AMENDED AND RESTATED ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION 1. Purpose of the Plan.
The Amended and Restated Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) has been adopted by LE GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), the general partner of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”). The Plan is intended to promote the interests of the Partnership, the Company and their respective Affiliates by providing to Employees, Consultants and Directors incentive compensation awards based on Units to encourage superior performance. The Plan is also contemplated to enhance the ability of the Company, the Partnership and their respective Affiliates to attract and retain the services of individuals who are essential for the growth and profitability of the Company, the Partnership and their respective Affiliates and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to advancing the business of the Company, the Partnership and their respective Affiliates.
The Plan as set forth herein constitutes an amendment and restatement of the Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plan”). The Board has approved this amendment and restatement of the Prior Plan to be effective as of December 20, 2017 (the “Amendment Date”). The Plan as set forth herein shall supersede and replace the Prior Plan in its entirety. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, each Award granted under the Prior Plan prior to the Amendment Date shall be subject to the terms and provisions applicable to such Award under the Prior Plan as in effect immediately prior to the Amendment Date.
SECTION 2. Definitions.
As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“ASC Topic 718” means Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation— Stock Compensation, or any successor accounting standard.
“Award” means an Option, Restricted Unit, Phantom Unit, Unit Appreciation Right or Substitute Award granted under the Plan, and shall include any tandem DERs granted with respect to an Option, Phantom Unit or Unit Appreciation Right.
“Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement by which an Award shall be evidenced.
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“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Change of Control” means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of one or more of the following events:
(i)any “person” or “group” within the meaning of those terms as used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, other than an Affiliate of the Company, shall become the beneficial owner, by way of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or otherwise, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power of the voting securities of the Company (or such other entity serving as general partner of the Partnership) or the Partnership;
(ii)the Company or an Affiliate of the Company ceases to be the general partner of the Partnership; or
(iii)the sale or other disposition, including by liquidation or dissolution, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership in one or more transactions to any Person other than the Company or an Affiliate of either the Company or the Partnership.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change of Control constitutes a payment event with respect to an Award that is subject to Section 409A, the transaction or event described in subsection (i), (ii) or (iii) above must also constitute a “change in control event” within the meaning of Treasury regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5), as applied to non-corporate entities and as relates to the holder of such Award, to the extent required to comply with Section 409A.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Committee” means the Board, the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee as may be appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.
“Consultant” means an individual, other than a Director or Employee, who renders consulting services to the Company, the Partnership or any of their respective Affiliates.
“DER” means a distribution equivalent right representing a right to receive an amount in cash, Units, Restricted Units and/or Phantom Units equal in value to the distributions made by the Partnership with respect to a Unit during the period such Award is outstanding or, if applicable, such other amount set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
“Director” means a member of the board of directors of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company who is not an Employee or a Consultant.
“Employee” means an employee of the Company, the Partnership or any of their respective Affiliates.
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“ETP Common Units” means common units of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Fair Market Value” means the closing sales price of a Unit on the principal national securities exchange or other market in which trading in Units occurs on the applicable date (or if there is no trading in the Units on such date, on the next preceding date on which there was trading) as reported in The Wall Street Journal (or other reporting service approved by the Committee). If Units are not traded on a national securities exchange or other market at the time a determination of fair market value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of fair market value shall be made in good faith by the Committee.
“Option” means an option to purchase Units granted under the Plan.
“Participant” means an Employee, Consultant or Director granted an Award under the Plan.
“Partnership Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as it may be amended or amended and restated from time to time.
“Person” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, governmental agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
“Phantom Unit” means a phantom (notional) Unit granted under the Plan that, to the extent vested, entitles the Participant to receive a Unit, an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit, other securities or property (including, without limitation, ETP Common Units) equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee in its discretion and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
“Restricted Period” means the period established by the Committee with respect to an Award during which the Award remains subject to restrictions established by the Committee, including, without limitation, a period during which an Award or Unit is subject to forfeiture, or restrictions on transfer, or is not yet exercisable by or payable to the Participant, as the case may be.
“Restricted Unit” means a Unit granted under the Plan that is subject to a Restricted Period.
“Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule or regulation thereto as in effect from time to time.
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“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor thereto.
“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including, without limitation, any such regulations or guidance that may be amended or issued after the Amendment Date.
“Substitute Award” means an award granted pursuant to Section 6(d)(viii) of the Plan.
