Table of Contents

UNITED STATES


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Washington, DCD.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the


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(Amendment (Amendment No. )

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xDefinitive Proxy Statement
¨ Definitive Additional Materials
¨Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12Under Rule 14a-12

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in itsIn Its Charter)


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

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LOGO

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation

PROXY

STATEMENT

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

3) Filing Party:
4) Date Filed:



Table of Contents



Table of Contents

Table of Contents

     June 3, 2014Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting
9:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) 
1Proxy Statement Summary
10Corporate Governance
10Election of Directors – Proposal 1*
14Board Composition
   


LOGO

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

GLENPOINTE CENTRE WEST 500 FRANK W. BURR BLVD. TEANECK, NEW JERSEY 07666

April 17, 2014

To Our Stockholders:

You are most cordially invited to attend the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation at 9:30 a.m. local time, on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at our headquarters, Glenpointe Centre West, 500 Frank W. Burr Blvd., Teaneck, New Jersey 07666.

The Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement on the following pages describe the matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting.

Whether or not you attend the Annual Meeting, it is important that your shares be represented and voted at the Annual Meeting. Therefore, I urge you to promptly vote and submit your proxy by phone, via the Internet, or, if you received paper copies of these materials, by signing, dating, and returning the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States. If you have previously received our Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, then instructions regarding how you can vote are contained in that notice. If you have received a proxy card, then instructions regarding how you can vote are contained on the proxy card. If you decide to attend the Annual Meeting, you will be able to vote in person, even if you have previously submitted your proxy.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

LOGO

Francisco D’Souza

Chief Executive Officer

16
2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation


The Board’s Role and ResponsibilitiesTable of Contents

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Proxy Statement18

Committees of the Board
1 

Proposals19

Director Attendance
1 

Recommendations of the Board19

Director Compensation
2 

Information About This Proxy Statement21

Stock Ownership Information
2 
22Compensation

Questions and Answers About the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

3 
22Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation (Say-on-Pay) and Frequency of Future Say-on-Pay Votes (Say-on-Frequency) – Proposals 2 and 3*

Corporate Governance

6 

General23

Compensation Discussion and Analysis
6 

23

DeterminationOverview of IndependenceExecutive Compensation Program

6 

Director Candidates24

     Role of Stockholder Say-on-Pay Votes
6 

Voting for Directors24

     The Compensation-Setting Process
7 

Communications from Stockholders25

     Direct Compensation of NEOs
7 

Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight30

     Other Elements of Compensation
8 

Code of Ethics32

     Compensation Committee
8 

Attendance by Members of the Board of Directors at Meetings33

8
Executive Compensation Tables

Committees of the Board38

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
9 

Audit Committee40

Approval of 2017 Incentive Award Plan – Proposal 4*
9 

Compensation Committee47

Audit Matters
10 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee47

10

Director Compensation

11

2013 Director Compensation Table

12

Proposals to be Voted On

14

Proposal 1:  Election of Directors

14

Proposal 2:  Approval of First Amendment to 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan

21

Proposal 3:  Advisory (Non-Binding) Vote on Executive Compensation (Say-On-Pay)

32

Proposal 4:Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – Proposal 5*

34 
48Audit Committee Report

Executive Officers

35 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management49

38

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation


Table of Contents  continued

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

41

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

42

Executive Compensation

43

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

43

Tax Considerations

53

Compensation Committee Report

55

Executive Compensation Tables

56

2013 Summary Compensation Table

56

2013 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

58

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2013 Table

59

2013 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table

61

2013 Pension Benefits Table

61

2013 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table

61

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

62

Calculation of Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

64

Equity Compensation Plan Information

65

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

65

Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

66

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees and Other Matters

67 
50Stockholder Proposals

Stockholders’ Proposals

69 
50Stockholder Proposal Requesting that the Board take the Steps Necessary to Eliminate the Supermajority Voting Provisions in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws – Proposal 6*

Other Matters

69 
51Stockholder Proposal Regarding Stockholder Action by Written Consent – Proposal 7*

Solicitation of Proxies

70 
53Stockholder Proposals and Nominees for the 2018 Annual Meeting

54Additional Information
54Proxy Statement and Proxy Solicitation
55Annual Meeting Q&A
57Cognizant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K

71 
57Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Forward-Looking Statements

Exhibit A: Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan

A-1 
59Appendix A – 2017 Incentive Award Plan

78Exhibit B: First Amendment toHelpful Resources
*To be voted on at the Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation 2009 Incentive Compensation Planmeeting

The Cognizant Cultural Values




Table of Contents

LETTER FROM THE
CHAIRMAN AND CEO

     B-1

John E. Klein
2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions CorporationFrancisco D’Souza


April 20, 2017

Notice ofTo Our Stockholders:

We are pleased to invite you to our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be held at the Teaneck Marriott atGlenpointe, 100 Frank W. Burr Blvd., Teaneck, New Jersey 07666, on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

There have been a number of developments with the Company since our last annual meeting that we would like to highlight for you. In terms of financials, we completed 2016 with revenue at a record $13.5 billion (8.6% higher than in 2015). Net income was $1.6 billion. GAAP diluted earnings per share was $2.55 (down 3.8% from 2015), which included the tax costs of $0.39 per share on a cash remittance of $2.8 billion by our principal operating subsidiary in India that increased, after tax, our cash holdings outside of India, including an additional $1.0 billion in the U.S. Our non-GAAP diluted earnings per share increased by 10.4% to $3.39.1

As we noted last year, our customers have been facing a dual mandate. They mustrun better– operating with greater efficiency, productivity and flexibility. At the same time, they mustrun different– embracing innovation and reinventing their business to compete in today’s dynamic digital world. To Be Held Tuesday, June 3, 2014address these seismic changes, we realigned the Company’s horizontal teams in the second half of 2016 into three digital practice areas that span the various business segments – Digital Business, Digital Operations and Digital Systems and Technology.

Our many talented associates around the world continue to work with clients to help them win in the digital economy by applying technology and analytics to drive sustainable growth, deploying systems of intelligence to automate and improve core business processes, and improving technology systems by deploying cloud and cyber security solutions and as-a-service models to make them simpler, more modern and secure. Digital revenue in 2016 grew well above Company average. We fully anticipate this trend – growth weighted toward digital – to accelerate in 2017 and beyond.

In the last year we have also been actively engaged with many of our stockholders, particularly focused on driving long-term stockholder value. Within this context, we developed and announced in February 2017 a comprehensive plan to accelerate our shift to digital services and solutions and further enhance stockholder value. Key elements of the plan are:

Accelerating our investments to scale digital capabilities across geographies and industry segments through both organic investments and acquisitions. We plan to continue to invest extensively in training and re-skilling our team, and in substantially expanding our local workforces in the U.S. and other local markets where we operate. We accelerated the pace of acquisitions during 2016 and intend to continue that strategy into 2017 with a focus primarily on tuck-in acquisitions that expand our intellectual property, industry expertise, geographic reach and platform and technology capabilities.

Improving the Company’s non-GAAP operating margin by accelerating the pursuit of high-value digital transformation work, driving leverage in the cost structure, executing on opportunities to improve operational efficiency and aggressively employing automation to optimize traditional services. In connection with this effort, we announced a move away from our historical 19-20% targeted non-GAAP operating margin toward a target of 22% in 2019.1

Returning $3.4 billion of capital to our stockholders in 2017 and 2018 through a combination of share repurchases and dividends. The Company commenced the first stage of this capital return program, a $1.5 billion accelerated share repurchase program, in March 2017, and intends to initiate a regular quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share in the second quarter of 2017.

Our commitment to good corporate governance has also never been stronger. Following the addition of one new director in each of 2015 and 2016, our ongoing Board refreshment continued with the welcoming of two new directors, Betsy S. Atkins and John M. Dineen, in April 2017. Ms. Atkins brings extensive leadership, corporate governance and digitization experience from her years leading several successful companies, including Baja Corp., a venture capital investment firm she co-founded in 1994, and serving on numerous boards across a range of global industries. Mr. Dineen brings operating and leadership experience from his 28 years in senior and executive roles with General Electric, most recently as CEO of GE Healthcare. We also thank directors Lakshmi Narayanan and Thomas M. Wendel, who are not standing for reelection this year, for their many years of service and strategic counsel and their roles in helping make Cognizant the leader it is today.

We hope you will take the time to read further about the above and other matters, including those to be voted on at the annual meeting, in the enclosed Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement. These materials include instructions on how to vote your shares by proxy and/or attend the meeting and vote in person. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person, we urge you to promptly vote and submit your vote by proxy following the instructions provided in the Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement.

LOGOWe thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

John E. KleinFrancisco D’Souza
Chairman of the
Board of Directors
Chief Executive Officer

1See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Forward-Looking Statements” on page 57 of the Proxy Statement.



Table of Contents

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

NOTICE OF 2017 ANNUAL MEETING

To Our Stockholders:

GLENPOINTE CENTRE WEST 500 FRANK W. BURR BLVD. TEANECK, NEW JERSEY 07666

TheYou are invited to attend the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (theCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (“Cognizant” or the “Company”), will be held at our headquarters, Glenpointe Centre West, 500 Frank W. Burr Blvd., Teaneck, New Jersey on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. local time, for. This notice includes important information about the following purposes:meeting.

AGENDA

LOGO  1.  To elect

Elect Zein Abdalla, Betsy S. Akins, Maureen Breakiron-Evans, Jonathan Chadwick, John M. Dineen, Francisco D’Souza, John N. Fox, Jr., John E. Klein, Leo S. Mackay, Jr., Michael Patsalos-Fox and Robert E. Weissman as Class II Directors to serve until the 20152018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or until their respective successors shall have been duly elected and qualified;Stockholders. See page 10.

LOGO  To approve the First Amendment to the Company’s 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan;

The Board recommends a voteFOR each Director nominee.

LOGO  2.To approve,

Approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers;officers. See page 22.

The Board recommends a voteFOR this proposal.

LOGO  3.

Approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. See page 22.

The Board recommends that you vote1 YEAR on this proposal.

 
To ratify4.

Approve the Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation 2017 Incentive Award Plan. See page 40.

The Board recommends a voteFOR this proposal.

5.

Ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as ourthe Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014; and2017. See page 47.

The Board recommends a voteFOR this proposal.

LOGO  6.

Consider a stockholder proposal requesting that the Board of Directors take the steps necessary to eliminate the supermajority voting provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting. See page 50.

The Board recommends a voteFOR this proposal.

 
To7.

Consider a stockholder proposal requesting that the Board of Directors take the steps necessary to permit stockholder action by written consent, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting. See page 51.

The Board recommends a voteAGAINSTthis proposal.

Stockholders also will transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any continuation, postponement, or adjournment thereof.

Holders of record of our Class A Common Stock as of the close of business on April 7, 2014 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting, or any continuation, postponement or adjournment thereof. A complete list of such stockholders will be open to the examination of any stockholder at our principal executive offices at Glenpointe Centre West, 500 Frank W. Burr Blvd., Teaneck, New Jersey 07666 for a period of ten days prior to the Annual Meeting and on the day of the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting may be continued or adjourned from time to time without notice other than by announcement at the Annual Meeting.

It is important that your shares be represented regardless of the number of shares you may hold. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person, we urge you to vote your shares via the toll-free telephone number or over the Internet, as described in the enclosed materials. If you received a copy of the proxy card by mail, you may sign, date and mail the proxy card in the enclosed return envelope. Promptly voting your shares will ensure the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting and will save us the expense of further solicitation. Submitting your proxy now will not prevent you from voting your shares at the Annual Meeting if you desire to do so, as your proxy is revocable at your option.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

LOGOHarry Demas

Steven Schwartz

Assistant Corporate Secretary


Teaneck, New Jersey
April 20, 2017

LOGISTICS

Date:Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Time:9:30 a.m. Eastern Time
Place:Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe
100 Frank W. Burr Blvd.
Teaneck, NJ 07666

HOW TO VOTE

Your vote is very important. You may vote using any one of the following methods:

Use the Internet
Vote over the Internet at www.proxyvote.com.

Call Toll-Free
Vote by telephone by calling 800-690-6903.

Mail Your Proxy Card
Vote by signing, dating and returning the proxy card.

In Person
Follow the advance registration instructions under “Who can attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders” on page 55.

Q&A

Who can vote at the Annual Meeting? Stockholders as of our record date, April 10, 2017.

How many shares are entitled to vote? 588,995,145 shares of common stock.

May I change my vote? Yes, by delivering a new proxy with a later date, revoking your proxy, or voting in person at the Annual Meeting.

How many votes do I get? One vote on each proposal for each share you held as of April 10, 2017.

Where can I find more information? See “Additional Information” on page 54.


Our Proxy Statement and 2016 Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.



Table of Contents

PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY

This summary highlights certain information in this proxy statement. Please read the entire proxy statement carefully before voting. We intend to make this proxy statement available to our stockholders on or about April 20, 2017.

VOTING ROADMAP

PROPOSAL 1
Elect the 11 Director nominees named below to serve as Directors until the 2018 Annual Meeting.
Our nominees are experienced professionals who have the right mix of skills, qualifications and business acumen to lead the Company.
See page 10 for further information
The Board recommends a voteFOR each Director nominee named below.

Director Nominees

Director
Since
Independent
Director
Other
Public
Boards
Committee Membership
      Name and Primary OccupationACCCGC

Zein Abdalla

Retired President of PepsiCo, Inc.
 

2015

1

Betsy S. Atkins

 

CEO and Founder of Baja Corp.
 

2017
NEW

3

   

Maureen Breakiron-Evans

Former CFO of Towers Perrin

2009

2


 

Jonathan Chadwick

Former CFO and COO of VMware, Inc.

2016

2

  

John M. Dineen

Former President and CEO of GE Healthcare

2017
NEW

1

   

Francisco D’Souza

CEO of Cognizant
 

2007

1

   

John N. Fox, Jr.

Former Vice Chairman of Deloitte & Touche, LLP and Global Director, Strategic Clients of Deloitte Consulting

2007

1

 

John E. Klein

Chairman of Cognizant and President and CEO of Polarex, Inc.

1998

0

Leo S. Mackay, Jr.

SVP, Internal Audit, Ethics and Sustainability of Lockheed Martin Corporation

2012

0

  

Michael Patsalos-Fox

Former CEO of Stroz Friedberg and Former Chairman, the Americas and Senior Partner of McKinsey & Company

2012

0

Robert E. Weissman

Chairman of Shelburne Investments and Retired Chairman and CEO of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation

2001

0

 
ACAudit CommitteeCommittee Chair
CCCompensation CommitteeCommittee Member
GCGovernance CommitteeAC Financial Expert

2017 Proxy Statement     1



Table of Contents

Proxy Statement Summary
Board Snapshot

Director Nominee Experience

11 (100%)
Leadership
11 (100%)
Global Business
Experience
4 (36%)
Consulting

10(91%)
Technology

10(91%)
Financial

10(91%)
Operational

Cognizant Policy:Create an experienced Board with expertise in areas relevant to the Company.

Director Nominee Tenure

Cognizant Policy:Have a balanced mix of both deep Company and industry knowledge and fresh perspective.

Strong Director Engagement

Overall attendance at 2016 meetings

Board Refreshment

Corporate Governance Highlights


Board of Directors

Majority of independent directors (10 of 11)

Separate Chairman and CEO positions since 2003

Majority voting in director elections

Directors limited to service on 5 public company boards (3 for a public company CEO), including the Company

Annual review of skills, expertise and characteristics of individual Board members as part of overall analysis of Board composition

A director who experiences a material change in job responsibilities (other than retirement) is required to offer to resign

Regular executive sessions of independent directors

Annual Board and committee self-assessments

Consideration of Board diversity in director selection


Stockholder Rights and Engagement

Annual director elections

No classified Board

Proxy access

Stockholders right to call special meeting

Annual vote to ratify selection of independent registered public accounting firm

No poison pill

Board support for stockholder proposal regarding elimination of supermajority voting provisions


Strategy and Risk

Board actively reviews the development and execution of Company strategy

Board oversight and responsibility for risk management, including

Enterprise risks, including cyber security, overall risk management framework and risks related to the financial statements overseen by the Audit Committee

Risks related to compensation policies and practices overseen by the Compensation Committee

CEO succession planning and other corporate governance risks overseen by the Board with the assistance of the Governance Committee

2     Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation



Table of Contents

Proxy Statement Summary
PROPOSALS 2 AND 3
ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (SAY-ON-PAY) AND FREQUENCY OF FUTURE SAY-ON-PAY VOTES (SAY-ON-FREQUENCY)
Our executive compensation program reflects our commitment to paying for performance. Holding the vote annually gives stockholders the opportunity to provide direct and frequent feedback on our compensation philosophy, policies and procedures.
See page 22 for further information
The Board unanimously recommends a voteFOR the approval, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, of our executive compensation. The Board also unanimously recommends that you vote1 YEAR on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation.

Executive Compensation Program Highlights

Key Program Features

What We DoSee Page No.

Pay for performance

25

Use appropriate peer groups when establishing compensation

24

Retain an independent external compensation consultant

24

Set significant stock ownership guidelines for executives

30

Include a clawback policy in our incentive plans

31

Utilize “double trigger” provisions for plans that contemplate a change in control

38


What We Don’t DoSee Page No.

No hedging or speculation with respect to Cognizant securities

30

No short sales of Cognizant securities

30

No margin accounts with Cognizant securities

30

No tax “gross ups” on severance benefits

32


Program Objectives

The Compensation Committee has designed the executive compensation program for our NEOs to meet the following objectives:

Ensure executive compensation is aligned with our corporate strategies and business objectives and that potential realizable compensation is set relative to each executive’s level of responsibility and potential impact on our performance;

A substantial portion of an executive officer’s compensation is subject to achieving both short-term and long-term performance objectives that enhance stockholder value;

Reinforce the importance of meeting and exceeding identifiable and measurable goals through superior awards for superior performance;

Provide total direct compensation that is competitive in markets in which we compete for management talent in order to attract, retain and motivate the best possible executive talent;

Provide an incentive for long-term continued employment with our Company; and

Reinforce our desired culture and unique corporate environment by fostering a sense of ownership, urgency and overall entrepreneurial spirit.

2017 Proxy Statement     3



Table of Contents

Proxy Statement Summary

2016 Compensation Structure

Base Salary

Stable source of cash income at competitive levels


Annual Cash Incentive / Cash Bonus

Annual cash incentive for Mr. D’Souza, Mr. Mehta and Ms. McLoughlin to motivate and reward achievement of Company financial and operational objectives


WeightingMeasurement PeriodTarget Compensation

Revenue

1 year

85% of base salary

Payout Range

Non-GAAP Income from Operations

Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)

Historical Annual Cash Incentiveaward achievements by year2014     2015     2016
96.2%142.0%79.8%

Cash bonus for Mr. Chintamaneni and Mr. Sinha based on achievement of business unit and/or overall business goals and expanded responsibilities in 2016

Performance Stock Units (PSUs)

Annual grant of performance stock units that reward achievement of Company financial objectives, continued service and long-term performance of our common stock


Weighting1Measurement PeriodVesting

Revenue

2 years

1/3rd at 30 months

Vesting Range

2/3rds at 36 months

Non-GAAP EPS

Historical PSU achievements byperformance measurement period20141     20151     2016
86.1% 122.9%38.2%

Weighting for 2017 awards– 50% Revenue; 50% non-GAAP EPS

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

Annual grants of restricted stock units to reward continued service and long-term performance of our common stock

VestingQuarterly over 3 years

Q4 2016 to Q1 2017 RSU grant timing change – The Company moved the timing of annual RSU grants for Mr. D’Souza, Mr. Mehta and Ms. McLoughlin from the fourth quarter of 2016 to the first quarter of 2017 to align with the timing of the Company’s other annual equity grants and other annual compensation decisions by the Compensation Committee. As such, to present the intended target total direct compensation in a more meaningful manner, the RSU percentages shown for 2016 include the value of the RSU grants made to such executives in the first quarter of 2017.

1

Weighting was 100% revenue for the 2014 and 2015 performance measurement periods.

2

Excludes Mr. Coburn, who resigned from the Company during 2016.

2016 Target Annual Compensation
CEOOther NEOs2
(on average)

Base Salary
Annual Cash Incentive / Cash Bonus
Performance Stock Units (PSUs)
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)



4     Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation



Table of Contents

Proxy Statement Summary

2016 Compensation
(in thousands)

Name and Principal
Position
   Year   Salary   Cash
Bonus
    Annual
Cash
Incentive
   PSU   RSU   

All Other
Pension and
Deferred
Comp.

   

All
Other
Comp.

   SEC
Total
   Adjusted
SEC
Total
1
Francisco D’Souza2016$664$450$7,0191$123$8,257$12,031
CEO2015$645$778$6,814$3,669$45$11,951$11,951
Rajeev Mehta2016$574$389$3,5841$6$4,554$7,099
President22015$539$650$3,480$1,874$2$6,544$6,544
Gordon J. Coburn2016$467$3,751$184$93$4,495$4,495
Former President22015$614$740$3,641$1,961$89$7,045$7,045
Karen McLoughlin2016$427$289$1,8761$8$2,599$3,638
CFO2015$406$490$1,821$981$8$3,706$3,706
Ramakrishna Prasad
Chintamaneni
20163$417$566$831$1,615$8$3,437$3,437
EVP and President,
Global Industries and
Consulting
  
Dharmendra
Kumar Sinha
20163$357$168$714$1,762$8$3,009$3,009
EVP and President,
Global Client Services
 

1The Company moved the timing of annual RSU grants for certain NEOs from the fourth quarter of 2016 to the first quarter of 2017 to align with the timing of the Company’s other annual equity grants and other annual compensation decisions by the Compensation Committee. The Adjusted SEC Total represents the SEC Total plus, for 2016, the target value of the RSU grants made in the first quarter of 2017 (using a March 2, 2017 grant date fair value) to Mr. D’Souza ($3,774), Mr. Mehta ($2,545) and Ms. McLoughlin ($1,038) to provide stockholders annual compensation numbers that are more comparable to past years and more indicative of the targeted annual compensation to the NEOs. These amounts are not a substitute for the amounts reported under the SEC Total.
2Mr. Mehta was appointed President of Cognizant on September 28, 2016, following the resignation of Mr. Coburn on September 27, 2016.
32015 compensation not presented for Mr. Chintamaneni and Mr. Sinha as they were not NEOs in that year.

Aligning Pay with Performance

The following graphs show Company performance across revenue, profitability and cash flow metrics for the last three years as compared to the performance targets for the annual cash incentives and PSUs with performance measurement periods corresponding to such years. In addition, the Company’s share price performance, which impacts the performance of long-term equity grants to the NEOs and holdings of our common stock, is set forth below for the last five years.

Revenue

Revenue
(in billions)



Annual Cash IncentivePSUs1


Strong, consistent revenue growth
 8.6%
Year-over-year revenue growth (2015 to 2016)

Compensation Impacts

Significant weighting in both performance-based compensation elements

Aggressive targets have helped drive revenue growth

For 2017 awards: Revenue reduced to 50% weighting for PSUs to reflect increased Company focus on non-GAAP Operating Margin.

1Applies to PSUs with a 2016 performance measurement period. PSUs with a 2014 or 2015 performance measurement period are weighted 100% to revenue. PSUs issued in 2016 have a 2-year performance measurement period covering 2016 and 2017 and are not shown.
2017 Proxy Statement     5



Table of Contents

Proxy Statement Summary

Profitability

Non-GAAP Operating Margin1


Non-GAAP Operating Margin

19% – 20%

Historical target consistently maintained, with excess reinvested in the Company for future growth, resulting in steadily increasing non-GAAP Income from Operations and non-GAAP EPS as the Company’s revenue has increased.

2019 Goal1,2
22%

…by accelerating the pursuit of high-value digital transformation work, driving leverage in the cost structure, executing on opportunities to improve operational efficiency and aggressively employing automation to optimize traditional services.

Non-GAAP Income from Operations1
(in millions)


Annual Cash Incentive

Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS)1


PSUs3


Non-GAAP
Income from Operations
Non-GAAP EPS
 7.6% 10.4%

(2015-2016)


Compensation Impacts

Targets have historically been designed to achieve 19-20% non-GAAP Operating Margin, with targets increased each year to maintain that margin as revenue growth is encouraged

Profitability has been an increasingly important component of the Company’s performance-based compensation with the addition of the non-GAAP EPS metric for PSUs in 2016

For 2017 awards:

Targets designed around planned increases in non-GAAP Operating Margin for future years (see 2019 Goal above)

Non-GAAP EPS increased to 50% weighting for PSUs; target accounts for $1.5 billion accelerated share repurchase program initiated in March 2017


1See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Forward-Looking Statements” on page 57.
22019 goal excludes any changes to the regulatory environment, including with respect to immigration and taxes. See our Annual Report for these and other risk factors that may impact our ability to achieve this goal.
3Applies to PSUs with a 2016 performance measurement period. PSUs with a 2014 or 2015 performance measurement period do not use non-GAAP EPS as a performance metric. PSUs issued in 2016 have a 2-year performance measurement period covering 2016 and 2017 and are not shown.
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Proxy Statement Summary

Cash Flow

Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)


Annual Cash Incentive


Consistent DSO year-to-year

Collection of receivables from customers has remained steady over the past three years.


Compensation Impact

Target established to ensure management is incentivized to maintain collection of receivables at a healthy level for the business

Stockholder Return

5-Year Cumulative Total Stockholder Return1



1Comparison assumes $100 was invested, from December 31, 2011 through December 31, 2016, in Cognizant common stock, the S&P 500 Index, the NASDAQ 100 Index and our peer group (capitalization weighted), and that all dividends were reinvested.
2Consists of the following information technology consulting firms: Accenture plc, Computer Sciences Corporation, Computer Task Group, Incorporated, ExlService Holdings Inc., Genpact Limited, Infosys Limited, Syntel, Inc., Wipro Limited and WNS (Holdings) Limited.

5-year Compound Average Growth
in Share Price
 11.7%
(2012-2016)

Compensation Impact

A substantial percentage of NEO compensation is in the form of long-term equity compensation (RSUs and PSUs), aligning management incentives with those of stockholders

RSUs vest quarterly over three years

PSUs issued in 2011 through 2015 vest at 18 months and 36 months and have a 1-year performance measurement period

PSUs issued in 2016 vest at 30 months and 36 months and have a 2-year performance measurement period

All of our NEOs hold substantial ownership interests in our common stock, in excess of the requirements under our stock ownership guidelines, further aligning their interests with those of stockholders

Reduced stockholder return in the last three years has reduced realized compensation to NEOs from their equity grants and stockholdings

2017 Proxy Statement     7



Table of Contents

Proxy Statement Summary

PROPOSAL 4
APPROVE THE 2017 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN
Providing long-term incentive compensation is important to attracting and retaining executive talent and other key personnel and to incentivizing them to maximize stockholder value.
The 2017 Incentive Award Plan (the “Plan”) will allow us to make equity-based compensation awards to employees, consultants and directors. If approved, it will replace our 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2009 Plan”) and no further awards will be made under the 2009 Plan. Our Board adopted the Plan on March 27, 2017 and it will become effective as of June 6, 2017, subject to stockholder approval.
See page 40 for further information
The Board unanimously recommends a voteFOR approval of the Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation 2017 Incentive Award Plan.


What Would the Plan Do?

Allow for the issuance of up to 46,000,000 new shares, in addition to the approximately 7,000,000 remaining available for issuance under the 2009 Plan that will be transferred to the Plan, bringing the total number of shares available for new grants under the Plan to approximately 53,000,000, which we expect to last us approximately six years;

Provide for the number of shares reserved for issuance to be reduced by two shares for each share of stock issued pursuant to a full-value award, including a PSU or an RSU, which would replace the 1.55 share reduction for each share of stock issued pursuant to a full-value award under the 2009 Plan;

Provide for a term through March 27, 2027;

Clarify that all awards are subject to the provisions of any clawback policy we implement;

Establish an annual dollar figure limit for director compensationof $900,000, which applies to both cash and equity compensation and would replace the 100,000 share limit for director equity compensation under the 2009 Plan;

Provide for an annual per-person dollar figure limit for cash awardsof $10,000,000, which represents an increase from the $5,000,000 per-person cash award limit under the 2009 Plan; and

Establish an annual per-person share limit of (i) 3,000,000 for stock option and stock appreciation right awards and (ii) 2,000,000 for PSUs and RSUs, which would replace the annual per-person share limit for all awards of 5,000,000 under the 2009 Plan.


Key Information About Plan Features and Our Equity Compensation Share Usage1

What this measuresHow we manage
Burn RateHow rapidly we are using an equity plan’s share poolOver the last three years, our burn rate, which we calculate on a gross basis, averaged 0.78%. The burn rates for the last three years were 1.02%, 0.46% and 0.86% for 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively. The Board believes that such burn rates are acceptable.
OverhangPotential stockholder dilution from outstanding equity award shares available for grantIf this proposal is adopted, our overhang, calculated using a simple overhang measurement, will be 10.4%. The Board believes that the requested number of shares of common stock under the Plan represents a reasonable amount of potential equity dilution.

Good Governance Features of the Plan

What the Plan Does
Limits on authorized shares
No evergreen provision
All awards subject to clawback
10-year maximum stock option term
Certain shares surrendered, withheld or repurchased may not again be made available for issuance
What the Plan Doesn’t Do
No stock option repricing
No discounted stock option grants
No automatic change in control benefits

Our Current Equity Grant Practices

What We Do

Mix of PSUs and RSUs with an emphasis on PSUs for senior executives

Long-term vesting such that PSUs have a 2-year performance measurement period and, for executive officers, vest 1/3rd at 30 months and 2/3rds at 36 months and, for other employees, fully vest at 29 months following the start of such period; RSUs vest quarterly over three years from grant

What We Don’t Do

No dividend equivalent payments on unearned PSUs or RSUs (accumulated dividend equivalents paid only on vesting)


1Cognizant data covers 2014-2016. Please see “Key Data About our Grant Practices” on page 42 for more information about these metrics and how we calculate them.
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Proxy Statement Summary

PROPOSAL 5
RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2017
The Audit Committee believes that the engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
See page 47 for further information
The Board unanimously recommends a voteFOR the Ratification of the Appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2017.

PROPOSAL 6
CONSIDER A STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO ELIMINATE THE SUPERMAJORITY VOTING PROVISIONS OF THE COMPANY’S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS
The Board unanimously recommends a voteFOR this proposal.
See page 50 for further information

PROPOSAL 7
CONSIDER A STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO PERMIT STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT
The Board unanimously recommends a voteAGAINST this proposal.
See page 51 for further information










2017 Proxy Statement     9



Table of Contents

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

What are you
voting on?

At the Annual Meeting, 11 Directors are to be elected to hold office until the 2018 Annual Meeting and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. All nominees are current Directors and all except Ms. Atkins and Mr. Dineen were elected by stockholders at the 2016 Annual Meeting.

The Board unanimously recommends a voteFOR all the Director nominees listed below.

Director Nominees

Zein Abdalla
Independent
Retired President of PepsiCo, Inc.
Director Since2015
Age58
BirthplaceSudan
Committees
Audit
Governance
Skills and Qualifications
Career Highlights
President of PepsiCo, Inc., a multinational food, snack and beverage company (2012 – 2014)
Executive positions with PepsiCo Europe Region
CEO (2009 – 2012)
President (2006 – 2009)
Various senior positions with PepsiCo (1995 – 2006)
Current Public Company Boards
The TJX Companies, Inc., a retailer of apparel and home fashions
Corporate Governance Committee
Finance Committee
Other Positions
Member of the Imperial College Business School Advisory Board
Board Advisor, Mars, Incorporated
Education
B.S., Imperial College, London University

Betsy S. Atkins
Independent
CEO and Founder of Baja Corp.
Director Since2017
Age63
BirthplaceUnited States
Committees
None
Skills and Qualifications
Career Highlights
CEO and Founder of Baja Corp., a venture capital investment firm (since 1994)
CEO of Clear Standards, Inc., a provider of energy management and sustainability software and solutions (2009 – 2010)
Chair and CEO of NCI, Inc., a neutraceutical functional food company (1991 – 1993)
Co-Founder of Ascend Communications, Inc., a manufacturer of communications equipment, and Director (1989 – 1999)
EVP of Sales Marketing, Professional Services and International Operations
Current Public Company Boards
HD Supply Holdings, Inc., a wholesaler of electrical, plumbing and hardware products
Lead Independent Director
Compensation Committee
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (Chair)
Schneider Electric SE, a manufacturer of motors and generators
Strategy Committee
SL Green Realty Corporation, a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT)
Audit Committee
Other Positions
Member of advisory board of SAP SE, an enterprise software company
Member of board of directors of privately-held Volvo Car AB, an automobile manufacturer
Past Director Positions
Ascend Communications, Inc.
Chico’s FAS, Inc.
Vonage Holdings Corp.
Clear Standards, Inc.
Darden Restaurants, Inc.
NASDAQ LLC
Polycom, Inc.
Education
B.A., University of Massachusetts, Amherst


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Corporate Governance

Maureen Breakiron-Evans
 
Independent
Former CFO of
Towers Perrin
Director Since2009
Age62
BirthplaceUnited States
Committees
Audit (Chair)
Governance
Skills and Qualifications
Career Highlights
CFO of Towers Perrin, a global professional services company (2007 – 2008)
VP and General Auditor of CIGNA Corporation, a health services organization (2005 – 2006)
EVP and CFO of Inovant, LLC, VISA’s captive technology development and transaction processing company (2001 – 2004)
16 years in public accounting, ultimately as a partner at Arthur Andersen LLP through 1994
Current Public Company Boards
Ally Financial Inc., a provider of payment processing services
Audit Committee
Digital Transformation Committee
Cubic Corporation, a provider of systems and services to transportation and defense markets worldwide
Audit Committee
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Past Director Positions
Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, a private government-sponsored enterprise
ING Direct, an Internet bank
Heartland Payment Systems, Inc.
Education
B.B.A., Stetson University
M.B.A., Harvard Business School
M.L.A., Stanford University
Certifications
CPA in California

Jonathan Chadwick
Independent
Former CFO and Coo of VMware, Inc.
Director Since2016
Age51
BirthplaceUnited Kingdom
Committees
Audit
Skills and Qualifications
Career Highlights
Executive positions with VMware, Inc., a virtualization and cloud infrastructure solutions company
COO (2014 – 2016)
EVP and CFO (2012 – 2016)
CFO of Skype Technologies S.A., an Internet communications company, and Corporate VP of Microsoft Corporation (2011 – 2012)
EVP and CFO of McAfee, Inc., a security technology company (2010 – 2011)
Various executive positions with Cisco Systems, Inc. (1997 – 2010)
Various positions with Coopers & Lybrand, an accounting firm (1993 – 1997)
Current Public Company Boards
F5 Networks, Inc.
Audit Committee (Chair)
ServiceNow, Inc.
Audit Committee
Leadership Development and Compensation Committee
Education
B.Sc., University of Bath, U.K.
Certifications
Chartered Accountant in England and Wales

John M. Dineen
Independent
Former President and CEO of GE Healthcare
Director Since2017
Age54
BirthplaceUnited States
Committees
None
Skills and Qualifications
Career Highlights
Operating Advisor of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice LLC, an investment firm (since 2015)
Executive positions with General Electric Company, a global digital industrial company
CEO, GE Healthcare (2008 – 2014)
CEO, GE Infrastructure and GE Transportation (2005 – 2008)
Other leadership positions (1986 – 2005)
Current Public Company Boards
Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company specializing in the development of drugs for the treatment of cancer
Organization and Compensation Committee (Chair)
Education
B.S., University of Vermont


2017 Proxy Statement     11



Table of Contents

Corporate Governance

Francisco D’Souza
 
CEO of Cognizant
Director Since2007
Age48
BirthplaceKenya
Committees
None
Skills and Qualifications
Career Highlights
Executive positions at Cognizant
CEO (since 2007)
President (2007 – 2012)
COO (2003 – 2006)
SVP, North American Operations and Business Development (1999 – 2003)
VP, North American Operations and Business Development (1998 – 1999)
Director - North American Operations and Business Development (1997 – 1998)
Joined Cognizant as a co-founder in 1994, the year it was started as a division of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation
Current Public Company Boards
General Electric Company
Technology and Industrial Risk Committee
Other Positions
Member of the Board of Trustees of Carnegie Mellon University
Co-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The New York Hall of Science
Member of the Board of Directors of the U.S.–India Business Council
Education
B.B.A., University of Macau (formerly University of East Asia)
M.B.A., Carnegie Mellon University

John N. Fox, Jr.
 
Independent
Former Vice Chairman of Deloitte & Touche LLP and Global Director, Strategic Clients of Deloitte Consulting
Director Since2007
Age74
BirthplaceUnited States
Committees
Compensation (Chair)
Governance
Skills and Qualifications
Career Highlights
Vice Chairman of Deloitte & Touche LLP, a global professional services firm, and Global Director, Strategic Clients for Deloitte Consulting (1998 – 2003)
Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Board of Directors and the Board’s Governance (Executive) Committee (1998 – 2003)
Various senior positions with Deloitte Consulting (1968 – 2003)




Current Public Company Boards
VASCO Data Security International, Inc., an information technology security company
Audit Committee
Compensation Committee (Chair)
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Other Positions
Trustee for Wabash College
Trustee for Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Education
B.A., Wabash College
M.B.A., University of Michigan

John E. Klein
 
Independent
Chairman of Cognizant and President and CEO of Polarex, Inc.
Director Since1998
Age75
BirthplaceUnited States
Committees
Audit
Compensation
Governance
Skills and Qualifications
Career Highlights
Chairman of Cognizant (since 2003)
President and CEO of Polarex, Inc., a technology consulting firm (employed since 1994)
Previously President and CEO of MDIS Group, PLC, a UK listed software and services company



VP at International Business Machines Corporation, or IBM
VP at Digital Equipment Corporation
Education
B.S., U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
M.B.A., New York University


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Corporate Governance

Leo S. Mackay, Jr.
 
Independent
SVP, Internal
Audit, Ethics and
Sustainability of
Lockheed Martin
Corporation
Director Since2012
Age55
BirthplaceUnited States
Committees
Audit
Skills and Qualifications
Career Highlights
Executive positions at Lockheed Martin Corporation, a global security and aerospace company
SVP, Internal Audit, Ethics and Sustainability (since 2016)
VP, Ethics and Sustainability (2011 – 2016)
VP, Corporate Business Development and various other positions (2007 – 2011)
President, Integrated Coast Guard Systems LLC and VP and General Manager, Coast Guard Systems (2005 – 2007)
Chief Operations Officer of ACS State Healthcare LLC, a services company serving the healthcare industry (2003 – 2005)
Various positions with Bell Helicopter, a helicopter and tiltrotor craft manufacturer


Past Director Positions
Chair of the Board of Visitors of the Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University of Maryland
Center for a New American Century
Education
B.S., United States Naval Academy
M.P.P., Harvard University
Ph.D., Harvard University

Michael Patsalos-Fox
 
Independent
Former CEO of
Stroz Friedberg and
Former Chairman,
the Americas and
Senior Partner of
McKinsey & Company
Director Since2012
Age64
BirthplaceCyprus
Committees
Compensation
Governance (Chair)
Skills and Qualifications
Career Highlights
CEO of Stroz Friedberg, a global investigation and cyber security firm (2013 – 2016)
Senior Partner and various other positions with McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting company (1981 – 2013)
Board of Directors (1998 – 2010)
Chairman, the Americas (2003 – 2009)


Member of Operating Committee
Managing Partner of New York and New Jersey offices, North American Corporate Finance and Strategy practice and European Telecoms practice
Leader of new business growth opportunities around data, analytics and software
Education
B.S., University of Sydney
M.B.A., International Institute for Management Development

Robert E. Weissman
 
Independent
Chairman of Shelburne
Investments and
Retired Chairman and
CEO of The Dun &
Bradstreet Corporation
Director Since2001
Age76
BirthplaceUnited States
Committees
Compensation
Governance
Skills and Qualifications
Career Highlights
Chairman and CEO of IMS Health, a provider of information to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries (1998 – 1999)
Chairman and CEO of Cognizant (1996 – 1997)
Executive positions at The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, a data, analytics and insights company
Chairman and CEO (1995 – 1996)
President and COO (1985 – 1995)
Other positions since 1979
President and CEO of National CSS, a computer time-sharing company acquired by The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation in 1979
Past Public Company Boards
State Street Corporation, a global financial services company
Pitney Bowes, Inc., a global technology company
Information Services Group, a technology insights, market intelligence and advisory services company
Other Positions
Chairman of Shelburne Investments, a private investment company that works with emerging companies in the United States and Europe
Board of Trustees of Babson College
Education
B.S., Babson College
Honorary Doctor of Laws, Babson College


2017 Proxy Statement     13



Table of Contents

Corporate Governance

Directors Not Standing for Reelection

Lakshmi Narayanan and Thomas M. Wendel, two of our current Directors, have not been nominated for re-election as Directors at the Annual Meeting following the end of their current terms.

BOARD COMPOSITION

Director Independence

Board Member Independence

Each of our Director nominees, other than our CEO, Mr. D’Souza, has been determined by the Board to be an “independent director” under our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”), which require that, in the opinion of the Board, such person not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a Director.


Committee Member Independence

The Board has determined that all of the members of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Governance Committee are independent as defined under NASDAQ rules and, where applicable, also satisfy the committee-specific requirements set forth below.



HEIGHTENED COMMITTEE STANDARDS

Audit Committee

Compensation Committee

All members of the Audit Committee are required to satisfy the independence requirements contemplated by Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and NASDAQ rules, specifically that Audit Committee members may not accept any direct or indirect consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except for their compensation for Board service, and that Audit Committee members may not be affiliated with the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

Under NASDAQ rules, the Board must affirmatively determine the independence of each member of the Compensation Committee after considering all sources of compensation of the director, including any consulting, advisory or other compensation paid by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and whether the Compensation Committee member is affiliated with the Company or any of its subsidiaries.


Director Candidates

Finding Directors

The Governance Committee seeks recommendations from Board members and others, engages search firms from time-to-time to assist in the identification and evaluation of director candidates, meets periodically to evaluate biographical information and background material relating to potential candidates and has selected candidates interviewed by members of the Governance Committee and the Board.

In 2016 and 2017, the Company engaged a third party director search firm to assist the Governance Committee in identifying and evaluating director candidates. In February 2017, the Company and Elliott Management agreed to each identify and propose one new independent director for election to the Board, subject to the consent of the other, prior to the filing of this proxy statement. Ms. Atkins and Mr. Dineen were each identified with the assistance of a third party search firm, and Ms. Atkins was approved by Elliott.

Director Selection

The Governance Committee strives to maintain an engaged, independent Board with broad and diverse experience and judgment that is committed to representing the long-term interests of our stockholders. In considering whether to recommend any particular candidate for inclusion in the Board’s slate of recommended Director nominees, the Governance Committee applies the criteria in our Corporate Governance Guidelines. These criteria include the candidate’s integrity, business acumen, knowledge of our business and industry, experience, diligence, absence of conflicts of interest, capacity to serve in light of commitments to other public company boards, and the ability to act in the interests of all stockholders, and includes consideration of the value of Board diversity. In evaluating Director candidates, the Governance Committee does not assign specific weights to particular criteria and no particular criterion is a prerequisite for each prospective nominee. We believe that the backgrounds, qualifications and diversity of our Directors, considered as a group, should provide a composite mix of experience, knowledge and abilities that will allow the Board to fulfill its responsibilities.

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Corporate Governance

The Governance Committee’s Director candidate selection includes the following considerations:

Ensuring an experienced, qualified Board with expertise in areas relevant to the Company. We seek directors who have held significant leadership positions and have global business experience, especially in the consulting and technology industries in which we compete. In addition, we seek directors with the financial reporting, operational, corporate governance and compliance experience appropriate for a large, global, publicly traded company.

Leadership

11(100%)

We believe that directors who have held significant leadership positions over an extended period, especially CEO positions, possess extraordinary leadership qualities, and the ability to identify and develop those qualities in others. They demonstrate a practical understanding of organizations, processes, strategy and risk management, and know how to drive change and growth.

Global Business
Experience

11 (100%)

With nearly 22% of our revenue currently coming from, and our continued success dependent, in part, on continued growth in, our business outside the United States, and with the extensive international aspects of our business operations, we believe that global business experience is an important quality for many of our Directors to possess.

Consulting

4(36%)

Consulting, including as to information technology, strategy, business and operations, is one of our key areas of business focus. It is an important component of the continuing growth of our business and permeates other important growth areas for us. As consulting is a critical component of our efforts to develop ever more strategic relationships with clients, it is important to have directors with consulting experience.

Technology

10 (91%)

As a leading information technology company, developing and investing in new technologies and ideas is at the heart of our business. Our current investments include building capabilities to enable clients to drive digital transformation at scale and create next generation information technology infrastructures, and building platform-based solutions and industry utilities to enable clients to achieve new levels of efficiency. As such, having directors with technology experience is as important as ever.

Financial

10 (91%)

We use a broad set of financial metrics to measure our operating and strategic performance and stockholder value creation. Accurate financial reporting and strong internal controls are also critical to our success. It is therefore important for us to have directors with an understanding of financial statements and financial reporting processes and a track record of stockholder value creation.

Operational

10 (91%)

We consider operational experience to be a valuable trait. Directors with this experience provide insight into best practices for the efficient administration and operation of a complex business to achieve growth and margin objectives.


Enhancing the Board’s Diversity. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the value of director diversity, including as to race, gender, age, national origin and cultural background, should be considered in the selection of directors. The Governance Committee seeks out qualified women and individuals from minority groups to include in the pool from which Board nominees are chosen.

Achieving a Balanced Mix of Tenures. The Governance Committee believes it is important that the Board have an appropriately balanced mix of experienced directors with a deep understanding of the Company and its industry and new directors who bring a fresh perspective and valuable new experience and insights.

Maintaining Director Engagement. The Governance Committee considers each Director’s continuation on the Board on an annual basis. As part of the process, the Committee evaluates the Director’s other positions and obligations in order to assess the Director’s ability to continue to devote sufficient time to Company matters. Any Director who experiences a change in employment status or job responsibilities, other than retirement, is required to notify the Chairman and the Governance Committee and offer to resign from the Board.

Avoiding conflicts of interest. The Governance Committee looks at other positions a director candidate has held or holds (including other board memberships) and any potential conflicts of interest to ensure the continued independence of the Board and its committees. There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers, directors and key employees.

As part of the Governance Committee’s annual self-assessment process, it assesses its performance as to all aspects of the selection and nomination process for directors, including diversity.

Based on the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of our Director nominees as highlighted herein, our Governance Committee has concluded that such Director nominees should continue to serve on the Board.

2017 Proxy Statement     15



Table of Contents

Corporate Governance

Majority Voting Standard in Director Elections

Our By-laws provide that the voting standard for the election of directors in uncontested elections is a majority of votes cast. Any director who does not receive a majority of the votes cast for their election must tender an irrevocable resignation that will become effective upon acceptance by the Board. The Governance Committee will recommend to the Board whether to accept the Director’s resignation within 90 days following the certification of the stockholder vote. The Board will promptly disclose whether it has accepted or rejected the Director’s resignation, and the reasons for its decision, in a Form 8-K. The Governance Committee and the Board may consider any factors they deem relevant in deciding whether to accept a Director’s resignation. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines contain additional specifics regarding our Director resignation policy. See “Helpful Resources” on page 78.

How Stockholders Can Propose Director Candidates

Recommendations to Governance Committee. Stockholders may recommend individuals to the Governance Committee for consideration as potential director candidates by submitting the names of the recommended individuals, together with appropriate biographical information and background materials and a statement as to whether the stockholder or group of stockholders making the recommendation has beneficially owned more than 5% of the Company’s common stock for at least a year as of the date such recommendation is made. Such recommendations should be sent to the Corporate Secretary. See “Helpful Resources” on page 78. The Governance Committee evaluates stockholder-recommended candidates by following substantially the same process, and applying substantially the same criteria, as it follows for candidates submitted by others.

Nominations by Proxy Access. Our By-laws provide that stockholders satisfying certain ownership and holding period requirements with respect to our common stock and other requirements may nominate directors for inclusion in our proxy statement. See “Director Nominees via Proxy Access” on page 53.

THE BOARD’S ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Board Leadership Structure

The Company’s board leadership structure has separated the Chairman and CEO roles since December 2003. Currently, Mr. Klein serves as Chairman and Mr. D’Souza as CEO. The Board evaluates its leadership structure on an ongoing basis based on factors such as the experience of the applicable individuals and the current business environment of the Company. After considering these factors, the Board determined that continuing to separate the positions of Chairman and CEO is the appropriate board leadership structure at this time.


Board Role in Risk Oversight

Our business faces various risks, including strategic, financial, legal, regulatory, operational, accounting, cyber security and reputational risks. While management is responsible for the day-to-day management of the various risks facing the Company, the Board plays an active role in the oversight of the Company’s risk management practices and business risks. We believe this division of responsibilities is the most effective approach for addressing the risks facing the Company.

The Board exercises its oversight responsibility for risk management both directly and through its standing committees:

The Audit Committee reviews and discusses with management the Company’s enterprise risk and risk management framework and the process for identifying, assessing, and monitoring key business risks. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews with the Company’s independent auditor significant risks and uncertainties with respect to the quality, accuracy or fairness of presentation of the Company’s financial statements;

TheCompensation Committee annually reviews and determines whether any of the Company’s compensation policies and practices for employees create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company, and generally oversees risks relating to the Company’s compensation practices; and

TheGovernance Committee oversees risks related to the Company’s governance structure and processes, and assists the Board in succession planning for its CEO and other senior executives, including an emergency succession plan for the CEO.

In carrying out its oversight responsibilities,the entire Board:

Receives reports from management and the Board committees regarding the most significant risks facing the Company and their potential impact, including strategic, financial, and execution risks and exposures associated with our business strategy, policy matters, significant litigation and regulatory exposures, and other current matters that may present material risk to our financial performance, operations, infrastructure, plans, prospects or reputation, acquisitions or divestitures;

Evaluates any such risks and the steps management is taking to manage those risks;

Reviews and discusses with management the practices theCompany has implemented to assess and mitigate risk and possible enhancement to these practices;

Evaluates what level of risk is appropriate for the Company; and

Encourages management to promote a corporate culture that integrates risk management into the Company’s corporate strategy and day-to-day business operations in a way that is consistent with the Company’s targeted risk profile.


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Corporate Governance

We believe that our approach to risk oversight optimizes our ability to assess inter-relationships among the various risks we face, make informed cost-benefit decisions and approach emerging risks in a proactive manner. The Board believes that its role in the oversight of the Company’s risks complements our current Board structure as ourstructure allows our independent Directors, through our three fully independent Board committees, to exercise effective oversight of the actions of management in identifying risks and implementing effective risk management policies and controls.

Corporate Governance Policies and Practices

Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to assist it in the exercise of its duties and responsibilities to the Company and its stockholders. The Guidelines provide a framework for the conduct of the Board’s business and are integral to an effective corporate governance program. See “Helpful Resources” on page 78.

Code of Ethics

We have a Code of Ethics that applies to all of our Directors, officers and employees. See “Helpful Resources” on page 78. We will post on our website all disclosures that are required by law or NASDAQ listing standards concerning any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of our Code of Ethics.

Limits on Director Service on Other Public Company Boards

Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, service by Company Directors on public company boards is limited to no more than five, including the Cognizant Board. For any Director who is also a public company CEO, the limit is three (including the Cognizant Board). This practice is to ensure that our Directors have sufficient time to devote to Cognizant matters.

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

Review of Related Person Transactions

The Audit Committee of the Company is responsible for reviewing and approving all transactions between us and any related person that are required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K. Related persons can include any of our Directors or executive officers, certain of our stockholders, and any of their immediate family members. The Audit Committee will approve a related person transaction when, in its good faith judgment, the transaction is in the best interests of the Company. The Company’s legal staff is primarily responsible for monitoring and obtaining information from our Directors and executive officers with respect to potential related person transactions, and for then determining, based on the facts and circumstances, whether the related person has a direct or indirect material interest in any transaction with us. Each year, to help our legal staff identify related person transactions, we require each of our Directors, Director nominees and executive officers to complete a disclosure questionnaire identifying any transactions with us in which the officer or Director or their family members have an interest.

In addition, our Code of Ethics requires all Directors, officers and employees who may have a potential or apparent conflict of interest to, in the case of employees, notify our Chief Compliance Officer or General Counsel, or in the case of executive officers and Directors, notify our General Counsel or the Board. See “Helpful Resources” on page 78.

2016 Transactions with Related Persons

Brackett B. Denniston III, who became our Interim General Counsel and an executive officer of the Company on December 2, 2016, is also a Senior Counsel at the law firm of Goodwin Procter LLP (“Goodwin”). During the year ended December 31, 2016, Goodwin performed legal services for the Company for which it was paid approximately $2.0 million in the aggregate. Goodwin has continued to perform such legal services during 2017 for which it has been or will be paid approximately $1.4 million for legal services through March 31, 2017. Fees for the services of Goodwin attorneys, including Mr. Denniston, will be paid by us at rates that are generally consistent with rates regularly charged by the firm to other clients. Mr. Denniston does not have a direct interest in the payment of such fees, but has an indirect interest in such fees as an employee of the law firm. Mr. Denniston does not review or approve any invoices for payments to Goodwin. The provision of legal services by Goodwin was reviewed and approved by our Audit Committee at the time Mr. Denniston was appointed an executive officer of the Company.

Other than the matter described above and such other matters disclosed herein under “Compensation” starting on page 22, there have been no related person transactions since January 1, 2016.

Communications to the Board from Stockholders

Under procedures approved by a majority of the independent Directors, our Chairman, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel are primarily responsible for monitoring communications from stockholders and, if they relate to important substantive matters and include suggestions or comments that our Chairman, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel consider to be important for the Directors to know, providing copies or summaries to the other Directors. In general, communications relating to corporate governance and long-term corporate strategy are more likely to be forwarded than communications relating to ordinary business affairs, personal grievances and matters as to which we tend to receive repetitive or duplicative communications.

The Board will give appropriate attention to written communications that are submitted by stockholders, and will respond if and as appropriate. Stockholders who wish to send communications on any topic to the Board should address such communications to the Board, our Corporate Secretary or our General Counsel. See “Helpful Resources” on page 78.

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Table of Contents

Corporate Governance

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

The Board has three standing committees-the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Governance Committee-each of which operates under a charter that has been approved by the Board. See “Helpful Resources” on page 78.

Audit Committee

No. of Meetings in 2016: 15

Composition

Zein Abdalla
Maureen Breakiron-Evans (Chair)
Jonathan Chadwick
John E. Klein
Leo S. Mackay, Jr.
Thomas M. Wendel

Key Responsibilities

Directly overseeing our independent registered public accounting firm, including appointment, termination, qualifications and independence, and pre-approval of the scope and fees of the annual audit and any other services, including review, attest and non-audit services;

Reviewing and discussing the contents of our quarterly and annual consolidated financial statements and earnings releases with management and the independent registered public accounting firm;

Recommending to the Board inclusion of our audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K;

Monitoring our internal control over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures, and Code of Ethics;

Reviewing and discussing the internal audit process, scope of activities and audit results with our internal audit department; and

Reviewing and discussing with management our risk management framework and processes.

Audit Committee Financial Experts

The Board has determined that each of Ms. Breakiron-Evans and Mr. Chadwick is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K.


Compensation Committee

No. of Meetings in 2016: 5

Composition

John N. Fox, Jr. (Chair)
John E. Klein
Michael Patsalos-Fox
Robert E. Weissman

Key Responsibilities

Making recommendations to the Board with respect to the compensation of our CEO;

Reviewing and approving, or making recommendations to the Board with respect to, the compensation of our other executive officers;

Overseeing evaluations of our senior executives;

Reviewing and making recommendations to the Board with respect to our incentive compensation arrangements, including an annual review to ensure that such compensation arrangements do not encourage unnecessary risk taking;

Reviewing and making recommendations to the Board with respect to Director compensation; and

Assisting the Board in the discharge of any other responsibilities relating to the compensation of our executive officers.

Governance Committee

No. of Meetings in 2016: 5

Composition

Zein Abdalla
Maureen Breakiron-Evans
John N. Fox, Jr.
John E. Klein
Michael Patsalos-Fox (Chair)
Robert E. Weissman
Thomas M. Wendel

Key Responsibilities

Recommending to the Board the persons to be nominated for election as Directors and to be appointed to each of the Board’s committees;

Reviewing the Directors’ other positions and obligations annually to ensure they have sufficient time to devote to Company matters;

Assisting the Board in succession planning for the CEO (including emergency succession plans), other senior executives and Board positions;

Developing and recommending to the Board revisions to our Corporate Governance Guidelines; and

Overseeing an annual evaluation of the Board.


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Corporate Governance

DIRECTOR ATTENDANCE

There were 16 meetings of the Board during 2016. Each Director attended at least 80% of the aggregate of (i) all meetings of the Board held during the period in which he or she served as a Director and (ii) the total number of meetings held by the committees on which he or she served during the period, if applicable.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that Directors are expected to attend the annual meeting of stockholders. For the 2016 Annual Meeting, Mr. D’Souza acted as Chairman and all but two of the 11 then current Directors attended (participating by teleconference).

Strong Director Engagement

Overall attendance at 2016 meetings

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Discussion and Analysis

The Company uses cash and stock-based compensation to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve on the Board. The Company sets compensation for directors who are not our employees or the employees of any of our subsidiaries (“non-employee Directors”) in light of the time commitment and experience level expected of its Directors. A Director who is an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries receives no cash or stock-based compensation for serving as a Director.

Engagement of Compensation Consultant

For purposes of establishing non-employee Director compensation, the Compensation Committee engaged Pay Governance, LLC (“Pay Governance”), an independent executive compensation advisory firm, in 2015 to review all elements of non-employee Director compensation, benchmark such compensation in relation to othercomparable companies with which we compete for Board talent and provide recommendations to ensure that our non-employee Director compensation program remains competitive. Pay Governance benchmarked our non-employee Director compensation against the same group of technology-related firms used by Pay Governance in preparing its recommendations to the Compensation Committee in determining stock-based awards for executive officers. See “Compensation Committee and Engagement of Compensation Consultant” and “Peer Group” on page 24. The Compensation Committee considered the benchmarking data and recommendations of Pay Governance in setting the 2016 cash and stock-based compensation of non-employee Directors set forth below.

Director Compensation Structure

Annual Retainer / Equity Grants
to All Non-Employee Directors1
Annual Cash Retainer$90,000
Stock Options$105,000
Fair market value on date of grant
50% vesting on each of 1stand 2ndanniversaries of grant date
RSUs$105,000
Fair market value on date of grant
1/3rdvesting on each of 1st, 2ndand 3rdanniversaries of grant date
$300,000

Additional Annual Board and Committee Chair Retainers1
Board       Audit       Compensation       Governance
$150,000$25,000$15,000$15,000
 
Recognize the increased workload and responsibilities associated with these positions.

Meeting Fees
Board MeetingsCommittee Meetings
No meeting fees$1,500 per meeting (excluding telephonic meetings of 30 minutes or less)

1Paid in advance following annual meeting of stockholders. Directors joining mid-year receive pro-rated amounts.

Upon a Director’s retirement while in good standing, the Board’s intent is to utilize its discretion to accelerate the vesting of such Director’s outstanding stock-based awards. The Directors will have a limited period in which to exercise their vested options following cessation of Board service.

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Corporate Governance

Director Stock Ownership Guidelines

Directors

5xannual cash retainer

($450,000 in shares of common stock)


The Company adopted revised stock ownership guidelines in March 2017 to further align Director interests with those of stockholders. Under the revised guidelines, each non-employee Director is required to hold a number of shares with a value, measured as of the time the revised guidelines were put in place or, for later joining Directors, the time a Director joins the Board, equal to five times the annual cash retainer received by non-employee Directors (i.e., $450,000 in shares of common stock). Compliance with the guidelines is required within five years of a Director joining the Board.

Hedging, Short Sale, Margin Account and Pledging Prohibitions

All Directors are subject to the same insider trading policies of the Company that apply to employees that provide for:

No hedging or speculation with respect to Cognizant securities;

No short sales of Cognizant securities;

No margin accounts with Cognizant securities; and

Limited pledging of Cognizant securities.

See “Hedging, Short Sale, Margin Account and Pledging Prohibitions” on page 30 for additional information on these restrictions.

Deferral of Restricted Stock Units

Non-employee Directors may on a yearly basis elect to defer settlement of RSUs that are granted in the subsequent year. The following table sets forth the two deferral options available, and the Directors that elected such deferral options, in 2016.

RSUs Deferred Until Earliest to Occur of
Company
Change in Control
Director’s Death or
Permanent Disability
Director Leaves the BoardDirectors Electing Option

Option 1

100% settles on next July 1

Weissman

Option 2

1/3rd settles on each of next three July 1sts

Breakiron-Evans, Fox, Klein, Wendel

 = immediate settlement

Director Tables

The following tables set forth certain information regarding the compensation of each of our Directors who served during 2016 and the aggregate number of stock awards and the aggregate number of stock options held by each of our Directors at December 31, 2016.

 2016 Director CompensationDirector Stock and Option
Awards Outstanding
NameFees Earned or
Paid in Cash
Stock
Awards
1
Option
Awards
1
All Other
Compensation
TotalAggregate
Number of
Stock Awards
3
Aggregate
Number of
Stock Options
Zein Abdalla       $114,000       $104,949       $104,998              $323,947    2,554       11,294
Maureen Breakiron-Evans$140,500$104,949$104,998$350,44720,25593,324
Jonathan Chadwick2$118,315$120,470$120,517$359,3022,0187,924
John N. Fox, Jr.$103,500$104,949$104,998$313,4473,51493,324
John E. Klein$285,000$104,949$104,998$494,9478,50533,324
Leo S. Mackay, Jr.$106,500$104,949$104,998$316,4478,02027,544
Lakshmi Narayanan$90,000$104,949$104,998$299,9473,51443,324
Michael Patsalos-Fox$103,500$104,949$104,998$313,4479,09253,324
Robert E. Weissman$118,500$104,949$104,998$328,4478,50593,324
Thomas M. Wendel$115,500$104,949$104,998$325,4478,50558,324
1Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of RSUs and stock options granted in the 2016 fiscal year under the 2009 Plan, determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. All Directors listed received an award of 1,760 RSUs with a grant date fair value of $59.63 per share and an award of 6,926 stock options with a grant date fair value of $15.16 per share. Mr. Chadwick also received an award of 258 RSUs with a grant date fair value of $60.16 per share and an award of 998 stock options with a grant date fair value of $15.55 per share. See Footnote 2 below. The reported dollar amounts do not take into account any estimated forfeitures related to continued service vesting requirements. For information regarding assumptions underlying the valuation of equity awards, see Note 15 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.
2Mr. Chadwick was elected to the Board on April 9, 2016 and, as such, he received additional pro-rated fees and equity awards for the portion of 2016 that he served prior to our 2016 Annual Meeting.
3Includes the RSUs granted in 2015 and 2016, with respect to which the settlement has been deferred for some directors, as described above. Also includes deferred stock units held by Ms. Breakiron-Evans (11,750), Mr. Mackay, Jr. (4,506) and Mr. Patsalos-Fox (5,578) to be settled upon the Director’s termination of service on the Board.

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STOCK OWNERSHIP INFORMATION

COMMON STOCK AND TOTAL STOCK-BASED HOLDINGS TABLE

The following table sets forth the Cognizant stock-based holdings of our Directors, NEOs, and Directors and executive officers as a group as of March 31, 2017 (September 27, 2016 for Mr. Coburn1), as well as the stock-based holdings of beneficial owners of more than 5% of our common stock as of December 31, 2016. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for the individuals below is our address. Each of our Directors and NEOs owns less than 1% of the total outstanding shares of our common stock.

