Koppers Holdings Inc. 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan

EX-10.1 2 kop-ex101_105.htm EX-10.1 kop-ex101_105.htm

Exhibit 10.1

 

KOPPERS HOLDINGS INC.

2018 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

AS ADOPTED EFFECTIVE MARCH 21, 2018

Section 1. Purpose

The purposes of the Koppers Holdings Inc. 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) are to encourage selected individuals in the service of Koppers Holdings Inc. (together with any successor thereto, the “Company”) and its Affiliates (as defined below) to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company’s growth and performance, to generate an increased incentive to contribute to the Company’s future success and to enhance the ability of the Company and its Affiliates to attract and retain qualified individuals. Upon becoming effective, the Plan replaces, and no further awards shall be made under, the Predecessor Plan.

Section 2. Definitions

As used in the Plan:

(a)

“Affiliate” means (i) any entity that, directly or through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the Company, and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest as determined by the Committee.

(b)

“Award” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award or Dividend Equivalent granted under the Plan.

(c)

“Award Agreement” means any written or electronic agreement or other instrument or document evidencing an Award granted under the Plan. The terms of any plan or guideline adopted by the Board or the Committee and applicable to an Award shall be deemed incorporated in and a part of the related Award Agreement.

(d)

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(e)

“Change in Control” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9(c).

(f)

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. References to the Code shall include the valid and binding governmental regulations, court decisions and other regulatory and judicial authority issued or rendered thereunder.

(g)

“Committee” means a committee of the Board designated by the Board to administer the Plan and composed of not less than two directors, each of whom is (i) qualified as a “Non-Employee Director” as contemplated by the Section 16 Rules and (ii) satisfies the independence standards established for compensation committee members by the Stock Exchange serving at the time as the primary market for the Company’s common stock. Such Committee may from time to time be hereinafter referred to as the “Primary Committee.” The term “Committee” shall also mean any Secondary Committee or Special Award Committee, to the extent such Secondary Committee or Special Award Committee acts within its administrative jurisdiction under the Plan.

(h)

“Dividend Equivalent” means any right granted under Section 6(e)(v) of the Plan.

(i)

“Effective Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11 of the Plan.

(j)

“Employee” means any individual in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate, subject to the control and direction of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance.

(k)

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any property other than shares of the Company’s common stock, the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Primary Committee. Fair Market Value means, with respect to shares of the Company’s common stock, the closing selling price per share at the close of regular hours trading (i.e., before after-hours trading begins) on the date in question on the Stock Exchange serving at the time as the primary market for the Company’s common stock, as such price is reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers (if primarily traded on the Nasdaq Global or Global Select Market) or as officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on any other Stock Exchange on which the Company’s common stock is then primarily traded. If there is no closing selling price for the Company’s common stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

1


 

(l)

“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles.

(m)

“Incentive Stock Option” means an option to purchase Shares granted under Section 6(a) of the Plan that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or a successor provision thereto.

(n)

“Long Term Performance Award” means an Award made in accordance with Section 6(c)(iii) of the Plan.

(o)

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

(p)

“Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an option to purchase Shares granted under Section 6(a) of the Plan that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.

(q)

“Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(r)

“Participant” means an Employee or other eligible individual determined under Section 5 granted an Award under the Plan.

(s)

“Performance Award” means any award granted under Section 6(c) of the Plan.

(t)

“Performance Bonus” means an award denominated in cash or Shares that is made under Section 6(c)(ii) of the Plan and that is paid solely on account of the attainment of one or more specified performance targets in relation to one or more Performance Measures.

(u)

“Performance Cycle” means, with respect to any Award that vests based on Performance Measures, the period over which the level of performance will be assessed.

(v)

“Performance Measure” means, with respect to any Performance Bonus or Long Term Performance Award, the business criteria selected by the Committee to measure the level of performance of the Company and/or its Affiliates during a Performance Cycle. The Committee may select as the Performance Measure for a Performance Cycle any performance goals which it may consider appropriate for the award, which may include one or combination of the following Company measures, as interpreted by the Committee, which measures (to the extent applicable) will be determined in accordance with GAAP: (i) earnings or operating income before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and/or charges for stock-based compensation; (ii) earnings or operating income before interest and taxes and/or charges for stock-based compensation (iii) earnings per share; (iv) growth in earnings or earnings per share; (v) market price of the Company’s common stock; (vi) return on equity or average shareholder equity; (vii) total shareholder return or growth in total shareholder return, either directly or in relation to a comparative group; (viii) return on capital; (ix) return on assets or net assets; (x) invested capital, rate of return on capital, return on invested capital or improvements on capital structure; (xi) bond ratings; (xii) safety, health or environmental record or performance; (xiii) sales, revenue, growth in revenue or return on sales; (xiv) income or net income; (xv) operating income or net operating income; (xvi) operating profit or net operating profit; (xvii) operating margin; (xviii) return on operating revenue or return on operating profit; (xix) cash flow or cash flow per share (before or after dividends); (xx) market share; (xxi) collections and recoveries, (xxii) debt reduction, borrowing levels, leverage ratios or credit rating; (xxiii) compliance with covenants in the Company’s and/or its Affiliates’ debt agreements; (xxiv) litigation and regulatory resolution goals, (xxv) expense control goals, (xxvi) budget comparisons, (xxvii) development and implementation of strategic plans and/or organizational restructuring goals; (xxviii) productivity goals; (xxix) workforce management and succession planning goals; (xxx) economic value added or other value added measures, (xxxi) on-time delivery, quality standards and/or other measures of customer satisfaction, (xxxii) employee retention and/or attrition rates; (xxxiii) comparable site sales; (xxxiv) resolution and/or settlement of litigation and other legal proceedings; (xxxv) regulatory compliance; (xxxvi) satisfactory internal or external audits; (xxxvii) improvement of financial ratings; (xxxviii) strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified market penetration, geographic business expansion goals, cost targets, management of employment practices and employee benefits, or supervision of information technology; (xxxix) formation of joint ventures or marketing or customer service collaborations or the completion of other corporate transactions intended to enhance the Company’s revenue or profitability or enhance its customer base; (xxxx) mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and/or business expansion; and (xxxxi) other similar criteria consistent with the foregoing.

