As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on October 11, 2023
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its
charter)
|
|
|
Missouri |
|
43-0259330 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation
or organization) |
|
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
|
|
8000 West Florissant Ave.
St. Louis, Missouri |
|
63136 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
|
(Zip Code) |
National Instruments Corporation 2022 Equity
Incentive Plan
National Instruments Corporation 2020 Equity
Incentive Plan
National Instruments Corporation 2015 Equity
Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plan)
John A. Sperino, Esq.
Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Emerson Electric Co.
8000 West Florissant Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri 63136
(314) 553-2000
(Name and address, including telephone number
and area code, of agent for service)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated
filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of
“large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth
company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer |
|
☒ |
|
Accelerated filer |
|
☐ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-accelerated filer |
|
☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
|
Smaller reporting company |
|
☐ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant
to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Emerson Electric Co. (“Emerson” or the “Registrant”),
is filing this registration statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) to register up to 2,113,555
shares of its common stock, par value $0.50 per share (“Emerson Common Stock”), issuable pursuant to outstanding and unvested
awards of restricted stock units and performance stock units granted under the National Instruments Corporation 2022 Equity Incentive
Plan (the “2022 NIC Plan”), the National Instruments Corporation 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2020 NIC Plan”)
and the National Instruments Corporation 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 NIC Plan” and, collectively with the 2022 NIC
Plan and the 2020 NIC Plan, the “NIC Plans”), which awards were assumed by the Registrant in connection with completion of
the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated April 12, 2023, by and among
Emerson, Emersub CXIV, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Emerson (“Merger Sub”), and National
Instrument Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“NIC” and, such merger, the “Merger”).
In accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the effective
time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each award of restricted stock units and performance stock units granted under
any of the NIC Plans that was outstanding and unvested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (“NIC Awards”) was assumed
by Emerson and converted into an award of time-based restricted stock units with respect to Emerson Common Stock (“Emerson Awards”),
subject to the same terms and conditions (including vesting schedule) that applied to the corresponding NIC Awards immediately prior to
the Effective Time. The number of shares of Emerson Common Stock subject to each such Emerson Award equals the target number of shares
of NIC common stock subject to the corresponding NIC Award immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by the exchange ratio (as
defined below). The “exchange ratio” is equal to 0.63146, which equals the
quotient obtained by dividing (i) the merger consideration by (ii) the volume-weighted average closing price per share of Emerson Common
Stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the five consecutive trading day period ending on the last trading day preceding the closing
date.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The documents containing the information specified in Item 1 and Item
2 of Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the “Securities Act”). In accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”)
and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement
or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. |
Incorporation of Documents by Reference. |
The following documents previously filed by the Registrant with the
Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are incorporated herein by reference:
| · | the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, filed with the Commission on November
14, 2022 (the “Annual Report”), including the sections of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A
for the Registrant’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, as filed with the Commission on December 9, 2022, incorporated by reference
in the Annual Report; |
| · | the Registrant’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2022, March 31, 2023 and June 30,
2023 filed with the Commission on February 8, 2023, May 3, 2023 and August 2, 2023, respectively; |
| · | the Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February 10, 2023, February 21, 2023, April 6, 2023,
April 12, 2023, April 12, 2023, May 2, 2023, May 3, 2023, June 2, 2023 and August 2, 2023. |
| · | All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual
Report; |
| · | The description of the Registrant’s common stock included as Exhibit 4(c) to the Annual Report, including any amendment or report
filed for purposes of updating such description. |
In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant
to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement
which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent
that a statement contained herein (or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
by reference herein), modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except
as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. |
Description of Securities. |
Not applicable.
Item 5. |
Interests of Named Experts and Counsel. |
John A. Sperino, Esq., Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the
Registrant, has opined as to the legality of the securities being offered by this Registration Statement. Mr. Sperino is not eligible
to participate in the NIC Plans.
Item 6. |
Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the complete text of Sections 351.355 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri and the Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended,
of the Registrant.
The Registrant is a Missouri corporation. Section 351.355(1) of the
Revised Statutes of Missouri provides that a corporation may indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation in any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action
by or in the right of the corporation, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts actually
and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner
he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding,
had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
Section 351.355(2) provides that the corporation may indemnify any
such person in any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation against expenses, including attorneys’
fees and settlement amounts actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense or settlement of the action
or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the corporation, except that he or she may not be indemnified in respect of any claim, issue or matter in which he or she has been adjudged
liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his or her duty to the corporation, unless, and only to the extent, authorized
by the court.
Section 351.355(3) provides that a corporation shall indemnify any
such person against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action,
suit or proceeding if he or she has been successful in defense of such action, suit or proceeding and if such action, suit or proceeding
is one for which the corporation may indemnify him or her under Section 351.355(1) or (2). Section 351.355(7) provides that a corporation
shall have the power to give any further indemnity to any such person, in addition to the indemnity otherwise authorized under Section
351.355, provided such further indemnity is either (i) authorized, directed or provided for in the articles of incorporation of the corporation
or any duly adopted amendment thereof or (ii) is authorized, directed or provided for in any bylaw or agreement of the corporation which
has been adopted by a vote of the shareholders of the corporation, provided that no such indemnity shall indemnify any person from or
on account of such person’s conduct which was finally adjudged to have been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful
misconduct.
The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with the
directors of the Registrant and adopted amendments to the Bylaws of the Registrant which incorporate indemnity provisions permitted by
Section 351.355(7) described above. The agreements and amended Bylaws provide that the Registrant will indemnify its directors, officers
and employees against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and settlement amounts, actually and reasonably
paid or incurred in any action or proceeding, including any action on behalf of the Registrant, on account of their service as a director,
officer or employee of the Registrant, any subsidiary of the Registrant or any other company or enterprise when they are serving in such
capacities at the request of the Registrant, excepting only cases where (i) the conduct of such person is adjudged to be knowingly fraudulent,
deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct, (ii) a final court adjudication shall determine that such indemnification is not lawful,
(iii) judgment is rendered against such person for an accounting of profits made from a purchase or sale of securities of the Registrant
in violation of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or of any similar statutory law, (iv) any remuneration paid to such person is adjudicated
to have been paid in violation of law or (v) the action is brought by the Registrant, except where it is brought in the right of the Registrant
or in connection with an acquisition of the Registrant in a transaction not approved by the Board of Directors by a majority of its continuing
directors, which for this purpose means those directors holding office prior to the time of such acquisition or any successors who were
approved as successors by the directors holding office prior to the time of such acquisition. Such person shall be indemnified only to
the extent that the aggregate of losses to be indemnified exceeds the amount of such losses for which the director or officer is insured
pursuant to any directors’ or officers’ liability insurance policy maintained by the Registrant. The amended Bylaws also provide
that the Registrant may advance expenses incurred by an employee or agent, and shall pay expenses incurred by a director or officer, in
advance of the final disposition of any action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of any such person to
repay such amounts unless it is ultimately determined that any such person is entitled to be indemnified by the Registrant.
Article 10 of the Registrant’s Restated Articles of Incorporation
provides that the liability of the Registrant’s directors to the Registrant or any of its shareholders for monetary damages for
breach of fiduciary duty as a director shall be eliminated to the fullest extent permitted under the Missouri General and Business Corporation
Law. Any repeal or modification of Article 10 by the Registrant’s shareholders shall not adversely affect any right or protection
of a director of the Registrant existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior
to such repeal or modification.
The Registrant maintains directors’ and officers’ liability
insurance.
Item 7. |
Exemption from Registration Claimed. |
Not applicable.