     Common Stock     
DirectorsStock     OptionsTotal
Zein Abdalla 277 2,184 14,125
Betsy S. Atkins
Maureen Breakiron-Evans 1,075 83,212 114,654
Jonathan Chadwick864999,942
John M. Dineen   
John N. Fox, Jr.19,72183,212116,559
John E. Klein 609,192 23,212 651,021
Leo S. Mackay, Jr.4,99117,43240,555
Lakshmi Narayanan 87,950 33,212 134,788
Michael Patsalos-Fox14,99143,21277,407
Robert E. Weissman 1,026,236 11,652 1,056,505
Thomas M. Wendel76,00048,212142,829
       Total 1,840,519 346,039 2,358,385
 
Common Stock
Named Executive OfficersStockOptionsTotal
Francisco D’Souza 624,627 480,000 1,605,119
Rajeev Mehta417,955699,059
Gordon Coburn1 64,572  64,572
Karen McLoughlin37,88320,000191,313
Ramakrishna Prasad Chintamaneni 70,231 10,000 160,517
Dharmendra Kumar Sinha23,44896,839
       Total 1,238,716 510,000 2,817,419

Current Directors and
Executive Officers
     Common Stock     
Stock     OptionsTotal
As a group (30 people)3,683,694896,0396,368,927

5% Beneficial OwnersCommon Stock     % Outstanding
The Vanguard Group39,165,838   6.5%
BlackRock, Inc.37,927,303   6.3%
1Mr. Coburn resigned from the Company on September 27, 2016.

Common Stock.This column shows beneficial ownership of our common stock as calculated under SEC rules. Except to the extent noted below, everyone included in the table has sole voting and investment power over the shares reported. None of the shares is pledged as security by the named person, although standard brokerage accounts may include non-negotiable provisions regarding set-offs or similar rights. TheStock subcolumn includes shares directly or indirectly held and shares underlying RSUs that will vest within 60 days. TheOptions subcolumn includes shares that may be acquired under stock options that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days.

Total.This column shows the individual’s total Cognizant stock-based holdings, including securities shown in the Common Stock column (as described above), plus non-voting interests that cannot be converted into shares of Cognizant common stock within 60 days, including, as appropriate, PSUs, RSUs and stock options.

Common Stock and Total.Both columns include the following shares over which the named individual has shared voting and investment power through family trusts or other accounts: D’Souza (242,000), Klein (137,872), Mehta (207,714) and Wendel (16,000).

Current Directors and Executives.This row includes: (1) 2,452 RSUs that vest within 60 days, (2) 896,039 shares that may be acquired under stock options that are or will become exercisable within 60 days, and (3) 604,386 shares of common stock over which there is shared voting and investment power. Current Directors and executive officers as a group do not own more than 1% of the total outstanding shares.

5% Beneficial Owners. This table shows shares beneficially owned by BlackRock, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055, and The Vanguard Group, 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, PA 19355, as follows:

(# of shares)     BlackRock     Vanguard
Sole voting power32,685,036952,461
Shared voting power37,916107,233
Sole dispositive power37,889,38738,121,165
Shared dispositive power37,9161,044,673

The foregoing information is based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed by BlackRock with the SEC on January 23, 2017, and a Schedule 13G/A filed by Vanguard with the SEC on February 10, 2017, as applicable.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our Directors, executive officers and stockholders who beneficially own more than 10% of any class of our equity securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”) to file initial statements of beneficial ownership of securities and statements of changes in beneficial ownership of securities with respect to our equity securities with the SEC. All Reporting Persons are required by SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all reports that suchReporting Persons file with the SEC pursuant to Section 16(a). Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by us and upon written representations of the Reporting Persons received by us, we believe that there has been compliance with all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to such Reporting Persons with respect to the year ended December 31, 2016, except that one Form 4 for Mr. Klein reporting one transaction was not timely filed.

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Compensation

PROPOSALS 2 AND 3

ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (SAY-ON-PAY) AND FREQUENCY OF FUTURE SAY-ON-PAY VOTES (SAY-ON-FREQUENCY)

In accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are asking stockholders to vote on an advisory basis on:

What are you
voting on?

Say-on-Pay. Approval of the compensation paid to our NEOs, as described in this proxy statement. (Proposal 2)
Say-on-Frequency. Approval of the frequency of future say-on-pay votes. (Proposal 3)
The Board unanimously recommends a voteFOR the approval, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, of our executive compensation.
Resolution Stockholders are being asked to Approve

RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the
Company’s named executive officers, disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the
2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

The Board unanimously recommends that stockholders vote1 YEAR on the frequency of future advisory votes on our executive compensation.

Stockholders have four options for voting on Proposal 3:
1 year;3 years; or
2 years;Abstain.

Background

The Dodd-Frank Act requires that our stockholders have the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on executive compensation at annual meetings, commonly referred to as a “Say-on-Pay” vote, at least once every three years. At the 2011 Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders voted, on an advisory basis, commonly referred to as a “Say-on-Frequency” vote, that the Say-on-Pay vote occur every year. A Say-on-Pay vote has been held at each subsequent annual meeting.

The Say-on-Pay vote is a non-binding vote on the compensation of our NEOs, as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, the tabular disclosure regarding such compensation, and the accompanying narrative disclosure, set forth in this proxy statement. Please read the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section starting on page 23 for a detailed discussion about our executive compensation programs and compensation philosophy, including information about the fiscal 2016 compensation of our NEOs.

We are holding a Say-on-Frequency vote this year as the last such vote was at the 2011 Annual Meeting and the Dodd-Frank Act requires that stockholders have the opportunity to hold such a vote at least onceevery six years. The Board recommends continuing to hold the Say-on-Pay vote every year to give stockholders the opportunity to provide direct and frequent feedback on our compensation philosophy, policies and procedures.

The votes solicited by these Proposals 2 and 3 are advisory, and therefore are not binding on the Company, the Board or the Compensation Committee. The outcomes of the votes will not require the Company, the Board or the Compensation Committee to take any actions, and will not be construed as overruling any decision by the Company or the Board. Furthermore, because Proposal 2 primarily relates to the compensation of our NEOs that has already been paid or contractually committed, there is generally no opportunity for us to revisit these decisions. However, the Board, including the Compensation Committee, values the opinions of our stockholders and, to the extent there is any significant vote against the NEO compensation as disclosed in this proxy statement, we will consider our stockholders’ concerns and evaluate what actions, if any, may be appropriate to address those concerns.

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Compensation

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis section describes the general objectives, principles and philosophy of the Company’s executive compensation program, focused primarily on the compensation of our NEOs.

Overview of Executive Compensation Program

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee oversees and administers our executive compensation program, including the evaluation and approval of compensation plans, policies and programs offered to our NEOs. The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board and is comprised entirely of independent, non-employee directors as determined in accordance with various NASDAQ, SEC and IRC rules. The Compensation Committee has the authority to engage its own independent advisor to assist in carrying out its responsibilities under its charter.

Key Program Features

The following tables summarize key elements of our executive compensation program and where they are described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section.

What We DoSee Page No.
Pay for performance25
Use appropriate peer groups when establishing compensation24
Retain an independent external compensation consultant24
Set significant stock ownership guidelines for executives30
Include a clawback policy in our incentive plans31
Utilize “double trigger” provisions for plans that contemplate a change in control38

What We Don’t DoSee Page No.
No hedging or speculation with respect to Cognizant securities30
No short sales of Cognizant securities30
No margin accounts with Cognizant securities30
No tax “gross ups” on severance benefits32

Program Objectives

The Compensation Committee has designed the executive compensation program for our NEOs to meet the following objectives:

Ensure executive compensation is aligned with our corporate strategies and business objectives and that potential realizable compensation is set relative to each executive’s level of responsibility and potential impact on our performance;
A substantial portion of an executive officer’s compensation is subject to achieving both short-term and long-term performance objectives that enhance stockholder value;
Reinforce the importance of meeting and exceeding identifiable and measurable goals through superior awards for superior performance;
Provide total direct compensation that is competitive in markets in which we compete for management talent in order to attract, retain and motivate the best possible executive talent;
Provide an incentive for long-term continued employment with our Company; and
Reinforce our desired culture and unique corporate environment by fostering a sense of ownership, urgency and overall entrepreneurial spirit.

2016 Company Performance and Impact on Compensation Program

The Company demonstrated continued strong performance for 2016 with year-over-year revenue growth of 8.6%. Key drivers of that growth were:

Solid performance across all of our business segments:

         Business Segment     Year-over-Year
Revenue Growth
     % of 2016
Revenue
Financial Services7.3%39.8%
Healthcare5.5%28.7%
 Manufacturing/Retail/  
       Logistics13.5%19.7%
Other13.5%11.8%

The performance in Financial Services was negatively impacted by macroeconomic conditions that reduced demand from banking customers, while the Healthcare segment was adversely impacted by reduced demand caused by uncertainties in the regulatory environment and potential consolidation.
Sustained strength in the North American market with year-over-year revenue growth of 8.1%.
Continued penetration of the European market with year-over-year revenue growth of 6.8% after a negative currency impact of 6.5%.
Continued penetration of the Rest of World (primarily the Asia Pacific) market with year-over-year revenue growth of 22.7% after a negative currency impact of 2.5%.
Increased customer spending on discretionary projects.
Expansion of our service offerings, including consulting and in our three digital practice areas (Digital Business, Digital Operations and Digital Systems and Technology).
Continued expansion of the market for global delivery of technology and business process services.
Increased penetration at existing customers, including strategic clients.

The Company’s GAAP operating margin in 2016 decreased to 17.0% from 17.3% in 2015, while non-GAAP Operating Margin decreased to 19.5% from 19.7% in 2015.1

The Compensation Committee took into account the above factors and the Company’s performance, including relative to the industry, during 2016 and in previous years in its compensation decisions. See “Proxy Statement Summary” starting on page 1 for more information about the performance-based compensation targets set for, and the Company’s actual performance in, previous years.

1See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Forward-Looking Statements” on page 57.

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Compensation

Role of Stockholder Say-on-Pay Votes

The Company provides its stockholders with the opportunity to cast an annual, non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation. At the 2016 Annual Meeting, approximately 96.0% of the votes cast on the Say-on-Pay proposal were voted “FOR” the proposal. In making its decisions regarding executive compensation for 2016, the Compensation Committee considered the significant level of stockholder support for our compensation program and chose to generally retain the 2015 structure of the executive compensation program, including the ratio of performance-based compensation to all other compensation and the ratio of performance-based equity compensation to time-based equity compensation, while making quantitative adjustments to reflect the performance of the Company and our NEOs in 2016. Nevertheless, there were two notable changes to the compensation structure for NEOs made by the Compensation Committee in 2016:

Move to 2-year PSUs. The Company granted PSUs in 2016 with a 2-year performance measurement period (versus 1-year previously), with vesting of 1/3rd at 30 months and 2/3rds at 36 months, to provide a longer time-horizon to the substantial portion of the performance-based compensation for the NEOs represented by the PSUs.
RSU grant timing change. The Company moved the timing of annual RSU grants for certain NEOs from the fourth quarter of 2016 to the first quarter of 2017 to align with the timing of the Company’s other annual equity grants and other annual compensation decisions by the Compensation Committee.

See “Direct Compensation of NEOs” starting on page 25. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the outcome of the Company’s Say-on-Pay votes when making future compensation decisions for the NEOs.

The Compensation-Setting Process

Compensation Committee and Engagement of Compensation Consultant

To achieve the objectives of our executive compensation program, the Compensation Committee evaluates our executive compensation program with the goal of setting compensation at levels the Compensation Committee believes are competitive with those of other technology-related growth companies that compete with us for executive talent. The Compensation Committee has periodically engaged an independent compensation consultant to provide additional assurance that the Company’s executive compensation program is reasonable and consistent with its objectives. The consultant reports directly to the Compensation Committee, periodically participates in Committee meetings, and advises the Compensation Committee with respect to compensation trends and best practices, plan design, and the reasonableness of individual compensation awards. Although the Compensation Committee reviews the compensation practices of our peer companies as described below, the Compensation Committee does not adhere to strict formulas or survey data to determine the mix of compensation elements. Instead, as described below, the Compensation Committee considers various factors in exercising its discretion to determine compensation, including the experience, responsibilities and performance of each NEO as well as the Company’s overall financial performance. This flexibility is particularly important in designing compensation arrangements to attract and retain executives in a highly-competitive, rapidly changing market.

Since 2010, the Compensation Committee has engaged Pay Governance, an independent executive compensation advisory firm, to review all elements of executive compensation, benchmark such compensation in relation to other comparable companies with which we compete for executive talent, and provide recommendations to ensure that our executive compensation program continues to enable us to attract and retain qualified executives through competitive compensation packages which will result in the attainment of our short-term and long-term strategic objectives. As part of the compensation-setting processes for 2014, 2015 and 2016, the Compensation Committee asked Pay Governance to provide benchmark compensation data and/or review management’s recommendations for year-over-year compensation adjustments, including review for general market competitiveness and competitiveness with the Company’s peer group.

The Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of Pay Governance and concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent Pay Governance from providing independent advice to the Compensation Committee regarding executive and director compensation matters.

Role of Executive Officers in Determining Executive Compensation

Our CEO, aided by our President and our Chief People Officer, among others, provides statistical data and makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee to assist it in determining compensation levels. In addition, our CEO provides the Compensation Committee with a review of the performance of the other executive officers. While the Compensation Committee utilizes this information and values management’s observations with regard to compensation, the ultimate decisions regarding executive compensation are made by the Compensation Committee.

Peer Group

The Compensation Committee, with assistance from Pay Governance, establishes the Company’s peer group that is used for market comparisons and benchmarking. The peer group is comprised of a group of technology-related firms selected based on revenue, headcount and market capitalization.

Accenture Plc
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
CA Technologies, Inc.
Computer Sciences Corporation
Convergys Corporation
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.
Fiserv, Inc.
Leidos Holdings, Inc.
Mastercard Incorporated
NetApp, Inc.
Symantec Corporation
Visa, Inc.
Yahoo! Inc.

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Compensation

Direct Compensation of NEOs

Primary Compensation Elements for 2016 – Overview

Our executive compensation program is designed to motivate, retain and engage our executive leadership and appropriately reward them for their contributions to the achievement of our business strategies and goals. In order to achieve our compensation objectives, the Company provides its executives with a total direct compensation package consisting of the elements listed in the table below. The Compensation Committee makes decisions on executive compensation from atotal direct compensation perspective. Each element is considered by the Committee to be important in meeting one or more of the compensation program objectives. The following chart illustrates the balance of the elements of 2016 target total direct compensation (using grant date share prices for RSUs and PSUs and target values for the annual cash incentive and PSUs) for our CEO and other NEOs.

Base Salary

Stable source of cash income at competitive levels


Annual Cash Incentive / Cash Bonus

Annual cash incentive for Mr. D’Souza, Mr. Mehta and Ms. McLoughlin to motivate and reward achievement of Company financial and operational objectives


WeightingMeasurement PeriodTarget Compensation

Revenue

1 year

85% of base salary

Non-GAAP Income from Operations

Payout Range

Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)

Historical Annual Cash Incentiveaward achievements by year2014     2015     2016
96.2% 142.0% 79.8%

Cash bonus for Mr. Chintamaneni and Mr. Sinha based on achievement of business unit and/or overall business goals and expanded responsibilities in 2016

Performance Stock Units (PSUs)

Annual grant of performance stock units that reward achievement of Company financial objectives, continued service and long-term performance of our common stock


Weighting1Measurement PeriodVesting

Revenue

2 years

1/3rd at 30 months

Non-GAAP EPS

Vesting Range

2/3rds at 36 months

Historical PSU achievements byperformance measurement period20141     20151     2016
86.1% 122.9%38.2%

Weighting for 2017 awards – 50% Revenue; 50% non-GAAP EPS

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

Annual grants of restricted stock units to reward continued service and long-term performance of our common stock

VestingQuarterly over 3 years

Q4 2016 to Q1 2017 RSU grant timing change – The Company moved the timing of annual RSU grants for Mr. D’Souza, Mr. Mehta and Ms. McLoughlin from the fourth quarter of 2016 to the first quarter of 2017 to align with the timing of the Company’s other annual equity grants and other annual compensation decisions by the Compensation Committee. As such, to present the intended target total direct compensation in a more meaningful manner, the RSU percentages shown for 2016 include the value of the RSU grants made to such executives in the first quarter of 2017.

1

Weighting was 100% revenue for the 2014 and 2015 performance measurement periods.

2

Excludes Mr. Coburn, who resigned from the Company during 2016.

2016 Target Annual Compensation
CEOOther NEOs2
(on average)

Base Salary
Annual Cash Incentive / Cash Bonus
Performance Stock Units (PSUs)
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)



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Compensation

Base salary

The Compensation Committee reviews the base salaries of our NEOs on an annual basis. The primary objective of the base salary component of an executive’s total direct compensation is to provide financial stability and certainty through market-competitive salary levels, recognizing each NEO’s experience, knowledge, skills, relative value and sustained contribution to the Company. The Compensation Committee makes periodic adjustments to base salary based on individual performance and contributions, market trends, increases in the cost of living, competitive position and our financial situation. Consideration is also given to relative responsibility, seniority, experience and performance of each individual NEO. No specific weight is assigned to any of the above criteria relative to the others, but rather the Compensation Committee uses its judgment in combination with market and other data provided by Pay Governance and the Company. The Compensation Committee does not attempt to set compensation components to meet specific benchmarks relative to our peers because the Compensation Committee believes that excessive reliance on benchmarking is detrimental to stockholder interests as it can result in compensation that is unrelated to the value delivered by the NEOs.

Annual Cash Incentive

2016 Annual Cash Incentive

Component     Threshold     Target     Maximum     Weighting     Increase in
2016 Targets vs.
2015 Actuals
     2016 Award
Achievement
by Component

Revenue
(in billions)

11%
Overall 2016
Annual Cash
Incentive
Achievement

79.8%

Non-GAAP Income from Operations
(in millions)

10%

Days sales outstanding (DSO)

Payout as percentage of target

50%

100%

200%

The Compensation Committee has designed our annual cash incentive program to stimulate and support a high-performance environment by tying such incentive compensation to the attainment of organizational financial goals and by recognizing superior performance. The annual cash incentives are intended to compensate individuals for the achievement of these goals. The Committee determines actual cash incentives after the end of the fiscal year based upon the Company’s performance.

For 2016, the Compensation Committee based the annual cash incentive awards for Mr. D’Souza, Mr. Mehta and Ms. McLoughlin on the achievement of financial goals tied to metrics that it believes are valued by our stockholders. The Compensation Committee believes that our stockholders value and measure the performance of these executives based principally on the growth of Company revenue, earnings and cash flow. Consequently, as in past years the Compensation Committee believed it appropriate to establish three components to the annual cash incentive: revenue, non-GAAP Income from Operations (see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Forward-Looking Statements” on page 57) and days sales outstanding (“DSO”). All three components were subject to adjustment for any acquisitions over the course of the year.

For 2016, the Compensation Committee determined a target for each component (revenue, non-GAAP Income from Operations and DSO) and a weighting for the various components as a percentage of the total award such that achievement of the targeted level of performance for all three components would result in the executives receiving their target awards. The Committee set threshold, or minimum, levels for each of the components below which no annual cash incentive would be paid for the particular component. The Committee also set maximum levels for each of the components above which no additional annual cash incentive would be paid for the particular component and which collectively result in a maximum possible annual cash incentive equal to 200% of the target awards for the executives. Achievement for performance between threshold and target levels or between the target and maximum levels for any of the components was calculated using straight-line interpolation. In addition, during 2016, the revenue and non-GAAP Income from Operations targets were adjusted for acquisitions over the course of the year.

The Compensation Committee established revenue and non-GAAP Income from Operations targets at levels 11% and 10% above the Company’s 2015 revenue and non-GAAP Income from Operations, respectively. These targets were established to incentivize the Company’s management to prioritize a continued high level of growth in the Company’s revenue while maintaining a targeted level of non-GAAP Operating Margin. Meanwhile, the DSO component remained at the same targeted levels as prior years as the Compensation Committee viewed those targets as appropriately incentivizing maintenance of a healthy cash flow level. As a result of these targets, there was substantial uncertainty at the time the Compensation Committee established the performance goals for 2016 as to the likelihood of the Company’s attainment of the targeted levels of performance.


Cash Bonus

Neither Mr. Chintamaneni nor Mr. Sinha was an NEO at the time the above-described annual cash incentive award program was established by the Compensation Committee for 2016 for the then current NEOs. Mr. Chintamaneni and Mr. Sinha received cash bonus awards for 2016 determined by the Compensation Committee based on the following:

Mr. Chintamaneni had a bonus target for 2016 based on the performance of the Company’s Banking and Financial Services business unit, with 65% to be based on achievement of revenue and margin targets for the business and 35% tied to various other objectives for the business. In determining his final bonus payout to be 75% of his target, consideration was given by the Compensation Committee to the achievement of the business unit performance and his expanded commercial role across all of the Company’s business units following his promotion during 2016 to EVP and President, Global Industries and Consulting.

Mr. Sinha, as EVP and President, Global Client Services, manages the Company’s global sales and marketing across all of its business units. In determining his final bonus payout to be 75%, the Compensation Committee considered the performance of


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Compensation

the Company as a whole and his individual performance and determined that it was appropriate to set his final bonus payout at the Company’s average bonus payout level for 2016.

Stock-Based Awards

Overview
We provide long-term incentive compensation through stock-based awards in the form of PSUs and RSUs. The Committee believes that PSUs and RSUs are a valuable component of our long-term incentive program for several reasons, including concerns over the dilutive effect option grants may have on our outstanding shares, our desire to make a portion of our NEOs’ compensation less subject to market volatility, and our desire to create a retention mechanism which creates the incentive to maximize stockholder value.

The Compensation Committee currently plans to use a combination of PSUs and RSUs in future years. We believe that stock-based grants provide our executive officers with a strong incentive to manage the Company from the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in the long-term success of the business, create an ownership culture, and help align the interests of our executives and our stockholders. In addition, the vesting feature of our equity grants should furtherour goal of executive retention because this feature provides an incentive to our executive officers to remain in our employ during the vesting period.

In considering the number of long-term incentives to grant, the Compensation Committee first establishes a target compensation value that it wants to deliver to the NEOs through long-term equity awards. In doing so, the Committee generally takes into account various factors, including the value of PSUs and RSUs that each of our executive officers has previously been awarded, the base salary of the executive officer, the heavy weight placed on equity in the mix of total compensation, and the perceived retention value of the total compensation package in light of the competitive environment. The Committee also generally takes into account increases in the cost of living, the size of comparable awards made to individuals in similar positions within the industry, the scope, responsibility and business impact of the officer’s position, the individual’s potential for increased responsibility and promotion over the award term, and the individual’s personal experience and performance in recent periods. Once the target value is established, the Compensation Committee determines the number of PSUs and RSUs to be granted by reference to the current value of the Company’s common stock.

PSUs

PSUs granted in 2016 have a 2-year performance measurement period (fiscal years 2016 and 2017) over which the Company’s performance across two performance metrics is measured: revenue and non-GAAP EPS. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Forward-Looking Statements” on page 57. Revenue determines 75% of the award and non-GAAP EPS determines the remaining 25% of the award. Both metrics are subject to adjustment by the Compensation Committee for any acquisitions over the course of the performance measurement period.

For each metric, the Compensation Committee established at the time of the award:

Threshold – 50% vesting, with 0% vesting for performance below the threshold.
Target – 100% vesting.
Maximum – 200% vesting, and maximum possible number of PSUs that may vest.

Whether and to what extent the performance as to either metric has been achieved will be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion based upon the audited financials for the 2016 and 2017 fiscal years. To the extent the level of achievement falls between the threshold and target levels or between the target and maximum levels for either metric, straight-line interpolation is utilized to calculate the payout level for the component.

Performance across the two metrics determines the total number of PSUs that may vest, with actual vesting of the awards as follows and contingent upon the NEO continuing in the service of the Company through such dates:

1/3rd will vest 30 months following the start of the performance measurement period.
2/3rds will vest 36 months following the start of the performance measurement period.

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Compensation

RSUs

RSUs vest in quarterly installments over a 3-year period from the date of grant.

The Company has historically made annual RSU grants to Mr. D’Souza, Mr. Mehta and Ms. McLoughlin during the fourth quarter of each year. During 2016, however, the Compensation Committee determined that it was in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to move the timing of their annual RSU grants from the fourth quarter of 2016 to the first quarter of 2017 to align with the timing of the Company’s other annual equity grants and other annual compensation decisions by the Compensation Committee. Consequently, while Mr. D’Souza, Mr. Mehta and Ms. McLoughlin did not receive RSU awards in 2016, they did receive them in March 2017. The Compensation Committee will next consider an annual RSU award for these three officers in the first quarter of 2018.

Mr. Chintamaneni and Mr. Sinha, on the other hand, received their annual RSU awards in February 2016. They also received RSU awards in December 2016 in connection with their promotions to EVP and President, Global Industries and Consulting and EVP and President, Global Client Services, respectively.

2016 Compensation for our named executive officers

Francisco D’Souza

Age 48

Education
BBA, University of Macau
MBA, Carnegie Mellon University

Cognizant tenure
23 years

Current Role
CEO

Committee assessment
3% overall compensation increase effective January 1 to reflect cost of living increases and general market trends; same compensation mix
Compensation Decisions for 2016
Base salary– increased 3% to $664,300, effective January 1, 2016
Annual cash incentive– target of $564,655 (85% of base salary); actual payout of $450,332 (79.8% of target) based on Company performance
Annual PSU grant– $7,018,671 fair value as of grant date (February 16, 2016)
Annual RSU grant (moved to early 2017)– $3,774,223 fair value as of grant date (March 2, 2017)

Rajeev Mehta

Age 50

Education
BS, University of Maryland
MBA, Carnegie Mellon University

Cognizant tenure
20 years

Current Role
President

Committee assessment
3% overall compensation increase effective January 1 to reflect cost of living increases and general market trends; same compensation mix
14% increase in base salary and target annual cash incentive upon promotion from CEO-IT Services to President to reflect additional responsibilities
Compensation Decisions for 2016
Base salary– increased 3% to $554,700, effective January 1, 2016, and increased 14% to $630,000, upon promotion to President on September 28, 2016
Annual cash incentive– initial target of $471,495 (85% of base salary), increased to $488,108 upon his promotion (85% of base salary, pro-rated); actual payout of $389,284 (79.8% of target) based on Company performance
Annual PSU grant– $3,584,397 fair value as of grant date (February 16, 2016)
Annual RSU grant (moved to early 2017)– $2,545,432 fair value as of grant date grant (March 2, 2017)

Gordon Coburn

Age 53

Education
BA, Wesleyan University
MBA, Dartmouth College

Cognizant tenure
20 years

Former Role
President
(resigned September 27, 2016)

Committee assessment
3% overall compensation increase effective January 1 to reflect cost of living increases and general market trends; same compensation mix
Compensation Decisions for 2016
Base salary– increased 3% to $631,900, effective January 1, 2016
Annual cash incentive– initial target of $537,115 (85% of base salary); no payout as he resigned from the Company during 2016
Annual PSU grant– $3,750,637 fair value as of grant date (February 16, 2016)
Annual RSU grant– None

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Karen McLoughlin

Age 52

Education
BA, Wellesley College
MBA, Columbia University

Cognizant tenure
13 years

Current Role
CFO

Committee assessment
5% overall compensation increase effective January 1 to reflect cost of living increases and general market trends, including with respect to CFO pay; same compensation mix
Compensation Decisions for 2016
Base salary– increased 5% to $426,500, effective January 1, 2016
Annual cash incentive – target of $362,525 (85% of base salary); actual payout of $289,126 (79.8% of target) based on Company performance
2016 annual PSU grant– $1,875,841 fair value as of grant date (February 16, 2016)
Annual RSU grant (moved to early 2017) – $1,038,113 fair value as of grant date (March 2, 2017)

Ramakrishna Prasad Chintamaneni

Age 47

Education
B. Tech, Indian Institute of
Technology, Kanpur
Postgraduate Diploma,
XLRI – Xavier School
of Management

Cognizant tenure
17 years

Current Role
EVP and President, Global Industries and Consulting

Committee assessment
3% overall compensation increase effective January 1 to reflect cost of living increases and general market trends; same compensation mix
Following promotion to his current role, to reflect the additional responsibilities
15% increase in base salary and targeted cash bonus
One-time cash bonus of $300,000
31% increase in annual PSU and RSU grants
Overall target total annual compensation of approximately $3 million
Compensation Decisions for 2016
Base salary– increased 3% to $412,000, effective January 1, 2016, and increased 15% to $475,000, effective December 1, 2016, following promotion to his current role
Cash bonus – initial target of $350,200, increased to $403,750 (85% of base salary) following promotion to his current role; actual payout of $266,052 (75% of target, pro-rated), based on performance of the Company’s Banking and Financial Services business unit with consideration given for his expanded commercial role across all of the Company’s business units; additional one-time cash bonus of $300,000 paid in connection with his expanded responsibilities
Annual PSU grant – $693,016 fair value as of grant date (February 16, 2016)
Additional PSU grant– $137,472 fair value as of grant date (December 1, 2016), following promotion to his current role
Annual RSU grant – $259,317 fair value as of grant date (February 16, 2016)
Additional RSU grant – $1,355,624 fair value as of grant date (December 1, 2016), following promotion to his current role and as a reload of RSUs issued three years prior

Dharmendra Kumar Sinha

Age 54

Education
BS, Patna Science College
MBA, Birla Institute of Technology

Cognizant tenure
19 years

Current Role
EVP and President, Global Client Services

Committee assessment
3% overall compensation increase effective January 1 to reflect cost of living increases and general market trends; same compensation mix
Following promotion to his current role, to reflect the additional responsibilities
6% increase in base salary
58% increase in targeted cash bonus (to 85% of base salary, consistent with other executive officers) 
One-time cash bonus of $10,000
27% increase in annual PSU and RSU grants
Overall target total annual compensation of approximately $2.4 million
Compensation Decisions for 2016
Base salary– increased 3% to $354,823, effective January 1, 2016, and increased 6% to $375,000, effective December 1, 2016, following promotion to his current role
Cash bonus – initial target of $201,349 (57% of base salary), increased to $318,750 (85% of base salary) following promotion to his current role; actual payout of $158,470 (75% of target, pro-rated), based on the Company average bonus payout based on his role in managing global sales and field marketing across all of the Company’s business units; additional one-time cash bonus of $10,000 paid in connection with his expanded responsibilities
Annual PSU grant – $684,269 fair value as of grant date (February 16, 2016)
Additional PSU grant– $29,474 fair value as of grant date (December 1, 2016), following promotion to his current role
Annual RSU grant – $259,317 fair value as of grant date (February 16, 2016)
Additional RSU grant – $1,502,883 fair value as of grant date (December 1, 2017), following promotion to his current role and as a reload of RSUs issued three years prior

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Compensation

Other Elements of Compensation

Supplemental Retirement Programs

We do not have any nonqualified deferred compensation programs, pension plans or pre-tax supplemental executive retirement plans for our executive officers, except for the CSRP described under “Broad-Based Programs” below and a nonqualified deferred compensation program established for Mr. Coburn. We established the program for Mr. Coburn to provide him with the equivalent economic value of the retirement plan in which he participated while the Company was majority-owned by IMS Health. Accordingly, Mr. Coburn was entitled to an annual Company contribution to his nonqualified deferred compensation account equal to 6% of his base salary and earned annual cash incentive while he was employed by the Company.

Broad-Based Programs

Our U.S.-based executive officers are eligible to participate in our broad-based medical, dental and vision insurance, life and accidental death insurance, 401(k) savings plan, CSRP and 2004 Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“2004 ESPP”) on the same basis as all other regular employees.

Under the 401(k) savings plan, we match employee contributions at the rate of 50% for each dollar contributed during each pay period, up to the first 6% of eligible compensation contributed during each pay period, subject to applicable U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) limits. The matching contributions immediately vest.

Our U.S.-based executive officers who are subject to contribution restrictions under our 401(k) savings plan due to statutory limits that apply to highly-compensated employees are eligible to participate in the Cognizant Technology Solutions Supplemental Retirement Plan (the “CSRP”) on the same basis as all other regular U.S.-based employees. The CSRP is a nonqualified savings plan in which the employee’s contributions are made on a post-tax basis to an individually owned, portable and flexible retirement plan held with a life insurance company. The CSRP works alongside established qualified retirement plans such as our 401(k) savings plan or can be the basis for a long-term stand-alone retirement savings plan. We provide a fully vested incentive match following the same formula as our 401(k) savings plan. Because the CSRP is not subject to the same IRS non-discrimination rules as our 401(k) savings plan, employees that face limitations on their 401(k) contributions due to these rules can avail themselves of the CSRP without foregoing the Company match. Although there is a limit in the amount of employer contributions, there is no limit to the amount an employee may contribute to the CSRP and it can be used in concert with other retirement strategies that may be available outside of the Company.

The 401(k) savings plan, CSRP and other generally available benefit programs allow us to remain competitive for employee talent. We believe that the availability of the aforementioned broad-based benefit programs generally enhances employee morale and loyalty.

Perquisites

We seek to maintain an egalitarian culture in our facilities and operations. The Company’s philosophy is to provide a minimal amount of personal benefits and perquisites to its executives and generally only when such benefits have a strong business purpose.

We incur expenses to ensure that our employees, including our executive officers, are accessible to us and our customers at all times and to promote our commitment to provide our employees and executives with the necessary resources and items of technology to allow them to operate “around the clock” in a “virtual office” environment. However, we do not view these expenses as executive perquisites because they are essential to the efficient performance of their duties and are comparable to the benefits provided to a broad-based group of our employees. We also provide personal security services to certain of our executive officers where we believe the provision of such services is in the interest of the Company.

In addition, the Company may reimburse executives for approved travel expenses where an immediate family member accompanies an executive to attend a business function at which such family member is generally expected to attend.

In addition, the Company provides Mr. D’Souza with limited access to an administrative assistant of the Company and vehicle rentals for his personal business purposes. Mr. D’Souza does not reimburse the Company for its cost of providing the administrative services and vehicle rentals and the Company pays him an additional amount to help offset any income taxes associated with the receipt of such services.

Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines

CEO

6xannual base salary

Other NEOs

4xannual base salary

The Company adopted revised stock ownership guidelines in March 2017 to further align the interests of our NEOs with those of stockholders. Under the revised guidelines, each NEO is required to hold a number of shares with a value, as of the time the revised guidelines were put in place or, for later identified NEOs, the time an executive becomes an NEO, equal to the applicable multiple of annual base salary. The annual base salary utilized in the calculation is the annual base salary applicable under the prior guidelines at the time the revised guidelines were adopted or, for later identified NEOs, the annual base salary when an officer becomes an NEO. As with the prior guidelines, compliance is required within five years of an officer becoming an NEO, subject to limited exceptions for hardship or other personal circumstances as determined by the Compensation Committee.

Hedging, Short Sale, Margin Account and Pledging Prohibitions

The Company’s insider trading policies include the following prohibitions:

No hedging or speculation with respect to Cognizant securities. All of the Company’s directors, officers and other employees are prohibited from purchasing or selling puts, calls and other derivative securities of the Company or any other derivative security that provides the equivalent of ownership of any of the Company’s securities or an opportunity, direct or indirect, to profit from the change in value of the Company’s securities.

No short sales of Cognizant securities. All of the Company’s directors, officers and other employees are prohibited from engaging in short sales of Cognizant securities, preventing such persons from profiting from a decline in the trading price of the Company’s common stock.

No margin accounts with Cognizant securities. The Company’s directors and certain of its senior officers and other specified “insiders,” including the NEOs, are prohibited from using Company securities as collateral in a margin account.

Limited pledging of Cognizant securities. The Company’s directors and certain of its senior officers and other specified “insiders,” including the NEOs, are prohibited from pledging the Company’s securities as collateral for a loan, or modifying an existing pledge, without pre-approval from the Audit Committee.


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Compensation

Clawback Policy

The Company maintains a Clawback Policy which applies to all NEOs and certain other members of management.

When Clawback Policy May ApplyCompensation Subject to Clawback

Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance by the Company with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws that is caused directly or indirectly by any current or former employee’s gross negligence, willful fraud or failure to act that affects the performance measures or the payment, award or value of any compensation which is based in whole or in part on the achievement of financial results by the Company (“incentive compensation”)

Incentive compensation actually received during the preceding three years
less
amount that would have been received based on restated financial results

…and to the extent therestatement is caused by an employee’s willful fraud or intentional manipulation of performance measures that affect incentive compensation, for such employee…

Same as above, but clawback may cover the entire period the employee was subject to the clawback policy

Employeeengages in illegal or improper conduct that causes significant financial or reputational harm to the Company

Any portion of incentive compensation

Employeehas knowledge of and fails to report to the Board of Directorsthe conduct of any other employee or agent of the Company who engages in any of the conduct described above

Any portion of incentive compensation

Employee isgrossly negligent in fulfilling his or her supervisory responsibilities to prevent any employee or agent of the Company from engaging in any of the conduct described above

Any portion of incentive compensation


Equity Grant Practices

The Compensation Committee or the Board approves the grant of stock-based equity awards, such as options, PSUs and RSUs, at its regularly scheduled meetings or by written consent (to be effective on the date of the meeting or receipt of all signed consents, or a later date specified). In addition, the Board has authorized an executive committee comprised of members of the executive management team to grant options to newly hired and existing employees, other than employees subject to Section 16 reporting as defined by the SEC.

The Compensation Committee and the Board do not engage in any market timing of the stock-based equity awards made to executive officers or other award recipients. It is our policy that all stock option grants, whether made by the Board, the Compensation Committee or the executive committee, have an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value of our common stock based on the closing market price per share on the grant date.

Risk Assessment

We believe our approach to goal setting and setting of targets with payouts at multiple levels of performance assists in mitigating excessive risk-taking that could harm our value or reward poor judgment by our executives. Several features of our programs reflect sound risk management practices. We believe we have allocated our compensation among base salary and short and long-term compensation target opportunities in such a way as to not encourage excessive risk-taking, but rather to reward meeting strategic Company goals that enhance stockholder value. In addition, we believe that the mix of equity award instruments used under our long-term incentive program that includes full value awards as well as the multi-year vesting of our equity awards also mitigates risk and properly accounts for the time horizon of risk.

We do not believe that any of our compensation policies create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Tax Considerations – Deductibility of Executive Compensation

IRC Section 162(m) imposes a $1 million limit on the amount that a public company may deduct for compensation paid to the company’s CEO or any of the company’s three other most highly compensated executive officers (other than the CFO) who are employed as of the end of the year. This limitation does not apply to compensation that meets the requirements under IRC Section 162(m) for “qualifying performance-based” compensation. One of the requirements for compensation to qualify is that the material terms of the performance goals for such compensation be approved by stockholders every five years.



For purposes of IRC Section 162(m), the material terms of the performance goals include the following:

which employees would be subject to the goals;

the business measurements on which the performance goals would be based; and

the formula that would be used to calculate the maximum amount of compensation that can be paid to an employee under the arrangement.


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Compensation

Ongoing and Post-Employment Compensation

The Company recognizes that a change in control can create uncertainty for its employees that may result in loss or distraction of executives during a critical period. As a result we entered into Amended and Restated Executive Employment and Non-Disclosure, Non-Competition and Invention Assignment Agreements (collectively, the “Employment Agreements”) with each of the NEOs under which certain payments and benefits would be provided should the NEO’s employment terminate under certain circumstances, including in connection with a change in control.

We believe that the Employment Agreements continue to achieve two important goals crucial to our long-term financial success, namely, the long-term retention of the NEOs and their commitment to the attainment of our strategic objectives. These agreements will allow our NEOs to continue to focus their attention on our business operations and strategic plans without undue concern over their own financial situations during periods when substantial disruptions and distractions might otherwise prevail. We believe that these severance packages are also fair and reasonable in light of the years of service our NEOs have rendered us (average tenure of over 15 years), the level of dedication and commitment they have rendered us over that period, the contribution they have made to our growth and financial success and the value we expect to receive from retaining their services, including during challenging transition periods following a change in control.

None of the NEOs is entitled to any tax gross-up payments for the tax liability they incur with respect to such severance benefits.

The material terms of the NEOs’ Employment Agreements and post-employment compensation are described in “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” starting on page 38.

Compensation Committee

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has furnished the report set forth below. The information contained in this report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into a document filed under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act.

To the Board of Directors of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation:

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth in the Company’s proxy statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in such proxy statement for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated by reference into the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

By the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation

John N. Fox, Jr.
John E. Klein
Michael Patsalos-Fox
Robert E. Weissman


Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During the year ended December 31, 2016, Messrs. Fox, Klein, Patsalos-Fox and Weissman served on the Compensation Committee. No member of the Compensation Committee was or is a current or former officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

None of our executive officers serve as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity which has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Company.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES

2016 Summary Compensation Table

The following 2016 Summary Compensation Table provides certain summary information concerning the compensation earned for services rendered in all capacities to us and our subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 by our CEO, CFO, each of our three other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers at the end of the 2016 fiscal year, and Mr. Coburn, who would have been one of the three most highly compensated executive officers for 2016 had he not resigned as the Company’s President on September 27, 2016 (collectively, the “NEOs”). No other executive officers who would have otherwise been includable in such table on the basis of total compensation for the 2016 fiscal year have been excluded by reason of their termination of employment or change in executive status during that year.

Name and Principal
Position
 Year   Salary   Bonus   Stock
Awards
1, 2
   Option
Awards
   

Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Comp.3

   

All Other
Pension and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Comp.

   All Other
Comp.
   SEC Total4   Adjusted
SEC Total
5
Francisco D’Souza 2016  $664,300  $7,018,671  $450,332   $123,337  6 $8,256,640 $12,030,863
CEO 2015  $645,000  $10,483,400  $778,306   $44,677  $11,951,383 $11,951,383
  2014  $626,000  $10,178,101  $511,705   $17,257  $11,333,063 $11,333,063
Rajeev Mehta2016$574,100$3,584,397$389,284$5,750  8$4,553,531$7,098,962
President72015$538,500$5,353,875$649,795$1,500$6,543,670$6,543,670
 2014$508,000$5,197,934$415,249$1,500$6,122,683$6,122,683
Gordon J. Coburn 2016  $467,039  $3,750,637       $183,891 9 $93,416 10 $4,494,983 $4,494,983
Former President7 2015  $613,500  $5,602,186  $740,296 9 $89,178  $7,045,160 $7,045,160
  2014  $595,500  $5,438,997  $486,773 $129,043 9 $72,736  $6,723,049 $6,723,049
Karen McLoughlin2016$426,500$1,875,841$289,1267,950 11$2,599,417$3,637,530
CFO2015$406,000$2,801,868$489,9107,950$3,705,728$3,705,728
2014$372,000$2,594,346$304,0807,800$3,278,226$3,278,226
Ramakrishna Prasad
Chintamaneni
 2016 12 $417,250 $566,052 $2,445,428     7,950 13 $3,436,680 $3,436,680
EVP and President,
Global Industries and
Consulting
                       
Dharmendra Kumar
Sinha
2016 12$356,504$168,470$2,475,9437,950 14$3,008,867$3,008,867
EVP and President,
Global Client Services
1Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of RSUs and PSUs determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 granted in each respective year. The reported dollar amounts do not take into account any estimated forfeitures related to continued service vesting requirements. See “Stock-Based Awards” starting on page 27 for a description of the terms of the RSUs and PSUs granted during 2016.
2These amounts do not necessarily represent the actual value that will be recognized by the NEOs upon vesting of shares. The amounts reported in the columns assume settlement of PSUs at target levels; however, PSUs may vest at a maximum of 200% of target, depending on the Company’s revenue and/or non-GAAP EPS. For PSUs granted in 2016, if the maximum level of performance is achieved, the grant date fair value for the PSUs will be approximately $14,037,342 for Mr. D’Souza, $7,168,793 for Mr. Mehta, $7,501,274 for Mr. Coburn (award has been forfeited), $3,751,682 for Ms. McLoughlin, $1,660,975 for Mr. Chintamaneni and $1,427,486 for Mr. Sinha. None of the NEOs forfeited any stock awards during the 2016, 2015, or 2014 fiscal years, except for Mr. Coburn, who forfeited 40,729 RSUs and 220,156 PSUs, including all of the PSUs granted in 2016, upon his resignation from the Company on September 27, 2016. For information regarding assumptions underlying the valuation of stock-based awards, see Note 15 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the applicable fiscal year.
3Amounts shown in this column represent cash incentive awards earned for each respective fiscal year and paid in the first quarter of the following year under our annual cash incentive program.
4Total compensation, as determined under SEC rules.
5The Company moved the timing of annual RSU grants for certain NEOs from the fourth quarter of 2016 to the first quarter of 2017 to align with the timing of the Company’s other annual equity grants and other annual compensation decisions by the Compensation Committee. The Adjusted SEC Total represents the SEC Total plus, for 2016, the target value of the RSU grants made in the first quarter of 2017 (using a March 2, 2017 grant date fair value) to Mr. D’Souza ($3,774,223), Mr. Mehta ($2,545,431) and Ms. McLoughlin ($1,038,113) to provide stockholders annual compensation numbers that are more comparable to past years and more indicative of the targeted annual compensation to the NEOs. These amounts are not a substitute for the amounts reported under the SEC Total.
6Includes a 401(k) savings plan matching contribution in the amount of $806, travel expenses for Mr. D’Souza’s spouse to attend business functions that she was generally expected to attend, home security services, provision of secure vehicles/transport in the amount of $86,686, use of an administrative assistant of the Company for personal matters, which is valued at $1,900, plus a gross-up for taxes related thereto equal to $2,046, and vehicle rentals, which is valued at $1,375, plus a gross-up for taxes related thereto equal to $1,481.
7Mr. Mehta was appointed President of Cognizant on September 28, 2016, following the resignation of Mr. Coburn on September 27, 2016.
8Represents a 401(k) savings plan matching contribution.

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9Amount represents investment earnings on Mr. Coburn’s nonqualified deferred compensation account. The earnings correspond to the actual market earnings on a select group of investment funds utilized to track the notional investment return on the account balance for the respective fiscal year. The Company has not made any determination as to which portion of such earnings may be considered above market and has elected to report the entire amount of such earnings. Mr. Coburn’s nonqualified deferred compensation account incurred an investment loss of $76,165 in 2015; however, $0 is shown in the table for such year per SEC rules.
10Includes a 401(k) savings plan matching contribution in the amount of $5,750, a CSRP matching contribution in the amount of $2,967, a contribution in the amount of $31,230, which the Company was required to make to a nonqualified deferred compensation account, and $53,469 in lieu of earned vacation.
11Represents a 401(k) savings plan matching contribution in the amount of $2,551 and a CSRP matching contribution in the amount of $5,399.
122014 and 2015 compensation not presented for Mr. Chintamaneni and Mr. Sinha as they were not NEOs in such years.
13Represents a 401(k) savings plan matching contribution in the amount of $2,750 and a CSRP matching contribution in the amount of $5,200.
14Represents a 401(k) savings plan matching contribution in the amount of $5,750 and a CSRP matching contribution in the amount of $2,200.

2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

The following table provides certain summary information concerning each grant of an award made to an NEO in the 2016 fiscal year under a compensation plan.

 Grant
Date
  
Estimated Future
Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
1
 Estimated Future
Payouts Under
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
2
 All Other
Stock Awards:
Number of
Shares of Stock
or Units
3
 All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
 Exercise or
Base Price
of Option
Awards
($/Sh)
 

Grant Date
Fair Value
of Equity
Awards4

NameThreshold Target Maximum Threshold Target Maximum
Francisco D’Souza02/16/1663,795127,589255,178$7,018,671
02/16/16$282,328$564,655$1,129,310
Rajeev Mehta02/16/1632,58065,159130,318$3,584,397
02/16/16$244,054$488,108$976,216
Gordon J. Coburn502/16/1634,09168,181136,362$3,750,637
02/16/16$268,557$537,115$1,074,230
Karen McLoughlin02/16/1617,05034,10068,200$1,875,841
 02/16/16$181,262$362,525$725,050 
Ramakrishna
Prasad
Chintamaneni
02/16/166,29912,59825,196$693,016
02/16/164,714$259,317
12/01/16 1,2712,5425,084$137,471
12/01/1625,067$1,355,624
Dharmendra
Kumar Sinha
02/16/166,22012,43924,878$684,269
02/16/164,714$259,317
12/01/162735451,090$29,474
12/01/1627,790$1,502,883
1Represents the range of annual cash incentive that can be earned by the NEO if the minimum threshold, target and maximum performance targets are achieved. The annual cash incentive is prorated if performance levels are achieved between the threshold and target levels or between the target and maximum levels. Performance below the minimum threshold results in no annual cash incentive payout to the NEO. See “Annual Cash Incentive” starting on page 26 for information regarding the methodology and performance criteria applied in determining these potential cash incentive amounts. The actual annual cash incentive paid to each NEO for his or her 2016 performance is reported as Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation in the 2016 Summary Compensation Table on page 33.
2Represents the range of shares that could vest pursuant to PSUs. See “Stock-Based Awards” starting on page 27 for a description of the terms of the PSUs.
3Represents RSUs. See “Stock-Based Awards” starting on page 27 for a description of the terms of the RSUs.
4Represents the grant date fair value of the RSUs and PSUs determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, assuming target achievement for PSUs. For information regarding assumptions underlying the valuation of stock-based awards, see Note 15 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.
5Mr. Coburn resigned from the Company during 2016 and, as a result, forfeited the annual cash incentive and PSU awards set forth in this table that were granted to him during 2016.

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2016 Table

The following table provides certain summary information concerning outstanding equity awards held by the NEOs as of December 31, 2016.

Option Awards1      Stock Awards







Number of
Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options

Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards;
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options

Option
Exercise
Price
 
Option
Expiration
Date
 
Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
Market
Value
of Shares or
Units of
Stock
That Have
Not
Vested
2
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards;
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards;
Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
2
Name   Exercisable   Unexercisable                     
Francisco D’Souza480,000$9.1112/08/18
      21,970 3$1,230,979
100,263 5$5,617,736
37,878 3$2,122,304
40,307 6$2,258,401
        127,589 7$7,148,812
Rajeev Mehta11,220 3$628,657
51,204 5$2,868,960
19,344 3$1,083,844
 20,584 6$1,153,322
65,159 7$3,650,859
Gordon J. Coburn
Karen McLoughlin20,000$15.5308/13/18
5,600 3$313,768
25,556 5$1,431,903
10,124 3567,248
10,772 6$603,555
34,100 7$1,910,623
Ramakrishna Prasad
Chintamaneni
10,000$15.5308/13/18
10,444 4$585,177
9,900 5$554,697
3,536 4$198,122
25,067 4$1,404,504
3,980 6$222,999
12,598 7$705,866
2,542 7$142,428
Dharmendra Kumar
Sinha
7,311 4$409,635
9,775 5$547,693
3,536 4$198,122
27,790 4$1,557,074
3,929 6$220,142
12,439 7$696,957
545 7$30,536
1Each stock option grant included in this table has a term of 10 years measured from the grant date, and all outstanding options granted to the NEOs as of December 31, 2016 have fully vested pursuant to their terms.
2Market value was determined based on a closing price of a share of our common stock of $56.03 as of December 30, 2016.
3Awards shown are time-based RSUs that were granted on December 1, 2014 and November 30, 2015 and vest on specified dates if the individual is still employed by the Company:

Mr. D’Souza: Approximately 5,493 shares are scheduled to vest on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of 2017; and approximately 4,734 shares are scheduled to vest on each March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of 2017 and 2018.

Mr. Mehta: Approximately 2,805 shares are scheduled to vest on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of 2017 and approximately 2,418 shares are scheduled to vest on each March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of 2017 and 2018.

Ms. McLoughlin: Approximately 1,400 shares are scheduled to vest on each March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of 2017 and approximately 1,266 shares are scheduled to vest on each March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of 2017 and 2018.

4Awards shown are time-based RSUs that were granted on December 1, 2014, February 16, 2016 and December 1, 2016 and vest on specified dates if the individual is still employed by the Company:

Mr. Chintamaneni: Approximately 2,611 shares are scheduled to vest on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of 2017; approximately 393 shares are scheduled to vest on each March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of 2017 and 2018 and also on March 1, 2019; and approximately 2,088 shares are scheduled to vest on each March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of 2017, 2018 and 2019.


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Mr. Sinha: Approximately 1,828 shares are scheduled to vest on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of 2017; approximately 393 shares are scheduled to vest on each March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of 2017 and 2018 and also on March 1, 2019; and approximately 2,316 shares are scheduled to vest on each March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of 2017, 2018 and 2019.

52015 PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT PERIOD PSUs.Represents the number of shares that are eligible to vest based on PSUs with a 2015 performance measurement period. 1/3rdvested on June 1, 2016 and the remaining 2/3rdsvest on December 1, 2017 (subject to continued employment through such date). Performance for such awards was calculated and achieved as set forth below. See “Stock-Based Awards” starting on page 27 for additional information.

62016 PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT PERIOD PSUs. Represents the number of shares that are eligible to vest based on PSUs with a 2016 performance measurement period. 1/3rd vest on May 31, 2017 and the remaining 2/3rds vest on November 30, 2018 (subject to continued employmentthrough such dates). Performance for such awards was calculated and achieved as set forth below. See “Stock-Based Awards” starting on page 27 for additional information.

72016 – 2017 PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT PERIOD PSUs.Represents the number of unearned shares of stock not vested equal to the target award for PSUs with a 2016 – 2017 performance measurement period. The actual number of shares of stock that may vest will be determined by the Company’s cumulative fiscal 2016 and 2017 performance versus target levels on two metrics: revenue (75% of the award) and non-GAAP EPS (25% of the award). For the shares subject to each of the metrics, the number that may vest may be zero, if a threshold level of performance is not achieved as to the metric, or between 50% and 200% of the target number of shares. After the Compensation Committee determines, based on the cumulative performance for the fiscal 2016 and 2017 measurement period, the number of shares that may vest, such shares will vest as follows: 1/3rdon July 1, 2018 and the remaining 2/3rdson January 1, 2019 (subject to continued employment through such dates). See “Stock-Based Awards” starting on page 27 for additional information.

2016 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table

The following table provides additional information about the value realized by the NEOs on option award exercises and stock award vestings during the year ended December 31, 2016.

Option AwardsStock Awards
Name     Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise
     Value Realized on
Exercise
1
     Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting Date
2
     Value Realized on
Vesting
3
Francisco D’Souza         500,000              $20,605,930                 194,221                 $11,088,285     
Rajeev Mehta97,458$5,567,834
Gordon J. Coburn53,030$3,183,085
Karen McLoughlin40,000$1,470,24644,039$2,527,064
Ramakrishna Prasad Chintamaneni27,068$1,556,334
Dharmendra Kumar Sinha23,796$1,367,439
1Value realized on exercise is calculated based upon the number of options exercised and the fair market value or sale price of the shares on the date of exercise less the exercise price, before any applicable tax withholding.
2The number of shares shown in the table reflects the gross number of shares received by each NEO upon vesting of the stock awards. The Company reduced the number of shares issued to each NEO by automatically withholding a number of shares with a fair market value as of the vesting date sufficient to satisfy required tax withholdings. Each NEO actually received the following net number of shares of Company stock following such share withholding: Mr. D’Souza, 96,064; Mr. Mehta, 57,761; Mr. Coburn, 28,714; Ms. McLoughlin, 24,103; Mr. Chintamaneni, 14,874; and Mr. Sinha, 12,992.
3Value realized on vesting is calculated by multiplying the number of shares acquired on vesting by the fair market value of the shares on the respective vesting date.

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2016 Pension Benefits Table

None of the NEOs participated in any defined benefit pension plans in 2016.

2016 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information with respect to the nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements in effect during 2016 for the NEOs.

Name     Executive
Contributions
in Last FY
     Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY
     Aggregate
Earnings/(Losses)
in Last FY
     Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
     Aggregate
Balance
at Last FYE
Francisco D’Souza        
Rajeev Mehta
Gordon J. Coburn         $31,2301                     $183,8912  $1,463,0263
Karen McLoughlin
Ramakrishna Prasad Chintamaneni        
Dharmendra Kumar Sinha
1This amount is reported as compensation and is included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the 2016 Summary Compensation Table on page 33.
2This amount is reported as compensation and is included in the “All Other Pension and Nonqualified Deferred Comp.” column of the 2016 Summary Compensation Table on page 33. Earnings are broken down between funds as follows:

Investment FundEarnings/(Losses)
Attributable to such Fund
Mass Mutual Select Focused Value$165,004
Mass Mutual Select Mid Cap Growth Equity II A$18,887
       Total$183,891
3Includes the amounts reported in the other columns of this table plus such amounts previously reported in the Company’s Summary Compensation Table in previous years if such compensation was required to be disclosed.

The Company established this nonqualified deferred compensation arrangement for Mr. Coburn to serve as the economic equivalent of the retirement plan in which he participated while the Company was majority owned by IMS Health. Pursuant to such arrangement, the Company, while Mr. Coburn was an employee, credited his deferred compensation account with an annual contribution in a dollar amount equal to 6% of his base salary and earned annual cash incentive for the year. Mr. Coburn could select from the 16 investment funds sponsoredby Mass Mutual available to the plan to serve as the measures of the investment return on his account for each year. Mr. Coburn could change his investment elections up to six times per year. Under the terms of the arrangement with Mr. Coburn, the balance of Mr. Coburn’s account became due and payable in a lump sum six months following his resignation from the Company. Accordingly, the Company made a lump sum payment to Mr. Coburn in the amount of $1,558,679 on April 17, 20143, 2017.

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Compensation

POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

Overview of Potential Payments

We have entered into Employment Agreements with our NEOs that provide certain benefits upon such employees being terminated without Cause or leaving for Good Reason (a “Qualifying Termination”). Such benefits are adjusted in the event the Qualifying Termination occurs within the 12 months following a change in control.

Unvested PSUs /
Performance-Based Awards
2014 Proxy StatementTermination EventSalary and BonusBenefitsUnvested RSUs /
Time-Based
Awards
Performance
Measurement Period
Ended; Performance
Objectives Satisfied
Performance
Measurement
Period Not Ended

Qualifying Termination – no Change in Control

22 months base salary, payable in installments

12 months of reimbursement for COBRA premiums

One year’s acceleration of vesting

One year’s acceleration of vesting

Unvested portion of award forfeited

Qualifying Termination – within 12 months of Change in Control

12 months base salary, payable in installments, and annual cash incentive payout at 100% of target, payable in a lump sum

12 months of reimbursement for COBRA premiums

Acceleration of entire award

Acceleration of entire award

Acceleration of prorated portion based on performance as of change in control date


What is a “Qualifying Termination”?
Termination without “Cause”Leaving for “Good Reason”
“Cause” is defined as:
Willful malfeasance or willful misconduct in connection with employment;
Continuing failure to perform duties requested by the Board;
Failure to observe material policies of the Company;
Commission of any felony or any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;
Engaging in any fraudulent act or embezzlement; or
Any material breach of an employment agreement.
“Good Reason” is defined as:
A material diminution of authority, duties or responsibilities;
A material diminution in overall compensation package that is not broadly applied to other executives;
The Company’s failure to obtain from its successor the express assumption of an Employment Agreement; or
The Company’s change, without the NEO’s consent, in the principal place of his or her work to a location more than 50 miles from the primary work location, but only if the change is after a change in control.

The Employment Agreements also provide that in the event any payments under the Employment Agreements would constitute parachute payments under IRC Section 280G, then the payments under the Employment Agreements will be reduced by the minimum amount necessary so that no amounts paid will be non-deductible to the Company or subject to the excise tax imposed under IRC Section 4999.


Cash severance payments are contingent on the NEO executing a waiver and release of claims in favor of the Company and complying with one-year post-termination non-competition and non-solicitation covenants, a six-month post-termination intellectual property covenant and a perpetual confidentiality covenant.

Upon any termination of employment, each NEO will also be entitled to any amounts earned, accrued and owed but not yet paid to such NEO as of the termination date and any benefits accrued and earned in accordance with the terms of any benefits plans or programs, and these amounts are not conditioned upon the release becoming effective. No additional amounts will be paid on termination due to death or disability.

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Calculation of Potential Payments

The following table shows potential payments to our NEOs under the Employment Agreements in the event of a Qualifying Termination prior to or within 12 months following a change in control. After the period of 12 months following a change in control, the potential payments upon a Qualifying Termination, absent another changein control, revert to those prior to a change in control as set forth below. Potential payments are calculated assuming a December 31, 2016 Qualifying Termination date and, where applicable, using the closing price of our common stock of $56.03 on December 30, 2016, as reported on NASDAQ.

Name     Trigger          Salary and
Bonus
     Benefits     Awards
Acceleration/
Extension
     Total
Francisco D’SouzaQualifying Termination Prior to Change in Control$1,217,883$11,379  $8,662,630  $9,891,893
Qualifying Termination Following Change in Control$1,228,955$11,379$11,229,421$12,469,755
Death or Disability
 Retirement
Termination for Other Reasons
Rajeev MehtaQualifying Termination Prior to Change in Control$1,155,000$15,527$4,423,961$5,594,488
Qualifying Termination Following Change in Control$1,165,500$15,527$5,734,783$6,915,809
Death or Disability
Retirement
Termination for Other Reasons
Karen McLoughlinQualifying Termination Prior to Change in Control$781,917$11,233$2,230,442$3,023,592
Qualifying Termination Following Change in Control$789,025$11,233$2,916,474$3,716,732
Death or Disability
Retirement
Termination for Other Reasons
Ramakrishna PrasadQualifying Termination Prior to Change in Control$870,833$15,527$1,807,528$2,693,888
ChintamaneniQualifying Termination Following Change in Control$878,750$15,527$2,965,500$3,859,777
Death or Disability
Retirement
Termination for Other Reasons
Dharmendra KumarQualifying Termination Prior to Change in Control$687,500$11,232$1,674,401$2,373,133
SinhaQualifying Termination Following Change in Control$693,750$11,232$2,932,666$3,637,648
Death or Disability
Retirement
Termination for Other Reasons

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PROPOSAL 4

APPROVAL OF 2017 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

What are you
voting on?

We are asking stockholders to approve the Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation 2017 Incentive Award Plan (the “Plan”), which would replace the Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation Amended and Restated 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2009 Plan”). If our stockholders approve this proposal, no new awards will be granted under the 2009 Plan. If, however, our stockholders do not approve this proposal, the Plan will not become effective and the 2009 Plan will remain in effect in accordance with its current terms and conditions until the remaining share pool is exhausted. In either case, awards outstanding under the 2009 Plan and its predecessor plans will remain subject to the terms of the 2009 Plan and such predecessor plans, as applicable.

The Board unanimously recommends a voteFOR the approval of the Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation 2017 Incentive Award Plan.


Resolution Stockholders are being asked to Approve

RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation approve the adoption of the Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation 2017 Incentive Award Plan.

The Board recommends a vote FOR the Plan so that the Company has enough shares of common stock available to grant to maintain its compensation structure and achieve the purposes of the Plan, which are to:

Provide incentives to our employees, consultants and non-employee directors, including the employees of our subsidiaries, in the form of equity and other incentive awards to
Motivate them to perform well and generate superior returns for our stockholders and
Induce them to remain in our service.

In determining to approve the Plan, the Compensation Committee and the Board reviewed the terms of the Plan and an analysis prepared by Pay Governance, the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant, both of which are summarized in this proposal.


Background

Our stockholders approved the 2009 Plan in June 2009. Since that time, we have periodically granted stock options, RSUs and PSUs under the plan. We believe that long-term compensation through stock-based compensation in the form of stock options, RSUs and PSUs is important in attracting and retaining executive talent and other key personnel. Such equity awards align the interests of the individuals with those of our stockholders and incentivize them to maximize stockholder value.

