2004 Long-Term Equity Compensation Plan amended and restated as of March 8, 2008

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ARTICLE 1.

ESTABLISHMENT, OBJECTIVES AND DURATION

 

1.1 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PLAN.  Petroleum Development Corporation, a Nevada corporation (hereinafter referred to as the "Company"), hereby amends and restates its incentive compensation plan known as the “2004 Petroleum Development Corporation Long-Term Equity Compensation Plan" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), as set forth in this document.  The Plan permits the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights,  Restricted Stock, Performance Shares and Performance Units.

 

Subject to approval by the Company's stockholders, the Plan as amended and restated shall become effective as of March 8, 2008 (the "Restatement Effective Date").  The Plan was originally effective as of April 26, 2004 (the "Effective Date").  The Plan shall remain in effect as provided in Section 1.3 hereof.

 

1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE PLAN.  The objectives of the Plan are to optimize the profitability and growth of the Company through incentives which are consistent with the Company's goals and which link the personal interests of Participants to those of the Company's stockholders; to provide Participants with an incentive for excellence in individual performance; and to promote teamwork among Participants.

 

1.3 DURATION OF THE PLAN.  The Plan shall commence on the Effective Date, as described in Section 1.1 hereof, and shall remain in effect, subject to the right of the Board of Directors to amend or terminate the Plan at any time pursuant to Article 14 hereof, until all Shares subject to it shall have been purchased or acquired according to the Plan's provisions.  However, in no event may an Award be granted under the Plan on or after April 25, 2014.

 

ARTICLE 2.

DEFINITIONS

 

Whenever used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below, and when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word shall be capitalized:

 

2.1 "AFFILIATE" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations of the Exchange Act.

 

2.2 "AWARD" means, individually or collectively, a grant under this Plan of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Performance Shares or Performance Units.

 

2.3 "AWARD AGREEMENT" means an agreement entered into by the Company and each Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to Awards granted under this Plan.

 

 

2.4 "BENEFICIAL OWNER" or "BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

 

2.5 "BOARD" or "BOARD OF DIRECTORS" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2.6 "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

2.7 "COMMITTEE" means any committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan, as specified in Article 3 herein.

 

2.8 "COMPANY" means Petroleum Development Corporation, a Nevada corporation, including any and all Subsidiaries and Affiliates, and any successor thereto as provided in Article 19 herein.

 

2.9 "COVERED EMPLOYEE" means a Participant who, as of the date of vesting and/or payout of an Award, as applicable, is one of the group of "covered employees," as defined in the regulations promulgated under Code Section 162(m), or any successor statute.

 

2.10 "DIRECTOR" means any individual who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliates.

 

2.11 "DISABILITY" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Participant's governing long-term disability plan, or if no such plan exists, at the discretion of the Committee.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, with respect  to any Award subject to Code Section 409A, a Participant shall be considered Disabled if the Participant —

 

(i)	is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or

 

(ii)

is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering Employees of the Company.

 

2.12 "EFFECTIVE DATE" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.1 hereof.

 

2.13 "EMPLOYEE" means any full-time, active employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates.  Directors who are not employed by the Company shall not be considered Employees under this Plan.

 

 

2.14 "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor act thereto.

 

2.15 "FAIR MARKET VALUE" shall be determined on the basis of the closing sale price at which Shares have been sold regular way on the principal securities exchange on which the Shares are traded or, if there is no such sale on the relevant date, then on the last previous day on which there was such a sale.

 

2.16 "FREESTANDING SAR" means an SAR that is granted independently of any Options, as described in Article 7 herein.

 

2.17 "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" or "ISO" means an option to purchase Shares granted under Article 6 herein and which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and which is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422.

 

2.18 "INSIDER" shall mean an individual who is, on the relevant date, an officer, director or ten percent (10%) beneficial owner of any class of the Company's equity securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, all as defined under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

2.19 "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" shall mean a Director who is not also an Employee.

 

2.20 "NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION" or "NQSO" means an option to purchase Shares granted under Article 6 herein and which is not intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422.

 

2.21 "OPTION" means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, as described in Article 6 herein.

 

2.22 "OPTION PRICE" means the price at which a Share may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to an Option.

 

2.23 "PARTICIPANT" means an Employee who has been selected to receive an Award or who has outstanding an Award granted under the Plan.

 

2.24 "PERFORMANCE-BASED EXCEPTION" means the performance-based exception from the tax deductibility limitations of Code Section 162(m).

