KELLY SERVICES, INC. EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN (As Amended and Restated December 31, 2011)

This KELLY SERVICES, INC. EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN (the “Plan”) provides for long-term incentive stock-related or other performance-related compensation to selected key employees of the Company or an Affiliated Entity for their contributions to the Company’s growth and profitability.  Such compensation is intended to help the Company attract and retain superior employees, and it gives those employees shared financial interests with the Company’s stockholders that are believed to positively affect their job performance.

 

(i) The grantee’s failure to perform his or her duties, provided that to the extent such failure is reasonably susceptible to cure, such failure is not cured within a reasonable period of time after notice;

 

(ii) The grantee’s gross negligence or willful engagement in conduct that is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise;

 

(iii) The grantee’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere, to any felony or to any other crime which involves the personal enrichment of the grantee at the expense of the Company; and

 

(iv) The grantee’s material breach of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or any other committee designated by the Board to administer this Plan.  The Committee shall be comprised of two or more “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Further, to the extent that the Company determines it desirable to qualify Awards granted hereunder as “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m), the Committee shall be comprised solely of two or more “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m).

 

“Company” means Kelly Services, Inc.

 

“Company Stock” means the Class A Common Stock, $1.00 par value, of the Company.

 

“Disability” means the total and permanent inability of an Employee by reason of sickness or injury to perform the material duties of such Employee’s regular occupation with his or her Employer where such inability has existed for at least six continuous months.

 

“Employee” means an employee of the Company or an Affiliated Entity.

 

“Employer” means the Company or the Affiliated Entity which employs an Employee.

 

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Fair Market Value” means, for any given date, the closing market price for a share of Company Stock as a Nasdaq Stock Market LLC security reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.  Automated Quotation System (“Nasdaq”) for that date (or if no such prices are so reported for such date, for the latest preceding date on which such sale prices were so reported).  If the Fair Market Value for a given date cannot be determined by reference to Nasdaq, it shall be determined by the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method that satisfies the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(iv)(B).

 

“Foreign Award” means an award granted pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan.

“Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means an Option that meets the requirements of Section 422 of the Code (or any successor provision) and that is identified as intended to be an ISO in the written agreement evidencing the Option.

 

“Named Executive Officer” means, for purposes of Section 9B, an Employee who is the chief executive officer or among the three highest compensated officers (other than the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer) of the Company for any given fiscal year, whose compensation is subject to disclosure under Exchange Act rules, and who is a Section 16 Reporting Person, and any other Employee of the Company who is included in the definition of “covered employee” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code pursuant to Treasury Regulations or other Internal Revenue Service guidance.

“Nonqualified Stock Option” or “NQSO” means an Option that is not an ISO.

“Option” means an Option to purchase Company Stock granted pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan.

“Other Performance Award” means a cash-denominated Award granted under Section 9A or 9B of the Plan which, until vested, is subject to forfeiture.

“Over-10% Owner” means an owner of over 10% of the total combined outstanding voting power of all classes of capital stock of the Company.

“Performance Award” means an award of Performance Shares, Performance Share Units or Other Performance Award.

“Performance Shares” and “Performance Share Units” mean, respectively, shares of Company Stock and Share Units granted under Section 9A or 9B of the Plan which, until vested, are subject to forfeiture.

“Restoration Option” means an Option granted under, and subject to the conditions set forth in, Section 6(f) of the Plan.

“Restricted Award” means an award of Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units.

“Restricted Shares” and “Restricted Share Units” mean, respectively, shares of Company Stock and Share Units granted under Section 8 of the Plan which, until vested, are subject to forfeiture.

“Rule 16b-3” means Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 16b-3, as amended.

“Section 16 Reporting Person” means a person required by Section 16 of the Exchange Act and related rules to file reports concerning such person’s ownership of and transactions in Company equity securities.

“Section 162(m)” means Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor), together with the related U.S. Department of Treasury regulations.

“Share Unit” means a unit available for award under the Plan which: (1) upon vesting or payout, shall entitle the holder to receive from the Company for each Share Unit vested or paid, a share of Company Stock, and (2) until settled after vesting, or until forfeited, shall entitle the holder to be paid by the Company the equivalent of any cash dividend paid on Company Stock to which the holder would have been entitled if, on the date of grant of such Share Unit, the grantee of the Share Unit had instead been granted a Restricted Share or Performance Share.

