MILACRON INC. 2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN As Amended October 1, 2007
MILACRON INC.
2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
As Amended October 1, 2007
1. Purpose of the Plan. The purpose of this Plan is to attract, retain and motivate officers and other key employees of Milacron Inc. (the Company) and its Subsidiaries, to retain qualified individuals to serve as non-employee members of the Board, and to provide such persons with appropriate incentives and rewards for superior performance and contribution. The Plan is effective as of April 1, 2004 (the Effective Date), subject to the approval of the Companys stockholders.
2. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in this Section 2.
Applicable Laws means the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based compensation plans under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any other country or jurisdiction where awards are granted under the Plan.
Appreciation Right means a right granted pursuant to Section 5 of this Plan, and shall include both Tandem Appreciation Rights and Free-Standing Appreciation Rights.
Base Price means the price to be used as the basis for determining the Spread upon the exercise of a Free-Standing Appreciation Right and a Tandem Appreciation Right.
Beneficial Owner means a beneficial owner as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.
Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
Change in Control shall mean any of the following events:
(i) A Person or Group other than a trustee or other fiduciary of securities held under an employee benefit plan of the company or any of its Subsidiaries, is or becomes a Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of stock of the Company representing 20% or more of the total voting power of the Companys then outstanding stock and securities; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (a) any acquisition directly from the Company, (b) any acquisition by the Company, (c) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (d) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clause (a) of section (iii) of this section;
(ii) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the Incumbent Board), cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; provided, however, that any individual becoming a Director whose election, or nomination for election by the Companys stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least 60% of the Directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual was a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of Directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person or Group other than the Board;
(iii) There is consummated a merger, consolidation or other corporate transaction, other than (a) a merger, consolidation or transaction that would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof) at least sixy-six and two thirds percent of the combined voting power of the stock and securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation or transaction, or (b) a merger, consolidation or transaction effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person or Group is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of stock and securities of the Company representing more than 20% of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding stock and securities;
(iv) The sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the assets to an entity at least sixy-six and two thirds percent of the combined voting power of the stock and securities of which is owned by Persons in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Companys voting stock immediately prior to such sale; or
(v) The stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, a Change in Control shall not occur solely as a result of any change in the combined voting power of the stock and securities of the Company as a result of any securities issued or issuable pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 12, 2004, by and among Milacron Inc., Glencore Finance AG and Mizuho International plc, including any securities issued or issuable in exchange for, upon conversion or exercise of, or as a payment of dividends upon, such securities.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Committee means the Committee described in Section 16 of the Plan.
Common Stock means the common stock of the Company or any security into which such Common Stock may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 12 of this Plan.
Company has the meaning given such term in Section 1 of the Plan.
Covered Employee means an Employee who is, or is determined by the Committee to be likely to become, a covered employee within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor provision).
Date of Grant means the date specified by the Committee on which a grant of Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Performance Units or Performance Shares or a grant or sale of Restricted Shares or Deferred Shares or any awards granted under Section 10 shall become effective.
Deferral Period means the period of time during which Deferred Shares are subject to deferral limitations under Section 8 of this Plan.
Deferred Shares means an award made pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan of the right to receive shares of Common Stock at the end of a specified Deferral Period.
Director means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.
Effective Date has the meaning given such term in Section 1 of the Plan.
Employee means a salaried employee of the Company or any Subsidiary who has demonstrated significant management potential or who has contributed in a substantial measure to the successful performance of the Company, as determined by the Committee.
Evidence of Award means an agreement, certificate, resolution or other type or form of writing or other evidence approved by the Committee which sets forth the terms and conditions of the Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Performance Units, Performance Shares, Restricted Shares or Deferred Shares or any awards granted under Section 10. An Evidence of Award may be in an electronic medium, may be limited to a notation on the books and records of the Company and, with the approval of the Committee, need not be signed by a representative of the Company or a Participant.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder, as such law, rules and regulations may be amended from time to time.
Free-Standing Appreciation Right means an Appreciation Right granted pursuant to Section 5 of this Plan that is not granted in tandem with an Option Right.
Group means any group as defined in Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act.
Incentive Stock Options means Option Rights that are intended to qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision. For purposes of clarity, Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to Employees.
