Roper Technologies, Inc. 2021 Incentive Plan
Exhibit 10.1
ROPER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
2021 INCENTIVE PLAN
ARTICLE 1
PURPOSE
1.1 GENERAL. The purpose of the Roper Technologies, Inc. 2021 Incentive Plan (as may be amended from time to time, the Plan) is to promote the success, and enhance the value, of Roper Technologies, Inc. (together with any successor, the Company), by linking the personal interests of employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company or any Affiliate (as defined below) to those of Company shareholders and by providing such persons with an incentive for outstanding performance. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of employees, officers, directors and consultants upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Companys operation is largely dependent. Accordingly, the Plan permits the grant of incentive awards from time to time to selected employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company and its Affiliates.
ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS
2.1 DEFINITIONS. When a word or phrase appears in this Plan with the initial letter capitalized, and the word or phrase does not commence a sentence, the word or phrase shall generally be given the meaning ascribed to it in this Section or in Section 1.1 unless a clearly different meaning is required by the context. The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
(a) Affiliate means (i) any Subsidiary or Parent, or (ii) an entity that directly or through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company, as determined by the Committee.
(b) Award means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Unrestricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Deferred Stock Unit, Performance Award, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock-Based Award, Cash-Based Award, Substitute Award, or any other right or interest relating to Stock or cash, granted to a Participant under the Plan.
(c) Award Certificate means a written document, in such form as the Committee prescribes from time to time, setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award. Award Certificates may be in the form of individual award agreements or certificates or a program document describing the terms and provisions of an Awards or series of Awards under the Plan.
(d) Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) Cash-Based Award means an Award, granted to a Participant under Article 12, that relates to, or is valued by reference to, or is payable in cash.
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(f) Cause as a reason for a Participants termination of employment shall have the meaning assigned such term in the employment, severance or similar agreement, if any, between such Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, provided, however that if there is no such employment, severance or similar agreement in which such term is defined, and unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Certificate, Cause shall mean any of the following acts by the Participant, as determined by the Board: gross neglect of duty, prolonged absence from duty without the consent of the Company, intentionally engaging in any activity that is in conflict with or adverse to the business or other interests of the Company, or willful misconduct, misfeasance or malfeasance of duty which is reasonably determined to be detrimental to the Company. With respect to a Participants termination of directorship, Cause means an act or failure to act that constitutes cause for removal of a director under applicable Delaware law. The determination of the Committee as to the existence of Cause shall be conclusive on the Participant and the Company.
(g) Change in Control means and includes the occurrence of any one of the following events:
(1) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act) (a Person) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the Outstanding Company Voting Securities); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (1), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition by a Person who is on the Effective Date the beneficial owner of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, (ii) any acquisition directly from the Company, (iii) any acquisition by the Company, (iv) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate, or (v) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (3) of this definition; or
(2) Individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the Incumbent Board) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Companys shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of directorship occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
(3) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a
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Business Combination), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Companys assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, and (ii) no Person (excluding any corporation or entity resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation or entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation or entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination.
(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any payment or benefit pursuant to an Award is nonqualified deferred compensation under Code Section 409A to which an exception to Code Section 409A does not apply, and the payment or benefit of such Award is triggered by a Change in Control, the events described above shall not constitute a Change in Control with respect to such nonqualified deferred compensation Award unless they constitute a change in ownership or effective control of the Company, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company, as described under Code Section 409A; and (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred as a result of a sale or other disposition of any Subsidiary by which a Participant may be employed.
(h) Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and includes a reference to any applicable regulations thereunder and any successor or similar provision.
(i) Committee means the committee of the Board described in Article 4.
(j) Continuous Status as a Participant means the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an employee, officer, consultant or director of the Company or any Affiliate, as applicable, as determined by the Committee; provided, however, that for purposes of an Incentive Stock Option Continuous Status as a Participant means the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an employee of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, as applicable, pursuant to applicable tax regulations. Continuous Status as a Participant shall not be considered interrupted in any
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of the following cases: (i) a Participant transfers employment between the Company and an Affiliate or between Affiliates, (ii) in the discretion of the Committee as specified at or prior to such occurrence, in the case of a spin-off, sale or disposition of the Participants employer from the Company or any Affiliate, (iii) unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of any such change, a Participants change in status among employee, director or consultant of the Company or an Affiliate, (iv) a Participants short-term disability, (v) a Participants furlough by the Company or an Affiliate pursuant to, and during, which the Company or an Affiliate has not terminated the employment or service of the Participant, (vi) a temporary leave or other service cessation resulting from the impact of COVID-19 or other pandemic on the Companys business for the period of time the Participants position remains open for his or her return, or (vii) a Participants leave of absence authorized in writing by the Company prior to its commencement; provided, however, that for purposes of Incentive Stock Options, if any such leave exceeds ninety (90) days, and the Participants reemployment upon expiration of such leave is not guaranteed by statute or contract, then on the ninety-first (91st) day of such leave any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option. Whether military, government or other service or other leave of absence shall constitute a termination of Continuous Status as a Participant shall be determined in each case by the Committee at its discretion, and any determination by the Committee shall be final and conclusive; provided, however, that for purposes of any Award that is subject to Code Section 409A, the determination of a leave of absence must comply with the requirements of a bona fide leave of absence as provided in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(h).
(k) Deferred Stock Unit means a right granted to a Participant under Article 10 to receive Shares (or the equivalent value in cash or other property if the Committee so provides) at a future time as determined by the Committee, or as determined by the Participant within guidelines established by the Committee in the case of voluntary deferral elections.
(l) Disability of a Participant means that 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 Participants employer. If the determination of Disability relates to an Incentive Stock Option, Disability means that condition described in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. In the event of a dispute, the determination of whether a Participant is Disabled will be made by the Committee and may be supported by the advice of a physician competent in the area to which such Disability relates.
(m) Dividend Equivalent means a right granted to a Participant under Article 11.
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(n) Effective Date has the meaning assigned such term in Section 3.1.
(o) Eligible Participant means an employee, officer, consultant or director of the Company or any Affiliate.
(p) Exchange means the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Stock may from time to time be listed or traded.
(q) Fair Market Value means, on any date, (i) if the Stock is listed on an Exchange, the closing sales price on the principal such Exchange on such date or, in the absence of reported sales on such date, the closing price on the immediately preceding date on which sales were reported, (ii) if the Stock is not listed on an Exchange, the mean between the bid and offered prices of the Stock as quoted by the applicable interdealer quotation system for such date, or (iii) fair market value as determined by such other method as the Committee determines in good faith to be reasonable.