 

 

“Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan which, upon exercise, shall entitle the holder to receive from the Company the Fair Market Value of a share of Company Stock on the exercise date minus the Fair Market Value of such a share on the date of grant.

 

(b)  References in this Plan to the “issuance” of shares, to shares “issued” or “issuable,” and the like, include transfers of treasury shares as well as new issuances of authorized but previously unissued shares.

 

(a)  General.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, subject to the express limitations set forth in the Plan.  The Committee may, by majority vote, grant Awards and determine the type, amount and other terms and conditions of each Award.  The Committee shall have authority to prescribe the forms of written agreements to evidence Awards, to interpret the Plan and the provisions of such agreements, to adopt administrative rules and procedures concerning administration of the Plan and to take such other action as it determines to be necessary, advisable, appropriate or convenient for the administration of the Plan in accordance with its purposes, including certifying whether any performance measures have been met.

The Committee may delegate to the chief executive officer of the Company, if also a director, some or all of its authority to grant Awards under the Plan to Employees who are not Section 16 Reporting Persons or Senior Vice Presidents or officers of higher rank, in which case actions taken by the chief executive officer pursuant to such delegated authority shall have the same effect as if taken by the Committee.  The chief executive officer shall periodically notify the Committee of any grants made pursuant to such delegation of authority.

The Committee may delegate performance of recordkeeping and other ministerial functions concerning the Plan and its day-to-day operations to such persons as it may specify from time to time.

(b)  Repricing. Absent stockholder approval, neither the Committee nor the Board shall approve a program providing for either (i) the cancellation of outstanding Options and/or SARs and the grant in substitution therefore of new Options and/or SARs having a lower exercise price or (ii) the amendment of outstanding Options and/or SARs to reduce the exercise price thereof.  This paragraph shall not be construed to apply to “issuing or assuming a stock option in a transaction to which section 424(a) applies,” within the meaning of Code Section 424.

(c) Interpretation and Construction.  If an Award is intended to qualify performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), any provision of the Plan that would prevent such Award from so qualifying shall be administered, interpreted and construed to carry out such intention and any provision that cannot be so administered, interpreted and construed shall to that extent be disregarded.

Any type of Award may be granted to any Employee at any time, except that Foreign Awards may be granted only as permitted under Section 10 of the Plan.  The type, amount, timing and other terms and conditions of Awards made to a grantee need not be uniform, comparable or proportionate among grantees.

(a) Maximum Number of Shares. For purposes of this section, “Affected Shares” are shares of Company Stock that have been issued as Restricted Shares or Units, Performance Awards, Additional Shares or similar Foreign Awards or that have been made subject to future issuance in settlement of Options (whether or not with related SARs), Share Units or Foreign Awards.  For a given date, the “Adjustment Period” comprises the Company’s current fiscal year to date, plus its four immediately preceding fiscal years.

The total number of Affected Shares shall never exceed 10% of the number of outstanding shares of Company Stock (exclusive of treasury shares) at the end of the immediately preceding Company fiscal year (rounded downward, if necessary to eliminate fractional shares)

 

(i)  minus the sum, for the Adjustment Period, of the numbers of:

 

(A)    Shares awarded as Restricted Shares or Performance Awards

 

(B)     Share Units awarded

(ii)  plus the sum, for the Adjustment Period, of the numbers of:

 

Stock options, SARs and other equity-based awards assumed by the Company in a merger or acquisition of another company shall not count against the shares available for Award under the Plan.

(b) ISO Award Limits. The number of shares covered by outstanding ISOs plus the number of shares issued in settlement of exercised ISOs under this Plan may not exceed 4,000,000 shares.

