0001839530false0001839530xbp:RedeemableWarrantsMember2024-06-132024-06-130001839530us-gaap:CommonStockMember2024-06-132024-06-1300018395302024-06-132024-06-13

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 13, 2024

XBP Europe Holdings, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

    

001-40206

    

85-2002883

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

2701 East Grauwyler Road Irving, Texas

    

75061

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

(844) 935-2832

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

    

Trading
Symbol(s)

    

Name of each exchange
on which registered

Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share

XBP

The Nasdaq Global Market

Redeemable warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of common stock at an exercise price of $11.50

XBPEW

The Nasdaq Capital Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Item 5.02

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Approval of the 2024 Stock Incentive Plan and Forms of RSU and Option Awards

On June 13, 2024, the stockholders of XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) approved and adopted the Company’s 2024 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2024 Equity Plan”) at the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). Previously, on February 12, 2024, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company approved the 2024 Equity Plan, subject to stockholder approval. Additional information regarding the results of the Annual Meeting is set forth below under Item 5.07.

Under the 2024 Equity Plan, subject to adjustment for certain changes in capitalization or other corporate events, the Company is authorized to issue up to 5,520,270 shares of common stock pursuant to equity-based awards, which may be granted to eligible participants in furtherance of the Company’s broader compensation strategy and philosophy. Awards granted under the 2024 Equity Plan will be granted upon terms approved by the Company’s Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) and set forth in an award agreement or other evidence of an award. The 2024 Equity Plan is described in greater detail in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2024 (the “Proxy Statement”), under the caption “Approval of the XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. 2024 Stock Incentive Plan,” which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.

On June 14, 2024, the Committee approved a Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Agreement (the “RSU Award Agreement”) and Form of Option Grant Notice and Agreement (the “Option Award Agreement”) to be used in connection with the grant of awards under the 2024 Equity Plan.

In addition, on June 14, 2024, the Board approved non-material amendments to the 2024 Equity Plan to clarify that certain awards made after the Board adoption date but prior to the approval by stockholders to non-Section 16 employees would have a grant date under the plan as of the date of the award and to provide an exception to the minimum vesting period for equity awards made prior to stockholder approval date. None of the amendments to the 2024 Equity Plan affect any awards made to directors or executive officers under the 2024 Equity Plan.

The descriptions of the 2024 Equity Plan, as amended, contained in the Proxy Statement and this report are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the 2024 Equity Plan. Copies of the 2024 Equity Plan, as amended, and the RSU Award Agreement and Option Award Agreement are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, Exhibit 10.2 and Exhibit 10.3, respectively, and are incorporated by reference herein.

Approval of Executive Officer Compensation and Executive Officer Annual Bonus Plan

On June 14, 2024, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Committee, ratified and approved the following compensation for the Company’s executive officers for 2024:

Compensation

Executive Officer

    

Title

    

Base Salary

    

Annual
Incentive
Award

    

Long-Term
Incentive
Award (1)

    

Total Direct
Compensation

Par Chadha

Executive Chairman

$

1,388,636

$

1,388,636

Andrej Jonovic

Chief Executive Officer

$

552,000

$

552,000

$

1,079,411

$

2,183,411

Vitalie Robu

President

$

452,588

$

452,588

$

721,332

$

1,626,508

Dejan Avramovic

Chief Financial Officer

$

399,000

$

399,000

$

376,472

$

1,174,472

(1) Represents value of long-term incentive award received by each executive officer, in the form of Restricted Stock Units, based on the Company’s closing price of $1.23 on June 14, 2024 (the “Closing Price”), the grant date of each executive officer’s award. However, the actual number of Restricted Stock Units received by each executive officer were computed by dividing (x) the dollar value of the long-term incentive compensation award granted to each executive officer under the 2024 Equity Plan by the Company’s Compensation Committee by (y) a $2.14 per share valuation (instead of the Closing Price), resulting in a lower number of Restricted Stock Units being granted to each executive officer under the 2024 Equity Plan when compared to if such long-term incentive award was made using the Closing Price.

The annual incentive awards are tied to the Company’s financial performance for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and each executive officer will be eligible to earn a discretionary annual bonus based on the Company’s achievement in 2024 of performance goals, weighted 50% for revenue and 50% for adjusted EBITDA, as well as a Committee discretionary element.

The annual incentive awards will be granted under the Company’s Executive Officer Annual Bonus Plan (the “Bonus Plan”), which was ratified, approved and adopted by the Board upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee. The purpose of the Bonus Plan is to motivate and reward senior officers through incentive compensation, attract and retain talent, and align individual performance with company goals. Pursuant to the Bonus Plan, executive officers of the Company selected by the Committee each year will be eligible to receive awards in amounts up to 100% of their annual base salary, based upon individual performance measures, company performance measures, or both, as determined by the Committee for each participant and year, following a recommendation from management. The awards typically will be paid in cash in the year following the plan year, and are subject to the participant’s continued employment through the payment date, with exceptions made for death, disability, or termination without cause. The foregoing summary of the Bonus Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Bonus Plan, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.4 hereto and incorporated into this 8-K by reference.

The long-term incentive awards will be granted in the form of restricted stock units (RSUs) under the 2024 Equity Plan and will vest over three years, subject to the executive officer continued employment through the applicable vesting dates.

Item 5.07

Regulation FD Disclosure.

The Annual Meeting of the Company was held virtually on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/XBP2024. As of the close of business on April 17, 2024, the record date for the Annual Meeting, 30,166,102 shares of common stock of the Company were issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders voted on three proposals, each of which is described in more detail in the Proxy Statement.

The final results of the votes regarding the proposals described in the Proxy Statement are as follows:

Proposal 1. The election of two Class I directors to hold office until the 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified or until such director resigns or is removed from the Board of Directors.

Nominee

    

Votes For

    

Votes Withheld

    

Broker Non-Votes

 

Martin P. Akins

28,844,829

19,138

917,742

J. Coley Clark

28,845,031

18,936

917,742

Proposal 2. The ratification of UHY LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.

Votes For

    

Votes Against

    

Abstentions

 

29,778,072

3,546

91

Proposal 3. The approval of the XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. 2024 Stock Incentive Plan.

Votes For

    

Votes Against

    

Abstentions

    

Broker Non-Votes

 

23,090,084

28,872

5,745,011

917,742

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.

    

Description

10.1*

XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. 2024 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended).

10.2*

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Agreement under the XBP Europe Holdings, Inc 2024 Stock Incentive Plan.

10.3*

Form of Option Grant Notice and Agreement under the XBP Europe Holdings, Inc 2024 Stock Incentive Plan.

10.4*

XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. Executive Officer Annual Bonus Plan.

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

* Filed herewith.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: June 20, 2024

XBP EUROPE HOLDINGS, INC.

By:

/s/ Dejan Avramovic

Dejan Avramovic

Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 10.1

XBP EUROPE HOLDINGS, INC.
2024 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

(Restated with all amendments through June 14, 2024)

1.Purpose.

The purpose of the Plan is to assist the Company in attracting, retaining, motivating, and rewarding certain employees, officers, directors, and consultants of the Company and its Affiliates and promoting the creation of long-term value for stockholders of the Company by closely aligning the interests of such individuals with those of such stockholders.  The Plan authorizes the award of Stock-based and cash-based incentives to Eligible Persons to encourage such Eligible Persons to expend maximum effort in the creation of stockholder value.

2.Definitions.

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

(a) Affiliate” means, with respect to a Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person.
(b) Award” means any Option, award of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Appreciation Right, Performance Award, or other Stock-based award granted under the Plan.
(c) Award Agreement” means an Option Agreement, a Restricted Stock Agreement, an RSU Agreement, a SAR Agreement, a Performance Award Agreement, or an agreement governing the grant of any other Stock-based Award granted under the Plan.
(d) Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) Cause” means, with respect to a Participant and in the absence of an Award Agreement or Participant Agreement otherwise defining Cause, (1) the Participant’s plea of nolo contendere to, conviction of or indictment for, any crime (whether or not involving the Company or its Affiliates) (i) constituting a felony or (ii) that has, or could reasonably be expected to result in, an adverse impact on the performance of the Participant’s duties to the Service Recipient, or otherwise has, or could reasonably be expected to result in, an adverse impact on the business or reputation of the Company or its Affiliates, (2) conduct of the Participant, in connection with his or her employment or service, that has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in material injury to the business or reputation of the Company or its Affiliates, (3) any material violation of the policies of the Service Recipient, including, but not limited to, those relating to sexual harassment or the disclosure or misuse of confidential information, or those set forth in the manuals or statements of policy of the Service Recipient; (4) the Participant’s act(s) of gross negligence or willful misconduct in the course of his or her employment or service with the Service Recipient; (5) misappropriation by the Participant of any assets or business opportunities of the Company or its Affiliates; (6) embezzlement or fraud committed by the Participant, at the Participant’s direction, or with the Participant’s prior actual knowledge; or (7) willful neglect in the performance of the Participant’s duties for the Service Recipient or willful or repeated failure or refusal to perform such duties.  If, subsequent to the Termination of a Participant for any reason other than by the Service Recipient for Cause, it is discovered that the Participant’s employment or service could have been terminated for Cause, such Participant’s employment or service shall, at the discretion of the Committee, be deemed to have been terminated by the Service Recipient for Cause for all purposes under the Plan, and the Participant shall be required to repay to the Company all amounts received by him or her in respect of any Award following

such Termination that would have been forfeited under the Plan had such Termination been by the Service Recipient for Cause.  In the event that there is an Award Agreement or Participant Agreement defining Cause, “Cause” shall have the meaning provided in such agreement, and a Termination by the Service Recipient for Cause hereunder shall not be deemed to have occurred unless all applicable notice and cure periods in such Award Agreement or Participant Agreement are complied with.
(f) Change in Control” means:
(1) a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through a transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or similar non‑U.S. regulatory agency or pursuant to a Non-Control Transaction) whereby any “person” (as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act) or any two or more persons deemed to be one “person” (as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), other than the Company or any of its Affiliates, an employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its Affiliates (or its related trust), or any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, directly or indirectly acquire “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities eligible to vote in the election of the Board (the “Company Voting Securities”);
(2) the date, within any consecutive twenty-four (24) month period commencing on or after the Effective Date, upon which individuals who constitute the Board as of the Effective Date (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual who becomes a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such individual is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest (including, but not limited to, a consent solicitation) with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board; or
(3) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its Affiliates that requires the approval of the Company’s stockholders (whether for such transaction, the issuance of securities in the transaction or otherwise) (a “Reorganization”), unless immediately following such Reorganization (i) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of (A) the corporation resulting from such Reorganization (the “Surviving Company”) or (B) if applicable, the ultimate parent corporation that has, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership of one hundred percent (100%) of the voting securities of the Surviving Company (the “Parent Company”), is represented by Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to such Reorganization (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which such Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Reorganization), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of such Company Voting Securities among holders thereof immediately prior to such Reorganization, (ii) no person, other than an employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Company or the Parent Company (or its related trust), is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the

2


Parent Company, or if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company, and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent Company, or if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company, following the consummation of such Reorganization are members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Reorganization (any Reorganization which satisfies all of the criteria specified in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) above shall be a “Non-Control Transaction”); or
(4) the sale or disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any “person” (as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act) or to any two or more persons deemed to be one “person” (as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) other than the Company’s Affiliates.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires beneficial ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company Voting Securities as a result of an acquisition of Company Voting Securities by the Company that reduces the number of Company Voting Securities outstanding; provided that if after such acquisition by the Company such person becomes the beneficial owner of additional Company Voting Securities that increases the percentage of outstanding Company Voting Securities beneficially owned by such person, a Change in Control shall then be deemed to occur, and (y) with respect to the payment of any amount that constitutes a deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code payable upon a Change in Control, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred, unless the Change in Control constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company under Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code.

