RAYONIER INC. 4,500,000 Common Shares
Exhibit 10.1
RAYONIER INC.
4,500,000 Common Shares
RAYONIER 1994 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN
PLAN INFORMATION
THIS DOCUMENT CONSTITUTES PART OF A PROSPECTUS COVERING SECURITIES
THAT HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.
The Prospectus covers such additional securities as may be issuable as a result of anti-dilution provisions
contained in the instruments pursuant to which securities covered by the Prospectus are issued.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
As amended December 29, 2005
Additional information about the Plan and its administration may be obtained by writing the Manager of Stock Option Plan Administration, Rayonier Inc., 50 No. Laura Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202, or telephoning the Manager at (904)  ###-###-####.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of the Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in the Prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of the Prospectus. Any such document, as well as Rayoniers most recent annual report to shareholders and any other report or communication distributed to Rayonier shareholders generally, may be obtained without charge by written request to W. Edwin Frazier, III, Corporate Secretary, Rayonier Inc., 50 No. Laura Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202, or by telephoning W. Edwin Frazier, III at (904)  ###-###-####.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
General Information | 3 | |
The Plan | 4 | |
Administration | 13 | |
Federal Tax Treatment | 13 |
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GENERAL INFORMATION
The Rayonier 1994 Incentive Stock Plan (the Plan) was adopted by the Board of Directors of Rayonier Inc. and approved by its shareholder to be effective March 1, 1994.
The maximum number of common shares of Rayonier Inc. (the Common Shares) for which incentive stock options may be issued under the Plan is one million (1,000,000); the maximum number of shares available for issuance under the Plan generally is determined annually as a function of a percentage of the total number of outstanding Common Shares plus unused carryover from prior years, pursuant to and subject to additional limitations set forth in, Section 3 of the Plan. The Plan does not contain any limitation on the number of shares for which options may be granted to any one employee, other than due to tax requirements relating to incentive stock options. The total number of shares available under the Plan registered currently on Form S-8 with the Securities & Exchange Commission is four million five hundred thousand (4,500,000).
In addition to non-qualified stock options and incentive stock options, the committee administering the Plan (the Committee) may grant stock appreciation rights (SARs) in connection with options to those employees who are considered directors or executive officers for purposes of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Plan permits the Committee to award performance shares and restricted stock, as well as non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options and SARs. Reference is made to the text of the Plan herein for a complete description of awards permitted under the Plan and the relevant provisions and conditions applicable thereto.
The prospectus does not cover resales of Common Shares acquired pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. Resales may be subject to restrictions or limitations imposed by the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
The Plan is not subject to any of the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Furthermore, Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code relating to certain qualified pension, profit-sharing and stock bonus plans does not apply to the Plan.
Plan participants receive information with respect to their participation, including the date of grant, the exercise price, the amount exercisable and the expiration date, as well as applicable information concerning whatever performance shares or restricted stock may be relevant to them.
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1994 RAYONIER INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN
1. Purpose
The purpose of the 1994 Rayonier Incentive Stock Plan is to motivate and reward superior performance on the part of employees of Rayonier and its subsidiaries and to thereby attract and retain employees of superior ability. In addition, the Plan is intended to further opportunities for stock ownership by such employees in order to increase their proprietary interest in Rayonier and, as a result, their interest in the success of the Company. Awards will be made, in the discretion of the Committee, to Key Employees (including officers and directors who are also employees) whose responsibilities and decisions directly affect the performance of any Participating Company and its subsidiaries. Such incentive awards may consist of stock options, stock appreciation rights payable in stock or cash, performance shares, restricted stock or any combination of the foregoing, as the Committee may determine.
2. Definitions
When used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Award means an award granted to any Key Employee in accordance with the provisions of the Plan in the form of Options, Rights, Performance Shares or Restricted Stock, or any combination of the foregoing.
Award Agreement means the written agreement evidencing each Award granted to a Key Employee under the Plan.
Beneficiary means the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated pursuant to Section 10 to receive the amount, if any, payable under the Plan upon the death of a Key Employee.
Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
Change in Control has the meaning specified in the Retirement Plan.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now in effect or as hereafter amended. (All citations to sections of the Code are to such sections as they may from time to time be amended or renumbered.)