Management Objectives means the measurable performance objective or objectives established pursuant to this Plan for Participants who have received grants of Performance Units or Performance Shares or, when so determined by the Committee, Option Rights, Appreciation Rights and Restricted Shares pursuant to this Plan. Management Objectives may be described in terms of Company-wide objectives or objectives that are related to the performance of the individual Participant or of the Subsidiary, division, department, region or function within the Company or Subsidiary in which the Participant is employed. The Management Objectives may be made relative to the performance of other corporations. The Management Objectives applicable to any award to a Covered Employee shall be based on specified levels of or growth in one or more of the following criteria: revenues; earnings from operations; earnings before or after interest and taxes; net income; cash flow; earnings per share; working capital; economic value added; return on total capital; return on invested capital; return on equity; return on assets; total return to stockholders; earnings before or after interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization or extraordinary or special items; return on investment; free cash flow; cash flow return on investment (discounted or otherwise); net cash provided by operations; cash flow in excess of cost of capital; operating margin; profit margin; stock price and/or strategic business criteria consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified product development, strategic partnering, research and development, market penetration, geographic business expansion goals, cost targets, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, management of employment practices and employee benefits, supervision of litigation or information technology, goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures of subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures. Management Objectives may be stated as a combination of the listed factors. If the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company, or the manner in which it conducts its business, or other events or circumstances (including those events and circumstances described in Section 12 of this Plan) render the Management Objectives unsuitable, the Committee may in its discretion modify such Management Objectives or the related minimum acceptable level of achievement, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate and equitable, except in the case of a Covered Employee to the extent that such action would result in the loss of the otherwise available exemption of the award under Section 162(m) of the Code.
Market Value per Share means, as of any particular date, (i) the closing sale price per share of Common Stock as reported on the principal exchange on which Common Stock of the Company is then trading, if any, or if there are no sales on such day, on the next preceding trading day during which a sale occurred, or (ii) if clause (i) does not apply, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by the Committee.
Optionee means the optionee named in an agreement evidencing an outstanding Option Right.
Option Price means the purchase price payable on exercise of an Option Right.
Option Right means the right to purchase shares of Common Stock from the Company upon the exercise of an option granted pursuant to Section 4 of this Plan.
Participant means an Employee or a Director who receives a grant of Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Performance Units or Performance Shares or a grant or sale of Restricted Shares or Deferred Shares or any awards under Section 10.
Performance Period means, in respect of a Performance Unit or Performance Share, a period of time established pursuant to Section 6 of this Plan within which the Management Objectives relating to such Performance Share or Performance Unit are to be achieved.
Performance Share means a bookkeeping entry that records the equivalent of one share of Common Stock awarded pursuant to Section 6 of this Plan.
Performance Unit means a bookkeeping entry that records a unit equivalent to $1.00 awarded pursuant to Section 6 of this Plan.
Person means any person (as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as such term is modified in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) other than (i) any employee plan established by the Company, (ii) any affiliate (as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of the Company, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company.
Plan means this Milacron Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
Restricted Shares means shares of Common Stock granted or sold pursuant to Section 7 of this Plan as to which neither the substantial risk of forfeiture nor the prohibition on transfers referred to in such Section 7 has expired.
Spread means the excess of the Market Value per Share on the date when an Option Right or Appreciation Right is exercised, over the per share Option Price or per share Base Price provided for in the related Option Right or Appreciation Right, respectively.
Subsidiary means a corporation, company or other entity which is designated by the Committee and in which the Company has a direct or indirect ownership or other equity interest, provided, however, that for purposes of determining whether any person may be a Participant for purposes of any grant of Incentive Stock Options, the term Subsidiary has the meaning given to such term in Section 424 of the Code, as interpreted by the regulations thereunder and applicable law.
Tandem Appreciation Right means an Appreciation Right granted pursuant to Section 5 of this Plan that is granted in tandem with an Option Right.
3. Shares Available Under the Plan.
a. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b) and Section 12 of this Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued or transferred (i) upon the exercise of Option Rights or Appreciation Rights, (ii) as Restricted Shares, (iii) as Deferred Shares, (iv) in payment of Performance Units or Performance Shares that have been earned, (v) in payment of awards granted under Section 10 of the Plan or (vi) in payment of dividend equivalents paid with respect to awards made under the Plan shall not exceed in the aggregate 7,000,000 shares of Common Stock. Such shares may be shares of original issuance, treasury shares, shares purchased by the Company on the open market, or a combination of the foregoing.
