EX-10.10 2004 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN

EX-10.10 4 g90285a3exv10w10.txt EX-10.10 2004 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN EXHIBIT 10.10 GREAT WOLF RESORTS, INC. FORM OF 2004 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN . . . TABLE OF CONTENTS

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-ii- Section 1. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of this Plan is to promote the interest of the Company by authorizing the Committee to grant Options and Stock Appreciation Rights and to make Stock Grants and Stock Unit Grants to Eligible Employees and Directors in order (1) to attract and retain Eligible Employees and Directors, (2) to provide an additional incentive to each Eligible Employee or Director to work to increase the value of Stock and (3) to provide each Eligible Employee or Director with a stake in the future of the Company which corresponds to the stake of each of the Company's shareholders. Section 2 DEFINITIONS 2.1 Affiliate -- means any organization (other than a Subsidiary) that would be treated as under common control with the Company under Section 414(c) of the Code if "50 percent" were substituted for "80 percent" in the income tax regulations under Section 414(c) of the Code. 2.2 Board -- means the Board of Directors of the Company. 2.3 Change Effective Date -- means either the date which includes the "closing" of the transaction which makes a Change in Control effective if the Change in Control is made effective through a transaction which has a "closing" or the date a Change in Control is reported in accordance with applicable law as effective to the Securities and Exchange Commission if the Change in Control is made effective other than through a transaction which has a "closing". 2.4 Change in Control -- means the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) any "person" (as that term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act), is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of securities representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company eligible to vote for the election of the members of the Board unless (1) such person is the Company or any Subsidiary, (2) such person is an employee benefit plan (or a trust which is a part of such a plan) which provides benefits exclusively to, or on behalf of, employees or former employees of the Company or a Subsidiary, (3) such person is an underwriter temporarily holding such securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (4) such person acquired such securities in a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in Section 2.4(d)); (b) during any period of two consecutive years or less beginning after the closing date of the initial public offering of the common stock of the Company, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board cease, for any reason, to constitute at least a majority of the Board, unless the election or nomination for election of each new director was approved by at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period (either by a specific vote of such directors or by the approval of the Company proxy statement in which each such individual is named as a nominee for a director without written objection to such nomination by such directors); provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened -2- solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any persons other than the Board shall be deemed to be approved; (c) the shareholders of the Company approve any reorganization, merger, consolidation or share exchange as a result of which the common stock of the Company shall be changed, converted or exchanged into or for securities of another corporation (other than a merger with a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) or any dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale or the disposition of 50% or more of the assets or business of the Company; or (d) the shareholders of the Company approve any reorganization, merger, consolidation or share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company unless (1) the persons who were the beneficial owners of the outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the members of the Board immediately before the consummation of such transaction hold more than 60% of the voting power of the securities eligible to vote for the members of the Board of the successor or survivor corporation in such transaction immediately following the consummation of such transaction and (2) the number of the securities of such successor or survivor corporation representing the voting power described in 2.4(d)(1) held by the persons described in Section 2.4(d)(1) immediately following the consummation of such transaction is beneficially owned by each such person in substantially the same proportion that each such person had beneficially owned the outstanding securities eligible to vote -3- for the election of the members of the Board immediately before the consummation of such transaction, provided (3) the percentage described in Section 2.4(d)(1) of the securities of the successor or survivor corporation and the number described in Section 2.4 (d)(2) of the securities of the successor or survivor corporation shall be determined exclusively by reference to the securities of the successor or survivor corporation which result from the beneficial ownership of shares of common stock of the Company by the persons described in Section 2.4(d)(1) immediately before the consummation of such transaction (any transaction that satisfies all of the criteria specified in (1), (2) and (3) above shall be deemed to be a "Non-Qualifying Transaction"). 