MID-AMERICA APARTMENT COMMUNITIES, INC. 2013 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

EX-10.1 2 d603940dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

MID-AMERICA APARTMENT COMMUNITIES, INC.

2013 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION 1.    GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN; DEFINITIONS

The name of the plan is the Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. 2013 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to encourage and enable the officers, employees, Independent Directors and other key persons of Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (the “Company”), and the employees and other key persons of Mid-America Apartments, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”) and the Company’s other Subsidiaries, upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the Company largely depends for the successful conduct of its business to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. It is anticipated that providing such persons with a direct stake in the Company’s welfare will assure a closer identification of their interests with those of the Company, thereby stimulating their efforts on the Company’s behalf and strengthening their desire to remain with the Company.

The following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

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

“Administrator” is defined in Section 2(a).

“Award” or “Awards,” except where referring to a particular category of grant under the Plan, shall include Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Performance Share Awards, Dividend Equivalent Rights, Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company as constituted from time to time.

“Cash-Based Award” means an Award entitling the recipient to receive a cash-denominated payment.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor Code, and related rules, regulations and interpretations.

“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

“Company” means Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., a Tennessee corporation, and any successor thereto.

“Covered Employee” means an employee who is a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Dividend Equivalent Right” means Awards granted pursuant to Section 13.

“Effective Date” means the date on which the Plan was initially approved by shareholders as set forth in Section 21.

“Fair Market Value” on any given date means the last reported sale price of the Stock on such date or, if no Stock is traded on such date, the next preceding date on which Stock was traded, as reflected on the New York Stock Exchange or, if applicable, any other national stock exchange on which the Stock is traded or admitted to trading or, if none of the foregoing is applicable, then the Fair Market Value of the Stock as determined in good faith by the Committee.

 

1


“Incentive Stock Option” means any Stock Option that qualifies as and is designated in writing in the related Option agreement as constituting an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

“Independent Director” means a member of the Board who is not also an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.

“Non-Qualified Stock Option” means any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

“Operating Partnership” means Mid-America Apartments, L.P., a Tennessee limited partnership, and any successor thereto.

“Option” or “Stock Option” means any option to purchase shares of Stock granted pursuant to Section 5.

“Other Stock-Based Award” means Awards granted pursuant to Section 10.

“Performance-Based Award” means any Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share Award or Other Stock-Based Award granted to an employee that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Performance Criteria” means the criteria that the Administrator selects for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for an individual for a Performance Cycle. The Performance Criteria which shall be applicable to the organizational level specified by the Administrator, including, but not limited to, the Company or a unit, division, group, region, or Subsidiary of the Company, that will be used to establish Performance Goals are limited to the following: funds from operations, funds from operations per share, adjusted funds from operations, adjusted funds from operations per share, net operating income, gross operating income, total shareholder return, earnings per share, stock price, acquisitions, dispositions, strategic transactions, portfolio or regional occupancy rates, portfolio or regional rent rates, portfolio or regional revenue rates, return on capital, assets, equity, development, or investment, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or as compared to results of one or more peer groups.

“Performance Cycle” means one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Administrator may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Criteria will be measured for the purpose of determining a participant’s right to and the payment of a Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share Award or Other Stock-Based Award, the vesting and/or payment of which is subject to the attainment of one or more Performance Goals. Each such period shall not be less than 12 months.

“Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Cycle, the specific goals established in writing by the Administrator for a Performance Cycle based upon the Performance Criteria.

“Performance Share Award” means Awards granted pursuant to Section 9.

“Restricted Stock Award” means Awards granted pursuant to Section 6.

“Restricted Stock Unit” means Awards granted pursuant to Section 7.

“Sale Event” means (i) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to an unrelated person or entity, (ii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation pursuant to which the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting power and outstanding stock immediately prior to such transaction do not own a majority of the outstanding voting power and outstanding stock or other equity interests of the resulting or successor entity (or its ultimate parent, if applicable) immediately upon completion of such transaction, (iii) the sale of all of the Stock of the Company to an unrelated person, entity or group thereof acting in concert, or

 

2


(iv) any other transaction in which the owners of the Company’s outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own at least a majority of the outstanding voting power of the Company or any successor entity immediately upon completion of the transaction other than as a result of the acquisition of securities directly from the Company.

“Stock” means the Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 3.

