Exhibit
10.1
BIG 5
SPORTING GOODS CORPORATION
2007 EQUITY AND PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN
BIG 5 SPORTING GOODS CORPORATION, a corporation existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware (the
Company), hereby establishes and adopts the
following 2007 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan (the
Plan). Certain capitalized terms used in the
Plan are defined in Article 2.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company desires to encourage high levels of
performance by those individuals who are key to the success of
the Company, to attract new individuals who are highly motivated
and who are expected to contribute to the success of the Company
and to encourage such individuals to remain as directors,
employees, consultants
and/or
advisors of the Company and its Affiliates by increasing their
proprietary interest in the Companys growth and
success; and
WHEREAS, to attain these ends, the Company has formulated the
Plan embodied herein to authorize the granting of Awards to
Participants whose judgment, initiative and efforts are or have
been or are expected to be responsible for the success of the
Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company hereby constitutes, establishes and
adopts the following Plan and agrees to the following provisions:
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
OF THE PLAN
1.1 Purpose. The purpose of the
Plan is to assist the Company and its Affiliates in attracting
and retaining selected individuals to serve as directors,
employees, consultants
and/or
advisors of the Company who are expected to contribute to the
Companys success and to achieve long-term objectives which
will inure to the benefit of all stockholders of the Company
through the additional incentives inherent in the Awards
hereunder.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
2.1 Affiliate shall mean
(i) any person or entity that directly, or through one or
more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under
common control with, the Company (including any Parent or
Subsidiary) or (ii) any entity in which the Company has a
significant equity interest, as determined by the Committee.
2.2 Applicable Laws means the
legal requirements relating to the administration of and
issuance of securities under stock incentive plans, including,
without limitation, the requirements of state corporations law,
federal and state securities law, federal and state tax law, and
the requirements of any stock exchange or quotation system upon
which the Shares may then be listed or quoted. For all purposes
of this Plan, references to statutes and regulations shall be
deemed to include any successor statutes and regulations, to the
extent reasonably appropriate as determined by the Committee.
2.3 Award shall mean any Option,
Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Performance
Award, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock Unit Award or any other
right, interest or option relating to Shares or other property
(including cash) granted pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.
2.4 Award Agreement shall mean any
written agreement, contract or other instrument or document
evidencing any Award granted by the Committee hereunder.
2.5 Board shall mean the board of
directors of the Company.
2.6 Cause shall have the meaning
set forth in a Participants employment or consulting
agreement with the Company (if any), or if not defined therein,
shall mean (i) acts or omissions by the Participant which
constitute intentional material misconduct or a knowing
violation of a material policy of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, (ii) the Participant personally receiving a
benefit in money, property or services from the Company or any
of its subsidiaries or from another person dealing with the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, in material violation of
applicable law or Company policy, (iii) an act of fraud,
conversion, misappropriation, or embezzlement by the Participant
or his conviction of, or entering a guilty plea or plea of no
contest with respect to, a felony, or the equivalent thereof
(other than DUI), or (iv) any deliberate and material
misuse or improper disclosure of confidential or proprietary
information of the Company.
2.7 Change of Control shall mean
the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) The direct or indirect acquisition by an unrelated
Person or Group of Beneficial
Ownership (as such terms are defined below) of more than
50% of the voting power of the Companys issued and
outstanding voting securities in a single transaction or a
series of related transactions;
(ii) The direct or indirect sale or transfer by the Company
of substantially all of its assets to one or more unrelated
Persons or Groups in a single transaction or a series of related
transactions;
(iii) The merger, consolidation or reorganization of the
Company with or into another corporation or other entity in
which the Beneficial Owners of more than 50% of the voting power
of the Companys issued and outstanding voting securities
immediately before such merger or consolidation do not own more
than 50% of the voting power of the issued and outstanding
voting securities of the surviving corporation or other entity
immediately after such merger, consolidation or
reorganization; or
(iv) During any consecutive two-year period, individuals
who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of the
Company (together with any new Directors whose election to such
Board or whose nomination for election by the stockholders of
the Company was approved by a vote of a majority of the
Directors of the Company then still in office who were either
Directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or
nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for
any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of the Company
then in office.
