dividing 120% of the deferral amount by the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock (each as defined in the 2017 Performance Plan) on the date the payout is approved by the Committee. If the Participant terminates employment (except by death, Disability or Retirement) prior to the first anniversary of the end of the Performance Period for which the Award Opportunity was earned, the Deferred Stock Unit account relating to such year will be reduced to equal the number of Deferred Stock Units that would have been equal to 100% of the portion of the Award Opportunity that was deferred on the date the payout was approved by the Committee. The Committee may authorize dividend equivalents at the same rate as dividends are paid on the Company’s Common Stock, to be reinvested in the deferral account based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the Company pays any such dividend. Unless the Award Opportunity has been previously paid out due to a death as specified in Section 8(b), on March 31 of the fourth year following the end of the Performance Period for which the Award Opportunity was earned, the Deferred Stock Unit accounts will be converted into shares of Common Stock and issued to the Participant less amounts withheld to satisfy any tax withholding requirements. Upon a “change in control” of the Company, the Deferred Stock Units shall be subject to the provisions of Section 14 of the 2017 Performance Plan of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (or any successor provision thereto).
9. Tax Withholding. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall have the right to deduct from all payments made to any person under the Plan any federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes which, in the opinion of the Company and its Subsidiaries, are required to be withheld with respect to such payments.
10. No Employment Contract. Nothing contained in this Plan shall confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries, nor limit or affect in any manner the right of the Company and its Subsidiaries to terminate the employment or adjust the compensation of a Participant. For purposes of the Plan, the transfer of employment of a Participant between the Company and any one of its Subsidiaries (or between Subsidiaries) shall not be deemed a termination of the Participant’s employment.
11. Transferability. No right or benefit under this Plan will be subject to anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge, and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, pledge, encumber or charge such right or benefit will be void. No such right or benefit will in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, liabilities or torts of a Participant.
12. Successors. All obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company.
13. Governing Law. The Plan and all Award Opportunities shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Ohio, but without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
14. Amendment or Termination. The Committee reserves the right, at any time, to amend, suspend or terminate the Plan, in whole or in part, in any manner, and for any reason, and without the consent of any Participant, Employee or other person; provided, that no such
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