b. The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards) and make adjustments in the number of shares of Common Stock available in Section 3(a) above or otherwise specified in the Plan or in any award granted hereunder if the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered differs from the number of shares of Common Stock previously counted in connection with an award. Shares of Common Stock subject to an award granted under the Plan that is canceled, expired, forfeited, settled in cash or is otherwise terminated without a delivery of Common Stock to the Participant will again be available for awards, and Common Stock withheld in payment of the exercise price or taxes relating to an award granted under the Plan and shares of Common Stock equal to the number surrendered in payment of any exercise price or taxes relating to an award under the Plan shall be deemed to constitute Common Stock not delivered to the Participant and shall be deemed to again be available for awards under the Plan. This Section 3(b) shall apply to the number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available for Incentive Stock Options only to the extent consistent with applicable Treasury regulations relating to Incentive Stock Options under the Code.
c. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3, or elsewhere in this Plan, to the contrary and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12 of this Plan, (i) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock actually issued or transferred by the Company upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall not exceed 7,000,000 shares of Common Stock; (ii) no Participant shall be granted Option Rights and Appreciation Rights, in the aggregate, for more than 500,000 shares of Common Stock during any calendar year; (iii) no Director who is not an Employee shall be granted Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares and Deferred Shares, in the aggregate, for more than 10,000 shares of Common Stock during any calendar year.
d. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, in no event shall any Participant in any calendar year receive awards of (i) Performance Shares, Restricted Shares specifying Management Objectives or awards granted under Section 10 of the Plan specifying Management Objectives, which awards, in the aggregate, cover a maximum of more than 500,000 shares of Common Stock or (ii) Performance Units having an aggregate maximum value as of their respective Dates of Grant in excess of $2,000,000.
4. Option Rights. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting to Employees of Option Rights. Each such grant may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and shall be subject to all of the limitations, contained in the following provisions:
a. Each grant shall specify the number of shares of Common Stock to which it pertains, subject to adjustments as provided in Section 12 of this Plan.
b. Each grant shall specify an Option Price per share, which shall be equal to or greater than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.
c. Each grant shall specify whether the Option Price shall be payable (i) in cash or by check acceptable to the Company, (ii) by the actual or constructive transfer to the Company of shares of Common Stock owned by the Optionee not less than 6 months having a value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option Price, or (iii) by a combination of such methods of payment. To the extent permitted by law, any grant may provide for deferred payment of the Option Price from the proceeds of sale through a bank or broker on a date satisfactory to the Company of some or all of the shares to which such exercise relates.
d. Grants may be made to the same Employee whether or not any Option Rights previously granted to such Employee remain unexercised.
e. Each grant shall specify the period or periods of continuous service by the Optionee with the Company or any Subsidiary that is necessary before the Option Rights or installments thereof will become exercisable and may provide for the earlier exercise of such Option Rights in the event of a Change in Control, retirement, death or disability of the Optionee or other similar transaction or event as approved by the Committee.
f. Any grant of Option Rights may specify Management Objectives that must be achieved as a condition to the exercise of such rights.
g. Option Rights granted under this Plan may be (i) options, including, without limitation, Incentive Stock Options, that are intended to qualify under particular provisions of the Code, (ii) options that are not intended so to qualify, or (iii) combinations of the foregoing.
h. The exercise of an Option Right shall result in the cancellation on a share-for-share basis of any Tandem Appreciation Right authorized under Section 5 of this Plan.
i. No Option Right shall be exercisable more than 10 years from the Date of Grant.
j. Each grant of Option Rights shall be evidenced by an Evidence of Award which shall contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan and applicable sections of the Code, as the Committee may approve.
5. Appreciation Rights.
a. The Committee may authorize the granting (i) to any Optionee who is also an Employee, of Tandem Appreciation Rights in respect of Option Rights granted hereunder, and (ii) to any Employee, of Free-Standing Appreciation Rights. A Tandem Appreciation Right shall be a right of the Optionee, exercisable by surrender of the related Option Right, to receive from the Company an amount determined by the Committee, which shall be expressed as a percentage of the Spread (not exceeding 100 percent) at the time of exercise. Tandem Appreciation Rights may be granted at any time prior to the exercise or termination of the related Option Rights; provided, however, that a Tandem Appreciation Right awarded in relation to an Incentive Stock Option must be granted concurrently with such Incentive Stock Option. A Free-Standing Appreciation Right shall be a right of the Employee to receive from the Company an amount determined by the Committee, which shall be expressed as a percentage of the Spread (not exceeding 100 percent) at the time of exercise.
b. Each grant of Appreciation Rights may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and shall be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:
(i) Any grant may specify that the amount payable on exercise of an Appreciation Right may be paid by the Company in cash, in shares of Common Stock or in any combination thereof and may either grant to the Employee or retain in the Committee the right to elect among those alternatives.
