ADBE 8-K
Adobe Inc. (ADBE)
8-K
2026-04-21
For: 2026-04-15
View Original
Added on
April 21, 2026
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): April 15, 2026
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (408 ) 536-6000
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):
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | ||||||
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.
(e) Amendment and Restatement of 2019 Equity Incentive Plan
On April 15, 2026, at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Adobe Inc. (the “Company” or “Adobe”), the Company’s stockholders approved the Adobe Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2019 Plan”), to increase the available share reserve by 12 million shares as described in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 27, 2026 (the “Proxy Statement”). The amended 2019 Plan previously had been approved, subject to stockholder approval, by the Company's Executive Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
A summary of the 2019 Plan is set forth in our Proxy Statement. That summary and the foregoing description of the 2019 Plan are qualified in their entirety by reference to the text of the 2019 Plan, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
At the Annual Meeting, held on April 15, 2026, the Company’s stockholders approved proposals one through four and did not approve proposals five through eight listed below. The final results for the votes regarding each proposal are set forth in the following tables. Each of these proposals is described in detail in the Company’s Proxy Statement.
1. Elect eleven members of the Board, each to serve for a one-year term:
| Votes | Votes | Broker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | For | Against | Abstentions | Non-Votes | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cristiano Amon | 282,005,411 | 12,079,030 | 434,301 | 41,927,404 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amy Banse | 251,492,697 | 42,599,149 | 426,896 | 41,927,404 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Melanie Boulden | 282,311,182 | 11,809,775 | 397,785 | 41,927,404 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Frank Calderoni | 260,547,648 | 33,532,812 | 438,282 | 41,927,404 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Laura Desmond | 284,342,411 | 9,748,316 | 428,015 | 41,927,404 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shantanu Narayen | 269,218,851 | 24,752,304 | 547,587 | 41,927,404 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spencer Neumann | 291,249,899 | 2,830,574 | 438,269 | 41,927,404 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kathleen Oberg | 288,120,843 | 5,970,573 | 427,326 | 41,927,404 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dheeraj Pandey | 291,705,655 | 2,379,367 | 433,720 | 41,927,404 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| David Ricks | 280,254,563 | 13,829,972 | 434,207 | 41,927,404 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Daniel Rosensweig | 203,314,252 | 90,650,276 | 554,214 | 41,927,404 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2. Approve the 2019 Plan to increase the available share reserve by 12 million shares.
| Votes For | Votes Against | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
| 269,926,547 | 23,610,400 | 981,795 | 41,927,404 | |||||||||||||||||
3. Ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending on November 27, 2026.
| Votes For | Votes Against | Abstentions | ||||||||||||
| 304,073,299 | 31,540,619 | 832,228 | ||||||||||||
4. Approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers.
| Votes For | Votes Against | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
| 148,837,167 | 144,993,886 | 687,689 | 41,927,404 | |||||||||||||||||
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5. Vote upon a stockholder proposal regarding a vote on golden parachutes.
| Votes For | Votes Against | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
| 23,956,990 | 269,589,945 | 971,807 | 41,927,404 | |||||||||||||||||
6. Vote upon a stockholder proposal regarding board matrix.
| Votes For | Votes Against | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
| 38,813,057 | 253,504,241 | 2,201,444 | 41,927,404 | |||||||||||||||||
7. Vote upon a stockholder proposal regarding report on civil liberties in digital services.
| Votes For | Votes Against | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
| 1,501,051 | 290,666,105 | 2,351,586 | 41,927,404 | |||||||||||||||||
8. Vote upon a stockholder proposal regarding retirement plan climate risk.
| Votes For | Votes Against | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
| 26,993,426 | 249,732,648 | 17,792,668 | 41,927,404 | |||||||||||||||||
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On April 21, 2026, Adobe announced that our Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase program granting Adobe authority to repurchase up to $25 billion in common stock through April 30, 2030. A copy of the press release is furnished and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Under our new stock repurchase program, which is designed to return value to our stockholders, minimize dilution from stock issuances and reduce share count over time, we may repurchase shares in the open market and also enter into structured repurchase agreements with third parties. The new stock repurchase program approved by our Board of Directors is substantially similar to our previous stock repurchase programs.
The actual timing, number and value of shares repurchased under the new authorization will be determined by Adobe in its discretion and will depend on a number of factors, including market conditions, applicable legal requirements, Adobe’s capital needs and whether there is a better alternative use of capital. Adobe has no obligation to repurchase any amount of its common stock under our new stock repurchase program.
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Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| | |||||||||||
| Exhibit Number | Exhibit Description | ||||||||||
| 10.1 | |||||||||||
| 99.1 | |||||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | ||||||||||
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SIGNATURES
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.
| ADOBE INC. | |||||||||||||||||
Date: April 21, 2026 | By: | /s/ LOUISE PENTLAND | |||||||||||||||
Louise Pentland | |||||||||||||||||
Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President, Legal and Government Relations | |||||||||||||||||
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Exhibit 10.1
ADOBE INC.
2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
(as amended and restated as of April 15, 2026)
1.ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN.
1.1 Establishment. Adobe Inc., a Delaware corporation, established the Adobe Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) effective as of April 11, 2019, the date of its initial approval by the stockholders of the Company.
1.2 Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the Participating Company Group and its stockholders by providing an incentive to attract, retain and reward persons performing services for the Participating Company Group and by motivating such persons to contribute to the growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group. The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”), Stock Purchase Rights, Stock Grants, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, and Performance Units. In addition, the Plan provides for certain cash-based amounts for service as a Director.
1.3 Term of Plan. The Plan shall continue in effect until the earlier of its termination by the Board or the Committee or the date on which all of the shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan have been issued and all restrictions on such shares under the terms of the Plan and the agreements evidencing Awards granted under the Plan have lapsed. However, all Incentive Stock Options shall be granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the earlier of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or the Committee or the date the Plan is duly approved by the stockholders of the Company.
2.DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.