(r) Full-Value Award means any Award other than an Option or SAR, and which is settled by the issuance of Stock (or at the discretion of the Committee, settled in cash valued by reference to Stock value).
(s) GAAP means Generally Accepted Accounting Principles applicable to public companies in the United States for financial reporting purposes.
(t) Good Reason has the meaning assigned such term in an employment, severance or similar agreement, if any, between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate; provided, however, that if there is no such employment, severance or similar agreement in which such term is defined, Good Reason shall have the meaning, if any, given such term in the applicable Award Certificate. If not defined in any such document, the term Good Reason as used herein shall not apply to a particular Award.
(u) Grant Date of an Award means the first date on which all necessary corporate action has been taken to approve the grant of the Award as provided in the Plan, or such later date as is determined and specified as part of that authorization process. Notice of the Award grant shall be provided to the Participant within a reasonable time after the Grant Date.
(v) Incentive Stock Option means an Option that is intended to be an incentive stock option and meets the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto, and which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option in the applicable Award Certificate.
(w) Independent Directors means those members of the Board who qualify at any given time as an independent director under the applicable rules of each Exchange on which the Stock is listed.
(x) Non-Employee Director means a director of the Company who is not a common law employee of the Company or an Affiliate.
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(y) Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation has the meaning set forth in Section 16.4(b).
(z) Nonstatutory Stock Option means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.
(aa) Option means a right granted to a Participant under Article 7 to purchase Stock at a specified price during specified time periods. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(bb) Stock-Based Award means a right, granted to a Participant under Article 12, that relates to or is valued by reference to Stock or other Awards relating to Stock.
(cc) Parent means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity which owns or beneficially owns a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power of the Company. Notwithstanding the above, with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, Parent shall have the meaning set forth in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(dd) Participant means an Eligible Participant who has been granted an Award under the Plan; provided that in the case of the death of a Participant, the term Participant refers to a beneficiary designated pursuant to Section 13.4 or the legal guardian or other legal representative acting in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of the Participant under applicable state law and court supervision.
(ee) Performance Award means an Award granted pursuant to Article 9.
(ff) Performance Goals has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2.
(gg) Person means any individual, entity or group, within the meaning of Section 3(a)(9) of the 1934 Act and as used in Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act.
(hh) Prior Plan means the Roper Technologies, Inc. 2016 Incentive Plan.
(ii) Required Delay Period has the meaning set forth in Section 16.4(d).
(jj) Restricted Stock means an Award of Stock granted to a Participant under Article 10 that is subject to certain restrictions and to risk of forfeiture.
(kk) Restricted Stock Unit means the right granted in an Award to a Participant under Article 10 to receive shares of Stock (or the equivalent value in cash or other property if the Committee so provides) in the future, which right is subject to certain restrictions that lapse at the end of a specified period or periods.
(ll) Retirement means a Participants voluntary termination of employment with the Company or an Affiliate after attaining any normal or early retirement age specified in any pension, profit sharing or deferred compensation plan, in which the Participant participates at the time of such termination of employment, sponsored by the Company, or, in the event of the inapplicability thereof with respect to the Participant in question and except as otherwise determined by the Committee, after attaining age sixty-two (62) with at least eight (8) years of service with the Company or its Affiliates.
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(mm) Shares means shares of Stock. If there has been an adjustment or substitution with respect to the Shares (whether or not pursuant to Article 14), the term Shares shall also include any shares of stock or other securities that are substituted for Shares or into which Shares are adjusted.
(nn) Specified Employee has the meaning set forth in Section 16.4(d).
(oo) Stock means the $0.01 par value Common Stock of the Company and such other securities of the Company as may be substituted for Stock pursuant to Article 14.
(pp) Stock Appreciation Right or SAR means a right granted to a Participant under Article 8 to receive a payment (in cash or Stock) equal to the difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the date of exercise of the SAR over the base price of the SAR, all as determined pursuant to Article 8.
(qq) Subsidiary means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity of which a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company. Notwithstanding the above, with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, Subsidiary shall have the meaning set forth in Section 424(f) of the Code.
(rr) Substitute Award is an Award granted pursuant to Section 13.9.
(ss) Ten Percent Shareholder means an individual who owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of the Company, its Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code. In determining stock ownership, the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall be applied.
(tt) Unrestricted Stock means an Award of Stock to a Participant under Article 10 that is free of any restrictions relating to service and/or performance.
(uu) 1933 Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
(vv) 1934 Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
ARTICLE 3
EFFECTIVE TERM OF PLAN
3.1 EFFECTIVE DATE. The Plan first became effective on June 14, 2021, the date that it was approved by the shareholders of the Company (the Effective Date).
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3.2 TERMINATION OF PLAN. The Plan shall terminate on the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date unless earlier terminated as provided herein. The termination of the Plan shall not affect the validity of any Award outstanding on the date of termination.
ARTICLE 4
ADMINISTRATION
4.1 COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered by a committee appointed by the Board (Committee) consisting of two or more Independent Directors or, at the discretion of the Board from time to time, the Plan may be administered by the Board. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by, and may be changed at any time and from time to time in the discretion of, the Board. Unless and until changed by the Board, the Compensation Committee of the Board is designated as the Committee to administer the Plan. The Board may reserve to itself any or all of the authority and responsibility of the Committee under the Plan or may act as administrator of the Plan for any and all purposes. To the extent the Board has reserved any authority and responsibility or during any time that the Board is acting as administrator of the Plan, it shall have all the powers and protections of the Committee hereunder, and any reference herein to the Committee (other than in this Section 4.1) shall include the Board. To the extent any action of the Board under the Plan conflicts with actions taken by the Committee, the actions of the Board shall control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, grants of Awards to Non-Employee Directors under the Plan shall be made only in accordance with the terms, conditions and parameters of a plan, program or policy for the compensation of Non-Employee Directors as in effect from time to time that is approved and administered by a committee of the Board consisting solely of Independent Directors and is in accordance with Section 5.4(b) hereof.
4.2 ACTION AND INTERPRETATIONS BY THE COMMITTEE. For purposes of administering the Plan, the Committee may from time to time adopt rules, regulations, guidelines and procedures for carrying out the provisions and purposes of the Plan and make such other determinations, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Committee may deem appropriate. The Committees interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted under the Plan, any Award Certificate and all decisions and determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties and shall be given the maximum deference permitted by applicable law. Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Affiliate, the Companys or an Affiliates independent certified public accountants, Company counsel or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company or the Committee to assist in the administration of the Plan. No member of the Committee will be liable for any good faith determination, act or omission in connection with the Plan or any Award.
