LCC INTERNATIONAL, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED EQUITY INCENTIVEPLAN (as amended and restated March 10,2004 and formerly known as the Amended andRestated 1996 Employee Stock Option Plan)
Exhibit 10.33
LCC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
(as amended and restated March 10, 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page PURPOSE 1 DEFINITIONS 1 ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN 4 3.1. Board 4 3.2. Committee 4 3.3. Terms of Awards 4 3.4. Deferral Arrangement 5 3.5. No Liability 5 STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN 5 EFFECTIVE DATE, DURATION AND AMENDMENTS 5 5.1. Effective Date 5 5.2. Term 6 5.3. Amendment and Termination of the Plan 6 AWARD ELIGIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS 6 6.1. Service Providers and Other Persons 6 6.2. Successive Awards 6 6.3. Limitation on Shares of Stock Subject to Awards and Cash Awards 6 6.4. Limitations on Incentive Stock Options 6 6.5. Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards 7 AWARD AGREEMENT 7 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS 7 8.1. Option Price 7 8.2. Vesting 7 8.3. Term 7 8.4. Termination of Service 7 8.5. Limitations on Exercise of Option 8 8.6. Method of Exercise 8 8.7. Rights of Holders of Options 8 8.8. Delivery of Stock Certificates 8 8.9. Transferability of Options 8 8.10. Family Transfers 9 STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS 9 9.1. Right to Payment 9 9.2. Other Terms 9 RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK UNITS 9 10.1. Grant of Restricted Stock or Stock Units 9 10.2. Restrictions 9 10.3. Restricted Stock Certificates 10 10.4. Rights of Holders of Restricted Stock 10 10.5. Rights of Holders of Stock Units 10 10.5.1. Voting and Dividend Rights. 10 10.5.2. Creditors Rights 10 10.6. Termination of Service 10 10.7. Purchase of Restricted Stock 10 10.8. Delivery of Stock 11 UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS 11
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Page FORM OF PAYMENT FOR OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED STOCK 11 12.1. General Rule 11 12.2. Surrender of Stock 11 12.3. Cashless Exercise 11 12.4. Other Forms of Payment 11 DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS 11 13.1. Dividend Equivalent Rights 11 13.2. Termination of Service 12 PERFORMANCE AND ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS 12 14.1. Performance Conditions 12 14.2. Performance or Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees 12 14.2.1. Performance Goals Generally 12 14.2.2. Business Criteria 12 14.2.3. Timing For Establishing Performance Goals 13 14.2.4. Performance or Annual Incentive Award Pool 13 14.2.5. Settlement of Performance or Annual Incentive Awards; Other Terms 13 14.3. Written Determinations 13 14.4. Status of Section 14.2 Awards Under Code Section 162(m) 13 PARACHUTE LIMITATIONS 13 REQUIREMENTS OF LAW 14 16.1. General 14 16.2. Rule 16b-3 15 EFFECT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION 15 17.1. Changes in Stock 15 17.2. Reorganization in Which the Company Is the Surviving Entity Which does not Constitute a Corporate Transaction 15 17.3. Corporate Transaction 16 17.4. Adjustments 16 17.5. No Limitations on Company 16 CHANGE IN CONTROL 17 GENERAL PROVISIONS 17 19.1. Disclaimer of Rights 17 19.2. Nonexclusivity of the Plan 17 19.3. Withholding Taxes 17 19.4. Captions 18 19.5. Other Provisions 18 19.6. Number and Gender 18 19.7. Severability 18 19.8. Governing Law 18
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LCC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(as amended and restated March 10, 2004)
LCC International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), sets forth herein the terms of its Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan (the Plan), formerly known as the Amended and Restated 1996 Employee Stock Option Plan, as follows:
1. | PURPOSE |
The Plan is intended to enhance the Companys and its Affiliates (as defined herein) ability to attract and retain highly qualified officers, directors, key employees, and other persons, and to motivate such officers, directors, key employees, and other persons to serve the Company and its Affiliates and to expend maximum effort to improve the business results and earnings of the Company, by providing to such persons an opportunity to acquire or increase a direct proprietary interest in the operations and future success of the Company. To this end, the Plan provides for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock units, unrestricted stock, dividend equivalent rights and cash awards. Any of these awards may, but need not, be made as performance incentives to reward attainment of annual or long-term performance goals in accordance with the terms hereof. Stock options granted under the Plan may be non-qualified stock options or incentive stock options, as provided herein.
2. | DEFINITIONS |
For purposes of interpreting the Plan and related documents (including Award Agreements), the following definitions shall apply:
2.1 Affiliate means, with respect to the Company, any company or other trade or business that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 of Regulation C under the Securities Act, including, without limitation, any Subsidiary.
2.2 Annual Incentive Award means an Award made subject to attainment of performance goals (as described in Section 14) over a performance period of up to one year (the fiscal year, unless otherwise specified by the Committee).
2.3 Award means a grant of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Unrestricted Stock, Stock Unit, Dividend Equivalent Rights, or cash award under the Plan.
2.4 Award Agreement means the written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Grantee that evidences and sets out the terms and conditions of an Award.
2.5 Benefit Arrangement shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15 hereof.
2.6 Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.7 Cause means, as determined by the Board and unless otherwise provided in an applicable agreement with the Company or an Affiliate, (i) gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with the performance of duties; (ii) conviction of a criminal offense (other than minor traffic offenses); or (iii) material breach of any term of any employment, consulting or other services, confidentiality, intellectual property or non-competition agreements, if any, between the Service Provider and the Company or an Affiliate.
2.8 Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.
2.9 Committee means a committee of, and designated from time to time by resolution of, the Board, which shall be constituted as provided in Section 3.2.
