SYKES ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED 2011 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

EX-10.17 2 d62359dex1017.htm EX-10.17 EX-10.17

Exhibit 10.17

SYKES ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED

2011 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

Section 1. PURPOSE AND DEFINITIONS

(a) Purpose. This Plan, known as the “Sykes Enterprises, Incorporated 2011 Equity Incentive Plan”, is intended to provide incentives to certain employees of and certain non-employees who provide services to Sykes Enterprises, Incorporated and its subsidiaries, in order to encourage them to remain in the employ of or to faithfully provide services to the Company and its subsidiaries and to increase their interest in the Company’s success. It is intended that this purpose be effected through awards or grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, and various other rights with respect to shares of the Company’s common stock, as provided herein, to such eligible persons.

(b) Definitions. The following terms shall have the following respective meanings unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) The term “Administrator” shall mean the Compensation and Human Resource Development Committee of the Board or such other committee, individual or individuals appointed or delegated authority pursuant to Section 2 to administer the Plan.

(2) The term “Affiliate” or “Affiliates” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

(3) The term “Beneficial Owner” shall mean beneficial owner as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

(4) The term “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of Sykes Enterprises, Incorporated.

(5) The term “Change in Control” shall mean (i) the reorganization, merger, share exchange or consolidation of the Company with one or more other corporations or other entities as a result of which the holders of the Stock as a group would receive less than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the capital stock or other interests of the surviving or resulting corporation or entity; (ii) the consummation of a plan of liquidation or the dissolution of the Company; (iii) the sale or transfer (other than as a security for obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary) of substantially all of the assets of the Company, other than a sale or transfer to an entity at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by persons in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale; or (iv) the acquisition of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Stock by any person within the meaning of Rule 13(d)(3) under the Exchange Act, if such acquisition is not preceded by a prior expression of approval by the Board, provided that the term “person” shall not include (A) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a Subsidiary, (C) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (D) a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock in the Company.

(6) The term “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any successor thereto, as the same may be amended and in effect from time to time.

(7) The term “Company” shall mean Sykes Enterprises, Incorporated.

(8) The term “Compensation Committee” shall mean the Compensation and Human Resource Development Committee of the Board of Directors, or its successor committee.

(9) The term “Employee” shall mean a person who is employed by the Company or any Subsidiary, including an officer or director of the Company or any Subsidiary who is also an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.


(10) The term “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any successor thereto, as the same may be amended and in effect from time to time.

(11) The term “Fair Market Value” shall mean, with respect to a share of Stock as of any given date, (a) if the Stock is readily tradable on an established securities market within the meaning of section 409A of the Code, the closing price of a share of Stock as reported by the securities market on the day preceding such date, or, if such date is not a trading day, the closing price of a share of Stock as reported by the securities market on the last trading day preceding such date on which a sale was reported (if there is more than one established securities market on which the Stock is traded, the Administrator shall determine the appropriate market for purposes of determining Fair Market Value), or (b) if the Stock is not readily tradable on an established securities market within the meaning of section 409A of the Code, the Administrator shall determine the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock in a manner consistent with the requirements of section 409A of the Code and all other applicable rules and regulations.

(12) The term “Incentive Stock Option” means an option granted under this Plan and which is an incentive stock option within the meaning of section 422 of the Code, or the corresponding provision of any subsequently enacted tax statute.

(13) The term “Option” or “Options” shall mean the option to purchase Stock in accordance with Section 4 on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Administrator, whether or not such option is an Incentive Stock Option.

(14) The term “Other Stock-Based Awards” shall mean awards of Stock or other rights made in accordance with Section 5 on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Administrator.

(15) The term “Participant” shall mean an Employee or non-employee who has been designated for participation in the Plan.

