8-K
WESTERN DIGITAL CORP false 0000106040 0000106040 2024-11-20 2024-11-20

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 20, 2024

 

 

 

LOGO

WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-08703   33-0956711

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

5601 Great Oaks Parkway

San Jose, California

  95119
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(408) 717-6000

(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

 

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, $0.01 Par Value Per Share   WDC  

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

(Nasdaq Global Select 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-2 of 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.

Amended and Restated 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan

Western Digital Corporation (the “Company”) held its annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) on November 20, 2024. At the Annual Meeting, as discussed below, the Company’s stockholders approved the amendment and restatement of the Western Digital Corporation 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended and restated, the “Equity Plan”) to increase shares available for issuance under the Equity Plan by 6 million shares as described in the section entitled “Equity Plan Proposal” in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 7, 2024 (the “Proxy Statement”), which section is incorporated herein by reference. The Equity Plan had been previously approved, subject to stockholder approval, by the Board of Directors of the Company on August 22, 2024.

The foregoing description and the description incorporated by reference from the Proxy Statement are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Equity Plan, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this report and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.07

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

Results of the voting at the Annual Meeting are set forth below.

Proposal 1. Election of Directors. The stockholders elected the following eight directors to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. The voting results were as follows:

 

     For      Against      Abstain      Broker Non-Votes  

Kimberly E. Alexy

     273,596,741        1,289,277        326,768        35,408,426  

Thomas Caulfield

     266,604,247        8,276,411        332,128        35,408,426  

Martin I. Cole

     264,482,419        10,397,551        332,816        35,408,426  

Tunç Doluca

     273,857,048        1,023,614        332,124        35,408,426  

David V. Goeckeler

     273,899,967        1,014,316        298,503        35,408,426  

Matthew E. Massengill

     264,379,679        10,531,136        301,971        35,408,426  

Stephanie A. Streeter

     261,929,595        12,966,621        316,570        35,408,426  

Miyuki Suzuki

     267,290,941        7,586,525        335,320        35,408,426  

Proposal 2. Advisory Vote on Named Executive Officer Compensation. The stockholders approved, on an advisory basis, the named executive officer compensation described in the Proxy Statement. The voting results were as follows:

 

For

  

Against

  

Abstain

  

Broker Non-Votes

252,266,232    22,508,052    438,502    35,408,426

Proposal 3. Approval of the Equity Plan. As described in more detail in Item 5.02 above, the stockholders approved the Equity Plan. The voting results were as follows:

 

For

  

Against

  

Abstain

  

Broker Non-Votes

262,018,906    12,920,796    273,084    35,408,426


Proposal 4. Ratification of Appointment of KPMG LLP as Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The stockholders ratified the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2025. The voting results were as follows:

 

For

  

Against

  

Abstain

297,172,112    12,489,521    959,579

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

No.

   Description
10.1    Western Digital Corporation Amended and Restated 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded with the Inline XBRL document)


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.

 

            Western Digital Corporation
      (Registrant)
    By:  

/s/ Cynthia Tregillis

Date: November 25, 2024       Cynthia Tregillis
     

Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer

and Secretary

EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION

Amended and Restated

2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan

EFFECTIVE DATE: NOVEMBER 20, 2024

 

1.

GENERAL.

(a) Purpose. This Plan, through the granting of Awards, is intended to help the Company secure and retain the services of eligible award recipients, provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and any Affiliate and provide a means by which the eligible award recipients may benefit from increases in the value of the Common Stock.

(b) Eligible Award Recipients. Employees, Directors and Consultants are eligible to receive Awards.

(c) Available Awards. This Plan provides for the grant of the following Awards: (i) Incentive Stock Options; (ii) Nonstatutory Stock Options; (iii) Stock Appreciation Rights; (iv) Substitute Awards; (v) Restricted Stock Awards; (vi) Restricted Stock Unit Awards; (vii) Performance Stock Awards; (viii) Cash Awards; and (ix) Other Stock-Based Awards.

 

2.

ADMINISTRATION.

(a) Administration. This Plan shall be administered by and all Awards under this Plan shall be authorized by the Administrator. The “Administrator” means the Board or a Committee or Committees (or any subcommittee thereof) to which administration of this Plan has been delegated (within its delegated authority), as provided in Section 2(d).

(b) Powers of Administrator. The Administrator will have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of this Plan:

(i) To determine: (A) who will be granted Awards; (B) when and how each Award will be granted; (C) what type of Award will be granted; (D) the provisions of each Award (which need not be identical), including when a person will be permitted to exercise or otherwise receive cash or Common Stock under the Award; (E) the number of shares of Common Stock subject to, or the cash value of, an Award; and (F) the Fair Market Value applicable to a Stock Award.

(ii) To construe and interpret this Plan and Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for administration of this Plan and Awards. The Administrator, in the exercise of these powers, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in this Plan or in any Award Document or in the written terms of a Cash Award, in a manner and to the extent it will deem necessary or expedient to make this Plan or Award fully effective.


(iii) To settle all controversies regarding this Plan and Awards granted under it.

(iv) To accelerate, in whole or in part, or to extend, in whole or in part, the time during which an Award may be exercised or vest, or at which cash or shares of Common Stock may be issued.

(v) To amend or terminate this Plan at any time, subject to Sections 10 and 11 of this Plan.

(vi) To submit any amendment to this Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to this Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of (A) Section 422 of the Code regarding “incentive stock options” or (B) Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor rule, if applicable.

(vii) To approve forms of Award Documents for use under this Plan and to amend the terms of any one or more outstanding Awards, subject to Section 10 of this Plan.

(viii) To generally exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Administrator deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company and that are not in conflict with the provisions of this Plan and/or Award Documents.

(ix) To adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate (A) to permit or facilitate participation in this Plan by persons eligible to receive Awards under this Plan who are not citizens of, subject to taxation by, or employed outside, the United States or (B) to allow Awards to qualify for special tax treatment in a jurisdiction other than the United States. Administrator approval will not be necessary for immaterial modifications to this Plan or any Award Document that are required for compliance with the laws of the relevant jurisdiction.

(c) Minimum Vesting Requirements. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, Awards granted under this Plan may not become exercisable, vest or settle, in whole or in part, prior to the one-year anniversary of the date of grant, except (1) the Administrator may provide that Awards become exercisable, vest or settle in connection with a Change in Control, retirement, death or Disability or such other circumstances determined to be appropriate by the Administrator, (2) with respect to an Award that is granted in connection with a merger or other acquisition as a substitute or replacement award for awards held by grantees of the acquired business, and (3) annual Awards to Non-Employee Directors made in connection with the annual meeting of stockholders may vest on the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders (provided that such annual meetings are at least 50 weeks apart). Notwithstanding the foregoing, up to 5% of the aggregate number of Shares authorized for issuance under this Plan (as described in Section 3(a)(1) hereof) may be issued without regard to the restrictions of the foregoing sentence.