(g) Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including the rules and regulations thereunder and any successor provisions, rules and regulations thereto.
(h) Committee” means the Board or such other committee consisting of two or more individuals appointed by the Board to administer the Plan and each other individual or committee of individuals designated to exercise authority under the Plan.
(i) Company” means XBP Europe Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
(j) Company Group” means the Company, together with each direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company.
(k) Corporate Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b) hereof.
(l) Data” has the meaning set forth in Section 22(f) hereof.
(m) Detrimental Activity” has the meaning set forth in Section 12(a) hereof.
(n) Disability” means, in the absence of an Award Agreement or Participant Agreement otherwise defining Disability, the permanent and total disability of such Participant within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.  In the event that there is an Award Agreement or Participant Agreement defining Disability, “Disability” shall have the meaning provided in such Award Agreement or Participant Agreement.
(o) Disqualifying Disposition” means any disposition (including any sale) of Stock acquired upon the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option made within the period that ends either (1) two years after the

3


date on which the Participant was granted the Incentive Stock Option or (2) one year after the date upon which the Participant acquired the Stock.
(p) Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 21.
(q) Eligible Person” means (1) each employee and officer of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (2) each non-employee director of the Company or any of its Affiliates; (3) each other natural Person who provides substantial services to the Company or any of its Affiliates as a consultant or advisor (or a wholly owned alter ego entity of the natural Person providing such services of which such Person is an employee, stockholder or partner) and who is designated as eligible by the Committee, and (4) each natural Person who has been offered employment by the Company or any of its Affiliates; provided that such prospective employee may not receive any payment or exercise any right relating to an Award until such Person has commenced employment or service with the Company or its Affiliates; provided further, however, that (i) with respect to any Award that is intended to qualify as a “stock right” that does not provide for a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, the term “Affiliate” as used in this Section 2(q) shall include only those corporations or other entities in the unbroken chain of corporations or other entities beginning with the Company where each of the corporations or other entities in the unbroken chain other than the last corporation or other entity owns stock possessing at least fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations or other entities in the chain, and (ii) with respect to any Award that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option, the term “Affiliate” as used in this Section 2(q) shall include only those entities that qualify as a “subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.  An employee on an approved leave of absence may be considered as still in the employ of the Company or any of its Affiliates for purposes of eligibility for participation in the Plan.
(r) Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including the rules and regulations thereunder and any successor provisions, rules and regulations thereto.
(s) Expiration Date” means, with respect to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, the date on which the term of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right expires, as determined under Section 5(b) or 8(b) hereof, as applicable.
(t) Fair Market Value” means, as of any date when the Stock is listed on one or more national securities exchanges, the closing price reported on the principal national securities exchange on which such Stock is listed and traded on the date of determination or, if the closing price is not reported on such date of determination, the closing price reported on the most recent date prior to the date of determination.  If the Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange, “Fair Market Value” shall mean the amount determined by the Board in good faith, and in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code, to be the fair market value per share of Stock.
(u) GAAP” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(f)(3) hereof.
(v) Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
(w) Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
(x) Option” means a conditional right, granted to a Participant under Section 5 hereof, to purchase Stock at a specified price during a specified time period.

4


(y) Option Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option Award.
(z) Participant” means an Eligible Person who has been granted an Award under the Plan or, if applicable, such other Person who holds an Award.
(aa) Participant Agreement” means an employment agreement, other services agreement or any other agreement between a Participant and the Service Recipient that is effective as of the date of determination.
(bb) Performance Award” means an Award granted to a Participant under Section 9 hereof, which Award is subject to the achievement of Performance Objectives during a Performance Period.  A Performance Award shall be designated as a Performance Share, a Performance Unit or a Performance Cash Award at the time of grant.
(cc) Performance Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Performance Award.
(dd) Performance Cash Award” means a Performance Award which is a cash award (for a dollar value not in excess of that set forth in Section 4(c)(1) hereof), the payment of which is subject to the achievement of Performance Objectives during a Performance Period.  A Performance Cash Award may also require the completion of a specified period of employment or service.
(ee) Performance Objectives” means the performance objectives established pursuant to the Plan for Participants who have received Performance Awards.
(ff) Performance Period” means the period of time designated by the Committee over which the achievement of one or more Performance Objectives will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to and the payment of an Award.  Performance Periods may be of varying and overlapping duration, at the sole discretion of the Committee.
(gg) Performance Share” means a Performance Award denominated in shares of Stock which may be earned in whole or in part based upon the achievement of Performance Objectives during a Performance Period.
(hh) Performance Unit” means a Performance Award denominated as a notional unit representing the right to receive one share of Stock (or the cash value of one share of Stock, if so determined by the Committee) which may be earned in whole or in part based upon the achievement of Performance Objectives during a Performance Period.
(ii) Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, or other entity.
(jj) Plan” means this XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. 2024 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
(kk) Proceeding” has the meaning set forth in Section 22(l) hereof
(ll) Qualified Member” means a member of the Committee who is a “Non-Employee Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, an “independent director” as defined under, as

5


applicable, the NASDAQ Listing Rules, the NYSE Listed Company Manual or other applicable stock exchange rules.
(mm) Qualifying Committee” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof.
(nn) Rescission Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 12(b) hereof.
(oo) Restricted Stock” means Stock granted to a Participant under Section 6 hereof that is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.
(pp) Restricted Stock Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Restricted Stock Award.
(qq) Restricted Stock Unit” means a notional unit representing the right to receive one share of Stock (or the cash value of one share of Stock, if so determined by the Committee) on a specified settlement date.
(rr) RSU Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Award of Restricted Stock Units.
(ss) SAR Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Award of Stock Appreciation Rights.
(tt) Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, including the rules and regulations thereunder and any successor provisions, rules and regulations thereto.
(uu) Service Recipient” means, with respect to a Participant holding an Award, either the Company or an Affiliate of the Company by which the original recipient of such Award is, or following a Termination was most recently, principally employed or to which such original recipient provides, or following a Termination was most recently providing, services, as applicable.
(vv) Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, and such other securities as may be substituted for such stock pursuant to Section 11 hereof.
(ww) Stock Appreciation Right” means a conditional right to receive an amount equal to the value of the appreciation in the Stock over a specified period.  Except in the event of extraordinary circumstances, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, or pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof, Stock Appreciation Rights shall be settled in Stock.
(xx) Substitute Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
(yy) Termination” means the termination of a Participant’s employment or service, as applicable, with the Service Recipient; provided, however, that, if so determined by the Committee at the time of any change in status in relation to the Service Recipient (e.g., a Participant ceases to be an employee and begins providing services as a consultant, or vice versa), such change in status will not be deemed a Termination hereunder.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event that the Service Recipient ceases to be an Affiliate of the Company (by reason of sale, divestiture, spin-off, or other similar transaction), unless a Participant’s employment or service is transferred to another entity that would constitute the Service Recipient immediately following such transaction, such Participant shall be deemed to have suffered a Termination hereunder as of the date of the consummation of such transaction.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a Participant’s change in status in relation to the Service Recipient (for

6


example, a change from employee to consultant) shall not be deemed a Termination hereunder with respect to any Awards constituting “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code that are payable upon a Termination unless such change in status constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.  Any payments in respect of an Award constituting nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code that are payable upon a Termination shall be delayed for such period as may be necessary to meet the requirements of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code.  On the first business day following the expiration of such period, the Participant shall be paid, in a single lump sum without interest, an amount equal to the aggregate amount of all payments delayed pursuant to the preceding sentence, and any remaining payments not so delayed shall continue to be paid pursuant to the payment schedule applicable to such Award.
3.Administration.
(a) Authority of the Committee.  Except as otherwise provided below, the Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  The Committee shall have full and final authority, in each case subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, to (1) select Eligible Persons to become Participants, (2) grant Awards, (3) determine the type, number of shares of Stock subject to, other terms and conditions of, and all other matters relating to, Awards, (4) prescribe Award Agreements (which need not be identical for each Participant) and rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan, (5) construe and interpret the Plan and Award Agreements and correct defects, supply omissions, and reconcile inconsistencies therein, (6) suspend the right to exercise Awards during any period that the Committee deems appropriate to comply with applicable securities laws, and thereafter extend the exercise period of an Award by an equivalent period of time or such shorter period required by, or necessary to comply with, applicable law, and (7) make all other decisions and determinations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.  Any action of the Committee shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all Persons, including, without limitation, the Company, its stockholders and Affiliates, Eligible Persons, Participants, and beneficiaries of Participants.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee shall have the ability to accelerate the vesting of any outstanding Award at any time and for any reason, including upon a Corporate Event, subject to Section 11(d), or in the event of a Participant’s Termination by the Service Recipient other than for Cause, or due to the Participant’s death, Disability or retirement (as such term may be defined in an applicable Award Agreement or Participant Agreement, or, if no such definition exists, in accordance with the Company’s then-current employment policies and guidelines).  For the avoidance of doubt, the Board shall have the authority to take all actions under the Plan that the Committee is permitted to take.
(b) Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority.  At any time that a member of the Committee is not a Qualified Member, any action of the Committee relating to an Award granted or to be granted to a Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company, must be taken by the remaining members of the Committee or a subcommittee, designated by the Committee or the Board, composed solely of two or more Qualified Members (a “Qualifying Committee”).  Any action authorized by such a Qualifying Committee shall be deemed the action of the Committee for purposes of the Plan.  The express grant of any specific power to a Qualifying Committee, and the taking of any action by such a Qualifying Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee.
(c) Delegation.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may delegate to officers or employees of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or committees thereof, the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to perform such functions under the Plan, including, but not limited to, administrative functions, as the Committee may determine appropriate.  The Committee may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan.  Any actions taken by an officer or employee delegated authority pursuant to this Section 3(c) within the scope of such delegation shall, for all purposes under the Plan, be deemed to be an action taken by the Committee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of

