AMENDED AND RESTATED VALIDUS HOLDINGS, LTD. 2005 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Exhibit 10.18

 

1.

Purposes.

 

The purposes of the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan are to advance the interests of Validus Holdings, Ltd. and its shareholders by providing a means to attract, retain, and motivate employees, consultants and directors of Validus Holdings, Ltd., its subsidiaries and affiliates, to provide for competitive compensation opportunities, to encourage long term service, to recognize individual contributions and reward achievement of performance goals, and to promote the creation of long term value for shareholders by aligning the interests of such persons with those of shareholders.

 

2.	Definitions.

 

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

 

(a)  “Affiliate” means any entity other than the Company and its Subsidiaries that is designated by the Board or the Committee as a participating employer under the Plan; provided, however, that the Company directly or indirectly owns at least 20% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of such entity or at least 20% of the ownership interests in such entity.

 

(b)  “Award” means any Option, SAR, Restricted Share, Restricted Share Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Dividend Equivalent, or Other Share-Based Award granted to an Eligible Person under the Plan.

 

(c)  “Award Agreement” means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing an Award.

 

(d)  “Beneficiary” means the person, persons, trust or trusts which have been designated by an Eligible Person in his or her most recent written beneficiary designation filed with the Company to receive the benefits specified under this Plan upon the death of the Eligible Person, or, if there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the person, persons, trust or trusts entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive such benefits.

 

(e)  “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

 

(f)  “Change in Control” means consummation of (i) a sale of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to a person who is not either a member of, or an affiliate of a member of, the Initial Investor Group (as defined below); or (ii) a sale by the Company, one or more members of the Initial Investor Group or any of their respective affiliates resulting in more than 50% of the voting stock of the Company (“Voting Shares”) being held by a person or group (as such terms are used in the Exchange Act) that does not include any member of the Initial Investor Group or any of their respective affiliates; or (iii) a merger or consolidation of the Company into another person as a result of which a person or group acquires more than 50% of the Voting Shares of the Company that does not include any member of, or an affiliate of a member of, the Initial Investor Group; provided, however, that a Change in Control shall occur if and only if after any such event listed in (i)-(iii) above the Initial Investor Group is unable to elect a majority of the board of directors (or other governing body equivalent thereto) of the entity that purchased the assets in the case of an event described in (i) above, the Company in the case of an event described in (ii) above, or the resulting entity in the case of an event described in (iii) above, as the case may be.  The “Initial Investor Group” shall mean (i) Aquiline Financial Services Fund L.P., and (ii) the other Investors under Subscription Agreements with the Company dated December 9, 2005.

 

(g)  “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.  References to any provision of the Code shall be deemed to include successor provisions thereto and regulations thereunder.

 

(h)  “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or such other Board committee (which may include the entire Board) as may be designated by the Board to administer the Plan.

 

(i)  “Company” means Validus Holdings, Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of Bermuda, or any successor corporation.

 

(j)  “Director” means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate.

 

(k)  “Dividend Equivalent” means a right, granted under Section 5(g), to receive cash, Shares, or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of Shares.  Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award, and may be paid currently or on a deferred basis.

 

(l)  “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(k) below.

 

(m)  “Eligible Person” means (i) an employee or consultant of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate, including any director who is an employee, or (ii) a Director.

 

 

(n)  “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.  References to any provision of the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include successor provisions thereto and regulations thereunder.

 

(o)  “Fair Market Value” means, with respect to Shares or other property on a day, the fair market value of such Shares or other property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee.  If the Shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in good faith, the Fair Market Value of Shares on a day shall mean the closing price per Share on the day (or, if the Shares were not traded on that day, the next preceding day that the Shares were traded) on the principal exchange or market system on which the Shares are traded, as such prices are officially quoted on such exchange.

 

(p)  “ISO” means any Option intended to be and designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(q)  “NQSO” means any Option that is not an ISO.

