<PAGE> 1
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on February 13, 1998
Registration No. 333-
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
----------------------
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
The Securities Act of 1933
----------------------
KEEBLER FOODS COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 36-1894790
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
677 Larch Avenue
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126
(630) 833-2900
(Address, including ZIP code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
1998 OMNIBUS STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(Full title of plan)
Thomas E. O'Neill Copy to:
Vice President, Secretary and Bruce A. Toth, Esq.
General Counsel John L. MacCarthy, Esq.
Keebler Foods Company Winston & Strawn
677 Larch Avenue 35 West Wacker Drive
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126 Chicago, Illinois 60601
(630) 833-2900 (312) 558-5600
(Name, address, including ZIP code,
and telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed Proposed
Title of securities to be Amount to be maximum offering maximum aggregate
registered registered price per share (a) offering price (a) Amount of registration fee
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock,
par value
$.01 per share 6,500,000 shrs. $ 27.00 $ 175,500,000 $ 51,773
===================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(a) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, based upon the average of the high and low prices of the
common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Keebler Foods Company on
the New York Stock Exchange on February 6, 1998.
<PAGE> 2
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN
SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of
Form S-8 will be sent or given to participating employees as specified by Rule
428(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
These documents and the documents incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration
Statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements
of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents heretofore filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by Keebler Foods Company (the "Company")
are incorporated herein by reference:
(a) The Company's Prospectus as filed with the Commission on
February 2, 1998 under the Securities Act, containing audited financial
statements for the Company's fiscal year 1996.
(b) All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), since
the end of the fiscal year covered by the Prospectus referenced above.
(c) The description of the Company's Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), which is contained in the registration
statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on December 12, 1997 under the
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (Commission File No.
001-13705), including any subsequent amendment or any report filed for the
purpose of updating such description.
All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration
Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates
that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all
securities then remaining unsold are deemed to be incorporated by reference into
this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the respective dates of
filing of such documents (such documents, and the documents enumerated above,
being hereinafter referred to as "Incorporated Documents").
Any statement contained in an Incorporated Document shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement
to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently
filed Incorporated Document modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
None.
II-1
<PAGE> 3
ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of
Delaware. Section 145 of the Delaware Law ("Section 145") provides that a
Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who are, or are threatened to be
made, parties to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than
an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that
such person was an officer, director, employee or agent of another corporation
or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with such action or proceeding, if he
acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in
the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal
action, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was illegal. A
Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who are, or are threatened to be
made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in
the right of the corporation by reason of the fact that such person was a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The
indemnity may include defense or settlement of such action or suit, provided
such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in
or not opposed to the corporation's best interests except that no
indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer or
director is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or
director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action
referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him against the expenses
which such officer or director has actually and reasonably incurred.
As permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware Law, the
Certificate of Incorporation provides that directors of the Company shall have
no personal liability to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages
for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except (i) for any breach of a
director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or knowing
violations of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the Delaware Law, or (iv)
for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit.
The Company's Bylaws provide for the indemnification of directors
and officers of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145.
ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number Description of Exhibit
- ------- ----------------------
4.01 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the
Commission (Commission File No. 333-42075) on December
12, 1997, as amended (the "Registration Statement"),
and hereby incorporated by reference)
4.02 Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company (filed as
Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement and hereby
incorporated by reference)
*4.03 1998 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan
*5.01 Opinion of Winston & Strawn as to the legality of the
securities being registered
*23.01 Consent of Winston & Strawn (included in its opinion
filed as Exhibit 5.01)
II-2
<PAGE> 4
*23.02 Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
*23.03 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
24.01 Powers of Attorney (included on signature page)
- ---------------------
* Filed herewith.
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS
(a) The undersigned Company hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in
this Registration Statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration
Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration
Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not
apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3 and the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished by the
Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.
(2) That, for purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Company's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid
by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer
or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled
by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question
II-3
<PAGE> 5
whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-4
<PAGE> 6
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Elmhurst, State of Illinois, on February 13,
1998.
KEEBLER FOODS COMPANY
By: /s/ Sam K. Reed
-------------------------------------------
Sam K. Reed
President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned directors and executive officers of Keebler Foods
Company do hereby constitute and appoint E. Nichol McCully and Thomas E.
O'Neill, and each of them, with full power of substitution, our true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents to do any and all acts and things in our name and
behalf in our capacities as directors and officers, and to execute any and all
instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below which such
person may deem necessary or advisable to enable Keebler Foods Company to comply
with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and any
rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
in connection with this Registration Statement, including specifically, but not
limited to, power and authority to sign for us, or any of us, in the capacities
indicated below, any and all amendments (including pre-effective and
post-effective amendments) hereto; and we do hereby ratify and confirm all that
such person or persons shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on February 13, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title
--------- -----
<S> <C>
/s/ Sam K. Reed President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and
- ----------------------------------- Director
Sam K. Reed
/s/ E. Nichol McCully Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President - Finance
----------------------------------- (Principal Financial Officer)
E. Nichol McCully
/s/ James T. Spear Vice President Finance and Corporate Controller (Principal
- ----------------------------------- Accounting Officer)
James T. Spear
/s/ Sacha Lainovic Director
- -----------------------------------
Sacha Lainovic
/s/ Raymond Debbane Director
- -----------------------------------
Raymond Debbane
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 7
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned directors and executive officers of Keebler Foods
Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the
proposed registration by the Company of shares of its Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share, do hereby constitute and appoint E. Nichol McCully and Thomas
E. O'Neill, and each of them, with full power of substitution, our true and
lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents to sign, execute and file a Registration
Statement on Form S-8 relating to such securities to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, together with any and all amendments and
exhibits thereto, and any and all documents required to be filed with any state
securities commission or other regulatory authority with respect to the
securities covered by such Registration Statement, with full power and
authority to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever necessary to
be done to effectuate the same, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of
said attorneys and each of them and any substitute or substitutes.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated
on February 13, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title
--------- -----
<S> <C>
/s/ Robert Crozer
- -----------------------------------
Robert Crozer Director
/s/ Amos R. McMullian
- -----------------------------------
Amos R. McMullian Director
/s/ Jimmy Woodward
- -----------------------------------
Jimmy Woodward Director
/s/ G. Anthony Campbell
- -----------------------------------
G. Anthony Campbell Director
/s/ Franklin L. Burke
- -----------------------------------
Franklin L. Burke Director
/s/ C. Martin Wood III
- -----------------------------------
C. Martin Wood III Director
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 8
INDEX TO EXHIBITS TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number Description of Exhibit Page Page
- ------ --------------------------- ----
<S> <C> <C>
4.01 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the
Commission (Commission File No. 333-42075) on December
12, 1997, as amended (the "Registration Statement"),
and hereby incorporated by reference)
4.02 Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company (filed
as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement and hereby
incorporated by reference)
*4.03 1998 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan
*5.01 Opinion of Winston & Strawn as to the legality of the
securities being registered
*23.01 Consent of Winston & Strawn (included in its opinion
filed as Exhibit 5.01)
*23.02 Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
*23.03 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
24.01 Powers of Attorney (included on signature page)
- ----------------------
* Filed herewith.