2.1 Definitions. Whenever used herein, the terms set forth in Appendix I shall have their respective meanings set forth in Appendix I.
2.2 Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
3.ADMINISTRATION.
3.1 Administration by the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. All questions of interpretation of the Plan or of any Award shall be determined by the Committee, and such determinations shall be final and binding upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Award.
3.2 Authority of Officers. Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, determination or election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company herein, provided the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, determination or election. To the extent consistent with applicable law (including but not limited to Delaware General Corporation Law Section 152 or 157(c)), the Board or the Committee may, in its discretion, delegate to a committee comprised of one or more Officers (any such committee, an “Officer Committee”) the authority to designate Employees (other than themselves) to receive one or more Stock Awards, Options or rights to acquire shares of Stock and to determine the number of shares of Stock subject to such Stock Awards, Options and rights, without further approval of the Board or the Committee. Any such grants will be subject to the terms of the Board or Committee resolutions providing for such delegation of authority.
3.3 Powers of the Committee. In addition to any other powers set forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:
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(a) to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock or units to be subject to each Award;
(b) to determine the type of Award granted and to designate Options as Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options;
(c) to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock or other property;
(d) to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Award (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise or purchase price of shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (ii) the method of payment for shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with any Award, including by the withholding or delivery of shares of Stock, (iv) the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, (v) the Performance Award Formula and Performance Goals applicable to any Award and the extent to which such Performance Goals have been attained, (vi) the time of the expiration of any Award, (vii) the effect of the Participant’s termination of Service on any of the foregoing, and (viii) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any Award or shares acquired pursuant thereto not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;
(e) to determine whether an Award of SARs, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares or Performance Share Units will be settled in shares of Stock, cash, or in any combination thereof;
(f) to approve one or more forms of Award Agreement;
(g) subject to Section 3.4, to amend, modify, extend, cancel or renew any Award or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto;
(h) to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including with respect to the period following a Participant’s termination of Service;
(i) to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to the Plan, or to adopt sub-plans or supplements to, or alternative versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Committee deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws of or to accommodate the laws, regulations, tax or accounting effectiveness, accounting principles or customs of, non-United States jurisdictions whose citizens may be granted Awards; and
(j) to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any Award as the Committee may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or applicable law.
3.4 Repricing. Without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Stock cast in person or by proxy at a meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which a quorum representing a majority of all outstanding shares of Stock is present or represented by proxy, neither the Board nor the Committee shall approve a program providing for (a) the cancellation of outstanding Options or SARs and the grant in substitution therefor of new Awards having a lower exercise or purchase price, (b) the amendment of outstanding Options or SARs to reduce the exercise price thereof, (c) except in connection with an adjustment pursuant to Section 4.2 or a transaction, the cashout of Options or SARs with an exercise price below Fair Market Value or (d) any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles. This paragraph shall not be construed to apply to “issuing or assuming a stock option in a transaction to which section 424(a) applies,” within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code.
3.5 Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or the Committee or as Officers or Employees of the Participating Company Group, members of the Board or the Committee and any Officers or Employees of the Participating Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board, the Committee or the Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including
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attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any right granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however, that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend the same.
4.SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN.
4.1 Maximum Number of Shares Issuable. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be eighty-eight million (88,000,000). The number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced (a) by one (1) share for each share issued pursuant to Options or SARs, and (b) by one and seventy seven-hundredths (1.77) shares for each share issued pursuant to Awards other than those set forth in the preceding clause (a). Such shares shall consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of Stock or any combination thereof. If an outstanding Award for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, or if shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company at the Participant’s purchase price to effect a forfeiture of unvested shares upon termination of Service, the shares of Stock allocable to the terminated portion of such Award or such forfeited or repurchased shares of Stock shall be added back to the Plan share reserve in an amount corresponding to the reduction in such share reserve previously made in accordance with the rules described above in this Section 4.1 and again be available for issuance under the Plan. Shares of Stock shall not be deemed to have been issued pursuant to the Plan with respect to any portion of an Award (other than a SAR that may be settled in shares of Stock and/or cash) that is settled in cash. Shares withheld in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations pursuant to Section 13.2 shall not again become available for issuance under the Plan. Upon exercise of a SAR, whether in cash or shares of Stock, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the SAR is exercised. If the exercise price of an Option is paid by “net exercise” (as described in Section 6.3(a)(iv)) or tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Participant, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the Option is exercised.
4.2 Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure. In the event of any change in the Stock through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (excepting normal cash dividends) that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the number and class of shares subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Awards, in the ISO Share Limit (as defined in Section 5.3(b)), the Award limits set forth in Section 5.4, and in the exercise or purchase price per share under any outstanding Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless the Committee determines otherwise, any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and in no event may the exercise or purchase price under any Award be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to such Award. The adjustments determined by the Committee pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be final, binding and conclusive.
5.ELIGIBILITY AND AWARD LIMITATIONS.
5.1 Persons Eligible for Awards. Awards may be granted only to Employees, Directors and Consultants. No Award shall be granted prior to the date on which such person commences Service.
5.2 Participation. Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.2, Awards are granted solely at the discretion of the Committee. Eligible persons may be granted more than one (1) Award. However, eligibility in accordance
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with this Section shall not entitle any person to be granted an Award, or, having been granted an Award, to be granted an additional Award.
5.3 Incentive Stock Option Limitations.
(a) Persons Eligible. An Incentive Stock Option may be granted only to a person who, on the effective date of grant, is an Employee of the Company, a Parent Corporation or a Subsidiary Corporation (each being an “ISO-Qualifying Corporation”). Any person who is not an Employee of an ISO-Qualifying Corporation on the effective date of the grant of an Option to such person, but who is otherwise an Employee or a Director of, or a Consultant to, the Company or any of its Affiliates, may be granted only a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(b) ISO Share Limit. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan will equal the aggregate Share number stated in the first sentence of Section 4.1, plus, to the extent allowable under Code Section 422 and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, any shares of Stock that become available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4.1 (the “ISO Share Limit”).