2.5 Code -- means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 2.6 Committee -- means a committee of the Board which shall have at least 2 members, each of whom shall be appointed by and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and shall come within the definition of a "non-employee director" under Rule 16b-3 and an "outside director" under Section 162(m) of the Code. 2.7 Company -- means Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. and any successor to Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. 2.8 Director -- means any member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary or affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act) of the Company. 2.9 Eligible Employee -- means an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary or Parent or Affiliate to whom the Committee decides for reasons sufficient to the Committee to -4- make a grant under this Plan. For purposes of an ISO granted under this Plan, a person shall be treated as an employee of the Company, a Subsidiary or a Parent to the extent such person is employed by a disregarded entity under Section 7701 of the Code that is treated as part of the Company, a Subsidiary or a Parent, for purposes of Section 422 of the Code. 2.10 Fair Market Value -- means either (a) the closing price on any date for a share of Stock as reported by The Wall Street Journal or, if The Wall Street Journal no longer reports such closing price, such closing price as reported by a newspaper or trade journal selected by the Committee or, if no such closing price is available on such date, (b) such closing price as so reported in accordance with Section 2.10(a) for the immediately preceding business day, or, if no newspaper or trade journal reports such closing price or if no such price quotation is available, (c) the price which the Committee acting in good faith determines through any reasonable valuation method that a share of Stock might change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or to sell and both having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts. 2.11 ISO -- means an option granted under this Plan to purchase Stock which is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. 2.12 1933 Act -- means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 2.13 1934 Act -- means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 2.14 Non-ISO -- means an option granted under this Plan to purchase Stock which is intended to fail to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. 2.15 Option -- means an ISO or a Non-ISO which is granted under Section 7. 2.16 Option Certificate -- means the certificate (whether in electronic or written form) which sets forth the terms and conditions of an Option granted under this Plan. -5- 2.17 Option Price -- means the price which shall be paid to purchase one share of Stock upon the exercise of an Option granted under this Plan. 2.18 Parent -- means any corporation which is a parent corporation (within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code) of the Company. 2.19 Plan -- means this Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. 2004 Incentive Stock Plan as effective as of the date approved by the shareholders of the Company and as amended from time to time thereafter. 2.20 Rule 16b-3 -- means the exemption under Rule 16b-3 to Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act or any successor to such rule. 2.21 SAR Value -- means the value assigned by the Committee to a share of Stock in connection with the grant of a Stock Appreciation Right under Section 8. 2.22 Stock -- means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company. 2.23 Stock Appreciation Right -- means a right which is granted under Section 8 to receive the appreciation in a share of Stock. 2.24 Stock Appreciation Right Certificate -- means the certificate (whether in electronic or written form) which sets forth the terms and conditions of a Stock Appreciation Right which is not granted as part of an Option. 2.25 Stock Grant -- means a grant under Section 9 which is designed to result in the issuance of the number of shares of Stock described in such grant rather than a payment in cash based on the Fair Market Value of such shares of Stock. 2.26 Stock Grant Certificate -- means the certificate (whether in electronic or written form) which sets forth the terms and conditions of a Stock Grant or a Stock Unit Grant. -6- 2.27 Stock Unit Grant -- means a grant under Section 9 which is designed to result in the payment of cash based on the Fair Market Value of the number of shares of Stock described in such grant rather than the issuance of the number of shares of Stock described in such grant. 2.28 Subsidiary -- means a corporation which is a subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code) of the Company. 2.29 Ten Percent Shareholder -- means a person who owns (after taking into account the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of either the Company, a Subsidiary or Parent. Section 3 SHARES AND GRANT LIMITS 3.1 Shares Reserved. There shall (subject to Section 13) be reserved for issuance under this Plan 3,380,520 shares of Stock. 