 

(r)  “Offering” has the meaning set forth in the Offering Memorandum relating to Company equity dated October 13, 2005, as supplemented.

 

(s)  “Option” means a right, granted under Section 5(b), to purchase Shares.

 

(t)  “Other Share-Based Award” means a right, granted under Section 5(h), that relates to or is valued by reference to Shares.

 

(u)  “Participant” means an Eligible Person who has been granted an Award under the Plan.

 

(v)  “Performance Share” means a performance share granted under Section 5(f).

 

(w)  “Performance Unit” means a performance unit granted under Section 5(f).

 

(x)  “Plan” means this Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan.

 

(y)  “Restricted Shares” means an Award of Shares under Section 5(d) that may be subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.

 

(z)  “Restricted Share Unit” means a right, granted under Section 5(e), to receive Shares or cash at the end of a specified deferral period.

 

 

(aa)  “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3, as from time to time in effect and applicable to the Plan and Participants, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

(bb)  “SAR” or “Share Appreciation Right” means the right, granted under Section 5(c), to be paid an amount measured by the difference between the exercise price of the right and the Fair Market Value of Shares on the date of exercise of the right, with payment to be made in cash, Shares, or property as specified in the Award or determined by the Committee.

 

(cc)  “Shares” means common shares, $0.10 par value per share, of the Company, and such other securities as may be substituted for Shares pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof.

 

(dd)  “Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations (other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain) owns shares possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain.

 

(ee)  “Termination of Service” means, unless otherwise defined in an applicable Award Agreement, the termination of the Participant’s employment, consulting services or directorship with the Company, its Subsidiaries and its Affiliates, as the case may be.  A Participant employed by a Subsidiary of the Company or one of its Affiliates shall also be deemed to incur a Termination of Service if the Subsidiary of the Company or Affiliate ceases to be such a Subsidiary or an Affiliate, as the case may be, and the Participant does not immediately thereafter become an employee or director of, or a consultant to, the Company, another Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate.  Temporary absences from employment because of illness, vacation or leave of absence and transfers among the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates shall not be considered a Termination of Service.  If the Participant has a written employment agreement with the Company, a Subsidiary or Affiliate that defines “Date of Termination”, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Participant shall be treated as having terminated employment for purposes of this Plan on the Date of Termination.

 

3.	Administration.

 

(a)  Authority of the Committee.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, and the Committee shall have full and final authority to take the following actions, in each case subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan:

 

(i)  to select Eligible Persons to whom Awards may be granted;

 

 

(ii)  to designate Affiliates;

 

(iii)  to determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Eligible Person;

 

(iv)  to determine the type and number of Awards to be granted, the number of Shares to which an Award may relate, the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan (including, but not limited to, any exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any restriction or condition, any schedule for lapse of restrictions or conditions relating to transferability or forfeiture, exercisability, or settlement of an Award, and waiver or accelerations thereof, and waivers of performance conditions relating to an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee shall determine), and all other matters to be determined in connection with an Award;

 

(v)  to determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid, in cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, exchanged, or surrendered;

 

(vi)  to determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property payable with respect to an Award will be deferred either automatically, at the election of the Committee, or at the election of the Eligible Person;

 

(vii)  to prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Eligible Person;

 

(viii)  to adopt, amend, suspend, waive, and rescind such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

 

(ix)  to correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan and to construe and interpret the Plan and any Award, rules and regulations, Award Agreement, or other instrument hereunder;

 

(x)  to accelerate the exercisability or vesting of all or any portion of any Award or to extend the period during which an Award is exercisable;

 

(xi)  to determine whether uncertificated Shares may be used in satisfying Awards and otherwise in connection with the Plan; and

 

 

(xii)  to make all other decisions and determinations as may be required under the terms of the Plan or as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

 

(b)  Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority.  The Committee shall have sole discretion in exercising its authority under the Plan.  Any action of the Committee with respect to the Plan shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all persons, including the Company, Subsidiaries, Affiliates, Eligible Persons, any person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Eligible Person, and shareholders.  The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee.   The Committee may delegate to other members of the Board or officers or managers of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to perform administrative functions and, with respect to Awards granted to persons not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, to perform such other functions as the Committee may determine, to the extent permitted under Rule 16b-3 (if applicable) and applicable law.