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number |
|
Description |
|
|
4.1 |
|
Restated Articles of Incorporation of Emerson Electric Co. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2001). |
|
|
4.2 |
|
Bylaws of Emerson Electric Co., as amended through May 4, 2021 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K dated May 4, 2021, filed on May 4, 2021). |
|
|
5 |
|
Opinion of John A. Sperino, Esq., Vice President and Assistant Secretary (filed herewith) |
|
|
23.1 |
|
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Filed herewith) |
|
|
23.2 |
|
Consent of John A. Sperino, Esq., Vice President and Assistant Secretary (included in Exhibit 5) (filed herewith) |
|
|
24 |
|
Powers of Attorney (included in the signature pages hereto) |
|
|
|
99.1 |
|
National Instruments Corporation 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (filed herewith)
|
99.2 |
|
National Instruments Corporation 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (filed herewith)
|
99.3 |
|
National Instruments Corporation 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (filed herewith)
|
107 |
|
Filing Fee Table (filed herewith) |
|
|
|
(a) The Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or
sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required
by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts
or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed
that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the
form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no
more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table
in the effective Registration Statement;
(iii) To include any material information
with respect to the Plan not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration
Statement;
provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in
paragraphs (a)(1)(i)and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs
is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act, that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement;
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability
under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes
that, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant
to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant
to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof;
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities
arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled
by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the County of St. Louis, State of
Missouri, on this 11th day of October, 2023.
|
Emerson Electric Co. |
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ John A. Sperino |
|
|
|
Name: |
John A. Sperino, Esq. |
|
|
|
Title: |
Vice President and Assistant
Secretary |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned constitutes
and appoints each of M. J. Baughman, S. Y. Bosco, and J. A. Sperino, each acting alone, their true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in their name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to
sign this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and all post-effective amendments thereto, of Emerson Electric Co., and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other document in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming that any such attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature |
Title |
Date |
|
|
|
/s/ James S. Turley |
Chair |
October 3, 2023 |
James S. Turley |
|
|
/s/ Surendralal (Lal) L. Karsanbhai |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
October 3, 2023 |
Surendralal (Lal) L. Karsanbhai |
|
|
/s/ Mike J. Baughman |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer |
October 3, 2023 |
Mike J. Baughman |
|
|
/s/ Mark A. Blinn |
Director |
October 3, 2023 |
Mark A. Blinn |
|
|
/s/ Joshua B. Bolten |
Director |
October 3, 2023 |
Joshua B. Bolten |
|
|
/s/ Martin S. Craighead |
Director |
October 3, 2023 |
Martin S. Craighead |
|
|
/s/ William H. Easter III |
Director |
October 3, 2023 |
William H. Easter III |
|
|
/s/ Gloria A. Flach |
Director |
October 3, 2023 |
Gloria A. Flach |
|
|
/s/ Arthur F. Golden |
Director |
October 3, 2023 |
Arthur F. Golden |
|
|
/s/ Leticia Gonçalves |
Director |
October 3, 2023 |
Leticia Gonçalves |
|
|
/s/ Candance Kendle |
Director |
October 3, 2023 |
Candance Kendle |
|
|
/s/ Lori M. Lee |
Director |
October 3, 2023 |
Lori M. Lee |
|
|
/s/ Matthew S. Levatich |
Director |
October 3, 2023 |
Matthew S. Levatich |
|
|
/s/ Jim McKelvey |
Director |
October 3, 2023 |
Jim McKelvey |
|
|
Exhibit 5
EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
8000 W. FLORISSANT
P.O. BOX 4100
ST. LOUIS, MO. 63136-8506
JOHN A. SPERINO
VICE PRESIDENT
AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY
(314) 553-1026
October 11, 2023
Emerson Electric Co.
8000 West Florissant Avenue
P.O. Box 4100
St. Louis, MO 63136-8506
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Emerson Electric Co.
(the “Company”), and in such capacity I am familiar with the preparation of the registration statement on Form S-8 (as amended
from time to time, the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”)
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), on the date hereof. The Registration Statement
is being filed on the date of this letter with the Commission by the Company related to the registration under the Securities Act, of
up to 2,113,555 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.50 per share (the “Common
Stock”), issuable pursuant to certain outstanding and unvested awards of restricted stock units and performance stock units and
other rights to acquire Common Stock (collectively, the “NIC Awards”) granted under the: (i) National Instruments Corporation
2022 Equity Incentive Plan; (ii) National Instruments Corporation 2020 Incentive Plan; and (iv) National Instruments Corporation 2015
Equity Incentive Plan (such plans, as may have been amended and restated from time to time, collectively, the “NIC Plans”).
The NIC Awards were assumed by the Company in connection with the consummation of the merger of National Instrument Corporation with and
into Emersub CXIV, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, on October 11, 2023. This opinion is delivered
in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
I have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified
to my satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other instruments as I deemed necessary
for the purpose of the opinion expressed herein. In my examination of the foregoing, I have assumed the authenticity of all documents
submitted to me as originals, the genuineness of all signatures and the conformity to authentic originals of all documents submitted to
me as copies. I have also assumed the legal capacity for all purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons.
Based on and subject to the foregoing, and the qualifications and limitations
set forth herein, and having regard for such legal considerations as I have deemed relevant, it is my opinion that the shares of Common
Stock have been duly authorized and, when the shares of Common Stock have been issued (and the required consideration received therefor)
in accordance with the NIC Plans, the award agreements evidencing the NIC Awards and the Registration Statement, such shares of Common
Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
This opinion is subject to the limitations, if any, of Title 11 U.S.C.,
as amended, and of the applicable insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally and by principles of equity. The foregoing opinion is based on and limited to the laws of the State
of Missouri and the federal laws of the United States of America, and
I express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction.
This opinion is delivered as of the date hereof, and I undertake no
obligation to advise you of any changes in applicable law or any other matters that may come to my attention after the date hereof.
I hereby consent to the use of the foregoing opinion as Exhibit 5 of
the Registration Statement filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, I do not hereby
admit that I am included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations
of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ John A. Sperino_________
John A. Sperino
Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
We consent to the use of our report dated November
14, 2022, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Emerson Electric Co., and the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting, incorporated by reference herein. The audit report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting
as of September 30, 2022, contains an explanatory paragraph that states the Company acquired Aspen Technology, Inc. during 2022, and management
excluded from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30,
2022, Aspen Technology, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting representing 36 percent of total assets and 2 percent of
total revenues included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended September 30, 2022. Our audit
of internal control over financial reporting of the Company also excluded an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting
of Aspen Technology, Inc.
|
/s/ KPMG LLP
St. Louis, Missouri
October 11, 2023
|
Exhibit 99.1
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS
CORPORATION
2022 EQUITY INCENTIVE
PLAN
1. Purposes of
the Plan. The purposes of this Plan are:
|
• |
to attract and retain the best
available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, |
|
• |
to provide incentives to individuals
who perform services to the Company, and |
|
• |
to promote the success of the
Company’s business. |
The Plan permits the grant of Restricted
Stock and Restricted Stock Units.
2. Definitions. As used herein,
the following definitions will apply:
(a) “Administrator”
means the Board or any of its Committees as will be administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.
(b) “Applicable
Laws” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal
and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable
laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.
(c) “Award”
means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.
(d) “Award
Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted
under the Plan. The Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(e) “Board”
means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(f) “Cause”
means (i) the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or theft by the Participant in connection with such Participant’s responsibilities
as a Service Provider; (ii) conviction of, or a plea of “guilty” or “nolo contendere” to, a felony under the
laws of the United States or any state thereof or a comparable offense under Applicable Laws for non-U.S. Service Providers; (iii) any
unauthorized use or disclosure by Participant of proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary);
(iv) a willful act by Participant which constitutes misconduct and is materially injurious to the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary);
or (v) continued violations by Participant of Participant’s obligations to the Company after there has been delivered to the Service
Provider a written demand for performance from the Company.
(g) “Change
in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) Any “person”
(as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule
13d-3 of the Exchange
Act), directly
or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the Company’s
then outstanding voting securities; or
(ii) The consummation
of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; or
(iii) A change
in the composition of the Board as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors; or
(iv) The consummation
of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the
voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by
being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power
represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after such merger
or consolidation.
(h) “Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code or Treasury Regulation thereunder will
include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or other official applicable guidance promulgated under such section, and any
comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
(i) “Committee”
means a committee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 4
hereof.
(j) “Common
Stock” means the common stock of the Company.
