EXHIBIT 10.3
SMARTDISK CORPORATION
1999 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
(AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF MARCH 24, 2000)
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SMARTDISK CORPORATION
1999 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
1. Purpose....................................................................1
2. Definitions................................................................1
3. Administration.............................................................4
(a) Authority of the Committee........................................4
(b) Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority.........................5
(c) Limitation of Liability...........................................5
4. Stock Subject to Plan......................................................5
(a) Limitation on Overall Number of Shares Subject to Awards..........5
(b) Application of Limitations........................................6
5. Eligibility; Per-Person Award Limitations..................................6
6. Specific Terms of Awards...................................................6
(a) General...........................................................6
(b) Options...........................................................6
(c) Stock Appreciation Rights.........................................9
(d) Restricted Stock..................................................9
(e) Deferred Stock...................................................10
(f) Bonus Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations....................11
(g) Dividend Equivalents.............................................12
(h) Other Stock-Based Awards.........................................12
7. Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards...................................12
(a) Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards...........12
(b) Term of Awards...................................................13
(c) Form and Timing of Payment Under Awards; Deferrals...............13
(d) Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability..........................13
8. Performance and Annual Incentive Awards...................................13
(a) Performance Conditions...........................................13
(b) Performance Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees.......14
(c) Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated
Covered Employees.............................................15
(d) Written Determinations...........................................16
(e) Status of Section 8(b) and Section 8(c) Awards Under Code
Section 162(m)................................................17
9. Change in Control.........................................................17
(a) Effect of "Change in Control."...................................17
(b) Definition of "Change in Control.................................18
(c) Definition of "Change in Control Price.".........................19
10. General Provisions........................................................19
(A) Compliance With Legal and Other Requirements.....................19
(b) Limits on Transferability; Beneficiaries.........................19
(c) Adjustments......................................................20
(d) Taxes............................................................21
(i)
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(e) Changes to the Plan and Awards...................................21
(f) Limitation on Rights Conferred Under Plan........................21
(g) Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts....................22
(h) Nonexclusivity of the Plan.......................................22
(i) Payments in the Event of Forfeitures; Fractional Shares..........22
(j) Governing Law....................................................22
(k) Plan Effective Date and Stockholder Approval;
Termination of Plan...........................................22
(ii)
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SMARTDISK CORPORATION
1999 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this 1999 Incentive Compensation Plan (the
"Plan") is to assist SMARTDISK CORPORATION (the "Company"), its parent
corporation and its subsidiaries in attracting, motivating, retaining and
rewarding employees, officers, Directors and independent contractors by enabling
such persons to acquire or increase a proprietary interest in the Company in
order to strengthen the mutuality of interests between such persons and the
Company's stockholders, and providing such persons with annual and long term
performance incentives to expend their maximum efforts in the creation of
shareholder value. The Plan is also intended to qualify certain compensation
awarded under the Plan for tax deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code
(as hereafter defined) to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee (or any
successor committee) of the Board of Directors of the Company.
2. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be
defined as set forth below, in addition to such terms defined in Section 1
hereof.
(a) "Annual Incentive Award" means a conditional right granted
to a Participant under Section 8(c) hereof to receive a cash payment, Stock or
other Award, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, after the end of a
specified fiscal year.
(b) "Award" means any Option, SAR (including Limited SAR),
Restricted Stock, Deferred Stock, Stock granted as a bonus or in lieu of another
award, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock-Based Award, Performance Award or Annual
Incentive Award, together with any other right or interest, granted to a
Participant under the Plan.
(c) "Beneficiary" means the person, persons, trust or trusts
which have been designated by a Participant in his or her most recent written
beneficiary designation filed with the Committee to receive the benefits
specified under the Plan upon such Participant's death or to which Awards or
other rights are transferred if and to the extent permitted under Section 10(b)
hereof. If, upon a Participant's death, there is no designated Beneficiary or
surviving designated Beneficiary, then the term Beneficiary means the person,
persons, trust or trusts entitled by will or the laws of descent and
distribution to receive such benefits.
(d) "Beneficial Owner", "Beneficially Owning" and "Beneficial
Ownership" shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act and any successor to such Rule.
(e) "Board" means the Company's Board of Directors.
(f) "Change in Control" means Change in Control as defined
with related terms in Section 9 of the Plan.
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(g) "Change in Control Price" means the amount calculated in
accordance with Section 9(c) of the Plan.
(h) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time, including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and
regulations thereto.
(i) "Committee" means a committee designated by the Board to
administer the Plan; provided, however, that the Committee shall consist of at
least two directors and, after the Publicly-Traded Date, each member of the
Committee shall be (i) a "non-employee director" within the meaning of Rule
16b-3 under the Exchange Act, unless administration of the Plan by "non-employee
directors" is not then required in order for exemptions under Rule 16b-3 to
apply to transactions under the Plan, and (ii) an "outside director" within the
meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, unless administration of the Plan by
"outside directors" is not then required in order to qualify for tax
deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code.
(j) "Corporate Transaction" means a Corporate Transaction as
defined in Section 9(b)(i) of the Plan.
(k) "Covered Employee" means an Eligible Person who is a
Covered Employee as specified in Section 8(e) of the Plan.
(l) "Deferred Stock" means a right, granted to a Participant
under Section 6(e) hereof, to receive Stock, cash or a combination thereof at
the end of a specified deferral period.
(m) "Director" means a member of the Board.
(n) "Disability" means a permanent and total disability
(within the meaning of Section 22(e) of the Code), as determined by a medical
doctor satisfactory to the Committee.
(o) "Dividend Equivalent" means a right, granted to a
Participant under Section 6(g) hereof, to receive cash, Stock, other Awards or
other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified
number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments.
(p) "Effective Date" means the effective date of the Plan,
which shall be July 21, 1999.
(q) "Eligible Person" means each Executive Officer of the
Company (as defined under the Exchange Act) and other officers, Directors and
employees of the Company, of any Parent Corporation or of any Subsidiary, and
independent contractors with the Company, any Parent Corporation or any
Subsidiary. The foregoing notwithstanding, only employees of the Company, any
Parent Corporation or any Subsidiary shall be Eligible Persons for purposes of
receiving any Incentive Stock Options. An employee on leave of absence may be
considered as still in the employ of the Company, a Parent Corporation or a
Subsidiary for purposes of eligibility for participation in the Plan.
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(r) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended from time to time, including rules thereunder and successor
provisions and rules thereto.
