Acceleration of Vesting (a) In the event your employment with Deluxe is terminated by reason of death, Disability (as defined in the Addendum), or Approved Retirement (as defined in the Addendum) any time during the Restricted Period, all of the yet unvested Units will vest and the Units shall become non-forfeitable as of the date of such termination.
(b) Subject to Section 4(c), in the event your employment is terminated during the Restricted Period after the first anniversary of the Award Date by reason of involuntary termination without Cause, a pro rata portion of the next segment of Units scheduled to vest after the termination date (based on the number of completed days between the termination date and the scheduled vesting date immediately prior to the termination date (or the Award Date if there was no such scheduled vesting date) divided by 365) shall vest and become non-forfeitable as of the date of such termination.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement that would result in Units vesting in full or in part at a later date, if, in connection with any Change of Control, the acquiring Person, surviving or acquiring corporation or entity, or an Affiliate of such corporation or entity, elects to assume the obligations of Deluxe under this Agreement and to replace the Shares issuable upon settlement of the Units with other equity securities that are listed on a national securities exchange (including by use of American Depository Receipts or any similar method) and are freely transferable under all applicable federal and state securities laws and regulations (“Replacement Equity Securities”), the Units then subject to restriction shall continue to vest as set forth in Section 2, provided, however, the Units shall vest in full and become non-forfeitable if, within twelve months of the date of the Change of Control:
(i) Your employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause,
(ii) Your employment with the Company is terminated by you for Good Reason, or
(iii) Vesting would otherwise occur on any earlier date as provided under this Agreement. In the event of any such Change of Control, the number of Replacement Equity Securities issuable under this Agreement shall be determined by the Committee in accordance with Section 4(c) of the Plan. In the event of any such Change of Control, all references herein to the Shares shall thereafter be deemed to refer to the Replacement Equity Securities, references to Deluxe or the Company shall thereafter be deemed to refer to the issuer of such Replacement Equity Securities, and all other terms of this Agreement shall continue in effect except as and to the extent modified by this subparagraph.
(d) If the Change of Control does not meet the continuation or replacement criteria specified in Section 4(c) above, all Units then subject to restriction shall vest in full immediately and become non-forfeitable upon the Change of Control.
(e) The provisions of this Section 4 shall be subject to Sections 5(b) and 8.
Vesting of the Option Subject to the Participant’s continued service to the Company through the applicable vesting date and the terms of the Plan, the Option shall vest in equal installments on each of the first five (5) anniversaries of the Date of Grant, such that twenty percent (20%) of the Option vests on each such anniversary (each, a “Vesting Date”). At any time, the portion of the Option which has become vested in accordance with the terms hereof shall be called the “Vested Portion.”
Acceleration of Options One hundred (100%) percent of the Executive’s outstanding, unvested options, restricted stock and/or equity awards (“Equity Awards”) shall, immediately prior to the consummation of the Change in Control, become fully and immediately vested to the extent not already so provided under the terms of such Equity Awards; provided, however, that if the acquirer in a Change in Control grants Equity Awards having (in the reasonable opinion of the Board) a value at least equal to the value of Executive’s then-unvested Company Equity Awards, then 50% of the Executive’s outstanding, unvested Company Equity Awards shall become fully and immediately vested immediately prior to the consummation of the Change in Control (and the remaining 50% shall terminate upon the consummation of the Change in Control). Notwithstanding any provisions of the stock option plan or stock option agreement pursuant to which any stock options subject to the preceding sentence were granted, the Executive shall be entitled to exercise such Equity Awards until three years from the date of termination of employment or the expiration of the stated period of the Equity Award, whichever period is the shorter.
Acceleration of Exercisability In the event of the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation, the exchange of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company for the securities of another corporation, the acquisition by another corporation or person of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or eighty percent (80%) or more of the Company’s then outstanding voting stock, or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion and upon such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, provide by resolution, adopted prior to such event and incorporated in the notice referred to in Section 3(c)(vii), that at some time prior to the effective date of such event this Option shall be exercisable as to all the shares covered hereby, notwithstanding that this Option may not yet have become fully exercisable under Section 3(a)(i); provided, however, that this acceleration of exercisability shall not take place if:
(i) This Option becomes unexercisable under Section 3(c) prior to said effective date; or
(ii) In connection with such an event, provision is made for an assumption of this Option or a substitution therefor of a new option by an employer corporation, or a parent or subsidiary of such corporation, so that such assumption or substitution complies with the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code; and provided, further, that nothing in this Section 3(d) shall make this Option exercisable if it is otherwise unexercisable by reason of Section 3(e). The Committee may make such determinations and adopt such rules and conditions as it, in its absolute discretion, deems appropriate in connection with such acceleration of exercisability, including, but not by way of limitation, provisions to ensure that any such acceleration and resulting exercise shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the contemplated corporate transaction, and determinations regarding whether provisions for assumption or substitution have been made as defined in subsection (ii) above.
