EX-10.1: 2003 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED 4/14/2008)

EX-10.1 2 y56612exv10w1.htm EX-10.1: 2003 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED 4/14/2008) EX-10.1
 

Exhibit 10.1
FIRST HORIZON NATIONAL CORPORATION
2003 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN
(AS AMENDED AND RESTATED APRIL 14, 2008)
SECTION 1 — Purpose
This plan shall be known as the “First Horizon National Corporation 2003 Equity Compensation Plan” (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of First Horizon National Corporation, a Tennessee corporation (the “Company”), and its shareholders by (i) attracting and retaining officers, employees, and non-employee directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) motivating such individuals by means of performance-related incentives to achieve long-range performance goals, (iii) enabling such individuals to participate in the long-term growth and financial success of the Company, (iv) encouraging ownership of stock in the Company by such individuals, and (v) linking compensation to the long-term interests of shareholders. With respect to any awards granted under the Plan that are intended to comply with the requirements of “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code (as defined below), the Plan shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such requirements.
SECTION 2 — Definitions
As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
Award” shall mean any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit or Performance Award granted under the Plan, whether singly or in combination, to a Participant pursuant to such terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations, if any, as may be established from time to time.
Award Agreement” shall mean any written or electronic agreement, contract, notice or other instrument or document evidencing any Award, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by a Participant.
Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
Cause” shall mean (i) a Participant’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere (or similar plea) to, (A) a misdemeanor charge involving fraud, false statements or misleading omissions, wrongful taking, embezzlement, bribery, forgery, counterfeiting or extortion, (B) a felony charge or (C) an equivalent charge to those in clauses (A) and (B) in jurisdictions which do not use those designations; (ii) the engaging by a Participant in any conduct which constitutes an employment disqualification under applicable law (including statutory disqualification as defined under the Exchange Act); (iii) a Participant’s failure to perform his or her duties to the Company or its Subsidiaries; (iv) a Participant’s violation of any securities or commodities laws, any rules or regulations issued pursuant to such laws, or the rules and regulations of any securities or commodities exchange or association of which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates is a member; (v) a Participant’s violation of any policy of the Company or its Subsidiaries concerning hedging or confidential or proprietary information, or a Participant’s material violation of any other policy of the Company or its Subsidiaries as in effect from time to time; (vi) the engaging by a Participant in any act or making any statement which impairs, impugns, denigrates, disparages or negatively reflects upon the name, reputation or business interests of the Company or its Subsidiaries; or (vii) the engaging by the Participant in any conduct detrimental to the Company or its Subsidiaries. The determination as to whether Cause has occurred shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee shall also have the authority in its sole discretion to

 


 

waive the consequences under the Plan or any Award Agreement of the existence or occurrence of any of the events, acts or omissions constituting Cause.
Change in Control” shall mean, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, the occurrence of any one of (and shall be deemed to have occurred on the date of the earliest to occur of) the following events:
  (i)   individuals who, on January 21, 1997, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to January 21, 1997, whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least three-fourths (3/4) of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (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 written objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual elected or nominated as a director of the Company initially 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 or consents by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director;
 
  (ii)   any “Person” (for purposes of this definition only, as defined under Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act as used in Section 13(d) or Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (the “Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that the event described in this paragraph (ii) shall not be deemed to be a Change in Control by virtue of any of the following acquisitions: (A) by the Company or any Subsidiary, (B) by an employee stock ownership or employee benefit plan or trust sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary, (C) by any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (D) pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in paragraph (iii) hereof);
 
  (iii)   the shareholders of the Company approve a merger, consolidation, share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that requires the approval of the Company’s shareholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a “Business Combination”), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (A) more than 50% of the total voting power of (x) the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (the “Surviving Corporation”), or (y) if applicable, the ultimate parent corporation that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of 100% of the voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Surviving Corporation (the “Parent Corporation”), is represented by Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of such Business Combination (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which such Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Business Combination), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of such Company Voting Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the Business Combination, (B) no Person (other than any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Corporation or the Parent Corporation), is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 20% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such

 


 

      Business Combination (any Business Combination which satisfies all of the criteria specified in (A), (B) and (C) above shall be deemed to be a “Non-Qualifying Transaction”); or
 
  (iv)   the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.
Computations required by paragraph (iii) shall be made on and as of the date of shareholder approval and shall be based on reasonable assumptions that will result in the lowest percentage obtainable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control of the Company shall not be deemed to have occurred solely because any Person acquires beneficial ownership of more than twenty percent (20%) of the Company Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of Company Voting Securities by the Company which reduces the number of Company Voting Securities outstanding; provided, that if after such acquisition by the Company such Person becomes the beneficial owner of additional Company Voting Securities that increases the percentage of outstanding Company Voting Securities beneficially owned by such Person, a Change in Control of the Company shall then occur.
Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
Committee” shall mean a committee of the Board composed solely of not less than two Non-Employee Directors, all of whom shall (i) satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) of the Exchange Act, (ii) be “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) and (iii) otherwise meet any “independence” requirements promulgated by any stock exchange on which the shares are listed. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board.
Company” shall mean First Horizon National Corporation, a Tennessee corporation, and its successors and assigns.
Compensation Plans” shall mean any compensation plan such as an incentive, stock option, restricted stock, pension restoration or deferred compensation plan or any employee benefit plan such as a thrift, pension, profit sharing, medical, disability, accident, life insurance plan or a relocation plan or policy or any other plan, program or policy of the Company intended to benefit employees, including, without limitation, any Compensation Plans established after the date hereof.
Covered Officer” shall mean at any date (i) any individual who, with respect to the previous taxable year of the Company, was a “covered employee” of the Company within the meaning of Section 162(m); provided, however, that the term “Covered Officer” shall not include any such individual who is designated by the Committee, in its discretion, at the time of any Award or at any subsequent time, as reasonably expected not to be such a “covered employee” with respect to the current taxable year of the Company, and (ii) any individual who is designated by the Committee, in its discretion, at the time of any Award or at any subsequent time, as reasonably expected to be such a “covered employee” with respect to the current taxable year of the Company or with respect to the taxable year of the Company in which any applicable Award will be paid.
Deferred Compensation Award” means any Award that is not an Exempt Award.
Disability” shall mean, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, a disability that would qualify as a total and permanent disability under the long-term disability plan then in effect at the Employer employing the Participant at the onset of such total and permanent disability.
Employee” shall mean an employee of any Employer.
“Employer” shall mean the Company or any Subsidiary.
Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 