(s) "Executive Officer" means an executive officer of the
Company as defined under the Exchange Act.
(t) "Fair Market Value" means the fair market value of Stock,
Awards or other property as determined by the Committee or the Board, or under
procedures established by the Committee or the Board. Unless otherwise
determined by the Committee or the Board, the Fair Market Value of Stock as of
any reference date shall be the closing sale price per share on the business day
immediately preceding the date of reference, reported on a consolidated basis
for stock listed on the principal stock exchange or market on which Stock is
traded on the date as of which such value is being determined or, if there is no
sale on that date, then on the last previous day on which a sale was reported.
(u) "Incentive Stock Option" or "ISO" means any Option
intended to be designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.
(v) "Incumbent Board" means the Incumbent Board as defined in
Section 9(b)(iii) of the Plan.
(w) "Limited SAR" means a right granted to a Participant under
Section 6(c) hereof.
(x) "Option" means a right granted to a Participant under
Section 6(b) hereof, to purchase Stock or other Awards at a specified price
during specified time periods.
(y) "Other Stock-Based Awards" means Awards granted to a
Participant under Section 6(h) hereof.
(z) "Parent Corporation" means any corporation (other than the
Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company, if each
of the corporations in the chain (other than the Company) owns stock possessing
50% or more of the combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the
other corporations in the chain.
(aa) "Participant" means a person who has been granted an
Award under the Plan which remains outstanding, including a person who is no
longer an Eligible Person.
(bb) "Performance Award" means a right, granted to an Eligible
Person under Section 8 hereof, to receive Awards based upon performance criteria
specified by the Committee or the Board.
(cc) "Person" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
thereof, and shall include a "group" as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.
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(dd) "Publicly-Traded Date" means the date on which the Stock
of the Company, or the stock of any successor company into which the Stock is
substituted or exchanged, is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of
the Securities Exchange Act.
(ee) "Restricted Stock" means Stock granted to a Participant
under Section 6(d) hereof, that is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk
of forfeiture.
(ff) "Retire" or "Retirement" means termination of service as
a Director after having attained at least age 62 and having served as a Director
for at least 5 years, other than by reason of death, Disability or the
Director's willful misconduct or negligence.
(gg) "Rule 16b-3" and "Rule 16a-1(c)(3)" means Rule 16b-3 and
Rule 16a-1(c)(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
(hh) "Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, and such other
securities as may be substituted (or resubstituted) for Stock pursuant to
Section 10(c) hereof.
(ii) "Stock Appreciation Rights" or "SAR" means a right
granted to a Participant under Section 6(c) hereof.
(jj) "Subsidiary" means any corporation or other entity in
which the Company has a direct or indirect ownership interest of 50% or more of
the total combined voting power of the then outstanding securities or interests
of such corporation or other entity entitled to vote generally in the election
of directors or in which the Company has the right to receive 50% or more of the
distribution of profits or 50% or more of the assets on liquidation or
dissolution.
3. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) AUTHORITY OF THE COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered
by the Committee; provided, however, that except as otherwise expressly provided
in this Plan or in order to comply with Code Section 162(m) or Rule 16b-3 under
the Exchange Act, the Board may exercise any power or authority granted to the
Committee under this Plan. The Committee or the Board shall have full and final
authority, in each case subject to and consistent with the provisions of the
Plan, to select Eligible Persons to become Participants, grant Awards, determine
the type, number and other terms and conditions of, and all other matters
relating to, Awards, prescribe Award agreements (which need not be identical for
each Participant) and rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan,
construe and interpret the Plan and Award agreements and correct defects, supply
omissions or reconcile inconsistencies therein, and to make all other decisions
and determinations as the Committee or the Board may deem necessary or advisable
for the administration of the Plan. In exercising any discretion granted to the
Committee or the Board under the Plan or pursuant to any Award, the Committee or
the Board shall not be required to follow past practices, act in a manner
consistent with past practices, or treat any Eligible Person in a manner
consistent with the treatment of other Eligible Persons.
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(b) MANNER OF EXERCISE OF COMMITTEE AUTHORITY. The Committee,
and not the Board, shall exercise sole and exclusive discretion on any matter
relating to a Participant then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act with
respect to the Company to the extent necessary in order that transactions by
such Participant shall be exempt under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. Any
action of the Committee or the Board shall be final, conclusive and binding on
all persons, including the Company, its subsidiaries, Participants,
Beneficiaries, transferees under Section 10(b) hereof or other persons claiming
rights from or through a Participant, and stockholders. The express grant of any
specific power to the Committee or the Board, and the taking of any action by
the Committee or the Board, shall not be construed as limiting any power or
authority of the Committee or the Board. The Committee or the Board may delegate
to officers or managers of the Company or any subsidiary, or committees thereof,
the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee or the Board shall
determine, (i) to perform administrative functions, (ii) with respect to
Participants not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, to perform such
other functions as the Committee or the Board may determine, and (iii) with
respect to Participants subject to Section 16, to perform such other functions
of the Committee or the Board as the Committee or the Board may determine to the
extent performance of such functions will not result in the loss of an exemption
under Rule 16b-3 otherwise available for transactions by such persons, in each
case to the extent permitted under applicable law and subject to the
requirements set forth in Section 8(d). The Committee or the Board may appoint
agents to assist it in administering the Plan.
(c) LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The Committee and the Board, and
each member thereof, shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any
report or other information furnished to him or her by any executive officer,
other officer or employee of the Company, a Parent Corporation or a Subsidiary,
the Company's independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in
the administration of the Plan. Members of the Committee and the Board, and any
officer or employee of the Company, a Parent Corporation or a Subsidiary acting
at the direction or on behalf of the Committee or the Board, shall not be
personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith
with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully
indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such action or
determination.
4. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN.
(a) LIMITATION ON OVERALL NUMBER OF SHARES SUBJECT TO AWARDS.
Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10(c) hereof, the total number of
shares of Stock reserved and available for delivery in connection with Awards
under the Plan shall be the sum of (i). Three Million (3,000,000) shares, which
is comprised of (A) the Two Million Five Hundred Thousand (2,500,000) shares
reserved under the plan as originally adopted and (B) an additional Five Hundred
Thousand (500,000) shares authorized by the Board on March 24, 2000, subject to
stockholder approval at the 2000 Annual Meeting, plus (ii) the number of shares
with respect to Awards previously granted under the Plan that terminate without
being exercised, expire, are forfeited or canceled, and the number of shares of
Stock that are surrendered in payment of any Awards or any tax withholding with
regard thereto, plus (iii) an annual increase to be added on the first trading
day of January each year, commencing 2001 and continuing through 2005, equal to
three percent (3%) of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding on
the last trading day in December of the immediately preceding calendar year, as
authorized by the Board on March 24, 2000, subject to stockholder approval at
the 2000 Annual Meeting. Any shares of Stock delivered under the Plan may
consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury
shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10(c) hereof, in no event
shall the aggregate number of shares of Stock which may be issued pursuant to
ISOs exceed Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) shares.
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(b) APPLICATION OF LIMITATIONS. The limitation contained in
Section 4(a) shall apply not only to Awards that are settleable by the delivery
of shares of Stock but also to Awards relating to shares of Stock but settleable
only in cash (such as cash-only SARs). The Committee or the Board may adopt
reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double
counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards) and make
adjustments if the number of shares of Stock actually delivered differs from the
number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award.
5. ELIGIBILITY; PER-PERSON AWARD LIMITATIONS. Awards may be granted
under the Plan only to Eligible Persons. In each fiscal year during any part of
which the Plan is in effect, an Eligible Person may not be granted Awards
relating to more than One Hundred Thousand (100,000) shares of Stock, subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 10(c), under each of Sections 6(b), 6(c),
6(d), 6(e), 6(f), 6(g), 6(h), 8(b) and 8(c). In addition, the maximum amount
that may be earned as an Annual Incentive Award or other cash Award in any
fiscal year by any one Participant shall be $10,000,000, and the maximum amount
that may be earned as a Performance Award or other cash Award in respect of a
performance period by any one Participant shall be $20,000,000.
6. SPECIFIC TERMS OF AWARDS6.SpecificTermsofAwards.
(a) GENERAL. Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions
set forth in this Section 6. In addition, the Committee or the Board may impose
on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter
(subject to Section 10(e)), such additional terms and conditions, not
inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee or the Board
shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of
termination of employment by the Participant and terms permitting a Participant
to make elections relating to his or her Award. The Committee or the Board shall
retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive or modify, at any time,
any term or condition of an Award that is not mandatory under the Plan. Except
in cases in which the Committee or the Board is authorized to require other
forms of consideration under the Plan, or to the extent other forms of
consideration must be paid to satisfy the requirements of Florida law, no
consideration other than services may be required for the grant (but not the
exercise) of any Award.
(b) OPTIONS. The Committee and the Board each is authorized to
grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i) EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price per share of
Stock purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the
Committee or the Board, provided that such exercise price
shall not, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, be less
than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of
grant of the Option and shall not, in any event, be less than
the par value of a share of Stock on the date of grant of such
Option. If an employee owns or is deemed to own (by reason of
the attribution rules applicable under Section 424(d) of the
Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company or any Parent Corporation and
an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such
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employee, the option price of such Incentive Stock Option (to
the extent required by the Code at the time of grant) shall be
no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the
date such Incentive Stock Option is granted.
(ii) TIME AND METHOD OF EXERCISE. The Committee or
the Board shall determine the time or times at which or the
circumstances under which an Option may be exercised in whole
or in part (including based on achievement of performance
goals and/or future service requirements), the time or times
at which Options shall cease to be or become exercisable
following termination of employment or upon other conditions,
the methods by which such exercise price may be paid or deemed
to be paid (including in the discretion of the Committee or
the Board a cashless exercise procedure), the form of such
payment, including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other
Awards or awards granted under other plans of the Company or
any subsidiary, or other property (including notes or other
contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a
deferred basis), and the methods by or forms in which Stock
will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants.
(III) ISOS. The terms of any ISO granted under the
Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of
Section 422 of the Code. Anything in the Plan to the contrary
notwithstanding, no term of the Plan relating to ISOs
(including any SAR in tandem therewith) shall be interpreted,
amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority
granted under the Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify
either the Plan or any ISO under Section 422 of the Code,
unless the Participant has first requested the change that
will result in such disqualification. Thus, if and to the
extent required to comply with Section 422 of the Code,
Options granted as Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to
the following special terms and conditions:
(A) the Option shall not be exercisable more
than ten years after the date such Incentive Stock Option is
granted; provided, however, that if a Participant owns or is
deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section
424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power
of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent
Corporation and the Incentive Stock Option is granted to such
Participant, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be
(to the extent required by the Code at the time of the grant)
for no more than five years from the date of grant; and
(B) The aggregate Fair Market Value
(determined as of the date the Incentive Stock Option is
granted) of the shares of stock with respect to which
Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan and all other
option plans of the Company or its Parent Corporation during
any calendar year exercisable for the first time by the
Participant during any calendar year shall not (to the extent
required by the Code at the time of the grant) exceed
$100,000.
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(IV) FORMULA GRANTS OF OPTIONS TO NON-EMPLOYEE
DIRECTORS. Subject to adjustment as provided in the first
sentence of Section 10(c) hereof, each non-employee Director
shall receive (A) on the date of his or her appointment as a
non-employee Director of the Company, an Option to purchase
15,000 shares of Stock; (B) on the date of his or her
appointment to a committee of the Board, an Option to purchase
500 shares of Stock; (C) on the date of his or her election as
a chairman of a committee of the Board, an Option to purchase
500 shares of Stock; (D) each year, on January 1, an Option to
purchase 7,500 shares of Stock (pro rated for non-employee
Directors who are elected during that year but subsequent to
January 1, based upon the portion of the year they serve as
non-employee Directors), (E) for each committee assignment on
each January 1, an Option to purchase 2,000 shares of Stock
(pro rated for non-employee Directors who are elected during
that year but subsequent to January 1, based upon the portion
of the year they serve as non-employee Directors), and (F) for
each committee chairmanship on January 1, an Option to
purchase 1,000 shares of Stock (pro rated for non-employee
Directors who are elected during that year but subsequent to
January 1, based upon the portion of the year they serve as
non-employee Directors). Options granted to non-employee
Directors pursuant to this paragraph (iv) shall be for a term
of 10 years and shall become exercisable at the rate of 2% per
month commencing on the first month immediately following the
month in which the Option is granted; provided, however, that
the Options shall be fully exercisable in the event that,
while serving as a non-employee Director, the non-employee
Director dies, suffers a Disability, Retires or in the event
of a Change in Control. The per share exercise price of all
Options granted to non-employee Directors pursuant to this
paragraph (iv) shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of a
share of Stock on the last trading day immediately preceding
the January 1 on which the Option is granted. Unless otherwise
extended in the sole of the discretion of the Committee, the
unexercised portion of any Option granted pursuant to this
paragraph (iv) shall become null and void (V) three months
after the date on which such non-employee Director ceases to
be a non-employee Director of the Company for any reason other
than the Director's willful misconduct or negligence,
Disability, death or Retirement, (W) immediately in the event
of the non-employee Director's willful misconduct or
negligence, (X) one year after the non-employee Director
ceases to be a non-employee Director by reason of his
Disability, (Y) at the expiration of its original term, if the
non-employee Director ceases to be a non-employee Director by
reason of his Retirement, and (Z) twelve months after the date
of the non-employee Director's death in the event that such
death occurs prior to the time the Option otherwise would
become null and void pursuant to this sentence.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to those
individuals who are non-employee Directors as of the Effective
Date of this Plan, this paragraph (iv) shall apply on or after
January 1, 2001. The option grants made to a non-employee
Director pursuant to this paragraph (iv) shall not preclude
the grant of other Awards to such non-employee Director under
this Plan.