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4.03
================================================================================
KEEBLER FOODS COMPANY
1998 OMNIBUS STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
EFFECTIVE January 21, 1998
================================================================================
<PAGE> 2
KEEBLER FOODS COMPANY
1998 OMNIBUS STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
1. PURPOSE. The purpose of the 1998 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan (the
"Plan") is to attract and retain officers and key employees for Keebler Foods
Company (the "Corporation") and its Subsidiaries and to provide to such persons
incentives and rewards for superior performance.
2. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Plan,
"Annual Meeting" means the annual meeting of shareholders of the
Corporation.
"Appreciation Right" means a right granted pursuant to Section 5
of this Plan, including a Free-Standing Appreciation Right or a Tandem
Appreciation Right.
"Base Price" means the price to be used as the basis for
determining the Spread upon the exercise of a Free-standing Appreciation Right.
"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
"Change in Control" shall have the meaning provided in Section 12
of this Plan.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
time to time.
"Committee" means the committee (or a subcommittee) described in
Section 17 of this Plan.
"Common Shares" means shares of common stock, $.01 par value per
share, of the Corporation or any security into which such Common Shares may be
changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section
11 of this Plan.
"Covered Employee" means a Participant who is, or is determined by
the Committee to be likely to become, a "covered employee" within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor provision).
<PAGE> 3
"Date of Grant" means the date specified by the Committee on which
a grant of Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Performance Shares, Performance
Units, or Other Stock- Based Awards, or a grant or sale of Restricted Shares or
Deferred Shares shall become effective.
"Deferral Period" means the period of time during which Deferred
Shares are subject to deferral limitations under Section 7 of this Plan.
"Deferred Shares" means an award made pursuant to Section 7 of
this Plan of the right to receive Common Shares at the end of a specified
Deferral Period.
"Designated Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary that is (i) not a
corporation or (ii) a corporation in which at the time the Corporation owns or
controls, directly or indirectly, less than eighty (80) percent of the total
combined voting power represented by all classes of stock issued by such
corporation.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as such law, rules and
regulations may be amended from time to time.
"Free-standing Appreciation Right" means an Appreciation Right
granted pursuant to Section 5 of this Plan that is not granted in tandem with an
Option Right or similar right.
"Immediate Family" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Rule
16a-1(e) under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule to the same effect) as in
effect from time to time.
"Incentive Stock Options" means Option Rights that are intended to
qualify as "incentive stock options" under Section 422 of the Code or any
successor provision; provided, however, that (i) the exercise price of each
Incentive Stock Option shall be at least 100% of the Market Value per share of
the Common Shares subject to such Incentive Stock Option on the Date of Grant;
(ii) Incentive Stock Options will be exercisable not later than ten years after
the Date of Grant, and (iii) in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to
a Participant who, at the time of grant, owns (as defined in Section 425(d) of
the Code) stock of the Company or its subsidiaries possessing more than 10% of
the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of any such corporation,
the exercise price shall be at least 110% of the fair market value of the Common
Shares subject to the Incentive Stock Option at the time it is granted, and the
Incentive Stock Option, by its terms, shall not be exercisable after the
expiration of five (5) years from the date of its grant. The aggregate fair
market value (determined with respect to each Incentive Stock Option as of the
time such Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the Common Shares with respect
to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a
Participant during any calendar year (under all Incentive Stock Option plans of
the Company and subsidiary corporations) shall not exceed $100,000.
"Management Objectives" means the measurable performance objective
or objectives established pursuant to this Plan for Participants who have
received grants of
2
<PAGE> 4
Performance Shares or Performance Units or, when so determined by the Committee,
Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares and dividend credits, or
Other Stock-Based Awards pursuant to this Plan. Management Objectives may be
described in terms of Corporation-wide objectives or objectives that are related
to the performance of the individual Participant or of the Subsidiary, division,
department, region or function within the Corporation or Subsidiary in which the
Participant is employed. The Management Objectives may be made relative to the
performance of other corporations. The Management Objectives applicable to any
award to a Covered Employee shall be based on specified levels of growth or
improvement in one or more of the following criteria:
1. earnings;
2. earnings per share (earnings per share will be
calculated without regard to any change in accounting
standards that may be required by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board after the goal is
established);
3. share price;
4. shareholder return;
5. return on invested capital, equity, or assets;
6. operating earnings;
7. sales;
8. productivity;
9. cash flow;
10. market share;
11. profit margin;
12. customer service; and/or
13. economic value added.
