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EXHIBIT 10.4
GABRIEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(as amended as of December 21, 1999)
SECTION 1
Statement of Purpose
1.1. The Gabriel Communications, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") has
been established by Gabriel Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), to:
(a) attract and retain executive, managerial and other salaried employees,
and outside directors, consultants and advisers;
(b) motivate Participants, by means of appropriate incentives, to achieve
long-range goals;
(c) provide incentive compensation opportunities that are competitive with
those of other telecommunications businesses; and
(d) further identify a Participant's interests with those of the Company's
stockholders through compensation that is based on the Company's Stock; and
thereby promote the long-term financial interests of the Company, including
the growth in value of the Company's equity and enhancement of long-term
stockholder returns.
SECTION 2
Definitions
2.1. Unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have
the meaning set forth below:
(a) Award. The term "Award" shall mean any award or benefit granted to
any Participant under the Plan, including, without limitation, the
grant of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock,
Restricted Stock Units, Performance Stock, Performance Units, Stock
acquired through a Stock purchase program, Merit Awards and Phantom
Stock Awards.
(b) Board. The term "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the
Company.
(c) Cause. The term "Cause" shall mean (i) the willful and continued
failure by a Participant to substantially perform his or her duties
with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from
incapacity due to physical or mental illness), or (ii) the willful
engaging by the Participant in conduct which is demonstrably and
materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise. For
purposes
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of this definition, no act, or failure to act, shall be deemed
"willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Participant not
in good faith and without reasonable belief that his or her action or
omission was in the best interest of the Company.
(d) Change in Control. A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have
occurred if:
(1) any "person" as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act") (other than a Significant Stockholder,
the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, or any trustee
or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee
benefit plan of the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company), is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined
in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25% or
more of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding securities in any transaction or series of
transactions not approved in advance by a vote of at least
two-thirds (2/3) of the Board; or
(2) during any period of three consecutive years (not including
any period prior to the effective date of this Plan),
individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute
the Board, and any new director (other than a director
designated by a person who has entered into an agreement
with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause
(1), (3), (4) or (5) of this definition) whose election by
the Board or nomination for election by the Comapny's
stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds
(2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were
directors at the beginning of the period or whose election
or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease
for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof; or
(3) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or
consolidation of the Company with any other company other
than (i) a merger or consolidation which would result in the
voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately
prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of
the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting
power of the voting securities of the Company (or such
surviving entity) outstanding immediately after such merger
or consolidation, or (ii) a merger or consolidation effected
to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar
transaction) in which no "person" (as hereinabove defined)
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acquires more than 25% of the combined voting power of the
Company's then outstanding securities; or
(4) the stockholders of the Company adopt a plan of complete
liquidation of the Company or approve an agreement for the
sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially
all of the Company's assets; or
(5) any other event determined by a vote of at least two-thirds
(2/3) of the Board to constitute a "Change of Control".
(e) Code. The term "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended. A reference to any provision of the Code shall include
reference to any successor provision of the Code.
(f) Committee. The term "Committee" means the Compensation Committee
of the Board selected in accordance with the provisions of Subsection
4.2.
(g) Date of Termination. A Participant's "Date of Termination" shall
be the date on which his or her employment or other affiliation with
all Employers terminates for any reason; provided that a Date of
Termination shall not be deemed to occur by reason of a transfer of
the Participant between the Company and a Related Company or between
two Related Companies; and provided further that an Employee
Participant's employment shall not be considered terminated while the
Employee Participant is on a leave of absence which is approved by the
Participant's Employer.
(h) Disability. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, a
Participant shall be considered to have a "Disability" during the
period in which he or she is unable, by reason of a medically
determinable physical or mental impairment, to carry out his or her
duties with an Employer, which condition, in the discretion of the
Committee, is expected to have a duration of not less than 120 days.
(i) Effective Date. The term "Effective Date" shall have the meaning
ascribed to it in Section 4.1 of the Plan.
(j) Employee. The term "Employee" shall mean a person with an
employment relationship with an Employer.
(k) Employer. The term "Employer" shall mean the Company and each
Related Company.
(l) Fair Market Value. Until the initial public offering of the Stock
pursuant to a registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended ("IPO"), the term "Fair Market Value" of the
Stock on any given date shall be the
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mean the fair market value per share of Stock as reasonably determined
in good faith by the Committee. On any given date following the IPO,
the term "Fair Market Value" of the Stock shall mean the last sale
price per share of Stock, regular way, on such date or, in case no
such sale takes place on such date, the mean between the closing bid
and asked prices per share of Stock on such date, as reported in the
principal quotation system applicable to the Stock or, if on any such
date the Stock is not so quoted, the price per share of Stock
reasonably determined in good faith by the Committee.
(m) Grant Date. The term "Grant Date" means the date any Award is
granted by the Committee or such earlier day on which the Participant
is hired, promoted or such other singular event occurs, provided the
date on which the Award is granted by the Committee shall not be more
than 90 days following such date.