(k) “Company”
means National Instruments Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.
(l) “Consultant”
means any person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company to render services to such entity
(m) “Director”
means a member of the Board.
(n) “Disability”
shall have the meaning given it in the employment agreement of the Participant; provided, however, that if that Participant
has no employment agreement, “Disability” shall mean, as determined by the Administrator in the sole discretion exercised
in good faith of the Board, a physical or mental impairment of sufficient severity that either the Participant is unable to continue
performing the duties he or she performed before such impairment or the Participant’s condition entitles him or her to disability
benefits under any insurance or employee benefit plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries and that impairment or condition is cited by
the Company as the reason for termination if the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider.
(o) “Employee”
means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. Neither service
as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.
(p) “Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(q) “Exchange
Program” means a program under which outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for Awards of the same type,
a different type of award, and/or cash. The Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of any Exchange Program in its sole
discretion.
(r) “Fair
Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock as the Administrator may determine in good faith.
(s) “Fiscal
Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.
(t) “Incumbent
Directors” means directors who either (A) are Directors as of the effective date of the Plan, or (B) are elected, or nominated
for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election
or nomination (but will not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest
relating to the election of directors to the Company).
(u) “Non-Surviving
Event” means an event of Restructuring as described in Section 2(dd)(ii).
(v) “Officer”
means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
(w) “Outside
Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.
(x) “Parent”
means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(y) “Participant”
means the holder of an outstanding Award.
(z) “Period
of Restriction” means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock are subject to restrictions and therefore,
the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of
target levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Administrator.
(aa) “Plan”
means this 2022 Equity Incentive Plan.
(bb) “Restricted
Stock” means Shares issued pursuant to a Restricted Stock award under Section 6 of the Plan.
(cc) “Restricted
Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share, granted pursuant
to Section 7. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.
(dd) “Restructuring”
means the occurrence of any one or more of the following:
(i) The merger
or consolidation of the Company with any person, whether effected as a single transaction or a series of related transactions, with the
Company remaining the continuing or surviving entity of that merger or consolidation and the Shares remaining outstanding and not changed
into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person or of the Company, cash, or other property; or
(ii) The merger
or consolidation of the Company with any person, whether effected as a single transaction or a series of related transactions, with (i)
the Company not being the continuing or surviving entity of that merger or consolidation or (ii) the Company remaining the continuing
or surviving entity of that merger or consolidation but all or a part of the outstanding Shares are changed into or exchanged for stock
or other securities of any other person or the Company, cash, or other property.
(ee) “Rule
16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised
with respect to the Plan.
(ff) “Section
16(b)” means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
(gg) “Section
409A” means Code Section 409A, as it has been and may be amended from time to time, and any proposed or final Treasury Regulations
and Internal Revenue Service guidance that has been promulgated or may be promulgated thereunder from time to time.
(hh) “Service
Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant. The Administrator shall determine in good faith and in the exercise of
its discretion whether an individual has become or has ceased to be a Service Provider and the effective date of such individual’s
status as, or cessation of status as, a Service Provider. For purposes of an individual’s rights, if any, under the Plan as of
the time of the Administrator’s determination, all such determinations by the Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive.
(ii) “Share”
means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 11 of the Plan.
(jj) “Subsidiary”
means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
(kk) “Voting
Securities” means any securities that are entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors, in the admission of general
partners or in the selection of any other similar governing body.
3. Stock Subject
to the Plan.
(a) Stock Subject
to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be awarded and
sold under the Plan is 4,500,000 plus (i) such number of Shares which have been reserved but not issued under the Company’s 2020
Equity Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”), the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”), the
Company’s 2010 Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”) and the Company’s 2005 Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”)
as of the date stockholders approve the Plan, and (ii) any Shares subject to awards under the 2020 Plan, 2015 Plan, 2010 Plan or 2005
Plan that, after the date shareholders approve the Plan, expire or otherwise terminate without having been vested in full or Shares issued
under such plans that are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company due to failure to vest. Shares shall not be deemed to have been
issued pursuant to the Plan with respect to any portion of an Award that is settled in cash. The Shares may be authorized, but unissued,
or reacquired Common Stock.
(b) Lapsed Awards.
If an Award expires, is surrendered pursuant to an Exchange Program, is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company or otherwise terminates,
the forfeited, repurchased or unissued Shares which were subject thereto will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan
(unless the Plan has terminated). Shares that have actually been issued under the Plan under any Award will not be returned to the Plan
and will not become available for future distribution under the Plan; provided, however, that if unvested Shares of Restricted Stock
are repurchased by the Company or are forfeited to the Company, such Shares will become available for future grant under the Plan. Shares
used to satisfy the tax withholding obligations of any Award will not become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. To the
extent an Award under the Plan is paid out in cash rather than Shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the number of Shares
available for issuance under the Plan.
(c) Share Reserve.
The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as will be sufficient to
satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
4. Administration
of the Plan.
(a) Procedure.
(i) Multiple
Administrative Bodies. Different Committees with respect to different groups of Service Providers may administer the Plan.
(ii) Rule 16b-3.
To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder will be
structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3.
(iii) Other
Administration. Other than as provided above, the Plan will be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which committee
will be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws. The Administrator may, in its discretion and to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws,
delegate to a Committee, including but not limited to, a Committee comprised of one or more Officers, the authority to grant one or more
Awards, without further approval of the Administrator, on such terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its discretion, deems appropriate.
To the extent of any delegation by the Administrator, references to the
Administrator in
the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be deemed also to include reference to the applicable delegate(s).
(b) Powers of the
Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by
the Board to such Committee, the Administrator will have the authority, in its discretion:
(i) to determine
the Fair Market Value;
(ii) to select
the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted hereunder;
(iii) to determine
the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder. Such terms may include, but are
not limited to, performance goals applicable to an Award, which may differ from Participant to Participant and from Award to Award;
(iv) to approve
forms of agreement for use under the Plan;
(v) to institute
an Exchange Program;
(vi) to construe
and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;
(vii) to prescribe,
amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the
purpose of satisfying applicable foreign laws or for qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable foreign laws;
(viii) to modify
or amend each Award (subject to Section 16(c) of the Plan);
(ix) to authorize
any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;
(x) to allow Participants
to satisfy withholding tax obligations in such manner as prescribed in Section 12 of the Plan;
(xi) to allow a
Participant to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant under
an Award pursuant to such procedures as the Administrator may determine; and
(xii) to make all
other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan.
(c) Effect of Administrator’s
Decision. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations will be final and binding on all Participants and
any other holders of Awards.
(d) No Liability.
Under no circumstances shall the Company, its Parent or Subsidiary companies, the Administrator, or the Board incur liability for any
indirect, incidental, consequential or special damages (including lost profits) of any form incurred by any person, whether or not foreseeable
and regardless of the form of the act in which such a claim may be brought, with respect to the Plan or the Company’s, its Parent
or Subsidiary companies’, the Administrator’s or the Board’s roles in connection with the Plan.
5. Eligibility.
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units may be granted to Service Providers.
6. Restricted
Stock.
(a) Grant of Restricted
Stock. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of
Restricted Stock to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.
(b) Restricted
Stock Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Period of Restriction,
the number of Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. Unless
the Administrator determines otherwise, Shares of Restricted Stock will be held by the Company as escrow agent until the restrictions
on such Shares have lapsed.
(c) Transferability.
Except as provided in this Section 6, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated
or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction.
(d) Other Restrictions.
The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable
or appropriate.
(e) Removal of
Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made
under the Plan will be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the last day of the Period of Restriction or at such other time
as the Administrator may determine. In the case of a Participant’s death or disability, the Administrator, in its sole discretion,
may reduce or waive any restrictions for Awards made to such Participant and may in either such case accelerate the time at which any
restrictions will lapse or be removed.
(f) Voting Rights.
During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise any voting rights
with respect to those Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise.
(g) Dividends and
Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock will not be entitled
to receive any dividends paid with respect to such Shares
(h) Return of Restricted
Stock to Company. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will
revert to the Company and again will become available for grant under the Plan.