At the Annual Meeting, stockholders are being asked to vote on a proposal to approve the adoption of the Plan. If the Plan is approved, the maximum aggregate number of shares of our common stock that may be issued under the Plan will be equal to the sum of (i) the approximately 7,000,000 shares remaining available for awards under the 2009 Plan which will be transferred to the Plan, (ii) 46,000,000 new shares and (iii) the number of shares subject to outstanding awards under the 2009 Plan that, after the effective date of the Plan, terminate, are forfeited, are converted into awards of another entity in connection with a spin-off or similar event, or are settled for cash. The number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Plan will be reduced on a one-for-one basis for each share of stock issued under the Plan pursuant to a stock option or stock appreciation right (“SAR”) and will be reduced by two shares for each share of stock issued under the Plan pursuant to an RSU or PSU (“full-value awards”). Therefore, the 46,000,000 new shares being requested would actually represent only 23,000,000 actual shares if only full-value awards are granted under the Plan, which is consistent with our recent practices for employees. The Plan was adopted by our Board on March 27, 2017, subject to stockholder approval at the Annual Meeting. A copy of the Plan is attached hereto as Appendix A. The Plan is intended to serve as a successor to the 2009 Plan. No further awards will be made under the 2009 Plan following the earlier of (i) the plan termination date or (ii) stockholder approval of the Plan. Stockholder approval of the Plan will not affect any options or stock issuances outstanding under 2009 Plan.

Our Current Equity Grant Practices

What We Do

Mix of PSUs and RSUs with an emphasis on PSUs for senior executives

Long-term vestingsuch that PSUs have a 2-year performance measurement period and, for executive officers, vest 1/3rd at 30 months and 2/3rds at 36 months and, for other employees, fully vest at 29 months following the start of such period; RSUs vest quarterly over three years from grant


What We Don’t Do

No dividend equivalent payments on unearned PSUs or RSUs (accumulated dividend equivalents paid only on vesting)


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Compensation

Overview of the Plan

On March 27, 2017, the Board adopted, subject to stockholder approval, the Plan. If approved by stockholders, the Plan would replace the 2009 Plan. The key differences between the Plan and the 2009 Plan are:

As of December 31, 2016, there were approximately 7,000,000 shares available for future awards under the 2009 Plan, which, based on our three-year average burn rate of 0.78%, would last for only approximately one year assuming current grant practices. If the Plan is approved, the maximum aggregate number of shares of our common stock that may be issued under the Plan will be equal to the sum of (i) the approximately 7,000,000 shares remaining available for awards under the 2009 Plan that will be transferred to the Plan, (ii) 46,000,000 new shares and (iii) the number of shares subject to outstanding awards under the 2009 Plan that, after the effective date of the Plan, terminate, are forfeited, are converted into awards of another entity in connection with a spin-off or similar event, or are settled for cash. Such a share reserve would be sufficient for approximately six years of awards, assuming current grant practices. However, these timelines may change based on future circumstances that require a change to expected grant practices, such as changes in the price of the shares of our common stock, grant amounts provided by our competitors, hiring activity and promotions.

The number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Plan will be reduced on a one-for-one basis for each share of stock issued under the Plan pursuant to a stock option or SAR and will be reduced by two shares for each share of stock issued under the Plan pursuant to a full-value award. Under the 2009 Plan, shares subject to full-value awards count as 1.55 shares.

The 2009 Plan is currently set to expire on April 15, 2019. The Plan would have aterm of ten years from the date of Board adoption through March 27, 2027.

The 2009 Plan provides that the maximum annual limit on the number of shares that can be granted to any one person is 5,000,000 and the maximum annual limit on the amount of cash that can be granted to any one person is $4,000,000. The Plandecreases the per-person share limit to 3,000,000 for stock options and SARs and 2,000,000 for RSUs and PSUs and other full-value awards, andincreases the per-person cash limit to $10,000,000.

While the 2009 Plan provides for a maximum seven-year term for stock options, the Plan provides thatstock options may have a term of up to ten years.

The 2009 Plan provides for a maximum limit on director awards of 100,000 shares per year. The Planchanges the per year limit on director awards to $900,000 in the aggregate for cash and equity awards.

The Plan clarifies that all awards will be subject to the provisions of anyclawback policy implemented by the Company.


How Long We Expect the Share Pool to Last

We expect that the proposed share pool for new grants under the Plan, if stockholders approve this proposal, will last six years.

How the Plan is Designed to Protect Stockholders’ Interests

The following features of the Plan will protect the interests of our stockholders:

Limits on authorized shares – no evergreen provision. If the Plan is approved, the maximum aggregate number of shares of our common stock that may be issued under the Plan will be equal to the sum of (i) the approximately 7,000,000 shares remaining available for awards under the 2009 Plan that will be transferred to the Plan, (ii) 46,000,000 new shares and (iii) the number of shares subject to outstanding awards under the 2009 Plan that, after the effective date of the Plan, terminate, are forfeited, are converted into awards of another entity in connection with a spin-off or similar event, or are settled for cash. The number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Plan will be reduced on a one-for-one basis for each share of stock issued under the Plan pursuant to a stock option or SAR and will be reduced by two shares for each share of stock issued under the Plan pursuant to a full-value award. The Plan does not have an “evergreen” feature.

Limits on term of stock options. The maximum term of each stock option and SAR that can be granted under the Plan is ten years.

Limits on share counting. Shares surrendered or withheld for the payment of the exercise price or taxes under stock options or SARs, shares surrendered or withheld for the payment of taxes on RSUs, PSUs and other full-value awards, shares repurchased in the open market with the proceeds of an option exercise, and shares subject to SARs that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the SARs may not again be made available for issuance under the Plan.

No stock option repricing. The Plan prohibits the repricing of “underwater” options and SARs, whether by amending an existing award, substituting a new award at a lower price or executing a cash buyout.

No discounted stock option grants. The Plan prohibits granting stock options or SARs with an exercise price less than the fair market value of Cognizant common stock on the date of grant.

No automatic change in control benefits. The Plan does not provide any automatic benefits upon a change in control or any excise tax gross-ups.

Clawback Policy. The Plan requires all awards to be subject to our clawback policy.

No dividend equivalents on unvested awards. The Plan prohibits the payment of dividends and dividend equivalents on unvested awards.


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Key Data About Our Grant Practices

Pay Governance’s analysis highlighted the following key data points regarding the Plan and our grant practices.

Burn Rate

Burn rate measures how rapidly we are using an equity plan’s share pool. We measure burn rate on a gross basis, calculated as follows:

(total shares granted)
(weighted average Cognizant shares outstanding (undiluted))

Over the last three years, our burn rate averaged 0.78%, The burn rates for the last three years were 1.02%, 0.46%, and 0.86% for 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively. The Board believes that these are acceptable burn rates.

Overhang

Overhang measures the potential stockholder dilution from outstanding equity awards and shares available for grant. We use a “simple overhang” measurement, calculated as follows:

(awards outstanding) + (shares available for grant)
(weighted average Cognizant shares outstanding (undiluted))

If this proposal is adopted, our overhang will be 10.4%.

The Board believes that the requested number of shares of common stock under the Plan represents a reasonable amount of potential equity dilution.

Historical Grant Information

Grant information201420152016
Options granted     67,736     55,336     70,258
Full-value awards granted16,148,1432,731,7575,145,594
Cognizant shares outstanding2608,125,852609,129,517606,828,543
1Assumes maximum performance for PSUs. See “PSUs” on page 27.
2Number outstanding at year-end.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information regarding the total share authorization under the Plan and the 2009 Plan if this proposal is approved.

Shares
Shares available for new Plan awards under 2009 Plan as of December 31, 20167,000,000 1
Shares subject to outstanding 2009 Plan and predecessor plan awards as of December 31, 20169,900,000 2
Total new authorized Plan shares requested in this Proposal46,000,000
Total authorized Plan shares if this Proposal is approved
(including shares subject to outstanding 2009 Plan and predecessor awards)
62,900,000
1Will be transferred to the Plan and no longer available under the 2009 Plan.
2Includes 7,500,000 for outstanding full-value awards (RSUs and PSUs (assuming target performance)) and 2,400,000 for outstanding stock options, with a weighted average exercise price of $21.08 and weighted average remaining contractual term of 1.6 years.

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2016 with respect to the shares of our common stock that may be issued under our existing equity compensation plans, which include the 2009 Plan and the 2004 ESPP, and one of our prior equity compensation plans, the Amended and Restated 1999 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “1999 Plan”). The 2009 Plan succeeded the 1999 Plan and wasapproved by stockholders. Awards granted under the 1999 Plan remain valid, though no additional awards may be granted from such plan. For additional information on our equity compensation plans, see Note 15 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

Plan CategoryNumber of Securities
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants and
Rights
Number of Securities
Available for Future
Issuance Under Equity
Compensation Plans
(excludes securities
Reflected in first
column)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders1     9,994,8652     $21.083     12,204,6654
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holdersN/A
       Total9,994,865$21.08312,204,665
1Consists of the 1999 Plan, the 2009 Plan and the 2004 ESPP.
2Excludes purchase rights outstanding under the 2004 ESPP. Under such plan, employees may purchase whole shares of common stock at a price per share equal to 90% of the lower of the fair market value per share on the first day of the purchase period or the fair market value per share on the last day of the purchase period. As of December 31, 2016, 2,384,043 shares of common stock may be issued pursuant to stock options upon exercise, 4,863,988 shares of common stock may be issued pursuant to RSUs upon vesting and 2,746,834 shares of common stock may be issued pursuant to PSUs upon vesting. The number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the outstanding and unvested PSUs for which the performance measurement period has not ended is based on vesting of the maximum number of award shares. The actual number of shares of common stock that may vest will generally range from 0% to 200% of the target number based on the level of achievement of the applicable performance metric(s) and the continued service vesting requirements.
3As of December 31, 2016, the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options to purchase common stock was $21.08 and no weighting was assigned to RSUs or PSUs as no exercise price is applicable to RSUs or PSUs.
4Includes 7,016,658 shares of common stock available for future issuance under the 2009 Plan and 5,188,007 shares of common stock available for future issuance under the 2004 ESPP. As of December 31, 2016, there were no outstanding purchase periods under the 2004 ESPP.

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Compensation

Frequently Asked Questions About the Plan

This summary is qualified by reference to the complete text of the Plan, which can be found in Appendix A on page 59.

Who will be eligible to participate in the Plan?

All officers, employees, consultants and directors of Cognizant and its subsidiaries — approximately 270,000 persons (approximately eighteen executive officers, ten non-employee Directors, approximately 260,000 other employees and approximately 10,000 consultants or advisors) — will be eligible to participate in the Plan.

Who will administer the Plan?

Generally. The Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee, an independent committee of the Board. The Compensation Committee will have the authority to make any determination or take any action that it deems necessary or desirable to administer the Plan, and also will have the sole discretion to interpret the Plan and all award agreements. With limited exceptions, the Compensation Committee will be able to delegate its authority under the Plan to a subcommittee consisting of one or more members of the Board or one or more of the Company’s officers.

As it Relates to Director Compensation.The Board will administer the Plan as it relates to director compensation.

How many shares will be available for Plan awards?

If the Plan is approved, the maximum aggregate number of shares of our common stock that may be issued under the Plan will be equal to the sum of (i) the approximately 7,000,000 shares remaining available for awards under the 2009 Plan that will be transferred to the Plan, (ii) 46,000,000 new shares and (iii) the number of shares subject to outstanding awards under the 2009 Plan that, after the effective date of the Plan, terminate, are forfeited, are converted into awards of another entity in connection with a spin-off or similar event, or are settled for cash. The number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Plan will be reduced on a one-for-one basis for each share of stock issued under the Plan pursuant to a stock option or SAR and will be reduced by two shares for each share of stock issued under the Plan pursuant to a full-value award. Therefore, the 46,000,000 new shares being requested would actually represent only 23,000,000 actual shares if only full-value awards are granted under the Plan, which is consistent with our recent practices for employees. Shares delivered pursuant to an award may consist of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.

What Will Reduce the Share Pool.Awards under the Plan settled in shares and dividend equivalents denominated in shares.

What Will Not Reduce the Share Pool.Awards made upon the assumption of or in substitution for outstanding grants made by a company that we acquire (except as may be required for purposes of incentive stock options).

Which Shares Can Return to the Share Pool.Shares covered by an award under the Plan or, after the effective date of the Plan, the 2009 Plan that is terminated or forfeited because payout conditions are not met or that is converted into an award of another entity in connection with a spin-off or similar event, or that is settled for cash.

Which Shares Cannot Return to the Share Pool.Shares surrendered to pay the exercise price or withholding taxes for stock options or SARs, shares repurchased in the open market with the proceeds of an option exercise, shares that were subject to a stock-settled SAR that were not issued upon its net settlement, and shares withheld to pay withholding taxes on RSUs, PSUs and other full-value awards.


The last sales price of Cognizant’s shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, on April 10, 2017 was $58.97 per share, as reported on NASDAQ.

What kind of awards will the Compensation Committee be able to grant under the Plan?

Stock Options and SARs.The maximum term for stock options and SARs will be ten years. Options may be either nonqualified stock options or incentive stock options. The exercise price per share subject to each option and SAR may not be less than the fair market value per share on the date of grant. The administrator will establish the vesting schedule and the method for paying the exercise price of these awards. Unless otherwise specified by the administrator or as otherwise directed by a participant in writing to the Company, vested options and SARs with an exercise price per share that is less than the fair market value of the underlying share as of the last day of their respective terms will be automatically exercised on the last day of the term.

Restricted Stock and RSUs (including PSUs).The administrator will establish the applicable restrictions and vesting schedule of these awards. Recipients of restricted stock will have voting rights and will have the right to receive dividends, but such dividends will generally be paid out only to the extent the restricted stock vests. Recipients of RSUs generally will have no voting or dividend rights prior to settlement unless dividend equivalents are granted along with the RSUs.

Other Stock or Cash-Based Awards.The administrator may grant other stock or cash-based awards, including awards entitling a holder to receive shares or cash to be delivered immediately or in the future, including cash payments, cash bonus awards, stock payments, stock bonus awards, incentive awards, deferred stock, deferred stock units, retainers, committee fees and meeting-based fees, under such terms as it determines.

In addition, the administrator will determine (1) whether an award includes dividends or dividend equivalents (other than stock options or SARs) and (2) what happens if a participant terminates employment. Awards generally are not transferable.

Will there be minimum vesting periods for Plan awards?

Proxy StatementThe Plan will not include minimum vesting periods for awards. The Company currently grants PSUs that have a two-year performance measurement period with vesting for executive officers of 1/3rd at 30 months and 2/3rds at 36 months and for other employees 100% at 29 months. In addition, the Company currently grants RSUs that vest quarterly over three years.

Will Plan awards be subject to a clawback policy?

Plan awards granted to executive officers and Directors will be subject to the Company’s clawback policy. See “Clawback Policy” on page 31.

What will be the material terms of the performance goals for awards intended to qualify under Section 162(m)?

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 162(m)”) imposes a $1,000,000 limit on the amount that a public company may deduct for compensation paid to a company’s CEO or any of a company’s three other most highly compensated executive officers (other than the CFO) who are employed as of the end of the year. This limitation does not apply to compensation that meets the requirements under Section 162(m) for “qualifying performance-based” compensation. One of the requirements for compensation to qualify is that the material terms of the performance goals for such compensation be approved by stockholders every five years.

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For purposes of Section 162(m), the material terms of the performance goals include the following:

which employees would be subject to the goals;

the business measurements on which the performance goals would be based; and

the formula that would be used to calculate the maximum amount of compensation that can be paid to an employee under the arrangement.


Each of these aspects is discussed below, and stockholder approval of this proposal constitutes approval of each of these aspects for purposes of Section 162(m).

Employees Covered
The Company’s NEOs would be subject to the performance goals described in this section. We may apply the performance goals to all executive officers in the event that any of them becomes a covered employee under Section 162(m).

GLENPOINTE CENTRE WEST 500 FRANK W. BURR BLVD. TEANECK, NEW JERSEY 07666Business Measurements
The business measurements that may be used to establish performance goals are limited to the following: (i) revenue or revenue growth, (ii) operating or net income, (iii) operating or net income before acquisition related charges, net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses and/or charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Company in settlement of stock-based awards, (iv) operating or net income before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and/or charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Company in settlement of stock-based awards, (v) gross, operating or net profit margin, (vi) gross, operating or net profit margin before acquisition related charges, net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses and/or charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Company in settlement of stock-based awards, (vii) earnings per share, either before or after acquisition related charges, net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses and/or charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Company in settlement of stock-based awards, (viii) return on assets, capital or stockholder equity, (ix) total stockholder return, (x) cash flow, (xi) measures in terms of days sales outstanding or accounts receivable outstanding, (xii) working capital, (xiii) market share, (xiv) increases in customer base, (xv) cost reductions or other expense control objectives, (xvi) market price of the common stock, whether measured in absolute terms or in relationship to earnings or operating income or in relation to various stock market or industry indices, (xvii) budget objectives, (xviii) working capital, (xix) mergers, acquisitions or divestitures, (xx) measures of customer satisfaction, (xxi) productivity measures, (xxii) funds from operations, (xxiii) operating efficiency, or (xxiv) economic value-added models.

Committee Authority to Measure Performance Goals.The Compensation Committee may establish performance goals that are measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or decrease or as compared to results of a peer group or to market performance indicators or indices, in each case as specified by the Compensation Committee in the award.

Committee Authority to Adjust Performance Goals.TheCompensation Committee may adjust the performance goals to remove the effect of (i) items related to a change in applicable accounting standards; (ii) items relating to financing activities; (iii) expenses for restructuring or productivity initiatives; (iv) other non-operating items; (v) items related to acquisitions; (vi) items attributable to the business operations of any entity acquired by the Company during the performance period; (vii) items related to the sale or disposition of a business or segment of a business; (viii) items related to discontinued operations that do not qualify as a segment of a business under applicable accounting standards; (ix) items attributable to any stockdividend, stock split, combination or exchange of stock occurring during the performance period; (x) any other items of significant income or expense which are determined to be appropriate adjustments; (xi) items relating to unusual or infrequent corporate transactions, events or developments, (xii) items related to amortization of acquired intangible assets; (xiii) items that are outside the scope of the Company’s core, on-going business activities; (xiv) items related to acquired in-process research and development; (xv) items relating to changes in tax laws; (xvi) items relating to major licensing or partnership arrangements; (xvii) items relating to asset impairment charges; (xviii) items relating to gains or losses for litigation, arbitration and contractual settlements; (xix) items attributable to expenses incurred in connection with a reduction in force or early retirement initiative; (xx) items relating to foreign exchange or currency transactions and/or fluctuations; or (xxi) items relating to any other unusual or nonrecurring events or changes in applicable law, applicable accounting standards or business conditions.

Per-Person Maximum Amounts
Subject to any adjustments that the administrator makes (as described below), the Plan limits the number of shares and the amount of cash that can be granted to an individual in any one-year period as follows:

1-year per-person limit
Stock options & SARs3 million shares
Other awards2 million shares
Cash$10,000,000

In addition, there will be a limit of $900,000 on the sum of the grant date fair value of equity-based awards and the amount of any cash compensation that may be granted to a non-employee Director during any calendar year.

If approved by stockholders, this proposal would not limit Cognizant’s right to condition payment of annual bonuses or equity awards on achievement of additional quantitative or qualitative performance goals or to award or pay other or additional forms of compensation (including, but not limited to, salary, other incentive-based cash compensation or other stock-based awards under the Plan). These other forms of compensation may be paid regardless of whether the performance goals described in this proposal are achieved in any future year, and whether or not payment of such other forms of compensation would be tax deductible, but will be designed so as not to affect the deductibility of arrangements intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m). However, there can be no guarantee that amounts payable under these programs and awards will be treated as qualified performance-based compensation under Section 162(m).

What adjustments will the administrator be permitted to make under the Plan?

Anti-Dilution Adjustments. In the event of certain corporate transactions affecting Cognizant’s outstanding common stock – such as a stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution of the Company’s assets to stockholders (other than normal cash dividends) – the administrator may make adjustments as it deems appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of Plan benefits. This could include changes to the number and type of shares to be issued under the Plan and outstanding awards, the exercise price of outstanding awards, Plan and per-person limits on the number of shares that can be granted and the manner in which shares subject to full-value awards will be counted. If such an event constitutes an “equity restructuring” for purposes of applicable accounting guidance, certain adjustments will be mandatory.

Corporate Events and Change in Control.In the case of any event described under “Anti-Dilution Adjustments” above or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting the Company or any subsidiary or the financial statements of the Company or any subsidiary, or of changes in applicable law or applicable accounting standards, the administrator may take any of the following actions

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with respect to any award to prevent dilution or enlargement of plan benefits, to facilitate such events or to give effect to changes in law or accounting standards:

Terminate the award for a cash paymentwith a value equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of the award or the realization of the holder’s rights;

Provide that the award may be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation or substituted for by similar awards, with appropriate adjustments;

Adjust the number and type of shares subject to the award or the terms and conditions of the award;

Provide that the award will be exercisable or payable or fully vested;

Replace the award with other rights or property;

Provide that the award cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after the event;or

Refuse to permit the exercise of any award during a limited period up to 30 days prior to the event.


The Plan provides for double-trigger vesting in that if an award continues in effect or is assumed or an equivalent award substituted in connection with a change in control, and a holder incurs a termination of service without “cause” (as defined in the sole discretion of theadministrator, or as set forth in the award agreement) upon or within 12 months following the change in control, then the holder will be fully vested in such award.

What will be the duration of the Plan?

The Plan became effective on March 27, 2017, the date it was adopted by the Board, subject to the approval of stockholders. The Plan will expire on the tenth anniversary of such date, such that no award may be granted under the Plan after March 27, 2027.

How can the Plan or awards be amended?

Amendments to the Plan.The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan, but will seek stockholder approval of any amendment that would:

Increase the number of authorized shares under the Plan (except in connection with anti-dilution adjustments as discussed above); or

Permit underwater stock options or SARs to be repriced, replaced or exchanged.


Amendments to Awards.The administrator may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding award.

No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan or amendment of any award may materially and adversely affect the rights or obligations of a holder without his or her consent.

Other Information About the Plan

Summary of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following summary of tax consequences to Cognizant and to Plan participants is intended to be used solely by stockholders in considering how to vote on this proposal and not as tax guidance to participants in the Plan. It relates only to federal income tax and does not address state, local or foreign income tax rules or other U.S. tax provisions, such as estate or gift taxes. Different tax rules may apply to specific participants and transactions under the Plan, particularly in jurisdictions outside the United States. In addition, this summary is as of the date of this proxy statement; federal income tax laws and regulations are frequently revised and may be changed again at any time. Therefore, each recipient is urged to consult a tax advisor before exercising any award or before disposing of any shares acquired under the Plan.

Stock Options and SARs.The grant of an option or SAR will create no tax consequences for the participant or the Company. A participant will have no taxable income upon exercise of an incentive stock option, except that the alternative minimum tax may apply. Upon exercise of an option other than an incentive stock option, a participant generally must recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares acquired minus the exercise price. When disposing of shares acquired by exercise of an incentive stock option before the end of the applicable incentive stock option holding periods, the participant generally must recognize ordinary income equal to the lesser of (1) the fair market value of the shares at the date of exercise minus the exercise price and (2) the amount realized upon the disposition of the shares minus the exercise price. Otherwise, a participant’s disposition of shares acquired upon the exercise of an option (including an incentive stock option for which the incentive stock option holding periods are met) generally will result in only capital gain or loss.

Other Awards.Other awards under the Plan generally will result in ordinary income to the participant at the later of the time of delivery of cash, shares, or other awards, or the time that either the risk of forfeiture or restriction on transferability lapses on previously delivered cash, shares or other awards.

Section 409A.Certain types of awards under the Plan may constitute, or provide for, a deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”). Unless certain requirements set forth in Section 409A are complied with, holders of such awards may be taxed earlier than would otherwise be the case (e.g., at the time of vesting instead of the time of payment) and may be subject to an additional 20% penalty tax (and, potentially, certain interest penalties). To the extent applicable, the Plan and awards granted under the Plan will be structured and interpreted in a manner that is intended to be exempt from or comply with Section 409A and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance that may be issued under Section 409A. In the event the administrator determines that any award may be subject to Section 409A, the administrator may (but is not obligated to), without a holder’s consent, adopt amendments to the Plan and applicable award agreements or adopt policies and procedures that the administrator determines are necessary or appropriate to exempt the applicable awards from Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

Company Deduction.Except as discussed below, the Company is generally entitled to a tax deduction equal to the amount recognized as ordinary income by the participant in connection with options, SARs or other awards, but not for amounts the participant recognizes as capital gain. Thus, the Company will not be entitled to any tax deduction with respect to an incentive stock option if the participant holds the shares for the incentive stock option holding periods.

Impact of Section 162(m) Deduction Limitation.The Plan is designed to provide for awards that are exempt from the requirements of Section 162(m), which generally provides that income tax deductions of publicly held companies may be limited to the extent total compensation for certain executive officers exceeds $1,000,000 in any taxable year of the company, but provides that the deduction limit will not apply to certain “performance-based compensation” that is granted or vests based upon pre-established objective performance goals and is established by an independent compensation committee and the material terms of which are adequately disclosed to and approved by stockholders. Cognizant intends that options, SARs and PSUs granted under the Plan will qualify as performance-based compensation not subject to a deductibility cap. However, a number of requirements must

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be met in order for particular compensation to so qualify, so there can be no assurance that these types of compensation under the Plan will be fully deductible under all circumstances. In addition, other types of compensation provided under the Plan may not qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) and therefore may not be deductible. For more information, see “What will be the material terms of the performance goals for awards intended to qualify under Section 162(m)?” on page 43.

Impact of Section 280G Deduction Limitation.Our ability to obtain a deduction for payments under the Plan could also be limited by the golden parachute rules of IRC Section 280G, which prevents the deductibility of certain excess parachute payments made in connection with a change in control of a company.

Plan Benefits

New Plan Benefits.Our Directors and executive officers may benefit from the grant of equity-based awards under the Plan. Grants of stock options and RSUs that will be awarded to non-employee Directors serving on the Board on the date of the Annual Meeting are shown in the table below. The number of awards that our NEOs, other executive officers and other employees may receive under the Plan will be determined in the discretion of the Compensation Committee in the future, and the Compensation Committee has not made any determination to make future grants to any persons under the Plan as of the date of this proxy statement. Therefore, it is not possible to determine the benefits that will be received in the future by such participants in the Plan or the benefits that would have been received by such participants if the Plan had been in effect in the year ended December 31, 2016.

Name and PositionDollar Value of
Shares
Underlying
Options
Granted
Dollar
Value of
Shares
Subject to
Stock Awards
Francisco D’Souza
Chief Executive Officer
     $0     $0
Rajeev Mehta
President
$0$0
Gordon J. Coburn
Former President
$0$0
Karen McLoughlin
Chief Financial Officer
$0$0
Ramakrishna Prasad Chintamaneni
EVP and President, Global Industries and Consulting
$0$0
Dharmendra Kumar Sinha
EVP and President, Global Client Services
$0$0
All current executive officers as a group$0$0
All current non-employee Directors as a group1$1,050,000$1,050,000
All employees except current executive officers as a group$0$0
1At the Annual Meeting, each non-employee Director will each receive a grant of stock options with a modified Black-Scholes value (using the assumptions utilized in preparing the Company’s most recent audited financial statements) as of the date of grant of $105,000 and a grant of RSUs with a fair market value as of the date of grant of $105,000, unless such member is not elected at the Annual Meeting. The number of shares subject to such awards will be determined based on the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant and, therefore, is not determinable at this time. Each such option will have an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value per share of our common stock on the grant date and a maximum term of seven years measured from the grant date and will vest ratably, 50% per year on each of the first two anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to the Director’s continued service on the Board through each applicable vesting date. Each such RSU award will vest ratably, one-third on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to the Director’s continuous service on the Board through each applicable vesting date.

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AUDIT MATTERS

PROPOSAL 5

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

What are you
voting on?

Our Audit Committee has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit our consolidated financial statements and our internal control over financial reporting for 2017. We are asking our stockholders to ratify this appointment of PwC. Although ratification is not required by our By-laws or otherwise, the Board values the opinions of our stockholders and believes that stockholder ratification of the Audit Committee’s selection is a good corporate governance practice. If the selection is not ratified, the Audit Committee will take this fact into consideration in determining whether it is appropriate to select another independent auditor for 2017 or future years. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee may select a different independent auditor at any time during the year if it determines that this would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

The Board unanimously recommends a voteFOR the Ratification of the Appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2017.

Our Auditor Review and Engagement Process

The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation (including negotiation and approval of the audit fee), retention and oversight of the independent registered public accounting firm that audits our financial statements and our internal control over financial reporting. Our Audit Committee and its chairperson are directly involved in the selection of the lead audit partner at the start of each rotation.

To ensure continuing audit independence:

The Audit Committee periodically considers whether there should be a change of the accounting firm that is retained, and considers the advisability and potential impact of selecting a different accounting firm;

Neither the accounting firm nor any of its members is permitted to have any direct or indirect financial interest in or any connection with us in any capacity other than as our auditors, providing audit and non-audit related services; and

In accordance with SEC rules and PwC policies, audit partners are subject to rotation requirements to limit the number of consecutive years an individual partner may provide services to our Company. For lead and concurring audit partners, the maximum number of consecutive years of service in that capacity is five years.


The members of the Audit Committee and the Board believe that the continued retention of PwC to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

We Expect PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to Attend the 2017 Annual Meeting

PwC representatives are expected to attend the Annual Meeting. They will have an opportunity to make a statement if they wish and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

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Audit Matters

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee has furnished the following report:

To the Board of Directors of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation:

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors acts under a written charter, which is available in the “Company Overview” section of the “About Cognizant” page of the Company’s website located atwww.cognizant.com, under the “Corporate Governance” tab. The members of the Audit Committee are independent Directors, as defined in its charter and the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC. The Audit Committee held 15 meetings during 2016.

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm (“auditor”) is responsible for performing an independent integrated audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee is responsible for providing independent, objective oversight of these processes.

The Audit Committee has reviewed the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and has discussed these financial statements with management and the Company’s auditor. The Audit Committee has also received from, and discussed with, the Company’s auditor various communications that such auditor is required to provide to the Audit Committee, including the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 1301, Communications with Audit Committees, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), as may be modified or supplemented.

The Company’s auditor also provided the Audit Committee with formal written statements required by PCAOB Rule 3526 (Communications with Audit Committees Concerning Independence) describing all relationships between the auditor and the Company, including the disclosures required by the applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the auditor’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence. In addition, the Audit Committee discussed with the auditor its independence from Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation. The Audit Committee also considered whether the auditor’s provision of certain other non-audit related services to the Company is compatible with maintaining such firm’s independence.

Based on its discussions with management and the auditor, and its review of the representations and information provided by management and the auditor, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

By the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation

Zein Abdalla
Maureen Breakiron-Evans
Jonathan Chadwick
John E. Klein
Leo S. Mackay, Jr.
Thomas M. Wendel


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Audit Matters

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FEES AND OTHER MATTERS

Fees

The following table summarizes the fees of PwC, our independent registered public accounting firm, for each of the last two fiscal years.

Fee Category          2015                 2016          
Audit Fees$4,122,200$7,681,100
Audit-Related Fees$1,575,300$3,486,100
Tax Fees$1,080,600$879,400
All Other Fees$335,400$238,000
       Total Fees$7,113,500$12,284,600

Audit Fees

Audit fees consist of fees for the audit of our consolidated financial statements (including services necessary for rendering an opinion under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), the review of our interim quarterly financial statements and other professional services provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. The increase in audit fees from 2015 to 2016 was principally due to increased audit work in connection with matters that are the subject of the Company’s ongoing internal investigation that is being conducted under the oversight of the Audit Committee, with the assistance of outside counsel, focused on whether certain payments relating to Company-owned facilities in India were made improperly and in possible violation of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other applicable laws.

Audit-Related Fees

Audit-related fees consist of fees for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit and the review of our financial statements and which are not reported under “Audit Fees”, including financial due diligence services related to business combinations. These services relate to attest services thatare not required by statute or regulation, consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting matters, and independent assessment of controls related to outsourcing services. The increase in audit-related fees from 2015 to 2016 was principally due to an increase in financial due diligence services related to the Company’s mergers and acquisitions activities.

Tax Fees

Tax fees comprise fees for a variety of permissible services relating to tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice. These services include assistance in complying with local transfer pricing requirements, assistance with local tax audits and assessments, withholding tax and indirect tax matters, preparation and filing of local tax returns, and technical advice relating to local and international tax matters.

All Other Fees

For 2016, other fees primarily relate to advisory fees for immigration services. For 2015, other fees primarily relate to advisory fees for immigration and IT security services.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy and Procedures

The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures relating to the approval of all audit and non-audit services that are to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm. This policy generally provides that we will not engage our independent registered public accounting firm to render audit or non-audit services unless the service is specifically approved in advance by the Audit Committee or the engagement is entered into pursuant to one of the pre-approval procedures described below.

From time to time, the Audit Committee may pre-approve specified types of services that are expected to be provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm during the next 12 months. Any such pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or type of services to be provided.

The Audit Committee has also delegated to Maureen Breakiron-Evans, the current Audit Committee Chair, the authority to approve any audit or non-audit services to be provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm. Any such approval of services pursuant to this delegated authority is reported on at the next meeting of the Audit Committee. During 2015 and 2016, the Audit Committee approved all services provided to us by PwC that are subject to the pre-approval policies and procedures described above.

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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

PROPOSAL 6

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO ELIMINATE THE SUPERMAJORITY VOTING PROVISIONS IN THE COMPANY’S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS

What are you
voting on?

The following stockholder proposal will be voted on at the 2017 Annual Meeting only if properly presented by or on behalf of the stockholder proponent. We are asking stockholders to vote to approve the stockholder proposal requesting that the Board take the steps necessary to eliminate the supermajority voting provisions in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws.

The Board unanimously recommends a voteFOR this proposal.

The Company has been advised that John Chevedden, 2215 Nelson Avenue, No. 205, Redondo Beach, California 90278, beneficial owner of 100 shares of the Company’s common stock, intends to submit the proposal set forth below at the Annual Meeting.

PROPOSAL 6 — SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE

RESOLVED, Shareholders request that our board take each step necessary so that each voting requirement in our charter and bylaws that calls for a greater than simple majority vote be eliminated, and replaced by a requirement for a majority of the votes cast for and against applicable proposals, or a simple majority in compliance with applicable laws. If necessary this means the closest standard to a majority of the votes cast for and against such proposals consistent with applicable laws. It is important that our company take each step necessary to adopt this proposal topic. It is important that our company take each step necessary to avoid a failed vote on this proposal topic.

Shareowners are willing to pay a premium for shares of companies that have excellent corporate governance. Supermajority voting requirements have been found to be one of 6 entrenching mechanisms that are negatively related to company performance according to “What Matters in Corporate Governance” by Lucien Bebchuk, Alma Cohen and Allen Ferrell of the Harvard Law School. Supermajority requirements are used to block initiatives supported by most shareowners but opposed by a status quo management.

This proposal topic won from 74% to 88% support at Weyerhaeuser, Alcoa, Waste Management, Goldman Sachs, FirstEnergy, McGraw-Hill and Macy’s. The proponents of these proposals included Ray T. Chevedden and William Steiner.

Currently a 1%-minority can frustrate the will of our 66%-shareholder majority. In other words a 1%-minority could have the power to prevent shareholders from improving our corporate governance.

Please vote to enhance shareholder value:

Simple Majority Vote - Proposal 6


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Stockholder Proposals

PROPOSAL 7

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT

What are you
voting on?

The following stockholder proposal will be voted on at the 2017 Annual Meeting only if properly presented by or on behalf of the stockholder proponent. The Board unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST the proposal for the reasons set forth following the proposal.

The Board unanimously recommends a voteAGAINST this proposal.

The Company has been advised that James McRitchie and Myra K. Young, 9295 Yorkship Court, Elk Grove, California 95758, beneficial owners of 100 shares of the Company’s common stock, intend to submit the proposal set forth below at the Annual Meeting. Mr. McRitchie and Ms. Young have delegated John Chevedden to act on their behalf regarding the proposal.

PROPOSAL 7 — RIGHT TO ACT BY WRITTEN CONSENT

Resolved, Shareholders request that our board of directors undertake such steps as may be necessary to permit written consent by shareholders entitled to cast the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize the action at a meeting at which all shareholders entitled to vote thereon were present and voting. This written consent is to be consistent with applicable law and consistent with giving shareholders the fullest power to act by written consent consistent with applicable law. This includes shareholder ability to initiate any topic for written consent consistent with applicable law.

A shareholder right to act by written consent and to call a special meeting are two complimentary ways to bring an important matter to the attention of both management and shareholders outside the annual meeting cycle. Both are associated with increased governance quality and shareholder value.

A shareholder right to act by written consent is one method to equalize our limited provisions for shareholders to call a special meeting. For instance, it takes 25% of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation shares outstanding to call a special meeting. Delaware law would allow 10% of shares outstanding to call a special meeting.

With a requirement of 25%, a significant percentage of Cognizant shares outstanding could be disenfranchised from having any voice whatsoever on calling a special meeting.

This proposal topic won 67% support at Duke Energy Corp. and majority shareholder support at 13 major companies in a single year. Hundreds of major companies enable shareholders to act by written consent.

Our proposal on this topic won 49% support at Cognizant last year; 1% more this year could put it over the top.

Please vote FOR our Right to Act by Written Consent to protect shareholder value.


The Board’s Statement of Opposition

The BoardUNANIMOUSLY recommends that stockholders voteAGAINST this proposal for the following reasons:

Written consent can result in an unfair, secret and unsound process and is unnecessary given the ability of stockholders to call special meetings. The Board believes that action by written consent, where there is no open meeting, disclosure and debate, is an unfair, secretive and unsound process. Further, implementation of this proposal is unnecessary given the Company’s other governance practices, including the ability of stockholders to call special meetings. At meetings of stockholders, stockholders have the opportunity to express views on proposed actions, participate in deliberations and vote. Such meetings occur at a time and date announced publicly in advance of the meeting. These and other provisions ensure that stockholders can raise matters for consideration and that all stockholders receive notice of, and have an opportunity to voice concerns about, proposed actions affecting the Company. In contrast, the proposal would allow a limited group of stockholders to act on potentially significant matters, without a meeting, without prior notice to all stockholders, and without an opportunity for fair and open discussion among stockholders.

The Company’s existing corporate governance practices and policies already ensure stockholder democracy and Board accountability. In addition to providing for stockholders’ right to call special meetings, the Company has been responsive to stockholder input and enhanced its governance practices and policies to further the rights of stockholders and Board accountability. The Board has shown time and again that when it believes a particular action requested by a stockholder is in the best interests of all stockholders, the Board will support that action. For example, the Board is supporting the other proposal involving the proponent, Proposal 6, requesting that the Board take the steps necessary to eliminate supermajority voting requirements in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, because it agrees that this action would benefit all stockholders. Other recent examples include:

Stockholder Engagement. We regularly solicit input from our stockholders and take appropriate actions where the long-term interests of all our stockholders are best served. For example, following engagement with Elliott Management and a number of other large stockholders and in conjunction with an agreement with Elliott, in 2017 we announced plans to return capital to stockholders and increase our non-GAAP Operating Margins.


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Stockholder Proposals

Regular Board Refreshment. The Board evaluates its composition on an ongoing basis to ensure that it has the right mix of skills and perspectives. Following the addition of a new director in each of 2015 and 2016, as part of an agreement reached with Elliott, two new directors have been added in 2017 to replace two retiring directors, and an additional director will be added by 2018 to replace another retiring director.

Proxy Access By-law. In 2016, the Board adopted a 3/3/25 proxy access By-law provision, with no limit on the number of stockholders who can work together to reach the 3% threshold. See “Director Nominees via Proxy Access” on page 53.

Majority Voting in Director Elections. The Company’s By-laws provide that, in an uncontested election of directors, a director nominee must receive more “for” votes than “against” votes to be elected. See ”Majority Voting Standard in Director Elections” on page 16.

Board Declassification. In 2013, the Board recommended and the stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to declassify the Board. Each of our directors is now subject to re-election at each annual meeting of stockholders.

We believe that these and our other corporate governance practices and policies enable stockholders to act in support of their interests, while avoiding the risks associated with the proposal.

Substantially identical proposals were rejected by the Company’s stockholders in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Substantially the same proposal has been submitted, considered by the Board and rejected by stockholders three times, including at the last two annual meetings. The Board continues to believe that this proposal is not in the best interests of all stockholders, and urges our stockholders to reject this proposal for the fourth time.


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Stockholder Proposals

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINEES FOR THE 2018 ANNUAL MEETING

Stockholder Proposals

SEC rules permit stockholders to submit proposals for inclusion in our proxy statement if the stockholder and the proposal meet the requirements specified in Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 14a-8”).

When to send these proposals. Any stockholder proposals submitted in accordance with Rule 14a-8 must be received at our principal executive offices no later than the close of business on December 21, 2017.

Where to send these proposals. Proposals should be sent to our Corporate Secretary. See “Helpful Resources” on page 78.

What to include. Proposals must conform to and include the information required by Rule 14a-8.


Director Nominees via Proxy Access

Our By-laws permit a group of stockholders who have owned a significant amount of the Company’s common stock (at least 3%) for a significant amount of time (at least three years) to submit director nominees (up to 25% of the Board and in any event not less than two directors) for inclusion in our proxy statement if the stockholder(s) and the nominee(s) satisfy the requirements specified in our By-laws.

When to send these proposals. Notice of director nominees under these By-law provisions must be received no earlier than November 21, 2017 and no later than the close of business on December 21, 2017. In the event that the date of the 2018 Annual Meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 70 days after June 6, 2018, then our Corporate Secretary must receive suchwritten notice not earlier than the close of business on the 150thday prior to the 2018 Annual Meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 120th day prior to the 2018 Annual Meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Company.

Where to send these proposals. Notice should be addressed to our Corporate Secretary. See “Helpful Resources” on page 78.

What to include. Notice must include the information required by our By-laws, a copy of which is available upon request to our Corporate Secretary. See “Helpful Resources” on page 78.


Other Proposals or Director Nominees

Our By-laws require that any stockholder proposal, including a director nomination, that is not submitted for inclusion in next year’s proxy statement (either under Rule 14a-8 or our proxy access By-laws), but is instead sought to be presented directly at such meeting, must be received by our Corporate Secretary in writing not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting.

When to send these proposals. Stockholder proposals or director nominations submitted under these By-law provisions must be received no earlier than the close of business on February 6, 2018 and no later than the close of business on March 8, 2018. In the event that the date of the 2018 Annual Meeting is more than 30days before or more than 70 days after June 6, 2018, then our Corporate Secretary must receive any such proposal not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the 2018 Annual Meeting and not later than the close of business of the later of the 90th day prior to the 2018 Annual Meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Company.

Where to send these proposals. Proposals should be sent to our Corporate Secretary. See “Helpful Resources” on page 78.

What to include. Proposals must include the information required by our By-laws, a copy of which is available upon request to our Corporate Secretary. See “Helpful Resources” on page 78.


Management Discretion to Vote Proxies on These Proposals

SEC rules permit management to vote proxies in its discretion in certain cases if the stockholder does not comply with the above deadlines and, in certain other cases, notwithstanding the stockholder’s compliance with these deadlines.

Non-Compliant Proposals

The Company reserves the right to reject, rule out of order, or take other appropriate action with respect to any proposal that does not comply with the requirements set forth above or other applicable requirements.


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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PROXY STATEMENT AND PROXY SOLICITATION

About this Proxy Statement

This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation of proxies to be voted at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Tuesday, June 3, 2014 (the “Annual Meeting”),6, 2017, at our headquarters,9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, at the Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe, Centre West, 500100 Frank W. Burr Blvd., Teaneck, New Jersey at 9:30 a.m. local time,07666, and at any continuation, postponement or adjournment thereof. Holders of record of shares of Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value (“Class A Common Stock”),common stock as of the close of business on April 7, 2014 (the “Record Date”),Record Date will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any continuation, postponement or adjournment of the Annual Meeting.thereof. As of the Record Date, there were approximately 608,444,973588,995,145 shares of Class A Common Stockcommon stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each share of Class A Common Stockcommon stock is entitled to one vote on any matter presented to stockholders at the Annual Meeting.

This proxy statement and the Company’s 2016 Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2013 (the “2013 Annual Report”) will be released on or about April 17, 201420, 2017 to our stockholders on the Record Date.

In this proxy statement, “Cognizant”, “Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our” refer to Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS

FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2014

This Proxy Statement and our 2013 Annual Report to Stockholders are available at http://www.proxyvote.com/

Stockholders may receive directions to attend the meeting in person by calling the Company’s investor relations staff at 201-498-8840 or by emailing David.Nelson@cognizant.com.

PROPOSALS

Management Discretion Proposals and Board Recommendations

At the Annual Meeting, our stockholders will be asked to:to vote on the proposals and other stockholder actions set forth below. The Board recommends that you vote your shares as indicated below. If you return a properly completed proxy card, or vote your shares by telephone or over the Internet, your shares of common stock will be voted on your behalf as you direct. If not otherwise specified, the shares of common stock represented by the proxies will be voted in accordance with the Board’s recommendations.

LOGO  Elect Michael Patsalos-Fox and Robert E. Weissman as Class II Directors to serve until the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or until their respective successors shall have been duly elected and qualified;
LOGO  Approve the First Amendment to the Company’s 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2009 Incentive Compensation Plan”);
LOGO  Approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers;
LOGO  Ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014; and
LOGO  Transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any continuation, postponement, or adjournment thereof.
Proposals and Other Stockholder Actions     Board
Recommendation
     See
Page No.

1.      

Elect the 11 Director nominees named in this proxy statement to serve until the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

FOR EACH DIRECTOR
NOMINEE

10

2.

Approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the Company’s executive compensation;

FOR22

3.

Approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the frequency of future advisory votes on the Company’s executive compensation;

1 YEAR

22

4.

Approve the 2017 Incentive Award Plan;

FOR

40

5.

Ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2017;

FOR47

6.

Consider a stockholder proposal requesting that the Board take the steps necessary to eliminate the supermajority voting provisions in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting;

FOR

50

7.

Consider a stockholder proposal requesting that the Board take the steps necessary to permit stockholder action by written consent, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting; and

AGAINST

51


We know of no other business that will be presented at the Annual Meeting. If any other matter properly comes before the stockholders for a vote at the Annual Meeting, however, the proxy holders named on the Company’s proxy card will vote your shares in accordance with their best judgment.

2014Additional Information About This Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation1


Why You Received This Proxy Statement

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD

The Board of Directors, or Board, recommends that you vote your shares as indicated below. If you return a properly completed proxy card, or vote your shares by telephone or Internet, your shares of Class A Common Stock will be voted on your behalf as you direct. If not otherwise specified, the shares of Class A Common Stock represented by the proxies will be voted, and the Board of Directors recommends that you vote:

LOGO  FOR the election of Michael Patsalos-Fox and Robert E. Weissman as Class II Directors;
LOGO  FOR the First Amendment to the 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan;
LOGO  FOR the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers; and
LOGO  FOR the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014.

If any other matter properly comes before the stockholders for a vote at the Annual Meeting the proxy holders will vote your shares in accordance with their best judgment.

INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROXY STATEMENT

Why you received this proxy statement. You are viewing or have received these proxy materials because Cognizant’sthe Board of Directors is soliciting your proxy to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting. This proxy statement includes information that we are required to provide to you under theSEC rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and that is designed to assist you in voting your shares.

Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials.

As permitted by SEC rules, Cognizant is making this proxy statement and its 20132016 Annual Report available to certain of its stockholders electronically via the Internet. On or about April 17, 2014,20, 2017, we mailed to these stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Internet Notice”) containing instructions on how to access this proxy statement and our 20132016 Annual Report and vote online. If you received an Internet Notice by mail, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials in the mail unless you specifically request them. Instead, the Internet Notice instructs you on how to access and review all of the important information contained in thethis proxy statement and 20132016 Annual Report. The Internet Notice also instructs you on how you may submit your proxy over the Internet. If you received an Internet Notice by mail and would like to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting such materials contained on the Internet Notice.

Printed Copies of Our Proxy Materials.Materials

Some of our stockholders received printed copies of our proxy statement, 20132016 Annual Report and proxy card. If you received printed copies of our proxy materials, then instructions regarding how you can vote are contained on the proxy card included in the materials.

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Additional Information

Householding

Householding. The SEC’s rules permit us to deliver a single Internet Notice or set of proxy materials to one address shared by two or more of our stockholders. This delivery method is referred to as “householding” and can result in significant cost savings. To take advantage of this opportunity, we have delivered only one Internet Notice or one set of proxy materials to multiple stockholders who share an address, unless we received contrary instructions from the impacted stockholders prior to the mailing date. We agree to deliver promptly, upon written or oral request, a separate copy of the Internet Notice or proxy materials, as requested, to any stockholder at the shared address to which a single copy of those documents was delivered. If you prefer to receive separate copies of the Internet Notice or proxy materials, contact Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”) at (800) 542-1061800-542-1061 or in writing at Broadridge, Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717.

If you are currently a stockholder sharing an address with another stockholder and wish to receive only one copy of future Internet Notices or proxy materials for your household, please contact Broadridge at the above phone number or address.

Solicitation of Proxies

The accompanying proxy is solicited by and on behalf of the Board, whose Notice of Annual Meeting is included with this proxy statement, and the entire cost of such solicitation will be borne by us. In addition to the use of mail, proxies may be solicited by personal interview, telephone, e-mail and facsimile by our Directors, officers and other employees who will not be specially compensated for these services. We have engaged Innisfree M&A Incorporated, to assist us with the solicitation of proxies.

We expect to pay Innisfree a fee of $25,000 plus reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses for its services. We will also request that brokers, nominees, custodians and other fiduciaries forward soliciting materials to the beneficial owners of shares held by such brokers, nominees, custodians and other fiduciaries. We will reimburse such persons for their reasonable expenses in connection therewith.

ANNUAL MEETING Q&A

2014 Proxy StatementQuestions and Answers About the 2017 Annual MeetingCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation2


Questions and Answers aboutWho is entitled to vote at the 2014 Annual Meeting of StockholdersMeeting?

WHO IS ENTITLED TO VOTE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?

The record dateRecord Date for the Annual Meeting is April 7, 2014. Only stockholders10, 2017. You are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting only if you were a stockholder of record at the close of business on that date, are entitled to vote ator if you hold a valid proxy for the Annual Meeting. The only class of stock entitled to be voted at the Annual Meeting is our Class A Common Stock.common stock. Each outstanding share of Class A Common Stockcommon stock is entitled to one vote for all matters before the Annual Meeting. At the close of business on the record date,Record Date, there were 608,444,973588,995,145 shares of Class A Common Stockcommon stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.vote at the Annual Meeting.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING A “RECORD HOLDER” AND HOLDING SHARES IN “STREET NAME”What is the difference between being a “record holder” and holding shares in “street name”?

A record holder holds shares in his or her name. Shares held in “street name” means shares that are held in the name of a bank or broker on a person’s behalf.

AMAm I ENTITLED TO VOTE IF MY SHARES ARE HELD IN “STREET NAME”entitled to vote if my shares are held in “street name”?

Yes. If your shares are held by a bank or a brokerage firm, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of those shares held in “street name.”name”. If your shares are held in street name, these proxy materials are being forwardedprovided to you by your bank or brokerage firm, along with a voting instruction card.card if you received printed copies of our proxy materials. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your bank or brokerage firm how to vote your shares, and the bank or brokerage firm is required to vote your shares in accordance with your instructions. If your shares are held in street name, you may not vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you obtain a legal proxy from your bank or brokerage firm.

HOW MANY SHARES MUST BE PRESENT TO HOLD THE ANNUAL MEETING?How many shares must be present to hold the Annual Meeting?

A quorum must be present at the Annual Meeting for any business to be conducted. The presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares of Class A Common Stockcommon stock outstanding on the record dateRecord Date will constitute a quorum.

WHO CAN ATTEND THE 2014 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS?Who can attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders?

AllYou may attend the Annual Meeting only if you are a Cognizant stockholdersstockholder who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, mayor if you hold a valid proxy for the Annual Meeting. If you plan to attend our 2014the Annual Meeting, of Stockholders.you must call the Company’s investor relations staff at 201-498-8840 or emailDavid.Nelson@cognizant.com no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 5, 2017 to have your name placed on the attendance list. In order to be admitted into the Annual Meeting, your name must appear on the attendance list and you must present government-issued photo identification (such as a driver’s license). If your bank or broker holds your shares are held in street name, however, you may not vote your shares in person atwill also be required to present proof of beneficial ownership of our common stock on the Annual Meeting unlessRecord Date, such as the Internet Notice you obtain a legal proxyreceived from your bank or broker, a bank or brokerage firm.

WHAT IF A QUORUM IS NOT PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?statement, or a letter from your bank or broker showing that you owned shares of our common stock at the close of business on the Record Date.

What if a quorum is not present at the Annual Meeting?

If a quorum is not present at the scheduled time of the Annual Meeting, a majority of the outstanding shares represented at the Annual Meeting, by proxy or in person, and entitled to vote may adjourn the Annual Meeting.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN IFWhat does it mean if I RECEIVE MORE THAN ONE INTERNET NOTICE OR MORE THAN ONE SET OF PROXY MATERIALS?receive more than one Internet Notice or more than one set of proxy materials?

It means that your shares are held in more than one account at the transfer agent and/or with banks or brokers. Please vote all of your shares. To ensure that all of your shares are voted, for each Internet Notice or set of proxy materials, please submit your proxy by phone, via the Internet, or, if you received printed copies of the proxy materials, by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed envelope.


2017 Proxy Statement     55



Table of Contents

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation3Additional Information


QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE 2014 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

HOW DOHow do I VOTE?vote?

We recommend that stockholders vote by proxy even if they plan to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person. If you are a stockholder of record, there are three ways to vote by proxy:

by Telephone—telephone–You can vote by telephone by calling 1-800-690-6903800-690-6903 and following the instructions on the proxy card;

by Internet—Internet–You can vote over the Internet atwww.proxyvote.comby following the instructions on the Internet Notice or proxy card; or

by Mail—mail–You can vote by mail by signing, dating and mailing the proxy card, which you may have received by mail.

Telephone and Internet voting facilities for stockholders of record will be available 24 hours a day and will close at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time,Time on June 2, 2014.5, 2017.

If your shares are held in street name through a bank or broker, you will receive instructions on how to vote from the bank or broker. You must follow their instructions in order for your shares to be voted. Telephone and Internet voting also will be offered to stockholders owning shares through certain banks and brokers. If your shares are not registered in your own name and you would like to vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting, you should contact your bank or broker to obtain a legal proxy or broker’s proxy card and bring it to the Annual Meeting in order to vote.

CANCan I CHANGE MY VOTE AFTERchange my vote after I SUBMIT MY PROXY?submit my proxy?

Yes.

If you are a registered stockholder, you may revoke your proxy and change your vote:

by submitting a duly executed proxy bearing a later date;

by granting a subsequent proxy through the Internet or telephone;

by giving written notice of such revocation to the Corporate Secretary of Cognizant prior to or at the Annual Meeting; or

by voting in person at the Annual Meeting.

Your most recent proxy card or telephone or Internet proxy is the one that is counted. Your attendance at the Annual Meeting itself will not revoke your proxy unless you give written notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary before your proxy is voted or you vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

If your shares are held in street name, you may change or revoke your voting instructions by following the specific directions provided to you by your bank or broker, or you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting by obtaining a legal proxy from your bank or broker and submitting the legal proxy along with your ballot.

WHO WILL COUNT THE VOTES?Whom should I contact if I have questions or need assistance voting?

Please contact Innisfree M&A Incorporated, our proxy solicitor assisting us in connection with the Annual Meeting. Stockholders may call toll free at 888-750-5834. Banks and brokers may call collect at 212-750-5833.

Who will count the votes?

Representatives of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., our inspectorsinspector of election, will tabulate and certify the votes.

WHAT IFWhat if I DO NOT SPECIFY HOW MY SHARES ARE TO BE VOTED?do not specify how my shares are to be voted?

If you submit a proxy but do not indicate any voting instructions, the persons named as proxies will vote in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors.Board. The Board of Directors’Board’s recommendations for each proposal are set forth on page 2 of this proxy statement,54, as well as with the description of each proposal in this proxy statement.

WILL ANY OTHER BUSINESS BE CONDUCTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?Will any other business be conducted at the Annual Meeting?

We know of no other business that will be presented at the Annual Meeting. If any other matter properly comes before the stockholders for a vote at the Annual Meeting, however, the proxy holders named on the Company’s proxy card will vote your shares in accordance with their best judgment.

How many votes are required for the approval of the proposals to be voted upon and how will abstentions and broker non-votes be treated?

2014 Proxy StatementProposal     Cognizant Technology Solutions CorporationVotes required     4


QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE 2014 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

HOW MANY VOTES ARE REQUIRED FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED UPON AND HOW WILL ABSTENTIONS AND BROKER NON-VOTES BE TREATED?

ProposalVotes requiredEffect of Abstentions
and Broker Non-Votes

Proposal 1: Election of Directors1

A director nominee will be elected to the Board of Directors if the

Votes cast “for” exceed votes cast “for” the nominee exceed the votes cast “against” the nominee..

No effect.

Proposal 2: Approval of First Amendment to 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast.No effect.
Proposal 3: Advisory (Non-Binding) Vote on Executive Compensation (Say-on-Pay)

The affirmative vote

Majority of a majority of the votes cast.

No effect.

Proposal 3: Advisory (Non-Binding) Vote on Frequency of Advisory (Non-Binding) Vote on Executive Compensation

Majority of votes cast. If no frequency receives the foregoing vote, then we will consider the frequency that receives the highest number of votes cast to be the frequency recommended by stockholders.

No effect.

Proposal 4: Approval of 2017 Incentive Award Plan

Majority of votes cast.

No effect.

Proposal 5: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The affirmative vote

Majority of a majority of the votes cast.

Abstentions will have no effect; no broker non-votes expected.

Proposal 6: Stockholder Proposal Regarding Elimination of Supermajority Voting Provisions in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws

Majority of votes cast.

No effect. We do not expect any broker

Proposal 7: Stockholder Proposal Regarding Stockholder Action by Written Consent

Majority of votes cast.

No effect.


non-votes on
1There are 11 Director nominees named in Proposal 1. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named in this proposal.

56     Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation



WHAT IS AN ABSTENTION AND HOW WILL ABSTENTIONS BE TREATED?Table of Contents

Additional Information

What is an abstention and how will abstentions be treated?

An “abstention” represents a stockholder’s affirmative choice to decline to vote on a proposal. Abstentions are counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. Shares voting “abstain” have no effect on the election of directors, the approvalany of the first amendment toproposals before the 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan, the approval of the compensation of our named executive officersAnnual Meeting.

What are broker non-votes and the ratification of our independent registered public accounting firm.

WHAT ARE BROKER NON-VOTES AND DO THEY COUNT FOR DETERMINING A QUORUM?do they count for determining a quorum?

Generally, broker non-votes occur when shares held by a broker in “street name” for a beneficial owner are not voted with respect to a particular proposal because the broker (1) has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner and (2) lacks discretionary voting power to vote those shares. A broker is entitled to vote shares held for a beneficial owner on routine matters, such as the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLPPwC as our independent registered public accounting firm, without instructions from the beneficial owner of those shares. On the other hand, absent instructions from the beneficial owner of such shares, we expect that a broker will not be entitled to vote shares held for a beneficial owner on all of the other proposals to be voted on at the Annual Meeting. Broker non-votes count for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present.

WHERE CANWhere can I FIND THE VOTING RESULTS OF THE 2014 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS?find the voting results of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders?

We plan to announce preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting and we will report the final results in a Current Report on Form 8-K, which we intend to file with the SEC shortly after the Annual Meeting.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation5


Corporate Governance

GENERAL

Our Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, a Code of Ethics entitled “Cognizant’s Core Values and Standards of Business Conduct” and chartersWhere do I direct requests for our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Audit Committee and Compensation Committee to assist the Board in the exercise of its responsibilities and to serve as a framework for the effective governance of the Company. You can access our current committee charters, our Corporate Governance Guidelines and our Code of Ethics in the “Company Overview” section of the “About Cognizant” page of our website under the “Corporate Governance” tab located at www.cognizant.com or by writing to our Secretary at our offices at Glenpointe Centre West, 500 Frank W. Burr Blvd., Teaneck, New Jersey 07666.

DETERMINATION OF INDEPENDENCE

Under NASDAQ Stock Market rules, a Director will only qualify as an “independent director” if, in the opinion of our Board of Directors, that person does not have a relationship which would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a Director. In evaluating the independence of our Directors, the Board considered transactions and relationships between the Company and its subsidiaries and each Director and their family members, as defined in the NASDAQ rules. As a result of this review, the Board determined that each of Maureen Breakiron-Evans, John Fox, John Klein, Leo S. Mackay, Jr., Michael Patsalos-Fox, Robert Weissman, and Thomas Wendel do not have a relationship which would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a Director and that each of these Directors is an “independent director” as defined under NASDAQ rules. In determining the independence of each director, the Board considered the fact that Mr. Patsalos-Fox was a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, a position he held until October 2013. From time to time in the ordinary course of business, the Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in transactions with McKinsey & Company. The Board considered the magnitude and nature of this relationship and determined that it did not impair the independence of Mr. Patsalos-Fox.

DIRECTOR CANDIDATES

The process followed by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to identify and evaluate director candidates includes requests to Board members and others for recommendations, meetings from time to time to evaluate biographical information and background material relating to potential candidates and interviews of selected candidates by members of the Committee and the Board. From time to time, we also engage search firms to assist in the identification of director candidates.

In considering whether to recommend any particular candidate for inclusion in the Board’s slate of recommended Director nominees, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will apply the criteria set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines. These criteria include the candidate’s integrity, business acumen, knowledge of our business and industry, experience, diligence, absence of conflicts of interest and the ability to act in the interests of all stockholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not have a specific policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees. However, our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the value of diversity on the Board should be considered. The Committee does not assign specific weights to particular criteria and no particular criterion is a prerequisite for each prospective nominee. We believe that the backgrounds and qualifications of our Directors, considered as a group, should provide a composite mix of experience, knowledge and abilities that will allow the Board to fulfill its responsibilities.

Stockholders may recommend individuals to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for consideration as potential Director candidates by submitting the names of the recommended individuals, together with appropriate biographical information and background materials and a statement as to whether the stockholder or group of stockholders making the recommendation has beneficially owned more than 5% of Class A Common Stock for at least a year as of the date

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation6


CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

such recommendation is made, to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, c/o Corporate Secretary, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, Glenpointe Centre West, 500 Frank W. Burr Blvd., Teaneck, New Jersey 07666. Assuming that appropriate biographical and background material has been provided on a timely basis, the Committee will evaluate stockholder-recommended candidates by following substantially the same process, and applying substantially the same criteria, as it follows for candidates submitted by others.

VOTING FOR DIRECTORS

Our By-laws provide that the vote standard for the election of directors is a majority of votes cast in uncontested elections. In accordance with the Company’s By-laws, if none of our stockholders provides the Company notice of an intention to nominate one or more candidates to compete with the Board’s nominees in a Director election, or if our stockholders have withdrawn all such nominations by the day before the Company mails its notice of meeting to our stockholders, a nominee must receive more votes cast for than against his or her election or re-election in order to be elected or re-elected to the Board. The Board expects a Director to tender his or her resignation if he or she fails to receive the required number of votes for re-election. The Board will nominate for election or re-election as Director only candidates who agree to tender, promptly following such person’s failure to receive the required vote for election or re-election at the next meeting at which such person would face election or re-election, an irrevocable resignation that will be effective upon Board acceptance of such resignation. In addition, the Board will fill Director vacancies and new directorships only with candidates who agree to tender, promptly following their appointment to the Board, the same form of resignation tendered by other Directors in accordance with this corporate governance guideline. If an incumbent Director fails to receive the required vote for re-election, then, within 90 days following certification of the stockholder vote, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will act to determine whether to accept the Director’s resignation and will submit such recommendation for prompt consideration by the Board, and the Board will act on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board may consider any factors they deem relevant in deciding whether to accept a Director’s resignation.