(16) “Performance Goals” shall mean the achievement of performance objectives established by the Compensation Committee pursuant to this Plan for Employees who have received grants with performance-vesting. One or more of the following business criteria for the Company, on a consolidated basis, and/or specified subsidiaries or business units of the Company (except with respect to the total stockholder return and earnings per share criteria), shall be used exclusively by the Compensation Committee in establishing performance objectives: (1) earnings (net of or including dividends); (2) EBIT or EBITDA; (3) gross or net revenue or changes in annual revenues; (4) cash flow(s) (including operating or net cash flow(s)); (5) financial return ratios; (6) total shareholder return, shareholder return based on growth measures or the attainment by the shares of a specified value for a specified period of time, share price or share price appreciation; (7) earnings growth or EPS growth; (8) return measures, including return or net return on assets, net assets, equity, capital or gross sales; (9) adjusted pre-tax margin; (10) pre-tax profits; (11) operating margins, operating profits; and/or operating expenses; (12) dividends; (13) net income or net operating income or adjusted income from operations; (14) growth in operating earnings or growth in EPS; (15) value of assets; (16) market share or market penetration with respect to specific designated products or product groups and/or specific geographic areas; (17) aggregate product price and other product measures; (18) expense or cost levels; (19) reduction of losses, loss ratios or expense ratios; (20) reduction in fixed costs; (21) operating cost management; (22) cost of capital; (23) debt reduction; (24) productivity improvements; (25) average inventory turnover; (26) satisfaction of specified business expansion goals or goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures; (27) advertising efficiency; (28) customer satisfaction based on specified objective goals or a Company-sponsored customer survey; (29) employee diversity goals or employee turnover; (30) specified objective social goals; (31) safety record; (32) management of employment practices and employee benefits; (33) supervision of litigation and information technology; and (34) goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures of subsidiaries or joint ventures. One or more of the foregoing business criteria described in subparagraphs (1) through (34) shall be exclusively used in establishing performance objectives for grants to executive officers that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m).

(17) The term “Person” shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include (A) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (B) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (C) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (D) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

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(18) The term “Plan” shall mean the Sykes Enterprises, Incorporated 2011 Equity Incentive Plan, as the same may be amended and in effect from time to time.

(19) The term “Plan Awards” or “Awards” shall mean awards or grants of stock Options and various other rights with respect to shares of Stock.

(20) The term “Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean the right to receive, without payment to the Company, an amount of cash or Stock as determined in accordance with Section 4, based on the amount by which the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the relevant valuation date exceeds the grant price.

(21) The term “Stock” shall mean shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $.01 per share.

(22) The term “Subsidiary” shall mean any “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.

(23) The term “Ten Percent Stockholder” shall mean an individual who owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its parent or subsidiary corporations within the meaning of Code section 422.

Section 2. ADMINISTRATION

The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation and Human Resource Development Committee of the Board, or by any other committee appointed by the Board that shall consist of not fewer than two members of the Board, each of whom shall qualify (at the time of appointment to the committee and during all periods of service on the committee) in all respects as a “non-employee director” as defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and as an outside director as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(e)(3) or any other regulations under Code Section 162(m). The Administrator shall administer the Plan and perform such other functions as are assigned to it under the Plan. The Administrator is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Plan, from time to time, to establish such rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan, and to make such determinations under, and such interpretations of, and to take such steps in connection with, the Plan and the Plan Awards as it may deem necessary or advisable, in each case in its sole discretion. The Administrator’s decisions and determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not they are similarly situated. Any authority granted to the Administrator may also be exercised by the Board. To the extent that any permitted action taken by the Board conflicts with any action taken by the Administrator, the Board action shall control. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Administrator may delegate any or all of its powers or duties under the Plan, including, but not limited to, its authority to make awards under the Plan to grant waivers pursuant to Section 7, to such person or persons as it shall appoint, pursuant to such conditions or limitations as the Administrator may establish; provided, however, that the Administrator shall not delegate its authority to amend or modify the Plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 13(b). To the extent of any such delegation, the term “Administrator” when used herein shall mean and include any such delegate.

Section 3. STOCK AVAILABLE FOR PLAN AWARDS

(a) Stock Subject to Plan. The Stock to be subject to or related to Plan Awards may be either authorized and unissued shares or shares held in the treasury of the Company. The maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to which Plan Awards may be granted under the Plan, subject to adjustment in accordance with the provisions of Section 10, shall be 4,000,000.

(b) Computation of Stock Available for Plan Awards. For the purpose of computing the total number of shares of Stock remaining available for Plan Awards under this Plan at any time while the Plan is in effect, the total number of shares determined to be available pursuant to subsections (a) and (c) of this Section 3 shall be determined by the Administrator pursuant to the following rules:

(1) While an Award is outstanding, it shall be counted against the authorized pool of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, regardless of its vested status.

 

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(2) The grant of an Option or Other Stock-Based Awards shall reduce the shares available for grant under the Plan by the number of shares subject to such Award.

(3) The grant of a Tandem SAR (as defined in Section 4) shall not further reduce the number of shares available for grant in excess of the number of shares subject to the related Option (i.e., there is no double counting of Options and their related Tandem SARs).

(4) The grant of an SAR independent of an Option shall reduce the number of shares available for grant by the number of SARs granted.

(5) The Committee shall in each case determine the appropriate number of shares to deduct from the authorized pool in connection with the grant of any Other Stock-Based Awards.

