As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 22, 2024
Registration No. 333-


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 


FORM S-8 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
 

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
     
Delaware
 
13-4066229
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
   
6551 Park of Commerce Boulevard, N.W.
Boca Raton, Florida 
 
33487
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. 2024 Omnibus Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plan)
Susan E. Ball
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer,
General Counsel and Secretary
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
6551 Park of Commerce Boulevard, N.W.
Boca Raton, Florida 33487
(Name and address of agent for service)
(561) 998-2232
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies of Correspondence to:

Joanne R. Soslow
Celia A. Soehner
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
2222 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-3007

 



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
 
  
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 any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐
 
 
 


EXPLANATORY NOTE
On March 22, 2024, subject to stockholder approval, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (the “Company”) adopted the Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. 2024 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan was subsequently approved by the Company’s stockholders at the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 14, 2024 (the “Effective Date”). The number of shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value (the “Common Stock”), authorized for issuance pursuant to the Plan is equal to (i) 2,400,000 newly authorized shares (the “Newly Authorized Shares”), plus (ii) any shares that remained available for issuance under the Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plan”) as of the Effective Date and shares underlying any outstanding awards granted under the Prior Plan that, following the Effective Date, expire, or are terminated, surrendered, cancelled, exchanged, or forfeited, for any reason without issuance of such shares (the “Prior Plan Shares”). The Company is filing this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) to register the offer and sale of an aggregate of 3,477,152 shares of Common Stock, which consists of (i) the 2,400,000 Newly Authorized Shares and (ii) 1,077,152 Prior Plan Shares.
Part I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The documents containing the information concerning the Plan required by Part I of this Registration Statement will be sent or given to Plan participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Such documents are not filed as part of this Registration Statement in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. These documents, and the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
Part II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
 
Item 3.
Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents, which have previously been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:
1. The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Commission on February 23, 2024.
2. The Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024, filed with the Commission on May 2, 2024.
3. The Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February 21, 2024, May 9, 2024, May 15, 2024, and May 16, 2024.
4. The description of the Common Stock that is contained in (a) Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 5, 2020 including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description, and (b)  the Company’s registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on September 19, 2001 under the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.


To the extent that any information contained in any Current Report on Form 8-K, or any exhibit thereto, was furnished to, rather than filed with, the Commission, such information or exhibit is specifically not incorporated by reference.
All reports and other documents that the Company subsequently files with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that the Company has sold all of the securities offered under this Registration Statement or that deregisters the distribution of all such 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 that the Company files such report or document.

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 that also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any 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.
None.

Item 6.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers.  
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Article VI of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), provides that to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended, no director of the Company shall be personally liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.
Article VI further provides that the Company shall indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law any person made or threatened to be made a party to any action or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that he, his testator, or intestate is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Company or any predecessor of the Company or serves or served at any enterprise as a director, officer, or employee at the request of the Company or any predecessor to the Company.
Article VI of the Certificate of Incorporation expressly states that neither the amendment nor repeal of Article VI, nor the adoption of any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with Article VI, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of Article VI in respect of any matter occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising or that, but for Article VI, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal, or adoption of an inconsistent provision.
Amended and Restated By-laws
Section 6.1 of the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws (the “By-laws”) provides that each person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, or employee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of


such proceeding is alleged action or inaction in an official capacity or in any other capacity while serving as director, officer, or employee (any such person, an “indemnitee”) shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL with respect to any proceeding other than an action by or in the right of the Company, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement, and with respect to a proceeding by or in the right of the Company, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith, and that indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, or employee and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors, and administrators. In addition to the right to indemnification, Section 6.1 provides that the indemnitees shall have the right to be paid by the Company the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by that person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced, if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under the By-laws or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by Delaware law, the Company shall provide advancement to any such person seeking advancement in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by that person, only if that proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board, and the Company shall provide advancement in connection with any proceeding brought by the Company which was authorized by the Board, only if such advancement is also authorized by the Board.
Section 6.2 of the By-laws provides that if a claim under Section 6.1 of the By-laws is not paid in full by the Company within 30 days after a written claim has been received by the Company, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant also shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting that claim to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Section 6.3 of the By-laws expressly states that the right to indemnification and the advancement of expenses conferred in Section 6 of the By-laws shall not be exclusive of any other right any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws, agreement, vote of stockholders, or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 6.4 of the By-laws requires the Company to maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against any such expense, liability, or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against that expense, liability, or loss under Delaware law.
Section 6.5 of the By-laws provides that, to the extent any director, officer, or employee is by reason of such position, or a position with another entity at the request of the Company, a witness in any proceeding, such person shall be indemnified against all costs and expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person or on such person’s behalf in connection therewith.
Section 6.6 of the By-laws provides that the Company may enter into agreement with any director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company in providing for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
Under Section 145 of the DGCL, the Company is empowered to indemnify its directors and officers in the circumstances therein provided. Certain portions of Section 145 are summarized below:
Section 145(a) of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to 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) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,


trust, or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and in criminal actions where such person had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful.
Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue, or matter in which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Under Section 145(c) of the DGCL, indemnification against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by directors, officers, employees, and agents is required in those cases where the person to be indemnified has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in Section 145(a) and (b), or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein.
Section 145(d) of the DGCL provides that any indemnification under Section 145(a) and (b) (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 145(a) and (b). Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who were not parties to such action, suit, or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
Section 145(e) of the DGCL provides that expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative action, suit, or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit, or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in Section 145. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
Section 145(f) of the DGCL provides that the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
Under Section 145(g) of the DGCL, a corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or who, while serving in such capacity, is or was at the request of the corporation, a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against liability asserted against or incurred by such person in any such capacity or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to provide indemnity under Section 145.



The above discussion of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws, and of Section 145 of the DGCL is not intended to be exhaustive and is respectively qualified in its entirety by such Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws, and applicable statutes.
 
Item 7.
Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
 
Item 8.
Exhibits.
A list of exhibits filed herewith is contained in the Exhibit Index that immediately precedes such exhibits and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 9.
Undertakings
(a) The undersigned 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 the 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 a 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% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Filing Fee Tables” or “Calculation of Registration Fee” table, as applicable, in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference into 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 will 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 purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 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 into this Registration Statement will be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time will 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.

EXHIBIT INDEX
 
     
Exhibit No.
  
Exhibit Description
   

   

   

   

   

   

_____________________
*
Filed herewith.







SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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 City of Boca Raton, State of Florida, on May 22, 2024.
 
     
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
   
By:
 
/s/ Susan E. Ball                        
 
 
Susan E. Ball
 
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer,
General Counsel and Secretary
POWER OF ATTORNEY
We, the undersigned officers and directors of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., hereby severally constitute and appoint William J. Burns and Susan E. Ball and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorney and agent with full power and authority to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, a Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on Form S-8 or such other form as such attorneys-in-fact, or any of them, may deem necessary or desirable, any amendments thereto, and all post-effective amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, for the registration of the Company’s securities and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission and generally to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done to the end that such Registration Statement shall comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the applicable rules and regulations adopted or issued pursuant thereto, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their substitute or resubstitute, 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 below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 22, 2024.
 