Vesting Acceleration Effective on such termination, the Executive shall receive accelerated vesting equivalent to six (6) months of service beyond the date of Executive’s termination with respect to the shares subject to any grant of restricted stock or stock options (each, an “Equity Grant”) granted to the Executive, regardless of whether granted prior to, coincident with, or after, the Effective Date; provided, however, that in the event such termination occurs within one (1) year following a Change of Control, then one hundred percent (100%) of the remaining shares subject to each such Equity Grant shall become vested in full and the period during which the Executive is permitted to exercise (if applicable) any such Equity Grant shall be extended until the earlier of (i) ten (10) years from the date of grant, or (ii) the expiration date of such Equity Grant (as of the date of grant).
Special Acceleration of Option (a) In the event of a Change in Control, this option, to the extent outstanding at that time but not otherwise fully exercisable, shall automatically accelerate so that this option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control, become exercisable for all of the Option Shares at the time subject to this option and may be exercised for any or all of those Option Shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. No such acceleration of this option, however, shall occur if and to the extent: (i) this option is, in connection with the Change in Control, assumed or otherwise continued in full force and effect by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control or (ii) this option is replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the spread existing at the time of the Change in Control on the Option Shares for which this option is not otherwise at that time exercisable (the excess of the Fair Market Value of those Option Shares over the aggregate Exercise Price payable for such shares) and provides for subsequent pay-out in accordance with the same option exercise schedule set forth in the Grant Notice.
(b) Immediately following the consummation of the Change in Control, this option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise expressly continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control.
(c) If this option is assumed in connection with a Change in Control, then this option shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Change in Control, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have been issuable to Optionee in consummation of such Change in Control had the option been exercised immediately prior to such Change in Control, and appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the Exercise Price, provided the aggregate Exercise Price shall remain the same.
(d) This Agreement shall not in any way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
Vesting of PSUs The PSUs granted pursuant to this Award shall vest, if at all, as follows:
(a) The Committee, in its sole discretion, has established, or within 90 days following the Date of Grant will establish, Performance Goals based on factors consistent with Section 3.1(e)(ii) of the Executive Employment Agreement by and between NIL, NII and the Grantee effective as of January 2, 2020, as amended from time to time (the “Employment Agreement”), which will be measured over a one-year performance period commencing on _____________ and ending on _____________ (such period, the “Performance Period”).
(b) Up to 200% of the Target PSUs subject to this Award are eligible to become earned based upon achievement of the applicable Performance Goals. The Committee shall have sole discretion to determine the level of achievement of the applicable Performance Goals and the percentage of the Target PSUs subject to this Award that shall become earned based on such performance (the “Earned PSUs”). The Committee’s determinations pursuant to the exercise of discretion with respect to all matters described in this paragraph shall be final and binding on the Grantee. The Committee shall make this determination within 60 days following the end of the Performance Period or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter (the “Performance Determination Date”).
(c) If, on the Performance Determination Date or any other applicable date as set forth in this Section 3, the Committee determines that any of the PSUs subject to this Award shall not become Earned PSUs, then any such PSUs that did not become Earned PSUs (and all rights arising from such PSUs and from being a holder thereof) will terminate automatically without any further action by the Company and will be forfeited without further notice and at no cost to the Company.
(d) One-third of the Earned PSUs shall become vested on each of the first three anniversaries of the Date of Grant if the Grantee remains continuously employed by NIL and/or NII from the Date of Grant through the applicable vesting date; provided that any Earned PSUs scheduled to vest prior to the Performance Determination Date shall instead vest upon the Performance Determination Date; provided further, that if the preceding calculation results in any fractional shares, such fractional shares shall be rounded down to the next whole number of shares, with the remainder of shares due to be paid in the third annual instalment.
(e) In the event of a Change in Control of NIL (as defined in the Employment Agreement), notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Employment Agreement, all of the Earned PSUs subject to this Award that remain unvested shall become vested as of the date of such Change in Control if the Grantee remains continuously employed by NIL and/or NII from the Date of Grant through the date of such Change in Control; provided that, if such Change in Control of NIL occurs prior to the Performance Determination Date, the Earned PSUs shall be deemed to equal 100% of the Target PSUs.
(f) In the event of the Grantee’s Termination due to the Grantee’s death or Disability (as defined in the Employment Agreement), all of the Earned PSUs subject to this Award that remain unvested shall become vested as of the date of such Termination; provided that, if the date of such Termination occurs prior to the conclusion of the Performance Period, then the Grantee shall forfeit all PSUs subject to this Award, and if the date of such Termination occurs after the conclusion of the Performance Period but prior to the Performance Determination Date, then the number of Earned PSUs shall be determined based on actual performance.