 

Exempt Award” means any Award that does not constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) under any relevant exception by statute, regulation or rule, specifically including, but not limited to, Treas. Reg. §§1.409A-1(b)(4) (short-term deferrals), 1.409A-1(b)(5) (certain stock options and stock appreciation rights) and 1.409A-1(b)(6) (restricted stock).
Fair Market Value” with respect to the Shares, shall mean, as of any date, (i) the mean between the high and low sales prices at which Shares were sold on the New York Stock Exchange, or, if the shares are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, on any other such exchange on which the Shares are traded, on such date, or, in the absence of reported sales on such date, the mean between the high and low sales prices on the immediately preceding date on which sales were reported, or (ii) in the event there is no public market for the Shares on such date, the fair market value as determined in good faith by the Committee in its sole discretion.
Good Reason” shall mean, following notice given by the Participant to the Company:
  (i)   an adverse change in the Participant’s status, title or position with the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, including, without limitation, any adverse change in the Participant’s status, title or position as a result of a diminution in the Participant’s duties or responsibilities, or the assignment to the Participant of any duties or responsibilities which are inconsistent with such status, title, or position as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, or any removal of the Participant from, or any failure to reappoint or reelect the Participant to, such position (except in connection with the termination of the Participant’s employment for Cause, Disability or Retirement or as a result of the Participant’s death and except by the Participant other than for Good Reason);
 
  (ii)   a reduction by the Company in the Participant’s base salary or annual target bonus opportunity (including any adverse change in the formula for such annual bonus target) as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter;
 
  (iii)   the failure by the Company to provide the Participant with Compensation Plans that provide the Participant with substantially equivalent benefits in the aggregate to the Compensation Plans as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control (at substantially equivalent cost with respect to welfare benefit plans); and
 
  (iv)   the Company’s requiring the Participant to be based at an office that is greater than 25 miles from where the Participant’s office is located immediately prior to the Change in Control;
provided, however, (a) that an isolated and inadvertent action taken in good faith and which is remedied by the Company within ten (10) days after receipt of notice thereof given by the Participant shall not constitute Good Reason, and (b) no action shall constitute a Good Reason if the Participant has acknowledged to the Company in writing that a Good Reason will not arise from that action.
Non-Employee Director” shall mean a member of the Board who is not an Employee.
Option” shall mean an option to purchase Shares from the Company that is granted under Section 6 or 9 of the Plan and is not intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.
“Option Price” shall mean the purchase price payable to purchase one Share upon the exercise of an Option.
Participant” shall mean any Employee, Non-Employee Director or Regional Board Member who receives an Award under the Plan.

 


 

Performance Award” shall mean any right granted under Section 8 of the Plan.
Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
Plan” shall mean this First Horizon National Corporation 2003 Equity Compensation Plan.
Qualifying Termination” shall mean a termination of the employment of a Participant with the Company resulting from any of the following:
  (i)   a termination of the employment or engagement of a Participant by the Company and its Subsidiaries within thirty-six (36) months following a Change in Control, other than a termination for Cause, Disability or Retirement or as a result of the Participant’s death; or
  (ii)   a termination of employment by a Participant for Good Reason within thirty-six (36) months following a Change in Control.
Regional Board Member” shall mean any First Tennessee Bank National Association regional board member and any member of the board of directors of any bank subsidiary of the Company, other than First Tennessee Bank National Association, in each case excluding any Employee.
Restricted Stock” shall mean any Share granted under Section 7 or 9 of the Plan.
Restricted Stock Unit” shall mean any unit granted under Section 7 or 9 of the Plan.
Retirement” shall mean, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, the Termination of Employment of a Participant after the Participant has fulfilled all age and service requirements for retirement under the terms of the First Horizon National Corporation Pension Plan, as amended from time to time.
SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.
Section 16” shall mean Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder and any successor provision thereto as in effect from time to time.
Section 162(m)” shall mean Section 162(m) of the Code and the rules promulgated thereunder or any successor provision thereto as in effect from time to time.
Shares” shall mean shares of the common stock, $0.625 par value, as adjusted from time to time for stock splits or reverse stock splits, of the Company.
Specified Employee” means a Participant who, as of the date of his separation from service, is a “key employee” of the Company or any Affiliate, any stock of which is actively traded on an established securities market or otherwise. A Participant is a key employee if he or she meets the requirements of Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), (ii) or (iii) of the Code, (applied in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder and without regard to Section 416(i)(5)) at any time during the 12-month period ending on the Specified Employee Identification Date. Such Participant shall be treated as a key employee for the entire 12-month period beginning on the Specified Employee Effective Date.
For purposes of determining whether a Participant is a Specified Employee, the compensation of the Participant shall be determined in accordance with the definition of compensation provided under Treas. Reg. Section 1.415(c)-2(d)(3) (wages within the meaning of Section 3401(a) of the Code for purposes of income tax withholding at the source, plus amounts excludible from gross income under Section 125(a), 132(f)(4), 402(e)(3), 402(h)(1)(B), 402(k) or 457(b), without regard to rules that limit the remuneration

 