     
Signature
  
Title
   
/s/ John A. Martins
John A. Martins
  
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
   
/s/ William J. Burns
William J. Burns
  
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
   
/s/ James V. Redd III
James V. Redd III
  
Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)
   
/s/ Kevin C. Clark
Kevin C. Clark
  
Director, Co-Founder and Chairman of
the Board of Directors
   
/s/ Dwayne Allen
Dwayne Allen
  
Director
   
/s/ Venkat Bhamidipati
Venkat Bhamidipati
  
Director
   
/s/ W. Larry Cash
W. Larry Cash
  
Director
   
/s/ Gale Fitzgerald
Gale Fitzgerald
  
Director
   
/s/ Janice Nevin, M.D., MPH
Janice Nevin, M.D., MPH
  
Director
   
/s/ Mark Perlberg, JD
Mark Perlberg, JD
  
Director
     

Exhibit 5.1
May 22, 2024
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
6551 Park of Commerce Boulevard, N.W.
Boca Raton, Florida 33487

Re:
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form S-8 Filed on May 22, 2024

Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Company’s filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on the date hereof. The Registration Statement relates to the registration of the offer and sale of 3,477,152 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), which may be issued under the Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. 2024 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).
In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined the Registration Statement and originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended to date, (ii) the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company, as amended to date, (iii) certain resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the Registration Statement, (iv) the Plan, and (v) such other documents, records, and other instruments as we have deemed appropriate for purposes of the opinions set forth herein.
We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of the documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as certified, facsimile, or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. With respect to matters of fact relevant to our opinions as set forth below, we have relied upon certificates of officers of the Company, representations made by the Company in documents examined by us, and representations of officers of the Company. We have also obtained and relied upon such certificates and assurances from public officials as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of our opinions set forth below.
Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, we are of the opinion, as of the date hereof that the Common Stock has been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued by the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are acting within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules or regulations of the SEC thereunder.
The opinions expressed herein are limited to the Federal laws of the United States and the Delaware General Corporation Law, and we express no opinion with respect to the laws of any other state or jurisdiction.

 
Very truly yours,
 
/s/ Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Exhibit 23.1



CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated February 22, 2024 relating to the financial statements of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. and the effectiveness of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2023.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boca Raton, FL

May 22, 2024

Exhibit 99.1

CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
2024 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

Section 1. Effectiveness and Purpose.
Effective as of the Effective Date, the Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. 2024 Omnibus Incentive Plan (as may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”) is hereby established.
The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors, the “Company”), and its Subsidiaries, certain consultants and advisors who perform services for the Company or its Subsidiaries, and non-employee members of the Board, with the opportunity to receive grants of equity awards in the form of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, stock units, other stock-based awards and cash awards. Capitalized terms used in the Plan and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them in Section 2.
The Company believes that the Plan will encourage the participants to contribute materially to the growth of the Company, thereby benefitting the Company’s stockholders, and will align the economic interests of the participants with those of the stockholders.
The Plan is a successor to the Prior Plan. No additional grants shall be made under the Prior Plan on or after the Effective Date. Outstanding grants under the Prior Plan shall continue in effect according to their terms, and the shares with respect to outstanding grants under the Prior Plan shall be issued or transferred under the Prior Plan.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below for purposes of the Plan:
(a) “Affiliate” means, when used with reference to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, or owns greater than 50% of the voting power in, the specified Person (the term “control” for this purpose means the ability, whether by the ownership of shares or other equity interest, by contract or otherwise, to elect a majority of the directors of a corporation, independently to select the managing partner of a partnership or the managing member or the majority of the managers, as applicable, of a limited liability company, or otherwise to have the power independently to remove and then select a majority of those Persons exercising governing authority over an entity, and control shall be conclusively presumed in the case of the direct or indirect ownership of 50% or more of the voting equity interests in the specified Person).
(b) “Award” means an Option, SAR, Stock Award, Stock Unit, Other Stock-Based Award or Cash Award granted under the Plan.
(c) “Award Agreement” means the written agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions of an Award, including all amendments thereto.
(d) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.



(e) “Cash Award” means a cash incentive payment awarded under the Plan as described under Section 12.
(f) “Cause” means: (a) in the case where there is no employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or a Subsidiary and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award (or where there is such an agreement but it does not define “cause” (or words of like import)), (i) a Participant’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony; (ii) perpetration by a Participant of an illegal act that could cause significant economic injury to the Company; (iii) a Participant’s insubordination, dishonesty, fraud, incompetence, moral turpitude, misconduct, refusal to perform his or her duties or responsibilities for any reason other than illness or incapacity or materially unsatisfactory performance of his or her duties for the Company or a Subsidiary as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; or (iv) continuing willful and deliberate failure by the Participant to perform the Participant’s duties in any material respect, provided that the Participant is given notice and an opportunity to effectuate a cure as determined by the Committee; (v) a Participant’s disclosure of trade secrets or confidential information of the Company or a Subsidiary to persons not entitled to receive such information; or (vi) a Participant’s breach of any written non-competition, non-solicitation, invention assignment or confidentiality agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Subsidiary; or (b) in the case where there is an employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or a Subsidiary and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award that defines “cause” (or words of like import), “cause” as defined under such agreement; provided, however, that with regard to any agreement under which the definition of “cause” only applies in connection with a change of control, such definition of “cause” shall not apply except during such time periods and in such circumstances as such definition is applicable under the terms of such agreement. With respect to a Participant’s termination of service as a Non-Employee Director, “Cause” means an act or failure to act that constitutes cause for removal of a director under applicable Delaware law.
(g)  “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred:
(i) upon any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company, or any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of Common Stock of the Company)), becoming the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;
(ii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in (i), (iii), or (iv) of this Section 2(g) or a director whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as such term is used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board;
(iii) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company or a Subsidiary 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) more than 35% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or such surviving entity’s parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or
(iv) upon the approval by the stockholders of the Company of a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or upon the consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets other than the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to a person or persons who beneficially own, directly or indirectly, at least 50% or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company at the time of the sale.
(v) The Committee may modify the definition of Change in Control for a particular Award as the Committee deems appropriate to comply with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Award constitutes deferred` compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and the Award provides for payment upon a Change in Control, then, for purposes of such payment provisions, no Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred upon an event described in items (i)-(iv) above unless the event would also constitute a change in ownership or effective control of, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of, the Company under Section 409A of the Code.
(h) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(i) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or another committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan. The Committee shall consist of two or more non-employee directors, each of whom is intended to be a “non-employee director” as defined under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and an “independent director,” as determined in accordance with the independence standards established by the stock exchange on which the Common Stock is at the time primarily traded. If for any reason the appointed Committee does not meet the requirements of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, such noncompliance shall not affect the validity of Awards, interpretations or other actions of the Committee.
(j) “Common Stock” means common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, and such other securities as may be substituted for Common Stock pursuant to Section 5(c) or Section 5(e).
(k) “Disability” or “Disabled” has the meaning set forth in an applicable Award Agreement or employment agreement with a Participant, and in the absence of the forgoing, means a disability which would qualify as such under the Company’s long-term disability plan. A Disability shall only be deemed to occur at the time of the determination by the Committee of the Disability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any payment that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and that is triggered upon a Disability, Disability shall mean that a Participant is disabled under Section 409A(a)(2)(C)(i) or (ii) of the Code.
(l) “Dividend Equivalent” means an amount determined by multiplying the number of shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock Unit or Other Stock-Based Award by the per-share cash dividend paid by the Company on its outstanding Common Stock, or the per-share Fair Market Value of any dividend paid on its outstanding Common Stock in consideration other than cash. If interest is credited on accumulated divided equivalents, the term “Dividend Equivalent” shall include the accrued interest.
(m) “Effective Date” means May 14, 2024, or such other date that the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders.



