Point-of-care veterinary diagnostic products, comprising rapid assays and instruments and consumables
Exhibit 10.20
IDEXX LABORATORIES, INC.
2003 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(Adjusted to reflect 2-for-1 stock split effective November 5, 2007)
SECTION 1. PURPOSE. The purposes of the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) are to encourage selected employees and Directors of IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and its Affiliates to acquire a vested interest in the growth and performance of the Company, to generate an increased incentive to contribute to the Company’s future success and prosperity, thus enhancing the value of the Company for the benefit of stockholders, and to enhance the ability of the Company and its Affiliates to attract and retain individuals of exceptional talent upon whom, in large measure, the sustained progress, growth and profitability of the Company depends.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS. As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
(a) “Affiliate” shall mean (i) any Person that directly, or through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company or (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, as determined by the Board.
(b) “Award” shall mean any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, dividend equivalent, Other Stock Unit Award or any other right, interest or option relating to Shares or other property granted pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.
(c) “Award Agreement” shall mean any agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award granted by the Board hereunder, in such form (written, electronic or otherwise) as the Board shall determine, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by both the Company and the Participant.
(d) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) an acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (an “Entity”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of either (A) the then outstanding Shares (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (B) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); excluding, however, the following: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company, other than an acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege unless the security being so converted was itself acquired directly from the Company, (2) any acquisition by the Company, (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of Section 2(e)(iii);
(ii) a change in the composition of the Board on the Plan’s effective date such that the individuals who, as of the effective date, constitute the Board (such Board shall be hereinafter referred to as the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that for purposes of this definition, any individual who becomes a member of the Board subsequent to the effective date, whose election, or nomination for election, by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of those individuals who are members of the Board and who were also members of the Incumbent Board (or deemed to be such pursuant to this proviso) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board; and provided further, however, that any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of or in connection with either an actual or threatened solicitation with respect to the election of directors (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-12(c) of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an Entity other than the Board shall not be so considered as a member of the Incumbent Board;
(iii) the consummation of a merger, reorganization or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (each, a “Corporate Transaction”), excluding however, any Corporate Transaction pursuant to which (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who are the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock, and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction (including, without limitation, a corporation or other Person that 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 (a “Parent Company”)) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Entity (other than the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, such corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction or, if reference was made to equity ownership of any Parent Company for purposes of determining whether clause (A) above is satisfied in connection with the applicable Corporate Transaction, such Parent Company) will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction or the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors unless such ownership resulted solely from ownership of securities of the Company prior to the Corporate Transaction, and (C) individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board will immediately after the consummation of the Corporate Transaction constitute at least half of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction (or, if reference was made to equity ownership of any Parent Company for purposes of determining whether clause (A) above is satisfied in connection with the applicable Corporate Transaction, of the Parent Company); or
(iv) the approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
(f) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.
(g) “Compensation Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, or any successor to such committee, composed of no fewer than two directors, each of whom is a non-employee Director within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) of the Exchange Act, an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto, and independent under the rules of the NASDAQ Global Market.
(h) “Company” shall mean IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
(i) “Covered Employee” shall mean a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto.
(j) “Director” shall mean a member of the Board who is not an Employee.
(k) “Employee” shall mean any employee of the Company or any Affiliate.
(l) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(m) “Fair Market Value” shall mean, with respect to any property other than Shares, the market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Board. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Fair Market Value of Shares as of any date shall be the last reported sales price for the Shares as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market (or on any national securities exchange on the Shares are then listed) for that date or, if no such price is reported for that date, the last reported sales price on the next preceding date for which such price was reported.
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(n) “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option granted under Section 6 that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.
(o) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” shall mean an Option granted under Section 6 that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
(p) ‘‘Option” shall mean any right granted to a Participant under the Plan allowing such Participant to purchase Shares at such price or prices and during such period or periods as the Board shall determine.
(q) “Other Stock Unit Award” shall mean any right granted to a Participant by the Board pursuant to Section 9.
(r) “Participant” shall mean an Employee or Director who is selected by the Board to receive an Award under the Plan.
(s) “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or political subdivision thereof.
(t) “Prior Plans” shall mean the Company’s 1991 Stock Option Plan, 1998 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2000 Director Option Plan.
