<PAGE> 1
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to 240.14a-11(c) or 240.14a-12
Safeway Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5) Total fee paid:
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(4) Date Filed:
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<PAGE> 2
[SAFEWAY LOGO]
SAFEWAY INC.
5918 STONERIDGE MALL ROAD
PLEASANTON, CA 94588-3229
------------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Safeway
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will be held at the corporate
offices of our subsidiary, The Vons Companies, Inc., 618 Michillinda Avenue,
Arcadia, California on Tuesday, May 11, 1999 at 10:30 a.m. for the following
purposes:
1. To elect three directors of the Company to serve for a term of three
years and until their successors are elected and have qualified;
2. To consider and vote upon adoption of the 1999 Amended and Restated
Equity Participation Plan of Safeway Inc.;
3. To consider and vote upon reapproval of the Operating Performance Bonus
Plan for Executive Officers of Safeway Inc.;
4. To consider and vote upon a stockholder proposal requesting the Board of
Directors to take the necessary steps to adopt a policy to tie at least
half of executive management's compensation to the amount of common
stock dividends paid each year, which proposal is opposed by the Board
of Directors;
5. To consider and vote upon a stockholder proposal requesting the Board of
Directors to take the necessary steps to provide for cumulative voting,
which proposal is opposed by the Board of Directors;
6. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent
auditors for fiscal year 1999; and
7. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
and any adjournments thereof.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 1999 will
be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any and all
adjournments thereof. A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any
purpose germane to the Annual Meeting, during ordinary business hours for at
least 10 days prior to the Annual Meeting, at the corporate offices of The Vons
Companies, Inc., 618 Michillinda Avenue, Arcadia, California.
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person, in order to ensure
your representation, please complete, sign, date and promptly return the
enclosed proxy card. A return envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in
the United States, has been provided for your use. If you attend the Annual
Meeting and inform the Secretary of the Company in writing that you wish to vote
your shares in person, your proxy will not be used.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
MICHAEL C. ROSS
Secretary
Pleasanton, California
Dated: March 24, 1999
<PAGE> 3
SAFEWAY INC.
5918 STONERIDGE MALL ROAD
PLEASANTON, CA 94588-3229
------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement is furnished to the stockholders on behalf of the
Board of Directors of Safeway Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Safeway" or the
"Company"), in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of
proxies for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, to be held
at the corporate offices of our subsidiary, The Vons Companies, Inc., 618
Michillinda Avenue, Arcadia, California on Tuesday, May 11, 1999, at 10:30 a.m.
and at any and all adjournments thereof. It is anticipated that the mailing to
stockholders of this Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy will commence on
March 30, 1999.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 1999 will
be entitled to vote at the meeting. At the close of business on March 16, 1999
there were 495,632,548 outstanding shares of Common Stock. A majority of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock will constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business. Each share of Common Stock not in the treasury is entitled to one
vote. There is no provision in the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation for cumulative voting.
If shares are not voted in person, they cannot be voted on your behalf
unless a signed proxy is given. Even if you expect to attend the Annual Meeting
in person, in order to ensure your representation, please complete, sign and
date the enclosed proxy and mail it promptly in the enclosed envelope. A
stockholder giving a proxy pursuant to the present solicitation may revoke it at
any time before it is exercised by giving a subsequent proxy or by delivering to
the Secretary of the Company a written notice of revocation prior to the voting
of the proxy at the Annual Meeting. If you attend the Annual Meeting and inform
the Secretary of the Company in writing that you wish to vote your shares in
person, your proxy will not be used. If you receive two or more proxy cards,
please complete, sign, date and return each to complete your representation. All
shares represented by each properly executed and unrevoked proxy, in the
accompanying form, will be voted unless the proxy is mutilated or otherwise
received in such form or at such time as to render it unusable.
Votes cast at the Annual Meeting will be tabulated by the persons appointed
by the Company to act as inspectors of election for the Annual Meeting. Shares
represented by proxies that reflect abstentions or "broker non-votes" (i.e.,
shares held by a broker or nominee which are represented at the meeting, but
with respect to which such broker or nominee is not empowered to vote on a
particular proposal) will be counted as shares that are present and entitled to
vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. Directors will be
elected by a plurality of the shares voting, which means that abstentions and
broker non-votes will not affect the election of the candidates receiving the
plurality of votes. In accordance with the Company's Bylaws, for purposes of
determining the outcome of any other proposal as to which proxies reflect
abstentions or broker non-votes, shares represented by such proxies will be
treated as not present and not entitled to vote with respect to that proposal.
The cost of this solicitation will be borne by the Company. Solicitation
will be made by mail, by telegraph and telephone, and personally by a few
officers and regular employees of the Company who will not receive additional
compensation for solicitation. Brokers, nominees and fiduciaries will be
reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in obtaining proxies or
authorizations from the beneficial owners of the Common Stock. In addition, the
Company has retained MacKenzie Partners, Inc. to assist in the solicitation for
a fee of approximately $6,500 plus expenses.
The purpose of the meeting and the matters to be acted upon are set forth
in the foregoing attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. As of the
date of this Proxy Statement, management knows of no other business which will
be presented for consideration at the meeting. However, if any such other
business shall properly come before the meeting, votes will be cast pursuant to
said proxies in respect of any such other business in accordance with the best
judgment of the persons acting under said proxies.
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<PAGE> 4
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that
the Board of Directors is divided into three classes. Each year the stockholders
are asked to elect the members of a class for a term of three years or less,
depending on the class to which the Board has assigned a director not previously
elected by the stockholders. If a quorum is present in person or by proxy, the
affirmative vote of a plurality of the voting power of the shares represented at
the meeting and entitled to vote will be sufficient to elect directors.
It is intended that the shares represented by proxies, in the accompanying
form, will be voted for the election of the three nominees named below unless
authority to so vote is withheld. All of the nominees have consented to being
named herein and to serve if elected. If any of them should become unavailable
prior to the Annual Meeting, the proxy will be voted for a substitute nominee or
nominees designated by the Board of Directors, or the number of directors may be
reduced accordingly.
The Board of Directors recommends the three nominees named below for
election as directors. The three directors will be elected to office for a
three-year term ending at the Annual Meeting in 2002 and until their successors
are elected and have qualified.
The following information, which has been provided by the directors, sets
forth for each of the nominees for election to the Board of Directors and for
each director whose term continues, such person's age and principal occupation
or employment during the past five years, the name of the corporation or other
organization, if any, in which such occupation or employment is or was carried
on and the period during which such person has served as a Safeway director.
1999 NOMINEES
PETER A. MAGOWAN, age 56, has been a member of the Board of Directors since
November 26, 1986. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors from November
26, 1986 to May 12, 1998. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of the
Company from November 26, 1986 to April 30, 1993 and President of the Company
from March 27, 1988 to October 26, 1992. From December 1979 to November 26,
1986, Mr. Magowan served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company's predecessor, Safeway Stores, Incorporated, a Maryland corporation.
Mr. Magowan is also a director of Caterpillar, Inc. and DaimlerChrysler AG. Mr.
Magowan is Managing General Partner and President of the San Francisco Giants.
GEORGE R. ROBERTS, age 56, has been a member of the Board of Directors
since July 23, 1986. Mr. Roberts is a Founding Partner of Kohlberg Kravis
Roberts & Co. ("KKR") and KKR Associates, L.P. ("KKR Associates"). Effective
January 1, 1996, he became a managing member of the limited liability company
which serves as the general partner of KKR. Mr. Roberts is also a director of
Accuride Corporation, Amphenol Corporation, Borden, Inc., Bruno's, Inc., The
Boyd's Collection, Ltd., Evenflo Company Inc., IDEX Corporation, KinderCare
Learning Centers, Inc., KSL Recreation Group, Inc., Owens-Illinois, Inc.,
PRIMEDIA, Inc., Randall's Food Markets, Inc., Regal Cinemas, Inc., RELTEC
Corporation and Spalding Holdings Corporation.
REBECCA A. STIRN, age 46, has been nominated to become a director to serve
in the class of directors whose term will expire in 2002. She has been Vice
President, Sales and Marketing, North America, of Collagen Aesthetics, Inc.
(formerly Collagen Corporation)("Collagen") since January 1998 and was Vice
President, Global Marketing Strategy, of Collagen from January 1996 to January
1998. She was a consultant from March 1995 to January 1996.
CONTINUING DIRECTORS
STEVEN A. BURD, age 49, has been a member of the Board of Directors since
September 7, 1993 and has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since May
12, 1998. He has been Chief Executive Officer of the Company since April 30,
1993 and President of the Company since October 26, 1992.
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<PAGE> 5
JAMES H. GREENE, JR., age 48, has been a member of the Board of Directors
since December 17, 1987. Mr. Greene is a General Partner of KKR Associates and
was a General Partner of KKR from January 1, 1993 until January 1, 1996 when he
became a member of the limited liability company which serves as the general
partner of KKR. Mr. Greene is also a director of Accuride Corporation, Bruno's,
Inc., Owens-Illinois, Inc., Randall's Food Markets, Inc. and RELTEC Corporation.
PAUL HAZEN, age 57, has been a member of the Board of Directors since July
18, 1990. Mr. Hazen has been Chairman of Wells Fargo & Co. since January 1995.
He was Chief Executive Officer of Wells Fargo & Co. and of Wells Fargo Bank,
N.A., from January 1995 to November 1998. He was President of Wells Fargo & Co.
and of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., from 1984 to 1994. Mr. Hazen is also a director
of AirTouch Communications, Inc.
HENRY R. KRAVIS, age 55, has been a member of the Board of Directors since
November 26, 1986. Mr. Kravis is a Founding Partner of KKR and KKR Associates.
Effective January 1, 1996, he became a managing member of the limited liability
company which serves as the general partner of KKR. Mr. Kravis is also a
director of Accuride Corporation, Amphenol Corporation, Borden, Inc., The Boyd's
Collection, Ltd., Bruno's, Inc., Evenflo Company, Inc., The Gillette Company,
IDEX Corporation, KinderCare Learning Centers, Inc., KSL Recreation Group, Inc.,
Newsquest Capital, plc, Owens-Illinois, Inc., PRIMEDIA, Inc., Randall's Food
Markets, Inc., RELTEC Corporation, Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. and Spalding
Holdings Corporation.
ROBERT I. MACDONNELL, age 61, has been a member of the Board of Directors
since November 26, 1986. Mr. MacDonnell is a General Partner of KKR Associates
and was a General Partner of KKR until January 1, 1996 when he became a member
of the limited liability company which serves as the general partner of KKR. Mr.
MacDonnell is also a director of Owens-Illinois, Inc.
WILLIAM Y. TAUSCHER, age 49, has been a member of the Board of Directors
since May 12, 1998. Mr. Tauscher was most recently Chairman of the Board of
Vanstar Corporation ("Vanstar") from 1987, and Chief Executive Officer of
Vanstar from 1988, until its acquisition by Inacom Corp. in February 1999. He
was President of Vanstar from September 1988 to July 1995. Mr. Tauscher is a
director of Inacom Corp.
Mr. Roberts and Mr. Kravis are first cousins. Mr. MacDonnell and Mr.
Roberts are brothers-in-law.
Messrs. Greene, Hazen and Kravis are in the class of directors whose term
will expire in 2000.
Messrs. Burd, MacDonnell and Tauscher are in the class of directors whose
term will expire in 2001.
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<PAGE> 6
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial
ownership of Safeway's outstanding Common Stock as of March 16, 1999 by (i) each
of Safeway's directors and nominees who is a stockholder, (ii) the Company's
Chief Executive Officer, (iii) each of the Company's five other most highly
compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers at the end
of fiscal 1998, (iv) all executive officers and directors of Safeway as a group
and (v) each person believed by Safeway to own beneficially more than 5% of its
outstanding shares of Common Stock. Except as indicated by the notes to the
following table, the holders listed below have sole voting power and investment
power over the shares beneficially held by them. The address of KKR Associates,
SSI Equity Associates, L.P. ("SSI Equity Associates") and SSI Partners, L.P.
("SSI Partners") is 9 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY PERCENTAGE OF
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED(1) CLASS(1)
------------------------ ---------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
KKR Associates, L.P.(2)......................... 44,034,755 8.8
James H. Greene, Jr.(3)....................... 144,402 *
Henry R. Kravis(4)............................ --
Robert I. MacDonnell(5)....................... 85,504 *
George R. Roberts(6).......................... --
SSI Equity Associates, L.P.(7).................. 6,429,533 1.3
Paul Hazen(8)................................... 204,168 *
Peter A. Magowan(8)............................. 3,102,352 *
William Y. Tauscher(8).......................... 6,700 *
Steven A. Burd(9)............................... 4,438,952 *
Kenneth W. Oder(9)(10).......................... 2,152,144 *
David G. Weed(9)................................ 267,912 *
Michael C. Ross(9).............................. 823,985 *
Larree M. Renda 9).............................. 341,019 *
Gary D. Smith(9)................................ 163,373 *
All executive officers and directors as a group
(17 persons, excluding Messrs. Greene, Kravis,
MacDonnell and Roberts)(8)(9)................. 12,885,785 2.6
FMR Corp.(11)................................... 48,633,005 9.8
</TABLE>
- ---------------
* Less than 1%
(1) For purposes of this table, a person or a group of persons is deemed to
have "beneficial ownership" as of a given date of any shares which such
person has the right to acquire within 60 days after such date. For
purposes of computing the percentage of outstanding shares held by each
person or group of persons named above on a given date, any shares which
such person or persons has the right to acquire within 60 days after such
date are deemed to be outstanding, but are not deemed to be outstanding for
the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
(2) Messrs. Greene, Kravis, MacDonnell, Roberts, Edward A. Gilhuly, Perry
Golkin, Michael W. Michelson, Paul E. Raether, Clifton S. Robbins, Scott
Stuart and Michael T. Tokarz, as general partners of KKR Associates, may be
deemed to share beneficial ownership of any shares beneficially owned by
KKR Associates, but disclaim any such beneficial ownership. Messrs. Greene,
Kravis, MacDonnell and Roberts are members of Safeway's Board of Directors.
(3) Represents 70,000 shares owned jointly by Mr. Greene and his wife and
74,402 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options. Does not include
20,000 shares owned by Mrs. Greene, as to which Mr. Greene disclaims any
beneficial ownership. Does not include 12,000 shares held in trust by Mrs.
Greene for the benefit of their children, as to which Mr. Greene disclaims
any beneficial ownership.
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<PAGE> 7
(4) Does not include 800,000 shares held by Mr. Kravis as a trustee of an
irrevocable trust created by Mr. Roberts for the benefit of his children
(the "Roberts Trust"). As co-trustee, Mr. Kravis shares the authority to
vote and dispose of the shares, but has no economic interest in the shares.
(5) Represents shares issuable upon exercise of stock options. Does not include
120,000 shares held in an irrevocable trust created by Mr. MacDonnell for
the benefit of his children (the "MacDonnell Trust") with respect to which
Mr. MacDonnell disclaims any beneficial ownership.
(6) Does not include 120,000 shares held by Mr. Roberts as a trustee of the
MacDonnell Trust. As co-trustee, Mr. Roberts shares the authority to vote
and to dispose of the shares, but has no economic interest in the shares.
Does not include 800,000 shares held in the Roberts Trust with respect to
which Mr. Roberts disclaims any beneficial ownership.
(7) SSI Equity Associates is a Delaware limited partnership, the sole general
partner of which is SSI Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership. SSI
Partners, in its capacity as general partner, may be deemed to own any
shares beneficially owned by SSI Equity Associates. Messrs. Kravis,
MacDonnell, Raether and Roberts, as general partners of SSI Partners, may
be deemed to share beneficial ownership of any shares beneficially owned by
SSI Partners, but disclaim any such beneficial ownership. Messrs. Kravis,
MacDonnell and Roberts are members of Safeway's Board of Directors. Safeway
is the sole limited partner of SSI Equity Associates. All of the warrants
held by SSI Equity Associates are attributable to Safeway's limited
partnership interests in SSI Equity Associates. Safeway intends to hold
such warrants until they expire in November 2001 and not to exercise such
warrants.
(8) Includes shares issuable upon exercise of stock options as follows: Mr.
Hazen, 162,500; Mr. Magowan, 350,000; Mr. Tauscher, 2,233.
(9) Includes shares issuable upon exercise of stock options as follows: Mr.
Burd, 3,982,262; Mr. Oder, 2,040,000; Mr. Weed, 250,000; Mr. Ross, 770,000;
Ms. Renda, 304,500; Mr. Smith, 126,800; and all executive officers and
directors as a group, 9,258,149. Does not include shares issuable upon
exercise of stock options which are not vested and will not become vested
within 60 days after March 16, 1999.
(10) Does not include 7,790 shares held by Mr. Oder as trustee of irrevocable
trusts created by Mr. Burd for the benefit of his children. As trustee, Mr.
Oder has the authority to vote and dispose of the shares, but has no
economic interest in the shares.