(n) “Employed by, or providing service to, the Employer” means employment or service as an Employee, Key Advisor or member of the Board (so that, for purposes of exercising Options and SARs and satisfying conditions with respect to Stock Awards, Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards and Cash Awards, a Participant shall not be considered to have terminated employment or service until the Participant ceases to be an Employee, Key Advisor and member of the Board), unless the Committee determines otherwise. If a Participant’s relationship is with a Subsidiary and that entity ceases to be a Subsidiary, the Participant will be deemed to cease employment or service when the entity ceases to be a Subsidiary, unless the Participant transfers employment or service to an Employer. If a Participant has military, sick leave or other bona fide leave, the Participant will not be deemed to cease employment or service solely as a result of such leave; provided that such leave does not exceed the longer of 90 days or the period during which the absent Participant’s reemployment rights, if any, are guaranteed by statute or contract. To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Committee may provide that Awards continue to vest for all or a portion of the period of such leave, or that vesting shall be tolled during such leave and only recommence upon the Participant’s return from such leave. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, otherwise define when a Participant’s employment or service is deemed to terminate in the applicable Award Agreement.
(o) “Employee” means an employee of the Employer (including an officer or director who is also an employee), but excluding any person who is classified by the Employer as a “contractor” or “consultant,” no matter how characterized by the Internal Revenue Service, other governmental agency or a court. Any change of characterization of an individual by the Internal Revenue Service or any court or government agency shall have no effect upon the classification of an individual as an Employee for purposes of this Plan, unless the Committee determines otherwise.
(p) “Employer” means the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(q)  “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(r) “Exercise Price” means the per share price at which shares of Common Stock may be purchased under an Option, as designated by the Committee.
(s) “Fair Market Value” means, unless otherwise required by any applicable provision of the Code or any regulations issued thereunder, as of any date and except as provided below, the last sales price reported for the Common Stock on the applicable date: (a) as reported during regular trading hours on the principal national securities exchange in the United States on which it is then traded; or (b) if not traded on any such national securities exchange, as quoted on an automated quotation system sponsored by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or if the Common Stock shall not have been reported or quoted on such date, on the first day prior thereto on which the Common Stock was reported or quoted. If the Common Stock is not traded, listed or otherwise reported or quoted, then Fair Market Value means the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined by the Committee in good faith in whatever manner it considers appropriate taking into account the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or Section 409A of the Code, as applicable. For purposes of the grant of any Award, the applicable date shall be the trading day on which the Award is granted, or if such grant date is not a trading day, the trading day immediately prior to the date on which the Award is granted. For purposes of the exercise of any Award, the applicable date shall be the date a notice of exercise is received by the Company or, if not a day on which the applicable market is open, the next day that it is open.
(t) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.
(u) “Key Advisor” means a consultant or advisor of the Employer.



(v) “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.
(w) “Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not intended to be taxed as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.
(x) “Option” means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock, as described in Section 7.
(y) “Other Stock-Based Award” means any Award based on, measured by or payable in Common Stock (other than an Option, Stock Unit, Stock Award, or SAR), as described in Section 11.
(z) “Participant” means an Employee, Key Advisor or Non-Employee Director designated by the Committee to participate in the Plan.
(aa) “Performance Goals” means the performance goals described on Exhibit A.
(bb) “Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, joint stock company, business trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or other legal entity of any nature whatsoever.
(cc) “Prior Plan” means the Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended through the Effective Date.
(dd) “Retirement” means a voluntary termination of employment or service at or after age 65 or such earlier date after age 50 as may be approved by the Committee, in its sole discretion, at the time of grant, or thereafter, except that Retirement shall not include any termination of employment or service by the Employer with or without Cause. With respect to a Participant’s termination of service as a Non-Employee Director, “Retirement” means the failure to stand for reelection or the failure to be reelected on or after a Participant has attained age 65 or, with the consent of the Board, before age 65 but after age 50.
(ee) “SAR” means a stock appreciation right, as described in Section 10.
(ff) “Stock Award” means an award of Common Stock, as described in Section 8.
(gg) “Stock Unit” means an award of a contractual right to receive one or more shares of Common Stock, cash or combination thereof, as described in Section 9, and denominated in a number of shares of Common Stock specified in an Award Agreement.
(hh) “Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain
Section 3. Administration.
(a) Committee. The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Committee; provided, however, that any Awards to members of the Board must be authorized by a majority of the Board. The Committee may delegate authority to one or more subcommittees of the Committee or as set forth in Section 3(b), as it deems appropriate. Subject to compliance with applicable law and the applicable stock exchange rules, the Board, in its discretion, may perform any action of the Committee hereunder, and to the extent that no Committee exists that has the authority to administer the Plan, the functions of the Committee shall be exercised by the Board. To the extent that the Board, the Committee, a subcommittee or an officer of the