Any Director who tenders his or her resignation pursuant to this provision may not participate in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommendation or Board action regarding whether to accept the resignation offer.

Thereafter, the Board will promptly disclose its decision-making process and decision regarding whether to accept the Director’s resignation offer (or the reason(s) for rejecting the resignation offer, if applicable) in a Form 8-K furnished to the SEC.

If each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee fails to receive the required vote in favor of his or her election in the same election, then those independent Directors who did receive the required vote will appoint a committee amongst themselves to consider the resignation offers and recommend to the Board whether to accept them. However, if the only Directors who did not receive the required vote in the same election constitute three or fewer Directors, all Directors may participate in the action regarding whether to accept the resignation offers.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM STOCKHOLDERS

The Board will give appropriate attention to written communications that are submitted by stockholders, and will respond if and as appropriate. Our Chairman of the Board and Secretary and General Counsel are primarily responsible for monitoring communications from stockholders and for providing copies or summaries to the other Directors as they consider appropriate.

Under procedures approved by a majority of the independent Directors, communications are forwarded to all Directors if they relate to important substantive matters and include suggestions or comments that our Secretary and Chairman of the Board consider to be important for the Directors to know. In general, communications relating to corporate governance and long-term corporate strategy are more likely to be forwarded than communications relating to ordinary business affairs, personal grievances and matters as to which we tend to receive repetitive or duplicative communications.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation7


CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Stockholders who wish to send communications on any topic to the Board should address such communications to the Board of Directors by emailing the Board of Directors at the following email address: corporategovernance@cognizant.com; or in writing: c/o Corporate Secretary, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, Glenpointe Centre West, 500 Frank W. Burr Blvd., Teaneck, New Jersey 07666.

BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AND ROLE IN RISK OVERSIGHT

The Board evaluates its leadership structure and role in risk oversight on an ongoing basis. Since December 2003, the Company’s board leadership structure has separated the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer roles into two positions. Currently, John E. Klein is the Chairman of the Board and Francisco D’Souza is the Chief Executive Officer. The Board determines what leadership structure it deems appropriate based on factors such as the experience of the applicable individuals, the current business environment of the Company or other relevant factors. After considering these factors, the Board determined that continuing to separate the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer is the appropriate board leadership structure at this time.

The Board of Directors is also responsible for oversight of the Company’s risk management practices while management is responsible for the day-to-day risk management processes. This division of responsibilities is the most effective approach for addressing the risks facing the Company, and the Company’s board leadership structure supports this approach. The Board receives periodic reports from management regarding the most significant risks facing the Company. In addition, the Audit Committee assists the Board in its oversight role by receiving periodic reports regarding the Company’s risk and control environment.

CODE OF ETHICS

We have adopted a written Code of Ethics that applies to our Directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. We have posted our Code of Ethics, entitled “Cognizant’s Core Values and Standards of Business Conduct,” in the “Company Overview” section of the “About Cognizant” page of our website under the “Corporate Governance” tab located at www.cognizant.com. In addition, we intend to post on our website all disclosures that are required by law or NASDAQ Stock Market listing standards concerning any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of our Code of Ethics.

ATTENDANCE BY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT MEETINGS

There were nine meetings of the Board of Directors during 2013. Each Director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of (i) all meetings of the Board of Directors held during the period in which he or she served as a Director and (ii) the total number of meetings held by the committees on which he or she served during the period, if applicable.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that Directors are expected to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Mr. D’Souza acted as Chairman of the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and all other Directors participated in the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders by teleconference.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation8


Committees of the Board

The Board of Directors has established three standing committees—the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee—each of which operates under a charter that has been approved by our Board of Directors. Current copies of each committee’s charter are posted under the “Corporate Governance” tab in the “Company Overview” section of the “About Cognizant” page of our website located at www.cognizant.com.

The members of each of the Board committees and committee chairs are set forth in the following chart.

NameAuditCompensationNominating and Corporate
Governance

Maureen Breakiron-Evans

ChairX

Francisco D’Souza

John N. Fox, Jr.

XX

John E. Klein

XChairX

Leo S. Mackay, Jr.

X

Lakshmi Narayanan

Michael Patsalos-Fox

XX

Robert E. Weissman

XChair

Thomas M. Wendel

XX

The Board of Directors has determined that all of the members of each of the Board’s three standing committees are independent as defined under the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market, including, in the case of all members of the Audit Committee, the independence requirements contemplated by Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market, and including, in the case of all members of the Compensation Committee, the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market specific to the independence of compensation committee members.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

Our Audit Committee’s responsibilities include:

providing direct oversight of the independent registered public accounting firm, including responsibility over such accountant’s appointment, termination, qualifications and independence and the scope and fees of the annual audit of our consolidated financial statements;

discussing the contents of our annual and quarterly consolidated financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm;

pre-approving all audit services, and any other services, including review, attest and non-audit services, provided by our independent registered public accounting firm;

monitoring our internal control over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures and Code of Ethics;

reviewing and discussing the internal audit process, scope of activities and audit results with our internal audit department;

reviewing and discussing with management our risk management framework and processes; and

preparing the audit committee report required by SEC rules (which is included on page 66 of this proxy statement).

The members of the Audit Committee are Ms. Breakiron-Evans and Messrs. Klein, Mackay and Wendel. The Audit Committee met nine times during 2013. The Board of Directors has determined that Ms. Breakiron-Evans is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation9


COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Our Compensation Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in the discharge of its responsibilities relating to the compensation of our executive officers. In fulfilling its purpose, our Compensation Committee has the following principal duties:

reviewing and approving, or making recommendations to the Board with respect to, the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s other executive officers;

overseeing an evaluation of our senior executives;

overseeing and administering our cash and stock-based compensation incentive plans;

reviewing incentive compensation arrangements to ensure that such compensation arrangements do not encourage unnecessary risk taking; and

reviewing and making recommendations to the Board with respect to Director compensation.

The Compensation Committee also administers the 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan and establishes the terms and conditions of all stock-based compensation awards granted thereunder, and the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Compensation Committee met five times during 2013. The members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Fox, Klein, Patsalos-Fox and Weissman.

NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s responsibilities include:

recommending to the Board the persons to be nominated for election as directors and to be appointed to each of the Board’s committees;

reviewing and making recommendations to the Board with respect to management succession planning;

developing and recommending to the Board corporate governance guidelines; and

overseeing an annual evaluation of the Board.

The members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Ms. Breakiron-Evans and Messrs. Fox, Klein, Patsalos-Fox, Weissman and Wendel. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met two times during 2013.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation10


Director Compensation

All share and share-based numbers and values in this Director Compensation section reflect the Company’s two-for-one stock split that occurred on March 7, 2014.

Directors who are our employees or employees of our subsidiaries receive no cash remuneration for serving as Directors. All Directors who are not our employees or employees of our subsidiaries, referred to herein as non-employee Directors, other than our Chairman, receive an annual retainer of $40,000 for their service on the Board of Directors (with no additional fees paid for attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors). Our Chairman receives an annual retainer of $140,000 (with no additional fees paid for attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors). The Chair of the Audit Committee receives an annual retainer of $15,000. The Chair of the Compensation Committee receives an annual retainer of $10,000. The Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee receives an annual retainer of $5,000. All non-employee Directors, receive $1,500 for attendance at each meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors, other than telephonic meetings that are held for 30 minutes or less, for which no attendance fee is paid.

Directors were previously eligible to participate in our: (1) Amended and Restated 1999 Incentive Compensation Plan, which we refer to as the 1999 Incentive Plan; and (2) Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan, which we refer to as the Director Plan. During 2009, the 1999 Incentive Plan and the Director Plan were succeeded by the Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan, which we refer to as the 2009 Incentive Plan. Awards granted under the previous plans are still valid, however no additional awards may be granted from the 1999 Incentive Plan and the Director Plan. All Directors are currently eligible to participate in our 2009 Incentive Plan.

Each newly elected non-employee Director receives a deferred stock unit grant under the 2009 Incentive Plan equal in value to $160,000 as measured by the closing price of the Company’s Class A Common Stock (rounded down to the nearest whole share) on the date of grant. The date of grant is the date of election to the Board unless otherwise specified by the Board or a Committee thereof. The shares underlying such stock unit grant are issued upon the Director’s termination of service in accordance with the 2009 Incentive Plan.

During 2013, the Directors were granted options to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock and restricted stock units with respect to shares of Class A Common Stock under the 2009 Incentive Plan. Each of the options granted under the 2009 Incentive Plan vests ratably, fifty percent per year on the anniversary of such grant in 2014 and 2015, and has an exercise price equal to the fair market value per share of Class A Common Stock on the grant date or the closing price on the last trading day if granted on a weekend or holiday, and a maximum term of seven years measured from such date. The Directors will have a limited period in which to exercise their vested options following cessation of Board service.

Each of the restricted stock units granted to the Directors under the 2009 Incentive Plan during 2013 vests ratably one-third per year on the anniversary of such grant in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The non-employee Directors had the opportunity to defer settlement of these restricted stock units. Messrs. Howe and Weissman elected to defer such settlement until the first to occur of (i) a change in control of the Company, (ii) the Director’s death or permanent disability or (iii) the July 1 immediately following his separation from service from the Company. Ms. Breakiron-Evans and Messrs. Wendell and Klein elected to defer such settlement until the first to occur of: (i) a change in control of the Company, (ii) the Director’s death or disability or (iii) (a) with respect to one-third of the Director’s restricted stock units (rounded down to the nearest whole share), the July 1 immediately following his or her separation from service from the Company and (b) with respect to one-third of his or her restricted stock units (rounded down to the nearest whole share), the second July 1 immediately following his or her separation from service from the Company and (c) with respect to the remainder of his or her restricted stock units, the third July 1 following his or her separation from service from the Company. Messrs. Patsalos-Fox, Fox and Mackay, Jr. did not elect to defer the settlement of their restricted stock units.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation11


DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The following table shows the option and restricted stock unit grants made to the Directors in 2013:

Director  

Number of Shares
Underlying

Options Granted

  Number of Shares
Underlying
Restricted Stock
Units Granted
  Grant Date  

Exercise Price

Per Share for

Options

Maureen Breakiron-Evans  11,560  3,084  June 4, 2013  $32.41
John N. Fox, Jr.  11,560  3,084  June 4, 2013  $32.41
Robert W. Howe  11,560  3,084  June 4, 2013  $32.41
John E. Klein  11,560  3,084  June 4, 2013  $32.41
Leo S. Mackay, Jr.  11,560  3,084  June 4, 2013  $32.41
Lakshmi Narayanan  11,560  3,084  June 4, 2013  $32.41
Michael Patsalos-Fox  11,560  3,084  June 4, 2013  $32.41
Robert E. Weissman  11,560  3,084  June 4, 2013  $32.41
Thomas M. Wendel  11,560  3,084  June 4, 2013  $32.41

2013 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the compensation of each of our Directors for the 2013 fiscal year.

Name  

Fees Earned or

Paid in Cash

($) 1

  

Stock Awards

($) 2

   

Option Awards

($) 3

  

Total

($)

Maureen Breakiron-Evans   68,500    99,952    99,994  268,446
John N. Fox, Jr.   47,500    99,952    99,994  247,446
Robert W. Howe5   40,000    99,952    99,994  239.946
John E. Klein   169,500    99,952    99,994  369,446
Leo S. Mackay, Jr.   52,000    99,952    99,994  251,946
Lakshmi Narayanan   100,000 4   99,952    99,994  299,946
Michael Patsalos-Fox   43,000    99,952    99,994  242,946
Robert E. Weissman   52,500    99,952    99,994  252,446
Thomas M. Wendel   53,500    99,952    99,994  253,446

1

Consists of amounts described under “Director Compensation.”

2

Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of the restricted stock units granted in the 2013 fiscal year under the 2009 Incentive Plan, determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The grant date fair value of each restricted stock award was $32.41. The reported dollar amounts do not take into account any estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. For information regarding assumptions underlying the valuation of equity awards, see Note 12 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

3

Represents the aggregate grant date fair value for stock options granted in the 2013 fiscal year under the 2009 Incentive Plan, determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The grant date fair value of each stock option was $8.65. The reported dollar amounts do not take into account any estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. For information regarding assumptions underlying the valuation of equity awards, see Note 12 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

4

Represents the amount that Mr. Narayanan receives as salary as an employee of the Company and in lieu of any retainers or attendance fees that Mr. Narayanan would otherwise be entitled to as a member of the Board.

5

Mr. Howe died in 2014.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation12


DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The following table sets forth the aggregate number of stock awards and the aggregate number of stock options held by each of our Directors at December 31, 2013.

Name  

Aggregate

Number of
Stock Awards

(#) 1

   

Aggregate

Number of
Stock Options

(#)

 

Maureen Breakiron-Evans

   14,834     91.560  

John N. Fox, Jr.

   3,084     116,360  

Robert W. Howe2

   3,084     51,560  

John E. Klein

   3,084     61,560  

Leo S. Mackay, Jr.

   7,590     31,560  

Lakshmi Narayanan

   3,084     21,560  

Michael Patsalos-Fox

   8,662     31,560  

Robert E. Weissman

   3,084     71,560  

Thomas M. Wendel

   3,084     71,560  

1

Includes the restricted stock units granted in 2013, with respect to which the settlement has been delayed for some directors, as described above. For Ms. Breakiron-Evans, Mr. Mackay, Jr. and Mr. Patsalos-Fox, also includes 11,750, 4,506 and 5,578 deferred stock units, respectively, to be settled upon the Director’s termination of service on our Board.

2

Mr. Howe forfeited all his stock awards and his 21,560 unvested stock options upon his death in 2014.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation13


PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON — PROPOSAL 1

Election of Directors

At the Annual Meeting, two (2) Class II Directors are to be elected to hold office until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2015, or until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified, subject to such director’s prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office.

We currently have nine (9) Directors, following the death of director Robert W. Howe in February 2014. A majority of the votes cast is required for the election of directors at the Annual Meeting. A majority of the votes cast means that the number of votes cast “for” a director nominee must exceed the number of votes cast “against” that director nominee. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted and, accordingly, will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on this proposal.

In accordance with our By-laws and Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board will nominate for election or re-election as a Director only candidates who agree to tender, promptly following their failure to receive the required vote for election or re-election at the next meeting at which they would face election or re-election, an irrevocable resignation that will be effective upon acceptance by the Board. In addition, the Board will fill Director vacancies and new directorships only with candidates who agree to tender the same form of resignation, promptly following their appointment to the Board.

If an incumbent Director fails to receive the required vote for re-election, then, within 90 days following certification of the stockholder vote, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will act to determine whether to accept the Director’s resignation and will submit the recommendation for prompt consideration by the Board, and the Board will act on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation.

Thereafter, the Board will promptly disclose its decision-making process and decision regarding whether to accept the Director’s resignation offer (or the reason(s) for rejecting the resignation offer, if applicable) in a Form 8-K furnished to the SEC.

Any Director who tenders his or her resignation pursuant to this provision of our Corporate Governance Guidelines may not participate in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommendation or Board action regarding whether to accept the resignation offer. If each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee fails to receive the required vote in favor of his or her election in the same election, then those independent Directors who did receive the required vote will appoint a committee amongst themselves to consider the resignation offers and recommend to the Board whether to accept them. However, if the only Directors who did not receive the required vote in the same election constitute three or fewer Directors, all Directors may participate in the action regarding whether to accept the resignation offers.

As set forth in our Certificate of Incorporation, the terms of office of the members of the Board of Directors are currently divided into three classes, which division will terminate at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Our Certificate of Incorporation further provides that each director elected at or after the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders held after such director’s election, subject to such director’s prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office.

The current class composition is as follows: Class I, whose term will expire at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; Class II, whose term currently expires at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and whose new term will expire at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; and Class III, whose term will expire at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and whose subsequent term will expire at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The current Class I Directors are Maureen Breakiron-Evans, John E. Klein, and Lakshmi Narayanan; the current Class II Directors are Michael Patsalos-Fox and Robert E. Weissman; and the current Class III Directors are Francisco D’Souza, John N. Fox, Jr., Leo S. Mackay, Jr. and Thomas M. Wendel.

There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers, directors and key employees.

If you submit a proxy but do not indicate any voting instructions, the persons named as proxies will vote the shares of Class A Common Stock represented thereby for the election as directors of the persons whose names and biographies appear below. All of the persons whose names and biographies appear below are currently serving as our directors. In the event any of the nominees should become unavailable or unable to serve as a director, it is intended that votes will be cast for a substitute

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation14


PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

nominee designated by the Board of Directors or the Board may elect to reduce its size. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that the nominees named will be unable to serve if elected. Each of the nominees has consented to being namedmentioned in this proxy statement and to serve if elected.how do I contact Cognizant’s Corporate secretary?

VOTE REQUIRED

A director nominee will be elected to the Board of Directors if the votes cast “for” the nominee exceed the votes cast “against” the nominee. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted and, accordingly, will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on this proposal.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LOGO  The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the election of the Class II Director nominees.

NOMINEES FOR CLASS II DIRECTORS (TERMS TO EXPIRE AT THE 2015 ANNUAL MEETING)

The current members of the Board of Directors who are also nomineesPlease direct requests for election to the Board of Directors as Class II Directors are as follows:

Name Age    Served as a
Director Since
    Current Positions with Cognizant

Michael Patsalos-Fox

   61     2012    Director

Robert E. Weissman

   73     2001    Director

The principal occupations and business experience, for at least the past five years, of each Class II Nominee for election at the 2014 Annual Meeting are as follows:

LOGO

MICHAEL PATSALOS-FOX

Age 61

Michael Patsalos-Fox was appointed to the Board of Directors in July 2012. Mr. Patsalos-Fox currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Stroz Friedberg, a global investigation and cyber security firm, effective November 2013. Mr. Patsalos-Fox was a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm (“McKinsey”), until October 2013. Mr. Patsalos-Fox served as a member of McKinsey’s operating committee and was a leader of McKinsey’s new business growth opportunities around data, analytics, and software through June 30, 2012. Mr. Patsalos-Fox held various other positions with McKinsey since 1981, including Managing Partner of the New York and New Jersey offices. He also served on McKinsey’s board of directors from 1998 through 2010. From 2003 through 2009, Mr. Patsalos-Fox also served as Chairman, the Americas, for McKinsey. Mr. Patsalos-Fox received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Sydney and a Master of Business Administration degree from the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland.

LOGO

ROBERT E. WEISSMAN

Age 73

Robert E. Weissman was elected to the Board of Directors in May 2001. Mr. Weissman retired in January 2001 after nearly thirty years serving as Chief Executive Officer for several public corporations. Most recently, Mr. Weissman was Chairman of the Board of Directors of IMS Health, a provider of information to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. He served as both Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IMS Health until March 1999. Prior to his position with IMS Health, Mr. Weissman was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cognizant Corporation and prior to that, was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation. Prior to his election as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation in 1995, he held the position of President and Chief Operating Officer of that company from 1985. Mr. Weissman joined The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation in May 1979, when The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation acquired National CSS, a computer time-sharing company, of which he was President and Chief Executive Officer. Since his

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation15


PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

retirement, Mr. Weissman has been active as Chairman of Shelburne Investments, a private investment company that works with emerging companies in the United States and Europe. Mr. Weissman is a director of Information Services Group Inc. and previously served as a director of State Street Corporation and Pitney Bowes, Inc. Mr. Weissman was previously a member of the Advisory Board for Affinnova, Inc., a privately held market research firm. Mr. Weissman graduated from Babson College in 1964. He serves on Babson’s Board of Trustees, and received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Babson in 1995.

CONTINUING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

CLASS I DIRECTORS (TERMS TO EXPIRE AT THE 2016 ANNUAL MEETING)

The current members of the Board of Directors who are Class I Directors are as follows:

Name Age    Served as a
Director Since
    Positions with Cognizant

Maureen Breakiron-Evans

 59    2009    Director

John E. Klein

 72    1998    Chairman of the Board and Director

Lakshmi Narayanan

 61    2003    Vice Chairman and Director

The principal occupations and business experience, for at least the past five years, of each Class I Director are as follows:

LOGO

MAUREEN BREAKIRON-EVANS

Age 59

Maureen Breakiron-Evans was elected to the Board of Directors in May 2009. Ms. Breakiron-Evans served as Chief Financial Officer of Towers Perrin from January 2007 to April 2008, where she was the head of Financial Resources and responsible for the firm’s financial strategy. From February 2005 to October 2006, Ms. Breakiron-Evans served as Vice President and General Auditor of CIGNA Corporation where she was responsible for managing the enterprise risk management and internal audit functions. From 2001 to 2004, Ms. Breakiron-Evans served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Inovant, LLC, which is VISA’s captive technology development and transaction processing company. Prior to that, Ms. Breakiron-Evans held several positions at Transamerica Corporation, a provider of insurance, investments, and retirement products and services, in San Francisco, including Vice President and General Auditor, Vice President of Control and Services and President of Transamerica Business Technologies Corp. Ms. Breakiron-Evans began her career as a financial auditor, ultimately serving as an Audit Partner with Arthur Andersen & Co. On November 29, 2012, Ms. Breakiron-Evans was appointed to the board of directors of Heartland Payment Systems, Inc, a provider of payment processing services. On January 1, 2011, Ms. Breakiron-Evans began serving a four-year term as a director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, a private government sponsored-enterprise. Ms. Breakiron-Evans previously served as a director of ING Direct, an Internet bank, from November 2005 until March 2007. Ms. Breakiron-Evans is a member of the Board of Trustees of Stetson University. Ms. Breakiron-Evans received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Stetson University, a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School and a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Stanford University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant in the State of California.

LOGO

JOHN E. KLEIN

Age 72

John E. Klein was elected to the Board of Directors in March 1998 and elected to serve as our Chairman of the Board in December 2003. Mr. Klein currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Polarex, Inc., an organization providing executive support to software and services companies, where he has been employed since 1994. Prior to that, Mr. Klein held various positions at various companies, including President and Chief Executive Officer of MDIS Group PLC, a UK listed software and services company. In addition, Mr. Klein also served as Chairman of Glovia International and PRO IV Limited, two enterprise software and services companies. Prior to 1995, Mr. Klein was a Vice President at both Digital Equipment Corporation and IBM. Mr. Klein holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and a Master of Business Administration degree from New York University.

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PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

LOGO

LAKSHMI NARAYANAN

Age 61

Lakshmi Narayanan was appointed Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2007. Mr. Narayanan served as our Chief Executive Officer from December 2003 through December 2006 and as our President from March 1998 through December 2006. Mr. Narayanan joined our Indian subsidiary as Chief Technology Officer in 1994 and was elected President of such subsidiary on January 1, 1996. Prior to joining us, from 1975 to 1994, Mr. Narayanan was the regional head of Tata Consultancy Services, a large consulting and software services company located in India. Mr. Narayanan serves on the board of directors and as the Chairman of the Governance Committee of TVS Capital Funds Limited. Mr. Narayanan is the Chairman of the Board of ICT Academy of Tamil Nadu, a not-for-profit training and research institution established in a partnership model between the Government of India, IT Industry and the Confederation of Indian Industry. Mr. Narayanan holds a Bachelor of Science degree, a Master of Science degree and a Management degree from the Indian Institute of Science.

CLASS III DIRECTORS (TERMS TO EXPIRE AT THE 2015 ANNUAL MEETING)

The current members of the Board of Directors who are Class III Directors are as follows:

Name Age    Served as a
Director Since
    Positions with Cognizant

Francisco D’Souza

 45    2007    Chief Executive Officer and Director

John N. Fox, Jr.

 71    2007    Director

Leo S. Mackay, Jr.

 52    2012    Director

Thomas M. Wendel

 77    2001    Director

The principal occupations and business experience, for at least the past five years, of each Class III Director are as follows:

LOGO

FRANCISCO D’SOUZA

Age 45

Francisco D’Souza was appointed Chief Executive Officer and became a member of the Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2007. Mr. D’Souza served as our President from January 1, 2007 through February 6, 2012 and as our Chief Operating Officer from December 2003 through December 2006. Prior to that, from November 1999 to December 2003, he served as our Senior Vice President, North American Operations and Business Development. From March 1998 to November 1999, he served as our Vice President, North American Operations and Business Development and as our Director-North American Operations and Business Development from June 1997 to March 1998. From January 1996 to June 1997, Mr. D’Souza was engaged as our consultant. From February 1995 to December 1995, Mr. D’Souza was employed as Product Manager at Pilot Software. Between 1992 and 1995, Mr. D’Souza held various marketing, business development and technology management positions as a Management Associate at The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation. While working at The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, Mr. D’Souza was part of the team that established the software development and maintenance business conducted by us. Mr. D’Souza serves on the Board of Directors of General Electric Company. Mr. D’Souza serves on the Board of Trustees of Carnegie Mellon University, the Board of Trustees of The New York Hall of Science and the Board of Directors of the U.S.-India Business Council. Mr. D’Souza also is a member of the Business Roundtable. Mr. D’Souza holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Macau (formerly known as the University of East Asia) and a Master of Business Administration degree from Carnegie Mellon University.

LOGO

JOHN N. FOX, JR.

Age 71

John N. Fox, Jr., was appointed to the Board of Directors in December 2007. Mr. Fox formerly served as Vice Chairman of Deloitte & Touche LLP and Global Director, Strategic Clients for Deloitte Consulting, from 1998 to 2003. Mr. Fox held various other positions with Deloitte Consulting from 1968 to 2003, and in addition to his responsibilities as Vice Chairman and Global Director, he also served on Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu’s board of directors and was a member of the Governance (Executive) Committee from 1998 to 2003. Mr. Fox currently serves as a Trustee for Wabash College and Steppenwolf Theatre

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation17


PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Company and has been a member of the board of directors of VASCO Data Security International, Inc. since April 2005. Mr. Fox received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wabash College and his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan.

LOGO

LEO S. MACKAY, JR.

Age 52

Leo S. Mackay, Jr. was appointed to the Board of Directors in September 2012. Mr. Mackay is Vice President, Ethics and Sustainability at Lockheed Martin Corporation, a defense contractor engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of products and services (“Lockheed”). Mr. Mackay also served in various other positions for Lockheed, including Vice President, Corporate Business Development, from 2007 through 2011, in which he was responsible for leading Lockheed’s strategic customer relationship development, and as President, ICGS LLC and Vice President and General Manager, Coast Guard Systems, from 2005 through 2007. From 2003 through 2005, Mr. Mackay served as Chief Operations Officer for ACS State Healthcare LLC. Mr. Mackay received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy, a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University – John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Harvard University.

LOGO

THOMAS M. WENDEL

Age 77

Thomas M. Wendel was elected to the Board of Directors in June 2001. In July 2000, Mr. Wendel retired as the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bridge Information Systems, a global financial information, transaction services, and network services company. Prior to joining Bridge in 1995, Mr. Wendel was founding President and Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Brokerage Inc., a U.S. government securities brokerage firm. Mr. Wendel previously served in various positions at Paine Webber, Inc., including Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President and Managing Director. Prior to joining Paine Webber in 1982, Mr. Wendel was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Pan American World Airways. Mr. Wendel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Ursinus College, a Master of Arts in Economics from San Jose State College, and a Master in Business Administration from the University of Santa Clara.

DIRECTOR EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS

We believe that the backgrounds and qualifications of our Directors, considered as a group, should provide a composite mix of experience, knowledge and abilities that will allow the Board to fulfill its responsibilities. The Board is composed of a diverse group of leaders in their respective fields. Many of the current Directors have leadership experience at major domestic and international companies with operations inside and outside the United States, as well as experience on other companies’ boards, which provides an understanding of different business processes, challenges and strategies. Other Directors have experience as officers or trustees of significant academic, research and philanthropic institutions, which brings unique perspectives to the Board. Further, the Company’s Directors have other experience that makes them valuable members, such as prior public policy or regulatory experience that provides insight into issues faced by companies.

The following highlights the specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of our individual Board members that have led the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to conclude that these individuals should continue to serve on our Board:

Maureen Breakiron-Evans

Global business experience as the Chief Financial Officer of Towers Perrin, Executive Vice President of VISA/Inovant, General Auditor of CIGNA Corporation and various executive positions at Transamerica Corporation.

Enterprise Risk Management experience at each of the above named companies.

Audit Partner at Arthur Andersen & Co.

Outside board and audit committee experience as a director of Heartland Payment Systems, Inc.

Outside board and audit committee experience as a director of ING Direct.

Certified Public Accountant.

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PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Francisco D’Souza

Global business experience in various roles with our Company as well as The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation over the past twenty years.

Over twenty years’ experience in the technology industry.

Outside board experience as a director of General Electric Company.

Member of the Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies that develops, recommends and advocates for innovative policy solutions that help expand U.S. economic opportunity.

Experience as a trustee of a charitable organization.

Experience as a university trustee.

John N. Fox, Jr.

Global business experience as Vice Chairman at Deloitte & Touche LLP and Global Director at Deloitte Consulting.

Over thirty-five years’ experience consulting and advising clients on large scale, complex transactions, including strategic initiatives, new business models, reengineered business processes, merger integration and organizational change.

Experience as a college trustee.

Outside board experience as a director of VASCO Data Security International, Inc.

John E. Klein

Over thirty-five years’ experience in the high technology field with global firms such as IBM, Digital Equipment and MDIS.

Global business experience as President and Chief Executive Officer of Polarex, Inc., an organization providing executive support to software and services companies.

Outside board experience as a director of various software and servicing companies.

Leo S. Mackay, Jr.

Global business experience with Lockheed Martin Corporation, ACS State Healthcare, and Bell Helicopter.

Experience with corporate governance, ethics, compliance and sustainability as a Vice President and an elected corporate officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Outside board experience as Chair of the Board of Visitors of the Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University of Maryland, and a director of the Center for a New American Security.

Leadership experience as a former Navy F-14 pilot, a Naval Fighter Weapons School graduate, and a veteran of Operation Earnest Will.

Lakshmi Narayanan

Over thirty years’ experience in the technology field.

Affiliation with a leading software and services organization. Former Chairman of the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM). Continues to serve on the Past Chairmen’s council on policy matters.

Directed the course of the industry by managing large programs.

Member of the Governments’ Competitiveness Council on manufacturing.

Outside board experience as a director of TVS Capital Funds Limited, U.S. India Business Council (USIBC), a trade and investment promotion council, and certain charitable foundations, including United Way of Chennai, a chapter of United Way Worldwide, and the Cognizant Foundation.

Michael Patsalos-Fox

Over thirty years’ of international business experience at McKinsey & Company.

Leadership experience as a member of McKinsey’s Operating Committee, and previously as head of its Americas region, New York and New Jersey Offices, the North American Corporate Finance and Strategy practice, and the European Telecoms practice.

Experience developing corporate strategies and working with technology companies.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation19


PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Robert E. Weissman

Over thirty years’ experience as Chief Executive Officer of several public corporations.

Private equity management experience as Chairman of Shelburne Investments, a private investment company working with emerging companies in the United States and Europe.

Affiliation with leading business and public policy associations (including the Business Roundtable, the Institute of Management Accountants, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and the Committee for Economic Development).

Outside board experience as a director of State Street Corporation, Pitney Bowes, Inc. and Information Services Group.

Experience as a college trustee.

Thomas M. Wendel

Global business experience as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bridge Information Systems.

Founder of Liberty Brokerage, Inc.

Experience as Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Paine Webber, Inc. and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Pan American World Airways.

Outside board experience as a director of several public and private companies.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation20


PROPOSAL 2

Approval of First Amendment to 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan

The Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2009 Incentive Plan”) was approved by our stockholders in June 2009. We periodically have granted stock options, restricted stock units and performance-based stock units under the plan. We are submitting the First Amendment to the 2009 Incentive Plan (the “First Amendment”) to our stockholders for approval. All share and share-based numbers and values in this Proposal 2 reflect the Company’s two-for-one stock split that occurred on March 7, 2014.

The substantive changes to the plan effected by the First Amendment are:

increasing the maximum number of shares for which awards may be made to any one employee, consultant or other independent advisor under the plan in any single calendar year from 2,000,000 shares to 2,500,000 shares;

increasing the maximum dollar amount for which awards may be made to any one participant under the plan in any single calendar year from $3,000,000 to $4,000,000;

adding a limit of 50,000 on the maximum number of shares for which awards may be made to any one non-employee member of the Board or the board of directors of our parent or any of our subsidiary companies under the plan in any single calendar year;

expanding the list of performance measures for qualifying awards as performance-based under Section 162(m) of the Code (“Section 162(m)”) to include the following new measures: productivity measures, funds from operations and operating efficiency; and

clarifying that the operating or net income and gross, operating or net profit margin performance criteria may be measured before acquisition related charges or net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses and that the earnings per share performance criterion may be measured either before or after acquisition related charges, net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses, charges for stock-based compensation or any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Company (or any parent or subsidiary) in settlement of stock-based awards.

We are asking for increases to the per-person share limits and dollar limitations under the plan and for modifications to the list of performance criteria to create additional flexibility to continue to aid the Company and its subsidiaries in recruiting and retaining service providers and to motivate such individuals to exert their best efforts on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries by providing incentives through the granting of awards. We expect that we will benefit from the added interests that such individuals will have in the welfare of the Company as a result of their proprietary interest in our success. We believe that equity-based incentives, including incentives that are tied to the performance of the Company, are crucial to recruit and retain employees and other service providers, as well as important means of aligning their interests with those of our stockholders.

We are asking our stockholders to approve the First Amendment in order to satisfy the stockholder approval requirements of Section 162(m). In general, Section 162(m) places a limit on the deductibility for federal income tax purposes of the compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer or any of our three other most highly compensated executive officers (other than our Chief Financial Officer) (“covered employees”). Under Section 162(m), compensation paid to such persons in excess of $1,000,000 in a taxable year generally is not deductible by the Company. However, compensation that qualifies as “performance-based” under Section 162(m) does not count against the $1,000,000 deduction limitation. One of the requirements of “performance-based” compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) is that the material terms of the performance goals under which compensation may be paid be disclosed to and approved by our public stockholders every five years. For purposes of Section 162(m), the material terms include (i) the employees eligible to receive compensation, (ii) a description of the business criteria on which the performance goals may be based and (iii) the maximum amount of compensation that can be paid to an employee under the performance goals. Each of these aspects of the 2009 Incentive Plan, as amended by the First Amendment (the amended plan, the “Amended 2009 Incentive Plan”), is discussed below, and stockholder approval of this Proposal 2 and the First Amendment will be deemed to constitute approval of the material terms of the performance goals under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan for purposes of the stockholder approval requirements of Section 162(m). We believe that it is in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders to preserve the ability to grant “performance-based” compensation under Section 162(m).

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation21


PROPOSAL 2 — APPROVAL OF FIRST AMENDMENT TO 2009 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

Stockholder approval of the material terms of the performance goals under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan is only one of several requirements under Section 162(m) that must be satisfied for amounts paid under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan to qualify for the “performance-based” compensation exemption under Section 162(m). Additional requirements are described under “Summary of Federal Income Tax Consequences” starting on page 28 of this proxy statement. In addition, in certain circumstances, we may determine to grant compensation to covered employees that will not qualify as “performance-based” compensation for purposes of Section 162(m), and nothing in this proposal precludes us or the Compensation Committee from making any payment or granting awards that are not intended to qualify for tax deductibility under Section 162(m). Moreover, even if we intend to grant compensation that qualifies as “performance-based” compensation for purposes of Section 162(m), we cannot guarantee that such compensation ultimately will be deductible by us.

If our stockholders do not approve the First Amendment pursuant to this Proposal 2, the First Amendment will not be effective and we will not make any grants pursuant to the terms of the First Amendment, including the revised performance criteria included therein, and no new awards will be granted in excess of the existing individual annual share and dollar limits. The 2009 Incentive Plan (as in effect prior to the First Amendment) will, however, remain in effect and we may continue to grant equity awards under the 2009 Incentive Plan pursuant to its current terms. In addition, all previously granted awards will continue to be subject to the 2009 Incentive Plan.

Summary Description of Amended 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan

The principal terms and provisions of the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan are summarized below. The summary, however, is not intended to be a complete description of all the terms of the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the 2009 Incentive Plan and the First Amendment, which are attached as Exhibits A and B.

Incentive Programs. The Amended 2009 Incentive Plan consists of three separate equity incentive programs: (i) the discretionary grant program, (ii) the stock issuance program, and (iii) the incentive bonus program. The principal features of each program are described below.

Types of Awards. The various types of incentives which may be issued under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan are as follows: (i) stock options and stock appreciation rights under the discretionary grant program, (ii) direct stock issuances, stock bonuses and stock issuances pursuant to restricted stock units and other share-right awards under the stock issuance program, and (iii) cash bonus awards, performance unit awards and dividend equivalent rights awarded under the incentive bonus program.

Administration. The Compensation Committee will have the exclusive authority to administer the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan with respect to awards made to our executive officers and Board members and will also have the authority to make awards to all other eligible individuals. However, our Board of Directors may at any time appoint a secondary committee of one or more Board members to have separate but concurrent authority with the Compensation Committee to make awards under the plan to individuals other than executive officers and Board members. In addition, administration of the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan may, at the Board’s discretion, be vested in a special award committee of one or more executive officers with authority to administer the plan with respect to employees other than executive officers, Board members and members of such special award committee and to make awards to such individuals under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan, subject to such limitations imposed on such committee by the Board.

The term “plan administrator,” as used in this summary, will mean our Compensation Committee and any secondary or special award committee, to the extent each such entity is acting within the scope of its administrative authority under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan.

Eligibility. Officers and employees in our employ or in the employ of our parent or subsidiary companies (whether now existing or subsequently established), as well as members of our Board of Directors or the board of directors of our parent or subsidiary companies (whether now existing or subsequently established) and consultants and other independent advisors of any of the foregoing entities, will be eligible to participate in the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan. As of March 31, 2014, approximately 12,487 persons (including 14 executive officers, seven non-employee Board members, approximately 12,466 other employees and approximately zero consultants or advisors) will be eligible to participate in the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan.

Securities Subject to Amended 2009 Incentive Plan. 48,000,000 shares of our Class A Common Stock were initially reserved for issuance over the term of the 2009 Incentive Plan and, as of March 31, 2014, 22,310,890 of such shares remain available for

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PROPOSAL 2 — APPROVAL OF FIRST AMENDMENT TO 2009 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

issuance under the 2009 Incentive Plan and will continue to be available under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan. For each share of Class A Common Stock issued without cash consideration pursuant to awards under the stock issuance program or the incentive bonus program, the share reserve under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan will be reduced by 1.55 shares.

Awards made under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan will be subject to the following per-participant limitations in order to provide the plan administrator with the opportunity to structure one or more of those awards as “performance-based” compensation under Section 162(m) and to satisfy other considerations.

For awards to employees, consultants and other independent advisors who provide services to the Company (or any parent or subsidiary) measured in terms of shares of our Class A Common Stock (whether payable in our Class A Common Stock, cash or a combination of both), no participant in the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan may receive awards for more than 2,500,000 shares of our Class A Common Stock in any single calendar year, subject to adjustment for subsequent stock splits, stock dividends and similar transactions.

For awards measured in terms of cash dollars (whether payable in cash, shares of our Class A Common Stock, or both), no participant in the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan may receive awards with an aggregate dollar value in excess of $4,000,000 in any single calendar year, with such limitation to be measured at the time the award is made.

For awards to non-employee members of the Board or the board of directors of any parent or subsidiary measured in terms of shares of our Class A Common Stock (whether payable in our Class A Common Stock, cash or a combination of both), no such director may receive awards for more than 50,000 shares of our Class A Common Stock in any single calendar year, subject to adjustment for subsequent stock splits, stock dividends and similar transactions.

The shares of Class A Common Stock issuable under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan may be drawn from shares of our authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock or from shares of our Class A Common Stock that we acquire, including shares purchased on the open market or in private transactions.

Shares subject to awards under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan which remain unissued upon the expiration or termination of those awards will be available for subsequent grants under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan. Any unvested shares issued under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan that are subsequently forfeited or that we repurchase, at a price not greater than the original issue price paid per share, pursuant to our repurchase rights under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan will be added back to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan and will accordingly be available for subsequent issuance.

There are no net counting provisions in effect under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan. Accordingly, the following share counting procedures will apply:

Should the exercise price of an option be paid in shares of our Class A Common Stock, then the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan will be reduced by the gross number of shares for which that option is exercised, and not by the net number of new shares issued under the exercised option.

Should shares of Class A Common Stock otherwise issuable under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan be withheld by us in satisfaction of the withholding taxes incurred in connection with the exercise, issuance or vesting of an award, then the number of shares of Class A Common Stock available for issuance under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan will be reduced by the full number of shares issuable pursuant to that award, as calculated prior to any such share withholding.

Upon the exercise of any stock appreciation right granted under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan, the share reserve will be reduced by the gross number of shares as to which such stock appreciation right is exercised, and not by the net number of shares actually issued upon such exercise.

Equity Incentive Programs

Discretionary Grant Program. Under the discretionary grant program, eligible persons may be granted options to purchase shares of our Class A Common Stock or stock appreciation rights tied to the value of our Class A Common Stock. The plan administrator will have complete discretion to determine which eligible individuals are to receive such awards, the time or times when those awards are to be made, the number of shares subject to each such award, the vesting schedule to be in effect for the award, the maximum term for which the award is to remain outstanding and the status of any granted option as either an incentive stock option or a non-statutory option under the federal tax laws. Each granted option will have an exercise price per share determined by the plan administrator, but the exercise price will not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the option shares on the grant date. No granted option will have a term in excess of seven years. However, one or

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more options may be structured so that they will be immediately exercisable for any or all of the option shares. The shares acquired under such immediately exercisable options will be subject to repurchase by us, at the lower of the exercise price paid per share or the fair market value per share, if the optionee ceases service prior to vesting in those shares.

Upon cessation of service, the optionee will have a limited period of time in which to exercise his or her outstanding options to the extent exercisable for vested shares. The plan administrator will have complete discretion to extend the period following the optionee’s cessation of service during which his or her outstanding options may be exercised and/or to accelerate the exercisability or vesting of such options in whole or in part. Such discretion may be exercised at any time while the options remain outstanding, whether before or after the optionee’s actual cessation of service.

The Amended 2009 Incentive Plan will allow the issuance of two types of stock appreciation rights under the discretionary grant program:

Tandem stock appreciation rights provide the holders with the right to surrender their options for an appreciation distribution from us in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the fair market value of the vested shares of our Class A Common Stock subject to the surrendered option over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for those shares.

Stand-alone stock appreciation rights allow the holders to exercise those rights as to a specific number of shares of our Class A Common Stock and receive in exchange an appreciation distribution from us in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the fair market value of the shares of Class A Common Stock as to which those rights are exercised over (ii) the aggregate base price in effect for those shares. The base price per share may not be less than the fair market value per share of our Class A Common Stock on the date the stand-alone stock appreciation right is granted, and the right may not have a term in excess of seven years.

The distribution with respect to any exercised tandem or stand-alone stock appreciation right will be made in shares of our Class A Common Stock or cash. Stock appreciation rights will remain exercisable for a limited period following the holder’s cessation of service, but only to the extent those rights are exercisable at the time of such cessation of service. The plan administrator will have complete discretion to extend the period following the holder’s cessation of service during which his or her outstanding stock appreciation rights may be exercised and/or to accelerate the exercisability or vesting of those stock appreciation rights in whole or in part. Such discretion may be exercised at any time while the stock appreciation right remains outstanding, whether before or after the holder’s actual cessation of service.

Repricing Prohibition. The plan administrator may not implement any of the following repricing programs without obtaining stockholder approval: (i) the cancellation of outstanding options or stock appreciation rights in return for new options or stock appreciation rights with a lower exercise price per share, (ii) the cancellation of outstanding options or stock appreciation rights with exercise prices per share in excess of the then current fair market value per share of our Class A Common Stock for consideration payable in cash or our equity securities or (iii) the direct reduction of the exercise price in effect for outstanding options or stock appreciation rights.

Stock Issuance Program. Shares may be issued under the stock issuance program at a price per share not less than their fair market value, payable in cash or other valid consideration under the Delaware General Corporation Law. Shares may also be issued as a bonus for past services without any cash purchase price required of the recipient. Shares of our Class A Common Stock may also be issued under the program pursuant to share right awards or restricted stock units which entitle the recipients to receive those shares, without payment of any cash purchase price, upon the attainment of designated performance goals or the completion of a prescribed service period or upon the expiration of a designated time period following the vesting of those awards or units, including (without limitation), a deferred distribution date following the termination of the recipient’s service with us.

The plan administrator will have complete discretion to determine which eligible individuals are to receive awards under the stock issuance program, the time or times when those awards are to be made, the number of shares subject to each such award, the applicable performance and/or service vesting provisions, the issuance schedule to be in effect for the shares that vest and become issuable under each such award and the cash consideration (if any) payable per share.

The shares issued may be fully and immediately vested upon issuance or may vest upon the completion of a designated service period or the attainment of pre-established performance goals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following limitations shall apply with respect to the vesting schedules established for the awards made under the stock issuance program, subject to acceleration in connection with the optionee’s termination of employment under designated circumstances and upon certain changes in control of the company: (i) for any award which is to vest on the basis of service,

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the minimum vesting period shall be three (3) years, with such vesting to occur in one or more installments over that period as determined by the plan administrator, but in no event more favorably than monthly; and (ii) for any such award which is to vest on the basis of performance objectives, the performance period will have a duration of at least one year.

To enable the compensation attributable to one or more awards under the program to qualify as “performance-based” compensation which will not be subject to the $1,000,000 limitation on the income tax deductibility of the compensation paid per executive officer which is imposed under Section 162(m), the plan administrator will also have the discretionary authority to structure one or more of those awards so that the underlying shares of Class A Common Stock will vest only upon the achievement of certain pre-established corporate performance goals based on one or more of the following criteria: (i) revenue or revenue growth, (ii) operating or net income, (iii) operating or net income before acquisition related charges, net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses, and/or charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Company (or any parent or subsidiary) in settlement of stock-based awards, (iv) operating or net income before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and/or charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Company (or any parent or subsidiary) in settlement of stock-based awards, (v) gross, operating or net profit margin, (vi) gross, operating or net profit margin before acquisition related charges, net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses, and/or charges for stock-based compensation, and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Company (or any parent or subsidiary) in settlement of stock-based awards, (vii) earnings per share, either before or after acquisition related charges, net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses, and/or charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Company (or any parent or subsidiary) in settlement of stock-based awards, (viii) return on assets, capital or stockholder equity, (ix) total stockholder return, (x) cash flow, (xi) measures in terms of days sales outstanding or accounts receivable outstanding, (xii) working capital, (xiii) market share, (xiv) increases in customer base, (xv) cost reductions or other expense control objectives, (xvi) market price of the Common Stock, whether measured in absolute terms or in relation to earnings or operating income or in relation to various stock market or industry indices, (xvii) budget objectives, (xviii) working capital, (xix) mergers, acquisitions or divestitures, (xx) measures of customer satisfaction, (xxi) productivity measures, (xxii) funds from operations, (xxiii) operating efficiency or (xxiv) economic value-added models. In addition, such performance goals may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of our performance under one or more of the measures described above relative to the performance of other entities and may also be based on the performance of any of our business units or divisions or any parent or subsidiary. Performance goals may include a minimum threshold level of performance below which no award will be earned, levels of performance at which specified portions of an award will be earned and a maximum level of performance at which an award will be fully earned. In addition, the performance goals may be subject to adjustment for one or more of the following items: (a) asset impairments or write-downs, (b) litigation judgments or verdicts and expenses and settlement costs and expenses, (c) the effect of changes in tax laws or regulations, accounting principles or other applicable laws, regulations or provisions affecting reported results, (d) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs, (e) any extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in applicable accounting standards and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the applicable year, (f) the operations of any business acquired by the Company or any parent or subsidiary or of any joint venture in which the Company or any parent or subsidiary participates, (g) the divestiture of one or business operations or the assets thereof, (h) the costs incurred in connection with such acquisitions or divestitures or (i) non-operating foreign exchange gains or losses.

The plan administrator will have the discretionary authority at any time to accelerate the vesting of any and all shares of restricted stock or other unvested shares outstanding under the stock issuance program. However, no vesting requirements tied to the attainment of performance objectives may be waived with respect to shares which were intended at the time of issuance to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), except in the event of certain involuntary terminations or changes in control or ownership.

Outstanding restricted stock units or other stock-based awards under the stock issuance program will automatically terminate, and no shares of our Class A Common Stock will actually be issued in satisfaction of those units or awards, if the performance goals or service requirements established for such units or awards are not attained. The plan administrator, however, will have the discretionary authority to issue shares of our Class A Common Stock in satisfaction of one or more outstanding restricted stock units or other stock-based right awards as to which the designated performance goals or service

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PROPOSAL 2 — APPROVAL OF FIRST AMENDMENT TO 2009 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

requirements are not attained. However, no vesting requirements tied to the attainment of performance objectives may be waived with respect to units or awards which were intended at the time of issuance to qualify as “performance-based” compensation under Section 162(m), except in the event of certain involuntary terminations or changes in control or ownership.

Incentive Bonus Program. Cash bonus awards, performance unit awards and dividend equivalent rights may be awarded under the incentive bonus program. Cash bonus awards will vest over an eligible individual’s designated service period or upon the attainment of pre-established performance goals and may be paid in cash or shares of our Class A Common Stock valued at fair market value on the payment date. Performance unit awards will be subject to the following parameters:

(i) A performance unit will represent a participating interest in a special bonus pool tied to the attainment of pre-established corporate performance objectives based on one or more performance goals described above in the description of the stock issuance program. The amount of the bonus pool may vary with the level at which the applicable performance objectives are attained, and the value of each performance unit which becomes due and payable upon the attained level of performance will be determined by dividing the amount of the resulting bonus pool (if any) by the total number of performance units issued and outstanding at the completion of the applicable performance period.

(ii) Performance units may also be structured to include a service-vesting requirement which the participant must satisfy following the completion of the performance period in order to vest in the performance units awarded with respect to that performance period.

(iii) Performance units which become due and payable following the attainment of the applicable performance objectives and the satisfaction of any applicable service-vesting requirement may be paid in cash or shares of our Class A Common Stock valued at fair market value on the payment date.

Dividend equivalent rights may be issued as stand-alone awards or in tandem with other awards made under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan. Each dividend equivalent right award will represent the right to receive the economic equivalent of each dividend or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than shares of our Class A Common Stock) which is made per issued and outstanding share of Class A Common Stock during the term the dividend equivalent right remains outstanding. Payment of the amounts attributable to such dividend equivalent rights may be made either concurrently with the actual dividend or distribution made per issued and outstanding share of our Class A Common Stock or may be deferred to a later date. Payment may be made in cash or shares of our Class A Common Stock.

The plan administrator will have complete discretion under the incentive bonus program to determine which eligible individuals are to receive such awards under the program, the time or times when those awards are to be made, the form of each such award, the performance objectives for each such award, the amount payable at one or more designated levels of attained performance, any applicable service vesting requirements, the payout schedule for each such award and the method by which the award is to be settled (cash or shares of our Class A Common Stock).

In order to enable the compensation attributable to one or more awards under the program to qualify as performance-based compensation which will not be subject to the $1,000,000 limitation on the income tax deductibility of the compensation paid per executive officer which is imposed under Section 162(m), the plan administrator will also have the discretionary authority to structure one or more awards so that cash or shares of Class A Common Stock subject to those awards will vest only upon the achievement of certain pre-established corporate performance goals based on one or more of the performance goals described above in the summary of the stock issuance program.

The plan administrator will have the discretionary authority at any time to accelerate the vesting of any and all awards outstanding under the incentive bonus program. However, no vesting requirements tied to the attainment of performance objectives may be waived with respect to awards which were intended at the time of issuance to qualify as “performance-based” compensation under Section 162(m), except in the event of certain involuntary terminations or changes in control or ownership.

General Provisions

Vesting Acceleration. In the event we should experience a change in control, the following special vesting acceleration provisions will be in effect for outstanding awards under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan:

(i) Each outstanding award under the discretionary grant program or the stock issuance program will automatically accelerate in full upon a change in control, if that award is not assumed or otherwise continued in effect by the successor corporation or replaced with a cash incentive program which preserves the intrinsic value of the award and provides for

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PROPOSAL 2 — APPROVAL OF FIRST AMENDMENT TO 2009 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

subsequent payout of that value in accordance with the same vesting schedule in effect for that award, unless such acceleration is subject to other limitations imposed by the plan administrator.

(ii) The plan administrator will have complete discretion to grant one or more awards which will vest in the event the individual’s service with us or the successor entity is terminated within a designated period following a change in control transaction in which those awards are assumed or otherwise continued in effect.

(iii) The plan administrator will have the discretion to structure one or more awards so that those awards will immediately vest upon a change in control, whether or not they are to be assumed or otherwise continued in effect.

(iv) Unless the plan administrator establishes a different definition for one or more awards, a change in control will generally be deemed to occur for purposes of the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan in the event (i) there occurs a merger, consolidation or other reorganization approved by our stockholders (unless securities representing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of the voting securities of the successor corporation are immediately thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the persons who beneficially owned our outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such transaction), (ii) there occurs a sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, (iii) there occurs any transaction or series of related transactions (over a period of 12 months or less) pursuant to which any person or group of related persons becomes directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of securities possessing (or convertible into or exercisable for securities possessing) 35% or more of the total combined voting power of our outstanding securities, or (iv) there is a change in the majority of the Board members over a period of 12 months or less by reason of one or more contested elections for Board membership.

The plan administrator’s authority above extends to any awards intended to qualify as “performance-based” compensation under Section 162(m), even though the accelerated vesting of those awards may result in their loss of “performance-based” status under Section 162(m).

Changes in Capitalization.In the event any change is made to the outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares, spin-off transaction or other change in corporate structure effected without our receipt of consideration or should the value of our outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock be substantially reduced by reason of a spin-off transaction or extraordinary dividend or distribution, equitable adjustments will be made to: (i) the maximum number and/or class of securities issuable under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan; (ii) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which any one person may be granted Class A Common Stock-denominated awards under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan per calendar year; (iii) the number and/or class of securities and the exercise price per share in effect for outstanding awards under the discretionary grant program, (iv) the number and/or class of securities subject to each outstanding award under the stock issuance program and the cash consideration (if any) payable per share, (v) the maximum number and/or class of securities issuable under the plan pursuant to incentive stock options, (vi) the number and/or class of securities subject to the Company’s outstanding repurchase rights under the plan and the repurchase price payable per share (vii) the number and/or class of securities subject to each outstanding award under the incentive bonus program denominated in shares of our Class A Common Stock, and (viii) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock by which the share reserve will be reduced for each share of Class A Common Stock issued without cash consideration pursuant to the stock issuance program. Such adjustments will be made in such manner as the plan administrator deems appropriate in order to preclude any dilution or enlargement of benefits under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan or the outstanding awards thereunder.

Valuation. The fair market value per share of our Class A Common Stock on any relevant date under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan will be deemed to be equal to the closing selling price per share on that date on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. On March 31, 2014, the fair market value per share of our Class A Common Stock determined on such basis was $50.60. Notwithstanding the foregoing, should a different method of fair market value determination be required by applicable law or regulation of the foreign jurisdiction in which an award is to be made under the plan, then the fair market value per share applicable to such award will be determined in accordance with the law or regulations of the foreign jurisdiction in which that award is made.

Stockholder Rights and Transferability. No optionee will have any stockholder rights with respect to the option shares until such optionee has exercised the option and paid the exercise price for the purchased shares. The holder of a stock appreciation right will not have any stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to that right unless and until such person exercises the right and becomes the holder of record of any shares of our Class A Common Stock distributed upon such exercise. Options are not assignable or transferable other than by will or the laws of inheritance following optionee’s

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death, and during the optionee’s lifetime, the option may only be exercised by the optionee. However, the plan administrator may structure one or more non-statutory options under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan so that those options will be transferable during optionee’s lifetime to a revocable living trust established for the optionee or the optionee and his or her spouse or to the optionee’s former spouse pursuant to a domestic relations order. Stand-alone stock appreciation rights will be subject to the same transferability restrictions applicable to non-statutory options.

A participant will have full stockholder rights with respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock issued to him or her under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan, whether or not his or her interest in those shares is vested. A participant will not have any stockholder rights with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock subject to a restricted stock unit or performance share award until that award vests and the shares of Class A Common Stock are actually issued thereunder. However, dividend-equivalent units may be paid or credited, either in cash or in actual or phantom shares of Class A Common Stock, on outstanding restricted stock units or performance shares, subject to such terms and conditions as the plan administrator may deem appropriate.

Special Tax Election. The plan administrator may provide one or more holders of awards under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan with the right to have us withhold a portion of the shares otherwise issuable to such individuals in satisfaction of the withholding taxes to which they become subject in connection with the issuance, exercise or settlement of those awards. Alternatively, the plan administrator may allow such individuals to deliver previously acquired shares of our Class A Common Stock in payment of such withholding tax liability.

Amendment and Termination. Our Board of Directors may amend or modify the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan at any time; provided, however, that stockholder approval will be required for any amendment which materially increases the number of shares of Class A Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan (other than in connection with certain changes to our capital structure as explained above), materially increases the benefits accruing to participants, materially expands the class of individuals eligible to participate in the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan, expands the types of awards which may be made under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan or extends the term of the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan or to the extent such stockholder approval may otherwise be required under applicable law or regulation or pursuant to the listing standards of the stock exchange on which our Class A Common Stock is at the time primarily traded. Unless sooner terminated by our Board of Directors, the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan will terminate on the earliest of (i) June 4, 2019, (ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan have been issued as fully-vested shares or (iii) the termination of all outstanding awards in connection with certain changes in control or ownership.

Deferred Compensation. The plan administrator may, in its sole discretion, structure one or more awards under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan so that the participants may be provided with an election to defer the compensation associated with those awards for federal income tax purposes. In addition, to the extent we maintain one or more separate nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements which allow the participants the opportunity to make notional investments of their deferred account balances in shares of Class A Common Stock, the plan administrator may authorize the share reserve under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan to serve as the source of any shares of Class A Common Stock that become payable under those deferred compensation arrangements. In such event, the share reserve under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan shall be reduced on a share-for-one share basis for each share of Class A Common Stock issued under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan in settlement of the deferred compensation owed under those separate arrangements.

New Plan Benefits

Except with respect to grants of stock options that will be awarded to Mr. Narayanan and non-employee directors serving on our board of directors on the date of the Annual Meeting, which are shown in the table below, the number of awards that our named executive officers, directors, other executive officers and other employees may receive under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan will be determined in the discretion of the Compensation Committee in the future, and the Compensation Committee has not made any determination to make future grants to any persons under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan as of the date of this proxy statement. Therefore, it is not possible to determine the benefits that will be received in the future by participants in the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan or the benefits that would have been received by such participants if the First Amendment had been in effect in the year ended December 31, 2013.

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Amended 2009 Incentive Plan

Name and Position  

Dollar Value of

Shares

Underlying

Options

Granted (#)

   

Dollar

Value of

Shares

Subject to

Stock Awards

($)

 

Francisco D’Souza
Chief Executive Officer

  $0    $0  

Gordon J. Coburn
President

  $0    $0  

Karen McLoughlin
Chief Financial Officer

  $0    $0  

Malcolm Frank
Executive Vice President, Strategy and Marketing

  $0    $0  

Rajeev Mehta
Chief Executive Officer, IT Services

  $0    $0  

All current executive officers as a group (1)

  $100,000    $100,000  

All current non-employee directors as a group (1)

  $700,000    $700,000  

All employees except current executive officers as a group

  $0    $0  

(1)

At the Annual Meeting, Mr. Narayanan and the non-employee members of our Board will each receive a grant of stock options with a modified Black-Scholes value (using the assumptions utilized in preparing the Company’s most recent audited financial statements) as of the date of grant of $100,000 and a grant of restricted stock units with a fair market value as of the date of grant of $100,000 unless such member is not elected at the Annual Meeting. The number of shares subject to such awards will be determined based on the fair market value of our Class A Common Stock on the date of grant and, therefore, is not determinable at this time. Each such option will have an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value per share of our Class A Common Stock on the grant date and a maximum term of seven years measured from the grant date and will vest ratably, 50% per year on each of the first two anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to the director’s continued service on the Board through each applicable vesting date. Each such restricted stock unit award will vest ratably, one-third on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to the director’s continuous service on the Board through each applicable vesting date.

Summary of Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a summary of the Federal income taxation treatment applicable to us and the participants who receive awards under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan. This summary describes basic tax rules and is not intended as, and should not be relied upon, as tax guidance for participants in the plan. It does not describe the implications, if any, of a number of special tax rules, such as the alternative minimum tax, and foreign, state and local tax laws. Changes to the tax laws could alter the tax consequences described below.

Option Grants. Options granted under the discretionary grant program may be either incentive stock options which satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or non-statutory options which are not intended to meet such requirements. The Federal income tax treatment for the two types of options differs as follows:

Incentive Options. No taxable income is recognized by the optionee at the time of the option grant, and no taxable income is recognized for regular tax purposes at the time the option is exercised, although taxable income may arise at that time for alternative minimum tax purposes. The optionee will recognize taxable income in the year in which the purchased shares are sold or otherwise made the subject of certain other dispositions. For Federal tax purposes, dispositions are divided into two categories: (i) qualifying and (ii) disqualifying. A qualifying disposition occurs if the sale or other disposition is made more than two (2) years after the date the option for the shares involved in such sale or disposition is granted and more than one (1) year after the date the option is exercised for those shares. If the sale or disposition occurs before these two periods are satisfied, then a disqualifying disposition will result.

Upon a qualifying disposition, the optionee will recognize long-term capital gain in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the amount realized upon the sale or other disposition of the purchased shares over (ii) the exercise price paid for the shares. If there is a disqualifying disposition of the shares, then the excess of (i) the fair market value of those shares on the exercise date or (if less) the amount realized upon such sale or disposition over (ii) the exercise price paid for the shares will be taxable as ordinary income to the optionee. Any additional gain recognized upon the disposition will be a capital gain.

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PROPOSAL 2 — APPROVAL OF FIRST AMENDMENT TO 2009 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

If the optionee makes a disqualifying disposition of the purchased shares, then we will be entitled to an income tax deduction, for the taxable year in which such disposition occurs, equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the optionee as a result of the disposition. We will not be entitled to any income tax deduction if the optionee makes a qualifying disposition of the shares.

Non-Statutory Options. No taxable income is recognized by an optionee upon the grant of a non-statutory option. The optionee will in general recognize ordinary income, in the year in which the option is exercised, equal to the excess of the fair market value of the purchased shares on the exercise date over the exercise price paid for the shares, and we will be required to collect the withholding taxes applicable to such income from the optionee.

If the shares acquired upon exercise of the non-statutory option are unvested and subject to repurchase by us in the event of the optionee’s termination of service prior to vesting in those shares, then the optionee will not recognize any taxable income at the time of exercise but will have to report as ordinary income, as and when our repurchase right lapses, an amount equal to the excess of (i) the fair market value of the shares on the date the repurchase right lapses over (ii) the exercise price paid for the shares. The optionee may, however, elect under Section 83(b) of the Code no later than 30 days after receipt of the shares to include as ordinary income in the year of exercise of the option an amount equal to the excess of (i) the fair market value of the purchased shares on the exercise date over (ii) the exercise price paid for such shares. If the Section 83(b) election is made, the optionee will not recognize any additional income as and when the repurchase right lapses.

We will be entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the optionee with respect to the exercised non-statutory option. The deduction will in general be allowed for our taxable year in which such ordinary income is recognized by the optionee.