 

2.25 "PERFORMANCE SHARE" means an Award granted to a Participant, as described in Article 9 herein.

 

2.26 "PERFORMANCE UNIT" means an Award granted to a Participant, as described in Article 9 herein.

 

2.27 "PERIOD OF RESTRICTION" means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock is limited in some way  (based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance goals or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by the

 

 

Committee, at its discretion), and the Shares  are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, as provided in Article 8 herein.

 

2.28 "PERSON" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d)  and 14(d) thereof, including a "group" as defined in Section 13(d)  thereof.

 

2.29 "RESTATEMENT EFFECTIVE DATE" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.1.

 

2.30 "RESTRICTED STOCK" means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 8 herein.

 

2.31 "RETIREMENT" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Company's tax-qualified profit sharing plan.

 

2.32 "SHARES" means the shares of common stock of the Company.

 

2.33 "SPECIFIED EMPLOYEE"                                                                means, with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and determined as of the date of an individual's separation from service from the Company (1) any officer during the prior twelve (12) month period with annual compensation in excess of $145,000 (as adjusted from time to time under the Code), (2) a 5-percent owner of the Company's outstanding equity stock during the prior twelve (12) month period or (3) a 1-percent owner of the Company's outstanding equity stock during the prior (12) month period with annual compensation in excess of $150,000 (as adjusted from time under Code), provided that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is publicly-traded within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code on the date of determination.

 

2.34 "STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" or "SAR" means an Award, granted alone or, in connection with a related Option, designated as an SAR, pursuant to the terms of Article 7 herein.

 

2.35 "SUBSIDIARY" means any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company has a majority voting interest (including all divisions, affiliates and related entities).

 

2.36 "TANDEM SAR" means an SAR that is granted in connection with a related Option pursuant to Article 7 herein, the exercise of which shall require forfeiture of the right to purchase a Share under the related Option (and when a Share is purchased under the Option, the Tandem SAR shall similarly be canceled).

 

ARTICLE 3.

ADMINISTRATION

 

3.1 THE COMMITTEE.  The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board consisting of not less than two Directors who meet the "Non-Employee Director" requirements of Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, the "Independent Director" requirements of Nasdaq Marketplace Rule

 

 

 4350(c), and the requirements of Code Section 162(m), or by any other committee appointed by the Board, provided the members of such committee meet such requirements.

 

3.2 AUTHORITY OF THE COMMITTEE.  Except as limited by law or by the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, and subject to the provisions herein, the Committee shall have full power to select Employees who shall participate in the Plan;  determine the sizes and types of Awards; determine the terms and conditions of Awards in a manner consistent with the Plan;  construe and interpret the Plan and any agreement or instrument entered into under the Plan; establish, amend or waive rules and regulations for the Plan's administration; and (subject to the provisions of Article 14 herein) amend the terms and conditions of any outstanding Award to the extent such terms and conditions are within the discretion of the Committee as provided in the Plan.  Further, the Committee shall make all other determinations which may be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. As permitted by law, the Committee may delegate its authority as identified herein.

 

3.3 DECISIONS BINDING. All determinations and decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan and all related orders and resolutions of the Board shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its stockholders, Employees, Participants and their estates and beneficiaries.

 

ARTICLE 4.

SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN AND MAXIMUM AWARDS

 

4.1 NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE FOR GRANTS.  Subject to Sections 4.2 and 4.3 herein, the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted to Participants under the Plan shall be seven hundred fifty thousand (750,000).  Shares issued under the Plan may be either authorized but unissued Shares (subject to a maximum of seven hundred fifty thousand (750,000) Shares), treasury Shares or any combination thereof.

 

Unless and until the Committee determines that an Award to a Covered Employee shall not be designed to comply with the Performance-Based Exception, the following rules shall apply to grants of such Awards under the Plan, subject to Sections 4.2 and 4.3.

 

(a)	STOCK OPTIONS AND SARS:  The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be subject to Stock Options, with or without Tandem SARs, or Freestanding SARs, granted in any one fiscal year to any one Participant shall be one hundred thousand (100,000).

 

(b)	RESTRICTED STOCK:  The maximum aggregate grant with respect to Awards of Restricted Stock which are intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, and which are granted in any one fiscal year to any one Participant shall be fifty thousand (50,000) Shares.