4.3 AUTHORITY OF COMMITTEE. Except as provided herein, the Committee has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:
(a) Grant Awards;
(b) Designate Participants;
(c) Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;
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(d) Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares or dollar amount to which an Award will relate;
(e) Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan;
(f) Prescribe the form of each Award Certificate, which need not be identical for each Participant;
(g) Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;
(h) Establish, adopt or revise any rules, regulations, guidelines or procedures as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
(i) Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required under the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
(j) Amend the Plan or any Award Certificate as provided herein;
(k) Correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award in the manner and to the extent it deems necessary to carry out the intent of the Plan; and
(l) Consistent with the provisions of Section 16.17, adopt such modifications, procedures, and sub-plans as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws of non-U.S. jurisdictions in which the Company or any Affiliate may operate, in order to assure the viability of the benefits of Awards granted to Participants located in such other jurisdictions and to meet the objectives of the Plan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(1) The Board or the Committee may, by resolution, expressly delegate to a special committee, consisting of one or more directors who may but need not be officers of the Company (a Special Committee), the authority, within specified parameters, to (i) designate officers, employees and/or consultants of the Company or any of its Affiliates to be recipients of Awards under the Plan, and (ii) to determine the number of such Awards to be received by any such Participants; provided, however, that such delegation of duties and responsibilities to a Special Committee may not be made with respect to the grant of Awards to Eligible Participants (a) who are subject to Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act at the Grant Date, or (b) who are members of the Special Committee to whom authority to grant Awards has been delegated hereunder; provided further, that any such delegation shall only be permitted to the extent it is permissible under applicable securities laws or the rules of any Exchange on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded. The acts of such Special Committee shall be treated hereunder as acts of the Board and such Special Committee shall report regularly to the Board and the Committee regarding the delegated duties and responsibilities and any Awards so granted.
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(2) The Board may from time to time reserve to the Independent Directors (or any subset thereof), as a group, any or all of the authority and responsibility of the Committee under the Plan. To the extent and during such time as the Board has so reserved any authority and responsibility, the Independent Directors shall have all the powers of the Committee hereunder, and any reference herein to the Committee (other than in this Section 4.3) shall include the Independent Directors. To the extent any action of the Independent Directors under the Plan made within such authority conflicts with actions taken by the Committee, the actions of the Independent Directors shall control.
ARTICLE 5
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
5.1 NUMBER OF SHARES. Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 5.2 and 14.1, the aggregate number of Shares reserved and available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan from the Effective Date shall be (i) 7,078,000, (ii) plus the number of Shares (not to exceed 2,181,479) remaining available for issuance under the Prior Plan but not subject to outstanding awards as of the Effective Date, plus (iii) the number of additional Shares underlying awards outstanding under the Prior Plan as of the Effective Date (not to exceed 3,631,647) that thereafter terminate or expire unexercised, or are cancelled, forfeited or lapse for any reason after the Effective Date. The maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be the sum of the number of Shares in (i), (ii) and (iii) of the foregoing sentence. From and after the Effective Date, no further awards shall be granted under the Prior Plan.
5.2 SHARE COUNTING.
(a) Awards of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall count against the number of Shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan as 1.0 Share for each Share covered by such Awards, and Full-Value Awards shall count against the number of Shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan as 3.0 Shares for each Share covered by such Awards.
(b) The full number of Shares subject to an Option shall count against the number of Shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan, even if the exercise price of the Option is satisfied through net-settlement or by delivering Shares to the Company (by either actual delivery or attestation).
(c) Upon exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights that are settled in Shares, the full number of Stock Appreciation Rights (rather than any lesser number based on the net number of Shares actually delivered upon exercise) shall count against the number of Shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.
(d) Shares withheld from an Award to satisfy tax withholding requirements shall count against the number of Shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan, and Shares delivered by a Participant to satisfy tax withholding requirements shall not be added to the Plan share reserve.
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(e) To the extent that an Award is canceled, terminates, expires, is forfeited or lapses for any reason, any unissued or forfeited Shares subject to the Award (based on the number set forth in clause (a)) will again be available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.
(f) Shares subject to Awards settled in cash will again be available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.
(g) Substitute Awards granted pursuant to Section 13.9 of the Plan shall not count against the Shares otherwise available for issuance under the Plan under Section 5.1.
(h) Subject to applicable Exchange requirements, shares available under a shareholder-approved plan of a company acquired by the Company (as appropriately adjusted to Shares to reflect the transaction) may be issued under the Plan pursuant to Awards granted to individuals who were not employees of the Company or its Affiliates immediately before such transaction and will not count against the maximum share limitation specified in Section 5.1.
5.3 SOURCES OF STOCK DISTRIBUTED. Any Stock distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Stock, treasury Stock or Stock purchased on the open market.
5.4 LIMITATION ON INDIVIDUAL AWARDS.
(a) Awards to Eligible Participants Other Than Non-Employee Directors. No Eligible Participant (other than Non-Employee Directors, who are subject to separate limitations in Section 5.4(b)) may be granted any Award or Awards denominated in Shares, for more than 450,000 Shares (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 14.1) in the aggregate in any calendar year.
(b) Non-Employee Director Awards. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the maximum aggregate value of Stock-Based and Cash-Based Awards granted under the Plan to any one Non-Employee Director during any calendar year, taken together with any cash fees paid by the Company to such Non-Employee Director during such calendar year for service on the Board, shall not exceed $750,000 in value (calculating the value of any such Awards based on the grant date fair value of such Awards for financial reporting purposes); provided, however, that with respect to the first calendar year during which such a Non-Employee Director serves on the Board (or, in the event such Non-Employee Director does not receive any Awards during such first calendar year, the second calendar year during which such a Non-Employee Director serves on the Board), such maximum total value shall instead be $1,500,000.
5.5 MINIMUM VESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR AWARDS. Except in the case of Substitute Awards granted pursuant to Section 13.9 and subject to the following sentence, any Awards granted under the Plan to an Eligible Participant shall not vest less than one (1) year following the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Committee may permit and authorize acceleration of vesting of Awards in the event of the Participants death or Disability or upon, or in connection with Participants termination of service following a Change in Control;
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(ii) the Committee may grant Awards to Non-Employee Directors that are not subject to such one (1) year vesting requirement; and (iii) the Committee may grant Awards without respect to the above-described minimum vesting requirements, or may permit and authorize acceleration of vesting of Awards otherwise subject to the above-described minimum vesting requirements, with respect to Awards covering five percent (5%) or fewer of the total number of Shares authorized under Section 5.1.