2.10 Company means LCC International, Inc.
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2.11 Corporate Transaction means (i) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or a merger, consolidation, or reorganization of the Company with one or more other entities in which the Company is not the surviving entity, (ii) a sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company to another person or entity, or (iii) any transaction (including without limitation a merger or reorganization in which the Company is the surviving entity) which results in any person or entity (other than persons who are stockholders or Affiliates immediately prior to the transaction) owning 51% or more of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company.
2.12 Covered Employee means a Grantee who is a Covered Employee within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.
2.13 Disability shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Companys long-term disability plan. In the event the Grantee is not covered by the Companys long-term disability plan, Disability shall mean the Grantee is unable to perform each of the essential duties of such Grantees position by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which is potentially permanent in character or which can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; provided, however, that, with respect to rules regarding expiration of an Incentive Stock Option following termination of the Grantees Service, Disability shall mean the Grantee is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
2.14 Dividend Equivalent Right means a right, granted to a Grantee under Section 13 hereof, to receive cash, Stock, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments.
2.15 Effective Date means July 23, 1996, the date the Plan was first approved by the Board. The Plan was last amended and restated by the Board on March 10, 2004.
2.16 Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.
2.17 Fair Market Value means the value of a share of Stock, determined as follows: if on the Grant Date or other determination date the Stock is listed on an established national or regional stock exchange, is admitted to quotation on The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. or is publicly traded on an established securities market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of the Stock on such exchange or in such market (if there is more than one such exchange or market the Board shall determine the appropriate exchange or market) on the trading date immediately preceding the Grant Date or such other determination date (or if there is no such reported closing price, the Fair Market Value shall be the mean between the highest bid and lowest asked prices or between the high and low sale prices on such trading day) or, if no sale of Stock is reported for such trading day, on the next preceding day on which any sale shall have been reported. If the Stock is not listed on such an exchange, quoted on such system or traded on such a market, Fair Market Value shall be the value of the Stock as determined by the Board in good faith.
2.18 Family Member means a person who is a spouse, former spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother, sister, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, of the Grantee, any person sharing the Grantees household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which any one or more of these persons have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which any one or more of these persons (or the Grantee) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which one or more of these persons (or the Grantee) own more than fifty percent of the voting interests.
2.19 Grant Date means, as determined by the Board, the latest to occur of (i) the date as of which the Board approves an Award, (ii) the date on which the recipient of an Award first becomes eligible to receive an Award under Section 6 hereof, or (iii) such other date as may be specified by the Board.
2.20 Grantee means a person who receives or holds an Award under the Plan.
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2.21 Incentive Stock Option means an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, or the corresponding provision of any subsequently enacted tax statute, as amended from time to time.
2.22 Non-qualified Stock Option means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.
2.23 Option means an option to purchase one or more shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan.
2.24 Option Price means the exercise price for each share of Stock subject to an Option.
2.25 Other Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15 hereof.
2.26 Outside Director means a member of the Board who is not an officer or employee of the Company.
2.27 Performance Award means an Award made subject to the attainment of performance goals (as described in Section 14) over a performance period of up to ten (10) years.
2.28 Plan means this LCC International, Inc. Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan, formerly known as the Amended and Restated 1996 Employee Stock Option Plan.
2.29 Purchase Price means the purchase price for each share of Stock pursuant to a grant of Restricted Stock or Unrestricted Stock.
2.30 Reporting Person means a person who is required to file reports under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.
2.31 Restricted Stock means shares of Stock, awarded to a Grantee pursuant to Section 10 hereof.
2.32 SAR Exercise Price means the per share exercise price of an SAR granted to a Grantee under Section 9 hereof.
2.33 Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.
2.34 Service means service as a Service Provider to the Company or an Affiliate. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantees change in position or duties shall not result in interrupted or terminated Service, so long as such Grantee continues to be a Service Provider to the Company or an Affiliate. Subject to the preceding sentence, whether a termination of Service shall have occurred for purposes of the Plan shall be determined by the Board, which determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.
2.35 Service Provider means an employee, officer or director of the Company or an Affiliate, or a consultant or adviser currently providing services to the Company or an Affiliate.
2.36 Stock means the Class A common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company.
2.37 Stock Appreciation Right or SAR means a right granted to a Grantee under Section 9 hereof.
2.38 Stock Unit means a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of shares of Stock, awarded to a Grantee pursuant to Section 10 hereof.
2.39 Subsidiary means any subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.
2.40 Termination Date means the date upon which an Option shall terminate or expire, as set forth in Section 8.3 hereof.
2.41 Ten Percent Stockholder means an individual who owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of the Company, its parent or any of its Subsidiaries. In determining stock ownership, the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall be applied.
2.42 Unrestricted Stock means an Award pursuant to Section 11 hereof.
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3. | ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN |
3.1. Board
The Board shall have such powers and authorities related to the administration of the Plan as are consistent with the Companys certificate of incorporation and by-laws and applicable law. The Board shall have full power and authority to take all actions and to make all determinations required or provided for under the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement, and shall have full power and authority to take all such other actions and make all such other determinations not inconsistent with the specific terms and provisions of the Plan that the Board deems to be necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement. All such actions and determinations shall be by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board present at a meeting or by unanimous consent of the Board executed in writing in accordance with the Companys certificate of incorporation and by-laws and applicable law. The interpretation and construction by the Board of any provision of the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement shall be final, binding and conclusive.
3.2. Committee.
The Board from time to time may delegate to the Committee such powers and authorities related to the administration and implementation of the Plan, as set forth in Section 3.1 above and other applicable provisions, as the Board shall determine, consistent with the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company and applicable law.