 

(c)

PERFORMANCE SHARES/PERFORMANCE UNITS:  The maximum aggregate payout (determined as of the end of the applicable performance period) with respect to Awards of Performance Shares or Performance Units which are intended to comply with the Performance-Based Exception, and which are granted in any one fiscal year to any one

 

4.2 LAPSED AWARDS.  If any Award granted under this Plan is canceled, terminates, expires or lapses for any reason (with the exception of the termination of a Tandem SAR upon exercise of the related Option, or the termination of a related Option upon exercise of the corresponding Tandem SAR), any Shares subject to such Award again shall be available for the grant of an Award under the Plan.

 

4.3 ADJUSTMENTS.  In the event of any change in corporate capitalization such as a stock split or stock dividend, or a corporate transaction such as any merger, consolidation, separation, including a spin-off, or other distribution of stock or property of the Company, any reorganization  (whether or not such reorganization comes within the definition of such term in Code Section 368 or any partial or complete liquidation of the Company, such adjustment shall be made in the number and class of Shares which are reserved and may be delivered under Section 4.1, in the number and class of and/or price of Shares subject to outstanding Awards granted under the Plan, and in the Award limits set forth in subsections 4.1(a), 4.l(b) and 4.l(c), as may be determined to be appropriate and equitable by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights; provided, however, that the number of Shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole number.

 

ARTICLE 5.

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

 

5.1 ELIGIBILITY.  Persons eligible to participate in this Plan include officers and certain key salaried Employees of the Company with potential to contribute to the success of the Company or its Subsidiaries, including Employees who are members of the Board.

 

5.2 ACTUAL PARTICIPATION.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from all eligible Employees those to whom Awards shall be granted, and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award.

 

ARTICLE 6.

STOCK OPTIONS

 

6.1 GRANT OF OPTIONS.  Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Options may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee.

 

6.2 AWARD AGREEMENT.  Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Option Price, the duration of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.  The Award Agreement also shall specify whether the Option is intended to be an ISO within the meaning of Code Section 422, or an NQSO, whose grant is intended not to fall under the provisions of Code Section 422.

 

6.3 OPTION PRICE.  The Option Price for each grant of an Option under this Plan shall be at least equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no ISO shall be granted to any person who, immediately prior to the grant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the

 

 

6.4 DURATION OF OPTIONS.  Each Option granted to a Participant shall expire at such time as  the Committee shall determine at the time of grant; provided, however, that no Option shall be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary following the date of its grant and provided further that no Option shall be exercisable later than the fifth anniversary following the date of its grant for an ISO granted to a Participant, who at the time of such grant owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company.

 

6.5 EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.  Options granted under this Article 6 shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve, which need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant.

 

6.6 PAYMENT.  Options granted under this Article 6 shall be exercised by the delivery of a written notice of exercise to the Company, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for the Shares.

 

The Option Price upon exercise of any Option shall be payable to the Company in full either:  (a) in cash or its equivalent; or  (b) by tendering previously acquired Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option Price (provided that the Shares which are tendered must have been held by the Participant for at least six months prior to their tender to satisfy the Option Price); or (c) by a combination of (a) and (b).

 

The Committee may also allow cashless exercise as permitted under Federal Reserve Board's Regulation T, subject to applicable securities law restrictions, or by any other means which the Committee determines to be consistent with the Plan's purpose and applicable law.

 

Subject to any governing rules or regulations, as soon as practicable after receipt of a written notification of exercise and full payment, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, in the Participant's name, Share certificates in an appropriate amount based upon the number of Shares purchased under the Option(s).

 

6.7 RESTRICTIONS ON SHARE TRANSFERABILITY.  The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option granted under this Article 6 as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listed and/or traded, and under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such Shares.

 

6.8 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  Each Participant's Option Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the Option following termination of the Participant's employment with the Company.  Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee but shall conform to the limitations established in Section 6.4, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into

 

 

6.9 NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS.

 

(a)

INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS.  No ISO granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  Further, all ISOs granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant's legal representative (to the extent permitted under Code Section 422).

 

(b)

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS.  Except as otherwise provided in a Participant's Award Agreement, no NQSO granted under this Article 6 may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  Further, except as otherwise provided in a Participant's Award Agreement, all NQSOs granted to a Participant under this Article 6 shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant's legal representative.

 

ARTICLE 7.

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

7.1 GRANT OF SARS.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, SARs may be granted to Participants at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee.  The Committee may grant Freestanding SARs, Tandem SARs or any combination of these forms of SAR.