(n) Immediate Family. With respect to a particular Participant, the
term "Immediate Family" shall mean, whether through consanguinity or
adoptive relationships, the Participant's spouse, children,
stepchildren, siblings and grandchildren.
(o) Incentive Stock Option. The term "Incentive Stock Option" shall
have the meaning ascribed to it in Subsection 6.1 of the Plan.
(p) Individual Limit. The term "Individual Limit" shall have the
meaning ascribed to it in Subsection 4.3 of the Plan.
(q) Merit Award. The term "Merit Award" shall mean any Merit Award
granted pursuant to Section 13 of the Plan.
(r) Non-Qualified Stock Option. The term "Non-qualified Stock Option"
shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Subsection 6.1 of the Plan.
(s) Option. The term "Option" shall mean any Incentive Stock Option or
Non-Qualified Stock Option granted under the Plan.
(t) Participant. The term "Participant" means any Employee, any
non-Employee director of the Company or any outside adviser or
consultant retained by any Employer who has been granted an Award
under the Plan.
(u) Performance-Based Compensation. The term "Performance-Based
Compensation" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.
(v) Performance Goals. The term "Performance Goals" means the goals
established by the Committee as part of the terms of any Award which,
if met,
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will entitle the Participant to payment in accordance with the terms
of such Award and will qualify such payment as Performance-Based
Compensation.
(w) Performance Period. The term "Performance Period" shall mean the
period over which applicable performance is to be measured.
(x) Performance Stock. The term "Performance Stock" shall mean Stock
awarded pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan.
(y) Performance Units. The term "Performance Units" shall mean units
awarded pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan.
(z) Phantom Stock Award. The term "Phantom Stock Award" shall mean any
Phantom Stock Award granted pursuant to Section 14 of the Plan.
(aa) Qualified Retirement Plan. The term "Qualified Retirement Plan"
means any plan of an Employer that is intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code.
(bb) Related Company. The term "Related Company" means any company
during any period in which it is a "subsidiary corporation" of the
Company (as that term is defined in Code Section 424(f)).
(cc) Restricted Period. The term "Restricted Period" shall mean the
period of time for which Restricted Stock is subject to forfeiture
pursuant to the Plan or during which Options and Stock Appreciation
Rights are not exercisable.
(dd) Restricted Stock. The term "Restricted Stock" shall mean Stock
awarded pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.
(ee) Restricted Stock Units. The term "Restricted Stock Units" shall
mean units awarded pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan.
(ff) Retirement. "Retirement" of an Employee Participant shall mean
the occurrence of a Participant's Date of Termination under
circumstances that constitute such participant's retirement at normal
retirement age under the terms of the Qualified Retirement Plan of the
Company that is extended to the Participant immediately prior to the
Participant's Date of Termination or, if no such plan is extended to
the Participant on his or her Date of Termination, under the terms of
any applicable retirement policy of the Participant's Employer.
(gg) Significant Stockholder. The term "Significant Stockholder" shall
mean any stockholder of the Company who, immediately prior to the
Effective Date, owned 25% or more of the outstanding shares of Stock.
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(hh) Stock. The term "Stock" shall mean shares of common stock, $0.10
par value per share, of the Company.
(ii) Stock Appreciation Right. The term "Stock Appreciation Right"
shall mean a Stock Appreciation Right awarded pursuant to Section 7 of
the Plan.
SECTION 3
Eligibility
3.1. Subject to the discretion of the Committee and the terms and conditions of
the Plan, the Committee shall determine and designate from time to time, from
among the Employees, the non-Employee directors of the Company and the outside
advisers and consultants of any Employer, Participants who will be granted one
or more Awards under the Plan, provided that only Employees may be granted
Incentive Stock Options.
SECTION 4
Operation and Administration
4.1. The Plan was originally adopted by the Board and approved by a majority
vote of the holders of the Stock as of November 16, 1998 (the "Effective Date").
As of February 16, 1999, November 23, 1999, and December 21, 1999, the Board
adopted amendments of the Plan that increased the number of shares available for
grant of Awards from 1,000,000 to 1,300,000, from 1,300,000 to 3,550,000, and
from 3,550,000 to 5,000,000, respectively, which amendments are subject to
approval of the stockholders of the Company. To the extent required pursuant to
Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan shall be resubmitted to stockholders of the
Company for reapproval at the first meeting of stockholders of the Company that
occurs in 2003 and at five year intervals thereafter, in each case, as may be
required to qualify any Award under the Plan as Performance - Based
Compensation. The Plan shall remain in effect until terminated by the Board,
provided however, that no Incentive Stock Options may be granted under the Plan
after November 15, 2007.
4.2. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee which shall consist of not
less than two non-Employee members of the Board. Plenary authority to manage and
control the operation and administration of the Plan shall be vested in the
Committee, which authority shall include, without limitation, the following:
(a) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee will have the
authority and discretion to select Employees, non-Employee directors of the
Company and outside advisers or consultants retained by an Employer to
receive Awards, to determine the time or times of receipt, to determine the
types of Awards and the number of shares covered by Awards, to establish
the terms, conditions, performance criteria, restrictions, and other
provisions of Awards, and to cancel or suspend Awards. In making such Award
determinations, the Committee may take into account the nature of services
rendered by
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the respective Employee or outside adviser or consultant, his or her
present and potential contribution to the Company's success and such other
factors as the Committee deems relevant.