None of the foregoing events, however, shall constitute a Change
of Control if such event is not a Change in Control
Event under Treasury Regulations
Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).
For purposes of determining whether a Change of Control has
occurred, the following Persons and Groups shall not be deemed
to be unrelated: (A) such Person or Group
directly or indirectly has Beneficial Ownership of more than 50%
of the issued and outstanding voting power of the Companys
voting securities immediately before the transaction in
question, (B) the Company has Beneficial Ownership of more
than 50% of the voting power of the issued and outstanding
voting securities of such Person or Group, or (C) more than
50% of the voting power of the issued and outstanding voting
securities of such Person or Group are owned, directly or
indirectly, by Beneficial Owners of more than 50% of the issued
and outstanding voting power of the Companys voting
securities immediately before the transaction in question. The
terms Person, Group, Beneficial
Owner, and Beneficial Ownership shall have the
meanings used in the Exchange Act.
2.8 Code shall mean the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any
successor thereto.
2.9 Committee shall mean the
Committee constituted under Section 4.2 to administer this
Plan.
2.10 Company has the meaning set
forth in introductory paragraph of the Plan.
2.11 Consultant means any person,
including an advisor, who (i) is a natural person,
(ii) provides bona fide services to the Company or a Parent
or Subsidiary, and (iii) provides services that are not in
connection with the offer or sale of securities in a
capital-raising transaction, and that do not directly or
indirectly promote or maintain a market for the securities of
the Company; provided that the term Consultant does
not include (i) Employees or (ii) Directors who are
paid only a directors fee by the Company or who are not
compensated by the Company for their services as Directors.
2.12 Continuous Status as an Employee,
Director or Consultant means that the employment,
director or consulting relationship is not interrupted or
terminated by the Company, any Parent or Subsidiary, or by the
Employee, Director or Consultant. Continuous Status as an
Employee, Director or Consultant will not be considered
interrupted in the case of: (i) any leave of absence
approved by the Board, including sick leave, military leave, or
any other personal leave, provided, that for purposes of
Incentive Stock Options, any such leave may not exceed
90 days, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such
leave is guaranteed by contract (including certain Company
policies) or statute; (ii) transfers between locations of
the Company or between the Company, its Parent, its Subsidiaries
or its successor; or (iii) in the case of an Award other
than an Incentive Stock Option, the ceasing of a person to be an
Employee while such person remains a Director or Consultant, the
ceasing of a person to be a Director while such person remains
an Employee or Consultant or the ceasing of a person to be a
Consultant while such person remains an Employee or Director.
2.13 Covered Employee shall mean a
covered employee within the meaning of
Section 162(m)(3) of the Code, or any successor provision
thereto.
2.14 Director shall mean a
non-employee member of the Board or a non-employee member of the
board of directors of a Parent or Subsidiary.
2.15 Disability shall mean total
and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of
the Code.
2.16 Dividend Equivalents shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 12.5.
2.17 Employee shall mean any
employee of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.
2.18 Exchange Act shall mean the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules promulgated
thereunder, as amended.
2.19 Fair Market Value shall mean,
with respect to any property other than Shares, the market value
of such property determined by such methods or procedures as
shall be established from time to time by the Committee. The
Fair Market Value of Shares as of any date shall be determined
as follows:
(i) If the Shares are listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system, including without
limitation, the National Market System of NASDAQ, the Fair
Market Value of a Share will be (i) the closing sales price
for such Shares (or the closing bid, if no sales are reported)
as quoted on that system or exchange (or the system or exchange
with the greatest volume of trading in Shares) on the last
market trading day prior to the day of determination or
(ii) any sales price for such Shares (or the closing bid,
if no sales are reported) as quoted on that system or exchange
(or the system or exchange with the greatest volume of trading
in Shares) on the day of determination, as the Committee may
select, in each case as reported in the Wall Street Journal or
any other source the Committee considers reliable.