Company or a committee of officers, as described below, administers the Plan, references in the Plan to the “Committee” shall be deemed to refer to the Board, the Committee, or such subcommittee or the officer or committee of officers.
(b) Delegation to Officers. Subject to compliance with applicable law and applicable stock exchange requirements, the Committee may delegate all or part of its authority and power to officers of the Company or a committee comprised of officers of the Company, as it deems appropriate, with respect to Awards to Employees or Key Advisors who are not executive officers or directors under Section 16 of the Exchange Act; provided that any such officer or officers may not grant Awards to themselves.
(c) Committee Authority. The Committee shall have the sole authority to (i) determine the individuals to whom Awards shall be made under the Plan; (ii) determine the type, size, terms and conditions of the Awards to be made to each such individual not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan; (iii) determine the time when the Awards will be made and, subject to Section 4(b), the duration of any applicable exercise or restriction period, including the criteria for exercisability and the acceleration of exercisability, which criteria may be based on the attainment of Performance Goals; (iv) determine the amounts payable based on attainment of Performance Goals, including discretion to make such adjustments (positive or negative) to the amounts payable as the Committee deems appropriate and in the best interests of the Company; (v) amend the terms of any previously issued Award, subject to the provisions of Section 19 below; (vi) determine and adopt terms, guidelines, and provisions, not inconsistent with the Plan and applicable law, that apply to individuals residing outside of the United States who receive Awards under the Plan; and (vii) deal with any other matters arising under the Plan.
(d) Committee Determinations. The Committee shall have full power and express discretionary authority to administer and interpret the Plan, to make factual determinations and to adopt or amend such rules, regulations, agreements and instruments for implementing the Plan and for the conduct of its business as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion. The Committee’s interpretations of the Plan and all determinations made by the Committee pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having any interest in the Plan or in any Awards granted hereunder. The Committee may rely on internal or external advisors in determining appropriate interpretations of the Plan or Awards granted hereunder. All powers of the Committee shall be executed in its sole discretion, in the best interest of the Company, not as a fiduciary, and in keeping with the objectives of the Plan and need not be uniform as to similarly situated individuals.
(e) Indemnification. No member of the Committee or the Board, and no employee of the Company or any Affiliate shall be liable for any act or failure to act with respect to the Plan, except to the extent arising out of such member’s or employee’s fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct, or for any act or failure to act hereunder by any other member of the Committee or employee or by any agent to whom duties in connection with the administration of this Plan have been delegated. The Company shall indemnify members of the Committee and the Board and any agent of the Committee or the Board who is an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary against any cost or expense (including reasonable fees of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Committee) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of the Committee), and advanced amounts necessary to pay the foregoing at the earliest time and to the fullest extent permitted, to which they may be subjected by reason of any act or failure to act with respect to their duties on behalf of the Plan, except to the extent arising out of such member’s or employee’s fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct.
Section 4. Awards.
(a) General. Awards under the Plan may consist of Options as described in Section 7, Stock Awards as described in Section 8, Stock Units as described in Section 9, SARs as described in Section 10,



Other Stock-Based Awards as described in Section 11, and Cash Awards as described in Section 12. All Awards shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and to such other terms and conditions consistent with this Plan as the Committee deems appropriate and as are specified in writing by the Committee to the individual in the Award Agreement. All Awards shall be made conditional upon the Participant’s acknowledgement, in writing or by acceptance of the Award, that all decisions and determinations of the Committee shall be final and binding on the Participant, the Participant’s beneficiaries and any other person having or claiming an interest under such Award. Awards under a particular Section of the Plan need not be uniform as among the Participants.
(b) Minimum Vesting. Awards granted under the Plan shall include regular vesting schedules that provide that no portion of an Award shall vest earlier than one year from the date of grant. However, (i) for purposes of Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors, such Awards shall be deemed to satisfy this minimum vesting requirement if such Awards are granted on the date of the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders and vest on the date of the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders immediately following the date of grant (but not less than 50 weeks following the date of grant), and (ii) subject to adjustments made in accordance with Section 5(e) below, up to 5% of the shares of Common Stock authorized under the Plan as set forth in Section 5(a) as of the Effective Date may be granted without regard to this minimum vesting requirement.
(c) Dividends and Dividend Equivalents. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any dividends or Dividend Equivalents granted in connection with Awards under the Plan shall vest and be paid only if and to the extent the underlying Awards vest and are paid. No dividends or Dividend Equivalents will accrue or be paid in connection with any Option or SAR.
Section 5. Shares Subject to the Plan.
(a) Shares Authorized. Subject to adjustment as described below in Sections 5(b) and 5(e) below, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued or transferred under the Plan with respect to Awards granted under the Plan on and after the Effective Date shall not exceed 2,400,000 shares of Common Stock. In addition, subject to adjustment as described below in Sections 5(b) and 5(e) below, shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Prior Plan that remain available for grant under the Prior Plan as of the Effective Date and shares of the Common Stock underlying any outstanding award granted under the Prior Plan that, following the Effective Date, expires, or is terminated, surrendered, cancelled, or forfeited or exchanged for any reason without issuance of such shares shall be available for new Awards under this Plan. Subject to adjustment as described below in Sections 5(b) and 5(e) below, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued or transferred under the Plan pursuant to Incentive Stock Options granted on and after the Effective Date shall not exceed 2,400,000 shares of Common Stock.
(b) Source of Shares; Share Counting. Shares issued or transferred under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or reacquired shares of Common Stock, including shares purchased by the Company on the open market for purposes of the Plan. If and to the extent Awards granted under the Plan expire, terminate or are surrendered, cancelled, forfeited, exchanged or without having been exercised, vested or paid in shares, the shares subject to such Awards shall again be available for purposes of the Plan. Shares of Common Stock surrendered in payment of the Exercise Price of an Option (or an option granted under the Prior Plan that is exercised on or after the Effective Date) shall not be available for re-issuance under the Plan. Shares of Common Stock withheld or surrendered for payment of taxes with respect to Awards (or awards granted under the Prior Plan) shall not be available for re-issuance under the Plan. If SARs are granted, the full number of shares subject to the SARs shall be considered issued under the Plan, without regard to the number of shares issued upon exercise of the SARs. To the extent any Awards are paid in cash, and not in shares of Common Stock, any shares previously subject to such Awards



shall again be available for issuance or transfer under the Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, if shares are repurchased by the Company on the open market with the proceeds of the Exercise Price of Options (including options granted under the Prior Plan), such shares may not again be made available for issuance under the Plan.
(c) Substitute Awards. Shares issued or transferred under Awards made pursuant to an assumption, substitution or exchange for previously granted awards of a company acquired by the Company in a transaction (“Substitute Awards”) shall not reduce the number of shares of Common Stock available under the Plan and available shares under a stockholder approved plan of an acquired company (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Plan’s share reserve (subject to applicable stock exchange listing and Code requirements).
(d) Individual Limits for Non-Employee Directors. Subject to adjustment as described below in Section 5(e), the maximum aggregate grant date value of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards granted to any Non-Employee Director during any calendar year for services rendered as a Non-Employee Director, taken together with any cash fees earned by such Non-Employee Director for services rendered as a Non-Employee Director during the calendar year, shall not exceed $600,000 in total value. For purposes of this limit, the value of such Awards shall be calculated based on the grant date fair value of such Awards for financial reporting purposes and excluding the value of any Dividend Equivalents paid pursuant to any Award granted in a previous year.
(e) Adjustments. If there is any change in the number or kind of shares of Common Stock outstanding by reason of (i) a stock dividend, spinoff, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split or combination or exchange of shares, (ii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation, (iii) a reclassification or change in par value, or (iv) any other unusual or infrequently occurring event affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Company’s receipt of consideration, or if the value of outstanding shares of Common Stock is substantially reduced as a result of a spinoff or the Company’s payment of an extraordinary dividend or distribution, the maximum number and kind of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan, the maximum limit set forth in Section 4(d) above, the number and kind of shares covered by outstanding Awards, the number and kind of shares issued and to be issued under the Plan, and the price per share or the applicable market value of such Awards shall be equitably adjusted by the Committee to reflect any increase or decrease in the number of, or change in the kind or value of, the issued shares of Common Stock to preclude, to the extent practicable, the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under the Plan and such outstanding Awards; provided, however, that any fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be eliminated. In addition, the Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, events described in the preceding sentence, and acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and assets) affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any business unit, or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles. In addition, in the event of a Change in Control, the provisions of Section 14 of the Plan shall apply. Any adjustments to outstanding Awards shall be consistent with Section 409A or 424 of the Code, to the extent applicable. Subject to Section 19(b) below, the adjustments of Awards under this Section 5(e) shall include adjustment of shares, Exercise Price of Options, base amount of SARs, Performance Goals or other terms and conditions, as the Committee deems appropriate. The Committee shall have the sole discretion and authority to determine what appropriate adjustments shall be made and any adjustments determined by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive.