(6) To the extent that an Award is settled in cash rather than in shares, the shares reserved for such Award shall not be deducted from the authorized Share pool.

(7) To the extent shares are withheld from any Award by the Company to pay taxes applicable to any Award, such shares shall be deducted from the authorized Share pool.

(8) Shares tendered by a participant to pay the exercise price of any Option or to satisfy tax-withholding obligations relating to any Award shall not be added to the authorized share pool.

(c) Terminated, Expired or Forfeited Plan Awards. The shares involved in the unexercised or undistributed portion of any terminated, expired or forfeited Plan Award shall be made available for further Plan Awards.

(d) Limit on Individual Awards. Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator as permitted by the last sentence of this Subsection 3(d), no Participant shall, in any calendar year, be granted any Options, SARs, or Other Stock-Based Awards pursuant to which such Participant may acquire more than 200,000 shares of Stock or SARs in the aggregate, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10 of this Plan. The Administrator may, in its discretion, grant Options, SARs or Other Stock-Based Awards pursuant to which a Participant may acquire more than 200,000 shares of Stock or SARs, but, in such event, the shares of Stock or SARs acquired in excess of 200,000 shall not meet the exception for “performance-based compensation” under section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.

Section 4. OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

(a) Grant of Options.

(1) The Administrator, at any time and from time to time while the Plan is in effect, may grant Options to such Employees and non-employees as the Administrator may select, subject to the provisions of this Section 4 and Section 3. Subject to any limitations set forth in the Plan, the Administrator shall have complete discretion in determining: (a) the eligible individuals to be granted an Option; (b) the number of shares of Stock to be subject to the Option; (c) whether the Option is to be an Incentive Stock Option or a nonqualified stock option; provided that, Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees of the Company or a Subsidiary; and (d) any other terms and conditions of the Option as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

(2) Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, Incentive Stock Options: (a) will be exercisable at a purchase price per share of not less than One Hundred percent (100%) (or, in the case of a Ten Percent Stockholder, one hundred and ten percent (110%)) of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant; (b) will be exercisable over not more than ten (10) years (or, in the case of a Ten Percent Stockholder, five (5) years) after the date of grant; (c) will terminate not later than three (3) months after the Participant’s termination of employment for any reason other than disability or death; (d) will terminate not later than twelve (12) months after the Participant’s termination of employment as a result of a disability (within the meaning of Code section 424); and (e) will comply in all other respects with the provisions of Code section 422.

 

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(3) Nonqualified stock options will be exercisable at purchase price per share              of not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant. The number of shares of Stock covered by the nonqualified stock option shall be fixed by the Administrator on the date of grant. Nonqualified stock options will be exercisable during such periods or on such date as determined by the Administrator and shall terminate at such time as the Administrator shall determine. Nonqualified stock options shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as are determined by the Administrator.

(4) Each award agreement evidencing an Incentive Stock Option shall provide that, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of Stock (as determined on the date of the option grant) that may be purchased by a Participant for the first time during any calendar year pursuant Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan or any other plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries exceeds $100,000, then such option as to the excess shall be treated as a nonqualified stock option. This limitation shall be applied by taking stock options into account in the order in which they were granted.

(b) Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights.

(1) The Administrator, at any time and from time to time while the Plan is in effect, may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to such Employees and non-employees as it may select, subject to the provisions of this Section 4 and Section 3. Each Stock Appreciation Right may relate to all or a portion of a specific Option granted under the Plan and may be granted concurrently with the Option to which it relates or at any time prior to the exercise, termination or expiration of such Option (a “Tandem SAR”), or may be granted independently of any Option, as determined by the Administrator. If the Stock Appreciation Right is granted independently of an Option, the grant price of such right shall be the Fair Market Value of Stock on the date of grant of such Stock Appreciation Right; provided, however, that the Administrator may, in its discretion, fix a grant price in excess of the Fair Market Value of Stock on such grant date. The grant price of a Tandem SAR shall be equal to the exercise price of the related Option. The number of shares of Stock covered by the Stock Appreciation Right shall be fixed by the Administrator on or before the date of grant.

(2) Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant shall be entitled to receive, without payment to the Company, either (A) that number of shares of Stock determined by dividing (i) the total number of shares of Stock subject to the Stock Appreciation Right being exercised by the Participant, multiplied by the amount by which the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the day the right is exercised exceeds the grant price (such amount being hereinafter referred to as the “Spread”), by (ii) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the exercise date; or (B) cash in an amount determined by multiplying (i) the total number of shares of Stock subject to the Stock Appreciation Right being exercised by the Participant, by (ii) the amount of the Spread; or (C) a combination of shares of Stock and cash, in amounts determined as set forth in clauses (A) and (B) above, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided, however, that, in the case of a Tandem SAR, the total number of shares which may be received upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right for Stock shall not exceed the total number of shares subject to the related Option or portion thereof, and the total amount of cash which may be received upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right for cash shall not exceed the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the total number of shares subject to the related Option or portion thereof.