 

(c)  Limitation of Liability.  Each member of the Committee shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, the Company’s independent certified public accountants, or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.  No member of the Committee, and no officer or employee of the Company acting on behalf of the Committee, shall be personally liable for any action, determination, or interpretation taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and all members of the Committee and any officer or employee of the Company acting on their behalf shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such action, determination, or interpretation.

 

(d)  No Option or SAR Repricing Without Shareholder Approval.  Except as provided in the first sentence of Section 4(b) hereof relating to certain antidilution adjustments, unless the approval of shareholders of the Company is obtained, Options and SARs issued under the Plan shall not be amended to lower their exercise price, Options and SARs issued under the Plan will not be exchanged for other Options or SARs with lower exercise prices, and no other action shall be taken with respect to Options or SARs that would be treated as a repricing under the rules of the principal stock exchange on which the Shares are listed.

 

(e)  Limitation on Committee’s Authority under 409A.  Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, the Committee’s authority to modify outstanding Awards shall be limited to the extent necessary so that the existence of such authority does not (i) cause an Award that is not otherwise deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code to become deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code or (ii) cause an

 

Award that is otherwise deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code to fail to meet the requirements prescribed by Section 409A of the Code.

 

4.	Shares Subject to the Plan.

 

(a)  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(b) hereof, (i) the total number of Shares reserved for issuance in connection with Awards under the Plan shall be 13,076,459 (13,330,541, if the over-allotment option in respect of the Company’s initial public offering is exercised in full by the underwriters and, if the over-allotment option is exercised in part, then the applicable pro rata number between such numbers, based upon the percentage so exercised), and (ii) the total number of Shares which may be issued under ISOs granted under the Plan shall be 8,571,428.  No Award may be granted if the number of Shares to which such Award relates, when added to the number of Shares previously issued under the Plan, exceeds the number of Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan in clause (i) of the preceding sentence.  If any Awards are forfeited, canceled, terminated, exchanged or surrendered or such Award is settled in cash or otherwise terminates without a distribution of Shares to the Participant, any Shares counted against the number of Shares reserved and available under the Plan with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, settlement, termination, cancellation, exchange or surrender, again be available for Awards under the Plan.  Upon the exercise of any Award granted in tandem with any other Awards, such related Awards shall be canceled to the extent of the number of Shares as to which the Award is exercised.

 

(b)  In the event that the Committee shall determine that any dividend in Shares, recapitalization, Share split, reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share exchange, extraordinary distribution, or other similar corporate transaction or event, affects the Shares such that an adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Eligible Persons under the Plan, then the Committee shall make such equitable changes or adjustments as it deems appropriate and, in such manner as it may deem equitable, (i) adjust any or all of (x) the number and kind of shares which may thereafter be issued under the Plan, (y) the number and kind of shares, other securities or other consideration issued or issuable in respect of outstanding Awards, and (z) the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price relating to any Award or (ii) provide for a distribution of cash or property in respect of any Award; provided, however, in each case that, with respect to ISOs, such adjustment shall be made in accordance with Section 424(a) of the Code, unless the Committee determines otherwise; providedfurther, however, that no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 4 that causes any Award to be treated as deferred compensation pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.  If an extraordinary cash dividend is declared and paid on Shares after the grant of an Option or SAR and before the exercise of the Option or SAR, unless otherwise expressly provided in an applicable Award Agreement, the holder of the Option or SAR will have a right to receive an amount equal to the amount of the

 

dividend per Share times the number of Shares subject to the Option or SAR; provided , however, that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, no amount will be paid in respect of an Option or SAR unless and until the Option or SAR (or the portion thereof on which the amount is paid) has vested, and it is intended that the dividend right will otherwise be structured to comply with Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable.  In addition, the Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria and performance objectives, if any, included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events (including, without limitation, events described in the preceding sentence) affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles.