“UDR” means a distribution made by the Partnership with respect to a Restricted Unit.
“Unit” means a Common Unit of the Partnership.
“Unit Appreciation Right” or “UAR” means an Award, that, upon exercise, entitles the holder to receive the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the exercise date over the exercise price established for such Unit Appreciation Right. Such excess shall be paid in Units, in cash or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee in its discretion and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
SECTION 3. Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of the members of the Committee who are present at any meeting thereof at which a quorum is present, or acts unanimously approved by the members of the Committee in writing, shall be the acts of the Committee; provided, however, that in the event that the Board is not also serving as the Committee, the Board, in its sole discretion, may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan. Subject to the following and applicable law, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may delegate any or all of its powers and duties under the Plan, including the power to grant Awards under the Plan, to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and/or any other executive officer of the Company, subject to such limitations on such delegated powers and duties as the Committee may impose, if any. Upon any such delegation all references in the Plan to the “Committee”, other than in Section 7, shall be deemed to include the Chief Executive Officer and/or any other executive officer; provided, however, that such delegation shall not limit the Chief Executive Officer’s and/or any other executive officer’s right to receive Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Chief Executive Officer and/or any other executive officer may not grant Awards to, or take any action with respect to any Award previously granted to, a person who is an officer subject to Rule 16b-3 or a member of the Board. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of Units to be covered by Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, or forfeited; (vi) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to an Award made under the Plan; (vii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (viii) make any other
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determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or an Award Agreement in such manner and to such extent as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, the Partnership, any of their respective Affiliates, any Participant, and any beneficiary of any Award.
SECTION 4. Units.
(a) Limits on Units Deliverable. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c), the number of Units that may be delivered with respect to Awards under the Plan is 12,000,000 (inclusive of Units deliverable with respect to outstanding Awards under the Plan as of the Amendment Date). Units withheld from an Award to either satisfy the exercise price of such Award or the Company’s or an Affiliate of the Company’s tax withholding obligations with respect to the Award shall not be considered to be Units delivered under the Plan for this purpose. If any Award is forfeited, canceled, exercised, or otherwise terminates or expires without the actual delivery of Units pursuant to such Award, the Units subject to such Award shall again be available for Awards under the Plan. There shall not be any limitation on the number of Awards that may be granted and paid in cash.
(b)Sources of Units Deliverable Under Awards. Any Units delivered pursuant to an Award shall consist, in whole or in part, of Units acquired (i) in the open market, (ii) from the Partnership, including newly issued Units, (iii) from any Affiliate of the Partnership, or (iv) from any other Person, or any combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.
(c)Adjustments. With respect to any “equity restructuring” event that could result in an additional compensation expense to the Company, the Partnership, or any of their respective Affiliates pursuant to the provisions of ASC Topic 718 if adjustments to Awards with respect to such event were discretionary, the Committee shall equitably adjust the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) covered by each outstanding Award and the terms and conditions, including the exercise price and performance goals (if any), of such Award to equitably reflect such event and shall adjust the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan after such event. With respect to any other similar event that would not result in an accounting charge under ASC Topic 718 if the adjustment to Awards with respect to such event were subject to discretionary action, the Committee shall have complete discretion to adjust Awards and the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan in such manner as it deems appropriate with respect to such other event.
SECTION 5. Eligibility.
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Any Employee, Consultant or Director who performs services, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership shall be eligible to be designated as a Participant and receive an Award under the Plan.
SECTION 6. Awards.
(a)Options. The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Options shall be granted, the number of Units to be covered by each Option, whether DERs are granted with respect to such Option, the purchase or exercise price therefor, the Restricted Period and other conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Option, including the following terms and conditions and such additional terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.
(i) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Unit purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Option is granted but, except with respect to a Substitute Award, may not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Unit as of the date of grant of the Option.
(ii)Time and Method of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the exercise terms and the Restricted Period, if any, with respect to an Option grant, which may include, without limitation, (A) a provision for accelerated vesting upon the achievement of specified performance goals or such other events as the Committee may provide, and
(B) the method or methods by which payment of the exercise price with respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been made, which may include, without limitation, cash, check acceptable to the Company, a “cashless-broker” exercise through procedures approved by the Company, withholding Units to be acquired upon the Option exercise, or any combination of methods, having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price.