Section 6. Eligibility for Participation. 
(a) Eligible Persons. All Employees and Non-Employee Directors shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. Key Advisors shall be eligible to participate in the Plan if the Key Advisors render bona fide services to the Employer, the services are not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and the Key Advisors do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.
(b) Selection of Participants. The Committee shall select the Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors to receive Awards and shall determine the number of shares of Common Stock subject to a particular Award in such manner as the Committee determines.
Section 7. Options. 
The Committee may grant Options to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor upon such terms as the Committee deems appropriate. The following provisions are applicable to Options:
(a) Number of Shares. The Committee shall determine the number of shares of Common Stock that will be subject to each Award of Options to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors.
(b) Type of Option and Exercise Price.
(i) The Committee may grant Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options or any combination of the two, all in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or any of its parent or subsidiary corporations, as defined in Section 424 of the Code. Nonqualified Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors.
(ii) The Exercise Price of Common Stock subject to an Option shall be determined by the Committee and shall be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Option is granted. However, an Incentive Stock Option may not be granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as defined in Section 424 of the Code, unless the Exercise Price per share is not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.
(c) Option Term. The Committee shall determine the term of each Option. The term of any Option shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant. However, an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as defined in Section 424 of the Code, may not have a term that exceeds five years from the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that on the last business day of the term of an Option (other than an Incentive Stock Option), the exercise of the Option is prohibited by applicable law, including a prohibition on purchases or sales of Common Stock under the Company’s insider trading policy, the term of the Option shall be extended for a period of 30 days following the end of the legal prohibition, unless the Committee determines otherwise.
(d) Exercisability of Options. Subject to Section 4(b), Options shall become exercisable in accordance with such terms and conditions, consistent with the Plan, as may be determined by the Committee and specified in the Award Agreement, including upon the attainment of specified Performance



Goals. The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any or all outstanding Options at any time for any reason.
(e) Awards to Non-Exempt Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options granted to persons who are non-exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, may not be exercisable for at least six months after the date of grant (except that such Options may become exercisable, as determined by the Committee, upon the Participant’s death, Disability or Retirement, or upon a Change in Control or other circumstances permitted by applicable regulations).
(f) Termination of Employment or Service. Except as provided in the Award Agreement, an Option may only be exercised while the Participant is employed by, or providing services to, the Employer. The Committee shall determine in the Award Agreement under what circumstances and during what time periods a Participant may exercise an Option after termination of employment or service.
(g) Exercise of Options. A Participant may exercise an Option that has become exercisable, in whole or in part, by delivering a notice of exercise to the Company. The Participant shall pay the Exercise Price for an Option as specified by the Committee (i) in cash or by check, (ii) unless the Committee determines otherwise, by delivering shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant and having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise at least equal to the Exercise Price or by attestation (on a form prescribed by the Committee) to ownership of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise at least equal to the Exercise Price, (iii) by payment through a broker in accordance with procedures permitted by Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, (iv) if permitted by the Committee, by withholding shares of Common Stock subject to the exercisable Option, which have a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price, or (v) by such other method as the Committee may approve. Shares of Common Stock used to exercise an Option shall have been held by the Participant for the requisite period of time necessary to avoid adverse accounting consequences to the Company with respect to the Option. Payment for the shares to be issued or transferred pursuant to the Option, and any required withholding taxes, must be received by the Company by the time specified by the Committee depending on the type of payment being made, but in all cases prior to the issuance or transfer of such shares.
(h) Limits on Incentive Stock Options. Each Incentive Stock Option shall provide that, if the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year, under the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company or a parent or subsidiary, exceeds $100,000, then the Option, as to the excess, shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option.
Section 8. Stock Awards. 
The Committee may issue or transfer shares of Common Stock to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor under a Stock Award, upon such terms as the Committee deems appropriate. The following provisions are applicable to Stock Awards:
(a) General Requirements. Shares of Common Stock issued or transferred pursuant to Stock Awards may be issued or transferred for consideration or for no consideration, and subject to restrictions or no restrictions, as determined by the Committee. Subject to Section 4(b), the Committee may, but shall not be required to, establish conditions under which restrictions on Stock Awards shall lapse over a period of time or according to such other criteria as the Committee deems appropriate, including, without limitation, restrictions based on the achievement of specific Performance Goals. The period of time during which the Stock Awards will remain subject to restrictions will be designated in the Award Agreement as the “Restriction Period.”



(b) Number of Shares. The Committee shall determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued or transferred pursuant to a Stock Award and the restrictions applicable to such shares.
(c) Requirement of Employment or Service. If the Participant ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer during a period designated in the Award Agreement as the Restriction Period, or if other specified conditions are not met, the Stock Award shall terminate as to all shares covered by the Award as to which the restrictions have not lapsed, and those shares of Common Stock must be immediately returned to the Company. The Committee may, however, provide for complete or partial exceptions to this requirement as it deems appropriate.
(d) Restrictions on Transfer and Legend on Stock Certificate. During the Restriction Period, a Participant may not sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the shares of a Stock Award except under Section 17 below. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Company will retain possession of certificates for shares of Stock Awards until all restrictions on such shares have lapsed. Each certificate for a Stock Award, unless held by the Company, shall contain a legend giving appropriate notice of the restrictions in the Award. The Participant shall be entitled to have the legend removed from the stock certificate covering the shares subject to restrictions when all restrictions on such shares have lapsed. The Committee may determine that the Company will not issue certificates for Stock Awards until all restrictions on such shares have lapsed.
(e) Right to Vote and to Receive Dividends. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, during the Restriction Period, the Participant shall have the right: (i) to vote shares of Stock Awards and (ii) subject to Section 4(c), to receive any dividends or other distributions paid on such shares, subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee, including, without limitation, the achievement of specific Performance Goals; provided, however, that dividends shall vest and be paid only if and to the extent that the underlying Stock Award vests.
(f) Lapse of Restrictions. All restrictions imposed on Stock Awards shall lapse upon the expiration of the applicable Restriction Period and the satisfaction of all conditions, if any, imposed by the Committee. The Committee may determine, as to any or all Stock Awards, that the restrictions shall lapse without regard to any Restriction Period.
Section 9. Stock Units. 
The Committee may grant Stock Units, each of which shall represent one hypothetical share of Common Stock, to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor upon such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate. The following provisions are applicable to Stock Units:
(a) Crediting of Units. Each Stock Unit shall represent the right of the Participant to receive a share of Common Stock or an amount of cash based on the value of a share of Common Stock, if and when specified conditions are met. All Stock Units shall be credited to bookkeeping accounts established on the Company’s records for purposes of the Plan.
(b) Terms of Stock Units. Subject to Section 4(b), the Committee may grant Stock Units that vest and are payable if specified Performance Goals or other conditions are met, or under other circumstances. Stock Units may be paid at the end of a specified performance period or other period, or payment may be deferred to a date authorized by the Committee. The Committee may accelerate vesting or payment, as to any or all Stock Units at any time for any reason, provided such acceleration complies with Section 409A of the Code. The Committee shall determine the number of Stock Units to be granted and the requirements applicable to such Stock Units.