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(c) STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The Committee and the Board
each is authorized to grant SAR's to Participants on the following terms and
conditions:
(i) RIGHT TO PAYMENT. A SAR shall confer on the
Participant to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon
exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of
one share of stock on the date of exercise (or, in the case of
a "Limited SAR" that may be exercised only in the event of a
Change in Control, the Fair Market Value determined by
reference to the Change in Control Price, as defined under
Section 9(c) hereof), over (B) the grant price of the SAR as
determined by the Committee or the Board. The grant price of
an SAR shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share
of Stock on the date of grant except as provided under Section
7(a) hereof.
(ii) OTHER TERMS. The Committee or the Board shall
determine at the date of grant or thereafter, the time or
times at which and the circumstances under which a SAR may be
exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement
of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the
time or times at which SARs shall cease to be or become
exercisable following termination of employment or upon other
conditions, the method of exercise, method of settlement, form
of consideration payable in settlement, method by or forms in
which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to
Participants, whether or not a SAR shall be in tandem or in
combination with any other Award, and any other terms and
conditions of any SAR. Limited SARs that may only be exercised
in connection with a Change in Control or other event as
specified by the Committee or the Board, may be granted on
such terms, not inconsistent with this Section 6(c), as the
Committee or the Board may determine. SARs and Limited SARs
may be either freestanding or in tandem with other Awards.
(d) RESTRICTED STOCK. The Committee and the Board each is
authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Participants on the following terms and
conditions:
(i) GRANT AND RESTRICTIONS. Restricted Stock shall be
subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of
forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee or
the Board may impose, which restrictions may lapse separately
or in combination at such times, under such circumstances
(including based on achievement of performance goals and/or
future service requirements), in such installments or
otherwise, as the Committee or the Board may determine at the
date of grant or thereafter. Except to the extent restricted
under the terms of the Plan and any Award agreement relating
to the Restricted Stock, a Participant granted Restricted
Stock shall have all of the rights of a stockholder, including
the right to vote the Restricted Stock and the right to
receive dividends thereon (subject to any mandatory
reinvestment or other requirement imposed by the Committee or
the Board). During the restricted period applicable to the
Restricted Stock, subject to Section 10(b) below, the
Restricted Stock may not be sold,
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transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise
encumbered by the Participant.
(ii) FORFEITURE. Except as otherwise determined by
the Committee or the Board at the time of the Award, upon
termination of a Participant's employment during the
applicable restriction period, the Participant's Restricted
Stock that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be
forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided that the
Committee or the Board 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 Stock shall be waived in whole or in part in the
event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the
Committee or the Board may in other cases waive in whole or in
part the forfeiture of Restricted Stock.
(iii) CERTIFICATES FOR STOCK. Restricted Stock
granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the
Committee or the Board shall determine. If certificates
representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of
the Participant, the Committee or the Board may require that
such certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to the
terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such
Restricted Stock, that the Company retain physical possession
of the certificates, and that the Participant deliver a stock
power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the
Restricted Stock.
(iv) DIVIDENDS AND SPLITS. As a condition to the
grant of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee or the
Board may require that any cash dividends paid on a share of
Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in additional
shares of Restricted Stock or applied to the purchase of
additional Awards under the Plan. Unless otherwise determined
by the Committee or the Board, Stock distributed in connection
with a Stock split or Stock dividend, and other property
distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions
and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted
Stock with respect to which such Stock or other property has
been distributed.
(e) DEFERRED STOCK. The Committee and the Board each is
authorized to grant Deferred Stock to Participants, which are rights to receive
Stock, cash, or a combination thereof at the end of a specified deferral period,
subject to the following terms and conditions:
(i) AWARD AND RESTRICTIONS. Satisfaction of an Award
of Deferred Stock shall occur upon expiration of the deferral
period specified for such Deferred Stock by the Committee or
the Board (or, if permitted by the Committee or the Board, as
elected by the Participant). In addition, Deferred Stock shall
be subject to such restrictions (which may include a risk of
forfeiture) as the Committee or the Board may impose, if any,
which restrictions may lapse at the expiration of the deferral
period or at earlier specified times (including based on
achievement of performance goals and/or future service
requirements), separately
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or in combination, in installments or otherwise, as the
Committee or the Board may determine. Deferred Stock may be
satisfied by delivery of Stock, cash equal to the Fair Market
Value of the specified number of shares of Stock covered by
the Deferred Stock, or a combination thereof, as determined by
the Committee or the Board at the date of grant or thereafter.
Prior to satisfaction of an Award of Deferred Stock, an Award
of Deferred Stock carries no voting or dividend or other
rights associated with share ownership.
(ii) FORFEITURE. Except as otherwise determined by
the Committee or the Board, upon termination of a
Participant's employment during the applicable deferral period
thereof to which forfeiture conditions apply (as provided in
the Award agreement evidencing the Deferred Stock), the
Participant's Deferred Stock that is at that time subject to
deferral (other than a deferral at the election of the
Participant) shall be forfeited; provided that the Committee
or the Board 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 Deferred
Stock shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of
terminations resulting from specified causes, and the
Committee or the Board may in other cases waive in whole or in
part the forfeiture of Deferred Stock.
