Form of Performance Share Award Certificate under torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan

EX-10.3 4 ex1032018formofperfshareaw.htm EXHIBIT 10.3 Exhibit





TORCHMARK CORPORATION

PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARD CERTIFICATE

Non-transferable

G R A N T T O

                
____________________
(“Grantee”)

by Torchmark Corporation (the “Company”) of Performance Shares (the “Performance Shares”) representing the right to earn, on a one-for-one basis, shares of the Company’s Common Stock, $1.00 par value (“Stock”), pursuant to and subject to the provisions of the Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and to the terms and conditions set forth on the following pages of this award certificate (this “Certificate”).

The target number of Performance Shares subject to this award is              (the “Target Award”). Depending on the Company’s level of attainment of specified targets for earnings per share, underwriting income, and return on equity for fiscal years ____, ____, and ____. Grantee may earn 0% to 200% of the Target Award, in accordance with the matrices attached hereto as Exhibit A and the terms of this Certificate.

By accepting this Award, Grantee shall be deemed to have agreed to the terms and conditions of this Certificate and the Plan.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Torchmark Corporation, acting by and through its duly authorized officers, has caused this Certificate to be executed.

TORCHMARK CORPORATION


By: ____________________________________________
Its: Authorized Officer
Grant Date: ________________

Accepted by Grantee: __________________________






TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1.
Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Plan. In addition, for purposes of this Certificate:

(i) “Confirmation Date” the date of the Committee’s certification of achievement of the Performance Objectives and determination of the Performance Multiplier following the end of the Performance Period.

(ii) “Early Retirement” means resignation or termination of employment without Cause from the Company at or after age 60 and before age 65.

(iii)”Normal Retirement” means resignation or termination of employment without Cause from the Company at or after age 65.

(ii) “Performance Multiplier” means the percentage, from 0% to 200%, that will be applied to the Target Award to determine the number of Performance Shares that will convert to shares of Stock on the Conversion Date, as more fully described in Exhibit A hereto.

(iii) “Performance Objectives” are the performance objectives relating to Earnings per Share, Underwriting Income, and Return on Equity set forth on Exhibit A that must be achieved in order for any Performance Shares to be earned by Grantee pursuant to this Award.

(iv) “Performance Period” means the three-year period commencing on January 1, ____ and ending on December 31, ____.

(v) “Prorated Target Award” means, in the case of Grantee’s Early Retirement prior to the Vesting Date, a specified percentage of the Target Award, as follows:

Age at Early Retirement
Prorated Target Award
60
10% of Target Award
61
20% of Target Award
62
40% of Target Award
63
60% of Target Award
64
80% of Target Award

(vi) “Vesting Date” is defined in Section 3 of this Agreement.
    
2.
Earning and Vesting of Performance Shares. The Performance Shares have been credited to a bookkeeping account on behalf of Grantee and do not represent actual shares of Stock. The Performance Shares are being awarded to the Grantee in return for Grantee’s promises contained herein including the terms and provisions of Section 6. The Performance Shares represent the right to earn up to 200% of the Target Award (or up to the Prorated Target Award, in the event of Grantee’s Early Retirement prior to the Vesting Date or up to the full Target Award, in the event of Grantee’s Normal Retirement prior to the Vesting Date), based on (i) the Company’s attainment of the Performance Objectives and (ii) the application of the Performance Multiplier to the Target Award in accordance with Exhibit A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of Grantee’s death or Disability during the Performance Period, Grantee shall be deemed to have earned 100% of the Target Award upon such event (without application of any Performance Multiplier). In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in the Plan to the contrary, upon a Change in Control of the Company in which the Performance Shares are not assumed by the Surviving Entity or otherwise equitably converted or substituted in connection with the Change in Control in a manner approved by the Committee or the Board, Grantee shall be deemed to have earned 100% of the Target Award upon such event (without application of any Performance Multiplier), and there shall be a prorata payout to Grantee within thirty (30) days following the Change in Control, based upon the length of time within the Performance Period that has elapsed prior to the Change in Control. Further, upon a Change in Control of the Company in which





the Performance Shares are assumed by the Surviving Entity or otherwise equitably converted or substituted in connection with the Change in Control, if within two years after the effective date of the Change in Control, Grantee’s employment is terminated without Cause or Grantee resigns for Good Reason, Grantee shall be deemed to have earned 100% of the Target Award as of the date of termination (without application of any Performance Multiplier), and there shall be a prorata payout to Grantee within thirty (30) days following the date of termination, based upon the length of time within the Performance Period that has elapsed prior to the date of termination.
  