 

(c)  In the event that the Company is a party to a merger or consolidation or a Change in Control shall occur, outstanding Awards shall be subject to the agreement of merger or consolidation or other applicable transaction agreement.  Such agreement, without the Participants’ consent, may provide for: (i) continuation or assumption of such outstanding Awards under the Plan by the Company (if it is the surviving corporation) or by the surviving corporation or its parent; (ii) substitution by the surviving corporation or its parent of awards with substantially the same terms for such outstanding Awards (and, if the Company is not a publicly traded entity, substitution of shares with equity of the surviving corporation or its parent with substantially the same terms as the outstanding Shares); (iii) acceleration of the vesting of or right to exercise such outstanding Awards immediately prior to or as of the date of the merger or consolidation or Change in Control, and the expiration of such outstanding Awards to the extent not timely exercised by the date of the merger, consolidation, Change in Control or other date thereafter designated by the Board; or (iv) cancellation of all or any portion of the outstanding Awards by a cash payment of the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the shares subject to such outstanding Awards or portion thereof being canceled over the aggregate exercise price, if any, with respect to such Awards or portion thereof being canceled.

 

(d)  Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or treasury Shares including Shares acquired by purchase in the open market or in private transactions.

 

5.	Specific Terms of Awards.

 

(a)  General.  Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 5.  In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 7(d)), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine,

 

including terms regarding forfeiture of Awards or continued exercisability of Awards in the event of Termination of Service by the Eligible Person.

 

(b)  Options.  The Committee is authorized to grant Options, which may be NQSOs or ISOs, to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)  Exercise Price.  The exercise price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that the exercise price per Share shall not be less than the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

 

(ii)  Option Term.  The term of each Option shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that such term shall not be longer than ten years from the date of grant of the Option.

 

(iii)  Time and Method of Exercise.  The Committee shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part (including, without limitation, upon achievement of performance criteria if deemed appropriate by the Committee), the methods by which such exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid (including, without limitation, broker-assisted exercise arrangements), the form of such payment (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, notes or other property), and the methods by which Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Eligible Persons.

 

(iv)  Early Exercise.  The Committee may provide at the time of grant or any time thereafter, in its sole discretion, that any Option shall be exercisable with respect to Shares that otherwise would not then be exercisable, provided that, in connection with such exercise, the Participant enters into a form of Restricted Share agreement approved by the Committee with respect to the Shares received on exercise.

 

(v)  ISOs.  The terms of any ISO granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code, including but not limited to the requirement that the ISO shall be granted within ten years from the earlier of the date of adoption or shareholder approval of the Plan.  ISOs may only be granted to employees of the Company or a Subsidiary.

 

(c)  SARs.  The Committee is authorized to grant SARs (Share Appreciation Rights) to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)  Right to Payment.  A SAR shall confer on the Eligible Person to whom it is granted a right to receive with respect to each Share subject thereto, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (1) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over (2) the exercise price per Share of the SAR, as determined by the Committee as

 

of the date of grant of the SAR (which shall not be less than the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

 

(ii)  Other Terms.  The Committee shall determine, at the time of grant, the time or times at which a SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (which shall not be more than ten years after the date of grant of the SAR), the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, method by which Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Eligible Persons, whether or not a SAR shall be in tandem with any other Award, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR.  Unless the Committee determines otherwise, a SAR (1) granted in tandem with an NQSO may be granted at the time of grant of the related NQSO or at any time thereafter and (2) granted in tandem with an ISO may only be granted at the time of grant of the related ISO.