(c) Options, SARs, Restricted Awards, Performance Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. The number of shares of Company Stock subject to an Option, SAR, Restricted Award, Performance Award or Other Stock-Based Award shall be specified at the time of grant.  Subject to the limits on Award amounts set forth in Section 5(b) above, this Section 5(c) and any adjustment under Section 14 of the Plan: (i) the maximum number of shares of Company Stock that may be granted as Options (whether or not in tandem with SARs) during any consecutive five calendar years to any single Employee shall be 750,000; (ii) the maximum number of shares of Company Stock that may be granted in connection with stand-alone SARs during any consecutive five calendar years to any single Employee shall be 750,000; (iii) the maximum number of shares of Company Stock that may be granted in connection with Other Stock-Based Awards during any consecutive five calendar years to any single Employee shall be 750,000; (iv) the maximum number of shares of Company Stock subject to Restricted Awards that may be granted to any single Employee with respect to a single performance period during any consecutive five calendar years to any single Employee shall be 750,000; and (v) the maximum number of shares of Company Stock subject to Performance Shares and/or Performance Share Units that may be granted to any single Employee with respect to a single performance period is 100,000.

(d) Cash Denominated Award Limits.  The maximum amount of an Other Performance Award payable with respect to any single Employee shall be $500,000 multiplied by the number of years included in any applicable performance period(s) (and any applicable fraction for any portion of a performance period of less than one year) relating to such Awards.

(a) Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options. At the time of the grant of an Option, the Committee shall specify whether it is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, and the agreement evidencing such Option shall designate the Option accordingly.  However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares with respect to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by the grantee during any calendar year exceeds $100,000 (or such other amount as permitted by Code Section 422(d)) such Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.  For purposes of this Section 6(a), ISOs shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted.  The Committee may prescribe such terms and conditions for an ISO grant, other than those specified in the Plan, as it deems desirable to qualify the Option as an incentive stock option under the Code.  If an Option (or any portion thereof) intended by the Committee to be an ISO fails to qualify as an ISO, either at the time of grant or subsequently, such failure to qualify shall not invalidate the Option (or such portion), and instead the nonqualified portion (or, if necessary, the entire Option) shall be deemed to have been granted as a Nonqualified Stock Option regardless of its designation in the grant and in the Option agreement.

 

 

(b) Exercisability. The time at which any portion of an Option first becomes exercisable (which may be at or after the date of grant) and the latest date on which the Option may be exercised (the “expiration date”) shall be as specified at the time of grant.  However, the expiration date for any ISO granted to an Over-10% Owner may be no later than five years after the grant, and the expiration date for any other Option may be no later than ten years after the date of grant.  The Committee may, in its discretion, accelerate the exercisability of any portion of an Option or provide for automatic acceleration of exercisability of any portion of an Option upon the occurrence of such events as it may specify, such as upon the death or Disability of a grantee.  However, no acceleration of exercisability of any portion of an ISO shall be effective without the consent of the Option holder if such acceleration would cause the ISO or any other ISO of such holder (or any portion thereof) to become a Nonqualified Stock Option.  During the lifetime of the grantee of an Option, the Option may be exercised only by the grantee or the grantee’s legal representative.

(c) Exercise Price. Unless a higher price is specified at the time of grant, the per share exercise price of each Option shall be the Fair Market Value of a share of Company Stock on the date of grant, except that the per share exercise price of any ISO granted to an Over-10% Owner shall be at least 110% of such Fair Market Value on the grant date.

(d) Exercise Procedures and Payment. The holder of an exercisable Option (or Option portion) may exercise it in whole or in part by complying with such procedures for exercise as are then in effect and tendering payment in full of the aggregate exercise price for the number of shares in respect of which the Option is then being exercised.  Except to the extent further restricted or limited at the time of grant, payment may be made (1) entirely in cash, (2) by delivery of whole shares of Company Stock owned by the Option holder for more than six months on the date of surrender, (3) pursuant to a cashless exercise program implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan or (4) by any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. Any shares delivered in payment shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of delivery.

(e) Effect of Employment Termination. The Committee shall determine the disposition of the grant of each Option in the event of the disability, death or other termination of employment of an Employee.