Committee means the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board or such other committee as may be designated by the Board to administer the Plan.
Company means Rayonier Inc. and its successors and assigns.
Fair Market Value, unless otherwise indicated in the provisions of this Plan, means, as of any date, the composite closing price for one share of Stock on the New York Stock Exchange or, if no sales of Stock have taken place on such date, the composite closing price on the most recent date on which selling prices were quoted, the determination to be made in the discretion of the Committee.
Incentive Stock Option means a stock option qualified under Section 422 of the Code.
Key Employee means an employee (including any officer or director who is also an employee) of any Participating Company whose responsibilities and decisions, in the judgment of the Committee, directly affect the performance of the Company and its subsidiaries.
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Limited Stock Appreciation Right means a stock appreciation right which shall become exercisable automatically upon the occurrence of an Acceleration Event as described in Section 9 of the Plan.
Option means an option awarded under Section 5 of the Plan to purchase Stock of the Company, which option may be an Incentive Stock Option or a non-qualified stock option.
Participating Company means the Company or any subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company; provided, however, for Incentive Stock Options only, Participating Company means the Company or any corporation which at the time such Option is granted qualifies as a subsidiary of the Company under Section 425(f) of the Code.
Performance Share means a performance share awarded under Section 6 of the Plan.
Plan means the 1994 Rayonier Incentive Stock Plan, as the same may be amended, administered or interpreted from time to time.
Plan Year means the calendar year.
Retirement means eligibility to receive immediate retirement benefits under a Participating Company pension plan.
Restricted Stock means Stock awarded under Section 7 of the Plan subject to such restrictions as the Committee deems appropriate or desirable.
Retirement Plan means the Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees of Rayonier Inc., as amended effective July 18, 1997, and as the same may be thereafter amended from time to time prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control.
Right means a stock appreciation right awarded in connection with an option under Section 5 of the Plan.
Stock means the common shares of the Company.
Total Disability means the complete and permanent inability of a Key Employee to perform all of his or her duties under the terms of his or her employment with any Participating Company, as determined by the Committee upon the basis of such evidence, including independent medical reports and data, as the Committee deems appropriate or necessary.
Voting Securities means any securities of the Company that vote generally in the election of directors.
3. Shares Subject to the Plan
The aggregate number of shares of Stock which may be awarded under the Plan in any Plan Year shall be subject to an annual limit. The maximum number of shares of Stock for which Awards may be granted under the Plan in each Plan Year shall be 1.5 percent (l.5%) of the total of the issued and outstanding shares of Stock reported in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the fiscal year ending immediately prior to any Plan Year. Any unused portion of the annual limit for any Plan Year shall be carried forward and be made available for awards in succeeding Plan Years.
No more than twenty percent (20%) of such total number of shares on a cumulative basis shall be available for restricted stock and performance shares Awards. In addition to the foregoing, in no event shall more than one million (1,000,000) shares of Stock be cumulatively available for Awards of incentive stock options under the Plan. For any Plan Year, no individual employee may receive an Award of stock options for more than ten percent (10%) of the annual limit on available shares applicable to that Plan Year.
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Subject to the above limitations, shares of Stock to be issued under the Plan may be made available from the authorized but unissued shares, or from shares purchased in the open market. For the purpose of computing the total number of shares of Stock available for Awards under the Plan, there shall be counted against the foregoing limitations the number of shares of Stock which equal the value of performance share Awards, in each case determined as at the dates on which such Awards are granted. If any Awards under the Plan are forfeited, terminated, expire unexercised, are settled in cash in lieu of Stock or are exchanged for other Awards, the shares of Stock which were theretofore subject to such Awards shall again be available for Awards under the Plan to the extent of such forfeiture or expiration of such Awards. Further, any shares that are exchanged (either actually or constructively) by optionees as full or partial payment to the Company of the purchase price of shares being acquired through the exercise of a stock option granted under the Plan may be available for subsequent Awards, provided however, that such shares may be awarded only to those participants who are not directors or executive officers (as that term is defined in the rules and regulations under Section 16 of the Exchange Act).