(c) Fair Market Value Limitation. To the extent that options designated as Incentive Stock Options (granted under all stock option plans of the Participating Company Group, including the Plan) become exercisable by a Participant for the first time during any calendar year for Stock having a Fair Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the portion of such options which exceeds such amount shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section, options designated as Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of Stock shall be determined as of the time the option with respect to such Stock is granted. If the Code is amended to provide for a different limitation from that set forth in this Section, such different limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as of the date and with respect to such Options as required or permitted by such amendment to the Code. If an Option is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and as a Nonstatutory Stock Option in part by reason of the limitation set forth in this Section, the Participant may designate which portion of such Option the Participant is exercising. In the absence of such designation, the Participant shall be deemed to have exercised the Incentive Stock Option portion of the Option first. Upon exercise, each portion shall be separately identified.
(d) Leaves of Absence. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no leave of absence may exceed three (3) months, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, then six (6) months following the first (1st) day of such leave, any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant will cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
5.4 Award Limits.
(a) Individual Award Limits. The following limits shall apply to the grant of any Award:
(i)Options and SARs. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, no Employee shall be granted within any fiscal year of the Company one or more Options or Freestanding SARs (as defined in Section 7.1) which in the aggregate are for more than four million (4,000,000) shares of Stock. An Option or SAR which is canceled in the same fiscal year of the Company in which it was granted shall continue to be counted against such limit for such fiscal year.
(ii)Stock Awards. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, no Employee shall be granted within any fiscal year of the Company one or more Stock Awards for more than one million five hundred thousand (1,500,000) shares of Stock in the aggregate.
(iii)Performance Awards. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, no Employee shall be granted (A) an Award of Performance Shares that could result in such Employee receiving from
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Performance Shares granted during one fiscal year of the Company more than one million five hundred thousand (1,500,000) shares of Stock in the aggregate during any fiscal year of the Company, or (B) an Award of Performance Units that could result in such Employee receiving more than two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) during any fiscal year of the Company.
(b) Clarification of Limits. For purposes of clarification regarding the foregoing limits, (i) Awards granted in previous fiscal years will not count against the Award limits in subsequent fiscal years even if the Awards from previous fiscal years are earned or otherwise settled in fiscal years following the fiscal year in which they are granted, and (ii) more than one Award of the same type can be granted in a fiscal year as long as the aggregate number of shares of Stock granted pursuant to all Awards of that type do not exceed the fiscal year limit applicable to that Award type.
(c) Director Award Limits. Subject to any applicable adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, no non-employee Director shall be granted one or more Awards within any fiscal year of the Company, solely with respect to service as a Director, that in the aggregate exceed one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) in aggregate value of cash-based and other Awards, with such value determined by the Committee and as of the date of grant of the Awards. For purposes of clarification regarding the foregoing limit, Awards granted in previous fiscal years will not count against the Award limits in subsequent fiscal years even if the Awards from previous fiscal years are earned or otherwise settled in fiscal years following the fiscal year in which they are granted.
6.TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
Options shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish. Award Agreements evidencing Options may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
6.1 Exercise Price. The exercise price for each Option shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option and (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall have an exercise price per share less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner qualifying under the provisions of Sections 409A and 424(a) of the Code.
6.2 Exercisability and Term of Options; Dividends. Options shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option; provided, however, that (a) no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of seven (7) years after the effective date of grant of such Option, and (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years after the effective date of grant of such Option. Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of an Option, any Option granted hereunder to an Employee, Consultant or Director shall terminate seven (7) years after the effective date of grant of the Option, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions or the Plan. Options are not eligible to receive dividends or Dividend Equivalents.
6.3 Payment of Exercise Price.
(a) Forms of Consideration Authorized. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash, by check or cash equivalent, (ii) by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value not less than the exercise price applicable to shares being acquired through such method, (iii) by delivery of a properly executed notice of exercise together with irrevocable instructions to a broker providing for the
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assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to some or all of the shares being acquired upon the exercise of the Option (including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) (a “Cashless Exercise”), (iv) by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Stock issued 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 shall accept a 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 (unless the Company, in its discretion, permits withholding of fractional shares pursuant to a “net exercise” arrangement); provided further, however, that shares of Stock will no longer be outstanding under an Option and will not be exercisable thereafter to the extent that (A) shares 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, or (C) shares are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations, (v) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (vi) by any combination thereof. The Committee may at any time or from time to time grant Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.
(b) Limitations on Forms of Consideration.
(i)Tender of Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock to the extent such tender or attestation would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of Stock. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock unless such shares either (A) have been owned by the Participant for such period as necessary to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes and not used for another Option exercise by attestation during any such period or (B) were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company.
(ii)Cashless Exercise. The Company reserves, at any and all times, the right, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, to establish, decline to approve or terminate any program or procedures for the exercise of Options by means of a Cashless Exercise.
6.4 Effect of Termination of Service. An Option shall be exercisable after a Participant’s termination of Service to such extent and during such period as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option or in another written (including electronic) agreement between the Company and the Participant.
6.5 Transferability of Options. During the lifetime of the Participant, an Option shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. No Option shall be assignable or transferable by the Participant, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option, an Option shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act or other applicable law.
7.TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SARS.
SARs shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish. Award Agreements evidencing SARs may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
7.1 Types of SARs Authorized. SARs may be granted in tandem with all or any portion of a related Option (a “Tandem SAR”) or may be granted independently of any Option (a “Freestanding SAR”). A Tandem SAR may be granted either concurrently with the grant of the related Option or at any time thereafter prior to the complete exercise, termination, expiration or cancellation of such related Option.
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7.2 Exercise Price. The exercise price for each SAR shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share subject to a Tandem SAR shall be the exercise price per share under the related Option and (b) the exercise price per share subject to a Freestanding SAR shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the SAR.
