Amended and Restated 2002 Equity Incentive Plan of
Exhibit 10.1
Amended and Restated 2002 Equity Incentive Plan
of
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.
As Amended and Restated Effective March 25, 2009
Section 1. Purpose. The purposes of this Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2002 Equity Incentive Plan are to promote the interests of Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. and its shareholders by (i) attracting and retaining exceptional directors, officers and other key employees (including prospective officers and key employees) of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (ii) enabling such individuals to participate in the long-term growth and financial success of the Company.
Section 2. Definitions. As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
Affiliate shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by, controls or is under common control with, the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in either case as determined by the Committee.
Award shall mean any award that is permitted under Section 6 and granted under the Plan.
Award Agreement shall mean any written or electronic agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing any Award, which may, but need not, require execution or acknowledgment by a Participant.
Board shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
Change of Control shall (i) have the meaning set forth in an Award Agreement, or (ii) if there is no definition set forth in an Award Agreement, mean an event or series of events, not including any events occurring prior to or in connection with an initial public offering of Shares (including the occurrence of such initial public offering), by which:
(A) during any period of 12 consecutive calendar months, individuals whose appointment or election to the Board was endorsed by a majority of the Board before the date of the appointment or election shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board;
(B) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (a Reorganization) or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to an entity that is not an affiliate of the Company (a Sale), that in each case requires the approval of the Companys stockholders under the law of the Companys jurisdiction of organization, whether for such Reorganization or Sale (or the issuance of securities of the Company in such Reorganization or Sale), unless immediately following such Reorganization or Sale 50% or more of the total voting power (in respect of the election of directors, or similar officials in the case of an entity other than a corporation) of (i) the entity resulting from such Reorganization, or the entity which has acquired all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (the Surviving Entity), or (ii) if applicable, the ultimate parent entity that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the total voting power (in respect of the election of directors, or similar officials in the case of an entity other than a corporation) of the Surviving Entity (the Parent Entity), is represented by the Companys outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (the Company Voting Securities) that were outstanding immediately prior to such Reorganization or Sale (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which such Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Reorganization or Sale), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the
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same proportion as the voting power of such Company Voting Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the Reorganization or Sale;
(C) any person (as such term is defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (or any successor section thereto)), corporation or other entity (other than (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or an Affiliate, or (iii) any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of Shares), becomes the beneficial owner (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule thereto)), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then-outstanding securities.
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
Committee shall mean the compensation committee of the Board or a subcommittee thereof, or such other committee of the Board as may be designated by the Board to administer the Plan. The Committee shall consist solely of two or more Independent Directors appointed by and holding office at the pleasure of the Board, 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, an outside director for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code and an independent director under the rules of any Securities Exchange; provided that 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 foregoing requirements for membership or other requirements provided in any charter of the Committee.
Company shall mean Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., together with any successor thereto.
Covered Employee 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 Affiliate who is, or could be, a covered employee within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
Deferred Share Unit shall mean a deferred share unit Award granted under the Plan, which represents an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Shares in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.
Equity 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 Shares (or other securities of the Company) or the share price thereof and causes a change in the per share value of the Shares underlying outstanding Awards.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exercise Price shall mean (i) in the case of Options, the price specified in the applicable Award Agreement as the price-per-Share at which such Share can be purchased pursuant to the Option or (ii) in the case of SARs, the price specified in the applicable Award Agreement as the reference price-per-Share used to calculate the amount payable to the Participant.
Fair Market Value shall mean, (A) with respect to any property other than Shares, the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee and (B) with respect to the Shares, as of any date, (i) the closing sales price of the Shares as reported on the composite tape for securities traded on the New York Stock Exchange for such date (or if not then trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the closing sales price of the Shares on the stock exchange or over-the-counter market on which the Shares are principally trading on such date), or, if there were no sales on such date, on the
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closest preceding date on which there were sales of Shares or (ii) in the event there shall be no public market for the Shares on such date, the fair market value of the Shares as determined in good faith by the Committee.
Full Value Award shall mean any Award other than (i) an Option, (ii) an SAR or (iii) any other Award for which the Participant pays the intrinsic value existing as of the date of grant (whether directly or by foregoing a right to receive a payment from the Company or any Subsidiary).
Incentive Stock Option shall mean a right to purchase Shares from the Company that (i) is granted under Section 6 of the Plan and (ii) is intended to qualify for special Federal income tax treatment pursuant to Section 421 and 422 of the Code, as now constituted or subsequently amended, or pursuant to a successor provision of the Code, and which is so designated in the applicable Award Agreement.