If the Committee determines that a change in the business,
operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Corporation, or the
manner in which it conducts its business, or other events or circumstances
render the Management Objectives unsuitable, the Committee may in its discretion
modify such Management Objectives or the related minimum acceptable level of
achievement, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate and
equitable, except in the case of a Covered Employee where such action would
result in the loss of the otherwise available exemption of the award under
Section 162(m) of the Code. In such case, the Committee shall not make any
modification of the Management Objectives or minimum acceptable level of
achievement.
"Market Value per Share" means, as of any particular date, the
average of the highest and lowest quoted selling prices for Common Shares on the
relevant date, or (if there were no sales on such date) the weighted average of
the means between the highest and lowest quoted selling prices on the nearest
day before and the nearest day after the relevant date; provided, however, that
if the Shares are not traded on a national securities exchange in the United
States, the Committee shall determine "Market Value per Share" in its
discretion.
3
<PAGE> 5
"Optionee" means the optionee named in an agreement evidencing an
outstanding Option Right.
"Option Price" means the purchase price payable on exercise of an
Option Right.
"Option Right" means the right to purchase Common Shares upon
exercise of an option granted pursuant to Section 4 or Section 9 of this Plan.
"Other Stock-Based Awards" means those awards referred to in
Section 9 of this Plan.
"Participant" means a person who is selected by the Committee to
receive benefits under this Plan and who is at the time an officer, or other key
employee of the Corporation or any one or more of its Subsidiaries, or who has
agreed to commence serving in any of such capacities within 90 days of the Date
of Grant.
"Performance Period" means, in respect of a Performance Share or
Performance Unit, a period of time established pursuant to Section 8 of this
Plan within which the Management Objectives relating to such Performance Share
or Performance Unit are to be achieved.
"Performance Share" means a bookkeeping entry that records the
equivalent of one Common Share awarded pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan.
"Performance Unit" means a bookkeeping entry that records a unit
equivalent to $1.00 awarded pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan.
"Reload Option Rights" means additional Option Rights granted
automatically to an Optionee upon the exercise of Option Rights pursuant to
Section 4(f) of this Plan.
"Restricted Shares" means Common Shares granted or sold pursuant
to Section 6 or Section 9 of this Plan as to which neither the substantial risk
of forfeiture nor the prohibition on transfers referred to in such Section 6 has
expired.
"Rule l6b-3" means Rule 16b-3 of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (or any successor rule to the same effect) as in effect from time to
time.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the rules and regulations thereunder, as such law, rules and regulations may be
amended from time to time.
"Spread" means the excess of the Market Value per Share of the
Common Shares on the date when an Appreciation Right is exercised, or on the
date when Option Rights are surrendered in payment of the Option Price of other
Option Rights, over the Option Price provided for in the related Option Right.
4
<PAGE> 6
"Subsidiary" means a corporation, company or other entity
(i) more than 50 percent of whose outstanding shares or
securities (representing the right to vote for the election of
directors or other managing authority) are, or
(ii) which does not have outstanding shares or securities (as
may be the case in a partnership, joint venture or unincorporated
association), but more than 50 percent of whose ownership interest
representing the right generally to make decisions for such other
entity is,
now or hereafter, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the
Corporation except that for purposes of determining whether any person may be a
Participant for purposes of any grant of Incentive Stock Options, "Subsidiary"
means any corporation in which at the time the Corporation owns or controls,
directly or indirectly, more than 50 percent of the total combined voting power
represented by all classes of stock issued by such corporation.
"Tandem Appreciation Right" means an Appreciation Right granted
pursuant to Section 5 of this Plan that is granted in tandem with an Option
Right or any similar right granted under any other plan of the Corporation.
"Voting Shares" means at any time, the then-outstanding securities
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Corporation.
3. SHARES AVAILABLE UNDER THE PLAN. (a) Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 11 of this Plan, the number of Common Shares that may be
issued or transferred (i) upon the exercise of Option Rights or Appreciation
Rights, (ii) as Restricted Shares and released from substantial risks of
forfeiture thereof, (iii) as Deferred Shares, (iv) in payment of Performance
Shares or Performance Units that have been earned, (v) as Other Stock-Based
Awards, (vi) in payment of dividend equivalents paid with respect to awards made
under the Plan shall not exceed in the aggregate 6,500,000 shares plus any
shares specified in paragraph (b) of this Section 3. Such shares may be shares
of original issuance or treasury shares or a combination of the foregoing. Upon
the payment of any Option Price by the transfer to the Corporation of Common
Shares or upon satisfaction of any withholding amount by means of transfer or
relinquishment of Common Shares, there shall be deemed to have been issued or
transferred under this Plan only the net number of Common Shares actually issued
or transferred by the Corporation.
(b) Total shares available under the plan shall also include any
shares relating to awards that expire or are forfeited or canceled.
5
<PAGE> 7
(c) Upon payment in cash of the benefit provided by any award
granted under this Plan, any shares that were covered by that award shall again
be available for issue or transfer hereunder.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3, or elsewhere in
this Plan, to the contrary, the aggregate number of Common Shares actually
issued or transferred by the Corporation upon the exercise of Incentive Stock
Options shall not exceed 2,500,000 shares, subject to adjustments as provided in
Section 11 of this Plan.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the
contrary, no Participant shall be granted Option Rights for more than 600,000
Common Shares during any calendar year, subject to adjustments as provided in
Section 11 of this Plan. Further, in no event shall any Participant in any
calendar year receive more than 600,000 Appreciation Rights, subject to
adjustments as provided in Section 11 of this plan.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the
contrary, in no event shall any Participant in any calendar year receive an
award of Performance Shares, Performance Units, Restricted Shares, or Other
Stock-Based Awards that specify Management Objectives, which awards represent an
aggregate maximum value as of their respective Dates of Grant in excess of
$1,000,000.