7. Restricted
Stock Units.
(a) Grant.
Restricted Stock Units may be granted at any time and from time to time as determined by the Administrator. After the Administrator determines
that it will grant Restricted Stock Units under the Plan, it will advise the Participant in writing or electronically of the terms, conditions,
and restrictions related to the grant, including the number of Restricted Stock Units and the form of payout, which, subject to Section
7(d), may be left to the discretion of the Administrator.
(b) Vesting Criteria
and Other Terms. The Administrator will set vesting criteria in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which the criteria
are met, will determine the number of Restricted Stock Units that will be paid out to the Participant. The Administrator may set vesting
criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment),
or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.
(c) Earning Restricted
Stock Units. Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant will be entitled to receive a payout as determined by
the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the grant of Restricted Stock Units, in the case of a Participant’s
death or disability, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any vesting criteria that must be met for such Participant
to receive a payout and may in either such case accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.
(d) Form and Timing
of Payment. Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units will be made as soon as practicable after the date(s) set forth in the Award
Agreement. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Restricted Stock Units in cash, Shares, or a combination thereof.
(e) Cancellation.
On the date set forth in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, all unearned Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited to the Company.
8. Leaves of
Absence/Transfer Between Locations. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise and except as required by Applicable Laws, vesting
of Awards granted hereunder will be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence. A Participant will not cease to be an Employee in the
case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its
Parent, or any Subsidiary.
9. Outside Director
Limitations. No Outside Director may be granted, in any Fiscal Year, Awards covering more than 20,000 Shares. Any Awards provided
to an individual for his or her services as an Employee, or for his or her services as a Consultant other than an Outside Director, will
be excluded for purposes of this Section 9.
10. Transferability
of Awards. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, an Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred,
or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of
the Participant, only by the Participant. If the Administrator makes an Award transferable, such Award will contain such additional terms
and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate.
11. Adjustments;
Dissolution or Liquidation; Merger or Change in Control.
(a) Adjustment
of Awards and Authorized Shares. The terms of an Award and the number of Shares authorized pursuant to Section 3 for issuance under
the Plan and the numerical Share limit set forth in Section 9 shall be subject to adjustment from time to time, in accordance with the
following provisions:
(i) If at any time,
or from time to time, the Company shall subdivide as a whole (by reclassification, by a stock split, by the issuance of a distribution
on Shares payable in Shares, or otherwise) the number of Shares then outstanding into a greater number of Shares, then (i) the maximum
number of Shares available for the Plan as provided in Section 3 and the numerical Share limit set forth in Section 9 shall be increased
proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (ii) the number of
Shares (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any Award shall be increased proportionately, and (iii) the
price, if any, for each Share (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be reduced proportionately,
without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.
(ii) If at any
time, or from time to time, the Company shall consolidate as a whole (by reclassification, reverse stock split, or otherwise) the number
of Shares then outstanding into a lesser number of Shares, then (i) the maximum number of Shares available for the Plan as provided in
Section 3 and the numerical Share limit set forth in Section 9 shall be decreased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities
available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (ii) the number of Shares (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be
acquired under any Award shall be decreased proportionately, and (iii) the price, if any, for each Share (or other kind of shares or
securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be increased proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price, if
any, or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.
(iii) Whenever
the number of Shares subject to outstanding Awards and the price, if any, for each Share subject to outstanding Awards are required to
be adjusted as provided in this Section 11(a), the Administrator shall promptly prepare a notice setting forth, in reasonable detail,
the event requiring adjustment, the amount of the adjustment, the method by which such adjustment was calculated, and the change in price
and the number of Shares, other securities, cash, or property purchasable subject to each Award after giving effect to the adjustments.
The Administrator shall promptly give each Participant such a notice.
(iv) Adjustments
under Sections 11(a)(i) and 11(a)(ii) shall be made by the Administrator, and its determination as to what adjustments shall be made
and the extent thereof shall be final, binding, and conclusive. No fractional interest shall be issued under the Plan on account of any
such adjustments.
(v) Except as set
forth in Sections 11(a)(i) and 11(a)(ii), in the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of Shares, other
securities, or other property), recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase,
or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the
corporate structure
of the Company affecting the Shares occurs, the Administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential
benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, may (in its sole discretion) adjust the number and class of Shares that may be
delivered under the Plan and/or the number, class, and price of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the numerical Share limit
set forth in Section 9.
(b) Dissolution
or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant
as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction.
(c) Change in Control.
In the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding Award will be treated as the Administrator determines, including, without limitation,
that each Award be assumed or an equivalent right substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor
corporation. The Administrator will not be required to treat all Awards similarly in the transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award, the restriction period of any Award of Restricted
Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall immediately be accelerated and the restrictions shall expire, and, with respect to Awards with
performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target
levels and all other terms and conditions met.
Following such assumption
or substitution in connection with a Change in Control, if a Participant’s status as Service Provider is terminated without Cause
within twenty four (24) months following the Change in Control, then the restriction period of any Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted
Stock Units shall immediately be accelerated and the restrictions shall expire, and, with respect to Awards with performance-based vesting,
all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target levels and all other
terms and conditions met.
If a Change in Control
involves a Restructuring or occurs in connection with a series of related transactions involving a Restructuring and if such Restructuring
is in the form of a Non-Surviving Event and as a part of such Restructuring, stock, other securities, cash, or property shall be issuable
or deliverable in exchange for Shares, then the Participant shall be entitled to purchase or receive (in lieu of the Shares that the
Participant would otherwise be entitled to purchase or receive), as appropriate for the form of Award, the number of shares, other securities,
cash, or property to which that number of Shares would have been entitled in connection with such Restructuring.
Notwithstanding anything
in this Section 11(c) to the contrary, if a payment under an Award Agreement is subject to Section 409A of the Code and if the change
in control definition contained in the Award Agreement or other agreement related to the Award does not comply with the definition of
“change in control” for purposes of a distribution under Code Section 409A, then any payment of an amount that is otherwise
accelerated under this Section will be delayed until the earliest time that such payment would be permissible under Code Section 409A
without triggering any penalties applicable under Code Section 409A.
(d) Restructuring
Without a Change in Control. In the event a Restructuring shall occur at any time while there is any outstanding Award hereunder
and that Restructuring does not occur in connection with a Change in Control or a series of related transactions involving a Change in
Control, then:
(i) the restriction
period of any Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall not immediately be accelerated, and the restrictions shall not
expire, merely because of the occurrence of the Restructuring; and
(ii) at the option
of the Administrator, the Administrator may (but shall not be required to) cause the Company to take any one or more of the following
actions:
(1) accelerate in
whole or in part the expiration of some or all of the restrictions on any Restricted Stock Award;
(2) if the Restructuring
is in the form of a Non-Surviving Event, cause the surviving entity to assume in whole or in part any one or more of the outstanding
Awards upon such terms and provisions as the Administrator deems desirable; or
(3) redeem in whole
or in part any one or more of the outstanding Awards (whether or not then exercisable) in consideration of a cash payment, as such payment
may be reduced for tax withholding obligations in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value, determined as of the date immediately preceding
the consummation of the Restructuring, of the aggregate number of Shares subject to the Award and as to which the Award is being redeemed.