(11) All information regarding FMR Corp. and its affiliates is based on
information disclosed in the Schedule 13G, as amended, filed by FMR Corp.,
Edward C. Johnson 3d and Abigail Johnson on February 12, 1999 (the "FMR
Schedule 13G"). According to the FMR Schedule 13G, (i) Fidelity Management
& Research Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of FMR Corp., is the
beneficial owner of 44,091,904 of such shares as a result of acting as
investment adviser to various investment companies, (ii) Fidelity
Management Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of FMR Corp., is the
beneficial owner of 3,893,900 of such shares as a result of its serving as
investment manager of institutional account(s), (iii) Fidelity
International Limited is the beneficial owner of 674,201 of such shares as
a result of its providing investment advisory and management services to a
number of non-U.S. investment companies and certain institutional
investors, (iv) FMR Corp., Edward C. Johnson 3d and Abigail Johnson each
has sole dispositive power over all of such shares and (v) FMR Corp. has
sole voting power over 3,194,801 of such shares. The address of FMR Corp.
is 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
BOARD MEETINGS, COMMITTEES AND COMPENSATION
The Company's Board of Directors held four regular meetings and four
special meetings in fiscal 1998. Each director, except Mr. Kravis, attended 75%
or more of the total number of Board meetings and meetings of Board committees
on which the director served during the time he served on the Board or
committee. The Board of Directors has established the following standing
committees: Audit Committee, Compensation and Stock Option Committee and Section
162(m) Committee. There is no standing Nominating Committee.
Audit Committee: Paul Hazen, Chairman; William Y. Tauscher. As directed by
the Board, the functions of the committee include recommending independent
auditors to be employed by the Company; conferring
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<PAGE> 8
with the independent auditors regarding their audit of the Company; reviewing
the fees of such auditors and other terms of their engagement; considering the
adequacy of internal financial controls and the results of fiscal policies and
financial management of the Company; meeting with the Company's internal
auditors; reviewing with the independent and internal auditors the results of
their examinations; and recommending changes in financial policies or procedures
as suggested by the auditors. During fiscal 1998 the Audit Committee held three
meetings.
Compensation and Stock Option Committee: William Y. Tauscher, Chairman;
James H. Greene, Jr., Paul Hazen and Robert I. MacDonnell. The functions of the
committee are to review new or modified programs in the areas of executive
salary and incentive compensation, deferred compensation and stock plans; to
review direct and indirect compensation matters; and to review management's
compensation actions for executive officers and other key personnel. During
fiscal 1998 the Compensation and Stock Option Committee held two meetings.
Section 162(m) Committee: William Y. Tauscher, Chairman; Paul Hazen. The
functions of the committee are to approve grants of stock options to executive
officers; establish performance goals with respect to performance-based
compensation for executive officers; certify whether performance goals have been
met before performance-based compensation is made to executive officers; and
perform any other action required to be performed by a committee of "outside
directors" (pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), or
by a committee of "non-employee directors" (pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934). During fiscal 1998 the Section 162(m)
Committee did not hold any meetings.
Director Compensation: Directors who are not employees of the Company or
its subsidiaries were paid an annual fee of $40,000 in 1998. See "Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation" for a description of fees paid
to KKR by the Company for management, consulting and financial services.
The Outside Director Equity Purchase Plan (the "Director Plan") generally
provides for the grant to "Outside Directors" (as defined in the Director Plan)
of options to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company and requires
Outside Directors to purchase shares of Common Stock as a condition to
membership on the Board. Pursuant to the Director Plan, each Outside Director is
granted, on the later to occur of (a) December 14, 1990 (the date of adoption of
the Director Plan by the Board), or (b) such Outside Director's appointment to
the Board, an option to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock equal to
$150,000 (increased by 10% on every other anniversary of the date the Director
Plan was adopted by the Board) divided by the Purchase Price (defined as $2.40
for Outside Directors eligible to be granted options as of the date of adoption
of the Director Plan by the Board, and 80% of the fair market value of a share
of Common Stock on the date of grant for all other initial grants). The
foregoing option grants are conditioned on the purchase by such Outside Director
of shares of Common Stock as set forth in the Director Plan. Mr. Hazen has
purchased 41,668 shares of Common Stock and, in connection with such purchase,
Mr. Hazen delivered to Safeway a full recourse note in the amount of $99,900
which was to mature in 2001 and bore interest at 8.87% per annum. Mr. Hazen
repaid this note in full in April 1998. Mr. Tauscher has purchased 4,467 shares
of Common Stock and, in connection with such purchase, Mr. Tauscher delivered to
Safeway a full recourse note in the amount of $133,070 which matures in 2008 and
bears interest at 5.75% per annum. In addition, pursuant to the Director Plan,
each Outside Director is granted, on the later to occur of (i) May 9, 1995 (the
date of adoption of the First Amendment to the Director Plan by the Board) or
(ii) the date such Outside Director completes three continuous years of service
as a member of the Board, an option to purchase an additional 100,000 shares of
Common Stock at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of a share of
Common Stock on the date of grant. The Director Plan will be replaced with the
1999 Amended and Restated Equity Participation Plan of Safeway Inc. (the "1999
Equity Plan") effective upon the adoption by the Company's stockholders of the
1999 Equity Plan. For a description of the provisions regarding director
compensation under the 1999 Equity Plan, see Proposal 2.
Under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Safeway Directors, a non-employee
director may elect to defer, until a specified calendar year or until retirement
from the Board, all or any portion of the director's cash compensation. The
director may elect to have such compensation credited to a cash credit account
(which accrues interest at the prime rate) or a stock credit account (based on
an equivalent number of shares of
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<PAGE> 9
Common Stock that could have been purchased with the deferred compensation). All
distributions of a director's cash or stock credit account are made in cash.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND TRANSACTIONS
Mr. Magowan resigned from his position as Chief Executive Officer of the
Company effective April 30, 1993 and from his position as Chairman of the Board
of the Company on May 12, 1998. He continues to serve as a director of the
Company and commenced receiving an annual directors fee effective January 1,
1998. The Company employed Mr. Magowan at an annual salary of $737,500 until
December 31, 1994, after which he received a monthly salary of $42,500 ($510,000
annually) until his retirement from the Company on April 30, 1997. Mr. Magowan
will continue to receive insurance benefits and, upon his retirement, became
entitled to receive retirement benefits in accordance with the terms of the
Company's qualified retirement plan of $70,089 per year, and an additional
$566,843 per year from the Company.
See COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION for
additional relationships and transactions.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), requires the Company's officers and directors, and persons who
own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company's equity
securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership (Forms 3, 4
and 5) of Common Stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
and the New York Stock Exchange. Officers, directors and
greater-than-ten-percent holders are required to furnish the Company with copies
of all such forms which they file.
To the Company's knowledge, based solely on the Company's review of copies
of such reports or written representations from certain reporting persons that
no Forms 5 were required to be filed by those persons, the Company believes that
for fiscal 1998 all filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors,
greater-than-ten-percent beneficial owners and other persons subject to Section
16 of the Exchange Act were complied with, except that (a) for fiscal 1996,
Peter Magowan filed one report late covering one transaction, and (b) for fiscal
1998, Mr. Magowan filed one report late covering one transaction, Lawrence
Jackson filed two reports late, in each case covering one transaction, and Paul
Raether filed one report late covering one transaction.
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<PAGE> 10
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following Summary Compensation Table shows compensation paid by the
Company for services rendered during fiscal years 1998, 1997 and 1996 for the
Chief Executive Officer and the five most highly compensated executive officers
of the Company who were serving as executive officers at the end of fiscal 1998.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
ANNUAL AWARDS
COMPENSATION ------------
---------------- SECURITIES
SALARY BONUS UNDERLYING
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR ($)(A) ($)(B) OPTIONS(#)
--------------------------- ---- ------ ------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Steven A. Burd......................................... 1998 750 1,125 1,200,000
President and CEO 1997 687 631 --
1996 650 715 --
Kenneth W. Oder........................................ 1998 500 600 --
Executive Vice President 1997 452 324 600,000
1996 425 425 --
Michael C. Ross........................................ 1998 344 275 --
Senior Vice President, 1997 320 191 --
Secretary & General Counsel 1996 300 240 --
David G. Weed.......................................... 1998 271 298 100,000
Executive Vice President and CFO 1997 304 260 --
1996 212 286 --
Larree M. Renda........................................ 1998 284 312 --
Senior Vice President -- 1997 216 113 100,000
Corporate Retail Operations 1996 175 105 --
Gary D. Smith.......................................... 1998 284 312 --
Senior Vice President 1997 216 113 100,000
and Director of Marketing 1996 174 104 --
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(a) 1997 salary amounts include an additional week because fiscal 1997 was a
53-week year.
(b) Represents the dollar value of cash and stock bonuses earned by the named
individual during the fiscal year indicated.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
Messrs. Greene, Hazen and MacDonnell served as members of the Compensation
and Stock Option Committee (the "Compensation Committee") of the Company's Board
of Directors during fiscal 1998. Mr. Hazen served as a member of the Section
162(m) Committee during fiscal 1998. Sam Ginn served as Chairman of the
Compensation Committee and the Section 162(m) Committee until his resignation
from the Board on May 12, 1998, whereupon Mr. Tauscher was appointed Chairman of
the Compensation Committee and the Section 162(m) Committee. Mr. Greene was a
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Company from August 1986 to
November 1986. No other member of the Compensation Committee or the Section
162(m) Committee is a current or former officer or employee of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries.
Safeway holds an 80% interest in Property Development Associates, a
California general partnership formed in 1987 ("PDA"). The general partners of
PDA are Pacific Resources Associates, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
("PRA"), which is a company controlled by an affiliate of KKR, and Safeway. PDA
was organized to purchase, manage and dispose of certain Safeway facilities
which are no longer used in Safeway's retail grocery business. During 1998, PDA
transferred one property to the Company to be used as part of an on-site store
replacement, which property had a net book value of $750,000. PDA made a
corresponding
9
<PAGE> 11
distribution in cash to PRA in order to permit PRA to maintain its proportionate
ownership interest in PDA. No gains or losses were recognized on this
transaction in the Company's financial statements. During 1998, Safeway paid PDA
$1.9 million for reimbursement of expenses related to management and real estate
services provided by PDA in connection with certain of Safeway's properties no
longer used in the retail grocery business. At year-end 1998, PDA held 193
properties which were recorded at an aggregate net book value of $113 million.
The accounts of PDA are consolidated with those of the Company, and a minority
interest of $23.9 million is included in accrued claims and other liabilities in
the Company's consolidated balance sheet at year-end 1998.
During fiscal 1998, the Company paid approximately $288,000 in rent to
Carmel Valley Partners with respect to a lease for one of the Company's retail
grocery stores. Carmel Valley Partners is a general partnership 80% of which is
owned by a subsidiary of Pacific Realty Associates, L.P., which is a partnership
controlled by an affiliate of KKR. In addition, during fiscal 1998, the Company
paid approximately $1,283,000 in rent and maintenance fees to PDA with respect
to leases for 14 of the Company's retail grocery stores. The Company believes
that the rates charged with respect to the foregoing leases were the same as or
less than the rates that could be obtained from unrelated third parties.
In 1998, KKR provided management, consulting and financial services to
Safeway for an annual management fee. Such services included, but were not
necessarily limited to, advice and assistance concerning any and all aspects of
the operation, planning and financing of Safeway, as needed from time to time.
For 1998, the Company paid KKR a management fee of $1.35 million and reimbursed
expenses in the amount of approximately $10,800.
In 1991, Mr. Hazen purchased 41,668 shares of Common Stock of the Company
pursuant to the Director Plan. In connection with such purchase, Mr. Hazen
delivered to the Company a full recourse note in the amount of $99,900 which was
to mature in 2001 and bore interest at 8.87% per annum. Mr. Hazen repaid this
note in full in April 1998. During 1998, the largest aggregate amount of
indebtedness outstanding for Mr. Hazen was $99,900 (plus accrued interest).
In 1998, Mr. Tauscher purchased 4,467 shares of Common Stock of the Company
pursuant to the Director Plan. In connection with such purchase, Mr. Tauscher
delivered to the Company a full recourse note in the amount of $133,070 which
matures in 2008 and bears interest at 5.75% per annum. Mr. Tauscher remained
indebted to the Company for such amount (plus accrued interest) as of March 16,
1999.
* * * * *
The following Report of the Compensation Committee and of the Section
162(m) Committee and the Stock Performance Graph are not to be deemed to be
"soliciting material" or to be "filed" with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A
or 14C or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act except to the
extent the Company specifically requests that such information be treated as
soliciting material or specifically incorporates it by reference into any filing
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION AND STOCK OPTION COMMITTEE
REPORT OF THE SECTION 162(M) COMMITTEE
The Company's policies with respect to the compensation of executive
officers, which policies are approved by the Compensation Committee, are (1) to
base a significant portion (up to approximately 55%) of total yearly
compensation of executive officers on the performance of the Company and the
individual performances of the executive officers, (2) to award the Company
performance-based portions of compensation only when overall Company performance
reaches pre-established levels, and (3) to pay base salaries and, subject to
approval by the Section 162(m) Committee, award stock options to executive
officers based on a review of competitive compensation practices of various
industry groups and comparable size companies, overall financial, strategic and
operational Company performance, improvement in market value of the Company's
stock and each individual executive officer's performance.
10
<PAGE> 12
The relationship of Company performance to the compensation of executive
officers, including the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), is as follows.
The Company undertakes an annual planning process which culminates in the
adoption and approval of an operating plan for the Company. The operating plan
includes a target level for Company operating performance for the following
year. The specific elements of Company operating performance that are relevant
to compensation determinations are sales, operating profit and working capital.
No operating performance-based compensation is awarded to executive officers,
including the CEO, unless an operating performance threshold based upon target
level performance is met. The operating performance threshold can be met only if
specific performance thresholds for sales and operating profit are met. The
amount of operating performance-based compensation awardable is then increased
or decreased depending on the extent to which the working capital threshold is
or is not met. If the operating performance threshold is met, operating
performance-based compensation of up to 120% of the CEO's base salary is awarded
based upon the extent to which Company performance exceeds the threshold, and
executive officers other than the CEO are eligible to receive operating
performance-based compensation up to a maximum percentage of each such executive
officer's base salary, which maximum percentage ranges from 48% to 120%. The
amount of operating performance-based compensation awarded to such executive
officers may be reduced by the CEO and is based on individual,
participant-specific performance factors, and the amount of a particular
individual's award cannot exceed the maximum percentage for such individual. The
foregoing ranges of percentages of base salary payable to the CEO and other
executive officers were established based on a review of competitive
compensation levels with a view to allowing for higher than average incentive
compensation to supplement lower than average base compensation.
Operating performance-based compensation may, at the option of the
executive, be paid in cash, in stock, or in a combination of cash and stock.
Based on actual operating results in 1998, Company performance exceeded the
threshold of operating performance and, accordingly, operating performance-based
compensation was awarded to the CEO and other executive officers.
In addition to operating performance-based compensation, the most senior
executive officers who are responsible for making capital investment decisions,
including the CEO, are also eligible for capital performance-based compensation,
payment of which is contingent on new capital investments of the Company
achieving targeted rates of return established at the outset of each new capital
investment project. Capital performance is measured for the first and third
years following completion of a particular project. With respect to each such
year, if the capital performance threshold is met, compensation of up to 15%
(for a total of up to 30%) of the executive officer's base salary is awarded
based upon the extent to which capital performance exceeded the threshold. The
foregoing percentage was established at a level intended to emphasize the
importance of capital spending to the Company's business. Based on the results
of the measured projects, all of which exceeded the pre-established targeted
rates of return, the CEO and certain other executive officers earned a capital
performance-based bonus in 1998 with respect to measured first and third year
projects.
Base salaries are evaluated annually for all executive officers, including
the CEO. Base salaries for executive officers, including the CEO, are based in
part on overall financial, strategic and operational Company performance,
improvement in market value of the Company's stock, individual performance and
competitive salary levels. Of these factors, the most significance is accorded
to overall Company performance and improvement in market value of the Company's
stock, followed by individual performance and competitive salary levels. The
determination of whether to make certain one-time payments, such as signing
bonuses, including the amount of any such payments, is evaluated on a
case-by-case basis. Competitive compensation practices are reviewed by position
and various industry groups, and this competitive data is used to determine
appropriate ranges of base salary levels and annual increases to attract and
retain qualified executives. The companies surveyed for this purpose include
grocery companies and non-grocery companies. The non-grocery companies were
selected because they were considered to be the significant competitors with
respect to executive officer positions. All grocery companies whose executive
pay practices were surveyed for this purpose are included in the peer group
identified in footnote (a) to the Stock Performance Graph set forth elsewhere in
this proxy statement, except for those companies whose common stock was not
publicly traded for the period covered by the Stock Performance Graph. The
Company's executive salary levels, including
11
<PAGE> 13
with respect to the CEO, generally are at the median of or lower than the
executive compensation levels of the companies surveyed.
Stock option grants are considered periodically by the Section 162(m)
Committee for all executive officers, including the CEO. A primary consideration
in granting stock options is to encourage members of management to hold
significant equity ownership in the Company. The aggregated option exercise
table shows stock options owned by the individuals named in the Summary
Compensation Table. The amounts of stock options granted in any given year,
including those granted to executive officers, are derived based upon the same
factors, and with the same relative significance, as are set forth in the
preceding paragraph with respect to establishment of base salary levels,
although less weight is accorded to competitive compensation levels because of
the difficulty in making a meaningful comparison with respect to stock options.
During 1998, options to purchase 1,200,000 shares of Common Stock were granted
to the CEO based on the above factors, with significant weight given to the
improvement in market value since the last stock option grant to the CEO,
overall Company performance and individual performance. All stock option grants
to executive officers are subject to approval by the Section 162(m) Committee.
The Compensation Committee and the Section 162(m) Committee believe that
the executive compensation policies and programs described above serve the
interests of all stockholders and the Company and substantially link
compensation of the Company's executive officers with the Company's performance.