Any earned Performance Shares will vest and become non-forfeitable on the earliest to occur of the following (the “Vesting Date”):
(a)    the Confirmation Date, provided either (i) Grantee has continued in the employment of the Company or its Affiliates through such date or (ii) Grantee’s employment with the Company has terminated due to Grantee’s Normal Retirement or Early Retirement, or
(b)    the termination of Grantee’s employment due to death or Disability, or
(c)    a Change in Control of the Company.

In the event Grantee’s employment terminates for any reason other than as described above at any time prior to the applicable Vesting Date, all of Grantee’s Performance Shares will immediately be forfeited to the Company without further consideration or any act or action by Grantee.

3.
Conversion to Stock. Any earned and vested Performance Shares will be converted to actual unrestricted shares of Stock (one share per vested Performance Share) within thirty (30) days following the Vesting Date (and in no event later than March 15, 2020). These shares will be registered on the books of the Company in Grantee’s name as of the Conversion Date and stock certificates for the Stock shall be delivered to Grantee or Grantee’s designee upon request of the Grantee. Any Performance Shares that fail to vest in accordance with the terms of this Certificate will be forfeited and reconveyed to the Company without further consideration or any act or action by Grantee.

4.
Restrictions on Transfer and Pledge. No right or interest of Grantee in the Performance Shares may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated or be made subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of Grantee to any other party other than the Company or an Affiliate. The Performance Shares may not be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of by Grantee other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

5.
Restrictions on Issuance of Stock. If at any time the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, that registration, listing or qualification of the Stock underlying the Performance Shares upon any securities exchange or similar self-regulatory organization or under any foreign, federal, or local law or practice, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition to the settlement of the Performance Shares, stock units will not be converted to Stock in whole or in part unless and until such registration, listing, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

6.
Noncompetition/Confidentiality/Nonsolicitation. Upon Grantee’s separation from employment from the Company for any reason for a period of two (2) years from the date of such separation or in the event of termination due to Early Retirement or Normal Retirement, during the remaining vesting period prior to the Vesting Date, whichever is longer (the “Restriction Period”), Grantee agrees not to engage or participate, directly or indirectly, in any capacity, including but not limited to as an employee, consultant, advisor, contractor, partner, owner or otherwise, in a competing business, which is one that provides the same or substantially similar products or services as the Business. “Business” is defined as product development, marketing, sales and servicing of life insurance, health insurance and annuity products through captive agents, independent agents and direct response marketing channels. Life insurance includes individual life or group life, with or without return-of-premium benefit. Health insurance includes accidental death or supplemental health insurance products, with or without return-of premium benefits, including cancer, critical illness, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement or Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. Annuity includes deferred annuities or single premium immediate annuities. (All of the foregoing are referred to collectively as the “Business”). Grantee further agrees that he will not serve as a Board member for any company that provides the same or similar products or services as the Business. Grantee also agrees and understands that this noncompetition agreement extends to





competition in any state in which Grantee worked or directed work for the Company or in which the Company has plans or intentions for future business operations for which the Grantee was involved (referred to as the “Restricted Area”).

Grantee acknowledges that the Restricted Area, scope of prohibited activities, and the Restriction Period are reasonable and are no broader than are necessary to protect Company’s legitimate business interests. Grantee also acknowledges that the Company would not be providing the benefits set forth in this Agreement but for Grantee’s covenants and promises contained in this Section. Grantee further agrees that during the non-competition term, Grantee shall immediately notify the Company in writing of any employment, work, or business he undertakes with or on behalf of any person (including himself) or entity other than the Company and acknowledges and agrees that the Company may place Grantee’s future employer on notice of the Grantee’s post-employment obligations.