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the Plan to the contrary, any Award granted under the Plan to any Eligible Person who is not an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates (including any non-employee director of the Company or any Affiliate) or to any Eligible Person who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act must be expressly approved by the Committee or Qualifying Committee in accordance with subsection (b) above.
(d) Sections 409A and 457A.  The Committee shall take into account compliance with Sections 409A and 457A of the Code in connection with any grant of an Award under the Plan, to the extent applicable.  While the Awards granted hereunder are intended to be structured in a manner to avoid the imposition of any penalty taxes under Sections 409A and 457A of the Code, in no event whatsoever shall the Company or any of its Affiliates be liable for any additional tax, interest, or penalties that may be imposed on a Participant as a result of Section 409A or Section 457A of the Code or any damages for failing to comply with Section 409A or Section 457A of the Code or any similar state or local laws (other than for withholding obligations or other obligations applicable to employers, if any, under Section 409A or Section 457A of the Code).
4.Shares Available Under the Plan; Other Limitations.
(a) Number of Shares Available for Delivery.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 hereof, the total number of shares of Stock reserved and available for delivery in connection with Awards under the Plan shall be equal to 5,520,270 shares.  Shares of Stock delivered under the Plan shall consist of authorized and unissued shares or previously issued shares of Stock reacquired by the Company on the open market or by private purchase.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) except as may be required by reason of Section 422 of the Code, the number of shares of Stock available for issuance hereunder shall not be reduced by shares issued pursuant to Awards issued or assumed in connection with a merger or acquisition as contemplated by NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c) and IM-5635-1, or other applicable stock exchange rules, and their respective successor rules and listing exchange promulgations (each such Award, a “Substitute Award”); and (ii) shares of Stock shall not be deemed to have been issued pursuant to the Plan with respect to any portion of an Award that is settled in cash.
(b) Share Counting Rules.  The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double-counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem awards or Substitute Awards) and make adjustments if the number of shares of Stock actually delivered differs from the number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award.  Other than with respect to a Substitute Award, to the extent that an Award expires or is canceled, forfeited, settled in cash, or otherwise terminated without delivery to the Participant of the full number of shares of Stock to which the Award related, the undelivered shares of Stock will again be available for grant.  Shares of Stock withheld in payment of the exercise price or taxes relating to an Award and shares of Stock equal to the number surrendered in payment of any exercise price or taxes relating to an Award shall not be deemed to constitute shares delivered to the Participant and shall be deemed to again be available for delivery under the Plan.
(c) Incentive Stock Options. No more than 5,520,270 shares of Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 hereof) reserved for issuance hereunder may be issued or transferred upon exercise or settlement of Incentive Stock Options.
(d) Shares Available Under Acquired Plans.  To the extent permitted by NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c) or other applicable stock exchange rules, subject to applicable law, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio of formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the

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entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the number of shares of Stock reserved and available for delivery in connection with Awards under the Plan; provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards could have been made under the terms of such pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not employed by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or combination.
(e) Minimum Vesting Period.  No Award (other than any Performance Cash Award) may vest over a period that is less than one (1) year from the date of grant; provided, however, that the foregoing minimum vesting period shall not apply: (i) to Awards granted in payment of or exchange for an equivalent amount of salary, bonus or other earned cash compensation (including Performance Shares); (ii) to a Substitute Award that does not reduce the vesting period of the award being replaced or assumed; (iii) to Awards involving an aggregate number of shares of Stock not in excess of five percent (5%) of the aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be delivered in connection with Awards (as set forth in Section 4 hereof); (iv) to accelerated vesting in connection with certain qualifying terminations of employment in accordance with the terms of any Award Agreement or Participant Agreement; (v) to Awards granted to Eligible Participants on or after the Adoption Date but prior to the Effective Date; or (vi) to annual Awards granted to non-employee directors that vest on the first regularly scheduled annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders following the applicable date of grant.
(f) Limitation on Awards to Non-Employee Directors.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the maximum value of any Awards granted to a non-employee director of the Company in any one calendar year, taken together with any cash fees paid to such non-employee director during such calendar year, shall not exceed $750,000  (calculating the value of any such Awards based on the grant date fair value of such Awards for financial reporting purposes and excluding, for this purpose, the value of any dividend equivalent payments paid pursuant to any Award granted in a previous year).
5.Options.
(a) General.  Certain Options granted under the Plan may be intended to be Incentive Stock Options; however, no Incentive Stock Options may be granted hereunder following the tenth (10th) anniversary of the earlier of (i) the date the Plan is adopted by the Board and (ii) the date the stockholders of the Company approve the Plan.  Options may be granted to Eligible Persons in such form and having such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate; provided, however, that Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Eligible Persons who are employees of the Company or an Affiliate (as such definition is limited pursuant to Section 2(o) hereof) of the Company.  The provisions of separate Options shall be set forth in separate Option Agreements, which agreements need not be identical.  No dividends or dividend equivalents shall be paid on Options.
(b) Term.  The term of each Option shall be set by the Committee at the time of grant; provided, however, that no Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable after, and each Option shall expire, ten (10) years from the date it was granted.
(c) Exercise Price.  The exercise price per share of Stock for each Option shall be set by the Committee at the time of grant and shall not be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant, subject to Section 5(g) hereof in the case of any Incentive Stock Option.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Option that is a Substitute Award, the exercise price per share of Stock for such Option may be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant; provided, that such exercise price is determined in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and, if applicable, Section 424(a) of the Code.

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(d) Payment for Stock.  Payment for shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Option granted hereunder shall be made in full upon exercise of the Option in a manner approved by the Committee, which may include any of the following payment methods:  (1) in immediately available funds in U.S. dollars, or by certified or bank cashier’s check, (2)  by delivery of shares of Stock having a value equal to the exercise price, (3) by a broker-assisted cashless exercise in accordance with procedures approved by the Committee, whereby payment of the Option exercise price or tax withholding obligations may be satisfied, in whole or in part, with shares of Stock subject to the Option by delivery of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker (on a form prescribed by the Committee) to sell shares of Stock and to deliver all or part of the sale proceeds to the Company in payment of the aggregate exercise price and, if applicable, the amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s withholding obligations, or (4) by any other means approved by the Committee (including, for Options that are not Incentive Stock Options, by delivery of a notice of “net exercise” to the Company, pursuant to which the Participant shall receive the number of shares of Stock underlying the Option so exercised reduced by the number of shares of Stock equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option divided by the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise).  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Committee determines that any form of payment available hereunder would be in violation of Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, such form of payment shall not be available.
(e) Vesting.  Options shall vest and become exercisable in such manner, on such date or dates, or upon the achievement of performance or other conditions, in each case as may be determined by the Committee and set forth in an Option Agreement; provided, however, that notwithstanding any such vesting dates, the Committee may in its sole discretion accelerate the vesting of any Option at any time and for any reason.  Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Committee, the vesting of an Option shall occur only while the Participant is employed by or rendering services to the Service Recipient, and all vesting shall cease upon a Participant’s Termination for any reason.  To the extent permitted by applicable law and unless otherwise determined by the Committee, vesting shall be suspended during the period of any approved leave of absence by a Participant following which the Participant has a right to reinstatement and shall resume upon such Participant’s return to active employment.  If an Option is exercisable in installments, such installments or portions thereof that become exercisable shall remain exercisable until the Option expires, is canceled or otherwise terminates.
(f) Termination of Employment or Service.  Except as provided by the Committee in an Option Agreement, Participant Agreement or otherwise:
(1) In the event of a Participant’s Termination prior to the applicable Expiration Date for any reason other than (i) by the Service Recipient for Cause, or (ii) by reason of the Participant’s death or Disability, (A) all vesting with respect to such Participant’s Options outstanding shall cease, (B) all of such Participant’s unvested Options outstanding shall terminate and be forfeited for no consideration as of the date of such Termination, and (C) all of such Participant’s vested Options outstanding shall terminate and be forfeited for no consideration on the earlier of (x) the applicable Expiration Date and (y) the date that is ninety (90) days after the date of such Termination.
(2) In the event of a Participant’s Termination prior to the applicable Expiration Date by reason of such Participant’s death or Disability, (i) all vesting with respect to such Participant’s Options outstanding shall cease, (ii) all of such Participant’s unvested Options outstanding shall terminate and be forfeited for no consideration as of the date of such Termination, and (iii) all of such Participant’s vested Options outstanding shall terminate and be forfeited for no consideration on the earlier of (x) the applicable Expiration Date and (y) the date that is twelve (12) months after the date of such Termination.  In the event of a Participant’s death, such Participant’s Options shall remain exercisable by the Person or Persons to whom such Participant’s rights under the Options

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pass by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution until the applicable Expiration Date, but only to the extent that the Options were vested at the time of such Termination.
(3) In the event of a Participant’s Termination prior to the applicable Expiration Date by the Service Recipient for Cause, all of such Participant’s Options outstanding (whether or not vested) shall immediately terminate and be forfeited for no consideration as of the date of such Termination.
(g) Special Provisions Applicable to Incentive Stock Options.
(1) No Incentive Stock Option may be granted to any Eligible Person who, at the time the Option is granted, owns directly, or indirectly within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code, stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any parent or subsidiary thereof, unless such Incentive Stock Option (i) has an exercise price of at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value on the date of the grant of such Option and (ii) cannot be exercised more than five (5) years after the date it is granted.
(2) To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of grant) of Stock for which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Affiliates) exceeds $100,000, such excess Incentive Stock Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.
(3) Each Participant who receives an Incentive Stock Option must agree to notify the Company in writing immediately after the Participant makes a Disqualifying Disposition of any Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option.
6.Restricted Stock.
(a) General.  Restricted Stock may be granted to Eligible Persons in such form and having such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.  The provisions of separate Awards of Restricted Stock shall be set forth in separate Restricted Stock Agreements, which agreements need not be identical.  Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6(b) hereof, and except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Restricted Stock Agreement, the Participant shall generally have the rights and privileges of a stockholder as to such Restricted Stock, including the right to vote such Restricted Stock.  Unless otherwise set forth in a Participant’s Restricted Stock Agreement, cash dividends and stock dividends, if any, with respect to the Restricted Stock shall be withheld by the Company for the Participant’s account, and shall be subject to forfeiture to the same degree as the shares of Restricted Stock to which such dividends relate.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, no interest will accrue or be paid on the amount of any cash dividends withheld.
(b) Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer.  Restricted Stock shall vest in such manner, on such date or dates, or upon the achievement of performance or other conditions, in each case as may be determined by the Committee and set forth in a Restricted Stock Agreement; provided, however, that notwithstanding any such vesting dates, the Committee may in its sole discretion accelerate the vesting of any Award of Restricted Stock at any time and for any reason.  Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Committee, the vesting of an Award of Restricted Stock shall occur only while the Participant is employed by or rendering services to the Service Recipient, and all vesting shall cease upon a Participant’s Termination for any reason.  To the extent permitted by applicable law and unless otherwise determined by the Committee, vesting shall be suspended during the period of any approved leave of absence by a Participant following which the Participant has a right to reinstatement and shall resume upon such