(c) Terms and Conditions.

(1) Each Option and Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be exercisable on such date or dates, during such period, for such number of shares and subject to such further conditions, including but not limited to the attainment of Performance Goals, as shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion and set forth in the provisions of the award agreement with respect to such Option and Stock Appreciation Right; provided, however, that a Tandem SAR shall not be exercisable prior to or later than the time the related Option could be exercised; and provided, further, that in any event no Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercised beyond ten (10) years from the date of grant.

 

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(2) The Administrator may impose such conditions as it may deem appropriate upon the exercise of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right, including, without limitation, a condition that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised only in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Administrator from time to time and consistent with the Plan.

(3) With respect to Options issued with Tandem SARs, the right of a Participant to exercise the Tandem SAR shall be cancelled if and to the extent the related Option is exercised, and the right of a Participant to exercise an Option shall be cancelled if and to the extent that shares covered by such Option are used to calculate shares or cash received upon exercise of the Tandem SAR.

(4) If any fractional share of Stock would otherwise be issued to a Participant upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant shall be paid a cash amount equal to the same fraction of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of exercise.

(d) Award Agreement. Each Option and Stock Appreciation Right shall be evidenced by an award agreement in such form and containing such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Administrator from time to time shall approve.

(e) Payment for Option Shares.

(1) Payment for shares of Stock purchased upon exercise of an Option granted hereunder shall be made in such manner as is provided in the applicable award agreement.

(2) Any payment for shares of Stock purchased upon exercise of an Option granted hereunder shall be made in cash. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if permitted by the Award Agreement or otherwise permitted by the Administrator, the payment may be made by delivery of shares of Stock beneficially owned by the Participant, or attestation by the Participant to the ownership of a sufficient number of shares of Stock, or by a combination of cash and Stock, at the election of the Participant; provided, however, that any shares of Stock so delivered or attested shall have been beneficially owned by the Participant for a period of not less than six (6) months prior to the date of exercise. Any such shares of Stock so delivered or attested shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of such exercise. The Administrator shall determine whether and if so the extent to which actual delivery of share certificates to the Company shall be required. The Administrator also may authorize payment in accordance with a cashless exercise program under which, if so instructed by the Participant, Stock may be issued directly to the Participant’s broker upon receipt of the Option purchase price in cash directly to the broker.

(3) To the extent that the payment of the exercise price for the Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option is made with shares of Stock as provided in this Section 4(e)(2), then, at the discretion of the Administrator, the Participant may be granted a replacement Option under the Plan to purchase a number of shares of Stock equal to the number of shares tendered or attested to as permitted in Section 4(e)(2) hereof, with an exercise price per share equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant of such replacement Option and with a term extending to the expiration date of the original Option.

Section 5. STOCK AND OTHER STOCK-BASED AND COMBINATION AWARDS

(a) Grants of Other Stock-Based Awards. The Administrator, at any time and from time to time while the Plan is in effect, may grant Other Stock-Based Awards to such Employees or non-employees as it may select. Such Plan Awards pursuant to which Stock is or may in the future be acquired, or Plan Awards valued or determined in whole or part by reference to or otherwise based on Stock, may include, but are not limited to, awards of restricted Stock or Plan Awards denominated in the form of “stock units”, grants of so-called “phantom stock” and options containing terms or provisions differing in whole or in part from Options granted pursuant to Section 4. Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted either alone, in addition to, in tandem with or as an alternative to any other kind of Plan Award, grant or benefit granted under the Plan or under any other employee plan of the Company or Subsidiary, including a plan of any acquired entity. Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be evidenced by an award agreement in such form as the Administrator may determine.

 

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(b) Terms and Conditions. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and subject to compliance with the applicable requirements of section 409A of the Code, the Administrator shall have the authority to determine the time or times at which Other Stock-Based Awards shall be made, the number of shares of Stock or stock units and the like to be granted or covered pursuant to such Plan Awards (subject to the provisions of Section 3) and all other terms and conditions of such Plan Awards, including, but not limited to, whether such Plan Awards shall be subject to the attainment of Performance Goals, and whether such Plan Awards shall be payable or paid in cash, Stock or otherwise. The Administrator may, in its discretion, condition the vesting of any Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan on satisfaction of (i) any minimum period of continued employment with the Company by the Employee the Administrator determines to be appropriate (“service vesting”), (ii) satisfaction of any of one or more Performance Goals the Administrator determines to be appropriate (“performance vesting”), or (iii) any combination of service vesting and performance vesting requirements the Administrator determines appropriate.