 

included in wages based on the nature or location of the employment or the services performed); provided, however, that, with respect to a nonresident alien who is not a Participant in the Plan, compensation shall not include compensation that is not includible in the gross income of such person under Sections 872, 893, 894, 911, 931 and 933, provided such compensation is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States.
Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph to the contrary, (i) if a different definition of compensation has been designated by the Company with respect to another nonqualified deferred compensation plan in which a key employee participates, the definition of compensation shall be the definition provided in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(i)(2), and (ii) the Company may through action that is legally binding with respect to all nonqualified deferred compensation plans maintained by the Company, elect to use a different definition of compensation.
In the event of corporate transactions described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(i)(6), the identification of Specified Employees shall be determined in accordance with the default rules described therein, unless the Company elects to utilize the available alternative methodology through designations made within the timeframes specified therein.
Specified Employee Identification Date” means September 30, unless the Company has elected a different date through action that is legally binding with respect to all nonqualified deferred compensation plans maintained by the Company.
Specified Employee Effective Date” means the first day of the fourth month following the Specified Employee Identification Date, or such earlier date as is selected by the Committee.
Stock Appreciation Right or SAR” shall mean a right granted under Section 6 or 9 of the Plan that entitles the holder to receive, with respect to each Share encompassed by the exercise of such SAR, the amount determined by the Committee, or in the case of an Award granted under Section 9 hereof, by the Board, and specified in an Award Agreement. In the absence of such a determination, the holder shall be entitled to receive, with respect to each Share encompassed by the exercise of such SAR, the excess of the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise over the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.
Subsidiary” shall mean any Person of which a majority of its voting power or its equity securities or equity interest is owned directly or indirectly by the Company.
Substitute Awards” shall mean Awards granted solely in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a Person acquired by the Company or with which the Company or one of its Subsidiaries combines.
Termination of Employment” shall mean the termination of the employee-employer relationship between a Participant and the Employer for any reason, with or without Cause, including, but not by way of limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death, Disability, Workforce Reduction or Retirement, but excluding (i) terminations where there is a simultaneous reemployment or continuing employment of the Participant by another Employer; (ii) at the discretion of the Committee, terminations which result in a temporary severance of the employee-employer relationship; and (iii) at the discretion of the Committee, terminations which are followed by the simultaneous establishment of a consulting relationship by an Employer with the Participant. The Committee, in its absolute discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to Termination of Employment, including, but not by way of limitation, the question of whether a Termination of Employment resulted from a discharge for Cause, and all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute Terminations of Employment. However, notwithstanding any provision of this Plan, an Employer has an absolute and unrestricted right to terminate an Employee’s employment at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without Cause.

 


 

Workforce Reduction” shall mean any termination of the employee-employer relationship between a Participant and the Employer as a result of the discontinuation by the Company of a business or line of business or a realignment of the Company, or a part thereof, or any other similar type of event, provided that the Committee or the Board has designated such discontinuation, realignment or other event as a “Workforce Reduction” for purposes of this Plan.
SECTION 3 — Administration
  (A)   Authority of Committee. Except as provided by Section 9 hereof, the Plan shall be administered by the Committee, it being understood that the Board retains the right to make Awards under the Plan. 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 in its discretion to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (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 timing, terms, and conditions of any Award; (v) accelerate the time at which all or any part of an Award may be settled or exercised; (vi) 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 suspended, and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vii) 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 shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Committee; (viii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; (ix) amend or modify the terms of any Award after grant; (x) 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; and (xi) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan subject to the exclusive authority of the Board under Section 14 hereunder to amend, suspend or terminate the Plan.
  (B)   Committee Discretion Binding. 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 any Employer, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, any Employee, any Non-Employee Director and any Regional Board Member.
  (C)   Action by the Committee. Except as otherwise provided by the Board, the provisions of this Section 3(C) shall apply to the Committee. The Committee shall select one of its members as its chairperson and shall hold its meetings at such times and places and in such manner as it may determine. A majority of its members shall constitute a quorum. Any decision or determination reduced to writing and signed by all of the members of the Committee shall be fully effective as if it had been made by a majority vote at a meeting duly called and held. The Committee may appoint a secretary and may make such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business, as it shall deem advisable.
  (D)   Delegation. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Board or the Committee may, to the extent permitted by law, delegate to (i) a subcommittee of the Committee, (ii) one or more officers or managers of an Employer or (iii) a committee of such officers or managers, the authority, subject to such terms and limitations as the Board or the Committee shall determine, to grant Awards to, or to cancel, modify or waive rights with respect to or to alter, discontinue, suspend, or terminate Awards held by, Participants who are not officers or directors of the Company for purposes of Section 16 or who are otherwise not subject to Section 16, and who are not Covered Officers.
  (E)   Indemnification. No member of the Board or the Committee or any Employee (each such person a “Covered Person”) shall have any liability to any person (including any grantee) for any action taken or

 


 

omitted to be taken or any determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award. Each Covered Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from 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 against and from any and all amounts paid by such Covered Person, with the Company’s 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 Company’s 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 Person’s bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which Covered Persons may be entitled under the Company’s Restated Charter or 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.
SECTION 4 — Shares Available for Awards
  (A)   Shares Available. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(B) hereof, the stock to be subject to Awards under the Plan shall be Shares and the maximum number of Shares which may be issued with respect to Awards shall be 8,500,000, of which no more than 4,800,000 shall be issued with respect to Awards other than Options. If, after the effective date of the Plan, any Shares covered by an Award granted under this Plan, or to which such an Award relates, are forfeited, or if such an Award is settled for cash or otherwise terminates, expires unexercised, or is canceled without the delivery of Shares, then the Shares covered by such Award, or to which such Award relates, or the number of Shares otherwise counted against the aggregate number of Shares which may be issued with respect to Awards, to the extent of any such settlement, forfeiture, termination, expiration, or cancellation, shall again become Shares which may be issued with respect to Awards. In the event that any Option or other Award granted hereunder is exercised through the delivery of Shares by the Participant or in the event that withholding tax liabilities arising from such Award are satisfied by the withholding of Shares by the Company from the total number of Shares that otherwise would have been delivered to the Participant, the number of Shares which may be issued with respect to Awards shall be increased by the number of Shares so surrendered or withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(B) hereof, the number of Shares with respect to which Options and SARs may be granted to any one Participant in any one calendar year shall be no more than 500,000 Shares.
  (B)   Adjustments. The number of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, the number of Shares available for Awards, the number of Shares that may be subject to Awards to any one Participant, and the price per Share covered by each such outstanding Award shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination or reclassification of the Shares, and may be proportionately adjusted, as determined in the sole discretion of the Board, for any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company or to reflect any distributions to holders of Shares other than regular cash dividends. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to an Award. After any adjustment made pursuant to this paragraph, the number of Shares subject to each outstanding Award shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.