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Participant’s return to active employment.  In addition to any other restrictions set forth in a Participant’s Restricted Stock Agreement, the Participant shall not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber the Restricted Stock prior to the time the Restricted Stock has vested pursuant to the terms of the Restricted Stock Agreement.
(c) Termination of Employment or Service.  Except as provided by the Committee in a Restricted Stock Agreement, Participant Agreement or otherwise, in the event of a Participant’s Termination for any reason prior to the time that such Participant’s Restricted Stock has vested, (1) all vesting with respect to such Participant’s Restricted Stock outstanding shall cease, and (2) as soon as practicable following such Termination, the Company shall repurchase from the Participant, and the Participant shall sell, all of such Participant’s unvested shares of Restricted Stock at a purchase price equal to the original purchase price paid for the Restricted Stock; provided that, if the original purchase price paid for the Restricted Stock is equal to zero dollars ($0), such unvested shares of Restricted Stock shall be forfeited to the Company by the Participant for no consideration as of the date of such Termination.
7.Restricted Stock Units.
(a) General.  Restricted Stock Units may be granted to Eligible Persons in such form and having such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.  The provisions of separate Restricted Stock Units shall be set forth in separate RSU Agreements, which agreements need not be identical.
(b) Vesting.  Restricted Stock Units shall vest in such manner, on such date or dates, or upon the achievement of performance or other conditions, in each case as may be determined by the Committee and set forth in an RSU Agreement; provided, however, that notwithstanding any such vesting dates, the Committee may in its sole discretion accelerate the vesting of any Restricted Stock Unit at any time and for any reason.  Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Committee, the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit shall occur only while the Participant is employed by or rendering services to the Service Recipient, and all vesting shall cease upon a Participant’s Termination for any reason.  To the extent permitted by applicable law and unless otherwise determined by the Committee, vesting shall be suspended during the period of any approved leave of absence by a Participant following which the Participant has a right to reinstatement and shall resume upon such Participant’s return to active employment.
(c) Settlement.  Restricted Stock Units shall be settled in Stock, cash, or property, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, on the date or dates determined by the Committee and set forth in an RSU Agreement.  Unless otherwise set forth in a Participant’s RSU Agreement, a Participant shall not be entitled to dividends, if any, or dividend equivalents with respect to Restricted Stock Units prior to settlement.
(d) Termination of Employment or Service.  Except as provided by the Committee in an RSU Agreement, Participant Agreement or otherwise, in the event of a Participant’s Termination for any reason prior to the time that such Participant’s Restricted Stock Units have been settled, (1) all vesting with respect to such Participant’s Restricted Stock Units outstanding shall cease, (2) all of such Participant’s unvested Restricted Stock Units outstanding shall be forfeited for no consideration as of the date of such Termination, and (3) any shares remaining undelivered with respect to vested Restricted Stock Units then held by such Participant shall be delivered on the delivery date or dates specified in the RSU Agreement.
8.Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) General.  Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to Eligible Persons in such form and having such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.  The provisions of separate Stock

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Appreciation Rights shall be set forth in separate SAR Agreements, which agreements need not be identical.  No dividends or dividend equivalents shall be paid on Stock Appreciation Rights.
(b) Term.  The term of each Stock Appreciation Right shall be set by the Committee at the time of grant; provided, however, that no Stock Appreciation Right granted hereunder shall be exercisable after, and each Stock Appreciation Right shall expire, ten (10) years from the date it was granted.
(c) Base Price.  The base price per share of Stock for each Stock Appreciation Right shall be set by the Committee at the time of grant and shall not be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right that is a Substitute Award, the base price per share of Stock for such Stock Appreciation Right may be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant; provided, that such base price is determined in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.
(d) Vesting.  Stock Appreciation Rights shall vest and become exercisable in such manner, on such date or dates, or upon the achievement of performance or other conditions, in each case as may be determined by the Committee and set forth in a SAR Agreement; provided, however, that notwithstanding any such vesting dates, the Committee may in its sole discretion accelerate the vesting of any Stock Appreciation Right at any time and for any reason.  Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Committee, the vesting of a Stock Appreciation Right shall occur only while the Participant is employed by or rendering services to the Service Recipient, and all vesting shall cease upon a Participant’s Termination for any reason.  To the extent permitted by applicable law and unless otherwise determined by the Committee, vesting shall be suspended during the period of any approved leave of absence by a Participant following which the Participant has a right to reinstatement and shall resume upon such Participant’s return to active employment.  If a Stock Appreciation Right is exercisable in installments, such installments or portions thereof that become exercisable shall remain exercisable until the Stock Appreciation Right expires, is canceled or otherwise terminates.
(e) Payment upon Exercise.  Payment upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right may be made in cash, Stock, or property as specified in the SAR Agreement or determined by the Committee, in each case having a value in respect of each share of Stock underlying the portion of the Stock Appreciation Right so exercised, equal to the difference between the base price of such Stock Appreciation Right and the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock on the exercise date.  For purposes of clarity, each share of Stock to be issued in settlement of a Stock Appreciation Right is deemed to have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock on the exercise date.  In no event shall fractional shares be issuable upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, and in the event that fractional shares would otherwise be issuable, the number of shares issuable will be rounded down to the next lower whole number of shares, and the Participant will be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the value of such fractional share.
(f) Termination of Employment or Service.  Except as provided by the Committee in a SAR Agreement, Participant Agreement or otherwise:
(1) In the event of a Participant’s Termination prior to the applicable Expiration Date for any reason other than (i) by the Service Recipient for Cause, or (ii) by reason of the Participant’s death or Disability, (A) all vesting with respect to such Participant’s Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding shall cease, (B) all of such Participant’s unvested Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding shall terminate and be forfeited for no consideration as of the date of such Termination, and (C) all of such Participant’s vested Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding shall terminate and be forfeited for no consideration on the earlier of (x) the applicable Expiration Date and (y) the date that is ninety (90) days after the date of such Termination.

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(2) In the event of a Participant’s Termination prior to the applicable Expiration Date by reason of such Participant’s death or Disability, (i) all vesting with respect to such Participant’s Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding shall cease, (ii) all of such Participant’s unvested Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding shall terminate and be forfeited for no consideration as of the date of such Termination, and (iii) all of such Participant’s vested Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding shall terminate and be forfeited for no consideration on the earlier of (x) the applicable Expiration Date and (y) the date that is twelve (12) months after the date of such Termination.  In the event of a Participant’s death, such Participant’s Stock Appreciation Rights shall remain exercisable by the Person or Persons to whom such Participant’s rights under the Stock Appreciation Rights pass by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution until the applicable Expiration Date, but only to the extent that the Stock Appreciation Rights were vested at the time of such Termination.
(3) In the event of a Participant’s Termination prior to the applicable Expiration Date by the Service Recipient for Cause, all of such Participant’s Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding (whether or not vested) shall immediately terminate and be forfeited for no consideration as of the date of such Termination.
9.Performance Awards.
(a) General.  Performance Awards may be granted to Eligible Persons in such form and having such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.  The provisions of separate Performance Awards, including the determination of the Committee with respect to the form of payout of Performance Awards, shall be set forth in separate Performance Award Agreements, which agreements need not be identical.  Unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement evidencing a Participant’s Performance Award, (i) cash dividends and stock dividends, if any, with respect to the Performance Shares shall be withheld by the Company for the Participant’s account, and shall be subject to forfeiture to the same degree as the Performance Shares to which such dividends relate and (ii) a Participant shall not be entitled to dividends, if any, or dividend equivalents with respect to Performance Units that are not earned and vested.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, no interest will accrue or be paid on the amount of any cash dividends withheld.
(b) Value of Performance Awards.  Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant.  Each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant.  Each Performance Award Agreement in respect of any Performance Cash Award shall specify the dollar amount payable under the Performance Cash Award.  In addition to any other non-performance terms included in the Performance Award Agreement, the Committee shall set the applicable Performance Objectives in its discretion, which objectives, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the value and number of Performance Units or Performance Shares, or the value of a Performance Cash Award, as the case may be, that will be paid out to the Participant.
(c) Earning of Performance Awards.  Upon the expiration of the applicable Performance Period or other non-performance-based vesting period, if longer, the holder of a Performance Award shall be entitled to receive the following payouts:  (1) if the holder holds Performance Units or Performance Shares, payout on the value and number of the applicable Performance Units or Performance Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, or (2) if the holder holds a Performance Cash Award, payout on the value of the Performance Cash Award earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, in any case, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding Performance Objectives have been achieved and any other non-performance-based terms met.  The Committee may specify a target, threshold or maximum amount payable and may set a formula for determining the amount of Performance

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Awards earned if performance is at or above the threshold level but falls short of the maximum achievement of the specified Performance Objectives.
(d) Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Awards.  Payment of earned Performance Awards shall be as determined by the Committee and as evidenced in the Performance Award Agreement.  Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units and Performance Shares in the form of cash, Stock, or other Awards (or in any combination thereof) equal to the value of the earned Performance Units or Performance Shares, as the case may be, at the close of the applicable Performance Period, or as soon as practicable after the end of the Performance Period.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, earned Performance Cash Awards shall be paid in cash.  Any cash, Stock, or other Awards issued in connection with a Performance Award may be issued subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee.
(e) Termination of Employment or Service.  To the extent permitted by applicable law and unless otherwise determined by the Committee, vesting shall be suspended during the period of any approved leave of absence by a Participant following which the Participant has a right to reinstatement and shall resume upon such Participant’s return to active employment.  Except as provided by the Committee in a Performance Award Agreement, Participant Agreement or otherwise, if, prior to the end of an applicable Performance Period, a Participant undergoes a Termination for any reason, all of such Participant’s Performance Awards shall be forfeited by the Participant to the Company for no consideration.
(f) Performance Objectives.  Each Performance Award shall specify the Performance Objectives that must be achieved before such Performance Award shall become earned.  The Company may also specify a minimum acceptable level of achievement below which no payment will be made and may set forth a formula for determining the amount of any payment to be made if performance is at or above such minimum acceptable level but falls short of the maximum achievement of the specified Performance Objectives.
(g) Negative Discretion.  Notwithstanding satisfaction of any completion of any Performance Objectives, the number of shares of Stock, cash or other benefits granted, issued, retainable and/or vested under a Performance Award on account of satisfaction of such Performance Objectives may be reduced by the Committee on the basis of such further considerations as the Committee, in its sole discretion, will determine.
10.Other Stock-Based Awards.

The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based upon or related to Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan.  The Committee may also grant Stock as a bonus (whether or not subject to any vesting requirements or other restrictions on transfer), and may grant other Awards in lieu of obligations of the Company or an Affiliate to pay cash or deliver other property under the Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, subject to such terms as shall be determined by the Committee.  The terms and conditions applicable to such Awards shall be determined by the Committee and evidenced by Award Agreements, which agreements need not be identical.