 

(d)  Restricted Shares.  The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Shares to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)  Issuance and Restrictions.  Restricted Shares shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose at the date of grant or thereafter, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including, without limitation, upon achievement of performance criteria if deemed appropriate by the Committee), in such installments, or otherwise, as the Committee may determine.  Except to the extent restricted under the Award Agreement relating to the Restricted Shares, an Eligible Person granted Restricted Shares shall have all of the rights of a shareholder including, without limitation, the right to vote Restricted Shares and the right to receive dividends thereon.

 

(ii)  Forfeiture.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, at the date of grant or thereafter, upon Termination of Service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Shares and any accrued but unpaid dividends or Dividend Equivalents that are at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited; provided, however, that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Shares will be waived in whole or in part in the event of Termination of Service resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Restricted Shares.

 

(iii)  Certificates for Shares.  Restricted Shares granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine.  If certificates representing Restricted Shares are registered in the name of the Eligible Person, such certificates shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrict-

 

tions applicable to such Restricted Shares, and, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Company shall retain physical possession of the certificate and the Participant shall deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Shares.

 

(iv)  Dividends.  Dividends paid on Restricted Shares shall be either paid at the dividend payment date, or deferred for payment to such date, and subject to such conditions, as determined by the Committee, in cash or in restricted or unrestricted Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Shares distributed in connection with a Share split or dividend in Shares, and other property distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Shares with respect to which such Shares or other property has been distributed.

 

(v)  Early Exercise Options.  The Committee shall award Restricted Shares to a Participant upon the Participant’s early exercise of an Option under Section 5(b)(iv) hereof.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the lapse of restrictions with respect to such Restricted Shares shall occur on the same schedule as the exercisability of the Option for which the Restricted Shares were exercised.

 

(e)  Restricted Share Units.  The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Share Units to Eligible Persons, subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)  Award and Restrictions.  Delivery of Shares or cash, as the case may be, will occur upon expiration of the deferral period specified for Restricted Share Units by the Committee (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the Eligible Person).  In addition, Restricted Share Units shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose, if any (including, without limitation, the achievement of performance criteria if deemed appropriate by the Committee), at the date of grant or thereafter, which restrictions may lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at earlier or later specified times, separately or in combination, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine.

 

(ii)  Forfeiture.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the date of grant or thereafter, upon Termination of Service during the applicable deferral period or portion thereof to which forfeiture conditions apply (as provided in the Award Agreement evidencing the Restricted Share Units), or upon failure to satisfy any other conditions precedent to the delivery of Shares or cash to which such Restricted Share Units relate, all Restricted Share Units that are at that time subject to deferral or restriction shall be forfeited; provided, however, that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Share Units

 

will be waived in whole or in part in the event of Termination of Service resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Restricted Share Units.

 

(iii)  Dividend Equivalents.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the date of grant, Dividend Equivalents on the specified number of Shares covered by a Restricted Share Unit shall be either (A) paid with respect to such Restricted Share Unit at the dividend payment date in cash or in restricted or unrestricted Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, or (B) deferred with respect to such Restricted Share Unit and the amount or value thereof automatically deemed reinvested in additional Restricted Share Units or other Awards, as the Committee shall determine or permit the Participant to elect.

 

(f)  Performance Shares and Performance Units.  The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Shares or Performance Units or both to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)  Performance Period.  The Committee shall determine a performance period (the “Performance Period”) of one or more years or other periods and shall determine the performance objectives for grants of Performance Shares and Performance Units.  Performance objectives may vary from Eligible Person to Eligible Person and shall be based upon the performance criteria as the Committee may deem appropriate.  The performance objectives may be determined by reference to the performance of the Company, or of a Subsidiary or Affiliate, or of a division or unit of any of the foregoing.  Performance Periods may overlap and Eligible Persons may participate simultaneously with respect to Performance Shares and Performance Units for which different Performance Periods are prescribed.

 

(ii)  Award Value.  At the beginning of a Performance Period, the Committee shall determine for each Eligible Person or group of Eligible Persons with respect to that Performance Period the range of number of Shares, if any, in the case of Performance Shares, and the range of dollar values, if any, in the case of Performance Units, which may be fixed or may vary in accordance with such performance or other criteria specified by the Committee, which shall be paid to an Eligible Person as an Award if the relevant measure of Company performance for the Performance Period is met.