“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity (other than the Company) in any unbroken chain of corporations or other entities beginning with the Company if each of the corporations or entities (other than the last corporation or entity in the unbroken chain) owns stock or other interests possessing 50 percent or more of the economic interest or the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or other interests in one of the other corporations or entities in the chain.

“Unrestricted Stock Award” means any Award granted pursuant to Section 8.

 

SECTION 2. ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN; ADMINISTRATOR AUTHORITY TO SELECT PARTICIPANTS AND DETERMINE AWARDS

(a) Committee. The Plan shall be administered by either the Board or the Committee (in either case, the “Administrator”). Each member of the Committee shall be a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3)(i) promulgated under the Act, or any successor definition under said rule. Each member of the Committee shall also be an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

(b) Powers of Administrator. The Administrator shall have the power and authority to grant Awards consistent with the terms of the Plan, including the power and authority:

(i) to select the individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;

(ii) to determine the time or times of grant, and the extent, if any, of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Performance Share Awards, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Other Stock-Based Awards, or any combination of the foregoing, granted to any one or more participants;

(iii) to determine the number of shares of Stock to be covered by any Award;

(iv) to determine and modify from time to time the terms and conditions, including restrictions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award, which terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and participants, and to approve the form of written instruments evidencing the Awards; provided, however, that except as otherwise provided in Section 3(b) or 3(c), the Administrator is not permitted to reduce the exercise price of Stock Options or effect repricing of Stock Options through cancellation and re-grants or cancellation in exchange for cash;

(v) to accelerate at any time the exercisability or vesting of all or any portion of any Award in circumstances involving a Change in Control or the death, disability or termination of employment of a Plan participant;

(vi) subject to the provisions of Section 5(c), to extend at any time the post-termination period in which Stock Options may be exercised;

(vii) to determine at any time whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the participant and whether and to what extent the Company shall pay or credit amounts constituting deemed interest (at rates determined by the Administrator) or dividends or deemed dividends on such deferrals; and

 

3


(viii) at any time to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices for administration of the Plan and for its own acts and proceedings as it shall deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award (including related written instruments); to make all determinations it deems advisable for the administration of the Plan; to decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan; and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

All decisions and interpretations of the Administrator shall be made in the Administrator’s sole and absolute discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons, including the Company and Plan participants.

(c) Delegation of Authority to Grant Awards. The Administrator, in its discretion, may delegate to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company all or part of the Administrator’s authority and duties with respect to Awards, including the granting thereof, to individuals who are not subject to the reporting and other provisions of Section 16 of the Act or “covered employees” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. Any such delegation by the Administrator shall include a limitation as to the amount of Awards that may be awarded during the period of the delegation and shall contain guidelines as to the determination of the exercise price of any Option, the conversion ratio or price of other Awards and the vesting criteria. The Administrator may revoke or amend the terms of a delegation at any time but such action shall not invalidate any prior actions of the Administrator’s delegate or delegates that were consistent with the terms of the Plan.

 

SECTION 3. STOCK ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; RECAPITALIZATIONS; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTE AWARDS

(a) Stock Issuable. The maximum number of shares of Stock reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be the sum of (i) 225,000 shares plus (ii) the shares underlying awards under the Company’s 2004 Stock Plan (the “2004 Plan”) which are forfeited, cancelled or otherwise terminated after the Effective Date, subject to adjustment as provided in this Section 3. For purposes of this limitation, the shares of Stock underlying any Awards that are forfeited, canceled, held back upon exercise of an Option or settlement of an Award to cover the exercise price or tax withholding, reacquired by the Company prior to vesting, satisfied without the issuance of Stock or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) shall be added back to the shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan. With respect to grants made or compensation earned under the Plan, Stock Options with respect to no more than 100,000 shares of Stock may be granted to any one individual participant during any one calendar year period. The shares available for issuance under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares of Stock or shares of Stock reacquired by the Company.