(f) Restoration Options. Subject to the provisions below, the Committee may provide that an Option shall also carry with it a right to receive another Option (a “Restoration Option”) in certain circumstances.  A Restoration Option may be created at the time of grant of an Option (for purposes of this paragraph, an “original Option”) that is not itself a Restoration Option at the time a Restoration Option arises (so as to provide a subsequent Restoration Option to it), or at any other time while the grantee continues to be eligible for Awards and the original or Restoration Option (the “prior Option”) is outstanding.  In addition to any other terms and conditions (including additional limitations on exercisability) that the Committee deems appropriate, each Restoration Option shall be subject to the following:

(i) A Restoration Option may arise only if, earlier than six months before the expiration date of the prior Option, the grantee exercises the prior Option (or a portion thereof) while still an Employee and pays all or some of the relevant exercise price in shares of Company Stock that have been owned by the grantee for at least six months prior to exercise

(ii) The number of shares subject to the Restoration Option shall be the number of whole shares delivered in exercise of the prior Option, except that the number will be reduced to the extent necessary for the Plan to comply with the limitations imposed by Section 5 of the Plan

(iii) The Restoration Option shall arise and be granted (if ever) at the time of payment of the relevant exercise price in respect of the prior Option

(iv) The per share exercise price of the Restoration Option shall be the Fair Market Value of a share of Company Stock on the date the Restoration Option arises

(v) The expiration date of the Restoration Option shall be the same as that of the prior Option

(vi) The Restoration Option shall first become exercisable six months after it arises

(vii) The Restoration Option shall be a Nonqualified Stock Option.

 

(a) Types of SARs Authorized. SARs may be granted in tandem with all or any portion of a related Option (a “Tandem SAR”) or may be granted independently of any Option (a “Stand-Alone SAR”).  A Tandem SAR may be granted either concurrently with the grant of the related Option or at any time thereafter prior to the complete exercise, termination, expiration or cancellation of such related Option.

(b) Exercise Price.  The exercise price for each SAR shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (i) the exercise price per share subject to a Tandem SAR shall be the exercise price per share under the related Option (but not less than the Fair Market Value per share of Company Stock on the effective date of grant of the SAR) and (ii) the exercise price per share subject to a Stand-Alone SAR shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Company Stock on the effective date of grant of the SAR.

(c) Exercisability and Termination.

(i) Tandem SARs.  Tandem SARs shall be exercisable as follows, subject to such other provisions as the Committee may specify when the Tandem SAR is granted:

(A) The only persons entitled to exercise such SARs shall be the holder of the related Option or such holder’s legal representative

(B) The expiration date of such SARs shall be the same as that of the related Option

(C) SARs shall be exercisable if (and only if) and to the extent that the related Option is then exercisable, except that SARs shall not be exercisable by a Section 16 Reporting Person at any time within six months after the date on which the SARs were granted even if the related Option is then exercisable

(D) Exercise of SARs shall automatically terminate the related Option with respect to the same number of shares as the number of SARs being exercised

(E) Exercise, cancellation or termination of an Option shall automatically terminate the same number of related SARs as the number of shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised, canceled or terminated

(F) Tandem SARs related to an Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable only when the then Fair Market Value of a share of Company Stock exceeds the exercise price of the Incentive Stock Option.

(ii) Stand-Alone SARs. Stand-Alone SARs shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award agreement evidencing such SAR; provided, however, that no Stand-Alone SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such SAR.

(d) Exercise Procedures and Settlement Elections.  Exercisable SARs may be exercised at any time in accordance with such exercise procedures as are then in effect.  Except to the extent further restricted at the time of grant, at or prior to exercise of SARs, the holder may elect to have the exercised SARs settled (1) entirely in cash, (2) to the extent possible, in whole shares of Company Stock and the balance in cash, or (3) partially in cash in an amount specified by the holder and the balance in whole shares of Company Stock plus cash in lieu of any fractional share.  If no election is made, the SARs shall be settled in any of the foregoing manners as the Committee shall determine. For purposes of settlement, shares of Company Stock shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the settlement date.

(e) Effect of Termination of Employment. A SAR shall be exercisable after a grantee’s termination of employment to the extent and during such period as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, and as set forth in the Award agreement evidencing such SAR.

 

(a)  General. Awards of Restricted Shares are awards of actual Company Stock, while Awards of Restricted Share Units are awards that may consist of Company Stock, cash equivalents of Company Stock, or a combination of both.  The restrictions that may be imposed relate to possession, vesting and conditions to vesting, payment of dividends and potential forfeiture.