 

(iii)  Significant Events.  If during the course of a Performance Period there shall occur significant events as determined by the Committee which the Committee expects to have a substantial effect on a performance objective during such period, the Committee may revise such objective.

 

 

(iv)  Forfeiture.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, at the date of grant or thereafter, upon Termination of Service during the applicable Performance Period, Performance Shares and Performance Units for which the Performance Period was prescribed shall be forfeited; provided, however, that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in an individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Performance Shares and Performance Units will be waived in whole or in part in the event of Terminations of Service resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Performance Shares and Performance Units.

 

(v)  Payment.  Each Performance Share or Performance Unit may be paid in whole Shares, or cash, or a combination of Shares and cash either as a lump sum payment or in installments, all as the Committee shall determine, at the time of grant of the Performance Share or Performance Unit or otherwise, commencing as soon as practicable after the end of the relevant Performance Period.

 

(g)  Dividend Equivalents.  The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to Eligible Persons.  The Committee may provide, at the date of grant or thereafter, that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when accrued or shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares, or other investment vehicles as the Committee may specify; provided, however, that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Dividend Equivalents (other than freestanding Dividend Equivalents) shall be subject to all conditions and restrictions of any underlying Awards to which they relate.

 

(h)  Other Share-Based Awards.  The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Eligible Persons such other Awards that may be denominated or 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 Plan, including, without limitation, unrestricted shares awarded purely as a “bonus” and not subject to any restrictions or conditions, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Shares, purchase rights for Shares, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or any other factors designated by the Committee, and Awards valued by reference to the performance of specified Subsidiaries or Affiliates.  The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards at date of grant or thereafter.  Shares delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 5(h) shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, notes or other property, as the Committee shall determine.  Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other Award under the Plan, shall also be authorized pursuant to this Section 5(h).

 

 

6.	Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards.

 

(a)  Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem and Substitute Awards.  Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted to Eligible Persons either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in exchange or substitution for, any other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under any other plan or agreement of the Company, any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate, or any other right of an Eligible Person to receive payment from the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate.  Awards may be granted in addition to or in tandem with such other Awards or awards, and may be granted either as of the same time as, or a different time from, the grant of such other Awards or awards.  Subject to the provisions of Section 3(d) hereof prohibiting Option and SAR repricing without shareholder approval, the per Share exercise price of any Option, or grant price of any SAR, which is granted in connection with the substitution of awards granted under any other plan or agreement of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, shall be determined by the Committee, in its discretion.

 

(b)  Term of Awards.  The term of each Award granted to an Eligible Person shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that in no event shall the term of any Option or SAR exceed a period of ten years from the date of its grant (or, in the case of ISOs, such shorter period as may be applicable under Section 422 of the Code).

 

(c)  Form of Payment Under Awards.  Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate upon the grant, maturation, or exercise of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, notes or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis.  The Committee may make rules relating to installment or deferred payments with respect to Awards, including the rate of interest to be credited with respect to such payments, and the Committee may require deferral of payment under an Award if, in the sole judgment of the Committee, it may be necessary in order to avoid nondeductibility of the payment under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(d)  Nontransferability.  Unless otherwise set forth by the Committee in an Award Agreement, Awards shall not be transferable by an Eligible Person except by will or the laws of descent and distribution (except pursuant to a Beneficiary designation) and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of an Eligible Person only by such Eligible Person or his guardian or legal representative.  An Eligible Person’s rights under the Plan may not be pledged, mortgaged, hypothecated, or otherwise encumbered, and shall not be subject to claims of the Eligible Person’s creditors.

 

 

(e)  Noncompetition.  The Committee may, by way of the Award Agreements or otherwise, establish such other terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations, if any, of any Award, provided they are not inconsistent with the Plan, including, without limitation, the requirement that the Participant not engage in competition with, solicit customers or employees of, or disclose or use confidential information of the Company or its Affiliates.