 

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(d) Delegation to Committee.

(i) General. The Board may delegate some or all of the administration of this Plan to a Committee or Committees. If administration of this Plan is delegated to a Committee, the Committee will have, in connection with the administration of this Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board that have been delegated to the Committee, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee of the Committee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise. Any delegation of administrative powers will be reflected in the charter of the Committee to which the delegation is made, or resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan, adopted from time to time by the Board or Committee (as applicable). The Committee may, at any time, abolish the subcommittee and/or revest in the Committee any powers delegated to any subcommittee. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, delegation of authority by the Board to a Committee, or to an Officer or employee pursuant to Section 2(e), does not limit the authority of the Board, which may continue to exercise any authority so delegated and may concurrently administer this Plan with the Committee and may, at any time, revest in the Board some or all of the powers previously delegated.

(ii) Rule 16b-3 Compliance. If required for compliance with Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, the Committee may consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors.

(e) Delegation to an Officer. The Administrator may delegate to one or more Officers the authority to do one or both of the following, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law: (i) designate Employees who are not Officers to be recipients of Stock Awards and the terms of such Stock Awards; and (ii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be subject to such Stock Awards granted to such Employees; provided, however, that the Board or Committee resolutions regarding such delegation will specify the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to the Stock Awards granted by such Officer and that such Officer may not grant a Stock Award to himself or herself. Any such Stock Awards will be granted on a form that is substantially the same as the form of Stock Award Document approved by the Committee or the Board for use in connection with such Stock Awards, unless otherwise provided for in the resolutions approving the delegation authority.

(f) Effect of Administrator’s Decision. All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Administrator in good faith will not be subject to review by any person and will be final, binding and conclusive on all persons. No director, officer or agent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be liable for any such action or determination taken or made or omitted in good faith.

 

3.

SHARES SUBJECT TO THIS PLAN.

(a) Share Reserve.

(i) Subject to Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards from and after the Effective Date will not exceed (a) 20,325,052 shares of Common Stock1, plus (b) any shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding awards under the Prior Plans as of November 22, 2021 (the “Prior Plan Awards”) that on or after November 22, 2021 are forfeited, terminated, expire, lapse without being exercised (to the extent applicable), or are otherwise reacquired by the Company (the sum of (a) and (b), the “Share Reserve”). The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to Stock Options and SARs that may be granted during any calendar year to any individual under this Plan is 1,000,000 shares.

 

1 

This amount is calculated as follows: 9.5 million shares, minus 274,948 shares granted between September 5, 2021 and November 22, 2021, plus 2.75 million additional shares and 2.35 million additional shares reserved on November 16, 2022 and November 15, 2023, respectively, by amendment of this Plan, plus an additional 6 million shares reserved by this amendment of this Plan (the “Additional Reserved Shares”).

 

3


(ii) For clarity, the Share Reserve is a limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under this Plan. As a single share may be subject to grant more than once (e.g., if a share subject to a Stock Award is forfeited, it may be made subject to grant again as provided in Section 3(b) below), the Share Reserve is not a limit on the number of Stock Awards that can be granted. For the avoidance of doubt, the grant of a Cash Award, and its subsequent settlement, or Other Stock-Based Award settled in cash shall in no event reduce the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under this Plan.

(iii) Shares may be issued under the terms of this Plan in connection with a merger or acquisition as permitted by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c), NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 303A.08, AMEX Company Guide Section 711 or other applicable rule, and such issuance will not reduce the number of shares available for issuance under this Plan.

(iv) Substitute Awards shall not reduce the shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under this Plan or authorized for grant to a Participant in any calendar year. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary, or with which the Company or any Subsidiary 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 or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under this Plan and shall not reduce the shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under this Plan; provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were employees of such acquired or combined company before such acquisition or combination.

(v) Subject to Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the total compensation paid to any one Non-Employee Director during any Grant Year shall not exceed $900,000, including the aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of grant of Shares subject to Awards granted under this Plan and any cash compensation paid or payable. The limitation described in this Section shall be determined without regard to amounts paid to a Non-Employee Director during or for any period in which such individual was an employee or consultant, and any severance and other payments paid to a Non-Employee Director for such director’s prior or current service to the Company or any Subsidiary other than serving as a director shall not be taken into account in applying the limit provided above. For the avoidance of doubt, any compensation that is deferred shall be counted toward this limit for the year in which it was first earned, and not when paid or settled. For this purpose, “Grant Year” means the annual period commencing on the date of the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders and concluding on the day immediately preceding the next annual meeting of stockholders, or such other annual period as the Committee may determine in its discretion.

 

4


(b) Reversion of Shares to the Share Reserve. The Share Reserve shall be subject to the following adjustments:

(i) If a Stock Award (or Prior Plan Award) or any portion of a Stock Award (or Prior Plan Award) (A) expires, is cancelled or forfeited or otherwise terminates without all of the shares covered by the Stock Award having been issued or (B) is settled in cash or a form other than shares of Common Stock, such expiration, cancellation, forfeiture, termination or settlement shall result in the shares of Common Stock subject to such Stock Award (or Prior Plan Award) being added back to the shares of Common Stock available for Awards under this Plan.

(ii) Shares that are exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company as full or partial payment in connection with any Award under this Plan, or any Prior Plan Award, and shares exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to any Award under this Plan or Prior Plan Award, shall be treated as follows: (A) to the extent that the exchange or withholding occurred with respect to an Option or SAR under this Plan (or stock option or stock appreciation right under a Prior Plan), such shares shall not be available for subsequent awards under this Plan and (B) to the extent that the exchange or withholding occurs with respect to an Award under this Plan other than an Option or SAR (or awards granted under a Prior Plan other than options or stock appreciation rights), such shares shall be added back to the shares of Common Stock available for Awards under this Plan.

(iii) In the event that shares of Common Stock are delivered in respect of dividend equivalents granted under this Plan, only the actual number of shares delivered with respect to the award shall reduce (or otherwise offset) the number of shares of Common Stock that are available for issuance under this Plan.

(iv) To the extent that shares of Common Stock are delivered pursuant to the exercise of an Option or SAR under this Plan (or a stock option or stock appreciation right under the Prior Plan), the entire number of shares subject to the award shall be counted against Share Reserve. Shares repurchased on the open market with the proceeds received by the Company upon the exercise of an Option or SAR under this Plan (or a stock option or stock appreciation right under the Prior Plan) shall not be added to the shares of Common Stock available for Awards under this Plan.