(i) Except as provided in Subsection (ii) and except as the Board may otherwise determine, the Committee shall be the Compensation and Stock Option Committee. | |
(ii) The Board may also appoint one or more separate committees of the Board, each composed of one or more directors of the Company who need not be Outside Directors, who may administer the Plan with respect to employees or other Service Providers who are not officers or directors of the Company, may grant Awards under the Plan to such employees or other Service Providers, and may determine all terms of such Awards. |
In the event that the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement entered into hereunder provides for any action to be taken by or determination to be made by the Board, such action may be taken or such determination may be made by the Committee if the power and authority to do so has been delegated to the Committee by the Board as provided for in this Section. Unless otherwise expressly determined by the Board, any such action or determination by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive. To the extent permitted by law, the Committee may delegate its authority under the Plan to a member of the Board.
3.3. Terms of Awards.
Subject to the other terms and conditions of the Plan, the Board shall have full and final authority to:
(i) designate Grantees,
(ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be made to a Grantee,
(iii) determine the number of shares of Stock to be subject to an Award,
(iv) establish the terms and conditions of each Award (including, but not limited to, the exercise price of any Option, the nature and duration of any restriction or condition (or provision for lapse thereof) relating to the vesting, exercise, transfer, or forfeiture of an Award or the shares of Stock subject thereto, and any terms or conditions that may be necessary to qualify Options as Incentive Stock Options),
(v) prescribe the form of each Award Agreement evidencing an Award, and
(vi) amend, modify, or supplement the terms of any outstanding Award. Such authority specifically includes the authority, in order to effectuate the purposes of the Plan but without amending the Plan, to modify Awards to eligible individuals who are foreign nationals or are individuals who are employed outside the United States to recognize differences in local law, tax policy, or custom.
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As a condition to any subsequent Award, the Board shall have the right, at its discretion, to require Grantees to return to the Company Awards previously made under the Plan. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, any such new Award shall be upon such terms and conditions as are specified by the Board at the time the new Award is made. The Board shall have the right, in its discretion, to make Awards in substitution or exchange for any other award under another plan of the Company, any Affiliate, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or an Affiliate. The Company may retain the right in an Award Agreement to cause a forfeiture of the gain realized by a Grantee on account of actions taken by the Grantee in violation or breach of or in conflict with any employment agreement, non-competition agreement, any agreement prohibiting solicitation of employees or clients of the Company or any Affiliate thereof or any confidentiality obligation with respect to the Company or any Affiliate thereof or otherwise in competition with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, to the extent specified in such Award Agreement applicable to the Grantee. Furthermore, the Company may annul an Award if the Grantee is an employee of the Company or an Affiliate thereof and is terminated for Cause as defined in the applicable Award Agreement or the Plan, as applicable. The Board may make amendments to outstanding Options or SARs which reduce the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price.
3.4. Deferral Arrangement.
The Board may permit or require the deferral of any award payment into a deferred compensation arrangement, subject to such rules and procedures as it may establish, which may include provisions for the payment or crediting of interest or dividend equivalents, including converting such credits into deferred Stock equivalents and restricting deferrals to comply with hardship distribution rules affecting 401(k) plans.
3.5. No Liability.
No member of the Board or of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement.
4. | STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN |
Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 17 hereof, the number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be 8,825,000 shares. Stock issued or to be issued under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued shares, treasury shares or shares purchased on the open market. If any shares covered by an Award are not purchased or are forfeited, or if an Award otherwise terminates without delivery of any Stock subject thereto, then the number of shares of Stock counted against the aggregate number of shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture or termination, again be available for making Awards under the Plan. If the Option Price of any Option granted under the Plan, or if pursuant to Section 19.3 the withholding obligation of any Grantee with respect to an Option or other Award, is satisfied by tendering shares of Stock to the Company (by either actual delivery or by attestation) or by withholding shares of Stock, the number of shares of Stock issued net of the shares of Stock tendered or withheld shall be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of Stock available for delivery under the Plan.
5. | EFFECTIVE DATE, DURATION AND AMENDMENTS |
5.1. Effective Date.
The Plan was originally effective as of the Effective Date and was last amended and restated by the Board on February 1, 2000. The Plan as herein amended and restated shall be effective as of March 10, 2004 (the Amendment and Restatement Date), subject to approval of the Plan as herein amended and restated by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Stock voting thereon. Upon approval of the Plan as herein amended and restated by the stockholders, all Awards made under the Plan on or after the Amendment and Restatement Date shall be fully effective as if the stockholders of the Company had approved the Plan on the Amendment and Restatement Date. If the stockholders of the Company fail to approve the Plan as herein amended and restated within the one-year period set forth in this Section 5.1, any Awards made hereunder in excess of the number of shares available for Awards under the Plan prior to its amendment and restatement
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5.2. Term.
The Plan shall terminate automatically ten (10) years after the Amendment and Restatement Date and may be terminated on any earlier date as provided in Section 5.3.
5.3. Amendment and Termination of the Plan
The Board may, at any time and from time to time, amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan as to any shares of Stock as to which Awards have not been made. An amendment shall be contingent on approval of the Companys stockholders to the extent stated by the Board, required by applicable law or required by applicable stock exchange listing requirements. No Awards shall be made after termination of the Plan. No amendment, suspension, or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of the Grantee, impair rights or obligations under any Award theretofore awarded under the Plan.
6. | AWARD ELIGIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS |
6.1. Service Providers and Other Persons
Subject to this Section 6, Awards may be made under the Plan to: (i) any Service Provider to the Company or of any Affiliate, including any Service Provider who is an officer or director of the Company, or of any Affiliate, as the Board shall determine and designate from time to time, (ii) any Outside Director, and (iii) any other individual whose participation in the Plan is determined to be in the best interests of the Company by the Board.