(ii) Any grant may specify that the amount payable on exercise of an Appreciation Right may not exceed a maximum specified by the Committee at the Date of Grant.
(iii) Each grant shall specify the period or periods of continuous service by the Employee with the Company or any Subsidiary that is necessary before the Appreciation Right or installments thereof will become exercisable and may provide for the earlier exercise of such Appreciation Rights in the event of a Change in Control, retirement, death or disability of the Employee or other similar transaction or event as approved by the Committee.
(iv) Each grant of an Appreciation Right shall be evidenced by an Evidence of Award, which shall describe such Appreciation Right, identify any related Option Right, state that such Appreciation Right is subject to all the terms and conditions of this Plan, and contain such other terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan and applicable sections of the Code, as the Committee may approve.
(v) Any grant may provide for the payment to the Employee of dividend equivalents thereon in cash or shares of Common Stock on a current, deferred or contingent basis.
c. Any grant of Tandem Appreciation Rights shall provide that such Rights may be exercised only at a time when the related Option Right is also exercisable and at a time when the Spread is positive, and by surrender of the related Option Right for cancellation.
d. Regarding Free-Standing Appreciation Rights only:
(i) Each grant shall specify in respect of each Free-Standing Appreciation Right a Base Price, which shall be equal to or greater than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant;
(ii) Grants may be made to the same Employee regardless of whether any Free-Standing Appreciation Rights previously granted to the Employee remain unexercised; and
(iii) No Free-Standing Appreciation Right granted under this Plan may be exercised more than 10 years from the Date of Grant.
e. Any grant of Appreciation rights may specify Management Objectives that must be achieved as a condition to exercise such rights.
6. Performance Units and Performance Shares. The Committee may also authorize the granting to Employees of Performance Units and Performance Shares that will become payable (or payable early) to an Employee upon achievement of specified Management Objectives. Each such grant may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and shall be subject to all of the limitations, contained in the following provisions:
a. Each grant shall specify the number of Performance Units or Performance Shares to which it pertains, which number may be subject to adjustment to reflect changes in compensation or other factors; provided, however, that no such adjustment shall be made in the case of a Covered Employee where such action would result in the loss of the otherwise available exemption of the award under Section 162(m) of the Code.
b. The Performance Period with respect to each Performance Unit or Performance Share shall be such period of time commencing with the Date of Grant as shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant.
c. Any grant of Performance Units or Performance Shares shall specify Management Objectives which, if achieved, will result in payment or early payment of the award, and each grant may specify in respect of such specified Management Objectives a minimum acceptable level of achievement and shall set forth a formula for determining the number of Performance Units or Performance Shares that will be earned if performance is at or above the minimum level, but falls short of full achievement of the specified Management Objectives. The grant of Performance Units or Performance Shares shall specify that, before the Performance Shares or Performance Units shall be earned and paid, the Committee must determine that the Management Objectives have been satisfied.
d. Each grant shall specify the time and manner of payment of Performance Units or Performance Shares that have been earned. Any grant may specify that the amount payable with respect thereto may be paid by the Company to the Employee in cash, in shares of Common Stock or in any combination thereof, and may either grant to the Employee or retain in the Committee the right to elect among those alternatives.
e. Any grant of Performance Units may specify that the amount payable or the number of shares of Common Stock issued with respect thereto may not exceed maximums specified by the Committee at the Date of Grant. Any grant of Performance Shares may specify that the amount payable with respect thereto may not exceed a maximum specified by the Committee at the Date of Grant.
f. Each grant of Performance Units or Performance Shares shall be evidenced by an Evidence of Award, which shall contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan and applicable sections of the Code, as the Committee may approve.
g. The Committee may, at or after the Date of Grant of Performance Shares, provide for the payment of dividend equivalents to the holder thereof on either a current or deferred or contingent basis, either in cash or in additional shares of Common Stock.