During 1993, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
was amended to include a provision which denies a deduction to any publicly held
corporation for compensation paid to any "covered employee" (defined as the CEO
and the Company's other four most highly compensated officers, as of the end of
a taxable year) to the extent that the compensation exceeds $1 million in any
taxable year of the corporation beginning after 1993. Compensation which is
payable pursuant to written binding agreements entered into before February 18,
1993 and compensation which constitutes "performance-based compensation" is
excludable in applying the $1 million limit. It is the Company's policy to
qualify all compensation paid to its top executives, in a manner consistent with
the Company's compensation policies, for deductibility under the 1993 law in
order to maximize the Company's income tax deductions. However, this policy does
not rule out the possibility that compensation may be approved that may not
qualify for the compensation deduction, if in light of all applicable
circumstances it would be in the best interests of the Company for such
compensation to be paid.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Compensation and Stock Option Committee: Section 162(m)
William Y. Tauscher Committee:
James H. Greene, Jr. William Y. Tauscher
Paul Hazen Paul Hazen
Robert I. MacDonnell
</TABLE>
12
<PAGE> 14
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the yearly percentage change in the Company's
cumulative total stockholder return on its common stock to that of the S&P 500
and a group of peer companies in the retail grocery industry.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SAFEWAY S&P 500 PEER GROUP(A)
------- ------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
'12/31/93' 100.00 100.00 100.00
'12/30/94' 150.00 98.00 107.73
'12/29/95' 242.35 132.00 34.53
'12/31/96' 402.35 159.00 177.49
'12/31/97' 595.29 208.00 232.39
'12/31/98' 1147.06 264.00 355.48
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(a) The peer group companies are: The Kroger Co., American Stores Company,
Safeway Inc., The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc., Winn-Dixie
Stores, Inc., Albertson's Inc., Food Lion, Inc., Fred Meyer, Inc. and
Hannaford Bros. Co. The peer group does not include Giant Food Inc. or The
Penn Traffic Company, each of which had been included in the 1997 peer
group, because Giant Food Inc. was acquired by Royal Ahold N.V. in October
1998, and the Penn Traffic Company's common stock was delisted from the New
York Stock Exchange in November 1998.
13
<PAGE> 15
OPTION GRANTS IN 1998 FISCAL YEAR
The following table sets forth information concerning individual grants of
stock options made during fiscal 1998 to each of the individuals identified in
the Summary Compensation Table.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POTENTIAL
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS REALIZABLE
---------------------------------------------------------- VALUE AT ASSUMED
NUMBER ANNUAL RATES
OF % OF TOTAL OF STOCK PRICE
SECURITIES OPTIONS APPRECIATION
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO FOR OPTION TERM(B)
OPTIONS EMPLOYEES EXERCISE PRICE EXPIRATION ------------------------
NAME GRANTED(#) IN FISCAL 1998 ($/SHARE) DATE 5%($) 10%($)
---- ---------- -------------- -------------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Steven A. Burd................ 1,200,000(a) 24.12 41.25 6/29/08 31,130,284 78,890,252
Kenneth W. Oder............... -- --
Michael C. Ross............... -- --
David G. Weed................. 100,000(a) 2.01 36.6875 5/22/08 2,307,257 5,847,043
Larree M. Renda............... -- --
Gary D. Smith................. -- --
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(a) Options granted under the 1994 Amended and Restated Stock Option and
Incentive Plan for Key Employees. Options vest at a rate of 15% per year
beginning with the anniversary of the date of grant through the sixth
anniversary of the date of grant, with the remaining 10% becoming
exercisable on the seventh anniversary of the date of the grant. Upon the
occurrence of a Change of Control of the Company, options shall become
exercisable as to all shares covered thereby, notwithstanding that such
options may not have fully vested at such time. A "Change of Control of the
Company" is deemed to have occurred (pursuant to the provisions of the
individual stock option agreement) generally when: (i) any person (other
than an employee benefit plan of the Company) becomes the beneficial owner
of 50% or more of the Company's then-outstanding voting securities; or (ii)
as a result of a tender offer or exchange offer for Company securities, or
as a result of a proxy contest, merger, consolidation or sale of assets,
individuals who at the beginning of any two-year period constitute the
Board, plus new directors whose election was approved by a vote of at least
2/3 of the continuing board members (the "Continuing Board Members"), cease
to constitute a majority of the Board; or (iii) the Company's security
holders approve (A) a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other
corporation, other than that which would result in the voting securities of
the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent at
least 80% of the surviving corporation's then outstanding voting securities,
or (B) a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or a sale of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets. Notwithstanding the foregoing
definition, none of the foregoing events shall constitute a Change of
Control of the Company if (x) immediately after the occurrence of the event,
SSI Associates, L.P., KKR Partners II, L.P. or any other affiliated entity
is the beneficial owner of 30% or more of the Company's then-outstanding
voting securities or (y) prior to the occurrence of the event, the
Continuing Board Members unanimously approve the event.
(b) The assumed annual rates of appreciation in the table are shown for
illustrative purposes only pursuant to applicable SEC requirements. Actual
values realized on stock options are dependent on actual future performance
of the Company's stock, among other factors. Accordingly, the amounts shown
may not necessarily be realized.
14
<PAGE> 16
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES DURING 1998
FISCAL YEAR AND 1998 FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
The following table sets forth information concerning exercise of stock
options during fiscal 1998 by each of the individuals identified in the Summary
Compensation Table and the value of unexercised options at the end of fiscal
1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SECURITIES
UNDERLYING VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNEXERCISED OPTIONS IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
AT 1998 AT 1998
SHARES VALUE YEAR-END(#) YEAR-END($)(B)
ACQUIRED ON REALIZED EXERCISABLE/ EXERCISABLE/
NAME EXERCISE(#) ($)(A) UNEXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
---- ----------- --------- ------------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Steven A. Burd............... -- -- 3,682,262/ 209,234,909/
2,000,000 67,125,000
Kenneth W. Oder.............. 200,000 7,093,760 1,890,000/ 105,170,625/
910,000 37,591,875
Michael C. Ross.............. 100,000 4,112,500 620,000/ 35,336,250/
280,000 15,882,500
David G. Weed................ 50,000 1,590,956 190,000/ 10,536,875/
280,000 12,546,250
Larree M. Renda.............. 94,000 2,817,498 279,000/ 14,907,279/
233,000 10,990,152
Gary D. Smith................ 106,000 3,890,875 155,800/ 8,666,087/
86,200 3,005,277
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(a) Value realized is (i) the fair market value of the stock at the date of
exercise less the exercise price of the options exercised multiplied by (ii)
the number of shares represented by such options.
(b) Potential unrealized value is (i) the fair market value at fiscal 1998
year-end ($60.9375 per share) less the exercise price of "in-the-money,"
unexercised options multiplied by (ii) the number of shares represented by
such options.
PENSION PLANS
Pension benefits are paid to executive officers under the Employee
Retirement Plan, a qualified defined benefit pension plan, and the Retirement
Restoration Plan. The Retirement Restoration Plan, which became effective on
January 1, 1994, provides benefits to certain employees, including the
individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table, that cannot be paid under
the qualified Retirement Plan due to Internal Revenue Code limitations on the
amount of compensation that may be recognized and the amount of benefits that
may be paid.
The Employee Retirement Plan and the Retirement Restoration Plan
(collectively, the "Retirement Plans") provide benefits under a formula based in
part on years of service, age at retirement date, and the employee's highest
60-month average compensation out of the 120 consecutive months preceding
retirement. Unreduced benefits under the formula are payable as early as age 62,
and reduced early retirement benefits are available at ages 55 through 61.
15
<PAGE> 17
The following table illustrates the total estimated annual benefits payable
as of January 2, 1999 from the Retirement Plans to persons in specified
remuneration and years of credited service classifications. The benefits shown
in the table are based on the Retirement Plans' final average earnings benefit
formula, retirement at age 65, and payment in the form of a single life annuity.
PENSION PLAN TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL FINAL YEARS OF CREDITED SERVICE UNDER PLANS
AVERAGE EARNINGS --------------------------------------------------------
USED FOR PLANS 15 20 25 30 35
- ---------------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$100,000.................... $ 19,410 $ 25,880 $ 32,350 $ 38,820 $ 45,290
200,000..................... 41,160 54,880 68,600 82,320 96,040
300,000..................... 62,910 83,880 104,850 125,820 146,790
400,000..................... 84,660 112,880 141,100 169,320 197,540
500,000..................... 106,410 141,880 177,350 212,820 248,290
600,000..................... 128,160 170,880 213,600 256,320 299,040
800,000..................... 171,660 228,880 286,100 343,320 400,540
1,000,000................... 215,160 286,880 358,600 430,320 502,040
1,500,000................... 323,910 431,880 539,850 647,820 755,790
</TABLE>
Remuneration under the final average earnings formula illustrated in the
foregoing table includes pay earned from full-time employment, contingent pay
and pay for part-time employment, but excludes stock options and any special pay
made solely in the discretion of the employer. Remuneration under this final
average earnings formula for the individuals named in the Summary Compensation
Table generally corresponds with the aggregate of the earned salary, plus
bonuses and long-term compensation for each such person. Credited years of
service as of January 2, 1999 under the final average earnings formula for the
individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table were: S. A. Burd, five; K.
W. Oder, six; M.C. Ross, five; D.G. Weed, four; L.M. Renda, 15; and G.D. Smith,
30.
In addition to benefits provided under the final average earnings benefit
formula, the Retirement Plans provide retirement benefits under an account
balance feature. The normal form of benefit under this feature is a life annuity
commencing at age 65, and early retirement benefits are available at ages 55 and
greater. The annual account balance benefit at age 65 is equal to 12% of an
employee's accumulated account balance. Additions to an employee's account
balance are based on the employee's salary, exclusive of bonuses and other
contingent or special pay, and interest in accordance with an interest index.
Estimated annual retirement benefits under the account balance feature for the
individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table are shown below, and assume
a 6% annual interest index factor and no increases in salary.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ESTIMATED
REACHING ANNUAL
NAME AGE 65 BENEFIT
---- -------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
S. A. Burd.............................................. 2014 $180,463
K. W. Oder.............................................. 2012 100,526
M. C. Ross.............................................. 2013 73,031
D. G. Weed.............................................. 2016 79,641
L. M. Renda............................................. 2023 140,799
G. D. Smith............................................. 2008 50,495
</TABLE>
16
<PAGE> 18
PROPOSAL 2
APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE
1999 AMENDED AND RESTATED EQUITY PARTICIPATION PLAN
OF SAFEWAY INC.
At the Annual Meeting, stockholders are being asked to approve the 1999
Amended and Restated Equity Participation Plan of Safeway Inc. (the "1999 Equity
Plan"), as adopted by the Board of Directors as of March 15, 1999. The 1999
Equity Plan will be effective upon approval by the stockholders of the Company.
The 1999 Equity Plan amends and restates, on a consolidated basis, the Company's
1994 Amended and Restated Stock Option and Incentive Plan for Key Employees of
Safeway Inc., the Director Plan and the Stock Option Plan for Consultants of
Safeway Inc. (collectively, the "Prior Equity Plans"), all of which were
previously approved by the Company's stockholders.
The principal features of the 1999 Equity Plan are summarized below, but
the summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 1999 Equity Plan.
Copies of the 1999 Equity Plan will be available at the Annual Meeting and may
also be obtained by making written request of the Company's Secretary.
GENERAL NATURE AND PURPOSE
The principal purpose of the 1999 Equity Plan is to provide incentives for
employees, non-employee directors and consultants to further the growth,
development and financial success of the Company and to enable the Company to
obtain and retain the services of employees, non-employee directors and
consultants considered essential to the long-range success of the Company.
Safeway's equity incentive program is offered to approximately 10,000 employees
throughout the Company. Management believes that granting equity incentives to
more line managers rewards performance while also enabling Safeway to continue
to recruit and develop top quality employees. Safeway considers broad employee
ownership of its shares a key to its long-term success and believes that its
equity incentive program is the most inclusive in the industry.
Under the 1999 Equity Plan, a maximum of 24 million shares of Common Stock
(or equivalent in other equity securities) is authorized for issuance upon
exercise or granting of options, stock appreciation rights ("SARs"), restricted
stock and other awards (collectively, "Awards"), and no more than 1.2 million
shares of restricted stock may be awarded under the 1999 Equity Plan in any
fiscal year. As of the end of fiscal 1998, the total number of shares available
for issuance under the Prior Equity Plans was approximately 18.4 million.
Accordingly, the incremental amount of shares being authorized for issuance
under the 1999 Equity Plan is approximately 5.6 million.
ADMINISTRATION
A committee of the Board that consists solely of two or more members of the
Board, each of whom is both a "non-employee director" for purposes of Rule 16b-3
under the Exchange Act ("Rule 16b-3") and an "outside director" for the purposes
of Section 162(m) of the Code (the "Committee"), will administer the 1999 Equity
Plan with respect to Awards to employees or consultants of the Company, and the
full Board will administer the 1999 Equity Plan with respect to options granted
to non-employee directors.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the 1999 Equity Plan, the Committee
has the authority to select the employees and consultants, if any, to whom
Awards are to be made, to determine the number of shares to be subject thereto
and the terms and conditions thereof, and to make all other determinations and
to take all other actions necessary or advisable for the administration of the
1999 Equity Plan. The Board or the Committee may at any time suspend or
terminate the Plan subject to rights under Awards previously granted, and may
amend or modify the Plan except that stockholder approval is generally required
to increase the maximum number of shares subject to Awards which may be granted
to any employee or consultant in any given year under the 1999 Equity Plan and
for certain other matters.
17
<PAGE> 19
ELIGIBILITY
Awards under the 1999 Equity Plan may be granted to individuals who are
employees or consultants of the Company (or any current or future subsidiaries)
selected by the Committee for participation in the 1999 Equity Plan. In
addition, the 1999 Equity Plan provides for automatic grants of non-qualified
stock options to non-employee directors.
GRANTS TO NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
Upon effectiveness of the 1999 Equity Plan, it is expected that eight
directors will be eligible to participate in the 1999 Equity Plan. The 1999
Equity Plan provides for (i) automatic grants of non-qualified stock options to
purchase a set number of shares of Common Stock (A) to each non-employee
director serving as of the effective date of the 1999 Equity Plan (other than a
non-employee director who received any grant of options pursuant to the Director
Plan) on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders coinciding with the
effective date of the 1999 Equity Plan and (B) to each non-employee director
initially elected or appointed to the Board of Directors on or after the
effective date of the 1999 Equity Plan on the date of such person's election or
appointment (in each case, "Election Options"), and (ii) automatic grants of
non-qualified stock options to purchase 2,000 shares of Common Stock to each
non-employee director as of the date of each subsequent annual meeting of
stockholders ("Annual Options"). The grant of Election Options is subject to the
non-employee director's purchase of a set number of shares (to the extent such
non-employee director does not then beneficially own or is not then deemed to
beneficially own such number of shares) at a purchase price of 80% of the fair
market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of purchase. In addition,
the 1999 Equity Plan provides that any non-employee director who received an
initial grant of stock options under the Director Plan, but had not yet received
a grant of stock options after three continuous years of service as provided
under the Director Plan, will be granted non-qualified stock options to purchase
100,000 shares after serving on the Board for three continuous years. Each grant
to a non-employee director shall be set forth in a written agreement between the
Company and the non-employee director indicating the terms and conditions of the
option. The exercise price of Election Options shall be 80% of the fair market
value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant, and the exercise price of
all other options granted to non-employee directors shall be no less than the
fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant. Each option
shall become exercisable in cumulative annual installments of one-third each on
each of the first three anniversaries of the date of the grant so long as the
non-employee director continues to serve as a director of the Company; provided,
however, to the extent permitted by Rule 16b-3, the Board of Directors may
accelerate the exercisability of options upon the occurrence of certain
specified extraordinary corporate transactions or events. No portion of an
option granted to any non-employee director shall be exercisable after the tenth
anniversary of the date of grant or more than three months after the termination
of the non-employee director's services as director of the Company; provided,
however, that in the event of the non-employee director's death or disability,
the option may be exercised until the earlier of 12 months following such death
or disability of the tenth anniversary of the date of grant.
AWARDS TO EMPLOYEES AND CONSULTANTS
The 1999 Equity Plan provides that the Committee may grant or issue stock
options, SARs, restricted stock, deferred stock, dividend equivalents, and other
stock related benefits, or any combination thereof to any eligible employee or
consultant. Each such Award will be set forth in a separate agreement with the
person receiving the Award and will indicate the type, terms and conditions of
the Award.
The 1999 Equity Plan provides that (a) Awards covering not more than
2,000,000 shares may be granted to any executive officer of the Company in any
year or to any employee (other than an executive officer) in the year of his or
her hiring, and options covering not more than 800,000 shares may be granted to
any employee (other than an executive officer) in any subsequent year and (b)
awards covering not more than 1,600,000 shares may be granted to any consultant
in any year after their date of hire (collectively the "Award Limits"). These
Award Limits are the same (taking into account subsequent stock splits) as were
approved by the stockholders with respect to the Prior Equity Plans.
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Non-Qualified Stock Options ("NQSOs") will provide for the right to
purchase Common Stock at a specified price which may not be less than the fair
market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant, and usually will
become exercisable (in the discretion of the Committee) in one or more
installments after the grant date, subject to the participant's continued
employment with the Company. NQSOs may be granted for any term specified by the
Committee up to a maximum term of ten years.