(c) Incentive Stock Option Limit. Subject to Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued on the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will be 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock.

(d) Source of Shares. The stock issuable under this Plan will be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the Company on the open market or otherwise or shares classified as treasury shares.

(e) No Fractional Shares. Unless otherwise expressly provided by the Administrator, no fractional shares shall be delivered under this Plan. The Administrator may pay cash in lieu of any fractional shares in settlements of Awards under this Plan.

 

5


4.

ELIGIBILITY.

(a) Eligibility for Specific Stock Awards. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” thereof (as such terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code). Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants.

(b) Ten Percent Stockholders. A Ten Percent Stockholder will not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the exercise price of such Option is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date of grant.

 

5.

PROVISIONS RELATING TO OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

Each Option or SAR will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate. All Options will be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option. If an Option is not specifically designated as an Incentive Stock Option, or if an Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option but some portion or all of the Option fails to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under the applicable rules, then the Option (or portion thereof) will be a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The provisions of separate Options or SARs need not be identical; provided, however, that each Award Document will conform to (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the applicable Award Document or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

(a) Term. Subject to Section 4(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, no Option or SAR will be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the date of its grant or such shorter period specified in the Award Document.

(b) Exercise Price. Subject to Section 4(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the exercise or strike price of each Option or SAR will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option or SAR on the date the Award is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option or SAR may be granted with an exercise or strike price lower than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Award if such Award is a Substitute Award and in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and, if applicable, Section 424(a) of the Code. Each SAR will be denominated in shares of Common Stock equivalents.

(c) Purchase Price for Options. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option may be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable law and as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, by any combination of the methods of payment set forth below. The Administrator will have the authority to grant Options that do not permit all of the following methods of payment (or otherwise restrict the ability to use certain methods) and to grant Options that require the consent of the Company to use a particular method of payment. The purchase price shall be denominated in U.S. dollars. The permitted methods of payment are as follows:

 

6


(i) a reduction in compensation otherwise payable to the Participant or for services rendered by the Participant;

(ii) by cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company;

(iii) pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the United States Federal Reserve Board or a successor regulation, or a similar rule in a foreign jurisdiction of domicile of a Participant, that, prior to or contemporaneously with the issuance of the stock subject to the Option, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the proceeds of sale of such stock;

(iv) pursuant to a “cashless exercise” with a third party who provides financing for the purposes of (or who otherwise facilitates) the purchase or exercise of awards, including through same-day sales;

(v) by delivery to the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock;

(vi) by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price; provided, however, that the Company will accept cash or other payment from the Participant to the extent of any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued. Shares of Common Stock will no longer be subject to an Option and will not be exercisable thereafter to the extent that (A) shares issuable upon exercise are used to pay the exercise price pursuant to the “net exercise,” (B) shares are delivered to the Participant as a result of such exercise, and (C) shares are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations; or

(vii) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Administrator and specified in the applicable Award Document.

(d) Exercise and Payment of a SAR. To exercise any outstanding SAR, the Participant must provide written notice of exercise to the Company in compliance with the provisions of the Stock Appreciation Right Award Document evidencing such SAR. The appreciation distribution payable on the exercise of a SAR will be not greater than an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the SAR) of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Common Stock equivalents in which the Participant is vested under such SAR (with respect to which the Participant is exercising the SAR on such date), over (B) the aggregate strike price of the number of Common Stock equivalents with respect to which the Participant is exercising the SAR on such date. The appreciation distribution may be paid in Common Stock, in cash, in any combination of the two or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Administrator and contained in the Award Document evidencing such SAR.

 

7


(e) Transferability of Options and SARs. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, impose such limitations on the transferability of Options and SARs as the Administrator determines. In the absence of such a determination by the Administrator to the contrary, the following restrictions on the transferability of Options and SARs will apply:

(i) Restrictions on Transfer. An Option or SAR will not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution (or pursuant to subsections (ii) and (iii) below), and will be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant. The Administrator may permit transfer of the Option or SAR in a manner that is not prohibited by applicable tax and securities laws (including, but not limited to, a transfer to the Company to the extent consistent with applicable tax and securities laws). Except as explicitly provided herein, neither an Option nor a SAR may be transferred for consideration.

(ii) Domestic Relations Orders. Subject to the approval of the Administrator or a duly authorized Officer, an Option or SAR may be transferred pursuant to the terms of a qualified domestic relations order, official marital settlement agreement or other divorce or separation instrument as permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulation 1.421-1(b)(2) or other applicable law. If an Option is an Incentive Stock Option, such Option may be deemed to be a Nonstatutory Stock Option as a result of such transfer.

(iii) Beneficiary Designation. Subject to the approval of the Administrator or a duly authorized Officer, a Participant may, by delivering written notice to the Company or designated broker, in a form approved by the Company (or the designated broker), designate a third party who, on the death of the Participant, will thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option or SAR and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise. In the absence of such a designation, the executor or administrator of the Participant’s estate will be entitled to exercise the Option or SAR and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise. However, the Company may prohibit designation of a beneficiary at any time, including due to any conclusion by the Company that such designation would be inconsistent with the provisions of applicable laws.

(f) Vesting Generally. The total number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option or SAR may vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may or may not be equal. The Option or SAR may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may or may not be exercised (which may be based on the satisfaction of performance goals or other criteria) as the Administrator may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options or SARs may vary. The provisions of this Section 5(f) are subject to any Option or SAR provisions governing the minimum number of shares of Common Stock as to which an Option or SAR may be exercised.

(g) Termination of Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Document, or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, if a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates (other than for Cause and other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability), the Participant may exercise his or her Option or SAR (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Award as of the date of termination of Continuous Service) within the period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date three months following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service and (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the applicable Award Document. If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Participant does not exercise his or her Option or SAR within the applicable time frame, the Option or SAR will terminate.

 

8


(h) Extension of Termination Date. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Document, or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, if the exercise of an Option or SAR following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (other than for Cause and other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option or SAR will terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of a total period of three months (that need not be consecutive) after the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Option or SAR would not be in violation of such registration requirements, and (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the applicable Award Document. In addition, unless otherwise provided in a Participant’s applicable Award Document, or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, if the sale of any Common Stock received upon exercise of an Option or SAR following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (other than for Cause) would violate the Company’s insider trading policy, and the Company does not waive the potential violation of the policy or otherwise permit the sale, or allow the Participant to surrender shares of Common Stock to the Company in satisfaction of any exercise price and/or any withholding obligations under Section 8(g), then the Option or SAR will terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of a period of months (that need not be consecutive) equal to the applicable post-termination exercise period after the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service during which the sale of the Common Stock received upon exercise of the Option or SAR would not be in violation of the Company’s insider trading policy, or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the applicable Award Document.

