AxoGen, INC.
2010 Stock INCENTIVE PLAN
Amended and Restated as of March 23, 2016
The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders by aiding the Company in attracting and retaining employees, officers, consultants, advisors and non–employee Directors capable of assuring the future success of the Company, to offer such persons incentives to put forth maximum efforts for the success of the Company’s business and to compensate such persons through various stock–based arrangements and provide them with opportunities for stock ownership in the Company, thereby aligning the interests of such persons with the Company’s shareholders.
As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
(a) “Affiliate” shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in each case as determined by the Committee.
(b) “Award” shall mean any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Dividend Equivalent, Performance Award, Stock Award or Other Stock–Based Award granted under the Plan.
(c) “Award Agreement” shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award granted under the Plan. An Award Agreement may be in an electronic medium and need not be signed by a representative of the Company or the Participant. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and any other terms and conditions (not inconsistent with the Plan) determined by the Committee.
(d) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) “Change in Control” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in any Award Agreement; provided, however, that no Award Agreement shall contain a definition of Change in Control that has the effect of accelerating the exercisability of any Award or the lapse of restrictions relating to any Award upon only the announcement or shareholder approval of (rather than consummation of) any reorganization, merger or consolidation of, or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of, the Company.
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(f) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
(g) “Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board or any successor committee of the Board designated by the Board to administer the Plan. The Committee shall be comprised of not less than such number of Directors as shall be required to permit Awards granted under the Plan to qualify under Rule 16b–3, and each member of the Committee shall be a “Non–Employee Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b–3 and an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m). The Company expects to have the Plan administered in accordance with the requirements for the award of “qualified performance–based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(h) “Company” shall mean LecTec Corporation, a Minnesota corporation, or any successor corporation.
(i) “Director” shall mean a member of the Board.
(j) “Dividend Equivalent” shall mean any right granted under Section 6(d) of the Plan.
(k) “Eligible Person” shall mean any employee, officer, consultant, advisor or non–employee Director providing services to the Company or any Affiliate whom the Committee determines to be an Eligible Person, provided that, in the case of consultants and advisors, such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital–raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities. An Eligible Person must be a natural person.
(l) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(m) “Fair Market Value” of Shares is (i) if the Shares are publicly traded, then the Fair Market Value per Share shall be determined as follows: (A) if the principal trading market for the Shares is a national securities exchange, the last reported sale price during regular trading hours on the relevant date or (if there were no trades on that date) on the latest preceding date upon which a sale was reported, or (B) if the Shares are not principally traded on such exchange or market, the mean between the last reported “bid” and “asked” prices of Shares on the relevant date or (if there were no “bid” and “asked” prices reported on that date) on the latest preceding date upon which “bid” and “asked” prices were reported, as reported by the National Daily Quotation Bureau, Inc. or as reported in a customary financial reporting service, as applicable and as the Committee determines, or (ii) if the Shares are not publicly traded or, if publicly traded, is not subject to reported transactions or “bid” or “asked” quotations as set forth above, the Fair Market Value per share shall be as determined by the Committee.
(n) “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an option granted under Section 6(a) of the Plan that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.
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(o) “Non–Qualified Stock Option” shall mean an option granted under Section 6(a) of the Plan that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
(p) “Option” shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Non–Qualified Stock Option.
(q) “Other Stock–Based Award” shall mean any right granted under Section 6(g) of the Plan.
(r) “Participant” shall mean an Eligible Person designated to be granted an Award under the Plan.
(s) “Performance Award” shall mean any right granted under Section 6(e) of the Plan.