(iii) DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS. Unless otherwise
determined by the Committee or the Board at date of grant,
Dividend Equivalents on the specified number of shares of
Stock covered by an Award of Deferred Stock shall be either
(A) paid with respect to such Deferred Stock at the dividend
payment date in cash or in shares of unrestricted Stock having
a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, or
(B) deferred with respect to such Deferred Stock and the
amount or value thereof automatically deemed reinvested in
additional Deferred Stock, other Awards or other investment
vehicles, as the Committee or the Board shall determine or
permit the Participant to elect.
(f) BONUS STOCK AND AWARDS IN LIEU OF OBLIGATIONS. The
Committee and the Board each is authorized to grant Stock as a bonus, or to
grant Stock or other Awards in lieu of Company obligations to pay cash or
deliver other property under the Plan or under other plans or compensatory
arrangements, provided that, in the case of Participants subject to Section 16
of the Exchange Act, the amount of such grants remains within the discretion of
the Committee to the extent necessary to ensure that acquisitions of Stock or
other Awards are exempt from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
Stock or Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to such other terms as shall
be determined by the Committee or the Board.
(g) DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS. The Committee and the Board each is
authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to a Participant entitling the
Participant to receive cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property equal in
value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock,
or other periodic payments. Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a
free-standing basis or in connection with another Award. The Committee or the
Board may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when
accrued or shall be deemed to have
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been reinvested in additional Stock, Awards, or other investment vehicles, and
subject to such restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture, as the
Committee or the Board may specify.
(h) OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS. The Committee and the Board each
is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to
Participants 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, Stock,
as deemed by the Committee or the Board to be consistent with the purposes of
the Plan, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt
securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Stock, purchase rights
for Stock, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the
Company or any other factors designated by the Committee or the Board, and
Awards valued by reference to the book value of Stock or the value of securities
of or the performance of specified subsidiaries or business units. The Committee
or the Board shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards. Stock
delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under
this Section 6(h) shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such
times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash,
Stock, other Awards or other property, as the Committee or the Board shall
determine. Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other Award under
the Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 6(h).
7. 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 or the
Board, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in
substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another
plan of the Company, any subsidiary, or any business entity to be acquired by
the Company or a subsidiary, or any other right of a Participant to receive
payment from the Company or any subsidiary. Such additional, tandem, and
substitute or exchange Awards may be granted at any time. If an Award is granted
in substitution or exchange for another Award or award, the Committee or the
Board shall require the surrender of such other Award or award in consideration
for the grant of the new Award. In addition, Awards may be granted in lieu of
cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans
of the Company or any subsidiary, in which the value of Stock subject to the
Award is equivalent in value to the cash compensation (for example, Deferred
Stock or Restricted Stock), or in which the exercise price, grant price or
purchase price of the Award in the nature of a right that may be exercised is
equal to the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock minus the value of the
cash compensation surrendered (for example, Options granted with an exercise
price "discounted" by the amount of the cash compensation surrendered).
(b) TERM OF AWARDS. The term of each Award shall be for such
period as may be determined by the Committee or the Board; provided that in no
event shall the term of any Option or SAR exceed a period of ten years (or such
shorter term as may be required in respect of an ISO under Section 422 of the
Code).
(c) FORM AND TIMING OF PAYMENT UNDER AWARDS; DEFERRALS.
Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award agreement, payments to
be made by the Company or
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a subsidiary upon the exercise of an Option or other Award or settlement of an
Award may be made in such forms as the Committee or the Board shall determine,
including, without limitation, cash, Stock that have been held for at least 6
months, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or
transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis. The settlement of any Award
may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Stock in connection with such
settlement, in the discretion of the Committee or the Board or upon occurrence
of one or more specified events (in addition to a Change in Control).
Installment or deferred payments may be required by the Committee or the Board
(subject to Section 10(e) of the Plan) or permitted at the election of the
Participant on terms and conditions established by the Committee or the Board.
Payments may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or
crediting of a reasonable interest rate on installment or deferred payments or
the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents or other amounts in respect of
installment or deferred payments denominated in Stock.
(d) EXEMPTIONS FROM SECTION 16(B) LIABILITY. It is the intent
of the Company that this Plan comply in all respects with applicable provisions
of Rule 16b-3 or Rule 16a-1(c)(3) to the extent necessary to ensure that neither
the grant of any Awards to nor other transaction by a Participant who is subject
to Section 16 of the Exchange Act is subject to liability under Section 16(b)
thereof (except for transactions acknowledged in writing to be non-exempt by
such Participant). Accordingly, if any provision of this Plan or any Award
agreement does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or Rule
16a-1(c)(3) as then applicable to any such transaction, such provision will be
construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to the applicable
requirements of Rule 16b-3 or Rule 16a-1(c)(3) so that such Participant shall
avoid liability under Section 16(b). In addition, the purchase price of any
Award conferring a right to purchase Stock shall be not less than any specified
percentage of the Fair Market Value of Stock at the date of grant of the Award
then required in order to comply with Rule 16b-3.
8. PERFORMANCE AND ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS.
(a) PERFORMANCE CONDITIONS. The right of a Participant to
exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof,
may be subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the
Committee or the Board. The Committee or the Board may use such business
criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in
establishing any performance conditions, and may exercise its discretion to
reduce the amounts payable under any Award subject to performance conditions,
except as limited under Sections 8(b) and 8(c) hereof in the case of a
Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under Code
Section 162(m). If and to the extent required under Code Section 162(m), any
power or authority relating to a Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award
intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m), shall be exercised by the
Committee and not the Board.
(b) PERFORMANCE AWARDS GRANTED TO DESIGNATED COVERED
EMPLOYEES. If and to the extent that the Committee determines that a Performance
Award to be granted to an Eligible Person who is designated by the Committee as
likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as "performance-based
compensation" for purposes of Code Section 162(m), the grant,
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exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Award shall be contingent upon
achievement of preestablished performance goals and other terms set forth in
this Section 8(b).
(i) PERFORMANCE GOALS GENERALLY. The performance
goals for such Performance Awards shall consist of one or more
business criteria and a targeted level or levels of
performance with respect to each of such criteria, as
specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 8(b).