(c) Consideration for Other Stock-Based Awards. In the discretion of the Administrator, any Other Stock-Based Award may be granted as a Stock bonus for no consideration other than services rendered.

(d) Performance Based Awards. The Administrator may, in its discretion, designate any Other Stock-Based Award to be granted to a Participant as a Performance-Based Award intended to qualify as “performance-based” compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. Any such Other Stock-Based Award granted to a Participant under this Plan designated as a Performance-Based Award shall become vested or issuable to the Participant only upon the achievement of such Performance Goals as the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors may specify in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) Each such Performance-Based Award shall specify the number of shares to which it pertains.

(2) The performance period with respect to each such Performance-Based Award shall be determined by the Compensation Committee on the date of grant.

(3) For each Participant’s award, the Compensation Committee shall specify the Performance Goals that are to be achieved. These Performance Goals shall be selected by the Compensation Committee within the first ninety (90) days of the performance period.

(4) Each Participant’s Performance-Based Award shall specify that the amount payable with respect thereto may not exceed a maximum specified by the Compensation Committee on the date of grant, or that the number of shares of Stock issued with respect thereto may not exceed the maximum specified by the Compensation Committee on the date of grant.

(5) Each award shall specify the time and manner of payment of Performance-Based Awards that have been earned. No payment shall be made with respect to a Participant’s Performance-Based Award until (i) the end of the Performance Period and (ii) the Compensation Committee has certified in writing that the Performance Goals with respect to such Performance-Based Award have been met.

(6) Any Performance-Based Award may specify that any such amount may be paid by the Corporation in the form of shares of Stock, or, in the Compensation Committee’s discretion, in cash, or any combination thereof, and may either grant to the Participant or reserve to the Compensation Committee the right to elect among those alternatives; provided, however, that no form of consideration or manner of payment that would cause Rule 16b-3 to cease to apply to this Plan shall be permitted.

(7) Any such shares or cash shall be delivered to the Participant no later than two and one-half (21/2) months after the date on which the Compensation Committee has confirmed that the Performance Goals for the Performance-Based Award were satisfied during the performance period.

Section 6. AWARDS TO PARTICIPANTS OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES

In order to facilitate the granting of Plan Awards to Participants who are foreign nationals or who reside or work outside of the United States of America, the Administrator may provide for such special terms and conditions,

 

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including without limitation substitutes for Plan Awards, as the Administrator may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Such substitutes for Plan Awards may include a requirement that the Participant receive cash, in such amount as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion, in lieu of any Plan Award or share of Stock that would otherwise have been granted to or delivered to such Participant under the Plan. The Administrator may approve any supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of the Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for purposes of this Section 6 without thereby affecting the terms of the Plan as in effect for any other purpose, and the Secretary or other appropriate officer of the Company may certify any such documents as having been approved and adopted pursuant to properly delegated authority; provided, however, that no such supplements, amendments, restatements or alternative versions shall include any provision that is inconsistent with the terms of the Plan as then in effect. Participants subject to the laws of a foreign jurisdiction may request copies of, or the right to view, any materials that are required to be provided by the Company pursuant to the laws of such jurisdiction.

Section 7. PAYMENT OF PLAN AWARDS AND CONDITIONS THEREON

(a) Issuance of Shares. Certificates for shares of Stock issuable pursuant to a Plan Award shall be issued to and registered in the name of the Participant who received such Award. The Administrator may require that such certificates bear such restrictive legend as the Administrator may specify and be held by the Company in escrow or otherwise pursuant to any form of agreement or instrument that the Administrator may specify. If the Administrator has determined that deferred dividend equivalents shall be payable to a Participant with respect to any Plan Award pursuant to Section 5(d), then concurrently with the issuance of such certificates, the Company shall deliver to such Participant a cash payment or additional shares of Stock in settlement of such dividend equivalents.

