EX-10.1 2 cg202405298-kxexhibit101.htm EX-10.1
THE CARLYLE GROUP INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED
2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
(as amended through May 29, 2024)
1.Purpose of the Plan
The Carlyle Group Inc. Amended and Restated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended
through May 29, 2024) (the “Plan”) is designed to promote the long term financial interests and
growth of The Carlyle Group Inc., a Delaware corporation and its Affiliates by (i) attracting and
retaining senior professionals, employees, consultants, directors, members, partners and other
service providers of the Company or any of its Affiliates and (ii) aligning the interests of such
individuals with those of the Company and its Affiliates by providing them with equity-based
awards based on the Company’s shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
“Shares”).
2.Definitions
The following capitalized terms used in the Plan have the respective meanings set forth in
this Section:
(a)Act: The U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor
thereto.
(b)Administrator: The Compensation Committee of the Board, or a subcommittee
thereof, or, if the Board shall so determine, the Board or other such committee thereof, to whom
authority to administer the Plan has been delegated pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.
(c)Affiliate: With respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with
the Person in question. As used herein, the term “Control” means the possession, direct or
indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person,
whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
(d)Award: Individually or collectively, any Option, Share Appreciation Right, or
Other Share-Based Awards based on or relating to the Shares issuable under the Plan.
(e)Beneficial Owner: A “beneficial owner”, as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Act (or any successor rule thereto).
(f)Board: The board of directors of the Company.
(g)Change in Control: (i) The occurrence of any Person, other than an Affiliate of
the Company, becoming the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and l3d-5 under the
Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total voting power of Shares, including by way
of merger, consolidation or otherwise; or (ii) during any period of two consecutive years,
Continuing Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the directors serving on the
Board. For purposes of this definition, “Continuing Director” means any member of the Board
(a) serving on the Board at the beginning of the relevant period of two consecutive years referred
to in the immediately preceding sentence, (b) appointed or elected to the Board by the members
of the Board or (c) whose appointment or election to the Board by such Board, or nomination for
election to the Board by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a majority of the
directors of the Board then still serving at the time of such approval who were so serving at the
beginning of the relevant period of two consecutive years, were so appointed or elected by the
Exhibit 10.1
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members of the Board or whose appointment or election or nomination for election was so
approved.
(h)Code: The U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor
thereto.
(i)Company: The Carlyle Group Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor
corporation thereto.
(j)Disability: The term “Disability” shall have the meaning as provided under
Section 409A(a)(2)(C)(i) of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of
this Plan, the definition of Disability (or any analogous term) in an Award agreement shall
supersede the foregoing definition; provided, however, that if no definition of Disability or any
analogous term is set forth in such agreement, the foregoing definition shall apply.
(k)Effective Date: May 2, 2012.
(l)Fair Market Value: Of a Share on any given date means (i) the closing sale price
per Share as quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation
System (“Nasdaq”) on that date (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the last reported sale
price), (ii) if the Shares are not listed for trading on Nasdaq, the closing sale price (or, if no
closing sale price is reported, the last reported sale price) as reported on that date in composite
transactions for the principal national securities exchange registered pursuant to Section 6(g) of
the Act on which the Shares are listed, (iii) if the Shares are not so listed on a national securities
exchange, the last quoted bid price for the Shares on that date in the over-the-counter market as
reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization, or (iv) if the Shares are not so
quoted by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization, the average of the mid-point of the
last bid and ask prices for the Shares on that date from a nationally recognized independent
investment banking firm selected by the Administrator for this purpose.
(m)Minimum Vesting Condition: The requirement, with respect to any Award, that
vesting of (or lapsing of restrictions on) such Award does not occur any more rapidly than on the
first anniversary of the grant date for such Award (or the date of commencement of employment
or service, in the case of a grant made in connection with a Participant’s commencement of
employment or service), other than (i) in connection with a Change in Control, (ii) as a result of a
Participant’s death or Disability or (iii) as a result of a Participant’s retirement or involuntary or
constructive termination without cause; provided, that such Minimum Vesting Condition will not
be required on Awards covering, in the aggregate, a number of Shares not to exceed 5% of the
Absolute Share Limit, as defined in Section 3.