Performance goals shall be objective and shall otherwise meet
the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and regulations
thereunder including the requirement that the level or levels
of performance targeted by the Committee result in the
achievement of performance goals being "substantially
uncertain." The Committee may determine that such Performance
Awards shall be granted, exercised and/or settled upon
achievement of any one performance goal or that two or more of
the performance goals must be achieved as a condition to
grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Awards.
Performance goals may differ for Performance Awards granted to
any one Participant or to different Participants.
(ii) BUSINESS CRITERIA. One or more of the following
business criteria for the Company, on a consolidated basis,
and/or specified subsidiaries or business units of the Company
(except with respect to the total stockholder return and
earnings per share criteria), shall be used exclusively by the
Committee in establishing performance goals for such
Performance Awards: (1) total stockholder return; (2) such
total stockholder return as compared to total return (on a
comparable basis) of a publicly available index such as, but
not limited to, the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index or the
S&P Specialty Retailer Index; (3) net income; (4) pretax
earnings; (5) earnings before interest expense, taxes,
depreciation and amortization; (6) pretax operating earnings
after interest expense and before bonuses, service fees, and
extraordinary or special items; (7) operating margin; (8)
earnings per share; (9) return on equity; (10) return on
capital; (11) return on investment; (12) operating earnings;
(13) working capital or inventory; and (14) ratio of debt to
stockholders' equity. One or more of the foregoing business
criteria shall also be exclusively used in establishing
performance goals for Annual Incentive Awards granted to a
Covered Employee under Section 8(c) hereof that are intended
to qualify as "performance-based compensation under Code
Section 162(m).
(iii) PERFORMANCE PERIOD; TIMING FOR ESTABLISHING
PERFORMANCE GOALS. Achievement of performance goals in respect
of such Performance Awards shall be measured over a
performance period of up to ten years, as specified by the
Committee. Performance goals shall be established not later
than 90 days after the beginning of any performance period
applicable to such Performance Awards, or at such other date
as may be required or permitted for "performance-based
compensation" under Code Section 162(m).
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(iv) PERFORMANCE AWARD POOL. The Committee may
establish a Performance Award pool, which shall be an unfunded
pool, for purposes of measuring Company performance in
connection with Performance Awards. The amount of such
Performance Award pool shall be based upon the achievement of
a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the
business criteria set forth in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof during
the given performance period, as specified by the Committee in
accordance with Section 8(b)(iii) hereof. The Committee may
specify the amount of the Performance Award pool as a
percentage of any of such business criteria, a percentage
thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or as another amount
which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to
such business criteria.
(v) SETTLEMENT OF PERFORMANCE AWARDS; OTHER TERMS.
Settlement of such Performance Awards shall be in cash, Stock,
other Awards or other property, in the discretion of the
Committee. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the
amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with
such Performance Awards. The Committee shall specify the
circumstances in which such Performance Awards shall be paid
or forfeited in the event of termination of employment by the
Participant prior to the end of a performance period or
settlement of Performance Awards.
(c) ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS GRANTED TO DESIGNATED COVERED
EMPLOYEES. If and to the extent that the Committee determines that an Annual
Incentive Award to be granted to an Eligible Person who is designated by the
Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as
"performance-based compensation" for purposes of Code Section 162(m), the grant,
exercise and/or settlement of such Annual Incentive Award shall be contingent
upon achievement of preestablished performance goals and other terms set forth
in this Section 8(c).
(i) ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARD POOL. The Committee may
establish an Annual Incentive Award pool, which shall be an
unfunded pool, for purposes of measuring Company performance
in connection with Annual Incentive Awards. The amount of such
Annual Incentive Award pool shall be based upon the
achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or
more of the business criteria set forth in Section 8(b)(ii)
hereof during the given performance period, as specified by
the Committee in accordance with Section 8(b)(iii) hereof. The
Committee may specify the amount of the Annual Incentive Award
pool as a percentage of any such business criteria, a
percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or as
another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical
relationship to such business criteria.
(ii) POTENTIAL ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS. Not later
than the end of the 90th day of each fiscal year, or at such
other date as may be required or permitted in the case of
Awards intended to be "performance-based compensation" under
Code Section 162(m), the Committee shall determine the
Eligible Persons who will potentially receive Annual Incentive
Awards, and the amounts potentially
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payable thereunder, for that fiscal year, either out of an
Annual Incentive Award pool established by such date under
Section 8(c)(i) hereof or as individual Annual Incentive
Awards. In the case of individual Annual Incentive Awards
intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m), the amount
potentially payable shall be based upon the achievement of a
performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business
criteria set forth in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof in the given
performance year, as specified by the Committee; in other
cases, such amount shall be based on such criteria as shall be
established by the Committee. In all cases, the maximum Annual
Incentive Award of any Participant shall be subject to the
limitation set forth in Section 5 hereof.
(iii) PAYOUT OF ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS. After the
end of each fiscal year, the Committee shall determine the
amount, if any, of (A) the Annual Incentive Award pool, and
the maximum amount of potential Annual Incentive Award payable
to each Participant in the Annual Incentive Award pool, or (B)
the amount of potential Annual Incentive Award otherwise
payable to each Participant. The Committee may, in its
discretion, determine that the amount payable to any
Participant as an Annual Incentive Award shall be reduced from
the amount of his or her potential Annual Incentive Award,
including a determination to make no Award whatsoever. The
Committee shall specify the circumstances in which an Annual
Incentive Award shall be paid or forfeited in the event of
termination of employment by the Participant prior to the end
of a fiscal year or settlement of such Annual Incentive Award.
(d) WRITTEN DETERMINATIONS. All determinations by the
Committee as to the establishment of performance goals, the amount of any
Performance Award pool or potential individual Performance Awards and as to the
achievement of performance goals relating to Performance Awards under Section
8(b), and the amount of any Annual Incentive Award pool or potential individual
Annual Incentive Awards and the amount of final Annual Incentive Awards under
Section 8(c), shall be made in writing in the case of any Award intended to
qualify under Code Section 162(m). The Committee may not delegate any
responsibility relating to such Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards if
and to the extent required to comply with Code Section 162(m).