6.2. Successive Awards.
An eligible person may receive more than one Award, subject to such restrictions as are provided herein.
6.3. | Limitation on Shares of Stock Subject to Awards and Cash Awards. |
During any time when the Company has a class of equity security registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act:
(i) the maximum number of shares of Stock subject to Options or SARs that can be awarded under the Plan to any person eligible for an Award under Section 6 hereof is 500,000 per calendar year;
(ii) the maximum number of shares that can be awarded under the Plan, other than pursuant to an Option or SARs, to any person eligible for an Award under Section 6 hereof is 500,000 per calendar year; and
(iii) the maximum amount that may be earned as an Annual Incentive Award or other cash Award in any calendar year by any one Grantee shall be $2,000,000 and the maximum amount that may be earned as a Performance Award or other cash Award in respect of a performance period by any one Grantee shall be $5,000,000.
The preceding limitations in this Section 6.3 are subject to adjustment as provided in Section 17 hereof.
6.4. | Limitations on Incentive Stock Options. |
An Option shall constitute an Incentive Stock Option only (i) if the Grantee of such Option is an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; (ii) to the extent specifically provided in the related Award Agreement; and (iii) to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the Option is granted) of the shares of Stock with respect to which all Incentive Stock Options held by such Grantee become exercisable for the first time during any calendar year (under the Plan and all other plans of the Grantees employer and its Affiliates) does not exceed $100,000. This limitation shall be applied by taking Options into account in the order in which they were granted.
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6.5. | Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards |
Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Board, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, any Affiliate, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or an Affiliate, or any other right of a Grantee to receive payment from the Company or any Affiliate. Such additional, tandem, and substitute or exchange Awards may be granted at any time. If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award, the Board shall require the surrender of such other Award in consideration for the grant of the new Award. In addition, Awards may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company or any Affiliate, in which the value of Stock subject to the Award is equivalent in value to the cash compensation (for example, Stock Units or Restricted Stock), or in which the Option Price, grant price or purchase price of the Award in the nature of a right that may be exercised is equal to the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock minus the value of the cash compensation surrendered (for example, Options granted with an Option Price discounted by the amount of the cash compensation surrendered).
7. | AWARD AGREEMENT |
Each Award granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, in such form or forms as the Board shall from time to time determine. Award Agreements granted from time to time or at the same time need not contain similar provisions but shall be consistent with the terms of the Plan. Each Award Agreement evidencing an Award of Options shall specify whether such Options are intended to be Non-qualified Stock Options or Incentive Stock Options, and in the absence of such specification such options shall be deemed Non-qualified Stock Options.
8. | TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS |
8.1. | Option Price |
The Option Price of each Option shall be fixed by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option. The Option Price of each Option that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall be at least the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date of a share of Stock; provided, however, that in the event that a Grantee is a Ten Percent Stockholder, the Option Price of an Option granted to such Grantee that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Grant Date. In no case shall the Option Price of any Option be less than the par value of a share of Stock.
8.2. | Vesting. |
Subject to Sections 8.3 and 17.3 hereof, each Option granted under the Plan shall become exercisable at such times and under such conditions as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement. For purposes of this Section 8.2, fractional numbers of shares of Stock subject to an Option shall be rounded down to the next nearest whole number.
8.3. | Term. |
Each Option granted under the Plan shall terminate, and all rights to purchase shares of Stock thereunder shall cease, upon the expiration of ten years from the date such Option is granted, or under such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is set forth in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement relating to such Option (the Termination Date); provided, however, that in the event that the Grantee is a Ten Percent Stockholder, an Option granted to such Grantee that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five years from its Grant Date.
8.4. | Termination of Service. |
Unless the Award Agreement provides otherwise, the Grantee shall be entitled to exercise an Option granted hereunder for the applicable period designated in this Section 8.4 following his or her termination of Service. If the Grantees Service terminates other than by reason of: (i) the Grantees death, (ii) the
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Grantee be entitled to exercise the Option following its expiration in accordance with Section 8.3 or following an event that results in the termination of the Option in accordance with Section 17.
8.5. | Limitations on Exercise of Option. |
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in no event may any Option be exercised, in whole or in part, after the occurrence of an event referred to in Section 17 hereof which results in termination of the Option.
8.6. | Method of Exercise. |
An Option that is exercisable may be exercised by the Grantees delivery to the Company of written notice of exercise on any business day, at the Companys principal office, on the form specified by the Company. Such notice shall specify the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Option is being exercised and shall be accompanied by payment in full of the Option Price of the shares for which the Option is being exercised plus the amount (if any) of federal and/or other taxes which the Company may, in its judgment, be required to withhold with respect to an Award. The minimum number of shares of Stock with respect to which an Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time shall be the lesser of (i) 100 shares or such lesser number set forth in the applicable Award Agreement and (ii) the maximum number of shares available for purchase under the Option at the time of exercise.
8.7. | Rights of Holders of Options |
Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, an individual holding or exercising an Option shall have none of the rights of a stockholder (for example, the right to receive cash or dividend payments or distributions attributable to the subject shares of Stock or to direct the voting of the subject shares of Stock) until the shares of Stock covered thereby are fully paid and issued to him. Except as provided in Section 17 hereof, no adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date of such issuance.
8.8. | Delivery of Stock Certificates. |
Promptly after the exercise of an Option by a Grantee and the payment in full of the Option Price, such Grantee shall be entitled to the issuance of a stock certificate or certificates evidencing his or her ownership of the shares of Stock subject to the Option. 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.