 


 

  (C)   Substitute Awards. Any Shares issued by the Company as Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares available for Awards under the Plan.
  (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 issued Shares which have been reacquired by the Company.
SECTION 5 — Eligibility
Any Employee (including any officer or employee-director of an Employer), Non-Employee Director or Regional Board Member shall be eligible to be designated a Participant; provided, however, that Non-Employee Directors shall only be eligible to receive Awards granted pursuant to Section 9 hereof.
SECTION 6 — Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
  (A)   Grant. Except as provided by Sections 3 and 9 hereof, the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants to whom Options and SARs shall be granted, the number of Shares subject to each Award, the exercise price and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of Options and SARs. A person who has been granted an Option or SAR under this Plan may be granted additional Options or SARs under the Plan if the Committee shall so determine.
  (B)   Option Price. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall establish the Option Price at the time each Option is granted. Except in the case of Substitute Awards, the Option Price of an Option may not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which the Option is granted on the date of grant of such Option. Notwithstanding the prior sentence, the Option Price of an Option may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which the Option is granted on the date of grant of such Option if (i) the grantee of the Option has entered into an agreement with the Company pursuant to which the grant of the Option is in lieu of the payment of compensation and (ii) the amount of such compensation when added to the Option Price of the Option equals at least 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which the Option is granted on the date of grant of such Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing and except as provided by Sections 4(B) and 14(C) hereof, the Committee shall not have the power to (i) amend the terms of previously granted Options to reduce the Option Price of such Options, or (ii) cancel such Options and grant substitute Options with a lower Option Price than the cancelled Options, without shareholder approval.
  (C)   Term. Subject to the Committee’s authority under Section 3(A) hereof, each Option and SAR and all rights and obligations thereunder shall expire on the date determined by the Committee and specified in the Award Agreement. The Committee shall be under no duty to provide terms of like duration for Options or SARs granted under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date such Option was granted.
  (D)   Transfer Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6(D), no Option shall be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered, hedged or disposed of, in any manner, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, including by operation of law (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution). The Committee may in its discretion permit the transfer of an Option by a Participant to or for the benefit of the Participant’s Immediate Family (including, without limitation, to a trust for the benefit of the Participant’s Immediate Family or to a partnership or limited liability company for one or more members of the Participant’s Immediate Family), subject to such limits as the Committee may establish, and the transferee shall remain subject to all the terms and conditions applicable to the Option prior to such transfer. The foregoing right to transfer the Option shall apply to the right to consent to amendments to any Award Agreement evidencing such Option and, in the discretion of the Committee, shall also apply to the right to transfer ancillary rights associated with the Option. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “Immediate Family” shall mean the Participant’s spouse, parents, children, stepchildren, adopted relations, sisters, brothers, grandchildren and step-grandchildren.

 


 

  (F)   Exercise.
(i)  Each Option and SAR shall be 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. The Committee shall have full and complete authority to determine whether an Option or SAR will be exercisable in full at any time or from time to time during the term of the Option or SAR, or to provide for the exercise thereof in such installments, upon the occurrence of such events and at such times during the term of the Option or SAR as the Committee may determine.
(ii) The Committee may impose such conditions with respect to the exercise of Options, including without limitation, any relating to the application of federal, state or foreign securities laws or the Code, as it may deem necessary or advisable. The exercise of any Option granted hereunder shall be effective only at such time as the sale of Shares pursuant to such exercise will not violate any state or federal securities or other laws, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
(iii) An Option or SAR may be exercised in whole or in part at any time, with respect to whole Shares only, within the period permitted thereunder for the exercise thereof, and shall be exercised by written notice of intent to exercise the Option or SAR, delivered to the Company at its principal office, and payment in full to the Company at said office of the amount of the Option Price for the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is then being exercised.
(iv) Payment of the Option Price shall be made in cash or cash equivalents, or, at the discretion of the Committee, (i) by tendering, either by way of actual delivery of Shares or attestation, whole Shares that have been owned by the Option holder for not less than six (6) months, if acquired directly from the Company, or that have been owned for any period of time, if acquired on the open market, prior to the date of exercise, valued at the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the date of exercise, together with any applicable withholding taxes, (ii) by a combination of such cash (or cash equivalents) and such Shares or (iii) by such other method of exercise as may be permitted from time to time by the Committee; provided, however, that the optionee shall not be entitled to tender Shares pursuant to successive, substantially simultaneous exercises of an Option or any other stock option of the Company. Subject to applicable securities laws and at the discretion of the Committee, an Option may also be exercised by delivering a notice of exercise of the Option and simultaneously selling the Shares thereby acquired, pursuant to a brokerage or similar agreement or program approved in advance by the Committee. Until the optionee has been issued the Shares subject to such exercise, he or she shall possess no rights as a shareholder with respect to such Shares and shall not be entitled to any dividend or distribution the record date of which is prior to the date of issuance of such Shares. At the Committee’s discretion, the amount payable as a result of the exercise of an SAR may be settled in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares. A fractional Share shall not be deliverable upon the exercise of a SAR but a cash payment will be made in lieu thereof.
(v) Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, a Participant shall be required to pay to the Company an amount equal to the spread realized in connection with the Participant’s exercise of an Option within six months prior to such Participant’s termination of employment by resignation in the event that such Participant, within six months following such Participant’s termination of employment by resignation, engages directly or indirectly in any activity determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to be competitive with any activity of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. This subsection (v) shall be void and of no legal effect upon a Change in Control.