7.3 Exercisability and Term of SARs; Dividends.
(a) Tandem SARs. Tandem SARs shall be exercisable only at the time and to the extent that the related Option is exercisable, subject to such provisions as the Committee may specify where the Tandem SAR is granted with respect to less than the full number of shares of Stock subject to the related Option. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Tandem SAR that such SAR may not be exercised without the advance approval of the Company and, if such approval is not given, then the Option shall nevertheless remain exercisable in accordance with its terms. A Tandem SAR shall terminate and cease to be exercisable no later than the date on which the related Option expires or is terminated or canceled. Upon the exercise of a Tandem SAR with respect to some or all of the shares subject to such SAR, the related Option shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the Tandem SAR was exercised. Upon the exercise of an Option related to a Tandem SAR as to some or all of the shares subject to such Option, the related Tandem SAR shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the related Option was exercised.
(b) Freestanding SARs. Freestanding SARs shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR; provided, however, that no Freestanding SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of seven (7) years after the effective date of grant of such SAR.
(c) SARs are not eligible to receive dividends or Dividend Equivalents.
7.4 Exercise of SARs. Upon the exercise of a SAR, the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the SAR by reason of the Participant’s death) shall be entitled to receive payment of an amount for each share with respect to which the SAR is exercised equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price. Payment of such amount shall be made in cash, shares of Stock, or any combination thereof as determined by the Committee. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR, payment shall be made in a lump sum as soon as practicable following the date of exercise of the SAR. The Award Agreement evidencing any SAR may provide for deferred payment in a lump sum or in installments. When payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of shares to be issued shall be determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR. For purposes of Section 7, a SAR shall be deemed exercised on the date on which the Company receives notice of exercise from the Participant.
7.5 Effect of Termination of Service. A SAR shall be exercisable after a Participant’s termination of Service to such extent and during such period as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR or in another written (including electronic) agreement between the Company and the Participant.
7.6 Nontransferability of SARs. SARs may not be assigned or transferred in any manner except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the lifetime of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
8.TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK AWARDS.
Stock Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying whether the Award is a Stock Grant, a Stock Purchase Right or a Restricted Stock Unit, and the number of shares of Stock or units subject to the Award, in such form
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as the Committee shall from time to time establish. Award Agreements evidencing Stock Awards may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
8.1 Types of Stock Awards Authorized. Stock Awards may be in the form of a Stock Grant, a Stock Purchase Right or a Restricted Stock Unit. Stock Awards may be granted or vest upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, Service to a Participating Company or upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals.
8.2 Purchase Price. The purchase price for shares of Stock issuable under each Stock Purchase Right shall be established by the Committee in its discretion. No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding) shall be required as a condition of receiving shares of Stock pursuant to a Stock Grant or Restricted Stock Unit.
8.3 Purchase Period. A Stock Purchase Right shall be exercisable within a period established by the Committee, which shall in no event exceed thirty (30) days from the effective date of the grant of the Stock Purchase Right.
8.4 Payment of Purchase Price. At the time of grant of a Stock Purchase Right, the Committee will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid by the Participant upon delivery of each share of Stock acquired pursuant to the Stock Purchase Right. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the purchase price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Stock Purchase Right shall be made (i) in cash, by check, or cash equivalent, (ii) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (iii) by any combination thereof, in each case consistent with any requirements under applicable law regarding payment in respect of the “par value” of the Stock. The Committee may at any time or from time to time grant Stock Purchase Rights which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment of the purchase price or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.
8.5 Vesting; Restrictions on Transfer; Deferral. Shares issued pursuant to any Stock Award (including, without limitation, the percentage of actual achievement relative to pre-established target Performance Goals) may or may not be made subject to vesting conditioned upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, a Performance Award Formula and/or Performance Goals (the “Vesting Conditions”), as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. During any period (the “Restriction Period”) in which shares acquired pursuant to a Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, such shares may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise disposed of other than pursuant to a Change of Control as provided in Section 11, or as provided in Section 8.8. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates, if shares are certificated, representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions. Restricted Stock Units may be subject to such conditions that may delay the delivery of the shares of Stock (or their cash equivalent) subject to Restricted Stock Units after the vesting of such Award.
8.6 Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions. Except as provided in this Section, Section 8.5 and any Award Agreement, during the Restriction Period applicable to shares subject to a Stock Grant or Stock Purchase Right, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company holding shares of Stock, including the right to vote such shares and, to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such shares. With respect to Restricted Stock Units, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, (i) provide that Dividend Equivalents shall not be paid, (ii) provide for the payment of Dividend Equivalents on Restricted Stock Units that have become nonforfeitable, (iii) provide for the accumulation until and payment of Dividend Equivalents to the extent that the Restricted Stock Units become nonforfeitable, or (iv) provide any combination thereof. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.2, then any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than normal cash dividends) to which the Participant is entitled by reason of the Participant’s Stock Award shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions and, if applicable, deferral elections as the shares subject to the Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid or
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adjustments were made. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, dividends or Dividend Equivalents may be accumulated but shall not be paid with respect to shares subject to a Stock Award unless and until the Vesting Conditions are satisfied.
8.7 Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the grant of a Stock Award and set forth in the Award Agreement or in another written (including electronic) agreement between the Company and the Participant, if a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participant’s death or Disability), then (i) the Company shall have the option to repurchase for the purchase price paid by the Participant any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Stock Purchase Right which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service, (ii) the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Stock Grant which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service, and (iii) the Participant shall forfeit all rights in any portion of a Restricted Stock Unit award that has not vested as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company.
8.8 Nontransferability of Stock Award Rights. Rights to acquire shares of Stock pursuant to a Stock Award may not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the lifetime of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
9.TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PERFORMANCE AWARDS. Performance Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish. No Performance Award or purported Performance Award shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Award Agreement (including through electronic acceptance). Award Agreements evidencing Performance Awards may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
9.1 Types of Performance Awards Authorized. Performance Awards may be in the form either of Performance Shares or Performance Units. Each Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award shall specify the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units subject thereto, the Performance Award Formula, the Performance Goal(s) and Performance Period(s) applicable to the Award, and the other terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award.
