8.4. Certain Corporate Transactions
a) In the event of a corporate transaction (as, for example, a merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization, or liquidation), each outstanding Award shall be assumed by the surviving or successor entity; provided, however, that in the event of a proposed corporate transaction, the Committee may terminate all or a portion of any outstanding Award, effective upon the closing of the corporate transaction, if it determines that such termination is in the best interests of the Company. If the Committee decides to terminate outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, the Committee shall give each Participant holding an Option or Stock Appreciation Right to be terminated not less than seven days’ notice prior to any such termination, and any Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is to be so terminated may be exercised (if and only to the extent that it is then exercisable) up to, and including the date immediately preceding such termination. Further, subject to Section 8.6 below, the Committee, in its discretion, may (i) accelerate, in whole or in part, the date on which any or all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights become exercisable, (ii) remove the restrictions from outstanding Restricted Stock, (iii) cause the delivery of any Performance Stock, even if the associated Performance Goals have not been met, (iv) cause the delivery of any Contract Stock, even if the Contract Date has not been reached, and/or Other Incentive Awards; and/or (v) cause the payment of any Dividend Equivalent Rights. The Committee also may, in its discretion, change the terms of any outstanding Award to reflect any such corporate transaction, provided that, in the case of ISOs, such change would not constitute a “modification” under section 424(h) of the Code, unless the Participant consents to the change.
b) With respect to an outstanding Award held by a Participant who, following the corporate transaction, will be employed by or otherwise providing services to an entity which is a surviving or acquiring entity in such transaction or an affiliate of such an entity, the Committee may, in lieu of the action described in subsection (a) above, arrange to have such surviving or acquiring entity or affiliate grant to the Participant a replacement award which, in the judgment of the Committee, is substantially equivalent to the Award.
8.5. Change in Control. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan and subject to Section 8.6 below:
a) (i) With respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to January 1, 2013, all outstanding Options and all Stock Appreciation Rights shall become fully vested and exercisable, all Performance Stock and all Dividend Equivalent Rights shall become fully vested, all Contract Stock shall become immediately payable, and all restrictions shall be removed from any outstanding Restricted Stock, upon a Change in Control; and
(ii) To the extent allowed under applicable law or regulatory filings or unless otherwise determined by the Committee, with respect to Awards granted under the Plan on or after to January 1, 2013, in the event that a Change in Control occurs and the Participant incurs a Qualifying Termination on or within twelve (12) months following the date of such Change in Control, each outstanding Award held by a Participant, other than any Award subject to performance-vesting, shall become fully vested (and, as applicable, exercisable) and all forfeiture restrictions thereon shall lapse upon such Qualifying Termination.”
b) “Change in Control” shall mean:
i) An acquisition (other than directly from the Company) of any voting securities of the Company (“Voting Securities”) by any “Person” (as such term is used for purposes of section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) immediately after which such Person has “Beneficial Ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50 percent or more of the combined voting power of all the then outstanding Voting Securities, other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company or an affiliate thereof, or any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company; provided, however, that any acquisition from the Company or any acquisition pursuant to a transaction which complies with paragraph (iii)(A) and (B) below shall not be a Change in Control under this paragraph (i);
ii) The individuals who, as of March 1, 2003, are members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least two-thirds of the Board; provided, however, that if the election, or nomination for election by the stockholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board who constitute Incumbent Board members, such new directors shall for all purposes be considered as members of the Incumbent Board as of March 1, 2003, provided further, however, that no individual shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board if such individual initially assumed office as a result of either an actual or threatened “Election Contest” (as described in Rule 14a-11 promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board of Directors (a “Proxy Contest”) including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest;