the Participant the amount of such acceleration of vesting, payments and benefits which would produce the greatest after-tax benefit to the Participant. For the purposes of such determination, the Accountants may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Code Sections 280G and 4999. The Company and the Participant shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to make their required determination. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses the Accountants may reasonably charge in connection with their services contemplated by this subpart (b).

 

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ARTICLE XVI

Deferrals

The Committee may permit (upon timely election by the Participant) or require a Participant to defer such Participant’s receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant by virtue of the exercise of an Option or SAR, the lapse or waiver of restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock or Performance Shares, or the satisfaction of any requirements or goals with respect to Performance Units or Cash-Based Awards. If any such deferral election is required or permitted, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, establish rules and procedures for such payment deferrals in a manner consistent with Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder.

ARTICLE XVII

Withholding

Section 17.1 Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient 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.

Section 17.2 Share Withholding. With respect to withholding required upon the exercise of Options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock, or upon any other taxable event arising as a result of Awards granted hereunder, Participants may elect, subject to the approval of the Committee or as otherwise provided for in the Award Agreement, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold Shares. Shares of Common Stock to be delivered or withheld may not have an aggregate Fair Market Value in excess of the amount determined by applying the minimum statutory withholding rate (or, if permitted by the Company, such other rate as will not cause adverse accounting consequences under the accounting rules then in effect, and is permitted under applicable IRS withholding rules). All such elections shall be irrevocable, made in writing before the date in which income is realized by the recipient in connection with the particular transaction, signed by the Participant, and shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

ARTICLE XVIII

Compliance with Code Section 409A

Section 18.1 Awards Subject to Code Section 409A. The provisions of this Section 18.1 shall apply to any Award or portion thereof that is or becomes subject to Code Section 409A, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the Plan or the Award Agreement applicable to such Award. Awards subject to Code Section 409A include, without limitation:

(a)	Any Nonqualified Stock Option having an exercise price per share less than the Fair Market Value determined as of the date of grant of such Option or that permits the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the exercise or transfer of the Option or the time the shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of the option first become substantially vested.
(b)	Any Award that either provides by its terms, or under which the Participant makes an election, for settlement of all or any portion of the Award either (i) on one or more dates following the end of the Short-Term Deferral Period (as defined below) or (ii) upon or after the occurrence of any event that will or may occur later than the end of the Short-Term Deferral Period.

 

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Subject to U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to Code Section 409A (“Section 409A Regulations”) or other applicable guidance, the term “Short-Term Deferral Period” means the period ending on the later of (i) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or (ii) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Participant’s taxable year in which the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. For this purpose, the term “substantial risk of forfeiture” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 409A Regulations or other applicable guidance.

Section 18.2 No Acceleration of Distributions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Plan does not permit the acceleration of the time or schedule of any distribution under this Plan pursuant to any Award subject to Code Section 409A, except as provided by Code Section 409A and Section 409A Regulations.

Section 18.3 Separation from Service. If any amount shall be payable with respect to any Award hereunder as a result of a Participant’s termination of employment or other Service and such amount is subject to the provisions of Code Section 409A, then notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, a termination of employment or other Service will be deemed to have occurred only at such time as the Participant has experienced a “separation from service” as such term is defined for purposes of Code Section 409A.

Section 18.4 Timing of Payment to a Specified Employee. If any amount shall be payable with respect to any Award hereunder as a result of a Participant’s separation from Service at such time as the Participant is a “specified employee” and such amount is subject to the provisions of Code Section 409A, then notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, no payment shall be made, except as permitted under Code Section 409A, prior to the first day of the seventh (7th) calendar month beginning after the Participant’s separation from Service (or the date of his or her earlier death). The Company may adopt a specified employee policy that will apply to identify the specified employees for all deferred compensation plans subject to Code Section 409A; otherwise, specified employees will be identified using the default standards contained in the regulations under Code Section 409A.