9.2 Initial Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in granting a Performance Award, each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, on the effective date of grant of the Performance Share, and each Performance Unit shall have an initial value of one hundred dollars ($100), unless the Committee determines otherwise. The final value payable to the Participant in settlement of a Performance Award determined on the basis of the applicable Performance Award Formula will depend on the extent to which Performance Goals established by the Committee are attained within the applicable Performance Period established by the Committee.
9.3 Establishment of Performance Periods, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula. In granting each Performance Award, the Committee shall establish in writing the applicable Performance Period(s), Performance Award Formula and one or more Performance Goals which, when measured at the end of the applicable Performance Period, shall determine on the basis of the Performance Award Formula the final value of the Performance Award to be paid to the Participant. The Company shall notify each Participant granted a Performance Award of the terms of such Award, including the Performance Period(s), Performance Goal(s) and Performance Award Formula.
9.4 Measurement of Performance Goals. The Performance Goals shall be established by the Committee on the basis of achievement of Company-wide, divisional, or individual goals or any other basis determined by the Committee in its discretion. Performance Goals may include a minimum, maximum, or target level and intermediate or other
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levels of performance, with the final value of a Performance Award determined under the applicable Performance Award Formula by the level attained during the applicable Performance Period. A Performance Goal may be stated as an absolute value or as a value determined relative to a standard selected by the Committee. Performance Goals may differ from Participant to Participant and from Award to Award.
9.5 Settlement of Performance Awards.
(a) Determination of Final Value. As soon as practicable following the completion of the Performance Period applicable to a Performance Award, the Committee shall determine the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been attained and the resulting final value of the Award earned by the Participant and to be paid upon its settlement in accordance with the applicable Performance Award Formula.
(b) Discretionary Adjustment of Award Formula. In its discretion, the Committee may, either at the time it grants a Performance Award or at any time thereafter, provide for the positive or negative adjustment of the Performance Award Formula applicable to a Performance Award granted to any Participant to reflect such Participant’s individual performance in his or her position with the Company or such other factors as the Committee may determine. If permitted under a Participant’s Award Agreement, the Committee shall have the discretion, on the basis of such criteria as may be established by the Committee, to reduce some or all of the value of the Performance Award that would otherwise be paid to the Participant upon its settlement notwithstanding the attainment of any Performance Goal and the resulting value of the Performance Award determined in accordance with the Performance Award Formula.
(c) Effect of Leaves of Absence. If required by law or determined by the Committee, payment of the final value, if any, of a Performance Award held by a Participant who has taken in excess of thirty (30) days of leaves of absence during a Performance Period may be prorated on the basis of the number of days of the Participant’s Service during the Performance Period during which the Participant was not on a leave of absence.
(d) Notice to Participants. As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination in accordance with Sections 9.5(a) and (b), the Company shall notify each Participant of the determination of the Committee.
(e) Payment in Settlement of Performance Awards. As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination in accordance with Sections 9.5(a) and (b), payment shall be made to each eligible Participant (or such Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to receive such payment by reason of the Participant’s death) of the final value of the Participant’s Performance Award. Payment of such amount shall be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award, payment shall be made in a lump sum. An Award Agreement may provide for deferred payment in a lump sum or in installments at the election of the Participant or otherwise. If any payment is to be made on a deferred basis, the Committee may, but shall not be obligated to, provide for the payment during the deferral period of Dividend Equivalents or interest.
(f) Provisions Applicable to Payment in Shares. Shares of Stock issued in payment of any Performance Award may be fully vested and freely transferable shares or may be shares of Stock subject to Vesting Conditions as provided in Section 8.5. Any shares subject to Vesting Conditions shall be evidenced by an appropriate Award Agreement and shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 8.5 through 8.8 above.
9.6 Dividend Equivalents. In its discretion, the Committee may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Performance Share Award that the Participant shall be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalents with respect to the payment of dividends on Stock having a record date prior to the date on which the Performance Shares are settled or forfeited. Dividend Equivalents may be paid on Performance Shares that have become nonforfeitable or may be accumulated until and paid to the extent that Performance Shares become nonforfeitable or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee. Settlement of Dividend Equivalents may be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee, and may be paid on the same basis as settlement of the related Performance Shares as provided in Section 9.5. Dividend Equivalents shall not be paid with respect to Performance Units. Notwithstanding anything herein to
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the contrary, Dividend Equivalents may be accumulated but shall not be paid with respect to Performance Share Awards unless and until the Performance Share Awards are earned.
9.7 Effect of Termination of Service. The effect of a Participant’s termination of Service on the Participant’s Performance Award shall be as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Performance Award or in another written (including electronic) agreement between the Company and the Participant.
9.8 Nontransferability of Performance Awards. Prior to settlement in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, no Performance Award may be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Performance Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
10.STANDARD FORMS OF AWARD AGREEMENT.
10.1 Award Agreements. Each Award shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the appropriate form of Award Agreement approved by the Committee and as amended from time to time. Any Award Agreement may consist of an appropriate form of Notice of Grant and a form of Agreement incorporated therein by reference, or such other form or forms as the Committee may approve from time to time.
10.2 Authority to Vary Terms. The Committee shall have the authority from time to time to vary the terms of any standard form of Award Agreement either in connection with the grant or amendment of an individual Award or in connection with the authorization of a new standard form or forms; provided, however, that the terms and conditions of any such new, revised or amended standard form or forms of Award Agreement are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.
10.3 Clawback/Recovery. All Awards granted under the Plan will be subject to recoupment in accordance with any clawback policies that the Company adopts, including any policies that the Company adopts pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable law. In addition, the Committee may impose such other clawback, recovery or recoupment provisions in an Award Agreement as the Committee determines necessary or appropriate, including but not limited to a reacquisition right in respect of previously acquired shares of Common Stock or other cash or property upon the occurrence of cause as determined by the Committee.