Stock Appreciation Rights. No taxable income is recognized upon receipt of a stock appreciation right. The holder will recognize ordinary income in the year in which the stock appreciation right is exercised, in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the underlying shares of Class A Common Stock on the exercise date over the base price in effect for the exercised right, and we will be required to collect the withholding taxes applicable to such income from the holder.

We will be entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the holder in connection with the exercise of the stock appreciation right. The deduction will be allowed for the taxable year in which such ordinary income is recognized.

Direct Stock Issuances. The tax principles applicable to direct stock issuances under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan will be substantially the same as those summarized above for the exercise of non-statutory option grants.

Restricted Stock Units. No taxable income is recognized upon receipt of a restricted stock unit. The holder will recognize ordinary income in the year in which the shares subject to that unit are actually issued to the holder. The amount of that income will be equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date of issuance, and we will be required to collect the withholding taxes applicable to such income from the holder.

We will be entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the holder at the time the shares are issued. The deduction will be allowed for the taxable year in which such ordinary income is recognized.

Cash Awards. The payment of a cash award will result in the recipient’s recognition of ordinary income equal to the dollar amount received. The recipient will be required to satisfy the tax withholding requirements applicable to such income. We will be entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the holder at the time the cash award is paid. The deduction will be allowed for the taxable year in which such ordinary income is recognized.

Performance Units. No taxable income is recognized upon receipt of performance units. The holder will recognize ordinary income in the year in which the performance units are settled. The amount of that income will be equal to the fair market value of the shares of Class A Common Stock or cash received in settlement of the performance units, and the holder will be required to satisfy the tax withholding requirements applicable to such income. We will be entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the amount of the ordinary income recognized by the holder of the performance units at the time those units are settled. That deduction will be allowed for the taxable year in which such ordinary income is recognized.

Dividend Equivalent Rights. No taxable income is recognized upon receipt of a dividend equivalent right award. The holder will recognize ordinary income in the year in which a dividend or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, is paid to the holder. The amount of that income will be equal to the fair market value of the cash, securities or other property received, and the holder will be required to satisfy the tax withholding requirements applicable to such income. We will be

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PROPOSAL 2 — APPROVAL OF FIRST AMENDMENT TO 2009 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the amount of the ordinary income recognized by the holder of the dividend equivalent right award at the time the dividend or distribution is paid to such holder. That deduction will be allowed for the taxable year in which such ordinary income is recognized.

Section 162(m). As described above, Section 162(m) denies a deduction to any publicly held corporation for compensation paid to “covered employees” in a taxable year to the extent that compensation to such covered employee exceeds $1,000,000. It is possible that compensation attributable to awards under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan, when combined with all other types of compensation received by a covered employee from us, may cause this limitation to be exceeded in any particular year.

As described above, the Section 162(m) deduction limitation does not apply to “performance-based” compensation. In order to qualify for the exemption for “performance-based” compensation, Section 162(m) requires that: (i) the compensation be paid solely on account of the attainment of one or more pre-established objective performance goals, (ii) the performance goals must be established by a compensation committee comprised solely of two or more “outside directors”, (iii) the material terms of the performance goals under which the compensation is to be paid must be disclosed to and approved by the company’s stockholders and (iv) a compensation committee of “outside directors” must certify that the performance goals have indeed been met prior to payment.

Section 162(m) contains a special rule for stock options and stock appreciation rights that provides that stock options and stock appreciation rights will satisfy the “performance-based” compensation exemption if (i) the awards are made by a qualifying compensation committee, (ii) the plan sets forth the maximum number of shares that can be granted to any person within a specified period, and (iii) the compensation is based solely on an increase in the stock price after the grant date.

The Amended 2009 Incentive Plan has been designed to permit the Compensation Committee to grant awards that may qualify as “performance-based” compensation. As described above, if the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan is approved by our stockholders and the other requirements of Section 162(m) are met, the Compensation Committee may, but is not obligated to, grant awards under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan that are intended to constitute “performance based” compensation under Section 162(m).

Section 409A of the Code. Certain types of awards under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan may constitute, or provide for, a deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code. Unless certain requirements set forth in Section 409A of the Code are complied with, holders of such awards may be taxed earlier than would otherwise be the case (e.g., at the time of vesting instead of the time of payment) and may be subject to an additional 20% penalty tax (and, potentially, certain interest penalties and additional state taxes). To the extent applicable, the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan and awards granted under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan are intended to be structured and interpreted in a manner intended to either comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance that may be issued under Section 409A of the Code.

Certain Other Tax Issues. In the event that the exercisability or vesting of any award granted under the Amended 2009 Incentive Plan is accelerated in connection with a change in control, payments relating to the award (or a portion thereof), either alone or together with certain other payments, may constitute parachute payments under Section 280G of the Code, which excess amounts may be subject to excise taxes and may be nondeductible by us. The 2009 Plan is not qualified under the provisions of Section 401(a) of the Code and is not subject to any of the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

VOTE REQUIRED

The approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted and, accordingly, will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on this proposal.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD

LOGO  The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the approval of the First Amendment.

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PROPOSAL 3

Advisory (Non-Binding) Vote on Executive Compensation (Say-on-Pay)

BACKGROUND

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or the Dodd-Frank Act, requires that our stockholders have the opportunity to cast an advisory (non-binding) vote on executive compensation at the Annual Meeting, commonly referred to as a “Say-on-Pay” vote.

The advisory vote on executive compensation is a non-binding vote on the compensation of our “named executive officers,” or “Named Executives”, as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, the tabular disclosure regarding such compensation, and the accompanying narrative disclosure, set forth in this proxy statement. Please read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section starting on page 43 of this proxy statement for a detailed discussion about our executive compensation programs, including information about the fiscal 2013 compensation of our Named Executives.

The advisory vote on executive compensation is not a vote on our general compensation policies, the compensation of our Board of Directors, or our compensation policies as they relate to risk management. The Dodd-Frank Act requires that we hold the advisory vote on executive compensation at least once every three years. At the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Company’s stockholders recommended, on an advisory basis, that the stockholder vote on the compensation of our Named Executives occur every year. Accordingly, our next advisory say on pay vote (following the non-binding advisory vote at this Annual Meeting) is expected to occur at our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors oversees and administers our executive compensation program, including the evaluation and approval of compensation plans, policies and programs offered to our Named Executives. The Compensation Committee has designed the executive compensation program for our Named Executives to meet the following objectives:

Ensure executive compensation is aligned with our corporate strategies and business objectives.

Subject a substantial portion of an executive officer’s compensation to achieving both short-term and long-term performance objectives that enhances stockholder value by linking rewards to measurable corporate and individual performance.

Reinforce the importance of meeting and exceeding identifiable and measurable goals through superior awards for superior performance.

Provide total direct compensation that is competitive in markets in which we compete for management talent in order to attract, retain and motivate the best possible executive talent.

Provide an incentive for long-term continued employment with our Company.

Reinforce our desired culture and unique corporate environment by fostering a sense of ownership, urgency and overall entrepreneurial spirit.

We believe our approach to goal setting and setting of targets with payouts at multiple levels of performance results assists in mitigating excessive risk-taking that could harm our value or reward poor judgment by our executives. Several features of our programs reflect sound risk management practices. We believe we have allocated our compensation among base salary and short and long-term compensation target opportunities in such a way as to not encourage excessive risk-taking. In addition, we believe that the mix of equity award instruments used under our long-term incentive program that includes full value awards as well as the multi-year vesting of our equity awards also mitigate risk and properly account for the time horizon of risk. The Compensation Discussion and Analysis section starting on page 43 of this proxy statement provides a more detailed discussion of our executive compensation program and compensation philosophy.

The vote solicited by this Proposal No. 3 is advisory, and therefore is not binding on the Company, our Board of Directors or our Compensation Committee. The outcome of the vote will not require the Company, our Board of Directors or our Compensation Committee to take any action, and will not be construed as overruling any decision by the Company or the Board of Directors.

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PROPOSAL 3 — ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (SAY-ON-PAY)

Furthermore, because this non-binding, advisory resolution primarily relates to the compensation of our Named Executives that has already been paid or contractually committed, there is generally no opportunity for us to revisit these decisions. However, our Board of Directors, including our Compensation Committee, values the opinions of our stockholders and, to the extent there is any significant vote against the executive officer compensation as disclosedmaterials mentioned in this proxy statement we will consider our stockholders’ concerns and evaluate what actions, if any, may be appropriate to address those concerns. At the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June 4, 2013, approximately 98.6% of the votes cast on the Say-on-Pay proposal at that meeting were voted in favor of the proposal.

Stockholders will be asked at the Annual Meeting to approve the following resolution pursuant to this Proposal No. 3:

RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s Named Executives, disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting.

VOTE REQUIRED

The approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted and, accordingly, will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on this proposal.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD

LOGO  The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the approval of the advisory (non-binding) vote on executive compensation.

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PROPOSAL 4

Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Our Audit Committee has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014. Our Board has directed that this appointment be submittedor other inquiries to our stockholders for ratification. Although ratification of our selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is not required, we value the opinions of our stockholders and believe that stockholder ratification of our selection is a good corporate governance practice.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP also served as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2013. Neither the accounting firm nor any of its members has any direct or indirect financial interest in or any connection with us in any capacity other than as our auditors, providing audit and non-audit related services. One or more representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are expected to attend the Annual Meeting and to have an opportunity to make a statement and be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

In the event that the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is not ratified by the stockholders, the Audit Committee will consider this fact when it selects the independent auditors for 2015. Even if the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is ratified, the Audit Committee retains the discretion to select a different independent auditor at any time if it determines that such a change is in the interests of the Company.

VOTE REQUIRED

This proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast. Abstentions will not be counted and, accordingly, will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on this proposal. Because brokers have discretionary authority to vote on the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, we do not expect any broker non-votes in connection with this proposal.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LOGOThe Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the Ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

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Executive Officers

The following table identifies our current executive officers:

Name  Age  Position  In Current
Position Since

Lakshmi Narayanan 1

  61  Vice Chairman and Director  2007

Francisco D’Souza 2

  45  Chief Executive Officer and Director  2007

Gordon J. Coburn 3

  50  President  2012

Karen McLoughlin 4

  49  Chief Financial Officer  2012

Ramakrishnan Chandrasekaran 5

  56  Executive Vice Chairman, Cognizant India  2013

Rajeev Mehta 6

  47  Chief Executive Officer, IT Services  2013

Malcolm Frank 7

  47  Executive Vice President, Strategy and Marketing  2012

Steven Schwartz 8

  46  Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer  2013

Sridhar Thiruvengadam9

  50  Chief Operating Officer  2013

Ramakrishna Prasad Chintamaneni10

  44  Executive Vice President and President, Banking and Financial Services  2013

Venkat Krishnaswamy11

  60  Executive Vice President and President, Healthcare & Life Sciences  2013

Debashis Chatterjee12

  48  Executive Vice President and President, Technology Solutions  2013

Dharmendra Kumar Sinha13

  51  Executive Vice President and President, Client Services  2013

Sumithra Gomatam14

  46  Executive Vice President and President, Industry Solutions  2013

1

Lakshmi Narayanan was appointed Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2007. Mr. Narayanan served as our Chief Executive Officer from December 2003 through December 2006 and as our President from March 1998 through December 2006. Mr. Narayanan joined our Indian subsidiary as Chief Technology Officer in 1994 and was elected President of such subsidiary on January 1, 1996. Prior to joining us, from 1975 to 1994, Mr. Narayanan was the regional head of Tata Consultancy Services, a large consulting and software services company located in India. Mr. Narayanan serves on the board of directors and as the Chairman of the Governance Committee of TVS Capital Funds Limited. Mr. Narayanan is the Chairman of the Board of ICT Academy of Tamil Nadu, a not-for-profit training and research institution established in a partnership model between the Government of India, IT Industry and the Confederation of Indian Industry. Mr. Narayanan holds a Bachelor of Science degree, a Master of Science degree and a Management degree from the Indian Institute of Science.

2

Francisco D’Souza was appointed Chief Executive Officer and became a member of the Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2007. Mr. D’Souza served as our President from January 1, 2007 through February 6, 2012 and as our Chief Operating Officer from December 2003 through December 2006. Prior to that, from November 1999 to December 2003, he served as our Senior Vice President, North American Operations and Business Development. From March 1998 to November 1999, he served as our Vice President, North American Operations and Business Development and as our Director-North American Operations and Business Development from June 1997 to March 1998. From January 1996 to June 1997, Mr. D’Souza was engaged as our consultant. From February 1995 to December 1995, Mr. D’Souza was employed as Product Manager at Pilot Software. Between 1992 and 1995, Mr. D’Souza held various marketing, business development and technology management positions as a Management Associate at The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation. While working at The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, Mr. D’Souza was part of the team that established the software development and maintenance business conducted by us. Mr. D’Souza serves on the Board of Directors of General Electric Company. Mr. D’Souza serves on the Board of Trustees of Carnegie Mellon University, the Board of Trustees of The New York Hall of Science and the Board of Directors of the U.S.-India Business Council. Mr. D’Souza also is a member of the Business Roundtable. Mr. D’Souza holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Macau (formerly known as the University of East Asia) and a Master of Business Administration degree from Carnegie Mellon University.

3

Gordon Coburn was appointed President of the company, effective February 6, 2012. From March 1998 until February 6, 2012, Mr. Coburn served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and from January 2007 until February 6, 2012, Mr. Coburn also held the position of Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Coburn also served as the company’s Executive Vice President from December 2003 through December 2006. From November 1999 to December 2003, he served as our Senior Vice President. He previously was our Vice President from 1996 to November 1999. Mr. Coburn served as Senior Director—Group Finance and Operations for Cognizant Corporation from November 1996 to December 1997. From 1990 to October 1996, Mr. Coburn held key financial positions with The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation. Mr. Coburn serves on the Board of Directors of The Corporate Executive Board Company. He also served on the Board of Directors of ICT Group, Inc. until its acquisition on February 2, 2010. Mr. Coburn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College, where he serves as a member of its MBA Advisory Board.

4

Karen McLoughlin was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the company, effective February 6, 2012. She previously served as the company’s Senior Vice President of Finance and Enterprise Transformation, a role she held since January 2010. In such role, Ms. McLoughlin was responsible for the company’s worldwide financial planning and analysis, enterprise risk management and enterprise transformation functions, including the facilitation and execution of various internal reengineering and transformation initiatives designed to enable the company’s strategic vision. From August 2008 to January 2010, Ms. McLoughlin served as the company’s Senior Vice President of Finance, responsible for overseeing the Company’s global financial planning and analysis team

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

and enterprise risk management, and from October 2003 until August 2008, Ms. McLoughlin served as the company’s Vice President of Global Financial Planning and Analysis. Prior to joining Cognizant in October 2003, Ms. McLoughlin held various financial management positions at Spherion Corporation from August 1997 to October 2003 and at Ryder System Inc. from July 1994 to August 1997. Prior to joining Ryder, she spent six years in the South Florida Practice of Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers). Ms. McLoughlin has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Wellesley College and a Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia University.

5

Ramakrishnan Chandrasekaran was appointed Executive Vice Chairman, Cognizant India, effective December 4, 2013. In this role, Mr. Chandrasekaran focuses on strengthening our strong relationship with industry bodies, driving strategic initiatives that strengthen outreach to the government, and further enhancing our brand equity through public relations in India. From February 2012 to December 2013, Mr. Chandrasekaran served as Group Chief Executive-Technology and Operations. In this role, Mr. Chandrasekaran was responsible for leading our solutions and delivery teams world-wide. From August 2006 to February 2012, he served as our President and Managing Director, Global Delivery, responsible for leading our global delivery organization, spearheading new solutions, and championing process improvements. Mr. Chandrasekaran served as our Executive Vice President and Managing Director from January 2004 through July 2006. Prior to that, from November 1999 to January 2004, he served as our Senior Vice President responsible for Independent Software Vendor relationships, key alliances, capacity growth, process initiatives, business development and offshore delivery. Mr. Chandrasekaran joined us as Assistant Vice President in December 1994, before being promoted to Vice President in January 1997. Prior to joining us, Mr. Chandrasekaran worked with Tata Consultancy Services. Mr. Chandrasekaran holds a Mechanical Engineering degree and Master of Business Administration degree from the Indian Institute of Management.

6

Rajeev Mehta was appointed Chief Executive Officer, IT Services, effective December 4, 2013. In this role, Mr. Mehta is responsible for market facing activities across the company as well as for delivery across our IT Services business. From February 2012 to December 2013, Mr. Mehta served as Group Chief Executive-Industries and Markets. In this role, Mr. Mehta was responsible for leading our industry vertical and geographic market operations on a global basis. From August 2006 to February 2012, he served as our Chief Operating Officer, Global Client Services, responsible for our sales, business development and client relationship management organizations. Mr. Mehta served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of our Financial Services business segment from June 2005 to August 2006. From November 2001 to June 2005, he served as our Vice President and General Manager of our Financial Services business segment. From January 1998 to November 2001, Mr. Mehta served as our Director of the U.S. Central Region. Mr. Mehta served as our Senior Manager of Business Development from January 1997 to January 1998. Prior to joining Cognizant in 1997, Mr. Mehta was involved in implementing GE Information Services offshore outsourcing program and also held consulting positions at Deloitte & Touche and Andersen Consulting. Mr. Mehta holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland and a Master of Business Administration degree from Carnegie Mellon University.

7

Malcolm Frank was appointed Executive Vice President, Strategy and Marketing, effective February 6, 2012. Mr. Frank served as our Senior Vice President of Strategy and Marketing from August 2005 to February 2012. In both these roles, Mr. Frank’s responsibilities have included, and continue to include, directing all aspects of our corporate marketing function, including strategy and branding, industry and media relations, corporate communications and corporate marketing. From August 2005 until June 2009, Mr. Frank was also responsible for leading our field marketing function. Prior to joining Cognizant in August 2005, Mr. Frank was co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of CXO Systems, Inc., an independent software vendor providing dashboard solutions for senior managers, from March 2002 to July 2005. From June 1999 to September 2002, Mr. Frank was the founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Nervewire Inc. (“Nervewire”), a management consulting and systems integration firm. Prior to founding Nervewire, Mr. Frank was a co-founder, executive officer, and Senior Vice President at Cambridge Technology Partners, where he ran Worldwide Marketing, Business Development, and several business units, from January 1990 to June 1999. Mr. Frank graduated from Yale University with a degree in Economics.

8

Steven Schwartz was appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer on December 4, 2013. In this role, Mr. Schwartz is responsible for our global legal teams, our global government affairs efforts and our global security team. From July 2007 to December 2013, Mr. Schwartz served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, having global responsibility for managing Cognizant’s legal function. Mr. Schwartz, who joined Cognizant in 2001, previously served as Vice President and General Counsel, a position he held from March 2003 to July 2007. From April 2002 to March 2003, he served as our Vice President and Chief Corporate Counsel. From October 2001 to December 2002, he served as our Chief Corporate Counsel. Mr. Schwartz serves on the board of directors of Information Technology Industry Council and Citizen Schools. Mr. Schwartz holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Miami, a Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University School of Law and a Master of Law (in Taxation) degree from the New York University School of Law.

9

Sridhar Thiruvengadam was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the company, effective May 8, 2013. Previously, from January 2012 to May 2013, Mr. Thiruvengadam served as an Executive Vice President of the company, leading the global delivery operations for several of the company’s industry verticals, and head of the company’s Business Process Services (“BPS”) practice. From January 2010 to January 2012, Mr. Thiruvengadam served as a Senior Vice President and global head of BPS, infrastructure and testing services. From April 2007 to January 2010, Mr. Thiruvengadam served as the company’s Chief People Officer in charge of talent acquisition, management, training and staffing. From March 2001 to March 2007, Mr. Thiruvengadam held several positions in the company’s banking, financial services, healthcare and insurance practices, including Vice President and head of the company’s insurance industry vertical. Mr. Thiruvengadam joined the company as a project manager in November 1994. Mr. Thiruvengadam holds a M.Tech degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.

10

Ramakrishna Prasad Chintamaneni was appointed Executive Vice President and President, Banking and Financial Services, effective December 4, 2013. In this role, Mr. Chintamaneni is responsible for leading Banking and Financial Services. From 2011 to December 2013, Mr. Chintamaneni served as our Global Head of Banking and Financial Practice and was responsible for the practice’s sales, business development, consulting, client relationships, management and delivery, and global profit and loss. Previously, from 2010 to 2011, Mr. Chintamaneni served as our Global Head of Markets for the Banking and Financial Services Practice. From 2006 to 2009, he served as our Head of Banking and Financial Practice for North America. From 1999 through 2006, Mr. Chintamaneni served as our Client Partner, managing the relationships with several of our key Banking and Financial Services clients, and also led our U.S. Eastern Region’s Banking and Financial Services Practice. Prior to joining Cognizant in 1999, Mr. Chintamaneni spent seven years in the investment banking and financial services industry, including working at Merrill Lynch and its affiliates for five years as an Investment Banker and a member of Merrill’s business strategy committee in India. Mr. Chintamaneni serves on the Board of Directors of NPower, a nonprofit that helps nonprofits, schools and individuals build technology skills by harnessing the power of the technology community. Mr. Chintamaneni obtained his Bachelor of Technology degree in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management from XLRI School of Management in India.

11

Venkat Krishnaswamy was appointed President, Healthcare & Life Sciences, effective December 4, 2013. In this role, Mr. Krishnaswamy is focused on delivering solutions and services to the healthcare industry. From February 2012 to December 2013, Mr. Krishnaswamy served as Executive Vice President of Healthcare and Life Sciences. From April 2007 to February 2012, Mr. Krishnaswamy served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Healthcare and Life Sciences. Mr. Krishnaswamy served as Vice President - Projects from January 2003 to April 2007 and as Director of Projects from April 1999 to January 2003. Upon joining Cognizant in 1997, Mr. Krishnaswamy served as Senior Manager until April 1999. Between 1997 and 2003, Mr. Krishnaswamy served in our Banking & Financial

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Services Practice. Prior to joining Cognizant in 1997, Mr. Krishnaswamy spent over ten years in retail and commercial banking with Colonial State Bank (now Commonwealth Bank of Australia). Mr. Krishnaswamy holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Madras and a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology New Delhi.

12

Debashis Chatterjee was appointed Executive Vice President and President, Technology Solutions, effective December 4, 2013. In this role, Mr. Chatterjee has responsibility for all of our horizontal practices within IT Services and is responsible for implementing best practices in service delivery and creating solutions across our horizontal practices. From May 2013 until his current appointment, Mr. Chatterjee served as Senior Vice President and Global Head, Technology and Information Services. From March 2012 to April 2013, he was Senior Vice President, Transformational Services. Previously, from April 2011 to January 2012, Mr. Chatterjee served as Vice President and Sectors Leader, Global Business Services, Global Delivery at IBM, a multinational technology and consulting company. From January 2010 to March 2011, Mr. Chatterjee was Senior Vice President and Global Head of Cognizant’s Banking and Financial Services practice (BFS), from April 2007 to December 2009, he was Senior Vice President and Global Delivery Head of BFS, and from April 2004 to March 2007, he was Vice President and Global Delivery Head of BFS. Prior to that, Mr. Chatterjee held various key management roles at Cognizant since joining us in 1996. Mr. Chatterjee has a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Jadavpur University in India.

13

Dharmendra Kumar Sinha was appointed Executive Vice President and President, Client Services, effective December 4, 2013. In this role, Mr. Sinha leads our global sales, field marketing and intermediary relations teams. He is also responsible for our strategic partnerships and alliances organization. From 2007 to December 2013, Mr. Sinha served as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Global Sales and Field Marketing. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Sinha served as our Vice President, responsible for our Manufacturing, Logistics, Retail, Hospitality, and Technology verticals. In addition, he assumed the role of Head of Sales and managed our Field Marketing function. From January 2008 to December 2008, Mr. Sinha additionally managed the Insurance business unit. Prior to that, from 1998 to 2004, Mr. Sinha served as Director and subsequently as Vice President of the U.S. Western Region. From 1997 to 1998, Mr. Sinha served in various operational and business development positions. Prior to joining Cognizant in 1997, Mr. Sinha worked with Tata Consultancy Services and CMC Limited, anend-to-end IT solutions provider. Mr. Sinha has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Patna Science college, Patna and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra.

14

Sumithra Gomatam was appointed Executive Vice President and President, Industry Solutions, effective December 04, 2013. In this role, Ms. Gomatam oversees global delivery for all of our industry verticals and is responsible for implementing best practices in services delivery and for creating solutions across our industry practices. Ms. Gomatam also leads our Communications and High Technology business units. From July 2008 to December 2013, Ms. Gomatam served as Senior Vice President, Projects. In this role, Ms. Gomatam served initially as our Global Delivery Head and then as Global Practice Leader for our testing practice. From March 2006 to July 2008, Ms. Gomatam served as Vice President, Projects, leading global delivery and building out the testing practice. From 2001 to March 2006, Ms. Gomatam served as an Account Relationship Manager and as part of our Core Delivery Leadership Team in our banking and financial services practices. From 1995, when Ms. Gomatam joined us, until 2001, she held various key positions within The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation and Cognizant, including serving our banking and financial services clients on application development and application maintenance projects. Ms. Gomatam received her B.E. in Electronics and Communication from Anna University.

None of our executive officers is related to any other executive officer or to any of our Directors. Our executive officers are elected annually by the Board of Directors and serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

CLASS A COMMON STOCK

The following tables set forth certain information with respect to holdings of each class of our Class A Common Stock by (i) stockholders who beneficially owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock as of December 31, 2013 and (ii) each of our Directors (which includes all nominees), each of our Named Executive Officers, and all Directors and executive officers as a group, as of March 31, 2014. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for the individuals below is our address. Except as otherwise noted below, none of the shares reported as beneficially owned are currently pledged as security for any outstanding loan or indebtedness.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF 5% STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth the persons who, to our knowledge, beneficially owned as of December 31, 2013, more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock. This information is based upon information furnished to us by each such person and/or based upon public filings with the SEC. All share numbers in the following table reflect the Company’s two-for-one stock split that occurred on March 7, 2014.

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner  

Amount and Nature of

Beneficial Ownership

   Percent of Class 

BlackRock, Inc. 1

    

40 East 52nd Street

    

New York, NY 10022

   30,265,224     5.0

FMR LLC 2

    

82 Devonshire Street

    

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

   34,310,632     5.6

1

Based solely on a Schedule 13G filed by BlackRock, Inc. on February 4, 2014 for December 31, 2013, disclosing that BlackRock, Inc. has sole voting power over 24,721,112 shares of Class A Common Stock, sole dispositive power over 30,238,004 shares of Class A Common Stock, and shared voting and dispositive power over 27,220 shares of Class A Common Stock. The Schedule 13G reports that beneficial owner subsidiaries of the parent holding company are BlackRock Advisors, LLC, BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., BlackRock Investment Management, LLC, BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Korea) Ltd., BlackRock (Luxembourg) S.A., BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V., BlackRock Fund Managers Ltd, BlackRock Life Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Australia Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Deutschland AG, BlackRock Fund Management Ireland Limited, BlackRock Advisors (UK) Limited, BlackRock Fund Advisors, BlackRock International Limited, BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., BlackRock Japan Co Ltd., and BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Ltd.

2

Based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed by FMR LLC and Edward C. Johnson 3d on February 14, 2014. According to the Schedule 13G/A, FMR LLC and Edward C. Johnson 3d each are the beneficial owners of 34,310,632 shares of our Class A Common Stock. According to the cover pages of the Schedule 13G/A, FMR LLC has sole voting power over 4,549,028 shares of Class A Common Stock and sole dispositive power over 34,310,632 shares of Class A Common Stock, and Edward C. Johnson 3d has sole dispositive power over 34,310,632 shares of Class A Common Stock. FMR LLC’s and Edward C. Johnson 3d’s beneficial ownership includes 24,699,846 shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by Fidelity Management & Research Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR LLC and an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Investment Advisers Act”), 4,752,818 shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by Fidelity SelectCo, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR LLC and an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act, 191,018 shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by Fidelity Management Trust Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR LLC and a bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act, 85,580 shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially owned through Strategic Advisers, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR LLC and an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act, 257,850 shares beneficially owned by Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR LLC and an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act, 943,650 shares of our Class A Common Stock held by Pyramis Global Advisers Trust Company, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR LLC and a bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act, and 3,379,870 shares beneficially owned by FIL Limited, which provides investment advisory and management services to a number of non-U.S. investment companies and certain institutional investors.

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

The following table sets forth the ownership of our Directors (which includes all nominees), each of our Named Executive Officers, and all Directors and executive officers as a group, as of March 31, 2014. This information is based upon information furnished to us by each such person and/or based upon Company records. All share numbers in the following table reflect the Company’s two-for-one stock split that occurred on March 7, 2014.

Name  

Amount and Nature of

Beneficial Ownership 1

   Percent of Class 2

Directors (which includes all nominees) and Named Executive Officers:

    

Francisco D’Souza 3

   1,587,062    *

Gordon J. Coburn 4

   229,334    *

Lakshmi Narayanan 5

   284,500    *

Malcolm Frank 6

   3,477    *

Rajeev Mehta 7

   218,051    *

Karen McLoughlin 8

   103,667    *

Maureen Breakiron-Evans 9

   72,000    *

John N. Fox, Jr. 10

   102,800    *

John E. Klein 11

   672,876    *

Leo S. Mackay, Jr. 12

   10,000    *

Michael Patsalos-Fox 13

   10,000    *

Robert E. Weissman 14

   1,023,776    *

Thomas M. Wendel 15

   106,000    *

All Directors and executive officers as a group (21 persons)16

   4,906,120    0.8%

*Less than one percent.

1

Except as set forth in the footnotes to this table and subject to applicable community property law, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Class A Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by such stockholder.

2

Applicable percentage of ownership is based on an aggregate of 608,444,973 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding on March 31, 2014. Such percentage also takes into account the Class A Common Stock to which such individual or entity has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within sixty (60) days after March 31, 2014, including, but not limited to, through the exercise of options which are currently exercisable or which will become exercisable within such sixty (60)-day period; however, such Class A Common Stock will not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage owned by any other individual or entity. Such calculation is required by Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) under the Exchange Act.

3

Includes 354,462 shares of Class A Common Stock owned of record, 980,000 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to options which were exercisable as of March 31, 2014 or 60 days after such date, 10,600 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to restricted stock units which are scheduled to vest within 60 days of March 31, 2014 and 242,000 shares of Class A Common Stock owned by the D’Souza Family 2012 Trust. Excludes 482,482 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying performance stock units and restricted stock units, which vest over time after such period. Also excludes 136,894 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying performance stock units granted in 2013, assuming 100% vesting based on target 2014 performance (see page 49 of this proxy statement for more information on these performance stock units).

4

Includes 124,367 shares of Class A Common Stock owned of record, 100,000 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to options which were exercisable as of March 31, 2014 or 60 days after such date and 4,967 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to restricted stock units which are scheduled to vest within 60 days of March 31, 2014. Excludes 250,784 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying performance stock units and restricted stock units, which vest over time after such period. Also excludes 73,154 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying performance stock units granted in 2013, assuming 100% vesting based on target 2014 performance (see page 49 of this proxy statement for more information on these performance stock units).

5

Includes 284,500 shares of Class A Common Stock owned of record. Excludes 24,644 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying options and restricted stock units which become exercisable or vest over time after such period.

6

Includes 810 shares of Class A Common Stock owned of record and 2,667 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to restricted stock units which are scheduled to vest within 60 days of March 31, 2014. Excludes 83,432 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying performance stock units and restricted stock units, which vest over time after such period. Also excludes 26,854 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying performance stock units granted in 2013, assuming 100% vesting based on target 2014 performance (see page 49 of this proxy statement for more information on these performance stock units).

7

Includes 8,537 shares of Class A Common Stock owned of record, 4,200 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to restricted stock units which are scheduled to vest within 60 days of March 31, 2014, 102,656 shares of Class A Common Stock owned by the Rajeev Mehta 2012 Irrevocable Trust and 102,658 shares of Class A Common Stock owned by the Ruchita Mehta 2012 Irrevocable Trust. Excludes 218,170 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying performance stock units and restricted stock units, which vest over time after such period. Also excludes 67,614 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying performance stock units granted in 2013, assuming 100% vesting based on target 2014 performance (see page 49 of this proxy statement for more information on these performance stock units).

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

8

Includes 21,583 shares of Class A Common Stock owned of record, 80,000 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to options which were exercisable as of March 31, 2014 or 60 days after such date and 2,084 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to restricted stock units which are scheduled to vest within 60 days of March 31, 2014. Excludes 82,598 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying performance stock units and restricted stock units, which become exercisable or vest over time after such period. Also excludes 27,332 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying performance stock units granted in 2013, assuming 100% vesting based on target 2014 performance (see page 49 of this proxy statement for more information on these performance stock units).

9

Includes 2,000 shares of Class A Common Stock owned of record and 70,000 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying options which were exercisable as of March 31, 2014 or 60 days after such date. Excludes 11,750 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to restricted stock units which are vested as of March 31, 2014 but will not settle within 60 days of March 31, 2014. Excludes 24,644 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying options and restricted stock units, which become exercisable or vest over time after such period.

10

Includes 8,000 shares of Class A Common Stock owned of record and 94,800 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying options which were exercisable as of March 31, 2014 or 60 days after such date. Excludes 24,644 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying options and restricted stock units, which become exercisable or vest over time after such period.

11

Includes 495,004 shares of Class A Common Stock owned of record, 40,000 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to options which were exercisable as of March 31, 2014 or 60 days after such date and 137,872 shares of Class A Common Stock owned by the John E. Klein Family 2012 Irrevocable Trust. Excludes 24,644 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying options and restricted stock units, which become exercisable or vest over time after such period.

12

Includes 10,000 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to options which were exercisable as of March 31, 2014 or 60 days after such date. Excludes 1,502 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to restricted stock units which are vested as of March 31, 2014 but will not settle within 60 days of March 31, 2014. Excludes 27,648 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying options and restricted stock units, which become exercisable or vest over time after such period.

13

Includes 10,000 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to options which were exercisable as of March 31, 2014 or 60 days after such date. Excludes 1,858 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to restricted stock units which are vested as of March 31, 2014 but will not settle within 60 days of March 31, 2014. Excludes 28,364 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying options and restricted stock units, which become exercisable or vest over time after such period.

14

Includes 973,776 shares of Class A Common Stock owned of record and 50,000 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to options which were exercisable as of March 31, 2014 or 60 days after such date. Excludes 24,644 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying options and restricted stock units, which become exercisable or vest over time after such period.

15

Includes 76,000 shares of Class A Common Stock owned of record and 30,000 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to options which were exercisable as of March 31, 2014 or 60 days after such date. Excludes 24,644 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying options and restricted stock units, which become exercisable or vest over time after such period.

16

Includes an aggregate of 2,805,406 shares of Class A Common Stock owned of record, 1,474,800 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying options granted to our Directors and executive officers which are exercisable as of March 31, 2014 or within 60 days after such date, 40,728 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to restricted stock units which are scheduled to vest within 60 days of March 31, 2014 and 585,186 shares of Class A Common Stock held in various trusts. Excludes 15,110 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to restricted stock units which are vested as of March 31, 2014 but will not settle within 60 days of March 31, 2014. Excludes 1,722,353 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying options, performance stock units and restricted stock units, which become exercisable or vest over time after such period. Also excludes 445,250 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying performance stock units granted in 2013, assuming 100% vesting based on target 2014 performance.

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Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

Since January 1, 2013, there were no related person transactions that are required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K other than such matters disclosed herein under the captions “Executive Compensation” and “Election of Directors—Compensation of Directors.”

REVIEW OF RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

The Audit Committee of the Company is responsible for reviewing and approving all transactions between us and any related person that are required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K. Related persons can include any of our directors or executive officers, certain of our stockholders, and any of their immediate family members. This obligation is set forth in our Audit Committee Charter. In evaluating related person transactions, the members of the Audit Committee apply the same standards of good faith and fiduciary duty they apply to their general responsibilities as a committee of the Board of Directors and as individual directors. The Audit Committee will approve a related person transaction when, in its good faith judgment, the transaction is in the best interest of the Company. The Company’s legal staff is primarily responsible for monitoring and obtaining information from our directors and executive officers with respect to potential related person transactions, and for then determining, based on the facts and circumstances, whether the related person has a direct or indirect material interest in any transaction with us. To help our legal staff identify related person transactions, each year, we require each of our directors, director nominees and executive officers to complete a disclosure questionnaire identifying any transactions with us in which the officer or director or their family members have an interest.

In addition, our Code of Ethics describes our expectation that all directors, officers and employees who may have a potential or apparent conflict of interest to, in the case of employees, notify our Chief Compliance Officer or General Counsel, or in the case of executive officers and directors, notify our General Counsel or Board of Directors. A copy of our Code of Ethics is posted on our website located at www.cognizant.com in the “About Us” section of the “Company” page under the “Corporate Governance” tab.

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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our Directors, executive officers and stockholders who beneficially own more than 10% of any class of our equity securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”) to file initial statements of beneficial ownership of securities and statements of changes in beneficial ownership of securities with respect to our equity securities with the SEC. All Reporting Persons are required by SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all reports that such Reporting Persons file with the SEC pursuant to Section 16(a). Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by us and upon written representations of the Reporting Persons received by us, we believe that there has been compliance with all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to such Reporting Persons with respect to the year ended December 31, 2013, except that one Form 4 for Venkat Krishnaswamy reporting one transaction was not timely filed.

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Executive Compensation

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Executive Summary

All share and share-based numbers and values in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis reflect the Company’s two-for-one stock split that occurred on March 7, 2014.

2013 Fiscal Year Company Performance Overview

The Company experienced industry leading performance for 2013 with year-over-year revenue growth of 20.4%. Our business segments had year-over-year revenue growth ranging from 13.1% to 24.7%, and we continued to expand our service offerings enabling us to provide better support to our customers, including strengthening our offerings in consulting, Information Technology Infrastructure Services, or IT IS, and Business Process Services, or BPS. Our service offerings expanded, including IT IS and BPS services, which enabled us to cross-sell new services to our customers and meet the rapidly growing demand for complex large-scale outsourcing solutions. We increased penetration at existing customers, including strategic customers, and we benefited from the continued expansion of the market for global delivery of IT services and BPS.

The Compensation Committee took into account the Company’s performance relative to the industry during 2013 in its compensation decisions, as described further below.

2013 Fiscal Year Compensation Framework

Our executive compensation program is designed to motivate, retain and engage our executive leadership and appropriately reward them for their contributions to the achievement of our business strategies and goals. In order to achieve our compensation objectives, the Company provides its executives with a total direct compensation package consisting of the following fixed and variable compensation elements:

Compensation ElementCharacteristicsPurpose
Base SalaryFixed. Cash payment based upon scope of responsibilities, experience and individual performance.Offers stable source of income at a competitive level.
Short-Term IncentiveVariable. Performance based opportunity. Annual cash incentive tied to achievement of designated, short-term financial and strategic objectives.Motivate and reward executives for achievement of Company financial and strategic objectives.
Long-Term IncentiveVariable. Performance and service based. Equity incentives with performance vesting and service requirements.Intended to reward achievement of financial objectives and long-term performance of our common stock. Rewards continued service with the Company.

Governance Practices

The Company has several governance practices that it believes support our good compensation practices:

The Compensation Committee is comprised of independent directors;

To assist in analyzing compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee directly retains an independent compensation consultant who works directly with the committee and does not provide other services to the Company;

The Company maintains a formal clawback policy applicable to any performance based compensation paid to its executives;

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Company maintains stock ownership and holding guidelines;

The Company maintains a policy prohibiting its directors, officers and other employees from buying or selling puts, calls or other derivative securities of the Company;

The Company maintains a policy prohibiting its directors, officers and other employees from engaging in short sales of the Company’s securities; and

The Company maintains a policy prohibiting its directors, officers and other employees from pledging the Company’s securities as collateral for a loan (or modifying an existing pledge) unless the pledge has been approved by the Audit Committee. In addition, directors, officers and other employees are prohibited from using the Company’s securities as collateral in a margin account.

Overview of Compensation Program and Philosophy

The following Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the material elements of compensation for our Named Executives who are identified in the 2013 Summary Compensation Table below. The Named Executives are the individuals who served during 2013 as our Chief Executive Officer; President; Chief Financial Officer; Chief Executive Officer – IT Services; and Executive Vice President, Strategy and Marketing.

The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors oversees and administers our executive compensation program, including the evaluation and approval of compensation plans, policies and programs offered to our Named Executives. The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted by our Board of Directors and is comprised entirely of independent, non-employee directors as determined in accordance with various NASDAQ Stock Market, SEC and Internal Revenue Code rules. The Compensation Committee has the authority to engage its own independent advisor to assist in carrying out its responsibilities under its charter.

Compensation Program Objectives

The Compensation Committee has designed the executive compensation program for our Named Executives to meet the following objectives:

Ensure executive compensation is aligned with our corporate strategies and business objectives.

Subject a substantial portion of an executive officer’s compensation to achieving both short-term and long-term performance objectives that enhance stockholder value by linking rewards to measurable corporate and individual performance.

Reinforce the importance of meeting and exceeding identifiable and measurable goals through superior awards for superior performance.

Provide total direct compensation that is competitive in markets in which we compete for management talent in order to attract, retain and motivate the best possible executive talent.

Provide an incentive for long-term continued employment with our Company.

Reinforce our desired culture and unique corporate environment by fostering a sense of ownership, urgency and overall entrepreneurial spirit.

We believe our approach to goal setting and setting of targets with payouts at multiple levels of performance results assists in mitigating excessive risk-taking that could harm our value or reward poor judgment by our executives. Several features of our programs reflect sound risk management practices. We believe we have allocated our compensation among base salary and short and long-term compensation target opportunities in such a way as to not encourage excessive risk-taking, but to reward meeting strategic company goals that enhance stockholder value. In addition, we believe that the mix of equity award instruments used under our long-term incentive program that includes full value awards as well as the multi-year vesting of our equity awards also mitigate risk and properly accounts for the time horizon of risk.

We do not believe that any of our compensation policies create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Role of Stockholder Say-on-Pay Votes

The Company provides its stockholders with the opportunity to cast an annual, nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation. At the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June 4, 2013, approximately 98.6% of the votes cast on the Say-on-Pay proposal at that meeting were voted in favor of the proposal. Our Compensation Committee considered the outcome of that advisory vote to be an endorsement of the Compensation Committee’s compensation philosophy and implementation. As such, in making its decisions regarding executive compensation for 2013, the Compensation Committee considered the significant level of stockholder support for our compensation program and chose to retain the 2012 structure of the executive compensation program, including the ratio of performance-based compensation to all other compensation and the ratio of performance-based equity compensation to time-based equity compensation, while making quantitative adjustments to reflect the performance of the Company and our Named Executives in 2012. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the outcome of the Company’s say-on-pay votes when making future compensation decisions for the Named Executives.

Determination of Competitive Compensation and Engagement of Compensation Consultant

To achieve its objectives for our executive compensation program, the Compensation Committee evaluates our executive compensation program with the goal of setting compensation at levels the Committee believes are competitive with those of other growth technology-related companies that compete with us for executive talent. The Compensation Committee has periodically engaged an independent consultant to provide additional assurance that the Company’s executive compensation programs are reasonable and consistent with its objectives. The consultant reports directly to the Compensation Committee, periodically participates in committee meetings and advises the Compensation Committee with respect to compensation trends and best practices, plan design, and the reasonableness of individual compensation awards. Although the Compensation Committee reviews the compensation practices of our peer companies as described below, the Compensation Committee does not adhere to strict formulas or survey data to determine the mix of compensation elements. Instead, as described below, the Compensation Committee considers various factors in exercising its discretion to determine compensation, including the experience, responsibilities and performance of each Named Executive as well as the Company’s overall financial performance. This flexibility is particularly important in designing compensation arrangements to attract and retain executives in a highly-competitive, rapidly changing market.

In 2012, the Compensation Committee engaged Pay Governance, LLC, an independent executive compensation advisory firm, to review all elements of executive compensation, benchmark such compensation in relation to other comparable companies with which we compete for executive talent and provide recommendations to ensure that our executive compensation program continues to enable us to attract and retain qualified executives through competitive compensation packages which will result in the attainment of our short-term and long-term strategic objectives. The Compensation Committee asked Pay Governance, LLC to provide the benchmark data for purposes of setting 2012 and 2013 compensation. Pay Governance, LLC benchmarked our executive compensation against a group of technology-related firms selected based on revenue, headcount and market capitalization, including: Accenture Plc, Automatic Data Processing, Inc., CA, Inc., Computer Sciences Corporation, Convergys Corporation, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., Fiserv, Inc., MasterCard, Inc., NetApp, Inc., SAIC, Inc., Symantec Corporation, Visa, Inc., and Yahoo! Inc.

In 2013, the Compensation Committee engaged Pay Governance, LLC to review its planned changes to 2013 compensation based on company performance, individual performance and responsibilities, and market trends.

The Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of Pay Governance, LLC and concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent Pay Governance, LLC from providing independent advice to the Compensation Committee regarding executive and director compensation matters.

Role of Executive Officers in Determining Executive Compensation

Our Chief Executive Officer, aided by our President, provided statistical data and made recommendations to the Compensation Committee to assist it in determining 2013 compensation levels. In addition, our Chief Executive Officer provided the Compensation Committee with a review of the performance of the other executive officers. While the Compensation Committee utilized this information and valued management’s observations with regard to compensation, the ultimate decisions regarding executive compensation were made by the Compensation Committee.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Components of Compensation

Our executive compensation program utilizes three primary components to achieve the foregoing objectives. These three components comprise an executive’s total direct compensation: base salary, non-equity incentive awards for annual financial performance, and periodic stock-based awards. Prior to 2007, equity compensation was granted primarily in the form of stock options which derived their value from appreciation of the market price of our Class A Common Stock. Grants of performance-based stock units were introduced in 2007 and grants of restricted stock units were introduced in 2008.

Internal Pay Equity

Our compensation programs are designed so that potential realizable compensation is set relative to each executive’s level of responsibility and potential impact on our performance. While the compensation levels and design may be similar for executives at the same level, actual compensation may vary due to changes in individual performance over time.

Base Salary

The Compensation Committee reviews the base salaries of our Named Executives on an annual basis. The primary objective of the base salary component of an executive’s total direct compensation is to provide financial stability and certainty through market competitive salary levels, recognizing each Named Executive’s experience, knowledge, skills, relative value and sustained contribution to our Company. We make periodic adjustments to base salary based on individual performance and contributions, market trends, increases in the cost of living, competitive position and our financial situation. Consideration is also given to relative responsibility, seniority, experience and performance of each individual Named Executive. No specific weight is assigned to any of the above criteria relative to the Named Executives’ compensation. In 2013, each Named Executive received a salary increase of approximately 3%, primarily to account for the annual increase in the cost of living and general market trends, reflecting the fact that there were no major changes in the other factors mentioned above, including the Named Executives’ roles, responsibilities and performance. The Compensation Committee does not attempt to set compensation components to meet specific benchmarks relative to our peers because the Compensation Committee believes that excessive reliance on benchmarking is detrimental to stockholder interests as it can result in compensation that is unrelated to the value delivered by the Named Executives. Based on this analysis, effective January 1, 2013, the base salaries of our Named Executives were set as follows:

Name2013 Base Salary

Francisco D’Souza

$608,000

Gordon Coburn

$578,000

Karen McLoughlin

$361,000

Malcolm Frank

$371,000

Rajeev Mehta

$462,000

Annual Non-Equity Incentive

We have designed our annual non-equity incentive program to stimulate and support a high-performance environment by tying such incentive compensation to the attainment of organizational financial goals and by recognizing superior performance. The annual cash incentive bonuses are intended to compensate individuals for the achievement of these goals. The Compensation Committee determines actual cash incentive bonuses after the end of the fiscal year based upon the Company’s performance.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Compensation Committee believes that each Named Executive’s annual cash incentive bonus should be based upon the achievement of financial goals, which are tied to metrics that are valued by our stockholders. The Compensation Committee believes that our stockholders value and measure the performance of the Named Executives based principally on the growth of Company revenue, earnings and cash flow. Consequently, the Compensation Committee believes that setting incentive targets based upon revenue, earnings and Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) is appropriate. Over the past several years, one of our principal goals has been to grow revenue at an industry-leading pace, while maintaining operating margin and DSO. The annual cash incentive bonus target has been set in an effort to achieve this operating performance. We set annual incentive target levels for our Named Executives based on a percentage of their salary. For 2013, the applicable percentages were as follows:

Name  

2013 Target

Bonus Award

   Percentage of Salary Payable at
Target Award Level

Francisco D’Souza

   $516,800    85%

Gordon Coburn

   $491,300    85%

Karen McLoughlin

   $306,850    85%

Malcolm Frank

   $315,350    85%

Rajeev Mehta

   $392,700    85%

The Compensation Committee determined the revenue (subject to adjustments for certain 2013 acquisitions), earnings (operating income before charges for stock-based compensation expense and acquisition-related charges and subject to adjustments for certain 2013 acquisitions) and DSO targets for the 2013 fiscal year that would be used for each of the Named Executives, and it also set a minimum and maximum threshold for each component of the annual incentive target as shown in the table below.

    Threshold  Target  Maximum
  (dollars in thousands)

Revenue

  $8,179,500  $8,610,000  $9,040,500

Earnings

  $1,629,250  $1,715,000  $1,800,750

Days sales outstanding

  81  70  60

Payout as a percent of target

  50%  100%  200%

In addition, the Compensation Committee determined that the weighting of the components of the annual cash incentive bonus target would be:

ElementWeighting
Percentage (%)

Achievement of revenue target

50

Achievement of earnings target

40

Achievement of DSO target

10

Due to the high growth objectives set for the revenue and earnings components, there was substantial uncertainty at the time the Compensation Committee established the performance goals for 2013 as to the likelihood of the Company’s attainment of the targeted levels of performance.

The maximum amount a Named Executive can earn under the annual cash incentive bonus plan is 200% of the target bonus amount, and for performance below the threshold level, no bonus will be paid for a particular component. Based on the 2013 corporate performance against the metrics described above, the Compensation Committee approved the following annual bonus payments to the Named Executives, which represents approximately 163% of the target bonus amount for each Named Executive:

Name  2013 Bonus Award 

Francisco D’Souza

  $844,812  

Gordon Coburn

  $803,127  

Karen McLoughlin

  $501,607  

Malcolm Frank

  $515,502  

Rajeev Mehta

  $641,946  

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Long-Term Incentives—Stock-Based Awards

We provide long-term incentive compensation through stock-based awards. Prior to 2008, we made such awards in the form of stock options and/or performance-based stock units that vest over multiple years. During 2008, based upon a study prepared by the independent compensation consulting firm then engaged by the Compensation Committee, our Compensation Committee modified its strategy on the use of stock-based compensation to discontinue annual grants of stock options and to include the use of restricted stock units. Our Compensation Committee continued such strategy in the following years with the awards of restricted stock units and performance-based stock units to our Named Executives. We believe that such restricted stock units and performance-based stock units are a valuable component of our long-term incentive program for several reasons, including ongoing concerns over the dilutive effect of option grants on our outstanding shares, our desire to make a portion of our Named Executives’ compensation less subject to market volatility, and to create a retention mechanism which creates the incentive to maximize stockholder value.

The Compensation Committee currently plans to use a combination of stock options, performance-based stock units, and/or restricted stock units in future years. We believe that stock-based grants provide our executive officers with a strong incentive to manage the Company from the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in the long-term success of the business, create an ownership culture and help to align the interests of our executives and our stockholders. In addition, the vesting feature of our equity grants should further our goal of executive retention, because this feature provides an incentive to our executive officers to remain in our employ during the vesting period.

In considering the number of long-term incentives to grant, the Compensation Committee first establishes a target compensation value that it wants to deliver to the Named Executives through long-term equity awards. In doing so, the Compensation Committee generally takes into account various factors, including the value of restricted stock units and performance-based stock units that each of our executive officers has previously been awarded, the base salary of the executive officer and the heavy weight placed on equity in the mix of total compensation, and the perceived retention value of the total compensation package in light of the competitive environment. The Compensation Committee also generally takes into account increases in the cost of living, the size of comparable awards made to individuals in similar positions within the industry, the scope, responsibility and business impact of the officer’s position, the individual’s potential for increased responsibility and promotion over the award term, and the individual’s personal experience and performance in recent periods. Once the target value is established, the Compensation Committee determines the number of restricted stock units and performance-based stock units by reference to the current value of the Company’s Class A Common Stock.

In 2013, for all named Executives other than Mr. Mehta, the Compensation Committee established target long-term incentive compensation values that were approximately 3% higher than the values provided in 2012, primarily to account for increases in the cost of living and general market trends, reflecting the fact that there were no major changes in the other factors mentioned above. Mr. Mehta received a 9% increase in long-term incentive compensation value in 2013 because of his increased responsibilities that occurred as a result of his transition from Group Chief Executive-Industries and Markets to Chief Executive Officer, IT Services.

Based on the foregoing considerations, in December 2013, the Compensation Committee approved the award of the following restricted stock units to our Named Executives:

NameDate of GrantNumber of
Restricted Stock Units

Francisco D’Souza

December 3, 201373,712

Gordon Coburn

December 3, 201339,390

Karen McLoughlin

December 3, 201314,716

Malcolm Frank

December 3, 201314,460

Rajeev Mehta

December 3, 201336,408

Such restricted stock units were granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2009 Incentive Plan and the related Stock Unit Award Agreements.

The December 2013 restricted stock units, referred to herein as the December 2013 Stock Units, vest in quarterly installments over three years, with 1/12th of the December 2013 Stock Units vesting on each March 3, June 3, September 3 and December 3 of each of years 2014, 2015 and 2016.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Also, based on the foregoing considerations, in December 2013, the Compensation Committee approved the award of the following performance-based stock units, also referred to herein as the Performance Units:

NameDate of Grant

Number of

Performance Units

Francisco D’Souza

December 3, 2013136,894

Gordon Coburn

December 3, 201373,154

Karen McLoughlin

December 3, 201327,332

Malcolm Frank

December 3, 201326,854

Rajeev Mehta

December 3, 201367,614

The Performance Units are subject to attainment of certain performance milestones as well as certain continued service requirements. The Performance Units vest, if at all, based upon the level of achievement of the revenue milestone, also referred to herein as the Performance Milestone, set forth below as follows:

(a)   0% of the Performance Units will vest if the Company’s 2014 revenue is less than $9,945,000,000.

(b)   50% of the Performance Units will vest upon the Company’s achievement of 2014 revenue of $9,945,000,000.

(c)    100% of the Performance Units will vest upon the Company’s achievement of 2014 revenue of $10,250,000,000.

(d)   200% of the Performance Units will vest upon the Company’s achievement of 2014 revenue of $10,960,000,000 or greater.

For these purposes, revenue is calculated pursuant to U.S. GAAP, subject to adjustments for certain acquisitions.

Whether and to what extent the Performance Milestone has been achieved will be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole and absolute discretion based upon the audited financials for the 2014 fiscal year. The number of Performance Units that will vest for performance between the applicable threshold targets will be determined using straight-line interpolation, rounded down to the preceding whole number (e.g., 101.74 rounded down to 101).

In addition, of the Performance Units that vest based upon attainment of the Performance Milestone, shares of Company Class A Common Stock underlying 1/3rd (or 33.33%) of such vested Performance Units, rounded down to the nearest whole number, will be issued on the eighteen-month anniversary of the date of grant; provided that the Named Executive remains in the Company’s service through such anniversary date, and shares of Company Class A Common Stock underlying the remaining 2/3rds (or 66.67%) of the vested Performance Units will be issued on the thirty-six month anniversary of the date of grant; provided that the Named Executive remains in the Company’s service through such anniversary date, each such date referred to herein as the Issue Date. For the avoidance of doubt, a Named Executive shall only be entitled to have shares of Company Class A Common Stock underlying Performance Units issued to him or her if the applicable Performance Milestone is achieved based on the schedule set forth above and the Named Executive remains in the service of the Company through the applicable Issue Date.

Supplemental Retirement Programs

Other than the Cognizant Technology Solutions Supplemental Retirement Plan, described below, we do not have any nonqualified deferred compensation programs, pension plans or pre-tax supplemental executive retirement plans for our executive officers, except for Mr. Coburn. We established a nonqualified deferred compensation program for Mr. Coburn in order to provide him with the equivalent economic value of the retirement plan in which he participated while the Company was majority-owned by IMS Health. Accordingly, Mr. Coburn is entitled to an annual Company contribution to his nonqualified deferred compensation account equal to 6% of his base salary and earned annual performance bonus.

In addition, our U.S.-based executive officers who are subject to contribution restrictions under our 401(k) savings plan due to statutory limits that apply to highly-compensated employees are eligible to participate in the Cognizant Technology Solutions Supplemental Retirement Plan, referred to herein as the CSRP, on the same basis as all other regular U.S.-based employees. The CSRP is a nonqualified savings plan in which the employee’s contributions are made on a post-tax basis to an individually owned, portable and flexible retirement plan held with a life insurance company. The CSRP works alongside established qualified retirement plans such as our 401(k) savings plan or can be the basis for a long term stand-alone retirement savings plan. We provide a fully vested incentive match following the same formula as our 401(k) savings plan. Because the CSRP is not subject to the same IRS non-discrimination rules as our 401(k) savings plan, employees that face

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

limitation on their 401(k) contributions due to these rules can avail themselves of the CSRP without foregoing the Company match. Although there is a limit in the amount of employer contributions, there is no limit to the amount an employee may contribute to the CSRP and it can be used in concert with other retirement strategies that may be available outside of our Company.

Broad-Based Programs

Our U.S.-based executive officers are eligible to participate in our broad-based medical, dental and vision insurance, life and accidental death insurance, and 401(k) savings plan, post-tax supplemental retirement plan and our employee stock purchase plan on the same basis as all other regular employees. Under the 401(k) savings plan, we match employee contributions at the rate of 50% for each dollar contributed during each pay period, up to the first 6% of eligible compensation contributed during each pay period, subject to applicable IRS limits. The matching contributions immediately vest. The 401(k) savings plan and other generally available benefit programs allow us to remain competitive for employee talent.

We believe that the availability of the aforementioned broad-based benefit programs generally enhances employee morale and loyalty.

Perquisites

We seek to maintain an egalitarian culture in our facilities and operations. The Company’s philosophy is to provide a minimal amount of personal benefits perquisites to its executives and generally only when such benefits have a business purpose.

We incur expenses to ensure that our employees, including our executive officers, are accessible to us and our customers at all times and to promote our commitment to provide our employees and executives with the necessary resources and items of technology to allow them to operate “around the clock” in a “virtual office” environment. However, we do not view these expenses as executive perquisites because they are essential to the efficient performance of their duties and are comparable to the benefits provided to a broad-based group of our employees. In addition, if an immediate family member accompanies an executive to attend a business function at which such family member is generally expected to attend, the Company reimburses the executive for the related travel expenses. Each of the Named Executives receives a perquisite in the form of an annual physical exam.

In addition, the Company provides Mr. D’Souza with limited access to an administrative assistant of the Company for his personal business purposes. Mr. D’Souza does not reimburse the Company for its cost of providing the administrative services and the Company pays him an additional amount to help offset any income taxes associated with the receipt of such services.

Compensation Policies

Stock Ownership Guidelines

The Company maintains a stock ownership and retention policy which is applicable to the Named Executives and non-employee directors. The policy requires such individuals, consistent with their responsibilities to the stockholders of the Company, to hold a significant equity interest in the Company. The policy expects each individual to attain a minimum share ownership level equal to the lesser of a certain number of shares and his or her base salary times a certain multiplier, as indicated below:

Officer or Director LevelOwnership Target

Chief Executive Officer

Lesser of 5x annual base salary and 50,000 shares

U.S.-based named executive officer (other than Chief Executive Officer)

Lesser of 4x annual base salary and 30,000 shares

Chairman of the Board of Directors (or Lead Director, if applicable)

Lesser of 4x annual retainer and 10,000 shares

Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors

Lesser of 4x annual base salary and 10,000 shares

Non-employee directors

Lesser of 4x annual retainer and 3,000 shares

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Clawback Policy

The Company maintains a Clawback Policy which applies to all Named Executives and certain other members of management. The policy provides that if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance by the Company with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, that is caused directly or indirectly by any current or former employee’s gross negligence, willful fraud or failure to act that affects the performance measures or the payment, award or value of any compensation which is based in whole or in part on the achievement of financial results by the Company, the Company may recover from any employee covered by the policy, regardless of whether or not such employee engaged in the applicable misconduct, the difference between (1) the amount of any such incentive compensation actually paid or awarded to, or realized by, the covered employee during the preceding three years, and (2) the amount of any such incentive compensation that would have been paid or awarded to, and value that would have been realized by, the covered employee based on the financial results under the restatement, as determined in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee.

To the extent the applicable restatement is caused directly or indirectly by any current or former covered employee’s willful fraud or intentional manipulation of performance measures that affect the payment, award or value of incentive compensation, the Company may recoup from such covered employee responsible for the fraud or manipulation, the difference between (1) the amount of any such incentive compensation actually paid or awarded to, and value of any such incentive compensation realized by, such covered employee at any time while a covered employee, and (2) the amount of any such incentive compensation that would have been paid or awarded to, and value of any incentive compensation that would have been realized by, such covered employee at any time while a covered employee based on the financial results under the restatement, as determined in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee.

Equity Grant Practices

The Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors approves the stock-based equity awards, such as the restricted stock units and performance-based stock units, at its regularly scheduled meetings or by written consent. Awards approved during a regularly scheduled meeting become effective on the date of the meeting or as of a future date, as specified by the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors in its approval. Awards approved by unanimous written consent become effective as of the date the Company is in receipt of all signed consents or as of a future date, as specified by the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors in the written consent. In addition, our Board of Directors has authorized an executive committee of Company management, comprised of Messrs. Narayanan, D’Souza and Coburn (the “Executive Committee”), to grant stock-based equity awards to newly hired and existing employees. Stock options granted by the executive committee of Company management shall be granted in accordance with the Company’s policy governing the issuance of stock options which is detailed below. The grant of restricted stock units and performance-based stock units is not covered by the policy governing the issuance of stock options.

The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors do not engage in any market timing of the stock-based equity awards made to the executive officers or other award recipients. There is no established practice of timing our awards in advance of the release of favorable financial results or adjusting the award date in connection with the release of unfavorable financial developments affecting our business. It is our intent that all stock option grants, whether made by the Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee or the Executive Committee, have an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value of our Class A Common Stock based on the closing market price per share on the grant date.

The Company has a written policy governing the grant of stock options. The policy applies equally to grants of stock options to executives and other employees. The policy provides, among other things, that:

Stock option grants may be made by the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee, provided the Executive Committee shall not grant options to any of its members, to any employee subject to Section 16 reporting as defined by the SEC that are not members of the Executive Committee or to anyone who is or may be a “covered employee” under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) that are not members of the Executive Committee;

The exercise price of each stock option shall not be less than 100 percent of the fair market value of our Class A Common Stock on the date of grant based on the closing market price per share on such date;

Stock options granted by the Executive Committee must be within the guidelines set forth in the policy and may only be granted on the fourteenth (14th) day of a calendar month or, if the fourteenth (14th) day is a day that the Class A

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Common Stock is not publicly traded, then on the last preceding trading date. The grants are reported to the Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting;

Except for grants to non-employee members of the Board (which shall only be issued with a grant date coincident with the date of the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders or, with respect to the initial grant made to a non-employee Board member who is first elected or appointed to the Board other than at the Annual Meeting, the date of his or her initial election or appointment to the Board), no stock options shall be granted on a date that falls within one of the Company’s earnings black-out periods (period beginning fifteen days prior to the end of each fiscal quarter (i.e., March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31) and ending with and including the second full trading day following the quarterly announcement of the earnings of the Company for such quarter);

No stock options shall be granted by the Executive Committee to any one individual that collectively exceed 10,000 shares (subject to certain adjustments provided for under the policy) during any rolling twelve month period without approval by the Board or the Compensation Committee;

No stock option grant by the Executive Committee shall have a term in excess of ten years; a vesting schedule other than twenty-five (25) percent per year over a four-year period measured from the grant date; or contain terms other than those specified in the applicable plan document; and

All option grants to employees subject to Section 16 reporting as defined by the SEC shall be made by the Compensation Committee comprised solely of two or more “outside directors” as determined under Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) and the applicable Treasury Regulations (or by the Board so long as (i) any member of the Board that does not so qualify as such an outside director recuses himself or herself, and (ii) any such grant is made by two or more members of the Board who do qualify as such outside directors).