4. Grant of Awards and Award Agreements
(a) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall (i) determine and designate from time to time those Key Employees or groups of Key Employees to whom Awards are to be granted; (ii) determine the form or forms of Award to be granted to any Key Employee; (iii) determine the amount or number of shares of Stock subject to each Award; and (iv) determine the terms and conditions of each Award.
(b) Each Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement. Such agreement shall be subject to and incorporate the express terms and conditions, if any, required under the Plan or required by the Committee.
5. Stock Options and Rights
(a) With respect to Options and Rights, the Committee shall (i) authorize the granting of Incentive Stock Options, non-qualified stock options, or a combination of Incentive Stock Options and non-qualified stock options; (ii) authorize the granting of Rights which may be granted in connection with all or part of any Option granted under this Plan, either concurrently with the grant of the option or at any time thereafter during the term of the Option; (iii) determine the number of shares of Stock subject to each Option or the number of shares of Stock that shall be used to determine the value of a Right; and (iv) determine the time or times when and the manner in which each Option or Right shall be exercisable and the duration of the exercise period.
(b) Any option issued hereunder which is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option shall be subject to such limitations or requirements as may be necessary for the purposes of Section 422 of the Code or any regulations and rulings thereunder to the extent and in such form as determined by the Committee in its discretion.
(c) Rights may be granted only to Key Employees who may be considered directors or officers of the Company for purposes of Section 16 of the Act.
(d) The exercise period for a non-qualified stock option and any related Right shall not exceed ten years and two days from the date of grant, and the exercise period for an Incentive Stock Option and any related Right shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant.
(e) The Option price per share shall be determined by the Committee at the time any Option is granted and shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date the Option is granted.
(f) No part of any Option or Right may be exercised until the Key Employee who has been granted the Award shall have remained in the employ of a Participating Company for such period after the date of grant as the Committee may specify, if any, and the Committee may further require exercisability in installments; provided, however, the period during which a Right is exercisable shall commence no earlier than six months following the date the Option or Right is granted.
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(g) The purchase price of the shares as to which an Option shall be exercised shall be paid to the Company at the time of exercise either in cash or Stock already owned by the optionee having a total Fair Market Value equal to the purchase price, or a combination of cash and Stock having a total fair market value, as so determined, equal to the purchase price. The Committee shall determine acceptable methods for tendering Stock as payment upon exercise of an Option and may impose such limitations and prohibitions on the use of Stock to exercise an Option as it deems appropriate.
(h) Unless Section 9 shall provide otherwise, Rights granted to a director or officer shall terminate when such person ceases to be considered a director or officer of the Company subject to Section 16 of the Act.
(i) In case of termination of employment, the following provisions shall apply:
(A) If a Key Employee who has been granted an Option shall die before such Option has expired, his or her Option may be exercised in full by the person or persons to whom the Key Employees rights under the Option pass by will, or if no such person has such right, by his or her executors or administrators, at any time, or from time to time, within five years after the date of the Key Employees death or within such other period, and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify, but not later than the expiration date specified in Section 5(d) above.
(B) If the Key Employees employment by any Participating Company terminates because of his or her Retirement or Total Disability, he or she may exercise his or her Options in full at any time, or from time to time, within five years after the date of the termination of his or her employment or within such other period, and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify, but not later than the expiration date specified in Section 5(d) above. Any such Options not fully exercisable immediately prior to such optionees retirement shall become fully exercisable upon such retirement unless the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall otherwise determine.
(C) Except as provided in Section 9, if the Key Employee shall voluntarily resign before eligibility for Retirement or he or she is terminated for cause as determined by the Committee, the Options or Rights shall be cancelled coincident with the effective date of the termination of employment.
(D) If the Key Employees employment terminates for any other reason, he or she may exercise his or her Options, to the extent that he or she shall have been entitled to do so at the date of the termination of his or her employment, at any time, or from time to time, within three months after the date of the termination of his or her employment or within such other period, and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify, but not later than the expiration date specified in Section 5(d) above.
(j) No Option or Right granted under the Plan shall be transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. During the lifetime of the optionee, an Option or Right shall be exercisable only by the Key Employee to whom the Option or Right is granted.