(b) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee will have the
authority and discretion to determine the extent to which Awards under the
Plan will be structured to conform to the requirements applicable to
Performance-Based Compensation as described in Code Section 162(m), and to
take such action, establish such procedures, and impose such restrictions
at the time such Awards are granted as the Committee determines to be
necessary or appropriate to conform to such requirements.
(c) The Committee will have the authority and discretion to interpret the
Plan, to establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to
the Plan, to determine the terms and provisions of any agreements made
pursuant to the Plan, and to make all other determinations that may be
necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan and to correct
any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the
Plan or in any Award in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems
necessary or advisable to carry it into effect.
(d) Any interpretation of the Plan by the Committee and any decision made
by it under the Plan is final and binding on all persons. The express grant
in the Plan of any specific power to the Committee shall not be construed
as limiting any power or authority of the Committee; provided, however,
that except as otherwise permitted under Treasury Regulation
1.162-27(e)(2)(iii)(C), the Committee may not increase any Award once made
if payment under such Award is intended to constitute Performance-Based
Compensation.
(e) The Committee may only act by a majority of its members. Any
determination of the Committee may be made without a meeting by the
unanimous written consent of its members. In addition, the Committee may
authorize one or more of its members or any officer of an Employer to
execute and deliver documents and perform other administrative acts
pursuant to the Plan.
(f) No member or authorized delegate of the Committee shall be liable to
any person for any action taken or omitted in connection with the
administration of the Plan unless attributable to his or her own fraud or
gross misconduct. The Committee, the individual members thereof, and
persons acting as the authorized delegates of the Committee under the Plan,
shall be indemnified by the Company against any and all liabilities, loses,
costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) of whatsoever kind
and nature which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the
Committee or its members or authorized delegates by reason of the
performance of a Committee function if the Committee or its members or
authorized delegates, as the case may be, did not act dishonestly or in
willful violation of the law or regulation under which such liability,
loss, cost or expense arises. This indemnification shall not duplicate but
may supplement any coverage available under any applicable insurance
policy, contract or by-law of any Employer.
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4.3 Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no
Participant shall receive any Award of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right
under the Plan to the extent that the sum of (a) the number of shares of Stock
subject to such Award and (b) the number of shares of Stock subject to all other
prior Awards of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan during the
one-year period ending on the date of the Award would exceed the Participant's
Individual Limit under the Plan. The determination made under this Subsection
4.3 shall be based on the shares of Stock subject to Awards at the time of
grant, regardless of when the Awards become exercisable. Subject to the
provisions of Section 16, a Participant's "Individual Limit" shall be 2,000,000
shares of Stock per calendar year. The maximum amount of cash that may be paid
out with respect to Awards to any individual during any one-year period is
$1,000,000.
4.4. To the extent that the Committee determines that it is necessary or
desirable to conform any Awards under the Plan with the requirements applicable
to "Performance-Based Compensation", as that term is used in Code Section
162(m)(4)(C), it may, at or prior to the time an Award is granted, take such
steps and impose such restrictions with respect to such Award as it determines
to be necessary to satisfy such requirements. To the extent that it is necessary
to establish Performance Goals for a Particular Performance Period, those goals
will be based on one or more of the following business criteria: revenues,
EBITDA, cash flow, net income, earnings per share, debt reduction, return on
investment, return on assets, costs of communications services, sales, general
and administration costs, customer service and satisfaction, compliance with
Employer policies and achievement of objectives set forth in the Company's
Business Plan and annual budgets. If the Committee establishes Performance Goals
for a Performance Period relating to one or more of these business criteria, the
Committee may determine to approve a payment from that particular Performance
Period upon attainment of the Performance Goal relating to any one or more of
such criteria.
SECTION 5
Shares Available Under the Plan
5.1. The shares of Stock with respect to which Awards may be made under the Plan
shall be shares currently authorized but unissued or treasury shares acquired by
the Company, including shares purchased in open market or in private
transactions. Subject to the provisions of Section 16, the total number of
shares of Stock available for grant of Awards shall not exceed five million
(5,000,000) shares of Stock, of which shares one million (1,000,000) shall be
available for issuance pursuant to any Stock purchase program established
pursuant to Section 12 of the Plan. Except as otherwise provided herein, any
shares subject to an Award which for any reason expires or is terminated without
issuance of shares (whether or not cash or other consideration is paid to a
Participant in respect to such Award) as well as shares used as full or partial
payment to the Company upon exercise of an Award, shall again be available for
any purpose under the Plan.