ARTICLE 6
ELIGIBILITY
6.1 GENERAL. Awards may be granted only to Eligible Participants; except that Incentive Stock Options may be granted to only to Eligible Participants who are employees of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary as defined in Section 424(e) and (f) of the Code. Eligible Participants who are service providers to an Affiliate may be granted Options or SARs under this Plan only if the Affiliate qualifies as an eligible issuer of service recipient stock within the meaning of §1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E) of the final regulations under Code Section 409A. By accepting an Award, a Participant agrees that the Award is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Award Certificate.
ARTICLE 7
STOCK OPTIONS
7.1 GENERAL. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(a) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share under an Option shall be determined by the Committee, provided that the exercise price for any Option (other than an Option issued as a Substitute Award pursuant to Section 13.9) shall not be less than the Fair Market Value as of the Grant Date.
(b) Time and Conditions of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part. The Committee shall also determine the performance or other conditions, if any, that must be satisfied before all or part of an Option may be exercised or vested.
(c) Exercise Term. In no event may any Option be exercisable for more than ten (10) years from the Grant Date.
(d) Method of Payment. The Committee shall determine the methods by which the exercise price of an Option may be paid, the form of payment, and the methods by which Shares shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants. As determined by the Committee at or after the Grant Date, payment of the exercise price of an Option may be made, in whole or in part, in the form of (i) cash or cash equivalents, (ii) delivery (by either actual delivery or attestation) of previously-acquired Shares based on the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date the Option is exercised, (iii) withholding of Shares from the Option based on the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date the Option is exercised, (iv) broker-assisted market sales, or (v) any other cashless exercise arrangement.
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(e) Prohibition on Repricing and Reloads. Except as otherwise required pursuant to Section 14.1, without the prior approval of the shareholders of the Company: (i) the exercise price of an Option may not be reduced, directly or indirectly, (ii) an Option may not be cancelled in exchange for an Option, SAR or other Award with an exercise, base or purchase price that is less than the exercise price of the original Option or for a Full-Value Award, (iii) the Company may not repurchase an Option for value (in cash or otherwise) from a Participant if the then-current Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying the Option is lower than the exercise price per share of the Option, and (iv) Options shall not contain any provision entitling a Participant to the automatic grant of additional Options in connection with the exercise of the original Option.
(f) No Obligation to Exercise Options; No Right to Notice of Expiration Date. An Award of an Option imposes no obligation upon the Participant to exercise the Option. The Company, its Affiliates and the Committee have no obligation to inform a Participant of the date on which an Option is no longer exercisable except in the Award Certificate.
7.2 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. The terms of any Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan must comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, including the following (and if all of the requirements of Section 422 of the Code are not met, the Option shall automatically become a Nonstatutory Stock Option):
(a) in the event that a Participant is a Ten Percent Shareholder, the exercise price of an Option granted to such Participant that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date.
(b) in the event that the Participant is a Ten Percent Shareholder, an Option granted to such Participant that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from its Grant Date.
(c) any Award of an Incentive Stock Option must be made prior to the ten (10) year anniversary of the Effective Date.
(d) the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year under the Plan and any other stock option plan of the Company or Parent or a Subsidiary shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).
ARTICLE 8
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
8.1 GRANT OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The Committee is authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(a) Base Price. The base price per Share under a Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee, provided that the base price for any Stock Appreciation Right (other than a Stock Appreciation Right issued as a Substitute Award pursuant to Section 13.9) shall not be less than the Fair Market Value as of the Grant Date.
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(b) Time and Conditions of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part.
(c) Exercise Term. In no event may any Stock Appreciation Right be exercisable for more than ten (10) years from the Grant Date.
(d) Other Terms. All Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by an Award Certificate. Subject to the limitations of this Article 8, the terms, methods of exercise, methods of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award and shall be reflected in the Award Certificate.
(e) Prohibition on Repricing. Except as otherwise required pursuant to Section 14.1, without the prior approval of the shareholders of the Company: (i) the base price of a Stock Appreciation Right may not be reduced, directly or indirectly (ii) a Stock Appreciation Right may not be cancelled in exchange for an Option, SAR or other Award with an exercise, base or purchase price that is less than the base price of the original Stock Appreciation Right or for a Full-Value Award, and (iii) the Company may not repurchase a Stock Appreciation Right for value (in cash or otherwise) from a Participant if the then-current Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying the Stock Appreciation Right is lower than the base price per share of the Stock Appreciation Right.
(f) No Obligation to Exercise; No Right to Notice of Expiration Date. An Award of a Stock Appreciation Right imposes no obligation upon the Participant to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right. The Company, its Affiliates and the Committee have no obligation to inform a Participant of the date on which a Stock Appreciation Right is no longer exercisable except in the Award Certificate.
ARTICLE 9
PERFORMANCE AWARDS
9.1 GRANT OF PERFORMANCE AWARDS. The Committee is authorized to grant any Award under this Plan, including Cash-Based Awards, with performance-based vesting criteria, on such terms and conditions as may be selected by the Committee. Any such Awards with performance-based vesting criteria are referred to herein as Performance Awards. The Committee shall have the complete discretion to determine the number of Performance Awards granted to each Participant, subject to Section 5.4, and to designate the provisions of such Performance Awards as provided in Section 4.3. All Performance Awards shall be evidenced by an Award Certificate or a written program established by the Committee, pursuant to which Performance Awards are awarded under the Plan under uniform terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in such written program.
9.2 PERFORMANCE GOALS. The Committee may establish performance goals for Performance Awards which may be based on any criteria selected and approved by the Committee (Performance Goals) which may include, but are not limited to, (i) GAAP and adjusted-GAAP financial measures, (ii) strategic measures, (iii) sustainability measures, (iv) individual
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performance measures, and (v) operational measures, and which are measures over a Committee-approved performance period. Such Performance Goals may be described in terms of Company-wide objectives or in terms of objectives that relate to the performance of the Participant, an Affiliate or a division, region, department or function within the Company or an Affiliate. If the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company or the manner in which the Company or an Affiliate conducts its business, or other events or circumstances render Performance Goals to be unsuitable, the Committee may modify such Performance Goals in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate. If a Participant is promoted, demoted or transferred to a different business unit or function during a performance period, the Committee may determine that the Performance Goals or performance period are no longer appropriate and may (i) adjust, change or eliminate the Performance Goals or the applicable performance period as it deems appropriate to make such goals and period comparable to the initial Performance Goals and performance period, or (ii) make a cash payment to the Participant in an amount determined by the Committee.
ARTICLE 10
RESTRICTED STOCK, UNRESTRICTED STOCK, RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS AND
DEFERRED STOCK UNITS
10.1 GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK, UNRESTRICTED STOCK, RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS AND DEFERRED STOCK UNITS. The Committee is authorized to make Awards of Restricted Stock, Unrestricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units to Participants in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as may be selected by the Committee. An Award of Restricted Stock, Unrestricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Award Certificate setting forth the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to the Award.