 

(b)  Restriction Period.  At the time of grant of a Restricted Award, the Committee shall establish a period of no less than twelve months with respect to such Restricted Award, which period (the “restriction period”) shall commence on the date of grant.  The Committee may provide for such restriction period to lapse in installments.  The Committee may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of a Restricted Award as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.  By way of example and not by way of limitation, the Committee may require, as a condition to the vesting of any Restricted Award, that the grantee or the Company achieves such performance goals as the Committee may specify.  If a Restricted Award is intended to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m), all requirements set forth in Section 9B that otherwise apply to Performance Awards must also be satisfied with respect to such Restricted Award in order for a grantee to be entitled to payment.

(c) Vesting and Forfeiture.  If the grantee of a Restricted Award remains an Employee throughout the applicable restriction period, and any other conditions imposed by the Committee are satisfied, the entire Restricted Award shall become fully vested and no longer subject to forfeiture at the end of the restriction period.  If the grantee ceases to be an Employee during the restriction period due to death or Disability, the Award shall be vested in proportion to the then elapsed portion of the restriction period, and the remainder of such Award shall be forfeited, unless the Committee determines to waive such forfeiture in whole or in part, and vest those Shares or Units.  If the grantee otherwise ceases to be an Employee during the restriction period, the Committee shall determine the disposition of the Award.

(d) Restricted Share Certificates and Dividends or Distributions.  Restricted Shares shall be issued to the grantee as promptly as practicable after the grant, but the certificates representing such Restricted Shares shall bear an appropriate legend and shall be held by the Company.  Non-cash dividends or other distributions upon Restricted Shares shall be retained and held by the Company, pending vesting or forfeiture of the Restricted Shares.  Such retained non-cash dividends and other distributions shall be vested or forfeited, as the case may be, upon the vesting or forfeiture of such Restricted Shares.  Non-cash dividends and other distributions that vest shall be distributed to the grantee of the Restricted Shares as promptly as practicable after the vesting date.  The grantee of Restricted Shares shall be entitled to receive any cash dividends paid with respect to such Shares during the restriction period.

(e) Settlement of Restricted Share Units.  An Award of Restricted Share Units that vests shall be settled in cash, whole shares of Company Stock (valued at Fair Market Value as of the settlement date), or a combination thereof, as the Committee shall determine.  The mode of settlement shall not violate the Plan’s limitations on available shares or any limitations imposed by the Committee at the time of grant of the Award or at any other time while the Award is unvested and the grantee is still an Employee.  Restricted Share Units that vest shall be settled in full as soon as practicable after the vesting date, and no later than two and one-half months after the calendar year in which vesting occurs.

(a) Performance Period and Goals.  At the time of grant of a Performance Award, the Committee shall establish a performance period with respect to such Performance Award of not less than one year nor more than five years.  If the Award is granted during the first fiscal quarter of the Company’s fiscal year, the performance period will commence on the first day of that fiscal year.  Otherwise, the performance period will commence on the date of grant. At the time of grant of the Performance Award, the Committee shall also establish one or more business performance goals for the performance period and, if it establishes more than one, the weight to be given each such goal (collectively, “performance goals”).  The initial performance goals with respect to a Performance Award may be modified or adjusted during the performance period in light of previously unforeseen transactions, events or circumstances occurring after the initial performance goals are established. All performance goals shall be subject to the approval of the Board. With respect to Other Performance Awards, the Committee shall have no obligation whatsoever to set performance goals for any three year period other than 2012-2014.

(b) Performance Assessment, Vesting and Forfeiture. As soon as practicable after the end of the performance period for a Performance Award, the Committee shall determine the extent to which the performance goals for that Award were attained.  Subject to the terms of any applicable award agreement (which terms shall govern), if the grantee of a Performance Award remains an Employee throughout the applicable performance period, and any other conditions imposed by the Committee are satisfied, the Performance Award (or any applicable portion thereof based on the extent the performance-goals are satisfied) shall become vested according to its terms and no longer subject to forfeiture at the end of the performance period.  If the grantee ceases to be an Employee during the performance period due to his or her death, Disability or termination by the Company without Cause, at the end of the performance period the grantee shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of the portion of the Performance Award that would have otherwise vested if his or her employment had continued until the end of such performance period, based on the portion of the performance period that the grantee was employed by the Company, and the remainder of such Performance Award shall be forfeited, unless the Committee determines to waive such forfeiture in whole or in part; provided, however, that in the event of a termination by the Company without Cause, the Committee has no such discretion to waive such forfeiture if the grantee is a Named Executive Officer or an individual that the Committee reasonably believes may become a Named Executive Officer and designates the Performance Award as subject to Section 162(m)'s requirements (a “Prospective NEO”).  If a grantee who is not a Named Executive Officer otherwise ceases to be an Employee during the performance period for any reason other than death, Disability or termination by the Company without Cause, the Committee shall determine the disposition of the Performance Award.   If a grantee who is a Named Executive Officer otherwise ceases to be an Employee during the performance period for any reason other than death, Disability or termination by the Company without Cause, the Performance Award will be forfeited in its entirety. Performance Awards that vest shall be settled in full as soon as practicable after the vesting date, and no later than two and one-half months after the calendar year in which vesting occurs.