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SECTION 6
Options
6.1. The grant of an "Option" under this Section 6 entitles the Participant to
purchase shares of Stock at a price fixed at the time the Option is granted, or
at a price determined under a method established at the time the Option is
granted, subject to the terms of this Section 6. Options granted under this
Section 6 may be either Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options,
and, subject to Sections 15 and 20, shall not be exercisable for at least six
months from Grant Date, as determined in the discretion of the Committee. An
"Incentive Stock Option" is an Option that is intended to satisfy the
requirements applicable to an "incentive stock option" described in Section
422(b) of the Code. A "Non-Qualified Option" is an Option that is not intended
to be an "incentive stock option" as that term is described in Section 422(b) of
the Code.
6.2. The Committee shall designate the Participants to whom Options are to be
granted under this Section 6 and shall determine the number of shares of Stock
to be subject to each such Option. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market
Value of Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for
the first time by any individual during any calendar year (under all plans of
the Employers) exceeds $100,000, such options shall be treated as Non-Qualified
Stock Options, to the extent required by Section 422 of the Code.
6.3. The determination and payment of the purchase price of a share of Stock
under each Option granted under this Section shall be subject to the following:
(a) The purchase price shall be established by the Committee or shall be
determined by a method established by the Committee at the time the Option
is granted, subject to the following limitations: (i) the purchase price
established for each Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 100% of
the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the Grant Date (110% in the case of
an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who directly or
indirectly owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company); and (ii) the purchase price established
for each Non-Qualified Stock Option shall be not less than 80% of the Fair
Market Value of the Stock on the Grant Date;
(b) Subject to the following provisions of this subsection 6.3, the full
purchase price of each share of Stock purchased upon the exercise of any
Option shall be paid at the time of such exercise and, as soon as
practicable thereafter, a certificate representing the shares so purchased
shall be delivered to the person entitled thereto; and
(c) The purchase price shall be payable either in cash or shares of Stock
(valued at Fair Market Value as of the day of exercise), through a
combination of cash or shares of Stock or through such cashless exercise
arrangement as may be approved by the Committee and established by the
Company, provided that any share of Stock used for payment shall have been
owed by the Participant for at least six (6) months.
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6.4. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, an Option granted under
this Section 6 shall be exercisable in accordance with the following terms of
this Subsection 6.4:
(a) The terms and conditions relating to exercise of an Option shall be
established by the Committee, and may include, without limitation,
conditions relating to completion of a specified period of service and
achievement of Performance Goals by the Participant prior to exercise of
the Option;
(b) No Option may be exercised by a Participant after the expiration date
applicable to that Option; and
(c) The exercise of an Option will result in the surrender of the
corresponding rights under a tandem Stock Appreciation Right, if any.
6.5. The vesting and exercise periods of any Option shall be determined by the
Committee but the term of any Option shall not extend more than ten years after
the Date of Grant.
6.6. In the event the Participant exercises an Option under this Plan and pays
all or a portion of the purchase price in Stock, in the manner permitted by
Subsection 6.3, such Participant, pursuant to the exercise of Committee
discretion at the time the Option is exercised or to the extent previously
authorized by the Committee, may be issued a new Option to purchase additional
shares of Stock equal to the number of shares of Stock surrendered to the
Company in such payment. Such new Option shall have an exercise price equal to
the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on the date such new Option is granted
and may have vesting and expiration dates that are the same as the Option so
exercised.
SECTION 7
Stock Appreciation Rights
7.1. Subject to the terms of this Section 7, a Stock Appreciation Right granted
under the Plan entitles the Participant to receive, in cash or Stock (as
determined in accordance with Subsection 7.4), value equal to all or a portion
of the excess of: (a) the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of
Stock at the time of exercise; over (b) a specified price which shall not be
less than (i) 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the Grant Date, or
(ii) if granted in tandem with an Option, the exercise price with respect to
shares of Stock under the tandem Option.
7.2. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall designate the
Participants to whom Stock Appreciation Rights are to be granted under the Plan,
shall determine the exercise price or a method by which the price shall be
established with respect to each such Stock Appreciation Right, and shall
determine the number of shares of Stock on which each Stock Appreciation Right
is based. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted in connection with all or
any portion of a previously or contemporaneously granted Option or not in
connection with an Option. If a Stock Appreciation Right is granted in
connection with an Option then, in the
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discretion of the Committee, the Stock Appreciation Right may, but need not, be
granted in tandem with the Option.
7.3. The exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to the
following:
(a) If a Stock Appreciation Right is not in tandem with an Option, then the
Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable in accordance with the terms
established by the Committee in connection with such rights but, subject to
Sections 15 and 20 shall not be exercisable for six months from the Grant
Date and the term of any Stock Appreciation Right shall not extend more
than ten years from the Grant Date; and may include, without limitation,
conditions relating to completion of a specified period of service and
achievement of Performance Goals prior to exercise by the Participant; and
(b) If a Stock Appreciation Right is in tandem with an Option, then the
Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable only at the time the tandem
Option is exercisable and the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right will
result in the surrender of the corresponding rights under the tandem
Option.