4. OPTION RIGHTS. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such
terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting to Participants
of options to purchase Common Shares. Each such grant may utilize any or all of
the authorizations, and shall be subject to all of the requirements, contained
in the following provisions:
(a) Each grant shall specify the number of Common Shares to which
it pertains subject to the limitations set forth in Section 3 of this plan.
(b) Each grant shall specify an Option Price per share, which
shall not be less than 100 percent of the Market Value per Share on the Date of
Grant.
(c) Each grant shall specify whether the Option Price shall be
payable (i) in cash or by check acceptable to the Corporation, (ii) by the
actual or constructive transfer to the Corporation of nonforfeitable,
unrestricted Common Shares owned by the Optionee for no less than six (6) months
(or other consideration authorized pursuant to subsection (d) below) having a
value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option Price, or (iii) by a
combination of such methods of payment.
(d) The Committee may determine, at or after the Date of Grant,
that payment of the Option Price of any option (other than an Incentive Stock
Option) may also be made in whole or in part in the form of Restricted Shares or
other Common Shares that are forfeitable or subject to restrictions on transfer,
Deferred Shares, Performance Shares (based, in each case,
6
<PAGE> 8
on the Market Value per Share on the date of exercise), other Option Rights
(based on the Spread on the date of exercise) or Performance Units. Unless
otherwise determined by the Committee at or after the Date of Grant, whenever
any Option Price is paid in whole or in part by means of any of the forms of
consideration specified in this paragraph, the Common Shares received upon the
exercise of the Option Rights shall be subject to such risks of forfeiture or
restrictions on transfer as may correspond to any that apply to the
consideration surrendered, but only to the extent of (i) the number of shares or
Performance Shares, (ii) the Spread of any unexercisable portion of Option
Rights, or (iii) the stated value of Performance Units surrendered.
(e) Any grant may provide for deferred payment of the Option
Price from the proceeds of sale through a broker on a date satisfactory to the
Corporation of some or all of the shares to which such exercise relates.
(f) Any grant may, at or after the Date of Grant, provide for the
automatic grant of Reload Option Rights to an Optionee upon the exercise of
Option Rights (including Reload Option Rights) using Common Shares or other
consideration specified in paragraph (d) above. Reload Option Rights shall cover
up to the number of Common Shares, Deferred Shares, Option Rights or Performance
Shares (or the number of Common Shares having a value equal to the value of any
Performance Units) surrendered to the Corporation upon any such exercise in
payment of the Option Price or to meet any withholding obligations. Reload
Options shall specify an Option Price per share, which shall not be less than
100 percent of the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant of the Reload
Option Right, and shall be on such other terms as may be specified by the
Committee, which may be the same as or different from those of the original
Option Rights.
(g) Successive grants may be made to the same Participant whether
or not any Option Rights previously granted to such Participant remain
unexercised.
(h) Each grant shall specify the period or periods of continuous
service by the Optionee with the Corporation or any Subsidiary which is
necessary before the Option Rights or installments thereof will become
exercisable and may provide for the earlier exercise of such Option Rights in
the event of a Change in Control retirement, death or disability of the Optionee
or other similar transaction or event.
(i) Any grant of Option Rights may specify Management Objectives
that must be achieved as a condition to the exercise of such rights.
(j) Option Rights granted under this Plan may be (i) options,
including, without limitation, Incentive Stock Options, that are intended to
qualify under particular provisions of the Code, (ii) options that are not
intended so to qualify, or (iii) combinations of the foregoing.
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<PAGE> 9
(k) The Committee may, at or after the Date of Grant of any
Option Rights (other than Incentive Stock Options), provide for the payment of
dividend equivalents to the Optionee on either a current or deferred or
contingent basis or may provide that such equivalents shall be credited against
the Option Price.
(l) The exercise of an Option Right shall result in the
cancellation on a share-for-share basis of any related Appreciation Right
authorized under Section 5 of this Plan.
(m) Each grant shall specify the term of the Option Right;
provided, however, that no Option Right shall be exercisable more than 10 years
from the Date of Grant.
(n) Each grant of Option Rights shall be evidenced by an
agreement executed on behalf of the Corporation by an officer and delivered to
the Optionee and containing such terms and provisions, consistent with this
Plan, as the Committee may approve.
5. APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The Committee may also authorize grants
to Participants of Appreciation Rights. An Appreciation Right shall be a right
of the Participant to receive from the Corporation an amount, which shall be
determined by the Committee and shall be expressed as a percentage (not
exceeding 100 percent) of the Spread at the time of the exercise of such right.
Any grant of Appreciation Rights under this Plan shall be upon such terms and
conditions as the Committee may determine in accordance with the following
provisions:
(a) Any grant may specify that the amount payable on exercise of
an Appreciation Right may be paid by the Corporation in cash, in Common Shares
or in any combination thereof and may either grant to the Optionee or retain in
the Committee the right to elect among those alternatives.
(b) Any grant may specify that the amount payable on exercise of
an Appreciation Right may not exceed a maximum specified by the Committee at the
Date of Grant.
(c) Any grant may specify waiting periods before exercise and
permissible exercise dates or periods and shall provide that no Appreciation
Right may be exercised except at a time when the related Option Right is also
exercisable and at a time when the Spread is positive.
(d) Any grant may specify that such Appreciation Right may be
exercised only in the event of a Change in Control or other similar transaction
or event.
(e) Each grant of Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by a
notification executed on behalf of the Corporation by an officer and delivered
to and accepted by the Optionee, which notification shall describe such
Appreciation Rights, identify the related Option Rights, state that such
Appreciation Rights are subject to all the terms and conditions of this Plan,
and contain such other terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the
Committee may approve.
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<PAGE> 10
(f) Any grant of Appreciation Rights may specify Management
Objectives that must be achieved as a condition of the exercise of such rights.