Incentive Stock Options ("ISOs") will be designed to comply with certain
restrictions contained in the Code. Among such restrictions, ISOs must have an
exercise price of not less than the fair market value of a share of Common Stock
on the date of grant, may only be granted to employees, must expire within a
specified period of time following the Optionee's termination of employment, and
must be exercised within ten years after the date of grant. ISOs may be
subsequently modified to disqualify them from treatment as ISOs. In the case of
an ISO granted to an individual who owns (or is deemed to own) at least 10% of
the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, the 1999
Equity Plan provides that the exercise price must be at least 110% of the fair
market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant, and the ISO must
expire no later than the fifth anniversary of the date of its grant.
Restricted Stock may be awarded and made subject to such restrictions as
may be determined by the Committee. Stock bonuses awarded under the Operating
Performance Bonus Plan for Executive Officers of Safeway Inc. and under any
other operating performance bonus plan for employees shall be awarded as
restricted stock under the 1999 Equity Plan. In general, restricted stock may
not be sold, or otherwise transferred or hypothecated, until the restrictions
(if any) are removed or expire. Recipients of restricted stock, unlike
recipients of options, will have voting rights and will receive any dividends
paid with respect to such stock prior to the time when the restrictions lapse.
Deferred Stock may be awarded to participants, typically without payment of
consideration, but subject to vesting conditions based on continued employment
or on performance criteria established by the Committee. Like restricted stock,
deferred stock may not be sold, or otherwise transferred or hypothecated, until
vesting conditions are removed or expire. Unlike restricted stock, deferred
stock will not be issued until the deferred stock award has vested, and
recipients of deferred stock generally will have no voting or dividend rights
prior to the time when vesting conditions are satisfied.
Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in connection with stock options
or separately. SARs granted by the Committee in connection with stock options
will provide for payments to the holder based upon increases in the price of the
Company's Common Stock over the exercise price of the related option. Except as
required by Section 162(m) of the Code, there are no restrictions specified in
the 1999 Equity Plan on the amount of gain realizable from the exercise of SARs,
although restrictions may be imposed by the Committee in the SAR agreements. The
Committee may elect to pay SARs in cash or in Common Stock or in a combination
of both.
Dividend Equivalents represent the value of any dividends per share paid by
the Company, calculated with reference to the number of shares covered by the
stock options, SARs or other Awards held by the participant. This value is
converted into additional shares of Common Stock. Dividend equivalents may be
awarded to non-employee directors as well as employees and consultants.
Stock Payments may be authorized by the Committee in the form of shares of
Common Stock or an option or other right to purchase Common Stock as part of a
deferred compensation arrangement or otherwise in lieu of or in addition to all
or any part of compensation, including bonuses, that would otherwise be payable
in cash to the employee or consultant.
Exercisability of Options. Options granted under the 1999 Equity Plan will
be exercisable in installments in such amounts (which may be cumulative) as the
Committee shall provide in the terms of each stock option agreement; provided,
however, that options must vest over a minimum of three years from the date of
grant. The exercisability of options may be accelerated in the event of a Change
of Control of the Company (as defined in the individual stock option agreement).
Subject to the following, the expiration date, maximum number of shares
purchasable, conditions to exercise and other provisions of individual stock
option agreements are established by the Committee at the time of grant. Option
terms may not exceed ten years. No
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portion of an option which is unexercisable upon the termination of employment
or consultancy for any reason may thereafter become exercisable. Generally,
options which are exercisable upon termination of an optionee's employment or
consultancy with the Company or its subsidiaries expire three months following
such termination. However, options may be exercised up until the expiration date
of the full term of the options after termination of employment due to an
optionee's death, disability or retirement at age 55 or older in accordance with
the Company's retirement policies (unless earlier terminated by reason of the
optionee's willful misconduct), if permitted by the Company either in granting
new options or amending previously granted options.
GENERAL
Method of Exercise. To exercise an option, the optionee must deliver to the
Company a notice of exercise and full payment for the shares. The option price
may be paid in cash, or, with the Committee's consent, by tendering shares of
the Company's Common Stock already issued or issuable upon exercise of the
option or by any other form of payment which is approved by the administrator
and is consistent with the 1999 Equity Plan or applicable law, or by any
combination of the above. The administrator may in its discretion permit an
optionee to elect to defer receipt of shares otherwise issuable pursuant to the
exercise of an option, upon such terms and conditions as the administrator may
determine.
Non-Transferability. Options may be transferred only by will or by the laws
of descent and distribution, and during a participant's lifetime are exercisable
only by the participant. However, the administrator may in its discretion permit
transfers by gift to a member of the holder's immediate family or related
entities or pursuant to certain domestic relations orders.
Adjustments Upon Change in Capitalization. If the outstanding shares of
Common Stock of the Company subject to options are changed into or exchanged for
a different number or kind of shares of the Company or other securities of the
Company by reason of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification,
stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares or otherwise, the
administrator will make an appropriate and equitable adjustment in the number
and kind of shares as to which all outstanding options, or portions thereof then
unexercised, will be exercisable, to the end that after such event the
optionee's proportionate interests will be maintained as before the occurrence
of such event, and the administrator shall make appropriate adjustments in the
number and kind of shares for the purchase of which options may be granted and
in the number and kind of shares subject to Awards which may be awarded,
including adjustments of the limitations on the maximum number and kind of
shares which may be issued on exercise of options and of the Award Limits.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CANADIAN STOCK OPTION PROGRAM
In order to benefit from certain provisions of Canadian federal income tax
law, options granted to Canadian employees will be granted pursuant to both the
1999 Equity Plan and the Share Appreciation Rights Plan of Canada Safeway
Limited (the "SAR Plan"). Although the method of grant of options to Canadian
employees differs from grants to U.S. employees, options granted to Canadian
employees are intended to have the same economic value to the recipients as
options granted to U.S. employees. The terms of the SAR Plan are generally the
same as those of the 1999 Equity Plan and are designed to operate in conjunction
with the 1999 Equity Plan. Grants of options under the Canadian program work as
follows: each Canadian employee selected to receive an option will be granted
pursuant to a single agreement (i) a right (issued pursuant to the 1999 Equity
Plan) to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company at the fair market value
on the date of purchase (a "Stock Right"), and (ii) an undertaking (issued
pursuant to the SAR Plan) by Canada Safeway Limited ("CSL") pursuant to which
CSL will pay on the participant's behalf that portion of the fair market value
of the Common Stock on the date of purchase which exceeds the fair market value
of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant of the aforementioned stock
purchase right (a "Canadian SAR", and, together with a Stock Right, an
"Option"). Accordingly, when a Canadian employee exercises an Option, to receive
shares of Common Stock he or she pays the same amount per share as U.S.
employees, which is generally the fair market value on the date of grant of the
Option. Generally, Canadian SARs which are exercisable upon a termination of the
participating employee's employment with the Company or any of its
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subsidiaries expire three months following such termination. However, Canadian
SARs may be exercised up until the expiration of the term of the Canadian SARs
(which is the same as the expiration of the term of the related Stock Right)
after termination of employment due to the participating employee's death,
disability or retirement at age 55 or older in accordance with the Company's
retirement policies, unless earlier terminated by reason of the optionee's
willful misconduct, if permitted by the Company.
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The 1999 Equity Plan is neither a qualified pension, profit sharing or
stock bonus plan under Section 401(a) of the Code nor an "employee benefit plan"
subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended ("ERISA"). The following discussion is a general summary of the
material U.S. Federal income tax consequences that are generally applicable to
U.S. participants in the 1999 Equity Plan. The discussion is based on the Code,
regulations thereunder and rulings and decisions now in effect, all of which are
subject to change. The summary does not discuss all aspects of federal income
taxation that may be relevant to a particular participant in light of such
participant's personal investment circumstances. A discussion of the income tax
consequences to Canadian employees under Canadian law follows.
Non-Qualified Stock Options. The grant of a non-qualified stock option is
generally not a taxable event either for the optionee or for the Company. Upon
exercise of a non-qualified stock option, the optionee generally will recognize
ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the
shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise, determined at the date of
exercise, over the exercise price of such option. Subject to Section 162(m) of
the Code, the Company will be entitled to a business expense deduction equal to
such amount in the fiscal year of the Company in which the optionee exercises
the non-qualified stock option. The ordinary income recognized by the optionee
is subject to income and employment tax withholding. The optionee's tax basis in
the shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of a non-qualified stock option
will be equal to the option price paid plus the amount of ordinary income
recognized upon exercise. Any gain or loss on a disposition of the Common Stock
acquired upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option will be treated as
short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, subject to income taxation at
short-term, mid-term or long-term capital gains rates depending on the holding
period of the optionee measured from the date of the exercise of such option.
There are generally no federal income tax consequences to the Company by reason
of the disposition by an optionee of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of
a non-qualified stock option. If an optionee elects to defer receipt of shares
upon exercise (provided the administrator has permitted such election), the
optionee will recognize ordinary income and the Company will be entitled to a
business expense deduction when the shares are received, in each case based on
the fair market value of the shares issued, determined at the date the shares
are received.
If an optionee delivers previously acquired shares of Common Stock of the
Company to pay the option price upon exercise of a non-qualified option, the
shares of Common Stock so acquired that are equal in fair market value to the
shares surrendered, measured at the date of exercise, generally will qualify for
nonrecognition of gain. The tax basis of such shares will be equal to the
optionee's basis in the shares surrendered, and the holding period for purposes
of determining capital gain or loss treatment with respect to subsequent
appreciation or depreciation will be measured to include the optionee's holding
period with respect to the surrendered shares. Shares of Common Stock of the
Company so acquired that exceed the fair market value of the shares surrendered
will be taxable as ordinary income to the optionee. The Company will be subject
to a withholding obligation for income and employment taxes with respect to the
amount of ordinary income recognized by the optionee and will be entitled to a
deduction equal to the amount of such ordinary income. The optionee's tax basis
in such shares will be equal to the amount of ordinary income so recognized, and
the holding period for subsequent capital gain (or loss) will be measured from
the exercise date.
Incentive Stock Options. Generally, an optionee recognizes no taxable
income upon the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option that meets the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code. However, the amount by which the fair
market value of the Common Stock acquired at the time of exercise exceeds the
option exercise price (the "spread") is taken into account in determining the
amount, if any, of the alternative minimum tax due from the optionee in the year
in which the option is exercised. In addition, if the optionee exercises the
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option by paying the option price with shares of Common Stock, the transfer of
such Common Stock may result in taxable income to the optionee even though the
transfer itself will not affect the favorable tax treatment of the Common Stock
received as a result of exercising the option.
If an optionee holds the Common Stock acquired through the exercise of an
incentive stock option for more than two years from the date on which the option
was granted and more than one year from the date on which the option was
exercised, and if the optionee is an employee of the Company at all times from
the date of the grant of the incentive stock option through the date that is
three months before the date of exercise, any gain or loss on the subsequent
disposition of such Common Stock will be taxed to such optionee as long-term
capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the consideration received
upon such disposition and the option exercise price.
Generally, if an optionee disposes of the Common Stock received on exercise
of an incentive stock option less than two years after the date the option was
granted or less than one year after the date the option was exercised, it is
considered to be a "disqualifying disposition." At the time of such
disqualifying disposition, the optionee will recognize ordinary income in an
amount equal to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the Common Stock on
the date of exercise over the option exercise price, or (ii) the amount received
for the Common Stock over the option exercise price. Any gain in excess of this
amount will be taxed as capital gain.
To the extent that an optionee recognizes ordinary income by reason of a
disqualifying disposition of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of any
incentive stock option, the Company generally will be entitled to a
corresponding business expense deduction in the fiscal year of the Company in
which the disqualifying disposition occurs, subject to Section 162(m) of the
Code.
Restricted Stock. A holder of restricted stock generally will recognize
ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the
Common Stock (determined without regard to any restrictions other than those
that by their terms never lapse) over the amount, if any, paid for the Common
Stock on the earlier of the date on which (i) the Common Stock is no longer
subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or (ii) is transferable (without the
transferee being subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture). If, as of such
date, the holder cannot sell the Common Stock without incurring liability under
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the holder generally will not recognize
ordinary income with respect to the receipt of the Common Stock until such time
as the holder can sell the Common Stock without incurring liability under
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. For purposes of determining the holder's
income resulting from the receipt of the Common Stock, the fair market value
will be determined as of that date.
In the alternative, if the holder files an election with the Internal
Revenue Service pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code within 30 days of the
receipt of the Common Stock pursuant to an award of restricted stock, the holder
will be taxed in the year the Common Stock is received on the difference between
the fair market value of the Common Stock at the time of receipt and the amount
paid for the Common Stock, if any. This amount will be taxed as ordinary income.
If shares with respect to which a Section 83(b) election has been made are later
forfeited, the holder generally will be entitled to a capital loss only in an
amount equal to the amount, if any, that the holder had paid for the forfeited
shares, not the amount that the holder had recognized as income as a result of
the Section 83(b) election. Subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, the Company
is entitled to a business expense deduction that corresponds to the amount of
ordinary income recognized by the holder in the fiscal year of the Company in
which such ordinary income is recognized by the holder.
Stock Appreciation Rights. Generally, the holder of a stock appreciation
right recognizes no income upon the grant of a stock appreciation right. Upon
exercise, the holder will recognize as ordinary income the excess of the value
of the stock appreciation right on the date of exercise over the value as of the
date of grant. If the stock appreciation right is paid in cash, the appreciation
is taxable under Section 61 of the Code. If the Committee determines to transfer
shares of Common Stock to the holder in full or partial payment of the
appreciation, the fair market value of the Common Stock so received over the
amount paid therefor by the holder, if any, is taxable as ordinary income under
Section 83 of the Code as of the date the stock appreciation right is exercised.
Subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, the Company is entitled to a business
expense
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deduction that corresponds to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the
holder in the fiscal year of the Company in which the stock appreciation right
is exercised.
Dividend Equivalents, Deferred Stock and Stock Payments. In general,
recipients of dividend equivalents, deferred stock and stock payments are
taxable under Section 83 of the Code upon their receipt of Common Stock or under
Section 61 of the Code upon their receipt of cash, as applicable. Subject to
Section 162(m) of the Code, the Company is entitled to a business expense
deduction that corresponds to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the
recipient of the award.
CANADIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following discussion is a general summary of the material Canadian
federal income tax consequences to Canadian resident participants in the 1999
Equity Plan and the SAR Plan. The discussion is based upon the Income Tax Act
(Canada), the Income Tax Regulations, the published administrative policies of
Revenue Canada, and the Company's understanding of the administrative practice
of Revenue Canada, all of which are subject to change. The summary does not
discuss all aspects of Canadian federal income tax that may be relevant to a
particular participant in light of such participant's personal investment
circumstances, nor does it address provincial income tax consequences.
The 1999 Equity Plan and the SAR Plan will effectively be treated for
Canadian federal income tax purposes together as a single stock option plan,
pursuant to which the employees are granted rights to acquire shares of Common
Stock at a price equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date of
purchase. In the taxation year in which the employee exercises options to
acquire Common Stock, the amount paid in connection with such exercise by CSL
pursuant to the SAR Plan will be required to be included in computing the
employee's income from employment. Provided the Common Stock qualifies as a
share prescribed by Section 6204 of the Income Tax Regulations, the employee
will be entitled to deduct one-quarter of this amount in computing his or her
taxable income. As in the case of stock option plans, CSL will not be entitled
to deduct, in computing its income for tax purposes, amounts paid pursuant to
the SAR Plan.
BOARD RECOMMENDATION
The Board unanimously recommends a vote FOR approval of the adoption of the
1999 Equity Plan. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting is
necessary to approve the adoption of the 1999 Equity Plan. Unless otherwise
instructed, proxies will be voted FOR approval of the adoption of the 1999
Equity Plan.
PROPOSAL 3
REAPPROVAL OF THE OPERATING PERFORMANCE BONUS
PLAN FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
At the Annual Meeting, stockholders are being asked to reapprove the
Operating Performance Bonus Plan for Executive Officers of Safeway Inc., as
amended (the "Bonus Plan"). The original Bonus Plan was approved by the
stockholders in May 1994. The Second and Third Amendments were approved by the
Board of Directors in October 1997 and March 1998, respectively, and by the
stockholders in May 1998. Section 162(m) of the Code requires that certain
executive compensation plans be reapproved by the stockholders after five years
in order to continue qualification of compensation awarded under such plans as
performance-based compensation pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code.
Accordingly, the Board is seeking stockholder reapproval of the Bonus Plan in
order for all bonuses paid thereunder to continue to satisfy the requirements
for qualified performance-based compensation under the Internal Revenue
Service's regulations under Section 162(m) of the Code and, accordingly, be
eligible for deductibility by the Company.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BONUS PLAN
There are currently 14 executive officers eligible to participate in the
Bonus Plan. The following information includes summaries of certain provisions
of the Bonus Plan. This information does not purport to
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be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of
the Bonus Plan. Copies of the Bonus Plan will be available at the Annual Meeting
and may also be obtained by making written request of the Company's Secretary.
Bonus Awards to CEO.
Eligibility. The CEO is eligible for a bonus award for each fiscal year in
an amount not to exceed 120% of the amount determined by multiplying his regular
weekly base salary rate by the number of weeks during such year that he served
as CEO, up to a maximum bonus of $1.5 million.
Business Criteria. The CEO's bonus is based on a preestablished performance
target which shall include three components which shall be based on (i)
identical store sales, (ii) income and (iii) working capital, respectively. For
purposes of such goal, planned identical store sales and income shall include
all Company operations.