(u) “Restricted Stock” shall mean any Share issued with the restriction that the holder may not sell, transfer, pledge or assign such Share and with such other restrictions as the Board, in its sole discretion, may impose (including, without limitation, any restriction on the right to vote such Share, and the right to receive any cash dividends), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the Board may deem appropriate.
(v) “Restricted Stock Award” shall mean an award of Restricted Stock under Section 8.
(w) “Shares” shall mean the shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.10 per share.
(x) ‘‘Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean any right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 7 to receive, upon exercise by the Participant, the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over (ii) the grant price of the right on the date of grant, as specified by the Board in its sole discretion, which, except in the case of Substitute Awards or in connection with an adjustment provided in Section 4(c), shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of one Share on such date of grant of the right. Any payment by the Company in respect of such right may be made in cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, as the Board, in its sole discretion, shall determine.
(y) “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of the granting of the Award, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain.
(z) “Substitute Awards” shall mean Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, by a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines.
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SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) The Plan will be administered by the Board. The Board shall have authority to grant Awards and to adopt, amend and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan as it shall deem advisable. The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. All decisions by the Board shall be made in the Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or in any Award. No director or person acting pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board shall be liable for any action or determination relating to or under the Plan made in good faith.
(b) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a “Committee”), at least one of which shall be the Compensation Committee. All references in the Plan to the “Board” shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board or the executive officers referred to in Section 3(c) to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee or executive officers.
(c) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate to one or more executive officers of the Company the power to grant Awards to employees or officers of the Company or any of its present or future subsidiary corporations and to exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Board may determine, provided that the Board shall fix the terms of the Awards to be granted by such executive officers (including the exercise price of such Awards, which may include a formula by which the exercise price will be determined) and the maximum number of shares subject to Awards that the executive officers may grant; provided further, however, that no executive officer shall be authorized to grant Awards to any “executive officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) or to any “officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act).
SECTION 4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
(a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c), a total of 6,300,000 Shares shall be authorized for issuance under the Plan. Any Shares that are subject to Awards of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against this limit as one (1) Share for every one (1) Share granted. Any Shares that are subject to Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against this limit as 2.1 Shares for every one (1) Share granted. If any Shares subject to an Award or to an award under the Prior Plans are forfeited or if any Award or award under the Prior Plans based on Shares is settled for cash or expires, the Shares subject to such Award shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, cash settlement or expiration, again be available for Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the following Shares shall not be added to the Shares authorized for grant under paragraph (a) of this Section: (i) Shares tendered by the Participant or withheld by the Company in payment of the purchase price of an Option, (ii) Shares tendered by the Participant or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award, and (iii) Shares subject to a Stock Appreciation Right that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the Stock Appreciation Right on exercise thereof. Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for issuance under the Plan or authorized for grant to a Participant in any calendar year under Section 11(e). In the event that a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards (other than Incentive Stock Options) under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for issuance under the Plan; provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Employees or Directors of the Company or an Affiliate prior to such acquisition or combination. Any Shares that again become available for grant pursuant to this Section shall be added back as (i) one (1) Share if such Shares were subject to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan or options or stock appreciation rights granted under the Prior Plans, and (ii) as 2.1 Shares if such Shares were subject to Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan or the Prior Plans.
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(b) Any Shares issued hereunder may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares, treasury shares or shares purchased in the open market or otherwise.
(c) In the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off or similar transaction or other change in corporate structure affecting the Shares, the Board shall make appropriate and equitable adjustments and other substitutions to the Plan and to Awards, including, without limitation, such adjustments in the aggregate number, class and kind of securities that may be delivered under the Plan, in the aggregate or to any one Participant, in the number, class, kind and option or exercise price of securities subject to outstanding Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or other Awards granted under the Plan, and in the number, class and kind of securities subject to Awards granted under the Plan (including, if the Board deems appropriate, the substitution of similar options to purchase the shares of, or other awards denominated in the shares of, another company) as the Board may determine in its sole discretion; provided, however, that the number of Shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole number.
SECTION 5. ELIGIBILITY. Any Employee or Director shall be eligible to be selected as a Participant; provided, however, that Incentive Stock Options shall only be awarded to Employees of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.