3.2 Source of Shares. The shares of Stock described in Section 3.1 shall be reserved to the extent that the Company deems appropriate from authorized but unissued shares of Stock and from shares of Stock which have been reacquired by the Company. All shares of Stock described in Section 3.1 shall remain available for issuance under this Plan until issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right or issued pursuant to a Stock Grant, and any such shares of stock which are issued pursuant to an Option, a Stock Appreciation Right or a Stock Grant which are forfeited thereafter shall again become available for issuance under this Plan. Finally, if the Option Price under an Option is paid in whole or in part in shares of Stock or if shares of Stock are tendered to the Company to satisfy any purchase price required to be paid in connection with a Stock Grant, such shares thereafter shall become available for issuance -7- under this Plan and shall be treated the same as any other shares available for issuance under this Plan. 3.3 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds which the Company receives from the sale of any shares of Stock under this Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes and shall be added to the general funds of the Company. 3.4 Grant Limits. No Eligible Employee or Director in any calendar year shall be granted an Option to purchase (subject to Section 13) more than 350,000 shares of Stock or a Stock Appreciation Right based on the appreciation with respect to (subject to Section 13) more than 350,000 shares of Stock, and no Stock Grant or Stock Unit Grant shall be made to any Eligible Employee or Director in any calendar year where the Fair Market Value of the Stock subject to such grant on the date of the grant exceeds $5,000,000. If an Option is cancelled or the base amount on which a Stock Appreciation Right is calculated is reduced to reflect a reduction in the Fair Market Value of the Stock, such cancelled Option or recalculated Stock Appreciation Right shall continue to be counted toward the grant limits in this Section 3.4 for the affected Eligible Employee or Director to the extent required for compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code. No more than 750,000 non-forfeitable shares of Stock shall (subject to Section 13) be issued pursuant to Stock Grants under Section 9. -8- Section 4 EFFECTIVE DATE The effective date of this Plan shall be the date the shareholders of the Company (acting at a duly called meeting of such shareholders) approve the adoption of this Plan. Section 5 COMMITTEE This Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee acting in its absolute discretion shall exercise such powers and take such action as expressly called for under this Plan and, further, the Committee shall have the power to interpret this Plan and (subject to Section 14 and Section 15 and Rule 16b-3) to take such other action in the administration and operation of this Plan as the Committee deems equitable under the circumstances, which action shall be binding on the Company, on each affected Eligible Employee or Director and on each other person directly or indirectly affected by such action. Furthermore, the Committee as a condition to making any grant under this Plan to any Eligible Employee or Director shall have the right to require him or her to execute an agreement which makes the Eligible Employee or Director subject to non-competition provisions and other restrictive covenants which run in favor of the Company, a Subsidiary, Affiliate and other related entities. Section 6 ELIGIBILITY AND ANNUAL GRANT CAPS Only Eligible Employees who are employed by the Company, a Subsidiary or a Parent shall be eligible for the grant of ISOs under this Plan. All Eligible Employees and Directors shall be eligible for the grant of Non-ISOs and Stock Appreciation Rights and for Stock Grants and Stock Unit Grants under this Plan. -9- Section 7 OPTIONS 7.1 Committee Action. The Committee acting in its absolute discretion shall have the right to grant Options to Eligible Employees and to Directors under this Plan from time to time to purchase shares of Stock, but the Committee shall not, absent the approval of the Company's shareholders, take any action, whether through amendment, cancellation, replacement grants, or any other means, to reduce the Option Price of any outstanding Options. Each grant of an Option to a Eligible Employee or Director shall be evidenced by an Option Certificate, and each Option Certificate shall set forth whether the Option is an ISO or a Non-ISO and shall set forth such other terms and conditions of such grant as the Committee acting in its absolute discretion deems consistent with the terms of this Plan; however, (a) if the Committee grants an ISO and a Non-ISO to a Eligible Employee on the same date, the right of the Eligible Employee to exercise the ISO shall not be conditioned on his or her failure to exercise the Non-ISO and (b) if the only condition to exercise of the Option is the completion of a period of service, such period of service shall be no less than the one (1) year period which starts on the date as of which the Option is granted. 7.2 $100,000 Limit. No Option shall be treated as an ISO to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Stock subject to the Option which would first become exercisable in any calendar year exceeds $100,000. Any such excess shall instead automatically be treated as a Non-ISO. The Committee shall interpret and administer the ISO limitation set forth in this Section 7.2 in accordance with Section 422(d) of the Code, and the Committee shall treat this Section 7.2 as in effect only for those periods for which Section 422(d) of the Code is in effect. -10- 7.3 Option Price. The Option Price for each share of Stock subject to an Option shall be no less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date the Option is granted; provided, however, if the Option is an ISO granted to an Eligible Employee who is a Ten Percent Shareholder, the Option Price for each share of Stock subject to such ISO shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date such ISO is granted. 