11.CHANGE OF CONTROL.
11.1 The Committee or the Board may, in its discretion, provide in any Award Agreement, severance plan or other individual agreement, that, in the event of a Change of Control of the Company, the Award held by a Participant shall become vested, exercisable and/or payable to such extent as specified in such document.
11.2 In the event of a Change of Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (the “Acquiror”), may, without the consent of any Participant, either assume the Company’s rights and obligations under outstanding Awards or substitute for outstanding Awards substantially equivalent equity awards for the Acquiror’s stock. In the event the Acquiror elects not to assume or substitute for outstanding Awards in connection with a Change of Control, any unexercised and/or unvested portions of such outstanding Awards shall become immediately exercisable and vested in full as of immediately prior to the effective date of the Change of Control, except that vesting for Awards with performance-based vesting shall be determined based on the level of achievement of Performance Goals prior to the Change of Control, unless the Committee determines otherwise. The exercise and/or vesting of any Award that was permissible solely by reason of this paragraph 11 shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the Change in Control. Any Awards which are not assumed or replaced by the Acquiror in connection with the Change of Control nor
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exercised as of the time of consummation of the Change of Control shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the time of consummation of the Change of Control.
12.COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAW.
12.1 The grant of Awards and the issuance of shares of Stock pursuant to any Award shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of United States federal and state and non-United States law with respect to such securities and the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, no Award may be exercised or shares issued pursuant to an Award unless (a) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of such exercise or issuance be in effect with respect to the shares issuable pursuant to the Award or (b) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable pursuant to the Award may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares hereunder shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a condition to the issuance of any Stock, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.
12.2 If the exercise of an Award, or the purchase or delivery of shares of Stock subject to an Award, following the termination of the Participant’s Service would be prohibited at any time during the applicable post-termination period solely because the issuance of shares of Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Award shall terminate on the earlier of (a) the expiration of a period of three (3) months after the termination of the Participant’s Service during which the exercise of the Award would not be in violation of such registration requirements or (b) the expiration of the term of the Award as set forth in the Award Agreement.
13.TAX WITHHOLDING.
13.1 Tax Withholding in General. Unless prohibited by applicable law, the Company shall have the right to deduct from any and all payments made under the Plan, or to require the Participant, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, including by means of a Cashless Exercise of an Option, to make adequate provision for United States federal, state, local and non-United States taxes, if any, required by law to be withheld by the Participating Company Group with respect to an Award or the shares acquired pursuant thereto. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock, to release shares of Stock from an escrow established pursuant to an Award Agreement, or to make any payment in cash under the Plan until the Participating Company Group’s tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by the Participant.
13.2 Withholding in Shares. Unless prohibited by applicable law, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable to a Participant upon the exercise or settlement of an Award, or to accept from the Participant the tender of, a number of whole shares of Stock having a fair market value, as determined by the Company, equal to all or any part of the tax withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group (unless the Company, in its discretion, permits a deduction or tender of fractional shares). The fair market value of any shares of Stock withheld or tendered to satisfy any such tax withholding obligations shall not exceed the amount permitted by the Committee or the amount of taxes owed by the Participant up to the maximum statutory tax rate in the Participant’s applicable jurisdiction.
14.TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF PLAN.
The Board or the Committee may terminate or amend the Plan at any time. However, without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, there shall be (a) no increase in the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of the provisions of Section 4.2), (b) no change in the class of persons eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options, and (c) no other amendment of the Plan that would require approval of the Company’s
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stockholders under any applicable law, regulation or rule. No termination or amendment of the Plan shall affect any then outstanding Award unless expressly provided by the Board or the Committee. In any event, no termination or amendment of the Plan may adversely affect any then outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant, unless such termination or amendment is necessary to comply with any applicable law, regulation or rule.
15.MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
15.1 Repurchase Rights. Shares issued under the Plan may be subject to one or more repurchase options, or other conditions and restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion at the time the Award is granted. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates, if shares are certificated, representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.
15.2 Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director. No person, even though eligible pursuant to Section 5, shall have a right to be selected as a Participant, or, having been so selected, to be selected again as a Participant. Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall confer on any Participant a right to remain an Employee, a Consultant or a Director, or interfere with or limit in any way any right of a Participating Company to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time. To the extent that an Employee of a Participating Company other than the Company receives an Award under the Plan, that Award can in no event be understood or interpreted to mean that the Company is the Employee’s employer or that the Employee has an employment relationship with the Company.
15.3 Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by an Award until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such shares are issued, except as provided in Section 4.2 or another provision of the Plan.
15.4 Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise or settlement of any Award.
15.5 Beneficiary Benefits. Subject to local laws and procedures, the Company may request appropriate written documentation from a trustee or other legal representative, court, or similar legal body, regarding any benefit under the Plan to which the Participant is entitled in the event of such Participant’s death before such representative shall be entitled to act on behalf of the Participant and before a beneficiary receives any or all of such benefit.
15.6 Unfunded Obligation. Participants shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company. Any amounts payable to Participants pursuant to the Plan shall be unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. No Participating Company shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Committee, an Officer Committee or any Participating Company and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of any Participating Company. The Participants shall have no claim against any Participating Company for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.
15.7 Section 409A. It is intended that all of the benefits and payments provided under the Plan satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Code Section 409A (together, with any state law of similar effect, “Section 409A”) provided under Treasury Regulations Sections 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(5), 1.409A-1(b)(6) and
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1.409A-1(b)(9), and the Plan will be construed to the greatest extent possible as consistent with those provisions. To the extent not so exempt, the Plan and the payments and benefits to be provided hereunder are intended to, and will be construed and implemented so as to, comply in all respects with the applicable provisions of Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), any right to receive any installment payments under the Plan shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments and, accordingly, each installment payment hereunder shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment.