(i) Disability of Participant. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Document, or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, if a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option or SAR (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option or SAR as of the date of termination of Continuous Service), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date 12 months following such termination of Continuous Service, and (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the applicable Award Document. If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Participant does not exercise his or her Option or SAR within the applicable time frame, the Option or SAR (as applicable) will terminate.

(j) Death of Participant. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Document, or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, if (i) a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Participant’s death, or (ii) the Participant dies within the period (if any) specified in this Plan or the applicable Award Document, or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, for exercisability after the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (for a reason other than death), then the Option or SAR may be exercised (to the extent the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option or SAR as of the date of death) by the Participant’s estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option or SAR by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the Option or SAR upon the Participant’s death, but only within the period ending on the earlier of (i) the date 36 months following the date of death, and (ii) the expiration of the term of such Option or SAR as set forth in the applicable Award Document. If, after the Participant’s death, the Option or SAR is not exercised within the applicable time frame, the Option or SAR will terminate.

 

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(k) Termination for Cause. Except as explicitly provided otherwise in a Participant’s Award Document or other individual written agreement between the Company or any Subsidiary and the Participant, if a Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated for Cause, the Option or SAR will terminate upon the date on which the event giving rise to the termination for Cause first occurred, and the Participant will be prohibited from exercising his or her Option or SAR from and after the date on which the event giving rise to the termination for Cause first occurred (or, if required by law, the date of termination of Continuous Service). If a Participant’s Continuous Service is suspended pending an investigation of the existence of Cause, all of the Participant’s rights under the Option or SAR will also be suspended during the investigation period.

(l) No Repricing or Cash Buyout. Neither an Option nor SAR may be modified to reduce the exercise price thereof nor may a new Option, SAR or other Award at a lower price be substituted or exchanged for a surrendered Option or SAR nor may an outstanding Option or SAR with an exercise price per share that equals or exceeds the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock be exchanged or substituted for cash (including a Cash Award) (other than adjustments or substitutions in accordance with Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments), unless such action is approved by the stockholders of the Company.

 

6.

PROVISIONS OF STOCK AWARDS OTHER THAN OPTIONS AND SARS.

(a) Restricted Stock Awards. Each Restricted Stock Award Document will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate. To the extent consistent with the Company’s bylaws, at the Administrator’s election, shares of Common Stock may be (x) held in book entry form subject to the Company’s instructions until any restrictions relating to the Restricted Stock Award lapse, or (y) evidenced by a certificate, which certificate will be held in such form and manner as determined by the Administrator. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Award Documents may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Award Documents need not be identical. Each Restricted Stock Award Document will conform to (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

(i) Consideration. A Restricted Stock Award may be awarded in consideration for (A) cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company, (B) past services to the Company or a Subsidiary, or (C) any other form of legal consideration (including future services) that may be acceptable to the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and permissible under applicable law.

(ii) Vesting. Shares of Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Document may be subject to forfeiture to the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule and subject to such conditions as may be determined by the Administrator.

 

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(iii) Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. If a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Company may receive through a forfeiture condition or a repurchase right, any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant that have not vested as of the date of termination of Continuous Service under the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Document.

(iv) Transferability. Common Stock issued pursuant to an Award, and rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under the Restricted Stock Award Document, will be transferable by the Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Document, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion, so long as such Common Stock remains subject to the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Document. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in this Plan or the Restricted Stock Award Document to the contrary, no Restricted Stock Award may be transferred to any financial institution without prior stockholder approval.

(v) Dividends. Any dividends paid on Restricted Stock will be subject to the same vesting and forfeiture restrictions as apply to the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award to which they relate.

(b) Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Document will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Award Documents may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Unit Award Documents need not be identical. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Document will conform to (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

(i) Consideration. At the time of grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Administrator will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid by the Participant upon delivery of each share of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award. The consideration to be paid (if any) by the Participant for each share of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award may be paid in any form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and permissible under applicable law.

(ii) Vesting. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Administrator may impose such restrictions on or conditions to the vesting of the Restricted Stock Unit Award as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

(iii) Payment. A Restricted Stock Unit Award may be settled by the delivery of shares of Common Stock, their cash equivalent, any combination thereof or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Administrator and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Document.

(iv) Additional Restrictions. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Administrator, as it deems appropriate, may impose such restrictions or conditions that delay the delivery of the shares of Common Stock (or their cash equivalent) subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award to a time after the vesting of such Restricted Stock Unit Award.

 

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(v) Dividend Equivalents. Dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares of Common Stock covered by a Restricted Stock Unit Award, as determined by the Administrator and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Document. At the sole discretion of the Administrator, such dividend equivalents may be converted into additional shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award in such manner as determined by the Administrator. Any dividend equivalents and/or additional shares covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award credited by reason of such dividend equivalents will be subject to all of the same terms and conditions of the underlying Restricted Stock Unit Award Document to which they relate (including the same vesting and forfeiture restrictions).

(vi) Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Restricted Stock Unit Award Document, or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, such portion of the Restricted Stock Unit Award that has not vested will be forfeited upon the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service.

(c) Performance Stock Awards.

(i) Performance Stock Awards. A Performance Stock Award is a Stock Award (including, but not limited to, in the form of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units) that is payable (including that may be granted, vest or exercised) contingent upon the attainment during a Performance Period of the achievement of certain performance goals. A Performance Stock Award may, but need not, require the completion of a specified period of Continuous Service. The length of any Performance Period, the performance goals to be achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such performance goals have been attained will be conclusively determined by the Committee, the Administrator, or an authorized Officer, in its sole discretion. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the applicable Award Document, the Administrator may determine that cash may be used in payment of Performance Stock Awards.

(ii) Dividends; Dividend Equivalents. Any dividends paid on a Performance Stock Award in the form of Restricted Stock will be subject to the same vesting and forfeiture restrictions as apply to the shares subject to the Performance Stock Award to which they relate. Dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares of Common Stock covered by a Performance Stock Award in the form of Restricted Stock Units, as determined by the Administrator and contained in the Performance Stock Award Document. At the sole discretion of the Administrator, such dividend equivalents may be converted into additional shares of Common Stock covered by such Performance Stock Award in such manner as determined by the Administrator. Any dividend equivalents and/or additional shares covered by such Performance Stock Award credited by reason of such dividend equivalents will be subject to all of the same terms and conditions of the underlying Performance Stock Award Document to which they relate (including the same vesting and forfeiture restrictions).

(iii) Administrator Discretion. The Administrator or an authorized Officer, as the case may be, retains the discretion to define the manner of calculating the performance criteria it selects to use for a Performance Period.