7.4. Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the value to be
distributed to the Participant, in accordance with Subsection 7.1, shall be
distributed in shares of Stock (valued at their Fair Market Value at the time of
exercise), in cash, or in a combination of Stock and cash, in the discretion of
the Committee.
7.5. The Committee may grant Limited Stock Appreciation Rights which entitle the
Participant to receive a cash payment in connection with a Change in Control.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, a Limited Stock
Appreciation Right shall be subject to the following:
(a) A Limited Stock Appreciation Right may (but need not) be granted in
connection with all or any portion of a previously or contemporaneously
granted Option and may be granted in tandem with an Option regardless of
whether the Option is in tandem with a Stock Appreciation Right;
(b) In the case of a Limited Stock Appreciation Right that is in tandem
with an Option, the payment amount shall be equal to the difference between
the exercise price per share of the Stock covered by the tandem Option and
the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise;
(c) To the extent provided by the Committee, a Limited Stock Appreciation
Right may be automatically exercisable at a time determined by the
Committee, or it may be exercised by the Participant during the period
beginning not earlier than the date of a Change in Control, and ending not
later than ninety (90) days following the date of the Change in Control,
and may be exercisable regardless of whether the Participant is then
employed by an Employer; and
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(d) If the Limited Stock Appreciation Right is in tandem with an Option,
the exercise of the Limited Stock Appreciation Right shall result in the
cancellation of the tandem Option (and any Stock Appreciation Right in
tandem with such Option).
SECTION 8
Restricted Stock
8.1. Subject to the terms of this Section 8, Restricted Stock Awards under the
Plan are grants of Stock to Participants, the vesting of which is subject to
certain conditions established by the Committee, with some or all of those
conditions relating to events (such as performance of continued employment)
occurring after the Grant Date, provided however that to the extent that vesting
of a Restricted Stock Award is contingent on continued employment, the required
employment period generally shall not be less than three years following the
Grant Date unless such grant is in substitution for an Award under this Plan. To
the extent, if any, required by the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, a Participant's receipt of an Award of newly issued shares of
Restricted Stock shall be made subject to payment by the Participant of an
amount equal to the aggregate par value of such newly issued shares of
Restricted Stock.
8.2. The Committee shall designate the Participants to whom Restricted Stock is
to be granted, and the number of shares of Stock that are subject to each such
Award. The Award of shares under this Section 8 may, but need not, be made in
conjunction with a cash-based incentive compensation program maintained by the
Company, and may, but need not, be in lieu of cash otherwise awardable under
such program.
8.3. Shares of Restricted Stock granted to Participants under the Plan shall be
subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) Except as otherwise hereinafter provided, Restricted Stock granted to
Participants may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise
encumbered during the Restricted Period;
(b) The Participant as owner of such shares of Restricted Stock shall have
all the rights of a stockholder (except as approved in clause (a)),
including but not limited to the right to vote such shares and, except as
otherwise provided by the Committee or as otherwise provided by the Plan,
the right to receive all dividends paid on such shares;
(c) Each certificate issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock
granted under the Plan shall be registered in the name of the Participant
but, at the discretion of the Committee, each such certificate may be
deposited with the Company with a stock power endorsed in blank or in a
bank designated by the Committee;
(c) The Committee may award Performance-Based Restricted Stock, which shall
be Restricted Stock that becomes vested (or for which vesting is
accelerated) upon the
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achievement of Performance Goals established by the Committee and the
Committee may specify the number of shares that will vest upon achievement
of different levels of performance; except as otherwise provided by the
Committee, achievement of maximum targets during the Performance Period
shall result in the Participant's earning the full amount of the Restricted
Stock comprising such Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award and the
Committee may establish a portion of the Award which the Participant is
entitled to receive upon achievement of a minimum target but less than the
maximum target; and
(d) Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, any Restricted Stock
which is not earned by the end of a Restricted Period or Performance
Period, as the case may be, shall be forfeited. If a Participant's Date of
Termination occurs prior to the end of a Restricted Period or a Performance
Period, as the case may be, the Committee may determine that the
Participant will be entitled to settlement of all or any portion of the
Restricted Stock as to which he or she would otherwise be eligible, and may
accelerate the determination of the value and settlement of such Restricted
Stock or make such other adjustments as the Committee, in its sole
discretion, deems desirable. Subject to the limitations of the Plan and the
Award of Restricted Stock, upon the vesting of Restricted Stock, such
Restricted Stock will be transferred free of all restrictions to a
Participant (or his or her legal representative, beneficiary or heir).
SECTION 9
Restricted Stock Units
9.1. Subject to the terms of this Section 9, a Restricted Stock Unit entitles a
Participant to receive shares of Stock or cash for the units at the end of a
Restricted Period to the extent provided by the Award with the vesting of such
units to be contingent upon such conditions as may be established by the
Committee (such as continued employment or satisfaction of Performance Goals)
occurring after the Grant Date; provided, however, that to the extent that the
vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit is contingent on continued employment, the
required employment period generally shall not be less than three years
following the Grant Date unless the grant of the Restricted Stock Unit is in
substitution for another Award under this Plan. The Award of Restricted Stock
Units under this Section 9 may, but need not, be made in conjunction with a
cash-based incentive compensation program maintained by the Company, and may,
but need not, be in lieu of cash otherwise awardable under such program.