(w)

“Performance Unit” means an award made under Section 6(c)(iii) of the Plan and that is paid on account of the attainment of one or more specified performance targets in relation to one or more Performance Measures.

2


 

(x)

“Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled” shall mean the inability of the Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of twelve (12) months or more.  

(y)

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, or government or political subdivision thereof.

(z)

“Predecessor Plan” means the Koppers Holdings Inc. 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated effective March 24, 2016.

(aa)

“Released Securities” means securities that were Restricted Securities with respect to which all applicable restrictions imposed under the terms of the relevant Award have expired, lapsed or been waived or satisfied.

(bb)

“Restricted Securities” means Awards of Restricted Stock or other Awards under which outstanding Shares are held subject to certain restrictions.

(cc)

“Restricted Stock” means any Share granted under Section 6(b) of the Plan.

(dd)

“Restricted Stock Unit” means any right granted under Section 6(b) of the Plan that is denominated in Shares. Restricted Stock Units may be settled in Shares, in cash of equivalent Fair Market Value, or any combination as determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

(ee)

“Secondary Committee” means a committee of two or more Board members, including Board members who are also officers or employees of the Company or any Affiliate, appointed by the Board to administer the Plan and to make Awards with respect to persons other than Section 16 Insiders.

(ff)

“Section 16 Insider” means each officer of the Company (or any Affiliate) and Board member who is subject to the short-swing trading restrictions of Section 16 of the 1934 Act.

(gg)

“Section 16 Rules” means the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to Section 16 of the 1934 Act or any successor rules.

(hh)

“Shares” means the common stock of the Company and such other securities or property as may become the subject of Awards pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 4(c) of the Plan.

(ii)

“Special Award Committee” shall mean a committee of one or more executive officers appointed by the Board to administer the Plan with respect to eligible employees other than members of such committee and Section 16 Insiders.

(jj)

“Stock Appreciation Right” means a tandem or stand-alone stock appreciation right granted pursuant to Section 6(d) of the Plan.

(kk)

“Stock Exchange” shall mean the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global or Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange, or any other principal securities exchange upon which the Company’s common stock is traded.

(ll)

“Target Amount” means the amount of the Performance Bonus or the amount per Performance Unit that will be paid to the Participant if the Performance Measure applicable to that Performance Bonus or Performance Unit is fully (100%) attained, as determined by the Committee.

(mm)

“Target Vesting Percentage” means the percentage of each performance-based Restricted Stock Unit or Restricted Stock Award that will vest if the Performance Measure applicable to that Performance-Based Award is fully (100%) attained, as determined by the Committee.

(nn)

“10% Shareholder” means an Employee who, as of the date on which an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such Employee, owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of Shares then issued by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

Section 3. Administration

The Primary Committee shall serve as the primary administrator of the Plan and in that capacity shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the Awards to be granted to Participants; (iii) determine the number of Shares (or securities convertible into Shares) to be covered by Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares or other securities or property, or canceled, substituted, forfeited or suspended, and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, substituted, forfeited or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what

3


 

circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award under the Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant or of the Committee; (vii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and guidelines and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the administration of the Plan; (ix) establish and interpret the various Performance Measures (or, as applicable, other performance criteria) that are to apply to the Performance Bonuses and Long Term Performance Awards made under the Plan, evaluate the level of performance over the applicable Performance Cycle, certify the level at which Performance Measures (or other performance criteria, as applicable) for that Performance Cycle has been attained and determine the amount payable with respect to those Awards based on the certified level of Performance Measure attainment; (x) waive the forfeiture period and any other conditions set forth in any Award Agreement under appropriate circumstances (including the death, disability or retirement of the Participant or a material change in circumstances arising after the date of an Award) and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate; and (xi) make any other determination and take any other action that it deems necessary or desirable for such administration. The Board may also establish a Secondary Committee and delegate to such committee separate but concurrent authority with the Primary Committee to exercise all of the foregoing power and authority with respect to Awards to persons other than Section 16 Insiders. In addition, administration of the Plan may, at the Board’s or Primary Committee’s discretion, be vested in a Special Award Committee with authority to administer the Plan with respect to employees other than Section 16 Insiders and members of such Special Award Committee and to make Awards to such individuals under the Plan subject to such limitations and other terms and conditions as the Board shall specify from time to time. All designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be made by the Primary Committee or, with respect to Awards under its jurisdiction, the Secondary Committee or Special Award Committee, and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, any Affiliate, any Participants, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, any shareholder and any employee of the Company or of any Affiliate. The powers of the Primary Committee, Special Award Committee and the Secondary Committee include the adoption of modifications, amendments, procedures, subplans and the like as are necessary to comply with provisions of the laws of other countries in which the Company or an Affiliate may operate in order to assure the viability of Awards granted under the Plan and to enable Participants employed in such other countries to receive benefits under the Plan and such laws.