To the extent that the Committee determines that any Award granted under the Plan is, or may reasonably be, subject to Section 409A, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions necessary to avoid the consequences described in Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code (or any similar provision). Such terms and conditions shall include, without limitation, the following provision (or comparable provision of similar effect): “To the extent that (i) one (1) or more of the payments or benefits received or to be received by a Participant upon “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) without regard to alternative definitions thereunder) pursuant to the Plan would constitute deferred compensation subject to the requirements of Section 409A, and (ii) the Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of separation from service, then to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of such payments or benefits is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) and the related adverse taxation under Section 409A, such payments and benefits shall not be provided to the Participant prior to the earliest of (i) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of separation from service, (ii) the date of the Participant’s death or (iii) such earlier date as permitted under Section 409A without the imposition of adverse taxation on the Participant. Upon the first business day following the expiration of such applicable Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) period, all payments and benefits deferred pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid in a lump sum to the Participant, and any remaining payments and benefits due shall be paid as otherwise provided herein.” If an Award Agreement is silent as to such provision, the foregoing provision is hereby incorporated by reference directly into such Award Agreement.
In addition, and notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Committee determines that any Award is, or may reasonably be, subject to Section 409A and related Department of Treasury guidance (including such Department of Treasury guidance issued from time to time) or contains any ambiguity as to the application of Section 409A, the Committee may, without the Participant’s consent, adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to (A) exempt (or clarify the exemption of) the Award from Section 409A, (B) preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, and/or (C) comply with the requirements of Section 409A and related Department of Treasury guidance.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates shall be responsible for, or required to reimburse or otherwise make any Participant whole for, any tax or penalty imposed on, or losses incurred by, any Participant that arises in connection with the potential or actual application of Section 409A to any Award granted hereunder.
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APPENDIX I
(a) “Affiliate” means (i) an entity, other than a Parent Corporation, that directly, or indirectly through one (1) or more intermediary entities, controls the Company or (ii) an entity, other than a Subsidiary Corporation, that is controlled by the Company directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities. For this purpose, the term “control” (including the term “controlled by”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the relevant entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; or shall have such other meaning assigned such term for the purposes of registration on a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act.
(b) “Award” means any Option, SAR, Stock Purchase Right, Stock Grant, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit or for service as a Director, cash-based amounts (including, without limitation, retainers) granted under the Plan.
(c) “Award Agreement” means a written (including electronic) agreement between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award granted to the Participant. An Award Agreement may be an “Option Agreement, a “SAR Agreement,” a “Stock Purchase Agreement,” a “Stock Grant Agreement,” a “Restricted Stock Unit Agreement,” “a “Performance Share Agreement” or a “Performance Unit Agreement.”
(d) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) “Change of Control” means:
(i) any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity or person, or any syndicate or group deemed to be a person under Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote in the election of directors of the Company;
(ii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board and any new directors, whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least three-fourths (3/4ths) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved (but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board) (the “Incumbent Directors”), cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof;
(iii) there occurs a reorganization, merger, consolidation or other corporate transaction involving the Company (a “Transaction”), in each case with respect to which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such Transaction do not, immediately after the Transaction, own securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company, a parent of the Company or other corporation resulting from such Transaction (counting, for this purpose, only those securities held by the Company’s stockholders immediately after the Transaction that were received in exchange for, or represent their continuing ownership of, securities of the Company held by them immediately prior to the Transaction);
(iv) all or substantially all of the assets of the Company are sold, liquidated or distributed; or
(v) there is a “Change of Control” or a “change in the effective control” of the Company within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
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(f) “Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder.
(g) “Committee” means the Executive Compensation Committee and/or other committee of the Board duly appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers as shall be specified by the Board. If no committee of the Board has been appointed to administer the Plan, the Board shall exercise all of the powers of the Committee granted herein, and, in any event, the Board may in its discretion exercise any or all of such powers.
(h) “Company” means Adobe Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor corporation thereto.
(i) “Consultant” means a person engaged to provide consulting or advisory services (other than as an Employee or a member of the Board) to a Participating Company, provided that the identity of such person, the nature of such services or the entity to which such services are provided would not preclude the Company from offering or selling securities to such person pursuant to the Plan in reliance on, as applicable, (i) registration on a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act, (ii) Rule 701 of the Securities Act, or (iii) other means of compliance with the securities laws of all relevant jurisdictions.
(j) “Director” means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any other Participating Company.
(k) “Disability” means the permanent and total disability of the Participant, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) and 409A(a)(2)(C)(i) of the Code.
(l) “Dividend Equivalent” means a credit, made at the discretion of the Committee or as otherwise provided by the Plan, to the account of a Participant in an amount equal to the dividends paid on one share of Stock for each share of Stock represented by an Award held by such Participant.
(m) “Employee” means any person treated as an employee (including an Officer or a member of the Board who is also treated as an employee) in the records of a Participating Company and, with respect to any Incentive Stock Option granted to such person, who is an employee for purposes of Section 422 of the Code; provided, however, that neither service as a member of the Board nor payment of a Director’s fee shall be sufficient to constitute employment for purposes of the Plan.
(n) “Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(o) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a share of Stock or other property as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, or by the Company, in its discretion, if such determination is expressly allocated to the Company herein, subject to the following:
(i) If, on such date, the Stock is listed on a national or regional securities exchange or market system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock (or the mean of the closing bid and asked prices of a share of Stock if the Stock is so quoted instead) as quoted on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, The Nasdaq Capital Market or such other national or regional securities exchange or market system constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Company deems reliable or such other value determined by the Committee in good faith. If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange or market system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established shall be the last day on which the Stock was so traded prior to the relevant date, or such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Committee, in its discretion.
(ii) If, on such date, the Stock is not listed on a national or regional securities exchange or market system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by the Committee in good faith without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse.
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(p) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) and which qualifies as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code. 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.
(q) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option not intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) or not qualifying as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.