9.2. The Committee shall designate the Participants to whom Restricted Stock
Units shall be granted and the number of units that are subject to each such
Award. During any period in which units are outstanding and have not been
settled in Stock, the Participant shall not have the rights of a stockholder,
but shall have the right to receive a payment from the Company, in lieu of any
dividend, in an amount equal to the amount of such dividend and at such times as
such dividend would otherwise have been paid during the Restricted Period.
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9.3 Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, any Restricted Stock Unit
which is not earned by the end of the Restricted Period shall be forfeited. If a
Participant's Date of Termination occurs prior to the end of a Restricted
Period, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine that the
Participant will be entitled to settlement of all or any portion or none of the
Restricted Stock Units as to which he or she would otherwise be eligible, and
may accelerate the determination of the value and settlement of such Restricted
Stock Units or make such other adjustments as the Committee, in its sole
discretion, deems desirable.
SECTION 10
Performance Stock
10.1. Subject to the terms of this Section 10, a Performance Stock Award
provides for the distribution of Stock to a Participant upon the achievement of
Performance Goals established by the Committee.
10.2. The Committee shall designate the Participants to whom Performance Stock
Awards are to be granted, and the number of shares of Stock that are subject to
each such Award. The Award of shares under this Section 10 may, but need not, be
made in conjunction with a cash-based incentive compensation program maintained
by the Company, and may, but need not, be in lieu of cash otherwise awardable
under such program.
10.3. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, any Performance Stock
Award which is not earned by the end of the Performance Period shall be
forfeited. If a Participant's Date of Termination occurs prior to the end of a
Performance Period, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine that
the Participant will be entitled to settlement of all or any portion or none of
the Performance Stock as to which he or she would otherwise be eligible, and may
accelerate the determination of the value and settlement of such Performance
Stock Award or make such other adjustments as the Committee, in its sole
discretion, deems desirable.
SECTION 11
Performance Units
11.1. Subject to the terms of this Section 11, the Award of Performance Units
under the Plan entitles the Participant to receive value for the units at the
end of a Performance Period to the extent provided under the Award. The number
of Performance Units earned, and value received from them, will be contingent on
the degree to which the Performance Goals established at the time of grant of
the Award are met.
11.2. The Committee shall designate the Participants to whom Performance Units
are to be granted, and the number of Performance Units to be the subject to each
such Award.
11.3. For each such Participant, the Committee will determine (a) the value of
Performance Units, which may be stated either in cash or in units representing
shares of Stock, (b) the
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Performance Goals to be used for determining whether the Performance Units are
earned, (c) the Performance Period during which the Performance Goals will
apply, (d) the relationship between the level of achievement of the Performance
Goals and the degree to which Performance Units are earned, (e) whether, during
or after the Performance Period, any revision to the Performance Goals or
Performance Period should be made to reflect significant events or changes that
occur during the Performance Period, and (f) the number of earned Performance
Units that will be settled in cash and/or shares of Stock.
11.4. Settlement of Performance Units shall be subject to the following:
(a) The Committee will compare the actual performance to the Performance
Goals established for the Performance Period and determine the number of
Performance Units as to which settlement is to be made, and the value of
such Performance Units;
(b) Settlement of Performance Units earned shall be wholly in cash, wholly
in Stock or in a combination of cash and Stock, to be distributed in a
lump sum or installments, as determined by the Committee, in its sole
discretion; and
(c) Shares of Stock distributed in settlement of Performance Units shall
be subject to such vesting requirements and other conditions, if any, as
the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, restrictions
of the type that may be imposed with respect to Restricted Stock under
Section 8.
11.5. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, any Award of Performance
Units which is not earned by the end of the Performance Period shall be
forfeited. If a Participant's Date of Termination occurs during a Performance
Period, the Committee may determine that the Participant will be entitled to
settlement of all or any portion or none of the Performance Units as to which he
or she would otherwise be eligible, and may accelerate the determination of the
value and settlement of such Performance Units or make such other adjustments as
the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems desirable.
SECTION 12
Stock Purchase Program
12.1. The Committee may, from time to time, establish one or more programs under
which Participants will be permitted to purchase shares of Stock under the Plan,
and shall designate the Participants eligible to participate under such Stock
purchase programs. The purchase price for shares of Stock available under such
programs, and other terms and conditions of such programs, shall be established
by the Committee. The purchase price may not be less than 75% of the Fair Market
Value of the Stock at the time of purchase (or, in the Committee's discretion,
the average Stock value over a period determined by the Committee), and further
provided that to the extent, if any, required by the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware, the purchase price shall not be less than the aggregate
par value of any newly issued shares of Stock.
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12.2. The Committee may impose such restrictions with respect to shares
purchased under this Section 12.1, as the Committee determines in its sole
discretion, to be appropriate. Such restrictions may include, without
limitations, restrictions of the type that may be imposed with respect to
Restricted Stock under Section 8.