Ongoing and Post-Employment Compensation

The Company recognizes that a change of control can create uncertainty for its employees that may result in loss or distraction of executives during a critical period. As a result, in February 2013, we entered into Amended and Restated Executive Employment and Non-Disclosure, Non-Competition and Invention Assignment Agreements (collectively, the “Employment Agreements”) with each of the Named Executives under which certain payments and benefits would be provided should the executive officer’s employment terminate under certain circumstances, including in connection with a change in control. The Employment Agreements replace the Severance and Noncompetition Agreement previously entered into with Messrs. D’Souza, Coburn and Mehta. Prior to this, Ms. McLoughlin and Mr. Frank were not a party to any such agreement with the Company.

Under these agreements, in the event of an involuntary termination, other than in the case of a termination for cause, death, disability, or in the event that the Named Executive resigns for Good Reason (other than any termination described in the next paragraph) the Named Executive will receive his then-current base salary for the twenty-two (22) month period following termination in regular installments, commencing on or as soon as practicable after the applicable general release of claims is effective and within 35 days of the date of such termination, and an amount equal to the monthly COBRA medical insurance cost under the Company’s medical plan for the Named Executive, his spouse and dependents for the twelve (12) months after termination. In addition, the portion of any outstanding equity awards that were subject to vesting solely upon continued service with the Company and would have vested had the Named Executive remained employed during the year following the termination will become fully vested and exercisable as of the termination date, and with respect to any equity award subject to vesting in whole or in part based on achievement of performance objectives, to the extent such performance period expired on or before the termination date, the performance objectives have been satisfied and the only condition remaining to vesting is continued employment, the portion of such equity awards that would have vested during the year following the termination date will become fully vested and exercisable as of the termination date. The Named Executive will also be entitled to any amounts earned, accrued and owed but not yet paid to Named Executive as of the termination date and any benefits accrued and earned in accordance with the terms of any benefits plans or programs, and this amount is not conditioned upon the release becoming effective.

The Employment Agreement also provides that in the event of an involuntary termination that coincides with, or within the twelve (12) month period immediately after, the first occurrence of a change in control, we will pay such individual the following, provided he or she executes and does not revoke a general release of claims: a cash payment equal to one times his annual base salary, to be paid in regular installments over a period of twelve months commencing on or as soon as

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practicable after the release is effective and within 35 days of the date of such termination, a cash payment equal to the amount of the target bonus the Named Executive would otherwise have been eligible to receive for the performance year in which the termination occurs, assuming that the Named Executive and the Company have achieved 100% of performance targets and objectives, to be paid in a lump sum on or as soon as practicable after the release is effective and within 35 days of the date of such termination, and an amount equal to the monthly COBRA medical insurance cost under the Company’s medical plan for the Named Executive and his spouse and dependents for the twelve (12) months after termination. In addition, the portion of any outstanding equity awards that were subject to vesting solely upon continued service with the Company will become fully vested and exercisable as of the termination date, and with respect to any equity award subject to vesting in whole or in part based on achievement of performance objectives, to the extent such performance period expired on or before the termination date, the performance objectives have been satisfied and the only condition remaining to vesting is continued employment, such equity awards become fully vested and exercisable as of the termination date. Moreover, with respect to the portion of any equity award subject to vesting in whole or in part based on achievement of performance objectives, to the extent the applicable performance period has not expired before the termination date, the Company must pro-rate the performance objectives for the period up to the closing of the change in control and make a good faith determination of the level of achievement the performance objective and treat as fully vested and exercisable the proportionate amount of equity awards corresponding to that level of achievement. The Named Executive will also be entitled to any amounts earned, accrued and owed but not yet paid to Named Executive as of the termination date and any benefits accrued and earned in accordance with the terms of any benefits plans or programs, and this amount is not conditioned upon the effectiveness of the release.

The Employment Agreement also provides that in the event any payments under the Employment Agreement would constitute parachute payments under Section 280G of the Code, then the payments under the Employment Agreement shall be reduced by the minimum amount necessary so that no amounts paid will be non-deductible to the Company or subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code.

Pursuant to such agreements, each Named Executive has agreed not to engage in any competitive business in any capacity for one year following termination of employment and not to solicit any of our employees to leave our employ within the one-year period following termination of employment. Our executive officers are also bound by confidentiality covenants that protect our and our customers’ confidential information and business and by intellectual property covenants that require Named Executives to fully and promptly disclose all inventions and works developed while at the Company and for a period of six months after employment termination.

We believe that the Employment Agreements continue to achieve two important goals crucial to our long-term financial success, namely, the long-term retention of our senior executives and their commitment to the attainment of our strategic objectives. These agreements will allow our participating executive officers to continue to focus their attention on our business operations and strategic plans without undue concern over their own financial situations during periods when substantial disruptions and distractions might otherwise prevail. We believe that these severance packages are also fair and reasonable in light of the years of service our executive officers have rendered us (average tenure of over 10 years), the level of dedication and commitment they have rendered us over that period, the contribution they have made to our growth and financial success and the value we expect to receive from retaining their services, including during challenging transition periods following a change in control.

None of the Named Executives is entitled to any tax gross-up payments for the tax liability they incur with respect to such severance benefits.

The material terms of the Named Executive’s post-employment compensation are described below in the section of the proxy statement entitled “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” startingCorporate Secretary. See “Helpful Resources” on page 62 of this proxy statement.

TAX CONSIDERATIONS

Section 162(m) of the Code generally disallows a tax deduction78 for how to publicly held companies for compensation exceeding $1.0 million paid to certain of the corporation’s executive officers, to the extent that compensation exceeds $1.0 million per covered officer in any fiscal year. The limitation applies only to compensation which is not considered to be “qualified performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Compensation Committee believes it is important to maintain incentive compensation at the requisite level to attract and retain the executive officers essential to the

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Company’s financial success, even if all or part of that compensation may not be “qualified performance-based compensation”, and therefore subject to the $1.0 million limitation on deductible compensation under Section 162(m). Accordingly, the Compensation Committee may provide one or more executive officers with the opportunity to earn incentive compensation, whether through cash bonus programs tied to the Company’s financial performance or equity awards other than in the form of stock options, which may be in excess of the amount deductible by reason of Section 162(m) or other provisions of the Code. In establishing such cash and equity incentive compensation programs for the Company’s executive officers, the Compensation Committee believes that the potential deductibility of the compensation payable under those programs should be only one of a number of relevant factors taken into consideration, and not the sole governing factor.

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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The information contained in this report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Exchange Act, except to the extent that Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation specifically incorporates it by reference into a document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or the Exchange Act.

The Compensation Committee is responsible for evaluating and approving the compensation for the executive officers. Management has primary responsibility forcontact our Company’s financial statements and reporting process, including the disclosure of executive compensation. The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth above. The Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated by reference into the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

By the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation

John N. Fox, Jr.

John E. Klein

Michael Patsalos-Fox

Robert E. Weissman

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES

2013 Summary Compensation Table

The following 2013 Summary Compensation Table provides certain summary information concerning the compensation earned for services rendered in all capacities to us and our subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2013 by our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and each of our three other most highly compensated executive officers whose total compensation for the 2013 year was in excess of $100,000 and who were serving as executive officers at the end of the 2013 fiscal year (collectively, the “Named Executives”). No other executive officers who would have otherwise been includable in such table on the basis of total compensation for the 2013 fiscal year have been excluded by reason of their termination of employment or change in executive status during that year. All share and share-based numbers and values in this 2013 Summary Compensation Table reflect the Company’s two-for-one stock split that occurred on March 7, 2014.

(a) (b)  (c)   (d)   (e)   (f)   (g)   (h)  (i)  (j) 
Name and Principal Position Year  

Salary

($)

   

Bonus

($)

   Stock Awards 1  2
($)
   Option Awards
($)
   Non-Equity
Incentive  Plan
Compensation 3
($)
   

Change in Pension

Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings

($)

  All Other
Compensation
($)
  

Total

($)

 

Francisco D’Souza

Chief Executive Officer

 2013   608,000          9,882,687          844,812         12,177 9   11,347,676  
 2012   590,000          9,594,952          405,780         21,687 9   10,612,419  
 2011   566,500          10,285,710          908,248         1,500 5   11,761,958  

Gordon J. Coburn

President 7

 2013   578,000          5,281,127          803,127     260,861 4   90,518 6   7,013,633  
 2012   561,000          5,127,386          385,835     98,412 4   64,310 6   6,236,943  
 2011   510,000          4,819,405          817,664         87,010 6   6,234,079  

Karen McLoughlin

Chief Financial Officer 8

 2013   361,000          1,973,102          501,607         7,650 10   2,843,359  
 2012   350,000          1,915,628          240,717         7,500 10   2,513,845  

Malcolm Frank

Executive Vice President,

Strategy and Marketing

 2013   371,000       1,938,660          515,502         1,500 5   2,826, 662  
 2012   360,000          1,882,138          247,595         1,500 5   2,491,233  

Rajeev Mehta

Chief Executive Officer, IT Services

 2013   462,000          4,881,232          641,946         1,500 5   5,986,678  
 2012   448,000          4,437,492          308,118         1,500 5   5,195,110  
 2011   406,500          4,075,470          651,726         1,500 5   5,135,196  

1

Represents the aggregate grant date fair value, determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, with respect to the share-based awards granted in each respective year. The reported dollar amounts do not take into account any estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. A description of the terms of the restricted stock units and performance-based stock units granted during 2013 is disclosed under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Incentives—Stock-Based Awards” on page 48 of this proxy statement.

2

These amounts do not necessarily represent the actual value that will be recognized by the Named Executives upon vesting and issuance of shares. The amounts reported in the columns assume settlement of performance-based stock units at target levels; however, performance-based stock units may vest at a maximum of 200% of target, depending on the Company’s 2014 revenue. For performance-based stock units granted in 2013, if the maximum level of performance is achieved, the grant date fair value for the performance-based stock units will be approximately $12,847,502 for Mr. D’Souza, $6,865,502 for Mr. Coburn, $2,565,108 for Ms. McLoughlin $2,520,248 for Mr. Frank and $6,345,574 for Mr. Mehta, resulting in an aggregate grant date fair value for all stock awards of approximately $16,306,438 for Mr. D’Souza, $8,713,878 for Mr. Coburn, $3,255,656 for Ms. McLoughlin, $3,198,784 for Mr. Frank and $8,054,019 for Mr. Mehta. None of the Named Executives forfeited any stock awards during the 2013, 2012, or 2011 fiscal years. For information regarding assumptions underlying the valuation of stock-based awards, see Note 12 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the applicable fiscal year.

3

Amounts shown in this column represent cash incentive bonuses earned for each respective fiscal year and paid in the first quarter of the following year under our officer annual non-equity incentive bonus program.

4

Amount represents investment earnings or losses on Mr. Coburn’s nonqualified deferred compensation account. The earnings or losses correspond to the actual market earnings on a select group of investment funds utilized to track the notional investment return on the account balance for the respective fiscal year. The Company has not made any determination as to which portion of such earnings may be considered above market for purposes of column (h) of this table and has elected to report the entire amount of such earnings or losses. Mr. Coburn’s nonqualified deferred compensation account incurred investment gains in 2013 in an amount equal to $260,861, as reflected in the 2013 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table on page 61 of this proxy statement.

5

Represents a 401(k) savings plan matching contribution.

6

For 2013, includes a 401(k) savings plan matching contribution in the amount of $1,500, a Cognizant Supplemental Retirement Plan, or CSRP, matching contribution in the amount of $6,150 and a contribution in the amount of $82,868, which the Company is required to make to a nonqualified deferred compensation account. For 2012, includes a 401(k) savings plan matching contribution in the amount of $1,500, a Cognizant Supplemental Retirement Plan, or CSRP, matching contribution in the amount of $6,000 and a contribution in the amount of $56,810 to the nonqualified deferred compensation account. For 2011, includes a 401(k) savings plan matching contribution in the amount of $1,500, a Cognizant Supplemental Retirement Plan, or CSRP, matching contribution in the amount of $5,850 and a contribution in the amount of $79,660 to the nonqualified deferred compensation account.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

7

Mr. Coburn was appointed as President on February 6, 2012, prior to which he served as our Chief Financial Officer.

8

Ms. McLoughlin was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Company on February 6, 2012.

9

For 2013, includes a 401(k) savings plan matching contribution in the amount of $1,500, and the use of an administrative assistant of the Company for personal matters, which is valued at $5,141, plus a gross-up for taxes relating to such services equal to $5,536. For 2012, includes a 401(k) savings plan matching contribution in the amount of $1,500, and the use of an administrative assistant of the Company for personal matters, which is valued at $10,831, plus a gross up for taxes relating to such services equal to $9,356.

10

For 2013, represents a 401(k) savings plan matching contribution in the amount of $844 and a CSRP matching contribution in the amount of $6,806. For 2012, represents a 401(k) savings plan matching contribution in the amount of $1,500 and a CSRP matching contribution in the amount of $6,000.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

2013 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

The following table provides certain summary information concerning each grant of an award made to a Named Executive in the 2013 fiscal year under a compensation plan. All share and share-based numbers and values in this 2013 Grants of Plan-based Awards Table reflect the Company’s two-for-one stock split that occurred on March 7, 2014.

(a) (b)   (c)  (d)  (e)    (f)  (g)  (h)  (i)  (j)  (k)  (l) 
      

Estimated Future Payouts

Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards 1

    

Estimated Future Payouts

Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards  2

             
Name Grant Date   

Threshold

($)

  

Target

($)

  

Maximum

($)

    

Threshold

(#)

  

Target

(#)

  

Maximum

(#)

  

All Other

Stock

Awards:

Number

of

Shares

of Stock

or

Units 3

(#)

  

All Other

Option

Awards:

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Options

(#)

  

Exercise

or Base

Price of

Option

Awards

($/SH)

  

Grant Date

Fair Value

of Equity

Awards 4

($)

 
Francisco D’Souza 2/28/13   258,400    516,800    1,033,600          
 12/3/13       68,447    136,894    273,788             6,423,751  
 12/3/13          73,712            3,458,936  
Gordon Coburn 2/28/13   245,650    491,300    982,600          
 12/3/13       36,577    73,154    146,308             3,432,751  
 12/3/13          39,390            1,848,376  
Karen McLoughlin 2/28/13   153,425    306,850    613,700          
 12/3/13       13,666    27,332    54,664             1,282,554  
 12/3/13          14,716            690,548  
Malcolm Frank 2/28/13   157,675    315,350    630,700          
 12/3/13       13,427    26,854    53,708             1,260,124  
 12/3/13          14,460            678,536  
Rajeev Mehta 2/28/13   196,350    392,700    785,400          
 12/3/13       33,807    67,614    135,228             3,172,787  
 12/3/13          36,408            1,708,445  

1

Represents the range of performance bonuses that can be earned by the Named Executive if the minimum threshold, target and maximum performance targets are achieved. The bonus is prorated if performance levels are achieved between the threshold and target levels or between the target and maximum levels. Performance below the minimum threshold results in no bonus payout to the Named Executive. The methodology and performance criteria applied in determining these potential bonus amounts are discussed under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Annual Non-Equity Incentive” starting on page 47 of this proxy statement. The actual cash bonus paid to each Named Executive for his 2013 performance is reported as Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation above in the 2013 Summary Compensation Table. In each case, the Named Executive received a bonus in excess of his or her target amount based on 2013 performance.

2

Represents the range of shares that could vest and be issued pursuant to performance-based stock units. A description of the terms of the performance-based stock units is discussed under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Incentives—Stock-Based Awards” starting on page 48 of this proxy statement.

3

Represents restricted stock units. A description of the terms of the restricted stock units is discussed under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Incentives—Stock-Based Awards” starting on page 48 of this proxy statement.

4

Represents the grant date fair value of the restricted stock units and performance-based stock units determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, assuming target achievement for performance-based stock units. For information regarding assumptions underlying the valuation of stock-based awards, see Note 12 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2013 Table

The following table provides certain summary information concerning outstanding equity awards held by the Named Executives as of December 31, 2013. All share and share-based numbers and values in this Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2013 Table reflect the Company’s two-for-one stock split that occurred on March 7, 2014.

(a) (b)  (c)  (d)  (e)  (f)    (g)  (h)  (i)  (j) 
  Option Awards 1    Stock Awards 
Name 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(#)

Exercisable

  

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(#)

Unexercisable

  

Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options

(#)

  

Option
Exercise

Price

($)

  

Option
Expiration

Date

     

Number of
Shares or
Units of Stock
That
Have Not
Vested 2

(#)

  

Market Value
of Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have
Not Vested 3

($)

  

Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units

or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested

(#)

  

Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or

Payout Value

of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other

Rights That
Have Not
Vested 3

($)

 

Francisco D’Souza

  500,000            16.85    08/06/16                   
  480,000            9.11    12/08/18                   
                       42,4002   2,140,776          
                       85,8604   4,335,071          
                       66,852 2   3,375,357          
                       249,3566   12,589,984          
                       73,7122   3,721,719          
                               136,894 7   6,911,778  

Gordon J. Coburn

  100,000            16.85    08/06/16                   
                       19,8682   1,003,135          
                       40,2304   2,031,213          
                       35,7242   1,803,705          
                       133,251 6   6,727,843          
                       39,3902   1,988,801          
                         73,1547   3,693,545  

Karen McLoughlin

  70,000            20.17    12/13/16                   
  20,000            15.53    8/13/18                   
                       8,3342   420,784          
                       3,4785   175,604          
                       13,3482   673,941          
                       49,7846   2,513,594          
                       14,7162   743,011          
                               27,3327   1,379,993  

Malcolm Frank

                       10,6682   538,627          
                       4,452 5   224,781          
                       13,1142   662,126          
                       48,9136   2,469,617          
                       14,4602   730,085    
                               26,8547   1,355,858  

Rajeev Mehta

                       16,8002   848,232          
                       34,0204   1,717,670    
                       30,918 2   1,561,050          
                       115,322 6   5,822,608          
                       36,4082   1,838,240          
                                 67,6147   3,413,831  

1

Each stock option grant included in this table has a term of 10 years measured from the grant date, and all outstanding options granted to the Named Executives as of December 31, 2013 have fully vested pursuant to their terms.

2

Awards shown are time-based restricted stock units that were granted on November 28, 2011, December 3, 2012 and December 3, 2013 and vest on specified dates if the individual is then employed by the Company:

Mr. D’Souza: Approximately 10,600 shares are scheduled to vest on each of February 28, May 28, August 28 and November 28 of 2014; approximately 14,498 shares are scheduled to vest on each March 3, June 3, September 3 and December 3 of 2014 and 2015; and approximately 6,142 shares are scheduled to vest on each of March 3, June 3, September 3 and December 3 of 2016.

Mr. Coburn: Approximately 4,966 shares are scheduled to vest on each of February 28, May 28, August 28 and November 28 of 2014; approximately 7,746 shares are scheduled to vest on each March 3, June 3, September 3 and December 3 of 2014 and 2015; and approximately 3,282 shares are scheduled to vest on each of March 3, June 3, September 3 and December 3 of 2016.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Ms. McLoughlin: Approximately 2,084 shares are scheduled to vest on each of February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 of 2014; approximately 2,894 shares are scheduled to vest on each March 3, June 3, September 3 and December 3 of 2014 and 2015; and approximately 1,226 shares are scheduled to vest on each of March 3, June 3, September 3 and December 3 of 2016.

Mr. Frank: Approximately 2,666 shares are scheduled to vest on each of February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 of 2014; approximately 2,842 shares are scheduled to vest on each March 3, June 3, September��3 and December 3 of 2014 and 2015; and approximately 1,204 shares are scheduled to vest on March 3, June 3, September 3 and December 3 of 2016.

Mr. Mehta: Approximately 4,200 shares are scheduled to vest on each of February 28, May 28, August 28 and November 28 of 2014; approximately 6,898 shares are scheduled to vest on each March 3, June 3, September 3 and December 3 of 2014 and 2015; and approximately 3,034 shares are scheduled to vest on each of March 3, June 3, September 3 and December 3 of 2016.

3

Market value was determined based on a closing price of a share of our Class A Common Stock of $50.49 as of December 31, 2013.

4

For awards of performance-based units granted in 2011, target levels for 2012 were achieved at 67.5% based on the performance measures set forth below. The awards have partially time-vested and will fully time-vest based on continued employment through each of the vesting dates.

Measurement Date

Number of SharesCalendar Year
Revenue in ‘000

December 31, 2012

200% of Award Outstanding$8,087,500
100% of Award Outstanding$7,525,000
50% of Award Outstanding$7,243,000
No Awardless than $7,243,000

Corporate Secretary.

                       
1/3 of

Other Matters at the award vested on May 28, 2013 and the remaining 2/3 of the award will vest on November 28, 2014 provided the Named Executive is employed by the Company.

52017 Annual Meeting

For awards of performance-based units granted in 2011, target levels for 2012 were achieved at 67.5% based on the performance measures set forth below. The awards have partially time-vested and will fully time-vest based on continued employment through each of the vesting dates.

Measurement Date

Number of SharesCalendar Year
Revenue in ‘000

December 31, 2012

125% of Award Outstanding$8,087,500
100% of Award Outstanding$7,525,000
50% of Award Outstanding$7,243,000
No Awardless than $7,243,000

1/2 of the award vested on June 3, 2013 and the remaining 1/2 of the award will vest on December 1, 2014 provided the Named Executive is employed by the Company.

6

For awards of performance-based units granted in 2012, target levels were achieved at 133.9% based on the performance measures set forth below. Awards will time-vest based on continued employment through each of the vesting dates.

Measurement Date

Number of SharesCalendar Year
Revenue in ‘000

December 31, 2013

200% of Award Outstanding$9,175,000
100% of Award Outstanding$8,515,000
50% of Award Outstanding$8,220,000
No Awardless than $8,220,000

1/3rd of the award will vest on June 3, 2014 provided the Named Executive is employed by the Company and the remaining 2/3rds of the award will vest on December 3, 2015 provided the Named Executive is employed by the Company.

7

For awards of performance-based units granted in 2013, target levels will vest upon the achievement of the performance measures set forth below and continued employment through each of the vesting dates.

Measurement Date

Number of SharesCalendar Year
Revenue in ‘000

December 31, 2014

200% of Award Outstanding$10,960,000
100% of Award Outstanding$10,250,000
50% of Award Outstanding$9,945,000
No Awardless than $9,945,000

Upon achieving performance criteria, 1/3rd of the award will vest on June 3, 2015 provided the Named Executive is employed by the Company and the remaining 2/3rds of the award will vest on December 3, 2016 provided the Named Executive is employed by the Company.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

2013 OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED TABLE

The following Option Exercises and Stock Vested table provides additional information about the value realized by the Named Executives on option award exercises and stock award vesting during the year ended December 31, 2013. All share and share-based numbers and values in this 2013 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table reflect the Company’s two-for-one stock split that occurred on March 7, 2014.

(a) (b)  (c)    (d)  (e) 
  Option Awards    Stock Awards 
Name Number of
Shares Acquired
on Exercise (#)
  

Value Realized

on Exercise

($) 1

     Number of
Shares Acquired
on Vesting (#) 2
  

Value Realized

on Vesting

($) 3

 

Francisco D’Souza

           386,426    16,533,517  

Gordon J. Coburn

  317,500    9,694,577     183,182    7,828.792  

Karen McLoughlin

  10,000    273,350     23,186    908,431  

Malcolm Frank

           27,688    1,085,380  

Rajeev Mehta

  152,580    5,591,477      155,490    6,644,627  

1

Value realized on exercise is calculated based upon the number of options exercised and the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise less the exercise price, before any applicable tax withholding.

2

The number of shares shown in the table reflects the gross number of shares received by each Named Executive upon vesting of the stock awards. The Company reduced the number of shares issued to each Named Executive by automatically withholding a number of shares with a fair market value as of the issuance date sufficient to satisfy required tax withholdings. Each Named Executive actually received the following net number of shares of Company stock following such share withholding: Mr. D’Souza, 190,574; Mr. Coburn, 95,026; Ms. McLoughlin, 14,086; Mr. Frank, 17,498; and Mr. Mehta, 93,000.

3

Value realized on vesting is calculated by multiplying the number of shares acquired on vesting by the fair market value of the shares on the respective vesting date.

2013 Pension Benefits Table

None of the Named Executives participated in any defined benefit pension plans in 2013.

2013 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information with respect to the nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements in effect during 2013 for the Named Executives.

(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)
NameExecutive
Contributions
in Last FY ($)
Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY ($)
Aggregate
Earnings
in Last FY
($)
Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)
Aggregate
Balance
at Last FYE
($)

Francisco D’Souza

Gordon J. Coburn

82,868 1260,861 21,048,863 3

Karen McLoughlin

Malcolm Frank

Rajeev Mehta

1

This amount is reported as compensation and is included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the 2013 Summary Compensation Table on page 56 of this proxy statement.

2

This amount is reported as compensation and is included in the “Changes in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” column of the 2013 Summary Compensation Table on page 56 of this proxy statement. Earnings are broken down between funds as follows:

Investment Fund  

Earnings

Attributable to such Fund

 

Mass Mutual Select Focused Value

  $201,392  

Mass Mutual Select Mid Cap Growth Equity II A

   59,469  
  

 

 

 

Total

  $260,861  

3

Includes the amounts reported in columns (c) and (d) of this table plus such amounts previously reported in the Company’s Summary Compensation Table in previous years if such compensation was required to be disclosed.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Company has established this nonqualified deferred compensation arrangement for Mr. Coburn to serve as the economic equivalent of the retirement plan in which he participated while the Company was majority owned by IMS Health. Pursuant to such arrangement, the Company will credit Mr. Coburn’s deferred compensation account with an annual contribution in a dollar amount equal to 6% of his base salary and earned bonus for the year. Mr. Coburn can select from the 16 investment funds sponsored by Mass Mutual available to the plan to serve as the measures of the investment return on his account for each year. Mr. Coburn may change his investment elections up to six times per year. The account balance will become due and payable upon the occurrence of any of the following distributable events: (i) retirement at 55 years of age—payable six months following retirement in either a lump sum or 10 annual installments as elected by Mr. Coburn per plan provisions; (ii) termination of employment—payable in a lump sum six months following termination of employment; (iii) death or disability—immediate lump sum payment; and (iv)  unforeseen emergency, as defined by IRC 409A—payable in a lump sum.

POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

No Named Executive has an employment agreement that provides a specific term of employment. Accordingly, the employment of each Named Executive may be terminated at any time at the discretion of our Board of Directors.

We have entered into Amended and Restated Executive Employment and Non-Disclosure, Non-Competition, and Invention Assignment Agreements (“Employment Agreement”) with each of the Named Executives, effective February 25, 2013, which provided certain benefits upon the termination of their employment under certain prescribed circumstances.

Employment Agreements. Under the Employment Agreement, if a Named Executive’s employment terminates for any reason other than Cause, death or disability or if the Named Executive resigns for Good Reason and the Company’s right to cure has expired (an “involuntary termination”) (other than a termination that coincides with, or occurs within the twelve (12) month period immediately after, the first occurrence of a change in control) and if the Named Executive executes and does not revoke the applicable general release of claims in favor of the Company, we will pay such individual his then-current base salary for the twenty-two (22) month period following termination in regular installments, commencing on or as soon as practicable after the release is effective and within 35 days of the date of such termination and an amount equal to the monthly COBRA medical insurance cost under the Company’s medical plan for the Named Executive, his spouse and dependents for the twelve (12) months after termination. In addition, the portion of any outstanding equity awards that were subject to vesting solely upon continued service with the Company and would have vested had the Named Executive remained employed during the year following the termination will become fully vested and exercisable as of the termination date, and, with respect to any equity award subject to vesting in whole or in part based on achievement of performance objectives, to the extent such performance period expired on or before the termination date, the performance objectives have been satisfied and the only condition remaining to vesting is continued employment, the portion of such equity awards that would have vested during the year following the termination date will become fully vested and exercisable as of the termination date. The Named Executive will also be entitled to any amounts earned, accrued and owed but not yet paid to Named Executive as of the termination date and any benefits accrued and earned in accordance with the terms of any benefits plans or programs, and this amount is not conditioned upon the Release becoming effective.

Under the Employment Agreement, “Cause” is generally defined to include: (i) willful malfeasance or willful misconduct by the Named Executive in connection with his employment, (ii) continuing failure to perform such duties as are requested by the Board of Directors, (iii) failure by the Named Executive to observe material policies of the Company applicable to him or her, (iv) the commission by the Named Executive of (x) any felony or (y) any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, (v) the Named Executive engaging in any fraudulent act or embezzlement, or (vi) any material breach of the agreement.

Under the Employment Agreement, “Good Reason” is generally defined as the occurrence of one or more of the following events: (i) a material diminution of the Named Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities, (ii) a material diminution in his overall compensation package which is not caused by an overall policy to reduce senior employee compensation throughout the Company, (iii) the failure of the Company to obtain from its successor the express assumption of the agreement, and (iv) a change, without the Named Executive’s consent, in the principal place of work of the Named Executive to a location more than 50 miles from his primary work location, but only if the change is after a change in control. The Employment Agreement provides that the Named Executive must give the Company notice within 30 days of the action or

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

omission giving rise to the Good Reason, and the Company then has a period of 30 days to correct the reason constituting grounds for Good Reason. If the Company does not correct the event during the cure period, the Named Executive has 30 days to terminate for Good Reason.

The Employment Agreement also provides that in the event of an involuntary termination that coincides with, or occurs within the twelve (12) month period immediately after, the first occurrence of a change in control, we will pay such individual the following, provided he or she executes and does not revoke the applicable release of claims: a cash payment equal to one times his annual base salary, to be paid in regular installments over a period of twelve months commencing on or as soon as practicable after the applicable release is effective and within 35 days of the date of such termination, a cash payment equal to the amount of the target bonus the Named Executive would otherwise have been eligible to receive for the performance year in which the termination occurs, assuming that the Named Executive and the Company have achieved 100% of performance targets and objectives, to be paid in a lump sum on or as soon as practicable after the Release is effective and within 35 days of the date of such termination, and an amount equal to the monthly COBRA medical insurance cost under the Company’s medical plan for the Named Executive and his spouse and dependents for the (12) months after termination. In addition, the portion of any outstanding equity awards that were subject to vesting solely upon continued service with the Company will become fully vested and exercisable as of the termination date, and with respect any equity award subject to vesting in whole or in part based on achievement of performance objectives, to the extent such performance period expired on or before the termination date, the performance objectives have been satisfied and the only condition remaining to vesting is continued employment, such equity awards become fully vested and exercisable as of the termination date. Moreover, with respect the portion of any equity award subject to vesting in whole or in part based on achievement of performance objectives, to the extent the applicable performance period has not expired before the termination date, the Company must pro-rate the performance objectives for the period up to the closing of the change in control and make a good faith determination of the level of achievement of the performance objective and treat as fully vested and exercisable the proportionate amount of equity awards corresponding to that level of achievement. The Named Executive will also be entitled to any amounts earned, accrued and owed but not yet paid to Named Executive as of the termination date and any benefits accrued and earned in accordance with the terms of any benefits plans or programs, and this amount is not conditioned upon the effectiveness of the Release.

Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, a “change in control” is generally defined as a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through any of the following transactions: (i) consummation of a merger, consolidation or other reorganization approved by the stockholders, unless securities representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of the voting securities of the successor corporation are immediately thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the persons who beneficially owned the Company’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such transaction, (ii) a sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, (iii) the closing of any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which any person or any group of persons comprising a “group” within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the 1934 Act (other than (A) the Company or (B) a person that, prior to such transaction or series of related transactions, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company) acquires directly or indirectly (whether as a result of a single acquisition or by reason of one or more acquisitions within the twelve (12)-month period ending with the most recent acquisition) the beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing (or convertible into or exercisable for securities possessing) more than thirty-five percent (35%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities (as measured in terms of the power to vote with respect to the election of Board members) outstanding immediately after the consummation of such acquisition or series of related acquisitions, whether any such acquisition involves a direct issuance from the Company or the acquisition of outstanding securities held by one or more of the Company’s existing stockholders, or (iv) a change in the composition of the Board over a period of twelve (12) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the Board members ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (A) have been Board members continuously since the beginning of such period or (B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least a majority of the Board members described in clause (A) who were still in office at the time the Board approved such election or nomination.

If a Named Executive is terminated due to death, disability or for Cause, he or she will receive any amounts earned, accrued and owed but not yet paid to him or her as of his termination date and any benefits accrued and earned in accordance with the terms of any benefit plan or program of the Company. However, all other obligations to the Named Executive will be extinguished as of the termination date.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation63


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Pursuant to such agreements, each Named Executive has agreed not to engage in any competitive business in any capacity for one year following termination of employment and not to solicit any of our employees to leave our employ within the one-year period following termination of employment. Our executive officers are also bound by confidentiality covenants of indefinite duration and by intellectual property covenants that require Named Executives to fully and promptly disclose all inventions and works developed while at the Company and for a period of six months after termination.

Calculation of Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

The following table shows potential payments to our Named Executives under the various severance and other arrangements and agreements that were in effect on December 31, 2013 for various scenarios involving a change in control or termination of employment of each of our Named Executives, assuming a December 31, 2013 termination date and, where applicable, using the closing price of our Class A Common Stock of $50.49 (as reported on the NASDAQ Stock Market as of December 31, 2013, as adjusted for the Company’s two-for-one stock split that occurred on March 7, 2014).

Name  Trigger  Salary and
Bonus
   Benefits 3   Value of Equity
Acceleration  4
   Total Value 

Francisco D’Souza

  Qualifying Termination Prior to Change in Control 1  $1,114,667    $11,276    $13,600,794    $14,726,737  
  Qualifying Termination Following Change in Control 2  $1,124,800    $11,276    $26,162,908    $27,298,984  
  Death or Disability  $      $    $  
  Retirement  $      $    $  
  Termination for Other Reasons  $      $    $  

Gordon J. Coburn

  Qualifying Termination Prior to Change in Control 1  $1,059,667    $11,276    $6,841,799    $7,912,742  
  Qualifying Termination Following Change in Control 2  $1,069,300    $11,276    $13,554,697    $14,635,273  
  Death or Disability  $      $    $  
  Retirement  $      $    $  
  Termination for Other Reasons  $      $    $  

Karen McLoughlin

  Qualifying Termination Prior to Change in Control 1  $661,833    $8,149    $2,018,994    $2,688,976  
  Qualifying Termination Following Change in Control 2  $667,850    $8,149    $4,526,933    $5,202,932  
  Death or Disability  $      $    $  
  Retirement  $      $    $  
  Termination for Other Reasons  $      $    $  

Malcolm Frank

  Qualifying Termination Prior to Change in Control 1  $680,167    $11,276    $2,161,073    $2,852,516  
  Qualifying Termination Following Change in Control 2  $686,350    $11,276    $4,625,237    $5,322,863  
  Death or Disability  $      $    $  
  Retirement  $      $    $  
  Termination for Other Reasons  $      $    $  

Rajeev Mehta

  Qualifying Termination Prior to Change in Control 1  $847,000    $11,276    $5,900,009    $6,758,285  
  Qualifying Termination Following Change in Control 2  $854,700    $11,276    $11,787,799    $12,653,775  
  Death or Disability  $      $    $  
  Retirement  $      $    $  
  Termination for Other Reasons  $      $    $  

While we believe that the amounts shown above and the assumptions upon which they are based provide reasonable estimates of the amounts that would have been due to the Named Executives in the event that any of the circumstances described above had occurred on December 31, 2013, the actual amounts due to the Named Executives upon a triggering event will depend upon the actual circumstances and the then applicable provisions of the Employment Agreements and the 2009 Incentive Plan, as in effect at the time of such event.

1

A Qualifying Termination is a termination of the Named Executive’s employment by the Company without cause. Represents 22 months’ additional salary based on the salary earned by such Named Executive in 2013.

2

Represents 12 months’ additional salary based on the salary earned by such Named Executive in 2013 and bonus payout at 100% of the 2013 target.

3

Represents 12 months of reimbursement for COBRA premiums.

4

Represents the value of restricted stock unit and performance-based stock unit acceleration, as described above.

In addition to the foregoing amounts indicated in the above table, Mr. Coburn will also be entitled to the balance of his nonqualified deferred compensation account, as described in the section above entitled “2013 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table”, which appears on page 61 of this proxy statement.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation64


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2013 with respect to the shares of our Class A Common Stock that may be issued under our existing equity compensation plans. We previously had four equity compensation plans, each of which was approved by our stockholders: (1) Amended and Restated 1999 Incentive Compensation Plan, which we refer to as the 1999 Incentive Plan; (2) Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan, which we refer to as the Director Plan; (3) Amended and Restated Key Employees’ Stock Option Plan; which we refer to as the Key Employees’ Stock Option Plan, and (4) Amended and Restated 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which we refer to as the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The 1999 Incentive Plan, the Director Plan and the Key Employees’ Stock Option Plan were succeeded by the Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan, which we refer to as the 2009 Incentive Plan, which was approved by our stockholders. Awards granted under the previous plans are still valid, however no additional awards may be granted from these previous plans. For additional information on our equity compensation plans, please see Note 12 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. All share and share-based numbers and values in this Equity Compensation Plan Information Table reflect the Company’s two-for-one stock split that occurred on March 7, 2014.

Plan Category  Number of Securities
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights
  Weighted Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants and
Rights
  Number of Securities
Available for Future
Issuance Under Equity
Compensation Plans
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders 1

   14,216,152 2  $16.43 3   35,432,266 4 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

       N/A      

Total

   14,216,152        35,432,266  

1

Consists of the 1999 Incentive Plan, the Director Plan, the Key Employees’ Stock Option Plan, the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the 2009 Incentive Plan.

2

Excludes purchase rights outstanding under the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Under such plan, employees may purchase whole shares of stock at a price per share equal to 90% of the lower of the fair market value per share on the first day of the purchase period or the fair market value per share on the last day of the purchase period. As of December 31, 2013, 6,871,722 shares of common stock may be issued pursuant to stock options upon exercise, 3,596,808 shares of common stock may be issued pursuant to restricted stock units upon vesting and 3,747,622 shares of common stock may be issued pursuant to performance based stock units. The number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the outstanding and unvested performance based stock units for which the performance period has not ended is based on vesting of the maximum number of award shares. The actual number of shares of common stock that may be issued at the time of issuance will generally range from 0% to 200% of the target number (half of the maximum) based on the level of satisfaction of the applicable performance-based vesting condition over the vesting period.

3

As of December 31, 2013, the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options to purchase common stock was $16.43 and no weighting was assigned to restricted stock units or performance based stock units, as no exercise price is applicable to restricted stock units or performance based stock units.

4

Includes 23,270,526 shares of Class A common stock available for future issuance under the 2009 Incentive Plan and 12,161,740 shares of Class A Common Stock available for future issuance under the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. As of December 31, 2013, there were no outstanding purchase periods under the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

During the year ended December 31, 2013, Messrs. Fox, Howe, Klein and Weissman served on the Compensation Committee for at least a portion of the year. No member of the Compensation Committee was or is a current or former officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

None of our executive officers serve as members of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity which has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation65


Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

The Audit Committee has furnished the following report:

To the Board of Directors of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation:

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is currently composed of four members and acts under a written charter, which is available under the Corporate Governance tab in the “Company Overview” section of the “About Cognizant” page of the Company’s website located at www.cognizant.com. The members of the Audit Committee are independent Directors, as defined in its charter and the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC. The Audit Committee held nine meetings during 2013.

Management is responsible for the preparation of the Company’s financial statements and for maintaining an adequate system of disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting for that purpose. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent integrated audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee is responsible for providing independent, objective oversight of these processes.

The Audit Committee has reviewed the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and has discussed these financial statements with management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has also received from, and discussed with, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm various communications that such independent registered public accounting firm is required to provide to the Audit Committee, including the matters required to be discussed by statement on Auditing Standards No. 16, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm also provided the Audit Committee with formal written statements required by PCAOB Rule 3526 (Communications with Audit Committees Concerning Independence) describing all relationships between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Company, including the disclosures required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence. In addition, the Audit Committee discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm its independence from Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation. The Audit Committee also considered whether the independent registered public accounting firm’s provision of certain other non-audit related services to the Company is compatible with maintaining such firm’s independence.

Based on its discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, and its review of the representations and information provided by management and the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

By the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation

Maureen Breakiron-Evans

John E. Klein

Leo S. Mackay, Jr.

Thomas M. Wendel

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation66


Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees and Other Matters

The following table summarizes the fees of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, billed to us for each of the last two fiscal years for audit services and billed to us in each of the last two fiscal years for other services:

Fee Category  2013   2012 

Audit Fees

  $2,897,500    $2,912,200  

Audit-Related Fees

   145,200     233,600  

Tax Fees

   674,300     566,700  

All Other Fees

   678,200     158,000  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Fees

  $4,395,200    $3,870,500  

AUDIT FEES

Audit fees consist of fees for the audit of our consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act, the review of the interim financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other professional services provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

AUDIT-RELATED FEES

Audit-related fees consist of fees for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit and the review of our financial statements and which are not reported under “Audit Fees.” These services relate to attest services that are not required by statute or regulation, consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards and employee benefit audits.

TAX FEES

Tax fees comprise fees for a variety of permissible services relating to tax compliance, tax planning, and tax advice. These services include assistance in complying with local transfer pricing requirements, assistance with local tax audits and assessments, withholding tax and indirect tax matters, preparation and filing of local tax returns and technical advice relating to local and international tax matters.

ALL OTHER FEES

For 2013, the amount relates to fees related to an information security strategy review, immigration advisory services, information technology advisory fees and accounting research software fees. For 2012, the amount relates to immigration and human resource compliance advisory services and accounting research software fees.

AUDIT COMMITTEE PRE-APPROVAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES

The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures relating to the approval of all audit and non-audit services that are to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm. This policy generally provides that we will not engage our independent registered public accounting firm to render audit or non-audit services unless the service is specifically approved in advance by the Audit Committee or the engagement is entered into pursuant to one of the pre-approval procedures described below.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation67


INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FEES AND OTHER MATTERS

From time to time, the Audit Committee may pre-approve specified types of services that are expected to be provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm during the next 12 months. Any such pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or type of services to be provided.

The Audit Committee has also delegated to Maureen Breakiron-Evans the authority to approve any audit or non-audit services to be provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm. Any approval of services by a member of the Audit Committee pursuant to this delegated authority is reported on at the next meeting of the Audit Committee. During 2013 and 2012, the Audit Committee approved all services provided to us by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP that are subject to the pre-approval policies and procedures described above.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation68


Stockholders’ Proposals

Stockholders who intend to have a proposal considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for presentation at our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act must submit the proposal to our Secretary at our offices at Glenpointe Centre West, 500 Frank W. Burr Blvd., Teaneck, New Jersey 07666, in writing not later than December 18, 2014.

Stockholders intending to present a proposal at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, but not to include the proposal in our proxy statement, or to nominate a person for election as a director, must comply with the requirements set forth in our Amended and Restated By-laws. Our Amended and Restated By-laws require, among other things, that our Secretary receive written notice from the stockholder of record of their intent to present such proposal or nomination not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. Therefore, the Company must receive notice of such a proposal or nomination for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders no earlier than the close of business on February 3, 2015 and no later than the close of business on March 5, 2015. The notice must contain the information required by the Amended and Restated By-laws, a copy of which is available upon request to our Secretary. In the event that the date of the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is more than 30 days before or more than 70 days after June 3, 2015, then our Secretary must receive such written notice not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the 2015 Annual Meeting and not later than the close of business of the later of the 90th day prior to the 2015 Annual Meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Company.

We reserve the right to reject, rule out of order, or take other appropriate action with respect to any proposal that does not comply with these or other applicable requirements.

Other Matters

Our Board of Directors is not aware of any matter to be presented for action at the Annual Meeting other than the matters referred to above and does not intend to bring any other matters before the Annual Meeting. However, if other matters should come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that holders of the proxies will vote thereon in their discretion.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation69


COGNIZANT’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

Solicitation of Proxies

The accompanying proxy is solicited by and on behalf of our Board of Directors, whose Notice of Annual Meeting is attached to this proxy statement, and the entire cost of such solicitation will be borne by us. In addition to the use of mail, proxies may be solicited by personal interview, telephone, e-mail and facsimile by our Directors, officers and other employees who will not be specially compensated for these services. We will request that brokers, nominees, custodians and other fiduciaries forward soliciting materials to the beneficial owners of shares held by such brokers, nominees, custodians and other fiduciaries. We will reimburse such persons for their reasonable expenses in connection therewith.

Certain information contained in this proxy statement relating to the occupations and security holdings of our Directors and officers is based upon information received from the individual Directors and officers.

2014 Proxy StatementCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation70


Cognizant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K

A copy of Cognizant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013,2016, including financial statements and schedules thereto but not including exhibits, as filed with the SEC, will be sent to any stockholder of record on April 7, 201410, 2017, without charge, upon written request addressed to:

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation

Attention: Secretary

Glenpointe Centre West

500 Frank W. Burr Blvd.

Teaneck, New Jersey 07666

to our Corporate Secretary. A reasonable fee willfeewill be charged for copies of exhibits. You also may access this proxy statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K atwww.proxyvote.com. You also may access ourOur Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20132016 is also available atwww.cognizant.com.

WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON, WE URGE YOU TO VOTE YOUR SHARES VIA THE TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER OR OVER THE INTERNET, AS DESCRIBED IN THE ENCLOSED MATERIALS. IF YOU RECEIVED A COPY OF THE PROXY CARD BY MAIL, YOU MAY SIGN, DATENON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES AND MAIL THE PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE. PROMPTLY VOTING YOUR SHARES WILL ENSURE THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM AT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND WILL SAVE US THE EXPENSE OF FURTHER SOLICITATION.FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Portions of our disclosure, including the table under “Reconciliation to GAAP Financial Measures,” include non-GAAP Income from Operations, non-GAAP Operating Margin, and non-GAAP EPS. These non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles and should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP measures should be read in conjunction with our financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. The reconciliations of Cognizant’s non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP measures should be carefully evaluated.

By OrderOur non-GAAP Income from Operations and non-GAAP Operating Margin exclude stock-based compensation expense and acquisition-related charges. Our definition of non-GAAP EPS excludes net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses and, for the year ended December 31, 2016, the impact of a one-time incremental income tax expense related to our principal operating subsidiary in India repurchasing its shares from its shareholders, which are non-Indian Cognizant entities, valued at $2.8 billion (the “India Cash Remittance”), in addition to excluding stock-based compensation expense and acquisition-related charges. Our non-GAAP EPS is additionally adjusted for the income tax impact of the Boardabove items, as applicable. The income tax impact of Directorseach item is calculated by applying the statutory rate and local tax regulations in the jurisdiction in which the item was incurred.

LOGO

Steven Schwartz, Secretary

Teaneck, New Jersey

April 17, 2014

We believe providing investors with an operating view consistent with how we manage the Company provides enhanced transparency into the operating results of the Company. For our internal management reporting and budgeting purposes, we use non-GAAP financial information that does not include, as applicable, stock-based compensation expense, acquisition-related charges, net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses, and the impact of a one-time incremental income tax expense related to the India Cash Remittance for financial and operational decision making, to evaluate period-to-period comparisons, to determine portions of the compensation for our executive officers and for making comparisons of our operating results to those of our competitors. Therefore, it is our belief that the use of non-GAAP financial measures excluding these costs provides a meaningful supplemental measure for investors to evaluate our financial performance. Accordingly, we believe that the presentation of non-GAAP Income from Operations, non-GAAP Operating Margin and non-GAAP EPS, when read in conjunction with our reported GAAP results, can provide useful supplemental information to our management and investors regarding financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and results of operations.

2017 Proxy Statement     57



Table of Contents

Additional Information

A limitation of using non-GAAP financial measures versus financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP is that non-GAAP measures do not reflect all of the amounts associated with our operating results as determined in accordance with GAAP and exclude costs that are recurring, namely stock-based compensation expense, certain acquisition-related charges, and net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses. In addition, other companies maycalculate non-GAAP financial measures differently than us, thereby limiting the usefulness of these non-GAAP financial measures as a comparative tool. We compensate for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from non-GAAP Income from Operations, non-GAAP Operating Margin and non-GAAP EPS to allow investors to evaluate such non-GAAP financial measures.

Reconciliation to GAAP Financial Measures

The following table presents a reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable GAAP measure for the years ended December 31.

($ in millions, except per share data)  2014  % of
Revenue
  2015  % of
Revenue
  2016  % of
Revenue
GAAP income from operations and operating margin$1,885  18.4%  $2,142  17.3%  $2,289  17.0%  
       Add: Stock-based compensation expense$1351.3%$1921.5%$2171.6%
       Add: Acquisition-related charges1$480.5%$1160.9%$1300.9%
Non-GAAP Income from Operations and non-GAAP Operating Margin$2,06820.2%$2,45019.7%$2,63619.5%
 
GAAP diluted earnings per share$2.35$2.65$2.55
       Effect of above operating adjustments, net of tax2$0.23$0.35$0.41
       Effect of non-operating foreign currency exchange losses, net of tax3$0.02$0.07$0.04
       Effect of incremental income tax expense related to the India Cash Remittance4$0.39
Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share$2.60$3.07$3.39
1Acquisition-related charges include, when applicable: amortization of intangible assets included in the depreciation and amortization expense line on our consolidated statements of operations, external deal costs, acquisition-related retention payments, integration costs, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities, charges for impairment of acquired intangible assets and other acquisition-related costs.
2The non-GAAP income tax benefits related to stock-based compensation expense were $31 million, $46 million and $49 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively. The non-GAAP income tax benefits related to acquisition-related charges were $13 million, $43 million and $46 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively.
3Non-operating foreign currency exchange gains and losses are inclusive of gains and losses on related foreign exchange forward contracts not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. The non-GAAP pre-tax non-operating foreign currency exchange losses were $20 million, $43 million and $30 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively, with related non-GAAP tax benefits of $4 million, $2 million and $5 million, respectively. The effective tax rate related to the reported non-operating foreign currency exchange gains and losses varies depending on the jurisdictions in which such gains and losses are generated and the statutory rates applicable in those jurisdictions.
2014 Proxy Statement4In May 2016, our principal operating subsidiary in India repurchased shares from its shareholders, which are non-Indian Cognizant entities, valued at $2.8 billion. As a result of this transaction, we incurred an incremental 2016 income tax expense of $238 million.

Forward-Looking Statements

This proxy statement, and the letter to stockholders included with this proxy statement, include statements that may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, expectations regarding growth trends and enhancing stockholder value, plans to accelerate our investments and improve non-GAAP Operating Margin, and anticipated share repurchases and dividends, the accuracy of which are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include general economic conditions, changes in the regulatory environment, including with respect to immigration and taxes, and the other factors discussed in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities law.

58     Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation



Table of Contents

71

APPENDIX A


EXHIBIT A

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
2017 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

2009 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

ARTICLE ONE

GENERAL PROVISIONS

I.PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

This 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan is intended to promote the business success and interests of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, a Delaware corporation, by providing eligible persons in the Corporation’s service with the opportunity to participate in one or more cash or equity incentive compensation programs designed to encourage them to continue their service relationship with the Corporation and to contribute to the Corporation’s growth and long-term success.

Capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the attached Appendix.

II.STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN

A. The Plan shall be divided into three separate incentive compensation programs:

— the Discretionary Grant Program under which eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be granted options to purchase shares of Common Stock or stock appreciation rights tied to the value of such Common Stock,

— the Stock Issuance Program under which eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be issued shares of Common Stock pursuant to restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance shares or other stock-based awards which vest upon the completion of a designated service period and/or the attainment ofpre-established performance milestones, or such shares of Common Stock may be issued through direct purchase or as a bonus for services rendered to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), and

— the Incentive Bonus Program under which eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be provided with bonus opportunities through performance unit awards and other special cash incentive programs tied to the attainment of pre-established performance milestones.

B. The provisions of Articles One and Five shall apply to all incentive compensation programs under the Plan and shall govern the interests of all persons under the Plan.

III.ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

A. The Compensation Committee shall have sole and exclusive authority to administer the Plan with respect to Section 16 Insiders. Administration of the Plan with respect to all other persons eligible to participate in the Plan may, at the Board’s discretion, be vested in the Compensation Committee or a Secondary Board Committee, or the Board may retain the power to administer those programs with respect to all such persons. In addition, administration of the Plan may, at the Board’s discretion, be vested in a Special Award Committee with authority to administer the Plan with respect to employees other than Section 16 Insiders and members of such Special Award Committee and to make Awards to such individuals under the Plan subject to such limitations and other terms and conditions as the Board shall specify from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Awards for one or more members of the Compensation Committee (other than ad hoc or formulaic Awards made to all or substantially all of the non-employee Board members on substantially the same basis) must be authorized by a disinterested majority of the non-employee Board members.

B. Members of the Compensation Committee or any Secondary Board Committee or Special Award Committee shall serve for such period of time as the Board may determine and may be removed by the Board at any time. The Board may also at any time terminate the functions of any Secondary Board Committee or Special Award Committee and reassume all powers and authority previously delegated to such committee.

C. Each Plan Administrator shall, within the scope of its administrative functions under the Plan, have full power and authority (subject to the provisions of the Plan) to establish such rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate for proper administration of the Plan and to make such determinations under, and issue such interpretations of, the provisions of the

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Plan and any outstanding Awards thereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable. Decisions of the Plan Administrator within the scope of its administrative functions under the Plan shall be final and binding on all parties who have an interest in the Plan under its jurisdiction or any Award thereunder.

D. Service as a Plan Administrator by the members of the Compensation Committee or the Secondary Board Committee shall constitute service as Board members, and the members of each such committee shall accordingly be entitled to full indemnification and reimbursement as Board members for their service on such committee. No member of the Compensation Committee, the Special Award Committee or the Secondary Board Committee shall be liable for any act or omission made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award thereunder.

IV.ELIGIBILITY

A. The persons eligible to participate in the Plan are as follows:

(i) Employees,

(ii) non-employee members of the Board or the board of directors of any Parent or Subsidiary, and

(iii) consultants and other independent advisors who provide services to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

B. The Plan Administrator shall have full authority to determine, (i) with respect to Awards made under the Discretionary Grant Program, which eligible persons are to receive such Awards, the time or times when those Awards are to be made, the number of shares to be covered by each such Award, the time or times when the Award is to become exercisable, the vesting schedule (if any) applicable to the Award, the maximum term for which such Award is to remain outstanding and the status of a granted option as either an Incentive Option or a Non-Statutory Option; (ii) with respect to Awards under the Stock Issuance Program, which eligible persons are to receive such Awards, the time or times when the Awards are to be made, the number of shares subject to each such Award, the applicable performance and/or service vesting provisions, the issuance schedule in effect for the shares that vest and become issuable under such Award, the cash consideration (if any) payable for those shares and the form (cash or shares of Common Stock) in which the Award is to be settled; and (iii) with respect to Awards under the Incentive Bonus Program, which eligible persons are to receive such Awards, the time or times when the Awards are to be made, the performance objectives for each such Award, the amounts payable at designated levels of attained performance, any applicable service vesting requirements, the payout schedule for each such Award and the form (cash or shares of Common Stock) in which the Award is to be settled.

V.STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

A. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the Corporation on the open market. The number of shares of Common Stock initially reserved for issuance over the term of the Plan shall be limited to Twenty-Four Million (24,000,000) shares. The Plan shall serve as the successor to the Predecessor Plans, and no further stock option grants or other awards shall be made under the Predecessor Plans on or after the Plan Effective Date. However, all option grants and unvested share awards outstanding under the Predecessor Plans on the Plan Effective Date shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and no provision of this Plan shall be deemed to affect or otherwise modify the rights or obligations of the holders of those awards with respect to their acquisition of shares of Common Stock thereunder.

B. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for each share of Common Stock issued without cash consideration pursuant to the Stock Issuance or the Incentive Bonus Program, the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by 1.55 shares of Common Stock.

C. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Incentive Options granted under the Plan shall be limited to Twenty-Four Million (24,000,000) shares, subject to periodic adjustment in accordance with Section V.G. of this Article One.

D. Each person participating in the Plan shall be subject the following limitations:

— for Awards denominated in shares of Common Stock at the time of grant (whether subsequently payable in cash or Common Stock, or a combination of both), the maximum number of shares of Common Stock for which such Awards may be made to such person in any calendar year shall not exceed One Million (1,000,000) shares of Common Stock in the aggregate, and

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— for Awards denominated in dollars at the time of grant (whether subsequently payable in cash or Common Stock, or a combination of both), the maximum dollar amount for which such Awards may be made to such person in any calendar year shall not exceed Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000).

E. Shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding Awards made under the Plan shall be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan to the extent those Awards expire or terminate for any reason prior to the issuance of the shares of Common Stock subject to those Awards. Unvested shares issued under the Plan and subsequently forfeited or repurchased by the Corporation, at a price per share not greater than the original issue price paid per share, pursuant to the Corporation’s repurchase rights under the Plan shall be added back to the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan and shall accordingly be available for subsequent reissuance.

F. Should the exercise price of an option under the Plan be paid with shares of Common Stock, then the authorized reserve of Common Stock under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which that option is exercised, and not by the net number of shares issued under the exercised stock option. Upon the exercise of any stock appreciation right under the Plan, the share reserve shall be reduced by the gross number of shares as to which such right is exercised, and not by the net number of shares actually issued by the Corporation upon such exercise. If shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable under the Plan are withheld by the Corporation in satisfaction of the withholding taxes or other taxes incurred in connection with the issuance, vesting or exercise of an Award or the issuance of Common Stock thereunder (including, without limitation any fringe benefit or employer taxes permitted to be passed through to the employee under applicable law), then the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced on the basis of the gross number of shares issued, vested or exercised under such Award, calculated in each instance prior to any such share withholding.

G. Should any change be made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares, spin-off transaction or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation’s receipt of consideration, or should the value of outstanding shares of Common Stock be substantially reduced as a result of a spin-off transaction or an extraordinary dividend or distribution, or should there occur any merger, consolidation or other reorganization, then equitable adjustments shall be made by the Plan Administrator to (i) the maximum number and/or class of securities issuable under the Plan, (ii) the number and/or class of securities by which the share reserve will be reduced for each security issued without cash consideration under the Stock Issuance and Incentive Bonus Programs, (iii) the maximum number and/or class of securities issuable under the Plan pursuant to Incentive Options, (iv) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which any one person may be granted Common Stock-denominated Awards under the Plan per calendar year, (v) the number and/or class of securities and the exercise or base price per share in effect under each outstanding Award under the Discretionary Grant Program, (vi) the number and/or class of securities subject to each outstanding Award under the Stock Issuance Program and the cash consideration (if any) payable per share, (vii) the number and/or class of securities subject to each outstanding Award under the Incentive Bonus Program denominated in shares of Common Stock and (viii) the number and/or class of securities subject to the Corporation’s outstanding repurchase rights under the Plan and the repurchase price payable per share. The adjustments shall be made in such manner as the Plan Administrator deems appropriate and such adjustments shall be final, binding and conclusive. In the event of a Change in Control, however, the adjustments (if any) shall be made solely in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Plan governing Change in Control transactions.

H. Outstanding Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall in no way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

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ARTICLE TWO

DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM

I.OPTION TERMS

Each option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Plan Administrator;provided, however,that each such Award Agreement shall comply with the terms specified below. Each Award Agreement evidencing an Incentive Option shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of the Plan applicable to such options.

A.Exercise Price.

1. The exercise price per share shall be fixed by the Plan Administrator;provided, however, that such exercise price shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the grant date.PURPOSE

2. The exercise price shall become immediately due upon exercise of the option and shall, subject to the provisions of the Award Agreement, be payable in one or more of the forms specified below:

(i) cash or check made payable to the Corporation,

(ii) shares of Common Stock (whether delivered in the form of actual stock certificates or through attestation of ownership) held for the requisite period (if any) necessary to avoid any resulting charge to the Corporation’s earnings for financial reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date,

(iii) to the extent the option is exercised for vested shares of Common Stock, through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the Optionee shall concurrently provide instructions to (a) a brokerage firm (reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation for purposes of administering such procedure in compliance with the Corporation’s pre-clearance/pre-notification policies) to effect the immediate sale of all or a portion of the purchased shares and remit to the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased shares plus all applicable income and employment taxes and Foreign Taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation by reason of such exercise and any employer taxes required to be paid by the Optionee under Section V.B, V.C or V.D of this Article II and (b) the Corporation to deliver the certificates for the purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm on such settlement date in order to complete the sale, or

(iv) to the extent the option is at the time exercisable for vested shares of Common Stock, through the surrender to the Corporation of all or any part of that vested portion for an appreciation distribution payable in shares of Common Stock with a Fair Market Value at the time of such option surrender equal to the dollar amount by which the then Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the surrendered portion exceeds the aggregate exercise price payable for those shares of Common Stock, with any resulting fractional share to be rounded down to the next whole share.

Except to the extent such sale and remittance procedure is utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on the Exercise Date.

B.Term and Exercisability of Options.

1. No option shall have a term in excess of seven (7) years measured from the option grant date. Unless a shorter term is specified in the Award Agreement, each option under the Discretionary Grant Program shall have such a seven (7)-year maximum term.

2. Unless otherwise set forth in the Award Agreement, each option shall vest and become exercisable for twenty-five percent (25%) of the option shares upon the Optionee’s completion of each year of Service over the four (4)-year period measured from the grant date. In no event, however, shall such option be exercisable for fractional shares.

3. The Plan Administrator shall also have the discretionary authority, consistent with Code Section 162(m), to structure one or more Awards under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those Awards shall vest and become exercisable only after the achievement of pre-established corporate performance objectives based on one or more Performance Goals and measured over the performance period specified by the Plan Administrator at the time of the Award

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C.Effect of Termination of Service.

1. Unless otherwise set forth in the Award Agreement, the following provisions shall govern the exercise of any options granted to an Optionee pursuant to the Discretionary Grant Program that are outstanding at the time of his or her cessation of Service or death:

(i) Should Optionee cease to remain in Service for any reason (other than death, Permanent Disability, Misconduct or Cause) while an option is outstanding, then Optionee (or any person or persons to whom an option is transferred pursuant to a permitted transfer under Paragraph F below) shall have a three (3)-month period measured from the date of such cessation of Service during which to exercise the option, but in no event shall the option be exercisable at any time after the expiration of the option term.

(ii) Should Optionee die while his or her option is outstanding, then the option may be exercised by (i) the personal representative of Optionee’s estate or (ii) the person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to Optionee’s will or the laws of inheritance following Optionee’s death or (iii) the person to whom the option is transferred during Optionee’s lifetime pursuant to a permitted transfer under Paragraph F below, as the case may be. However, if Optionee dies while holding an outstanding option under the Discretionary Grant Program and has an effective beneficiary designation in effect for that option at the time of his or her death, then the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries shall have the exclusive right to exercise the option following Optionee’s death. Any such right to exercise the option shall lapse, and the option shall cease to be outstanding, upon the earlier of (i) the expiration of the twelve (12)-month period measured from the date of Optionee’s death and (ii) the expiration of the option term.