8.9. | Transferability of Options |
Except as provided in Section 8.10, during the lifetime of a Grantee, only the Grantee (or, in the event of legal incapacity or incompetency, the Grantees guardian or legal representative) may exercise an Option. Except as provided in Section 8.10, no Option shall be assignable or transferable by the Grantee to whom it is granted, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
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8.10. | Family Transfers. |
If authorized in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee may transfer, not for value, all or part of an Option which is not an Incentive Stock Option to any Family Member. For the purpose of this Section 8.10, a not for value transfer is a transfer which is (i) a gift, (ii) a transfer under a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights; or (iii) a transfer to an entity in which more than fifty percent of the voting interests are owned by Family Members (or the Grantee) in exchange for an interest in that entity. Following a transfer under this Section 8.10, any such Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer. Subsequent transfers of transferred Options are prohibited except to Family Members of the original Grantee in accordance with this Section 8.10 or by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The events of termination of Service of Section 8.4 hereof shall continue to be applied with respect to the original Grantee, following which the Option shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent, and for the periods specified, in Section 8.4.
9. | STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS |
The Board is authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) to Grantees on the following terms and conditions:
9.1. | Right to Payment. |
An SAR shall confer on the Grantee to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the SAR as determined by the Board. The Award Agreement for an SAR shall specify the grant price of the SAR, which may be fixed at the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant or may vary in accordance with a predetermined formula while the SAR is outstanding. An SAR granted in tandem with an outstanding Option following the Grant Date of such Option may have a grant price that is equal to the Option Price, even if such grant price is less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the grant date of the SAR.
9.2. | Other Terms. |
The Board shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter, the time or times at which and the circumstances under which an SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the time or times at which SARs shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of Service or upon other conditions, the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, method by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Grantees, whether or not an SAR shall be in tandem or in combination with any other Award, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR.
10. | RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK UNITS |
10.1. | Grant of Restricted Stock or Stock Units. |
The Board may from time to time grant Restricted Stock or Stock Units to persons eligible to receive Awards under Section 6 hereof, subject to such restrictions, conditions and other terms, if any, as the Board may determine. Awards of Restricted Stock may be made for no consideration (other than par value of the shares which is deemed paid by Services already rendered).
10.2. | Restrictions. |
At the time a grant of Restricted Stock or Stock Units is made, the Board may, in its sole discretion, establish a period of time (a restricted period) applicable to such Restricted Stock or Stock Units. Each Award of Restricted Stock or Stock Units may be subject to a different restricted period. The Board may, in its sole discretion, at the time a grant of Restricted Stock or Stock Units is made, prescribe restrictions in addition to or other than the expiration of the restricted period, including the satisfaction of corporate or individual performance objectives, which may be applicable to all or any portion of the Restricted Stock or Stock Units in accordance with Section 14.1 and 14.2. Neither Restricted Stock nor Stock Units may be sold,
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10.3. | Restricted Stock Certificates. |
The Company shall issue, in the name of each Grantee to whom Restricted Stock has been granted, stock certificates representing the total number of shares of Restricted Stock granted to the Grantee, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Grant Date. The Board may provide in an Award Agreement that either (i) the Secretary of the Company shall hold such certificates for the Grantees benefit until such time as the Restricted Stock is forfeited to the Company or the restrictions lapse, or (ii) such certificates shall be delivered to the Grantee, provided, however, that such certificates shall bear a legend or legends that comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and makes appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed under the Plan and the Award Agreement.
10.4. | Rights of Holders of Restricted Stock. |
Unless the Board otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, holders of Restricted Stock shall have the right to vote such Stock and the right to receive any dividends declared or paid with respect to such Stock. The Board may provide that any dividends paid on Restricted Stock must be reinvested in shares of Stock, which may or may not be subject to the same vesting conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock. All distributions, if any, received by a Grantee with respect to Restricted Stock as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares, or other similar transaction shall be subject to the restrictions applicable to the original Grant.
10.5. | Rights of Holders of Stock Units. |
10.5.1. | Voting and Dividend Rights. |
Unless the Board otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, holders of Stock Units shall have no rights as stockholders of the Company. The Board may provide in an Award Agreement evidencing a grant of Stock Units that the holder of such Stock Units shall be entitled to receive, upon the Companys payment of a cash dividend on its outstanding Stock, a cash payment for each Stock Unit held equal to the per-share dividend paid on the Stock. Such Award Agreement may also provide that such cash payment will be deemed reinvested in additional Stock Units at a price per unit equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date that such dividend is paid.
10.5.2. | Creditors Rights. |
A holder of Stock Units shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement.
10.6. | Termination of Service. |
Unless the Board otherwise provides in an Award Agreement or in writing after the Award Agreement is issued, upon the termination of a Grantees Service, any Restricted Stock or Stock Units held by such Grantee that have not vested, or with respect to which all applicable restrictions and conditions have not lapsed, shall immediately be deemed forfeited. Upon forfeiture of Restricted Stock or Stock Units, the Grantee shall have no further rights with respect to such Award, including but not limited to any right to vote Restricted Stock or any right to receive dividends with respect to shares of Restricted Stock or Stock Units.
10.7. | Purchase of Restricted Stock. |
The Grantee shall be required, to the extent required by applicable law, to purchase the Restricted Stock from the Company at a Purchase Price equal to the greater of (i) the aggregate par value of the shares of Stock represented by such Restricted Stock or (ii) the Purchase Price, if any, specified in the Award Agreement relating to such Restricted Stock. The Purchase Price shall be payable in a form described in
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10.8. | Delivery of Stock. |
Upon the expiration or termination of any restricted period and the satisfaction of any other conditions prescribed by the Board, the restrictions applicable to shares of Restricted Stock or Stock Units settled in Stock shall lapse, and, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, a stock certificate for such shares shall be delivered, free of all such restrictions, to the Grantee or the Grantees beneficiary or estate, as the case may be.
11. | UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS |
The Board may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at par value or such other higher purchase price determined by the Board) an Unrestricted Stock Award to any Grantee pursuant to which such Grantee may receive shares of Stock free of any restrictions (Unrestricted Stock) under the Plan. Unrestricted Stock Awards may be granted or sold as described in the preceding sentence in respect of past services and other valid consideration, or in lieu of, or in addition to, any cash compensation due to such Grantee.
12. | FORM OF PAYMENT FOR OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED STOCK |
12.1. | General Rule. |
Payment of the Option Price for the shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option or the Purchase Price for Restricted Stock shall be made in cash or in cash equivalents acceptable to the Company.
12.2. | Surrender of Stock. |
To the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option or the Purchase Price for Restricted Stock may be made all or in part through the tender to the Company of shares of Stock, which shares, if acquired from the Company, shall have been held for at least six months at the time of tender and which shall be valued, for purposes of determining the extent to which the Option Price or Purchase Price has been paid thereby, at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise or surrender.
12.3. | Cashless Exercise. |
With respect to an Option only (and not with respect to Restricted Stock), to the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option may be made all or in part by delivery (on a form acceptable to the Board) of an irrevocable direction to a licensed securities broker acceptable to the Company to sell shares of Stock and to deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company in payment of the Option Price and any withholding taxes described in Section 19.3.
12.4. | Other Forms of Payment. |
To the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for shares purchased pursuant to exercise of an Option or the Purchase Price for Restricted Stock may be made in any other form that is consistent with applicable laws, regulations and rules.
13. | DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS |
13.1. | Dividend Equivalent Rights. |
A Dividend Equivalent Right is an Award entitling the recipient to receive credits based on cash distributions that would have been paid on the shares of Stock specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other award to which it relates) if such shares had been issued to and held by the recipient. A Dividend Equivalent Right may be granted hereunder to any Grantee as a component of another Award or as a freestanding award. The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be specified in the grant.
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13.2. | Termination of Service. |
Except as may otherwise be provided by the Board either in the Award Agreement or in writing after the Award Agreement is issued, a Grantees rights in all Dividend Equivalent Rights or interest equivalents shall automatically terminate upon the Grantees termination of Service for any reason.
14. | PERFORMANCE AND ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS |
14.1. | Performance Conditions |
The right of a Grantee to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Board. The Board may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions, and may exercise its discretion to reduce the amounts payable under any Award subject to performance conditions, except as limited under Sections 14.2 hereof in the case of a Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m). If and to the extent required under Code Section 162(m), any power or authority relating to a Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m), shall be exercised by the Committee and not the Board.
14.2. | Performance or Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees |
If and to the extent that the Committee determines that a Performance or Annual Incentive Award to be granted to a Grantee who is designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as performance-based compensation for purposes of Code Section 162(m), the grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance or Annual Incentive Award shall be contingent upon achievement of pre-established performance goals and other terms set forth in this Section 14.2.
14.2.1. | Performance Goals Generally. |
The performance goals for such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 14.2. Performance goals shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder including the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in the achievement of performance goals being substantially uncertain. The Committee may determine that such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall be granted, exercised and/or settled upon achievement of any one performance goal or that two or more of the performance goals must be achieved as a condition to grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards. Performance goals may differ for Performance or Annual Incentive Awards granted to any one Grantee or to different Grantees.
14.2.2. | Business Criteria. |
One or more of the following business criteria for the Company, on a consolidated basis, and/or specified subsidiaries or business units of the Company (except with respect to the total stockholder return and earnings per share criteria), shall be used exclusively by the Committee in establishing performance goals for such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards: (1) total stockholder return; (2) such total stockholder return as compared to total return (on a comparable basis) of a publicly available index such as, but not limited to, the
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14.2.3. | Timing For Establishing Performance Goals. |
Performance goals shall be established not later than 90 days after the beginning of any performance period applicable to such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards, or at such other date as may be required or permitted for performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m).
14.2.4. | Performance or Annual Incentive Award Pool. |
The Committee may establish a Performance or Annual Incentive Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of measuring Company performance in connection with Performance or Annual Incentive Awards.
14.2.5. | Settlement of Performance or Annual Incentive Awards; Other Terms. |
Settlement of such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall be in cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards. The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of Service by the Grantee prior to the end of a performance period or settlement of Performance Awards.
14.3. | Written Determinations. |
All determinations by the Committee as to the establishment of performance goals, the amount of any Performance Award pool or potential individual Performance Awards and as to the achievement of performance goals relating to Performance Awards, and the amount of any Annual Incentive Award pool or potential individual Annual Incentive Awards and the amount of final Annual Incentive Awards, shall be made in writing in the case of any Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m). To the extent required to comply with Code Section 162(m), the Committee may delegate any responsibility relating to such Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards.
14.4. | Status of Section 14.2 Awards Under Code Section 162(m) |
It is the intent of the Company that Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards under Section 14.2 hereof granted to persons who are designated by the Committee as likely to be Covered Employees within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder shall, if so designated by the Committee, constitute qualified performance-based compensation within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, the terms of Section 14.2, including the definitions of Covered Employee and other terms used therein, shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, because the Committee cannot determine with certainty whether a given Grantee will be a Covered Employee with respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term Covered Employee as used herein shall mean only a person designated by the Committee, at the time of grant of Performance Awards or an Annual Incentive Award, as likely to be a Covered Employee with respect to that fiscal year. If any provision of the Plan or any agreement relating to such Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of Code Section 162(m) or regulations thereunder, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.