(ii) If the Shares are quoted on the NASDAQ System (but not
on the NASDAQ National Market System) or are regularly quoted by
recognized securities dealers but selling prices are not
reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share will be the mean
between the high bid and low asked prices for the Shares on
(i) the last market trading day prior to the day of
determination or (ii) the day of determination, as the
Committee may select, in each case as reported in the Wall
Street Journal or any other source the Committee considers
reliable.
(iii) If the Shares are not traded as set forth above, the
Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the
Committee with reference to the earnings history, book value and
prospects of the Company in light of market conditions
generally, and any other factors the Committee considers
appropriate, such determination by the Committee to be final,
conclusive and binding.
2.20 Family Member means any
child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent,
spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew,
mother-in-law,
father-in-law,
son-in-law,
daughter-in-law,
brother-in-law,
or
sister-in-law,
including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the
Participants household (other than a tenant or employee),
a trust in which these persons (or the Participant) control the
management of assets, and any other entity in which these
persons (or the Participant) own more than 50 percent of
the voting interests.
2.21 Incentive Stock Option means
an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.22 Limitations shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 3.2.
2.23 Option shall mean any right
granted to a Participant under the Plan allowing such
Participant to purchase Shares at such price or prices and
during such period or periods as the Committee shall determine.
2.24 Other Stock Unit Award shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
2.25 Parent means a parent
corporation with respect to the Company, whether now or
later existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
2.26 Participant shall mean an Employee,
Director or Consultant who is selected by the Committee to
receive an Award under the Plan.
2.27 Payee shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 13.1.
2.28 Performance Award shall mean any Award
of Performance Shares or Performance Units granted pursuant to
Article 9.
2.29 Performance Period shall mean that
period established by the Committee at the time any Performance
Award is granted or at any time thereafter during which any
performance goals specified by the Committee with respect to
such Award are to be measured.
2.30 Performance Share shall mean any grant
pursuant to Article 9 of a unit valued by reference to a
designated number of Shares, which value may be paid to the
Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall
determine, including cash, Shares, other property, or any
combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals
during the Performance Period as the Committee shall establish
at the time of such grant or thereafter.
2.31 Performance Unit shall mean any grant
pursuant to Article 9 of a unit valued by reference to a
designated amount of property (including cash) other than
Shares, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery
of such property as the Committee shall determine, including
cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, upon
achievement of such performance goals during the Performance
Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such
grant or thereafter.
2.32 Prior Plans shall mean, collectively,
the Companys 1997 Management Equity Plan and 2002 Stock
Incentive Plan, as amended.
2.33 Restricted Stock shall mean any Share
issued with the restriction that the holder may not sell,
transfer, pledge or assign such Share and with such other
restrictions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may
impose (including any restriction on the right to vote such
Share and the right to receive any dividends), which
restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time
or times, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may
deem appropriate.
2.34 Restricted Period shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 7.1.
2.35 Restricted Stock Award shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
2.36 Shares shall mean the shares of common
stock of the Company, par value $0.10 per share.
2.37 Stock Appreciation Right shall mean the
right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 6.
2.38 Subsidiary shall mean any corporation
(other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations
beginning with the Company if, at the time of the granting of
the Award, each of the corporations other than the last
corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or
more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
in one of the other corporations in the chain.
2.39 Substitute Awards shall mean Awards
granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in
substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the
right or obligation to make future awards, by a company acquired
by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or
any Subsidiary combines.
