EX-10.3 2 a2021063010-qexhibit103.htm EX-10.3
EXHIBIT 10.3
[Year] Senior Executive Incentive Compensation Program
Program Description
Introduction
You have been selected to participate in the Company’s [Year] Senior Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (the “SEICP” or “Program”). The purpose of the SEICP is to advance the interests of the Company's stockholders by enhancing the Company's ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who make (or who are expected to make) important contributions to the Company. Participants do not have any special right to continued employment by the Company because of their participation in the programs described below.
The SEICP consists of an annual cash incentive program, which is referred to as the Short-Term Incentive, or STI, and a three-year stock-based incentive program, which is referred to as the Long-Term Incentive, or LTI.
The STI and the LTI are designed to encourage participants to exert an extra effort to raise the Company's performance to the next level, both in the near term and over the course of several years, and reflect the pay-for-performance philosophy of the Company by linking the opportunity to earn additional compensation to the achievement of Company financial and strategic goals.
Both the STI and the LTI were approved by the Compensation & Talent Development Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Committee”) on [DATE]; with the Stock-based awards under the LTI being granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2018 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).
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Part I: Elements of Both Programs
The Short-Term Incentive
The STI.
The STI is a program that has one or more annual goals, the achievement of which by the end of the year, is rewarded with a cash payment.
Each participant in the STI is assigned an STI Target Amount, which is expressed as a percentage of his or her annual base salary 1. The STI Target Amount of each participant is set forth in a separate document that is provided to the participant at or before the beginning of the year. Participants do not necessarily have the same STI Target Amounts.
The STI goal or goals have three performance or achievement levels expressed as percentages of goal achievement and accordingly the amount of a participant's Target Amount that participant can earn, namely Threshold performance, Target performance, and Maximum performance. Achievement below the Threshold results in no payment and performance exceeding the Target is limited to the Maximum. Pay-outs for performance falling between two levels will be determined by linear interpolation.
The STI performance goals and the Threshold, Target, and Maximum levels for a given year are established by the Committee.
Achievement of Company EBITDA Goal.
In determining achievement of the EBITDA Goal, the Company will disregard certain events including the following: (i) any costs associated with restructuring of the Company’s debt or a Board-approved strategic acquisition or disposition whether or not consummated, in the determination of the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) calculation; or (ii) any other one-time events specified by the Committee in its discretion; provided however that the impact of any Board-approved acquisition or disposition consummated during the relevant calendar year on the Company’s EBITDA shall be all events taken into account for purposes of determining the EBITDA Goal.
Calculation of STI Payouts.
At the end of the year, the level of performance of each goal (expressed as a percentage) will be determined from the Company's audited financial statements, or for non-financial goals, by some other objective means determined by the Committee.
Once the level of performance of each goal has been determined, the payout, if any, to each participant for each goal is determined by multiplying the participant's STI Target Amount —
•By the participant’s annual base salary in effect; then
•By the percentage allocated to the particular goal (if there is more than one goal for the year); and then
•By the performance level of the goal.
1 Annual base salary means a Participant’s annual rate of pay effective January 1 st or a proration (i) as of the first day you became eligible to participate in the plan or (ii) the effective date of any adjustment thereto.
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The Long-Term Incentive
The LTI.
The LTI represents stock-based awards that vest over a three year period. Each three- year period, which begins on January 1 of a given year and ends on December 31 of the third year thereafter, is referred to as a Program Cycle. The LTI consists of two awards:
•An award of Time-Based Restricted Share Units (“RSUs”) that vest ratably over the Program Cycle provided the participant is an employee of the Company on each applicable vesting date; and
•An award of Performance-Based Restricted Share Units (“PSUs”) that vest ratably over the Program Cycle based on the Company achieving a pre-determined performance goal for each year in the Program Cycle and provided the participant is an employee of the Company on each applicable vesting date, or as otherwise provided below (see Termination of Employment).
Each participant in the LTI is assigned an LTI Target Amount, which is expressed as a percentage of his or her annual base salary in effect. The LTI Target Amount of each participant is set forth in a separate document that is provided to the participant at or before the beginning of a Program Cycle. Participants do not necessarily have the same LTI Target Amounts.
The Time-Based Restricted Share Units.
•A RSU is an unfunded and unsecured, non-transferable promise by the Company to issue one share of unrestricted Common Stock. RSUs will vest in three substantially equal annual installments during the Program Cycle, provided that on the vesting date, the participant is still an employee of the Company.
•The number of RSUs granted to a participant is computed by multiplying the participant's LTI Target Incentive Potential by 50% of his or her annual base salary and then by dividing the result by the closing price per share of the Common Stock on December 31 st preceding the Program Cycle (the “Closing Price”).
•For [Year], the first vesting will be on December 31, [Year], the second will be on December 31, [Year 2] and the third will be on December 31, [Year 3].
The Performance-Based Restricted Share Units.
•A PSU is an unfunded and unsecured, non-transferable promise by the Company to issue under certain conditions one share of unrestricted Common Stock. PSUs will vest in three substantially equal annual installments on the first, second and third anniversary of the January 1 start date of the plan year, based on the extent to which, if at all, the Performance Goal is achieved, provided the participant is still an employee of the Company on each applicable vesting date, or as otherwise provided below (see Termination of Employment).
•The number of PSUs awarded to a participant is computed by multiplying the participant's LTI Target Incentive by 50% of his or her annual base salary and then by dividing the result by the Closing Price.
•The pre-determined performance goal and the Threshold, Target, and Maximum performance levels that determine payouts will be provided to participants following each grant.
All awards under the LTI are contingent on the participant signing the Company's form of LTI Award Agreement.
No un-vested RSUs and no PSUs may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of or encumbered.
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Continuing Restrictions. Vested RSUs and shares of Common Stock issued for vested PSUs remain subject to all the restrictions imposed on them by federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations, and by the Company's policies and rules relating to Common Stock.
Forfeiture. RSUs and PSUs that fail to vest are automatically forfeited, canceled, and cease to be subject to vesting. No compensation is paid to a participant for any of his or her RSUs or PSUs that are forfeited.
Refer to Appendix A for further details.
Termination of Employment. In the event that a participant's employment with the Company terminates before the end of an STI Program Year and an LTI Program Cycle, his or her participation in the STI and LTI will be treated as follows:

Reason for Termination | Effect on Participation
Death or Disability (as defined in the award agreement, or in a participant’s employment agreement) | STI: A prorated payout under the STI for the Program Year in which termination occurs will be made on the assumption that the Target performance for that year was met. RSUs: All unvested RSUs will vest in full. PSUs: PSUs for years in which the participant was an employee will vest based on actual performance. PSUs for the remaining years will vest on the assumption that the Target performance level was met.
Change of Control (COC) (as defined in the Plan) | STI: A prorated payout under the STI for the Program Year in which the COC occurs will be made on the assumption that the Target performance for that year was met. RSUs: All unvested RSUs will vest in full. PSUs: PSUs for years in which the participant was an employee will vest based on actual performance. PSUs for the remaining years will vest on the assumption that the Target performance level was met.
Retirement (age 60 with a minimum of 10 years of service; or age 65 with a minimum of 5 years of service, both requiring 6 months written notice.) | STI: A prorated payout under the STI for the Program Year in which termination occurs will be made based on the actual level of performance for that year. RSUs: If the participant has been an employee for at least six months since the start of a Program Cycle and executes a one-year non-compete and non-solicitation agreement with the Company, all unvested RSUs will vest in full. PSUs: Provided that the participant executes a one-year non-compete and non-solicitation agreement with the Company, all his or her PSUs will vest in full based on actual performance achieved.

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Without Cause or [“Good Reason” as said term is defined in a participant’s employment agreement.] | STI: A prorated payout under the STI for the Program Year in which termination occurs will be made based on the actual level of performance for that year. RSUs: All unvested RSUs will vest in full. PSUs: PSUs for years in which the participant was an employee will vest based on actual performance. PSUs for the remaining years will vest on the assumption that the Target performance level was achieved.
For Cause (as defined in the award agreement) | STI: No payout will be made under the STI. RSUs: All unvested RSUs will be forfeited. PSUs. All PSUs will be forfeited.
Resignation by the Participant | STI: No payout will be made under the STI. RSUs: All unvested RSUs will be forfeited. PSUs: All unvested PSUs will be forfeited.
In a termination of employment, payouts based on the actual performance level achieved will be made at the same time as payouts are made to participants whose employment did not terminate. Payouts based on the assumption that Target performance was achieved, will be made irrespective of whether at the end of the Program Cycle a greater or lesser performance level was actually achieved.