(e) STATUS OF SECTION 8(B) AND SECTION 8(C) AWARDS UNDER CODE
SECTION 162(M). It is the intent of the Company that Performance Awards and
Annual Incentive Awards under Section 8(b) and 8(c) hereof granted to persons
who are designated by the Committee as likely to be Covered Employees within the
meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder shall, if so
designated by the Committee, constitute "qualified performance-based
compensation" within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations
thereunder. Accordingly, the terms of Sections 8(b), (c), (d) and (e), including
the definitions of Covered Employee and other terms used therein, shall be
interpreted in a manner consistent with Code Section 162(m) and regulations
thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, because the Committee cannot
determine with certainty whether a given Participant will be a Covered Employee
with respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term Covered
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Employee as used herein shall mean only a person designated by the Committee, at
the time of grant of Performance Awards or an Annual Incentive Award, as likely
to be a Covered Employee with respect to that fiscal year. If any provision of
the Plan or any agreement relating to such Performance Awards or Annual
Incentive Awards does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of
Code Section 162(m) or regulations thereunder, such provision shall be construed
or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.
9. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) EFFECT OF "CHANGE IN CONTROL." If and to the extent
provided in the Award, in the event of a "Change in Control," as defined in
Section 9(b), the following provisions shall apply:
(i) Any Award carrying a right to exercise that was
not previously exercisable and vested may become exercisable
and vested as of the time of the Change in Control, subject
only to applicable restrictions set forth in Section 10(a)
hereof, to the extent provided in the Award;
(ii) Limited SARs (and other SARs if so provided by
their terms) may become exercisable for amounts, in cash,
determined by reference to the Change in Control Price, to the
extent provided in the Award;
(iii) The restrictions, deferral of settlement, and
forfeiture conditions applicable to any other Award granted
under the Plan may lapse and such Awards may be deemed fully
vested as of the time of the Change in Control, except to the
extent of any waiver by the Participant and subject to
applicable restrictions set forth in Section 10(a) hereof, to
the extent provided in the Award; and
(iv) With respect to any such outstanding Award
subject to achievement of performance goals and conditions
under the Plan, such performance goals and other conditions
may be deemed to be met if and to the extent so provided by
the Committee in the Award agreement relating to such Award.
(b) DEFINITION OF "CHANGE IN CONTROL. A "Change in Control"
shall be deemed to have occurred upon:
(i) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
reorganization, merger, consolidation or other form of corporate transaction or
series of transactions, in each case, with respect to which persons who were the
shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or
consolidation or other transaction do not, immediately thereafter, own more than
50% of the combined voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors of the reorganized, merged or consolidated company's then outstanding
voting securities, or a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the sale of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (unless such
reorganization, merger, consolidation or other
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corporate transaction, liquidation, dissolution or sale (any such event being
referred to as a "Corporate Transaction") is subsequently abandoned);
(ii) Approval by the shareholders of the Parent
Corporation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or other form of
corporate transaction or series of transactions, in each case, with respect to
which persons who were the shareholders of the Parent Corporation immediately
prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation or other transaction do
not, immediately thereafter, own more than 50% of the combined voting power
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the reorganized,
merged or consolidated company's then outstanding voting securities, or a
liquidation or dissolution of the Parent Corporation or the sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Parent Corporation (unless such Corporate
Transaction is subsequently abandoned);
(iii) Individuals who, as of the date on which the
Award is granted, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person
becoming a director subsequent to the date on which the Award was granted whose
election, or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved
by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent
Board (other than an election or nomination of an individual whose initial
assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election
contest relating to the election of the Directors of the Company, as such terms
are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act) shall be, for purposes of this Agreement, considered as though
such person were a member of the Incumbent Board; or
(iv) the acquisition (other than from the Company) by
any person, entity or "group", within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or
14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act, of 30% of either the then outstanding
shares of the Company's Common Stock or the combined voting power of the
Company's then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (hereinafter referred to as the ownership of a
"Controlling Interest") excluding, for this purpose, any acquisitions by (1) the
Company or its Subsidiaries, (2) any person, entity or "group" that as of the
date on which the Award is granted owns beneficial ownership (within the meaning
of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act) of a Controlling
Interest, (3) Addison Fisher and/or any entities owned and/or controlled by
Addison Fisher, or (4) any employee benefit plan of the Company or its
Subsidiaries.
(c) DEFINITION OF "CHANGE IN CONTROL PRICE." The "Change in
Control Price" means an amount in cash equal to the higher of (i) the amount of
cash and fair market value of property that is the highest price per share paid
(including extraordinary dividends) in any Corporate Transaction triggering the
Change in Control under Section 9(b)(i) hereof or any liquidation of shares
following a sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (ii) the
highest Fair Market Value per share at any time during the 60-day period
preceding and the 60-day period following the Change in Control.
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10. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS. The Company
may, to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Committee or the Board,
postpone the issuance or delivery of Stock or payment of other benefits under
any Award until completion of such registration or qualification of such Stock
or other required action under any federal or state law, rule or regulation,
listing or other required action with respect to any stock exchange or automated
quotation system upon which the Stock or other Company securities are listed or
quoted, or compliance with any other obligation of the Company, as the Committee
or the Board, may consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to make
such representations, furnish such information and comply with or be subject to
such other conditions as it may consider appropriate in connection with the
issuance or delivery of Stock or payment of other benefits in compliance with
applicable laws, rules, and regulations, listing requirements, or other
obligations. The foregoing notwithstanding, in connection with a Change in
Control, the Company shall take or cause to be taken no action, and shall
undertake or permit to arise no legal or contractual obligation, that results or
would result in any postponement of the issuance or delivery of Stock or payment
of benefits under any Award or the imposition of any other conditions on such
issuance, delivery or payment, to the extent that such postponement or other
condition would represent a greater burden on a Participant than existed on the
90th day preceding the Change in Control.
(b) LIMITS ON TRANSFERABILITY; BENEFICIARIES. No Award or
other right or interest of a Participant under the Plan, including any Award or
right which constitutes a derivative security as generally defined in Rule
16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act, shall be pledged, hypothecated or otherwise
encumbered or subject to any lien, obligation or liability of such Participant
to any party (other than the Company or a Subsidiary), or assigned or
transferred by such Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent
and distribution or to a Beneficiary upon the death of a Participant, and such
Awards or rights that may be exercisable shall be exercised during the lifetime
of the Participant only by the Participant or his or her guardian or legal
representative, except that Awards and other rights (other than ISOs and SARs in
tandem therewith) may be transferred to one or more Beneficiaries or other
transferees during the lifetime of the Participant, and may be exercised by such
transferees in accordance with the terms of such Award, but only if and to the
extent such transfers and exercises are permitted by the Committee or the Board
pursuant to the express terms of an Award agreement (subject to any terms and
conditions which the Committee or the Board may impose thereon, and further
subject to any prohibitions or restrictions on such transfers pursuant to Rule
16b-3). A Beneficiary, transferee, or other person claiming any rights under the
Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms and
conditions of the Plan and any Award agreement applicable to such Participant,
except as otherwise determined by the Committee or the Board, and to any
additional terms and conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee
or the Board.