 

 

(c) Additional Shares.  At the end of the performance period, the Committee may recommend a grant of Additional Shares to the grantee of a Performance Award that is settled in Company Stock if the grantee is then an Employee and is not a Named Executive Officer, and the Committee determines that satisfaction of the performance goals so warrants.  Additional Shares awarded to a grantee shall be immediately vested and shall be issued to the grantee as soon as practicable after the grant.

(d) Other Matters.  The provisions of Section 8(d) of the Plan shall also apply to Performance Shares, and the provisions of Section 8(e) shall also apply to Performance Share Units.  The Committee may make interim grants of Awards to new Employees in a fair and equitable manner.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, settle any vested and payable Other Performance Award (1) entirely in cash, (2) to the extent possible, in whole shares of Company Stock and the balance in cash, or (3) partially in cash in an amount specified by the Committee and the balance in whole shares of Company Stock. For purposes of settlement, shares of Company Stock shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the settlement date.

(a) Special Provisions Applicable.  Notwithstanding other provisions of the Plan, the provisions of this Section 9B shall apply to all Performance Awards granted to Named Executive Officers.  Such Performance Awards are intended to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” that are not subject to the tax deduction limit imposed by Section 162(m).  Except as superseded by this Section 9B, all provisions of the Plan applicable to Performance Awards shall also apply to such Performance Awards granted to Named Executive Officers.

(b) Timing of Grants.  Performance Awards may be granted to Named Executive Officers only during the first quarter of the Company’s fiscal year.

(c) Performance Objectives and Payout Schedules.  At or prior to the grant of each Performance Award to a Named Executive Officer or Prospective NEO, the Committee shall establish one or more objectively determinable performance goals (which may be annual, cumulative or based on some other portion of the performance period) for the Award relating to one or more or any combination of the following areas of Company or other business unit performance over the relevant performance period.

(i) Earnings (which includes similar measurements such as net profits, operating profits, operating earnings, and net income, and which may be calculated before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, amortization or taxes, as specified at the time of the any Performance Award is granted) or earnings per share of Company Stock;

(ii) Revenues;

(iii) Cash flow;

(iv) Return on revenues, sales, assets or equity;

(v) Customer or employee retention;

(vi) Customer satisfaction;

(vii) Expenses or expense levels;

(viii) One or more operating ratios;

(ix) Stock price;

 

 

(x) Market share;

(xi) Capital expenditures;

(xii) Net borrowing, debt leverage levels, credit quality or debt ratings;

(xiii) The accomplishment of mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, public offerings or similar extraordinary business transactions;

(xiv) The Company’s Quality Management System;

(xv) Shareholder return;

(xvi) Organizational health/productivity;

(xvii) Sales volume; and/or

(xviii) Brand or product recognition/acceptance

At the same time, the Committee shall establish a payout schedule for the Performance Award, which shall be a predetermined range from zero percent of the Other Performance Award, Performance Shares and/or Performance Share Units constituting the Award (if actual Company results for the period do not at least equal a minimum amount or level specified by the Committee) to 200 percent of such Award (if actual Company results for the performance period at least equal the performance goal(s) established) and shall be structured so as to permit objective determination of payouts over the full range of actual Company results.  At the time any Performance Award is granted, the Committee shall specify which (if any) types or categories of extraordinary, unusual, non-recurring, or other items or events shall be excluded or otherwise not fully taken into account when actual Company results relating to such goal(s) are calculated, and the only adjustments in actual Company results which thereafter shall be permissible for purposes of applying the established payout schedule for the Performance Award shall be objectively determinable adjustments for the items or events so specified.