(b) Substitution of Shares. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (b) or any other provision of the Plan, but subject to compliance with the applicable requirements of section 409A of the Code, the Administrator may specify that a Participant’s Plan Award shall not be represented by certificates for shares of Stock but shall be represented by rights approximately equivalent (as determined by the Administrator) to the rights that such Participant would have received if certificates for shares of Stock had been issued in the name of such Participant in accordance with subsection (a) (such rights being called “Stock Equivalents”). Subject to the provisions of Section 10 and the other terms and provisions of the Plan, if the Administrator shall so determine, each Participant who holds Stock Equivalents shall be entitled to receive the same amount of cash that such Participant would have received as dividends if certificates for shares of Stock had been issued in the name of such Participant pursuant to subsection (a) covering the number of shares equal to the number of shares to which such Stock Equivalents relate.

(c) Effect of Competitive Activity. Anything contained in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, if the employment of any Participant shall terminate, for any reason other than death, while any Plan Award granted to such Participant is outstanding hereunder, and such Participant has not yet received the Stock covered by such Plan Award or otherwise received the full benefit of such Plan Award, such Participant, if otherwise entitled thereto, shall receive such Stock or benefit only if, during the entire period from the date of such Participant’s termination to the date of such receipt, such Participant shall have (1) made himself or herself available, upon request, at reasonable times and upon a reasonable basis, to consult with, supply information to and otherwise cooperate with the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to any matter that shall have been handled by him or her or under his or her supervision while he or she was in the employ of the Company or of any Subsidiary, and (2) refrained from engaging in any activity that is directly or indirectly in competition with any activity of the Company or any Subsidiary. In the event of a Participant’s failure to comply with any condition set forth in this subsection (c), such Participant’s rights under any Plan Award shall be forfeited and cancelled forthwith; provided, however, that the failure to comply with such condition may at any time (whether before, at the time of or subsequent to termination of employment) be waived by the Administrator upon its determination that in its sole judgment there shall not have been and will not be any such substantial adverse effect.

(d) Effect of Adverse Conduct. Anything contained in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, all rights of a Participant under any Plan Award shall cease on and as of the date on which it has been determined by the Administrator that such Participant at any time (whether before or subsequent to termination of such Participant’s employment) acted in a manner Adverse to the best interests of the Company, any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof.

 

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(e) Tax and Other Withholding. Prior to any distribution of cash, Stock or any other benefit available under a Plan Award (including payments under Section 5(d) and Section 7(b)) to any Participant, appropriate arrangements (consistent with the Plan and any rules adopted hereunder) shall be made for the payment of any taxes and other amounts required to be withheld by federal, state or local law. The Company shall have the right to withhold from any Plan Award granted, any payment due under a Plan Award, or any other payment otherwise due by the Company to the Participant, the amount of all federal, state or local taxes due in respect of a Plan Award or any payment under a Plan Award, and to take any other action the Administrator deems necessary or appropriate to satisfy any tax obligation incident to a Plan Award.

(f) Substitution. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, but subject to compliance with the applicable requirements of section 409A of the Code, may substitute a Plan Award for another Plan Award or Plan Awards of the same or different type.

Section 8. NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF PLAN AWARDS

(a) Restrictions on Transfer of Awards. Plan Awards shall not be assignable or transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution except that the Participant may, with the consent of the Administrator, transfer without consideration Plan Awards that do not constitute Incentive Stock Options to the Participant’s spouse, children or grandchildren (or to one or more trusts for the benefit of any such family members or to one or more partnerships in which any such family members are the only partners).

(b) Attachment and Levy. No Plan Award shall be subject, in whole or in part, to attachment, execution or levy of any kind, and any purported transfer in violation hereof shall be null and void. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no domestic relations order purporting to authorize a transfer of a Plan Award, or to grant to any person other than the Participant the authority to exercise or otherwise act with respect to a Plan Award, shall be recognized as valid.

Section 9. DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARIES

Anything contained in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, a Participant may file with the Company a written designation of a beneficiary or beneficiaries under the Plan, subject to such limitations as to the classes and number of beneficiaries and contingent beneficiaries and such other limitations as the Administrator from time to time may prescribe. A Participant may from time to time revoke or change any such designation of beneficiary. Any designation of a beneficiary under the Plan shall be controlling over any other disposition, testamentary or otherwise; provided, however, that if the Administrator shall be in doubt as to the entitlement of any such beneficiary to receive any Option, Stock Appreciation Right or Other Stock-Based Award, or if applicable law requires the Company to do so, the Administrator may recognize only the legal representative of such Participant, in which case the Company and the Administrator shall not be under any further liability to anyone. In the event of the death of any Participant, the term “Participant” as used in the Plan shall thereafter be deemed to refer to the beneficiary designated pursuant to this Section 9 or, if no such designation is in effect, the executor or administrator of the estate of such Participant, unless the context otherwise requires.

Section 10. MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, STOCK DIVIDENDS, ETC.