(iii) Should Optionee cease Service by reason of Permanent Disability while his or her option is outstanding, then Optionee (or any person or persons to whom this option is transferred pursuant to a permitted transfer under Paragraph F below) shall have a twelve (12)-month period measured from the date of such cessation of Service during which to exercise the option. In no event shall the option be exercisable at any time after the expiration of the option term.

(iv) The applicable period of post-Service exercisability in effect pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Paragraph C.1 shall automatically be extended by an additional period of time equal in duration to any interval within such post-Service exercise period during which the exercise of the option or the immediate sale of the underlying shares of Common Stock purchasable under that option cannot be effected in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, but in no event shall such an extension result in the extension of the option beyond the expiration of the maximum option term.

(v) During the limited period of post-Service exercisability, the option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the number of shares of Common Stock for which such option is, at the time of Optionee’s cessation of Service, vested and exercisable pursuant to the vesting provisions of Paragraph B.2 above or the special vesting acceleration provisions of Section IV.A of this Article Two. The option shall not vest or become exercisable for any additional underlying shares of Common Stock, whether pursuant to the normal vesting provisions of Paragraph B.2 above or the special vesting acceleration provisions of Section IV.A of this Article Two, following Optionee’s cessation of Service, except to the extent (if any) specifically authorized by the Plan Administrator pursuant to an express written agreement with Optionee. Upon the expiration of such limited exercise period or (if earlier) upon the expiration of the term, the option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding for any exercisable shares of Common Stock for which the option has not otherwise been exercised.

(vi) Should Optionee’s Service be terminated for Misconduct or Cause or should Optionee otherwise engage in any Misconduct or other act or omission constituting grounds for termination for Cause while his or her option is outstanding, then such option, whether vested or unvested at the time, shall terminate immediately and cease to remain outstanding.

2. The Plan Administrator shall have complete discretion, exercisable either at the time an option is granted or at any time while the option remains outstanding, to:

(i) extend the period of time for which the option is to remain exercisable following Optionee’s cessation of Service from the limited exercise period otherwise in effect for that option to such greater period of time as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate, but in no event beyond the expiration of the option term, and/or

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(ii) permit the option to be exercised, during the applicable post-Service exercise period, not only with respect to the number of vested shares of Common Stock for which such option is exercisable at the time of Optionee’s cessation of Service but also with respect to one or more additional shares in which Optionee would have vested had Optionee continued in Service.

D.Stockholder Rights. The holder of an option shall have no stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to the option until such person shall have exercised the option, paid the exercise price and become a holder of record of the purchased shares.

E.Repurchase Rights. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion to grant options which are exercisable for unvested shares of Common Stock. Should the Optionee cease Service while such shares are unvested, the Corporation shall have the right to repurchase any or all of those unvested shares at a price per share equal to thelower of (i) the exercise price paid per share or (ii) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock at the time of repurchase. The terms upon which such repurchase right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for exercise and the appropriate vesting schedule for the purchased shares) shall be established by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the document evidencing such repurchase right.

F.Transferability of Options. The transferability of options granted under the Plan shall be governed by the following provisions:

(i)Incentive Options: During the lifetime of the Optionee, Incentive Options shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall not be assignable or transferable other than by will or the laws of inheritance following the Optionee’s death.

(ii)Non-Statutory Options. Non-Statutory Options shall be subject to the same limitation on transfer as Incentive Options. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise set forth in the Award Agreement, a Non-Statutory Option may be assigned in whole or in part during the Optionee’s lifetime, by gratuitous transfer to a revocable living trust established for the exclusive benefit of Optionee or Optionee and his or her spouse (the “Trust”) or pursuant to a domestic relations order to Optionee’s former spouse in settlement of their marital property rights (the “Spouse Transferee”). The assigned portion may only be exercised by the Trust or the Spouse Transferee acquiring the proprietary interest in the option pursuant to the assignment. The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in effect for the option immediately prior to such assignment and shall be set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate.

(iii)Beneficiary Designations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee may designate one or more persons as the beneficiary or beneficiaries of his or her outstanding options under this Article Two (whether Incentive Options or Non-Statutory Options), and those options shall, in accordance with such designation, automatically be transferred to such beneficiary or beneficiaries upon the Optionee’s death while holding those options. Such beneficiary or beneficiaries shall take the transferred options subject to all the terms and conditions of the applicable agreement evidencing each such transferred option, including (without limitation) the limited time period during which the option may be exercised following the Optionee’s death.

II.INCENTIVE OPTIONS

The terms specified below shall be applicable to all Incentive Options. Except as modified by the provisionspurpose of this Section II, all the provisions of Articles One, Two and Six shall be applicable to Incentive Options. Options which are specifically designated as Non-Statutory Options when issued under the Plan shallnot be subject to the terms of this Section II.

A.Eligibility. Incentive Options may only be granted to Employees.

B.Dollar Limitation. The aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant) for which one or more options granted to any Employee under the Plan (or any other option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary) may for the first time become exercisable as Incentive Options during any one calendar year shall not exceed the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000).

To the extent the Employee holds two (2) or more such options which become exercisable for the first time in the same calendar year, then for purposes of the foregoing limitations on the exercisability of those options as Incentive Options, such options shall be deemed to become first exercisable in that calendar year on the basis of the chronological order in which they were granted, except to the extent otherwise provided under applicable law or regulation.

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C.10% Stockholder. If any Employee to whom an Incentive Option is granted is a 10% Stockholder, then the exercise price per share shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the option grant date, and the option term shall not exceed five (5) years measured from the option grant date.

III.STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

A.Authority. The Plan Administrator shall have full power and authority, exercisable in its sole discretion, to grant stock appreciation rights in accordance with this Section III to selected Optionees or other individuals eligible to receive option grants under the Discretionary Grant Program.

B.Types. Two types of stock appreciation rights shall be authorized for issuance under this Section III: (i) tandem stock appreciation rights (“Tandem Rights”) and (ii) Stand-Alone stock appreciation rights (“Stand-Alone Rights”).

C.Tandem Rights. The following terms and conditions shall govern the grant and exercise of Tandem Rights.

1. One or more Optionees may be granted a Tandem Right, exercisable upon such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may establish, to elect between the exercise of the underlying option for shares of Common Stock or the surrender of that option in exchange for a distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value (on the option surrender date) of the number of shares in which the Optionee is at the time vested under the surrendered option (or surrendered portion thereof) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such vested shares.

2. Any distribution to which the Optionee becomes entitled upon the exercise of a Tandem Right may be made in (i) shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the option surrender date, (ii) cash or (iii) a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as the Plan Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Award Agreement, the distribution shall be made in shares of Common Stock.

D.Stand-Alone Rights. The following terms and conditions shall govern the grant and exercise of Stand-Alone Rights:

1. One or more individuals eligible to participate in the Discretionary Grant Program may be granted a Stand-Alone Right not tied to any underlying option under this Discretionary Grant Program. The Stand-Alone Right shall relate to a specified number of shares of Common Stock and shall be exercisable upon such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may establish. In no event, however, may the Stand-Alone Right have a maximum term in excess of seven (7) years measured from the grant date. Except to the extent otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the provisions of Paragraphs B.1 and B.2 of Section I of this Article Two shall govern the term and exercisability of each Stand-Alone Right awarded under the Plan.

2. Upon exercise of the Stand-Alone Right, the holder shall be entitled to receive a distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the exercise date) of the shares of Common Stock underlying the exercised right over (ii) the aggregate base price in effect for those shares.

3. The number of shares of Common Stock underlying each Stand-Alone Right and the base price in effect for those shares shall be determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion at the time the Stand-Alone Right is granted. In no event, however, may the base price per share be less than the Fair Market Value per underlying share of Common Stock on the grant date.

4. Stand-Alone Rights shall be subject to the same transferability restrictions applicable to Non-Statutory Options under Section I.F of this Article Two. In addition, one or more beneficiaries may be designated for an outstanding Stand-Alone Right in accordance with substantially the same terms and provisions as set forth in Section I.F of this Article Two.

5. The distribution with respect to an exercised Stand-Alone Right may be made in (i) shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date, (ii) cash or (iii) a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as the Plan Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Award Agreement, the distribution shall be made in shares of Common Stock.

6. The holder of a Stand-Alone Right shall have no stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to the Stand-Alone Right unless and until such person shall have exercised the Stand-Alone Right and become a holder of record of the shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of such Stand-Alone Right.

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E.Post-Service Exercise. The provisions governing the exercise of Tandem and Stand-Alone Rights following the cessation of the recipient’s Service shall be the same as those set forth in Section I.C of this Article Two for the options granted under the Discretionary Grant Program, and the Plan Administrator’s discretionary authority under Section I.C.2 of this Article Two shall also extend to any outstanding Tandem or Stand-Alone Appreciation Rights.

IV.CHANGE IN CONTROL

A. In the event of an actual Change in Control transaction, each Award outstanding at that time under the Discretionary Grant Program but not otherwise fully vested and exercisable shall automatically accelerate and become exercisable immediately prior to the effective date of that Change in Control as to all of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such Award, unless (i) such Award is to be assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or is otherwise to continue in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction or (ii) such Award is to be replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the spread existing at the time on the Change in Control on any shares as to which the Award is not otherwise at that time vested and exercisable and provides for the subsequent vesting and payout of that spread in accordance with the same exercise/vesting schedule in effect for that Award or (iii) the acceleration of such Award is subject to other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator.

B. All outstanding repurchase rights under the Discretionary Grant Program shall automatically terminate, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall immediately vest in full, immediately prior to the effective date of an actual Change in Control transaction, except to the extent: (i) those repurchase rights are to be assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or are otherwise to continue in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction or (ii) such accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator.

C. Immediately following the consummation of the Change in Control, all outstanding Awards under the Discretionary Grant Program shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction.

D. Each Award under the Discretionary Grant Program which is assumed in connection with a Change in Control or otherwise continued in effect shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Change in Control, to apply to the number and class of securities into which the shares of Common Stock subject to that Award would have been converted in consummation of such Change in Control had those shares actually been outstanding at that time. Equitable adjustments to reflect such Change in Control shall also be made to (i) the exercise or base price per share in effect under each such assumed Award under the Discretionary Grant Program,provided the aggregate exercise or base price in effect for such securities shall remain the same, (ii) the maximum number and/or class of securities available for issuance over the remaining term of the Plan, (iii) the number and/or class of securities by which the share reserve will be reduced for each security issued without cash consideration under the Stock Issuance and Incentive Bonus Programs, (iv) the maximum number and/or class of securities which may be issued pursuant to Incentive Options granted under the Plan, (v) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which any one person may be granted Common Stock-denominated Awards under the Plan per calendar year, (vi) the number and/or class of securities and the exercise or base price per share in effect under each outstanding Award under the Discretionary Grant Program, (vii) the number and/or class of securities subject to each outstanding Award under the Stock Issuance Program and the cash consideration (if any) payable per share, (viii) the number and/or class of securities subject to each outstanding Award under the Incentive Bonus Program denominated in shares of Common Stock and (ix) the number and/or class of securities subject to the Corporation’s outstanding repurchase rights under the Plan and the repurchase price payable per share. To the extent the actual holders of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for their Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control, the successor corporation may, in connection with the assumption or continuation of the outstanding Awards under the Discretionary Grant Program and subject to the Plan Administrator’s approval, substitute, for the securities underlying those assumed rights, one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in such Change in Control transaction, provided such common stock is readily traded on an established U.S. securities exchange.

E. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more outstanding Awards under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those Awards shall, immediately prior to the effective date of an actual Change in Control transaction, vest and become exercisable as to all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to those Awards and may be exercised as to any or all of those shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock, whether or not those Awards are to be assumed in the Change in Control transaction or otherwise continued in effect. In addition, the Plan Administrator

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shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more of the Corporation’s repurchase rights under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those rights shall terminate immediately prior to the effective date of an actual Change in Control transaction, and the shares subject to those terminated rights shall thereupon vest in full.

F. The Plan Administrator shall have full power and authority to structure one or more outstanding Awards under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those Awards shall vest and become exercisable as to all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to those Awards in the event the Optionee’s Service is subsequently terminated by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a designated period following the effective date of any Change in Control transaction in which those Awards do not otherwise fully accelerate. In addition, the Plan Administrator may structure one or more of the Corporation’s repurchase rights so that those rights shall immediately terminate with respect to any shares held by the Optionee at the time of such Involuntary Termination, and the shares subject to those terminated repurchase rights shall accordingly vest in full at that time.

G. The portion of any Incentive Option accelerated in connection with a Change in Control shall remain exercisable as an Incentive Option only to the extent the applicable One Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000) limitation is not exceeded. To the extent such dollar limitation is exceeded, the accelerated portion of such option shall be exercisable as a Non-statutory Option under the Federal tax laws.

V.TAX WITHHOLDING

A. The Corporation’s obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock or make a cash payment in connection with the grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of any Award under this Discretionary Grant Program shall be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable income and employment taxes, and Foreign Tax withholding requirements, any employer taxes passed through to the Optionee under Section V.B, V.C or V.D of this Article II and any other taxes required to be collected at the time of the grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of such Award. Accordingly, no shares shall be issued or cash payment made with respect to an outstanding Award under this Discretionary Grant Program until all such taxes have been collected.

B. Any Optionee who is subject to taxation in India shall be required to pay any fringe benefits or other tax payable by the Corporation (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing such Optionee) as a result of or with respect to the grant, vesting or exercise of an Award under the Discretionary Grant Program or the issuance of shares of Common Stock thereunder (the “Employer Option Taxes”). Optionee must pay such Employer Option Taxes at such times and in such form as determined by the Corporation (or such Parent or Subsidiary).

C. Any Optionee who is subject to taxation in the United Kingdom shall be liable for and pay all secondary Class 1 National Insurance Contributions which may be payable by the Corporation (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing such Optionee) arising in connection with the grant, vesting or exercise of an Award under the Discretionary Grant Program or the issuance of shares of Common Stock thereunder (the “Employer Option NIC”). The Optionee must pay such Employer Option NIC at such times and in such form as determined by the Corporation (or such Parent or Subsidiary).

D. Any Optionee subject to taxation in any jurisdiction shall pay any taxes or other amounts required to be paid by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing such Options) with respect to the grant, vesting or exercise of an Award under this Discretionary Grant Program or the issuance of shares of Common Stock thereunder, to the extent those taxes or other amounts are permitted to be passed through to the Optionee under applicable law. The Optionee must pay any such taxes or other amounts at such times and in such form as determined by the Corporation.

E. The Optionee shall enter into such additional agreements as may be required by the Corporation (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing Optionee) to effect the transfer of the Employer Option Taxes, Employer Option NIC and any other taxes or payments from the Corporation (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing Optionee) to the Optionee.

VI.PROHIBITION ON REPRICING PROGRAMS

The Plan Administrator shall not (i) implement any cancellation/regrant program pursuant to which outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Plan are cancelled and new options or stock appreciation rights are granted in replacement with a lower exercise price per share, (ii) cancel outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Plan with exercise prices per share in excess of the then current Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock for consideration payable in cash or equity securities of the Corporation or (iii) otherwise directly reduce the exercise price in effect for outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Plan, without in each such instance obtaining stockholder approval.

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ARTICLE THREE

STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM

I.STOCK ISSUANCE TERMS

Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program, either as vested or unvested shares, through direct and immediate issuances. Shares of Common Stock may also be issued under the Stock Issuance Program pursuant to performance shares or restricted stock units which entitle the recipients to receive the shares underlying those Awards upon the attainment of designated Performance Goals or the satisfaction of specified Service requirements or upon the expiration of a designated time period following the vesting of those Awards. Each Award under the Stock Issuance Program shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Plan Administrator;provided, however, that each such Award Agreement shall comply with the terms specified below.

A.Issue Price/Consideration.

1. Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program for any of the following items of consideration which the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate in each individual instance:

(i) cash or check made payable to the Corporation,

(ii) past services rendered to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary); or

(iii) any other valid consideration under the State in which the Corporation is at the time incorporated.

2. However, for shares of Common Stock to be issued for cash consideration, the cash consideration payable per share shall be fixed by the Plan Administrator at the time of the Award, but in no event shall such cash consideration be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Award date.

B.Vesting Provisions.

1. Shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance Program may, in the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be fully and immediately vested upon issuance as a bonus for Service rendered or may vest in one or more installments over the Participant’s period of Service and/or upon the attainment of specified performance objectives. The elements of the vesting schedule applicable to any unvested shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance Program shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and incorporated into the Award Agreement. Shares of Common Stock may also be issued under the Stock Issuance Program pursuant to performance shares or restricted stock units which entitle the recipients to receive the shares underlying those Awards upon the attainment of designated performance goals and/or the satisfaction of specified Service requirements or upon the expiration of a designated time period following the vesting of those Awards, including (without limitation) a deferred distribution date on or after termination of the Participant’s Service, or upon the occurrence of such other dates or events as determined by the Plan Administrator, subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following limitations shall apply with respect to the vesting schedules established for the Awards made under the Stock Issuance Program, subject to the acceleration provisions of Paragraphs B.7 and B.8 below and Section II of this Article Three:

(i) for any such Award which is to vest on the basis of Service, the minimum vesting period shall be three (3) years, with such vesting to occur in one or more installments over that period as determined by the Plan Administrator, but in no event more favorably than monthly; and

(ii) for any such Award which is to vest on the basis of performance objectives, the performance period shall have a duration of at least one year.

2. The Plan Administrator shall also have the discretionary authority, consistent with Code Section 162(m), to structure one or more Awards under the Stock Issuance Program so that the shares of Common Stock subject to those Awards shall vest (or vest and become issuable) upon the achievement of pre-established performance objectives based on one or more Performance Goals and measured over the performance period specified by the Plan Administrator at the time of the Award.

3. The Participant shall have full stockholder rights with respect to any shares of Common Stock issued to the Participant under the Stock Issuance Program, whether or not the Participant’s interest in those shares is vested. Accordingly, the Participant shall have the right to vote such shares and to receive any dividends paid on such shares, subject to any applicable vesting requirements. The Participant shall not have any stockholder rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to a performance share or restricted stock unit Award until that Award vests and the shares of Common Stock

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are actually issued thereunder. However, dividend-equivalent units may be paid or credited, either in cash or in actual or phantom shares of Common Stock, on outstanding performance share or restricted stock unit Awards, subject to such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate.

4. Any new, substituted or additional securities or other property (including money paid other than as a regular cash dividend) which the Participant may have the right to receive with respect to the Participant’s unvested shares of Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares, spin-off transaction, extraordinary dividend or distribution or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation’s receipt of consideration shall be issued subject to (i) the same vesting requirements applicable to the Participant’s unvested shares of Common Stock and (ii) such escrow arrangements as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate. Equitable adjustments to reflect each such transaction shall also be made by the Plan Administrator to the repurchase price payable per share by the Corporation for any unvested securities subject to its existing repurchase rights under the Plan; provided the aggregate repurchase price shall in each instance remain the same.

5. Should the Participant cease to remain in Service while holding one or more unvested shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance Program or should the performance objectives not be attained with respect to one or more such unvested shares of Common Stock, then those shares shall be immediately surrendered to the Corporation for cancellation, and the Participant shall have no further stockholder rights with respect to those shares. To the extent the surrendered shares were previously issued to the Participant for consideration paid in cash or cash equivalent, the Corporation shall repay to the Participant thelower of (i) the cash consideration paid for the surrendered shares or (ii) the Fair Market Value of those shares at the time of cancellation.

6. The Plan Administrator may in its discretion waive the surrender and cancellation of one or more unvested shares of Common Stock which would otherwise occur upon the cessation of the Participant’s Service or the non-attainment of the performance objectives applicable to those shares. Any such waiver shall result in the immediate vesting of the Participant’s interest in the shares of Common Stock as to which the waiver applies. Such waiver may be effected at any time, whether before or after the Participant’s cessation of Service or the attainment or non-attainment of the applicable performance objectives. However, no vesting requirements tied to the attainment of performance objectives may be waived with respect to shares which were intended at the time of issuance to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m), except as otherwise provided in Section II of this Article Three.

7. Outstanding performance shares or restricted stock units under the Stock Issuance Program shall automatically terminate, and no shares of Common Stock shall actually be issued in satisfaction of those Awards, if the performance goals or Service requirements established for those Awards are not attained or satisfied. The Plan Administrator, however, shall have the discretionary authority to issue vested shares of Common Stock under one or more outstanding Awards of performance shares or restricted stock units as to which the designated performance goals or Service requirements have not been attained or satisfied. However, no vesting requirements tied to the attainment of performance goals may be waived with respect to Awards which were intended, at the time those Awards were made, to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m), except as otherwise provided in Section II of this Article Three.

8. The following additional requirements shall be in effect for any performance shares awarded under this Article Three:

(i) At the end of the performance period, the Plan Administrator shall determine and confirm the actual level of attainment for each performance objective and the extent to which the performance shares awarded for that period are to vest and become payable based on the attained performance levels.

(ii) The performance shares which so vest shall be paid as soon as practicable following the end of the performance period, unless such payment is to be deferred for the period specified by the Plan Administrator at the time the performance shares are initially awarded or the period designated by the Participant pursuant to a timely deferral election in accordance with the applicable requirements of Code Section 409A.

(iii) Performance shares may be paid in (i) cash, (ii) shares of Common Stock or (iii) any combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Award Agreement, the distribution shall be made in shares of Common Stock.

(iv) Performance shares may also be structured so that the shares are convertible into shares of Common Stock, but the rate at which each performance share is to so convert shall be based on the attained level of performance for each applicable performance objective.

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II.CHANGE IN CONTROL

A. Each outstanding Award under the Stock Issuance Program may be assumed in connection with a Change in Control or otherwise continued in effect. Each Award so assumed or continued in effect shall be adjusted immediately after the consummation of that Change in Control so as to apply to the number and class of securities into which the shares of Common Stock subject to that Award immediately prior to the Change in Control would have been converted in consummation of such Change in Control had those shares actually been outstanding at that time, and appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the cash consideration (if any) payable per share thereunder, provided the aggregate consideration shall remain the same. To the extent the actual holders of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for their Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control, the successor corporation may, in connection with the assumption or continuation of the outstanding Awards and subject to the Plan Administrator’s approval, substitute one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in such Change in Control transaction, provided such common stock is readily traded on an established U.S. securities exchange.

B. If an Award under the Stock Issuance Program is not assumed or otherwise continued in effect or replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the Fair Market Value of the underlying shares of Common Stock at the time of the Change in Control and provides for the subsequent vesting and payout of that value in accordance with the same vesting and issuance schedule in effect for those shares at the time of such Change in Control, then such Award shall vest, and the shares of Common Stock subject to that Award shall be issued as fully-vested shares, immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control or at such other time as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

C. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more unvested Awards under the Stock Issuance Program so that the shares of Common Stock subject to those Awards shall automatically vest (or vest and become issuable) in whole or in part on the effective date of an actual Change in Control transaction or upon the subsequent termination of the Participant’s Service by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a designated period following the effective date of that Change in Control transaction.

D. The Plan Administrator’s authority under Paragraph C of this Section II shall also extend to any Awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m), even though the automatic vesting of those Awards may result in their loss of performance-based status under Code Section 162(m).

E. All of the Corporation’s outstanding repurchase rights under the Stock Issuance Program shall terminate automatically, and all the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall vest in full, immediately prior to the effective date of an actual Change in Control transaction, except to the extent (i) the Awards to which those repurchase rights are to be assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or are otherwise to continue in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction, (ii) those Awards are to be replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves, for each such Award, the Fair Market Value of the underlying shares of Common Stock at the time of the Change in Control and provides for the subsequent vesting and payout of that value in accordance with the same vesting schedule in effect for those shares at the time of such Change in Control or (iii) such accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed in the Stock Issuance Agreement.

III.COLLECTION OF WITHHOLDING TAXES

A. The Corporation (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing Participant) shall collect the employee portion of the U.S. FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare) with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to an Award issued under this Stock Issuance Program at the time those shares vest. Such taxes shall be based on the Fair Market Value of such shares on their vesting date. The Corporation (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing Participant) shall also collect the employee portion of the FICA taxes with respect to any dividend equivalents payable pursuant to the Award at the time those dividend equivalents vest. Such taxes shall be based on the cash amount and the fair market value of any other property underlying the dividend equivalents on the vesting date. Unless the Participant delivers a separate check payable to the Corporation in the amount of the FICA taxes required to be withheld from the Participant, the Corporation shall withhold those taxes from the Participant’s wages. However, if the Participant is at the time an executive officer of the Corporation, then such withholding taxes must be collected from the Participant through delivery of his or her separate check not later than the vesting date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for any shares of Common Stock to be issued immediately upon vesting or for any divided equivalents to be paid immediately upon vesting, the employee portion of the applicable FICA taxes shall be collected in the

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same manner as the federal, state and local income taxes are to be withheld under Section III.B below. The foregoing tax collection provisions shall also be applicable to the employee portion of any Foreign Taxes that become due and payable upon the vesting of the shares of Common Stock subject to an Award issued under this Stock Issuance Program.

B. The Corporation shall collect the U.S. federal, state and local income taxes and/or all applicable Foreign Taxes required to be withheld with respect to the distribution of the phantom dividend equivalents to the Participant by withholding a portion of that distribution equal to the amount of those taxes, with the cash portion of the distribution to be the first portion so withheld.

C. Until such time as the Corporation provides the Participant with written or electronic notice to the contrary, the Corporation shall collect the U.S. federal, state and local income taxes and/or all applicable Foreign Taxes required to be withheld with respect to the issuance of the vested shares of Common Stock subject to the Award outstanding under this Stock Issuance Program through an automatic share withholding procedure pursuant to which the Corporation will withhold, at the time of such issuance, the number of shares (rounded up to the nearest whole share) with a Fair Market Value (measured as of the issuance date) equal to the amount of those taxes (the “Share Withholding Method”); provided, however, that the amount of any shares so withheld shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the Corporation’s required tax withholding obligations using the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes that are applicable to supplemental taxable income. Participant shall be notified in writing or electronically in the event such Share Withholding Method is no longer available.

D. Should any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award be distributed at time the Share Withholding Method is not available, then the U.S. federal, state and local income taxes and/or all applicable Foreign Taxes required to be withheld with respect to those shares shall be collected from the Participant through either of the following alternatives:

(i) the Participant’s delivery of his or her separate check payable to the Corporation in the amount of such taxes, or

(ii) the use of the proceeds from a next-day sale of the shares issued to the Participant, provided and only if (i) such a sale is permissible under the Corporation’s insider trading policies governing the sale of Common Stock, (ii) the Participant makes an irrevocable commitment, on or before the issuance of the vested shares, to effect such sale of the shares and (iii) the transaction is not otherwise deemed to constitute a prohibited loan under Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

E. Any Participant who is subject to taxation in India shall be required to pay any fringe benefit or other tax payable by the Corporation (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing such Participant) as a result of or with respect to the grant, vesting or settlement of an Award under this Stock Issuance Program or the issuance of shares of Common Stock thereunder (the “Employer Issuance Taxes”) Until such time as the Corporation provides the Participant with written or electronic notice to the contrary, the Employer Issuance Taxes shall be collected through the Share Withholding Method.

F. Any Participant who is subject to taxation in the United Kingdom shall be liable for and pay all secondary Class 1 National Insurance Contributions which may be payable by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining or previously employing or retaining the Participant) arising in connection with the Award or the issuance of shares of Common Stock thereunder (the “Employer Issuance NIC”). Until such time as the Corporation provides the Participant with written or electronic notice to the contrary, the Employer Issuance NIC shall be collected through the Share Withholding Method.

G. Any Participant subject to taxation in any jurisdiction shall pay any taxes or other amounts that are required by the laws of that jurisdiction to be paid by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing such Participant) with respect to the grant, vesting or settlement of an Award under this Stock Issuance Program or the issuance of shares of Common Stock thereunder, to the extent those taxes or other amounts are permitted to be passed through to the Participant under applicable law. Until such time as the Corporation provides the Participant with written or electronic notice to the contrary, such taxes or other amounts shall be collected through the Share Withholding Method.

H. The Participant shall enter into such additional agreements as may be required by the Corporation (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing Participant) to effect the transfer of the Employer Issuance Taxes, Employer Issuance NIC and any other taxes or payments from the Corporation (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing Participant) to the Participant.

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ARTICLE FOUR

INCENTIVE BONUS PROGRAM

I. INCENTIVE BONUS TERMS

The Plan Administrator shall have full power and authority to implement one or more of the following incentive bonus programs under the Plan:

(i) cash bonus awards (“Cash Awards”),

(ii) performance unit awards (“Performance Unit Awards”), and

(iii) dividend equivalent rights (“DER Awards”).

A.Cash Awards. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority under the Plan to make Cash Awards which are to vest in one or more installments over the Participant’s continued Service with the Corporation or upon the attainment of specified performance goals. Each such Cash Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Plan Administrator;provided however, that each such Award Agreement shall comply with the terms specified below.

1. The elements of the vesting schedule applicable to each Cash Award shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and incorporated into the Award Agreement.

2. The Plan Administrator shall also have the discretionary authority, consistent with Code Section 162(m), to structure one or more Cash Awards so that those Awards shall vest upon the achievement of pre-established corporate performance objectives based upon one or more Performance Goals.

3. Outstanding Cash Awards shall automatically terminate, and no cash payment or other consideration shall be due the holders of those Awards, if the performance goals or Service requirements established for the Awards are not attained or satisfied. The Plan Administrator may in its discretion waive the cancellation and termination of one or more unvested Cash Awards which would otherwise occur upon the cessation of the Participant’s Service or the non-attainment of the performance objectives applicable to those Awards. Any such waiver shall result in the immediate vesting of the Participant’s interest in the Cash Award as to which the waiver applies. Such wavier may be effected at any time, whether before or after the Participant’s cessation of Service or the attainment or non-attainment of the applicable performance objectives. However, no vesting requirements tied to the attainment of performance goals may be waived with respect to awards which were intended, at the time those awards were granted, to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m), except as otherwise provided in Section II of this Article Four.

4. Cash Awards which become due and payable following the attainment of the applicable performance goals or satisfaction of the applicable Service requirement (or the waiver of such goals or Service requirement) may be paid in (i) cash, (ii) shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the payment date or (iii) a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as the Plan Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion.

B.Performance Unit Awards. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to make Performance Unit Awards in accordance with the terms of this Article Four. Each such Performance Unit Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Plan Administrator;provided however, that each such Award Agreement shall comply with the terms specified below.

1. A Performance Unit shall represent a participating interest in a special bonus pool tied to the attainment of pre-established performance objectives based on one or more Performance Goals. The amount of the bonus pool may vary with the level at which the applicable performance objectives are attained, and the value of each Performance Unit which becomes due and payable upon the attained level of performance shall be determined by dividing the amount of the resulting bonus pool (if any) by the total number of Performance Units issued and outstanding at the completion of the applicable performance period.

2. Performance Units may also be structured to include a Service requirement which the Participant must satisfy following the attainment of the applicable performance objectives in order to vest in those Performance Units.

3. Performance Units which become due and payable following the attainment of the applicable performance objectives and the satisfaction of any applicable Service requirement may be paid in (i) cash, (ii) shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the payment date or (iii) a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion and set forth in the Award Agreement.

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C.Dividend Equivalent Right (“DER”) Awards. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to make DER Awards in accordance with the terms of this Article Four. Each such DER Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Plan Administrator;provided however, that each Award Agreement shall comply with the terms specified below.

1. The DER Awards may be made as stand-alone awards or in tandem with other Awards made under the Plan. The term of each such DER Award shall be established by the Plan Administrator at the time of grant, but no DER Award shall have a term in excess of seven (7) years.

2. Each DER shall represent the right to receive the economic equivalent of each dividend or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than shares of Common Stock), which is made per issued and outstanding share of Common Stock during the term the DER remains outstanding. A special account shall be maintained on the books of the Corporation for each Participant to whom a DER Award is made, and that account shall be credited per DER with each such dividend or distribution made per issued and outstanding share of Common Stock during the term of that DER remains outstanding.

3. Payment of the amounts credited to such book account may be made to the Participant either concurrently with the actual dividend or distribution made per issued and outstanding share of Common Stock or may be deferred for a period specified by the Plan Administrator at the time the DER Award is initially made or designated by the Participant pursuant to a time deferral election made in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

4. Payment may be paid in (i) cash, (ii) shares of Common Stock or (iii) a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion and set forth in the Award Agreement. If payment is to be made in the form of Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock into which the cash dividend or distribution amounts are to be converted for purposes of the Participant’s book account may be based on the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the date of conversion, a prior date or an average of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock over a designated period, as the Plan Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion.

II.CHANGE IN CONTROL

A. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more Awards under this Incentive Bonus Program so that those Awards shall automatically vest in whole or in part immediately prior to the effective date of an actual Change in Control transaction or upon the subsequent termination of the Participant’s Service by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a designated period following the effective date of such Change in Control.

B. The Plan Administrator’s authority under Paragraph A of this Section II shall also extend to any performance bonus awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m), even though the automatic vesting of those awards may result in their loss of performance-based status under Code Section 162(m).

III.TAX WITHHOLDING

The Corporation’s obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock or make a cash payment in settlement of any Award under this Incentive Bonus Program shall be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable income, employment and Foreign Tax withholding requirements, any employer taxes passed through to the Optionee under Article Five, Section II and any other taxes required to be collected at the time of the issuance, vesting or settlement of such Award. Accordingly, no shares shall be issued or cash payment made with respect to an outstanding Award under this Incentive Bonus Program until such all such taxes have been collected.

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ARTICLE FIVE

MISCELLANEOUS

I.DEFERRED COMPENSATION

A. The Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, structure one or more Awards under the Stock Issuance or Incentive Bonus Programs so that the Participants may be provided with an election to defer the compensation associated with those Awards for federal income tax purposes. Any such deferral opportunity shall comply with all applicable requirements of Code Section 409A.

B. To the extent the Corporation maintains one or more separate non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements which allow the participants the opportunity to make notional investments of their deferred account balances in shares of Common Stock, the Plan Administrator may authorize the share reserve under the Plan to serve as the source of any shares of Common Stock that become payable under those deferred compensation arrangements. In such event, the share reserve under the Plan shall be reduced on a share-for-one share basis for each share of Common Stock issued under the Plan in settlement of the deferred compensation owed under those separate arrangements.

C. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Plan or any outstanding Award Agreement, to the extent any Award under this Plan may be deemed to create a deferred compensation arrangement under Section 409A of the Code, then the following limitations shall apply to such Award and the applicable Award Agreement (if not otherwise expressly provided therein):

— No shares of Common Stock or other amounts which become issuable or distributable under such Award Agreement by reason of the Participant’s cessation of Service shall actually be issued or distributed to such Participant until the date of his or her Separation from Service (as determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations) or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable, but in no event later than thelater of (i) the close of the calendar year in which such Separation from Service occurs and (ii) the fifteenth day of the third calendar month following the date of such Separation from Service.

— Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph, shares of Common Stock or other amounts which become issuable or distributable under such Award Agreement by reason of the Participant’s cessation of Service shall actually be issued or distributed to such Participant prior to theearlier of (i) the first day of the seventh (7th) month following the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service and (ii) the date of Participant’s death, if he or she is deemed at the time of such Separation from Service to be a specified employee under Section 1.409A-1(i) of the Treasury Regulations as determined by the Plan Administrator in accordance with consistent and uniform standards applied to all other Code Section 409A arrangements of the Corporation, and such delayed commencement is otherwise required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Code Section 409A(a)(2). The deferred shares or other distributable amount shall be issued or distributed in a lump sum on the first day of the seventh (7th) month following the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service or (if earlier) the first day of the month immediately following the date the Corporation receives proof of his or her death.

II.TAX WITHHOLDING

A. The Corporation’s obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock upon the issuance, exercise, vesting or settlement of an Award under the Plan shall be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable income, employment and Foreign Tax withholding requirements, and any employer taxes passed through to the Optionee pursuant to the terms of the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement.

B. The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, structure one or more Awards under the Plan so that all applicable federal, state, local and Foreign Taxes (including, without limitation, any employer fringe benefit or other taxes permitted to be passed through to the employee under applicable law) incurred in connection with the issuance, exercise, vesting or settlement of those Awards or the issuance of shares of Common Stock thereunder shall automatically be collected by withholding, from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon the issuance, exercise, vesting or settlement of such Awards or the issuance of Common Stock thereunder, the number of shares (rounded up to the nearest whole share) with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the dollar amount of those taxes. The shares of Common Stock so withheld shall reduce the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan.

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III.SHARE ESCROW/LEGENDS

Unvested shares may, in the Plan Administrator’s discretion, be held in escrow by the Corporation until the Participant’s interest in such shares vests or may be issued directly to the Participant with restrictive legends on the certificates evidencing those unvested shares.

IV.EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN

A. The Plan shall become effective on the Plan Effective Date.

B. The Plan shall serve as the successor to each of the Predecessor Plans, and no further option grants or unvested share issuances shall be made under the Predecessor Plans if this Plan is approved by the stockholders at the 2009 Annual Meeting. Such stockholder approval shall not affect the option grants and unvested share awards outstanding under the Predecessor Plans at the time of the 2009 Annual Meeting, and those option grants and unvested share awards shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms.

C. The Plan shall terminate upon theearliest to occur of (i) April 15, 2019, (ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan shall have been issued as fully vested shares or (iii) the termination of all outstanding Awards in connection with a Change in Control. Should the Plan terminate on April 15, 2019, then all Awards outstanding at that time shall continue to have force and effect in accordance with the provisions of the documents evidencing those Awards.

V.AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

A. The Board shall have complete and exclusive power and authority to amend or modify the Plan in any or all respects;provided, however, that stockholder approval shall be required for any amendment to the Plan which materially increases the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan (other than pursuant to Section V.E of Article One), materially increases the benefits accruing to Optionees or Participants, materially expands the class of individuals eligible to participate in the Plan, expands the types of awards which may be made under the Plan or extends the term of the Plan or to the extent such stockholder approval may otherwise required under applicable law or regulation or pursuant to the listing standards of the Stock Exchange on which the Common Stock is at the time primarily traded. However, no such amendment or modification shall adversely affect the rights and obligations with respect to Awards at the time outstanding under the Plan unless the Optionee or the Participant consents to such amendment or modification.

B. The Compensation Committee shall have the discretionary authority to adopt and implement from time to time such addenda or subplans to the Plan as it may deem necessary in order to bring the Plan into compliance with applicable laws and regulations of any foreign jurisdictions in which grants or awards are to be made under the Plan and/or to obtain favorable tax treatment in those foreign jurisdictions for the individuals to whom the grants or awards are made.

C. Awards may be made under the Plan that involve shares of Common Stock in excess of the number of shares then available for issuance under the Plan, provided no shares shall actually be issued pursuant to those Awards until the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan is sufficiently increased by stockholder approval of an amendment of the Plan authorizing such increase. If such stockholder approval is not obtained within twelve (12) months after the date the first excess Award is made, then all Awards granted on the basis of such excess shares shall terminate and cease to be outstanding.

VI.USE OF PROCEEDS

Any cash proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of shares of Common Stock under the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes.

VII.REGULATORY APPROVALS

A. The implementation of the Plan, the granting of any Award under the Plan and the issuance of any shares of Common Stock in connection with the issuance, exercise or vesting of any Award under the Plan shall be subject to the Corporation’s procurement of all approvals and permits required by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Plan, the Awards made under the Plan and the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to those Awards.

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B. No shares of Common Stock or other assets shall be issued or delivered under the Plan unless and until there shall have been compliance with all applicable requirements of applicable securities laws, including the filing and effectiveness of the Form S-8 registration statement for the shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan, and all applicable listing requirements of any Stock Exchange on which Common Stock is then listed for trading.

VIII.NO EMPLOYMENT/SERVICE RIGHTS

Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee or the Participant any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining such person) or of the Optionee or the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate such person’s Service at any time for any reason, with or without cause.

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APPENDIX

The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:

A.Annual Meeting shall mean the 2009 annual meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders.

B.Award shall mean any of the following awards authorized for issuance or grant under the Plan: stock options, stock appreciation rights, direct stock issuances, restricted stock or restricted stock unit awards, performance shares, performance units, dividend-equivalent rights and cash incentive awards.

C.Award Agreement shall mean the agreement(s) between the Corporation and the Optionee or Participant evidencing a particular Award made to that individual under the Plan, as such agreement(s) may be in effect from time to time

D.Board shall mean the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

E.Cause shall, with respect to each Award made under the Plan, be defined in accordance with the following provisions:

— Cause shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Award Agreement for the particular Award or in any other agreement incorporated by reference into the Award Agreement for purposes of defining such term.

— In the absence of any other Cause definition in the Award Agreement for a particular Award (or in any other agreement incorporated by reference into the Award Agreement), an individual’s termination of Service shall be deemed to be for Cause if such termination occurs by reason of (i) his or her continuing failure to perform the duties and functions assigned or delegated to such individual by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary for whom such individual renders Service), (ii) his or her failure to observe the material policies of the Corporation applicable to individuals in Service, (iii) his or her commission of any felony or (iv) his or her commission of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.

F.Change in Control shall, with respect to each Award made under the Plan, be defined in accordance with the following provisions:

— Change in Control shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Award Agreement for the particular Award or in any other agreement incorporated by reference into the Award Agreement for purposes of defining such term.

— In the absence of any other Change in Control definition in the Award Agreement (or in any other agreement incorporated by reference into the Award Agreement), Change in Control shall mean a change in ownership or control of the Corporation effected through any of the following transactions:

(i) consummation of a merger, consolidation or other reorganization approved by the Corporation’s stockholders,unless securities representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of the voting securities of the successor corporation are immediately thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the persons who beneficially owned the Corporation’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such transaction,

(ii) a sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets,

(iii) the closing of any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which any person or any group of persons comprising a “group” within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the 1934 Act (other than (A) the Corporation or (B) a person that, prior to such transaction or series of related transactions, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Corporation) acquires directly or indirectly (whether as a result of a single acquisition or by reason of one or more acquisitions within the twelve (12)-month period ending with the most recent acquisition) the beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing (or convertible into or exercisable for securities possessing) more than thirty-five percent (35%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation’s securities (as measured in terms of the power to vote with respect to the election of Board members) outstanding immediately after the consummation of such acquisition or series of related acquisitions, whether any such acquisition involves a direct issuance from the Corporation or the acquisition of outstanding securities held by one or more of the Corporation’s existing stockholders, or

(iv) a change in the composition of the Board over a period of twelve (12) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the Board members ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (A) have been Board members continuously since the beginning of such

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period or (B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least a majority of the Board members described in clause (A) who were still in office at the time the Board approved such election or nomination.

G.Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

H.Common Stock shall mean the Corporation’s Class A common stock, with a par value of $.01 per share.

I.Compensation Committee shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board comprised of two (2) or more non-employee Board members.

J.Corporation shall mean Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and any corporate successor to all or substantially all of the assets or voting stock of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation which has by appropriate action assumed the Plan.

K.Discretionary Grant Program shall mean the discretionary grant program in effect under Article Two of the Plan pursuant to which stock options and stock appreciation rights may be granted to one or more eligible individuals.

L.Employee shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary, whether now existing or subsequently established), subject to the control and direction of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance.

M.Exercise Date shall mean the date on which the Corporation shall have received written or electronic notice of the option exercise.

N.Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock at the close of regular hours trading (i.e., before after-hours trading begins) on date on question on the Stock Exchange serving as the primary market for the Common Stock, as such price is reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers (if primarily traded on the Nasdaq Global or Global Select Market) or as officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on any other Stock Exchange on which the Common Stock is then primarily traded. If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists. Notwithstanding the foregoing, should a different method of Fair Market Value determination be required by applicable law or regulation of the foreign jurisdiction in which the Award is to be made under the Plan, then the Fair Market Value per share applicable to such Award shall be determined in accordance with the law or regulations of the foreign jurisdiction in which that Award is made.

O.Foreign Taxes shall, for purposes of tax withholding by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing the Optionee or Participant), mean any income tax, employment tax, social insurance, payroll tax, contributions, payment on account obligations or other amounts required to be withheld by the Corporation (such Parent or Subsidiary) in connection with the issuance, exercise, vesting or settlement of Award or the issuance of shares of Common Stock thereunder.

P.Good Reason shall, with respect to each Award made under the Plan, be defined in accordance with the following provisions:

— Good Reason shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Award Agreement for the particular Award or in any other agreement incorporated by reference into the Award Agreement for purposes of defining such term.

— In the absence of any other Good Reason definition in the Award Agreement (or in any other agreement incorporated by reference into the Award Agreement), Good Reason shall mean an individual’s voluntary resignation following (A) a change in his or her position with the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) which materially reduces his or her duties and responsibilities, (B) a change in his or her reporting responsibilities so that such individual is required to report to a person whose duties, responsibilities and authority are materially less that those of the person to whom such individual previously reported, (C) a material reduction in his or her aggregate level of compensation (including base salary, fringe benefits and target bonus under any corporate-performance based bonus or incentive programs), with a reduction of more than fifteen percent (15%) to be deemed material for such purpose, or (D) a relocation of such individual’s place of employment by more than fifty (50) miles,provided, however, that such individual’s resignation for any of the foregoing reasons shall constitute an a resignation for Good Reason only if the following requirements are satisfied: (x) such individual provides written notice of the clause (A), (B) or (C) event to the Corporation (or the Parent or Subsidiary employer) within sixty (60) days after the occurrence of that event, (y) the Corporation (or the Parent or Subsidiary employer) fails to take appropriate remedial action to remedy such event

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within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice and (z) such individual resigns from his or her employment with the Corporation (or the Parent or Subsidiary employer) within one hundred (120) days following the initial occurrence of the clause (A), (B) or (C) event.

Q.Incentive Bonus Program shall mean the incentive bonus program in effect under Article Four of the Plan.

R.Incentive Option shall mean an option which satisfies the requirements of Code Section 422.

S.Involuntary Termination shall mean the termination of the Service of any individual which occurs by reason of:

(i) such individual’s involuntary dismissal or discharge by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) for reasons other than Cause or Misconduct, or

(ii) such individual’s voluntary resignation for Good Reason.

T.Misconduct shall mean the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty by a recipient of an Award, any unauthorized use or disclosure by such individual of confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), or any other intentional misconduct by such individual adversely affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in a material manner. The foregoing definition shall not in any way preclude or restrict the right of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) to discharge or dismiss such individual or any other person in the Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) for any other acts or omissions, but such other acts or omissions shall not be deemed for purposes of the Plan to constitute grounds for termination for Misconduct.

U.1934 Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

V.Non-Statutory Option shall mean an option not intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422.

W.Optionee shall mean any person to whom an option or stock appreciation right is granted under the Discretionary Grant Program.

X.Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

Y.Participant shall mean any person who is issued (i) shares of Common Stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units or other stock-based awards under the Stock Issuance Program or (ii) an incentive bonus award under the Incentive Bonus Program.

Z.Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled shall mean the inability of the Optionee or the Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of twelve (12) months or more. The determination of whether an Optionee or Participant has become Permanently Disabled shall be made by the Plan Administrator based upon such medical or other evidence as it may deem necessary and appropriate, and such determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Optionee or Participant.

AA.Performance Goals shall mean any of the following performance criteria upon which the vesting of one or more Awards under the Plan may be based: (i) revenue or revenue growth, (ii) operating or net income, (iii) operating or net income before charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in settlement of stock-based awards, (iv) operating or net income before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and/or charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in settlement of stock-based awards, (v) gross, operating or net profit margin, (vi) gross, operating or net profit margin before charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in settlement of stock-based awards, (vii) earnings per share, (viii) return on assets, capital or stockholder equity, (ix) total stockholder return, (x) cash flow, (xi) measures in terms of days sales outstanding or accounts receivable outstanding, (xii) working capital, (xiii) market share, (xiv) increases in customer base, (xv) cost reductions or other expense control objectives, (xvi) market price of the Common Stock, whether measured in absolute terms or in relationship to earnings or operating income or in relation to various stock market or industry indicies, (xvii) budget objectives, (xviii) working capital, (xix) mergers, acquisitions or divestitures, (xx) measures of customer satisfaction or (xxi) economic value added, models. Each performance criteria may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of the Corporation’s performance under one or more of the measures described above relative to the performance of other entities

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and may also be based on the performance of any of the Corporation’s business units or divisions or any Parent or Subsidiary. Each applicable Performance Goal may include a minimum threshold level of performance below which no Award will be earned, levels of performance at which specified portions of an Award will be earned and a maximum level of performance at which an Award will be fully earned. Each applicable Performance Goal may be structured at the time of the Award to provide for appropriate adjustment for one or more of the following items: (A) asset impairments or write-downs; (B) litigation judgments or verdicts and expenses and settlement costs and expenses; (C) the effect of changes in tax laws or regulations, accounting principles or other applicable laws, regulations or provisions affecting reported results; (D) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs; (E) any extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Corporation’s annual report to shareholders for the applicable year; (F) the operations of any business acquired by the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary or of any joint venture in which the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary participates; (G) the divestiture of one or more business operations or the assets thereof; (H) the costs incurred in connection with such acquisitions or divestitures or (I) non-operating foreign exchange gains or losses.

BB.Plan shall mean the Corporation’s 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan, as set forth in this document.

CC.Plan Administrator shall mean the particular entity, whether the Compensation Committee (or subcommittee thereof), the Board, the Special Award Committee or the Secondary Board Committee, which is authorized to administer the Discretionary Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to one or more classes of eligible persons, to the extent such entity is carrying out its administrative functions under the Plan with respect to the persons under its jurisdiction.

DD.Plan Effective Date shall mean the June 5, 2009 date on which the Plan is approved by the stockholders at the 2009 Annual Meeting.

EE.Predecessor Plans shall mean (i) the Corporation’s Amended and Restated 1999 Incentive Compensation Plan, (ii) the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan and (iii) the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Key Employees’ Stock Option Plan, as each such plan is in effect immediately prior to the 2009 Annual Meeting.

FF.Secondary Board Committee shall mean a committee of one or more Board members appointed by the Board to administer the Plan with respect to eligible persons other than Section 16 Insiders.

GG.Section 16 Insider shall mean an officer or director of the Corporation subject to the short-swing profit liabilities of Section 16 of the 1934 Act.

HH. Service shall mean the performance of services for the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary, whether now existing or subsequently established) by a person in the capacity of an Employee, a non-employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or independent advisor, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in the documents evidencing the option grant or stock issuance. For purposes of the Plan, an Optionee or Participant shall be deemed to cease Service immediately upon the occurrence of the either of the following events: (i) the Optionee or Participant no longer performs services in any of the foregoing capacities for the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary or (ii) the entity for which the Optionee or Participant is performing such services ceases to remain a Parent or Subsidiary of the Corporation, even though the Optionee or Participant may subsequently continue to perform services for that entity. Service shall be deemed to continue during a period of military leave, sick leave or other personal leave approved by the Corporation for which the Optionee or Participant is provided with a right tore-employment following such leave;provided, however, that should such leave of absence exceed three (3) months, then for purposes of determining the period within which an Incentive Option may be exercised as such under the federal tax laws, the Optionee’s Service shall be deemed to cease on the first day immediately following the expiration of such three (3)-month period, unless Optionee is provided with the right to return to Service following such leave either by statute or by written contract. Service credit shall be given for vesting purposes for any period the Optionee or Participant is on a leave of absence to the extent (i) the leave of absence does not exceed three (3) months and the Optionee or Participant is provided with a right to re-employment following such leave, (ii) required by law, or (iii) expressly authorized by the Plan Administrator or by the Corporation’s written policy on leaves of absence, as in effect from time to time.

II.Special Award Committee shall mean a committee of one or more executive officers appointed by the Board to administer the Plan with respect to eligible employees other than members of such committee and Section 16 Insiders.

JJ.Stock Exchange shall mean the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Market or the New York Stock Exchange.

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KK.Stock Issuance Program shall mean the stock issuance program in effect under Article Three of the Plan.

LL.Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

MM.10% Stockholder shall mean the owner of stock (as determined under Code Section 424(d)) possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

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EXHIBIT B

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

2009 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), originally adopted the Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation 20092017 Incentive CompensationAward Plan (as it may be amended or restated from time to time, the “Plan”) effective asis to promote the success and enhance the value of December 17, 2007, andCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (the “Company”) by linking the Plan was approved by the stockholdersindividual interests of the Corporation on December 17, 2007. Article Five, Section V.A of the Plan allows the Board of Directors of the Corporation to amend the Plan in certain respects at any time or from time to time.

In order to amend the Plan in certain respects, this First Amendment to the Plan has been adopted and approved by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation on February 19, 2014, effective as set forth below. This First Amendment to the Plan, together with the Plan, constitutes the entire Plan as amended to date.

1. Effective as of March 1, 2014, and subject to approval by the stockholders of the Corporation, Article One, Section V.D of the Plan is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

D. Each person participating in the Plan shall be subject the following limitations:

— for Awards to Employees, consultants and other independent advisors who provide services to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) denominated in shares of Common Stock at the time of grant (whether subsequently payable in cash or Common Stock, or a combination of both), the maximum number of shares of Common Stock for which such Awards may be made to such person in any calendar year shall not exceed Two Million Five Hundred Thousand (2,500,000) shares of Common Stock in the aggregate, and

— for Awards denominated in dollars at the time of grant (whether subsequently payable in cash or Common Stock, or a combination of both), the maximum dollar amount for which such Awards may be made to such person in any calendar year shall not exceed Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000),

— for Awards to non-employee members of the Board, orEmployees, and Consultants to those of Company stockholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to Company stockholders. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the boardCompany in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of directorsmembers of any Parent or Subsidiary denominated in sharesthe Board, Employees, and Consultants upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of Common Stock at the time of grant (whether subsequently payable in cash or Common Stock, or a combination of both),Company’s operation is largely dependent.

ARTICLE 2. DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

Wherever the maximum number of shares of Common Stock for which such Awards may be made to such person in any calendar year shall not exceed Fifty Thousand (50,000) shares of Common Stockfollowing terms are used in the aggregate.Plan they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.

2.1Administrator” shall mean the entity that conducts the general administration of the Plan as provided in Article 12. With reference to the duties of the Committee under the Plan which have been delegated to one or more persons pursuant to Section 12.6, or as to which the Board has assumed, the term “Administrator” shall refer to such person(s) unless the Committee or the Board has revoked such delegation or the Board has terminated the assumption of such duties.
2.2Applicable Accounting Standards” shall mean Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States, International Financial Reporting Standards or such other accounting principles or standards as may apply to the Company’s financial statements under United States federal securities laws from time to time.
2.3Applicable Law” shall mean any applicable law, including without limitation: (a) provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (b) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements or regulations, whether federal, state, local or foreign; and (c) rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.
2.4Automatic Exercise Date” shall mean, with respect to an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right, the last business day of the applicable Option Term or Stock Appreciation Right Term that was initially established by the Administrator for such Option or Stock Appreciation Right (e.g.,the last business day prior to the tenth anniversary of the date of grant of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right if the Option or Stock Appreciation Right initially had a ten-year Option Term or Stock Appreciation Right Term, as applicable).
2.5Award” shall mean an Option, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Restricted Stock award, a Restricted Stock Unit award, an Other Stock or Cash Based Award or a Dividend Equivalent award, which may be awarded or granted under the Plan.
2.6Award Agreement” shall mean any written notice, agreement, terms and conditions, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through electronic medium, which shall contain such terms and conditions with respect to an Award as the Administrator shall determine consistent with the Plan.
2.7Award Limit” shall mean with respect to Awards that shall be payable in Shares or in cash, as the case may be, the respective limit set forth in Section 3.2.
2.8Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.9Change in Control” shall mean and includes each of the following:
(a)A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Common Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than 35% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition;provided,however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) any acquisition which complies with Sections 2.9(c)(i), 2.9(c)(ii) and 2.9(c)(iii); or (iv) in respect of an Award held by a particular Holder, any acquisition by the Holder or any group of persons including the Holder (or any entity controlled by the Holder or any group of persons including the Holder); or
(b)The Incumbent Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board;
(c)The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination, (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:
(i)which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and

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2. Effective asTable of March 1, 2014, and subject to approval by the stockholders of the Corporation, Appendix Section AA of the Plan is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:Contents

AA. Performance Goals shall mean any of the following performance criteria upon which the vesting of one or more Awards under the Plan may be based: (i) revenue or revenue growth, (ii) operating or net income, (iii) operating or net income before acquisition related charges, net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses and/or charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in settlement of stock-based awards, (iv) operating or net income before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and/or charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in settlement of stock-based awards, (v) gross, operating or net profit margin, (vi) gross, operating or net profit margin before acquisition related charges, net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses and/or charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in settlement of stock-based awards, (vii) earnings per share, either before or after acquisition related charges, net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses and/or charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in settlement of stock-based awards, (viii) return on assets, capital or stockholder equity, (ix) total stockholder return, (x) cash flow, (xi) measures in terms of days sales outstanding or accounts receivable outstanding, (xii) working capital, (xiii) market share, (xiv) increases in customer base, (xv) cost reductions or other expense control objectives, (xvi) market price of the Common Stock, whether measured in absolute terms or in relationship to earnings or operating income or in relation to various stock market or industry indicies, (xvii) budget objectives, (xviii) working capital, (xix) mergers, acquisitions or divestitures, (xx) measures of customer satisfaction, (xxi) productivity measures, (xxii) funds from operations, (xxiii) operating efficiency, or (xxiv) economic value-added models. Each performance criteria may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of the Corporation’s performance under one or more of the measures described above relative to the performance of other entities and may also be based on the performance of any of

Appendix A

(ii)after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity;provided,however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this Section 2.9(c)(ii) as beneficially owning 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; and
(iii)after which at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Successor Entity were Board members at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such transaction; or
(d)Consummation of a completion of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award (or any portion of an Award) that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A, the transaction or event described in subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).
The Board shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.
2.102014 Proxy StatementCode” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, together with the regulations and official guidance promulgated thereunder, whether issued prior or subsequent to the grant of any Award.
2.11Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, or another committee or subcommittee of the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board described in Article 12 hereof.
2.12Common Stock” shall mean the Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share.
2.13Company” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 1.
2.14Consultant” shall mean any consultant or adviser engaged to provide services to the Company or any Subsidiary who qualifies as a consultant or advisor under the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for registration of shares on a Form S-8 Registration Statement.
2.15Covered Employee” shall mean any Employee who is, or could become, a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
2.16Director” shall mean a member of the Board, as constituted from time to time.
2.17Director Limit” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6.
2.18Dividend Equivalent” shall mean a right to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on Shares, awarded under Section 10.2.
2.19DRO” shall mean a “domestic relations order” as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, or the rules thereunder.
2.20Effective Date” shall mean the date the Plan is adopted by the Board, subject to approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders.
2.21Eligible Individual” shall mean any person who is an Employee, a Consultant or a Non-Employee Director, as determined by the Administrator.
2.22Employee” shall mean any officer or other employee (as determined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) of the Company or of any Subsidiary.
2.23Equity Restructuring” shall mean a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of Shares (or other securities of the Company) or the share price of Common Stock (or other securities) and causes a change in the per-share value of the Common Stock underlying outstanding Awards.
2.24Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
2.25Expiration Date” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 13.1(c).
2.26Fair Market Value” shall mean, as of any given date, the value of a Share determined as follows:
(a)If the Common Stock is (i) listed on any established securities exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Capital Market, the NASDAQ Global Market and the NASDAQ Global Select Market), (ii) listed on any national market system or (iii) quoted or traded on any automated quotation system, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for a Share as quoted on such exchange or system for such date or, if there is no closing sales price for a Share on the date in question, the closing sales price for a Share on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists, as reported inThe Wall Street Journalor such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;
(b)If the Common Stock is not listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system, but the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean of the high bid and low asked prices for such date or, if there are no high bid and low asked prices for a Share on such date, the high bid and low asked prices for a Share on the last preceding date for which such information exists, as reported inThe Wall Street Journalor such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or
(c)If the Common Stock is neither listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system nor regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be established by the Administrator in good faith.
2.27Full Value Award” shall mean any Award that is settled in Shares other than: (a) an Option, (b) a Stock Appreciation Right or (c) any other Award for which the Holder pays the intrinsic value existing as of the date of grant (whether directly or by forgoing a right to receive a payment from the Company or any Subsidiary).

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the Corporation’s business units or divisions or any Parent or Subsidiary. Each applicable Performance Goal may include a minimum threshold levelTable of performance below which no Award will be earned, levels of performance at which specified portions of an Award will be earned and a maximum level of performance at which an Award will be fully earned. Each applicable Performance Goal may be structured at the time of the Award to provide for appropriate adjustment for one or more of the following items: (A) asset impairments or write-downs; (B) litigation judgments or verdicts and expenses and settlement costs and expenses; (C) the effect of changes in tax laws or regulations, accounting principles or other applicable laws, regulations or provisions affecting reported results; (D) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs; (E) any extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Corporation’s annual report to shareholders for the applicable year; (F) the operations of any business acquired by the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary or of any joint venture in which the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary participates; (G) the divestiture of one or more business operations or the assets thereof; (H) the costs incurred in connection with such acquisitions or divestitures or (I) non-operating foreign exchange gains or losses.

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2.28Greater Than 10% Stockholder” shall mean an individual then owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any subsidiary corporation (as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code) or parent corporation thereof (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code).
2.292014Holder” shall mean a person who has been granted an Award.
2.30Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option and conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.
2.31Incumbent Directors” shall mean for any period of 12 consecutive months, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new Director(s) (other than a Director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section 2.9(a) or 2.9(c)) whose election or nomination for election to the Board was approved by a vote of at least a majority (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for Director without objection to such nomination) of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the 12-month period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved. No individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to Directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Director.
2.32Non-Employee Director” shall mean a Director of the Company who is not an Employee.
2.33Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6.
2.34Non-Qualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option or which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option but does not meet the applicable requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
2.35Option” shall mean a right to purchase Shares at a specified exercise price, granted under Article 6. An Option shall be either a Non-Qualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option;provided,however, that Options granted to Non-Employee Directors and Consultants shall only be Non-Qualified Stock Options.
2.36Option Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.4.
2.37Organizational Documents” shall mean, collectively, (a) the Company’s articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other similar organizational documents relating to the creation and governance of the Company, and (b) the Committee’s charter or other similar organizational documentation relating to the creation and governance of the Committee.
2.38Other Stock or Cash Based Award” shall mean a cash payment, cash bonus award, stock payment, stock bonus award, performance award or incentive award that is paid in cash, Shares or a combination of both, awarded under Section 10.1, which may include, without limitation, deferred stock, deferred stock units, retainers, committee fees, and meeting-based fees.
2.39Performance-Based Compensation” shall mean any compensation that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.
2.40Performance Criteria” shall mean the criteria (and adjustments) that the Administrator selects for an Award for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for a Performance Period, determined as follows:
(a)The Performance Criteria that shall be used to establish Performance Goals are limited to the following: (i) revenue or revenue growth, (ii) operating or net income, (iii) operating or net income before acquisition related charges, net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses and/or charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Company in settlement of stock-based awards, (iv) operating or net income before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and/or charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Company in settlement of stock-based-awards, (v) gross, operating or net profit margin, (vi) gross, operating or net profit margin before acquisition related charges, net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses and/or charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Company in settlement of stock-based awards, (vii) earnings per share, either before or after acquisition related charges, net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses and/or charges for stock-based compensation and any taxes or fringe benefits incurred by the Company in settlement of stock-based awards, (viii) return on assets, capital or stockholder equity, (ix) total stockholder return, (x) cash flow, (xi) measures in terms of days sales outstanding or accounts receivable outstanding, (xii) working capital, (xiii) market share, (xiv) increases in customer base, (xv) cost reductions or other expense control objectives, (xvi) market price of the Common Stock, whether measured in absolute terms or in relationship to earnings or operating income or in relation to various stock market or industry indices, (xvii) budget objectives, (xviii) working capital, (xix) mergers, acquisitions or divestitures, (xx) measures of customer satisfaction, (xxi) productivity measures, (xxii) funds from operations, (xxiii) operating efficiency, or (xxiv) economic value-added models, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or decrease or as compared to results of a peer group or to market performance indicators or indices.
(b)The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide that one or more objectively determinable adjustments shall be made to one or more of the Performance Goals. Such adjustments may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: (i) items related to a change in Applicable Accounting Standards; (ii) items relating to financing activities; (iii) expenses for restructuring or productivity initiatives; (iv) other non-operating items; (v) items related to acquisitions; (vi) items attributable to the business operations of any entity acquired by the Company during the Performance Period; (vii) items related to the sale or disposition of a business or segment of a business; (viii) items related to discontinued operations that do not qualify as a segment of a business under Applicable Accounting Standards; (ix) items attributable to any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of stock occurring during the Performance Period; (x) any other items of significant income or expense which are determined to be appropriate adjustments; (xi) items relating to unusual or infrequent corporate transactions, events or developments, (xii) items related to amortization of acquired intangible assets; (xiii) items that are outside the scope of the Company’s core, on-going business activities; (xiv) items related to acquired in-process research and development; (xv) items relating to changes in tax laws; (xvi) items relating to major licensing or partnership arrangements;

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(xvii) items relating to asset impairment charges; (xviii) items relating to gains or losses for litigation, arbitration and contractual settlements; (xix) items attributable to expenses incurred in connection with a reduction in force or early retirement initiative; (xx) items relating to foreign exchange or currency transactions and/or fluctuations; or (xxi) items relating to any other unusual or nonrecurring events or changes in Applicable Law, Applicable Accounting Standards or business conditions. For all Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, such determinations shall be made within the time prescribed by, and otherwise in compliance with, Section 162(m) of the Code.