(n)Option: A nonqualified option to purchase Shares granted pursuant to Section 6
of the Plan.
(o)Option Price: The purchase price per Share of an Option, as determined pursuant
to Section 6(a) of the Plan.
(p)Other Share-Based Awards: Awards granted pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.
(q)Participant: A senior professional, employee, consultant, director, member,
partner or other service provider of the Company or of any of its Affiliates who is selected by the
Administrator to participate in the Plan.
(r)Person: A “person”, as such term is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d)
of the Act (or any successor section thereto).
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(s)Plan: The Carlyle Group Inc. Amended and Restated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan.
(t)Services: Shall be deemed to refer to (i) a Participant’s employment if the
Participant is an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (ii) a Participant’s services as
a consultant, member or partner, if the Participant is consultant to, or partner of, the Company or
of any of its Affiliates, and (iii) a Participant’s services as an non-employee director, if the
Participant is a non-employee member of the Board; provided, however, that with respect to any
Award subject to Section 409A of the Code, a Participant’s termination of Services shall be
deemed to occur upon the date of the Participant’s separation from service within the meaning of
Section 409A of the Code.
(u)Share Appreciation Right: A share appreciation right granted pursuant to Section
7 of the Plan.
(v)2021 Restatement Date: June 1, 2021.
3.Shares Subject to the Plan
(a)Subject to Section 9 of the Plan, the total number of Shares which may be issued
pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan on or after the 2021 Restatement Date shall be
58,800,000 (the “Absolute Share Limit”). The Shares may consist, in whole or in part, of
unissued Shares or treasury Shares. The issuance of Shares or payment of cash upon the exercise,
vesting or settlement of an Award or in consideration of the cancellation or termination of an
Award shall reduce the total number of Shares available under the Plan, as applicable. If Shares
are not issued or are withheld from payment of an Award to satisfy tax obligations with respect
to the Award, such Shares will not be added back to the aggregate number of Shares with respect
to which Awards may be granted under the Plan, but rather will count against the aggregate
number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan. When an Option
or Share Appreciation Right is granted under the Plan, the number of Shares subject to the
Option or Share Appreciation Right will be counted against the aggregate number of Shares with
respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan as one Share for every Share subject to
such Option or Share Appreciation Right. No Shares will be added back to the Share reserve
under the Plan with respect to exercised Share Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan
(regardless of whether the Share Appreciation Rights are cash settled or stock settled).
Additionally, no Shares will be added back to the Share reserve under the Plan in the event that
(i) a portion of the Shares covered by an Option are tendered to the Company or “net settled” to
cover payment of the Option exercise price or (ii) the Company utilizes the proceeds received
upon Option exercise to repurchase Shares on the open market or otherwise.
(b)In the event that any Awards under the Plan (regardless of whether granted prior
to, on or after the 2021 Restatement Date) terminate or lapse for any reason (in whole or in part),
including, without limitation, due to failure to achieve performance-vesting or service-vesting
criteria, on or after the 2021 Restatement Date without payment of consideration, the number of
Shares subject to such terminated or lapsed portion of Awards shall be available for future
Award grants under the Plan.
(c)The maximum number of Shares subject to Awards granted during a calendar
year to any non-employee director serving on the Board, taken together with any cash fees paid
to such non-employee director during such calendar year, shall not exceed $750,000 in total
value (calculating the value of any such Awards based on the grant date fair value of such
Awards for financial reporting purposes).
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4.Administration
(a)The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator. The Administrator may
delegate the authority to grant Awards under the Plan to any employee or group of employees of
the Company or of any Affiliate of the Company; provided that such delegation and grants are
consistent with applicable law and guidelines established by the Board from time to time.
Awards may, in the discretion of the Administrator, be made under the Plan in assumption of, or
in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by the Company, any Affiliate of the
Company or any entity acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines. The
number of Shares underlying such substitute awards shall be counted against the aggregate
number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan.
