International Business Machines (IBM) 10-K2022 FY Annual report

Exhibit 10.1

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IBM

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF YOUR
EQUITY AWARD:

EFFECTIVE February 1, 2023

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Terms and Conditions of Your Equity Award

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Terms and Conditions of Your Equity Award

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Introduction

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This document provides you with the terms and conditions of your Award that are in addition to the terms and conditions contained in your Equity Award Agreement for your specific Award. Also, your Award is subject to the terms and conditions in the governing plan document; the applicable document is indicated in your Equity Award Agreement and can be found at [http://w3.ibm.com/hr/exec/comp/eq_prospectus.shtml.

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As an Award recipient, you can see a personalized summary of all your outstanding equity grants in the “Personal statement” section of the IBM executive compensation web site (http://w3.ibm.com/hr/exec/comp). This site also contains other information about long- term incentive awards, including copies of the prospectus (the governing plan document). If you have additional questions, click on the AskHR Chatbot.] [https://w3cms.s3-api.us-geo.objectstorage.softlayer.net/inline-files/LTPP_1999_august_2007_prospectus.pdf.]

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How to Use This Document

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Terms and conditions that apply to all awards in all countries can be found on page 6. Review these in addition to any award- or country-specific terms and conditions that may be listed. Once you have reviewed these general terms, check in your Equity Award Agreement for any award-specific and/or country-specific terms that apply to your Award.

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Terms and Conditions of Your Equity Award:

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Definition of Terms

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The following are defined terms from the Long-Term Performance Plan, your Equity Award Agreement, or this Terms and Conditions document. These are provided for your information. In addition to this document, see the Plan prospectus and your Equity Award Agreement for more details.

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“Awards” -- The grant of any form of stock option, stock appreciation right, stock or cash award, whether granted singly, in combination or in tandem, to a Participant pursuant to such terms, conditions, performance requirements, limitations and restrictions as the Committee may establish in order to fulfill the objectives of the Plan.

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“Board” -- The Board of Directors of International Business Machines Corporation (“IBM”).

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“Capital Stock” -- Authorized and issued or unissued Capital Stock of IBM, at such par value as may be established from time to time.

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“Committee” -- The committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan.

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“Company” -- IBM and its affiliates and subsidiaries including subsidiaries of subsidiaries and partnerships and other business ventures in which IBM has an equity interest.

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“Engage in or Associate with” includes, without limitation, engagement or association as a sole proprietor, owner, employer, director, partner, principal, joint venture, associate, employee, member, consultant, or contractor. This also includes engagement or association as a shareholder or investor during the course of your employment with the Company, and includes beneficial ownership of five percent (5%) or more of any class of outstanding stock of a competitor of the Company following the termination of your employment with the Company.

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“Equity Award Agreement” -- The document provided to the Participant which provides the grant details.

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“Fair Market Value” -- The average of the high and low prices of Capital Stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the date in question, provided that, if no sales of Capital Stock were made on said exchange on that date, the average of the high and low prices of Capital Stock as reported for the most recent preceding day on which sales of Capital Stock were made on said exchange.

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“Participant” -- An individual to whom an Award has been made under the Plan. Awards may be made to any employee of, or any other individual providing services to, the Company. However, incentive stock options may be granted only to individuals who are

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employed by IBM or by a subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of section 424(f) of the Code) of IBM, including a subsidiary that becomes such after the adoption of the Plan.

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“Performance Team” -- For purposes of the Plan, the Performance Team refers to the team of IBM’s senior leaders who run IBM Business Units or geographies, including the chairman and CEO. The CEO selects and invites these senior leaders to join the Performance Team.

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“Plan” -- Any IBM Long-Term Performance Plan.

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“Termination of Employment” -- For the purposes of determining when you cease to be an employee for the cancellation of any Award, a Participant will be deemed to be terminated if the Participant is no longer employed by IBM or a subsidiary corporation that employed the Participant when the Award was granted unless approved by a method designated by those administering the Plan.

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Terms and Conditions of Your Equity Award:

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Provisions that apply to all Award types and all countries

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The following terms apply to all countries and for all Award types (Restricted Stock Units, Cash-Settled Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock, Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and Performance Share Units).