7.4 Payment. The Option Price shall be payable in full upon the exercise of any Option and, at the discretion of the Committee, an Option Certificate can provide for the payment of the Option Price either in cash, by check or in Stock which has been held for at least 6 months and which is acceptable to the Committee, or through any cashless exercise procedure which is effected by an unrelated broker through a sale of Stock in the open market and which is acceptable to the Committee, or in any combination of such forms of payment. Any payment made in Stock shall be treated as equal to the Fair Market Value of such Stock on the date the certificate for such Stock (or proper evidence of such certificate) is presented to the Committee or its delegate in such form as acceptable to the Committee. 7.5 Exercise. (a) Exercise Period. Each Option granted under this Plan shall be exercisable in whole or in part at such time or times as set forth in the related Option Certificate, but no Option Certificate shall make an Option exercisable on or after the earlier of (1) the date which is the fifth anniversary of the date the Option is granted, if the Option is an ISO and the Eligible Employee is a Ten Percent Shareholder on the date the Option is granted, or -11- (2) the date which is the tenth anniversary of the date the Option is granted, if the Option is (a) a Non-ISO or (b) an ISO which is granted to an Eligible Employee who is not a Ten Percent Shareholder on the date the Option is granted. (b) Termination of Status as Eligible Employee or Director. Subject to Section 7.5(a), an Option Certificate may provide for the exercise of an Option after an Eligible Employee's or a Director's status as such has terminated for any reason whatsoever, including death or disability. Section 8 STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS 8.1 Committee Action. The Committee acting in its absolute discretion shall have the right to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Employees and to Directors under this Plan from time to time, and each Stock Appreciation Right grant shall be evidenced by a Stock Appreciation Right Certificate or, if such Stock Appreciation Right is granted as part of an Option, shall be evidenced by the Option Certificate for the related Option. 8.2 Terms and Conditions. (a) Stock Appreciation Right Certificate. If a Stock Appreciation Right is granted independent of an Option, such Stock Appreciation Right shall be evidenced by a Stock Appreciation Right Certificate, and such certificate shall set forth the number of shares of Stock on which the Eligible Employee's or Director's right to appreciation shall be based and the SAR -12- Value of each share of Stock. Such SAR Value shall be no less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date that the Stock Appreciation Right is granted. The Stock Appreciation Right Certificate shall set forth such other terms and conditions for the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right as the Committee deems appropriate under the circumstances, but no Stock Appreciation Right Certificate shall make a Stock Appreciation Right exercisable on or after the date which is the tenth anniversary of the date such Stock Appreciation Right is granted. (b) Option Certificate. If a Stock Appreciation Right is granted together with an Option, such Stock Appreciation Right shall be evidenced by an Option Certificate, the number of shares of Stock on which the Eligible Employee's or Director's right to appreciation shall be based shall be the same as the number of shares of Stock subject to the related Option, and the SAR Value for each such share of Stock shall be no less than the Option Price under the related Option. Each such Option Certificate shall provide that the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right with respect to any share of Stock shall cancel the Eligible Employee's or Director's right to exercise his or her Option with respect to such share and, conversely, that the exercise of the Option with respect to any share of Stock shall cancel the Eligible Employee's or Director's right to exercise his or her Stock Appreciation Right with respect to such share. A Stock Appreciation Right which is granted as part of an Option shall be exercisable only while the related Option is exercisable. The Option -13- Certificate shall set forth such other terms and conditions for the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right as the Committee deems appropriate under the circumstances. (c) Minimum Period of Service. If the only condition to exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right is the completion of a period of service, such period of service shall be no less than the one (1) year period which starts on the date as of which the Stock Appreciation Right is granted. 