(b) Changes in Stock. Subject to Section 3(c) hereof, if, as a result of any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar change in the Company’s capital stock, the outstanding shares of Stock are increased or decreased or are exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company, or additional shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such shares of Stock or other securities, the Committee shall make equitable or proportionate adjustments in (i) the maximum number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, (ii) the number of Stock Options that can be granted to any one individual participant and the maximum number of shares that may be granted under a Performance-Based Award, (iii) the number and kind of shares or other securities subject to any then outstanding Awards under the Plan, (iv) the repurchase price, if any, per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award, and/or (v) the price for each share subject to any then outstanding Stock Options under the Plan, without reducing the aggregate exercise price (i.e., the exercise price multiplied by the number of Stock Options). The Committee shall also make equitable or proportionate adjustments in the number of shares subject to outstanding Awards and the exercise price and/or the terms of outstanding Awards to take into account cash dividends declared and paid other than in the ordinary course or any other extraordinary corporate event, other than those contemplated by Section 3(c) hereof, to the

 

4


extent determined to be necessary by the Committee to avoid distortion in the value of the Awards. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 3(b), no adjustment shall be required pursuant to this Section 3(b) if the Committee determines that such action could cause an Award to fail to satisfy the conditions of any applicable exception from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or otherwise could subject a participant to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A of the Code in respect of an outstanding Award. All adjustments made by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued under the Plan resulting from any such adjustment, but the Committee in its discretion may make a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares.

(c) Mergers. In contemplation of and subject to the consummation of a Sale Event, the Board, or the board of directors of any corporation assuming the obligations of the Company, may, in its discretion, take any one or more of the following actions, as to outstanding Awards: (i) provide that such Awards shall be assumed or equivalent awards shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), and/or (ii) upon written notice to the participants, provide that all Awards will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of the Sale Event. In the event that, pursuant to clause (ii) above, Awards will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of the Sale Event, all vested Awards, other than Options, shall be fully settled in cash or in kind at such appropriate consideration as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion after taking into account the consideration payable per share of Stock pursuant to the business combination (the “Merger Price”) and all Stock Options shall be fully settled, in cash or in kind, in an amount equal to the difference between (A) the Merger Price times the number of shares of Stock subject to such outstanding Stock Options (to the extent then exercisable at prices not in excess of the Merger Price) and (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding Stock Options; provided, however, that each participant may be permitted, within a specified period determined by the Administrator prior to the consummation of the Sale Event, to exercise all outstanding Stock Options, including those that are not then exercisable, subject to the consummation of the Sale Event.

(d) Substitute Awards. The Administrator may grant Awards under the Plan in substitution for stock and stock based awards held by employees of another corporation who become employees of the Company or a Subsidiary as the result of a merger or consolidation of the employing corporation with the Company or a Subsidiary or the acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary of property or stock of the employing corporation. The Administrator may direct that the substitute awards be granted on such terms and conditions as the Administrator considers appropriate in the circumstances. Awards granted pursuant to this Section 3(d) shall not reduce the number of shares of Stock otherwise available for issuance pursuant to the Plan under Section 3(a).

(e) Outside Director Limitation. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the aggregate grant date fair value (computed as of the date of grant in accordance with applicable financial accounting rules) of all awards granted to any Independent Director during any single calendar year shall not exceed $200,000.

 

SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY

Participants in the Plan will be such full or part-time officers and other employees, Independent Directors and key persons of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Company’s other Subsidiaries who are responsible for or contribute to the management, growth or profitability of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Company’s other Subsidiaries as are selected from time to time by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

 

SECTION 5. STOCK OPTIONS

(a) Form of Stock Options. Any Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be in such form as the Administrator may from time to time approve.

 

5


Stock Options granted under the Plan may be either Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary that is a “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code. To the extent that any Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, it shall be deemed a Non-Qualified Stock Option. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted under the Plan after June 16, 2023.

Stock Options granted pursuant to this Section 5 shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable.

(b) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share for the Stock covered by a Stock Option granted pursuant to this Section 5 shall be determined by the Administrator at the time of grant but shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant. If an employee owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10 percent of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such employee, the option price of such Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value on the grant date.

(c) Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Option shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date the option is granted. If an employee owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10 percent of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such employee, the term of such option shall be no more than five years from the date of grant.