(iii)Forfeitures. Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the Option grant, upon termination of a Participant’s employment with or consulting services to the Company and its Affiliates or membership on the Board, whichever is applicable, for any reason during the applicable Restricted Period, all Options shall be forfeited by the Participant. The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Options.
(iv)Option DERs. To the extent provided by the Committee, in its discretion, a grant of Options may include a tandem DER grant, which may provide that such DERs shall be paid directly to the Participant, be credited to a bookkeeping account (with or without interest in the discretion of the Committee) subject to the same vesting restrictions as the tandem Options Award, or be subject to such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion.
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(b)Unit Appreciation Rights. The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Unit Appreciation Rights shall be granted, the number of Units to be covered by each grant, whether DERs are granted with respect to such Unit Appreciation Right and the terms of any DERs, the exercise price therefor and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Unit Appreciation Right, including the following terms and conditions and such additional terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.
(i) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Unit Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Unit Appreciation Right is granted but may not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Unit as of the date of grant.
(ii) Time of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which a Unit Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part, which may include, without limitation, accelerated vesting upon the achievement of specified performance goals or such other events as the Committee may provide.
(iii) Forfeitures. Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the Award Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s employment or consulting arrangement with the Company and its Affiliates or membership on the Board, whichever is applicable, for any reason during the applicable Restricted Period, all outstanding Unit Appreciation Rights awarded the Participant shall be automatically forfeited on such termination. The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Unit Appreciation Rights.
(c)Restricted Units and Phantom Units. The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Restricted Units or Phantom Units shall be granted, the number of Restricted Units or Phantom Units to be granted to each such Participant, the Restricted Period, the conditions under which the Restricted Units or Phantom Units may become vested or forfeited and such other terms and conditions as the Committee may establish with respect to such Awards.
(i) DERs. To the extent provided by the Committee, in its discretion, a grant of Phantom Units may include a tandem DER grant, which may provide that such DERs shall be paid directly to the Participant, be credited to a bookkeeping account (with or without interest in the discretion of the Committee), be “reinvested” in Restricted Units or in additional Phantom Units, and be subject to the same or different vesting restrictions as the tandem Phantom Unit Award, or be subject to such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion.
(ii) UDRs. To the extent provided by the Committee, in its discretion, a grant of Restricted Units may provide that distributions made by the Partnership with respect to the Restricted Units shall be subject to the same forfeiture and other restrictions as the
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Restricted Unit and, if restricted, such distributions shall be held, without interest, until the Restricted Unit vests or is forfeited with the UDR being paid or forfeited at the same time, as the case may be. In addition, the Committee may provide that such distributions be used to acquire additional Restricted Units for the Participant. Such additional Restricted Units may be subject to such vesting and other terms as the Committee may prescribe. Absent such a restriction on the UDRs in the applicable Award Agreement, UDRs shall be paid to the holder of the Restricted Unit without restriction.
(iii) Forfeitures. Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s employment with or consulting services to the Company and its Affiliates or membership on the Board, whichever is applicable, for any reason during the applicable Restricted Period, all outstanding Restricted Units and Phantom Units awarded the Participant shall be automatically forfeited on such termination. The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Restricted Units and/or Phantom Units.
(iv) | Lapse of Restrictions. |
(A) Phantom Units. Upon or as soon as reasonably practical following the vesting of each Phantom Unit, subject to the provisions of Section 8(b), the Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company one Unit, cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit, other securities or property (including, without limitation, ETP Common Units) equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.
(B) Restricted Units. Upon or as soon as reasonably practical following the vesting of each Restricted Unit, subject to satisfying the tax withholding obligations of Section 8(b), the Participant shall be entitled to have the restrictions removed from his or her Unit so that the Participant then holds an unrestricted Unit.
(d) | General. |
(i) Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together. Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for any other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or awards granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.
(ii) | Limits on Transfer of Awards. |
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(A) Except as provided in Paragraph (C) below, each Option and UAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant during the Participant’s lifetime, or by the person to whom the Participant’s rights shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
(B) Except as provided in Paragraph (C) below, no Award and no right under any such Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company, the Partnership or any of their respective Affiliates.
(C) To the extent specifically provided by the Committee with respect to an Award, an Award may be transferred by a Participant without consideration to any “family member” of the Participant, as defined in the instructions to use of the Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any related family trusts, limited partnerships or similar entities or other transferee specifically approved by the Committee.