7. Restricted Shares. The Committee may also authorize the grant or sale of Restricted Shares to Participants. Each such grant or sale may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and shall be subject to all of the limitations, contained in the following provisions:
a. Each such grant or sale shall constitute an immediate transfer of the ownership of Common Stock to the Participant in consideration of the performance of services, entitling such Participant to voting, dividend and other ownership rights, but subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer hereinafter referred to.
b. Each such grant or sale may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by such Participant that is less than Market Value per Share at the Date of Grant.
c. Each such grant or sale shall provide that the Restricted Shares covered by such grant or sale shall be subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code for a period to be determined by the Committee at the Date of Grant and may provide for the earlier lapse of such substantial risk of forfeiture in the event of a Change in Control, retirement, or death or disability of the Employee or other similar transaction or event as approved by the Committee.
d. Each such grant or sale shall provide that during the period for which such substantial risk of forfeiture is to continue, the transferability of the Restricted Shares shall be prohibited or restricted in the manner and to the extent prescribed by the Committee at the Date of Grant (which restrictions may include, without limitation, rights of repurchase or first refusal in the Company or provisions subjecting the Restricted Shares to a continuing substantial risk of forfeiture in the hands of any transferee).
e. Any grant of Restricted Shares may specify Management Objectives that, if achieved, will result in termination or early termination of the restrictions applicable to such shares. Each grant may specify in respect of such Management Objectives a minimum acceptable level of achievement and may set forth a formula for determining the number of Restricted Shares on which restrictions will terminate if performance is at or above the minimum level, but falls short of full achievement of the specified Management Objectives.
f. Any such grant or sale of Restricted Shares may require that any or all dividends or other distributions paid thereon during the period of such restrictions be automatically deferred and reinvested in additional Restricted Shares, which may be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying award.
g. Each grant or sale of Restricted Shares shall be evidenced by an Evidence of Award, which shall contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan and applicable sections of the Code, as the Committee may approve. The Restricted Shares may be certificated or uncertificated, as determined by the Committee. Unless otherwise directed by the Committee, all certificates representing Restricted Shares shall be held in custody by the Company until all restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, together with a stock power or powers executed by the Participant in whose name such certificates are registered, endorsed in blank and covering such Shares.
8. Deferred Shares. The Committee may also authorize the grant or sale of Deferred Shares to Employees. Each such grant or sale may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and shall be subject to all of the requirements contained in the following provisions:
a. Each such grant or sale shall constitute the agreement by the Company to deliver Common Stock to the Employee in the future in consideration of the performance of services, but subject to the fulfillment of such conditions during the Deferral Period as the Committee may specify.
b. Each such grant or sale may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by such Employee that is less than the Market Value per Share at the Date of Grant.
c. Each such grant or sale shall be subject to a Deferral Period as determined by the Committee at the Date of Grant, and may provide for the earlier lapse or other modification of such Deferral Period in the event of a Change in Control, retirement, or death or disability of the Employee or other similar transaction or event as approved by the Committee.
d. During the Deferral Period, the Employee shall have no right to transfer any rights under his or her award and shall have no rights of ownership in the Deferred Shares and shall have no right to vote them, but the Committee may, at or after the Date of Grant, authorize the payment of dividend equivalents on such shares on either a current or deferred or contingent basis, either in cash or in additional shares of Common Stock.
e. Each grant or sale of Deferred Shares shall be evidenced by an Evidence of Award, which shall contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan and applicable sections of the Code, as the Committee may approve.
9. Non-Employee Directors. The Board may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting to Directors who are not then Employees of Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares, or any combination of the foregoing. Each grant of Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares and Deferred Shares shall be upon terms and conditions consistent with Sections 4, 5, 7 and 8 of this Plan.
10. Other Awards.
a. The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to any Employee such other awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Common Stock or factors that may influence the value of Common Stock, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock, purchase rights for Common Stock, awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or business units thereof or any other factors designated by the Committee, and awards valued by reference to the book value of Common Stock or the value of securities of, or the performance of specified Subsidiaries or affiliates or other business units of, the Company. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such awards. Common Stock delivered pursuant to an award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 10 shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Common Stock, other awards, notes or other property, as the Committee shall determine.
b. Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other award granted under this Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 10 of the Plan.
c. The Committee is authorized to grant Common Stock as a bonus, or to grant Common Stock or other awards in lieu of obligations of the Company or a Subsidiary to pay cash or deliver other property under the Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, subject to such terms as shall be determined by the Committee.