(d) Exercisability; Rights of a Shareholder. Stock Options shall become exercisable at such time or times, whether or not in installments, as shall be determined by the Administrator at or after the grant date. The Administrator may at any time accelerate the exercisability of all or any portion of any Stock Option. An optionee shall have the rights of a shareholder only as to shares acquired upon the exercise of a Stock Option and not as to unexercised Stock Options. In the event that on the last business day of the term of a Stock Option, other than an Incentive Stock Option (i) the exercise of the Stock Option is prohibited by applicable law or (ii) Stock may not be purchased or sold by certain employees or directors of the Company due to the “black-out period” of a Company policy or a “lock-up” agreement undertaken in connection with an issuance of securities by the Company, the term of the Stock Option shall be extended for a period of thirty (30) days following the expiration of the legal prohibition, black-out period or lock-up agreement.

(e) Method of Exercise. Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of shares to be purchased. Payment of the purchase price may be made by one or more of the following methods to the extent provided in the Option Award agreement:

(i) In cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Administrator;

(ii) Through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership) of shares of Stock that are not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan. Such surrendered shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date;

(iii) By the optionee delivering to the Company a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company cash or a check payable and acceptable to the Company to pay the purchase price; provided that in the event the optionee chooses to pay the purchase price as so provided, the optionee and the broker shall comply with such procedures and enter into such agreements of indemnity and other agreements as the Administrator shall prescribe as a condition of such payment procedure; or

 

6


(iv) With respect to Stock Options that are not Incentive Stock Options, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Stock issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price.

Payment instruments will be received subject to collection. The delivery of certificates representing the shares of Stock to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option will be contingent upon receipt from the optionee (or a purchaser acting in his stead in accordance with the provisions of the Stock Option) by the Company of the full purchase price for such shares and the fulfillment of any other requirements contained in the Stock Option or applicable provisions of laws. In the event an optionee chooses to pay the purchase price by previously-owned shares of Stock through the attestation method, the number of shares of Stock transferred to the optionee upon the exercise of the Stock Option shall be net of the attested shares. In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the exercise of Stock Options, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless exercise of Stock Options may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.

(f) Annual Limit on Incentive Stock Options. To the extent required for “incentive stock option” treatment under Section 422 of the Code, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the shares of Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan and any other plan of the Company or its parent and subsidiary corporations become exercisable for the first time by an optionee during any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000. To the extent that any Stock Option exceeds this limit, it shall constitute a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

SECTION 6. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

(a) Nature of Restricted Stock Awards. A Restricted Stock Award is an Award entitling the recipient to acquire, at par value or such other higher purchase price determined by the Administrator, shares of Stock subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant (“Restricted Stock”). Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other business relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives. The grant of a Restricted Stock Award is contingent on the participant executing the Restricted Stock Award agreement. The terms and conditions of each such agreement shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and participants.

(b) Rights as a Shareholder. Upon the grant of the Restricted Stock Award and payment of any applicable purchase price, a participant shall have the rights of a shareholder with respect to the voting of the Restricted Stock and receipt of dividends. Notwithstanding the foregoing, cash dividends on shares covered by the Restricted Stock Award that remain subject to risk of forfeiture due to failure to meet performance-based conditions must be retained by or repaid by the participant to the Company; provided that, to the extent provided for in the Restricted Stock Award certificate, an amount equal to such cash dividends retained or repaid by the participant may be paid to the participant upon the lapsing of the performance-based conditions with respect to such Restricted Stock Award. Unless the Administrator shall otherwise determine, (i) uncertificated Restricted Stock shall be accompanied by a notation on the records of the Company or the transfer agent to the effect that they are subject to forfeiture until such Restricted Stock is vested as provided in Section 6(d) below, and (ii) certificated Restricted Stock shall remain in the possession of the Company until such Restricted Stock is vested as provided in Section 6(d) below, and the participant shall be required, as a condition of the grant, to deliver to the Company such instruments of transfer as the Administrator may prescribe.

(c) Restrictions. Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as specifically provided herein or in the Restricted Stock Award agreement. If a participant’s employment (or other business relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason, the Company shall have the right to repurchase Restricted Stock that has not vested at the time of termination at its original purchase price, from the participant or the participant’s legal representative.

 

7


(d) Vesting of Restricted Stock. The Administrator at the time of grant shall specify the date or dates and/or the attainment of pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions on which the non-transferability of the Restricted Stock and the Company’s right of repurchase or forfeiture shall lapse. Subsequent to such date or dates and/or the attainment of such pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions, the shares on which all restrictions have lapsed shall no longer be Restricted Stock and shall be deemed “vested.” Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award agreement or, subject to Section 17 below, in writing after the Award agreement is issued, a participant’s rights in any shares of Restricted Stock that have not vested shall automatically terminate upon the participant’s termination of employment (or other business relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries and such shares shall be subject to the Company’s right of repurchase as provided in Section 6(c) above.