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Cancellation and Rescission

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All determinations regarding enforcement, waiver or modification of the cancellation and rescission and other provisions of the Plan and your Equity Award Agreement (including the provisions relating to termination of employment, death and disability) shall be made in IBM’s sole discretion. Determinations made under your Equity Award Agreement and the Plan need not be uniform and may be made selectively among individuals, whether or not such individuals are similarly situated.

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You agree that the cancellation and rescission provisions of the Plan and your Equity Award Agreement are reasonable and agree not to challenge the reasonableness of such provisions, even where forfeiture of your Award is the penalty for violation. Engaging in Detrimental Activity (as defined in the Plan) during employment or after your employment relationship has ended may result in cancellation or rescission of your Award.

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The cancellation and rescission provisions of the Plan may be triggered by your acceptance of an offer to Engage in or Associate with any business which is or becomes competitive with the Company, or your engagement in competitive activities after your employment relationship with IBM has ended if: (i) on or prior to the grant date stated in your latest Equity Award Agreement you have entered into a Noncompetition Agreement with IBM; or (ii) the Award is a Retention Restricted Stock Unit award. Notwithstanding the above, the cancellation and rescission provisions of the Plan will apply to all Awards if during your employment with IBM you engage in any Detrimental Activity, including competitive activities, described in Section 13(a) of the Plan.

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For the avoidance of doubt: (a) all other cancellation and rescission provisions of the Plan will apply to all Awards if after your employment relationship has ended with IBM but during the Rescission Period you engage in any Detrimental Activity described in Section 13(a) (excluding Section 13(a)(i)) of the Plan; and (b) the cancellation and rescission provisions of the Plan will apply to all Awards if during your employment with IBM you engage in any Detrimental Activity, including competitive activities, described in Section 13(a)of the Plan.

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Jurisdiction, Governing Law, Expenses, Taxes and Administration

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Your Equity Award Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of law rules. You agree that any action or proceeding with respect to your Equity Award Agreement shall

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be brought exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in New York County or, Westchester County, New York. You agree to the personal jurisdiction thereof, and irrevocably waive any objection to the venue of such action, including any objection that the action has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

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If any court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision of your Equity Award Agreement, or portion thereof, to be unenforceable, that provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible so as to effect the intent of the parties, and the remainder of your Equity Award Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

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If you or the Company brings an action to enforce your Equity Award Agreement and the Company prevails, you will pay all costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with that action and in connection with collection, including reasonable attorneys’ fees.

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If the Company, in its sole discretion, determines that it has incurred or will incur any obligation to withhold taxes as a result of your Award, without limiting the Company’s rights under Section 9 of the Plan, the Company may withhold the number of shares that it determines is required to satisfy such liability and/or the Company may withhold amounts from other compensation to the extent required to satisfy such liability under federal, state, provincial, local, foreign or other tax laws. To the extent that such amounts are not withheld, the Company may require you to pay to the Company any amount demanded by the Company for the purpose of satisfying such liability.

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If the Company changes the vendor engaged to administer the Plan, you consent to moving all of the shares you have received under the Plan that is in an account with such vendor (including unvested and previously vested shares), to the new vendor that the Company engages to administer the Plan. Such consent will remain in effect unless and until revoked in writing by you.

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Terms and Conditions of Your Equity Award:

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Provisions that apply to specific Award types for all countries

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a.Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) including Cash-Settled RSUs and Retention RSUs (“RRSUs”)

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All references in this document to RSUs include RRSUs, unless explicitly stated otherwise

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i.All RSUs

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Termination of Employment including Death, Disability and Leave of Absence

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Termination of Employment

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In the event you cease to be an employee (other than on account of death or are disabled as described in Section 12 of the Plan) prior to the Vesting Date(s) set in your Equity Award Agreement, all then unvested RSUs, including RRSUs, under your Award shall be canceled.