(t) “Performance Goal” shall mean one or more of the following performance goals, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied on a corporate, subsidiary, division, business unit, line of business or geographic region basis: sales, revenue, costs, expenses, earnings (including one or more of net profit after tax, gross profit, operating profit, earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and net earnings), earnings per share, earnings per share from continuing operations, operating income, pre–tax income, net income, margins (including one or more of direct gross, gross, operating income, net income and pretax net income margins), returns (including one or more of return on actual or proforma assets, net assets, equity, investment, investment capital, capital and net capital employed), shareholder return (including total shareholder return relative to an index or peer group), stock price, economic value added, cash generation, cash flow, unit volume, working capital, market share, environmental health and safety goals, cost reductions and development and implementation of strategic plans, completion of key projects, management succession plans or diversity initiatives. A Performance Goal may be an absolute measure or a defined change (amount or percentage) in a measure. A Performance Goal may reflect absolute entity or business unit performance or performance relative to the performance of a peer group of companies or other external measure. To the extent consistent with Section 162(m), the Committee may provide that, in determining whether the Performance Goal has been achieved, the effect of certain events may be excluded. These events include, but are not limited to, any of the following: items of an unusual nature or of infrequency of occurrence as determined under generally accepted accounting principles, asset write–downs, litigation or related judgments or settlements, changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results, severance, contract termination and other costs related to exiting certain business activities, and gains or losses from the disposition of businesses or assets or from the early extinguishment of debt.
(u) “Person” shall mean any individual or entity, including a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or trust.
(v) “Plan” shall mean this LecTec Corporation 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
(w) “Qualified Performance Award” means a Performance Award that (i) is made to as officer of the Company who may be a “covered person” under Section 162(m), and (ii) is
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intended to be “qualified performance–based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m).
(x) “Restricted Stock” shall mean any Share granted under Section 6(c) of the Plan.
(y) “Restricted Stock Unit” shall mean any unit granted under Section 6(c) of the Plan evidencing the right to receive a Share (or a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share) at some future date.
(z) “Rule 16b–3” shall mean Rule 16b–3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act or any successor rule or regulation.
(aa) “Section 162(m)” shall mean Section 162(m) of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
(bb) “Shares” shall mean shares of Common Stock, par value of $0.01 per share, of the Company or such other securities or property as may become subject to Awards pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 4(c) of the Plan.
(cc) “Specified Employee” shall mean a “specified employee” as such term is defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code.
(dd) “Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean any right granted under Section 6(b) of the Plan.
(ee) “Stock Award” shall mean any Share granted under Section 6(f) of the Plan.
(ff) “2001 Plan” shall mean the LecTec Corporation 2001 Stock Option Plan, as amended from time to time.
Section 3. Administration.
(a) Power and Authority of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan and to applicable law, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant under the Plan; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by (or the method by which payments or other rights are to be calculated in connection with) each Award; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement; (v) amend the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement; (vi) accelerate the exercisability of any Award or the lapse of restrictions relating to any Award; (vii) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or cancelled, forfeited or suspended; (viii) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award under the Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder of the Award or the Committee; (ix) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement, including any Award Agreement, relating to the Plan; (x) establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper
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administration of the Plan; and (xi) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award or Award Agreement, and any employee of the Company or any Affiliate.
(b) Delegation. The Committee may delegate its powers and duties under the Plan to one or more Directors (including a Director who is also an officer of the Company) or a committee of Directors and may authorize one or more officers of the Company to grant Awards under the Plan, subject to such terms, conditions and limitations as the Committee may establish in its sole discretion; provided, however, that the Committee shall not delegate its powers and duties under the Plan (i) with regard to officers or directors of the Company or any Affiliate who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or (ii) in such a manner as would cause the Plan not to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m). Any delegation by the Committee pursuant to this Section 3(b) shall be subject to and limited by applicable law or regulation, including without limitation the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Stock Market or such other securities exchange on which the Shares are listed.
(c) Power and Authority of the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board may, at any time and from time to time, without any further action of the Committee, exercise the powers and duties of the Committee under the Plan, unless the exercise of such powers and duties by the Board would cause the Plan not to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m).
Section 4. Shares Available for Awards.
(a) Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c) of the Plan, the total aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under all Awards under the Plan shall be 5,500,000. If any Shares covered by an Award or to which an Award relates are not purchased or are forfeited or are reacquired by the Company (including shares of Restricted Stock, whether or not dividends have been paid on such shares), or if an Award otherwise terminates or is cancelled without delivery of any Shares, then the number of Shares counted pursuant to Section 4(b) of the Plan against the aggregate number of Shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award, to the extent of any such forfeiture, reacquisition by the Company, termination or cancellation, shall again be available for granting Awards under the Plan. Shares that are withheld in full or partial payment to the Company of the purchase or exercise price relating to an Award or in connection with the satisfaction of tax obligations relating to an Award shall not be available for granting Awards under the Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, if Shares are repurchased on the open market with the proceeds of the exercise price of Options, such Shares may not again be made available for issuance under the Plan.