SECTION 6. STOCK OPTIONS. Options may be granted hereunder to Participants either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. Any Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in such form as the Board may from time to time approve. Any such Option shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and to such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Board shall deem desirable:
(a) OPTION PRICE. The purchase price per Share purchasable under an Option shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Share on the date of the grant, except in the case of Substitute Awards or in connection with an adjustment provided for in Section 4(c).
(b) OPTION PERIOD. The term of each Option shall be fixed by the Board in its sole discretion; provided that no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date the Option is granted.
(c) EXERCISABILITY. Options shall be exercisable at such time or times as determined by the Board at or subsequent to grant.
(d) METHOD OF EXERCISE. Subject to the other provisions of the Plan, any Option may be exercised by the Participant in whole or in part at such time or times, and the Participant may make payment of the option price in such form or forms, including, without limitation: (i) payment by delivery of cash; (ii) delivery of other consideration (including, where permitted by law and the Board, Awards) having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the total option price; (iii) to the extent permitted by the Board, in its sole discretion, by delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding, or delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding; or (iv) by any combination of cash and other consideration as the Board may specify in the applicable Award Agreement.
(e) INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. In accordance with rules and procedures established by the Board, and except as otherwise provided in Section 10 or any other provision of the Plan permitting or providing for acceleration of options, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options held by any Participant which are exercisable for the first time by such Participant during any calendar year under the Plan (and under any other employee benefit plans of the Company or any Subsidiary) shall not exceed $100,000 or, if different, the maximum limitation in effect at the time of grant under Section 422 of the Code, or any successor provision, and any regulations promulgated thereunder. Incentive Stock Options shall be granted only to Participants who are Employees of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. The terms of any Incentive Stock Option granted hereunder shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision, and any regulations promulgated thereunder; provided, however that the Company shall have no liability to a Participant or to any other person in the event that an option that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option is not an Incentive Stock Option. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c), the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options may be issued under the Plan shall not exceed 6,300,000.
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SECTION 7. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted hereunder to Participants either alone (“freestanding”) or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan and may, but need not, relate to a specific Option granted under Section 6. The provisions of Stock Appreciation Rights need not be the same with respect to each recipient. Any Stock Appreciation Right related to a Nonstatutory Stock Option may be granted at the same time such Option is granted. Any Stock Appreciation Right related to an Incentive Stock Option must be granted at the same time such Option is granted. In the case of any Stock Appreciation Right related to any Option, the Stock Appreciation Right or applicable portion thereof shall terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the related Option, except that a Stock Appreciation Right granted with respect to less than the full number of Shares covered by a related Option shall not be reduced until the exercise or termination of the related Option exceeds the number of Shares not covered by the Stock Appreciation Right. Any Option related to any Stock Appreciation Right shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the related Stock Appreciation Right has been exercised. The Board may impose such conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right, as it shall deem appropriate; provided that a freestanding Stock Appreciation Right shall not have an exercise price less than Fair Market Value on the date of grant or a term of greater than ten years.
SECTION 8. RESTRICTED STOCK.
(a) ISSUANCE. A Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to restrictions imposed by the Board during a period of time specified by the Board (the “Restriction Period”). Restricted Stock Awards may be issued hereunder to Participants, for no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. The provisions of Restricted Stock Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.
(b) REGISTRATION. Any Restricted Stock issued hereunder may be evidenced in such manner, as the Board, in its sole discretion, shall deem appropriate, including, without limitation, book entry registration or issuance of a stock certificate or certificates. In the event any stock certificates are issued in respect of Shares of Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan, such certificates shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Award. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, such certificates shall be deposited by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company or its designee.
(c) FORFEITURE. Except as otherwise determined by the Board at the time of grant or thereafter, upon termination of employment for any reason during the Restriction Period, all Shares of Restricted Stock still subject to restriction shall be forfeited by the Participant (or repurchased by the Company at their issue price) and reacquired by the Company. Unrestricted Shares, evidenced in such manner as the Board shall deem appropriate, shall be issued to the grantee promptly after expiration of the period of forfeiture, as determined or modified by the Board.
SECTION 9. OTHER STOCK UNIT AWARDS.