10.2 ISSUANCE AND RESTRICTIONS. Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, limitations on the right to vote Restricted Stock or the right to receive dividends on the Restricted Stock). These restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances, in such installments, upon the satisfaction of performance goals or otherwise, as the Committee determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter. Except as otherwise provided herein or in an Award Certificate or any special Plan document governing an Award, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Restricted Stock, and the Participant shall have none of the rights of a shareholder with respect to Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units until such time as Shares of Stock are paid in settlement of the Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Certificate, Awards of Restricted Stock will be entitled to full dividend rights and any dividends paid thereon will be paid or distributed to the holder no later than the end of the calendar year in which the dividends are paid to shareholders or, if later, the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) month following the date the dividends are paid to shareholders. In no event shall dividends with respect to an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units that is subject to performance-based conditions be paid or distributed unless and until the performance-based conditions are met.
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10.3 FORFEITURE. Subject to the terms of the Award Certificate and except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of Continuous Status as a Participant during the applicable restriction period or upon failure to satisfy a performance goal during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units that are at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited.
10.4 DELIVERY OF RESTRICTED STOCK AND UNRESTRICTED STOCK. Shares of Restricted Stock and Unrestricted Stock shall be delivered to the Participant either by book-entry registration or by delivering to the Participant, or a custodian or escrow agent (including, without limitation, the Company or one or more of its employees) designated by the Committee, a stock certificate or certificates registered in the name of the Participant. If physical certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock and Unrestricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, such certificates must bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock and Unrestricted Stock.
ARTICLE 11
DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS
11.1 GRANT OF DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS. The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents with respect to Full-Value Awards granted hereunder, subject to such terms and conditions as may be selected by the Committee. Dividend Equivalents shall entitle the Participant to receive payments equal to ordinary cash dividends or distributions with respect to all or a portion of the number of Shares subject to a Full-Value Award, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents (i) will be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares or otherwise reinvested, which shall be subject to the same vesting provisions as provided for the host Award; (ii) will be credited by the Company to an account for the Participant and accumulated without interest until the date upon which the host Award becomes vested, and any Dividend Equivalents accrued with respect to forfeited Awards will be reconveyed to the Company without further consideration or any act or action by the Participant; or (iii) except in the case of Performance Awards, will be paid or distributed to the Participant as accrued (in which case, such Dividend Equivalents must be paid or distributed no later than the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) month following the later of (A) the calendar year in which the corresponding dividends were paid to Company shareholders, or (B) the first (1st) calendar year in which the Participants right to such Dividends Equivalents is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture). In no event shall Dividend Equivalents with respect to a Performance Award be paid or distributed until the performance-based conditions of the Performance Award are met.
ARTICLE 12
OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS;CASH-BASED AWARDS
12.1 OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS. The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that are payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to Shares, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plans, including without limitation convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Shares, and Awards valued by reference to book value of Shares or the value of securities of or the performance of specified Parents or Subsidiaries. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards which shall be subject to the terms of the Plan.
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12.2 CASH-BASED AWARDS. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee is authorized to grant to Participants Cash-Based Awards in such amounts and upon such other terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; provided, however, that Cash-Based Awards shall only be settled in cash. Each Cash-Based Award shall be evidenced by an Award Certificate that shall specify the payment amount or payment range, the time and form of payment, and the other terms and conditions, as applicable, of such Award which may include, without limitation, Performance Goals and that the Cash-Based Award is a Performance Award, under Article 9.
ARTICLE 13
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS
13.1 AWARD CERTIFICATES. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Certificate. Each Award Certificate shall include such provisions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as may be specified by the Committee. The Committee may provide for the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper Award Certificates, and the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper means for the acceptance thereof and actions thereunder by a Participant.
13.2 FORM OF PAYMENT FOR AWARDS. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable law or Award Certificate, payments or transfers to be made by the Company or an Affiliate on the grant or exercise of an Award may be made in such form as the Committee determines at or after the Grant Date, including without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, or any combination, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis, in each case determined in accordance with rules adopted by, and at the discretion of, the Committee.
13.3 LIMITS ON TRANSFER. No right or interest of a Participant in any unexercised or restricted Award may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Company or an Affiliate, or shall be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the Company or an Affiliate. No unexercised or restricted Award shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that the Committee may (but need not) permit other transfers (other than transfers for value) where the Committee concludes that such transferability (i) does not result in accelerated taxation, (ii) does not cause any Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option to fail to be described in Code Section 422(b), and (iii) is otherwise appropriate and desirable, taking into account any factors deemed relevant by the Committee, including without limitation, state or federal tax or securities laws applicable to transferable Awards.
13.4 BENEFICIARIES. Notwithstanding Section 13.3, a Participant may, in the manner determined by the Committee, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Participants death by filing a beneficiary designation form, in such form as determined or accepted by the Committee, with the Company. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Certificate
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applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award Certificate otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Participant, payment of an Award shall be made in accordance with applicable law. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant at any time prior to the Participants death provided the change or revocation is filed with the Company.
13.5 STOCK TRADING RESTRICTIONS. All Stock issuable under the Plan is subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal or state securities laws, rules and regulations and the rules of any Exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted, or traded. The Committee may place legends on any Stock certificate or issue instructions to the transfer agent to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock.
13.6 ACCELERATION UPON DEATH OR DISABILITY. Except as otherwise provided in the Award Certificate or any special Plan document governing an Award, upon the termination of a persons Continuous Status as a Participant by reason of death or Disability, (i) all of such Participants outstanding Options, SARs, and other Awards in the nature of rights that may be exercised shall become fully exercisable, (ii) all time-based vesting restrictions on the Participants outstanding Awards shall lapse, and (iii) the target payout opportunities attainable under all of such Participants outstanding Performance Awards shall be deemed to have been fully earned as of the date of termination based upon an assumed achievement of all relevant performance goals at the target level and there shall be a pro rata payout to the Participant or his or her estate within thirty (30) days following the date of termination (unless a later date is required by Section 16.4 hereof) based upon the length of time within the performance period that has elapsed prior to the date of termination. Any Awards shall thereafter continue or lapse in accordance with the other provisions of the Plan and the Award Certificate. To the extent that this provision causes Incentive Stock Options to exceed the dollar limitation set forth in Code Section 422(d), the excess Options shall be deemed to be Nonstatutory Stock Options.
13.7 EFFECT OF A CHANGE IN CONTROL. The provisions of this Section 13.7 shall apply in the case of a Change in Control, unless otherwise provided in the Award Certificate or any special Plan document or separate agreement with a Participant governing an Award.