Independent Director shall mean a member of the Board who is neither (i) an employee of the Company nor (ii) an employee of any of the Companys Affiliates.
Nonqualified Stock Option shall mean a right to purchase Shares from the Company that (i) is granted under Section 6 of the Plan and (ii) is not an Incentive Stock Option.
Option shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option or both, as the context requires.
Participant shall mean any director, officer or other key employee (including any prospective officer or key employee) of the Company or its Subsidiaries eligible for an Award under Section 5 of the Plan and selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the Plan.
Performance Compensation Award shall mean any Award designated by the Committee as a Performance Compensation Award pursuant to Section 6(g) of the Plan.
Performance Criteria shall mean the criterion or criteria that the Committee shall select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal(s) for a Performance Period with respect to any Performance Compensation Award under the Plan.
Performance Formula shall mean, for a Performance Period, the one or more objective formulas applied against the relevant Performance Goal to determine, with regard to the Performance Compensation Award of a particular Participant, whether all, some portion but less than all, or none of the Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period.
Performance Goal shall mean, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria.
Performance Period shall mean the one or more periods of time as the Committee may select over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participants right to and the payment of a Performance Compensation Award.
Performance Share Unit shall mean a performance share unit Award granted under the Plan, which represents an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Shares, cash, other securities, other Awards or other property upon the attainment of Performance Goals in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.
Permitted Transferee shall mean, with respect to a Participant, any family member of the Participant, as defined under the instructions to use of the Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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Person shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
Plan shall mean this Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2002 Equity Incentive Plan.
Repricing shall mean (i) lowering the Exercise Price of an Option or SAR after it has been granted, (ii) cancellation of an Option or an SAR in exchange for cash or another Award when the Option or SAR price per share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares, and (iii) any other action with respect to an Option or an SAR that is treated as a repricing under (A) generally accepted accounting principles or (B) any applicable stock exchange rules.
Restricted Share shall mean a Share delivered under the Plan that is subject to certain transfer restrictions, forfeiture provisions and/or other terms and conditions specified herein and in the applicable Award Agreement.
Restricted Share Unit shall mean a restricted share unit Award granted under the Plan, which represents an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Shares, cash, other securities, other Awards or other property in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.
Rule 16b-3 shall mean Rule 16b-3 as promulgated and interpreted by the SEC under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule or regulation thereto as in effect from time to time.
SAR shall mean a stock appreciation right granted under the Plan, which represents an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Shares, cash, other securities, other Awards or other property equal in value to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value per Share over the Exercise Price per Share of the SAR, subject to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.
SEC shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto and shall include the staff thereof.
Securities Exchange shall mean any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.
Shares shall mean the common shares of the Company, $0.01 par value, or such other securities of the Company (i) into which such common shares shall be changed by reason of a recapitalization, merger, consolidation, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or other similar transaction or (ii) as may be determined by the Committee pursuant to Section 4(b).
Subsidiary shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in either case as determined by the Committee.
Substitute Awards shall have the meaning specified in Section 4(c).
Section 3. Administration.
(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant and designate those Awards which shall constitute Performance Compensation Awards, (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Awards; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or
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suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property, and other amounts payable with respect to an Award (subject to Section 162(m) of the Code with respect to Performance Compensation Awards) shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Committee; (vii) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency, correct any default and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; (ix) establish and administer Performance Goals and certify whether, and to what extent, they have been attained; and (x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.
(b) Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, any Affiliate, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, and any shareholder.
(c) No member of the Board, the Committee or any employee of the Company (each such person, a Covered Person) shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder. Each Covered Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (i) any loss, cost, liability or expense (including attorneys fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Covered Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Covered Person may be a party or in which such Covered Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Plan or any Award Agreement and (ii) any and all amounts paid by such Covered Person, with the Companys approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Covered Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Covered Person; provided that the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding and, once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Companys choice. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to a Covered Person to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment or other final adjudication, in either case not subject to further appeal, determines that the acts or omissions of such Covered Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Covered Persons bad faith, fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by law. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which Covered Persons may be entitled under the Companys Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Restated Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such persons or hold them harmless.
(d) With respect to any Performance Compensation Award granted under the Plan, the Plan shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant Awards to Independent Directors or administer the Plan with respect to such Awards. In any such case, the Board shall have all of the authority and responsibility granted to the Committee herein.
(f) To the extent permitted by applicable law or the rules of any Securities Exchange, 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 Section 3; 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: (i) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (ii) Covered Employees, or (iii) officers of the Company (or Directors) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder; provided, further, that any delegation of
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administrative authority shall only be permitted to the extent it is permissible under Section 162(m) of the Code, applicable securities laws (including, without limitation, Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor rule), and the rules of any Securities Exchange. Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Board or Committee specifies at the time of such delegation, and the Board or Committee may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegate. At all times, the delegatee appointed under this Section 3(f) shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board and the Committee.