(b) Accounting for Awards. For purposes of this Section 4, if an Award entitles the holder thereof to receive or purchase Shares, the number of Shares covered by such Award or to
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which such Award relates shall be counted on the date of grant of such Award against the aggregate number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan. For Stock Appreciation Rights settled in Shares upon exercise, the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, rather than the number of Shares actually issued upon exercise, shall be counted against the number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan. Awards that do not entitle the holder thereof to receive or purchase Shares and Awards that are settled in cash shall not be counted against the aggregate number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan.
(c) Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split–up, spin–off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an adjustment is necessary in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number and type of Shares (or other securities or other property) that thereafter may be made the subject of Awards, (ii) the number and type of Shares (or other securities or other property) subject to outstanding Awards, (iii) the purchase or exercise price with respect to any Awards and (iv) the limitations contained in Section 4(d) of the Plan.
(d) Section 162(m) Limitations for Qualified Performance Awards. In accordance with Section 162(m), there are limits on the Qualified Performance Awards that may be granted to an Eligible Person under the Plan in any taxable year. Qualified Performance Awards denominated in Shares are subject to the limit set forth in subsection (i) below, and Qualified Performance Awards denominated in cash are subject to the limit set forth in subsection (ii) below. In no case is a Qualified Performance Award subject to both of the limits set forth in subsections (i) and (ii) below.
(i) Limitation for Qualified Performance Awards Denominated in Shares. No Eligible Person may be granted any Options or Stock Appreciation Rights denominated in Shares for more than 1,000,000 Shares (subject to adjustment as provided for in Section 4(c) of the Plan) in the aggregate in any taxable year.
(ii) Limitation for Qualified Performance Awards Denominated in Cash. No Eligible Person may be granted any Qualified Performance Award or Qualified Performance Awards denominated in cash with a value in excess of $1,000,000 (whether payable in cash, Shares or other property) in the aggregate in any taxable year.
Section 5. Eligibility.
Any Eligible Person shall be eligible to be designated a Participant. In determining which Eligible Persons shall receive an Award and the terms of any Award, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective Eligible Persons, their present and
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potential contributions to the success of the Company or such other factors as the Committee, in its discretion, shall deem relevant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option may only be granted to full–time or part–time employees (which term as used herein includes, without limitation, officers and Directors who are also employees), and an Incentive Stock Option shall not be granted to an employee of an Affiliate unless such Affiliate is also a “subsidiary corporation” of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code or any successor provision.
Section 6. Awards.
(a) Options. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Options to Eligible Persons with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee shall determine:
(i) Exercise Price. The purchase price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee and shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option; provided, however, that the Committee may designate a per share exercise price below Fair Market Value on the date of grant (A) to the extent necessary or appropriate, as determined by the Committee, to satisfy applicable legal or regulatory requirements of a foreign jurisdiction or (B) if the Option is granted in substitution for a stock option previously granted by an entity that is acquired by or merged with the Company or an Affiliate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option may not be granted to any employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company who, at the date of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, unless the purchase price is not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.
(ii) Option Term. The term of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee but shall not be longer than ten (10) years from the date of grant. However, an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to an employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company who, at the date of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, may not have a term that exceeds five (5) years from the date of grant.
(iii) Time and Method of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part and the method or methods by which, and the form or forms (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the applicable exercise price) in which, payment of the exercise price with respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been made.
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(iv) Limits on Incentive Stock Options
Each Incentive Stock Option shall provide that if the aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of grant with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year, under the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company or a parent or subsidiary of the Company, exceeds $100,000, then the Option, as to the excess, shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option.
(b) Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Persons subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement. A Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall confer on the holder thereof a right to receive upon exercise thereof the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise (or, if the Committee shall so determine, at any time during a specified period before or after the date of exercise) over (ii) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as specified by the Committee, which price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right; provided, however, that the Committee may designate a per share grant price below Fair Market Value on the date of grant (A) to the extent necessary or appropriate, as determined by the Committee, to satisfy applicable legal or regulatory requirements of a foreign jurisdiction or (B) if the Stock Appreciation Right is granted in substitution for a stock appreciation right previously granted by an entity that is acquired by or merged with the Company or an Affiliate. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the grant price, methods of exercise, dates of exercise, methods of settlement and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be as determined by the Committee. The term of any Stock Appreciation Right will be fixed by the Committee but shall not be longer than ten (10) years from the date of grant. The Committee may impose such conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right as it may deem appropriate.