Bonus Amount. The bonus award for the CEO is based on the achievement of
specified levels above the performance target. Prior to the payment of a bonus
award to the CEO, the Section 162(m) Committee must certify in writing the level
of the performance goals attained by the Company.
Bonus Awards to Executive Officers.
Eligibility. Each executive officer of the Company (including the Senior
Vice President -- Supply but excluding the CEO) is eligible for a bonus award
for each fiscal year in an amount equal to a preestablished percentage,
determined in the discretion of the CEO but ranging from 30% to 120%, of the
amount determined by multiplying his or her regular weekly base salary rate by
the number of weeks during such year that he or she served as an executive
officer, up to a maximum bonus of $1.5 million.
Business Criteria. Each executive officer's bonus is based on a
preestablished performance target which shall include three components which
shall be based on (i) identical store sales, (ii) income and (iii) working
capital, respectively. For purposes of such goal, planned identical store sales
and income shall include all Company operations.
Bonus Amount. The bonus award for any executive officer is based on the
achievement of specified levels above the performance target; provided, however,
that the CEO, in his discretion, may reduce the amount payable to any executive
officer. Prior to the payment of a bonus award to an executive officer, the
Section 162(m) Committee must certify in writing the level of the performance
goals attained by the Company.
Additional Bonus Award to Senior Vice President -- Supply.
Eligibility. The Senior Vice President -- Supply is eligible for a bonus
award for each fiscal year in an amount not to exceed 55% of the amount
determined by multiplying his regular weekly base salary rate by the number of
weeks during such year that he served as Senior Vice President -- Supply, up to
a maximum bonus of $550,000.
Business Criteria. The Senior Vice President -- Supply's bonus is based on
a preestablished performance target which shall include three components which
shall be based on (i) total Supply Division earnings, (ii) plant performance,
and (iii) outside sales profit contribution, respectively. Each of the
components shall be based on total Supply Division operations.
Bonus Amount. In calculating the bonus award to be paid to the Senior Vice
President -- Supply, the relative weight given to each component is as follows:
(i) 60% to total Supply Division earnings, (ii) 20% to plant performance, and
(iii) 20% to outside sales profit contribution. The bonus award for the Senior
Vice President -- Supply is based on the achievement of specified levels above
the performance target. Prior to the payment of a bonus award to the Senior Vice
President -- Supply, the Section 162(m) Committee must certify in writing the
level of the performance goals attained by the Supply Division.
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General
Base Salary Adjustments. Any change in base salary effected after the first
day of the fiscal year may be taken into account, on a proportionate basis, in
computing any bonus award for the fiscal year.
Method of Payment. Each bonus award may be paid, at the option of the
recipient, in cash or in stock, or in any combination of cash and stock. Stock
bonuses shall be awarded in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Equity
Plan.
Amendment. The Bonus Plan may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise
modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Board.
However, to the extent required by Section 162(m) with respect to bonus awards
which the Section 162(m) Committee determines should qualify as
performance-based compensation as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code,
no action of the Board may modify the performance targets, target bonus awards,
or the percentages to be used to determine such bonus awards after the
commencement of the fiscal year with respect to which such bonus awards relate.
BOARD RECOMMENDATION
The Board unanimously recommends a vote FOR the reapproval of the Bonus
Plan because the Board believes it is in the best interest of the Company to
qualify performance-based compensation for deductibility under Section 162(m) of
the Code in order to maximize the Company's income tax deductions. The
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of shares present in person or by
proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting is necessary to reapprove the Bonus
Plan. Unless otherwise instructed, proxies will be voted FOR reapproval of the
Bonus Plan.
PROPOSAL 4
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL #1
Mr. Emil Rossi, P.O. Box 249, Boonville, California 95415, who is the owner
of 2,232 shares of Common Stock, has given notice that he intends to present for
action at the Annual Meeting the following proposal:
The shareholders of Safeway Corporation [sic] request the Board of
Directors to take the necessary steps to amend the company's governing
instruments to adopt the following: Beginning on the 2000 Safeway fiscal
year the policy of the company shall be to tie at least half of Executive
Management's compensation to the amount of comon [sic] dividends paid out
each year.
The following statement was submitted in support of such proposal:
Dividends are the real gauge of how a corporation is doing and it behooves
management to pay out at least a certain percentage of earnings in
dividends to the shareholders who have faithfully held on to their shares.
There has to be a reward. That's what the whole American economic system is
all about. Management wants big money up front. They don't want promises or
total return or other hocus pocus. They want cash so they can go forth and
enjoy the finer things in life. Like buying baseball teams and yachts. The
little things of life that make one's existence bearable.
BOARD RECOMMENDATION
The Board of Directors recommends a vote against this proposal for the
following reasons:
Safeway is committed to enhancing stockholder value over the long term. In
order to do so, the Board must have the flexibility to exercise its business
judgment regarding the best use of the Company's capital. During the past five
years, the Company's Common Stock has appreciated at an average annual rate of
over 63%. The Company continues to believe that it can achieve significantly
greater returns for its stockholders by reinvesting free cash flow into the
business than by paying out a portion of these funds in the form of dividends on
Common Stock. Moreover, the Board believes that the Company's policies regarding
executive compensation, as more fully described in the Report of the
Compensation and Stock Option Committee and Report of the Section 162(m)
Committee contained elsewhere in this proxy statement, serve the best interests
of the
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Company and its stockholders and substantially link executive compensation with
the Company's performance.
The Board unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST the adoption of this
stockholder proposal. The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of shares
present in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on this matter
is necessary to approve the adoption of this stockholder proposal. Unless
otherwise instructed, proxies will be voted AGAINST approval of adoption of this
stockholder proposal.
PROPOSAL 5
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL #2
Mrs. Evelyn Y. Davis, 2600 Virginia Ave., N.W. #215, Washington, D.C.
20037, who is the owner of 800 shares of Common Stock, has given notice that she
intends to present for action at the Annual Meeting the following resolution:
RESOLVED: That the stockholders of Safeway Inc., assembled in Annual
Meeting in person and by proxy, hereby request the Board of Directors to
take the necessary steps to provide for cumulative voting in the election
of directors, which means each stockholder shall be entitled to as many
votes as shall equal the number of shares he or she owns multiplied by the
number of directors to be elected, and he or she may cast all of such votes
for a single candidate, or any two or more of them as he or she may see
fit.
The following statement was submitted in support of such resolution:
REASONS: Many states have mandatory cumulative voting, so do National
Banks. In addition, many corporations have adopted cumulative voting. Last
year, the owners of 147,778,196 shares, representing approximately 38.7% of
the shares voting, voted FOR this proposal.
If you AGREE, please mark your proxy FOR this resolution.
BOARD RECOMMENDATION
The Board of Directors recommends a vote against this proposal for the
following reasons:
This proposal was presented at the 1997 and 1998 Annual Meetings. Owners of
311,073,422 and 235,129,073 shares, respectively, representing approximately
81.5% and 61.3%, respectively, of the shares voting on the proposal, voted
against the proposal or abstained.
The Company's present system for election of directors, which is like that
of many major publicly traded corporations, allows all stockholders to vote on
the basis of their share ownership. The Board of Directors believes that this
method is the fairest and is most likely to produce a Board which will
effectively represent the interests of all of the Company's stockholders. In
addition, the Company's performance in recent years, including an average annual
return to stockholders of over 63% since 1993, suggests that a change in the
method of voting for directors is not necessary or desirable.
In contrast, cumulative voting promotes special interest representation on
the Board. This, in turn, can lead to factionalism and contention among
directors, which could have a negative impact on the Company and its
stockholders. Moreover, the proponent of this stockholder proposal has offered
no evidence that cumulative voting produces a more qualified or effective board.
In fact, the proponent has not expressed any concerns regarding the members of
the Board or the effectiveness of the Board.
Furthermore, the use of cumulative voting has declined significantly over
the years. Many companies have eliminated cumulative voting, and most states
that once mandated cumulative voting in corporate elections have repealed that
requirement.
Accordingly, the Company believes that the present method of voting best
promotes the election of directors who will represent the interests of the
stockholders as a whole and that there have been no valid reasons submitted for
implementing cumulative voting.
26
<PAGE> 28
The Board unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST the adoption of this
stockholder proposal. The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of shares
present in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on this matter
is necessary to approve the adoption of this stockholder proposal. Unless
otherwise instructed, proxies will be voted AGAINST approval of adoption of this
stockholder proposal.
PROPOSAL 6
SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Directors, acting on the recommendation of its Audit
Committee, has selected the firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP, which has served as
independent auditors of the Company since 1987, to conduct an audit, in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, of the Company's
consolidated financial statements for the 52-week fiscal year ending January 1,
2000. A representative of that firm is expected to be present at the Annual
Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and will be given an opportunity to
make a statement if he or she so desires. This selection is being submitted for
ratification at the meeting. If not ratified, the selection will be reconsidered
by the Board, although the Board of Directors will not be required to select
different independent auditors for the Company. Unless otherwise instructed,
proxies will be voted FOR ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche
LLP.
GENERAL
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Stockholder proposals for presentation at the 2000 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders must be received at the Company's principal executive offices on or
before December 1, 1999. The Company's Bylaws provide that stockholders desiring
to nominate a director or bring any other business before the stockholders at an
annual meeting must notify the Secretary of the Company thereof in writing 50 to
75 days before the meeting (or, if less than 65 days' notice or prior public
disclosure of the meeting date is given, within 15 days after such notice was
mailed or publicly disclosed, whichever first occurs). Such notice must set
forth certain information specified in the Company's Bylaws.
ANNUAL REPORT
The Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended January 2,
1999 is being mailed to all stockholders of record with this Proxy Statement.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
MICHAEL C. ROSS
Secretary
Dated: March 24, 1999
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<PAGE> 29
SAFEWAY INC.
PROXY - For the Annual Meeting - May 11, 1999
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PROXY
The undersigned, having received the Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement dated
March 24, 1999, appoints Steven A. Burd and Michael C. Ross, and each or any of
them as Proxies, with full power of substitution, to represent and vote all the
shares of Common Stock which the undersigned may be entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at The Vons Companies, Inc., 618
Michillinda Avenue, Arcadia, California on Tuesday, May 11, 1999, at 10:30 a.m.
or at any and all adjournments thereof, with all powers which the undersigned
would possess if personally present.
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN
BY THE UNDERSIGNED. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" ALL
NOMINEES LISTED UNDER ITEM (1), "FOR" THE PROPOSALS DESCRIBED IN ITEMS (2), (3),
AND (6) AND "AGAINST" THE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS DESCRIBED IN ITEMS (4) AND (5),
ALL OF SAID ITEMS BEING MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN THE NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT. IF ANY OF THE NAMED NOMINEES
SHOULD BECOME UNAVAILABLE PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL MEETING, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED
FOR ANY SUBSTITUTE NOMINEE OR NOMINEES DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE
UNDERSIGNED RATIFIES AND CONFIRMS ALL THAT SAID PROXIES OR THEIR SUBSTITUTES MAY
LAWFULLY DO BY VIRTUE HEREOF.
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE
SEE REVERSE
SIDE
<PAGE> 30
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Please mark your
X votes as in this
example.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote AGAINST stockholder proposals 4
and 5 and FOR proposals 2, 3, and 6.
FOR WITHHELD FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
1. Election of Nominees:
Peter
Directors A. Magowan,
George R.
Roberts,
Rebecca A.
Stirn
For, except vote withheld for the following nominee(s):
2. Adoption of 1999
Amended and Restated
Equity Participation Plan.
3. Reapproval of
Operating Performance
Bonus Plan for
Executive Officers.
4. Stockholder proposal on
tying executive compensation
to dividends paid.
5. Stockholder proposal on
cumulative voting.
6. Appointment of Deloitte &
Touche LLP as independent
auditors for fiscal year 1999.
7. In accordance with the
judgments of the proxies, upon
such other business as may
properly come before the
meeting and at any and all
adjournments thereof.
MARK HERE
FOR ADDRESS
CHANGE AND
NOTE AT LEFT
Please date and sign exactly as name appears hereon. Joint owners
should each sign. The full name or capacity of any person signing for
a corporation, partnership, trust or estate should be indicated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SIGNATURE(S) DATE
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 31
THE 1999 AMENDED AND RESTATED
EQUITY PARTICIPATION PLAN
OF
SAFEWAY INC.
Safeway Inc., a Delaware corporation, previously adopted the Stock
Option and Incentive Plan for Key Employees of Safeway Inc., the Stock Option
Plan for Consultants of Safeway Inc. and the Safeway Inc. Outside Director
Equity Purchase Plan for the benefit of its eligible employees, consultants and
outside directors, respectively. These plans have previously been amended from
time to time and are herein amended and restated in their entirety in order to
constitute a consolidated equity participation plan entitled "The 1999 Amended
and Restated Equity Participation Plan of Safeway Inc." (the "Plan"). Safeway
Inc. has adopted the Plan, effective upon approval by the stockholders as
provided in Section 11.5 of the Plan, for the benefit of its eligible employees,
consultants and directors. The provisions of the Plan that provide for the grant
of Incentive Stock Options, as defined below, shall be deemed to be a new plan
for purposes of the application of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended.
The purposes of the Plan are as follows:
(1) To provide an additional incentive for directors, Employees and
Consultants (as such terms are defined below) to further the growth, development
and financial success of the Company by personally benefiting through the
ownership of Company stock and/or rights which recognize such growth,
development and financial success.
(2) To enable the Company to obtain and retain the services of
directors, Employees and Consultants considered essential to the long range
success of the Company by offering them an opportunity to own stock in the
Company and/or rights which will reflect the growth, development and financial
success of the Company.
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<PAGE> 32
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
1.1. General. Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan they shall
have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise.
1.2. Administrator. "Administrator" shall mean the entity that conducts the
general administration of the Plan as provided herein. With reference to the
administration of the Plan with respect to Options granted to Independent
Directors, the term "Administrator" shall refer to the Board. With reference to
the administration of the Plan with respect to any other Award, the term
"Administrator" shall refer to the Committee unless the Board has assumed the
authority for administration of the Plan generally as provided in Section 10.1.
1.3. Award. "Award" shall mean an Option, a Restricted Stock award, a
Dividend Equivalents award, a Deferred Stock award, a Stock Payment award or a
Stock Appreciation Right which may be awarded or granted under the Plan
(collectively, "Awards").
1.4. Award Agreement. "Award Agreement" shall mean a written agreement
executed by an authorized officer of the Company and the Holder which shall
contain such terms and conditions with respect to an Award as the Administrator
shall determine, consistent with the Plan.
1.5. Award Limit.
(a) With respect to executive officers of the Company and with
respect to Employees (other than executive officers of the Company) solely for
their year of hire, "Award Limit" shall mean 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock,
or as the context may require, options to acquire 2,000,000 shares of Common
Stock, as adjusted pursuant to Section 11.3 of the Plan.
(b) With respect to Employees other than executive officers of the
Company for each year after their year of hire, "Award Limit" shall mean 800,000
shares of Common Stock or, as the context may require, Options to acquire
800,000 shares of Common Stock, as adjusted pursuant to Section 11.3 of the
Plan.
(c) With respect to Consultants for each year after the date on
which their engagement commences, "Award Limit" shall mean 1,600,000 shares of
Common Stock or, as the context may require, Options to acquire 1,600,000 shares
of Common Stock, as adjusted pursuant to Section 11.3 of the Plan.
1.6. Board. "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
1.7. Bonus Plan. "Bonus Plan" shall mean collectively the Operating
Performance Bonus Plan for Executive Officers of Safeway Inc. and the Operating
Performance Bonus Plan for Key Employees of Safeway Inc.
1.8. Change in Control. "Change in Control" shall mean a change in ownership
or control of the Company as such term may be defined in any individual's Award
Agreement.
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<PAGE> 33
1.9. Code. "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
1.10. Committee. "Committee" shall mean the Section 162(m) Committee of the
Board, or another committee or subcommittee of the Board, appointed as provided
in Section 10.1.
1.11. Common Stock. "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock of the Company,
par value $0.01 per share, and any equity security of the Company issued or
authorized to be issued in the future, but excluding any preferred stock and any
warrants, options or other rights to purchase Common Stock.
1.12. Company. "Company" shall mean Safeway Inc., a Delaware corporation.
1.13. Consultant. "Consultant" shall mean any consultant or adviser if:
(a) the consultant or adviser renders bona fide services to the
Company;
(b) the services rendered by the consultant or adviser are not in
connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction
and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company's
securities; and
(c) the consultant or adviser is a natural person who has contracted
directly with the Company to render such services.
1.14. Deferred Stock. "Deferred Stock" shall mean Common Stock awarded under
Article VIII of the Plan.
1.15. Director. "Director" shall mean a member of the Board.
1.16. Dividend Equivalent. "Dividend Equivalent" shall mean a right to receive
the equivalent value (in Common Stock) of dividends paid on Common Stock,
awarded under Article VIII of the Plan.
1.17. DRO. "DRO" shall mean a domestic relations order that would constitute a
"qualified domestic relations order" as defined by the Code or Title I of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, if this Plan were
subject to regulation under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended.
1.18. Effective Date. "Effective Date" shall mean the date the Plan is
approved by the stockholders, as provided in Section 11.5.
1.19. Employee. "Employee" shall mean any officer or other employee (as
defined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code) of the Company, or of
any corporation which is a Subsidiary.