Section 4. Shares Available for Awards.
(a) Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(b) and Section 7(c), (i) the aggregate number of Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be the sum of (x) 2,575,000 Shares and (y) any Shares which remained available for delivery under the Plan immediately prior to the effective date of shareholder approval of this amendment and restatement of the Plan; (ii) the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options or SARs (or any other Award that is not a Full Value Award) may be granted to any Participant during a rolling 36-month period (measured from the date of any grant) shall be 1,500,000; (iii) the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Full Value Awards may be granted to any Participant during a rolling 36-month period (measured from the date of any grant) shall be 750,000; and (iv) the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options may be granted shall be no more than the aggregate number of Shares authorized for delivery under the foregoing clause (i). If, after the effective date of shareholder approval of this amendment and restatement of the Plan, any Award granted under the Plan is forfeited, or otherwise expires, terminates, lapses or is canceled for any reason, or an Award is settled in cash without the delivery of Shares to the Participant, then the Shares covered by such Award shall again become available to be delivered pursuant to Awards under the Plan. Any Shares tendered or withheld to satisfy the grant or exercise price or tax withholding obligation pursuant to any Award, and any Shares subject to SARs that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of such SARs on exercise thereof, shall again become available to be delivered pursuant to Awards under the Plan. The payment of Dividend Equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Awards shall not be counted against the Shares available to be delivered pursuant to Awards under the Plan.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.1(a), 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. 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 Participant during any calendar year under the Plan, and all other plans of the Company and any subsidiary or parent corporation thereof (each as defined in Section 424(f) and (e) of the Code, respectively), exceeds $100,000, the Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options to the extent required by Section 422 of the Code. The rule set forth in the 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.
(b) Adjustments.
(i) In the event of any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event, other than an Equity Restructuring, affects the Shares such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be 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 an Award, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Section 4(a)) and (ii) the terms of any
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outstanding Award, including (A) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards or to which outstanding Awards relate and (B) the Exercise Price with respect to any Award.
(ii) In connection with the occurrence of any Equity Restructuring, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4(b)(i) or Section 7(c):
(A) The number and type of securities or other property subject to each outstanding Award and the exercise price or grant price thereof, if applicable, shall be equitably adjusted; and/or
(B) The Committee shall make such equitable adjustments, if any, as the Committee in its 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 limitations in Section 4(a)). The adjustments provided under this Section 4(b)(ii) shall be nondiscretionary and shall be final and binding on the affected Participant and the Company.
(c) Substitute Awards. Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (Substitute Awards). The number of Shares underlying any Substitute Awards shall be counted against the aggregate number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan; provided, however, that Substitute Awards issued in connection with the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an entity that is acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates through a merger or acquisition shall not be counted against the aggregate number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan. In the event that an entity acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or with which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates 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 the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange 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 shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan; provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not employed by or providing services to the Company or its Affiliates immediately prior to such acquisition or combination.
(d) Sources of Shares Deliverable Under Awards. Any Shares delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or of treasury Shares.
Section 5. Eligibility. Any director, officer or other key employee (including any prospective officer or key employee) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including any prospective officer or key employee) shall be eligible to be designated a Participant.
Section 6. Awards.
(a) Types of Awards. Subject to the provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, Section 9(q)), Awards may be made under the Plan in the form of (i) Options, (ii) SARs, (iii) Restricted Shares, (iv) Restricted Share Units, (v) Deferred Share Units, (vi) Performance Share Units and (vii) other equity-based or equity-related Awards that the Committee determines are consistent with the purpose of the Plan and the interests of the Company. Awards may be granted in tandem with other Awards. No Incentive Stock Option (other than an Incentive Stock Option that may be assumed or issued by the Company in connection with a transaction to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies) may be granted to a person who is not eligible to receive an Incentive Stock Option under the Code.
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(b) Options.
(i) Grant. Subject to the provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, Section 9(q)), the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants to whom Options shall be granted, the number of Shares to be covered by each Option, whether the Option will be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Option. In the case of Incentive Stock Options, the terms and conditions of such grants shall be subject to and comply with such rules as may be prescribed by Section 422 of the Code and any regulations related thereto, as may be amended from time to time. All Options granted under the Plan shall be Nonqualified Stock Options unless the applicable Award Agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option. If an Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option, and if for any reason such Option (or any portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option (or portion thereof) shall be regarded as a Nonqualified Stock Option appropriately granted under the Plan; provided that such Option (or portion thereof) otherwise complies with the Plans requirements relating to Nonqualified Stock Options.