(b)The Administrator is authorized to interpret the Plan, to establish, amend and
rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and to make any other determinations that
it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. The Administrator may
correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan in the
manner and to the extent the Administrator deems necessary or desirable. Any decision of the
Administrator in the interpretation and administration of the Plan, as described herein, shall lie
within its sole and absolute discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties
concerned (including, but not limited to, Participants and their beneficiaries or successors).
(c)The Administrator shall have the full power and authority to establish the terms
and conditions of any Award subject to the Minimum Vesting Condition and consistent with the
provisions of the Plan. The Administrator shall also be authorized to waive any such terms and
conditions applicable to an Award at any time (including, without limitation, accelerating or
waiving any vesting conditions).
(d)The Administrator may require payment of any amount it may determine to be
necessary to withhold for U.S. federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes or social insurance
contributions as a result of the exercise, grant or vesting of an Award (or such other taxable that
may be applicable). In connection therewith, the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right
to withhold from Shares deliverable in respect of an Award or from any compensation or other
amount owing to the Participant, applicable withholding taxes or social insurance contributions
with respect to any issuance or transfer under the Plan and to take such action as may be
necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such
withholding taxes or social insurance contributions. Additionally, the Administrator may permit
or require a Participant to publicly sell, in a manner prescribed by the Administrator, a sufficient
number of Shares in connection with the settlement of an Award (with a remittance of the sale
proceeds to the Company) to cover applicable tax withholdings or social insurance contributions.
5.Limitations
No Award may be granted under the Plan after May 29, 2034, but Awards theretofore
granted may extend beyond that date.
6.Terms and Conditions of Options
Options granted under the Plan shall be non‑qualified options for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, and shall be subject to the foregoing and the following terms and conditions and to
such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent therewith, as the Administrator shall determine:
(a)Option Price. The Option Price per Share shall be determined by the
Administrator; provided that the Option Price per Share shall not be less than the Fair Market
Value of a Share on the applicable date the Option is granted unless the Participant is not subject
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to Section 409A of the Code or the Option is otherwise designed to be compliant with Section
409A of the Code.
(b)Exercisability. Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time
and upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Administrator, but in no event
shall an Option be exercisable more than ten years after the date it is granted.
(c)Exercise of Options. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in an Award
agreement, an Option may be exercised for all, or from time to time any part, of the Shares for
which it is then exercisable. For purposes of Section 6 of the Plan, the exercise date of an Option
shall be the later of the date a notice of exercise is received by the Company and, if applicable,
the date payment is received by the Company pursuant to the relevant clauses in the following
sentence. The purchase price for the Shares as to which an Option is exercised shall be paid to
the Company, and in the manner designated by the Administrator, pursuant to one or more of the
following methods: (i) in cash or its equivalent (e.g., by personal check), (ii) in Shares having a
Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Option Price for the Shares being purchased and
satisfying such other requirements as may be imposed by the Administrator, (iii) partly in cash
and partly in such Shares, (iv) if the Option relates to Shares and if there is a public market for
the Shares at such time, through the delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to sell Shares
obtained upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount out
of the proceeds of such Sale equal to the aggregate Option Price for the Shares being purchased,
or (v) to the extent permitted by the Administrator, through net settlement in Shares. No
Participant shall have any rights to dividends, dividend equivalents or distributions or other
rights of a holder with respect to Shares subject to an Option until the Participant has given
written notice of exercise of the Option, paid in full for such Shares and, if applicable, has
satisfied any other conditions imposed by the Administrator pursuant to the Plan.
(d)Attestation. Wherever in this Plan or any agreement evidencing an Award a
Participant is permitted to pay the exercise price of an Option or taxes relating to the exercise of
an Option by delivering Shares, the Participant may, subject to procedures satisfactory to the
Administrator, satisfy such delivery requirement by presenting proof of beneficial ownership of
such Shares, in which case the Company shall treat the Option as exercised without further
payment and/or shall withhold such number of Shares from the Shares acquired by the exercise
of the Option, as appropriate.