Section 4. Shares Available for Awards

(a)

Shares Available. The aggregate number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be 900,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, less any shares of the Company’s common stock for any awards made under the Predecessor Plan after March 2, 2018 and before the Effective Date, subject to the share counting provisions and adjustment procedures set forth in subsection (b) and (c) below.  In addition, shares of Common Stock underlying any outstanding award granted under the Predecessor Plan that, following the Effective Date, expires, or is terminated, surrendered or forfeited for any reason without issuance of such shares shall be available for the grant of new Awards under this Plan.  For this purpose, for any performance-vesting share-based awards granted under the Predecessor Plan that become earned after the Effective Date, (i) any shares earned shall be satisfied from the Predecessor Plan share pool to the extent available, (ii) any shares earned in excess of the Predecessor Plan share pool shall be issued from the aggregate number of Shares available for issuance under this Plan, and (iii) any shares that are not earned as a result of performance results shall be treated as forfeitures in accordance with the preceding sentence.  In no event may more than 900,000 Shares be issued pursuant to Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan, subject to adjustment pursuant to subsection (c) below.

(b)

Share Counting. The aggregate number of Shares available with respect to Awards under the Plan shall be reduced by one (1) Share for each Share to which an Award relates; provided, however, that any Award (or any portion) settled in cash will not be counted against, or have any effect upon, the number of Shares available for issuance under this Plan. If any Shares covered by an Award granted under the Plan, or to which such an Award relates, are forfeited, or otherwise terminates or is canceled without the delivery of Shares, then the Shares covered by such Award, or to which such Award relates, or the number of Shares otherwise counted against the aggregate number of shares with respect to which Awards may be granted, to the extent of any such forfeiture, termination or cancellation, shall again become Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted; provided, however, that Shares (i) delivered or withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price or base price of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, (ii) not issued upon the settlement of Stock Appreciation Rights, (iii) repurchased by the Company using proceeds from Option exercises or (iv) delivered to or withheld by the Company to pay federal, state or local withholding taxes, shall not become available again for issuance under this Plan. Shares issued under

4


 

Awards granted in assumption, substitution or exchange for previously granted awards of a company acquired by the Company or an Affiliate (“Substitute Awards”) shall not reduce the Shares available under the Plan, and available shares under a shareholder approved plan of an acquired company (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Plan’s Share reserve (subject to any applicable stock exchange listing requirements).

(c)

Adjustments. In the event that the Committee determines that any dividend or other distribution (other than regular cash dividends), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an adjustment is determined by the Primary Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number and type of Shares (or other securities or property) which thereafter may be made the subject of Awards under Section 4(a), (ii) the number and type of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, (iii) the grant, purchase or exercise price with respect to any Award, or, if the Committee deems it appropriate, make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award, (iv) the performance goals relating to outstanding Awards, (v) the maximum number of Shares or other securities which may be issued under Section 4(a) pursuant to Incentive Stock Options, and (vi) the maximum number of Shares or other securities for which any one Participant may be granted Awards pursuant to the limitations contained in Section 4(d). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant to whom Dividend Equivalents or dividend units have been awarded shall not be entitled to receive a special or extraordinary dividend or distribution unless the Committee shall have expressly authorized such receipt.

(d)

Limitation of Non-Employee Director Awards. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the aggregate grant date fair value (computed as of the date of grant in accordance with applicable financial accounting rules) of all Awards granted to any non-Employee member of the Board during any single calendar year under this Plan (excluding Awards made at the election of such non-Employee director in lieu of all or a portion of annual and committee cash retainers) shall not exceed $200,000.

Section 5. Eligibility

Any Employee, including any officer or employee member of the Board, any non-employee member of the Board or the board of directors of an Affiliate, and any consultant in the service of the Company or an Affiliate shall be eligible to be designated a Participant. However, any Employee who is a member of a collective bargaining unit shall not be eligible to be designated a Participant unless the collective bargaining agreement covering that Employee allows for his or her participation in the Plan.

Section 6. Awards

(a)

Options. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine:

 

(i)

Exercise Price. The purchase price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that such purchase price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option (or 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share in case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a 10% Shareholder), except in connection with Substitute Awards.

 

(ii)

Option Term. The term of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee, provided that in no event shall the term of an Option exceed a period of ten years from the date of its grant (or five years in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a 10% Shareholder).

 

(iii)

Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part (but in no event shall an Option be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date of its grant (or five years in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a 10% Shareholder)), and the method or methods by which, and the form or forms (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price, including for this purpose a cashless net exercise) in which, payment of the exercise price with respect thereto may be made. In addition, to the extent the Option is exercised for vested Shares at a time when the Company’s common stock is registered under Section 12(g) of the 1934 Act, the exercise price may also be paid through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the Participant shall concurrently

5


 

 

provide instructions to (a) a brokerage firm (reasonably satisfactory to the Company for purposes of administering such procedure in compliance with the Company’s pre-clearance/pre-notification policies) to effect the immediate sale of the purchased Shares and remit to the Company, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased Shares plus all applicable income and employment taxes required to be withheld by the Company by reason of such exercise and (b) the Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased Shares directly to such brokerage firm on such settlement date in order to complete the sale. The Committee shall have the authority to provide, in the applicable Award Agreement, for the automatic exercise, pursuant to the foregoing sale and remittance procedure or through a cashless net exercise, of a vested Option with an exercise price per Share that is less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the last day of the Option term.

 

(iv)

Incentive Stock Options. The terms of any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be subject in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code, or any successor provision thereto, and any regulations promulgated thereunder. Without limiting the preceding sentence, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time an option is granted) of Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under the Plan and any other plan of the Participant’s employer corporation and its parent and subsidiary corporations providing for Options) shall not exceed such dollar limitation as shall be applicable to Incentive Stock Options under Section 422 of the Code or a successor provision. If an Option that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option fails to meet the requirements thereof, the Option shall automatically be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option to the extent of such failure.

(b)

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.

 

(i)

Issuance. The Committee is authorized to grant Awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units to Participants.

 

(ii)

Restrictions. Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, any limitation on the right to vote a Share of Restricted Stock or the right to receive any dividend or other right or property, subject to the provisions of Section 6(e)(vi) below), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may deem appropriate.