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ARTICLE XIX

Amendment and Termination

Section 19.1 Amendment, Modification, and Termination of the Plan. The Board or the Committee may at any time terminate, suspend or amend the Plan without the authorization of stockholders to the extent allowed by law, including without limitation any rules issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, insofar as stockholder approval thereof is required in order for the Plan to continue to satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b‑3 under the Exchange Act, or the rules of any applicable stock exchange. No termination, suspension or amendment of the Plan shall adversely affect any right acquired by any Participant under an Award granted before the date of such termination, suspension or amendment, unless such Participant shall consent; but it shall be conclusively presumed that any adjustment for changes in capitalization as provided for herein does not adversely affect any such right.

Section 19.2 Amendment of Awards. The Committee may unilaterally amend the terms of any Award Agreement previously granted, except that (i) no such amendment may materially impair the rights of any Participant under the applicable Award without the Participant’s consent, unless such amendment is necessary to comply with applicable law, stock exchange rules or accounting rules; and (ii) in no event may an Option or SAR be amended or modified, other than as provided in Section 4.4, to decrease the Option or SAR exercise or base price thereof, or be cancelled in exchange for cash, a new Option or SAR with a lower exercise price or base price, or other Awards, or otherwise be subject to any action that would be treated for accounting purposes as a “repricing” of such Option or SAR, unless such action is approved by the Company’s stockholders.

ARTICLE XX

Miscellaneous

Section 20.1 Approval Restrictions. Each Award under the Plan shall be subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Committee shall determine that (i) the listing, registration or qualification of the Shares subject or related thereto upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or (ii) the consent or approval of any government regulatory body, or (iii) an agreement by the recipient of an Award with respect to the disposition of Shares is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of such award or the issue or purchase of Shares thereunder, such Award may not be consummated in whole or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent, approval or agreement shall have been effected or obtained, free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

Section 20.2 Securities Law Compliance. With respect to Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange Act. If any provision of this Plan or of any Award Agreement would otherwise frustrate or conflict with the intent expressed in the preceding sentence, that provision to the extent possible shall be interpreted and deemed amended in the manner determined by the Committee so as to avoid the conflict. To the extent of any remaining irreconcilable conflict with this intent, the provision shall be deemed void as applicable to Participants who are then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, no Shares will be issued or transferred pursuant to an Award unless and until all then applicable requirements imposed by federal and state securities and other laws, rules and regulations and by any regulatory agencies having jurisdiction, and by any stock exchanges upon which the Shares may be listed, have been fully met. As a condition precedent to the issuance of Shares pursuant to the grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of an Award, the Company may require the Participant to take any reasonable action to meet such requirements. The Committee may impose such conditions on any Shares issuable under the Plan as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, restrictions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, under the requirements of any stock exchange upon which such Shares of the same class are then listed, and under any blue sky or other securities laws applicable to such Shares.

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Section 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.

Section 20.4 Rights as a Stockholder. The recipient of any Award under the Plan, unless otherwise provided by the Plan, shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect thereto unless and until certificates for Shares are issued to the recipient.

Section 20.5 Forfeiture. 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 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 Service for Cause or any act by a Participant, whether before or after termination of Service, that would constitute Cause for termination of Service.

Section 20.6 Rights as Employee, Independent Contractor, or Nonemployee Director. No person, even though eligible pursuant to Article V, shall have a right to be selected as a Participant, or, having been so selected, to be selected again as a Participant. Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall confer on any Participant a right to remain an Employee, Independent Contractor, or Nonemployee Director or interfere with or limit in any way any right of the Company or Affiliate to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time. To the extent that an Employee of an Affiliate receives an Award under the Plan, that Award shall in no event be understood or interpreted to mean that the Company is the Employee’s employer or that the Employee has an employment relationship with the Company.

Section 20.7 Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise or settlement of any Award.