(k) With respect to an Incentive Stock Option, the Committee shall specify such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine to be necessary or desirable in order to qualify such Option as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
(1) With respect to the exercisability and settlement of Rights:
(i) Upon exercise of a Right, the Key Employee shall be entitled, subject to such terms and conditions the Committee may specify, to receive upon exercise thereof all or a portion of the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Stock at
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the time of exercise, as determined by the Committee, over (B) a specified amount which shall not, subject to Section 5(e), be less than the Fair Market Value of such specified number of shares of Stock at the time the Right is granted. Upon exercise of a Right, payment of such excess shall be made as the Committee shall specify in cash, the issuance or transfer to the Key Employee of whole shares of Stock with a Fair Market Value at such time equal to any excess, or a combination of cash and shares of Stock with a combined Fair Market Value at such time equal to any such excess, all as determined by the Committee. The Company will not issue a fractional share of Stock and, if a fractional share would otherwise be issuable, the Company shall pay cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the fractional share of Stock at such time.
(ii) For the purposes of Subsection (i) of this Section 5(l), in the case of any such Right or portion thereof, other than a Right related to an Incentive Stock Option, exercised for cash during a window period specified by Rule 16b-3 under the Act, the Fair Market Value of the Stock at the time of such exercise shall be the highest composite daily closing price of the Stock during such window period.
(iii) In the event of the exercise of such Right, the Companys obligation in respect of any related Option or such portion thereof will be discharged by payment of the Right so exercised.
6. Performance Shares
(a) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall (i) determine and designate from time to time those Key Employees or groups of Key Employees to whom Awards of Performance Shares are to be made, (ii) determine the Performance Period (the Performance Period) and Performance Objectives (the Performance Objectives) applicable to such Awards, (iii) determine the form of settlement of a Performance Share and (iv) generally determine the terms and conditions of each such Award. At any date, each Performance Share shall have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock at such date; provided that the Committee may limit the aggregate amount payable upon the settlement of any Award.
(b) The Committee shall determine a Performance Period of not less than two nor more than five years. Performance Periods may overlap and Key Employees may participate simultaneously with respect to Performance Shares for which different Performance Periods are prescribed.
(c) The Committee shall determine the Performance Objectives of Awards of Performance Shares. Performance Objectives may vary from Key Employee to Key Employee and between groups of Key Employees and shall be based upon such performance criteria or combination of factor as the Committee may deem appropriate, including, but not limited to, minimum earnings per share or return on equity. If during the course of a Performance Period there shall occur significant events which the Committee expects to have a substantial effect on the applicable Performance Objectives during such period, the Committee may revise such Performance Objectives.
(d) At the beginning of a Performance Period, the Committee shall determine for each Key Employee or group of Key Employees the number of Performance Shares or the percentage of Performance Shares which shall be paid to the Key Employee or member of the group of Key Employees if Performance Objectives are met in whole or in part.
(e) If a Key Employee terminates service with all Participating Companies during a Performance Period because of death, Total Disability, Retirement, or under other circumstances where the Committee in its sole discretion finds that a waiver would be in the best interests of the Company, that Key Employee may, as determined by the Committee, be entitled to an Award of Performance Shares at the end of the Performance Period based upon the extent to which the Performance Objectives were satisfied at the end of such period, which Award, in the discretion of the Committee, may be maintained without change or reduced and prorated for the portion of the Performance Period during which the Key Employee was employed by any
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Participating Company; provided, however, the Committee may provide for an earlier payment in settlement of such Performance Shares in such amount and under such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate or desirable. If a Key Employee terminates service with all Participating Companies during a Performance Period for any other reason, then such Key Employee shall not be entitled to any Award with respect to that Performance Period unless the Committee shall otherwise determine.
(f) Each Award of a Performance Share shall be paid in whole shares of Stock, or cash, or a combination of Stock and cash either as a lump sum payment or in annual installments, all as the Committee shall determine, with payment to commence as soon as practicable after the end of the relevant Performance Period.
7. Restricted Stock
(a) Restricted Stock shall be subject to a restriction period (after which restrictions will lapse) which shall mean a period commencing on the date the Award is granted and ending on such date as the Committee shall determine (the Restriction Period). The Committee may provide for the lapse of restrictions in installments where deemed appropriate.