The Company shall
promptly notify each Participant of any election or action taken by the Company under this Section 11(d). In the event of any election
or action taken by the Company pursuant to this Section 11(d) that requires the amendment or cancellation of any Award Agreement as may
be specified in any notice to the Participant thereof, that Participant shall promptly deliver that Award Agreement to the Company in
order for that amendment or cancellation to be implemented by the Company and the Administrator. The failure of the Participant to deliver
any such Award Agreement to the Company as provided in the preceding sentence shall not in any manner affect the validity or enforceability
of any action taken by the Company and the Administrator under this Section 11(d), including without limitation any redemption of an
Award as of the consummation of a Restructuring. Any cash payment to be made by the Company pursuant to this Section 11(d) in connection
with the redemption of any outstanding Awards shall be paid to the Participant thereof currently with the delivery to the Company of
the Award Agreement evidencing that Award; provided, however, that any such redemption shall be effective upon the consummation
of the Restructuring notwithstanding that the payment of the redemption price may occur subsequent to the consummation. If all or any
portion of an outstanding Award is to be accelerated upon or after the consummation of a Restructuring that does not occur in connection
with a Change in Control and is in the form of a Non-Surviving Event, and as a part of that Restructuring shares of stock, other securities,
cash, or property shall be issuable or deliverable in exchange for Shares, then the Participant shall thereafter be entitled to purchase
or receive (in lieu of the number of Shares that the Participant would otherwise be entitled to purchase or receive) the number of shares
of stock, other securities, cash, or property to which such number of Shares would have been entitled in
connection with the
Restructuring and such Award shall be subject to adjustments that shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practical to the adjustments
provided for in this Section 11.
(e) Notice of Restructuring.
The Company shall attempt to keep all Participants informed with respect to any Restructuring or of any potential Restructuring to the
same extent that the Company’s stockholders are informed by the Company of any such event or potential event.
12. Tax.
(a) Withholding
Requirements. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award (or exercise thereof), the Company will have the power
and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state,
local, foreign or other taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required to be withheld with respect to such Award
(or exercise thereof).
(b) Withholding
Arrangements. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may
permit a Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part by (without limitation) (a) paying cash, (b) electing
to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable cash or Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld,
(c) delivering to the Company already-owned Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld, provided the
delivery of such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion,
or (d) selling a sufficient number of Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant through such means as the Administrator may determine
in its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the amount required to be withheld. The amount of the withholding
requirement will be deemed to include any amount which the Administrator agrees may be withheld at the time the election is made, not
to exceed the amount determined by using the maximum federal, state or local marginal income tax rates applicable to the Participant
with respect to the Award on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. The Fair Market Value of the Shares
to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld.
(c) Compliance
With Section 409A. Awards will be designed and operated in such a manner that they are either exempt from the application of, or
comply with, the requirements of Section 409A such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional
tax or interest applicable under Section 409A, except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. The Plan and
each Award Agreement under the Plan is intended to meet the requirements of Section 409A and will be construed and interpreted in accordance
with such intent, except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. To the extent that an Award or payment,
or the settlement or deferral thereof, is subject to Section 409A the Award will be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that
will meet the requirements of Section 409A, such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional
tax or interest applicable under Section 409A.
13. No Effect
on Employment or Service. Neither the Plan nor any Award will confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continuing the
Participant’s relationship as a Service
Provider with the
Company, nor will they interfere in any way with the Participant’s right or the Company’s right to terminate such relationship
at any time, with or without cause, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
14. Date of Grant.
The date of grant of an Award will be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award,
or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination will be provided to each Participant within
a reasonable time after the date of such grant.
15. Term of Plan.
Subject to Section 19 of the Plan, the Plan will become effective upon approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company at the
2022 annual stockholder meeting. It will continue in effect until the Company’s annual stockholder meeting in 2027, but in no event
beyond December 31, 2027, unless terminated earlier under Section 16 of the Plan.
16. Amendment
and Termination of the Plan.
(a) Amendment and
Termination. The Administrator may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.
(b) Stockholder
Approval. The Company will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with
Applicable Laws.
(c) Effect of Amendment
or Termination. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan will impair the rights of any Participant, unless
mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant
and the Company. Termination of the Plan will not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder
with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.
17. Conditions
Upon Issuance of Shares.
(a) Legal Compliance.
Shares will not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such
Shares will comply with Applicable Laws and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
(b) Investment
Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent
and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention
to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.
18. Inability
to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority
is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company
of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority will not have been obtained.
19. Stockholder
Approval. The Plan will be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.
Such stockholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.
20. Forfeiture
Events. The Administrator may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect
to an Award will be subject to the reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events,
in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary
under this Plan, an Award will be subject to the Company’s clawback policy as may be established and/or amended from time to time
(the “Clawback Policy”). The Administrator may require a Participant to forfeit, return or reimburse the Company all or a
portion of the Award and any amounts paid thereunder pursuant to the terms of the Clawback Policy or as necessary or appropriate to comply
with Applicable Laws.
null
Exhibit 99.3
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS
CORPORATION
2015 EQUITY INCENTIVE
PLAN
1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes
of this Plan are:
|
• |
|
to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, |
|
• |
|
to provide incentives to individuals who perform services to the Company, and |
|
• |
|
to promote the success of the Company’s business. |
The Plan permits the
grant of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.
2. Definitions. As used herein,
the following definitions will apply:
(a) “Administrator”
means the Board or any of its Committees as will be administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.
(b) “Applicable
Laws” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal
and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable
laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.
(c) “Award”
means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.
(d) “Award Agreement”
means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under the Plan. The
Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(e) “Board”
means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(f) “Cause”
means (i) the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or theft by the Participant in connection with such Participant’s
responsibilities as a Service Provider; (ii) conviction of, or a plea of “guilty” or “nolo contendere” to,
a felony under the laws of the United States or any state thereof; (iii) any unauthorized use or disclosure by Participant of proprietary
information or trade secrets of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary); (iv) a willful act by Participant which constitutes misconduct
and is materially injurious to the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary); or (v) continued violations by Participant of Participant’s
obligations to the Company after there has been delivered to the Employee a written demand for performance from the Company.
(g) “Change
in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) Any “person”
(as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule
13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the
total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or
(ii) The consummation
of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets;
(iii) A change
in the composition of the Board as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors; or
(iv) The consummation
of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the
voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by
remaining outstanding
or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting
power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after such merger
or consolidation.
(h) “Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code or Treasury Regulation thereunder will
include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or other official applicable guidance promulgated under such section, and any
comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
(i) “Committee”
means a committee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 4
hereof.
(j) “Common
Stock” means the common stock of the Company.
(k) “Company”
means National Instruments Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.
(l) “Consultant”
means any person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary to render services to such entity.
(m) “Determination
Date” means the latest possible date that will not jeopardize the qualification of an Award granted under the Plan as “performance-based
compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.
(n) “Director”
means a member of the Board.
(o) “Disability”
shall have the meaning given it in the employment agreement of the Participant; provided, however, that if that
Participant has no employment agreement, “Disability” shall mean, as determined by the Administrator in the sole discretion
exercised in good faith of the Board, a physical or mental impairment of sufficient severity that either the Participant is unable to
continue performing the duties he or she performed before such impairment or the Participant’s condition entitles him or her to
disability benefits under any insurance or employee benefit plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries and that impairment or condition is
cited by the Company as the reason for termination if the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider.
(p) “Earnings”
for any Fiscal Year shall mean the operating income of the Company on a consolidated basis before taxes, interest, foreign currency exchange
gains or losses, other gains or losses and other extraordinary items for such Fiscal Year.
(q) “Earnings
Attainment” for any Fiscal Year means a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the percentage which Earnings constitutes
of Net Sales for such Fiscal Year, and the denominator of which shall be 18%. In the event that there shall be no Earnings for such Fiscal
Year, the Earnings Attainment for such Fiscal Year shall be zero. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Earnings Attainment for any Fiscal
Year shall not exceed one.
(r) “Effective
Date” means the date on which this Plan will take effect.
(s) “Employee”
means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. Neither service
as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.
(t) “Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(u) “Exchange
Program” means a program under which outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for Awards of the same type,
a different type of award, and/or cash. The Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of any Exchange Program in its sole
discretion.
(v) “Excluded
Items” includes, without limitation, (i) incentive compensation, (ii) in-process research and development expenses,
(iii) acquisition costs, (iv) compensation expense from equity compensation, (v) operating expenses from acquired businesses,
(vi) amortization of acquired intangible assets, and (vii) such other unusual or one-time items as may be identified by the
Administrator.
(w) “Fair Market
Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock as the Administrator may determine in good faith.
(x) “Fiscal
Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.