(ii) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of each Share covered by an Option shall be set by the Committee, but, except in the case of Substitute Awards, shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Share on the date the Option is granted (or, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, on the date the Incentive Stock Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code). Options are intended to qualify as qualified performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code. Repricing of Options granted under the Plan shall not be permitted without prior shareholder approval, and any action that would be deemed to result in a Repricing of an Option shall be deemed null and void if any requisite shareholder approval related thereto is not obtained prior to the effective time of such action.
(iii) Exercise. Each Option shall be vested and exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its sole discretion, specify in the applicable Award Agreement or thereafter. Except as otherwise specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement, Options shall become vested and exercisable with respect to one-third of the Shares subject to such Options on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant. The Committee may impose such conditions with respect to the exercise of Options, including without limitation, any relating to the application of Federal or state securities laws, as it may deem necessary or advisable.
(iv) Payment.
(A) No Shares shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the aggregate Exercise Price therefor is received by the Company. Such payment may be made in cash, or its equivalent, or (x) by exchanging Shares owned by the Participant (which are not the subject of any pledge or other security interest), (y) subject to such rules as may be established by the Committee, through delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to sell the Shares otherwise deliverable upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the aggregate Exercise Price, or (z) subject to such rules as may be established by the Committee, by electing to have the Company withhold Shares otherwise deliverable upon the exercise of the Option, or by a combination of the foregoing; provided that the combined value of all cash and cash equivalents and the Fair Market Value of any such Shares so tendered to the Company as of the date of such tender is at least equal to such aggregate Exercise Price.
(B) Wherever in this Plan or any Award Agreement a Participant is permitted to pay the Exercise Price of an Option or taxes relating to the exercise of an Option by delivering Shares, the Participant may, subject to procedures satisfactory to the Committee, satisfy such delivery requirement by presenting proof of beneficial ownership of such Shares, in which case the Company shall treat the Option as exercised without further payment and shall withhold such number of Shares from the Shares acquired by the exercise of the Option.
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(v) Expiration. Each Option shall expire immediately, without any payment, upon the earlier of (A) the tenth anniversary of the date the Option is granted, or (B) except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, the date the Participant who is holding the Option ceases to be employed by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries. In no event may an Option be exercisable after the tenth anniversary of the date the Option is granted. An Award Agreement may provide that if on the last day of the term of an Option the Fair Market Value of one Share exceeds the Exercise Price of the Option, the Participant has not exercised the Option and the Option has not expired, the Option shall be deemed to have been exercised by the Participant on such day with payment made by withholding Shares otherwise issuable in connection with the exercise of the Option. In such event, the Company shall deliver to the Participant the number of Shares for which the Option was deemed exercised, less the number of Shares required to be withheld for the payment of the total purchase price and required withholding taxes; provided, however, any fractional Share shall be settled in cash.
(c) SARs.
(i) Grant. Subject to the provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, Section 9(q)), the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants to whom SARs shall be granted, the number of Shares to be covered by each SAR Award, the Exercise Price thereof and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise thereof. SARs may be granted in tandem with another Award, in addition to another Award or freestanding and unrelated to another Award. SARs granted in tandem with or in addition to an Award may be granted either at the same time as the Award or at a later time.
(ii) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of each Share covered by an SAR shall be set by the Committee, but, except in the case of Substitute Awards, shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Share on the date the SAR is granted; provided that, to the extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, the Exercise Price of each Share covered by a tandem SAR that is granted subsequent to the grant date of the related Option may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Share on the date the tandem SAR is granted (but in no event less than the Exercise Price of the related Option). SARs are intended to qualify as qualified performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code. Repricing of SARs granted under the Plan shall not be permitted without prior shareholder approval, and any action that would be deemed to result in a Repricing of an SAR shall be deemed null and void if any requisite shareholder approval related thereto is not obtained prior to the effective time of such action.
(iii) Exercise and Payment. An SAR shall entitle the Participant to receive an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise of the SAR over the Exercise Price thereof. The Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether an SAR shall be settled in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or a combination of any of the foregoing.