(b) Except when the Committee determines otherwise pursuant to Section 7(d), if a Key Employee terminates employment with all Participating Companies for any reason before the expiration of the Restriction Period, all shares of Restricted Stock still subject to restriction shall be forfeited by the Key Employee and shall be reacquired by the Company.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7, no shares of Restricted Stock received by a Key Employee shall be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of during the Restriction Period.
(d) In cases of death, Total Disability or Retirement or in cases of special circumstances, the Committee may, in its sole discretion when it finds that a waiver would be in the best interests of the Company, elect to waive any or all remaining restrictions with respect to such Key Employees Restricted Stock.
(e) The Committee may require, under such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate or desirable, that the certificates for Stock delivered under the Plan may be held in custody by a bank or other institution, or that the Company may itself hold such shares in custody until the Restriction Period expires or until restrictions thereon otherwise lapse, and may require, as a condition of any Award of Restricted Stock that the Key Employee shall have delivered a stock power endorsed in blank relating to the Restricted Stock.
(f) Nothing in this Section 7 shall preclude a Key Employee from exchanging any shares of Restricted Stock subject to the restrictions contained herein for any other shares of Stock that are similarly restricted.
(g) Subject to Section 7(e) and Section 8, each Key Employee entitled to receive Restricted Stock under the Plan shall be issued a certificate for the shares of Stock. Such certificate shall be registered in the name of the Key Employee, and shall bear an appropriate legend reciting the terms, conditions and restrictions, if any, applicable to such Award and shall be subject to appropriate stop-transfer orders.
8. Certificates for Awards of Stock
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates for shares of Stock prior to (i) the listing of such shares on any stock exchange on which the Stock may then be listed and (ii) the completion of any registration or qualification of such shares under any federal or state law, or any ruling or regulation of any government body which the Company shall, in its sole discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable.
(b) All certificates for shares of Stock delivered under the Plan shall also be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and
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other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Stock is then listed and any applicable federal or state securities laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. The foregoing provisions of this Section 8(b) shall not be effective if and to the extent that the shares of Stock delivered under the Plan are covered by an effective and current registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, or if and so long as the Committee determines that application of such provisions is no longer required or desirable. In making such determination, the Committee may rely upon an opinion of counsel for the Company.
(c) Except for the restrictions on Restricted Stock under Section 7, each Key Employee who receives Stock in settlement of an Award of Stock, shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to such shares, including the right to vote the shares and receive dividends and other distributions. No Key Employee awarded an Option, a Right or Performance Share shall have any right as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by his or her Option, Right or Performance Share prior to the date of issuance to him or her of a certificate or certificates for such shares.
9. Change in Control
Notwithstanding any provisions in this Plan to the contrary:
(a) Each outstanding Option granted under the Plan shall become immediately exercisable in full for the aggregate number of shares covered thereby and all related Rights shall also become exercisable upon the occurrence of a Change in Control and shall continue to be exercisable in full for cash for a period of 60 calendar days beginning on the date that such Change in Control occurs and ending on the 60th calendar day following that date; provided, however, that (A) no Right shall become exercisable earlier than six months following the date the Right is granted, and (B) no Option or Right shall be exercisable beyond the expiration date of its original term.
(b) Options and Rights shall not terminate and shall continue to be fully exercisable for a period of seven months following the occurrence of a Change in Control in the case of an employee who is terminated other than for just cause or who voluntarily terminates his or her employment because he or she in good faith believes that as a result of such Change in Control he or she is unable effectively to discharge his or her present duties or the duties of the position he or she occupied just prior to the occurrence of such Change in Control. For purposes of Section 9 only, termination shall be for just cause only if such termination is based on fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement on the part of the employee which results in a final conviction of a felony. Under no circumstances, however, shall any Option or Right be exercised beyond the expiration date of its original term.