8.3 Exercise. A Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable only when the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on which the right to appreciation is based exceeds the SAR Value for such share, and the payment due on exercise shall be based on such excess with respect to the number of shares of Stock to which the exercise relates. An Eligible Employee or Director upon the exercise of his or her Stock Appreciation Right shall receive a payment from the Company in cash or in Stock issued under this Plan, or in a combination of cash and Stock, and the number of shares of Stock issued shall be based on the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised. The Committee acting in its absolute discretion shall have the right to determine the form and time of any payment under this Section 8.3. Section 9. STOCK GRANTS 9.1 Committee Action. The Committee acting in its absolute discretion shall have the right to make Stock Grants and Stock Unit Grants to Eligible Employees and to Directors. Each Stock Grant and each Stock Unit Grant shall be evidenced by a Stock Grant Certificate, and each Stock Grant Certificate shall set forth the conditions, if any, under which Stock will be issued under the Stock Grant or cash will be paid under the Stock Unit Grant and the conditions under -14- which the Eligible Employee's or Director's interest in any Stock which has been issued will become non-forfeitable. 9.2 Conditions. (a) Conditions to Issuance of Stock. The Committee acting in its absolute discretion may make the issuance of Stock under a Stock Grant subject to the satisfaction of one, or more than one, condition which the Committee deems appropriate under the circumstances for Eligible Employees or Directors generally or for an Eligible Employee or a Director in particular, and the related Stock Grant Certificate shall set forth each such condition and the deadline for satisfying each such condition. Stock subject to a Stock Grant shall be issued in the name of an Eligible Employee or Director only after each such condition, if any, has been timely satisfied, and any Stock which is so issued shall be held by the Company pending the satisfaction of the forfeiture conditions, if any, under Section 9.2(b) for the related Stock Grant. (b) Conditions on Forfeiture of Stock or Cash Payment. The Committee acting in its absolute discretion may make any cash payment due under a Stock Unit Grant or Stock issued in the name of an Eligible Employee or Director under a Stock Grant non-forfeitable subject to the satisfaction of one, or more than one, objective employment, performance or other condition that the Committee acting in its absolute discretion deems appropriate under the circumstances for Eligible Employees or Directors generally or for an Eligible Employee or a Director in particular, and the -15- related Stock Grant Certificate shall set forth each such condition, if any, and the deadline, if any, for satisfying each such condition. An Eligible Employee's or a Director's non-forfeitable interest in the shares of Stock underlying a Stock Grant or the cash payable under a Stock Unit Grant shall depend on the extent to which he or she timely satisfies each such condition. Each share of Stock underlying a Stock Grant shall not be available under Section 3 after such grant is effective until such time, if any, as such share thereafter is forfeited as a result of a failure to timely satisfy a forfeiture condition, in which event such share of Stock shall again become available under Section 3 as of the date of such forfeiture. Finally, the Company shall have the right to require an Eligible Employee or Director to sign an irrevocable stock power in favor of the Company with respect to forfeitable shares of Stock issued under this Section 9.2(b) in order for the Company to effect a forfeiture in accordance with this Section 9.2(b). (c) Minimum Period of Service. If the only condition to the forfeiture of a Stock Grant or a Stock Unit Grant is the completion of a period of service, such period of service shall be no less than the one (1) year period which starts on the date as of which the Stock Grant or Stock Unit Grant is made. 9.3 Dividends, Voting Rights and Creditor Status. (a) Cash Dividends. Except as otherwise set forth in a Stock Grant or Stock Unit Grant, if a dividend is paid in cash on a share of Stock after (1) such Stock has been issued under a Stock Grant or (2) the date of the Stock -16- Unit Grant, but, in either case, before the first date that an Eligible Employee's or a Director's interest in such Stock Grant or Stock Unit Grant (1) is forfeited completely or (2) becomes completely non-forfeitable, the Company shall pay such cash dividend directly to such Eligible Employee or Director. (b) Stock Dividends. If a dividend is paid on a share of Stock in Stock after (1) such Stock has been issued under a Stock Grant or (2) the date of the Stock Unit Grant, but, in either case, before the first date that an Eligible Employee's or a Director's interest in such Stock Grant or Stock Unit Grant (1) is forfeited completely or (2) becomes completely non-forfeitable, the Company shall hold such dividend Stock subject to the same conditions under Section 9.2(b) as the related Stock Grant or Stock Unit. (c) Other. If a dividend (other than a dividend described in Section 9.3(a) or Section 9.3(b)) is paid with respect to a share of Stock after (1) such Stock has been issued under a Stock Grant or (2) the date of the Stock Unit Grant, but, in either case, before the first date that an Eligible Employee's or a Director's interest in such Stock Grant or Stock Unit Grant (1) is forfeited completely or (2) becomes completely non-forfeitable, the Company shall distribute or hold such dividend in accordance with such rules as the Committee shall adopt with respect to each such dividend. (d) Voting. Except as otherwise set forth in a Stock Grant, an Eligible Employee or a Director shall have the right to vote the Stock issued under his or her Stock Grant during the period which comes after such Stock has -17- been issued under a Stock Grant but before the first date that an Eligible Employee's or Director's interest in such Stock (1) is forfeited completely or (2) becomes completely non-forfeitable. (e) General Creditor Status. An Eligible Employee and a Director to whom a Stock Unit Grant is made shall be no more than a general and unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to any cash payable under such Stock Unit Grant. 