Form of Restricted Share Unit Agreement, related to Dinesh Paliwals annual equity awards, under the Amended and Restated Harman International Industries, Incorporated 2002 Stock Option and Incentive Plan

EX-10.8 9 ex10_8.htm EXHIBIT 10.8 Unassociated Document

Exhibit 10.8


[FORM]

HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2002 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN
RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AGREEMENT


THIS RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of ________________, is entered into between HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Dinesh Paliwal (“Grantee”).  Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to those terms in the Company’s Amended and Restated 2002 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

A.           Grantee is an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company; and

B.            The execution of this Agreement in the form hereof has been authorized by the Compensation and Option Committee of the Board (the “Committee”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and the covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, the Company and Grantee agree as follows:

1.
Grant of Restricted Share Units. Subject to and upon the terms, conditions, and restrictions set forth in this Agreement and in the Plan, the Company hereby grants to the Grantee ___________ Restricted Share Units (the “Grant”). Each Restricted Share Unit shall represent the right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”). This Agreement constitutes an “Evidence of Award” under the Plan.

2.
Date of Grant. The effective date of the Grant is _________________ (the “Date of Grant”).

3.
Restrictions on Transfer of Restricted Share Units. Neither the Restricted Share Units granted hereby nor any interest therein shall be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

4.
Vesting of Restricted Share Units.

 
(a)
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Restricted Share Units shall become nonforfeitable on the third anniversary of the Date of Grant (the “Vesting Date”), unless earlier forfeited in accordance with Section 5.

 
(b)
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4(a) above, all Restricted Share Units shall become immediately nonforfeitable upon the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined below). A “Change in Control” means the occurrence, before this Agreement terminates, of any of the following events:

 
 

 

 
(i)
the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 25% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Voting Shares”); provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 4(b)(i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any issuance of Voting Shares directly from the Company that is approved by the Incumbent Board (as defined in Section 4(b)(ii) below), (B) any acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary of Voting Shares, (C) any acquisition of Voting Shares by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary or (D) any acquisition of Voting Shares by any Person pursuant to a Business Combination that complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of Section 4(b)(iii) below;

(ii)
individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a Director after the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors then constituting the Incumbent 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 objection to such nomination) shall be deemed to have been a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest (within the meaning of Rule 14a-12 of the Exchange Act) with respect to the election or removal of Directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

(iii)
consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or other transaction (each, a “Business Combination”), unless, in each case, immediately following the Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of Voting Shares immediately prior to the Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding Voting Shares of the entity resulting from the Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), (B) no Person (other than the Company, such entity resulting from the Business Combination, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company, any Subsidiary or such entity resulting from the Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding Voting Shares of the entity resulting from the Business Combination and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the entity resulting from the Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for the Business Combination; or

 
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(iv)
approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company, except pursuant to a Business Combination that complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of Section 4(b)(iii) hereof.

5.
Forfeiture of Restricted Share Units.

 
(a)
Except as otherwise described in this Section 5, any of the Restricted Share Units that remain forfeitable in accordance with Section 4 hereof shall be forfeited if Grantee ceases for any reason to be employed by the Company or a Subsidiary at any time prior to such shares becoming nonforfeitable in accordance with Section 4 hereof, unless the Committee determines to provide otherwise at the time of the cessation of the Grantee’s employment; provided, however, that such amounts shall become fully nonforfeitable if the Grantee’s employment terminates (a “Qualifying Termination”) on account of his death or Disability, or if his employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Grantee for Good Reason (each term as defined in the letter agreement between Grantee and the Company, dated as of May 8, 2007, as amended from time to time (the “Letter Agreement”)). For the purposes of this Agreement, the Grantee’s employment with the Company or a Subsidiary shall not be deemed to have been interrupted, and Grantee shall not be deemed to have ceased to be an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary, by reason of (i) the transfer of Grantee’s employment among the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) an approved leave of absence of not more than 90 days, or (iii) the period of any leave of absence required to be granted by the Company under any law, rule, regulation or contract applicable to Grantee’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 
(b)
Any of the Restricted Share Units that remain forfeitable in accordance with Section 4 shall be forfeited on the date that the Committee determines that such Restricted Share Units shall be forfeited under the circumstances described in Section 17(g) of the Plan.

6.
Payment of Restricted Share Units. Subject to Section 10, at such time as the Restricted Share Units shall become nonforfeitable as specified in this Agreement, shares of Common Stock underlying such Restricted Share Units shall be transferred to the Grantee on the 30th day following the earliest of (i) the applicable Vesting Date, (ii) the date of his Qualifying Termination, provided that such Qualifying Termination constitutes a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) or (iii) a Change in Control, provided that such Change in Control satisfies the requirements for a change in control under Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code and, if not, on the earlier of the date specified in clause (i) or (ii) above; provided, however, that the Committee in its sole discretion may settle the award of Restricted Share Units wholly or partly in cash, in which case the fair market of the Restricted Share Units shall be equal to the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock underlying such Restricted Share Units (with such fair market value determined in accordance with the definition under the Plan as of the date such shares would have been transferred under this Agreement but for the Committee’s discretion to settle the Restricted Share Units in cash, subject to withholding as provided in Section 8).