ARTICLE III
SHARES SUBJECT
TO THE PLAN
3.1 Number of Shares.
(a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12.2,
a total of 2,399,250 Shares shall be authorized for grant
under the Plan, plus any Shares subject to awards granted under
the Prior Plans, which such awards are forfeited, expire or
otherwise terminate without issuance of Shares, or are settled
for cash or otherwise do not result in the issuance of Shares,
on or after the effective date of this Plan. Any Shares that are
subject to Awards of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall
be counted against this limit as one Share for every one Share
granted, regardless of the number of shares actually delivered
pursuant to such Awards. Any Shares that are subject to Awards
other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights (including, but
not limited to, Shares delivered in satisfaction of Dividend
Equivalents) shall be counted against this limit as
2.5 Shares for every one Share granted.
(b) If any Shares subject to an Award or to an award under
the Prior Plans are forfeited, expire or otherwise terminate
without issuance of such Shares, or any Award or award under the
Prior Plans is settled for cash or otherwise does not result in
the issuance of all or a portion of the Shares subject to such
Award, the Shares shall, to the extent of such forfeiture,
expiration, termination, cash settlement or non-issuance, again
be available for Awards under the Plan, subject to
Section 3.1(e) below.
(c) In the event that (i) any Option or other Award
granted under this Plan or any option or award granted under the
Prior Plans is exercised through the tendering of Shares (either
actually, by attestation, or by the giving of instructions to a
broker to remit to the Company that portion of the sales price
required to pay the exercise price) or by the withholding of
Shares by the Company, or (ii) withholding tax liabilities
arising from such Options or Awards under this Plan or options
or awards under a Prior Plan are satisfied by the tendering of
Shares (either actually, by attestation, or by the giving of
instructions to a broker to remit to the Company that portion of
the sales price required to pay the exercise price) or by the
withholding of Shares by the Company, then the Shares so
tendered or withheld shall not again be available for Awards
under the Plan.
(d) Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares
authorized for issuance under the Plan or authorized for grant
to a Participant in any calendar year. Additionally, in the
event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary,
or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines, has shares
available under a pre-existing plan approved by shareholders and
not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination,
the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such
pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using
the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or
formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the
consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the
entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used
for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares
authorized for issuance under the Plan; provided that Awards
using such available shares shall not be made after the date
awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the
pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and
shall only be made to individuals who were employees, directors
or consultants of such acquired or combined company before such
acquisition or combination.
(e) Any Shares that again become available for grant
pursuant to this Article 3 shall be added back as one Share
if such Shares were subject to Options or Stock Appreciation
Rights granted under the Plan or options or stock appreciation
rights granted under the Prior Plans, and as 2.5 Shares if
such Shares were subject to Awards other than Options or Stock
Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan.
3.2 Limitations on Grants to Individual
Participant. Subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 12.2, no Participant may be granted
(i) Options or Stock Appreciation Rights during any fiscal
year of the Company with respect to more than
500,000 Shares, or (ii) Restricted Stock, Performance
Awards
and/or Other
Stock Unit Awards that are denominated in Shares in any fiscal
year of the Company with respect to more than
250,000 Shares (the Limitations). In
addition to the foregoing, the maximum dollar value payable to
any Participant in any fiscal year of the Company with respect
to Performance Awards
and/or Other
Stock Unit Awards that are valued with reference to cash or
property other than Shares is $2,000,000. If an Award is
cancelled, the cancelled Award shall continue to be counted
toward the applicable Limitations.
3.3 Character of Shares. Any Shares
issued hereunder may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized
and unissued shares, treasury shares or shares purchased in the
open market or otherwise.
ARTICLE IV
ELIGIBILITY
AND ADMINISTRATION
4.1 Eligibility. Any Employee,
Director or Consultant shall be eligible to be selected as a
Participant. Only Employees may receive awards of Incentive
Stock Options.