11.Adjustment for Recapitalization, Merger, etc.
(a) Capitalization Adjustments.  The aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be delivered in connection with Awards (as set forth in Section 4 hereof),  the numerical share limits in Section 4 hereof, the number of shares of Stock covered by each outstanding Award, and the price per share of Stock

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underlying each such Award shall be equitably and proportionally adjusted or substituted, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, as to the number, price, or kind of a share of Stock or other consideration subject to such Awards (1) in the event of changes in the outstanding Stock or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of stock dividends, extraordinary cash dividends, stock splits, reverse stock splits, recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, combinations, exchanges, or other relevant changes in capitalization occurring after the date of grant of any such Award (including any Corporate Event); (2) in connection with any extraordinary dividend declared and paid in respect of shares of Stock, whether payable in the form of cash, stock, or any other form of consideration; or (3) in the event of any change in applicable laws or circumstances that results in or could result in, in either case, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, any substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights intended to be granted to, or available for, Participants in the Plan.
(b) Corporate Events.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as provided by the Committee in an Award Agreement, Participant Agreement or otherwise, in connection with (i) a merger, amalgamation, or consolidation involving the Company in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii) a merger, amalgamation, or consolidation involving the Company in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the holders of shares of Stock receive securities of another corporation or other property or cash, (iii) a Change in Control, or (iv) the reorganization, dissolution or liquidation of the Company (each, a “Corporate Event”), the Committee may provide for any one or more of the following:
(1) The assumption or substitution of any or all Awards in connection with such Corporate Event, in which case the Awards shall be subject to the adjustment set forth in subsection (a) above, and to the extent that such Awards are Performance Awards or other Awards that vest subject to the achievement of Performance Objectives or similar performance criteria, such Performance Objectives or similar performance criteria shall be adjusted appropriately to reflect the Corporate Event;
(2) The acceleration of vesting of any or all Awards not assumed or substituted in connection with such Corporate Event, subject to the consummation of such Corporate Event; provided that any Performance Awards or other Awards that vest subject to the achievement of Performance Objectives or similar performance criteria will be deemed earned (i) based on actual performance through the date of the Corporate Event, or (ii) at the target level (or if no target is specified, the maximum level), in the event actual performance cannot be measured through the date of the Corporate Event, in each case, with respect to all unexpired Performance Periods or Performance Periods for which satisfaction of the Performance Objectives or other material terms for the applicable Performance Period has not been certified by the Committee prior to the date of the Corporate Event;
(3) The cancellation of any or all Awards not assumed or substituted in connection with such Corporate Event (whether vested or unvested) as of the consummation of such Corporate Event, together with the payment to the Participants holding vested Awards (including any Awards that would vest upon the Corporate Event but for such cancellation) so canceled of an amount in respect of cancellation equal to the amount payable pursuant to any Cash Award or, with respect to other Awards, an amount based upon the per-share consideration being paid for the Stock in connection with such Corporate Event, less, in the case of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, and other Awards subject to exercise, the applicable exercise or base price; provided, however, that holders of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, and other Awards subject to exercise shall be entitled to consideration in respect of cancellation of such Awards only if the per-share consideration less the applicable exercise or base price is greater than zero dollars ($0), and to the extent that the per-share consideration is less than or equal to the applicable exercise or base price, such Awards shall be canceled for no consideration;

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(4) The cancellation of any or all Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and other Awards subject to exercise not assumed or substituted in connection with such Corporate Event (whether vested or unvested) as of the consummation of such Corporate Event; provided that all Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and other Awards to be so canceled pursuant to this paragraph (4) shall first become exercisable for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to such Corporate Event, with any exercise during such period of any unvested Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or other Awards to be (A) contingent upon and subject to the occurrence of the Corporate Event, and (B) effectuated by such means as are approved by the Committee; and
(5) The replacement of any or all Awards (other than Awards that are intended to qualify as “stock rights” that do not provide for a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) with a cash incentive program that preserves the value of the Awards so replaced (determined as of the consummation of the Corporate Event), with subsequent payment of cash incentives subject to the same vesting conditions as applicable to the Awards so replaced and payment to be made within thirty (30) days of the applicable vesting date.

Payments to holders pursuant to paragraph (3) above shall be made in cash or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, and to the extent applicable, in the form of such other consideration necessary for a Participant to receive property, cash, or securities (or a combination thereof) as such Participant would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of the transaction if the Participant had been, immediately prior to such transaction, the holder of the number of shares of Stock covered by the Award at such time (less any applicable exercise or base price).  In addition, in connection with any Corporate Event, prior to any payment or adjustment contemplated under this subsection (b), the Committee may require a Participant to (A) represent and warrant as to the unencumbered title to his or her Awards, (B) bear such Participant’s pro-rata share of any post-closing indemnity obligations, and be subject to the same post-closing purchase price adjustments, escrow terms, offset rights, holdback terms, and similar conditions as the other holders of Stock, and (C) deliver customary transfer documentation as reasonably determined by the Committee.  The Committee need not take the same action or actions with respect to all Awards or portions thereof or with respect to all Participants.  The Committee may take different actions with respect to the vested and unvested portions of an Award.

(c) Fractional Shares.  Any adjustment provided under this Section 11 may, in the Committee’s discretion, provide for the elimination of any fractional share that might otherwise become subject to an Award.  No cash settlements shall be made with respect to fractional shares so eliminated.
(d) Double-Trigger Vesting.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, but other than as provided in an Award Agreement or Participant Agreement, with respect to any Award that is assumed or substituted in connection with a Change in Control, the vesting, payment, purchase or distribution of such Award may not be accelerated by reason of the Change in Control for any Participant unless the Participant experiences an involuntary Termination as a result of the Change in Control.  For purposes of this Section 11(d), a Participant will be deemed to experience an involuntary Termination as a result of a Change in Control if the Participant experiences a Termination by the Service Recipient other than for Cause, or otherwise experiences a Termination under circumstances which entitle the Participant to mandatory severance payment(s) pursuant to applicable law or, in the case of a non-employee director of the Company, if the non-employee director’s service on the Board terminates in connection with or as a result of a Change in Control, in each case, at any time beginning on the date of the Change in Control up to and including the second (2nd) anniversary of the Change in Control.

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12.Cancellation and Rescission of Awards.
(a) Unless the Award Agreement specifies otherwise, the Committee may cancel, rescind, suspend, withhold or otherwise limit or restrict any unexpired, unpaid, or deferred Awards at any time if the Participant is not in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, or if the Participant engages in any “Detrimental Activity.” For purposes of this Section 12, “Detrimental Activity” shall include: (i) the rendering of services for any organization or engaging directly or indirectly in any business which is or becomes competitive with any member of the Company Group, or which organization or business, or the rendering of services to such organization or business, is or becomes otherwise prejudicial to or in conflict with the interests of the Company Group; (ii) the disclosure to anyone outside the Company Group, or the use in other than the business of the Company Group, without prior written authorization from the Service Recipient, of any confidential information or material, as defined in any restrictive covenant agreement or other such agreement with confidentiality provisions between the Service Recipient and the Participant, relating to the business of the Company Group, acquired by the Participant either during or after employment with the Service Recipient; (iii) the failure or refusal to disclose promptly and to assign to the Service Recipient, pursuant to any restrictive covenant agreement or other such inventions assignment agreement, all right, title and interest in any invention or idea, patentable or not, made or conceived by the Participant during employment by the Service Recipient, relating in any manner to the actual or anticipated business, research or development work of the Company Group or the failure or refusal to do anything reasonably necessary to enable the Company Group to secure a patent where appropriate in the United States and in other countries; (iv) activity that results in the Participant’s Termination for Cause; (v) a violation of any rules, policies, procedures or guidelines of the Service Recipient; (vi) any attempt directly or indirectly to induce any employee of the Company Group to be employed or perform services elsewhere or any attempt directly or indirectly to solicit the trade or business of any current or prospective customer, supplier or partner of the Company Group; (vii) the Participant being convicted of, or entering a guilty plea with respect to, a crime, whether or not connected with the Service Recipient; or (viii) any other conduct or act determined to be injurious, detrimental or prejudicial to any interest of the Company Group.
(b) Upon exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to an Award, the Participant shall certify in a manner acceptable to the Company that he or she is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Plan. In the event a Participant fails to comply with the provisions of clauses (a)(i)-(viii) of this Section 12 prior to, or during the Rescission Period, then any exercise, payment or delivery may be rescinded within two years after such exercise, payment or delivery. In the event of any such rescission, the Participant shall pay to the Company the amount of any gain realized or payment received as a result of the rescinded exercise, payment or delivery, in such manner and on such terms and conditions as may be required, and the Company shall be entitled to set-off against the amount of any such gain any amount owed to the Participant by the Service Recipient. As used herein, “Rescission Period” shall mean that period of time established by the Committee which shall not be less than 6 months after any exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to an Award.
13.Use of Proceeds.

The proceeds received from the sale of Stock pursuant to the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes.

14.Rights and Privileges as a Stockholder.

Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan, no Person shall be entitled to the rights and privileges of Stock ownership in respect of shares of Stock that are subject to Awards hereunder until such shares have been issued to that Person.

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15.Transferability of Awards.

Awards may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution, and to the extent subject to exercise, Awards may not be exercised during the lifetime of the grantee other than by the grantee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, except with respect to Incentive Stock Options, Awards and a Participant’s rights under the Plan shall be transferable for no value to the extent provided in an Award Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the Committee.

16.Employment or Service Rights.

No individual shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan or, having been selected for the grant of an Award, to be selected for the grant of any other Award.  Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any individual any right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

17.Compliance with Laws.

The obligation of the Company to deliver Stock upon issuance, vesting, exercise, or settlement of any Award shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by governmental agencies as may be required.  Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of any Award to the contrary, the Company shall be under no obligation to offer to sell or to sell, and shall be prohibited from offering to sell or selling, any shares of Stock pursuant to an Award unless such shares have been properly registered for sale with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act (or with a similar non‑U.S. regulatory agency pursuant to a similar law or regulation) or unless the Company has received an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Company, that such shares may be offered or sold without such registration pursuant to an available exemption therefrom and the terms and conditions of such exemption have been fully complied with.  The Company shall be under no obligation to register for sale or resale under the Securities Act any of the shares of Stock to be offered or sold under the Plan or any shares of Stock to be issued upon exercise or settlement of Awards.  If the shares of Stock offered for sale or sold under the Plan are offered or sold pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, the Company may restrict the transfer of such shares and may legend the Stock certificates representing such shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.

18.Withholding Obligations.

As a condition to the issuance, vesting, exercise, or settlement of any Award (or upon the making of an election under Section 83(b) of the Code), the Committee may require that a Participant satisfy, through deduction or withholding from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant, or through such other arrangements as are satisfactory to the Committee, the amount of all federal, state, and local income and other taxes of any kind required or permitted to be withheld in connection with such issuance, vesting, exercise, or settlement (or election).  The Committee, in its discretion, may permit shares of Stock to be used to satisfy tax withholding requirements, and such shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the issuance, vesting, exercise, or settlement date of the Award, as applicable.  Depending on the withholding method, the Company may withhold by considering the applicable maximum statutorily required withholding rates or other applicable withholding rates in the applicable Participant’s jurisdiction.