15. | PARACHUTE LIMITATIONS |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or of any other agreement, contract, or understanding heretofore or hereafter entered into by a Grantee with the Company or any Affiliate, except an agreement,
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16. | REQUIREMENTS OF LAW |
16.1. | General. |
The Company shall not be required to sell or issue any shares of Stock under any Award if the sale or issuance of such shares would constitute a violation by the Grantee, any other individual exercising an Option, or the Company of any provision of any law or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation any federal or state securities laws or regulations. If at any time the Company shall determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of any shares subject to an Award upon any securities exchange or under any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the issuance or purchase of shares hereunder, no shares of Stock may be issued or sold to the Grantee or any other individual exercising an Option pursuant to such Award unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company, and any delay caused thereby shall in no way affect the date of termination of the Award. Specifically, in connection with the Securities Act, upon the exercise of any Option or the delivery of any shares of Stock underlying an Award, unless a registration statement under such Act is in effect with respect to the shares of Stock covered by such Award, the Company shall not be required to sell or issue such shares unless the Board has received evidence satisfactory to it that the Grantee or any other individual exercising an Option may acquire such shares pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Any determination in this connection by the Board shall be final, binding, and conclusive. The Company may, but shall in no event be obligated to, register any securities covered hereby pursuant to the Securities Act. The Company shall not be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of an Option or the issuance of shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan to comply with any law or regulation of any governmental authority. As to any jurisdiction that expressly imposes the requirement that an Option shall not be exercisable until the shares of Stock covered by such Option are registered or are exempt from registration, the exercise of such Option (under circumstances in which the laws of such jurisdiction apply) shall be deemed conditioned upon the effectiveness of such registration or the availability of such an exemption.
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16.2. | Rule 16b-3. |
During any time when the Company has a class of equity security registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, it is the intent of the Company that Awards pursuant to the Plan and the exercise of Options granted hereunder will qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. To the extent that any provision of the Plan or action by the Board does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3, it shall be deemed inoperative to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Board, and shall not affect the validity of the Plan. In the event that Rule 16b-3 is revised or replaced, the Board may exercise its discretion to modify this Plan in any respect necessary to satisfy the requirements of, or to take advantage of any features of, the revised exemption or its replacement.
17. | EFFECT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION |
17.1. | Changes in Stock. |
If the number of outstanding shares of Stock is increased or decreased or the shares of Stock are changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company on account of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse split, combination of shares, exchange of shares, stock dividend or other distribution payable in capital stock, or other increase or decrease in such shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company occurring after the Effective Date, the number and kinds of shares for which grants of Options and other Awards may be made under the Plan shall be adjusted proportionately and accordingly by the Company. In addition, the number and kind of shares for which Awards are outstanding shall be adjusted proportionately and accordingly so that the proportionate interest of the Grantee immediately following such event shall, to the extent practicable, be the same as immediately before such event. Any such adjustment in outstanding Options or SARs shall not change the aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price payable with respect to shares that are subject to the unexercised portion of an outstanding Option or SAR, as applicable, but shall include a corresponding proportionate adjustment in the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price per share. The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as an increase in shares effected without receipt of consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any distribution to the Companys stockholders of securities of any other entity or other assets without receipt of consideration by the Company, the Company may, in such manner as the Company deems appropriate, adjust (i) the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards and/or (ii) the exercise price of outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to reflect such distribution.
17.2. | Reorganization in Which the Company Is the Surviving Entity Which does not Constitute a Corporate Transaction. |
Subject to Section 17.3 hereof, if the Company shall be the surviving entity in any reorganization, merger, or consolidation of the Company with one or more other entities which does not constitute a Corporate Transaction, any Option or SAR theretofore granted pursuant to the Plan shall pertain to and apply to the securities to which a holder of the number of shares of Stock subject to such Option or SAR would have been entitled immediately following such reorganization, merger, or consolidation, with a corresponding proportionate adjustment of the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price per share so that the aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price thereafter shall be the same as the aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price of the shares remaining subject to the Option or SAR immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or consolidation. Subject to any contrary language in an Award Agreement evidencing an Award, any restrictions applicable to such Award shall apply as well to any replacement shares received by the Grantee as a result of the reorganization, merger or consolidation. In the event of a transaction described in this Section 17.2, Stock Units shall be adjusted so as to apply to the securities that a holder of the number of shares of Stock subject to the Stock Units would have been entitled to receive immediately following such transaction.
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17.3. | Corporate Transaction. |
Subject to the exceptions set forth in the last sentence of this Section 17.3 and the last sentence of Section 17.4:
(i) upon the occurrence of a Corporate Transaction, all outstanding shares of Restricted Stock and all Stock Units shall be deemed to have vested, and all restrictions and conditions applicable to such shares of Restricted Stock shall be deemed to have lapsed and the shares of stock subject to such Stock Units shall be delivered, immediately prior to the occurrence of such Corporate Transaction, and
(ii) either of the following two actions shall be taken:
(A) fifteen days prior to the scheduled consummation of a Corporate Transaction, all Options and SARs outstanding hereunder shall become immediately exercisable and shall remain exercisable for a period of fifteen days, or | |
(B) the Board may elect, in its sole discretion, to cancel any outstanding Awards of Options, Restricted Stock, Stock Units and/or SARs and pay or deliver, or cause to be paid or delivered, to the holder thereof an amount in cash or securities having a value (as determined by the Board acting in good faith), in the case of Restricted Stock or Stock Units, equal to the formula or fixed price per share paid to holders of shares of Stock and, in the case of Options or SARs, equal to the product of the number of shares of Stock subject to the Option or SAR (the Award Shares) multiplied by the amount, if any, by which (I) the formula or fixed price per share paid to holders of shares of Stock pursuant to such transaction exceeds (II) the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price applicable to such Award Shares. |
With respect to the Companys establishment of an exercise window, (i) any exercise of an Option or SAR during such fifteen-day period shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the event and shall be effective only immediately before the consummation of the event, and (ii) upon consummation of any Corporate Transaction the Plan, and all outstanding but unexercised Options and SARs shall terminate. The Board shall send written notice of an event that will result in such a termination to all individuals who hold Options and SARs not later than the time at which the Company gives notice thereof to its stockholders.