 

The Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number of SARs granted to each Participant (subject to Article 4 herein) and, consistent with the provisions of the Plan, in determining the terms and conditions pertaining to such SARs.

 

The grant price of a Freestanding SAR shall equal the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of the SAR.  The grant price of Tandem SARs shall equal the Option Price of the related Option.

 

7.2 EXERCISE OF TANDEM SARS.  Tandem SARs may be exercised for all or part of the Shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option.  A Tandem SAR may be exercised only with respect to the Shares for which its related Option is then exercisable.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, with respect to a Tandem SAR granted in connection with an ISO:  (i) the Tandem SAR will expire no later than the expiration of the underlying ISO; (ii) the value of the payout with respect to the Tandem SAR may be for no more than 100% of the difference between the Option Price of the underlying ISO and the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the underlying ISO at the time

 

 

7.3 EXERCISE OF FREESTANDING SARS.  Freestanding SARs may be exercised upon whatever terms and conditions the Committee, in its sole discretion, imposes upon them.

 

7.4 SAR AGREEMENT.  Each SAR grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the grant price, the term of the SAR, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.

 

7.5 TERM OF SARS.  The term of an SAR granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion; provided, however, that such term shall not exceed ten years.

 

7.6 PAYMENT OF SAR AMOUNT.  Upon exercise of an SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:

 

(a)	the difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the grant price; by

 

(b)	the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.

 

At the discretion of the Committee, the payment upon SAR exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value or in some combination thereof.  The Committee's determination regarding the form of SAR payout shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the SAR.

 

7.7 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  Each SAR Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the SAR following termination of the Participant's employment with the Company and/or its Subsidiaries.  Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with Participants, need not be uniform among all SARs issued pursuant to the Plan and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of employment.

 

7.8 NONTRANSFERABILITY OF SARS.  Except as otherwise provided in a Participant's Award Agreement, no SAR granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  Further, except as otherwise provided in a Participant's Award Agreement, all SARs granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant's legal representative.

 

ARTICLE 8.

RESTRICTED STOCK

 

8.1 GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK.  Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Participants in such amounts as the Committee shall determine.

 

 

8.2 RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT.  Each Restricted Stock grant shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Award Agreement that shall specify the Period(s) of Restriction, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock granted and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.

 

8.3 TRANSFERABILITY.  Except as provided in this Article 8, the Shares of Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction established by the Committee and specified in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, or upon earlier satisfaction of any other conditions, as specified by the Committee in its sole discretion and as set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement. All rights with respect to the Restricted Stock granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be available during his or her lifetime only to such Participant or the Participant's legal representative.

 

8.4 OTHER RESTRICTIONS.  Subject to Article 10 herein, the Committee shall impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on any Shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan as it may deem advisable including, without limitation, a requirement that Participants pay a stipulated purchase price for each Share of Restricted Stock, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance goals (Company-wide, divisional and/or individual), time-based restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the performance goals and/or restrictions under applicable federal or state securities laws.

 

The Company may retain the certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock in the Company's possession until such time as all conditions and/or restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied.

 

Except as otherwise provided in this Article 8, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan shall become freely transferable by the Participant after the last day of the applicable Period of Restriction.

 

8.5 VOTING RIGHTS.  Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may be granted the right to exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares during the Period of Restriction.

 

8.6 DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS.  During the Period of Restriction, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may be credited with regular cash dividends paid with respect to the underlying Shares while they are so held.  The Committee may apply any restrictions to the dividends that the Committee deems appropriate.  Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, if the grant or vesting of Restricted Shares granted to a Covered Employee is designed to comply with the requirements of the Performance-Based Exception, the Committee may apply any restrictions it deems appropriate to the payment of dividends declared with respect to such Restricted Shares, such that the dividends and/or the Restricted Shares maintain eligibility for the Performance-Based Exception.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, for any Award that is governed by Code Section 409A regarding non-qualified deferred compensation, the Committee  shall establish the schedule of any payments of dividends in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A or any guidance promulgated thereunder.

 

 

8.7 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to receive unvested Restricted Shares following termination of the Participant's employment with the Company.  Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Shares of Restricted Stock issued pursuant to the Plan and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of employment; provided, however, that except in the cases of terminations by reason of death or Disability, the vesting of Shares of Restricted Stock which qualify for the Performance-Based Exception and which are held by Covered Employees shall occur at the time they otherwise would have vested, but for the employment termination.