(y) “Incumbent
Directors” means directors who either (A) are Directors as of the Effective Date, or (B) are elected, or nominated
for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or
nomination (but will not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest
relating to the election of directors to the Company);
(z) “Inside
Director” means a Director who is an Employee.
(aa) “Net Income”
means as to any Performance Period, the Company’s or a business unit’s income after taxes determined in accordance with U.S.
GAAP, adjusted for any Excluded Items approved for exclusion by the Administrator.
(bb) “Net Sales”
for any Fiscal Year shall mean the net sales of the Company on a consolidated basis for such Fiscal Year.
(cc) “Non-Surviving
Event” means an event of Restructuring as described in Section 2(nn)(ii).
(dd) “Officer”
means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
(ee) “Outside
Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.
(ff) “Parent”
means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(gg) “Participant”
means the holder of an outstanding Award.
(hh) “Performance
Goals” means the goal(s) (or combined goal(s)) determined by the Administrator (in its discretion) to be applicable to a Participant
with respect to an Award granted under the Plan. As determined by the Administrator, the Performance Goals for any Award applicable to
a Participant may provide for a targeted level or levels of achievement using one or more of the following measures: stock price; revenue;
profit; bookings; cash flow; customer retention; customer satisfaction; net bookings; net income; net profit; Sales Attainment; operating
cash flow; operating expenses; total earnings; Earnings Attainment; earnings per share, diluted or basic; earnings per share from continuing
operations, diluted or basic; earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization; pre-tax
profit; net asset turnover; inventory turnover; capital expenditures; net earnings; operating earnings; gross or operating margin; profit
margin; debt; working capital; return on equity; return on net assets; return on total assets; return on capital; return on investment;
return on sales; net or gross sales; economic value added; cost of capital; change in assets; expense reduction levels; debt reduction;
productivity; new product introductions; delivery performance; and total stockholder return. The Performance Goals may differ from Participant
to Participant and from Award to Award. Any criteria used may be (A) measured in absolute terms, (B) measured in terms of growth,
(C) compared to another company or companies, (D) measured against the market as a whole and/or according to applicable market
indices, (E) measured against the performance of the Company as a whole or a segment of the Company and/or (F) measured on a
pre-tax or post-tax basis (if applicable). Further, any Performance
Goals may be used to
measure the performance of the Company as a whole or a business unit or other segment of the Company, or one or more product lines or
specific markets and may be measured relative to a peer group or index. The Performance Goals may differ from Participant to Participant
and from Award to Award. Prior to the Determination Date, the Administrator will determine whether any significant element(s) will
be included in or excluded from the calculation of any Performance Goal with respect to any Participant. In all other respects, Performance
Goals will be calculated in accordance with the Company’s financial statements, generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”),
or under a methodology (including non-GAAP adjustments) established by the Administrator prior to the Determination Date and which is
consistently applied with respect to a Performance Goal in the relevant Performance Period. In addition, the Administrator will adjust
any performance criteria, Performance Goal or other feature of an Actual or Target Award that relates to or is wholly or partially based
on the number of, or the value of, any stock of the Company, to reflect any stock dividend or split, repurchase, recapitalization, combination,
or exchange of shares or other similar changes in such stock.
(ii) “Performance
Period” means any Fiscal Year of the Company or such longer or shorter period as determined by the Administrator in its sole
discretion.
(jj) “Period
of Restriction” means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock are subject to restrictions and therefore,
the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of
target levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Administrator.
(kk) “Plan”
means this 2015 Equity Incentive Plan.
(ll) “Restricted
Stock” means Shares issued pursuant to a Restricted Stock award under Section 6 of the Plan.
(mm) “Restricted
Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share, granted pursuant to
Section 7. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.
(nn) “Restructuring”
means the occurrence of any one or more of the following:
(i) The merger
or consolidation of the Company with any person, whether effected as a single transaction or a series of related transactions, with the
Company remaining the continuing or surviving entity of that merger or consolidation and the Shares remaining outstanding and not changed
into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person or of the Company, cash, or other property; or
(ii) The merger
or consolidation of the Company with any person, whether effected as a single transaction or a series of related transactions, with (i) the
Company not being the continuing or surviving entity of that merger or consolidation or (ii) the Company remaining the continuing
or surviving entity of that merger or consolidation but all or a part of the outstanding Shares are changed into or exchanged for stock
or other securities of any other person or the Company, cash, or other property.
(oo) “Rule 16b-3”
means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to the
Plan.
(pp) “Sales
Attainment” for any Fiscal Year means a fraction, the numerator of which shall equal the percentage increase in Net Sales for
such Fiscal Year over the Net Sales for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year, and the denominator of which shall be 20%. In the event
that there shall be no increase in the Net Sales for such Fiscal Year from that of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year, the Sales Attainment
for such Fiscal Year shall be zero. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Sales Attainment for any Fiscal Year exceed one.
(qq) “Section 16(b)”
means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
(rr) “Service
Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant.
(ss) “Share”
means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 10 of the Plan.
(tt) “Subsidiary”
means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
(uu) “Voting
Securities” means any securities that are entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors, in the admission of general
partners or in the selection of any other similar governing body.
3. Stock Subject to the Plan.
(a) Stock Subject
to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 10 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be awarded
and sold under the Plan is 3,000,000 plus (a) such number of Shares which have been reserved but not issued under the Company’s
2010 Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”) and the Company’s 2005 Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”) as of the
date stockholders approve the Plan, (b) any Shares returned to the Company’s 1994 Incentive Stock Option Plan, 2010 Plan or
2005 Plan as a result of termination of options or repurchase of Shares issued under such plans. Shares shall not be deemed to have been
issued pursuant to the Plan with respect to any portion of an Award that is settled in cash. The Shares may be authorized, but unissued,
or reacquired Common Stock.
(b) Lapsed Awards.
If an Award expires, is surrendered pursuant to an Exchange Program, is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company or otherwise terminates,
the forfeited, repurchased or unissued Shares which were subject thereto will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan
(unless the Plan has terminated). However, Shares that have actually been issued under the Plan under any Award will not be returned to
the Plan and will not become available for future distribution under the Plan; provided, however, that if unvested Shares of Restricted
Stock are repurchased by the Company or are forfeited to the Company, such Shares will become available for future grant under the Plan.
Shares used to pay the tax and exercise price of an Award will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. To the extent
an Award under the Plan is paid out in cash rather than Shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the number of Shares available
for issuance under the Plan.
(c) Share Reserve.
The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as will be sufficient to
satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
4. Administration of the Plan.
(a) Procedure.
(i) Multiple
Administrative Bodies. Different Committees with respect to different groups of Service Providers may administer the Plan.
(ii) Section 162(m).
To the extent that the Administrator determines it to be desirable to qualify Awards granted hereunder as “performance-based compensation”
within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan will be administered by a Committee of two or more “outside directors”
within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(iii) Rule
16b-3. To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder
will be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3.
(iv) Other
Administration. Other than as provided above, the Plan will be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which committee
will be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws.
(b) Powers of
the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated
by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator will have the authority, in its discretion:
(i) to determine
the Fair Market Value;
(ii) to select
the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted hereunder;
(iii) to determine
the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder;
(iv) to approve
forms of agreement for use under the Plan;
(v) to institute
an Exchange Program;
(vi) to construe
and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;
(vii) to prescribe,
amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the
purpose of satisfying applicable foreign laws or for qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable foreign laws;
(viii) to modify
or amend each Award (subject to Section 15(c) of the Plan);
(ix) to authorize
any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;
(x) to allow
a Participant to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant under
an Award pursuant to such procedures as the Administrator may determine; and
(xi) to make
all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan.
(c) Effect of
Administrator’s Decision. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations will be final and binding
on all Participants and any other holders of Awards.
(d) No Liability.
Under no circumstances shall the Company, its Parent or Subsidiary companies, the Administrator, or the Board incur liability for any
indirect, incidental, consequential or special damages (including lost profits) of any form incurred by any person, whether or not foreseeable
and regardless of the form of the act in which such a claim may be brought, with respect to the Plan or the Company’s, its Parent
or Subsidiary companies’, the Administrator’s or the Board’s roles in connection with the Plan.