Grantee further expressly agrees and understands that the Company has disclosed confidential, proprietary and/or trade secret information to Grantee. Grantee agrees that he will not utilize nor disclose to any third party any of the Company’s confidential, proprietary or trade secret information at any time in the future. In consideration of the Company disclosing such information to Grantee and/or for the consideration provided to Grantee by the Company in this Agreement, which Grantee acknowledges is sufficient and reasonable consideration, Grantee has agreed to the non-competition provisions set forth herein.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, nothing herein shall prohibit Grantee from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity or making other disclosures that are protected pursuant to federal law or regulation. Prior authorization from the Company is not required in order to make any such reports or disclosures and Grantee is not required to notify the Company that such reports or disclosures have been made.

IMMUNITY NOTICE. Pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, Grantee may not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of the law; or is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Should any provision in this Agreement conflict with this provision, this provision shall control.

Grantee also agrees that during the Restriction Period he will not solicit the clients or customers of the Company in order to request or advise such clients or customers to end, change or curtail their business relationship with the Company. In addition, Grantee agrees that during the Restriction Period he will not solicit any employee of the Company in order to request or advise any such employee to end, change or curtail their employment relationship with the Company.

If for any reason any court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision of this Section to be unreasonable in duration or scope or otherwise, Company and Grantee agree that the restrictions and prohibitions contained in this Section shall be effective to the fullest extent allowed under applicable law. Each covenant set forth in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and Grantee’s employment for any reason and shall be construed as an agreement independent of any other provision of this Agreement.

Grantee acknowledges and agrees that the covenants, obligations and agreements of Grantee contained in this Section concern special, unique and extraordinary matters and that a violation of any of the terms of these covenants, obligations or agreements will cause Company irreparable injury for which adequate remedies at law are not available. Therefore, Grantee agrees that Company will be entitled to an injunction, restraining order, or any other equitable relief (without the requirement to post bond) as a court of competent jurisdiction may deem necessary or appropriate to restrain Grantee from committing any violation of the covenants, obligations or agreements referred to in this Agreement. These injunctive remedies are cumulative and in addition to any other rights and remedies Company may have against Grantee.

In addition, Grantee agrees that if he violates the terms of this Section or if the terms of this Section are determined to be unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, Grantee shall forfeit and not be entitled to receive the Performance Shares granted herein. If Grantee has already received the Performance Shares, Grantee agrees that he shall repay the Company the value of the Performance Shares on the date it was received by Grantee upon five (5) days written notice.

7.
Limitation of Rights. The Performance Shares do not confer to Grantee or Grantee’s beneficiary, executors or administrators any rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until shares of Stock are in fact issued to such person in connection with the units. Nothing in this Certificate shall interfere with or limit in any way the





right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate Grantee’s employment at any time, nor confer upon Grantee any right to continue in employment of the Company or any Affiliate.

8.
No Entitlement to Future Awards. The grant of the Performance Shares does not entitle Grantee to the grant of any additional units or other awards under the Plan in the future. Future grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company, including, but not limited to, the timing of any grant, the number of units, and vesting provisions.

9.
Payment of Taxes. The Company or any Affiliate employing Grantee has the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require Grantee to remit to the employer, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes (including Grantee’s FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of the vesting or settlement of the Performance Shares. With respect to withholding required upon any taxable event arising as a result of the Performance Awards, the employer may satisfy the tax withholding requirement by withholding shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value as of the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined as nearly equal as possible to (but no more than) the total minimum statutory tax required to be withheld The obligations of the Company under this Agreement will be conditional on such payment or arrangements, and the Company, and, where applicable, its Affiliates will, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to Grantee.

10.
Recoupment. Any shares of Stock issued upon conversion of the Performance Shares shall be subject to forfeiture and recoupment by the Company based on a later determination that the vesting of such Performance Shares was based on materially inaccurate financial statements or any other materially inaccurate performance metric criteria, whether or not the Participant caused or contributed to such material inaccuracy.