19.Amendment of the Plan or Awards.
(a) Amendment of Plan.  The Board or the Committee may amend the Plan at any time and from time to time.

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(b) Amendment of Awards.  The Board or the Committee may amend the terms of any one or more Awards at any time and from time to time.
(c) Stockholder Approval; No Material Impairment.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no amendment to the Plan or any Award shall be effective without stockholder approval to the extent that such approval is required pursuant to applicable law or the applicable rules of each national securities exchange on which the Stock is listed.  Additionally, no amendment to the Plan or any Award shall materially impair a Participant’s rights under any Award unless the Participant consents in writing (it being understood that no action taken by the Board or the Committee that is expressly permitted under the Plan, including, without limitation, any actions described in Section 11 hereof, shall constitute an amendment to the Plan or an Award for such purpose).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the limitations of applicable law, if any, and without an affected Participant’s consent, the Board or the Committee may amend the terms of the Plan or any one or more Awards from time to time as necessary to bring such Awards into compliance with applicable law, including, without limitation, Section 409A of the Code.
(d) No Repricing of Awards Without Stockholder Approval.  Notwithstanding subsection (a) or (b) above, or any other provision of the Plan, the repricing of Awards shall not be permitted without stockholder approval.  For this purpose, a “repricing” means any of the following (or any other action that has the same effect as any of the following): (1) changing the terms of an Award to lower its exercise or base price (other than on account of capital adjustments resulting from share splits, etc., as described in Section 11(a) hereof), (2) any other action that is treated as a repricing under GAAP, and (3) repurchasing for cash or canceling an Award in exchange for another Award at a time when its exercise or base price is greater than the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock, unless the cancellation and exchange occurs in connection with an event set forth in Section 11(b) hereof.
20.Termination or Suspension of the Plan.

The Board or the Committee may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time.  Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on the day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date the stockholders of the Company approve the Plan.  No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated; provided, however, that following any suspension or termination of the Plan, the Plan shall remain in effect for the purpose of governing all Awards then outstanding hereunder until such time as all Awards under the Plan have been terminated, forfeited, or otherwise canceled, or earned, exercised, settled, or otherwise paid out, in accordance with their terms.

21.Effective Date of the Plan.

The Plan was adopted by the Board on February 12, 2024 (the “Adoption Date”) and approved by the stockholders of the Company on June 13, 2024 (the “Effective Date”).  It is confirmed that: (i) following the Adoption Date, the Committee had the authority to grant Awards pursuant to this Plan; (ii) all Awards so granted by the Committee to Eligible Participants who are not also subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act following the Adoption Date and prior to the Effective Date are hereby ratified and confirmed;  (iii) the “date of grant” for any such Awards to such Eligible Participants shall the date the Committee approved such Awards; and (iv) the minimum vesting requirements for such grants will be computed from such date of grant notwithstanding that such date of grant preceded the Effective Date.

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22.Miscellaneous.
(a) Certificates.  Stock acquired pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such a manner as the Committee shall determine.  If certificates representing Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Committee may require that (1) such certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Stock, (2) the Company retain physical possession of the certificates, and (3) the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Stock.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion, that the Stock shall be held in book-entry form rather than delivered to the Participant pending the release of any applicable restrictions.
(b) Other Benefits.  No Award granted or paid out under the Plan shall be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits under any retirement plan of the Company or its Affiliates nor affect any benefits under any other benefit plan now or subsequently in effect under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to the level of compensation.
(c) Corporate Action Constituting Grant of Awards.  Corporate action constituting a grant by the Company of an Award to any Participant will be deemed completed as of the date of such corporate action, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, regardless of when the instrument, certificate, or letter evidencing the Award is communicated to, or actually received or accepted by, the Participant.  In the event that the corporate records (e.g., Committee consents, resolutions or minutes) documenting the corporate action constituting the grant contain terms (e.g., exercise price, vesting schedule or number of shares of Stock) that are inconsistent with those in the Award Agreement as a result of a clerical error in connection with the preparation  of the Award Agreement, the corporate records will control and the Participant will have no legally binding right to the incorrect term in the Award Agreement.
(d) Clawback/Recoupment Policy.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, all Awards granted under the Plan shall be and remain subject to any incentive compensation clawback or recoupment policy currently in effect or as may be adopted by the Board (or a committee or subcommittee of the Board), including the XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. Policy for the Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation and, in each case, as may be amended from time to time.  No such policy adoption or amendment shall in any event require the prior consent of any Participant.  No recovery of compensation under such a clawback policy will be an event giving rise to a right to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar term) under any agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates.  In the event that an Award is subject to more than one such policy, the policy with the most restrictive clawback or recoupment provisions shall govern such Award, subject to applicable law.
(e) Non-Exempt Employees.  If an Option is granted to an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates in the United States who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, the Option will not be first exercisable for any shares of Stock until at least six (6) months following the date of grant of the Option (although the Option may vest prior to such date).  Consistent with the provisions of the Worker Economic Opportunity Act, (1) if such employee dies or suffers a Disability, (2) upon a Corporate Event in which such Option is not assumed, continued, or substituted, (3) upon a Change in Control, or (4) upon the Participant’s retirement (as such term may be defined in the applicable Award Agreement or a Participant Agreement, or, if no such definition exists, in accordance with the Company’s then current employment policies and guidelines), the vested portion of any Options held by such employee may be exercised earlier than six (6) months following the date of grant.  The foregoing provision is intended to operate so that any income derived by a non-exempt employee in connection with the exercise or vesting of an Option will be exempt from his or her regular rate of pay.  To the extent permitted and/or required for compliance with the Worker Economic Opportunity Act to ensure that any income derived by a non-exempt employee in connection with the exercise, vesting or

21


issuance of any shares under any other Award will be exempt from such employee’s regular rate of pay, the provisions of this Section 22(e) will apply to all Awards.
(f) Data Privacy.  As a condition of receipt of any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this Section 22(e) by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Affiliates for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering, and managing the Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in the Plan.  In furtherance of such implementation, administration, and management, the Company and its Affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including, but not limited to, the Participant’s name, home address, telephone number, date of birth, social security or insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title(s), information regarding any securities of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and details of all Awards (the “Data”).  In addition to transferring the Data amongst themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration, and management of the Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in the Plan, the Company and its Affiliates may each transfer the Data to any third parties assisting the Company in the implementation, administration, and management of the Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in the Plan.  Recipients of the Data may be located in the Participant’s country or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country and any given recipient’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections.  By accepting an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain, and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of assisting the Company in the implementation, administration, and management of the Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any shares of Stock.  The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in the Plan.  A Participant may, at any time, view the Data held by the Company with respect to such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data with respect to such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data with respect to the Participant, or refuse or withdraw the consents herein in writing, in any case without cost, by contacting his or her local human resources representative.  The Company may cancel the Participant’s eligibility to participate in the Plan, and in the Committee’s discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents described herein.  For more information on the consequences of refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.
(g) Participants Outside of the United States.  The Committee may modify the terms of any Award under the Plan made to or held by a Participant who is then a resident, or is primarily employed or providing services, outside of the United States in any manner deemed by the Committee to be necessary or appropriate in order that such Award shall conform to laws, regulations, and customs of the country in which the Participant is then a resident or primarily employed or providing services, or so that the value and other benefits of the Award to the Participant, as affected by non–U.S. tax laws and other restrictions applicable as a result of the Participant’s residence, employment, or providing services abroad, shall be comparable to the value of such Award to a Participant who is a resident, or is primarily employed or providing services, in the United States.  An Award may be modified under this Section 22(g) in a manner that is inconsistent with the express terms of the Plan, so long as such modifications will not contravene any applicable law or regulation or result in actual liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act for the Participant whose Award is modified.  Additionally, the Committee may adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Eligible Persons who are non–U.S. nationals or are primarily employed or providing services outside the United States.
(h) Change in Time Commitment.  In the event a Participant’s regular level of time commitment in the performance of his or her services for the Company or any of its Affiliates is reduced (for example, and

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without limitation, if the Participant is an employee of the Company and the employee has a change in status from a full-time employee to a part-time employee) after the date of grant of any Award to the Participant, the Committee has the right in its sole discretion to (i) make a corresponding reduction in the number of shares of Stock subject to any portion of such Award that is scheduled to vest or become payable after the date of such change in time commitment, and (ii) in lieu of or in combination with such a reduction, extend the vesting or payment schedule applicable to such Award.  In the event of any such reduction, the Participant will have no right with respect to any portion of the Award that is so reduced or extended.
(i) No Liability of Committee Members.  Neither any member of the Committee nor any of the Committee’s permitted delegates shall be liable personally by reason of any contract or other instrument executed by such member or on his or her behalf in his or her capacity as a member of the Committee or for any mistake of judgment made in good faith, and the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee and each other employee, officer, or director of the Company to whom any duty or power relating to the administration or interpretation of the Plan may be allocated or delegated, against all costs and expenses (including counsel fees) and liabilities (including sums paid in settlement of a claim) arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with the Plan, unless arising out of such Person’s own fraud or willful misconduct; provided, however, that approval of the Board shall be required for the payment of any amount in settlement of a claim against any such Person.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such Persons may be entitled under the Company’s certificate or articles of incorporation or by-laws, each as may be amended from time to time, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
(j) Payments Following Accidents or Illness.  If the Committee shall find that any Person to whom any amount is payable under the Plan is unable to care for his or her affairs because of illness or accident, or is a minor, or has died, then any payment due to such Person or his or her estate (unless a prior claim therefor has been made by a duly appointed legal representative) may, if the Committee so directs the Company, be paid to his or her spouse, child, relative, an institution maintaining or having custody of such Person, or any other Person deemed by the Committee to be a proper recipient on behalf of such Person otherwise entitled to payment.  Any such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Committee and the Company therefor.
(k) Governing Law.  The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without reference to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
(l) Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.  Any suit, action or proceeding with respect to the Plan or any Award Agreement or Participant Agreement, or any judgment entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in respect of any thereof, shall be resolved only in the courts of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and the appellate courts having jurisdiction of appeals in such courts.  In that context, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company and each Participant shall irrevocably and unconditionally:  (i) submit in any proceeding relating to the Plan or any Award Agreement or Participant Agreement, or for the recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof (a “Proceeding”), to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware, the court of the United States of America for the District of Delaware, and appellate courts having jurisdiction of appeals from any of the foregoing, and agree that all claims in respect of any such Proceeding shall be heard and determined in such Delaware State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court; (ii) consent that any such Proceeding may and shall be brought in such courts and waives any objection that the Company and each Participant may now or thereafter have to the venue or jurisdiction of any such Proceeding in any such court or that such Proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agree not to plead or claim the same; (iii) waive all right to trial by jury in any Proceeding (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to the Plan or any Award Agreement or Participant Agreement;

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(iv) agree that service of process in any such Proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy of such process by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such party, in the case of a Participant, at the Participant’s address shown in the books and records of the Company or, in the case of the Company, at the Company’s principal offices, attention General Counsel, and (v) agree that nothing in the Plan shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware.
(m) Electronic Delivery.  Any reference herein to a “written” agreement or document or “writing” will include any agreement or document delivered electronically or posted on the Company’s intranet (or other shared electronic medium controlled or authorized by the Company to which the Participant has access) to the extent permitted by applicable law.
(n) Statute of Limitations.  A Participant or any other person filing a claim for benefits under the Plan must file the claim within one (1) year of the date the Participant or other person knew or should have known of the facts giving rise to the claim.  This one-year statute of limitations will apply in any forum where a Participant or any other person may file a claim and, unless the Company waives the time limits set forth above in its sole discretion, any claim not brought within the time periods specified shall be waived and forever barred.
(o) Funding.  No provision of the Plan shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under the Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any assets, nor shall the Company be required to maintain separate bank accounts, books, records, or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes.  Participants shall have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the Company, except that insofar as they may have become entitled to payment of additional compensation by performance of services, they shall have the same rights as other employees and service providers under general law.
(p) Reliance on Reports.  Each member of the Committee and each member of the Board shall be fully justified in relying, acting, or failing to act, and shall not be liable for having so relied, acted, or failed to act in good faith, upon any report made by the independent public accountant of the Company and its Affiliates and upon any other information furnished in connection with the Plan by any Person or Persons other than such member.
(q) Titles and Headings.  The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.