(iv) Other Terms and Conditions. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine, at or after the grant of an SAR, the term, methods of exercise, methods and form of settlement, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR. Any such determination by the Committee may be changed by the Committee from time to time and may govern the exercise of SARs granted or exercised thereafter. The Committee may impose such conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any SAR as it shall deem appropriate or desirable. In no event may an SAR be exercisable after the tenth anniversary of the date the SAR is granted. An Award Agreement may provide that if on the last day of the term of an SAR the Fair Market Value of one Share exceeds the Exercise Price of the SAR, the Participant has not exercised the SAR or the tandem Option (if applicable), and neither the SAR nor the Option has expired, the SAR shall be deemed to have been exercised by the Participant on such day. In such event, the Company shall make payment to the Participant in accordance with this Section 6(c), reduced by the number of Shares (or cash) required for withholding taxes; provided, however, any fractional Share shall be settled in cash.
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(d) Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units.
(i) Grant. Subject to the provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, Section 9(q)), the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants to whom Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units shall be granted, the number of Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units to be granted to each Participant, the duration of the period during which, and the conditions, if any, under which, the Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units may be forfeited to the Company, and the other terms and conditions of such Awards.
(ii) Transfer Restrictions. Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered except, in the case of Restricted Shares, as provided in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement. Certificates issued in respect of Restricted Shares shall be registered in the name of the Participant and deposited by such Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company or such other custodian as may be designated by the Committee or the Company, and shall be held by the Company or other custodian, as applicable, until such time as the restrictions applicable to such Restricted Shares lapse. Upon the lapse of the restrictions applicable to such Restricted Shares, the Company or other custodian, as applicable, shall deliver such certificates to the Participant or the Participants legal representative.
(iii) Payment. Each Restricted Share Unit shall have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share. Restricted Share Units shall be paid in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, upon the lapse of restrictions applicable thereto, or otherwise in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement, but in any event within the period required by Section 409A of the Code such that it qualifies as a short-term deferral pursuant to Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Department of Treasury regulations, unless the Committee shall determine that any such Award shall be deferred.
(iv) Dividends. Dividends paid on any Restricted Shares may be paid directly to the Participant, withheld by the Company subject to vesting of the Restricted Shares pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, or may be reinvested in additional Restricted Shares or in additional Restricted Share Units, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; provided that any such dividends on Restricted Shares designated as a Performance Compensation Award shall be withheld by the Company subject to vesting of the Restricted Shares pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, and, only after such Restricted Shares have vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, any dividends so withheld may be paid directly to the Participant or may be reinvested in additional Restricted Shares or in additional Restricted Share Units, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
(e) Other Stock-Based Awards. Subject to the provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, Section 9(q)), the Committee shall have the sole and complete authority to grant to Participants other equity-based or equity-related Awards (including Deferred Share Units and Performance Share Units) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine; provided that any such Awards must comply, to the extent deemed desirable by the Committee, with Rule 16b-3 and applicable law.
(f) Dividend Equivalents. Subject to the provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, Section 9(q)), in the sole and complete discretion of the Committee, an Award, other than an Option or SAR, may provide the Participant with dividends or dividend equivalents, payable in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, on a current or deferred basis, on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, including, without limitation, payment directly to the Participant, withholding of such amounts by the Company subject to vesting of the Award, or reinvestment in additional Shares, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units or other Awards; provided that any such dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units designated as a Performance Compensation Award shall be withheld by the Company subject to vesting of the Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units pursuant to the
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terms of the applicable Award Agreement, and, only after such Restricted Shares have vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, any dividends or dividend equivalents so withheld may be paid directly to the Participant or may be reinvested in additional Shares, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units or other Awards, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
(g) Performance Compensation Awards.
(i) General. The Committee shall have the authority, at the time of grant of any Award, to designate such Award (other than Options and SARs) as a Performance Compensation Award in order to qualify such Award as qualified performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code. Options and SARs granted under the Plan shall not be included among Awards that are designated as Performance Compensation Awards under this Section 6(g).
(ii) Eligibility. The Committee will, in its sole discretion, designate within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code) which Participants will be eligible to receive Performance Compensation Awards in respect of such Performance Period. However, designation of a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder for a Performance Period shall not in any manner entitle the Participant to receive payment in respect of any Performance Compensation Award for such Performance Period. The determination as to whether or not such Participant becomes entitled to payment in respect of any Performance Compensation Award shall be decided solely in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(g). Moreover, designation of a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder for a particular Performance Period shall not require designation of such Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder in any subsequent Performance Period and designation of one person as a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder shall not require designation of any other person as a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder in such period or in any other period.
(iii) Discretion of Committee with Respect to Performance Compensation Awards. With regard to a particular Performance Period, the Committee shall have full discretion to select the length of such Performance Period, the type(s) of Performance Compensation Awards to be issued, the Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s), the kind(s) and/or level(s) of the Performance Goals(s) that is (are) to apply to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing, and the Performance Formula. Within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee shall, with regard to the Performance Compensation Awards to be issued for such Performance Period, exercise its discretion with respect to each of the matters enumerated in the immediately preceding sentence and record the same in writing.