(a) Adjustments. In the event of any merger, consolidation, reorganization, stock split, stock dividend or other event affecting Stock, an appropriate adjustment shall be made in the total number of shares available for Plan Awards and in all other provisions of the Plan that include a reference to a number of shares, and in the numbers of shares covered by, and other terms and provisions (including but not limited to the grant or exercise price of any Plan Award) of outstanding Plan Awards.

(b) Administrator Determinations. The foregoing adjustments and the manner of application of the foregoing provisions shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion. Any adjustment, substitution or change pursuant to this Section 10 made with respect to a Stock Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall be made only the extent consistent with such intent, unless the Administrator determines otherwise. The Administrator shall not make any adjustment, substitution or change pursuant to this Section 10 that would cause any award under

 

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the Plan that is otherwise exempt from section 409A of the Code to become subject to section 409A of the Code, or that would cause an award under the Plan that is subject to section 409A of the Code to fail to satisfy any requirement under section 409A of the Code. Any such adjustment may provide for the elimination of any fractional share which might otherwise become subject to a Plan Award.

Section 11. ACCELERATION OF PAYMENT OR MODIFICATION OF PLAN AWARDS

(a) Acceleration and Modification. The Administrator, in the event of the death of a Participant or in any other circumstance, may accelerate distribution of any Plan Award in its entirety or in a reduced amount, in cash or in Stock, or modify any Plan Award, in each case on such basis and in such manner as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion, but subject to compliance with the applicable requirements of section 409A of the Code, and for Performance-Based Awards, subject to the requirements of Section 5(e)(5) above that no payment shall be made with respect to a Performance-Based Award until (i) the end of the Performance Period and (ii) the Compensation Committee has certified in writing that the Performance Goals with respect to such Performance-Based Award have been met.

(b) Change in Control. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, but subject to compliance with the applicable requirements of section 409A of the Code, unless the Administrator determines otherwise at the time of grant, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, (1) any Plan Awards outstanding as of the date of such Change in Control, and that are not then vested, shall become fully vested, and (2) any restrictions or other conditions applicable to any outstanding Awards shall lapse, and such Plan Awards shall become free of all restrictions and conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a successor corporation or other entity as contemplated in clause (i) or (ii) of Section 1(b)(5) hereof agrees to assume the outstanding Plan Awards or to substitute substantially equivalent awards, then the outstanding Plan Awards issued hereunder shall not be immediately exercisable, but shall remain exercisable in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the applicable award agreements.

Section 12. RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER

A Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any share covered by any Plan Award until such Participant shall have become the holder of record of such share.

Section 13. TERM, AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN AND AGREEMENTS

(a) Term. Unless terminated earlier pursuant to subsection (b), the Plan shall terminate on the tenth (10th) anniversary of the effective date of the Plan.

(b) Amendment, Modification and Termination of Plan. The Board may, at any time, amend or modify the Plan or any outstanding Plan Award, including without limitation, to authorize the Administrator to make Plan Awards payable in other securities or other forms of property of a kind to be determined by the Administrator, and such other amendments as may be necessary or desirable to implement such Plan Awards, and may terminate the Plan or any provision thereof. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Board shall not have the authority, unless shareholder approval is obtained, to reprice any Plan Award currently outstanding, either directly, by lowering the purchase price for a previously granted Option or Stock Appreciation Right award, or indirectly, by canceling outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and subsequently replacing or regranting such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with a lower purchase price.

(c) Limitation. Subject to the provisions of subsection (e), no amendment to or termination of the Plan or any provision hereof, and no amendment or cancellation of any outstanding Plan Award, by the Board, the Administrator or the stockholders of the Company, shall, without the written consent of the affected Participant, adversely affect any outstanding Plan Award.

(d) Survival. The Administrator’s authority to act with respect to any outstanding Plan Award and the Board’s authority to amend the Plan shall survive termination of the Plan.

(e) Amendment for Changes in Law; Amendment to Avoid Section 409A Violations. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Board and Administrator shall have the authority to amend outstanding Plan Awards and the Plan to take into account changes in law and tax and accounting rules as well as other developments, and to grant Plan Awards that qualify for beneficial treatment under such rules, without stockholder approval (unless otherwise required by law or the applicable rules of any securities exchange on which the Stock is then traded) and without Participant consent. Further, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board and the Administrator shall have the right to amend the Plan and any outstanding Plan Awards or adopt other policies and procedures applicable to the Plan and Plan Awards (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect) without Participant consent as may be necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements of section 409A of the Code or an exemption thereto, even if the amendment reduces, restricts or eliminates rights granted under the Plan or the Plan Award prior to the amendment.