1.20. Exchange Act. "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
1.21. Fair Market Value. "Fair Market Value" of a share of Common Stock as of
a given date
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<PAGE> 34
shall be (a) the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the principal
exchange on which shares of Common Stock are then trading, if any (or as
reported on any composite index which includes such principal exchange), on such
date, or if shares were not traded on such date, then on the next preceding date
on which a trade occurred, or (b) if Common Stock is not traded on an exchange
but is quoted on NASDAQ or a successor quotation system, the mean between the
closing representative bid and asked prices for the Common Stock on such date as
reported by NASDAQ or such successor quotation system; or (c) if Common Stock is
not publicly traded on an exchange and not quoted on NASDAQ or a successor
quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as
established by the Administrator acting in good faith. In determining the Fair
Market Value of the Company's Common Stock under subsection (a) of this Section
1.21, the Administrator may rely on the closing price as reported in the New
York Stock Exchange composite transactions published in the Western Edition of
the Wall Street Journal.
1.22. Holder. "Holder" shall mean a person who has been granted or awarded an
Award.
1.23. Incentive Stock Option. "Incentive Stock Option" shall mean an option
which conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code and which
is designated as an Incentive Stock Option by the Administrator.
1.24. Independent Director. "Independent Director" shall mean a member of the
Board who is not an Employee of the Company.
1.25. Non-Qualified Stock Option. "Non-Qualified Stock Option" shall mean an
Option which is not an Incentive Stock Option.
1.26. Option. "Option" shall mean a stock option granted under Article IV of
the Plan. An Option granted under the Plan shall, as determined by the
Administrator, be either a Non-Qualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock
Option; provided, however, that Options granted to Independent Directors and
Consultants shall be Non-Qualified Stock Options.
1.27. Performance Criteria. "Performance Criteria" shall mean the performance
goals determined by the Committee, in its discretion and in accordance with
Section 162(m) of the Code.
1.28. Plan. "Plan" shall mean The Amended and Restated 1999 Equity
Participation Plan of Safeway Inc.
1.29. Purchase Stock. "Purchase Stock" shall mean Common Stock of the Company
issued pursuant to Section 11.4 of the Plan.
1.30. Restricted Stock. "Restricted Stock" shall mean Common Stock awarded
under Article VII of the Plan.
1.31. Rule 16b-3. "Rule 16b-3" shall mean that certain Rule 16b-3 under the
Exchange Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time.
1.32. Section 162(m) Participant. "Section 162(m) Participant" shall mean any
Employee
4
<PAGE> 35
whose compensation for the fiscal year in which the Employee is to receive an
Award or a future fiscal year may be subject to the limit on deductible
compensation imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code.
1.33. Securities Act. "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.
1.34. Stock Appreciation Right. "Stock Appreciation Right" shall mean a stock
appreciation right granted under Article IX of the Plan.
1.35. Stock Payment. "Stock Payment" shall mean (a) a payment in the form of
shares of Common Stock, or (b) an option or other right to purchase shares of
Common Stock, as part of a deferred compensation arrangement, made in lieu of
all or any portion of the compensation, including without limitation, salary,
bonuses and commissions, that would otherwise become payable to an Employee or
Consultant in cash, awarded under Article VIII of the Plan.
1.36. Subsidiary. "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation in an unbroken chain
of corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations other
than the last corporation in the unbroken chain then owns stock possessing fifty
percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
in one of the other corporations in such chain.
1.37. Substitute Award. "Substitute Award" shall mean an Option granted under
this Plan upon the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding equity
awards previously granted by a company or other entity in connection with a
corporate transaction, such as a merger, combination, consolidation or
acquisition of property or stock; provided, however, that in no event shall the
term "Substitute Award" be construed to refer to an award made in connection
with the cancellation and repricing of an Option.
1.38. Termination of Consultancy. "Termination of Consultancy" shall mean the
time when the engagement of a Holder as a Consultant to the Company or a
Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, with or without cause, including, but
not by way of limitation, by resignation, discharge, death or retirement; but
excluding terminations where there is a simultaneous commencement of employment
with the Company or any Subsidiary. The Administrator, in its absolute
discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to
Termination of Consultancy, including, but not by way of limitation, the
question of whether a Termination of Consultancy resulted from a discharge for
good cause, and all questions of whether a particular leave of absence
constitutes a Termination of Consultancy. Notwithstanding any other provision of
the Plan, the Company or any Subsidiary has an absolute and unrestricted right
to terminate a Consultant's service at any time for any reason whatsoever, with
or without cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in writing.
1.39. Termination of Directorship. "Termination of Directorship" shall mean
the time when a Holder who is an Independent Director ceases to be a Director
for any reason, including, but not by way of limitation, a termination by
resignation, failure to be elected, death or retirement. The Board, in its sole
and absolute discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions
relating to Termination of Directorship with respect to Independent Directors.
5
<PAGE> 36
1.40. Termination of Employment. "Termination of Employment" shall mean the
time when the employee-employer relationship between a Holder and the Company or
any Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, with or without cause, including,
but not by way of limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death,
disability or retirement; but excluding (a) terminations where there is a
simultaneous reemployment or continuing employment of a Holder by the Company or
any Subsidiary, (b) at the discretion of the Administrator, terminations which
result in a temporary severance of the employee-employer relationship, and (c)
at the discretion of the Administrator, terminations which are followed by the
simultaneous establishment of a consulting relationship by the Company or a
Subsidiary with the former employee. The Administrator, in its absolute
discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to
Termination of Employment, including, but not by way of limitation, the question
of whether a Termination of Employment resulted from a discharge for good cause,
and all questions of whether a particular leave of absence constitutes a
Termination of Employment; provided, however, that, with respect to Incentive
Stock Options, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in its
discretion, a leave of absence, change in status from an employee to an
independent contractor or other change in the employee-employer relationship
shall constitute a Termination of Employment if, and to the extent that, such
leave of absence, change in status or other change interrupts employment for the
purposes of Section 422(a)(2) of the Code and the then applicable regulations
and revenue rulings under said Section.
ARTICLE II.
SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN
2.1. Shares Subject to Plan.
(a) The shares of stock subject to Awards shall be shares of the
Company's Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share. The aggregate number of such
shares which may be issued pursuant to or upon exercise of any such Awards under
the Plan shall not exceed twenty-four million (24,000,000), of which no more
than one million two hundred thousand (1,200,000) may be issued in any fiscal
year of the Company as Restricted Stock. The shares of Common Stock issuable
pursuant to or upon exercise of any such Awards may be either previously
authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.
(b) The maximum number of shares which may be subject to Awards
granted under the Plan to any individual, other than an Independent Director, in
any fiscal year shall not exceed the Award Limit. To the extent required by
Section 162(m) of the Code, shares subject to Options which are canceled
continue to be counted against the Award Limit.
2.2. Add-back of Options and Other Rights. If any Option, or other right to
acquire shares of Common Stock under any other Award under the Plan, expires or
is canceled without having been fully exercised, or is exercised in whole or in
part for cash to the extent permitted by the Plan, the number of shares subject
to such Option or other right but as to which such Option or other right was not
exercised prior to its expiration, cancellation or exercise may again be
optioned, granted or awarded hereunder, subject to the limitations of Section
2.1. Furthermore, any shares subject to Awards which are adjusted pursuant to
Section 11.3 and become exercisable with respect to
6
<PAGE> 37
shares of stock of another corporation shall be considered cancelled and may
again be optioned, granted or awarded hereunder, subject to the limitations of
Section 2.1. Shares of Common Stock which are delivered by the Holder or
withheld by the Company upon the exercise of any Award under the Plan, in
payment of the exercise price thereof or tax withholding thereon, may again be
optioned, granted or awarded hereunder, subject to the limitations of Section
2.1. If any shares of Restricted Stock are surrendered by the Holder or
repurchased by the Company pursuant to Section 7.4 or 7.5 hereof, such shares
may again be optioned, granted or awarded hereunder, subject to the limitations
of Section 2.1. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2.2, no shares of
Common Stock may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would
cause an Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option
under Section 422 of the Code.
ARTICLE III.
GRANTING OF AWARDS
3.1. Award Agreement. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
Award Agreements evidencing Awards intended to qualify as performance-based
compensation as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code shall contain such
terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions of
Section 162(m) of the Code. Award Agreements evidencing Incentive Stock Options
shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the
applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.
3.2. Provisions Applicable to Section 162(m) Participants.
(a) The Committee, in its discretion, may determine whether an Award
is to qualify as performance-based compensation as described in Section
162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.
(b) Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the
Committee may grant any Award to a Section 162(m) Participant, including
Restricted Stock the restrictions with respect to which lapse upon the
attainment of performance goals which are related to one or more of the
Performance Criteria and any performance or incentive award described in Article
VIII that vests or becomes exercisable or payable upon the attainment of
performance goals which are related to one or more of the Performance Criteria.
(c) To the extent necessary to comply with the performance-based
compensation requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, with respect to
any Award granted under Articles VII and VIII which may be granted to one or
more Section 162(m) Participants, no later than ninety (90) days following the
commencement of any fiscal year in question or any other designated fiscal
period or period of service (or such other time as may be required or permitted
by Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee shall, in writing, (i) designate
one or more Section 162(m) Participants, (ii) select the Performance Criteria
applicable to the fiscal year or other designated fiscal period or period of
service, (iii) establish the various performance targets, in terms of an
objective formula or standard, and amounts of such Awards, as applicable, which
may be earned for such fiscal year or other designated fiscal period or period
of service and (iv) specify the relationship between Performance Criteria and
the performance targets and the
7
<PAGE> 38
amounts of such Awards, as applicable, to be earned by each Section 162(m)
Participant for such fiscal year or other designated fiscal period or period of
service. Following the completion of each fiscal year or other designated fiscal
period or period of service, the Committee shall certify in writing whether the
applicable performance targets have been achieved for such fiscal year or other
designated fiscal period or period of service. In determining the amount earned
by a Section 162(m) Participant, the Committee shall have the right to reduce
(but not to increase) the amount payable at a given level of performance to take
into account additional factors that the Committee may deem relevant to the
assessment of individual or corporate performance for the fiscal year or other
designated fiscal period or period of service.
(d) Furthermore, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or
any Award which is granted to a Section 162(m) Participant and is intended to
qualify as performance-based compensation as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C)
of the Code shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in Section
162(m) of the Code (including any amendment to Section 162(m) of the Code) or
any regulations or rulings issued thereunder that are requirements for
qualification as performance-based compensation as described in Section
162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, and the Plan shall be deemed amended to the extent
necessary to conform to such requirements.
3.3. Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Plan, the Plan, and any Award granted or awarded to any
individual who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be
subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule
under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of
the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive
rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and Awards granted or
awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to
such applicable exemptive rule.
3.4. Consideration. In consideration of the granting of an Award under the
Plan, the Holder shall agree, in the Award Agreement, to remain in the employ of
(or to consult for or to serve as an Independent Director of, as applicable) the
Company or any Subsidiary for a period of at least one year (or such shorter
period as may be fixed in the Award Agreement or by action of the Administrator
following grant of the Award) after the Award is granted (or, in the case of an
Independent Director, until the next annual meeting of stockholders of the
Company).
3.5. At-Will Employment. Nothing in the Plan or in any Award Agreement
hereunder shall confer upon any Holder any right to continue in the employ of,
or as a Consultant for, the Company or any Subsidiary, or as a director of the
Company, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the
Company and any Subsidiary, which are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge
any Holder at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except
to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written employment agreement
between the Holder and the Company and any Subsidiary.
ARTICLE IV.
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<PAGE> 39
GRANTING OF OPTIONS TO EMPLOYEES,
CONSULTANTS AND INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
4.1. Eligibility. Any Employee or Consultant selected by the Committee
pursuant to Section 4.4(a)(i) shall be eligible to be granted an Option. Each
Independent Director of the Company shall be eligible to be granted Options at
the times and in the manner set forth in Section 4.5.
4.2. Disqualification for Stock Ownership. No person may be granted an
Incentive Stock Option under the Plan if such person, at the time the Incentive
Stock Option is granted, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of
the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any
then existing Subsidiary or parent corporation (within the meaning of Section
422 of the Code) unless such Incentive Stock Option conforms to the applicable
provisions of Section 422 of the Code.
4.3. Qualification of Incentive Stock Options. No Incentive Stock Option
shall be granted to any person who is not an Employee.
4.4. Granting of Options to Employees and Consultants.
(a) The Committee shall from time to time, in its absolute
discretion, and subject to applicable limitations of the Plan:
(i) Select from among the Employees or Consultants
(including Employees or Consultants who have previously received Awards
under the Plan) such of them as in its opinion should be granted
Options;
(ii) Subject to the Award Limit, determine the number of
shares to be subject to such Options granted to the selected Employees
or Consultants;
(iii) Subject to Section 4.3, determine whether such Options
are to be Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options and
whether such Options are to qualify as performance-based compensation as
described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code; and
(iv) Determine the terms and conditions of such Options,
consistent with the Plan; provided, however, that the terms and
conditions of Options intended to qualify as performance-based
compensation as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code shall
include, but not be limited to, such terms and conditions as may be
necessary to meet the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the
Code.
Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may delegate certain powers relating to
the granting of Options as it deems appropriate to executive officers of the
Company including the power to determine the number of shares to be subject to
Options (subject to a maximum amount set by the Committee), whether such Options
are to be Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Options and to determine the
terms and conditions of such Options; provided, however, that the Committee
shall not delegate any powers that are required to be exercised by the Committee
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under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any
rules promulgated thereunder, or Section 162(m) of the Code, or any regulations
or rules issued thereunder.
(b) Upon the selection of an Employee or Consultant to be granted an
Option, the Committee shall instruct the Secretary of the Company to issue the
Option and may impose such conditions on the grant of the Option as it deems
appropriate.
(c) Any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan may be
modified by the Committee, with the consent of the Holder, to disqualify such
Option from treatment as an "incentive stock option" under Section 422 of the
Code.
4.5. Granting of Options to Independent Directors.
(a) Any Independent Director who is serving as of the Effective Date
of the Plan, other than an Independent Director described in Subsection (c) of
this Section 4.5, and any Independent Director who is initially elected or
appointed to the Board on or after the Effective Date of the Plan, shall, upon
the date of the annual meeting of stockholders coinciding with the Effective
Date of the Plan or upon the date of such election or appointment, respectively,
be granted an Option to purchase the number of shares of the Company's Common
Stock set forth on the attached Schedule I (subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 11.3), contingent upon the concomitant purchase by such Independent
Director of the number of shares of Purchase Stock set forth on Schedule I, to
the extent required pursuant to Section 11.4 hereof.
(b) During the term of the Plan, each Independent Director, as of
the date of each annual meeting of stockholders, other than an annual meeting
with respect to which such Independent Director was granted an Option pursuant
to Subsection (a) of this Section 4.5, shall be granted an Option to purchase
2,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section
11.3).
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Independent Director who has
received any grant of options to purchase Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.2
of the Safeway Inc. Outside Director Equity Purchase Plan, as amended by the
First Amendment to the Safeway Inc. Outside Director Equity Purchase Plan,
adopted as of July 5, 1994 (the "Outside Director Plan"), shall not be eligible
for any grant of Options under Subsection (a) of this Section 4.5.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Independent Director who has
received a grant of options to purchase Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.2(a)
of the Outside Director Plan, but who, as of the Effective Date, has not yet
received a grant of options to purchase Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.2(b)
thereof, shall, upon the date such Independent Director completes three (3)
continuous years of service as a member of the Board, be granted an Option to
purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 11.3).
ARTICLE V.
TERMS OF OPTIONS
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5.1. Option Price. The price per share of the shares subject to each Option
granted to Employees and Consultants shall be set by the Committee; provided,
however, that such price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of
a share of Common Stock on the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the case of Incentive Stock Options granted to an individual then
owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any
Subsidiary or parent corporation thereof (within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Code), such price shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a
share of Common Stock on the date the Option is granted (or the date the Option
is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code).
5.2. Option Term. The term of an Option granted to an Employee or Consultant
shall be set by the Committee in its discretion; provided, however, that, in the
case of Incentive Stock Options, the term shall not be more than ten (10) years
from the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted, or five (5) years from the
date the Incentive Stock Option is granted if the Incentive Stock Option is
granted to an individual then owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of
the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or parent corporation thereof (within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Code). Except as limited by requirements of
Section 422 of the Code and regulations and rulings thereunder applicable to
Incentive Stock Options, the Committee may extend the term of any outstanding
Option in connection with any Termination of Employment or Termination of
Consultancy of the Holder, or amend any other term or condition of such Option
relating to such a termination.
5.3. Option Vesting
(a) The period during which the right to exercise, in whole or in
part, an Option granted to an Employee or a Consultant vests in the Holder shall
be set by the Committee, subject to a minimum vesting period of three (3) years
in order for any Option to become fully exercisable, and the Committee may
determine that an Option may not be exercised in whole or in part for a
specified period after it is granted; provided, however, that, unless the
Committee otherwise provides in the terms of the Award Agreement or otherwise,
no Option shall be exercisable by any Holder who is then subject to Section 16
of the Exchange Act within the period ending six months and one day after the
date the Option is granted. At any time after grant of an Option, the Committee
may, in its sole and absolute discretion and subject to whatever terms and
conditions it selects, accelerate the period during which an Option granted to
an Employee or Consultant vests.
(b) No portion of an Option granted to an Employee or Consultant
which is unexercisable at Termination of Employment or Termination of
Consultancy, as applicable, shall thereafter become exercisable, except as may
be otherwise provided by the Committee either in the Award Agreement or by
action of the Committee following the grant of the Option.