(a) Awards not Assumed or Substituted by Surviving Entity. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, and except with respect to any Awards assumed by the surviving entity or otherwise equitably converted or substituted in connection with the Change in Control in a manner approved by the Committee or the Board: (i) outstanding Options, SARs, and other Awards in the nature of rights that may be exercised shall become fully exercisable, (ii) time-based vesting restrictions on outstanding Awards shall lapse, and (iii) the target payout opportunities attainable under all outstanding Performance Awards shall be deemed to have been fully earned as of the date of the Change in Control based upon an assumed achievement of all relevant Performance Goals at the target level as provided in the applicable Award Agreement and, subject to Section 16.4, there shall be a pro rata payout to Participants within thirty (30) days following the date of the Change in Control (unless a later date is required by Section 16.4 hereof) based upon the length of time within the performance period that has elapsed prior to the date of the Change in
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Control. Any Awards shall thereafter continue or lapse in accordance with the other provisions of the Plan and the Award Certificate. To the extent that this provision causes Incentive Stock Options to exceed the dollar limitation set forth in Code Section 422(d), the excess Options shall be deemed to be Nonstatutory Stock Options.
(b) Awards Assumed or Substituted by Surviving Entity. With respect to Awards assumed by the surviving entity or otherwise equitably converted or substituted in connection with a Change in Control: if within two (2) years after the effective date of the Change in Control, a Participants employment is terminated without Cause or (subject to the following sentence) the Participant resigns for Good Reason, then (i) all of that Participants outstanding Options, SARs and other Awards in the nature of rights that may be exercised shall become fully exercisable, (ii) all time-based vesting restrictions on the his or her outstanding Awards shall lapse, and (iii) the payout opportunities attainable under all of such Participants outstanding Performance Awards shall be earned based on actual performance through the end of the performance period, and there shall be a pro rata payout to the Participant or his or her estate within thirty (30) days after the amount earned has been determined (unless a later date is required by Section 16.4 hereof) based upon the length of time within the performance period that has elapsed prior to the date of termination. With regard to each Award, a Participant shall not be considered to have resigned for Good Reason unless either (i) the Award Certificate includes such provision or (ii) the Participant is party to an employment, severance or similar agreement with the Company or an Affiliate that includes provisions in which the Participant is permitted to resign for Good Reason. Any Awards shall thereafter continue or lapse in accordance with the other provisions of the Plan and the Award Certificate. To the extent that this provision causes Incentive Stock Options to exceed the dollar limitation set forth in Code Section 422(d), the excess Options shall be deemed to be Nonstatutory Stock Options.
13.8 EFFECT OF ACCELERATION. If an Award is accelerated under Section 13.6 or 13.7, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide (i) that the Award will expire after a designated period of time after such acceleration to the extent not then exercised, (ii) that the Award will be settled in cash rather than Stock, (iii) that the Award will be assumed by another party to a transaction giving rise to the acceleration or otherwise be equitably converted or substituted in connection with such transaction, (iv) that the Award may be settled by payment in cash or cash equivalents equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock, as of a specified date associated with the transaction, over the exercise price of the Award, or (v) any combination of the foregoing. The Committees determination need not be uniform and may be different for different Participants whether or not such Participants are similarly situated. To the extent that such acceleration causes Incentive Stock Options to exceed the dollar limitation set forth in Code Section 422(d), the excess Options shall be deemed to be Nonstatutory Stock Options.
13.9 SUBSTITUTE AWARDS. The Committee may grant Awards under the Plan in substitution for stock and stock-based awards held by employees of another entity who become employees of the Company or an Affiliate as a result of a merger or consolidation of the former employing entity with the Company or an Affiliate or the acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate of property or stock of the former employing corporation (Substitute Awards). The Committee may direct that the Substitute Awards be granted on such terms and conditions as the Committee considers appropriate in the circumstances.
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13.10 FORFEITURE, CLAWBACK, RECOUPMENT EVENTS. Awards under the Plan shall be subject to any compensation forfeiture, clawback or recoupment policy that the Company may adopt from time to time that is applicable by its terms to the Participant. In addition, the Committee may specify in an Award Certificate that the Participants rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, clawback or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, (i) termination of employment for Cause, (ii) violation of material Company or Affiliate policies, (iii) breach of noncompetition, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant, (iv) other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company or any Affiliate, or (v) a later determination that the vesting of, or amount realized from, a Performance Award was based on materially inaccurate financial statements or any other materially inaccurate performance metric criteria, whether or not the Participant caused or contributed to such material inaccuracy.
ARTICLE 14
CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE
14.1 MANDATORY ADJUSTMENTS. In the event of a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its shareholders that causes the per-share value of the Stock to change (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering, or large nonrecurring cash dividend), the Committee shall make such adjustments to the Plan and Awards as it deems necessary, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights immediately resulting from such transaction. Action by the Committee may include: (i) adjustment of the number and kind of shares that may be delivered under the Plan; (ii) adjustment of the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) adjustment of the exercise price of outstanding Awards or the measure to be used to determine the amount of the benefit payable on an Award; and (iv) any other adjustments that the Committee determines to be equitable. Without limiting the foregoing, in the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Stock (stock-split), a declaration of a dividend payable in Shares, or a combination or consolidation of the outstanding Stock into a lesser number of Shares, the authorization limits under Sections 5.1 and 5.4 shall automatically be adjusted proportionately, and the Shares then subject to each Award shall automatically, without the necessity for any additional action by the Committee, be adjusted proportionately without any change in the aggregate purchase price therefor.
14.2 DISCRETIONARY ADJUSTMENTS. Upon the occurrence or in anticipation of any corporate event or transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any merger, reorganization, recapitalization, combination or exchange of shares, or any transaction described in Section 14.1), the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide (i) that Awards will be settled in cash rather than Stock, (ii) that Awards will become immediately vested and non-forfeitable and, if applicable, exercisable (in whole or in part) and will expire after a designated period of time to the extent not then exercised (provided that Participants shall be provided with advance written notice of any such exercise period), (iii) that Awards will be assumed by another party to a transaction or otherwise be equitably converted or substituted in connection with such
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transaction, (iv) that outstanding Awards may be settled by payment in cash or cash equivalents equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock, as of a specified date associated with the transaction (or the per-shares transaction price), over the exercise or base price of the Award, (v) that performance targets and performance periods for Performance Awards will be modified, or (vi) any combination of the foregoing. The Committees determination need not be uniform and may be different for different Participants whether or not such Participants are similarly situated.
14.3 GENERAL. Any discretionary adjustments made pursuant to this Article 14 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 15.2. To the extent that any adjustments made pursuant to this Article 14 cause Incentive Stock Options to cease to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, such Options shall be deemed to be Nonstatutory Stock Options.