This Section 17.3 shall not apply to any Corporate Transaction to the extent that provision is made in writing in connection with such Corporate Transaction for the assumption or continuation of the Options, SARs, Restricted Stock and Stock Units theretofore granted, or for the substitution for such Options, SARs, Restricted Stock and Stock Units for new common stock options and stock appreciation rights and new common stock restricted stock and stock units relating to the stock of a successor entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number of shares (disregarding any consideration that is not common stock) and option and stock appreciation right exercise prices, in which event the Plan, Options, SARs, Restricted Stock and Stock Units theretofore granted shall continue in the manner and under the terms so provided.
17.4. | Adjustments. |
Adjustments under this Section 17 related to shares of Stock or securities of the Company shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional shares or other securities shall be issued pursuant to any such adjustment, and any fractions resulting from any such adjustment shall be eliminated in each case by rounding downward to the nearest whole share. The Board shall determine the effect of a Corporate Transaction upon Awards other than Options, SARs, and Restricted Stock, and such effect shall be set forth in the appropriate Award Agreement. The Board may provide in the Award Agreements at the time of grant, or any time thereafter with the consent of the Grantee, for different provisions to apply to an Award in place of those described in Sections 17.1, 17.2 and 17.3.
17.5. | No Limitations on Company. |
The making of Awards pursuant to the Plan shall not affect or limit in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, or liquidate, or to sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
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18. | CHANGE IN CONTROL |
Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, to the extent it remains outstanding and unexercised, each Option shall be deemed to have vested in full immediately prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control. A Change in Control shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (ii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to another person or entity, (iii) a merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company with one or more other persons or entities where the Company is not the surviving entity, or (iv) a merger, acquisition or other transaction in which the Company is the surviving corporation that results in any person or entity (other than persons who are holders of 5% or more of the stock of the Company at the time the transaction is approved by the stockholders and other than any Affiliate) acquiring beneficial ownership of 51% or more of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, excluding any change in voting control arising as a result of the conversion of Class B common stock of the Company to Class A common stock of the Company or any distribution by RF Investors, L.L.C. to any of its direct or indirect owners, investors or their respective affiliates (within the meaning of Rule 405 of Regulation C under the 1933 Act). Any termination of an Option in connection with a Change in Control, the period during which the Option may be exercised prior to such termination, and the required notice to be provided by the Company to the Grantee prior to such termination shall be determined according to Section 17.3 above.
19. | GENERAL PROVISIONS |
19.1. | Disclaimer of Rights |
No provision in the Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement shall be construed to confer upon any individual the right to remain in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate, or to interfere in any way with any contractual or other right or authority of the Company either to increase or decrease the compensation or other payments to any individual at any time, or to terminate any employment or other relationship between any individual and the Company. In addition, notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, no Award granted under the Plan shall be affected by any change of duties or position of the Grantee, so long as such Grantee continues to be a director, officer, consultant or employee of the Company or an Affiliate. The obligation of the Company to pay any benefits pursuant to this Plan shall be interpreted as a contractual obligation to pay only those amounts described herein, in the manner and under the conditions prescribed herein. The Plan shall in no way be interpreted to require the Company to transfer any amounts to a third party trustee or otherwise hold any amounts in trust or escrow for payment to any Grantee or beneficiary under the terms of the Plan.
19.2. | Nonexclusivity of the Plan |
Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations upon the right and authority of the Board to adopt such other incentive compensation arrangements (which arrangements may be applicable either generally to a class or classes of individuals or specifically to a particular individual or particular individuals) as the Board in its discretion determines desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options otherwise than under the Plan.
19.3. | Withholding Taxes |
The Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, shall have the right to deduct from payments of any kind otherwise due to a Grantee any federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the vesting of or other lapse of restrictions applicable to an Award or upon the issuance of any shares of Stock upon the exercise of an Option or pursuant to an Award. At the time of such vesting, lapse, or exercise, the Grantee shall pay to the Company or the Affiliate, as the case may be, any amount that the Company or the Affiliate may reasonably determine to be necessary to satisfy such withholding obligation. Subject to the prior approval of the Company or the Affiliate, which may be withheld by the Company or the Affiliate, as the case may be, in its sole discretion, the Grantee may elect to satisfy such obligations, in whole or in part, (i) by causing the Company or the Affiliate to withhold shares of Stock otherwise issuable to the
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19.4. | Captions |
The use of captions in this Plan or any Award Agreement is for the convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning of any provision of the Plan or such Award Agreement.
19.5. | Other Provisions |
Each Award granted under the Plan may contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion.
19.6. | Number and Gender |
With respect to words used in this Plan, the singular form shall include the plural form, the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, etc., as the context requires.
19.7. | Severability |
If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be determined to be illegal or unenforceable by any court of law in any jurisdiction, the remaining provisions hereof and thereof shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and all provisions shall remain enforceable in any other jurisdiction.
19.8. | Governing Law |
The validity and construction of this Plan and the instruments evidencing the Award hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, other than any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Plan and the instruments evidencing the Awards granted hereunder to the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.
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