(iii) Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee.
(iv) Unit Certificates. The Units or other securities of the Partnership pursuant to an Award may be evidenced in any manner deemed appropriate by the Committee in its sole discretion, including, without limitation, in the form of a certificate issued in the name of the Participant or by book entry, electronic or otherwise and shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the SEC, any securities exchange upon which such Units or other securities are then listed, and any applicable federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be inscribed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
(v) Consideration for Grants. Awards may be granted for such consideration, including services, as the Committee determines.
(vi) Delivery of Units or other Securities and Payment by Participant of Consideration. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, delivery of Units pursuant to the exercise or vesting of an Award may be deferred for any period during which, in the good faith determination of the Committee, the Company is not reasonably able to obtain Units to deliver pursuant to such Award without violating applicable law or the applicable rules or regulations of any governmental agency or authority or securities exchange. No Units or other securities shall be delivered pursuant to any Award until payment in full of any amount required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award
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Agreement (including, without limitation, any exercise price or tax withholding) is received by the Company.
(vii) Change of Control. Unless specifically provided otherwise in the applicable Award Agreement, upon a Change of Control all outstanding Awards shall automatically vest and be payable at their maximum target level or become exercisable in full, as the case may be.
(viii) Substitute Awards. Awards may be granted under the Plan in substitution for similar assumed, canceled or forfeited awards held by individuals who become Employees, Consultants or Directors as a result of a merger, consolidation or acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company of another entity or the assets of another entity. Such Substitute Awards that are Options may have exercise prices less than the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the date of such substitution.
(ix) Prohibition on Repricing of Options and UARs. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(c) and Section 7(c), the terms of outstanding Award Agreements may not be amended without the approval of the Partnership’s unitholders so as to (A) reduce the Unit exercise price of any outstanding Options or UARs, (B) grant a new Option, UAR or other Award in substitution for, or upon the cancellation of, any previously granted Option or UAR that has the effect of reducing the exercise price thereof, (C) exchange any Option or UAR for Units, cash or other consideration when the exercise price per Unit under such Option or UAR exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Units, or (D) take any other action that would be considered a “repricing” of an Option or UAR under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Units are not then-listed on such exchange, to the extent applicable, on any other national securities exchange on which the Units are listed. Subject to Section 4(c), Section 7(c) and Section 8(m), the Committee shall have the authority, without the approval of the Partnership’s unitholders, to amend any outstanding Award to increase the per Unit exercise price of any outstanding Options or UARs or to cancel and replace any outstanding Options or UARs with the grant of Options or UARs having a per Unit exercise price that is equal to or greater than the per Unit exercise price of the original Options or UARs.
SECTION 7. Amendment and Termination.
Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law:
(a)Amendments to the Plan. Except as required by applicable law or the rules of the principal securities exchange on which the Units are traded and subject to Section 7(b) below, the Board or the Committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan in any manner, including increasing the number of Units available for Awards under the Plan, without the consent of any partner, Participant, other holder or beneficiary of an Award, or any other Person.
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(b)Amendments to Awards. Subject to Section 7(a), the Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter any Award theretofore granted, provided no change, other than pursuant to Section 7(c), in any Award shall materially reduce the benefit to a Participant without the consent of such Participant.
(c)Actions Upon the Occurrence of Certain Events. Upon the occurrence of any event described in Section 4(c) of the Plan, any Change of Control, any change in applicable law or regulation affecting the Plan or Awards thereunder, or any change in accounting principles affecting the financial statements of the Partnership, the Committee, in its sole discretion and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, may take any one or more of the following actions in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or an outstanding Award:
(i) provide for either (A) the termination of any Award in exchange for an amount of cash, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of such transaction or event, the Committee determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment) or (B) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Committee in its sole discretion;
(ii) provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or be exchanged for similar options, rights or awards covering the equity of the successor or survivor, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of equity interests and prices;
(iii) make adjustments in the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and in the number and kind of outstanding Awards or in the terms and conditions of (including the exercise price), and the vesting/performance criteria included in, outstanding Awards, or both;
(iv) provide that such Award shall be exercisable or payable, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement; and
(v) provide that the Award cannot be exercised or become payable after such event, i.e., shall terminate upon such event.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any “equity restructuring” event that could result in an additional compensation expense to the Company or the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of ASC Topic 718, the provisions in Section 4(c) shall control to the extent they are in conflict with the discretionary provisions of this Section 7(c).