5. Eligibility. Restricted Stock
and Restricted Stock Units may be granted to Service Providers.
6. Restricted Stock.
(a) Grant of
Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant
Shares of Restricted Stock to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.
(b) Restricted
Stock Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Period of Restriction,
the number of Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, for Awards of Restricted Stock intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation”
within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, during any Fiscal Year no Participant will receive more than an aggregate of 50,000
Shares of Restricted Stock; provided, however, that in connection with a Participant’s initial service as an Employee, he or she
may be granted up to an additional 50,000 Shares of Restricted Stock. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, Shares of
Restricted Stock will
be held by the Company as escrow agent until the restrictions on such Shares have lapsed.
(c) Transferability.
Except as provided in this Section 6, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated
or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction.
(d) Other Restrictions.
The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable or
appropriate.
(e) Removal of
Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant
made under the Plan will be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the last day of the Period of Restriction or at such other
time as the Administrator may determine. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any restrictions for such Award
and may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.
(f) Voting Rights.
During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise any voting rights
with respect to those Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise.
(g) Dividends
and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to
receive any cash dividends paid with respect to such Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise. During the Period of Restriction,
if dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to such dividends
or distributions. The Shares received pursuant to any such dividend or distribution will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability
and forfeitability as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were issued.
(h) Return of
Restricted Stock to Company. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed
will revert to the Company and again will become available for grant under the Plan.
(i) Section 162(m)
Performance Restrictions. For purposes of qualifying grants of Restricted Stock as “performance-based compensation” under
Section 162(m) of the Code, the Administrator (which, for these purposes, will be a Committee established as set forth in Section 4(a)(ii)),
in its discretion, may set restrictions based upon the achievement of Performance Goals. The Performance Goals will be set by the Administrator
on or before the Determination Date. In granting Restricted Stock which is intended to qualify under Section 162(m) of the Code,
the Administrator will follow any procedures determined by it from time to time to be necessary or appropriate to ensure qualification
of the Award under Section 162(m) of the Code (e.g., in determining the Performance Goals).
7. Restricted Stock Units.
(a) Grant.
Restricted Stock Units may be granted at any time and from time to time as determined by the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this paragraph, for Restricted Stock Units intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” within the
meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, during any Fiscal Year no Participant will receive more than an aggregate of 50,000 Restricted
Stock Units; provided, however, that in connection with a Participant’s initial service as an Employee, he or she may be granted
up to an additional 50,000 Restricted Stock Units. After the Administrator determines that it will grant Restricted Stock Units under
the Plan, it will advise the Participant in writing or electronically of the terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the grant,
including the number of Restricted Stock Units and the form of payout, which, subject to Section 7(d), may be left to the discretion
of the Administrator.
(b) Vesting Criteria
and Other Terms. The Administrator will set vesting criteria in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which the criteria
are met, will determine the number of Restricted Stock Units
that will be paid out
to the Participant. The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, business unit, or individual
goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment), or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.
(c) Earning Restricted
Stock Units. Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant will be entitled to receive a payout as determined by the
Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Administrator, in its sole discretion,
may reduce or waive any vesting criteria that must be met to receive a payout and may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will
lapse or be removed.
(d) Form and
Timing of Payment. Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units will be made as soon as practicable after the date(s) set forth in the
Award Agreement. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Restricted Stock Units in cash, Shares, or a combination thereof.
Shares represented by Restricted Stock Units that are fully paid in cash again will not reduce the number of Shares available for grant
under the Plan.
(e) Cancellation.
On the date set forth in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, all unearned Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited to the Company.
(f) Section 162(m)
Performance Restrictions. For purposes of qualifying grants of Restricted Stock Units as “performance-based compensation”
under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Administrator (which, for these purposes, will be a Committee established as set forth in Section 4(a)(ii)),
in its discretion, may set restrictions based upon the achievement of Performance Goals. The Performance Goals will be set by the Administrator
on or before the Determination Date. In granting Restricted Stock Units that are intended to qualify under Section 162(m) of the
Code, the Administrator will follow any procedures determined by it from time to time to be necessary or appropriate to ensure qualification
of the Award under Section 162(m) of the Code (e.g., in determining the Performance Goals).
8. Leaves of Absence/Transfer Between
Locations. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise and except as required by Applicable Laws, vesting of Awards granted hereunder
will be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence. A Participant will not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave
of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Parent, or any
Subsidiary.
9. Transferability of Awards. Unless
determined otherwise by the Administrator, an Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any
manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only
by the Participant. If the Administrator makes an Award transferable, such Award will contain such additional terms and conditions as
the Administrator deems appropriate.
10. Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation;
Merger or Change in Control.
(a) Adjustment
of Awards and Authorized Shares. The terms of an Award and the number of Shares authorized pursuant to Section 3 for issuance
under the Plan and the numerical Share limits set forth in Sections 6 and 7 shall be subject to adjustment from time to time, in accordance
with the following provisions:
(i) If at any
time, or from time to time, the Company shall subdivide as a whole (by reclassification, by a stock split, by the issuance of a distribution
on Shares payable in Shares, or otherwise) the number of Shares then outstanding into a greater number of Shares, then (i) the maximum
number of Shares available for the Plan as provided in Section 3 and the numerical Share limits set forth in Sections 6 and 7 shall
be increased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (ii) the
number of Shares (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any Award shall be increased proportionately, and
(iii) the price, if any, for each Share (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards
shall be reduced
proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to
restrictions.
(ii) If at
any time, or from time to time, the Company shall consolidate as a whole (by reclassification, reverse stock split, or otherwise) the
number of Shares then outstanding into a lesser number of Shares, then (i) the maximum number of Shares available for the Plan as
provided in Section 3 and the numerical Share limits set forth in Sections 6 and 7 shall be decreased proportionately, and the kind
of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (ii) the number of Shares (or other kind of
shares or securities) that may be acquired under any Award shall be decreased proportionately, and (iii) the price, if any, for each
Share (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be increased proportionately, without changing
the aggregate purchase price, if any, or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.
(iii) Whenever
the number of Shares subject to outstanding Awards and the price, if any, for each Share subject to outstanding Awards are required to
be adjusted as provided in this Section 10(a), the Administrator shall promptly prepare a notice setting forth, in reasonable detail,
the event requiring adjustment, the amount of the adjustment, the method by which such adjustment was calculated, and the change in price
and the number of Shares, other securities, cash, or property purchasable subject to each Award after giving effect to the adjustments.
The Administrator shall promptly give each Participant such a notice.
(iv) Adjustments
under Sections 10(a)(i) and 10(a)(ii) shall be made by the Administrator, and its determination as to what adjustments shall be made and
the extent thereof shall be final, binding, and conclusive. No fractional interest shall be issued under the Plan on account of any such
adjustments.
(v) Except
as set forth in Sections 10(a)(i) and 10(a)(ii), in the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of Shares,
other securities, or other property), recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase,
or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares
occurs, the Administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available
under the Plan, may (in its sole discretion) adjust the number and class of Shares that may be delivered under the Plan and/or the number,
class, and price of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the numerical Share limits set forth in Sections 6 and 7.
(b) Dissolution
or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant
as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction.
(c) Change in
Control. In the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding Award will be treated as the Administrator determines, including, without
limitation, that each Award be assumed or an equivalent right substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the
successor corporation. The Administrator will not be required to treat all Awards similarly in the transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award, the restriction period of any Award of Restricted
Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall immediately be accelerated and the restrictions shall expire, and, with respect to Awards with performance-based
vesting, all Performance Goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target levels and
all other terms and conditions met.
Following such assumption
or substitution in connection with a Change in Control, if a Participant’s status as Service Provider is terminated without Cause
within twenty four (24) months following the Change in Control, then the restriction period of any Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted
Stock Units shall immediately be accelerated and the restrictions shall expire, and, with respect to Awards with
performance-based vesting,
all Performance Goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target levels and all other
terms and conditions met.