 

7.	General Provisions.

 

(a)  Compliance with Legal and Trading Requirements.  The Plan, the granting and exercising of Awards thereunder, and the other obligations of the Company under the Plan and any Award Agreement, shall be subject to all applicable federal, state and foreign laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any stock exchange, regulatory or governmental agency as may be required.  The Company, in its discretion, may postpone the issuance or delivery of Shares under any Award until completion of such stock exchange or market system listing or registration or qualification of such Shares or any required action under any state, federal or foreign law, rule or regulation as the Company may consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to make such representations and furnish such information as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of Shares in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations.  No provisions of the Plan shall be interpreted or construed to obligate the Company to register any Shares under federal, state or foreign law.  The Shares issued under the Plan may be subject to such other restrictions on transfer as determined by the Committee.

 

(b)  No Right to Continued Employment or Service.  Neither the Plan nor any action taken thereunder shall be construed as giving any employee, consultant or director the right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to terminate any employee’s, consultant’s or director’s employment or service at any time.

 

(c)  Taxes.  The Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate is authorized to withhold from any Award granted, any payment relating to an Award under the Plan, including from a distribution of Shares, or any payroll or other payment to an Eligible Person, amounts of withholding and other taxes due in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company and Eligible Persons to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award.  This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Shares or other property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of an Eligible Person’s tax obligations; provided, however, that the amount of tax withholding to be satisfied by withholding Shares shall be limited to the minimum amount of taxes, including employment taxes, required to be withheld under applicable Federal, state and local law.

 

 

(d)  Changes to the Plan and Awards.  The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or the Committee’s authority to grant Awards under the Plan without the consent of shareholders of the Company or Participants, except that any such amendment or alteration shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders (i) to the extent such shareholder approval is required under the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, or (ii) as it applies to ISOs, to the extent such shareholder approval is required under Section 422 of the Code; provided, however, that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation, or termination of the Plan may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any Award theretofore granted to him or her.  The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retrospectively; provided, however, that, without the consent of a Participant, no amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination of any Award may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any Award theretofore granted to him or her.

 

(e)  No Rights to Awards; No Shareholder Rights.  No Eligible Person or employee shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Eligible Persons and employees.  No Award shall confer on any Eligible Person any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until Shares are duly issued or transferred to the Eligible Person in accordance with the terms of the Award.

 

(f)  Unfunded Status of Awards.  The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation.  With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or make other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations under the Plan to deliver cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property pursuant to any Award, which trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the “unfunded” status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines with the consent of each affected Participant.

 

(g)  Nonexclusivity of the Plan.  Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor its submission to the shareholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of options and

 

other awards otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

 

(h)  Not Compensation for Benefit Plans.  No Award payable under this Plan shall be deemed salary or compensation for the purpose of computing benefits under any benefit plan or other arrangement of the Company for the benefit of its employees, consultants or directors unless the Company shall determine otherwise.

 

(i)  No Fractional Shares.  No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award.  The Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

(j)  Governing Law.  The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan, any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and any Award Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of New York, without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws thereof.

 

(k)  Effective Date; Plan Termination.  This Amendment and Restatement of the Plan shall become effective as of January 1, 2007 (the “Effective Date”), subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company.  The Plan shall terminate as to future awards on the date which is ten (10) years after the Effective Date.

 

(l)  Section 409A .   It is intended that the Plan and Awards issued thereunder will comply with Section 409A of the Code (and any regulations and guidelines issued thereunder) to the extent the Awards are subject thereto, and the Plan and such Awards shall be interpreted on a basis consistent with such intent.  The Plan and any Award Agreements issued thereunder may be amended in any respect deemed by the Board or the Committee to be necessary in order to preserve compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

 

(m)  Titles and Headings.  The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only.  In the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.

 

 

 

 

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