 

ARTICLE 9.

PERFORMANCE UNITS AND PERFORMANCE SHARES

 

9.1 GRANT OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/SHARES.  Subject to the terms of the Plan, Performance Units and/or Performance Shares may be granted to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee.

 

9.2 VALUE OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/SHARES.  Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant.  Each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.  The Committee shall set performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number and/or value of Performance Units/Shares that will be paid out to the Participant.  For purposes of this Article 9, the time period during which the performance goals must be met shall be called a "Performance Period."

 

9.3 EARNING OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/SHARES.  Subject to the terms of this Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units/Shares shall be entitled to receive payout on the number and value of Performance Units/Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance goals have been achieved.

 

9.4 FORM AND TIMING OF PAYMENT OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/SHARES.  Payment of earned Performance Units/Shares shall be made in a single lump sum following the close of the applicable Performance Period.  Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units/Shares in the form of cash or in Shares (or in a combination thereof) which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Units/Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period.  Such Shares may be granted subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee.  The determination of the Committee with respect to the form of payout of such Awards shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the Award.

 

At the discretion of the Committee, Participants may be entitled to receive any dividends declared with respect to Shares which have been earned in connection with grants of Performance Units and/or Performance Shares, but not yet distributed to Participants (such dividends shall be subject to the same accrual, forfeiture and payout restrictions as apply to dividends earned with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock, as set forth in Section 8.6 herein). 

 

 

9.5 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT DUE TO DEATH, DISABILITY OR RETIREMENT.  Unless determined otherwise by the Committee and set forth in the Participant's Award Agreement, in the event the employment of a Participant is terminated by reason of death, Disability or Retirement during a Performance Period, the Participant shall receive a payout of the Performance Units/Shares which is prorated, as specified by the Committee in its discretion.

 

Payment of earned Performance Units/Shares shall be made at a time specified by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the Participant's Award Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to Covered Employees who retire during a Performance Period, payments shall be made at the same time as payments are made to Participants who did not terminate employment during the applicable Performance Period.

 

9.6 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT FOR OTHER REASONS.  In the event  that a Participant's employment terminates for any reason other than those reasons set forth in Section 9.5 herein, all Performance Units/Shares shall be forfeited by the Participant to the Company unless determined otherwise by the Committee, as set forth in the Participant's Award Agreement.

 

9.7 NONTRANSFERABILITY.  Except as otherwise provided in a Participant's Award Agreement, Performance Units/Shares may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  Further, except as otherwise provided in a Participant's Award Agreement, a Participant's rights under the Plan shall be exercisable during the Participant's lifetime only by the Participant or the Participant's legal representative.

 

ARTICLE 10.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

 

Unless and until the Committee proposes for stockholder vote and the Company’s stockholders approve a change in the general performance measures set forth in this Article 10, the attainment of which may determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to Awards to Covered Employees which are designed to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, the performance measure(s) to be used for purposes of such grants shall be chosen from among net income either before or after taxes, market share, profits, share price, earnings per share, total stockholder return, return on assets, return on equity, operating income, return on capital or investment, or economic value added (including, but not limited to, any or all of such measures in comparison to the Company's competitors, the industry or some other comparator group).

 

The Committee shall have the discretion to adjust the determinations of the degree of attainment of the preestablished performance goals; provided, however, that Awards which are designed to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, and which are held by Covered Employees, may not be adjusted upward (the Committee shall retain the discretion to adjust such Awards downward).

 

 

    In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit Committee discretion to alter the governing performance measures without obtaining stockholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining stockholder approval.  In addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is advisable to grant Awards which shall not qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, the Committee may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Code Section 162(m).

 

ARTICLE 11.

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

 

Each Participant under the Plan may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of his or her death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit.  Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant's lifetime.  In the absence of any such designation, the Participant's beneficiary shall be paid to the Participant's estate.

 

ARTICLE 12.

DEFERRALS

 

The Committee may permit or require a Participant to defer such Participant's receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant by virtue of the exercise of an Option or SAR, the lapse or waiver of restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock, or the satisfaction of any requirements or goals with respect to Performance Units/Shares.  If any such deferral election is required or permitted, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, establish rules and procedures for such payment deferrals, provided, however, all deferrals shall be made in accordance with all applicable requirements of Code Section 409A or any guidance promulgated thereunder.