(c) Requirement of Employment or Service. If the Participant ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer prior to the vesting of Stock Units, or if other conditions established by the Committee are not met, the Participant’s Stock Units shall be forfeited. The Committee may, however, provide for complete or partial exceptions to this requirement as it deems appropriate.
(d) Payment With Respect to Stock Units. Payments with respect to Stock Units shall be made in cash, Common Stock or any combination of the foregoing, as the Committee shall determine.
Section 10. Stock Appreciation Rights. 
The Committee may grant SARs to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor separately or in tandem with any Option. The following provisions are applicable to SARs:
(a) General Requirements. The Committee may grant SARs to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor separately or in tandem with any Option (for all or a portion of the applicable Option). Tandem SARs may be granted either at the time the Option is granted or at any time thereafter while the Option remains outstanding; provided, however, that, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, SARs may be granted only at the time of the grant of the Incentive Stock Option. The Committee shall establish the base amount of the SAR at the time the SAR is granted. The base amount of each SAR shall be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of grant of the SAR. The term of any SAR shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that on the last business day of the term of a SAR, the exercise of the SAR is prohibited by applicable law, including a prohibition on purchases or sales of Common Stock under the Company’s insider trading policy, the term shall be extended for a period of 30 days following the end of the legal prohibition, unless the Committee determines otherwise.
(b) Tandem SARs. In the case of tandem SARs, the number of SARs granted to a Participant that shall be exercisable during a specified period shall not exceed the number of shares of Common Stock that the Participant may purchase upon the exercise of the related Option during such period. Upon the exercise of an Option, the SARs relating to the Common Stock covered by such Option shall terminate. Upon the exercise of SARs, the related Option shall terminate to the extent of an equal number of shares of Common Stock.
(c) Exercisability. Subject to Section 4(b), a SAR shall be exercisable during the period specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement and shall be subject to such vesting and other restrictions as may be specified in the Award Agreement, including the attainment of specified Performance Goals. The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any or all outstanding SARs at any time for any reason. SARs may only be exercised while the Participant is employed by, or providing service to, the Employer or during the applicable period after termination of employment or service as specified by the Committee. A tandem SAR shall be exercisable only during the period when the Option to which it is related is also exercisable.
(d) Awards to Non-Exempt Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, SARs granted to persons who are non-exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, may not be exercisable for at least six months after the date of grant (except that such SARs may become exercisable, as determined by the Committee, upon the Participant’s death, Disability or Retirement, or upon a Change in Control or other circumstances permitted by applicable regulations).
(e) Value of SARs. When a Participant exercises SARs, the Participant shall receive in settlement of such SARs an amount equal to the value of the stock appreciation for the number of SARs exercised.



The stock appreciation for a SAR is the amount by which the Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR exceeds the base amount of the SAR as described in Section 10(a).
(f) Form of Payment. The appreciation in a SAR shall be paid in shares of Common Stock, cash or any combination of the foregoing, as the Committee shall determine. For purposes of calculating the number of shares of Common Stock to be received, shares of Common Stock shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the SAR.
Section 11. Other Stock-Based Awards. 
The Committee may grant Other Stock-Based Awards, which are awards (other than those described in Sections 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the Plan) that are based on or measured by Common Stock, to any Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor, on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Subject to Section 4(b), Other Stock-Based Awards may be awarded subject to the achievement of Performance Goals or other criteria or other conditions and may be payable in cash, Common Stock or any combination of the foregoing, as the Committee shall determine. The Committee may accelerate the vesting of any or all outstanding Other Stock-Based Awards at any time for any reason.
Section 12. Cash Awards. 
The Committee may grant Cash Awards to Employees who are executive officers and other key employees of the Company. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions applicable to Cash Awards, including the criteria for the vesting and payment of Cash Awards. The Committee may accelerate the vesting of any or all outstanding Cash Awards at any time for any reason. Cash Awards shall be based on such measures as the Committee deems appropriate and need not relate to the value of shares of Common Stock.
Section 13. Dividend Equivalents. 
The Committee may grant Dividend Equivalents in connection with Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Awards in an applicable Award Agreement or at any point following the grant of such Award. Subject to Section 4(c), Dividend Equivalents may be accrued as contingent cash obligations and may be payable in cash or shares of Common Stock, and upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine; provided that Dividend Equivalents shall vest and be paid only if and to the extent that the underlying Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Awards vest and are paid. For the avoidance of doubt, dividends or Dividend Equivalents shall not be granted in connection with Options or SARs.
Section 14. Consequences of a Change in Control. 
(a) Assumption of Outstanding Awards. Upon a Change in Control where the Company is not the surviving corporation (or survives only as a subsidiary of another corporation), unless the Committee determines otherwise, all outstanding Awards that are not exercised or paid at the time of the Change in Control shall be assumed by, or replaced with grants (which may be in respect to cash, securities, or a combination thereof) that have comparable terms by, the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation). After a Change in Control, references to the “Company” as they relate to employment matters shall include the successor employer in the transaction, subject to applicable law. For purposes of the foregoing, an Award under the Plan shall not be treated as continued, assumed, or replaced on comparable terms unless it is continued, assumed, or replaced with substantially equivalent terms, including, without limitation, the same vesting terms.