Section 20.8 Effect on Other Plans. Unless otherwise specifically provided, participation in the Plan shall not preclude a Participant’s eligibility to participate in any other benefit or incentive plan. Any Awards made pursuant to the Plan shall not be considered as compensation in determining the benefits provided under any other plan.

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Section 20.9 No Constraint on Corporate Action. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to: (a) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company’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 (b) limit the right or power of the Company or an Affiliate to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.

Section 20.10 Over/Under Payments. If any Participant or beneficiary receives an underpayment of Shares or cash payable under the terms of any Award, payment of any such shortfall shall be made as soon as administratively practicable. If any Participant or beneficiary receives an overpayment of Shares or cash payable under the terms of any Award for any reason, the Committee or its delegate shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to take whatever action it deems appropriate, including but not limited to the right to require repayment of such amount or to reduce future payments under this Plan, to recover any such overpayment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, and if the Participant knowingly or through gross negligence engaged in the misconduct, or knowingly or through gross negligence failed to prevent the misconduct, or if the Participant is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Participant shall reimburse the Company the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award earned or accrued during the twelve- (12-) month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement. In addition and notwithstanding the foregoing, the Awards granted under this Plan and any cash payment or Shares delivered pursuant to such an award are subject to forfeiture, recovery by the Company or other action pursuant to the applicable Award Agreement or any clawback or recoupment policy which the Company may adopt from time to time, including without limitation any such policy which the Company may be required to adopt under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and implementing rules and regulations thereunder, or as otherwise required by law.

Section 20.11 Unfunded Obligation. Participants shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company. Any amounts payable to Participants pursuant to the Plan shall be unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of ERISA. No Affiliate shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Committee or any Affiliate and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of any Affiliate. The Participants shall have no claim against any Affiliate for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.

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Section 20.12 No Liability With Respect to Adverse Tax Treatment. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, in no event shall the Company or any Affiliate be liable to a Participant on account of an Award’s failure to (i) qualify for favorable U.S., foreign, state, local, or other tax treatment or (ii) avoid adverse tax treatment under U.S., foreign, state, local, or other law, including, without limitation, Code Section 409A.

Section 20.13 Severability. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

Section 20.14 Requirements of Law. The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under the 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.

Section 20.15 Governing Law. To the extent not preempted by federal law, the Plan, and all agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the state of Indiana.

Section 20.16 Successors. All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company.

Section 20.17 Provisions Regarding Transferability of Awards.

(a) General. Except as otherwise provided below, Awards may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined in the Code or Title 1 of the ERISA or the rules thereunder. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, all rights with respect to an Award granted to a Participant shall be available during his or her lifetime only to such Participant.

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(b)

Nonqualified Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. No NSO or SAR granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined in the Code or Title 1 of ERISA or the rules thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in part (a) above, a Participant, at any time prior to his death, may assign all or any portion of the NSO or SAR to (i) his spouse or lineal descendant, (ii) the trustee of a trust for the primary benefit of his spouse or lineal descendant, or (iii) a tax-exempt organization as described in Code Section 501(c)(3). In such event the spouse, lineal descendant, trustee or tax-exempt organization shall be entitled to all of the rights of the Participant with respect to the assigned portion of such NSO or SAR, and such portion of the NSO or SAR shall continue to be subject to all of the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to the NSO or SAR as set forth herein, and in the related Award Agreement, immediately prior to the effective date of the assignment. Any such assignment shall be permitted only if (i) the Participant does not receive any consideration therefore, and (ii) the assignment is expressly approved by the Committee or its delegate. Any such assignment shall be evidenced by an appropriate written document executed by the Participant, and a copy thereof shall be delivered to the Committee or its delegate on or prior to the effective date of the assignment.

(c)

Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding anything in part (a) and (b) above, no ISO may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

 

Section 20.18 Non-ERISA Plan. The Company intends that this Plan shall not constitute an “employee benefit plan” for purposes of Section 3(3) of ERISA.

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