 

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(d) Cash Awards. A Cash Award is an award of cash that is granted under this Plan. A Cash Award that may become payable contingent upon the attainment during a Performance Period of the achievement of certain performance goals is a Performance Cash Award. A Cash Award (including a Performance Cash Award) may require the completion of a specified period of Continuous Service. At the time of grant of a Performance Cash Award, the length of any Performance Period, the performance goals to be achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such performance goals have been attained will be conclusively determined by the Committee, the Administrator, or an authorized Officer, in its sole discretion. The Administrator may specify the form of payment of Cash Awards, which may be cash or other property, or may provide for a Participant to have the option for his or her Cash Award, or such portion thereof as the Administrator may specify, to be paid in whole or in part in cash or other property. The Administrator or an authorized Officer, as the case may be, retains the discretion to define the manner of calculating the performance criteria it selects to use for a Performance Period.

(e) Other Stock-Based Awards. Other Stock-Based Awards will consist of other types of equity-based or equity-related awards not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Administrator or an authorized Officer shall determine. Such Awards may involve the transfer of actual shares of Common Stock, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Common Stock. Other Stock-Based Awards may include, but not be limited to, dividend equivalent rights granted as a separate award or in connection with another award under this Plan; provided, however, that dividend equivalent rights may not be granted in connection with Options or SARs granted under this Plan. In addition, any dividends and/or dividend equivalents as to the portion of an Award that is subject to unsatisfied vesting requirements will be subject to termination and forfeiture to the same extent as the corresponding portion of the Award to which they relate in the event the applicable vesting requirements are not satisfied.

 

7.

COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

(a) Securities Law Compliance. The Company will seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over this Plan such authority as may be required to grant Stock Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Stock Awards; provided, however, that this undertaking will not require the Company to register under the Securities Act this Plan, any Stock Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Stock Award. If, after reasonable efforts and at a reasonable cost, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority that counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under this Plan, the Company will be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority is obtained. A Participant will not be eligible for the grant of an Award or the subsequent issuance of cash or Common Stock pursuant to the Award if such grant or issuance would be in violation of any applicable securities law.

 

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(b) No Obligation to Notify or Minimize Taxes. The Company will have no duty or obligation to any Participant to advise such holder as to the time or manner of exercising such Stock Award. Furthermore, the Company will have no duty or obligation to warn or otherwise advise such holder of a pending termination or expiration of an Award or a possible period in which the Award may not be exercised. The Company has no duty or obligation to, and does not undertake to, provide tax advice or to minimize the tax consequences of an Award to the holder of such Award.

 

8.

MISCELLANEOUS.

(a) Use of Proceeds from Sales of Common Stock. Proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Stock Awards will constitute general funds of the Company.

(b) 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 latest date that all necessary corporate action has occurred and all material terms of the Award (including, in the case of stock options, the exercise price thereof) are fixed, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, regardless of when the documentation evidencing the Award is communicated to, or actually received or accepted by, the Participant. In the event that the corporate records (e.g., Board or Committee consents, resolutions or minutes) documenting the corporate action constituting the grant contain terms (e.g., exercise price, vesting schedule or number of shares) that are inconsistent with those in the Award Document as a result of a clerical error in the papering of the Award Document, the corporate records will control and the Participant will have no legally binding right to the incorrect term in the Award Document.

(c) Stockholder Rights. No Participant will be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock Award unless and until (i) such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of, or the issuance of shares of Common Stock under, the Stock Award pursuant to its terms, and (ii) the issuance of the Common Stock subject to such Stock Award has been entered into the books and records of the Company.

(d) No Employment or Other Service Rights or Rights to Awards. Nothing in this Plan, any Award Document or any other instrument executed thereunder or in connection with any Award granted pursuant thereto will confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Award was granted or any other capacity or will interfere in any way with the right of the Company or Affiliate to change a Participant’s compensation or other benefits, or will affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (i) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without cause, including, but not limited to, Cause, (ii) the service of a Consultant pursuant to the terms of such Consultant’s agreement with the Company or an Affiliate, or (iii) the service of a Director pursuant to the organizational documents of the Company or an Affiliate (including articles of incorporation and bylaws), and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may be. In addition, no person shall have any claim or rights to be granted an Award (or additional Awards, as the case may be) under this Plan, subject to any express contractual rights (set forth in a document other than this Plan) to the contrary.

 

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(e) Incentive Stock Option Limitations. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Affiliates) exceeds USD$100,000 (or such other limit established in the Code) or otherwise does not comply with the rules governing Incentive Stock Options, the Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) or otherwise do not comply with such rules will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options, notwithstanding any contrary provision of the applicable Option Agreement(s).

(f) Withholding Obligations. Unless prohibited by the terms of an Award Document, the Company may, in its sole discretion, satisfy any national, state, local or other tax withholding obligation relating to an Award by any of the following means or by a combination of such means: (i) causing the Participant to tender a cash payment; (ii) withholding shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise issuable to the Participant in connection with the Award (only up to the amount permitted that will not cause an adverse accounting consequence or cost); (iii) withholding cash from an Award settled in cash; (iv) withholding payment from any amounts otherwise payable to the Participant, including proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to a Stock Award; or (v) by such other method as may be set forth in the Award Document.

(g) Electronic Delivery. Any reference herein to a “written” agreement or document will include any agreement or document delivered electronically, filed publicly at www.sec.gov (or any successor website thereto), or posted on the Company’s intranet (or other shared electronic medium controlled by the Company to which the Participant has access).

(h) Deferrals. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine that the delivery of Common Stock or the payment of cash, upon the exercise, vesting or settlement of all or a portion of any Award may be deferred and may establish programs and procedures for deferral elections to be made by Participants. Deferrals by Participants will be made in accordance with Section 409A of the Code (to the extent applicable to a Participant). Consistent with Section 409A of the Code, the Administrator may provide for distributions while a Participant is still an employee or otherwise providing services to the Company. The Administrator is authorized to make deferrals of Awards and determine when, and in what annual percentages, Participants may receive payments, including lump sum payments, following the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service, and implement such other terms and conditions consistent with the provisions of this Plan and in accordance with applicable law.