(b) Vesting Upon Certain Terminations of Employment. Unless the Committee determines otherwise or the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise, if a Participant’s employment or services terminate by reason of an involuntary dismissal or discharge by the Employer for reasons other than Cause upon or within 12 months following a Change in Control, the Participant’s outstanding Awards shall become fully vested as of the date of such termination; provided that if the vesting of any such Awards is based, in whole or in part, on performance, the applicable Award Agreement shall specify how the portion of the Award that becomes vested pursuant to this Section 14(b) shall be calculated.
(c) Other Alternatives. In the event of a Change in Control, if any outstanding Awards are not assumed by, or replaced with grants that have comparable terms by, the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation), the Committee may (but is not obligated to) make adjustments to the terms and conditions of outstanding Awards, including, without limitation, taking any of the following actions (or combination thereof) with respect to any or all outstanding Awards, without the consent of any Participant: (i) the Committee may determine that outstanding Options and SARs shall automatically accelerate and become fully exercisable and the restrictions and conditions on outstanding Stock Awards, Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards, Cash Awards and Dividend Equivalents shall immediately lapse; (ii) the Committee may determine that Participants shall receive a payment in settlement of outstanding Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards, Cash Awards or Dividend Equivalents, in such amount and form as may be determined by the Committee; (iii) the Committee may require that Participants surrender their outstanding Options and SARs in exchange for a payment by the Company, in cash or Common Stock as determined by the Committee, in an amount equal to the amount, if any, by which the then Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Participant’s unexercised Options and SARs exceeds the Option Exercise Price or SAR base amount, and (iv) after giving Participants an opportunity to exercise all of their outstanding Options and SARs, the Committee may terminate any or all unexercised Options and SARs at such time as the Committee deems appropriate. Such surrender, termination or payment shall take place as of the date of the Change in Control or such other date as the Committee may specify. Without limiting the foregoing, if the per share Fair Market Value of the Common Stock does not exceed the per share Option Exercise Price or SAR base amount, as applicable, the Company shall not be required to make any payment to the Participant upon surrender of the Option or SAR.
Section 15. Deferrals. 
The Committee may permit or require a Participant to defer receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant in connection with any Award. If any such deferral election is permitted or required, the Committee shall establish rules and procedures for such deferrals and may provide for interest or other earnings to be paid on such deferrals. The rules and procedures for any such deferrals shall be consistent with applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
Section 16. Withholding of Taxes. 
(a) Required Withholding. All Awards under the Plan shall be subject to applicable United States federal (including FICA), state and local, foreign country or other tax withholding requirements. The Employer may require that the Participant or other person receiving Awards or exercising Awards pay to the Employer an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax withholding requirements with respect to such Awards, or the Employer may deduct from other wages and compensation paid by the Employer the amount of any withholding taxes due with respect to such Awards, or the Employer may take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Employer to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award.



(b) Share Withholding. The Committee may permit or require the Employer’s tax withholding obligation with respect to Awards paid in Common Stock to be satisfied by having shares withheld up to an amount that does not exceed the Participant’s applicable withholding tax rate for United States federal (including FICA), state and local, foreign country or other tax liabilities. The Committee may, in its discretion, and subject to such rules as the Committee may adopt, allow Participants to elect to have such share withholding applied to all or a portion of the tax withholding obligation arising in connection with any particular Award. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, share withholding for taxes shall not exceed the Participant’s minimum applicable tax withholding amount.
Section 17. Transferability of Awards. 
(a) Nontransferability of Awards. Except as described in subsection (b) below, only the Participant may exercise rights under an Award during the Participant’s lifetime. A Participant may not transfer those rights except (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or (ii) with respect to Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, pursuant to a domestic relations order. When a Participant dies, the personal representative or other person entitled to succeed to the rights of the Participant may exercise such rights. Any such successor must furnish proof satisfactory to the Company of the successor’s right to receive the Award under the Participant’s will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution.
(b) Transfer of Nonqualified Stock Options and Stock Awards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may provide, in an Award Agreement or at such other time after the grant of the Award, that a Participant may transfer Nonqualified Stock Options or Stock Awards to family members, or one or more trusts or other entities for the benefit of or owned by family members, consistent with the applicable securities laws, according to such terms as the Committee may determine; provided that the Participant receives no consideration for the transfer of an Option or Stock Award and the transferred Option or Stock Award shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to the Option or Stock Award immediately before the transfer.
Section 18. Requirements for Issuance or Transfer of Shares. 
No Common Stock shall be issued or transferred in connection with any Award hereunder unless and until all legal requirements applicable to the issuance or transfer of such Common Stock have been complied with to the satisfaction of the Committee. The Committee shall have the right to condition any Award on the Participant’s undertaking in writing to comply with such restrictions on the Participant’s subsequent disposition of the shares of Common Stock as the Committee shall deem necessary or advisable, and certificates representing such shares may be legended to reflect any such restrictions. Certificates representing shares of Common Stock issued or transferred under the Plan may be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems appropriate to comply with applicable laws, regulations and interpretations, including any requirement that a legend be placed thereon.
Section 19. Amendment and Termination of the Plan. 
(a) Amendment. The Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that the Board shall not amend the Plan without stockholder approval if such approval is required in order to comply with the Code or other applicable law, or to comply with applicable stock exchange requirements.
(b) No Repricing of Options or SARs. Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities or property), stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, change in control, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares of Common Stock or other securities, or similar transactions), the



Company may not, without obtaining stockholder approval, (i) amend the terms of outstanding Options or SARs to reduce the Exercise Price of such outstanding Options or base price of such SARs, (ii) cancel outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for Options or SARs with an Exercise Price or base price, as applicable, that is less than the Exercise Price or base price of the original Options or SARs or (iii) cancel outstanding Options or SARs with an Exercise Price or base price, as applicable, above the current stock price in exchange for cash or other securities.
(c) Termination of Plan. The Plan shall terminate on the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of its Effective Date, unless the Plan is terminated earlier by the Board or is extended by the Board with the approval of the stockholders.
(d) Termination and Amendment of Outstanding Awards. A termination or amendment of the Plan that occurs after an Award is made shall not materially impair the rights of a Participant with respect to such Award unless the Participant consents or unless the Committee acts under Section 20(f) below. The termination of the Plan shall not impair the power and authority of the Committee with respect to an outstanding Award. Whether or not the Plan has terminated, an outstanding Award may be terminated or amended under Section 20(f) below or may be amended by agreement of the Company and the Participant consistent with the Plan; provided that, the Participant’s consent is not required if any termination or amendment to the Participant’s outstanding Award does not materially impair the rights or materially increase the obligations of the Participant.
Section 20. Miscellaneous. 
(a) Awards in Connection with Corporate Transactions and Otherwise. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to (i) limit the right of the Committee to make Awards under the Plan in connection with the acquisition, by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business or assets of any corporation, firm or association, including Awards to employees thereof who become Employees, or (ii) limit the right of the Company to grant stock options or make other awards outside of the Plan. The Committee may make an Award to an employee of another corporation who becomes an Employee by reason of a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or property, reorganization or liquidation involving the Company, in substitution for a stock option or stock award granted by such corporation. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may establish such terms and conditions of the new Awards as it deems appropriate, including setting the Exercise Price of Options or the base price of SARs at a price necessary to retain for the Participant the same economic value as the prior options or rights.
(b) Governing Document. The Plan shall be the controlling document. No other statements, representations, explanatory materials or examples, oral or written, may amend the Plan in any manner. The Plan shall be binding upon and enforceable against the Company and its successors and assigns.
(c) Funding of the Plan. The Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of assets to assure the payment of any Awards under the Plan.
(d) Rights of Participants. Nothing in the Plan shall entitle any Employee, Non-Employee Director, Key Advisor or other person to any claim or right to receive an Award under the Plan. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any individual any rights to be retained by or in the employ of the Employer or any other employment rights.
(e) No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. Except as otherwise provided under the Plan, the Committee shall