 

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Section 14. INDEMNIFICATION AND EXCULPATION

(a) Indemnification. Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Board and the Administrator shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any and all loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such person in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which such person may be or become a party or in which such person may be or become involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by such person in settlement thereof (with the Company’s written approval) or paid by such person in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except a judgment in favor of the Company based upon a finding of such person’s lack of good faith; subject, however, to the condition that, upon the institution of any claim, action, suit or proceeding against such person, such person shall in writing give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before such person undertakes to handle and defend it on such person’s behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other right to which such person may be entitled as a matter of law or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify or hold such person harmless.

(b) Exculpation. Each member of the Board and the Administrator, and each officer and employee of the Company, shall be fully justified in relying or acting in good faith upon any information furnished in connection with the administration of the Plan by any appropriate person or persons other than such person. In no event shall any person who is or shall have been a member of the Board, or the Administrator, or an officer or employee of the Company, be held liable for any determination made or other action taken or any omission to act in reliance upon any such information, or for any action (including the furnishing of information) taken or any failure to act, if in good faith.

Section 15. EXPENSES OF PLAN

The entire expense of offering and administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its participating Subsidiaries; provided, that the costs and expenses associated with the redemption or exercise of any Plan Award, including but not limited to commissions charged by any agent of the Company, may be charged to the Participants.

Section 16. FINALITY OF DETERMINATIONS

Each determination, interpretation, or other action made or taken pursuant to the provisions of the Plan by the Board or the Administrator shall be final and shall be binding and conclusive for all purposes and upon all persons, including, but without limitation thereto, the Company, its Subsidiaries, the stockholders, the Administrator, the directors, officers, and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, the Participants, and their respective successors in interest.

Section 17. NO RIGHTS TO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT OR TO PLAN AWARD

(a) No Right to Employment. Nothing contained in this Plan, or in any booklet or document describing or referring to the Plan, shall be deemed to confer on any Participant the right to continue as an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, whether for the duration of any performance period, restriction period, or vesting period under a Plan Award, or otherwise, or affect the right of the Company or Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any Participant for any reason.

(b) No Right to Award. No Employee or other person shall have any claim or right to be granted a Plan Award under the Plan. Receipt of an Award under the Plan shall not give a Participant or any other person any right to receive any other Plan Award under the Plan. A Participant shall have no rights in any Plan Award, except as set forth herein and in the applicable award agreement.

 

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Section 18. GOVERNING LAW AND CONSTRUCTION

The Plan and all actions taken hereunder shall be governed by, and the Plan shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Florida without regard to principles of conflict of laws. Titles and headings to Sections are for purposes of reference only, and shall in no way limit, define or otherwise affect the meaning or interpretation of the Plan.

Section 19. SECURITIES AND STOCK EXCHANGE REQUIREMENTS

(a) Restrictions on Resale. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, no person who acquires Stock pursuant to the Plan may, during any period of time that such person is an affiliate of the Company (within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Commission), sell or otherwise transfer such Stock, unless such offer and sale or transfer is made (1) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (“1933 Act”), which is current and includes the Stock to be sold, or (2) pursuant to an appropriate exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, such as that set forth in Rule 144 promulgated pursuant thereto.

(b) Registration, Listing and Qualification of Shares of Common Stock. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, if at any time the Administrator shall determine that the registration, listing or qualification of the Stock covered by a Plan Award upon any securities 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 Plan Award or the purchase or receipt of Stock in connection therewith, no Stock may be purchased, delivered or received pursuant to such Plan 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 Administrator. Any person receiving or purchasing Stock pursuant to a Plan Award shall make such representations and agreements and furnish such information as the Administrator 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 Stock under the Plan prior to the Administrator’s 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.

Section 20. SECTION 409A OF THE CODE

(a) Section 409A. It is the intention of the Company that the Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, and Other Stock-Based Awards (and any combination of the foregoing) issued under the Plan will be exempt from, or will comply with the requirements of, section 409A of the Code, and the Plan and the terms and conditions of all Plan Awards shall be interpreted, construed and administered consistent with such intent.

(b) No Indemnity. Although the Company intends to administer the Plan and the Plan Awards in compliance with section 409A of the Code or an exemption thereto, the Company does not warrant that the terms of any Plan Award or the Company’s administration thereof will be exempt from, or will comply with the requirements of, section 409A of the Code. The Company shall not be liable to any Participant or any other person for any tax, interest, or penalties that the person may incur as a result of a Plan Award or the Company’s administration thereof not satisfying any of the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

 

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