4.2 Administration.
(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee,
constituted as follows:
(i) The Committee will consist of the Board, or a committee
designated by the Board, which Committee will be constituted to
satisfy Applicable Laws. Once appointed, a Committee will serve
in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the
Board. The Board may increase the size of the Committee and
appoint additional members, remove members (with or without
cause) and substitute new members, fill vacancies (however
caused), and remove all members of the Committee and thereafter
directly administer the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
unless the Board expressly resolves to the contrary, while the
Company is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, the Plan will be administered only by the
Compensation Committee of the Board (or such other committee
designated by the Compensation Committee of the Board),
consisting of no fewer than two Directors, each of whom is
(A) a non-employee director within the meaning
of
Rule 16b-3
(or any successor rule) of the Exchange Act, (B) an
outside director within the meaning of
Section 162(m)(4)(C)(i) of the Code, and (C) an
independent director for purpose of the rules and
regulations of the NASDAQ National Market System or other
exchange or quotation system on which the Shares are principally
traded; provided, however, (X) so long as the Committee has
at least two directors that meet the above requirements, the
Committee may contain one additional director who is not a
non-employee director, outside director
or independent director, but only if such director
abstains from voting on all grants or awards to Covered
Employees and to those Participants who have been designated by
the Board of Directors as being officers for
purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules
promulgated thereunder and (Y) the failure of the Committee
to be composed solely of individuals who are non-employee
directors, outside directors, and
independent directors, whether pursuant to
clause (X) above or otherwise, shall not render
ineffective or void any awards or grants made by, or other
actions taken by, such Committee.
(ii) The Plan may be administered by different bodies with
respect to Directors, officers who are not Directors, and
Employees and Consultants who are neither Directors nor
officers, and Covered Employees.
(b) The Committee shall have full discretion, power and
authority, subject to the provisions of the Plan and subject to
such orders or resolutions not inconsistent with the provisions
of the Plan as may from time to time be adopted by the Board,
to: (i) select the Employees, Consultants and Directors to
whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder;
(ii) determine the type or types of Awards, not
inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, to be granted to
each Participant hereunder; (iii) determine the number of
Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(iv) determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent
with the provisions of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder
and the form and content of any Award Agreement;
(v) determine whether, to what extent and under what
circumstances Awards may be settled in cash, Shares or other
property, subject to the provisions of the Plan;
(vi) determine whether, to what extent and under what
circumstances any Award shall be modified, amended, canceled or
suspended; (vii) interpret and administer the Plan and any
instrument or agreement entered into under or in connection with
the Plan, including any Award Agreement; (viii) correct any
defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in
the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent that the
Committee shall deem desirable to carry it into effect;
(ix) establish such rules and regulations and appoint such
agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper
administration of the Plan; (x) determine whether any Award
will have Dividend Equivalents; (xi) determine whether, to
what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, or other
property payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred
either automatically or at the election of the Participant;
provided that the Committee shall take no action that would
subject the Participant to a penalty tax under Section 409A
of the Code; and (xii) make any other determination and
take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or
desirable for administration of the Plan.
(c) Decisions of the Committee shall be final, conclusive
and binding on all persons or entities, including the Company,
any Participant, any stockholder and any Employee or any
Affiliate. A majority of the members of the Committee may
determine its actions and fix the time and place of its meetings.
(d) The Committee may delegate to a committee of one or
more Directors of the Company or, to the extent permitted by
Applicable Law, to one or more officers or a committee of
officers, the authority to grant Awards to Employees and
officers of the Company who are not Directors, Covered
Employees, or officers, as such term is defined by
Rule 16a-1(f)
of the Exchange Act, and to cancel or suspend Awards to
Employees and officers of the Company who are not Directors,
Covered Employees, or officers, as such term is
defined by
Rule 16a-1(f)
of the Exchange Act.
ARTICLE V
OPTIONS
5.1 Grant of Options. Options may
be granted hereunder to Participants either alone or in addition
to other Awards granted under the Plan. Any Option shall be
subject to the terms and conditions of this Article 5 and
to such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with
the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem
desirable.
5.2 Award Agreements. All Options
granted pursuant to this Article 5 shall be evidenced by a
written Award Agreement in such form and containing such terms
and conditions as the Committee shall determine which are not
inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan. Granting of an
Option pursuant to the Plan shall impose no obligation on the
recipient to exercise such Option. Any individual who is granted
an Option pursuant to this Article 5 may hold more than one
Option granted pursuant to the Plan at the same time.