 


 

SECTION 7 — Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
  (A)   Grant.
(i) Except as provided by Sections 3 and 9 hereof, the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants to whom Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be granted, the number of shares of Restricted Stock and/or the number of Restricted Stock Units to be granted to each Participant, the duration of the period during which, and the conditions under which, the Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units may be forfeited to the Company, and the other terms and conditions of such Awards. The Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall from time to time approve, which agreements shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions provided hereunder and any additional terms and conditions established by the Committee that are consistent with the terms of the Plan.
(ii) Each Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award made under the Plan shall be for such number of Shares as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the agreement containing the terms of such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award. Such agreement shall set forth a period of time during which the grantee must remain in the continuous employment of one or more Employers in order for the forfeiture and transfer restrictions to lapse. If the Committee so determines, the restrictions may lapse during such restricted period in installments with respect to specified portions of the Shares covered by the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award. The agreement may also, in the discretion of the Committee, set forth performance or other conditions that, if satisfied, will result in the lapsing of any applicable forfeiture and transfer restrictions. The Committee may, at its discretion, waive all or any part of the restrictions applicable to any or all outstanding Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
  (B)   Delivery of Shares and Transfer Restrictions. The Company may implement the grant of a Restricted Stock Award by (i) book-entry issuance of Shares to the Participant in an account maintained by the Company at its transfer agent or (ii) delivery of certificates for Shares to the Participant who must execute appropriate stock powers in blank and return the certificates and stock powers to the Company. Such certificates and stock powers shall be held by the Company or any custodian appointed by the Company for the account of the grantee subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, and the certificate shall bear such a legend setting forth the restrictions imposed thereon as the Committee, in its discretion, may determine. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the grantee shall have all rights of a shareholder with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock, including the right to receive dividends and the right to vote such Shares, subject to the following restrictions: (i) in the case of certificated Shares, the grantee shall not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate until the expiration of the restricted period and the fulfillment of any other restrictive conditions set forth in the Award Agreement with respect to such Shares; (ii) none of the Shares may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered, hedged or disposed of, in any manner, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, including by operation of law (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution) until the expiration of the restricted period and the fulfillment of any other restrictive conditions set forth in the Award Agreement with respect to such Shares; and (iii) except as otherwise determined by the Committee, all of the Shares shall be forfeited and all rights of the grantee to such Shares shall terminate, without further obligation on the part of the Company, unless the grantee remains in the continuous employment of one or more Employers for the entire restricted period in relation to which such Shares were granted and unless any other restrictive conditions relating to the Restricted Stock Award are met. Any Shares, any other securities of the Company and any other property (except for cash dividends) distributed with respect to the Shares subject to Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to the same restrictions, terms and conditions as such Restricted Stock.

 


 

  (C)   Termination of Restrictions. At the end of the restricted period and provided that any other restrictive conditions of the Restricted Stock Award are met, or at such earlier time as otherwise determined by the Committee, all restrictions set forth in the Award Agreement relating to the Restricted Stock Award or in the Plan shall lapse as to the restricted Shares subject thereto, and, if certificated, a stock certificate for the appropriate number of Shares, free of the restrictions and restricted stock legend imposed thereon by the Committee as described in the second sentence of Subsection (B) of this Section 7, shall be delivered to the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary or estate, as the case may be.
  (D)   Payment of Restricted Stock Units. Each Restricted Stock Unit shall have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share. Restricted Stock Units shall be paid in cash, Shares, other securities or other property, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, upon the lapse of the restrictions applicable thereto, or otherwise in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement. The Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion, credit Participants with dividend equivalents on any Restricted Stock Units credited to the Participant’s account at the time of any payment of dividends to shareholders on Shares. The amount of any such dividend equivalents shall equal the amount that would have been payable to the Participant as a shareholder in respect of a number of Shares equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units then credited to him. Any such dividend equivalents shall be credited to the Participant’s account as of the date on which such dividend would have been payable and shall be converted into additional Restricted Stock Units based upon the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of such crediting. Restricted Stock Units may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered, hedged or disposed of, in any manner, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, including by operation of law (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution) until the expiration of the applicable restricted period and the fulfillment of any other restrictive conditions relating to the Restricted Stock Unit Award. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, all Restricted Stock Units and all rights of the grantee to such Restricted Stock Units shall terminate, without further obligation on the part of the Company, unless the grantee remains in continuous employment of one or more Employers for the entire restricted period in relation to which such Restricted Stock Units were granted and unless any other restrictive conditions relating to the Restricted Stock Unit Award are met.
SECTION 8 — Performance Awards
  (A)   Grant. The Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants who shall receive a Performance Award, which shall consist of a right that is (i) denominated in cash and/or Shares, (ii) valued, as determined by the Committee, in accordance with the achievement of such performance goals during such performance periods as the Committee shall establish, and (iii) payable at such time and in such form as the Committee shall determine. The Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion, designate whether any Performance Award being granted to any Participant is intended to be “performance-based compensation” as that term is used in Section 162(m). Any Performance Awards designated by the Committee as “performance-based compensation” shall be subject to the terms and provisions of Section 10 hereof.
  (B)   Terms and Conditions. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall determine the performance goals to be achieved during any performance period, the length of any performance period, the amount of any Performance Award and the amount and kind of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any Performance Award, and may change specific provisions of the Performance Award, provided, however, that such change may not adversely affect existing Performance Awards made within a performance period commencing prior to implementation of the change.
  (C)   Payment of Performance Awards. Performance Awards may be paid in a lump sum or in installments following the close of the performance period or, in accordance with the procedures established by the Committee, on a deferred basis. If a Participant ceases to be employed by any Employer during a performance period because of death, Disability, Retirement or other circumstance in which the Committee in its discretion finds that a waiver would be appropriate, that Participant, as determined by