(c) Any Right or portion thereof may be exercised for cash within the 60-calendar-day period following the occurrence of a Change in Control with settlement, except in the case of a Right related to an Incentive Stock Option, based on the Formula Price which shall be the highest of (A) the highest composite daily closing price of the Stock during the period beginning on the 60th calendar day prior to the date on which the Right is exercised and ending on the date such Right is exercised, (B) the highest gross price paid for the Stock during the same period of time, as reported in a report on Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or (C) the highest gross price paid or to be paid for a share of Stock (whether by way of exchange, conversion, distribution upon merger, liquidation or otherwise) in any of the transactions set forth in the definition of Change in Control in the Retirement Plan.
(d) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, Limited Stock Appreciation Rights shall automatically be granted as to any Option with respect to which Rights are not then outstanding; provided, however, that Limited Stock Appreciation Rights shall be provided at the time of grant of any Incentive Stock Option subject to exercisability upon the occurrence of a Change in Control. Limited Stock Appreciation Rights shall entitle the holder thereof, upon exercise of such rights and surrender of the related Option or any portion thereof, to receive, without payment to the Company (except for
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applicable withholding taxes), an amount in cash equal to the excess, if any, of the Formula Price as that term is defined in Section 9 over the option price of the Stock as provided in such Option; provided that in the case of the exercise of any such Limited Stock Appreciation Right or portion thereof related to an Incentive Stock Option, the Fair Market Value of the Stock at the time of such exercise shall be substituted for the Formula Price. Each such Limited Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable only during the period beginning on the first business day following the occurrence of such Change in Control and ending on the 60th calendar day following such date and only to the same extent the related Option is exercisable. Upon exercise of a Limited Stock Appreciation Right and surrender of the related Option, or portion thereof, such Option, to the extent surrendered, shall not thereafter be exercisable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the automatic grant of a Limited Stock Appreciation Right pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 9(d) is suspended effective December 31, 2005. However, the Committee may grant such Limited Stock Appreciation Rights in connection with a Change in Control at any time it deems appropriate, in its sole discretion. The Committee shall advise the Board by no later than July 1, 2006 as to the Committees recommendation on whether further amendment of this Section 9(d) to reinstate its original terms, in whole or in part, or to substitute other terms consistent with the intent of this provision is warranted, subject to the approval of the Board in its discretion.
(e) The restrictions applicable to Awards of Restricted Stock issued pursuant to Section 7 shall lapse upon the occurrence of a Change in Control and the Company shall issue stock certificates without a restrictive legend. Key Employees holding Restricted Stock on the date of a Change in Control may tender such Restricted Stock to the Company which shall pay the Formula Price as that term is defined in Section 9; provided, such Restricted Stock must be tendered to the Company within 60 calendar days of the Change in Control.
(f) If a Change in Control occurs during the course of a Performance Period applicable to an Award of Performance Shares pursuant to Section 6, then the Key Employee shall be deemed to have satisfied the Performance Objectives and settlement of such Performance Shares shall be based on the Formula Price, as defined in this Section 9.
10. Beneficiary
(a) Each Key Employee shall file with the Company a written designation of one or more persons as the Beneficiary who shall be entitled to receive the Award, if any, payable under the Plan upon his or her death. A Key Employee may from time-to-time revoke or change his or her Beneficiary designation without the consent of any prior Beneficiary by filing a new designation with the Company. The last such designation received by the Company shall be controlling; provided, however, that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received by the Company prior to the Key Employees death, and in no event shall it be effective as of a date prior to such receipt.
(b) If no such Beneficiary designation is in effect at the time of a Key Employees death, or if no designated Beneficiary survives the Key Employee or if such designation conflicts with law, the Key Employees estate shall be entitled to receive the Award, if any, payable under the Plan upon his or her death. If the Committee is in doubt as to the right of any person to receive such Award, the Company may retain such Award, without liability for any interest thereon, until the Committee determines the rights thereto, or the Company may pay such Award into any court of appropriate jurisdiction and such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Company therefor.
11. Administration of the Plan
(a) Each member of the Committee shall be both a member of the Board and a non-employee director within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3)(i) under the Act or successor rule or regulation. No member of the Committee shall be, or shall have been, eligible to receive an Award under the Plan or any other plan maintained by any Participating Company to acquire stock, stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares or restricted stock of a Participating Company at any time within the one year immediately preceding the members appointment to the Committee.