ARTICLE 15
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION
15.1 AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION. The Board or the Committee may, at any time and from time to time, amend, modify or terminate the Plan without shareholder approval; provided, however, that any amendment or modification to the Plan shall be subject to shareholder approval if such amendment or modification would (i) increase the number of Shares available under the Plan, (ii) otherwise constitute a material change requiring shareholder approval under applicable laws, policies or regulations or the applicable listing or other requirements of an Exchange, or (iii) be an amendment to permit a direct or indirect repricing prohibited pursuant to Section 7.1 or 8.1; and provided, further, that the Board or Committee may condition any other amendment or modification on the approval of shareholders of the Company for any reason, including by reason of such approval being necessary or deemed advisable (x) to comply with the listing or other requirements of an Exchange, or (y) to satisfy any other tax, securities or other applicable laws, policies or regulations. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award Certificate to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of any Participant, amend the Plan or any Award Certificate, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as the Committee deems necessary or advisable in order (aa) to correct errors occurring in connection with the grant or documentation of an Award (including, without limitation, the rescission of an Award erroneously granted) or (bb) for the Company, the Plan, an Award or an Award Certificate to satisfy or conform to any applicable present or future law, regulation or rule or to meet the requirements of any accounting standard.
15.2 AWARDS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED. At any time and from time to time, the Committee may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award without approval of the Participant; provided, however:
(a) Subject to the terms of the applicable Award Certificate, such amendment, modification or termination shall not, without the Participants consent, reduce or diminish the value of such Award determined as if the Award had been exercised, vested, cashed in or otherwise settled on the date of such amendment or termination (with the per-share value of an Option or SAR for this purpose being calculated as the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value as of the date of such amendment or termination over the exercise or base price of such Award);
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(b) The original term of an Option or SAR may not be extended without the prior approval of the shareholders of the Company;
(c) All Options and SARs shall be subject to the prohibitions on repricing set forth in Sections 7.1 and 8.1; and
(d) No termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect any Award previously granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the Participant affected thereby. An outstanding Award shall not be deemed to be adversely affected by a Plan amendment if such amendment would not reduce or diminish the value of such Award determined as if the Award had been exercised, vested, cashed in or otherwise settled on the date of such amendment (with the per-share value of an Option or SAR for this purpose being calculated as the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value as of the date of such amendment over the exercise or base price of such Award).
15.3 COMPLIANCE AMENDMENTS. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in any Award Certificate to the contrary, the Board may amend the Plan or an Award Certificate, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or Award Certificate to any present or future law relating to plans of this or similar nature (including, but not limited to, Section 409A of the Code), and to the administrative regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder. By accepting an Award under this Plan, a Participant agrees to any amendment made pursuant to this Section 15.3 to any Award granted under the Plan without further consideration or action.
ARTICLE 16
GENERAL PROVISIONS
16.1 NO RIGHTS TO AWARDS; NON-UNIFORM DETERMINATIONS. No Participant or any Eligible Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan. Neither the Company, its Affiliates nor the Committee is obligated to treat Participants or Eligible Participants uniformly, and determinations made under the Plan may be made by the Committee selectively among Eligible Participants who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards (whether or not such Eligible Participants are similarly situated).
16.2 NO SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS. No Award gives a Participant any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until Shares are in fact issued to such person in connection with such Award.
16.3 WITHHOLDING. The Company or any Affiliate shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company or an applicable Affiliate, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes (including the Participants FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any exercise, lapse of restriction or other taxable event arising as a result of the Plan or an Award. The obligations of the Company under the Plan will be conditioned on such payment or arrangements and the Company or such Affiliate will, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, at the time the Award is granted or thereafter, any such withholding requirement may
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be satisfied, in whole or in part, by withholding Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld for tax purposes (or such greater amount up to the maximum individual statutory rate in the applicable jurisdiction as may be permitted under then-current accounting principles to qualify the Award for equity classification), all in accordance with such procedures as the Committee establishes.
16.4 SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO SECTION 409A OF THE CODE.
(a) General. It is intended that the payments and benefits provided under the Plan and any Award shall either be exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The Plan and all Award Certificates shall be construed in a manner that effects such intent. Nevertheless, the tax treatment of the benefits provided under the Plan or any Award is not warranted or guaranteed. Neither the Company, its Affiliates nor their respective directors, officers, employees or advisers, nor the Committee, (other than in his or her capacity as a Participant) shall be held liable for any taxes, interest, penalties or other monetary amounts owed by any Participant or other taxpayer as a result of the Plan or any Award.
(b) Definitional Restrictions. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in any Award Certificate to the contrary, to the extent that any amount or benefit that would constitute non-exempt deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A of the Code (Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation) would otherwise be payable or distributable, or a different form of payment (e.g., lump sum or installment) of such Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation would be effected, under the Plan or any Award Certificate by reason the occurrence of a Change in Control or the Participants Disability or separation from service, such Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation will not be payable or distributable, and/or such different form of payment will not be effected, to the Participant by reason of such circumstance unless the circumstances giving rise to such Change in Control, Disability or separation from service meet any description or definition of change in control event, disability or separation from service, as the case may be, in Section 409A of the Code and applicable regulations (without giving effect to any elective provisions that may be available under such definition). This provision does not affect the dollar amount or prohibit the vesting of any Award upon a Change in Control, Disability or separation from service, however defined. If this provision prevents the payment or distribution of any amount or benefit, or the application of a different form of payment of any amount or benefit, such payment or distribution shall be made at the time and in the form that would have applied absent the non-Code Section 409A-conforming event.
(c) Allocation among Possible Exemptions. If any one or more Awards granted under the Plan to a Participant could qualify for any separation pay exemption described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(9), but such Awards in the aggregate exceed the dollar limit permitted for the separation pay exemptions, the Company (acting through the Committee or the Head of Human Resources) shall determine which Awards or portions thereof will be subject to such exemptions.
(d) Six-Month Delay in Certain Circumstances. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in any Award Certificate to the contrary, if any amount or benefit that would
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constitute Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation would otherwise be payable or distributable under this Plan or any Award Certificate by reason of a Participants separation from service during a period in which the Participant is a Specified Employee (as defined below), then, subject to any permissible acceleration of payment by the Committee under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ii) (domestic relations order), (j)(4)(iii) (conflicts of interest), or (j)(4)(vi) (payment of employment taxes): (i) the amount of such Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation that would otherwise be payable during the six- (6-) month period immediately following the Participants separation from service will be accumulated through and paid or provided on the first (1st) day of the seventh (7th) month following the Participants separation from service (or, if the Participant dies during such period, within thirty (30) days after the Participants death) (in either case, the Required Delay Period) and (ii) , the normal payment or distribution schedule for any remaining payments or distributions will resume at the end of the Required Delay Period.