(r) “Officer” means any person designated by the Board as an officer of the Company.
(s) “Option” means the right to purchase Stock at a stated price for a specified period of time granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(t) “Parent Corporation” means any present or future “parent corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(u) “Participant” means any eligible person who has been granted one or more Awards.
(v) “Participating Company” means the Company or any Parent Corporation, Subsidiary Corporation or Affiliate.
(w) “Participating Company Group” means, at any point in time, all entities collectively which are then Participating Companies.
(x) “Performance Award” means an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units.
(y) “Performance Award Formula” means, for an Award, a formula or table established by the Committee, which provides the basis for computing the value of an Award at one or more levels of attainment of the applicable Performance Goal(s) measured as of the end of the applicable Performance Period.
(z) “Performance Goal” means a performance goal established by the Committee.
(aa) “Performance Period” means a period established by the Committee at the end of which one or more Performance Goals are to be measured.
(bb) “Performance Share” means a bookkeeping entry representing a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan to receive a payment in Stock, a cash payment equivalent, or a combination thereof, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, based upon achievement of one or more Performance Goals.
(cc) “Performance Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing a right denominated in cash or property other than shares of Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Unit based upon achievement of one or more Performance Goals.
(dd) Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan to receive one share of Stock, a cash payment equal to the value of one share of Stock, or a combination thereof, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.
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(ee) “Restriction Period” means the period established in accordance with Section 8.5 of the Plan during which shares subject to a Stock Award are subject to Vesting Conditions.
(ff) “SAR” means a bookkeeping entry representing, for each share of Stock subject to such SAR, a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan to receive payment of an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price.
(gg) “Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(hh) “Service” means a Participant’s employment or service with the Participating Company Group as an Employee, a Consultant or a Director, whichever such capacity the Participant held on the date of grant of an Award. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, a Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated if the Participant ceases to render service to the Participating Company Group in such initial capacity. However, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the Participating Company for which the Participant renders such Service in such initial capacity, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Service. A Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the entity for which the Participant performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company. Subject to the foregoing and to the extent applicable Section 409A, the Company, in its discretion, shall determine whether the Participant’s Service has terminated and the effective date of such termination.
(ii) “Stock” means the common stock of the Company, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.2 of the Plan.
(jj) “Stock Award” means an Award of a Stock Grant, a Stock Purchase Right or a Restricted Stock Unit Award.
(kk) “Stock Grant” means Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.
(ll) “Stock Purchase Right” means a right to purchase Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.
(mm) “Subsidiary Corporation” means any present or future “subsidiary corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
(nn) “Ten Percent Owner” means a Participant who, at the time an Option is granted to the Participant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a Participating Company (other than an Affiliate) within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.
(oo) “Vesting Conditions” mean those conditions established in accordance with Section 8.5 of the Plan prior to the satisfaction of which shares subject to a Stock Award remain subject to forfeiture or a repurchase option in favor of the Company.
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Exhibit 99.1
Investor Relations Contact
Doug Clark
Adobe
Public Relations Contact
Ashley Levine
Adobe
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Adobe Announces New $25 Billion Stock Repurchase Program
SAN JOSE, Calif. – April 21, 2026 – Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE), the global technology leader that unleashes creativity and productivity for individuals and businesses through innovative platforms and tools, announced that its board of directors has approved a new stock repurchase authorization, granting the company authority to repurchase up to $25 billion in common stock through April 30, 2030. Under the program, which is designed to return value to Adobe’s stockholders, minimize dilution from stock issuances, and reduce share count over time, the company may repurchase shares in the open market and enter into structured repurchase agreements with third parties.
"Our new $25 billion share repurchase authorization is a direct expression of confidence in our robust cash flow and the long-term value we are delivering to investors. Returning meaningful capital to stockholders while continuing to invest aggressively in innovation speaks to the durability of Adobe's business model and strategy to leverage AI to amplify creativity, scale reach and deliver impactful experiences,” said Dan Durn, executive vice president and CFO, Adobe.
Adobe to Host Investor Session at Adobe Summit 2026
Adobe will host its Investor Session with financial analysts and investors on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time at Adobe Summit in Las Vegas, Nev. Adobe’s executive team will discuss company strategy and the latest product innovations. The event will be streamed live on the Adobe investor relations website: http://www.adobe.com/ADBE. Following the event, a recording and related materials will be available on the site.
Forward-Looking Statements Disclosures
In addition to historical information, this press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements related to Adobe’s stock repurchases, cash flows, use of cash, business momentum and strategy. Each of the forward-looking statements we make in this press release involves risks, uncertainties and assumptions based on information available to us as of the date of this press release. Such risks and uncertainties, many of which relate to matters beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: failure to innovate effectively and meet customer needs; failure to compete effectively; issues relating to development and use of AI; damage to our reputation or brands; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions, investments or other strategic transactions; failure to recruit and retain key personnel; service interruptions or failures in information technology systems by us or third parties; security
incidents; failure to effectively develop, manage and maintain our sales channels or critical third-party business relationships; risks associated with being a multinational corporation and adverse macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions; complex sales cycles; litigation, regulatory inquiries, investigations and other actions; changes in, and compliance with, global laws and regulations, including those related to information security and privacy; failure to protect our intellectual property; changes in tax regulations; complex government procurement processes; risks related to fluctuations in or the timing of revenue recognition from our subscription offerings; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; impairment charges; our existing and future debt obligations; catastrophic events; and fluctuations in our stock price. Further information on these and other factors are discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in Adobe’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Adobe's most recently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The risks described in this press release and in Adobe’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission should be carefully reviewed. Adobe assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update these forward-looking statements.
About Adobe
Adobe (Nasdaq: ADBE) empowers everyone to create through industry-leading platforms and tools that unleash creativity, productivity and personalized customer experiences. For more information, visit www.adobe.com.
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© 2026 Adobe. All rights reserved. Adobe and the Adobe logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe (or one of its subsidiaries) in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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