(e)Service Recipient Stock. No Option may be granted to a Participant subject to
Section 409A of the Code unless (i) the Shares constitute “service recipient stock” with respect
to such Participant (as defined in Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)) or (ii) the Option is otherwise
designed to be compliant with Section 409A of the Code.
(f)Repricing of Options. Notwithstanding any other provisions under the Plan, no
action shall be taken under the Plan without shareholder approval to (i) lower the exercise prices
of any Options after they are granted, (ii) exchange Options for Options with lower exercise
prices or cancel an Option when the Option Price exceeds the Fair Market Value in exchange for
cash or other Awards (other than pursuant to Section 9 hereof) or (iii) take any other action that
is treated as a “repricing” of stock options under generally accepted accounting principles.
7.Terms and Conditions of Share Appreciation Rights
(a)Grants. The Administrator may grant (i) a Share Appreciation Right independent
of an Option or (ii) a Share Appreciation Right in connection with an Option, or a portion
thereof. A Share Appreciation Right granted pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence
(A) may be granted at the time the related Option is granted or at any time prior to the exercise or
cancellation of the related Option, (B) shall cover the same number of Shares covered by an
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Option (or such lesser number of Shares as the Administrator may determine) and (C) shall be
subject to the same terms and conditions as such Option except for such additional limitations as
are contemplated by this Section 7 (or such additional limitations as may be included in an
Award agreement).
(b)Terms. The exercise price per Share of a Share Appreciation Right shall be an
amount determined by the Administrator; provided, however, that (y) the exercise price per
Share shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the applicable date the Share
Appreciation Right is granted unless the Participant is not subject to Section 409A of the Code or
the Share Appreciation Right is otherwise designed to be compliant with Section 409A of the
Code and (z) in the case of a Share Appreciation Right granted in conjunction with an Option, or
a portion thereof, the exercise price may not be less than the Option Price of the related Option.
Each Share Appreciation Right granted independent of an Option shall entitle a Participant upon
exercise to an amount equal to (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of
one Share over (B) the exercise price per Share, times (ii) the number of Shares covered by the
Share Appreciation Right. Each Share Appreciation Right granted in conjunction with an
Option, or a portion thereof, shall entitle a Participant to surrender to the Company the
unexercised Option, or any portion thereof, and to receive from the Company in exchange
therefore an amount equal to (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of
one Share over (B) the Option Price per Share, times (ii) the number of Shares covered by the
Option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered. Payment shall be made in Shares or in cash, or
partly in Shares and partly in cash (any such Shares valued at such Fair Market Value), all as
shall be determined by the Administrator. Share Appreciation Rights may be exercised from
time to time upon actual receipt by the Company of written notice of exercise stating the number
of Shares with respect to which the Share Appreciation Right is being exercised. The date a
notice of exercise is received by the Company shall be the exercise date. The Administrator, in
its sole discretion, may determine that no fractional Shares will be issued in payment for Share
Appreciation Rights, but instead cash will be paid for a fraction or the number of Shares will be
rounded downward to the next whole Share. No Participant shall have any rights to dividends,
dividend equivalents or distributions or other rights of a holder with respect to Shares subject to a
Share Appreciation Right until the Participant has been issued Shares in settlement of such Share
Appreciation Rights and, if applicable, has satisfied any other conditions imposed by the
Administrator pursuant to the Plan.
(c)Limitations. The Administrator may impose, in its discretion, such conditions
upon the exercisability of Share Appreciation Rights as it may deem fit, but in no event shall a
Share Appreciation Right be exercisable more than ten years after the date it is granted.
(d)Service Recipient Stock. No Share Appreciation Right may be granted to a
Participant subject to Section 409A of the Code unless (i) the Shares constitute “service recipient
stock” with respect to such Participant (as defined in Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)) or (ii) the
Share Appreciation Right is otherwise designed to be compliant with Section 409A of the Code.
(e)Repricing of Share Appreciation Rights. Notwithstanding any other provisions
under the Plan, no action shall be taken under the Plan without shareholder approval to (i) lower
the exercise prices of any Share Appreciation Rights after they are granted, (ii) exchange Share
Appreciation Rights for Share Appreciation Rights with lower exercise prices or cancel a Share
Appreciation Right when the exercise price exceeds the Fair Market Value in exchange for cash
or other Awards (other than pursuant to Section 9 hereof) or (iii) take any other action that is
treated as a “repricing” of Share Appreciation Rights under generally accepted accounting
principles.