 

SECTION 7. RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

(a) Nature of Restricted Stock Units. An Award of Restricted Stock Units is an Award of phantom stock units to a participant, subject to restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other business relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives. The grant of a Restricted Stock Unit is contingent on the participant executing the Award agreement. The terms and conditions of each such Award agreement shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and participants. Except in the case of Restricted Stock Units with a deferred settlement date that satisfies Section 409A of the Code, at the end of the vesting period, the Restricted Stock Unit, to the extent vested, shall be settled in the form of shares of Stock. Any payment of shares of Stock under an Award of Restricted Stock Units subject to Section 409A of the Code to a participant on account of the participant’s separation of service may not be made before the date that is six months after the date of separation from service if the participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code.

(b) Election to Receive Restricted Stock Units in Lieu of Compensation. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit a participant to elect to receive a portion of the cash compensation or Restricted Stock Award otherwise due to such participant in the form of Restricted Stock Units. Any such election shall be made in writing and shall be delivered to the Company no later than the date specified by the Administrator and in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Administrator. The Administrator shall have the sole right to determine whether and under what circumstances to permit such elections and to impose such limitations and other terms and conditions thereon as the Administrator deems appropriate.

(c) Rights as a Shareholder. A participant shall have the rights as a shareholder only as to shares of Stock acquired by the participant upon settlement of Restricted Stock Units; provided, however, that the participant may be credited with Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the Restricted Stock Units, subject to the provisions of Section 13(a) and such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine.

(d) Restrictions. A Restricted Stock Unit may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of during the deferral period.

(e) Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award agreement or, subject to Section 17 below, in writing after the Award agreement is issued, a participant’s right in all Restricted Stock Units that have not vested shall automatically terminate upon the participant’s termination of employment (or cessation of business relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.

 

SECTION 8. UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

Grant or Sale of Unrestricted Stock. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at par value or such other higher purchase price determined by the Administrator) an Unrestricted Stock Award to any participant pursuant to which such participant 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 or other valid consideration, or in lieu of any cash compensation due to such participant.

 

8


SECTION 9. PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARDS

(a) Nature of Performance Share Awards. A Performance Share Award is an Award entitling the recipient to acquire shares of Stock upon the attainment of specified performance goals. The Administrator may make Performance Share Awards independent of or in connection with the granting of any other Award under the Plan. The Administrator in its sole discretion shall determine whether and to whom Performance Share Awards shall be made, the performance goals applicable under each such Award, the periods during which performance is to be measured, and all other limitations and conditions applicable to the awarded Performance Shares; provided, however, that the Administrator may rely on the performance goals and other standards applicable to other performance unit plans of the Company in setting the standards for Performance Share Awards under the Plan.

(b) Rights as a Shareholder. A participant receiving a Performance Share Award shall have the rights of a shareholder only as to shares of Stock actually received by the participant under the Plan and not with respect to shares subject to the Award but not actually received by the participant. A participant shall be entitled to receive shares of Stock under a Performance Share Award only upon satisfaction of all conditions specified in the written instrument evidencing the Performance Share Award (or in a performance plan adopted by the Administrator).

(c) Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award agreement or, subject to Section 17 below, in writing after the Award agreement is issued, a participant’s rights in all Performance Share Awards shall automatically terminate upon the participant’s termination of employment (or cessation of business relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.

(d) Acceleration, Waiver, Etc. At any time prior to the participant’s termination of employment (or other business relationship) by the Company and its Subsidiaries, the Administrator may in its sole discretion accelerate, waive or, subject to Section 17, amend any or all of the goals, restrictions or conditions imposed under any Performance Share Award.