11. Transferability.
a. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, no Option Right, Appreciation Right or other award granted under the Plan shall be transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, Option Rights and Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable during the Optionees lifetime only by him or her or by his or her guardian or legal representative.
b. The Committee may specify at the Date of Grant that part or all of the shares of Common Stock that are (i) to be issued or transferred by the Company upon the exercise of Option Rights or Appreciation Rights, upon the termination of the Deferral Period applicable to Deferred Shares or upon payment under any grant of Performance Units or Performance Shares or (ii) no longer subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer referred to in Section 7 of this Plan, shall be subject to further restrictions on transfer.
12. Adjustments. The Committee may make or provide for such adjustments in the numbers of shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Performance Shares, Deferred Shares and share-based awards described in Section 10 of the Plan granted hereunder, in the Option Price and Base Price provided in outstanding Appreciation Rights, and in the kind of shares covered thereby, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, may determine is equitably required to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants or Optionees that otherwise would result from (a) any stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Company, or (b) any merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-off, spin-out, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets (including, without limitation, a special or large non-recurring dividend), issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities, or (c) any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing. Moreover, in the event of any such transaction or event, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding awards under this Plan such alternative consideration (or no consideration) as it, in good faith, may determine to be equitable in the circumstances and may require in connection therewith the surrender of all awards so replaced. The Committee may also make or provide for such adjustments in the numbers of shares specified in Section 3 of this Plan as the Committee in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, may determine is appropriate to reflect any transaction or event described in this Section 12; provided, however, that any such adjustment to the number specified in Section 3(c)(i) shall be made only if and to the extent that such adjustment would not cause any Option intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option to fail so to qualify.
13. Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue any fractional Common Stock pursuant to this Plan. The Committee may provide for the elimination of fractions or for the settlement of fractions in cash.
14. Withholding Taxes. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any payment under this Plan an amount equal to the federal, state, local, foreign and other taxes which in the opinion of the Company are required to be withheld by it with respect to such payment and to the extent that the amounts available to the Company for such withholding are insufficient, it shall be a condition to the receipt of such payment or the realization of such benefit that the Participant or such other person make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for payment of the balance of such taxes required to be withheld. At the discretion of the Committee, such arrangements may include relinquishment of a portion of such benefit pursuant to procedures adopted by the Committee from time to time.
15. Foreign Employees. In order to facilitate the making of any grant or combination of grants under this Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for awards to Participants who are foreign nationals or who are employed by the Company or any Subsidiary outside of the United States of America as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of this Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes, without thereby affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect for any other purpose, and the Corporate Secretary or other appropriate officer of the Company may certify any such document as having been approved and adopted in the same manner as this Plan. No such special terms, supplements, amendments or restatements, however, shall include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of this Plan as then in effect unless this Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the stockholders of the Company.
16. Administration of the Plan.
a. This Plan shall be administered by the Companys Personnel and Compensation Committee of the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may perform any function of the Committee hereunder, and the Board shall perform all functions of the Committee with respect to any award for a Director who is not then an Employee, in which case the term Committee shall refer to the Board.
b. The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provision of this Plan or of any Evidence of Award, agreement, notification or document evidencing the grant of Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares, Performance Units, Performance Shares or any awards granted under Section 10 of the Plan and any determination by the Committee pursuant to any provision of this Plan or of any such Evidence of Award, agreement, notification or document shall be final, binding and conclusive. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any such action or determination made not in bad faith.
17. Amendments and Other Matters.
a. The Board may at any time and from time to time amend the Plan in whole or in part; provided, however, that any amendment which must be approved by the stockholders of the Company in order to comply with applicable law or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Common Stock is not traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the principal national securities exchange upon which the Common Stock is traded or quoted, shall not be effective unless and until such approval has been obtained. Presentation of this Plan or any amendment thereof for stockholder approval shall not be construed to limit the Companys authority to offer similar or dissimilar benefits under other plans or otherwise with or without stockholder approval. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board of Directors may amend this Plan to eliminate provisions which are no longer necessary as a result in changes in tax or securities laws or regulations, or in the interpretation thereof.
b. The Committee shall not, without the further approval of the stockholders of the Company, authorize the amendment of any outstanding Option Right or Appreciation Right to reduce the Option Price or Base Price. Furthermore, no Option Right or Appreciation Right shall be cancelled and replaced with awards having a lower Option Price or Base Price, respectively, without further approval of the stockholders of the Company. This Section 17(b) is intended solely to prohibit the repricing of underwater Option Rights and Appreciation Rights and shall not be construed to prohibit the adjustments provided for in Section 12 of this Plan.