(a) STOCK AND ADMINISTRATION. Other Awards of Shares and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, Shares or other property (“Other Stock Unit Awards”) may be granted hereunder to Participants, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. Such Other Stock Unit Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan or as payment in lieu of compensation to which such recipient otherwise is entitled. Other Stock Unit Awards may be paid in Shares or cash, as the Board shall determine, in its sole discretion. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Employees of the Company and its Affiliates and Directors to whom and the time or times at which such Awards shall be made, the number of Shares to be granted pursuant to such Awards, and all other conditions of the Awards. The provisions of Other Stock Unit Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.
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(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, Awards and Shares subject to Awards made under this Section 9 may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered prior to the date on which the Shares are issued, or, if later, the date on which any applicable restriction, performance or deferral period lapses. Shares (including securities convertible into Shares) subject to Awards granted under this Section 9 may be issued for no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law. Shares (including securities convertible into Shares) purchased pursuant to a purchase right awarded under this Section 9 shall be purchased for such consideration as the Board shall determine in its sole discretion, which, except in the case of Substitute Awards, shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of such Shares or other securities as of the date such purchase right is awarded.
SECTION 10. CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS.
(a) IMPACT OF EVENT. Subject to Section 10(a)(v) and notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, unless the Board shall determine otherwise at the time of grant with respect to a particular Award, in the event of a Change in Control:
(i) any Options and Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding as of the date such Change in Control is determined to have occurred, and which are not then exercisable and vested, shall become immediately exercisable and vested as to 25% of the number of shares to which such Options and Stock Appreciation Rights would otherwise not then be exercisable, and the number of shares as to which such Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall become exercisable and vested on each vesting date set forth in the applicable agreement shall be reduced by 25%;
(ii) the restrictions and deferral limitations applicable to any Restricted Stock Award shall immediately lapse as to 25% of the remaining number of shares subject to such Award as to which such restrictions and deferral limitations are then in effect, and the number of shares subject to such Restricted Stock Award as to which such restrictions and deferral limitations terminate on each subsequent vesting date shall be reduced by 25%;
(iii) the restrictions, deferral limitations and other conditions applicable to any Other Stock Unit Awards or any other Awards shall immediately lapse as to 25% of the remaining number of shares subject to Other Stock Unit Awards or other Awards as to which such restrictions, deferral limitations and other conditions are then in effect, and the number of shares subject to such Other Stock Unit Awards or other Awards as to which such restrictions, deferral limitations and other conditions terminate on each subsequent vesting date shall be reduced by 25%; and
(iv) in the event of an involuntary termination of a Participant’s employment or directorship by the successor company without Cause (as defined below) during the 24-month period following such Change in Control, then each Award held by such Participant at the time of the Change in Control shall immediately become fully exercisable and vested to the full extent of the original grant and all restrictions and deferral limitation shall lapse. “Cause” shall mean: (A) the failure of the Participant to perform substantially the Participant’s duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), which failure is not cured within 30 days after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Participant by the Participant’s manager or the Board which specifically identifies the manner in which such manager or the Board, as applicable, believes that the Participant has not substantially performed the Participant’s duties, (B) or the engaging by the Participant in illegal conduct or gross misconduct which is injurious to the Company.
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(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if in the event of a Corporate Transaction the successor company does not assume or substitute for an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Share of Restricted Stock or Other Stock Unit Award not granted pursuant to Section 11, then each outstanding Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Share of Restricted Stock or Other Stock Unit Award shall not be accelerated as described in Sections 10(a)(i), (ii) and (iii), but rather shall be accelerated with respect to 100% of such Awards. For the purposes of this Section 10(a)(v), an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Share of Restricted Stock or Other Stock Unit Award shall be considered assumed or substituted for if following the Corporate Transaction the award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award or Other Stock Unit Award immediately prior to the Corporate Transaction, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other securities or property) received in the Corporate Transaction by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Corporate Transaction is not solely common stock of the successor company, the Board may, with the consent of the successor company, provide that the consideration to be received upon the exercise or vesting of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award or Other Stock Unit Award, for each Share subject thereto, will be solely common stock of the successor company substantially equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Shares in the Corporate Transaction. The determination of such substantial equality of value of consideration shall be made by the Board in its sole discretion and its determination shall be conclusive and binding.
(b) CHANGE IN CONTROL CASH-OUT. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in the event of a Change in Control the Board may, in its discretion, provide that each Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, be cancelled in exchange for a payment in an amount equal to the amount by which the fair market value per Share immediately prior to the Change in Control exceeds the purchase price per Share under the Option or Stock Appreciation Right (the “spread”) multiplied by the number of Shares granted under the Option or Stock Appreciation Right.