(g) In the event of the Grantee’s Termination either due to the Grantee’s Constructive Termination Without Cause or by the Company Without Cause (each as defined in the Employment Agreement), all of the Earned PSUs subject to this Award that remain unvested shall become vested as of the date of such Termination; provided that, if the date of such Termination occurs prior to the conclusion of the Performance Period, then the Grantee shall forfeit all PSUs subject to this Award, and if the date of such Termination occurs after the conclusion of the Performance Period but prior to the Performance Determination Date, then the number of Earned PSUs shall be determined based on actual performance.
(h) Anything herein notwithstanding, in the event of the Grantee’s Termination by the Company for Cause or by the written voluntary resignation of the Grantee (each as defined or contemplated, as applicable, in the Employment Agreement), the Grantee shall forfeit any PSUs subject to this Award that remain unvested as of the date of such Termination.
Vesting of Option (a) Subject to the provisions of Paragraphs 3(c), 3(d), 3(e), 3(f) and 3(g) hereof, the Option to purchase Shares shall become vested and may be exercised by said Employee as to the number of Shares and on or after the dates set out on the following schedule: First anniversary of this Agreement 400 Second anniversary of this Agreement 400 Third anniversary of this Agreement 400 Fourth anniversary of this Agreement 400 Fifth anniversary of this Agreement 400 All Options granted hereunder expire and are void unless exercised within ten (10) years of the date of grant (the “Option Termination Date”).
(b) In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in section 7(c)(i) of the Plan), the Option shall be fully vested and exercisable immediately as to all Common Stock granted under the Option; provided, such Change in Control transaction is executed during the period commencing as of the date of an agreement providing for such transaction and ending as of the earlier of the expiration date of such Option or the date on which the disposition of assets or stock contemplated by such agreement is consummated. Provided, however, if such Employee should breach any covenant regarding proprietary information or other protective covenants of an employment agreement with the Company or Bank following termination, then any Option granted hereunder but not exercised as of the date of such breach shall be immediately forfeited.
(c) In the event that the employment of Employee with the Bank, Company or a subsidiary of the Company is terminated by reason of such Employee’s death, any Options granted under this Agreement which have not vested as of the date of such Employee’s death shall immediately expire and shall become unexercisable on such date. All vested and exercisable Options granted under this Agreement to such Employee shall be exercisable until the earlier of the Option Termination Date or the date twelve months after the date of such Employee’s death. Any such vested Option of a deceased Employee may be exercised prior to their expiration only by a person or persons to whom such Employee’s Option rights pass by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
(d) In the event that the employment of an Employee with the Bank, Company or a subsidiary of the Company is terminated by reason of such Employee’s permanent and total disability (as defined under Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), any Options which have not vested as of the date of such Employee’s termination of employment by reason of permanent and total disability shall immediately expire and shall become unexercisable on such date. All vested and exercisable Options granted under pursuant to this Agreement to such Employee shall be exercisable until the earlier of the Option Termination Date or the date twelve months after the date of such Employee’s permanent and total disability.
(e) In the event that the employment of an Employee with the Bank, Company or a subsidiary of the Company is terminated for cause (i.e., fraud, dishonesty or willful misconduct), all Options granted under this Agreement shall immediately expire and the Employee shall immediately forfeit all Options granted under this Agreement.
(f) In the event that the employment of an Employee with the Bank, Company or a subsidiary of the Company is terminated by reason of such Employee’s retirement, any Options which have not vested as of such Employee’s retirement date shall expire and become unexercisable on the earlier of the Option Termination Date or the date three months after such Employee’s retirement date. All vested and exercisable Options granted under this Agreement to such Employee shall expire on the earlier of the Option Termination Date or the date three months after such Employee’s retirement date.
(g) In the event that the employment of an Employee with the Bank, Company or a subsidiary of the Company terminates employment for any reason other than for cause or retirement, death or permanent and total disability, any Options which have not vested as of such Employee’s termination date, shall expire and become unexercisable on the earlier of the Option Termination Date or the Employee’s termination date. All vested and exercisable options as of such Employee’s termination date shall expire on the earlier of the Option Termination Date or 90 days after termination. A leave of absence approved in writing by the Board shall not be deemed a termination of employment for purposes of this section, but no Option may be exercised during any such leave of absence.
Accelerated Vesting of Equity Awards One hundred percent (100%) of Executive’s then-outstanding and unvested Equity Awards will become vested in full. If, however, an outstanding Equity Award is to vest and/or the amount of the award to vest is to be determined based on the achievement of performance criteria, then the Equity Award will vest as to one hundred percent (100%) of the amount of the Equity Award assuming the performance criteria had been achieved at target levels for the relevant performance period(s).
Option Acceleration One hundred percent (100%) of the shares subject to all outstanding options granted to the Employee by the Company (the “Options”) prior to the date of such termination shall immediately become vested and exercisable in full upon such termination. Following such acceleration, the Options shall continue to be subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s stock option plans and the applicable option agreements between the Employee and the Company.