 

ARTICLE 13.

RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES

 

13.1 EMPLOYMENT.  Nothing in the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate any Participant's employment at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company.

 

13.2 PARTICIPATION.  No Employee shall have the right to be selected to receive an Award under this Plan or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future Award.

 

ARTICLE 14.

AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, TERMINATION AND ADJUSTMENTS

 

14.1 AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION.  Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Board, upon recommendation of the Committee, may at any time and from time to time, alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part.

 

14.2 ADJUSTMENT OF AWARDS UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF CERTAIN UNUSUAL OR NONRECURRING EVENTS.  The Committee may make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in Section 4.3 hereof)

 

 

14.3 AWARDS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary (but subject to Section 14.2 hereof), no termination, amendment or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under the Plan without the written consent of the Participant holding such Award.

 

14.4 COMPLIANCE WITH CODE SECTION 162(m). At all times when Code Section 162(m) is applicable, all Awards granted under this  Plan shall comply with the requirements of Code Section 162(m); provided, however, that in the event the Committee determines that such compliance is not desired with respect to any Award or Awards available for grant under the Plan, then compliance with Code Section 162(m) will not be required.  In addition, in the event that changes are made to Code Section 162(m) to permit greater flexibility with respect to any Award or Awards available under the Plan, the Committee may, subject to this Article 14, make any adjustments it deems appropriate.

 

ARTICLE 15.

PAYMENT OF PLAN AWARDS AND CONDITIONS THEREON

 

15.1 EFFECT OF COMPETITIVE ACTIVITY. Anything contained in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, if the employment of any Participant shall terminate, for any reason other than death, while any Award to such Participant is outstanding hereunder, and such Participant has not yet received the Shares covered by such Award or otherwise received the full benefit of such Award, such Participant, if otherwise entitled thereto, shall receive such Shares or benefit only if, during the entire period from the date of such Participant's termination to the date of such receipt, such Participant shall have earned out such Award by:  (i) making himself or herself available, upon request, at reasonable times and upon a reasonable basis, to consult with, supply information to, and otherwise cooperate with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof with respect to any matter that shall have been handled by him or her or under his or her supervision while he or she was in the employ of the Company or of any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof; and (ii) refraining from engaging in any activity that is directly or indirectly in competition with any activity of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof.

 

15.2 NONFULFILLMENT OF COMPETITIVE ACTIVITY CONDITIONS; WAIVERS UNDER THE PLAN.  In the event of a Participant's nonfulfillment of any condition set forth in Section 15.1 hereof, such Participant's rights under any Award shall be forfeited and canceled forthwith; provided, however, that the nonfulfillment of such condition may at any time (whether before, at the time of, or subsequent to termination of employment) be waived by the Committee upon its determination that in its sole judgment there shall not have been and will not be any substantial adverse effect upon the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof by reason of the nonfulfillment of such condition.

 

 

15.3 EFFECT OF INIMICAL CONDUCT.  Anything contained in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, all rights of a Participant under any Award shall cease on and as of the date on which it has been determined by the Committee that such Participant at any time (whether before or subsequent to termination of such Participant's employment) acted in manner inimical to the best interests of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof.

 

ARTICLE 16.

CHANGE IN CONTROL

 

16.1 DEFINITION.  For purposes of this Plan, a "Change in Control" of the Company is deemed to have occurred as of the first day that any one or more of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(a)

the "Beneficial Ownership" of securities representing more than thirty-three percent (33%) of the combined voting power of the Company is acquired by any "person" as defined in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, or any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company); or

 

(b)	the stockholders of the Company approve a definitive agreement to merge or consolidate the Company with or into another corporation or to sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, or adopt a plan of liquidation; or

 

(c)

during any period of three consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period were members of the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof (unless the election, or the nomination for election by the Company's stockholders, of each new director was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination was previously so approved).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award subject to Code Section 409A, a "Change in Control" of the Company is deemed to have occurred as of the first day that any one or more of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(d)

Change in Ownership:  A change in ownership of the Company occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company, excluding the acquisition of additional stock by a person or more than one person acting as a group who is considered  to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company.

 

 

(e)	Change in Effective Control:  A change in effective control of the Company occurs only on either of the following dates:

 

(1)

The date any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending in the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of the Company possessing 30% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; or

 

(2)

The date a majority of the members of the Board is replaced during any (12) month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the board of directors before the date of the appointment or election; provided that this paragraph (e) shall apply only to the company for which no other corporation is a majority shareholder.