 


 

    the Committee, may be entitled to a payment of a Performance Award, or a portion thereof, at the end of the performance period; provided, however, that the Committee may provide for an earlier payment in settlement of such Performance Award in such amount and under such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate or desirable. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Termination of Employment prior to the end of any performance period will result in the forfeiture of the Performance Award, and no payments will be made. A Participant’s rights to any Performance Award may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered, hedged or disposed of in any manner, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, including by operation of law (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution).
SECTION 9 — Non-Employee Director Awards
The Board may provide that all or a portion of a Non-Employee Director’s annual retainer and/or meeting fees, or other forms of compensation, be payable (either automatically or at the election of a Non-Employee Director) in the form of Options, SARs, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units. The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Awards, including the terms and conditions which shall apply upon a termination of the Non-Employee Director’s service as a member of the Board, and shall have full power and authority in its discretion to administer such Awards, subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law.
SECTION 10 — Provisions Applicable to Covered Officers and Performance-Based Awards
Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, unless the Committee determines otherwise, all performance-based Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Unit Awards or Performance Awards shall be subject to the terms and provisions of this Section 10.
  (A)   Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Unit Awards and Performance Awards to Covered Officers shall vest or become exercisable upon the attainment of performance targets related to one or more performance goals selected by the Committee from among the goals specified below. For the purposes of this Section 10, performance goals shall be limited to one or a combination of the following Employer, operating unit, division, line of business, department, team or business unit financial performance measures: stock price; dividends; total shareholder return; earnings per share; price/earnings ratio; market capitalization; book value; revenues; expenses; loans; deposits; non-interest income; net interest income; fee income; operating income before or after taxes; net income before or after taxes; net income before securities transactions; net or operating income excluding non-recurring charges; return on assets; return on equity; return on capital; cash flow; credit quality; service quality; market share; customer retention; efficiency ratio; strategic business objectives, consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified cost targets, business expansion goals and goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures; and, except in the case of a Covered Officer, any other performance criteria established by the Committee. Each goal may be expressed on an absolute and/or relative basis, may be based on or otherwise employ comparisons based on internal targets, the past performance of the Company (consolidated or unconsolidated) and/or the past or current performance of other companies, the performance of other companies over one or more years or an index of the performance of other companies, markets or economic metrics over one or more years, and in the case of earnings-based measures, may use or employ comparisons relating to capital, shareholders’ equity and/or Shares outstanding, or to assets or net assets.
  (B)   The maximum annual number of Shares in respect of which all performance-based Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Unit Awards and Performance Awards may be granted to a Participant under the Plan is 100,000 and the maximum annual amount of any Awards settled in cash to a Participant under the Plan is $4,000,000.
  (C)   To the extent necessary to comply with Section 162(m), with respect to performance-based Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Unit Awards and Performance Awards, no later than 90 days following

 


 

      the commencement of each performance period (or such other time as may be required or permitted by Section 162(m)), the Committee shall, in writing, (1) select the performance goal or goals applicable to the performance period, (2) establish the various targets and bonus amounts which may be earned for such performance period, and (3) specify the relationship between performance goals and targets and the amounts to be earned by each Covered Officer for such performance period. Following the completion of each performance period, the Committee shall certify in writing whether the applicable performance targets have been achieved and the amounts, if any, payable to Covered Officers for such performance period. In determining the amount earned by a Covered Officer for a given performance period, subject to any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall have the right to reduce (but not increase) the amount payable at a given level of performance to take into account additional factors that the Committee may deem relevant to the assessment of individual or corporate performance for the performance period.
SECTION 11 — Termination of Employment
The Committee shall have the full power and authority to determine the terms and conditions that shall apply to any Award upon a Termination of Employment and shall provide such terms in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to the limitation contained in the last sentence of Section 6(c) hereof, upon the Termination of Employment as a result of a Workforce Reduction of an Employee who has received an Award of Options, such Options shall expire on the date specified by the Committee at the time of the Termination of Employment, not to exceed five (5) years after the date of such Termination of Employment.
SECTION 12 — Change in Control
Upon a Change in Control, all outstanding Awards granted prior to January 16, 2007 shall vest, become immediately exercisable or payable or have all restrictions lifted, as the case may be. Upon a Qualifying Termination following a Change in Control, all outstanding Awards granted on and following January 16, 2007 shall vest, become immediately exercisable or payable or have all restrictions lifted, as the case may be. In addition, an Award Agreement or an individual agreement between the Participant and the Company may provide for additional benefits to the Participant upon a Change in Control.
SECTION 13 — Compliance with Section 409A of the Code
  (A)   The foregoing definitions of “Change in Control” and “Qualifying Termination” shall not be changed or modified by this Section 13 to the extent that such definitions apply to an Exempt Award, and such definitions shall not be changed or modified by this Section 13 to the extent relevant to vesting of a Deferred Compensation Award, rather than payment of a Deferred Compensation Award, and compliance with Section 409A of such definitions is not otherwise required. In all other cases, “Change in Control” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(B), and a Qualifying Termination shall not constitute a Qualifying Termination unless such event also constitutes a separation from service as provided in Section 13(C).
  (B)   “Change in Control” means the occurrence with respect to the Company of any of the following events: (i) a change in the ownership of the Company; (ii) a change in the effective control of the Company; (iii) a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company.
For purposes of this Section, a change in the ownership of the Company occurs on the date on which any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company. A change in the effective control of the Company occurs on the date on which either (i) a person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the Company possessing 30% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company, taking into account all such stock acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition, or (ii) a majority of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors is

 