 

SECTION 10. OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

(a) Nature of Other Stock-Based Awards. An Other Stock-Based Award includes other Awards of Stock and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, Stock, including without limitation, convertible preferred stock, convertible debentures, exchangeable securities and Awards valued by reference to book value or subsidiary performance. An Other Stock-Based Award may be granted to any participant either along side or in addition to or in tandem with Stock Options, Restricted Stock or Deferred Stock granted under the Plan and/or cash awards made outside of the Plan. Stock (including securities convertible into Stock) issued on a bonus basis under this Section 10 may be issued for no cash consideration. Stock (including securities convertible into Stock) purchased with a purchase right awarded under this Section 10 shall be priced at least 25 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant. The grant of an Other Stock-Based Award may be subject to restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant, including conditions based on continuing employment (or other business relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives. The grant of an Other Stock-Based Award is contingent on the participant executing the Award agreement. The terms and conditions of each such agreement shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and participants.

(b) Rights as a Shareholder. Until such time as an Other Stock-Based Award is actually paid out in shares of Stock, a participant shall have no rights as a holder of Stock.

 

9


(c) Restrictions. An Other Stock-Based Award may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as specifically provided herein or in the Award agreement.

(d) Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator in the Award agreement or, subject to Section 17 below, in writing after the Award agreement is issued, a participant’s right in his Other Stock-Based Awards that have not vested shall automatically terminate upon the participant’s termination of employment (or cessation of business relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.

 

SECTION 11. CASH-BASED AWARDS

Grant of Cash-Based Awards. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, grant Cash-Based Awards to any grantee in such number or amount and upon such terms, and subject to such conditions, as the Administrator shall determine at the time of grant. The Administrator shall determine the maximum duration of the Cash-Based Award, the amount of cash to which the Cash-Based Award pertains, the conditions upon which the Cash-Based Award shall become vested or payable, and such other provisions as the Administrator shall determine. Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a cash-denominated payment amount, formula or payment ranges as determined by the Administrator. Payment, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award and may be made in cash or in shares of Stock, as the Administrator determines.

 

SECTION 12. PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS TO COVERED EMPLOYEES

(a) Performance-Based Awards. Any employee or other key person providing services to the Company and who is selected by the Administrator may be granted one or more Performance-Based Awards in the form of a Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share Award, Other Stock-Based Award or Cash-Based Award payable upon the attainment of Performance Goals that are established by the Administrator and relate to one or more of the Performance Criteria, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator. The Administrator shall define in an objective fashion the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for any Performance Period. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of a region, division, business unit, or an individual. The Administrator, in its discretion, may adjust or modify the calculation of Performance Goals for such Performance Period in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the rights of an individual (i) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event or development, (ii) in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company, or (iii) in response to, or in anticipation of, changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles or business conditions; provided, however, that the Administrator may not exercise such discretion in a manner that would increase the Performance-Based Award granted to a Covered Employee. Each Performance-Based Award shall comply with the provisions set forth below.

(b) Grant of Performance-Based Awards. With respect to each Performance-Based Award granted to a Covered Employee, the Administrator shall select, within the first 90 days of a Performance Cycle (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code) the Performance Criteria for such grant, and the Performance Goals with respect to each Performance Criterion (including a threshold level of performance below which no amount will become payable with respect to such Award). Each Performance-Based Award will specify the amount payable, or the formula for determining the amount payable, upon achievement of the various applicable performance targets. The Performance Criteria established by the Administrator may be (but need not be) different for each Performance Cycle and different Performance Goals may be applicable to Performance-Based Awards to different Covered Employees.

(c) Payment of Performance-Based Awards. Following the completion of a Performance Cycle, the Administrator shall meet to review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Goals for the Performance Cycle have been achieved and, if so, to also calculate and certify in writing the amount of the

 

10


Performance-Based Awards earned for the Performance Cycle. The Administrator shall then determine the actual size of each Covered Employee’s Performance-Based Award, and, in doing so, may reduce or eliminate the amount of the Performance-Based Award for a Covered Employee if, in its sole judgment, such reduction or elimination is appropriate.

(d) Maximum Award Payable. The maximum Performance-Based Award payable to any one Covered Employee under the Plan for a Performance Cycle is 50,000 shares (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b) hereof) or $2,500,000 in the case of a Performance-Based Award that is a Cash-Based Award.