9.4 Satisfaction of Forfeiture Conditions. A share of Stock shall cease to be subject to a Stock Grant at such time as an Eligible Employee's or a Director's interest in such Stock becomes non-forfeitable under this Plan, and the certificate or other evidence of ownership representing such share shall be transferred to the Eligible Employee or Director as soon as practicable thereafter. 9.5 Income Tax Deduction. (a) General. The Committee shall (where the Committee under the circumstances deems in the Company's best interest) make Stock Grants and Stock Unit Grants to Eligible Employees either (1) subject to at least one condition related to one, or more than one, performance goal based on the performance goals described in Section 9.5(b) which seems likely to result in the Stock Grant or Stock Unit Grant qualifying as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code or (2) under such other circumstances as the Committee deems likely to result in an income tax deduction for the Company with respect such Stock Grant or Stock Unit Grant. A performance goal may be set in any manner determined by the -18- Committee, including looking to achievement on an absolute or relative basis in relation to peer groups or indexes. (b) Performance Goals. A performance goal is described in this Section 9.5(b) if such goal relates to (1) the Company's return over capital costs or increases in return over capital costs, (2) the Company's total earnings or the growth in such earnings, (3) the Company's consolidated earnings or the growth in such earnings, (4) the Company's earnings per share or the growth in such earnings, (5) the Company's net earnings or the growth in such earnings, (6) the Company's earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash items or the growth in such earnings, (7) the Company's earnings before interest and taxes or the growth in such earnings, (8) the Company's consolidated net income or the growth in such income, (9) the value of the Company's common stock or the growth in such value, (10) the Company's stock price or the growth in such price, (11) the Company's return on assets or the growth on such return, (12) the Company's cash flow or the growth in such cash flow, (13) the Company's total shareholder return or the growth in such return, (14) the Company's expenses or the reduction of such expenses, (15) the Company's sales growth, (16) the Company's overhead ratios or changes in such ratios, (17) the Company's expense-to-sales ratios or the changes in such ratios, or (18) the Company's economic value added or changes in such value added. The Committee shall determine in writing whether a performance goal has been satisfied for a given period. -19- (c) Adjustments. When the Committee determines whether a performance goal has been satisfied for any period, the Committee may exclude any or all "extraordinary items" as determined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and any other unusual or non-recurring items, including, without limitation, the charges or costs associated with restructurings of the Company, discontinued operations, and the cumulative effects of accounting changes. The Committee may also adjust any performance goal for a period as it deems equitable in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company, changes in applicable tax laws or accounting principles, or such other factors as the Committee may determine (including, without limitation, any adjustments that would result in the Company's paying non-deductible compensation to an Eligible Employee). Section 10 NON-TRANSFERABILITY No Option, Stock Grant, Stock Unit Grant or Stock Appreciation Right shall (absent the Committee's consent) be transferable by an Eligible Employee or a Director other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and any Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall (absent the Committee's consent) be exercisable during a Eligible Employee's or Director's lifetime only by the Eligible Employee or Director. The person or persons to whom an Option or Stock Grant or Stock Unit Grant or Stock Appreciation Right is transferred by will or by the laws of descent and distribution (or with the Committee's consent) thereafter shall be treated as the Eligible Employee or Director. -20- Section 11 SECURITIES REGISTRATION As a condition to the receipt of shares of Stock under this Plan, the Eligible Employee or Director shall, if so requested by the Company, agree to hold such shares of Stock for investment and not with a view of resale or distribution to the public and, if so requested by the Company, shall deliver to the Company a written statement satisfactory to the Company to that effect. Furthermore, if so requested by the Company, the Eligible Employee or Director shall make a written representation to the Company that he or she will not sell or offer for sale any of such Stock unless a registration statement shall be in effect with respect to such Stock under the 1933 Act and any applicable state securities law or he or she shall have furnished to the Company an opinion in form and substance satisfactory to the Company of legal counsel satisfactory to the Company that such registration is not required. Certificates