SECTION 11. CODE SECTION 162(m) PROVISIONS.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, if the Compensation Committee determines at the time Restricted Stock or an Other Stock Unit Award is granted to a Participant who is then an officer, that such Participant is, or is likely to be as of the end of the tax year in which the Company would claim a tax deduction in connection with such Award, a Covered Employee, then the Compensation Committee may provide that this Section 11 is applicable to such Award.
(b) If Restricted Stock or an Other Stock Unit Award is subject to this Section 11, then the lapsing of restrictions thereon and the distribution of cash or Shares pursuant thereto, as applicable, shall be subject to the achievement of one or more objective performance goals established by the Compensation Committee, which shall be based on the attainment of specified levels of one or any combination of the following: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), net cash provided by operating activities, free cash flow, earnings per share, earnings per share from continuing operations, operating income, revenues, operating margins, return on operating assets, return on equity, economic value added, stock price appreciation, total stockholder return, cost control, strategic initiatives, market share, before- or after-tax income, or return on invested capital of the Company or the Affiliate or division of the Company for or within which the Participant is primarily employed. Such performance goals also may be based on the achievement of specified levels of Company performance (or performance of an applicable Affiliate or division of the Company) under one or more of the measures described above relative to the performance of other corporations. Such performance goals may be applied by excluding the impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, and other unusual or non-recurring items, and the cumulative effects of accounting changes, each as defined by generally accepted accounting principles. Such performance goals shall be set by the Compensation Committee within the time period prescribed by, and shall otherwise comply with the requirements of, Section 162(m) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto, and the regulations thereunder.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan other than Section 10, with respect to any Restricted Stock or Other Stock Unit Award that is subject to this Section 11, the Compensation Committee may adjust downwards, but not upwards, the amount payable pursuant to such Award, and the Compensation Committee may not waive the achievement of the applicable performance goals except, in its sole discretion, in the case of the death or disability of the Participant
(d) The Compensation Committee shall have the power to impose such other restrictions on Awards subject to this Section 11 as it may deem necessary or appropriate to ensure that such Awards satisfy all requirements for “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto.
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(e) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan other than Section 4(c), no Participant may be granted Awards during any year with respect to more than 1,200,000 Shares. For purposes of the foregoing limit, the combination of an Option in tandem with a Stock Appreciation Right shall be treated as a single Award. The per Participant limit described in this Section 11(e) shall be construed and applied consistently with Section 162(m) of the Code or any successor provision thereto, and the regulations thereunder (“Section 162(m)”).
SECTION 12. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided, however, that no amendment or alteration, shall be made without (a) stockholder approval if such approval is necessary to qualify for or comply with any tax or regulatory requirement for which or with which the Board deems it necessary or desirable to qualify or comply, (b) the consent of the affected Participant, if such action would impair the rights of such Participant under any outstanding Award, or (c) stockholder approval if such amendment or alteration is material, including, without limitation, any amendment or alteration that (i) would reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or cancel or amend outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights for the purpose of repricing, replacing or regranting such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, or in exchange for cash or another Award, (ii) materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants, (iii) materially increases the number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan, except for any increase permitted under Section 4(a) or 4(c) of the Plan, (iv) materially modifies the requirements for eligibility to participate in the Plan, or (v) expands the types of Awards issuable under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Board may amend the Plan in such manner as may be necessary so as to have the Plan conform to local rules and regulations in any jurisdiction outside the United States.
The Board may amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, including to provide that any Award shall become immediately exercisable in full or in part, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the case may be; provided, however, that no such amendment shall (a) impair the rights of any Participant without his or her consent, (b) except for adjustments made pursuant to Section 4(c) or in connection with Substitute Awards, reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or cancel or amend outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights for the purpose of repricing, replacing or regranting such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, or in exchange for cash or another Award, without stockholder approval, or (c) require the exchange of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights for cash Notwithstanding the foregoing, any adjustments made pursuant to Section 4(c) shall not be subject to these restrictions.
SECTION 13. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, except under certain circumstances in connection with a Participant’s hire or termination or in the event of a Change in Control, no Award issued to an Employee (except in lieu of compensation to which such Employee is otherwise entitled) shall vest less than one year from the date of grant.