 

SECTION 13. DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS

(a) Dividend Equivalent Rights. A Dividend Equivalent Right is an Award entitling the recipient to receive credits based on cash dividends 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 participant as a component of an Award or as a freestanding award. The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be specified in the grant. Dividend equivalents credited to the holder of a Dividend Equivalent Right may be paid currently or may be deemed to be reinvested in additional shares of Stock, which may thereafter accrue additional equivalents. Any such reinvestment shall be at Fair Market Value on the date of reinvestment. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or shares of Stock or a combination thereof, in a single installment or installments. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of an award of Restricted Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Award with performance-based vesting or Performance Share Award shall provide that such Dividend Equivalent Right may not be exercisable or payable unless and until the performance-based conditions have been met.

(b) Interest Equivalents. Any Award under this Plan that is settled in whole or in part in cash on a deferred basis may provide in the grant for interest equivalents to be credited with respect to such cash payment. Interest equivalents may be compounded and shall be paid upon such terms and conditions as may be specified by the grant.

(c) Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award agreement or, subject to Section 17 below, in writing after the Award agreement is issued, a participant’s rights in all Dividend Equivalent Rights or interest equivalents shall automatically terminate upon the participant’s termination of employment (or cessation of business relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.

 

SECTION 14. TAX WITHHOLDING

(a) Payment by Participant. Each participant shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award or of any Stock or other amounts received thereunder first becomes includable in the gross income of the participant for Federal income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator regarding payment of, any Federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such income. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the participant. The Company’s obligation to deliver stock certificates to any participant is subject to and conditioned on tax obligations being satisfied by the participant.

(b) Payment in Stock. Subject to approval by the Administrator, a participant may elect to have the minimum tax withholding obligation satisfied, in whole or in part, by authorizing the Company to withhold from shares of Stock to be issued pursuant to any Award a number of shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the minimum withholding amount due.

 

11


SECTION 15. TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS

(a) Transferability. Except as provided in Section 15(b) below, during a participant’s lifetime, his or her Awards shall be exercisable only by the participant, or by the participant’s legal representative or guardian in the event of the participant’s incapacity. No Awards shall be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by a participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order. No Awards shall be subject, in whole or in part, to attachment, execution, or levy of any kind, and any purported transfer in violation hereof shall be null and void.

(b) Administrator Action. Notwithstanding Section 15(a), the Administrator, in its discretion, may provide either in the Award Certificate regarding a given Award or by subsequent written approval that the participant (who is an employee or director) may transfer his or her Non-Qualified Options to his or her immediate Family Members for no value or consideration, provided that the transferee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Award. In no event may an Award be transferred by a participant for value.

(c) Family Member. For purposes of Section 15(b), “Family Member” shall mean a participant’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the participant’s household (other than a tenant of the participant), a trust in which these persons (or the participant) have more than 50 percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the participant) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the participant) own more than 50 percent of the voting interests.

(d) Designation of Beneficiary. Each participant to whom an Award has been made under the Plan may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise any Award or receive any payment under any Award payable on or after the participant’s death. Any such designation shall be on a form provided for that purpose by the Administrator and shall not be effective until received by the Administrator. If no beneficiary has been designated by a deceased participant, or if the designated beneficiaries have predeceased the participant, the beneficiary shall be the participant’s estate.

 

SECTION 16. TRANSFER, LEAVE OF ABSENCE, ETC.

For purposes of the Plan, the following events shall not be deemed a termination of employment:

(a) a transfer to the employment of the Company from a Subsidiary or from the Company to a Subsidiary, or from one Subsidiary to another Subsidiary; or

(b) an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the employee’s right to re-employment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the written policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Administrator otherwise so provides in writing.

 

SECTION 17. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

Unless sooner terminated as herein provided, the Plan shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of the date the Plan is approved by the Administrator and no Award shall be granted under the Plan on and after such date. The termination of the Plan shall not adversely affect the rights under any outstanding Award without the holder’s written consent. The Administrator may, at any time, amend or discontinue the Plan and the Administrator may, at any time, amend or cancel any outstanding Award for the purpose of satisfying changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, but no such action shall adversely affect rights under any outstanding Award without the holder’s written consent. Except as provided in Section 3(b) or 3(c), in no event may the

 

12


Administrator exercise its discretion to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Stock Options or effect repricing of Stock Options through cancellation and re-grants or cancellation in exchange for cash. Any material Plan amendments (other than amendments that curtail the scope of the Plan), including any Plan amendments that (i) increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, (ii) expand the type of Awards available under, materially expand the eligibility to participate in, or materially extend the term of, the Plan, or (iii) materially change the method of determining Fair Market Value, shall be subject to approval by the Company shareholders entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders. In addition, to the extent determined by the Administrator to be required by the Code to ensure that Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan are qualified under Section 422 of the Code or to ensure that compensation earned under Awards qualifies as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, Plan amendments shall be subject to approval by the Company shareholders entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders. Nothing in this Section 17 shall limit the Board’s authority to take any action permitted pursuant to Section 3(c).