11.
Amendment. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee may amend, modify or terminate this Certificate without approval of Grantee; provided, however, that such amendment, modification or termination shall not, without Grantee’s consent, reduce or diminish the value of this award determined as if it had been fully vested and subject to application of the Performance Multiplier (i.e., as if all restrictions on the Performance Shares hereunder had expired) on the date of such amendment or termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Grantee hereby expressly agrees to any amendment to the Plan and this Agreement to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law or changes to applicable law (including, but not limited to, Code Section 409A) and related regulations or other guidance and federal securities laws.

12.
Plan Controls. The terms contained in the Plan shall be and are hereby incorporated into and made a part of this Certificate and this Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Plan. Without limiting the foregoing, the terms and conditions of the Performance Shares, including the number of shares and the class or series of capital stock which may be delivered upon settlement of the Performance Shares, are subject to adjustment as provided in Article 15 of the Plan. In the event of any actual or alleged conflict between the provisions of the Plan and the provisions of this Certificate, the provisions of the Plan shall be controlling and determinative. Any conflict between this Certificate and the terms of a written employment with Grantee that has been approved, ratified or confirmed by the Committee shall be decided in favor of the provisions of such employment agreement.

13.
Governing Law/Venue. Except as noted below, this Certificate shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflict of laws. However, the terms and provisions set forth in Section 6 shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas. In addition, Grantee and the Company agree that any disputes or claims concerning or relating to the terms and provisions of this Agreement (including Section 6) shall be filed in Collin County, State of Texas or the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

14.
Severability. If any one or more of the provisions contained in this Certificate is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the other provisions of this Certificate will be construed and enforced as if the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been included.

15.
Relationship to Other Benefits. The Performance Shares shall not affect the calculation of benefits under any other compensation plan or program of the Company, except to the extent specially provided in such other plan or program.






16.
Notice. Notices and communications hereunder must be in writing and either personally delivered or sent by registered or certified United States mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Notices to the Company must be addressed to Torchmark Corporation, 3700 South Stonebridge Drive, McKinney, Texas 75070, Attn: Corporate Secretary, or any other address designated by the Company in a written notice to Grantee. Notices to Grantee will be directed to the address of Grantee then currently on file with the Company, or at any other address given by Grantee in a written notice to the Company.





EXHIBIT A

The Performance Shares will be earned, in whole or in part, based on the Company’s achievement of Performance Objectives relating to Earnings per Share, Underwriting Income, and Return on Equity (each as defined below).

 
 
Performance Goals/ Percent Earned
Actual Performance
Performance Multiplier Earned1
Weighted Performance Multiplier Earned2
Performance Measure
Weighting
Threshold
50%
Target
100%
Maximum
200%
Cumulative EPS3
%
$
$
$
 
 
 
Underwriting Income4 ($million)
%
$
$
$
 
 
 
Return on Equity5
%
%
%
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Performance Multiplier6
 

(1) Performance below the Threshold level results in 0% earned. All other percentages earned are determined by pro-ration between the appropriate Performance Goals.
(2) Performance Multiplier for the Performance Measure multiplied by the Weighting assigned to that Performance Measure
(3) “Earning per Share” means the cumulative sum of “total diluted net operating income per share,” as reported on the Company’s Operating Summary for each fiscal year in the Performance Period.
(4) “Underwriting Income” means the cumulative sum of the insurance underwriting margins of the life, health and annuity segments, plus other income, less insurance administrative expenses (excluding the investment segment, parent company expense and income taxes) for each fiscal year during the Performance Period (rounded to the nearest one hundred thousand dollar amount).
(5) “Return on Equity” means average return on equity earned for the three-year Performance Period (calculated to two decimal places) using “Net Operating Income” per the Company's Operating Summary as the numerator in this ratio and excluding the effect of unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale fixed maturity investments on Shareholder’s Equity in the denominator. Thus if the ROE earned for ____, ____ and ____ were __%, __% and __% respectively, average ROE would be __%.
(6)Total of the Weighted Performance Multiplier Earned.