(c) Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units to Eligible Persons with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee shall determine:
(i) Restrictions. Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, any limitation on the right to vote a Share of Restricted Stock or the right to receive any dividend or other right or property with respect thereto), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may deem appropriate.
(ii) Issuance and Delivery of Shares. Any Restricted Stock granted under the Plan shall be issued at the time such Awards are granted and may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee may deem appropriate, including book–entry registration or issuance of a stock certificate or certificates, which certificate or certificates shall
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be held by the Company. Such certificate or certificates shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock. Shares representing Restricted Stock that is no longer subject to restrictions shall be delivered to the Participant promptly after the applicable restrictions lapse or are waived. In the case of Restricted Stock Units, no Shares shall be issued at the time such Awards are granted. Upon the lapse or waiver of restrictions and the restricted period relating to Restricted Stock Units evidencing the right to receive Shares, such Shares shall be issued and delivered to the holder of the Restricted Stock Units, unless such issuance and delivery is otherwise deferred to a date authorized by the Committee.
(iii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon a Participant’s termination of employment or resignation or removal as a Director (in either case, as determined under criteria established by the Committee) during the applicable restriction period, all Shares of Restricted Stock and all Restricted Stock Units held by the Participant at such time shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may, when it finds that a waiver would be in the best interest of the Company, waive in whole or in part any or all remaining restrictions with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.
(d) Dividend Equivalents. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to Eligible Persons under which the Participant shall be entitled to receive payments (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property as determined in the discretion of the Committee) equivalent to the amount of cash dividends paid by the Company to holders of Shares with respect to a number of Shares determined by the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, such Dividend Equivalents may have such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine, but in no event shall Dividend Equivalents be granted to a Participant in connection with the grant of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right.
(e) Performance Awards. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Performance Awards to Eligible Persons subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement. A Performance Award granted under the Plan (i) may be denominated or payable in cash, Shares (including, without limitation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units), other securities, other Awards or other property, and (ii) shall confer on the holder thereof the right to receive payments, in whole or in part, upon the achievement of one or more objective Performance Goals during such performance periods as the Committee shall establish. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Performance Goals to be achieved during any performance period, the length of any performance period, the amount of any Performance Award granted, the amount of any payment to be made pursuant to any Performance Award and any other terms and conditions of any Performance Award shall be determined by the Committee. Qualified Performance Awards shall be conditioned, to the extent required by 162(m), solely on the achievement of one or more objective Performance Goals established by the Committee within the time prescribed by Section 162(m), and Qualified Performance Awards shall otherwise comply with the requirements of Section 162(m).
(f) Stock Awards. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant to Eligible Persons Shares without restrictions thereon, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purpose
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of the Plan. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, such Stock Awards may have such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.
(g) Other Stock–Based Awards. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant to Eligible Persons such other Awards that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Shares (including, without limitation, securities convertible into Shares), as are deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards, subject to the terms of the Plan and the Award Agreement. Shares, or other securities delivered pursuant to a purchase right granted under this Section 6(g), shall be purchased for consideration having a value equal to at least 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Shares or other securities on the date the purchase right is granted. The consideration paid by the Participant may be paid by such method or methods and in such form or forms (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or any combination thereof), as the Committee shall determine.
(h) General.
(i) Consideration for Awards. Awards may be granted for no cash consideration or for any cash or other consideration as may be determined by the Committee or required by applicable law.
(ii) Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together. Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with or in substitution for any other Award or any award granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or in addition to or in tandem with awards granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.
(iii) Forms of Payment under Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan and of any applicable Award Agreement, payments or transfers to be made by the Company or an Affiliate upon the grant, exercise or payment of an Award may be made in such form or forms as the Committee shall determine (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or any combination thereof), and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments or on a deferred basis, in each case in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee. Such rules and procedures may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents with respect to installment or deferred payments.
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(iv) Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for a period not longer than ten (10) years from the date of grant.