For purposes of this Plan, the term Specified Employee has the meaning given such term in Code Section 409A and the final regulations thereunder, provided, however, that, as permitted in such final regulations, the Companys Specified Employees and its application of the six- (6-) month delay rule of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) shall be determined in accordance with rules adopted by the Board or the Committee, which shall be applied consistently with respect to all nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements of the Company, including this Plan.
(e) Installment Payments. If, pursuant to an Award, a Participant is entitled to a series of installment payments, such Participants right to the series of installment payments shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments and not to a single payment. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term series of installment payments has the meaning provided in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii) (or any successor thereto).
(f) Timing of Release of Claims. Whenever an Award conditions a payment or benefit on the Participants execution and non-revocation of a release of claims, such release must be executed and all revocation periods shall have expired within sixty (60) days after the date of termination of the Participants employment; failing which such payment or benefit shall be forfeited. If such payment or benefit is exempt from Section 409A of the Code, the Company may elect to make or commence payment at any time during such sixty- (60-) day period. If such payment or benefit constitutes Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation, then, subject to subsection (d) above, (i) if such sixty- (60-) day period begins and ends in a single calendar year, the Company may make or commence payment at any time during such period at its discretion, and (ii) if such sixty- (60-) day period begins in one calendar year and ends in the next calendar year, the payment shall be made or commence during the second (2nd) such calendar year (or any later date specified for such payment under the applicable Award), even if such signing and non-revocation of the release occur during the first (1st) such calendar year included within such sixty- (60-) day period. In other words, a Participant is not permitted to influence the calendar year of payment based on the timing of signing the release.
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(g) Permitted Acceleration. The Company shall have the sole authority to make any accelerated distribution permissible under Treas. Reg. section 1.409A-3(j)(4) to Participants of deferred amounts, provided that such distribution(s) meets the requirements of Treas. Reg. section 1.409A-3(j)(4).
16.5 NO RIGHT TO CONTINUED SERVICE. Neither an Award nor any benefits arising under this Plan shall constitute an employment contract with the Company or any Affiliate and, accordingly, subject to Article 15, this Plan and the benefits hereunder may be terminated at any time in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Committee without giving rise to any liability on the part of the Company or an of its Affiliates. Nothing in the Plan, any Award Certificate or any other document or statement made with respect to the Plan, shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate any Participants employment or status as an officer, director or consultant at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue as an employee, officer, director or consultant of the Company or any Affiliate, whether for the duration of a Participants Award or otherwise.
16.6 UNFUNDED STATUS OF AWARDS. The Plan is intended to be an unfunded plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Certificate shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate. This Plan is not intended to be subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
16.7 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER BENEFITS. No payment under the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate unless provided otherwise in such other plan.
16.8 EXPENSES. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Affiliates.
16.9 TITLES AND HEADINGS. The titles and headings of the Plans articles and sections are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.
16.10 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.
16.11 FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares shall be eliminated by rounding up or down.
16.12 GOVERNMENT AND OTHER REGULATIONS.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, no Participant who acquires Shares pursuant to the Plan may, during any period of time that such Participant is an affiliate of the Company (within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the
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Securities and Exchange Commission under the 1933 Act), sell such Shares, unless such offer and sale is made (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the 1933 Act, which is current and includes the Shares to be sold, or (ii) pursuant to an appropriate exemption from the registration requirement of the 1933 Act, such as that set forth in Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, if at any time the Committee shall determine that the registration, listing or qualification of the Shares covered by an Award upon any Exchange or under any foreign, federal, state or local law or practice, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of such Award or the purchase or receipt of Shares thereunder, no Shares may be purchased, delivered or received pursuant to such Award unless and until such registration, listing, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any condition not acceptable to the Committee. Any Participant receiving or purchasing Shares pursuant to an Award shall make such representations and agreements and furnish such information as the Committee may request to assure compliance with the foregoing or any other applicable legal requirements. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for Shares under the Plan prior to the Committees determination that all related requirements have been fulfilled. The Company shall in no event be obligated to register any securities pursuant to the 1933 Act or applicable state or foreign law or to take any other action in order to cause the issuance and delivery of such certificates to comply with any such law, regulation or requirement.
16.13 GOVERNING LAW; CHOICE OF FORUM. To the extent not governed by federal law, the Plan and all Award Certificates shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The Company and each Participant, as a condition to such Participants participation in the Plan, hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court of Chancery, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to or concerning the Plan or, to the extent not otherwise specified in any Award Certificate between the Company and Participant, any aspect of the Participants Award Certificate. The Company and each Participant, as a condition to such Participants participation in the Plan, acknowledge that the forum designated in this Section 16.13 has a reasonable relation to the Plan and to the relationship between such Participant and the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall preclude the Company from bringing any action or proceeding in any other court for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Section 16.13.
16.14 NO LIMITATIONS ON RIGHTS OF COMPANY. The grant of any Award shall not in any way affect the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassification or changes in its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets. The Plan shall not restrict the authority of the Company, for proper corporate purposes, to draft or assume awards, other than under the Plan, to or with respect to any person. If the Committee so directs, the Company may issue or transfer Shares to an Affiliate, for such lawful consideration as the Committee may specify, upon the condition or understanding that the Affiliate will transfer such Shares to a Participant in accordance with the terms of an Award granted to such Participant and specified by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.
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16.15 SEVERABILITY. In the event that any provision of this Plan is found to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable under any applicable law, such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed as rendering any other provisions contained herein as invalid or unenforceable, and all such other provisions will be given full force and effect to the same extent as though the invalid or unenforceable provision was not contained herein.
16.16 INDEMNIFICATION. Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of the Board, or an officer of the Company to whom authority was delegated in accordance with Article 4 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 Companys 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, unless such loss, cost, liability, or expense is a result of his or her own willful misconduct or except as expressly provided by statute. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Companys charter or bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
16.17 FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS. Awards granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or who are employed by the Company or an Affiliate outside of the United States may have such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan and such additional terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines to be necessary, appropriate or advisable to fairly accommodate for differences in local law, tax policy or custom or to facilitate administration of the Plan. The Committee may approve such sub-plans, appendices or supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of, the Plan as it may consider necessary, appropriate or advisable, without thereby affecting the terms of the Plan as in effect for any other purpose. Any such special terms and any appendices, supplements, amendments, restatements or alternative versions, however, shall not include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of the Plan as then in effect, unless the Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the Companys shareholders.
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