(iv) Performance Criteria. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s) shall be based on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing, and shall be limited to the following: (1) net income before or after taxes, (2) earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), (3) operating income, (4) earnings per share, (5) return on shareholders equity, (6) return on investment, (7) return on assets, (8) level or amount of acquisitions, (9) share price, (10) profitability/profit margins, (11) market share, (12) revenues or sales (based on units and/or dollars), (13) costs, (14) cash flow, (15) working capital, (16) objective measures of customer satisfaction, (17) objective measures of employee satisfaction, (18) expense levels and expense ratios, (19) gross margin and gross margin ratios, (20) employee turnover, (21) implementation of systems, (22) completion of projects, (23) level or amount of divestitures, (24) goals related to capitalization or restructuring of the balance sheet, and (25) goals related to management or expense restructuring. The Performance Criteria may be applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or more peer companies or indices or any combination thereof. To the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall, within the first 90 days of the applicable Performance Period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), define in an objective fashion the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period.
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(v) Performance Goals. The Committee is authorized at any time during the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), or any time thereafter (but only to the extent the exercise of such authority after such 90-day period (or such shorter period, if applicable) would not cause the Performance Compensation Awards granted to any Participant for the Performance Period to fail to qualify as qualified performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code), in its sole and absolute discretion, to adjust or modify the calculation of a Performance Goal for such Performance Period to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code (1) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event or development affecting the Company, or any of its Affiliates, Subsidiaries, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such Performance Goal) or (2) in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or any of its Affiliates, Subsidiaries, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such Performance Goal), or the financial statements of the Company or any of its Affiliates, Subsidiaries, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such Performance Goal), or of changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange, accounting principles, law or business conditions.
(vi) Payment of Performance Compensation Awards.
(A) Condition to Receipt of Payment. A Participant must be employed by the Company on the last day of a Performance Period to be eligible for payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award for such Performance Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the discretion of the Committee, Performance Compensation Awards may be paid to Participants who have retired or whose employment has terminated after the beginning of the Performance Period for which a Performance Compensation Award is made, or to the designee or estate of a Participant who died prior to the last day of a Performance Period, but not unless and until the Committee has certified attainment of the relevant Performance Goal(s) in accordance with Section 6(g)(vi)(C).
(B) Limitation. A Participant shall be eligible to receive payments in respect of a Performance Compensation Award only to the extent that (1) the Performance Goal(s) for such period are achieved and certified by the Committee in accordance with Section 6(g)(vi)(C) and (2) the Performance Formula as applied against such Performance Goal(s) determines that all or some portion of such Participants Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period.
(C) Certification. Following the completion of a Performance Period, the Committee shall meet to review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Goals for the Performance Period have been achieved and, if so, to calculate and certify in writing that amount of the Performance Compensation Awards earned for the period based upon the Performance Formula. The Committee shall then determine the actual size of each Participants Performance Compensation Award for the Performance Period and, in so doing, may apply negative discretion as authorized by Section 6(g).
(D) Negative Discretion. In determining the actual size of an individual Performance Compensation Award for a Performance Period, the Committee may, in it sole judgment, reduce or eliminate the amount of the Performance Compensation Award earned under the Performance Formula in the Performance Period.
(E) Timing of Award Payments. The Performance Compensation Awards granted for a Performance Period shall be paid to Participants as soon as administratively possible following completion of the certifications required by Section 6(g), but in any event within the period required by Section 409A of the Code such that it qualifies as a short-term deferral pursuant to Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Department of Treasury regulations, unless the Committee shall determine that any Performance Compensation Award shall be deferred.
(F) Maximum Award Payable. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Plan to the contrary, the maximum Performance Compensation Award that may be granted to any one Participant under the Plan during a rolling 36-month period (measured from the date of any grant) is 1,500,000
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Shares or, in the event the Performance Compensation Award is paid in cash, other securities, other Awards or other property, the equivalent cash value of 1,500,000 Shares on the last day of the Performance Period to which such Award relates, in each case subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(b). Furthermore, any Performance Compensation Award that has been deferred shall not (between the date as of which the Award is deferred and the payment date) increase in a manner prohibited by Section 162(m) of the Code.
(G) Discretion. In no event shall any discretionary authority granted to the Committee by the Plan be used to (x) grant or provide payment in respect of Performance Compensation Awards for a Performance Period if the Performance Goals for such Performance Period have not been attained, (y) increase a Performance Compensation Award for any Participant at any time after the first 90 days of the Performance Period (or, if shorter, the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m)) or (z) increase a Performance Compensation Award above the maximum amount payable under Sections 4(a) or 6(g) of the Plan.