(g) Regarding Tandem Appreciation Rights only: Each grant shall
provide that a Tandem Appreciation Right may be exercised only (i) at a time
when the related Option Right (or any similar right granted under any other plan
of the Corporation) is also exercisable and the Spread is positive and (ii) by
surrender of the related Option Right (or such other right) for cancellation. In
addition, a Tandem Appreciation Right awarded in relation to an Incentive Stock
Option must be granted concurrently with such Incentive Stock Option.
(h) Regarding Free-standing Appreciation Rights only:
(i) Each grant shall specify in respect of each
Free-standing Appreciation Right a Base
Price per Common Share, which shall be equal
to or greater than the Market Value per
Share on the Date of Grant;
(ii) Successive grants may be made to the same
Participant regardless of whether any
Free-standing Appreciation Rights previously
granted to such Participant remain
unexercised;
(iii) Each grant shall specify the period or periods of
continuous service by the Participant with the
Corporation or any Subsidiary that is necessary
before the Free-standing Appreciation Rights or
installments thereof shall become exercisable, and
any grant may provide for the earlier exercise of
such rights in the event of a Change in Control,
retirement, death or disability of the Participant or
other similar transaction or event as approved by the
Committee; and
(iv) No Free-standing Appreciation Right granted
under this Plan may be exercised more than
10 years from the Date of Grant.
6. RESTRICTED SHARES. The Committee may also authorize the grant or sale
to Participants of Restricted Shares. Each such grant or sale may utilize any or
all of the authorizations, and shall be subject to all of the requirements,
contained in the following provisions:
(a) Each such grant or sale shall constitute an immediate transfer of
the ownership of Common Shares to the Participant in consideration of the
performance of services, entitling such Participant to voting, dividend and
other ownership rights, but subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and
restrictions on transfer hereinafter referred to.
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<PAGE> 11
(b) Each such grant or sale may be made without additional
consideration or in consideration of a payment by such Participant that is less
than Market Value per Share at the Date of Grant.
(c) Each such grant or sale shall provide that the Restricted
Shares covered by such grant or sale shall be subject to a "substantial risk of
forfeiture" within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code for a period of not
less than one (1) year to be determined by the Committee at the Date of Grant,
and any grant or sale may provide for the earlier termination of such period in
the event of retirement, or death or disability of the Optionee or other similar
transaction or event as approved by the Committee.
(d) Each such grant or sale shall provide that during the period
for which such substantial risk of forfeiture is to continue, the
transferability of the Restricted Shares shall be prohibited or restricted in
the manner and to the extent prescribed by the Committee at the Date of Grant
(which restrictions may include, without limitation, rights of repurchase or
first refusal in the Corporation or provisions subjecting the Restricted Shares
to a continuing substantial risk of forfeiture in the hands of any transferee).
(e) Any grant of Restricted Shares may specify Management
Objectives which, if achieved, will result in termination or early termination
of the restrictions applicable to such shares and each grant may specify in
respect of such specified Management Objectives, a minimum acceptable level of
achievement and may set forth a formula for determining the number of Restricted
Shares on which restrictions will terminate if performance is at or above the
minimum level, but falls short of full achievement of the specified Management
Objectives.
(f) Any such grant or sale of Restricted Shares may require that
any or all dividends or other distributions paid thereon during the period of
such restrictions be automatically deferred and reinvested in additional
Restricted Shares, which may be subject to the same restrictions as the
underlying award.
(g) Each grant or sale of Restricted Shares shall be evidenced by
an agreement executed on behalf of the Corporation by any officer and delivered
to and accepted by the Participant and shall contain such terms and provisions,
consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve. Unless otherwise
directed by the Committee, all certificates representing Restricted Shares shall
be held in custody by the Corporation until all restrictions thereon shall have
lapsed, together with a stock power executed by the Participant in whose name
such certificates are registered, endorsed in blank and covering such Shares.
7. DEFERRED SHARES. The Committee may also authorize the granting or
sale of Deferred Shares to Participants. Each such grant or sale may utilize any
or all of the authorizations, and shall be subject to all of the requirements
contained in the following provisions:
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<PAGE> 12
(a) Each such grant or sale shall constitute the agreement by the
Corporation to deliver Common Shares to the Participant in the future in
consideration of the performance of services, but subject to the fulfillment of
such conditions during the Deferral Period as the Committee may specify.
(b) Each such grant or sale may be made without additional
consideration or in consideration of a payment by such Participant that is less
than the Market Value per Share at the Date of Grant.
(c) Each such grant or sale shall be subject, except (if the
Committee shall so determine) in the event of a Change in Control or other
similar transaction or event, to a Deferral Period of not less than 1 year, as
determined by the Committee at the Date of Grant.
(d) During the Deferral Period, the Participant shall have no
right to transfer any rights under his or her award and shall have no rights of
ownership in the Deferred Shares and shall have no right to vote them, but the
Committee may, at or after the Date of Grant, authorize the payment of dividend
equivalents on such Shares on either a current or deferred or contingent basis,
either in cash or in additional Common Shares.
(e) Each grant or sale of Deferred Shares shall be evidenced by
an agreement executed on behalf of the Corporation by any officer and delivered
to and accepted by the Participant and shall contain such terms and provisions,
consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.
(f) For purposes of this Plan, a grant which would otherwise
constitute Deferred Shares but which contains Management Objectives shall be
deemed to be issued under Section 8 below, as either Performance Shares or
Performance Units.
8. PERFORMANCE SHARES OR PERFORMANCE UNITS. The Committee may also
authorize the granting of Performance Shares or Performance Units that will
become payable to a Participant upon achievement of specified Management
Objectives. Each such grant may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and
shall be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following
provisions:
(a) Each grant shall specify the number of Performance Shares or
Performance Units to which it pertains, which number may be subject to
adjustment to reflect changes in compensation or other factors; provided,
however, that no such adjustment shall be made in the case of a Covered Employee
where such action would result in the loss of the otherwise available exemption
of the award under Section 162(m) of the Code.