 
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7.
Dividend, Voting and Other Rights.  The Grantee shall have no rights of ownership in the Restricted Share Units and shall have no voting rights with respect to such Restricted Share Units.  From and after the Date of Grant and until the earlier of (a) the time when the Grantee receives the shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Share Units in accordance with Section 6 hereof or (b) the time when the Grantee’s right to receive the Restricted Share Units is forfeited in accordance with Section 5 hereof, the Company shall pay to the Grantee whenever a normal cash dividend is paid on shares of Common Stock, an amount of cash equal to the product of the per-share amount of the dividend paid times the number of such Restricted Share Units.  Such payment shall be made within 30 days after the corresponding dividend payment is made to the stockholders of the Company.

8.
Retention of Common Stock by the Company; Withholding. The shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Share Units shall be released to the Grantee by the Company’s transfer agent at the direction of the Company.  At such time as the Restricted Share Units become nonforfeitable and payable as specified in this Agreement, the Company shall direct the transfer agent to forward all such shares of Common Stock to the Grantee; provided, however, that if the Grantee has notified the Company of his election to satisfy any tax obligations by surrender of a portion of such shares, the transfer agent will be directed to forward the remaining balance of shares after the amount necessary for such taxes has been deducted.  The cash, if any, paid to Grantee pursuant to Section 6 above shall be reduced by any required tax withholding or other required governmental deduction.

9.
Compliance with Law. The Company shall make reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws; provided, however, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated to issue any shares of Common Stock or other securities pursuant to this Agreement if the issuance thereof would, in the reasonable opinion of the Company, result in a violation of any such law.

10.
Compliance with Section 409A of the Code.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Grantee is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”) and determined pursuant to procedures adopted by the Company from time to time) at the time of his “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) and if any payment to be received by the Grantee under Section 6 or Section 8 upon his separation from service would be considered deferred compensation (the “Delayed Payment”) under Section 409A, then the following provisions will apply to the Delayed Payment.  Each such payment of deferred compensation that would otherwise be payable pursuant to Section 6 or Section 8 during the six-month period immediately following the Grantee’s separation from service will instead be paid or made available on the earlier of (i) the first business day of the seventh month following the date the Grantee incurs a separation from service and (ii) the Grantee’s death.  In the event this Section 10 applies, the fair market value of the Restricted Share Units shall be the fair market value, as determined in accordance with the Plan, on the earlier of the dates specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above.  To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Agreement and the Plan comply with the provisions of Section 409A and shall be interpreted consistent with Section 409A.

 
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11.
Relation to Other Benefits. Any economic or other benefit to the Grantee under this Agreement shall not be taken into account in determining any benefits to which the Grantee may be entitled.

12.
Relation to Plan. This Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. In the event of any inconsistent provisions between this Agreement and the Plan, the Plan shall govern. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan. The Committee, acting pursuant to the Plan shall, except as expressly provided otherwise herein, have the right to determine any questions which arise in connection with this grant.

13.
Employment Rights. This Agreement shall not confer on Grantee any right with respect to the continuance of employment or other services with the Company or any Subsidiary.  No provision of this Agreement shall limit in any way whatsoever any right that the Company or a Subsidiary may otherwise have to terminate the employment of Grantee at any time.

14.
Communications. All notices, demands and other communications required or permitted hereunder or designated to be given with respect to the rights or interests covered by this Agreement shall be deemed to have been properly given or delivered when delivered personally or sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, U.S. mail or reputable overnight carrier, with full postage prepaid and addressed to the parties as follows:

If to the Company, at:
400 Atlantic Street, Suite 1500
Stamford, CT  06901
Attention:  General Counsel

 
If to Grantee, at:
Grantee’s most recent address on file with the Company

Either the Company or Grantee may change the above designated address by written notice to the other specifying such new address.

15.
Interpretation. The interpretation and construction of this Agreement by the Committee shall be final and conclusive; provided, however, that the definitions of Cause, Good Reason and Disability and any other provision covered in the Letter Agreement shall be interpreted in the manner set forth in the Letter Agreement.  No member of the Committee shall be liable for any such action or determination made in good faith.

 
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16.
Amendment in Writing. This Agreement may be amended as provided in the Plan; provided, however, that all such amendments shall be in writing.

17.
Integration.  The Restricted Share Units are granted pursuant to the Plan.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement is subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan, a copy of which is available upon request and which is incorporated herein by reference.  As such, this Agreement, the Plan and the Letter Agreement embody the entire agreement and understanding of the Company and Grantee and supersede any prior understandings or agreements, whether written or oral, with respect to the Restricted Share Units.

18.
Severance. In the event that one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be invalidated for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, any provision so invalidated shall be deemed to be separable from the other provisions hereof and the remaining provisions hereof shall continue to be valid and fully enforceable.

19.
Governing Law. This Agreement is made under, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware.

20.
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed by a duly authorized representative of the Company on the day and year first above written.


 
HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
     
     
 
By:
 
 
Name:
 
 
Title:
 
     
     
 
By:
 
 
Name:
 
 
Title:
Chairman – Compensation and Option Committee


The undersigned Grantee acknowledges receipt of an executed original of this Agreement and accepts the Restricted Share Units subject to the applicable terms and conditions hereinabove set forth.


Date:
     
     
Dinesh Paliwal
 
 
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