 

SECTION 18. STATUS OF PLAN

Unless the Administrator shall otherwise expressly determine in writing, with respect to the portion of any Award which has not been exercised and any payments in cash, Stock or other consideration not received by a participant, a participant shall have no rights greater than those of a general creditor of the Company. In its sole discretion, the Administrator may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations to deliver Stock or make payments with respect to Awards hereunder, provided that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the foregoing sentence.

 

SECTION 19. SECTION 409A AWARDS

To the extent that any Award is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A (a “409A Award”), the Award shall be subject to such additional rules and requirements as specified by the Administrator from time to time in order to comply with Section 409A. In this regard, if any amount under a 409A Award is payable upon a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) to a participant who is then considered a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A), then no such payment shall be made prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after the participant’s separation from service, or (ii) the participant’s death, but only to the extent such delay is necessary to prevent such payment from being subject to interest, penalties and/or additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A. Further, the settlement of any such Award may not be accelerated except to the extent permitted by Section 409A.

 

SECTION 20. GENERAL PROVISIONS

(a) No Distribution; Compliance with Legal Requirements. The Administrator may require each person acquiring Stock pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the shares without a view to distribution thereof.

No shares of Stock shall be issued pursuant to an Award until all applicable securities law and other legal and stock exchange or similar requirements have been satisfied. The Administrator may require the placing of such stop-orders and restrictive legends on certificates for Stock and Awards as it deems appropriate.

(b) Delivery of Stock Certificates. Stock certificates to be delivered to participants under this Plan shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have mailed such certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the participant, at the participant’s last known address on file with the Company. Uncertificated Stock shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a Stock transfer agent of the Company shall have given to the participant by electronic mail (with proof of receipt) or by United States mail, addressed to the participant, at the participant’s last known address on file with the Company, notice of issuance and recorded the issuance in its records (which may include electronic “book entry”

 

13


records). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates evidencing shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Board has determined, with advice of counsel (to the extent the Board deems such advice necessary or advisable), that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the shares of Stock are listed, quoted or traded. All Stock certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal, state or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws, rules and quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted or traded. The Administrator may place legends on any Stock certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board may require that an individual make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board, in its discretion, deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. The Administrator shall have the right to require any individual to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Administrator.

(c) Shareholder Rights. Until Stock is deemed delivered in accordance with Section 20(b), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights of a shareholder will exist with respect to shares of Stock to be issued in connection with an Award, notwithstanding the exercise of a Stock Option or any other action by the participant with respect to an Award.

(d) Other Compensation Arrangements; No Employment Rights. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, including trusts, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. The adoption of this Plan and the grant of Awards shall not confer upon any employee any right to continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary and shall not interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any of its employees at any time.

(e) Trading Policy Restrictions. Option exercises and other Awards under the Plan shall be subject to such Company insider-trading-policy-related restrictions, terms and conditions as may be established by the Administrator, or in accordance with policies set by the Administrator, from time to time.

(f) Forfeiture of Awards under Sarbanes-Oxley Act. If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, then any participant who is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 shall reimburse the Company for the amount of any Award received by such individual under the Plan during the 12-month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, as the case may be, of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement.

 

SECTION 21. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

This Plan shall become effective upon shareholder approval in accordance with Tennessee law, the Company’s amended and restated charter and bylaws and applicable stock exchange rules. No grants of Awards may be made hereunder after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.

 

SECTION 22. GOVERNING LAW

This Plan and all Awards and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Tennessee, applied without regard to conflict of law principles.

DATE OF APPROVAL OF PLAN BY BOARD: JUNE 17, 2013

DATE OF APPROVAL BY SHAREHOLDERS: SEPTEMBER 27, 2013

 

14