(d) No Discretion to Increase Awards or Waive Forfeitures.  The Committee may establish other preconditions to payout of a Performance Award to a Named Executive Officer, including preconditions that may call for subjective determinations by the Committee.  The otherwise scheduled payout on any Performance Award granted to a Named Executive Officer may be reduced by the Committee to the extent it deems appropriate if, in the Committee’s judgment, the Named Executive Officer’s individual performance during the performance period has not warranted the scheduled payout.  However, for so long as Code Section 162(m) may require, the payout on any Performance Award granted to a Named Executive Officer shall not exceed the payout permissible under the Award’s payout schedule, and no Additional Shares or additional cash amount shall be granted to any Named Executive Officer.

(e) Certification by Committee.  As soon as practicable following the completion of the performance period applicable to a Performance Award, the Committee shall certify in writing the extent to which the applicable performance goals have been attained and the resulting final value of the Award earned by the Named Executive Officer.

The Committee may modify the terms of any type of Award described in Sections 6, 7, 8 or 9A of the Plan for grant to an Employee who is subject to tax or similar laws of a country other than the United States and may grant such modified Award, and structure and grant other types of awards related to appreciation in value of Company Stock, to such an Employee, as the Committee determines necessary or advisable in order to provide such grantee with benefits and incentives comparable (to the extent practically possible) to those which would be provided the grantee if the grantee were not subject to such foreign laws.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Employee is also subject to Code Section 409A, the modifications of any type of Award described in Sections 6, 7, 8, or 9A of the Plan, or the structure of other types of awards related to appreciation in value of Company Stock may not be made in a manner that would cause non-compliance with Code Section 409A.

 

The Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant Awards of Company Stock or Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on the Fair Market Value of Company Stock (“Other Stock-Based Awards”).  Such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be in such form, and dependent on such conditions, as the Committee shall determine including, without limitation, the right to receive one or more shares of Company Stock (or the equivalent cash value of such shares) upon the completion of a specified period of service, the occurrence of an event, the attainment of performance objectives and/or other criteria specified by the Committee. Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted alone or in addition to any other Awards granted under the Plan.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall determine to whom and when Other Stock-Based Awards will be made; the number of shares to be awarded under (or otherwise related to) such Other Stock-Based Awards; whether such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be settled in cash, Company Stock or a combination of cash and Company Stock; and all other terms and conditions of such Awards (including, without limitation, the vesting provisions thereof).  If an Other Stock-Based Award is intended to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m), all requirements set forth in Section 9B that otherwise apply to Performance Awards must also be satisfied with respect to such Other Stock-Based Award in order for a grantee to be entitled to payment. Other Stock-Based Awards must provide either that they will be paid no later than 2 1/2 months after the end of the calendar year in which they vest or that they will be paid in a lump-sum payment at a specified time, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(i).

(a) Award Agreements.  Each Award (other than any award of Additional Shares and any similar Foreign Award unless the Committee otherwise determines) shall be evidenced by a written agreement setting forth the type, amount and other terms and conditions of such Award, as are not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall have specified with respect to such Award.

(b) Transfer Restrictions; Potential Forfeiture.  No Option or SAR, no Other Stock-Based Award, no unvested Performance Award or Restricted Award, no Foreign Award similar to any of the foregoing, and none of the rights or privileges conferred by any such Award may be sold, assigned, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred in any manner whatsoever, except that, if the Committee determines that such transfer will not violate any requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Internal Revenue Service, the Committee may permit an intervivos transfer by gift to or for the benefit of a family member of the grantee.  Any attempt to sell, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise transfer any such Award or any of the rights and privileges conferred thereby contrary to the provisions of the Plan shall be void and unenforceable against the Company.