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8.Other Share-Based Awards
The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may grant or sell Awards of Shares, restricted
Shares, deferred restricted Shares, phantom restricted Shares or other share-based awards based
in whole or in part on the Fair Market Value of the Shares (“Other Share-Based Awards”). Such
Other Share-Based Awards shall be in such form, and dependent on such conditions, as the
Administrator shall determine, including, without limitation, the right to receive, or vest with
respect to, one or more Shares (or the equivalent cash value of such Shares) upon the completion
of a specified period of service, the occurrence of an event and/or the attainment of performance
objectives. Other Share-Based Awards may be granted alone or in addition to any other Awards
granted under the Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator shall determine
to whom and when Other Share-Based Awards will be made, the number of Shares to be
awarded under (or otherwise related to) such Other Share-Based Awards; whether such Other
Share-Based Awards shall be settled in cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares; and all
other terms and conditions of such Awards (including, without limitation, any vesting provisions
thereof). To the extent that any dividends or dividend equivalent payments may be paid with
respect to any Other Share-Based Award, no such dividend or dividend equivalent payments will
be made unless and until the corresponding portion of the underlying Other Share-Based Award
becomes earned and vested in accordance with its terms.
9.Adjustments Upon Certain Events
Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Plan to the contrary, the following provisions
shall apply to all Awards granted under the Plan:
(a)Generally. In the event of any change in the outstanding Shares after the
Effective Date by reason of any Share distribution or split, reorganization, recapitalization,
merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, combination or transaction or exchange of Shares
or other corporate exchange, or any distribution to holders of Shares other than regular cash
distributions or any transaction similar to the foregoing, the Administrator shall make an
equitable substitution or adjustment (subject to Section 17 of the Plan) as to (i) the number or
kind of Shares or other securities issued or reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan or pursuant
to outstanding Awards, (ii) the Option Price or exercise price of any Option or Share
Appreciation Right and/or (iii) any other affected terms of such Awards, in each case, to the
extent determined by the Administrator to be necessary to preserve (and not to enlarge)
Participants’ rights with respect to Awards outstanding under the Plan; provided, however, that
the manner and form of any such equitable adjustments shall be determined by the Administrator
in its sole discretion and without liability to any person.
(b)Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control after the Effective Date,
the Administrator may (subject to Section 17 of the Plan), but shall not be obligated to, (i)
accelerate, vest or cause the restrictions to lapse with respect to all or any portion of an Award,
(ii) cancel such Awards for fair value (as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator)
which, in the case of Options and Share Appreciation Rights, may equal the excess, if any, of
value of the consideration to be paid in the Change in Control transaction to holders of the same
number of Shares subject to such Options or Share Appreciation Rights (or, if no consideration is
paid in any such transaction, the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to such Options or
Share Appreciation Rights) over the aggregate exercise price of such Options or Share
Appreciation Rights, (iii) provide for the issuance of substitute Awards that will substantially
preserve the otherwise applicable terms of any affected Awards previously granted hereunder as
determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion or (iv) provide that for a period of at least
15 days prior to the Change in Control, such Options shall be exercisable as to all shares subject
thereto and that upon the occurrence of the Change in Control, such Options shall terminate and
be of no further force and effect. The provisions of this Section 9(b) shall not limit a
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Participant’s rights, if any, to accelerated vesting of an Award upon a Change in Control to the
extent provided under the terms of any applicable Award agreement.
10.No Right to Continued Service, Employment or Awards
The granting of an Award under the Plan shall impose no obligation on the Company or
any Affiliate to continue the Services of a Participant and shall not lessen or affect the
Company’s or Affiliate’s right to terminate the Services of such Participant. No Participant or
other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for
uniformity of treatment of Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and
conditions of Awards and the Administrator’s determinations and interpretations with respect
thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant (whether or not such Participants
are similarly situated).