(b) The Performance Period with respect to each Performance Share
or Performance Unit shall be such period of time not less than 1 year, (except
in the event of a Change in Control or other similar transaction or event, if
the Committee shall so determine)
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<PAGE> 13
commencing with the Date of Grant and ending on the last date of the Performance
Period (as shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant).
(c) Any grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units shall
specify Management Objectives which, if achieved, will result in payment or
early payment of the award, and each grant shall specify in respect of such
specified one or more Management Objectives a minimum acceptable level of
achievement and shall set forth a formula for determining the number of
Performance Shares or Performance Units that will be earned if performance is at
or above the minimum level, but falls short of full achievement of the specified
Management Objectives. The grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units
shall specify that, before the Performance Shares or Performance Units shall be
earned and paid, the Committee must certify that the Management Objectives have
been satisfied.
(d) Each grant shall specify a minimum acceptable level of
achievement in respect of the specified Management Objectives below which no
payment will be made and shall set forth a formula for determining the amount of
payment to be made if performance is at or above such minimum but short of full
achievement of the Management Objectives.
(e) Each grant shall specify the time and manner of payment of
Performance Shares or Performance Units which have been earned. Any grant may
specify that the amount payable with respect thereto may be paid by the
Corporation in cash, in Common Shares or in any combination thereof and may
either grant to the Participant or retain in the Committee the right to elect
among those alternatives.
(f) Any grant of Performance Shares may specify that the amount
payable with respect thereto may not exceed a maximum specified by the Committee
at the Date of Grant. Any grant of Performance Units may specify that the amount
payable or the number of Common Shares issued with respect thereto may not
exceed maximums specified by the Committee at the Date of Grant.
(g) The Committee may, at or after the Date of Grant of
Performance Shares, provide for the payment of dividend equivalents to the
holder thereof on either a current or deferred or contingent basis, either in
cash or in additional Common Shares.
(h) Each grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units shall
be evidenced by a notification executed on behalf of the Corporation by any
officer and delivered to and accepted by the Participant, which notification
shall state that such Performance Shares or Performance Units are subject to all
the terms and conditions of this Plan, and contain such other terms and
provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.
9. OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS. Other awards of Common Shares and other
awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise
based on, Common Shares ("Other Stock-Based Awards"), including, without
limitation, performance shares, convertible preferred stock (if authorized by
the Company's articles of incorporation), convertible debentures
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<PAGE> 14
(if authorized by the Company's articles of incorporation), exchangeable
securities and awards, Common Shares or options valued by reference to book
value or subsidiary performance, may be granted either along with or in addition
to or in tandem with Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock,
Deferred Stock or Stock Purchase Rights granted under the Plan and/or cash
awards made outside of the Plan.
(a) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have
authority to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such
awards shall be made, the number of Common Shares to be awarded pursuant to such
awards, and all other conditions of the awards. The Committee may also provide
for the grant of Common Shares upon the completion of a specified performance
period.
The provisions of Other Stock Based Awards need not be the same with
respect to each recipient.
(b) Other Stock Based Awards made pursuant to this Section 9 shall be
subject to the following terms and conditions and to such additional conditions
as the Committee in its sole discretion may provide for in the award agreement:
(i) Subject to the provisions of this Plan and the award agreement
referred to in Section 9(b)(v) below, shares subject to awards made under
this Section 9 may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise
encumbered prior to the date on which the shares covered thereby are issued
to the recipient, or, if later, the date on which any applicable
restriction, performance or deferral period lapses.
(ii) Subject to the provisions of this Plan and the award
agreement and unless otherwise determined by the Committee on the Date of
Grant, the recipient of an award under this Section 9 shall be entitled to
receive, currently or on a deferred basis, interest or dividends or
interest or dividend equivalents with respect to the number of shares
covered by the award, as determined at the time of the award by the
Committee, in its sole discretion, and the Committee may provide that such
amounts (if any) shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional
Stock or otherwise reinvested.
(iii) Any award under Section 9 and any Stock covered by any such
award shall vest or be forfeited to the extent so provided in the award
agreement, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion;
(iv) In the event of the participant's Retirement, Disability or
death, or in cases of special circumstances, the Committee may, in its sole
discretion, waive in whole or in part any or all of the remaining
limitations imposed hereunder (if any) with respect to any or all of an
award under this Section 9.
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<PAGE> 15
(v) Each award under this Section 9 shall be confirmed by, and
subject to the terms of, an agreement or other instrument executed by the
Corporation and by the participant, the form of which has been approved by
the Committee.
(vi) Stock (including securities convertible into Stock) issued on
a bonus basis under this Section 9 may be issued for no cash consideration.
Stock (including securities convertible into Stock) purchased pursuant to a
purchase right awarded under this Section 9 shall be priced at least 50% of
the Fair Market Value per Share of the Stock on the date of grant.
10. TRANSFERABILITY. (a) Except as otherwise determined by the
Committee and as provided in subparagraph (c) below, no Option Right,
Appreciation Right or other derivative security granted under the Plan shall be
transferable by an Optionee other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, Option Rights and
Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable during the Optionee's lifetime only by
him or her or by his or her guardian or legal representative.
(b) The Committee may specify at the Date of Grant that part or
all of the Common Shares that are (i) to be issued or transferred by the
Corporation upon the exercise of Option Rights or Appreciation Rights, upon the
termination of the Deferral Period applicable to Deferred Shares or upon payment
under any grant of Performance Shares, Performance Units or Other Stock-Based
Awards or (ii) no longer subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and
restrictions on transfer referred to in Section 6 of this Plan, shall be subject
to further restrictions on transfer.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10(a), Option
Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares, Performance
Shares, Performance Units, and Other Stock-Based Awards shall be transferable by
a Participant without payment of consideration therefor by the transferee, to
any one or more members of the Participant's Immediate Family (or to one or more
trusts established solely for the benefit of one or more members of the
Participant's Immediate Family or to one or more partnerships in which the only
partners are members of the Participant's Immediate Family or to an organization
which is exempt from federal taxation pursuant to Section 501(c)(3)of the Code);
provided, however, that (i) no such transfer shall be effective unless
reasonable prior notice thereof is delivered to the Company and such transfer is
thereafter effected in accordance with any terms and conditions that shall have
been made applicable thereto by the Company or the Board and (ii) any such
transferee shall be subject to the same terms and conditions hereunder as the
Participant.