5.3 Option Price. Other than in
connection with Substitute Awards, the option price per each
Share purchasable under any Option granted pursuant to this
Article 5 shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market
Value of such Share on the date of grant of such Option. Other
than pursuant to Section 12.2, the Committee shall not be
permitted to (a) lower the option price per Share of an
Option after it is granted, (b) cancel an Option when the
option price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the
underlying Shares in exchange for cash or for another Award
(other than in connection with Substitute Awards), and
(c) take any other action with respect to an Option that
may be treated as a repricing under the rules and regulations of
the NASDAQ National Market System or other exchange or quotation
system on which the Shares are principally traded.
5.4 Option Period. The term of each
Option shall be fixed by the Committee in its sole discretion;
provided that no Option shall be exercisable after the
expiration of ten years from the date the Option is granted.
5.5 Exercise of Options. Vested
Options granted under the Plan shall be exercised by the
Participant or by a Permitted Assignee thereof (or by the
Participants executors, administrators, guardian,
beneficiary, or legal representative, or Family Members, as may
be provided in an Award Agreement) as to all or part of the
Shares covered thereby, by the giving of written notice of
exercise to the Company or its designated agent, specifying the
number of Shares to be purchased, accompanied by payment of the
full purchase price for the Shares being purchased. Unless
otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, full payment of such
purchase price shall be made at the time of exercise and shall
be made (a) in cash or by certified check or bank check or
wire transfer of immediately available funds, (b) with the
consent of the Committee, by tendering previously acquired
Shares (either actually or by attestation, valued at their then
Fair Market Value) that have been owned for a period of at least
six months (or such other period to avoid accounting charges
against the Companys earnings), (c) with the consent
of the Committee, by delivery of other consideration (including,
where permitted by law and the Committee, other Awards) having a
Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the total
purchase price, (d) with the consent of the Committee, by
withholding Shares otherwise issuable in connection with the
exercise of the Option, (e) with the consent of the
Committee, by delivery of a properly executed exercise notice
together with any other documentation
as the Committee and the Participants broker, if
applicable, require to effect an exercise of the Option and
delivery to the Company of the sale or other proceeds (as
permitted by Applicable Law) required to pay the exercise price,
, (f) through any other method specified in an Award
Agreement, or (g) any combination of any of the foregoing.
In connection with a tender of previously acquired Shares
pursuant to clause (b) above, the Committee, in its sole
discretion, may permit the Participant to constructively
exchange Shares already owned by the Participant in lieu of
actually tendering such Shares to the Company, provided that
adequate documentation concerning the ownership of the Shares to
be constructively tendered is furnished in form satisfactory to
the Committee. The notice of exercise, accompanied by such
payment, shall be delivered to the Company at its principal
business office or such other office as the Committee may from
time to time direct, and shall be in such form, containing such
further provisions consistent with the provisions of the Plan,
as the Committee may from time to time prescribe. In no event
may any Option granted hereunder be exercised for a fraction of
a Share. No adjustment shall be made for cash dividends or other
rights for which the record date is prior to the date of such
issuance.
5.6 Form of Settlement. In its sole
discretion, the Committee may provide, at the time of grant,
that the Shares to be issued upon an Options exercise
shall be in the form of Restricted Stock or other similar
securities, or may reserve the right so to provide after the
time of grant.
5.7 Incentive Stock Options. With
respect to the Options that may be granted by the Committee
under the Plan, the Committee may grant Options intended to
qualify as Incentive Stock Options to any Employee of the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, subject to the requirements
of Section 422 of the Code. The Award Agreement of an
Option intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option shall
designate the Option as an Incentive Stock Option.
Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.1 to the contrary and
solely for the purposes of determining whether Shares are
available for the grant of Incentive Stock Options under the
Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares with respect to
which Incentive Stock Options may be granted under the Plan
shall be 2,399,250 Shares. Notwithstanding the provisions
of Section 5.3, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option
granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock
Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent
of the voting power of all classes of capital stock of the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise
price will be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per
Share on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the provisions of
Section 5.4, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option
granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock
Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent
of the voting power of all classes of capital stock of the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive
Stock Option will be five years from the date of grant or any
shorter term specified in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if the Shares subject to an Employees
Incentive Stock Options (granted under all plans of the Company
or any Parent or Subsidiary), which become exercisable for the
first time during any calendar year, have a Fair Market Value in
excess of $100,000, the Options accounting for this excess will
be not be treated as Incentive Stock Options. For purposes of
the preceding sentence, Incentive Stock Options will be taken
into account in the order in which they were granted, and the
Fair Market Value of the Shares will be determined as of the
time of grant.