Section 7. Amendment and Termination.
(a) Amendments to the Plan. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without shareholder approval, if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement applicable to the Plan (including, without limitation, the rules of any Securities Exchange), and no amendment to the definition of Repricing shall be made without shareholder approval; and provided further that any such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination that would impair the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Option theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary.
(b) Amendments to Awards. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively; provided that no such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination (including, without limitation, any Repricing) shall be made without shareholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement applicable to the Award (including, without limitation, the rules of any Securities Exchange); and provided further that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would impair the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary.
(c) Adjustment of Awards. Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events. The Committee is hereby authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in Section 4(b) hereof or the occurrence of a Change of Control), other than an Equity Restructuring, affecting the Company, any Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange, accounting principles or law (i) whenever the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines that such adjustments are appropriate or desirable, including, without limitation, providing for a substitution or assumption of Awards, accelerating the exercisability of, lapse of restrictions on, or termination of, Awards or providing for a period of time for exercise prior to the occurrence of such event and (ii) if deemed appropriate or desirable by the Committee, in its sole discretion, by providing for a cash payment to the holder of an Award in consideration for the cancellation of such Award, including, in the case of an Option or SAR, a cash payment to the holder of such Option or SAR in consideration for the cancellation of such Option or SAR in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the Shares subject to the Option or SAR over the aggregate Exercise Price of such Option or SAR (it being understood that, in such event, any Option or SAR having a per Share Exercise Price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value of a Share
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subject to such Option or SAR may be canceled and terminated without any payment or consideration therefor); provided, however, that no adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(c) shall be authorized to the extent that such authority or adjustment would cause an Award designated by the Committee as a Performance Compensation Award under Section 6(g) of the Plan to fail to qualify as qualified performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.
In the event of (i) a merger of the Company with or into another corporation, (ii) a merger of any Subsidiary with or into another corporation that requires the approval of the Companys stockholders under the law of the Companys jurisdiction of organization, or (iii) the sale or disposition of substantially all of the assets of the Company, each outstanding Option shall either continue in effect, be assumed or an equivalent option substituted therefor by the successor corporation or a parent corporation (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or subsidiary corporation (as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code) of the successor corporation, subject to any accelerated vesting in accordance with Section 8 hereof. In the event that the Option does not continue in effect or the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Option, the Participant shall fully vest in and have the right to exercise the Option as to all Shares subject to the Option, including Shares as to which it would not otherwise be vested or exercisable (to the extent not otherwise vested under Section 8 hereof). If an Option becomes fully vested and exercisable in lieu of continuation, assumption or substitution as set forth in this paragraph, the Company shall notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option shall be fully vested and exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, or such shorter period as the Committee may determine to be reasonable, and the Option shall terminate upon the expiration of such period. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Option shall be considered assumed if, following the merger or sale or disposition of assets, the option confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Option immediately prior to the merger or sale or disposition of assets, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the merger or sale or disposition of assets by holders of Shares 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 merger or sale or disposition of assets is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent corporation or subsidiary corporation, the Committee may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Option, for each Share subject to the Option, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent corporation or subsidiary corporation equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Shares in the merger or sale or disposition of assets.
Section 8. Change of Control. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, in the event of a Change of Control after the date of the adoption of this Plan, (a) any outstanding Options and SARs then held by Participants that are unexercisable or otherwise unvested shall automatically be deemed exercisable or otherwise vested, as the case may be, as of immediately prior to such Change of Control and (b) all other outstanding Awards (i.e., other than Options and SARs) then held by Participants that are unexercisable, unvested or still subject to restrictions, forfeiture or satisfaction of Performance Goals, shall automatically be deemed exercisable or vested, all restrictions and forfeiture provisions related thereto shall lapse, and all Performance Goals shall be deemed to have been satisfied at the target level, as the case may be, as of immediately prior to such Change of Control.
Section 9. General Provisions.
(a) Nontransferability. Each Award (and any rights and obligations thereunder) shall be exercisable only by the Participant during the Participants lifetime, or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participants legal guardian or representative, and no Award (or any rights and obligations thereunder) may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate; provided that the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or
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encumbrance. All terms and conditions of the Plan and all Award Agreements shall be binding upon any permitted successors and assigns. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit a Participant to transfer an Award other than an Incentive Stock Option to any one or more Permitted Transferees, subject to any state, federal, local or foreign tax and securities laws applicable to transferable Awards, and 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 by will or the laws of descent and distribution, (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 Participant (other than the ability to further transfer the Award), and (iii) the Participant and the Permitted Transferee shall execute any and all documents requested by the Committee, including, without limitation documents to (x) confirm the status of the transferee as a Permitted Transferee, (y) satisfy any requirements for an exemption for the transfer under applicable federal, state and foreign securities laws and (z) evidence the transfer.