11. ADJUSTMENTS. The Committee may make or provide for such
adjustments in the numbers of Common Shares covered by outstanding Option
Rights, Appreciation Rights, Deferred Shares, Performance Shares and Other
Stock-Based Awards granted hereunder, in the prices per share applicable to such
Option Rights and Appreciation Rights and in the kind of
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<PAGE> 16
shares covered thereby, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, exercised in
good faith, may determine is equitably required to prevent dilution or
enlargement of the rights of Participants or Optionees that otherwise would
result from (a) any stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares,
recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Corporation, or
(b) any merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-off, spin-out, split-up,
reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets,
issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities, or (c) any other
corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing.
Moreover, in the event of any such transaction or event, the Committee, in its
discretion, may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding awards under
this Plan such alternative consideration as it, in good faith, may determine to
be equitable in the circumstances and may require in connection therewith the
surrender of all awards so replaced. The Committee may also make or provide for
such adjustments in the numbers of shares specified in Section 3 of this Plan as
the Committee in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, may determine is
appropriate to reflect any transaction or event described in this Section 11.
12. CHANGE IN CONTROL. For purposes of this Plan, a "Change in
Control" shall be deemed to occur on the earliest of:
(i) The effective time of any purchase, sale, merger,
consolidation or other transaction after which any
person, corporation, partnership or other entity other
than Flowers Industries, Inc. ("Flowers") or its
Affiliates, the then current management of the Company
or of Flowers or any member of the immediate family of
said management, or any employee benefit plan of Company
or of Flowers ("Permitted Owners") shall own more than
fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding capital stock of
the Company which stock is entitled to vote for the
election of directors.
(ii) If it occurs prior to February 3, 2001, the effective
time of any purchase, sale, merger, consolidation or
other transaction after which any person, corporation,
partnership or entity other than the then current
management of the Company or Flowers or any member of
the immediate family of said management, or any employee
benefit plan of Company or of Flowers ("Permitted
Owners") shall own more than fifty percent (50%) of the
outstanding capital stock of Flowers which stock is
entitled to vote for the election of directors.
(iii) The effective time of a transfer to an entity other
than a Permitted Owner of substantially all of the
property of the Company.
(iv) Continuing Directors at any time fail to constitute a
majority of the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Continuing Directors" shall mean the members of the
Board of Directors as of the date hereof, plus any
new directors whose
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<PAGE> 17
nominations were approved by at least a majority of the
Continuing Directors in office at the time of the
election of any such new directors.
For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "Affiliate" shall be as
defined in Rule 405 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.
13. FRACTIONAL SHARES. The Corporation shall not be required to
issue any fractional Common Shares pursuant to this Plan. The Committee may
provide for the elimination of fractions or for the settlement of fractions
in cash based on Market Value per Share on the date of settlement.
14. WITHHOLDING TAXES. To the extent that the Corporation is required
to withhold federal, state, local or foreign taxes in connection with any
payment made or benefit realized by a Participant or other person under this
Plan, and the amounts available to the Corporation for such withholding
are insufficient, it shall be a condition to the receipt of such payment or the
realization of such benefit that the Participant or such other person make
arrangements satisfactory to the Corporation for payment of the balance of such
taxes required to be withheld, which arrangements (in the discretion of the
Committee) may include relinquishment of a portion of such benefit. The
Corporation and a Participant or such other person may also make similar
arrangements with respect to the payment of any taxes with respect to which
withholding is not required.
15. PARTICIPATION BY EMPLOYEES OF DESIGNATED SUBSIDIARIES. As a
condition to the effectiveness of any grant or award to be made hereunder to a
Participant who is an employee of a Designated Subsidiary, whether or not such
Participant is also employed by the Corporation or another Subsidiary, the
Committee may require such Designated Subsidiary to agree to transfer to such
employee (when, as and if provided for under this Plan and any applicable
agreement entered into with any such employee pursuant to this Plan) the Common
Shares that would otherwise be delivered by the Corporation, upon receipt by
such Designated Subsidiary of any consideration then otherwise payable by such
Participant to the Corporation. Any such award shall be evidenced by an
agreement between the Participant and the Designated Subsidiary, in lieu of the
Corporation, on terms consistent with this Plan and approved by the Committee
and such Designated Subsidiary. All such Common Shares so delivered by or to a
Designated Subsidiary shall be treated as if they had been delivered by or to
the Corporation for purposes of Section 3 of this Plan, and all references to
the Corporation in this Plan shall be deemed to refer to such Designated
Subsidiary, except for purposes of the definition of "Board" and except in other
cases where the context otherwise requires.
16. FOREIGN EMPLOYEES. In order to facilitate the making of any grant
or combination of grants under this Plan, the Committee may provide for
such special terms for awards to
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<PAGE> 18
Participants who are foreign nationals or who are employed by the Corporation or
any Subsidiary outside of the United States of America as the Committee may
consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax
policy or custom. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to or
amendments, restatements or alternative versions of this Plan as it may consider
necessary or appropriate for such purposes, without thereby affecting the terms
of this Plan as in effect for any other purpose, and the Secretary or other
appropriate officer of the Corporation may certify any such document as having
been approved and adopted in the same manner as this Plan. No such special
terms, supplements, amendments or restatements, however, shall include any
provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of this Plan as then in effect
unless this Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without
further approval by the shareholders of the Corporation.
17. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. (a) This Plan shall be administered by
a Committee of the Board (or subcommittee thereof), consisting of not less than
two Non-Employee Directors appointed by the Board. To the extent of such
delegation, references in the Plan to the Board shall also refer to the
appropriate committee. A majority of the Committee (or subcommittee thereof)
shall constitute a quorum, and the action of the members of the Committee (or
subcommittee thereof) present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, or
acts unanimously approved in writing, shall be the acts of the committee (or
subcommittee thereof). Until subsequent action of the Board, the Committee shall
be the Compensation Committee of the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Board may act in lieu of the Committee on any matter hereunder.
(b) The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any
provision of this Plan or of any agreement, notification or document evidencing
the grant of Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Deferred
Shares, Performance Shares or Performance Units and any determination by the
Committee pursuant to any provision of this Plan or of any such agreement,
notification or document shall be final and conclusive. No member of the
Committee shall be liable for any such action or determination made in good
faith.
18. AMENDMENTS, ETC. (a) The Committee may at any time and from time
to time amend the Plan in whole or in part; provided, however, that any
amendment which must be approved by the shareholders of the Corporation in order
to comply with applicable law or the rules of the principal national securities
exchange upon which the Common Shares are traded or quoted shall not be
effective unless and until such approval has been obtained. Presentation of this
Plan or any amendment hereof for shareholder approval shall not be construed to
limit the Corporation's authority to offer similar or dissimilar benefits under
plans that do not require shareholder approval.
(b) The Committee may, with the concurrence of affected Optionee,
cancel any agreement evidencing Option Rights or any other award granted under
this Plan. In the event of such cancellation, the Committee may authorize the
granting of new Option Rights or other
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<PAGE> 19
awards hereunder (which may or may not cover the same number of Common Shares
which had been the subject of the prior award) in such manner, at such option
price, and subject to such other terms, conditions and discretion as would have
been applicable under this Plan had the canceled Option Rights or other award
not been granted.
(c) The Committee also may permit Participants to elect to defer
the issuance of Common Shares or the settlement of awards in cash under the Plan
pursuant to such rules, procedures or programs as it may establish for purposes
of this Plan. The Committee also may provide that deferred settlements include
the payment or crediting of dividend equivalents or interest on the deferral
amounts.
(d) The Committee may condition the grant of any award or
combination of awards authorized under this Plan on the surrender or deferral by
the Participant of his or her right to receive a cash bonus or other
compensation otherwise payable by the Corporation or a Subsidiary to the
Participant.
(e) In case of termination of employment by reason of death,
disability or normal or early retirement, or in the case of hardship or other
special circumstances, of a Participant who holds an Option Right or
Appreciation Right not immediately exercisable in full, or any Restricted Shares
as to which the substantial risk of forfeiture or the prohibition or restriction
on transfer has not lapsed, or any Deferred Shares as to which the Deferral
Period has not been completed, or any Performance Shares or Performance Units or
Other Stock-Based Awards which have not been fully earned, or who holds Common
Shares subject to any transfer restriction imposed pursuant to Section 10(b) of
this Plan, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the time at
which such Option Right or Appreciation Right may be exercised or the time at
which such substantial risk of forfeiture or prohibition or restriction on
transfer will lapse or the time when such Deferral Period will end or the time
at which such Performance Shares or Performance Units will be deemed to have
been fully earned or the time when such transfer restriction will terminate or
may waive any other limitation or requirement under any such award.
(f) This Plan shall not confer upon any Participant any right
with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Corporation
or any Subsidiary, nor shall it interfere in any way with any right the
Corporation or any Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate such
Participant's employment or other service at any time.
(g) To the extent that any provision of this Plan would prevent
any Option Right that was intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option from
qualifying as such, that provision shall be null and void with respect to such
Option Right. Such provision, however, shall remain in effect for other Option
Rights and there shall be no further effect on any provision of this Plan.
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<PAGE> 20
19. TERMINATION. No grant (other than an automatic grant of Reload
Option Rights) shall be made under this Plan more than 10 years after the
earlier of the date the Plan is adopted or the date on which this Plan is first
approved by the shareholders of the Corporation, but all grants made on or prior
to such date shall continue in effect thereafter subject to the terms thereof
and of this Plan.
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<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 5.01
Keebler Foods Company
677 Larch Avenue
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126
Re: 6,500,000 Shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of Keebler
Foods Company
Ladies or Gentlemen:
We refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") filed by Keebler Foods Company (the "Company") with
the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act"), relating to the registration of 6,500,000
shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value (the "Shares"), of the Company which may
be issued from time to time upon exercise of stock options or other awards
granted to employees of the Company pursuant to the 1998 Omnibus Stock Incentive
Plan (the "Plan").
We are familiar with the proceedings to date with respect to the
Plan and the proposed issuance and sale of the Shares and have examined such
records, documents and questions of law, and satisfied ourselves as to such
matters of fact, as we have considered relevant and necessary as a basis for
this opinion.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares will
be, as and when acquired in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Plan, legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable under the Delaware General
Corporation Law.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to
the Registration Statement and to all references to our firm included in or made
a part of the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Winston & Strawn
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EXHIBIT 23.02
Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this registration
statement on Form S-8 of our report dated December 5, 1997, except for Note 23,
as to which the date is January 22, 1998, on our audits of the consolidated
financial statements of Keebler Foods Company appearing in the registration
statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-42075) of Keebler Foods Company filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933.
/s/ Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
Chicago, Illinois
February 13, 1998
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 23.03
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of
Keebler Foods Company ("Keebler") on Form S-8 of our report dated May 16, 1996
on our audit of the financial statements of Sunshine Biscuits, Inc. included
in the Prospectus of Keebler which is incorporated by reference herein and the
reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Prospectus.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Parsippany, New Jersey
February 13, 1998