 

(iii)

Registration. Any Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee may deem appropriate, including, without limitation, book-entry registration or issuance of a stock certificate or certificates. In the event any stock certificate is issued in respect of Shares of Restricted Stock granted under the Plan, such certificate shall be registered in the name of the Participant and when delivered to the Participant shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.

 

(iv)

Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of employment or service for any reason during the applicable restriction period, all Shares of Restricted Stock and all Restricted Stock Units still subject to restriction shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company. Unrestricted Shares, evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall deem appropriate, shall be delivered to the holder of Restricted Stock promptly after such Restricted Stock shall become Released Securities, subject to the Company’s collection of all applicable withholding taxes.

(c)

Performance Awards.

 

(i)

In General. The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Awards to Participants (including, without limitation, Performance Bonuses and Long-Term Performance Awards described in Sections 6(c)(ii) and (iii)). Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, a Performance Award granted under the Plan (i) may be denominated or payable in cash, Shares (including, without limitation, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units), other securities, other Awards or other property and (ii) shall confer on the holder thereof rights valued as determined by the Committee and payable to, or exercisable by, the holder of the Performance Award, in whole or in part, upon the achievement of such performance goals during such performance periods as the Committee shall establish. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the performance goals to be achieved during any performance period, the length of any performance period, the amount of any Performance Award granted, and the amount of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any Performance Award shall be determined by the Committee.

6


 

 

(ii)

Performance Bonuses. The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Bonuses to Participants with the following terms and conditions, and with such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine:

 

(a)

Performance Cycles. The Committee shall establish the applicable Performance Cycle for each Performance Bonus awarded under the Plan on or before the award date.

 

(b)

Eligible Participants. The Committee shall determine the Participants who will be eligible to receive a Performance Bonus under the Plan for the Performance Cycle.

 

(c)

Performance Measures; Targets; Award Criteria.

 

(i)

The Committee shall fix and establish in writing (A) the Performance Measures that will apply to that Performance Cycle; (B) the Target Amount payable to each Participant; and (C) subject to subsection (d) below, the criteria for computing the amount that will be paid with respect to each level of attained performance. The Committee may also set forth the threshold level of performance that must be attained during the Performance Cycle before any Performance Bonus will vest and become payable and the percentage of the target amount that will vest and become payable upon attainment of various levels of performance that equal or exceed the required threshold level.

 

(ii)

The Committee may, in its discretion, select Performance Measures that measure the performance of the Company or one or more business units, divisions or subsidiaries of the Company. The Committee may select Performance Measures that are absolute or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or an index of comparable companies.

 

(d)

Payment, Certification. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, no Performance Bonus will vest with respect to any Participant until the Committee certifies in writing the level at which each applicable Performance Measure has been attained for the Performance Cycle. In determining the level of attainment of each applicable Performance Measure, the Committee may, in its discretion, include or exclude any event listed in Section 4(c) and the cumulative effect of changes in the law, regulations or accounting rules, and may determine to include or exclude, among other items, one or more of the following items: (A) asset impairments or write-downs; (B) litigation expenses, judgments, verdicts and settlements; (C) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs; (D) the income, gain or loss attributable to the operations of any business acquired by the Company or its Affiliates; (E) the income, gain or loss attributable to one or more business operations or the assets thereof that are the subject of divestiture during the applicable Performance Cycle; (F) the effect of foreign currency fluctuations or changes in exchange rates; (G) expenses incurred in connection with a refinancing of the Company’s or its Affiliates’ debt; and (H) any event or transaction considered to be of an unusual nature or of an infrequent occurrence under GAAP.

 

(e)

Form and Time of Payment. Performance Bonuses shall be paid in cash or Shares, as determined by the Committee. All such Performance Bonuses shall be paid no later than the 15th day of the third month following the end of the calendar year (or, if later, following the end of the Company’s fiscal year) in which such Performance Bonuses are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (as determined for purposes of Section 409A of the Code), except to the extent that payment has been deferred under the terms of a duly authorized deferred compensation arrangement that complies with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code, in which case the terms of such arrangement shall govern.

 

(f)

Termination/Waiver. Performance Bonuses shall automatically terminate, and no payment or other consideration shall be due the Participant, if the Performance Measures established for the Performance Bonus are not attained or satisfied.

 

(iii)

Long Term Performance Awards. The Committee may grant Long Term Performance Awards under the Plan in the form of Performance Units, Restricted Stock Units or Restricted Stock to any Participant who the Committee may from time to time select, in the amounts and pursuant to the terms and conditions that the Committee may determine and set forth in the Award Agreement, subject to the provisions below:

 

(a)

Performance Cycles. The Committee shall establish the applicable Performance Cycle for each Long Term Performance Award made under the Plan on or before the award date.

7


 

 

(b)

Eligible Participants. The Committee shall determine the Participants who will be eligible to receive a Long Term Performance Award for the Performance Cycle.

 

(c)

Performance Measures; Targets; Award Criteria.

 

(i)

The Committee shall fix and establish in writing (A) the Performance Measures that shall apply to that Performance Cycle; (B) with respect to Performance Units, the Target Amount payable to each Participant per Performance Unit; (C) with respect to each Restricted Stock Unit or Restricted Stock Award, the Target Vesting Percentage for the Shares subject to that Award; and (D) subject to subsection (d) below, the criteria for computing the amount that will be paid or will vest with respect to each level of attained performance. The Committee may also set forth the threshold level of performance that must be attained during the Performance Cycle before any Long Term Performance Award will vest and become payable, and the percentage of each Performance Unit Award that will vest and become payable and the percentage of each performance-based Restricted Stock Unit or Restricted Stock Award that will vest and become payable upon attainment of various levels of performance that equal or exceed the required threshold level.