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However, your unvested and/or outstanding RSUs, but not RRSUs, will continue to vest upon the termination of employment if all of the following criteria are met:

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Death or Disability

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Upon your death all RSUs covered by this Agreement shall vest immediately and your Vesting Date shall be your date of death. If you are disabled as described in Section 12 of the Plan, your RSUs shall continue to vest according to the terms of your Award.

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Leave of Absence

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In the event of a management approved leave of absence, any unvested RSUs shall continue to vest as if you were an active employee of the Company, subject to the terms in this document and your Equity Award Agreement. If you return to active status, your unvested RSUs will continue to vest in accordance with the terms in this document and your Equity Award Agreement.

Dividend Equivalents

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IBM shall not pay dividend equivalents on cash-settled or stock-settled unvested RSU awards.

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Terms and Conditions of Your Equity Award:

Provisions that apply to specific Award types for all countries

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Settlement of Award

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Subject to Sections 12 and 13 of the Plan and the section “Termination of Employment including Death, Disability and Leave of Absence” above, upon the Vesting Date(s), or as soon thereafter as may be practicable but in no event later than March 15 of the following calendar year, IBM shall make a payment to Participant in shares of Capital Stock equal to the number of vested RSUs, subject to any applicable tax withholding requirements as described in Section 9 of the Plan, and the respective RSUs shall thereupon be canceled. RSUs are not shares of Capital Stock and do not convey any stockholder rights.

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Settlement of Award

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Subject to Sections 12 and 13 of the Plan and the section entitled “Termination of Employment including Death, Disability and Leave of Absence” above, upon the Vesting Date(s), or as soon thereafter as may be practicable but in no event later than March 15 of the following calendar year, the Company shall make a payment to Participant in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the vested RSUs, subject to any applicable tax withholding requirements as described in Section 9 of the Plan, and the respective RSUs shall thereupon be canceled. Fair Market Value will be calculated in your home country currency at the exchange rate on the applicable Vesting Date using a commercially reasonable measure of exchange rate. RSUs are not shares of Capital Stock and do not convey any stockholder rights.

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Settlement of Award

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Subject to Sections 12 and 13 of the Plan and the paragraph entitled “Termination of Employment including Death, Disability or Leave of Absence” below, upon the Vesting Date(s), or as soon thereafter as may be practicable but in no event later than March 15 of the following calendar year, the shares of Restricted Stock awarded under your Equity Award Agreement will be deliverable to you, subject to any applicable tax withholding requirements as described in Section 9 of the Plan.

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Terms and Conditions of Your Equity Award:

Provisions that apply to specific Award types for all countries

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Termination of Employment including Death, Disability and Leave of Absence

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Termination of Employment

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In the event you cease to be an employee (other than on account of death or are disabled as described in Section 12 of the Plan) prior to the Vesting Date(s) in your Equity Award Agreement, all then unvested shares of Restricted Stock under your Award shall be canceled (unless your Equity Award Agreement provides otherwise).

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Death or Disability

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Upon your death all unvested shares of Restricted Stock covered by your Equity Award Agreement shall vest immediately and your Vesting Date shall be your date of death. If you are disabled as described in Section 12 of the Plan, your unvested shares of Restricted Stock shall continue to vest according to the terms of your Equity Award Agreement.

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Leave of Absence

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In the event of a management approved leave of absence, any unvested shares of Restricted Stock shall continue to vest as if you were an active employee of the Company, subject to the terms in this document and your Equity Award Agreement. If you return to active status, your unvested shares of Restricted Stock will continue to vest in accordance with the terms in this document and your Equity Award Agreement.

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Dividends and Other Rights

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During the period that the Restricted Stock is held by IBM hereunder, such stock will remain on the books of IBM in your name, may be voted by you, and any applicable dividends shall be paid to you. Shares issued in stock splits or similar events which relate to Restricted Stock then held by IBM in your name shall be issued in your name but shall be held by IBM under the terms hereof.

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Transferability

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Shares of Restricted Stock awarded under your Equity Award Agreement cannot be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered prior to the vesting of your Award as set forth in your Equity Award Agreement and any such sale, assignment, transfer, pledge or encumbrance, or any attempt thereof, shall be void.