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(b) All decisions, determinations or actions of the Committee made or taken pursuant to grants of authority under the Plan shall be made or taken in the sole discretion of the Committee and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons for all purposes.
(c) The Committee shall have full power, discretion and authority to interpret, construe and administer the Plan and any part thereof, and its interpretations and constructions thereof and actions taken thereunder shall be, except as otherwise determined by the Board, final, conclusive and binding on all persons for all purposes.
(d) The Committees decisions and determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Key Employees, whether or not such Key Employees are similarly situated.
(e) The Committee may, in its sole discretion, delegate such of its powers as it deems appropriate.
(f) If a Change in Control has not occurred and if the Committee determines that a Key Employee has taken action inimical to the best interests of any Participating Company, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, terminate in whole or in part such portion of any Option (including any related Right) as has not yet become exercisable at the time of termination, terminate any Performance Share Award for which the Performance Period has not been completed or terminate any Award of Restricted Stock for which the Restriction Period has not lapsed.
12. Amendment, Extension or Termination
The Board may, at any time, amend or terminate the Plan and, specifically, may make such modifications to the Plan as it deems necessary to avoid the application of Section 162(m) of the Code and the Treasury regulations issued thereunder. However, no amendment shall, without approval by a majority of the Companys stockholders, (a) alter the group of persons eligible to participate in the Plan, (b) except as provided in Section 13 increase the maximum number of shares of Stock which are available for Awards under the Plan or (c) extend the period during which awards may be granted beyond December 31, 2003. If a Change in Control has occurred, no amendment or termination shall impair the rights of any person with respect to a prior Award.
13. Adjustments in Event of Change in Common Stock
In the event of any recapitalization, reclassification, split-up or consolidation of shares of Stock or, stock dividend, merger or consolidation of the Company or sale by the Company of all or a portion of its assets, the Committee may make such adjustments in the Stock subject to Awards, including Stock subject to purchase by an Option, or the terms, conditions or restrictions on Stock or Awards, including the price payable upon the exercise of such Option, as the Committee deems equitable.
14. Miscellaneous
(a) Except as provided in Section 9, nothing in this Plan or any Award granted hereunder shall confer upon any employee any right to continue in the employ of any Participating Company or interfere in any way with the right of any Participating Company to terminate his or her employment at any time. No Award payable under the Plan shall be deemed salary or compensation for the purpose of computing benefits under any employee benefit plan or other arrangement of any Participating Company for the benefit of its employees unless the Company shall determine otherwise. No Key Employee shall have any claim to an Award until it is actually granted under the Plan. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company. All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company and no special or separate fund shall be established and no segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment of such amounts except as provided in Section 7(e) with respect to Restricted Stock.
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(b) The Committee may cause to be made, as a condition precedent to the payment of any Award, or otherwise, appropriate arrangements with the Key Employee or his or her Beneficiary, for the withholding of any federal, state, local or foreign taxes.
(c) The Plan and the grant of Awards shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations and to such approvals by any government or regulatory agency as may be required.
(d) The terms of the Plan shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
(e) Captions preceding the sections hereof are inserted solely as a matter of convenience and in no way define or limit the scope or intent of any provision hereof.
15. Effective Date, Term of Plan and Shareholder Approval
The effective date of the Plan was March 1, 1994 and was approved by the Companys shareholders within twelve months before such date. The Plan was amended and restated effective October 16, 1998. No Award shall be granted under this Plan after the Plans termination date. The Plans termination date shall be December 31, 2003. The Plan will continue in effect for existing Awards as long as any such Award is outstanding.
ADMINISTRATION
The Plan is administered by a Committee of the Board of Directors of Rayonier, presently designated as the Compensation and Management Development Committee, the members of which serve during the pleasure of the Board. The Committee is composed of directors none of whom is an officer or employee of Rayonier and none of whom is eligible to receive any award under the Plan.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX TREATMENT
The following is a brief summary of the current Federal income tax rules generally applicable to options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares and restricted stock. Recipients of Awards and Substitute Stock Options should consult their own tax advisors as to the specific Federal, state and local tax consequences applicable to them.
A. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
Options granted under the Plan may be either non-qualified options or incentive stock options qualifying under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Substitute Stock Options are non-qualified options.
Non-qualified Options
An optionee is not subject to Federal income tax upon grant of a non-qualified option. At the time of exercise, the optionee will realize compensation income (subject to withholding) to the extent that the then fair market value of the stock exceeds the option price. The amount of such income will constitute an addition to the optionees tax basis in the optioned stock. Sale of the shares will result in capital gain or loss (long-term or short-term depending on the optionees holding period). Rayonier is entitled to a Federal tax deduction at the same time and to the same extent that the optionee realizes compensation income.
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Incentive Stock Options (ISOs)
Options under the Plan denominated as ISOs are intended to constitute incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. An optionee is not subject to Federal income tax upon either the grant or exercise of an ISO. If the optionee holds the shares acquired upon exercise for at least one year after issuance of the optioned shares and until at least two years after grant of the option, then the difference between the amount realized on a subsequent sale or other taxable disposition of the shares and the option price will constitute long-term capital gain or loss. To obtain favorable tax treatment, an ISO must be exercised within three months after termination of employment (other than by retirement, disability, or death) with Rayonier or subsidiary. To obtain favorable tax treatment, an ISO must be exercised within three months of retirement or within one year of cessation of employment for disability (with no limitation in the case of death), notwithstanding any longer exercise period permitted under the terms of the Plan. Rayonier will not be entitled to a Federal tax deduction with respect to the grant or exercise of the ISO.
If the optionee disposes of the shares acquired under an ISO before the requisite holding period, he or she will be deemed to have made a disqualifying disposition of the shares and will realize compensation income in the year of disposition equal to the lesser of the fair market value of the shares at exercise or the amount realized on their disposition over the option price of the shares. (However, if the disposition is by gift or by sale to a related party, the compensation income must be measured by the value of the shares at exercise over the option price.) Any gain recognized upon a disqualifying disposition in excess of the ordinary income portion will constitute either short-term or long-term capital gain. In the event of a disqualifying disposition, Rayonier will be entitled to a Federal tax deduction in the amount of the compensation income realized by the optionee.
The option spread on the exercise of an ISO is an adjustment in computing alternative minimum taxable income. No adjustment is required, however, if the optionee made a disqualifying disposition of the shares in the same year as he or she is taxed on the exercise.
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
SARs may be awarded to officers and directors of Rayonier subject to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with respect to both incentive stock options and non-qualified options granted under the Plan. An optionee is not taxed upon the grant of SARs. An optionee exercising SARs for cash will realize compensation income (subject to withholding) in the amount of the cash received. Rayonier is entitled to a tax deduction at the same time and to the same extent that the optionee realizes compensation income.
B. Performance Shares
A recipient of performance shares generally will realize compensation income (subject to withholding) when and to the extent that payment is made, whether in the form of cash or shares of Rayonier Common Shares. To the extent that payment is made in the form of stock, income shall be measured by the then fair market value of the shares, which shall constitute an addition to the recipients tax basis in such shares. Rayonier will be entitled to a Federal tax deduction for the value of payment at the time of payment.
C. Restricted Stock
A recipient of restricted stock generally will realize compensation income (subject to withholding) when and to the extent that the restrictions on the shares lapse, as measured by the value of the shares at the time of lapse. The recipients holding period for the shares will not commence until the date of lapse, and dividends paid during the restriction period will be treated as compensation. The income realized on lapse of the restrictions will constitute an addition to the recipients tax basis in the shares.
In lieu of deferred recognition of income, the recipient may file an election with the Internal Revenue Service, within 30 days of award, to realize compensation income at the time of award, as measured by the fair market value of the stock on the date of award determined without regard to the restrictions. The income realized will constitute an addition to the tax basis of the shares. In the case of such election, any appreciation
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(or depreciation) on the shares during the restriction period will give rise to capital gain (or capital loss). In the event that the recipient terminates employment during the restriction period and forfeits his or her shares, no deduction may be claimed and the taxes paid on award of the shares shall be forfeited.
Rayonier will be entitled to a Federal tax deduction at the same time and to the same extent that the recipient realizes compensation income.
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