 

(ii)

The Committee may, in its discretion, select Performance Measures that measure the performance of the Company or one or more business units, divisions or subsidiaries of the Company. The Committee may select Performance Measures that are absolute or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or an index of comparable companies.

 

(d)

Payment, Certification. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, no Long Term Performance Award will vest with respect to any Participant until the Committee certifies in writing the level at which each applicable Performance Measure has been attained for the Performance Cycle. In determining the level of attainment of each such Performance Measure, the Committee may, in its discretion, include or exclude any event listed in Section 4(c) and the cumulative effect of changes in the law, regulations or accounting rules), and may determine to include or exclude, among other items, one or more of the following items: (A) asset impairments or write-downs; (B) litigation expenses, judgments, verdicts and settlements; (C) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs; (D) the income, gain or loss attributable to the operations of any business acquired by the Company or its Affiliates; (E) the income, gain or loss attributable to one or more business operations or the assets thereof that are the subject of divestiture during the applicable Performance Cycle; (F) the effect of foreign currency fluctuations or changes in exchange rates; (G) expenses incurred in connection with a refinancing of the Company’s or its Affiliates’ debt; and (H) any event or transaction considered to be of an unusual nature or of an infrequent occurrence under GAAP.

 

(e)

Form and Time of Payment. Long Term Performance Awards in the form of Performance Units may be paid in cash or full Shares, in the discretion of the Committee, and as set forth in the Award Agreement. Performance-based Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock will be paid in full Shares; provided, however, that the Committee shall retain the discretion to cause any Performance-based Restricted Stock Units to be settled in cash rather than Shares. Payment with respect to any fractional Share will be in cash in an amount based on the Fair Market Value of the Share as of the date the Performance Unit becomes payable. All such Long Term Performance Awards shall be paid no later than the 15th day of the third month following the end of the calendar year (or, if later, following the end of the Company’s fiscal year) in which such Long Term Performance Awards are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (as determined for purposes of Code Section 409A), except to the extent that payment is deferred under the terms of a duly authorized deferred compensation arrangement that complies with the applicable requirements of Code Section 409A, in which case the terms of such arrangement shall govern.

 

(f)

Termination/Waiver. Long Term Performance Awards shall automatically terminate, and no payment or other consideration shall be due the Participant, if the Performance Measures established for the Long Term Performance Awards are not attained or satisfied.

(d)

Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee is authorized to grant two types of Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan: (i) tandem stock appreciation rights (“Tandem Rights”) and (ii) stand-alone stock appreciation rights (“Stand-alone Rights”).

8


 

 

(i)

Tandem Rights. One or more Optionees may be granted a Tandem Right, exercisable upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may establish, to elect between the exercise of the underlying Option for Shares or the surrender of that Option in exchange for a distribution from the Company in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value (on the Option surrender date) of the number of Shares in which the Participant is at the time vested under the surrendered Option (or surrendered portion thereof) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such vested Shares. No such Option surrender shall be effective unless it is approved by the Committee, either at the time of the actual Option surrender or at any earlier time. If the surrender is so approved, then the distribution to which the Participant shall accordingly become entitled shall be made in Shares valued at Fair Market Value on the Option surrender date or in cash or in a combination of the two, as determined by the Committee.

 

(ii)

Stand-Alone Rights. One or more individuals eligible to participate in the Plan may be granted a Stand-alone Right not tied to any underlying Option. The Stand-alone Right shall relate to a specified number of Shares and shall be exercisable upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may establish. In no event, however, may the Stand-alone Right have a maximum term in excess of ten (10) years measured from the grant date. Upon exercise of the Stand-alone Right, the holder shall be entitled to receive a distribution from the Company in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the exercise date) of the Shares underlying the exercised right over (ii) the aggregate base price in effect for those Shares. The number of Shares underlying each Stand-alone Right and the base price in effect for those Shares shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion at the time the Stand-alone Right is granted. In no event, however, may the base price per share be less than the Fair Market Value per underlying Share on the grant date, except in the case of Substitute Awards. The distribution with respect to an exercised Stand-alone Right may be made in Shares valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date, in cash or in a combination of the two, as determined by the Committee. The Committee shall have the authority to provide, in the applicable Award Agreement, for the automatic exercise of a vested Stand-alone Right with a base price per Share that is less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the last day of the term.

(e)

General.

 

(i)

Minimum Vesting Requirements.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, equity-based Awards granted under the Plan shall vest no earlier than the first anniversary of the date the Award is granted (excluding, for this purpose, any (A) Substitute Awards, (B) shares delivered in lieu of fully vested cash Awards and (C) Awards to non-employee directors that vest on the earlier of the one year anniversary of the date of grant or the next annual meeting of shareholders (provided that such vesting period may not be less than 50 weeks after grant); provided, that, the Committee may grant equity-based Awards without regard to the foregoing minimum vesting requirement with respect to a maximum of five percent (5%) of the available share reserve authorized for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4(a) (subject to adjustment under Section 4(c)); and, provided further, for the avoidance of doubt, that the foregoing restriction does not apply to the Committee’s discretion to provide for accelerated exercisability or vesting of any Award, including in cases of retirement, death, Permanent Disability or a Change in Control (in accordance with Section 9(a)), in the terms of the Award or otherwise.

 

(ii)

No Cash Consideration for Awards. Participants shall not be required to make any cash payment for the granting of an Award except for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law.

 

(iii)

Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together. Awards may be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for any other Award or any award or benefit granted under any other plan or arrangement of the Company or any Affiliate.