* * *

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xela_Ex10_4

Exhibit 10.2

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT NOTICE AND AGREEMENT

XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), pursuant to its 2024 Stock Incentive Plan (as may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Plan”), hereby grants to Holder the number of Restricted Stock Units, subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan (the “Restricted Stock Units”). The Restricted Stock Units are subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth in this Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Agreement (this “Award Agreement”), as well as all of the terms and conditions of the Plan, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. To the extent that any provisions herein (or portion thereof) conflicts with any provision of the Plan, the Plan shall prevail and control. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan.

Holder:

[__]

Date of Grant:

[__], 20[__]

Vesting Commencement Date:

[__], 20[__]

Number of
Restricted Stock Units:

[__]

Vesting Schedule:

[__]


Settlement:

Upon vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit, the Company shall settle each Restricted Stock Unit by delivering to Holder one share of Stock for each Restricted Stock Unit that vested as soon as practicable (but not more than thirty (30) days) following each vesting date (the “Original Issuance Date”). The shares of Stock issued in respect of the Restricted Stock Units may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Original Issuance Date does not occur (i) during an “open window period” applicable to Holder, (ii) on a date when Holder is permitted to sell shares of Stock pursuant to a written plan that meets the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, as determined by the Company in accordance with the Company’s then effective policy on trading in Company securities (the “Policy”), or (iii) on a date when Holder is otherwise permitted to sell shares of Stock on an established stock exchange or stock market, then such shares will not be delivered on such Original Issuance Date and will instead be delivered on the first business day of the next occurring “open window” period applicable to Holder pursuant to such Policy (regardless of whether Holder has experienced a Termination at such time) or the next business day when Holder is not prohibited from selling shares of Stock on the open market, but in no event later than the later of (x) December 31st of the calendar year in which the Original Issuance Date occurs (that is, the last day of Holder’s taxable year in which the Original Issuance Date occurs), or (y) to the extent permitted by Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) without penalty, the fifteenth (15th) day of the third calendar month of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Original Issuance Date occurs.

Termination:

Section 7(d) of the Plan regarding treatment of Restricted Stock Units is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

Transfer Restrictions:

Holder shall not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber the Restricted Stock Units before they vest and are settled, and any attempt to sell, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber the Restricted Stock Units in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void.

General Unsecured Creditor:

Holder shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company until shares of Stock are issued in respect of the Restricted Stock Units.


No Rights as a Stockholder:

Neither the Restricted Stock Units nor this Award Agreement shall entitle Holder to any voting rights or other rights as a stockholder of the Company unless and until the shares of Stock in respect of the Restricted Stock Units have been issued in settlement thereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no dividends (whether in cash or shares of Stock) or dividend equivalents shall accrue or be paid with respect to any Restricted Stock Units.

Additional Terms:

The Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the following additional terms:

Any certificates representing the shares of Stock delivered to Holder shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which such shares are listed, and any applicable federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions as the Committee deems appropriate.
Holder shall be the record owner of the shares of Stock issued in respect of the Restricted Stock Units until or unless such shares of Stock are repurchased or otherwise sold or transferred in accordance with the terms of the Plan, and as record owner shall generally be entitled to all rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Stock issued in respect of the Restricted Stock Units.
Upon issuance of shares of Stock in respect of the Restricted Stock Units, Holder shall be required to satisfy applicable withholding tax obligations, if any, as provided in the Plan.
This Award Agreement does not confer upon Holder any right to continue as an employee or service provider of the Service Recipient or any other member of the Company Group.

This Award Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.
Holder understands that the Restricted Stock Units are intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code as a “short term deferral” to the greatest extent possible and the Restricted Stock Units will be administered and interpreted in accordance with such intent. In no event whatsoever shall the Company or any of its affiliates be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on Holder as a result of Section 409A of the Code or any damages for failing to comply with Section 409A of the Code (other than for withholding obligations or other obligations applicable to employers, if any, under Section 409A of the Code).
Holder agrees that the Company may deliver by email all documents relating to the Plan or the Restricted Stock Units (including, without limitation, a copy of the Plan) and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, disclosures that may be required by the Securities and Exchange Commission). Holder also agrees that the Company may deliver these documents by posting them on a website maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company. If the Company posts these documents on a website, it shall notify Holder by email or such other reasonable manner as then determined by the Company.

This Award Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto and supersede all prior negotiations, discussions, correspondence, communications, understandings, and agreements (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) between the Company and Holder relating to the subject matter of this Award Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, to the extent Holder has entered into an employment or similar agreement with the Company or any of its affiliates prior to the Date of Grant, and the terms noted in such employment or similar agreement are inconsistent with or conflict with this Award Agreement, then the terms of this Award Agreement will supersede and be deemed to amend and modify the inconsistent or conflicting terms set forth in such employment or similar agreement.

* * *


THE UNDERSIGNED HOLDER ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF THIS AWARD AGREEMENT AND THE PLAN, AND, AS AN EXPRESS CONDITION TO THE GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS UNDER THIS AWARD AGREEMENT, AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF BOTH THIS AWARD AGREEMENT AND THE PLAN.

XBP EUROPE HOLDINGS, INC.

    

HOLDER

By:

Signature

Signature

Title:

Print Name:

Date:

Date:


xela_Ex10_3

Exhibit 10.3

OPTION GRANT NOTICE AND AGREEMENT

XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), pursuant to its 2024 Stock Incentive Plan (as may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Plan”), hereby grants to Holder the number of Options (the “Options”) set forth below, each Option representing the right to purchase one share of Stock at the applicable Exercise Price (set forth below). The Options are subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth in this Option Grant Notice and Agreement (this “Award Agreement”), as well as all of the terms and conditions of the Plan, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. To the extent that any provisions herein (or portion thereof) conflicts with any provision of the Plan, the Plan shall prevail and control. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan.

Holder:

[__]

Date of Grant:

[__], 20[__]

Vesting Commencement Date:

[__], 20[__]

Number of Options:

[__]

Exercise Price:

$[__]

Expiration Date:

The tenth (10th) anniversary of the Date of Grant

Type of Option:

Stock Option

Vesting Schedule:

[__]

Exercise of Options:

To exercise vested Options, Holder (or his, her or its authorized representative) must give written notice to the Company, using the form of Option Exercise Notice as proscribed by the Committee, stating the number of Options which he, she or it intends to exercise. The Company will issue the shares of Stock with respect to which the Options are exercised upon payment of the shares of Stock acquired in accordance with Section 5(d) of the Plan, which Section 5(d) is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

Upon exercise of Options, Holder will be required to satisfy applicable withholding tax obligations as provided in Section 17 of the Plan.

Termination:

Section 5(f) of the Plan regarding treatment of Options upon Termination is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.


Transfer Restrictions:

Holder shall not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber the Options before they vest and are settled, and any attempt to sell, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber the Options in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void.

No Rights as a Stockholder:

Neither the Options nor this Award Agreement shall entitle Holder to any voting rights or other rights as a stockholder of the Company unless and until the shares of Stock in respect of any exercised Options have been issued in settlement thereof.

Additional Terms:

Options shall be subject to the following additional terms:

Options shall be exercisable in whole shares of Stock only.
Each Option shall cease to be exercisable as to any share of Stock when Holder purchases the share of Stock or when the Option otherwise expires or is forfeited.
Any certificates representing the shares of Stock delivered to Holder shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which such shares are listed, and any applicable federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions as the Committee deems appropriate.
Holder shall be the record owner of the shares of Stock issued in respect of the Options, and as record owner shall generally be entitled to all rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Stock issued in respect of the Options.
This Award Agreement does not confer upon Holder any right to continue as an employee or service provider of the Service Recipient or any other member of the Company Group.
This Award Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

Holder agrees that the Company may deliver by email all documents relating to the Plan or the Options (including, without limitation, a copy of the Plan) and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, disclosures that may be required by the Securities and Exchange Commission). Holder also agrees that the Company may deliver these documents by posting them on a website maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company. If the Company posts these documents on a website, it shall notify Holder by email or such other reasonable manner as then determined by the Company.

This Award Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto and supersede all prior negotiations, discussions, correspondence, communications, understandings, and agreements (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) between the Company and Holder relating to the subject matter of this Award Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, to the extent Holder has entered into an employment or similar agreement with the Company or any of its affiliates prior to the Date of Grant, and the terms noted in such employment or similar agreement are inconsistent with or conflict with this Award Agreement, then the terms of this Award Agreement will supersede and be deemed to amend and modify the inconsistent or conflicting terms set forth in such employment or similar agreement.

* * *


THE UNDERSIGNED HOLDER ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF THIS AWARD AGREEMENT AND THE PLAN, AND, AS AN EXPRESS CONDITION TO THE GRANT OF OPTIONS UNDER THIS AWARD AGREEMENT, AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF BOTH THIS AWARD AGREEMENT AND THE PLAN.

XBP EUROPE HOLDINGS, INC.

    

HOLDER

By:

Signature

Signature

Title:

Print Name:

Date:

Date:


Exhibit 10.4

XBP EUROPE HOLDINGS, INC.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER ANNUAL BONUS PLAN

SECTION 1: ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE

1.1Purpose. XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby establishes the XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. Executive Officer Annual Bonus Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan is intended to (i) motivate and reward a greater degree of excellence and teamwork among the senior officers of the Company by providing incentive compensation award opportunities; (ii) provide attractive and competitive total cash compensation opportunities for exceptional corporate, business unit and personal performance; (iii) reinforce the communication and achievement of the mission, objectives and goals of the Company; and (iv) enhance the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate the highest caliber senior officers.