11.Successors and Assigns
The Plan shall be binding on all successors and assigns of the Company and a Participant,
including without limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or
trustee of such estate, or any receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or representative of the
Participant’s creditors.
12.Non-transferability of Awards
Unless otherwise determined or approved by the Administrator, an Award shall not be
transferable or assignable by the Participant otherwise than by will or by the applicable laws of
descent and distribution. An Award exercisable after the death of a Participant may be exercised
by the legatees, personal representatives or distributees of the Participant.
13.Amendments or Termination
The Board may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration or
discontinuation shall be made, without the consent of a Participant, if such action would
materially diminish any of the rights of the Participant under any Award theretofore granted to
such Participant under the Plan; provided, however, that the Administrator may amend the Plan
in such manner as it deems necessary to permit the granting of Awards meeting the requirements
of the Code or other applicable laws (including, without limitation, to avoid adverse tax
consequences to the Company or to Participants). No amendments shall be made to Sections 6(f)
or 7(e) of the Plan (regarding repricing of Options or Share Appreciation Rights) without
shareholder approval.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the
Administrator determines that any amounts payable hereunder will be taxable to a Participant
under Section 409A of the Code and related U.S. Department of Treasury guidance prior to
payment to such Participant of such amount, the Company may (a) adopt such amendments to
the Plan and Awards and appropriate policies and procedures, including amendments and
policies with retroactive effect, that the Administrator determines necessary or appropriate to
preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided by the Plan and Awards hereunder
and/or (b) take such other actions as the Administrator determines necessary or appropriate to
avoid the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code.
14.International Participants
With respect to Participants who reside or work outside the United States of America, the
Administrator may, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of the Plan or Awards with respect to
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such Participants (or establish a sub-plan operating under the Plan) in order to permit or facilitate
participation in the Plan, to conform such terms with the requirements of local law or to obtain
more favorable tax or other treatment for a Participant, the Company or an Affiliate.
15.Choice of Law
The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of
New York, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
16.Effectiveness of the Plan
The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date.
17.Section 409A
To the extent applicable, this Plan and Awards issued hereunder shall be interpreted in
accordance with Section 409A of the Code and U.S. Department of Treasury regulations and
other interpretative guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations
or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date. Notwithstanding other provisions
of the Plan or any Award agreements thereunder, no Award shall be granted, deferred,
accelerated, extended, paid out or modified under this Plan in a manner that would result in the
imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code upon a Participant. In the event
that it is reasonably determined by the Administrator that, as a result of Section 409A of the
Code, payments in respect of any Award under the Plan may not be made at the time
contemplated by the terms of the Plan or the relevant Award agreement, as the case may be,
without causing the Participant holding such Award to be subject to taxation under Section 409A
of the Code, the Company may take whatever actions the Administrator determines necessary or
appropriate to comply with, or exempt the Plan and Award agreement from the requirements of
Section 409A of the Code and related U.S. Department of Treasury guidance and other
interpretive materials as may be issued after the Effective Date, which action may include, but is
not limited to, delaying payment to a Participant who is a “specified employee” within the
meaning of Section 409A of the Code until the first day following the six-month period
beginning on the date of the Participant’s termination of Services. The Company shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to implement the provisions of this Section 17 in good faith;
provided that neither the Company, the Administrator nor any employee, director or
representative of the Company or of any of its Affiliates shall have any liability to Participants
with respect to this Section 17.
18.Fractional Shares
Notwithstanding other provisions of the Plan or any Award agreements thereunder, the
Company shall not be obligated to issue or deliver fractional Shares pursuant to the Plan or any
Award and the Administrator shall determine whether cash, other securities, or other property
shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or
any rights thereto shall be cancelled, terminated or otherwise eliminated with, or without,
consideration.
19.Clawback Policies
Awards under the Plan will be subject to any clawback, recoupment or recapture policy
that the Company may adopt from time to time to the extent provided in such policy and, in
accordance with such policy, may be subject to the requirement that the Awards be repaid to the
Company after they have been distributed to the Participant.
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