2.41Performance Goals” shall mean, for a Performance Period, one or more goals established in writing by the Administrator for the Performance Period based upon one or more Performance Criteria. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of a Subsidiary, division, business unit, or an individual. The achievement of each Performance Goal shall be determined, to the extent applicable, with reference to Applicable Accounting Standards.
2.42Performance Period” shall mean one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Administrator may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Holder’s right to, vesting of, and/or the payment in respect of, an Award.
2.43Permitted Transferee” shall mean, with respect to a Holder, any “family member” of the Holder, as defined in the General Instructions to Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act (or any successor form thereto), or any other transferee specifically approved by the Administrator after taking into account Applicable Law.
2.44Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 1.
2.45Prior Plan” shall mean the Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation Amended and Restated 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan, as such plan may be amended from time to time.
2.46Program” shall mean any program adopted by the Administrator pursuant to the Plan containing the terms and conditions intended to govern a specified type of Award granted under the Plan and pursuant to which such type of Award may be granted under the Plan.
2.47Restricted Stock” shall mean Common Stock awarded under Article 8 that is subject to certain restrictions and may be subject to risk of forfeiture or repurchase.
2.48Restricted Stock Units” shall mean the right to receive Shares awarded under Article 9.
2.49Section 409A” shall mean Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including, without limitation, any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date.
2.50Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2.51Shares” shall mean shares of Common Stock.
2.52Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean an Award entitling the Holder (or other person entitled to exercise pursuant to the Plan) to exercise all or a specified portion thereof (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company an amount determined by multiplying the difference obtained by subtracting the exercise price per share of such Award from the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of such Award by the number of Shares with respect to which such Award shall have been exercised, subject to any limitations the Administrator may impose.
2.53SAR Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.4.
2.54Subsidiary” shall mean any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.
2.55Substitute Award” shall mean an Award granted under the Plan in connection with a corporate transaction, such as a merger, combination, consolidation or acquisition of property or stock, in any case, upon the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding equity awards previously granted by a company or other entity;provided,however, that in no event shall the term “Substitute Award” be construed to refer to an award made in connection with the cancellation and repricing of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right.
2.56Termination of Service” shall mean:
(a)As to a Consultant, the time when the engagement of a Holder as a Consultant to the Company or a Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, with or without cause, including, without limitation, by resignation, discharge, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Consultant simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.
(b)As to a Non-Employee Director, the time when a Holder who is a Non-Employee Director ceases to be a Director for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, failure to be elected, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Holder simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.
(c)As to an Employee, the time when the employee-employer relationship between a Holder and the Company or any Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death, disability or retirement; but excluding terminations where the Holder simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.
The Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to any Termination of Service, including, without limitation, whether a Termination of Service has occurred, whether a Termination of Service resulted from a discharge for cause and all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute a Termination of Service; provided, however, that, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, unless the Administrator otherwise provides in the terms of any Program, Award Agreement or otherwise, or as otherwise required by Applicable Law, a leave of absence, change in status from an employee to an independent contractor or other change in the employee-employer relationship shall constitute a Termination of Service only if, and to the extent that, such leave of absence, change in status or other change interrupts employment for the purposes of Section 422(a)(2) of the Code and the then-applicable regulations and revenue rulings under

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       B-2

said Section. For purposes of the Plan, a Holder’s employee-employer relationship or consultancy relations shall be deemed to be terminated in the event that the Subsidiary employing or contracting with such Holder ceases to remain a Subsidiary following any merger, sale of stock or other corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a spin-off).


ARTICLE 3. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

3.1Number of Shares.

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COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

GLENPOINTE CENTRE WEST

500 FRANK W. BURR BLVD.

TEANECK, NJ 07666

(a)Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.1(b) and Section 13.2, a total of 53,000,000 Shares shall be authorized for grant under the Plan (including, without limitation, pursuant to Incentive Stock Options). Any Shares that are subject to Awards other than Full Value Awards shall be counted against this limit as one (1) Share for every one (1) Share granted. Any Shares that are subject to Full Value Awards shall be counted against this limit as two (2) Shares for every one (1) Share granted. After the Effective Date, no awards may be granted under the Prior Plan, however, any awards under the Prior Plan that are outstanding as of the Effective Date shall continue to be subject to the terms and conditions of such Prior Plan. Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Common Stock, treasury Common Stock or Common Stock purchased on the open market.
       

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(b)If (i) any Shares subject to an Award are forfeited or expire or are converted to shares of another Person in connection with a spin-off or other similar event, or an Award is settled for cash (in whole or in part), or (ii) after the InternetEffective Date, any Shares subject to transmit your voting instructionsan award under the Prior Plan are forfeited or expire or are converted to shares of another Person in connection with a spin-off or other similar event, or an award under the Prior Plan is settled for cash (in whole or in part) (including in each case Shares repurchased by the Company under Section 8.4 at the same price paid by the Holder), the Shares subject to such Award or award under the Prior Plan shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration, conversion or cash settlement, again be available for future grants of Awards under the Plan, in accordance with Section 3.1(d) below. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the following Shares shall not be added to the Shares authorized for grant under Section 3.1(a) and shall not be available for electronic deliveryfuture grants of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern TimeAwards: (i) Shares tendered by a Holder or withheld by the day beforeCompany in payment of the cut-off dateexercise price of an Option; (ii) Shares tendered by the Holder or meeting date. Have your proxy cardwithheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award; (iii) Shares subject to a Stock Appreciation Right that are not issued in hand when you accessconnection with the web sitestock settlement of the Stock Appreciation Right on exercise thereof; and follow(iv) Shares purchased by the instructionsCompany on the open market with the cash proceeds received from the exercise of Options. The payment of Dividend Equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Awards shall not be counted against the Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.1(b), no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an Incentive Stock Option to obtain your records andfail to createqualify as an electronic voting instruction form.

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If you would like toincentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.

(c)Substitute Awards shall not reduce the costs incurredShares authorized for grant under the Plan, except as may be required by Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporationreason of Section 422 of the Code. Additionally, in mailing proxy materials, you can consentthe event that a company acquiredby the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically viae-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please followterms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the instructions above to voteextent appropriate, using the Internetexchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and when prompted, indicateshall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan; provided that you agreeAwards using such available Shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to receiveindividuals who were not employed by or access proxy materials electronically in future years.

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Use any touch-tone telephoneproviding services to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off dateCompany or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.

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Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have providedits Subsidiaries immediately prior to such acquisition or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

combination.

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(d)M72662-P48306        Any Shares that again become available for grant pursuant to this Section 3.1 shall be added back as: (i) one (1) Share if such Shares were subject to an Award other than a Full Value Award granted under the Plan or an option or stock appreciation right granted under the Prior Plan, and (ii) as two (2) Shares if such Shares were subject to Full Value Awards granted under the Plan or awards other than options or stock appreciation rights granted under the Prior Plan.
3.2Limitation on Number of Shares Subject to Awards. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, and subject to Section 13.2, the maximum aggregate number of Shares with respect to one or more Awards other than Full Value Awards that may be granted to any one person during any calendar year shall be 3,000,000; the maximum aggregate number of Shares with respect to one or more Full Value Awards that may be granted to any one person during any calendar year shall be 2,000,000; and the maximum aggregate amount of cash that may be paid in cash to any one person during any calendar year with respect to one or more Awards payable in cash shall be $10,000,000. To the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code, Shares subject to Awards which are canceled shall continue to be counted against the Award Limit.

ARTICLE 4. GRANTING OF AWARDS

4.1Participation. The Administrator may, from time to time, select from among all Eligible Individuals, those to whom an Award shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award, which shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of the Plan. Except for any Non-Employee Director’s right to Awards that may be required pursuant to the Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy as described in Section 4.6, no Eligible Individual or other Person shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to the Plan and neither the Company nor the Administrator is obligated to treat Eligible Individuals, Holders or any other persons uniformly. Participation by each Holder in the Plan shall be voluntary and nothing in the Plan or any Program shall be construed as mandating that any Eligible Individual or other Person shall participate in the Plan.
4.2Award Agreement. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that sets forth the terms, conditions and limitations for such Award as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion (consistent with the requirements of the Plan and any applicable Program). Award Agreements evidencing Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code. Award

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Agreements evidencing Incentive Stock Options shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.

4.3Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan, and any Award granted or awarded to any individual who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act and any amendments thereto) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.
4.4No Impact on Employment Rights. Nothing in the Plan or in any Program or Award Agreement hereunder shall confer upon any Holder any right to continue in the employ of, or as a Director or Consultant for, the Company or any Subsidiary, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and any Subsidiary, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge any Holder at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, and with or without notice, or to terminate or change all other terms and conditions of employment or engagement, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Holder and the Company or any Subsidiary.
4.5Foreign Holders. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or applicable Program to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in countries other than the United States in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate or have Employees, Non-Employee Directors or Consultants, or in order to comply with the requirements of any foreign securities exchange or other Applicable Law, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (a) determine which Subsidiaries shall be covered by the Plan; (b) determine which Eligible Individuals outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (c) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Eligible Individuals outside the United States to comply with Applicable Law (including, without limitation, applicable foreign laws or listing requirements of any foreign securities exchange); (d) establish sub-plans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable;provided,however, that no such sub-plans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitation contained in Section 3.1, the Award Limit or the Director Limit; and (e) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals or listing requirements of any foreign securities exchange.
4.6Non-Employee Director Awards.
(a)Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide that Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors shall be granted pursuant to a written nondiscretionary formula established by the Administrator (the “Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy”), subject to the limitations of the Plan. The Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy shall set forth the type of Award(s) to be granted to Non-Employee Directors, the number of Shares to be subject to Non-Employee Director Awards, the conditions on which such Awards shall be granted, become exercisable and/or payable and expire, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion. The Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy may be modified by the Administrator from time to time in its sole discretion.
(b)Director Limit. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan or in the Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy, the sum of the grant date fair value of equity-based Awards and the amount of any cash-based Awards granted to a Non-Employee Director during any calendar year shall not exceed $900,000 (the “Director Limit”).

ARTICLE 5. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS INTENDED TO QUALIFY AS PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION

5.1Purpose. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, (a) determine whether an Award is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation and (b) at any time after any such determination, alter such intent for any or no reason. If the Administrator, in its sole discretion, decides to grant an Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation (other than an Option or Stock Appreciation Right), then the provisions of this Article 5 shall control over any contrary provision contained in the Plan or any applicable Program;provided that, if after such decision the Administrator alters such intention for any reason, the provisions of this Article 5 shall no longer control over any other provision contained in the Plan or any applicable Program. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may (i) grant Awards to Eligible Individuals that are based on Performance Criteria or Performance Goals or any such other criteria and goals as the Administrator shall establish, but that do not satisfy the requirements of this Article 5 and that are not intended to qualify as Performance- Based Compensation and (ii) subject any Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation to additional conditions and restrictions unrelated to any Performance Criteria or Performance Goals (including, without limitation, continued employment or service requirements) to the extent such Awards otherwise satisfy the requirements of this Article 5 with respect to the Performance Criteria and Performance Goals applicable thereto. Unless otherwise specified by the Administrator at the time of grant, the Performance Criteria with respect to an Award intended to be Performance-Based Compensation payable to a Covered Employee shall be determined on the basis of Applicable Accounting Standards.
5.2Procedures with Respect to Performance-Based Awards. To the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, with respect to any Award which is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, no later than 90 days following the commencement of any Performance Period or any designated fiscal period or period of service (or such earlier time as may be required under Section 162(m) of the Code), the Administrator shall, in writing, (a) designate one or more Eligible Individuals, (b) select the Performance Criteria applicable to the Performance Period, (c) establish the Performance Goals, and amounts of such Awards, as applicable, which may be earned for such Performance Period based on the Performance Criteria, and (d) specify the relationship between Performance Criteria and the Performance Goals and the amounts of such Awards, as applicable, to be earned by each Covered Employee for such Performance Period. Following the completion of each Performance Period, the Administrator shall certify in writing whether and the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been achieved for such Performance Period. In determining the amount earned under such Awards, the Administrator (i) shall, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, have the right to reduce or eliminate the amount payable at a given level of performance to take into account additional factors that the Administrator may deem relevant, including the assessment of individual or corporate
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performance for the Performance Period, but (ii) shall in no event have the right to increase the amount payable for any reason.

5.3Payment of Performance-Based Awards. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Program or Award Agreement and only to the extent otherwise permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code, as to an Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Holder must be employed by the Company or a Subsidiary throughout the Performance Period. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Program or Award Agreement, a Holder shall be eligible to receive payment pursuant to such Awards for a Performance Period only if and to the extent the Performance Goals for such Performance Period are achieved.
5.4Additional Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan and except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, any Award which is granted to an Eligible Individual and is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in Section 162(m) of the Code or any regulations or rulings issued thereunder that are requirements for qualification as Performance-Based Compensation, and the Plan and the applicable Program and Award Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.

ARTICLE 6. GRANTING OF OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

6.1Granting of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Individuals. The Administrator is authorized to grant Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Individuals from time to time, in its sole discretion, on such terms and conditions as it may determine, which shall not be inconsistent with the Plan.
6.2Qualification of Incentive Stock Options. The Administrator may grant Options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options only to employees of the Company, any of the Company’s present or future “parent corporations” or “subsidiary corporations” as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, respectively, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code. No person who qualifies as a Greater Than 10% Stockholder may be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless such Incentive Stock Option conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code. To the extent that the aggregate fair market value of stock with respect to which “incentive stock options” (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, but without regard to Section 422(d) of the Code) are exercisable for the first time by a Holder during any calendar year under the Plan, and all other plans of the Company and any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation thereof (as defined in Section 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code, respectively), exceeds $100,000, the Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options to the extent required by Section 422 of the Code. The rule set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall be applied by taking Options and other “incentive stock options” into account in the order in which they were granted and the fair market value of stock shall be determined as of the time the respective options were granted. Any interpretations and rules under the Plan with respect to Incentive Stock Options shall be consistent with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code. Neither the Company nor the Administrator shall have any liability to a Holder, or any other Person, (a) if an Option (or any part thereof) which is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option fails to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option or (b) for any action or omission by the Company or the Administrator that causes an Option not to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, including without limitation, the conversion of an Incentive Stock Option to a Non-Qualified Stock Option or the grant of an Option intended as an Incentive Stock Option that fails to satisfy the requirements under the Code applicable to an Incentive Stock Option.
6.3Option and Stock Appreciation Right Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share subject to each Option and Stock Appreciation Right shall be set by the Administrator, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, is granted (or, as to Incentive Stock Options, on the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code). In addition, in the case of Incentive Stock Options granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder, such price shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted (or the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is a Substitute Award, the exercise price per share of the Shares subject to such Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, may be less than the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant;provided that the exercise price of any Substitute Award shall be determined in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 424 and 409A of the Code.
6.4Option and SAR Term. The term of each Option (the “Option Term”) and the term of each Stock Appreciation Right (the “SAR Term”) shall be set by the Administrator in its sole discretion;provided,however, that the Option Term or SAR Term, as applicable, shall not be more than (a) ten (10) years from the date the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, is granted to an Eligible Individual (other than, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, a Greater Than 10% Stockholder), or (b) five (5) years from the date an Incentive Stock Option is granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder. Except as limited by the requirements of Section 409A or Section 422 of the Code and regulations and rulings thereunder or the first sentence of this Section 6.4 and without limiting the Company’s rights under Section 11.7, the Administrator may extend the Option Term of any outstanding Option or the SAR Term of any outstanding Stock Appreciation Right, and may extend the time period during which vested Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised, in connection with any Termination of Service of the Holder or otherwise, and may amend, subject to Section 11.7 and 13.1, any other term or condition of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right relating to such Termination of Service of the Holder or otherwise.
6.5Option and SAR Vesting. The period during which the right to exercise, in whole or in part, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right vests in the Holder shall be set by the Administrator and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in the Award Agreement, the applicable Program or by action of the Administrator following the grant of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, (a) no portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right which is unexercisable at a Holder’s Termination of Service shall thereafter become exercisable and (b) the portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is unexercisable at a Holder’s Termination of Service shall automatically expire thirty (30) days following such Termination of Service.
6.6Substitution of Stock Appreciation Rights; Early Exercise of Options. The Administrator may provide in the applicable Program or Award Agreement evidencing the grant of an Option that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the right to substitute a Stock Appreciation Right for such Option at any time prior to or upon exercise of such Option;provided that such Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable with respect to the same number of Shares for which such substituted Option would have been exercisable, and shall also

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have the same exercise price, vesting schedule and remaining term as the substituted Option. The Administrator may provide in the terms of an Award Agreement that the Holder may exercise an Option in whole or in part prior to the full vesting of the Option in exchange for unvested shares of Restricted Stock with respect to any unvested portion of the Option so exercised. Shares of Restricted Stock acquired upon the exercise of any unvested portion of an Option shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine.


ARTICLE 7. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

7.1Exercise and Payment. An exercisable Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part. However, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall not be exercisable with respect to fractional Shares and the Administrator may require that, by the terms of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, a partial exercise must be with respect to a minimum number of Shares. Payment of the amounts payable with respect to Stock Appreciation Rights pursuant to this Article 7 shall be in cash, Shares (based on its Fair Market Value as of the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised), or a combination of both, as determined by the Administrator.
7.2Manner of Exercise. Except as set forth in Section 7.3, all or a portion of an exercisable Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be deemed exercised upon delivery of all of the following to the Secretary of the Company, the stock plan administrator of the Company or such other person or entity designated by the Administrator, or his, her or its office, as applicable:
(a)A written or electronic notice complying with the applicable rules established by the Administrator stating that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or a portion thereof, is exercised. The notice shall be signed or otherwise acknowledged electronically by the Holder or other person then entitled to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right or such portion thereof;
(b)Such representations and documents as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable to effect compliance with Applicable Law;
(c)In the event that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercised pursuant to Section 11.3 by any person or persons other than the Holder, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator; and
(d)Full payment of the exercise price and applicable withholding taxes for the Shares with respect to which the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or portion thereof, is exercised, in a manner permitted by the Administrator in accordance with Sections 11.1 and 11.2.
7.3Expiration of Option Term or SAR Term: Automatic Exercise of In-The-Money Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator in an Award Agreement or otherwise or as otherwise directed by an Option or Stock Appreciation Rights Holder in writing to the Company, each vested and exercisable Option and Stock Appreciation Right outstanding on the Automatic Exercise Date with an exercise price per Share that is less than the Fair Market Value per Share as of such date shall automatically and without further action by the Option or Stock Appreciation Rights Holder or the Company be exercised on the Automatic Exercise Date. In the sole discretion of the Administrator, payment of the exercise price of any such Option shall be made pursuant to Section 11.1(b) or 11.1(c) and the Company or any Subsidiary shall be entitled to deduct or withhold an amount sufficient to satisfy all taxes associated with such exercise in accordance with Section 11.2. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, this Section 7.3 shall not apply to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right if the Holder of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right incurs a Termination of Service on or before the Automatic Exercise Date. For the avoidance of doubt, no Option or Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price per Share that is equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value per Share on the Automatic Exercise Date shall be exercised pursuant to this Section 7.3.
7.4Notification Regarding Disposition. The Holder shall give the Company prompt written or electronic notice of any disposition of Shares acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option which occurs within (a) two years from the date of granting (including the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code) such Option to such Holder, or (b) one year after the date of transfer of such Shares to such Holder. Such notice shall specify the date of such disposition or other transfer and the amount realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, by the Holder in such disposition or other transfer.

ARTICLE 8. AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK

8.1Award of Restricted Stock. The Administrator is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Eligible Individuals, and shall determine the terms and conditions, including the restrictions applicable to each award of Restricted Stock, which terms and conditions shall not be inconsistent with the Plan or any applicable Program, and may impose such conditions on the issuance of such Restricted Stock as it deems appropriate. The Administrator shall establish the purchase price, if any, and form of payment for Restricted Stock; provided, however, that if a purchase price is charged, such purchase price shall be no less than the par value, if any, of the Shares to be purchased, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law. In all cases, legal consideration shall be required for each issuance of Restricted Stock to the extent required by Applicable Law.
8.2Rights as Stockholders. Subject to Section 8.4, upon issuance of Restricted Stock, the Holder shall have, unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, all the rights of a stockholder with respect to said Shares, subject to the restrictions in the Plan, any applicable Program and/or the applicable Award Agreement, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares to the extent such dividends and other distributions have a record date that is on or after the date on which the Holder to whom such Shares are granted becomes the record holder of such Restricted Stock; provided, however, that, in the sole discretion of the Administrator, any dividends and distributions with respect to the Shares may be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 8.3. Without limiting the foregoing, except in connection with a spin-off or other similar event or as otherwise permitted in Section 13.2, dividends that are paid prior to vesting of shares of Restricted Stock shall only be paid to the applicable Holder to the extent that the vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the shares of Restricted Stock vest.
8.3Restrictions. All shares of Restricted Stock (including any shares received by Holders thereof with respect to shares of Restricted Stock as a result of stock dividends, stock splits or any other form of recapitalization) shall be subject to such restrictions and vesting requirements as the Administrator shall provide in the applicable Program or Award Agreement. By action taken after the Restricted Stock is issued, the Administrator may, on such terms and conditions as it may determine to be appropriate, accelerate the vesting of such Restricted Stock by removing any or all of the restrictions imposed by the terms of the applicable Program or Award Agreement.

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8.4Repurchase or Forfeiture of Restricted Stock. Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, if no price was paid by the Holder for the Restricted Stock, upon a Termination of Service during the applicable restriction period, the Holder’s rights in unvested Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions shall lapse, and such Restricted Stock shall be surrendered to the Company and cancelled without consideration on the date of such Termination of Service. If a price was paid by the Holder for the Restricted Stock, upon a Termination of Service during the applicable restriction period, the Company shall have the right to repurchase from the Holder the unvested Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions at a cash price per share equal to the price paid by the Holder for such Restricted Stock or such other amount as may be specified in the applicable Program or Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide that upon certain events, including, without limitation, a Change in Control, the Holder’s death, retirement or disability or any other specified Termination of Service or any other event, the Holder’s rights in unvested Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions shall not lapse, such Restricted Stock shall vest and cease to be forfeitable and, if applicable, the Company shall cease to have a right of repurchase.
8.5Section 83(b) Election. If a Holder makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather than as of the date or dates upon which the Holder would otherwise be taxable under Section 83(a) of the Code, the Holder shall be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service along with proof of the timely filing thereof with the Internal Revenue Service.

ARTICLE 9. AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

9.1Grant of Restricted Stock Units. The Administrator is authorized to grant Awards of Restricted Stock Units to any Eligible Individual selected by the Administrator in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator.
9.2Term. Except as otherwise provided herein, the term of a Restricted Stock Unit award shall be set by the Administrator in its sole discretion.
9.3Purchase Price. The Administrator shall specify the purchase price, if any, to be paid by the Holder to the Company with respect to any Restricted Stock Unit award; provided, however, that the value of the consideration shall not be less than the par value of a Share, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law.
9.4Vesting of Restricted Stock Units. At the time of grant, the Administrator shall specify the date or dates on which the Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, vesting based upon the Holder’s duration of service to the Company or any Subsidiary, one or more Performance Criteria, Company performance, individual performance or other specific criteria, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods, as determined by the Administrator.
9.5

Maturity and Payment. At the time of grant, the Administrator shall specify the maturity date applicable to each grant of Restricted Stock Units, which shall be no earlier than the vesting date or dates of the Award and may be determined at the election of the Holder (if permitted by the applicable Award Agreement); provided that, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, and subject to compliance with Section 409A, in no event shall the maturity date relating to each Restricted Stock Unit occur following the later of (a) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the calendar year in which the applicable portion of the Restricted Stock Unit vests; and (b) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the applicable portion of the Restricted Stock Unit vests. On the maturity date, the Company shall, in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement and subject to Section 11.4(f), transfer to the Holder one unrestricted, fully transferable Share for each Restricted Stock Unit scheduled to be paid out on such date and not previously forfeited, or in the sole discretion of the Administrator, an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the maturity date or a combination of cash and Common Stock as determined by the Administrator. For the avoidance of doubt, any Dividend Equivalents granted in tandem with Restricted Stock Units subject to vesting that are based on dividends paid prior to the vesting of such Restricted Stock Units shall be paid out to the Holder only to the extent that the vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the Restricted Stock Units vest.

9.6Payment upon Termination of Service. An Award of Restricted Stock Units shall be payable only while the Holder is an Employee, a Consultant or a member of the Board, as applicable; provided, however, that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide (in an Award Agreement or otherwise) that a Restricted Stock Unit award may be paid subsequent to a Termination of Service in certain events, including a Change in Control, the Holder’s death, retirement or disability or any other specified Termination of Service.

ARTICLE 10. AWARD OF OTHER STOCK OR CASH BASED AWARDS AND DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS

10.1Other Stock or Cash Based Awards. The Administrator is authorized to (a) grant Other Stock or Cash Based Awards, including awards entitling a Holder to receive Shares or cash to be delivered immediately or in the future, to any Eligible Individual and (b) determine whether such Other Stock or Cash Based Awards shall be Performance-Based Compensation. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any applicable Program, the Administrator shall determine the terms and conditions of each Other Stock or Cash Based Award, including the term of the Award, any exercise or purchase price, performance goals, including the Performance Criteria, transfer restrictions, vesting conditions and other terms and conditions applicable thereto, which shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be paid in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares, as determined by the Administrator, and may be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan, as stand-alone payments, as a part of a bonus, deferred bonus, deferred compensation or other arrangement, and/or as payment in lieu of compensation to which an Eligible Individual is otherwise entitled. Except in connection with a spin-off or other similar event or as otherwise permitted under Section 13.2, dividends that are paid prior to vesting of a Other Stock or Cash Based Award shall only be paid to the applicable Holder to the extent that the vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the Other Stock or Cash Based Award vests.
10.2Dividend Equivalents. Dividend Equivalents may be granted by the Administrator, either alone or in tandem with another Award, based on dividends declared on the Common Stock, to be credited as of dividend payment dates during the period between the date the Dividend Equivalents are granted to a Holder and the date such Dividend Equivalents terminate or expire, as determined by the Administrator. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional Shares by such formula and at such time and subject to such restrictions and limitations as may be determined by the Administrator.

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Except in connection with a spin-off or other similar event or as otherwise permitted under Section 13.2, dividend Equivalents with respect to an Award subject to vesting that are based on dividends paid prior to the vesting of such Award shall be paid out to the Holder only to the extent that the vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the Award vests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Dividend Equivalents shall be payable with respect to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.


ARTICLE 11. ADDITIONAL TERMS OF AWARDS

11.1Payment. The Administrator shall determine the method or methods by which payments by any Holder with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan shall be made, including, without limitation: (a) cash or check, (b) Shares (including, in the case of payment of the exercise price of an Award, Shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of the Award) held for any minimum period of time as may be established by the Administrator having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate payments required, (c) delivery of a written or electronic notice that the Holder has placed a market sell order with a broker acceptable to the Company with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise or vesting of an Award, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the aggregate payments required; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale, (d) other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Administrator in its sole discretion, or (e) any combination of the above permitted forms of payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Holder who is a Director or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to make payment with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan, or continue any extension of credit with respect to such payment, with a loan from the Company or a loan arranged by the Company in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.
11.2Tax Withholding. The Company or any Subsidiary shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Holder to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including the Holder’s FICA, employment tax or other social security contribution obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning a Holder arising as a result of the Plan or any Award. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement, or in satisfaction of such additional withholding obligations as a Holder may have elected, allow a Holder to satisfy such obligations by any payment means described in Section 11.1 hereof, including without limitation, by allowing such Holder to elect to have the Company or any Subsidiary withhold Shares otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the surrender of Shares). The number of Shares which may be so withheld or surrendered shall be no greater than the number of Shares which have a fair market value on the date of withholding or repurchase equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the maximum statutory withholding rates in such Holder’s applicable jurisdiction for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such taxable income. The Administrator shall determine the fair market value of the Shares, consistent with applicable provisions of the Code, for tax withholding obligations due in connection with a broker-assisted cashless Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise involving the sale of Shares to pay the Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise price or any tax withholding obligation.
11.3Transferability of Awards.
(a)Except as otherwise provided in Sections 11.3(b) and 11.3(c):
(i)No Award under the Plan may be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than (A) by will or the laws of descent and distribution or (B) subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a DRO, unless and until such Award has been exercised or the Shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed;
(ii)No Award or interest or right therein shall be liable for or otherwise subject to the debts, contracts or engagements of the Holder or the Holder’s successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy) unless and until such Award has been exercised, or the Shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed, and any attempted disposition of an Award prior to satisfaction of these conditions shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by Section 11.3(a)(i); and
(iii)During the lifetime of the Holder, only the Holder may exercise any exercisable portion of an Award granted to such Holder under the Plan, unless it has been disposed of pursuant to a DRO. After the death of the Holder, any exercisable portion of an Award may, prior to the time when such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or the applicable Program or Award Agreement, be exercised by the Holder’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Holder’s will or under the then-applicable laws of descent and distribution.
(b)Notwithstanding Section 11.3(a), the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit a Holder or a Permitted Transferee of such Holder to transfer an Award other than an Incentive Stock Option (unless such Incentive Stock Option is intended to become a Nonqualified Stock Option) to any one or more Permitted Transferees of such Holder, subject to the following terms and conditions: (i) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall not be assignable or transferable by the Permitted Transferee other than (A) to another Permitted Transferee of the applicable Holder or (B) by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a DRO; (ii) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall continue to be subject to all the terms and conditions of the Award as applicable to the original Holder (other than the ability to further transfer the Award to any Person other than another Permitted Transferee of the applicable Holder); (iii) the Holder (or transferring

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Permitted Transferee) and the receiving Permitted Transferee shall execute any and all documents requested by the Administrator, including, without limitation documents to (A) confirm the status of the transferee as a Permitted Transferee, (B) satisfy any requirements for an exemption for the transfer under Applicable Law and (C) evidence the transfer; and (iv) no Award may be transferred by a Holder or a Permitted Transferee for value or consideration. In addition, and further notwithstanding Section 11.3(a), hereof, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit a Holder to transfer Incentive Stock Options to a trust that constitutes a Permitted Transferee if, under Section 671 of the Code and other Applicable Law, the Holder is considered the sole beneficial owner of the Incentive Stock Option while it is held in the trust.

(c)Notwithstanding Section 11.3(a), a Holder may, in the manner determined by the Administrator, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Holder and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Holder’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Program or Award Agreement applicable to the Holder and any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. If the Holder is married or a domestic partner in a domestic partnership qualified under Applicable Law and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than the Holder’s spouse or domestic partner, as applicable, as the Holder’s beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Holder’s interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written or electronic consent of the Holder’s spouse or domestic partner. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Holder, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to the Holder’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Holder at any time;provided that the change or revocation is delivered in writing to the Administrator prior to the Holder’s death.

11.4Conditions to Issuance of Shares.
(a)The Administrator shall determine the methods by which Shares shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Holders. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing Shares pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Administrator has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance of such Shares is in compliance with Applicable Law and the Shares are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Administrator may require that a Holder make such reasonable covenants, agreements and representations as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with Applicable Law.
(b)All share certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan and all Shares issued pursuant to book entry procedures are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with Applicable Law. The Administrator may place legends on any share certificate or book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares (including, without limitation, restrictions applicable to Restricted Stock).
(c)The Administrator shall have the right to require any Holder to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement, distribution or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the sole discretion of the Administrator.
(d)No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares shall be eliminated by rounding down.
(e)The Company, in its sole discretion, may (i) retain physical possession of any stock certificate evidencing Shares until any restrictions thereon shall have lapsed and/or (ii) require that the stock certificates evidencing such Shares be held in custody by a designated escrow agent (which may but need not be the Company) until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that the Holder deliver a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to such Shares.
(f)Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or required by Applicable Law, the Company shall not deliver to any Holder certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award and instead such Shares shall be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).
11.5Forfeiture and Claw-Back Provisions. All Awards (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by a Holder upon any receipt or exercise of any Award or upon the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award and any payments of a portion of an incentive-based bonus pool allocated to a Holder) shall be subject to the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, including, without limitation, any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the requirements of Applicable Law, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, whether or not such claw-back policy was in place at the time of grant of an Award, to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy and/or in the applicable Award Agreement.
11.6Prohibition on Repricing. Subject to Section 13.2, the Administrator shall not, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, (a) authorize the amendment of any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce its price per Share, or (b) cancel any Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or another Award when the Option or Stock Appreciation Right price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares. Furthermore, for purposes of this Section 11.6, except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares), the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the exercise price per Share of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or cancel outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in exchange for cash, other Awards or Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with an exercise price per Share that is less than the exercise price per Share of the original Options or Stock Appreciation Rights without the approval of the stockholders of the Company.
11.7Amendment of Awards. Subject to Applicable Law, the Administrator may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the

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date of exercise or settlement, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Non-Qualified Stock Option. The Holder’s consent to such action shall be required unless (a) the Administrator determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Holder, or (b) the change is otherwise permitted under the Plan (including, without limitation, under Section 13.2 or 13.10).

11.8Data Privacy. As a condition of receipt of any Award, each Holder explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this Section 11.8 by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Subsidiaries for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Holder’s participation in the Plan. The Company and its Subsidiaries may hold certain personal information about a Holder, including but not limited to, the Holder’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social security or insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title(s), any shares of stock held in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and details of all Awards, in each case, for the purpose of implementing, managing and administering the Plan and Awards (the “Data”). The Company and its Subsidiaries may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration and management of a Holder’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its Subsidiaries may each further transfer the Data to any third parties assisting the Company and its Subsidiaries in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. These recipients may be located in the Holder’s country, or elsewhere, and the Holder’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’ country. Through acceptance of an Award, each Holder authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Holder’s participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the Holder may elect to deposit any Shares. The Data related to a Holder will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Holder’s participation in the Plan. A Holder may, at any time, view the Data held by the Company with respect to such Holder, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data with respect to such Holder, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data with respect to the Holder or refuse or withdraw the consents herein in writing, in any case without cost, by contacting his or her local human resources representative. The Company may cancel the Holder’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Administrator’s discretion, the Holder may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Holder refuses or withdraws his or her consents as described herein. For more information on the consequences of refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Holders may contact their local human resources representative.

ARTICLE 12. ADMINISTRATION

12.1Administrator. The Committee shall administer the Plan (except as otherwise permitted herein). To the extent necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, and with respect to Awards that are intended to be Performance-Based Compensation, including Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, then the Committee shall take all action with respect to such Awards, and the individuals taking such action shall consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors, each of whom is intended to qualify as both a “non-employee director” as defined by Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor rule and an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. Additionally, to the extent required by Applicable Law, each of the individuals constituting the Committee shall be an “independent director” under the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective, whether or not members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership set forth in this Section 12.1 or the Organizational Documents. Except as may otherwise be provided in the Organizational Documents or as otherwise required by Applicable Law, (a) appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon acceptance of appointment, (b) Committee members may resign at any time by delivering written or electronic notice to the Board and (c) vacancies in the Committee may only be filled by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the full Board, acting by a majority of its members in office, shall conduct the general administration of the Plan with respect to Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors and, with respect to such Awards, the term “Administrator” as used in the Plan shall be deemed to refer to the Board and (ii) the Board or Committee may delegate its authority hereunder to the extent permitted by Section 12.6.
12.2Duties and Powers of Administrator. It shall be the duty of the Administrator to conduct the general administration of the Plan in accordance with its provisions. The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan, all Programs and Award Agreements, and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan and any Program as are not inconsistent with the Plan, to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules and to amend the Plan or any Program or Award Agreement; provided that the rights or obligations of the Holder of the Award that is the subject of any such Program or Award Agreement are not materially and adversely affected by such amendment, unless the consent of the Holder is obtained or such amendment is otherwise permitted under Section 11.5 or Section 13.10. In its sole discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee in its capacity as the Administrator under the Plan except with respect to matters which under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor rule, or Section 162(m) of the Code, or any regulations or rules issued thereunder, or the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded are required to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.
12.3Action by the Administrator. Unless otherwise established by the Board, set forth in any Organizational Documents or as required by Applicable Law, a majority of the Administrator shall constitute a quorum and the acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved in writing by all members of the Administrator in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed the acts of the Administrator. Each member of the Administrator is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.
12.4Authority of Administrator. Subject to the Organizational Documents, any specific designation in the Plan and Applicable Law, the Administrator has the exclusive power, authority and sole discretion to:
(a)Designate Eligible Individuals to receive Awards;
(b)Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Eligible Individual (including, without limitation, any Awards granted in tandem with another Award granted pursuant to the Plan);

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(c)Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate;
(d)Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, purchase price, any Performance Criteria or performance criteria, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for vesting, lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, and any provisions related to non-competition and claw-back and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Administrator in its sole discretion determines;
(e)Determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid, in cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;
(f)Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Holder;
(g)Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;
(h)Establish, adopt, or revise any Programs, rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
(i)Interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan, any Program or any Award Agreement;
(j)Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan; and
(k)Accelerate wholly or partially the vesting or lapse of restrictions of any Award or portion thereof at any time after the grant of an Award, subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects and Section 13.2.
12.5Decisions Binding. The Administrator’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, any Program or any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Administrator with respect to the Plan are final, binding and conclusive on all Persons.
12.6Delegation of Authority. The Board or Committee may from time to time delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board or one or more officers of the Company the authority to grant or amend Awards or to take other administrative actions pursuant to this Article 12; provided, however, that in no event shall an officer of the Company be delegated the authority to grant Awards to, or amend Awards held by, the following individuals: (a) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (b) Covered Employees with respect to Awards intended to constitute Performance Based Compensation, or (c) officers of the Company (or Directors) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder; provided, further, that any delegation of administrative authority shall only be permitted to the extent it is permissible under any Organizational Documents and Applicable Law (including, without limitation, Section 162(m) of the Code). Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Board or Committee specifies at the time of such delegation or that are otherwise included in the applicable Organizational Documents, and the Board or Committee, as applicable, may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegatee. At all times, the delegatee appointed under this Section 12.6 shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board or the Committee, as applicable, and the Board or the Committee may abolish any committee at any time and re-vest in itself any previously delegated authority.

ARTICLE 13. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

13.1Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan.
(a)Except as otherwise provided in Section 13.1(b), the Plan may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Board;provided that, except as provided in Section 11.5 and Section 13.10, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of the Holder, materially and adversely affect any rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted or awarded, unless the Award itself otherwise expressly so provides.
(b)Notwithstanding Section 13.1(a), the Board may not, except as provided in Section 13.2, take any of the following actions without approval of the Company’s stockholders given within twelve (12) months before or after such action: (i) increase the limit imposed in Section 3.1 on the maximum number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan, the Award Limit or the Director Limit, (ii) reduce the price per share of any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan or take any action prohibited under Section 11.6, or (iii) cancel any Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or another Award in violation of Section 11.6.
(c)No Awards may be granted or awarded during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan, and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event may any Award be granted under the Plan after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the earlier of (i) the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board or (ii) the date the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders (such anniversary, the “Expiration Date”). Any Awards that are outstanding on the Expiration Date shall remain in force according to the terms of the Plan, the applicable Program and the applicable Award Agreement.
13.2Changes in Common Stock or Assets of the Company, Acquisition or Liquidation of the Company and Other Corporate Events.
(a)In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of the Company’s stock or the share price of the Company’s stock other than an Equity Restructuring, the Administrator may make equitable adjustments, if any, to reflect such change with respect to: (i) the aggregate number and kind of Shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Section 3.1 on the maximum number and kind of Shares which may be issued under the Plan, adjustments of the Award Limit and the Director Limit and adjustments of the manner in which Shares subject to Full Value Awards will be counted); (ii) the number and kind of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) the terms

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and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and (iv) the grant or exercise price per share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan. Any adjustment affecting an Award intended as Performance-Based Compensation shall be made consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code unless otherwise determined by the Administrator.
(b)In the event of any transaction or event described in Section 13.2(a) or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary, or of changes in Applicable Law or Applicable Accounting Standards, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award under the Plan, to facilitate such transactions or events or to give effect to such changes in Applicable Law or Applicable Accounting Standards:
(i)To provide for the termination of any such Award in exchange for an amount of cash and/or other property with a value equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Holder’s rights (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction or event described in this Section 13.2 the Administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Holder’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment);
(ii)To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and applicable exercise or purchase price, in all cases, as determined by the Administrator;
(iii)To make adjustments in the number and type of Shares of the Company’s stock (or other securities or property) subject to such Award, and/or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the criteria included in, outstanding Awards and Awards which may be granted in the future;
(iv)To provide that such Award shall be exercisable or payable or fully vested with respect to all Shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the applicable Program or Award Agreement;
(v)To replace such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator; and/or
(vi)To provide that the Award cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after such event.
(c)In connection with the occurrence of any Equity Restructuring, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 13.2(a) and 13.2(b):
(i)The number and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award and the exercise price or grant price thereof, if applicable, shall be equitably adjusted (and the adjustments provided under this Section 13.2(c)(i) shall be nondiscretionary and shall be final and binding on the affected Holder and the Company); and/or
(ii)The Administrator shall make such equitable adjustments, if any, as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may deem appropriate to reflect such Equity Restructuring with respect to the aggregate number and kind of Shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitation in Section 3.1 on the maximum number and kind of Shares which may be issued under the Plan, adjustments of the Award Limit and the Director Limit, and adjustments of the manner in which Shares subject to Full Value Awards will be counted).
(d)In the event an Award continues in effect or is assumed or an equivalent Award substituted in connection with a Change in Control, and a Holder incurs a Termination of Service without “cause” (as such term is defined in the sole discretion of the Administrator, or as set forth in the Award Agreement relating to such Award) upon or within twelve (12) months following the Change in Control, then such Holder shall be fully vested in such continued, assumed or substituted Award.
(e)In the event that the successor corporation in a Change in Control refuses to assume or substitute for an Award (or any portion thereof), the Administrator may cause (i) any or all of such Award (or portion thereof) to terminate in exchange for cash, rights or other property pursuant to Section 13.2(b)(i) or (ii) any or all of such Award (or portion thereof) to become fully exercisable immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction and all forfeiture restrictions on any or all of such Award to lapse. If any such Award is exercisable in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a Change in Control, the Administrator shall notify the Holder that such Award shall be fully exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, contingent upon the occurrence of the Change in Control, and such Award shall terminate upon the expiration of such period.
(f)For the purposes of this Section 13.2, an Award shall be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares);provided,however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control was not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Award, for each Share subject to an Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or

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its parent equal in fair market value to the per-share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control.
(g)The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may include such further provisions and limitations in any Award, agreement or certificate, as it may deem equitable and in the best interests of the Company that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.
(h)Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, no adjustment or action described in this Section 13.2 or in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent it would (i) with respect to Awards which are granted to Covered Employees and are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, cause such Awards to fail to so qualify as Performance- Based Compensation, (ii) cause the Plan to violate Section 422(b)(1) of the Code, (iii) result in short-swing profits liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, or (iv) cause an Award to fail to be exempt from or comply with Section 409A.
(i)The existence of the Plan, any Program, any Award Agreement and/or the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Company or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks the rights of which are superior to or affect the Common Stock or the rights thereof or that are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.
(j)In the event of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the Shares or the share price of the Common Stock including any Equity Restructuring, for reasons of administrative convenience, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may refuse to permit the exercise of any Award during a period of up to thirty (30) days prior to the consummation of any such transaction.
13.3Approval of Plan by Stockholders. The Plan shall be submitted for the approval of the Company’s stockholders within twelve (12) months after the date of the Board’s initial adoption of the Plan. Awards may be granted or awarded prior to such stockholder approval;provided that such Awards shall not be exercisable, shall not vest and the restrictions thereon shall not lapse and no Shares shall be issued pursuant thereto prior to the time when the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders; andprovided,further, that if such approval has not been obtained at the end of said twelve (12) month period, all Awards previously granted or awarded under the Plan shall thereupon be canceled and become null and void.
13.4No Stockholders Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein or in an applicable Program or Award Agreement, a Holder shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award until the Holder becomes the record owner of such Shares.
13.5Paperless Administration. In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless documentation, granting or exercise of Awards by a Holder may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.
13.6Effect of Plan upon Other Compensation Plans. The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company or any Subsidiary. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company or any Subsidiary: (a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for Employees, Directors or Consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (b) to grant or assume options or other rights or awards otherwise than under the Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose including without limitation, the grant or assumption of options in connection with the acquisition by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business, stock or assets of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm or association.
13.7Compliance with Laws. The Plan, the granting and vesting of Awards under the Plan and the issuance and delivery of Shares and the payment of money under the Plan or under Awards granted or awarded hereunder are subject to compliance with all Applicable Law (including but not limited to state, federal and foreign securities law and margin requirements), and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. Any securities delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such restrictions, and the person acquiring such securities shall, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as the Company may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all Applicable Law. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may take whatever actions it deems necessary or appropriate to effect compliance with Applicable Law, including, without limitation, placing legends on share certificates and issuing stop-transfer notices to agents and registrars. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Administrator may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to Applicable Law.
13.8Titles and Headings, References to Sections of the Code or Exchange Act. The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control. References to sections of the Code or the Exchange Act shall include any amendment or successor thereto.
13.9Governing Law. The Plan and any Programs and Award Agreements hereunder shall be administered, interpreted and enforced under the internal laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts of laws thereof or of any other jurisdiction.
13.10Section 409A. To the extent that the Administrator determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A, the Plan, the Program pursuant to which such Award is granted and the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Section 409A. In that regard, to the extent any Award under the Plan or any other compensatory plan or arrangement of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to Section 409A, and such Award or other amount is payable on account of a

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Holder’s Termination of Service (or any similarly defined term), then (a) such Award or amount shall only be paid to the extent such Termination of Service qualifies as a “separation from service” as defined in Section 409A, and (b) if such Award or amount is payable to a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A then to the extent required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A, such Award or other compensatory payment shall not be payable prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of the Holder’s Termination of Service, and (ii) the date of the Holder’s death. To the extent applicable, the Plan, any Program and any Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the Effective Date the Administrator determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator may (but is not obligated to), without a Holder’s consent, adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Program and Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate to (A) exempt the Award from Section 409A and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (B) comply with the requirements of Section 409A and thereby avoid the application of any penalty taxes under Section 409A. The Company makes no representations or warranties as to the tax treatment of any Award under Section 409A or otherwise. The Company shall have no obligation under this Section 13.10 or otherwise to take any action (whether or not described herein) to avoid the imposition of taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A with respect to any Award and shall have no liability to any Holder or any other person if any Award, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute non-compliant “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to the imposition of taxes, penalties and/or interest under Section 409A.

13.11Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Holder pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Program or Award Agreement shall give the Holder any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary.
13.12Indemnification. To the extent permitted under Applicable Law and the Organizational Documents, each member of the Administrator shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled pursuant to the Organizational Documents, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
13.13Relationship to other Benefits. No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.
13.14Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

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COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
2017 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

SUB-PLAN FOR UK PARTICIPANTS

1. PURPOSE

Pursuant to the powers granted by the Administrator in Section 4.5(d) of the Cognizant Technology Solutions 2017 Incentive Award Plan (as it may be amended or restated from time to time, the “Plan”), the Administrator has adopted this UK Sub-Plan (the “Sub-Plan”). The purpose of the Sub-Plan is to promote the success and enhance the value of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (the “Company”) by linking the individual interests of the Employees to those of Company stockholders and by providing the Employees with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to Company stockholders. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of Employees upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s operation is largely dependent.

The Sub-Plan forms the rules of the employee share scheme applicable to the United Kingdom based Employees of the Company and any Subsidiaries. All Awards granted to Employees of the Company or any Subsidiaries who are based in the United Kingdom will be granted on similar terms. Other service providers who are not Employees (such as Consultants or Non-Employee Directors) are not eligible to receive Awards and become participants pursuant to this Sub-Plan.

2. DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

Capitalized terms used in the Sub-Plan which are not defined herein shall have the meaning given in the Plan, and where the context requires any references to the “Plan” in those definitions shall be a reference to the Sub-Plan. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.

The defined terms set out in Article 2 of the Plan shall apply to this Sub-Plan as if references to the Plan are references to the Sub-Plan save that wherever the following terms are: (i) used in the Sub-Plan or (ii) used in the Plan but apply to Awards made under the Sub-Plan, they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

a)Eligible Individual” shall be interpreted as referring only to Employees;
b)Option” shall mean a right to purchase Shares at a specified exercise price, granted under Article 6 and all Options granted to Employees based in the United Kingdom will be Non-Qualified Stock Options; and
c)Termination of Service” shall be interpreted as referring only to the date the participant ceases to be an Employee in accordance with 2.56 (c) of the Plan when that phrase in the Plan is used in the context of the Sub-Plan and Awards granted to Employees based in the United Kingdom.

3. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

The aggregate number of Shares which may be issued or transferred pursuant to Awards under the Sub-Plan, when taken together with the number of which may be issued or transferred pursuant to Awards under the Plan or any other sub-plan shall not exceed the limit specified by Section 3 of the Plan, as amended from time to time.

The provisions of Article 3 of the Plan shall apply to this Sub-Plan as if references to the Plan are references to the Sub-Plan save that the following words in Section 3.1(b) shall be omitted:

“Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.1(b), no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.”

4. GRANTING OF AWARDS

The provisions of Article 4 of the Plan shall apply to this Sub-Plan as if references to the Plan are references to the Sub-Plan save that:

a)In Section 4.1, the following words shall be omitted:
“Except for any Non-Employee Director’s right to Awards that may be required pursuant to the Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy as described in Section 4.6”
b)In Section 4.2, the following words shall be omitted:
“Award Agreements evidencing Incentive Stock Options shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code”.
c)Section 4.4 shall be replaced with the following:
Terms of Employment Nothing in the Sub-Plan or any Program or Award Agreement hereunder shall confer upon any Holder any right to continue in the employment of the Company or any Subsidiary, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and any Subsidiary, which rights are expressly reserved, to discharge any Holder at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, and with or without notice, or to terminate or change all other terms and conditions of employment or engagement, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Holder and the Company or any Subsidiary.”
d)Section 4.6 “Non-Employee Director Awards” shall be omitted from the Sub-Plan.

5. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS INTENDED TO QUALIFY AS PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION

The provisions of Article 5 of the Plan shall apply to this Sub-Plan as if references to the Plan are references to the Sub-Plan.

6. GRANTING OF OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

The provisions of Article 6 of the Plan shall apply to this Sub-Plan as if references to the Plan are references to the Sub-Plan save that Article 6.2 “Qualification of Incentive Stock Options” and the provisions in Article 6.3 and 6.4 detailing specific requirements for Incentive Stock Options shall be omitted.

7. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

The provisions of Article 7 of the Plan shall apply to this Sub-Plan as if references to the Plan are references to the Sub-Plan save that Article 7.4 shall be omitted.

8. AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK

The provisions of Article 8 of the Plan shall apply to this Sub-Plan as if references to the Plan are references to the Sub-Plan save that Article 8.5 shall be replaced with the following:

“If requested by the Company the Holder will (on or within 14 days of) acquiring the Restricted Stock, join with his or her employer in electing, pursuant to Section 431(1) of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (“ITEPA”) that, for the relevant tax purposes, the market value of the Restricted Stock acquired will be calculated as if the Shares were not restricted and Sections 425 to 430 (inclusive) of ITEPA are not to apply to such Shares.

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Appendix A

9.      AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

The provisions of Article 9 of the Plan shall apply to this Sub-Plan as if references to the Plan are references to the Sub-Plan save that Section 9.6 shall be replaced with the following:

Payment upon Termination of Service. An Award of Restricted Stock Units shall only be payable while the Holder is an Employee;provided,however, that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide (in an Award Agreement or otherwise) that a Restricted Stock Unit award may be paid subsequent to a Termination of Service in certain events, including a Change in Control, the Holder’s death, retirement or disability or any other specified Termination of Service.”

10.    AWARD OF OTHER STOCK OR CASH BASED AWARDS AND DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS

The provisions of Article 10 of the Plan shall apply to this Sub-Plan as if references to the Plan are references to the Sub-Plan.

11.    ADDITIONAL TERMS OF AWARDS

The provisions of Article 11 of the Plan shall apply to this Sub-Plan as if references to the Plan are references to the Sub-Plan save that:

a)Article 11.2 shall be amended so that the word “taxes” when used in Article 11.2 shall include income tax, employee’s National Insurance contributions and (at the discretion of the Company) employer’s National Insurance contributions (any a “Tax Liability”)
b)The following words shall be added at the end of Article 11.2:
“The Holder will indemnify and keep indemnified the Company and his/her employing company, if different, from and against any liability for or obligation to pay any Tax Liability.”
c)The provisions in Articles 11.3(b) and 11.7 relating specifically to Incentive Stock Options shall be omitted from the Sub-Plan.

12.    ADMINISTRATION

The provisions of Article 12 of the Plan shall apply to this Sub-Plan as if references to the Plan are references to the Sub-Plan;

13.    MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

The provisions of Article 13 of the Plan shall apply to this Sub-Plan as if references to the Plan are references to the Sub-Plan save that Article 13.10 shall only apply to Awards under the Sub-Plan to the extent subject to Section 409A.

In the event of a conflict between the terms of the Sub-Plan and the Plan with respect to Awards granted to Employees based in the United Kingdom under the Sub-Plan, the terms of the Sub-Plan will control.

76     Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation



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2017 Proxy Statement     77



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HELPFUL RESOURCES

INDEX OF TERMS

TermMeaning
1999 PlanAmended and Restated 1999 Incentive Compensation Plan
2004 ESPPAmended and Restated 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
2009 Plan2009 Incentive Compensation Plan
2011 Annual Meeting2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company
2016 Annual ReportCompany’s Annual Report to Stockholders for Year Ended December 31, 2016
2017 Annual Meeting2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company
2017 Plan2017 Incentive Award Plan
2018 Annual Meeting2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company
Annual MeetingAnnual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on June 6, 2017
BoardBoard of Directors of the Company
CEOChief Executive Officer
CFOChief Financial Officer
COOChief Operating Officer
ChairmanChairman of the Board
CognizantCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation
CompanyCognizant Technology Solutions Corporation
CSRPCognizant Technology Solutions Supplemental Retirement Plan
DirectorsDirectors of the Company
Dodd-Frank ActDodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
DSODays Sales Outstanding
Employment AgreementsAmended and Restated Executive Employment and Non-Disclosure, Non-Competition and Invention Assignment Agreements
Exchange ActSecurities Exchange Act of 1934
FASB ASCFinancial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification
GAAPU.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
Governance CommitteeNominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Internet NoticeNotice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials
IRCU.S. Internal Revenue Code
IRSU.S. Internal Revenue Service
NEOsThe Company’s CEO (Mr. D’Souza) and CFO (Ms. McLoughlin), each of the Company’s three other most highly compensated executive officers (Mr. Mehta, Mr. Chintamaneni and Mr. Sinha), and Mr. Coburn, who would have been one of the Company’s three most highly compensated executive officers for 2016 had he not resigned as the Company’s President on September 27, 2016
NASDAQThe NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
non-GAAP EPSNon-GAAP diluted earnings per share (see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Forward-Looking Statements”)
non-GAAP Income from OperationsNon-GAAP income from operations (see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Forward-Looking Statements”)
non-GAAP Operating MarginNon-GAAP operating margin (see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Forward-Looking Statements”)
non-employee DirectorsDirectors who are not employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
Pay GovernancePay Governance, LLC, independent compensation consultant to the Compensation Committee
PSUsRestricted stock units with performance- and time-based vesting requirements
PwCPricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm
Record DateApril 10, 2017, the record date for the Annual Meeting
Reporting PersonsDirectors, executive officers and stockholders who beneficially own more than 10% of any class of the Company’s equity securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act
RSUsRestricted stock units with time-based vesting requirements
Rule 14a-8Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act
SECU.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

78     Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation



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Weblinks

Board of Directors
Cognizant Boardhttps://www.cognizant.com/company-overview/board-of-directors
Board Committee Charters
       Audit Committeehttps://www.cognizant.com/about-cognizant-resources/AuditCommitteeCharter.pdf
       Compensation Committeehttps://www.cognizant.com/about-cognizant-resources/CompensationCommitteeCharter.pdf
       Governance Committeehttps://www.cognizant.com/about-cognizant-resources/CorporateGovernanceCommitteeCharter.pdf
Financial Reporting
Annual Reporthttp://investors.cognizant.com/#annual-report
Cognizant
Corporate websitehttps://www.cognizant.com/
Leadershttps://www.cognizant.com/company-overview/executive-leadership
Investor Relationshttp://investors.cognizant.com/
Governance Documents
By-lawshttps://www.cognizant.com/about-cognizant-resources/by-laws.pdf
Certificate of Incorporationhttps://www.cognizant.com/about-cognizant-resources/certificate-of-incorporation.pdf
Code of Ethicshttps://www.cognizant.com/codeofethics.pdf
Corporate Governance Guidelineshttps://www.cognizant.com/about-cognizant-resources/CorporateGovernanceGuidelines.pdf

Weblinksare provided for convenience only and the content on the referenced websites does not constitute a part of this proxy statement.

Contacts

Company Contacts
Board
Fax: 201-801-0243
corporategovernance@cognizant.com

Corporate Secretary
Fax: 201-801-0243
corporategovernance@cognizant.com

General Counsel
Fax: 201-801-0243
generalcounsel@cognizant.com

Chief Compliance Officer
Fax: 201-801-0243
chiefcomplianceofficer@cognizant.com

…or mail to our principal executive offices,
attention to the applicable contact

Our Principal Executive Offices
Cognizant Technology Solutions
Glenpoint Centre West
500 Frank W. Burr Blvd.
Teaneck, New Jersey 07666

To Request Copies of the Internet Notice or Proxy Materials
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.
(Tabulator/Inspector of Election)
Broadridge
Householding Department
51 Mercedes Way
Edgewood, New York 11717
Phone: 800-542-1061

For Questions or Assistance Voting
Innisfree M&A Incorporated
(Proxy Solicitor for the Company)
Stockholders call toll-free: 888-750-5834
Banks and brokers call collect: 212-750-5833




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Table of Contents


COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
GLENPOINTE CENTRE WEST
500 FRANK W. BURR BLVD.
TEANECK, NJ 07666
   
VOTE BY INTERNET -www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode above
Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS
If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years.

VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903
Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.

VOTE BY MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.



TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
E27397-P90194      KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS
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DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.


COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR each of the nominees:
1.Election of Directors   
NomineesForAgainstAbstain
1a.Zein Abdalla ☐ ☐
1b.

Betsy S. Atkins

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

 ☐ ☐
 

1c.

Maureen Breakiron-Evans

 ☐ ☐

1d.

Jonathan Chadwick

 ☐ ☐
1e.

John M. Dineen

 ☐ ☐

1f.

Francisco D'Souza

 ☐ ☐
1g.

John N. Fox, Jr.

 ☐ ☐
1h.

John E. Klein

 ☐ ☐
1i.

Leo S. Mackay, Jr.

 ☐ ☐
1j.

Michael Patsalos-Fox

 ☐ ☐
1k.

Robert E. Weissman

 ☐ ☐




The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following:

proposal 2.
  For  Against  Abstain
 
2.     Approval, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, of the compensation of the Company's named executive officers.
 
The Board of Directors recommends you vote 1 YEAR on proposal 3.  1 Year2 Years 3 Years Abstain
 

1.

Election of Directors3.Approval, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, of the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of the Company's named executive officers.
 
ForAgainstAbstain
Nominees

1a.    Michael Patsalos-Fox

¨

¨

¨

1b.    Robert E. Weissman

¨

¨

¨

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 2, 34, 5 and 4.

6.
ForAgainstAbstain
 

For

4.
Approval of the Company's 2017 Incentive Award Plan.
 

Against

5.
Ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2017.
 

Abstain

6.
Stockholder proposal requesting that the Board of Directors take the steps necessary to eliminate the supermajority voting provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws.
 

2.

APPROVAL OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S 2009 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN.

¨

¨

The Board of Directors recommends you vote AGAINST proposal 7.

¨

For
AgainstAbstain
 

3.

APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

7.Stockholder proposal requesting that the Board of Directors take the steps necessary to permit stockholder action by written consent.

¨

¨

¨

 

4.

RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2014.

Note:To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any continuation, postponement or adjournment thereof.

¨

¨

¨

NOTE: TO TRANSACT SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY CONTINUATION, POSTPONEMENT OR ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.



Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer.

 
         

Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]

 

Date

 Signature (Joint Owners) Date

Signature (Joint Owners)

Date





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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:


The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.

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M72663-P48306        















PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

CLASS A COMMON STOCK

JUNE 3, 2014

Please date, sign and mail your proxy card in the envelope provided as soon as possible.

The undersigned stockholder of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation hereby appoints Steven E. Schwartz, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer and Secretary of the Company, and Gordon J. Coburn, President of the Company, as proxies, with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Company’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or any postponement, continuation or adjournment thereof.

This proxy will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR each director nominee, and FOR Proposals 2, 3 and 4. The proxies are further authorized to vote in their discretion (1) for the election of any person to the Board of Directors if any nominee named herein becomes unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, (2) on any matter that the Board of Directors did not know would be presented at the Annual Meeting by a reasonable time before the proxy solicitation was made, (3) on any proposal omitted from the Company’s proxy statement and this proxy card pursuant to Rule 14a-8, and (4) on such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any continuation, postponement or adjournment thereof.

Continued and to be signed on reverse side

E27398-P90194



PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION CLASS A COMMON STOCK
JUNE 6, 2017

Please date, sign and mail your proxy card in the envelope provided as soon as possible.

The undersigned stockholder(s) of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation hereby appoint(s) Karen McLoughlin, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, Robert Telesmanic, Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, and Harry Demas, Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the Company, as proxies, with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock which the undersigned stockholder(s) is/are entitled to vote at the Company's 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or any postponement, continuation or adjournment thereof.

This proxy will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors' recommendations. The proxies are further authorized to vote in their discretion (1) for the election of any person to the Board of Directors if any nominee named herein becomes unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, (2) on any matter that the Board of Directors did not know would be presented at the Annual Meeting by a reasonable time before the proxy solicitation was made, and (3) on such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any continuation, postponement or adjournment thereof.

Continued and to be signed on reverse side