c. The Committee also may permit Participants to elect to defer the issuance of Common Stock or the settlement of awards in cash under the Plan pursuant to such rules, procedures or programs as it may establish for purposes of this Plan. The Committee also may provide that deferred issuances and settlements include the payment or crediting of dividend equivalents or interest on the deferral amounts.
d. The Committee may condition the grant of any award or combination of awards authorized under this Plan on the deferral by the Participant of his or her right to receive a cash bonus or other compensation otherwise payable by the Company or a Subsidiary to the Participant.
e. In case of a Change in Control of the Company, or in the case of a termination of employment of a Participant by reason of death, disability or normal or early retirement, or in the case of hardship of a Participant or other special circumstances, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the time at which any Option Right or Appreciation Right may be exercised or the time when a Performance Unit or Performance Share shall be deemed to have been fully earned or the time when a substantial risk of forfeiture or prohibition on transfer of Restricted Shares shall lapse or the time when a Deferral Period shall end. In addition, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, modify any Option Right or Appreciation Right to extend the period following termination of a Participants employment to the Company or any Subsidiary during which such award will remain outstanding and be exercisable, provided that no such extension shall result in any award being exercisable more than ten years after the Date of Grant.
f. This Plan shall not confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, nor shall it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate such Participants employment at any time.
g. Subject to Section 19, this Plan shall continue in effect until the date on which all Common Stock available for issuance or transfer under this Plan has been issued or transferred and the Company has no further obligation hereunder.
h. Neither a Participant nor any other person shall, by reason of participation in the Plan, acquire any right or title to any assets, funds or property of the Company or any Subsidiary, including without limitation, any specific funds, assets or other property which the Company or any Subsidiary may set aside in anticipation of any liability under the Plan. A Participant shall have only a contractual right to an award or the amounts, if any, payable under the Plan, unsecured by any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, and nothing contained in the Plan shall constitute a guarantee that the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be sufficient to pay any benefits to any person.
i. This Plan and each Evidence of Award shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.
j. If any provision of the Plan is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended or limited in scope to conform to applicable laws or, in the discretion of the Committee, it shall be stricken and the remainder of the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.
18. Applicable Laws. The obligations of the Company with respect to awards under the Plan shall be subject to all Applicable Laws and such approvals by any governmental agencies as the Committee determines may be required.
19. Termination. No grant shall be made under this Plan more than 10 years after the Effective Date, but all grants effective on or prior to such date shall continue in effect thereafter subject to the terms thereof and of this Plan.
20. 2007 Acquisition Transaction.
a. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, with respect to any awards granted under the Plan which have not previously become vested as of October 1, 2007, the Plan and such awards are hereby amended, subject to the satisfaction of any participant consent requirements, to provide that the acquisition of a majority of the 6.0% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company by Ohio Plastics, LLC that may occur after October 1, 2007 and the transactions consummated in connection therewith (the 2007 Acquisition Transaction) shall not constitute a Change in Control under the Plan and, accordingly, the occurrence of the 2007 Acquisition Transaction shall not result in any circumstances, events or changes being triggered solely as a result of the 2007 Acquisition Transaction including, without limitation, any of the following: (a) the accelerated vesting, exercisability, release, realization or payment of any such awards and (b) the deemed satisfaction of any performance criteria related to such awards.
b. With respect to awards granted under the Plan after February 22, 2007, the 2007 Acquisition Transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control under the Plan and, accordingly, the occurrence of the 2007 Acquisition Transaction shall not result in any circumstances, events or changes being triggered solely as a result of the 2007 Acquisition Transaction including, without limitation, any of the following: (a) the accelerated vesting, exercisability, release, realization or payment of any such awards and (b) the deemed satisfaction of any performance criteria related to any such awards.
c. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, with respect to any awards granted under the Plan which have not previously become vested or payable as of October 1, 2007 and which are based on a Performance Period or restriction period that includes the 2007 fiscal year of the Company, the Committee shall exclude from its determination of the achievement of the Management Objectives (as defined in Section 2 of the Plan) applicable to such awards the charges associated with the vesting of 159,734 shares of Common Stock due to the 2007 Acquisition Transaction and the transaction-related direct costs (up to a maximum of $500,000) associated with the 2007 Acquisition Transaction. Such adjustment shall be made in a manner that the Committee determines to be equitable and appropriate to accurately reflect the level of achievement of the Management Objectives without regard to such expenses or costs associated with the 2007 Acquisition Transaction.