(c) Overriding Precondition; Potential Forfeiture.  It shall be an overriding precondition to the vesting of each Performance Award, Restricted Award, Other Stock-Based Award, and similar Foreign Award and the exercisability of each Option, SAR and similar Foreign Award: (1) that the grantee of such Award not engage in any activity that, in the opinion of the Committee, is in competition with any activity of the Company or any Affiliated Entity or is otherwise inimical to the best interests of the Company and that has not been approved by the Board or the Committee and (2) that the grantee furnish the Committee with all the information confirming satisfaction of the foregoing condition that the Committee reasonably requests.  If the Committee determines that a grantee has engaged in any activity prohibited by the foregoing conditions, all of the grantee’s then outstanding Options, SARs and similar Foreign Awards shall immediately be cancelled, and all of the grantee’s then unvested Restricted Awards, Performance Awards, Other Stock-Based Awards, and similar Foreign Awards shall immediately be forfeited.

(d) Tax Withholding; Notice to Company of Certain Actions.  Whenever cash is to be paid pursuant to the settlement of an Award, the Company shall have the right to deduct therefrom an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state and local withholding tax requirements related thereto.

The Committee may provide, on request of a grantee, for withholding of otherwise issuable shares upon the grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of Awards or for the tender of other shares of Company Stock owned by such grantee or holder in order to satisfy tax withholding obligations arising in connection with the grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of an Award.  If the Committee grants such elections, it may condition, limit or qualify them in any manner it deems appropriate.

If any grantee shall, in connection with the acquisition of shares of Company Stock under the Plan, make the election permitted under Code Section 83(b) (i.e., an election to include in gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Code Section 83(b)), the grantee shall notify the Company of such election within ten days of filing notice with the Internal Revenue Service, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to regulations issued under the authority of Code Section 83(b).

 

 

(e) Stockholder Status.  The grantee of an Award, and other persons to whom the Award or the grantee’s rights thereunder may pass, shall have no rights or privileges of a holder of shares of Company Stock, in respect of any shares issuable pursuant to or in settlement of such Award, unless and until certificates representing such shares have been issued in their name(s).

No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award.  The grant of an Award shall not confer upon any Employee a right with respect to continued employment by the Company or an Affiliated Entity.  Further, the Company and each Affiliated Entity reaffirms its at-will employment relationship with its Employees and expressly reserves the right to dismiss a grantee at any time free from any liability or claim, except as provided under this Plan.

In the event of a stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, combination of shares or conversion or exchange of voting shares for non-voting shares, the Board shall make a proportionate adjustment to the number and kind of shares available for issuance in the aggregate and to any individual under and pursuant to the Plan (including the settlement of ISOs), the number and kind of shares covered by outstanding Options and the per share exercise price of such Options, the numbers of outstanding SARs and Share Units and the terms of Foreign Awards.  In the event of a reorganization or recapitalization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company, a rights offering or any other change in the corporate or capital structure of the Company (other than as provided in the immediately preceding sentence), the Board shall make such adjustments as it may deem appropriate in the number and kind of shares available for issuance in the aggregate and to any individual under and pursuant to the Plan (including in settlement of ISOs), the number and kind of shares covered by outstanding Options and the per share exercise price of such Options, the numbers of outstanding SARs and Share Units and the terms of Foreign Awards.  Any adjustment with respect to an ISO in connection with a transaction to which Section 424(a) of the Code (or its successor) applies shall be made in accordance therewith unless the Board specifically determines otherwise.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall not make any adjustment to the number of shares covered by outstanding Options or the per share exercise price of such Options or the number of outstanding SARs that would cause the exercise price to be less than the Fair Market Value of the underlying shares on the date the Option or SAR was granted or cause the number of shares subject to the Option or SAR to be other than fixed on the original date of grant of the Option or SAR.

The Plan shall become effective upon approval by the Board, subject to approval of the stockholders of the Company, and shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless terminated by the Board.  The Board may amend, suspend or terminate any portion or all of the Plan at any time, but no such Board action shall adversely affect the rights of any grantee or other holder of any Award then outstanding or unvested without the consent of such grantee or holder, unless such amendment or termination is necessary to comply with any applicable law, regulation or rule.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan shall not be amended without the approval of the Company’s stockholders (a) to increase the maximum aggregate number of shares of Company Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of Section 14); (b) to change the class of persons eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options; or (c) to make any other amendment that would require approval of the Company’s stockholders under any applicable law, regulation or rule.

(a) Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the State of Delaware.

(b) Severability.  If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any grantee or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be construed or deemed stricken as to such jurisdiction, grantee or Award, and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.