 

(iv)

Prohibition on Repricing. The Committee shall not (i) implement any cancellation/regrant program pursuant to which outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan are cancelled and new Options or Stock Appreciation Rights are granted in replacement with a lower exercise or base price per Share, (ii) cancel outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan with exercise or base prices per share in excess of the then current Fair Market Value per Share for consideration payable in cash, equity securities of the Company or in the form of any other Award under the Plan, except in connection with a Change in Control transaction, or pursuant to an equitable adjustment under Section 4(c), or (iii) otherwise reduce the exercise price or base price in effect for outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan (except in

9


 

 

connection with an equitable adjustment under Section 4(c)), without in each such instance obtaining the approval of the Company’s shareholders.

 

(v)

Forms of Payment Under Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan and of any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by the Company or an Affiliate upon the grant, exercise, or payment of an Award may be made in such form or forms as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, or other property or any combination thereof, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis, in each case in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee.

 

(vi)

Dividends or Dividend Equivalents. If specified in the Award Agreement, the recipient of an Award (other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights) may be entitled to receive dividends or Dividend Equivalents with respect to the Shares or other securities covered by an Award.  The terms and conditions of a Dividend Equivalent right may be set forth in the Award Agreement.  Dividends or Dividend Equivalents credited to a Participant may be reinvested in additional Shares or other securities of the Company at a price per unit equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date that such dividend was paid to shareholders, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.  Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in no event will a dividend or Dividend Equivalent become payable with respect to an Award that becomes vested (i) based on the satisfaction of performance criteria before the date, and only to the extent, that such performance criteria are satisfied, or (ii) based on continued service with the Company before the applicable vesting date.

 

(vii)

Limits on Transfer of Awards. No Award (other than Released Securities) or right thereunder shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant, other than (unless limited in the Award Agreement) by will or the laws of descent and distribution (or, in the case of an Award of Restricted Securities, to the Company), except that a Non-Qualified Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be transferred by gift to any member of the holder’s immediate family or to a trust for the benefit of one or more of such immediate family members, if permitted in the applicable Award Agreement; provided, however, that, if so determined by the Committee, a Participant may, in the manner established by the Committee, designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries with respect to any Award to exercise the rights of the Participant, and to receive any property distributable, upon the death of the Participant. Each Award, and each right under any 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 unless it has been transferred in a permitted transfer under the Plan or Award Agreement to a member of the holder’s immediate family or to a trust for the benefit of one or more of such immediate family members, in which case it shall be exercisable only by such transferee. For the purposes of this provision, a holder’s “immediate family” shall mean the holder’s spouse or former spouse and any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law of such holder. No Award (other than Released Securities), and no right under any such Award, may be pledged, attached or otherwise encumbered other than in favor of the Company, and any purported pledge, attachment, or encumbrance thereof other than in favor of the Company shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.

 

(viii)

Term of Awards. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, the term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee.

 

(ix)

No Rights to Awards. No Employee, Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted an Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Employees, Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards under the Plan. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient. The prospective recipient of any Award under the Plan shall not, with respect to such Award, be deemed to have any right to acquire any Shares, cash or other property subject to such Award, until and unless such recipient shall have executed an agreement or other instrument accepting the Award and delivered a fully executed copy thereof to the Company, and otherwise complied with the then applicable terms and conditions.

 

(x)

Withholding. The Company or any Affiliate may withhold from any Award granted or any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, or other property) of withholding taxes due in respect of an Award, its

10


 

 

exercise or any payment under such Award or under the Plan, and take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company or Affiliate to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes. In addition, the Committee may provide one or more Participants with the right to direct the Company to withhold, from the Shares otherwise issuable upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the issuance of fully-vested Shares (whether pursuant to Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Performance Awards or otherwise), a portion of those Shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the percentage of the applicable withholding taxes (not to exceed one hundred percent (100%)) designated by the Participant; provided, however, that the amount of any Shares so withheld shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s required tax withholding obligations using not more than the applicable maximum statutory withholding rates (or such other rates as required to avoid adverse accounting treatment as determined by the Committee).

 

(xi)

Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other or additional compensation arrangements, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

(xii)

No Right to Employment or Continued Service. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate. Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall limit the right of the Company or an Affiliate at any time to dismiss a Participant from employment or service, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan or the Award Agreement.

 

(xiii)

Governing Law. 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 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and applicable Federal law.

 

(xiv)

Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any Person 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 applicable laws, or, if it cannot be so 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 stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award, and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(xv)

No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.

 

(xvi)

No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares, or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.

 

(xvii)

Share Certificates. All certificates for Shares or other securities delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any Stock Exchange upon which such Shares or other securities are then listed, and any applicable Federal or state securities laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Company may elect to satisfy any requirement under this Plan for the delivery of stock certificates through the use of book-entry.

 

(xviii)

Conflict with Plan. In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between the terms of the Plan and an Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall govern.

 

(xix)

Disclaimer. Although it is the intent of the Company that this Plan and Awards hereunder, to the extent the Committee deems appropriate and to the extent applicable, comply with Rule 16b-3 and Sections 409A and 422 of the Code: (a) the Company does not warrant that any Award under the Plan will qualify for favorable tax treatment under any provision of the federal, state, local or non-United States law; and (b) in no event shall any member of the Committee or the Company

11


 

 

(or its employees, officers or directors) have any liability to any Participant (or any other Person) due to the failure of an Award to satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or Sections 409A or 422 of the Code or for any tax, interest, or penalties the Participant might owe as a result of the grant, holding, vesting, exercise, or payment of any Award under the Plan.

 

(xx)

Clawback. Any Award granted under the Plan, and the right to receive and retain any Shares or cash payments covered by such Award, shall be subject to rescission, cancellation or recoupment, in whole or part, if and to the extent so provided under any “clawback” or similar policy of the Company in effect on the date of the Award or that may be established thereafter, including any modification or amendment thereto, or as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or other applicable law, as may be in effect from time to time, and which may operate to create additional rights for the Company with respect to Awards and recovery of amounts relating thereto. By accepting Awards under the Plan, Participants agree and acknowledge that they are obligated to cooperate with, and provide any and all assistance necessary to, the Company to recover or recoup any Award or amounts paid under the Plan subject to clawback pursuant to such law, government regulation, stock exchange listing requirement or Company policy. Such cooperation and assistance shall include, but is not limited to, executing, completing and submitting any documentation necessary to recover or recoup any Award or amounts paid under the Plan from a Participant’s accounts, or pending or future compensation or Awards.