(b) Awards shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant; provided, however, that, if so determined by the Board, a Participant may, in the manner established by the Board, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant with respect to any Award upon the death of the Participant; and provided, further, that an Award so assigned or transferred shall be subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and the instrument evidencing the Award. Each Award shall be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees.
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(c) No Employee or Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Employees or Participants under the Plan.
(d) The prospective recipient of any Award under the Plan shall not, with respect to such Award, be deemed to have become a Participant, or to have any rights with respect to such Award, until and unless such recipient shall have received an agreement or other instrument (written, electronic or otherwise) evidencing the Award, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by both the Company and the Participant, and delivered a copy thereof to the Company, and otherwise complied with the then applicable terms and conditions.
(e) Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall be deemed to constitute an employment or service contract or confer or be deemed to confer on any Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of, or to continue any other relationship with, the Company or any Affiliate or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate a Participant’s employment or service or other relationship at any time, with or without cause.
(f) Except as provided in Section 11, the Board shall be authorized to make adjustments in performance award criteria or in the terms and conditions of other Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or its financial statements or changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles. The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to carry it into effect. In the event that the Company shall assume outstanding employee benefit awards or the right or obligation to make future such awards in connection with the acquisition of or combination with another corporation or business entity, the Board may, in its discretion, make such adjustments in the terms of Awards under the Plan as it shall deem appropriate.
(g) The Board shall have full power and authority to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances any Award shall be canceled or suspended.
(h) All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award shall be subject to such stock-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Board may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Shares are then listed, and any applicable federal or state securities law, and the Board may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
(i) 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 Board in its sole discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would comply with all applicable requirements of the U.S. federal securities laws and any other laws to which such offer, if made, would be subject.
(j) No Award shall provide for deferral of compensation that does not comply with Section 409A of the Code, unless the Board, at the time of grant, specifically provides that the Award is not intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Award that is intended to be exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Board. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any Award Agreement, the recipient of an Award (including, without limitation, any deferred Award) may, if so determined by the Board, be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, cash dividends, or cash payments in amounts equivalent to cash dividends on Shares (“dividend equivalents”) with respect to the number of Shares covered by the Award, as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, and the Board may provide that such amounts (if any) shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares or otherwise reinvested.
(k) Except as otherwise required in any applicable Award Agreement or by the terms of the Plan, recipients of Awards under the Plan shall not be required to make any payment or provide consideration other than the rendering of services.
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(l) The Company shall be authorized to withhold from any Award granted or payment due under the Plan the amount of withholding taxes due in connection with an Award or payment hereunder and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all Company obligations for the payment of such taxes. The Board shall be authorized to establish procedures for election by Participants to satisfy such obligation for the payment of such taxes by directing the Company to retain Shares (not exceeding the minimum required tax withholding obligations if such a limitation is necessary to avoid a charge to the Company for financial reporting purposes) otherwise deliverable in connection with the Award.
(m) Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
(n) The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and applicable federal law, without regard to applicable conflicts of laws.
(o) If any provision of the Plan is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Board, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Board, materially altering the intent of the Plan, it shall be stricken and the remainder of the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.
(q) Awards may be granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different from those applicable to Awards to Employees employed in the United States as may, in the judgment of the Board, be necessary or desirable in order to recognize differences in local law or tax policy. The Board also may impose conditions on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to minimize the Company’s obligation with respect to tax equalization for Employees on assignments outside their home country.
SECTION 14. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN. The Plan shall be effective as of May 21, 2003.
SECTION 15. TERM OF PLAN. The Plan shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of the effective date, unless sooner terminated by the Board pursuant to Section 12, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date; provided, however, that no Incentive Stock Options may be granted more than ten years after the later of (i) the adoption of the Plan by the Board and (ii) the adoption by the Board of any amendment to the Plan that constitutes the adoption of a new plan for purposes of Section 422 of the Code.
Adopted by the Board of Directors on February 25, 2003, subject to stockholder approval.
Approved by the stockholders on May 21, 2003.
Amended by the Board of Directors on July 16, 2003.
Amended by the Board of Directors on October 12, 2005.
Amended by the Board of Directors on February 14, 2007, subject to stockholder approval.
Approved by the stockholders on May 9, 2007.
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