1.2Effective Date. This Plan shall become effective June 14, 2024 (the “Effective Date”) and shall continue in effect until terminated by the Board in accordance with Section 7.4.

SECTION 2: DEFINITIONS

The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:

2.1“Award” means any cash bonus granted under the terms of the Plan. An Award may be expressed as a percentage of an Executive Officer’s Base Salary or a specific dollar amount, as determined by the Committee for each Participant for any Plan Year.

2.2“Base Salary” means as to any Plan Year, 100% of the Participant’s annualized salary rate on the last day of the Plan Year. Such Base Salary shall be before both (a) deductions for taxes or benefits, and (b) deferrals of compensation pursuant to Company-sponsored plans.

2.3“Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

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

2.5“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or any successor committee the Board may designate to administer the Plan. Each member of the Committee shall be an “independent” director, as defined under the listing standards of Nasdaq.

2.6“Company” means XBP Europe Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

2.7“Executive Officer” means any individual with the title of Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or President of the Company, and any other individual designated as an Executive Officer of the Company by the Board.

2.8“Stock Plan” means the XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. 2024 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.


2.9“Maximum Award” means the maximum amount which may be paid to a Participant as a single Award for any Plan Year. The size of the Maximum Award is one hundred percent (100%) of a Participant’s salary for such Plan Year.

2.10“Participant” means as to any Plan Year, an Executive Officer who has been selected by the Committee for participation in the Plan for that Plan Year.

2.11“Payment Date” means, for any Award, the date selected by the Company for payment of the Award which date shall be in the calendar year immediately following the Plan Year to which the Award relates.

2.12“Performance Goals” means performance goals approved by the Committee with respect to any Potential Award.

2.13“Plan Year” means the fiscal year of the Company beginning January 1, 2024, and each succeeding fiscal year of the Company.

2.14“Potential Award” means an Award which is potentially payable to a Participant, the terms of which are approved by the Committee for a Plan Year. The terms of a Potential Award shall relate to that Plan Year and can be exclusively performance-based, with Performance Goals, or can involve a combination of performance-based criteria and individual performance assessments, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine.

SECTION 3: SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS AND DETERMINATION OF AWARDS

3.1Selection of Participants. The Committee, in its sole discretion, taking into consideration the recommendation of Company management, shall select the Executive Officers who shall be Participants for the Plan Year. In selecting Participants, the Committee shall choose officers who are likely to have a significant impact on the performance of the Company. Participation in the Plan is in the sole discretion of the Committee, and on a Plan Year by Plan Year basis. Accordingly, an Executive Officer who is a Participant for a given Plan Year in no way is guaranteed or assured of being selected for participation in any subsequent Plan Year or Years.

3.2Determination of Performance Goals and Potential Awards. Company management shall prepare and recommend to the Committee the terms of the Potential Award and Performance Goals for each Participant for each Plan Year. For the avoidance of doubt, a member of Company management who is also eligible to participate in this Plan shall not make any recommendations regarding a Potential Award to himself or herself. Following submission of the recommendation by Company management, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall consider and approve the terms of the Potential Award for each Participant for the Plan Year, commencing on the first day of such Plan Year, and the Performance Goals applicable to all, or a portion of, the Potential Award. To the extent that all, or a portion, of the Participant’s Potential Award is performance-based, such Potential Award shall be contingent upon the attainment of the Participant’s Performance Goals. Each Participant’s Performance Goals and Potential Award may be set forth in writing and presented to the Participant. The outcome of any Performance Goal must be substantially uncertain at the time it is established by the Committee.


3.3Determination of Awards. After the end of each Plan Year, the Committee shall certify the extent to which the Performance Goals applicable to each Participant for that Plan Year were achieved or exceeded. For this purpose, approved minutes of a meeting of the Committee may be treated as certification. The Committee shall also determine if the criteria for any non-performance-based Potential Awards have been attained. If applicable Performance Goals and other criteria were attained, the Committee shall determine Awards payable to each Participant in accordance with the terms of their Potential Awards, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan or the terms of the Potential Award, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may adjust the Award payable to any Participant to an amount other than that which otherwise would be payable under the terms of the Potential Award.

SECTION 4: EARNING AND PAYMENT OF AWARDS

4.1Right to Award. In order to earn an Award under the Plan, a Participant must remain continuously employed by the Company through the Payment Date for such Award. Except as otherwise provided herein, if a Participant ceases to be employed by the Company for any reason prior to the Payment Date for the Award, then the Participant shall not earn or be paid the Award.

4.2Death or Disability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Participant’s death or termination by the Company due to Disability prior to the Payment Date for an Award, the Participant shall be paid the approximate Award the Participant would have been paid had the Participant remained employed, provided that in no event shall the Award be paid later the March 15th of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the termination occurred. “Disability” for purposes of this Plan means Disability as defined in the Stock Plan.

4.3Termination without Cause. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Participant’s termination by the Company without Cause prior to the Payment Date for an Award, subject to the Participant’s execution and non-revocation of a general release agreement in the form determined by the Company, the Participant shall be paid the approximate Award the Participant would have been paid had the Participant remained employed, pro-rated based on the number of days the Participant was employed by the Company during the Plan Year to which the Award relates as compared to the full number of days in such Plan Year, provided that in no event shall the Award be paid later the March 15th of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the termination occurred. “Cause” for purposes of this Plan means Cause as defined in the Stock Plan.

4.4Timing of Payment. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 4.2 and 4.3, payment of an Award, if earned, shall be made on the Payment Date for the Award.

4.5Form of Payment. Each Award shall be paid in cash (or its equivalent) in a single lump sum or in a series of related payments.

SECTION 5: ADMINISTRATION

5.1Grant of Awards. The Committee shall determine (i) those Executive Officers eligible to be Participants, and (ii) the amount of each Award, subject to the provisions of the Plan. Awards granted under the Plan shall be evidenced to the extent, and in the manner, if any, prescribed by the Committee from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Plan. In making any determinations under the Plan,


including certifications as to attainment of Performance Goals, the Committee shall be entitled to rely on reports, opinions or statements of officers or employees of the Company, as well as those of counsel, public accountants and other professional or expert persons. All determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award by the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties, including without limitation, the Company, any Executive Officer, and any other person with rights to any Award under the Plan, and no member of the Committee shall be subject to individual liability with respect to the Plan or any Awards thereunder.

5.2Committee Authority. The Committee shall have sole authority to administer the Plan and, in connection therewith, it shall have full power to (i) construe and interpret the Plan, (ii) establish rules and regulations in connection with the administration of the Plan, and (iii) perform all other acts it believes reasonable and proper, including the power to delegate responsibility to others to assist it in administering the Plan.

SECTION 6: BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

6.1Designation of Beneficiary. A Participant may file with the Committee a written designation of a beneficiary or beneficiaries (subject to such limitations as to the classes and number of beneficiaries and contingent beneficiaries as the Committee may from time to time prescribe) to receive, in the event of the death of the Participant, an Award. The Committee reserves the right to review and approve beneficiary designations. A Participant may from time to time revoke or change any such designation or beneficiary and any designation of beneficiary under the Plan shall be controlling over any other disposition, testamentary or otherwise. However, if the Committee shall be in doubt as to the right of any such beneficiary to receive any Award, the Committee may determine to recognize only a right to receipt by the legal representative of the Participant, in which case the Company, the Committee and the members thereof shall not be under any further liability to anyone.

SECTION 7: OTHER GOVERNING PROVISIONS

7.1Transferability. Except as otherwise provided herein, no Award shall be transferable other than by beneficiary designation, will or the laws of descent and distribution, and any right with respect to an Award may be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant receiving such Award only by such Participant or by his/her guardian or legal representative.

7.2Reservation of Rights of Company. Neither the establishment of the Plan or any Potential Award, nor the granting of an Award, shall confer upon any Executive Officer any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any affiliate or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any affiliate to terminate such employment at any time. The Company expressly reserves the right, which may be exercised at any time, to terminate any individual’s employment with or without Cause and without regard to the effect such termination might have upon the Participant’s receipt of an Award under the Plan.

7.3Withholding of Taxes. The Company shall deduct from any payment, or otherwise collect from the recipient, any taxes required to be withheld by federal, state or local governments in connection with any Award.


7.4Amendment and Termination of Plan. The Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any time and for any reason.

7.5Construction of Plan. The place of administration of the Plan shall be in the State of Delaware and the validity, construction, interpretation, administration and effect of the Plan and of its rules and regulations, and rights relating to the Plan, shall be determined solely in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

7.6Unfunded Nature of Plan. The Plan shall be unfunded, and the Company shall not be required to segregate any assets which may at any time be awarded under the Plan. Each Award that may become payable under the Plan shall be paid solely from the general assets of the Company. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to create a trust or to establish or evidence any Participant’s claim of any right other than as an unsecured general creditor with respect to any payment to which he or she may be entitled.

7.7Successors. All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to any Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

7.8Severability. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality of invalidity will not affect the remaining parts of the Plan and the Plan will be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

7.9Expenses of Plan. The expenses of administering the Plan will be borne by the Company.

7.10Section 409A of the Code. Although the Company does not guarantee the tax treatment of any payments under this Plan, the intent of the Company is that the payments and benefits under this Plan be exempt from Section 409A of the Code and all Treasury Regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (“Code Section 409A”) and to the maximum extent permitted the Plan shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. References to a Participant’s termination of employment will mean the Participant’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. If the Company makes a good faith determination that a payment of an award (i) constitutes a deferral of compensation for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, (ii) is made to a Participant by reason of his or her separation from service and (iii) at the time such payment would otherwise be made to Participant is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time), the payment will be delayed until the first day of the seventh month following the date of such separation from service.

7.11 Clawback Provisions. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, all Awards granted under the Plan shall be and remain subject to any incentive compensation clawback or recoupment policy currently in effect or as may be adopted by the Board (or a committee or subcommittee of the Board), including the XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. Clawback Policy for the Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation and, in each case, as may be amended from time to time. No such policy adoption or amendment shall in any event require the prior consent of any Participant. No recovery of compensation under such a clawback policy will be an event giving rise to a right to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar term) under any agreement with the Company


or any of its Affiliates. In the event that an Award is subject to more than one such policy, the policy with the most restrictive clawback or recoupment provisions shall govern such Award, subject to applicable law

7.12 Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may increase, reduce or eliminate an Award payable to any Participant above or below that which otherwise would be payable under the terms of the Participant’s Potential Award. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Committee may make equitable adjustments to the terms of the Plan to prevent any unintended impact from special or unusual events that might result in a windfall or material adverse change in any Potential Award payment under the Plan. Special or unusual events may include, without limitation, change of control, reorganization, combination with other entities, merger, consolidation, or other restructuring of the Company, other financial policy, changes in accounting principles, policies and practices, changes in tax rates or rules, natural disasters and changes in other applicable laws, rules or regulations. Such adjustment(s) may result in an increase or decrease in Potential Award value and will be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.