(c) ADJUSTMENTS. In the event that any dividend or other
distribution (whether in the form of cash, Stock, or other property),
recapitalization, forward or reverse split, reorganization, merger,
consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share exchange, liquidation,
dissolution or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Stock
such that
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a substitution or adjustment is determined by the Committee or the Board to be
appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of
Participants under the Plan, then the Committee or the Board shall, in such
manner as it may deem equitable, substitute or adjust any or all of (i) the
number and kind of shares of Stock which may be delivered in connection with
Awards granted thereafter, (ii) the number and kind of shares of Stock by which
annual per-person Award limitations are measured under Section 5 hereof, (iii)
the number and kind of shares of Stock subject to or deliverable in respect of
outstanding Awards and (iv) the exercise price, grant price or purchase price
relating to any Award and/or make provision for payment of cash or other
property in respect of any outstanding Award. In addition, the Committee (and
the Board if and only to the extent such authority is not required to be
exercised by the Committee to comply with Code Section 162(m)) is authorized to
make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in,
Awards (including Performance Awards and performance goals, and Annual Incentive
Awards and any Annual Incentive Award pool or performance goals relating
thereto) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without
limitation, events described in the preceding sentence, as well as acquisitions
and dispositions of businesses and assets) affecting the Company, any Subsidiary
or any business unit, or the financial statements of the Company or any
Subsidiary, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations,
accounting principles, tax rates and regulations or business conditions or in
view of the Committee's assessment of the business strategy of the Company, any
Subsidiary or business unit thereof, performance of comparable organizations,
economic and business conditions, personal performance of a Participant, and any
other circumstances deemed relevant; provided that no such adjustment shall be
authorized or made if and to the extent that such authority or the making of
such adjustment would cause Options, SARs, Performance Awards granted under
Section 8(b) hereof or Annual Incentive Awards granted under Section 8(c) hereof
to Participants designated by the Committee as Covered Employees and intended to
qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Code Section 162(m) and the
regulations thereunder to otherwise fail to qualify as "performance-based
compensation" under Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder.
(d) TAXES. The Company and any Subsidiary is authorized to
withhold from any Award granted, any payment relating to an Award under the
Plan, including from a distribution of Stock, or any payroll or other payment to
a Participant, amounts of withholding and other taxes due or potentially payable
in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other
action as the Committee or the Board may deem advisable to enable the Company
and Participants 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 Stock or other property and to make cash
payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant's tax obligations,
either on a mandatory or elective basis in the discretion of the Committee.
(e) 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 stockholders or
Participants, except that any amendment or alteration to the Plan shall be
subject to the approval of the Company's stockholders not later than the annual
meeting next following such Board action if such stockholder approval is
required by any federal
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or state law or regulation (including, without limitation, Rule 16b-3 or Code
Section 162(m)) or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system
on which the Stock may then be listed or quoted, and the Board may otherwise, in
its discretion, determine to submit other such changes to the Plan to
stockholders for approval; provided that, without the consent of an affected
Participant, no such Board action may materially and adversely affect the rights
of such Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award. The
Committee or the Board may waive any conditions or rights under, or amend,
alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award theretofore granted and any
Award agreement relating thereto, except as otherwise provided in the Plan;
provided that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Committee
or the Board action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such
Participant under such Award. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the
contrary, if any right under this Plan would cause a transaction to be
ineligible for pooling of interest accounting that would, but for the right
hereunder, be eligible for such accounting treatment, the Committee or the Board
may modify or adjust the right so that pooling of interest accounting shall be
available, including the substitution of Stock having a Fair Market Value equal
to the cash otherwise payable hereunder for the right which caused the
transaction to be ineligible for pooling of interest accounting; provided that,
without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Committee or Board
action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under
any previously granted and outstanding Award.
(f) LIMITATION ON RIGHTS CONFERRED UNDER PLAN. Neither the
Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any
Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or
Participant or in the employ of the Company or a Subsidiary; (ii) interfering in
any way with the right of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate any Eligible
Person's or Participant's employment at any time, (iii) giving an Eligible
Person or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan or to be
treated uniformly with other Participants and employees, or (iv) conferring on a
Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until
the Participant is duly issued or transferred shares of Stock in accordance with
the terms of an Award.
(g) UNFUNDED STATUS OF AWARDS; CREATION OF TRUSTS. The Plan is
intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive and deferred
compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant or
obligation to deliver Stock 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 that the Committee may
authorize the creation of trusts and deposit therein cash, Stock, other Awards
or other property, or make other arrangements to meet the Company's obligations
under the Plan. Such 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. The trustee of such trusts may be
authorized to dispose of trust assets and reinvest the proceeds in alternative
investments, subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee or the Board
may specify and in accordance with applicable law.
(h) NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN. Neither the adoption of the
Plan by the Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for
approval shall be construed as creating
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any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such
other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable including incentive
arrangements and awards which do not qualify under Code Section 162(m).
(i) PAYMENTS IN THE EVENT OF FORFEITURES; FRACTIONAL SHARES.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or the Board, in the event of a
forfeiture of an Award with respect to which a Participant paid cash or other
consideration, the Participant shall be repaid the amount of such cash or other
consideration. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered
pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Committee or the Board 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 under the Plan, and any Award agreement
shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without
giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws, and applicable federal law.
(k) PLAN EFFECTIVE DATE AND STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL; TERMINATION
OF PLAN. The Plan became effective on the Effective Date, upon adoption by the
Board and approval by the Company's stockholders. The Plan was amended on March
24, 2000 to effect the following changes, which are subject to stockholder
approval at the 2000 Annual Meeting: (i) to increase the number of shares of
Stock reserved and available for delivery in connection with Awards by an
additional Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) shares; and (ii) to implement the
automatic share increase provision in clause (iii) of Section 4(a). Awards may
be granted subject to stockholder approval, but may not be exercised or
otherwise settled in the event stockholder approval is not obtained. The Plan
shall terminate at such time as no shares of Common Stock remain available for
issuance under the Plan and the Company has no further rights or obligations
with respect to outstanding Awards under the Plan.
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