determine whether cash, other awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
(f) Compliance with Law.
(i) The Plan, the exercise of Options and SARs and the obligations of the Company to issue or transfer shares of Common Stock under Awards shall be subject to all applicable laws and regulations, and to approvals by any governmental or regulatory agency as may be required. With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, it is the intent of the Company that the Plan and all transactions under the Plan comply with all applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange Act. In addition, it is the intent of the Company that Incentive Stock Options comply with the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code, and that, to the extent applicable, Awards comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that any legal requirement of Section 16 of the Exchange Act or Section 422 or 409A of the Code as set forth in the Plan ceases to be required under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or Section 422 or 409A of the Code, that Plan provision shall cease to apply. The Committee may revoke any Award if it is contrary to law or modify an Award to bring it into compliance with any valid and mandatory government regulation. The Committee may also adopt rules regarding the withholding of taxes on payments to Participants. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, agree to limit its authority under this Section.
(ii) The Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable. Each Award shall be construed and administered such that the Award either (A) qualifies for an exemption from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or (B) satisfies the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. If an Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, (I) distributions shall only be made in a manner and upon an event permitted under Section 409A of the Code, (II) payments to be made upon a termination of employment or service shall only be made upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A of the Code, (III) unless the Award specifies otherwise, each installment payment shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, and (IV) in no event shall a Participant, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year in which a distribution is made except in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.
(iii) Any Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code and that is to be distributed to a Key Employee (as defined below) upon separation from service shall be administered so that any distribution with respect to such Award shall be postponed for six months following the date of the Participant’s separation from service, if required by Section 409A of the Code. If a distribution is delayed pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, the distribution shall be paid within 15 days after the end of the six-month period. If the Participant dies during such six-month period, any postponed amounts shall be paid within 90 days of the Participant’s death. The determination and identification of “Key Employees”, including the number and identity of persons considered Key Employees and the identification date, shall be made by the Committee or its delegate each year in accordance with Section 416(i) of the Code and the “specified employee” requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
(iv) Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award agreement to the contrary, each Participant shall be solely responsible for the tax consequences of Awards under the Plan, and in no event shall the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company have any responsibility or liability if an Award does not meet any applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Although the Company intends to administer the Plan to prevent taxation under Section 409A of the Code, the Company does not represent or warrant that the Plan or any Award complies with any provision of federal, state, local or other tax law.



(g) Awards outside of the United States; Establishment of Subplans. The Committee has the authority to grant Awards to Participants who are employed outside the United States on any different terms and conditions than those specified in the Plan that the Committee, in its discretion, believes to be necessary or desirable to accommodate differences in applicable law, tax policy, or custom, while furthering the purposes of the Plan. The Board may from time to time establish one or more sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying applicable blue sky, securities or tax laws of various jurisdictions. The Board shall establish such sub-plans by adopting supplements to the Plan setting forth (i) such limitations on the Committee’s discretion under the Plan as the Board deems necessary or desirable and (ii) such additional terms and conditions not otherwise inconsistent with the Plan as the Board shall deem necessary or desirable. All supplements adopted by the Board shall be deemed to be part of the Plan, but each supplement shall apply only to Participants within the affected jurisdiction and the Employer shall not be required to provide copies of any supplement to Participants in any jurisdiction that is not affected. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not approve any sub-plan inconsistent with the terms or share limits in the Plan or which would otherwise cause the Plan to cease to satisfy any conditions under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.
(h) Company Policies and Clawback Rights.
(i) All Awards under the Plan shall be subject to any applicable clawback or recoupment policies, share trading policies and other policies that may be approved or implemented by the Board or the Committee from time to time, whether or not approved before or after the Effective Date. The Company may offset any payments due under this Plan or in connection with an Award to a Participant by any required repayments that such Participant under any applicable clawback or recoupment policy; provided than any application of a clawback policy or offset in respect thereof will be applied consistent with Section 409A (as defined below).
(ii) Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Committee may provide in any Award Agreement that, if a Participant breaches any restrictive covenant obligation or agreement between the Participant and the Employer (which may be set forth in any Award Agreement) or otherwise engages in activities that constitute Cause either while employed by, or providing service to, the Employer or within a specified period of time thereafter, all Awards held by the Participant shall terminate, and the Company may rescind any exercise of an Option or SAR and the vesting of any other Award and delivery of shares upon such exercise or vesting (including pursuant to dividends and Dividend Equivalents), as applicable on such terms as the Committee shall determine, including the right to require that in the event of any such rescission, (A) the Participant shall return to the Company the shares received upon the exercise of any Option or SAR and/or the vesting and payment of any other Award (including pursuant to dividends and Dividend Equivalents) or, (B) if the Participant no longer owns the shares, the Participant shall pay to the Company the amount of any gain realized or payment received as a result of any sale or other disposition of the shares (or, in the event the Participant transfers the shares by gift or otherwise without consideration, the Fair Market Value of the shares on the date of the breach of the restrictive covenant agreement (including a Participant’s Award Agreement containing restrictive covenants) or activity constituting Cause), net of the price originally paid by the Participant for the shares. Payment by the Participant shall be made in such manner and on such terms and conditions as may be required by the Committee. The Employer shall be entitled to set off against the amount of any such payment any amounts otherwise owed to the Participant by the Employer.
(i) Governing Law; Jurisdiction. The validity, construction, interpretation and effect of the Plan and Award Agreements issued under the Plan shall be governed and construed by and determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof. Any action arising out of, or relating to, any of the provisions of the Plan and Awards made hereunder shall be brought only in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, or if such



court does not have jurisdiction or will not accept jurisdiction, in any court of general jurisdiction in the State of Delaware, and the jurisdiction of such court in any such proceeding shall be exclusive.

Exhibit 107
Calculation of Filing Fee Table
Form S-8
(Form Type)
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Table 1: Newly Registered Securities
                                                 
                         
   
Security
Type
 
Security Class
Title(1)
 
Fee
Calculation
or Carry
Forward
Rule
 
Amount
Registered (1)
 
Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per
Unit (2)
 
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price (2)
 
Fee
Rate
 
Amount of
Registration
Fee
 
Carry
Forward
Form
Type
 
Carry
Forward
File
Number
 
Carry
Forward
Initial
Effective
Date
 
Filing Fee
Previously
Paid in
Connection
with
Unsold
Securities
to be
Carried
Forward
 
Newly Registered Securities
                         
Fees to be
Paid
 
Equity
 
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value
 
Rule 457(c)
and Rule 457
(h)
 
3,477,152
 
$14.69
 
$51,079,362.88
 
$147.60 per $1,000,000.00
 
$7,539.31
 
 
 
 
                         
Fees Previously Paid
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carry Forward Securities
                         
Carry
Forward Securities
 
             
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                   
   
Total Offering Amounts
     
$51,079,362.88
     
$7,539.31
               
                   
   
Total Fees Previously Paid
             
               
                   
   
Total Fee Offsets
             
               
                   
   
Net Fee Due
             
$7,539.31
               

(1)
Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement on Form S-8 shall also cover any additional shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.0001 par value (the “Common Stock”) which become issuable under the Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. 2024 Omnibus Incentive Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, or any other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock.
 
(2)
Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act, based on the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market on May 16, 2024.