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Terms and Conditions of Your Equity Award:

Provisions that apply to specific Award types for all countries

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Termination of Employment including Death, Disability and Leave of Absence

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Termination of Employment

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In the event you cease to be an employee (other than on account of death or are disabled as described in Section 12 of the Plan):

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Death or Disability

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In the event of your death, all Options or SARs shall become fully exercisable and remain exercisable for their full term.

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In the event you are disabled (as described in Section 12 of the Plan), any unvested Options or SARs shall continue to vest and be exercisable.

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Terms and Conditions of Your Equity Award:

Provisions that apply to specific Award types for all countries

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Leave of Absence

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In the event of a management approved leave of absence, any unvested Options or SARs shall continue to vest and be exercisable as if you were an active employee of the Company, subject to the terms in this document and your Equity Award Agreement. If you return to active status, your Options or SARs will continue to vest and be exercisable in accordance with their terms. If you do not return to active status,

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Termination of Employment for Cause

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If your employment terminates for cause, all exercisable and not exercisable Options or SARs are canceled immediately.

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Settlement of Award

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Upon exercise, the Company shall deliver an aggregate amount, in cash, equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Capital Stock on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price set forth in your Equity Award Agreement multiplied by the number of SARs exercised, subject to any applicable tax withholding requirements as described in Section 9 of the Plan. The value of the Award will be calculated in your home country currency at the exchange rate on the date the Award becomes fully vested using a commercially reasonable measure of exchange rate.

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Terms and Conditions of Your Equity Award:

Provisions that apply to specific Award types for all countries

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Termination of Employment, including Death and Disability, and Leave of Absence

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Termination of Employment and Leave of Absence

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If you cease to be an active employee for any reason (other than on account of death or are disabled as described in Section 12 of the Plan) before the Date of Payout (in the case of a recipient in the United States, at year end of the applicable PSU Performance Period), all PSUs are canceled immediately. However, if at the time that you cease to be an active employee (provided you are not terminated for cause), you are a banded executive, have attained age 55, completed at least 15 years of service with the Company, and completed at least one year of active service during the PSU Performance Period (as set forth in your Equity Award Agreement), the PSUs granted hereunder shall be paid out on the Date of Payout (as set forth in your Equity Award Agreement) in an amount that will be prorated for the time that you work as an active executive during the PSU Performance Period, and adjusted for the performance score determined for the entire applicable performance period(s).

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However, provided you are not terminated for cause, your unvested PSUs will continue to vest if all of the following criteria are met at the time you cease to be an active employee:

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Death or Disability

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Prior to the Date of Payout, (i) in the event of your death or (ii) if you are disabled (as described in Section 12 of the Plan), all PSUs shall continue to vest according to the terms of your Equity Award Agreement and the PSUs will be paid on the Date of Payout, based on IBM performance, if applicable, over the entire applicable Performance Period(s).

Terms and Conditions of Your Equity Award:

Provisions that apply to specific countries

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i.All Awards

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Data Privacy

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In addition to the data privacy provisions in your Equity Award Agreement, you agree that data, including your personal data, necessary to administer this Award may be exchanged among IBM and its subsidiaries and affiliates as necessary (including transferring such data out of the country of origin both in and out of the EEA), and with any vendor engaged by IBM to administer this Award.

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i.All Awards

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Nothing in the Plan prospectus, your Equity Award Agreement or this Document affects your rights, immunities, or obligations under any federal, state, or local law, including under the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, as described in Company policies, or prohibits you from reporting possible violations of law or regulation to a government agency, as protected by law.

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If you are, and have been for at least 30 days immediately preceding, a resident of, or an employee in Massachusetts at the time of the termination of your employment with IBM, cancellation and rescission provisions of the Plan will not apply if you engage in competitive activities after your employment relationship has ended with IBM. For the avoidance of doubt, cancellation and rescission provisions of the Plan will apply if you engage in (1) any Detrimental Activity prior to your employment relationship ending with IBM or (2) any Detrimental Activity described in Section 13(a) of the Plan other than engaging in competitive activities after your employment relationship has ended with IBM.