 

(f)

Change in Ownership of Substantial Assets:  A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company's assets occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than forty percent (40%) of the total gross fair market value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

 

It is the intent that this definition be construed consistent with the definition of "Change of Control" as defined under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the applicable Treasury Regulations, as amended from time to time.

 

16.2 TREATMENT OF OUTSTANDING AWARDS.  Subject to Section 16.3 herein, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control:

 

(a)	any and all Options and SARs granted hereunder shall become immediately exercisable and shall remain exercisable throughout their entire term;

 

(b)	any restriction periods and restrictions imposed on Restricted Stock which are not performance-based shall lapse;

 

(c)

the target payout opportunities attainable under all outstanding Awards of performance-based Restricted Stock, Performance Units and Performance Shares shall be deemed to have been fully earned for the entire Performance Period(s) as of the effective date of the Change in Control.  The vesting of all Awards denominated in Shares shall be accelerated as of the effective date of the Change in Control, and there shall be paid out to

 

16.3 TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND MODIFICATIONS OF CHANGE-IN-CONTROL PROVISIONS.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement provision, the provisions of this Article 16 may not be terminated, amended or modified on or after the date of an event which is likely to give rise to a Change in Control to affect adversely any Award theretofore granted under the Plan without the prior written consent of the Participant with respect to said Participant's outstanding Awards.

 

ARTICLE 17.

TAX PROVISIONS

 

17.1 TAX WITHHOLDING.  The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan.

 

17.2 SHARE WITHHOLDING.  With respect to withholding required upon the exercise of Options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock, or upon any other taxable event arising as a result of Awards granted hereunder, Participants may elect, subject to the approval of the Committee, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the minimum statutory total tax which could be imposed on the transaction.  All such elections shall be irrevocable, made in writing, and signed by the Participant, and shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

 

17.3 REQUIREMENT OF NOTIFICATION OF CODE SECTION 83(b) ELECTION.  If any Participants shall make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code (to include in gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Code Section 83(b)) or under a similar provisions of the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, such Participant shall notify the Company of such election within ten (10) days of filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service or other government authority, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to regulations issued under Code Section 83(b) or other applicable provision.

 

17.4 REQUIREMENT OF NOTIFICATION UPON DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION UNDER CODE SECTION 421(b).  If any Participant shall make any disposition of shares of stock delivered pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option under the

 

 

ARTICLE 18.

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of the Board, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company's approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company's Articles  of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

ARTICLE 19.

SUCCESSORS

 

All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company.

 

ARTICLE 20.

LEGAL CONSTRUCTION

 

20.1 GENDER AND NUMBER.  Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine, the plural shall include the singular, and the singular shall include the plural.

 

20.2 SEVERABILITY.  In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

 

20.3 REQUIREMENTS OF LAW.  The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.

 

20.4 SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE.  With respect to Insiders, transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange Act.  To the extent any provision of the Plan or action by the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee.

 

 

20.5 SECTION 409A COMPLIANCE.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, all Awards under this Plan that are subject to Code Section 409A shall be designed and administered in a manner that does not result in the imposition of tax or penalties under Section 409A of the Code.  Accordingly, Awards under this Plan that are subject to Code Section 409A shall comply with the following requirements, as applicable.

 

(a)

Distribution to Specified Employees Upon Separation from Service.  To the extent that payment under an Award which is subject to Code Section 409A is due to a Specified Employee on account of the Specified Employee's separation from service from the Company or its Affiliate or Subsidiary, such payment shall be delayed until the first day of the seventh month following such separation from service (or as soon as practicable thereafter).  The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award document for the payment of interest at a rate set by the Committee for such six-month period.

 

(b)	No Acceleration of Payment.  To the extent that an Award is subject to Code Section 409A, payment under such Award shall not be accelerated from the date(s) specified in the Award documents as of the date of grant.

 

(c)

Subsequent Delay in Payment.  To the extent that an Award is subject to Code Section 409A, payment under such Award shall not be deferred beyond the dates specified in the Award document as of the date of grant, unless the Committee makes the decision to delay payment at least one year prior to the scheduled payment date, and payment is delayed at least five years.

 

20.6 GOVERNING LAW.  To the extent not preempted by federal law, the Plan, and all agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of West Virginia.

 

 

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