(v) Limits on Transfer of Awards. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6(h)(v), no Award (other than a Stock Award) and no right under any such Award shall be transferable by a Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may establish procedures as it deems appropriate for a Participant to designate a Person or Persons, as beneficiary or beneficiaries, to exercise the rights of the Participant and receive any property distributable with respect to any Award in the event of the Participant’s death. The Committee, in its discretion and subject to such additional terms and conditions as it determines, may permit a Participant to transfer a Non–Qualified Stock Option to any “family member” (as such term is defined in the General Instructions to Form S–8 (or any successor to such Instructions or such Form) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) at any time that such Participant holds such Option, provided that such transfers may not be for value (i.e., the transferor may not receive any consideration therefor) and the family member may not make any subsequent transfers other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Each Award under the Plan or right under any such Award shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant (except as provided herein or in an Award Agreement or amendment thereto relating to a Non–Qualified Stock Option) or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. No Award (other than a Stock Award) or right under any such Award may be pledged, alienated, attached or otherwise encumbered, and any purported pledge, alienation, attachment or encumbrance thereof shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.
(vi) Restrictions; Securities Exchange Listing. All Shares or other securities delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, applicable federal or state securities laws and regulatory requirements, and the Committee may cause appropriate entries to be made or legends to be placed on the certificates for such Shares or other securities to reflect such restrictions. If the Shares or other securities are traded on a securities exchange, the Company shall not be required to deliver any Shares or other securities covered by an Award unless and until such Shares or other securities have been admitted for trading on such securities exchange.
(vii) Prohibition on Option and Stock Appreciation Right Repricing. Except as provided in Section 4(c) hereof, no Option may be amended to reduce its initial exercise price, and no Option shall be cancelled and replaced with cash, other Awards or an Option or Options having a lower exercise price than the original Option. In addition, except as provided in Section 4(c) hereof, no Stock Appreciation Right may be amended to reduce its initial grant price, and no Stock Appreciation Right shall be cancelled and replaced with cash, other Awards, or a Stock Appreciation Right or Stock Appreciation Rights having a lower grant price than the original Stock Appreciation Right.
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(viii) Section 409A Provisions. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any amount or benefit that constitutes “deferred compensation” to a Participant under Section 409A of the Code and applicable guidance thereunder is otherwise payable or distributable to a Participant under the Plan or any Award Agreement solely by reason of the occurrence of a Change in Control or due to the Participant’s disability or “separation from service” (as such term is defined under Section 409A), such amount or benefit will not be payable or distributable to the Participant by reason of such circumstance, unless the Committee determines in good faith that (i) the circumstances giving rise to such Change in Control, disability or separation from service meet the definition of a change in ownership or control, disability or separation from service, as the case may be, in Section 409A(a)(2)(A) of the Code and applicable proposed or final regulations, or (ii) the payment or distribution of such amount or benefit would be exempt from the application of Section 409A by reason of the short–term deferral exemption or otherwise. Any payment or distribution that otherwise would be made to a Participant who is a Specified Employee (as determined by the Committee in good faith) on account of separation from service may not be made before the date which is six months after the date of the Specified Employee’s separation from service (or, if earlier, upon the Specified Employee’s death), unless the payment or distribution is exempt from the application of Section 409A by reason of the short–term deferral exemption or otherwise.
Section 7. Amendment and Termination; Corrections.
(a) Amendments to the Plan. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement, prior approval of the shareholders of the Company shall be required for any amendment to the Plan that:
(i) requires shareholder approval under the rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the NASDAQ Stock Market or any securities exchange that are applicable to the Company;
(ii) increases the number of shares authorized under the Plan as specified in Section 4(a) of the Plan;
(iii) increases the number of shares or value subject to the limitations contained in Section 4(d) of the Plan;
(iv) permits repricing of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights which is prohibited by Section 6(h)(vii) of the Plan;
(v) permits the award of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights at a price less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right, contrary to the provisions of Sections 6(a)(i) and 6(b)(ii) of the Plan; and
(vi) would cause Section 162(m) of the Code to become unavailable with respect to the Plan.
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(b) Amendments to Awards. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may waive any conditions of or rights of the Company under any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the Committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively, but no such action may adversely affect the rights of the holder of such Award without the consent of the Participant or holder or beneficiary thereof.