SECTION 13
Merit Awards
13.1. The Committee may from time to time make an Award of Stock under the Plan
to selected Participants for such reasons and in such amounts as the Committee,
in its sole discretion, may determine. The consideration to be paid by an
Employee for any such Merit Award shall be fixed by the Committee from time to
time, but, if required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,
shall not be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of Stock awarded to
him or her pursuant to such Merit Award.
SECTION 14
Phantom Stock Awards
14.1. The Committee may make Phantom Stock Awards to selected Participants which
may be based solely on the value of the underlying shares of Stock, solely on
any earnings or appreciation thereon, or both. Subject to the provisions of the
Plan, the Committee shall have the sole and complete authority to determine the
number of hypothetical or target shares as to which each such Phantom Stock
Award is subject and to determine the terms and conditions of each such Phantom
Stock Award. There may be more than one Phantom Stock Award in existence at any
one time with respect to a selected Participant, and the terms and conditions of
each such Phantom Stock Award may differ from each other.
14.2. The Committee shall establish vesting or performance measures for each
Phantom Stock Award on the basis of such criteria and to accomplish such
objectives as the Committee from time to time, in its sole discretion, may
determine. Such measures may be based on years of service or periods of
affiliation, or the achievement of individual or corporate Performance Goals.
The vesting and performance measures determined by the Committee shall be
established at the time a Phantom Stock Award is made. Phantom Stock Awards may
not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, or otherwise encumbered, except as
provided in Section 17, during the Performance Period.
14.3. The Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, the manner of
payment, which may include cash, shares of Stock or a combination of cash and
shares of Stock, in such proportions as the Committee shall determine.
14.4. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, any Award of Phantom Stock
which is not earned by the end of the Performance Period shall be forfeited. If
a Participant's Date of Termination occurs prior to the end of a Performance
Period, the Committee, in its sole
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discretion, may determine that the Participant will be entitled to settlement of
all or a portion or none of the Phantom Stock for which he or she would
otherwise be eligible, and may accelerate the determination of the value and
settlement of Phantom Stock or make such other adjustment as the Committee, in
its sole discretion, deems desirable.
SECTION 15
Termination of Employment or Affiliation
15.1. If a Participant's Date of Termination occurs for any reason other than
death, Disability, or Retirement, or by reason of the Participant's employment
or affiliation being terminated by the Participant's Employer for Cause, all
Awards shall be forfeited.
15.2. If a Participant's Date of Termination occurs by reason of death, all
Options and Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding immediately prior to the
Participant's Date of Termination shall immediately become exercisable and all
restrictions on Awards outstanding immediately prior to the Participant's Date
of Termination shall lapse.
15.3. If a Participant's Date of Termination occurs by reason of Disability or
Retirement or by reason of the Participant's employment or affiliation being
terminated by the Participant's Employer for any reason other than Cause, all
Options and Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding immediately prior to the
Participant's Date of Termination shall be exercisable to the extent the
Participant was entitled to exercise such Options and Stock Appreciation Rights,
as the case may be, on the Participant's Date of Termination, and the
restrictions shall lapse on the portion of any Awards outstanding immediately
prior to the Participant's Date of Termination determined in accordance with the
following sentence (except that, to the extent that such portion of any such
Award is subject to a Performance Period, such portion of the Award shall be
determined at the end of the Performance Period). The portion of the Award upon
which the restrictions shall lapse shall be a fraction, the denominator of which
shall be the total number of months of the Restricted Period applicable to the
Award and the numerator of which is the number of months of such Restricted
Period which elapsed prior to the Date of Termination.
15.4. Stock Appreciation Rights and Non-Qualified Stock Options which are or
become exercisable pursuant to Subsections 15.2 and 15.3 shall expire on the
expiration date set forth in the Award or, if earlier:
(a) three years after the Date of Termination, if the Participant's
termination occurs because of death, Disability, or Retirement; and
(b) three months after the Date of Termination, if the Participant's
employment or affiliation is terminated by the Participant's Employer for
any reason other than Cause.
Incentive Stock Options which are or become exercisable by reason of death,
Disability or Retirement shall expire on the expiration date set forth in the
Award or, if earlier, three months after the Date of Termination. Options and
Stock Appreciation Rights which are or become
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exercisable at the time of a Participant's death may be exercised by the
Participant's designated beneficiary or, in the absence of such designation, by
the person to whom the Participant's rights will pass by will or the laws of
descent and distribution.
15.5. Except to the extent that the Committee shall otherwise determine, if, as
a result of a sale or other transaction (other than a Change in Control), a
Participant's Employer ceases to be a Related Company (and the Participant's
Employer is or becomes an entity that is separate from the Company), the
occurrence of such transaction shall be treated as the Participant's Date of
Termination caused by the Participant's employment or affiliation being
terminated by the Participant's Employer for a reason other than Cause.
15.6. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 15, the Committee
may, with respect to any Awards of a Participant (or portion thereof) that are
outstanding immediately prior to the Participant's Date of Termination,
determine that a Participant's Date of Termination will not result in forfeiture
or other termination of the Award.