(b) No Rights to Awards. No Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committees determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant (whether or not such Participants are similarly situated).
(c) Share Certificates. All certificates for Shares or other securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, the applicable Award Agreement or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which such Shares or other securities are then listed, and any applicable Federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
(d) | Withholding. |
(i) A Participant may be required to pay to the Company or any Affiliate and the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property) of any applicable withholding taxes in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of clause (i) above, a Participant may satisfy, in whole or in part, the foregoing withholding liability by delivery of Shares owned by the Participant (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest) with a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability or by having the Company withhold from the number of Shares otherwise issuable pursuant to the exercise of the Option a number of Shares with a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability. The number of Shares which may be so withheld shall be limited to the number of Shares which have a fair market value on the date of withholding equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities not to exceed the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income.
(e) Award Agreements. Each Award hereunder shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which shall be delivered to the Participant and shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto, including but not limited to the effect on such Award of the death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant, and the effect, if any, of such other events as may be determined by the Committee.
(f) No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other compensation arrangements, which may,
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but need not, provide for the grant of options restricted stock, shares and other types of Awards provided for hereunder (subject to shareholder approval if such approval is required), and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
(g) No Right to Employment. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of, or in any consulting relationship to, the Company or any Affiliate, nor shall it be construed as giving a Participant any rights to continued service on the Board. Further, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or discontinue any consulting relationship, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement.
(h) No Rights as Shareholder. No Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award shall have any rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares to be distributed under the Plan until he or she has become the holder of such Shares. In connection with each grant of Restricted Shares, the applicable Award Agreement shall specify if and to what extent the Participant shall not be entitled to the rights of a shareholder in respect of such Awards; provided, however, that Restricted Shares shall, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, remain subject to the provisions of Section 6(d)(ii) and (iv). Except as otherwise provided in Section 4(b), Section 7(c) or the applicable Award Agreement, no adjustments shall be made for dividends or distributions on (whether ordinary or extraordinary, and whether in cash, Shares, other securities or other property), or other events relating to, Shares subject to an Award for which the record date is prior to the date such Shares are delivered or otherwise become vested.
(i) Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.
(j) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
(k) Other Laws. The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Shares or other consideration under an Award if, acting in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Shares or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation or entitle the Company to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Award granted hereunder shall be construed as an offer to sell securities of the Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Committee in its sole discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the U.S. Federal and any other applicable securities laws.
(l) No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.
(m) No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or
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transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.
(n) Requirement of Consent and Notification of Election Under Section 83(b) of the Code or Similar Provision. No election under Section 83(b) of the Code (to include in gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Section 83(b) of the Code) or under a similar provision of law may be made unless expressly permitted by the terms of the applicable Award Agreement or by action of the Committee in writing prior to the making of such election. If an Award recipient, in connection with the acquisition of Shares under the Plan or otherwise, is expressly permitted under the terms of the applicable Award Agreement or by such Committee action to make any such election and the Participant makes the election, the Participant shall notify the Committee of such election within ten days of filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service or other governmental authority, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to regulations issued under Section 83(b) of the Code or other applicable provision.
(o) Requirement of Notification Upon Disqualifying Disposition Under Section 421(b) of the Code. If any Participant shall make any disposition of Shares delivered pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option under the circumstances described in Section 421(b) of the Code (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions) or any successor provision of the Code, such Participant shall notify the Company of such disposition within ten days thereof.
(p) Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.
(q) Section 409A. To the extent applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Committee determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to (i) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance and thereby avoid the application of penalty taxes under Section 409A of the Code.
(r) Forfeiture; Clawback. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, specify in the applicable Award Agreement that any realized gain with respect to Options or SARs and any realized value with respect to other Awards shall be subject to forfeiture or clawback, in the event of (i) a Participants breach of any non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or (ii) a financial restatement that reduces the amount of bonus or incentive compensation previously awarded to a Participant that would have been earned had results been properly reported.
Section 10. Term of the Plan.
(a) Effective Date. The Plan shall be effective as of the date of its approval by the Board.
(b) Expiration Date. No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the date the Plan is approved under Section 10(a). Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award granted hereunder may, and the authority of the Board or the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under any such Award shall, nevertheless continue thereafter.
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