Section 7. Amendment and Termination

(a)

Amendments to the Plan. The Board (or any authorized committee thereof) may amend or modify the Plan at any time. However, no such amendment or modification shall materially adversely affect the rights and obligations with respect to any Award at the time outstanding under the Plan unless the Participant consents to such amendment or modification. In addition, amendments to the Plan will be subject to shareholder approval to the extent required under applicable law or regulation or pursuant to the listing standards of the Stock Exchange on which the Company’s common stock is at the time primarily traded. Finally, the Board shall not have the authority to amend Section 6(e)(iv) without obtaining the approval of the Company’s shareholders.

(b)

Amendments to Awards. Except as provided in Section 6 or 9, the Committee may waive any conditions or rights with respect to, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate, any unexercised Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, provided that the Participant’s consent shall be required with respect to any suspension, discontinuation or termination of an Award or any amendment or alteration, that would materially impair the rights of such Participant.

(c)

Adjustments of Awards Upon Certain Acquisitions. In the event the Company or any Affiliate shall assume outstanding employee awards or the right or obligation to make future such awards in connection with the acquisition of another business or another company, the Committee may make such adjustments, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, in the terms of Awards as it shall deem appropriate.

(d)

Adjustments of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events. The Committee may make adjustments in the terms and conditions of Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in Section 4(c) hereof) affecting the Company, any Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits to be made available under the Plan.

(e)

Termination of the Plan. The Board may terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that all Awards outstanding at that time shall continue to have force and effect in accordance with the provisions of the Award Agreement evidencing those Awards.

Section 8. Additional Conditions to Enjoyment of Awards.

(a)

The Committee may cancel any unexpired, unpaid or deferred Awards if at any time the Participant is not in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Award Agreement, the Plan and the following conditions, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law:

 

(i)

A Participant shall not render services for any organization or engage, directly or indirectly, in any business which, in the judgment of the Committee or, if delegated by the Committee to the Chief Executive Officer, in the judgment of such Officer, is or becomes competitive with the Company or any Affiliate, or which is or becomes otherwise prejudicial to or in conflict with the interests of the

12


 

 

Company or any Affiliate. Such judgment shall be based on the Participant’s positions and responsibilities while employed by the Company or an Affiliate, the Participant’s post-employment responsibilities and position with the other organization or business, the extent of past, current and potential competition or conflict between the Company or an Affiliate and the other organization or business, the effect on customers, suppliers and competitors of the Participant’s assuming the post-employment position and such other considerations as are deemed relevant given the applicable facts and circumstances. The Participant shall be free, however, to purchase as an investment or otherwise, stock or other securities of such organization or business so long as they are listed upon a recognized securities exchange or traded over the counter, and such investment does not represent a substantial investment to the Participant or a greater than 1% equity interest in the organization or business.

 

(ii)

Participant shall not, without prior written authorization from the Company, disclose to anyone outside the Company, or use in other than the Company’s business, any secret or confidential information, knowledge or data, relating to the business of the Company or an Affiliate in violation of his or her agreement with the Company or the Affiliate.

 

(iii)

A Participant, pursuant to his or her agreement with the Company or an Affiliate, shall disclose promptly and assign to the Company or the Affiliate all right, title and interest in any invention or idea, patentable or not, made or conceived by the Participant during employment by the Company or the Affiliate, relating in any manner to the actual or anticipated business, research or development work of the Company or the Affiliate and shall do anything reasonably necessary to enable the Company or the Affiliate to secure a patent where appropriate in the United States and in foreign countries.

(b)

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Committee in its sole discretion may cancel any Award at any time prior to the exercise thereof, if the employment of the Participant shall be terminated, other than by reason of death, unless the conditions in this Section 8 are met.

(c)

Failure to comply with the conditions of this Section 8 prior to, or during the six months after, any exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to an Award shall cause the exercise, payment or delivery to be rescinded. The Company shall notify the Participant in writing of any such rescission within two years (or such other period set forth in the Award Agreement) after such exercise payment or delivery and within 10 days after receiving such notice, the Participant shall pay to the Company the amount of any gain realized or payment received as a result of the exercise, payment or delivery rescinded. Such payment shall be made either in cash or by returning to the Company the number of Shares that the Participant received in connection with the rescinded exercise, payment or delivery.

(d)

Upon exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to an Award, the Committee may require the Participant to certify on a form acceptable to the Committee, that he or she is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.

(e)

Each Award granted pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to the terms of any recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Company, as amended from time to time.

(f)

Nothing herein shall be interpreted to limit the obligations of a Participant under his or her employee agreement or any other agreement with the Company.

Section 9. Change in Control

(a)

Unless otherwise provided for in an Award Agreement and to the extent not inconsistent with Section 10 hereof, upon a Change in Control (as defined in Section 9(c) below) the Committee may, prior to the Change in Control provide for the accelerated vesting of any Awards as follows:

 

(i)

If and to the extent that outstanding Awards under the Plan (1) are assumed by the successor corporation (or an affiliate of the successor) or continued or (2) replaced with equity awards that preserve the existing value of the awards at the time of the Change in Control and provide for substitute payout in accordance with a vesting schedule and Performance Measures, as applicable, that are the same or more favorable to the Participant than the vesting schedule and Performance Measures applicable to the awards, then all such Awards or such substitutes for such Awards shall remain outstanding and be governed by their respective terms and the provisions of the Plan.