(c) Correction of Defects, Omissions and Inconsistencies. The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to implement or maintain the effectiveness of the Plan.
Section 8. Income Tax Withholding.
In order to comply with all applicable federal, state, local or foreign income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal, state, local or foreign payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are the sole and absolute responsibility of a Participant, are withheld or collected from such Participant. In order to assist a Participant in paying all or a portion of the applicable taxes to be withheld or collected upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) an Award, the Committee, in its discretion and subject to such additional terms and conditions as it may adopt, may permit the Participant to satisfy such tax obligation by (a) electing to have the Company withhold a portion of the Shares otherwise to be delivered upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes or (b) delivering to the Company Shares other than Shares issuable upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes. The election, if any, must be made on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.
Section 9. General Provisions.
(a) Awards in Connection with Corporate Transactions and Otherwise. Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed to (i) limit the right of the Committee to make Awards under this Plan in connection with the acquisition, by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business or assets of any corporation, firm or association, including Awards to employees thereof who become employees of the Company, or for other proper corporate purposes, or (ii) limit the right of the Company to grant stock options or make other awards outside of this Plan. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee may make an Award to an employee of another corporation who becomes an employee of the Company by reason of a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or property, reorganization or liquidation involving the Company in substitution for a grant made by such corporation. The terms and conditions of the substitute Awards may vary from the terms and conditions required by the Plan and from those of
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the substituted stock incentives. The Committee shall prescribe the provisions of the substitute Awards.
(b) No Rights to Awards. No Eligible Person, Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Eligible Persons, Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards under the Plan. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to any Participant or with respect to different Participants.
(c) Award Agreements. No Participant shall have rights under an Award granted to such Participant unless and until an Award Agreement is issued to, and accepted by, the Participant.
(d) Clawback Policies. All Awards under the Plan are subject to the applicable provisions of the Company's clawback or recoupment policy approved by the Board, if any, as such policy may be in effect from time to time.
(e) No Rights of Shareholders. Except with respect to Restricted Stock and Stock Awards, neither a Participant nor the Participant’s legal representative shall be, or have any of the rights and privileges of, a shareholder of the Company with respect to any Shares issuable upon the exercise or payment of any Award, in whole or in part, unless and until the Shares have been issued.
(f) No Limit on Other Compensation Plans or Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other or additional compensation plans or arrangements, and such plans or arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
(g) No Right to Employment or Directorship. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained as an employee of the Company or any Affiliate, or a Director to be retained as a Director, nor will it affect in any way the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate a Participant’s employment at any time, with or without cause. In addition, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment free from any liability or any claim under the Plan or any Award, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement.
(h) Governing Law. The internal law, and not the law of conflicts, of the State of Minnesota, shall govern all questions concerning the validity, construction and effect of the Plan or any Award, and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan or any Award.
(i) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the purpose or intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction or Award, and the remainder of the Plan or any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
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(j) No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.
(k) No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash shall be paid in lieu of any fractional Share or whether such fractional Share or any rights thereto shall be cancelled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.
(l) Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.
Section 10. Effective Date of the Plan; Effect on 2001 Plan.
The Plan was first adopted by the Board on August 16, 2010 and previously amended and restated and approved by the shareholders as of September 27, 2011 and May 13, 2014; the Plan, as amended and restated herein, was adopted by the Board on March 23, 2016. The Plan as amended and restated herein shall be subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company at the meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held on May 26, 2016, and the amended and restated Plan shall be effective as of the date of such shareholder approval. On and after September 22, 2010, no awards shall be granted under the 2001 Plan, but all outstanding awards previously granted under the 2001 Plan shall remain outstanding in accordance with the terms thereof. All grants to non–employee Directors after September 22, 2010 shall be made solely under the Plan.
Section 11. Term of the Plan.
The Plan shall terminate at midnight on March 22, 2026, unless terminated before then by the Board; provided, however, that no Qualified Performance Award may be granted under the Plan after the fifth year following the year in which the shareholders of the Company approved the Performance Goals, unless and until the Performance Goals are reapproved by the shareholders. Awards may be granted under the Plan until the earlier to occur of the date of termination of the Plan or the date on which all Shares available for Awards under the Plan have been purchased or acquired. As long as any Awards are outstanding under the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall govern such Awards.
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