 

replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of such Board of Directors prior to the date of the appointment or election. A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of assets occurs on the date on which any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, other than a person or group of persons that is related to the Company, acquires assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions, taking into account all such assets acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition.
An event constitutes a Change in Control with respect to a Participant only if the Participant performs services for the Company, or the Participant’s relationship to the Company otherwise satisfies the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(ii).
The determination as to the occurrence of a Change in Control shall be based on objective facts and in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
  (C)   Whether a separation from service has occurred shall be determined in accordance with Section 409A of the Code, and the following rules shall apply:
(i) Except in the case of a Participant on a bona fide leave of absence as provided below, a Participant is deemed to have incurred a separation from service if the Company and the Participant reasonably anticipate that the level of services to be performed by the Participant after a date certain would be reduced to twenty percent (20%) or less of the average services rendered by the Participant during the immediately preceding thirty-six (36) month period disregarding periods during which the Participant was on a bona fide leave of absence.
(ii) A Participant who is absent from work due to military leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence shall incur a separation from service on the first day immediately following the later of (a) the six-month anniversary of the commencement of the leave or (b) the expiration of the Participant’s right, if any, to reemployment or to return to work under statute or contract.
(iii) For purposes of determine whether a separation from service has occurred, the Company and its affiliates shall be treated as a single employer. For this purpose, an affiliate means a corporation, trade or business that, together with the Company, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code, except that for the foregoing purposes, common ownership of at least fifty percent (50%) shall be determinative.
(iv) The Committee specifically reserves the right to determine whether a sale or other disposition of substantial assets to an unrelated party constitutes a separation from service with respect to a Participant providing services to the seller immediately prior to the transaction and providing services to the buyer after the transaction. Such determination shall be made in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
  (D)   Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, with respect to a Deferred Compensation Award to a Participant who is a Specified Employee as of the date such Participant incurs a separation from service (as provided in Section 13(C)), payment shall be made no earlier than the first day of the seventh month following the month in which such separation from service occurs. On such date, the Participant shall receive all payments that would have been made on or before such date but for the provisions of this section, and the terms of this section shall not affect the timing or amount of any payment to be made after such date under other provisions of the Plan, this Amendment or the Award.
  (E)   The provisions of this Section 13 shall apply only to Awards made after October 16, 2007.

 


 

SECTION 14 — Amendment, Suspension and Termination
  (A)   Termination, Suspension or Amendment of the Plan. The Board may amend, alter, modify, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, except that the Board shall not amend the Plan in violation of law. No such amendment, alteration, modification, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall materially and adversely affect any right acquired by any Participant or beneficiary of a Participant under the terms of an Award granted before the date of such amendment, alteration, modification, suspension, discontinuation or termination, unless such Participant or beneficiary shall consent.
  (B)   Termination, Suspension or Amendment of Awards. Subject to the restrictions of Section 6(B) hereof, the Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or modify, alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively; provided that any such waiver, amendment, modification, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially and adversely affect 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; provided, however, that it shall be conclusively presumed that any adjustment for changes in capitalization as provided in Section 4 hereof does not materially and adversely affect any such rights.
  (C)   Adjustments 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) affecting the Company, any Subsidiary, or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee is required to make such adjustments pursuant to section 4(B) hereof or whenever the Board, in its sole discretion, determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan; provided that, with respect to Awards intended to comply with Section 162(m), no such adjustment shall be authorized to the extent that such authority would be inconsistent with having either the Plan or any Awards granted hereunder meeting the requirements of Section 162(m).
SECTION 15 — General Provisions
  (A)   Dividend Equivalents. In the sole and complete discretion of the Committee, an Award (other than an Option) may provide the Participant with dividends or dividend equivalents, payable in cash, Shares, other securities or other property on a current or deferred basis. All dividend or dividend equivalents which are not paid currently may, at the Committee’s discretion, accrue interest, be reinvested into additional Shares, or in the case of dividends or dividend equivalents credited in connection with Performance Awards, be credited as additional Performance Awards and paid to the Participant if and when, and to the extent that, payment is made pursuant to such Award. The total number of Shares available for Awards under Section 4 hereof shall not be reduced to reflect any dividends or dividend equivalents that are reinvested into additional Shares or credited as Performance Awards.
  (B)   No Rights to Awards. No Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Employees, Non-Employee Directors, Regional Board Members or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.
  (C)   Share Certificates. All certificates for Shares or other securities of the Company or any Subsidiary 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 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, state or foreign 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. A Participant may be required to pay to an Employer, and each Employer 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 or other 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.
  (E)   Award Agreements. Each Award hereunder shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto. An Award shall be effective only upon delivery to a Participant, either electronically or by paper means, of an Award Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of the Plan and any Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall prevail.
  (F)   No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from adopting or continuing in effect other compensation arrangements, which may, but need not, provide for the grant of Options, Restricted Stock, Shares and other types of Awards provided for hereunder.
  (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 any Employer. Further, an Employer may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment, 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. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, 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 such Shares are issued to such Participant, holder or beneficiary and shall not be entitled to any dividend or distribution the record date of which is prior to the date of such issuance.
  (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 Tennessee without giving effect to the conflict of law principles 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 to 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 (including applicable non-U.S. laws or regulations) 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 or non-U.S. securities laws and any other laws to which such offer, if made, would be subject.
  (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 Subsidiary and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary.
  (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 transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.
  (N)   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.
  (O)   Binding Effect. The terms of the Plan shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and the Participants and their legal representatives, and shall bind any successor of the Company (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise), in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be obligated under this Plan if no succession had taken place. In the case of any transaction in which a successor would not by the foregoing provision or by operation of law be bound by this Plan, the Company shall require such successor expressly and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the Company’s obligations hereunder, in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
  (P)   No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided herein or therein, neither the Plan nor any Award Agreement shall confer on any person other than the Company and the grantee of any Award any rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder. The exculpation and indemnification provisions of Section 3(E) shall inure to the benefit of a Covered Person’s estate and beneficiaries and legatees.
  (Q)   Additional Transfer Restrictions. No transfer or an Award by a grantee by will or by laws of descent and distribution shall be effective to bind the Company unless the Company shall have been furnished with written notice thereof and an authenticated copy of the will and/or such other evidence as the Committee may deem necessary to establish the validity of the transfer.
  (R)   Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, specifically including, but not limited to, Section 3(A)(v), (vii), (ix) and (x) and Section 14, with respect to any Deferred Compensation Award:
(i) Neither the Company nor the Committee may accelerate the time or form of payment of any benefit due to the Participant hereunder unless such acceleration is permitted under Treas. Reg. §1.409A-3(j)(4); and
(ii) Neither the Company nor the Committee may delay the time for payment of any benefit due to the Participant hereunder except to the extent permitted under Treas. Reg. §1.409A-2(b)(7).
The provisions of this Subsection (R) shall apply only to Awards made after October 16, 2007.
  (S)   All references herein to Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(4) shall be to such regulation as amended from time to time or to any successor provision. The foregoing provisions of this Plan as amended are intended to cause the Plan to conform with the requirements of a plan providing only for short-term deferrals as provided in Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(4), and the provisions of this Plan as amended shall be construed in accordance with that intention. If any provision of this Plan shall be inconsistent or in conflict with any applicable requirements for a short-term deferral plan, then such requirement shall be