 

(ii)

If and to the extent that outstanding Awards under the Plan are not assumed, continued or replaced in accordance with Section 9(a)(i) above, then upon the Change in Control the Committee may provide for any of the following treatment for such Awards: (1) outstanding Options and SARs shall immediately vest and become exercisable; and/or (2) the restrictions and other conditions applicable

13


 

 

to outstanding Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units, including vesting requirements shall immediately lapse; provided, however, that any Awards as to which vesting depends upon the satisfaction of one or more Performance Measures shall immediately vest and become payable based upon the level of attainment of the Performance Measures as of the Change in Control date and pro-ration based on the time elapsed in the applicable performance period as of the Change in Control date. Such Awards shall be settled in cash, Shares or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee, within thirty (30) days following such Change in Control (except to the extent that settlement of the Award must be made pursuant to its original schedule in order to comply with Section 409A of the Code).

 

(iii)

If and to the extent that outstanding Awards under the Plan are not assumed, continued or replaced in accordance with Section 9(a)(i) above, then in connection with the applicable treatment set forth Section 9(a)(ii) above, then the Committee may, in its sole discretion, upon advance notice to the affected Participants, provide for cancellation of such outstanding Awards and the alternative payment of the amount owed to the Participant, if any, under Section 9(a)(ii) at the time of the Change of Control and pay to the holders thereof, in cash, stock or other property (including the property, if any, payable in such a transaction) (or any combination thereof) an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the Shares payable under the Award, based on the price per Share received or to be received by other shareholders of the Company in such a transaction or such other value as determined by the Board (the “Transaction Fair Market Value”), over the exercise price of the Award, or make provision for a cash payment or payment of other property (including the property, if any, payable in such transaction) to the holder of any other outstanding Award in settlement of such Award; provided that, in the case of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price that equals or exceeds the Transaction Fair Market Value, the Board may cancel such Options or Stock Appreciation Right without payment or consideration therefor.

Any such action taken shall be performed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Code so as not to affect the tax status of (A) any Award intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code, unless the Committee determines otherwise, or (B) any Award intended to comply with, or qualify for an exception to, Section 409A of the Code. Any such action taken by the Committee will be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes of this Plan.

(b)

Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Change in Control shall have occurred in the event that:

 

(i)

a person, partnership, joint venture, corporation or other entity, or two or more of any of the foregoing acting as a “person” within the meaning of Sections 13(d)(3) of the 1934 Act, other than the Company, a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company or an employee benefit plan of the Company or such subsidiary (or such plan’s related trust), become(s) the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act) of 50% or more of the then outstanding voting stock of the Company;

 

(ii)

during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board (together with any new Board member whose election by the Company’s Board or whose nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Board members then still in office who either were Board members at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, but excluding any Board member whose election was approved (A) in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest or threatened solicitation of proxies or (B) through the use of any proxy access procedures set forth in the Company’s organizational documents) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board members then in office;

 

(iii)

all or substantially all of the business of the Company is disposed of pursuant to a merger, consolidation or other transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or the Company combines with another company and is the surviving corporation (unless the Company’s shareholders immediately following such merger, consolidation, combination, or other transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, and in substantially the same proportion as owned immediately prior to the transaction, more than 50% of the aggregate voting stock or other ownership interests of (x) the entity or entities, if any, that succeed to the business of the Company or (y) the combined company);

 

(iv)

the closing of a shareholder-approved sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;

 

(v)

the consummation of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

14


 

 

(vi)

the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Act) of securities possessing more than 20% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Company’s shareholders which the Board does not recommend such shareholders to accept.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, any definition of Change in Control in an Award Agreement may not provide that a Change in Control will occur before the consummation or effectiveness of a change in control (e.g., upon the announcement, commencement, shareholder approval or other potential occurrence of any event or transaction that, if completed, would result in a change in control).

Section 10. Section 409A

Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, if any Award provided under this Plan is subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, the provisions of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement shall be administered, interpreted and construed in a manner necessary in order to comply with Section 409A of the Code or an exception thereto (or disregarded to the extent such provision cannot be so administered, interpreted or construed), and the following provisions shall apply, as applicable and as required by Section 409A:

(a)

If a Participant is a Specified Employee (as determined in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and the procedures established by the Company) for purposes of Section 409A of the Code and a payment subject to Section 409A of the Code (and not excepted therefrom) to the Participant is due upon a termination of employment with the Company that constitutes a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), such payment shall be delayed for a period of six months after the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service. Any payment that would otherwise have been due or owing during such six-month period will be paid immediately following the end of the six-month period unless another compliant date is specified in the applicable Award Agreement.

(b)

For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, and to the extent applicable to any Award under the Plan, it is intended that distribution events qualify as permissible distribution events for purposes of Section 409A of the Code and shall be interpreted and construed accordingly. Whether a Participant has had a Separation from Service shall be determined by the Committee based on all of the facts and circumstances and, to the extent applicable to any Award, in accordance with the guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code. For this purpose, a Participant shall be presumed to have experienced a Separation from Service when the level of bona fide services performed permanently decreases to a level less than twenty percent of the average level of bona fide services performed during the immediately preceding thirty-six month period or such other applicable period as provided by Section 409A of the Code.

(c)

The grant of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and other stock rights subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be granted under terms and conditions consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5) such that any such Award does not constitute a deferral of compensation under Section 409A of the Code.

Section 11. Effective Date of the Plan

The Plan becomes effective upon approval by the Company’s shareholders at the 2018 Annual Meeting (the “Effective Date”).

Section 12. Term of the Plan

No Award shall be granted under the Plan after tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award theretofore granted shall continue to remain outstanding in accordance with their terms beyond such date.

15