or other evidence of ownership representing the Stock transferred upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the lapse of the forfeiture conditions, if any, on any Stock Grant may at the discretion of the Company bear a legend to the effect that such Stock has not been registered under the 1933 Act or any applicable state securities law and that such Stock cannot be sold or offered for sale in the absence of an effective registration statement as to such Stock under the 1933 Act and any applicable state securities law or an opinion in form and substance satisfactory to the Company of legal counsel satisfactory to the Company that such registration is not required. Section 12 LIFE OF PLAN No Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be granted or Stock Grant or Stock Unit Grant made under this Plan on or after the earlier of: -21- (1) the tenth anniversary of the effective date of this Plan (as determined under Section 4), in which event this Plan otherwise thereafter shall continue in effect until all outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights have been exercised in full or no longer are exercisable, all Stock issued under any Stock Grants under this Plan have been forfeited or have become non-forfeitable and all Stock Unit Grants have been forfeited or been paid; or (2) the date on which all of the Stock reserved under Section 3 has (as a result of the exercise of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under this Plan or the satisfaction of the forfeiture conditions, if any, on Stock Grants) been issued or no longer is available for use under this Plan, in which event this Plan and any outstanding Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and Stock Grants also shall terminate on such date. Section 13 ADJUSTMENT 13.1 Capital Structure. The number, kind or class (or any combination thereof) of shares of Stock reserved under Section 3, the grant caps described in Section 3, the number, kind or class (or any combination thereof) of shares of Stock subject to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under this Plan and the Option Price of such Options and the SAR Value of such Stock Appreciation Rights as well as the number, kind or class (or any combination thereof) of shares of Stock subject to Stock Grants or Stock Unit Grants made under this Plan shall be adjusted by the Committee in an equitable manner to reflect any equity restructuring or change in the -22- capitalization of the Company, including, but not limited to, spin offs, stock dividends, large non-reoccurring dividends, rights offerings or stock splits. 13.2 Transactions Described in Section 424. The Committee as part of any corporate transaction described in Section 424(a) of the Code shall have the right to adjust (in any manner which the Committee in its discretion deems consistent with Section 424(a) of the Code) the number, kind or class (or any combination thereof) of shares of Stock reserved under Section 3 and the annual grant caps described in Section 3. Furthermore, the Committee as part of any corporate transaction described in Section 424(a) of the Code shall have the right to adjust (in any manner which the Committee in its discretion deems consistent with Section 424(a) of the Code) the number, kind or class (or any combination thereof) of shares of Stock subject to any outstanding Stock Grants or Stock Unit Grants under this Plan and any related grant conditions and forfeiture conditions, and the number, kind or class (or any combination thereof) of shares subject to Option and Stock Appreciation Right grants previously made under this Plan and the related Option Price and SAR Value for each such Option and Stock Appreciation Right, and, further, shall have the right (in any manner which the Committee in its discretion deems consistent with Section 424(a) of the Code and without regard to the annual grant caps described in Section 3 of this Plan) to make any Stock Grants and Option and Stock Appreciation Right grants to effect the assumption of, or the substitution for, stock grants, stock unit grants and option and stock appreciation right grants previously made by any other corporation to the extent that such corporate transaction calls for such substitution or assumption of such stock grants, stock unit grants and stock option and stock appreciation right grants. 13.3 Fractional Shares. If any adjustment under this Section 13 would create a fractional share of Stock or a right to acquire a fractional share of Stock under any Option, Stock -23- Appreciation Right or Stock Grant, such fractional share shall be disregarded and the number of shares of Stock reserved under this Plan and the number subject to any Options or Stock Appreciation Right grants and Stock Grants shall be the next lower number of shares of Stock, rounding all fractions downward. An adjustment made under this Section 13 by the Committee shall be conclusive and binding on all affected persons. Section 14 CHANGE IN CONTROL If there is a Change in Control of the Company, then as of the Change Effective Date for such Change in Control any and all conditions to the exercise of all outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights on such date and any and all outstanding issuance and forfeiture conditions on any Stock Grants and Stock Unit Grants on such date automatically shall be deemed 100% satisfied as of such Change Effective Date, and the Board shall have the right (to the extent expressly required as part of such transaction) to cancel such Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock Grants