(c) To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of stock with
respect to which "incentive stock options" (within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Code, but without regard to Section 422(d) of the Code) are exercisable for
the first time by a Holder during any calendar year
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(under the Plan and all other incentive stock option plans of the Company and
any parent or subsidiary corporation, within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Code) of the Company, exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as
Non-Qualified Options to the extent required by Section 422 of the Code. The
rule set forth in the preceding sentence shall be applied by taking Options into
account in the order in which they were granted. For purposes of this Section
5.3(c), the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of the time the
Option with respect to such stock is granted.
5.4. Terms of Options Granted to Independent Directors. The price per share
of the shares subject to each Option granted to an Independent Director under
Section 4.5(a) shall equal 80% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common
Stock on the date the Option is granted. The price per share of the shares
subject to any other Option granted to an Independent Director shall be set by
the Board; provided, however, that such price shall be no less than 100% of the
Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Option is granted.
Options granted to Independent Directors shall become exercisable in cumulative
annual installments of one-third on each of the first, second and third
anniversaries of the date of Option grant and, subject to Section 6.6, the term
of each Option granted to an Independent Director shall be ten (10) years from
the date the Option is granted. No portion of an Option which is unexercisable
at Termination of Directorship shall thereafter become exercisable.
5.5. Substitute Awards.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article V to the contrary, in
the case of an Option that is a Substitute Award, the price per share of the
shares subject to such Option may be less than the Fair Market Value per share
on the date of grant, provided, that the excess of:
(a) the aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date such Substitute
Award is granted) of the shares subject to the Substitute Award; over
(b) the aggregate exercise price thereof; does not exceed the excess
of;
(c) the aggregate fair market value (as of the time immediately
preceding the transaction giving rise to the Substitute Award, such fair market
value to be determined by the Committee) of the shares of the predecessor entity
that were subject to the grant assumed or substituted for by the Company; over
(d) the aggregate exercise price of such shares.
5.6 Expiration of Options of Employees and Consultants.
(a) No Option may be exercised to any extent by any Employee or
Consultant after the first to occur of the following events:
(i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, (1) the
expiration of ten years from the date the Option was granted or (2) in
the case of an Optionee owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of
the Code), at the time the Incentive Stock Option was granted, more than
10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
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Company, any Subsidiary or any Parent Corporation, the expiration of
five years from the date the Incentive Stock Option was granted; or
(ii) In the case of a Non-Qualified Option, the expiration of
ten (10) years and one day from the date the Option was granted; or
(iii) The expiration of three (3) months from the date of the
Optionee's Termination of Employment or Consultancy for any reason other
than death or disability, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the
Code, or retirement on or after age 55 in accordance with the Company's
retirement policies, as then in effect; or
(iv) The engagement by the Optionee in willful misconduct
which injures the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 5.6(a), the Committee shall
provide, in the terms of each individual Option, when such Option expires and
becomes unexercisable; and (without limiting the generality of the foregoing)
the Committee may provide in the terms of individual Options that said Options
expire immediately upon a Termination of Employment or Consultancy for any
reason.
ARTICLE VI.
EXERCISE OF OPTIONS
6.1. Partial Exercise. An exercisable Option may be exercised in whole or in
part. However, an Option shall not be exercisable with respect to fractional
shares and the Administrator may require that, by the terms of the Option, a
partial exercise be with respect to a minimum number of shares.
6.2. Manner of Exercise. All or a portion of an exercisable Option shall be
deemed exercised upon delivery of all of the following to the Secretary of the
Company or his or her office:
(a) A notice complying with the applicable rules established by the
Administrator stating that the Option, or a portion thereof, is exercised;
(b) Such representations and documents as the Administrator, in its
absolute discretion, deems necessary or advisable to effect compliance with all
applicable provisions of the Securities Act and any other federal or state
securities laws or regulations. The Administrator may, in its absolute
discretion, also take whatever additional actions it deems appropriate to effect
such compliance including, without limitation, placing legends on share
certificates and issuing stop-transfer notices to agents and registrars;
(c) In the event that the Option shall be exercised pursuant to
Section 11.1 by any person or persons other than the Holder, appropriate proof
of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option; and
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(d) Full cash payment to the Secretary of the Company for the shares
with respect to which the Option, or portion thereof, is exercised. However, the
Administrator, may in its discretion (i) allow a delay in payment up to thirty
(30) days from the date the Option, or portion thereof, is exercised; (ii) allow
payment, in whole or in part, through the delivery of shares of Common Stock
which have been owned by the Holder for at least six months, duly endorsed for
transfer to the Company with a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal
to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof;
(iii) allow payment, in whole or in part, through the surrender of shares of
Common Stock then issuable upon exercise of the Option having a Fair Market
Value on the date of Option exercise equal to the aggregate exercise price of
the Option or exercised portion thereof; (iv) allow payment, in whole or in
part, through the delivery of property of any kind which constitutes good and
valuable consideration; (v) allow payment, in whole or in part, through the
delivery of a full recourse promissory note bearing interest (at no less than
such rate as shall then preclude the imputation of interest under the Code) and
payable upon such terms as may be prescribed by the Administrator; (vi) allow
payment, in whole or in part, through the delivery of a notice that the Holder
has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to shares of Common
Stock then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been
directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the
Company in satisfaction of the Option exercise price, provided that payment of
such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale; or (vii)
allow payment through any combination of the consideration provided in the
foregoing subparagraphs (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi). In the case of a
promissory note, the Administrator may also prescribe the form of such note and
the security to be given for such note. The Option may not be exercised,
however, by delivery of a promissory note or by a loan from the Company when or
where such loan or other extension of credit is prohibited by law.
6.3. Conditions to Issuance of Stock Certificates. The Company shall not be
required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for shares of stock
purchased upon the exercise of any Option or portion thereof prior to
fulfillment of all of the following conditions:
(a) The admission of such shares to listing on all stock exchanges
on which such class of stock is then listed;
(b) The completion of any registration or other qualification of
such shares under any state or federal law, or under the rulings or regulations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory
body which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary
or advisable;
(c) The obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state
or federal governmental agency which the Administrator shall, in its absolute
discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable;
(d) The lapse of such reasonable period of time following the
exercise of the Option as the Administrator may establish from time to time for
reasons of administrative convenience; and
(e) The receipt by the Company of full payment for such shares,
including payment of any applicable withholding tax, which in the discretion of
the Administrator may be in the form of
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consideration used by the Holder to pay for such shares under Section 6.2(d).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent and on the terms and conditions the
Administrator may determine, in its sole discretion, the Administrator may
permit a Holder to elect to defer receipt of shares that otherwise would be
issuable pursuant to the exercise of an Option under Section 6.2.
6.4. Rights as Stockholders. Holders shall not be, nor have any of the rights
or privileges of, stockholders of the Company in respect of any shares
purchasable upon the exercise of any part of an Option unless and until
certificates representing such shares have been issued by the Company to such
Holders.
6.5. Ownership and Transfer Restrictions. The Administrator, in its absolute
discretion, may impose such restrictions on the ownership and transferability of
the shares purchasable upon the exercise of an Option as it deems appropriate.
Any such restriction shall be set forth in the respective Award Agreement and
may be referred to on the certificates evidencing such shares. The Holder shall
give the Company prompt notice of any disposition of shares of Common Stock
acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option within (a) two years from the
date of granting (including the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed
for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code) such Option to such Holder or (b)
one year after the transfer of such shares to such Holder.
6.6. Expiration of Options Granted to Independent Directors. No Option
granted to an Independent Director may be exercised to any extent by anyone
after the first to occur of the following events:
(a) The expiration of twelve (12) months from the date of the
Holder's death;
(b) The expiration of twelve (12) months from the date of the
Holder's Termination of Directorship by reason of his or her permanent and total
disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code);
(c) The expiration of three (3) months from the date of the Holder's
Termination of Directorship for any reason other than such Holder's death or his
or her permanent and total disability, unless the Holder dies within said
three-month period; or
(d) The expiration of ten (10) years from the date the Option was
granted.
6.7. Additional Limitations on Exercise of Options. Holders may be required
to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement
or exercise of an Option that may be imposed in the discretion of the
Administrator.
ARTICLE VII.
AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK
7.1. Eligibility. Subject to the Award Limit, Restricted Stock may be awarded
to any
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Employee or any Consultant who the Committee determines should receive such an
Award.
7.2. Award of Restricted Stock
(a) The Committee may from time to time, in its absolute discretion:
(i) Select from among the Employees or Consultants
(including Employees or Consultants who have previously received other
awards under the Plan) such of them as in its opinion should be awarded
Restricted Stock; and
(ii) Determine the purchase price, if any, and other terms
and conditions applicable to such Restricted Stock, consistent with the
Plan.
(b) The Committee shall establish the purchase price, if any, and
form of payment for Restricted Stock; provided, however, that such purchase
price shall be no less than the par value of the Common Stock to be purchased,
unless otherwise permitted by applicable state law. In all cases, legal
consideration shall be required for each issuance of Restricted Stock.
(c) Upon the selection of an Employee or Consultant to be awarded
Restricted Stock, the Committee shall instruct the Secretary of the Company to
issue such Restricted Stock and may impose such conditions on the issuance of
such Restricted Stock as it deems appropriate.
(d) Any stock bonus awarded to any Employee under the Bonus Plan
shall be awarded as Restricted Stock pursuant to this Article VII.
7.3. Rights as Stockholders. Subject to Section 7.4, upon delivery of the
shares of Restricted Stock to the Holder, or to the escrow holder pursuant to
Section 7.6, as applicable, the Holder shall have, unless otherwise provided by
the Committee, all the rights of a stockholder with respect to said shares,
subject to the restrictions, if any, in his or her Award Agreement, including
the right to receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with
respect to the shares; provided, however, that in the discretion of the
Committee, any extraordinary distributions with respect to the Common Stock
shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 7.4.
7.4. Restriction. All shares of Restricted Stock issued under the Plan
(including any shares received by holders thereof with respect to shares of
Restricted Stock as a result of stock dividends, stock splits or any other form
of recapitalization) shall, in the terms of each individual Award Agreement, be
subject to such restrictions as the Committee shall provide, which restrictions
may include, without limitation, restrictions concerning voting rights and
transferability and restrictions based on duration of employment with the
Company, Company performance and individual performance; provided, however,
that, by action taken after the Restricted Stock is issued, the Committee may,
on such terms and conditions as it may determine to be appropriate, remove any
or all of the restrictions imposed by the terms of the Award Agreement.
Restricted Stock may not be sold or encumbered until all restrictions are
terminated or expire.
7.5. Repurchase of Restricted Stock. The Committee may provide in the terms
of each
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individual Award Agreement that the Company shall have the right to repurchase
from the Holder the Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions under the
Award Agreement immediately upon a Termination of Employment or, if applicable,
upon a Termination of Consultancy between the Holder and the Company, at a cash
price per share equal to the price paid by the Holder for such Restricted Stock;
provided, however, that the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion may
provide that no such right of repurchase shall exist in the event of a
Termination of Employment following a "change of ownership or control" (within
the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(e)(2)(v) or any successor
regulation thereto) of the Company or because of the Holder's death or
disability; provided, further, that, the Committee in its sole and absolute
discretion may provide that no such right of repurchase shall exist in the event
of a Termination of Employment or a Termination of Consultancy without cause or
following any Change in Control of the Company or because of the Holder's
retirement, or otherwise.
7.6. Escrow. The Secretary of the Company or such other escrow holder as the
Committee may appoint shall retain physical custody of each certificate
representing Restricted Stock until all of the restrictions imposed under the
Award Agreement with respect to the shares evidenced by such certificate expire
or shall have been removed.
7.7. Legend. In order to enforce the restrictions imposed upon shares of
Restricted Stock hereunder, the Committee shall cause a legend or legends to be
placed on certificates representing all shares of Restricted Stock that are
still subject to restrictions under Award Agreements, which legend or legends
shall make appropriate reference to the conditions imposed thereby.
7.8. Section 83(b) Election. If a Holder makes an election under Section
83(b) of the Code, or any successor section thereto, to be taxed with respect to
the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather
than as of the date or dates upon which the Holder would otherwise be taxable
under Section 83(a) of the Code, the Holder shall deliver a copy of such
election to the Company immediately after filing such election with the Internal
Revenue Service.
ARTICLE VIII.
DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS, DEFERRED STOCK, STOCK PAYMENTS
8.1. Eligibility. Subject to the Award Limit, one or more Dividend
Equivalents, awards of Deferred Stock, and/or Stock Payments may be granted to
any Employee or Consultant whom the Committee determines should receive such an
Award.
8.2. Dividend Equivalents.
(a) Any Employee or Consultant selected by the Committee may be
granted Dividend Equivalents based on the dividends declared on Common Stock, to
be credited as of dividend payment dates, during the period between the date a
Stock Appreciation Right or Deferred Stock is granted, and the date such Stock
Appreciation Right or Deferred Stock is exercised, vests or expires, as
determined by the Committee. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to
additional shares of Common Stock by such formula and at such time and subject
to such
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limitations as may be determined by the Committee.
(b) Any Holder of an Option who is an Employee or Consultant
selected by the Committee may be granted Dividend Equivalents based on the
dividends declared on Common Stock, to be credited as of dividend payment dates,
during the period between the date an Option is granted, and the date such
Option is exercised, vests or expires, as determined by the Committee. Such
Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to additional shares of Common Stock by
such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be
determined by the Committee.
(c) Any Holder of an Option who is an Independent Director selected
by the Board may be granted Dividend Equivalents based on the dividends declared
on Common Stock, to be credited as of dividend payment dates, during the period
between the date an Option is granted, and the date such Option is exercised,
vests or expires, as determined by the Board. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be
converted to additional shares of Common Stock by such formula and at such time
and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Board.
(d) Dividend Equivalents granted with respect to Options intended to
be qualified performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of
the Code shall be payable, with respect to pre-exercise periods, regardless of
whether such Option is subsequently exercised.
8.3. Stock Payments. Any Employee or Consultant selected by the Committee may
receive Stock Payments in the manner determined from time to time by the
Committee. The number of shares shall be determined by the Committee and may be
based upon the Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria
determined appropriate by the Committee, determined on the date such Stock
Payment is made or on any date thereafter.
8.4. Deferred Stock. Any Employee or Consultant selected by the Committee may
be granted an award of Deferred Stock in the manner determined from time to time
by the Committee. The number of shares of Deferred Stock shall be determined by
the Committee and may be linked to the Performance Criteria or other specific
performance criteria determined to be appropriate by the Committee, in each case
on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the
Committee. Common Stock underlying a Deferred Stock award will not be issued
until the Deferred Stock award has vested, pursuant to a vesting schedule or
performance criteria set by the Committee. Unless otherwise provided by the
Committee, a Holder of Deferred Stock shall have no rights as a Company
stockholder with respect to such Deferred Stock until such time as the Award has
vested and the Common Stock underlying the Award has been issued.
8.5. Term. The term of a Dividend Equivalent, award of Deferred Stock and/or
Stock Payment shall be set by the Committee in its discretion.
8.6. Exercise or Purchase Price. The Committee may establish the exercise or
purchase price of shares of Deferred Stock or shares received as a Stock
Payment; provided, however, that such price shall not be less than the par value
for a share of Common Stock, unless otherwise permitted by applicable state law.
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8.7. Exercise Upon Termination of Employment, Termination of Consultancy or
Termination of Directorship. A Dividend Equivalent, award of Deferred Stock
and/or Stock Payment is exercisable or payable only while the Holder is an
Employee, Consultant or Independent Director, as applicable; provided, however,
that the Administrator in its sole and absolute discretion may provide that the
Dividend Equivalent, award of Deferred Stock and/or Stock Payment may be
exercised or paid subsequent to a Termination of Employment following a "change
of control or ownership" (within the meaning of Section 1.162-27(e)(2)(v) or any
successor regulation thereto) of the Company.
8.8. Form of Payment. Payment of the amount determined under Section 8.2 or
8.3 above shall be in Common Stock and shall be subject to satisfaction of all
provisions of Section 6.3.
ARTICLE IX.
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
9.1. Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right may be
granted to any Employee or Consultant selected by the Committee. A Stock
Appreciation Right may be granted (a) in connection and simultaneously with the
grant of an Option, (b) with respect to a previously granted Option, or (c)
independent of an Option. A Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to such
terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall
impose and shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
9.2. Coupled Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) A Coupled Stock Appreciation Right ("CSAR") shall be related to
a particular Option and shall be exercisable only when and to the extent the
related Option is exercisable.
(b) A CSAR may be granted to the Holder for no more than the number
of shares subject to the simultaneously or previously granted Option to which it
is coupled.
(c) A CSAR shall entitle the Holder (or other person entitled to
exercise the Option pursuant to the Plan) to surrender to the Company
unexercised a portion of the Option to which the CSAR relates (to the extent
then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company in
exchange therefor an amount determined by multiplying the difference obtained by
subtracting the Option exercise price from the Fair Market Value of a share of
Common Stock on the date of exercise of the CSAR by the number of shares of
Common Stock with respect to which the CSAR shall have been exercised, subject
to any limitations the Committee may impose.