(i) Compliance with Section 409A. Unless otherwise expressly provided for in an Award Document, or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, this Plan and Award Documents will be interpreted to the greatest extent possible in a manner that makes this Plan and the Awards granted hereunder exempt from Section 409A of the Code, to the extent that Section 409A of the Code is applicable to an Award, and, to the extent not so exempt, in compliance with Section 409A of the Code. If the Administrator determines that any Award granted hereunder is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Document evidencing such Award will incorporate the terms and conditions necessary to avoid the consequences specified in Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code, and to the extent an Award Document is silent on terms necessary for compliance, such terms are hereby incorporated by reference into the Award Document. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan (and unless the Award Document specifically provides otherwise), if the shares of Common Stock are publicly traded, and if a Participant holding an Award that constitutes “deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code and the Participant is otherwise subject to Section 409A of the Code, no distribution or payment of any amount that is due because of a “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code without regard to alternative definitions thereunder) will be issued or paid before the date that is six months following the date of such Participant’s “separation from service” or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death, unless such distribution or payment can be made in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code, and any amounts so deferred will be paid in a lump sum on the day after such six month period elapses, with the balance paid thereafter on the original schedule.

 

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(j) Clawback/Recovery. All Awards granted under this Plan will be subject to recoupment in accordance with the Company’s compensation recovery (clawback) policy or policies then in effect. No recovery of compensation under any such 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 a Subsidiary.

(k) Plan Not Funded. Awards payable under this Plan shall be payable in shares or from the general assets of the Company, and no special or separate reserve, fund or deposit shall be made to assure payment of such Awards. No Participant, beneficiary or other person shall have any right, title or interest in any fund or in any specific asset (including shares of Common Stock, except as expressly otherwise provided) of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries by reason of any Award hereunder. Neither the provisions of this Plan (or of any related documents), nor the creation or adoption of this Plan, nor any action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Plan shall create, or be construed to create, a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or one of its Subsidiaries and any Participant, beneficiary or other person. To the extent that a Participant, beneficiary or other person acquires a right to receive payment pursuant to any Award hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.

 

9.

ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK; OTHER CORPORATE EVENTS.

(a) Capitalization Adjustments. In the event of a Capitalization Adjustment, the Administrator will appropriately and proportionately adjust: (i) the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to this Plan pursuant to Section 3(a); (ii) the class(es) and maximum number of securities that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 3(c); and (iii) the class(es) and number of securities or other property and value (including price per share of stock) subject to outstanding Stock Awards. The Administrator will make such adjustments, and its determination will be final, binding and conclusive.

(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. Except as otherwise provided in the Stock Award Document, or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, in the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, all outstanding Stock Awards (other than Stock Awards consisting of vested and outstanding shares of Common Stock not subject to a forfeiture condition or the Company’s right of repurchase) will terminate immediately prior to the completion of such dissolution or liquidation, and the shares of Common Stock subject to the Company’s repurchase rights or subject to a forfeiture condition may be repurchased or reacquired by the Company notwithstanding the fact that the holder of such Stock Award is providing Continuous Service; provided, however, that the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, cause some or all Stock Awards to become fully vested, exercisable and/or no longer subject to repurchase or forfeiture (to the extent such Stock Awards have not previously expired or terminated) before the dissolution or liquidation is completed but contingent on its completion.

 

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(c) Change in Control. The following provisions will apply to Awards in the event of a Change in Control unless otherwise provided in the instrument evidencing the Award or any other written agreement between the Company or any Subsidiary and the Participant or unless otherwise expressly provided by the Administrator at the time of grant of an Award. In the event of a Change in Control, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the Administrator will take one or more of the following actions with respect to each outstanding Award, contingent upon the closing or completion of the Change in Control:

(i) arrange for the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company) to assume or continue the Award or to substitute a similar award for the Award (including, but not limited to, an award to acquire the same consideration per share paid to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Change in Control);

(ii) arrange for the assignment of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in respect of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Award to the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company);

(iii) accelerate the vesting, in whole or in part, of the Award (and, if applicable, the time at which the Award may be exercised) to a date prior to the effective time of such Change in Control as the Administrator will determine (or, if the Administrator will not determine such a date, to the date that is five days prior to the effective date of the Change in Control), with such Award terminating if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the effective time of the Change in Control, and with such exercise reversed if the Change in Control does not become effective;

(iv) arrange for the lapse, in whole or in part, of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to the Award;

(v) cancel or arrange for the cancellation of the Award, to the extent not vested or not exercised prior to the effective time of the Change in Control, in exchange for such cash consideration, if any, as the Administrator, in its reasonable determination, may consider appropriate as an approximation of the value of the canceled Award, taking into account the value of the Common Stock subject to the canceled Award, the possibility that the Award might not otherwise vest in full, and such other factors as the Administrator deems relevant; and

(vi) cancel or arrange for the cancellation of the Award, to the extent not vested or not exercised prior to the effective time of the Change in Control, in exchange for a payment, in such form as may be determined by the Administrator equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the value in the Change in Control of the property the Participant would have received upon the exercise of the Award immediately prior to the effective time of the Change in Control, over (B) any exercise price payable by such holder in connection with such exercise.

 

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The Administrator need not take the same action or actions with respect to all Awards or portions thereof or with respect to all Participants. The Administrator may take different actions with respect to the vested and unvested portions of an Award.

In the absence of any affirmative determination by the Administrator at the time of a Change in Control, each outstanding Award will be assumed or an equivalent Award will be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation (the “Successor Corporation”), unless the Successor Corporation does not agree to assume the Award or to substitute an equivalent Award, in which case the vesting of such Award will accelerate in its entirety (along with, if applicable, the time at which the Award may be exercised) to a date prior to the effective time of such Change in Control as the Administrator will determine (or, if the Administrator will not determine such a date, to the date that is five days prior to the effective date of the Change in Control), with such Award terminating if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the effective time of the Change in Control, and with such exercise reversed if the Change in Control does not become effective; provided, that the holder of a Stock Option or SAR shall be given reasonable advance notice of the impending termination and a reasonable opportunity to exercise his or her outstanding vested Stock Options and SARs (after giving effect to any accelerated vesting required in the circumstances) in accordance with their terms before the termination of such Awards (except that in no case shall more than ten days’ notice of the impending termination be required and any acceleration of vesting and any exercise of any portion of an award that is so accelerated may be made contingent upon the actual occurrence of the event).

(d) Acceleration of Awards upon a Change in Control. An Award may be subject to additional acceleration of vesting and exercisability upon or after a Change in Control as may be provided in the Award Document for such Award or as may be provided in any other written agreement between the Company or any Subsidiary and the Participant, but in the absence of such provision, no such acceleration will occur.

 

10.

AMENDMENT OF THIS PLAN AND OUTSTANDING AWARDS.

(a) Amendment to Plan. The Administrator may amend this Plan in any respect the Administrator deems necessary or advisable, subject to the limitations of applicable law. If required by applicable law or listing requirements, and except as provided in Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the Company will seek stockholder approval of any amendment of this Plan that (a) materially increases the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under this Plan, (b) materially expands the class of individuals eligible to receive Awards under this Plan, (c) materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants under this Plan, (d) materially reduces the price at which shares of Common Stock may be issued or purchased under this Plan, (e) materially extends the term of this Plan, or (f) materially expands the types of Awards available for issuance under this Plan.