and Stock Unit Grants after providing each Eligible Employee and Director a reasonable period to exercise his or her Options and Stock Appreciation Rights and to take such other action as necessary or appropriate to receive the Stock subject to any Stock Grants and the cash payable under any Stock Unit Grants; provided, if any issuance or forfeiture condition described in this Section 14 relates to satisfying any performance goal and there is a target for such goal, such issuance or forfeiture condition shall be deemed satisfied under this Section 14 only to the extent of such target unless such target has been exceeded before the Change Effective Date, in which event such issuance or forfeiture condition shall be deemed satisfied to the extent such target had been so exceeded. -24- Section 15 AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION This Plan may be amended by the Board from time to time to the extent that the Board deems necessary or appropriate; provided, however, (a) no amendment shall be made absent the approval of the shareholders of the Company to the extent such approval is required under applicable law or the rules of the stock exchange on which shares of Stock are listed and (b) no amendment shall be made to Section 14 on or after the date of any Change in Control which might adversely affect any rights which otherwise would vest on the related Change Effective Date. The Board also may suspend granting Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or making Stock Grants or Stock Unit Grants under this Plan at any time and may terminate this Plan at any time; provided, however, the Board shall not have the right unilaterally to modify, amend or cancel any Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted or Stock Grant made before such suspension or termination unless (1) the Eligible Employee or Director consents in writing to such modification, amendment or cancellation or (2) there is a dissolution or liquidation of the Company or a transaction described in Section 13.2 or Section 14. Section 16 MISCELLANEOUS 16.1 Shareholder Rights. No Eligible Employee or Director shall have any rights as a shareholder of the Company as a result of the grant of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right pending the actual delivery of the Stock subject to such Option or Stock Appreciation Right to such Eligible Employee or Director. Subject to Section 9.3, an Eligible Employee's or a Director's rights as a shareholder in the shares of Stock underlying a Stock Grant which is effective shall be set forth in the related Stock Grant Certificate. -25- 16.2 No Contract of Employment. The grant of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right or a Stock Grant or Stock Unit Grant to an Eligible Employee or Director under this Plan shall not constitute a contract of employment or a right to continue to serve on the Board and shall not confer on an Eligible Employee or Director any rights upon his or her termination of employment or service in addition to those rights, if any, expressly set forth in this Plan or the related Option Certificate, Stock Appreciation Right Certificate, or Stock Grant Certificate. 16.3 Withholding. Each Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Stock Grant and Stock Unit Grant shall be made subject to the condition that the Eligible Employee or Director consents to whatever action the Committee directs to satisfy the minimum statutory federal and state tax withholding requirements, if any, which the Company determines are applicable to any grant made under the Plan. No withholding shall be effected under this Plan which exceeds the minimum statutory federal and state withholding requirements. 16.4 Construction. All references to sections (Section) are to sections (Section) of this Plan unless otherwise indicated. This Plan shall be construed under the laws of the State of Delaware. Each term set forth in Section 2 shall, unless otherwise stated, have the meaning set forth opposite such term for purposes of this Plan and, for purposes of such definitions, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Finally, if there is any conflict between the terms of this Plan and the terms of any Option Certificate, Stock Appreciation Right Certificate or Stock Grant Certificate, the terms of this Plan shall control. 16.5 Other Conditions. Each Option Certificate, Stock Appreciation Right Certificate or Stock Grant Certificate may require that an Eligible Employee or a Director (as a condition to the exercise of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right or the issuance of Stock subject to a Stock Grant) enter into any agreement or make such representations prepared by the Company, -26- including (without limitation) any agreement which restricts the transfer of Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right or a Stock Grant or provides for the repurchase of such Stock by the Company. 16.6 Rule 16b-3. The Committee shall have the right to amend any Option, Stock Grant or Stock Appreciation Right to withhold or otherwise restrict the transfer of any Stock or cash under this Plan to an Eligible Employee or Director as the Committee deems appropriate in order to satisfy any condition or requirement under Rule 16b-3 to the extent Rule 16 of the 1934 Act might be applicable to such grant or transfer. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused its duly authorized officer to execute this Plan to evidence its adoption of this Plan. GREAT WOLF RESORTS, INC. By: _________________________________ Date: _________________________________ -27-