If a Change in Control
involves a Restructuring or occurs in connection with a series of related transactions involving a Restructuring and if such Restructuring
is in the form of a Non-Surviving Event and as a part of such Restructuring Shares, other securities, cash, or property shall be issuable
or deliverable in exchange for Shares, then the Participant shall be entitled to purchase or receive (in lieu of the Total Shares that
the Participant would otherwise be entitled to purchase or receive), as appropriate for the form of Award, the number of Shares, other
securities, cash, or property to which that number of Total Shares would have been entitled in connection with such Restructuring.
Notwithstanding anything
in this Section 10(c) to the contrary, if a payment under an Award Agreement is subject to Section 409A of the Code and if the
change in control definition contained in the Award Agreement or other agreement related to the Award does not comply with the definition
of “change in control” for purposes of a distribution under Code Section 409A, then any payment of an amount that is
otherwise accelerated under this Section will be delayed until the earliest time that such payment would be permissible under Code Section 409A
without triggering any penalties applicable under Code Section 409A.
(d) Restructuring
Without a Change in Control. In the event a Restructuring shall occur at any time while there is any outstanding Award hereunder and
that Restructuring does not occur in connection with a Change in Control or a series of related transactions involving a Change in Control,
then:
(i) the restriction
period of any Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall not immediately be accelerated and the restrictions expire merely
because of the occurrence of the Restructuring; and
(ii) at the
option of the Administrator, the Administrator may (but shall not be required to) cause the Company to take any one or more of the following
actions:
(1) accelerate
in whole or in part the expiration of some or all of the restrictions on any Restricted Stock Award;
(2) if the
Restructuring is in the form of a Non-Surviving Event, cause the surviving entity to assume in whole or in part any one or more of the
outstanding Awards upon such terms and provisions as the Administrator deems desirable; or
(3) redeem
in whole or in part any one or more of the outstanding Awards (whether or not then exercisable) in consideration of a cash payment, as
such payment may be reduced for tax withholding obligations in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value, determined as of the date immediately
preceding the consummation of the Restructuring, of the aggregate number of Shares subject to the Award and as to which the Award is being
redeemed.
The Company shall promptly notify each Participant
of any election or action taken by the Company under this Section 10(d). In the event of any election or action taken by the Company
pursuant to this Section 10(d) that requires the amendment or cancellation of any Award Agreement as may be specified in any notice
to the Participant thereof, that Participant shall promptly deliver that Award Agreement to the Company in order for that amendment or
cancellation to be implemented by the Company and the Administrator. The failure of the Participant to deliver any such Award Agreement
to the Company as provided in the preceding sentence shall not in any manner affect the validity or enforceability of any action taken
by the Company and the Administrator under this Section 10(d), including without limitation any redemption of an Award as of the
consummation of a Restructuring. Any cash payment to be made by the Company pursuant to this Section 10(d) in connection with the
redemption of any outstanding Awards shall be paid to the Participant thereof currently with the delivery to the Company of the Award
Agreement evidencing that Award; provided, however, that any such redemption shall be effective upon the consummation
of the Restructuring notwithstanding that the payment of the redemption price may
occur subsequent to the consummation. If all
or any portion of an outstanding Award is to be exercised or accelerated upon or after the consummation of a Restructuring that does not
occur in connection with a Change in Control and is in the form of a Non-Surviving Event, and as a part of that Restructuring shares of
stock, other securities, cash, or property shall be issuable or deliverable in exchange for Shares, then the Participant shall thereafter
be entitled to purchase or receive (in lieu of the number of Shares that the Participant would otherwise be entitled to purchase or receive)
the number of Shares, other securities, cash, or property to which such number of Shares would have been entitled in connection with the
Restructuring and such Award shall be subject to adjustments that shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practical to the adjustments
provided for in this Section 10.
(e) Notice of
Restructuring. The Company shall attempt to keep all Participants informed with respect to any Restructuring or of any potential Restructuring
to the same extent that the Company’s stockholders are informed by the Company of any such event or potential event.
11. Tax Withholding
(a) Withholding
Requirements. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award (or exercise thereof), the Company will have the power
and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state,
local, foreign or other taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required to be withheld with respect to such Award (or
exercise thereof).
(b) Withholding
Arrangements. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit
a Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part by (without limitation) (a) paying cash, (b) electing
to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable cash or Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld,
(c) delivering to the Company already-owned Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld, provided
the delivery of such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion,
or (d) selling a sufficient number of Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant through such means as the Administrator may
determine in its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the amount required to be withheld. The amount of the
withholding requirement will be deemed to include any amount which the Administrator agrees may be withheld at the time the election is
made, not to exceed the amount determined by using the maximum federal, state or local marginal income tax rates applicable to the Participant
with respect to the Award on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. The Fair Market Value of the Shares to
be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld.
12. No Effect on Employment or Service.
Neither the Plan nor any Award will confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continuing the Participant’s relationship
as a Service Provider with the Company, nor will they interfere in any way with the Participant’s right or the Company’s right
to terminate such relationship at any time, with or without cause, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
13. Date of Grant. The date of
grant of an Award will be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award, or such
other later date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination will be provided to each Participant within a reasonable
time after the date of such grant.
14. Term of Plan. Subject to Section 18
of the Plan, the Plan will become effective upon its adoption by the Board. It will continue in effect until the Company’s annual
stockholder meeting in 2020, but in no event beyond December 31, 2020, unless terminated earlier under Section 15 of the Plan.
15. Amendment and Termination of the
Plan.
(a) Amendment
and Termination. The Administrator may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.
(b) Stockholder
Approval. The Company will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with
Applicable Laws.
(c) Effect of
Amendment or Termination. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan will impair the rights of any Participant,
unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant
and the Company. Termination of the Plan will not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder
with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.
16. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.
(a) Legal Compliance.
Shares will not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such
Shares will comply with Applicable Laws and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
(b) Investment
Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent
and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention
to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.
17. Inability to Obtain Authority.
The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s
counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect
of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority will not have been obtained.
18. Stockholder Approval. The Plan
will be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company after the date the Plan is adopted. Such stockholder approval will be obtained
in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.
Exhibit
107
Calculation
of Filing Fee Tables
FORM
S-8
Registration Statement Under the Securities Act of 1933
(Form
Type)
Emerson
Electric Co.
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Table
1: Newly Registered Securities |
|
Security
Type |
Security
Class Title |
Fee
Calculation Rule |
Amount
Registered (1) |
Proposed
Maximum Offering Price Per Unit |
Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price |
Fee
Rate |
Amount
of Registration Fee (4) |
Fees
to be Paid |
Equity
|
Common
Stock, par value $0.50 per share |
457(c)
and 457(h) |
2,113,555
(2) |
$94.01
(3) |
$198,695,305.55 |
0.0001476 |
$29,327.43 |
|
Total
Offering Amounts |
|
$198,695,305.55 |
|
$29,327.43 |
|
Total
Fee Offsets |
|
|
|
-- |
|
Net
Fee Due |
|
|
|
$29,327.43 |
(1) |
Pursuant
to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the number of shares of common stock,
par value $0.50 per share (“Emerson Common Stock”) of Emerson Electric Co. (the “Registrant”) registered
hereunder includes an indeterminable number of shares of Common Stock that become issuable by reason of any share dividend, share
split or other similar transaction.
|
(2) |
Represents shares of Emerson Common Stock issuable
under outstanding and unvested restricted stock unit and performance stock unit awards granted under the National Instruments Corporation
2022 Equity Incentive Plan, the National Instruments Corporation 2020 Equity Incentive Plan and the National Instruments Corporation
2015 Equity Incentive Plan that were assumed by the Registrant in connection with the completion of the transactions contemplated
by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 12, 2023, by and between the Registrant, Emersub CXIV, Inc., a Delaware
corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant, and National Instruments Corporation and thereupon converted into time-based
restricted stock units with respect to Emerson Common Stock. |
(3) |
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the
registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act on the basis of the average of the high and low sales
prices reported for the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on October 5, 2023. |
(4) |
Rounded up to the nearest penny. |
Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024