 

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(b) Amendment to Outstanding Awards. The Administrator may also amend the terms of any one or more outstanding Awards, including, but not limited to, amendments to provide terms more favorable to the Participant than previously provided in the Award Documents for such Awards, subject to any specified limits in this Plan that are not subject to Administrator discretion. A Participant’s rights under any Award will not be impaired by any such amendment unless the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and the Participant consents in writing. However, a Participant’s rights will not be deemed to have been impaired by any such amendment if the Administrator, in its sole discretion, determines that the amendment, taken as a whole, does not materially impair the Participant’s rights. Subject to the limitations of applicable law, the Administrator may amend the terms of any one or more Awards without the affected Participant’s consent (a) to maintain the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code, (b) to change the terms of an Incentive Stock Option, if such change results in impairment of the Award solely because it impairs the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code, (c) to clarify the manner of exemption from, or to bring the Award into compliance with, Section 409A of the Code, or (d) to comply with other applicable laws or listing requirements.

 

11.

EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN; TIMING OF FIRST GRANT OR EXERCISE; TERM; TERMINATION.

(a) Effective Date; Timing of First Grant or Exercise. This Plan initially came into existence on November 22, 2021 and was amended and restated on each of November 16, 2022 and November 15, 2023. This amended and restated Plan is effective as of November 20, 2024 (the “Effective Date”) and no Award may be granted under this Plan with respect to the Additional Reserved Shares prior to the Effective Date. In addition, no Stock Award may be exercised (or, in the case of a Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, or Performance Stock Award, may be granted) and no Cash Award may be settled unless and until this Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company, which approval will be within 12 months before or after the Adoption Date.

(b) Term; Termination. This Plan shall remain available for the grant of Awards until the 10th anniversary of November 22, 2021. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Plan may be terminated at such earlier time as the Administrator may determine. No Awards may be granted under this Plan after it is terminated. Termination of this Plan will not affect the rights and obligations of the Participants and the Company arising under Awards theretofore granted.

 

12.

CHOICE OF LAW.

The laws of the State of Delaware will govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to that state’s conflict of laws rules.

 

13.

DEFINITIONS.

As used in this Plan, the following definitions will apply to the capitalized terms indicated below:

(a) “Adoption Date” means the date this Plan is originally adopted by the Board.

(b) “Affiliate” means, at the time of determination, any “parent” or “subsidiary” of the Company, as such terms are defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. The Administrator will have the authority to determine the time or times at which “parent” or “subsidiary” status is determined within the foregoing definition.

 

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(c) “Award” means a Stock Award or a Cash Award.

(d) “Award Document” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant, or a written notice issued by the Company to a Participant, evidencing the terms and conditions of an Award.

(e) “Beneficially Own” or “Beneficial Owner” (as the context may require) means a “beneficial owner” as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, except that a person shall also be deemed the beneficial owner of all securities which such person may have a right to acquire, whether or not such right is presently exercisable.

(f) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(g) “Business Combination” means the consummation of any merger, consolidation, reorganization or other extraordinary transaction (or series of related transactions) involving the Company, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(h) “Capitalization Adjustment” means any change that is made in, or other events that occur with respect to, the Common Stock subject to this Plan or subject to any Stock Award after the Adoption Date without the receipt of consideration by the Company through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, large nonrecurring cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or other similar equity restructuring transaction, as that term is used in Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor thereto). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company will not be treated as a Capitalization Adjustment.

(i) “Cash Award” means an award of cash granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(d).

(j) “Cause” means the occurrence or existence of any of the following with respect to a Participant: (i) the Participant’s conviction by, or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in, a court of competent and final jurisdiction for any crime involving moral turpitude or any felony punishable by imprisonment in the jurisdiction involved; (ii) the Participant’s willful engaging in dishonest or fraudulent actions or omissions; (iii) the Participant’s failure or refusal to perform his or her duties as reasonably required by the Company or any Subsidiary; (iv) negligence, insubordination, violation by the Participant of any duty (of loyalty or otherwise) owed to the Company or any Subsidiary, or any other material misconduct on the part of the Participant; (v) conduct by the Participant which, upon reasonable investigation, is determined by the Company to violate the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s anti-harassment, discrimination or retaliation policies; (vi) conduct endangering, or likely to endanger, the health or safety of another employee; (vii) falsifying or misrepresenting information on the records of the Company or any Subsidiary; (viii) the Participant’s physical destruction or theft of substantial property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary; or (ix) breach of any policy of, or agreement with, the Company or any Subsidiary applicable to the Participant or to which the Participant is otherwise bound.

 

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(k) “Change in Control” means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:

(i) any Person, alone or together with its affiliates and associates, including any group of persons which is deemed a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act (other than the Employer or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Employer, or any underwriter in connection with a firm commitment public offering of the Company’s capital stock), becomes the Beneficial Owner of: (i) thirty-three and one-third percent or more of the then Outstanding Company Common Stock; or (ii) securities representing thirty-three and one-third percent or more of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities (in each case above, other than an acquisition in the context of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, asset sale or other extraordinary transaction covered by, and which does not constitute a Change in Control under, clause (iii) below);

(ii) a change, during any period of two consecutive years, of a majority of the Board as constituted as of the beginning of such period, unless the election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, of each director who was not a director at the beginning of such period was approved by vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then in office;

(iii) a Business Combination, unless, following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the Beneficial Owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a Parent), (ii) no Person (excluding any entity resulting from such Business Combination or a Parent or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such entity resulting from such Business Combination or Parent, and excluding any underwriter in connection with a firm commitment public offering of the Company’s capital stock) Beneficially Owns, directly or indirectly, more than thirty-three and one-third percent of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such entity, and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or a Parent were Incumbent Directors at the time of execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or

(iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company (other than in the context of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, asset sale or other extraordinary transaction covered by, and which does not constitute a Change in Control under, clause (iii) above).

Notwithstanding the foregoing definition or any other provision of this Plan, (A) the term Change in Control will not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company, and (B) the definition of Change in Control (or any analogous term) in an individual written agreement between the Company or any Subsidiary and the Participant will supersede the foregoing definition with respect to Awards subject to such agreement; provided, however, that if no definition of Change in Control or any analogous term is set forth in such an individual written agreement, the foregoing definition will apply.