9.3. Independent Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) An Independent Stock Appreciation Right ("ISAR") shall be
unrelated to any Option and shall have a term set by the Committee. An ISAR
shall be exercisable in such
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installments as the Committee may determine. An ISAR shall cover such number of
shares of Common Stock as the Committee may determine; provided, however, that
unless the Committee otherwise provides in the terms of the ISAR or otherwise,
no ISAR granted to a person subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be
exercisable until at least six months have elapsed from (but excluding) the date
on which the Option was granted. The exercise price per share of Common Stock
subject to each ISAR shall be set by the Committee. An ISAR is exercisable only
while the Holder is an Employee or Consultant; provided that the Committee may
determine that the ISAR may be exercised subsequent to Termination of Employment
or Termination of Consultancy without cause, or following a Change in Control of
the Company, or because of the Holder's retirement, death or disability, or
otherwise.
(b) An ISAR shall entitle the Holder (or other person entitled to
exercise the ISAR pursuant to the Plan) to exercise all or a specified portion
of the ISAR (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to
receive from the Company an amount determined by multiplying the difference
obtained by subtracting the exercise price per share of the ISAR from the Fair
Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise of the ISAR by
the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the ISAR shall have
been exercised, subject to any limitations the Committee may impose.
9.4. Payment and Limitations on Exercise.
(a) Payment of the amounts determined under Section 9.2(c) and
9.3(b) above shall be in cash, in Common Stock (based on its Fair Market Value
as of the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised) or a combination of
both, as determined by the Committee. To the extent such payment is effected in
Common Stock it shall be made subject to satisfaction of all provisions of
Section 6.3 above pertaining to Options.
(b) Holders of Stock Appreciation Rights may be required to comply
with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise
of a Stock Appreciation Right that may be imposed in the discretion of the
Committee.
ARTICLE X.
ADMINISTRATION
10.1. Committee. The Committee (or another committee or a subcommittee of the
Board assuming the functions of the Committee under the Plan) shall consist
solely of two or more Independent Directors appointed by and holding office at
the pleasure of the Board, each of whom is both a "non-employee director" as
defined by Rule 16b-3 and an "outside director" for purposes of Section 162(m)
of the Code. Appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon acceptance
of appointment. Committee members may resign at any time by delivering written
notice to the Board. Vacancies in the Committee may be filled by the Board.
10.2. Duties and Powers of Committee. It shall be the duty of the Committee to
conduct the
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general administration of the Plan in accordance with its provisions. The
Committee shall have the power to interpret the Plan and the Award Agreements,
and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation, and application
of the Plan as are consistent therewith, to interpret, amend or revoke any such
rules and to amend any Award Agreement provided that the rights or obligations
of the Holder of the Award that is the subject of any such Award Agreement are
not affected adversely. Any such grant or award under the Plan need not be the
same with respect to each Holder. Any such interpretations and rules with
respect to Incentive Stock Options shall be consistent with the provisions of
Section 422 of the Code. In its absolute discretion, the Board may at any time
and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee
under the Plan except with respect to matters which under Rule 16b-3 or Section
162(m) of the Code, or any regulations or rules issued thereunder, are required
to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the full Board, acting by a majority of its members in office, shall
conduct the general administration of the Plan with respect to Options and
Dividend Equivalents granted to Independent Directors.
10.3. Majority Rule; Unanimous Written Consent. The Committee shall act by a
majority of its members in attendance at a meeting at which a quorum is present
or by a memorandum or other written instrument signed by all members of the
Committee.
10.4. Compensation; Professional Assistance; Good Faith Actions. Members of
the Committee shall receive such compensation, if any, for their services as
members as may be determined by the Board. All expenses and liabilities which
members of the Committee incur in connection with the administration of the Plan
shall be borne by the Company. The Committee may, with the approval of the
Board, employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, appraisers, brokers, or other
persons. The Committee, the Company and the Company's officers and Directors
shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such
persons. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by
the Committee or the Board in good faith shall be final and binding upon all
Holders, the Company and all other interested persons. No members of the
Committee or Board shall be personally liable for any action, determination or
interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or Awards, and all
members of the Committee and the Board shall be fully protected by the Company
in respect of any such action, determination or interpretation.
10.5. Delegation of Authority to Grant Awards. The Committee may, but need
not, delegate from time to time some or all of its authority to grant Awards
under the Plan to a committee consisting of one or more members of the Committee
or of one or more officers of the Company; provided, however, that the Committee
may not delegate its authority to grant Awards to individuals (i) who are
subject on the date of the grant to the reporting rules under Section 16(a) of
the Exchange Act, (ii) who are Section 162(m) Participants or (iii) who are
officers of the Company who are delegated authority by the Committee hereunder.
Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that
the Committee specifies at the time of such delegation of authority and may be
rescinded at any time by the Committee. At all times, any committee appointed
under this Section 10.5 shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the
Committee.
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ARTICLE XI.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
11.1. Not Transferable.
(a) No Award under the Plan may be sold, pledged, assigned or
transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution or, unless and until such Award has been exercised, or the shares
underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such
shares have lapsed. No Award or interest or right therein shall be liable for
the debts, contracts or engagements of the Holder or his or her successors in
interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation,
anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such
disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment,
levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings
(including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and
void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted
by the preceding sentence.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) hereof, the
Administrator, in its absolute discretion, may determine to grant to any Holder
an Award which, by its terms as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, may
be transferred by the Holder, in writing and with prior written notice to the
Administrator, (i) pursuant to a DRO, or (ii) by gift, without the receipt of
any consideration, to a member of Holder's immediate family, as defined in Rule
16a-1 under the Exchange Act, or to a trust for the exclusive benefit of, or any
other entity owned solely by, such members, provided, that an Award that has
been so transferred shall continue to be subject to all of the terms and
conditions of the Award as applicable to the original Holder, and the transferee
shall execute any and all such documents requested by the Administrator in
connection with the transfer, including without limitation to evidence the
transfer and to satisfy any requirements for an exemption for the transfer under
applicable federal and state securities laws.
11.2. Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan. Except as otherwise
provided in this Section 11.2, the Plan may be wholly or partially amended or
otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by
the Administrator. However, without approval of the Company's stockholders given
within twelve months before or after the action by the Administrator, no action
of the Administrator may, except as provided in Section 11.3, increase the
limits imposed in Section 2.1 on the maximum number of shares which may be
issued under the Plan. No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan
shall, without the consent of the Holder alter or impair any rights or
obligations under any Award theretofore granted or awarded, unless the Award
itself otherwise expressly so provides. No Awards may be granted or awarded
during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan, and in no
event may any Incentive Stock Option be granted under the Plan after the first
to occur of the following events:
(a) The expiration of ten years from the date the Plan is adopted by
the Board; or
(b) The expiration of ten years from the date the Plan is approved
by the Company's stockholders under Section 11.5.
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11.3. Changes in Common Stock or Assets of the Company, Acquisition or
Liquidation of the Company and Other Corporate Events.
(a) Subject to Section 11.3 (d), in the event that the Administrator
determines that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash,
Common Stock, other securities, or other property), recapitalization,
reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger,
consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, liquidation,
dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company, or exchange of Common Stock or
other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to
purchase Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar
corporate transaction or event, in the Administrator's sole discretion, affects
the Common Stock such that an adjustment is determined by the Administrator to
be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or
potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect
to an Award, then the Administrator shall, in such manner as it may deem
equitable, adjust any or all of
(i) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock (or other
securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted or
awarded (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations
in Section 2.1 on the maximum number and kind of shares which may be
issued and adjustments of the Award Limit),
(ii) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock (or other
securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and
(iii) the grant or exercise price with respect to any Award.
(b) Subject to Section 11.3(d), in the event of any transaction or
event described in Section 11.3(a) or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions
or events affecting the Company, any affiliate of the Company, or the financial
statements of the Company or any affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws,
regulations, or accounting principles, the Administrator, in its sole and
absolute discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate,
either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of
such transaction or event and either automatically or upon the Holder's request,
is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever
the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent
dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be
made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award under the Plan, to
facilitate such transactions or events, or to give effect to such changes in
laws, regulations or principles:
(i) To provide for either the purchase of any such Award for
an amount of cash equal to the amount that could have been attained upon
the exercise of such Award or realization of the Holder's rights had
such Award been currently exercisable or payable or fully vested or the
replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the
Administrator in its sole discretion;
(ii) To provide that the Award cannot vest, be exercised or
become payable
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<PAGE> 54
after such event;
(iii) To provide that such Award shall be exercisable as to
all shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
Section 5.3 or 5.4 or the provisions of such Award;
(iv) To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor
or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be
substituted for by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock
of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary
thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of
shares and prices;
(v) To make adjustments in the number and type of shares of
Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding
Awards, or Awards which may be granted in the future, and in the number
and kind of outstanding Restricted Stock or Deferred Stock subject to
outstanding Awards, or Awards which may be granted in the future; and
(vi) To provide that, for a specified period of time prior to
such event, the restrictions imposed under an Award Agreement upon some
or all shares of Restricted Stock or Deferred Stock may be terminated,
and, in the case of Restricted Stock, some or all shares of such
Restricted Stock may cease to be subject to repurchase under Section 7.5
or forfeiture under Section 7.4 after such event.
(c) Subject to Sections 11.3(d), 3.2 and 3.3, the Administrator may,
in its discretion, include such further provisions and limitations in any Award,
agreement or certificate, as it may deem equitable and in the best interests of
the Company.
(d) With respect to Awards which are granted to Section 162(m)
Participants and are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under
Section 162(m)(4)(C), no adjustment or action described in this Section 11.3 or
in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent that such
adjustment or action would cause such Award to fail to so qualify under Section
162(m)(4)(C), or any successor provisions thereto, unless the Committee
determines otherwise, in its sole discretion. No adjustment or action described
in this Section 11.3 or in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized
to the extent that such adjustment or action would cause the Plan to violate
Section 422(b)(1) of the Code, unless the Committee determines otherwise, in its
sole discretion. Furthermore, no such adjustment or action shall be authorized
to the extent such adjustment or action would result in short-swing profits
liability under Section 16 or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3
unless the Administrator determines that the Award is not to comply with such
exemptive conditions. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Award
shall always be rounded up to the next whole number.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Company
becomes a party to a transaction that is intended to qualify for "pooling of
interests" accounting treatment and, but for one or more of the provisions of
this Plan or any Award Agreement would so qualify, then this
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<PAGE> 55
Plan and any Award Agreement shall be interpreted so as to preserve such
accounting treatment, and to the extent that any provision of the Plan or any
Award Agreement would disqualify the transaction from pooling of interests
accounting treatment (including, if applicable, an entire Award Agreement), then
such provision shall be null and void. All determinations to be made in
connection with the preceding sentence shall be made by the independent
accounting firm whose opinion with respect to "pooling of interests" treatment
is required as a condition to the Company's consummation of such transaction.
(f) The existence of the Plan, the Award Agreement and the Awards
granted hereunder shall not affect or restrict in any way the right or power of
the Company or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any
adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company's
capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company,
any issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of
bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks whose rights are
superior to or affect the Common Stock or the rights thereof or which are
convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or the dissolution or
liquidation of the company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its
assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a
similar character or otherwise.
11.4. Purchase and Terms of Purchase Stock.
(a) On the later to occur of (a) the adoption of the Plan by the
Board, or (b) such Independent Director's election or appointment to the Board,
each Independent Director must, as a condition to membership on the Board,
purchase the number of shares of Purchase Stock set forth on the attached
Schedule I to the extent such Independent Director does not then beneficially
own or is not then deemed to beneficially own such number of shares.
(b) Shares issued as Purchase Stock may be either previously
authorized but unissued shares or issued shares which have been acquired by the
Company.
(c) The per share purchase price of Purchase Stock shall equal 80%
of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of purchase.
(d) As soon as possible after an Independent Director purchases
Purchase Stock under this Section 11.4, the Secretary of the Company shall
prepare for execution a Stock Option and Purchase Agreement (which Agreement
shall also include the Option granted to the Independent Director pursuant to
Section 4.5), which shall be executed by the Independent Director and an
authorized Officer of the Company and which shall contain such terms and
conditions as the Board shall determine, consistent with the Plan. Upon
execution of such agreement and receipt of payment for such shares, the
Secretary of the Company shall cause the Company to issue to the Independent
Director a certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of such
Purchase Stock.
(e) Purchase Stock may be purchased solely by delivery to the
Secretary of the Company each of the following:
(i) A purchase agreement, as approved by the Committee,
executed by the
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Independent Director,
(ii) Full payment of the purchase price of the Purchase Stock
which shall be made by delivery of a combination of (1) cash (or a
check) in the amount of not less than the aggregate par value of the
number of shares purchased; and (2) a promissory note for the balance of
the amount in the form approved by the Committee, and
(iii) Full payment (in cash or by check) of any amount that
must be withheld by the Company for federal, state and/or local tax
purposes.
11.5. Approval of Plan by Stockholders. The Plan will be submitted for the
approval of the Company's stockholders within twelve months after the date of
the Board's initial adoption of the Plan. In addition, to the extent required
under Section 162(m) of the Code, if the Board determines that Awards other than
Options or Stock Appreciation Rights which may be granted to Section 162(m)
Participants should continue to be eligible to qualify as performance-based
compensation under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, the Performance Criteria
must be disclosed to and approved by the Company's stockholders no later than
the first stockholder meeting that occurs in the fifth year following the year
in which the Company's stockholders previously approved the Performance
Criteria.
11.6. Tax Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to require payment in
cash or deduction from other compensation payable to each Holder of any sums
required by federal, state or local tax law to be withheld with respect to the
issuance, vesting, exercise or payment of any Award. The Administrator may in
its discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement allow such
Holder to elect to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock otherwise
issuable under such Award (or allow the return of shares of Common Stock) having
a Fair Market Value equal to the sums required to be withheld.
11.7. Loans. The Committee may, in its discretion, extend one or more loans to
Employees in connection with the exercise or receipt of an Award granted or
awarded under the Plan, or the issuance of Restricted Stock or Deferred Stock
awarded under the Plan. The terms and conditions of any such loan shall be set
by the Committee.
11.8. Forfeiture Provisions. Pursuant to its general authority to determine
the terms and conditions applicable to Awards under the Plan, the Administrator
shall have the right to provide, in the terms of Awards made under the Plan, or
to require a Holder to agree by separate written instrument, that (a) (i) any
proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by
the Holder upon any receipt or exercise of the Award, or upon the receipt or
resale of any Common Stock underlying the Award, must be paid to the Company,
and (ii) the Award shall terminate and any unexercised portion of the Award
(whether or not vested) shall be forfeited, if (b)(i) a Termination of
Employment, Termination of Consultancy or Termination of Directorship occurs
prior to a specified date, or within a specified time period following receipt
or exercise of the Award, or (ii) the Holder at any time, or during a specified
time period, engages in any activity in competition with the Company, or which
is inimical, contrary or harmful to the interests of the Company, as further
defined by the Administrator or (iii) the Holder incurs a Termination of
Employment, Termination of Consultancy or Termination of Directorship for cause.
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11.9. Effect of Plan Upon Options and Compensation Plans. The adoption of the
Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for
the Company or any Subsidiary except as specifically set forth in the preamble
hereof. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the
Company (a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for
Employees, Directors or Consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary or (b) to
grant or assume options or other rights or awards otherwise than under the Plan
in connection with any proper corporate purpose including but not by way of
limitation, the grant or assumption of options in connection with the
acquisition by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the
business, stock or assets of any corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, firm or association.
11.10. Compliance with Laws. The Plan, the granting and vesting of Awards under
the Plan and the issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock and the payment
of money under the Plan or under Awards granted or awarded hereunder are subject
to compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations
(including but not limited to state and federal securities law and federal
margin requirements) and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or
governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be
necessary or advisable in connection therewith. Any securities delivered under
the Plan shall be subject to such restrictions, and the person acquiring such
securities shall, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and
representations to the Company as the Company may deem necessary or desirable to
assure compliance with all applicable legal requirements. To the extent
permitted by applicable law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder
shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules
and regulations.
11.11. Titles. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to
serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of the Plan.
11.12. Governing Law. The Plan and any agreements hereunder shall be
administered, interpreted and enforced under the internal laws of the State of
Delaware without regard to conflicts of laws thereof.
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SCHEDULE I
DETERMINATION OF NUMBER OF SHARES
OF PURCHASE STOCK AND NUMBER OF
SHARES SUBJECT TO STOCK OPTIONS
I. PURCHASE STOCK
In accordance with Section 11.4 of the Plan, an Independent
Director is entitled to purchase the number of shares of Purchase Stock equal to
X where X equals:
$140,000.00
-----------
Y
(rounded up to the nearest whole share) where Y equals the purchase price
determined in accordance with Section 11.4 of the Plan.
II. STOCK OPTIONS
In accordance with Section 4.5(a) of the Plan, the Company shall
grant to an Independent Director an option to purchase the number of shares of
Common Stock equal to X where X equals:
$200,000.00
-----------
Y
(rounded up to the nearest whole share) where Y equals the purchase price
determined in accordance with Section 5.4 of the Plan; provided, however, that
no such grant shall be made unless and until the Independent Director purchases
the number of shares of Purchase Stock set forth above to the extent required
by Section 11.4 of the Plan.
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* * *
I hereby certify that the foregoing Plan was duly adopted by the Board
of Directors of __________________ on ____________, 1999.
I hereby certify that the foregoing Plan was duly approved by the
stockholders of the Company on ____________, 1999.
Executed on this ____ day of _______________, 1999.
-----------------------------------------
Meredith Parry, Assistant Secretary
29