Part II: Terms Affecting Both Programs
Administration of the Programs.
The STI and LTI are both administered by the Committee. Among other things, the Committee determines those employees who are eligible to participate in the programs; the participants' STI and LTI Target Amounts; the goals and other performance measures; and in the case of more than one goal for a Program Year or Program Cycle, the weighting of those goals.
The Committee will correct any defects, supply any omissions, and reconcile any inconsistencies in the programs or in any award made under the programs in the manner and to the extent it believes necessary or advisable to implement the programs. The decisions by the Committee on matters that are not expressly determined by award agreements will be made in the Committee's good faith discretion, including among other things, unusual transactions, acquisitions, and divestitures. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this summary description and an award agreement, the terms of the award agreement will govern. In the event of a conflict between this summary description and the Plan, the terms of the Plan will govern.
STI — Taxes & Tax Consequences.
•Any payout under the STI will be made in the first quarter of the year following the end of an STI Program Year, but no later than March 15 of the following year.
•Payouts under the STI are treated as supplemental income for federal income tax withholding purposes. The Company may, to the extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the participant.
•Payouts may also be subject to state income tax withholding, and to any garnishment, levy or other wage withholding order affecting the participant.
•Payouts are not eligible for deferral into a participant's Company 401(k) account.
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LTI — Taxes & Tax Consequences.
•Generally, a participant will not recognize taxable income at the time RSUs and PSUs are awarded, but will recognize taxable income when they vest — that is, when the restrictions on RSUs and PSUs are converted into shares of Common Stock.
•The taxable income recognized by a participant is equal to the fair market value of the converted shares on the vesting date. The Company may, to the extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the participant.
•The Committee permits participants to satisfy the Company's LTI withholding requirements (but not the STI withholding requirements) by transferring to the Company shares of Common Stock that have vested under the LTI and that have a market value equal to the taxes that the Company is required to withhold.
•More information about the tax consequences of participating in the LTI is contained in the Plan Description of the Sterling Construction Company, Inc. 2018 Stock Incentive Plan.
The Company's Claw-Back Policy. The Company's Incentive Compensation and Claw-Back Policy applies to all payments made under the STI, and all RSUs and PSUs issued under the LTI. A copy of the Claw-Back Policy is attached as Appendix B to this summary description
Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. The Company intends that the STI, the LTI and each award agreement either (a) complies with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the guidance thereunder; or (b) is excepted from the provisions of Section 409A. As a result, the Company has the right to amend the programs or any award agreement, or both, in order to cause them to be in compliance with Section 409A or to qualify for being excepted from the provisions of Section 409A, and to take any other actions under the programs and any award agreement to achieve that compliance or exception.
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Appendix A
[Participant]– Your Key Numbers for [Year]

STI
[Year] Base Salary | $X |
STI Target Amount | X% — $X |
Goal I — [Year] [Financial] Goal: Goal Weighting: X%
Threshold TBD | Target TBD | Maximum TBD
Payout: 50% | 100% | 200%
Goal II — Strategic Goal Weighting: X% [Strategic Goal]
Threshold TBD | Target TBD | Maximum TBD
Payout: 50% | 100% | 200%
Goal III — Strategic Goal Weighting: X% [Strategic Goal] Threshold Target Maximum TBD TBD TBD Payout: 50% 100% 200%
LTI
LTI Target Amount | X% — $X |
[Financial] Goal / Weighting: |  |
| [Year] [Financial] Goal: |
Threshold | Target | Maximum
TBD | TBD | TBD
Payout: 50% | 100% | 200%
| [Year 2] [Financial] Goal: |
Threshold | Target | Maximum
TBD | TBD | TBD
Payout: 50% | 100% | 200%
| [Year 3] [Financial] Goal: |
Threshold | Target | Maximum
TBD | TBD | TBD
Payout: 50% | 100% | 200%
# RSUs @ $X = X – vesting ratably over the Program Cycle. # PSUs @ $X = X – vesting ratably over the Program Cycle, based on achieving [Financial] Goal.

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Appendix B
Sterling Construction Company, Inc.
Incentive Compensation and Claw-Back Policy
1.It is the policy of Sterling Construction Company, Inc., including its subsidiaries, (the “Company”) that the amount of any bonus or other incentive compensation (together, "Incentive Compensation") that has already been paid to an employee of the Company (either in cash or in common stock of the Company, or both) that was based on financial statements that are subsequently restated (other than the retroactive changes in accounting as required by GAAP), may, at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors through its Compensation Committee be adjusted either by repayment by the employee to the Company or by making an additional payment to the employee so that the employee will have received no more and no less than the amount that participant would have received had the financial statements been restated before the amount of the Incentive Compensation was determined.
2.If an adjustment is made as a result of the restatement and the Incentive Compensation is shown to have been —
(a)Overpaid, the employee shall return the amount of the overpayment within sixty (60) days of a written demand therefor by the Company.
(b)Underpaid, the Company shall pay the amount of the underpayment to the employee within thirty (30) days of the completion of the restatement.
In the event that any repayment by an employee under this policy involves the re-conveyance to the Company of shares of common stock that have been sold by the employee, the proceeds realized from the sale shall be repaid to the Company. If the shares shall have been otherwise transferred, or shall have been pledged or encumbered, the employee shall convey to the Company either —
(i)The market value of such shares at the date of such transfer, pledge or encumbrance or at the date the demand for repayment is made, whichever is higher; or
(ii)An equivalent number of shares of common stock of the Company having such market value.
3.Any payment and/or conveyance of shares to the Company under this policy shall be made whether or not the employee required to make the payment or conveyance was culpable with respect to the error, event, act or omission that caused the restatement to be made, but nothing in this policy shall be construed to prevent the Company from pursuing other remedies against the employee if the Company determines that participant was in fact culpable in any respect.
4.In the event of a restatement of the financial statements of the Company due to the action(s) or inaction(s) of an employee subject to paragraph 1 herein, the Board of Directors, through its Compensation Committee, may in its sole discretion seek to recover from any said current or former employee of the Company who received incentive-based compensation (including cash or common stock awarded as compensation) during the 3-year period prior to the date on which the Company is required to prepare a restatement, the excess of what was paid to said employee, including the cancellation and/or recovery of shares of common stock of the Company that were awarded, due to the accounting restatement.
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