 

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If required for compliance with Section 409A of the Code, in no event will a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred if such transaction is not also a “change in the ownership or effective control of” the Company or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of” the Company as determined under U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder). The Administrator may, in its sole discretion and without a Participant’s consent, amend the definition of “Change in Control” to conform to the definition of “Change in Control” under Section 409A of the Code, and the regulations thereunder.

(l) “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any applicable regulations and guidance thereunder.

(m) “Committee” means a committee of one or more Directors to whom authority has been delegated by the Board in accordance with Section 2(d).

(n) “Compensation Committee” means the Compensation and Talent Committee of the Board.

(o) “Common Stock” means the common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company.

(p) “Company” Western Digital Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

(q) “Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, who is (i) engaged by the Company or a Subsidiary to render consulting or advisory services and is compensated for such services, or (ii) serving as a member of the board of directors of a Subsidiary and is compensated for such services. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such service, will not cause a Director to be considered a “Consultant” for purposes of this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person is treated as a Consultant under this Plan only if a Form Registration Statement on Form S-8 or a successor form under the Securities Act is available to register either the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such person.

(r) “Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or a Subsidiary, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. Unless the express policy of the Company or any Subsidiary, or the Administrator, otherwise provides, or except as otherwise required by applicable law, a Participant will not be deemed to have terminated Continuous Service in the case of (i) sick leave, (ii) military leave, (iii) transfer from one Affiliate to another Affiliate, or (iv) any other leave of absence authorized by the Company (or Subsidiary) or the Administrator, provided that such leave is for a period of not more than three months (unless the Administrator otherwise provides or reemployment or continued service is guaranteed by contract or law upon the expiration of such leave). In the case of any Participant of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries on an approved leave of absence, continued vesting of an Award while on leave from the service of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries may be suspended until the Participant returns to service, unless the Administrator otherwise provides or applicable law otherwise requires. For purposes of this Plan and any Award, if an entity ceases to be a Subsidiary, a termination of Continuous Service shall be deemed to have occurred with respect to each Participant in respect of such Subsidiary who does not continue as an Employee, Director or Consultant in respect of the Company or another Subsidiary that continues as such after giving effect to the transaction or other event giving rise to the change in status. In addition, if required for exemption from or compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the determination of whether there has been a termination of Continuous Service will be made, and such term will be construed, in a manner that is consistent with the definition of “separation from service” as defined under U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder).

 

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(s) “Director” means a member of the Board.

(t) “Disability” means, with respect to a Participant, the inability of such Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months as provided in Sections 22(e)(3) and 409A(a)(2)(C)(i) of the Code, and will be determined by the Administrator on the basis of such medical evidence as the Administrator deems warranted under the circumstances.

(u) “Employee” means any person providing services as an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such services, will not cause a Director to be considered an “Employee” for purposes of this Plan.

(v) “Entity” means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity.

(w) “Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(x) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined as follows:

(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or traded on any established market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of any date of determination will be, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the closing sales price for such stock as quoted on such exchange or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in the Common Stock) on the date of determination, as reported in a source the Administrator deems reliable.

(ii) Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if there is no closing sales price for the Common Stock on the date of determination, then the Fair Market Value will be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

(iii) In the absence of such markets for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value will be determined by the Administrator in good faith and in a manner that complies with Sections 409A and 422 of the Code.

 

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(y) “Incentive Stock Option” means an option granted pursuant to Section 5 of this Plan that is intended to be, and that qualifies as, an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

(z) “Incumbent Directors” means the directors holding office as of the Effective Date and any person becoming a director subsequent to such date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, is approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors then in office.

(aa) “Non-Employee Director” means a Director who either (i) is not a current employee or officer of the Company or a Subsidiary, does not receive compensation, either directly or indirectly, from the Company or a Subsidiary for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (“Regulation S-K”)), does not possess an interest in any other transaction for which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in a business relationship for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.

(bb) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means any option granted pursuant to Section 5 of this Plan that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

(cc) “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

(dd) “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to this Plan.

(ee) “Option Agreement” means an Award Document evidencing the terms and conditions of an Option grant. Each Option Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.

(ff) “Other Stock-Based Awards” means an award granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(e).

(gg) “Outstanding Company Common Stock” means the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock.

(hh) “Outstanding Company Voting Securities” means the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities.

(ii) “Own,” “Owned,” “Owner,” “Ownership” means a person or Entity will be deemed to “Own,” to have “Owned,” to be the “Owner” of, or to have acquired “Ownership” of securities if such person or Entity, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting, with respect to such securities.

 

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(jj) “Parent” means an entity that, as a result of a Business Combination, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets directly or through one or more subsidiaries.

(kk) “Participant” means a person to whom an Award is granted pursuant to this Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Stock Award.

(ll) “Performance Cash Award” means an award of cash granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(d).

(mm) “Performance Period” means the period of time selected by the Administrator over which the attainment of one or more performance goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to and the payment of a Stock Award or a Performance Cash Award. Performance Periods may be of varying and overlapping duration, at the sole discretion of the Administrator.

(nn) “Performance Stock Award” means a Stock Award granted under the terms and conditions of Section 6(c)(i).

(oo) “Person” means a person as defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act.

(pp) “Plan” means this 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan of Western Digital Corporation, as amended and restated from time to time.

(qq) “Prior Plans means (i) the Amended and Restated Western Digital Corporation 2017 Performance Incentive Plan and (ii) the SanDisk Corporation 2013 Incentive Plan.

(rr) “Restricted Stock Award” means an award of shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(a).

(ss) “Restricted Stock Award Document” means an Award Document evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award grant. Each Restricted Stock Award Document will be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.

(tt) “Restricted Stock Unit Award” means a right to receive shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(b).

(uu) “Restricted Stock Unit Award Document” means an Award Document evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Unit Award grant. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Document will be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.

(vv) “Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(ww) “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right to receive the appreciation on Common Stock that is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 5.

 

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(xx) “Stock Appreciation Right Award Document” means an Award Document evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Appreciation Right grant. Each Stock Appreciation Right Award Document will be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.

(yy) “Stock Award” means any right to receive Common Stock granted under this Plan, including an Incentive Stock Option, a Nonstatutory Stock Option, a Restricted Stock Award, a Restricted Stock Unit Award, a Stock Appreciation Right, or a Performance Stock Award.

(zz) “Stock Award Document” means an Award Document evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Document will be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.

(aaa) “Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, (i) any corporation of which more than 50% of the outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, stock of any other class or classes of such corporation will have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, Owned by the Company, and (ii) any partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or capital contribution) of more than 50%.

(bbb) “Substitute Awards” means Awards granted or Common Stock issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, by a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines.

(ccc) “Ten Percent Stockholder” means a person who Owns (or is deemed to Own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate.

END OF DOCUMENT

 

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