SECTION 8. General Provisions.
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(a)No Rights to Awards. No Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.
(b)Tax Withholding. Unless other arrangements have been made that are acceptable to the Company, the Company or any Affiliate of the Company is authorized to withhold from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Units, Units that would otherwise be issued pursuant to such Award, other securities or property (including, without limitation, ETP Common Units) of any applicable taxes payable in respect of the grant or settlement of an Award, its exercise, the lapse of restrictions thereon, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy its withholding obligations for the payment of such taxes.
(c)No Right to Employment or Services. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, continue consulting services or to remain on the Board, as applicable. Furthermore, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or consulting free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, any Award agreement or other agreement.
(d)Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas without regard to its conflict of laws principles.
(e)Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable law, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
(f)Other Laws. The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Units or other consideration under an Award if, in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Units or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation, the rules of the principal securities exchange on which the Units are then traded, or entitle the Partnership or an Affiliate of the Partnership to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary.
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(g)No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any participating Affiliate of the Company and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any participating Affiliate of the Company pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the Company or any participating Affiliate of the Company.
(h)No Fractional Units. No fractional Units shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Units or whether such fractional Units or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.
(i)Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.
(j)Facility Payment. Any amounts payable hereunder to any person under legal disability or who, in the judgment of the Committee, is unable to properly manage his financial affairs, may be paid to the legal representative of such person, or may be applied for the benefit of such person in any manner that the Committee may select, and the Company shall be relieved of any further liability for payment of such amounts.
(k)Participation by Affiliates. In making Awards to Employees employed by an entity other than the Company, the Committee shall be acting on behalf of the Affiliate of the Company or the Partnership, and to the extent the Partnership has an obligation to reimburse the Company for compensation paid for services rendered for the benefit of the Partnership, such payments or reimbursement payments may be made by the Partnership directly to the Affiliate of the Company or the Partnership, and, if made to the Company, shall be received by the Company as agent for the Affiliate of the Company or the Partnership.
(l)Gender and Number. Words in the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.
(m)Compliance with Section 409A. Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall operate or be construed to cause the Plan or an Award that is subject to Section 409A to fail to comply with the requirements of Section 409A. The applicable provisions of Section 409A are hereby incorporated by reference and shall control over any Plan or Award Agreement provision in conflict therewith or that would cause a failure of compliance thereunder, to the extent necessary to resolve such conflict or obviate such failure. Subject to any other restrictions or limitations contained herein, in the event that a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A) becomes entitled to a payment under an Award that constitutes a “deferral of compensation” (as defined under Section 409A) on account of a “separation from service” (as defined under Section 409A), to the extent required by the Code, such payment shall not occur until the date that is six
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months plus one day from the date of such separation from service. Any amount that is otherwise payable within the six-month period described herein will be aggregated and paid in a lump sum without interest on the date that is six months plus one day from the date of such separation from service. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, none of the Board, the Committee, the Company, the Partnership or any of their respective Affiliates makes any representations that any Awards (or payments with respect to any Awards) are exempt from or compliant with Section 409A and in no event shall the Board, the Committee, the Company, the Partnership or any of their respective Affiliates be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by any Participant on account of non-compliance with Section 409A.
(n)Clawback. To the extent required by applicable law or any applicable securities exchange listing standards, or as otherwise determined by the Committee, Awards and amounts paid or payable pursuant to or with respect to Awards shall be subject to the provisions of any applicable clawback policies or procedures adopted by the Company or the Partnership, which clawback policies or procedures may provide for forfeiture, repurchase and/or recoupment of Awards and amounts paid or payable pursuant to or with respect to Awards. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Company and the Partnership reserve the right, without the consent of any Participant or beneficiary of any Award, to adopt any such clawback policies and procedures, including such policies and procedures applicable to the Plan or any Award Agreement with retroactive effect.
SECTION 9. Term of the Plan.
The Plan, as amended and restated hereby, shall be effective on the Amendment Date and shall continue until the earliest of (i) the date terminated by the Board or the Committee, (ii) all Units available under the Plan have been delivered, or (iii) the 10th anniversary of the Amendment Date. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, however, any Award granted prior to such termination, and the authority of the Board or the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under such Award, shall extend beyond such termination date.
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