 


 

      deemed to override and supersede the inconsistent or conflicting provision. Any required provision of a short-term deferral plan that is omitted from this Plan shall be incorporated herein by reference and shall apply retroactively, if necessary, and be deemed to be a part of this Plan to the same extent as though expressly set forth herein. The Company will bear no responsibility for any determination by any other person or persons that the terms, arrangements or administration of the Plan has given rise to any tax liability under Section 409A of the Code. The provisions of this Subsection (S) shall apply only to Awards made after October 16, 2007.
  (T)   Forfeiture and Reimbursement in the Context of a Restatement.
(i) In the event of a material restatement of the Company’s financial statements and to the extent permitted by governing law, the Company reserves the right (and in certain cases may have the legal duty) to cause or seek the forfeiture of all or any portion of any Performance Award held by any Participant, and/or the reimbursement by any Participant to the Company of all or any portion of any Performance Award paid (as defined in paragraph (ii) below) to the Participant, for any Performance Award having any performance period beginning on or after January 1, 2008 where:
  a)   the amount or payment of the Performance Award was predicated upon the achievement of financial results of the Company (including any financial reporting segment or unit) or any Subsidiary that were subsequently the subject of a material restatement; and
 
  b)   the Board or the Committee concludes in good faith that the Participant engaged in fraud or intentional misconduct that was a material cause of the need for the restatement; and
 
  c)   a lower payment or no payment would have been made to the Participant based directly or indirectly upon the restated financial results.
(ii) For the purposes of this Section a Performance Award is “paid” when, among other things, any one or more of the following occur: the Award results in a cash payment to or for the benefit of the Participant; the Award results in shares issued or delivered to the Participant; or the Award results in an increase in a deferral account of the Participant or otherwise results in any credit for the account or benefit of the Participant. “Payment” may occur, among other things, in connection with an exercise of the Award, the vesting of the Award, the delivery of share certificates to the Participant, or the crediting of shares to a Participant’s deferral, brokerage, or other account. The amount “paid” is the amount of dollars or shares or both that is so paid, issued, delivered, increased, or credited. Shares and share units “paid” include all proceeds from those shares, including any cash, stock, or stock unit dividends related to those shares or units, as well as shares or share units from stock splits related to those shares or units. Any Performance Award earned and deferred and any Performance Award payments that are earned and deferred for any reason are subject to this Section as having been “paid,” along with all dividends, dividend equivalents, interest, shares, and other amounts earned upon or that are proceeds of the amount or shares deferred. However, if the Participant elects to invest deferred amounts in a manner that results in a loss, the Participant nevertheless may be required to reimburse to the Company the full amount of the Performance Award (measured in dollars or shares, as applicable at the time originally earned) if the conditions of this Section are met.
(iii) For the purposes of this Section, all amounts paid shall be calculated on a gross basis regardless of the net amount remitted to the Participant. For example, if a Participant’s Performance Award pays $1,000 gross and, after withholding for taxes and all other reasons, $750 net is remitted directly to the Participant in cash, then under this Section the Company may seek

 


 

reimbursement of all or any portion of the $1,000 gross amount, provided that the conditions set forth above are met.
(iv) For purposes of this Section, examples of lowering or eliminating a payment based on restated financial results include, among other things: (a) the payment would have been lower or eliminated directly by application of a performance goal based in whole or part on a performance measure that incorporates or is adversely affected by the restated financial results; and (b) the payment would have been lower or eliminated through the exercise of discretion by the Committee if the Committee had known the restated financial results at the time the discretion was exercised.
(v) Any of the Board, the Committee, the Chairman of the Committee, the Chairman of the Board, or the Chief Executive Officer, acting singly based on any good faith suspicion that the conditions of this Section above might be met, may halt and suspend payment of any Performance Award (including payment of any amount deferred in connection with any Performance Award and any earnings thereon or proceeds thereof) until the Board or Committee has investigated, considered, and acted upon the matter hereunder. Any such suspension shall be without interest owed to the Participant if it is later determined that any payment should be made to the Participant after all.
(vi) All Performance Awards under this Plan having any performance period beginning on or after January 1, 2008 are granted and paid subject to the conditions, and the risk of later reimbursement, imposed by this Section. No payment of any Performance Award, whether or not following a suspension, shall operate to waive or diminish the Company’s right to seek reimbursement under this Section.
(vii) If the Board acts under this Section, any member of the Board that is a Participant shall recuse him- or herself from participating in the matter as a Board member.
SECTION 16 — Term of the Plan
  (A)   Effective Date. The Plan shall be effective as of the date it has been approved by the Company’s shareholders (the “Effective Date”).
  (B)   Expiration Date. No new Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date. 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, modify, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under any such Award shall, continue after the authority for grant of new Awards hereunder has been exhausted.