SECTION 16
Adjustments to Awards
16.1. If the Company shall effect a reorganization, merger, consolidation or
similar event, or effect any subdivision or consolidation of shares of Stock or
other capital readjustment, payment of stock dividend, stock split, spin-off,
combination of shares or recapitalization or other increase or reduction of the
number of shares of Stock outstanding without receiving compensation therefor in
money, services or property, then the Committee shall adjust (i) the number of
shares of Stock available under the Plan, (ii) the number of shares of Stock
available under any individual or other limitations under the Plan, (iii) the
number of shares of Stock subject to outstanding Awards and (iv) the per-share
price under any outstanding Award to the extent that the Participant is required
to pay a purchase price per share with respect to the Award. All share
adjustments shall be made to the nearest full share.
16.2. If the Committee determines that an adjustment in accordance with the
foregoing provisions of Subsection 16.1 would not be fully consistent with the
purposes of the Plan or the purposes of the outstanding Awards under the Plan,
the Committee may make such other adjustment to the Awards, if any, that the
Committee determines is equitable and consistent with the purposes of the Plan
and/or the affected Awards.
SECTION 17
Transferability and Deferral of Awards
17.1. Awards under the Plan are not transferable except by will or by the laws
of descent and distribution. To the extent that the Participant who receives an
Award under the Plan has the right to exercise such Award, the Award may be
exercised during the lifetime to the Participant only by the Participant.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 17, the
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Committee may permit Awards under the Plan (other than an Incentive Stock
Option) to be transferred by a Participant for no consderation to or for the
benefit of members of the Participant's Immediate Family (including, without
limitation, to a trust for the benefit of members of a Participant's Immediate
Family or to a Family partnership for the benefit of members of the
Participant's Immediate Family), subject to such limits as the Committee may
establish, provided that the transferee shall remain subject to all of the terms
and conditions applicable to such Award prior to such transfer.
17.2 The Committee may permit a Participant to elect to defer the receipt of any
payment under a Performance Unit or Phantom Stock Award under such terms and
conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine; provided
that any such deferral election must be made prior to the time the Participant
has become entitled to payment under the Performance Unit or Phantom Stock
Award.
SECTION 18
Award Agreement
18.1. Each Participant granted an Award pursuant to the Plan shall sign an Award
agreement which signifies the offer of the Award by the Company and the
acceptance of the Award by the Participant in accordance with the terms of the
Award and the provisions of the Plan. Each Award agreement shall reflect the
terms and conditions of the Award. Participation in the Plan shall confer no
rights to continued employment or affiliation with the Company nor shall it
restrict the right of the Company to terminate a Participant's employment or
affiliation at any time.
SECTION 19
Tax Withholding
19.1 All Awards and other payments under the Plan are subject to withholding of
all applicable taxes, which withholding obligations shall be satisfied (without
regard to whether the Participant has transferred an Award under the Plan) by a
cash remittance, or with the consent of the Committee, through the surrender of
shares of Stock which the Participant owns or to which the Participant is
otherwise entitled under the Plan pursuant to an irrevocable election submitted
by the Participant to the Company. The number of shares of Stock needed to be
submitted in payment of the taxes shall be determined using the Fair Market
Value as of the applicable tax date rounding down to the nearest whole share;
provided that no election to have shares of Stock withheld from an Award or
submission of shares of stock shall be effective with respect to an Award which
was transferred by a Participant in accordance with the Plan.
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SECTION 20
Change in Control
20.1. Subject to the provisions of Section 16 (relating to the adjustments to
Awards), and except as otherwise provided in the Plan or the agreement
reflecting the applicable Award, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control:
(a) All outstanding Options (regardless of whether in tandem with Stock
Appreciation Rights) shall become fully exercisable, except to the extent
that the right to exercise the Option is subject to any restrictions
established in connection with a Limited Stock Appreciation Right that is
in tandem with the Option;
(b) All outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights (regardless of whether in
tandem with Options) shall become fully exercisable, except that if Stock
Appreciation Rights are in tandem with an Option, and the Option is in
tandem with a Limited Stock Appreciation Right, the right to exercise the
Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to any restrictions established
in connection with the Limited Stock Appreciation Right;
(c) All shares of Stock subject to Awards shall become fully vested; and
(d) Performance Units may be paid out in such manner and amounts as
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
SECTION 21
Termination and Amendment
21.1. The Board may suspend, terminate, modify or amend the Plan, provided that
any amendment that would (a) increase the aggregate number of shares of Stock
which may be issued under the Plan, (b) materially increase the benefits
accruing to Participants under the Plan, or (c) materially modify the
requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan, shall be subject
to the approval of the Company's stockholders, except that any such increase or
modification that may result from adjustments authorized by Section 16 shall not
require such approval. No suspension, termination, modification or amendment of
the Plan may terminate a Participant's existing Award or materially and
adversely affect a Participant's rights under such Award without the
Participant's consent.
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