5.8 Termination of Employment or Consulting
Relationship or Directorship. If a Participant
holds exercisable Options on the date his or her Continuous
Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant terminates (other
than because of termination due to Cause, but including death or
Disability), the Participant may exercise the Options that were
vested and exercisable as of the date of termination until the
end of the original term or for the period set forth in the
Award Agreement or determined by the Committee, whichever is
earlier. If the Participant is not entitled to exercise his or
her entire Option at the date of such termination, the Shares
covered by the unexercisable portion of the Option will revert
to the Plan, unless otherwise set forth in the Award Agreement
or determined by the Committee. The Committee may determine in
its sole discretion that such unexercisable portion of the
Option will become exercisable at such times and on such terms
as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion. If the
Participant does not exercise an Option within the time
specified after termination, that Option will expire, and the
Shares covered by it will revert to the Plan, except as
otherwise determined by the Committee.
ARTICLE VI
STOCK
APPRECIATION RIGHTS
6.1 Grant and Exercise. The
Committee may provide Stock Appreciation Rights either alone or
in addition to other Awards upon such terms and conditions as
the Committee may establish in its sole discretion.
6.2 Terms and Conditions. Stock
Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and
conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as
shall be determined from time to time by the Committee,
including the following:
(a) Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the
holder shall have the right to receive the excess of
(i) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of
exercise or such other amount as the Committee shall so
determine at any time during a specified period before the date
of exercise over (ii) the grant price of the right on the
date of grant, which, except in the case of Substitute Awards or
in connection with an adjustment provided in Section 12.2,
shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of one Share on
such date of grant of the right.
(b) Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right,
payment shall be made in whole Shares or cash as determined by
the Committee.
(c) The provisions of Stock Appreciation Rights need not be
the same with respect to each recipient.
(d) The Committee may impose such other conditions or
restrictions on the terms of exercise and the exercise price of
any Stock Appreciation Right, as it shall deem appropriate. In
connection with the foregoing, the Committee shall consider the
applicability and effect of Section 162(m) of the Code.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 6.2, but subject to Section 12.2, a Stock
Appreciation Right shall not have (i) an exercise price
less than Fair Market Value on the date of grant, or (ii) a
term of greater than ten years. In addition to the foregoing,
but subject to Section 12.2, the base amount of any Stock
Appreciation Right shall not be reduced after the date of grant.
6.3 Termination of Employment or Consulting
Relationship or Directorship. If a Participant
holds exercisable Stock Appreciation Rights on the date his or
her Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant
terminates (other than because of termination due to Cause, but
including death or Disability), the Participant may exercise the
Stock Appreciation Rights that were vested and exercisable as of
the date of termination until the end of the original term or
for the period set forth in the Award Agreement or determined by
the Committee, whichever is earlier. If the Participant is not
entitled to exercise his or her entire Stock Appreciation Right
at the date of such termination, the Shares covered by the
unexercisable portion of the Stock Appreciation Right will
revert to the Plan, unless otherwise set forth in the Award
Agreement or determined by the Committee. The Committee may
determine in its sole discretion that such unexercisable portion
of the Stock Appreciation Right will become exercisable at such
times and on such terms as the Committee may determine in its
sole discretion. If the Participant does not exercise a Stock
Appreciation Right within the time specified after termination,
that Stock Appreciation Right will expire, and the Shares
covered by it will revert to the Plan, except as otherwise
determined by the Committee.
ARTICLE VII
RESTRICTED
STOCK AWARDS
7.1 Grants. Awards of Restricted
Stock may be issued hereunder to Participants either alone or in
addition to other Awards granted under the Plan (a
Restricted Stock Award). A Restricted Stock
Award shall be subject to restrictions imposed by the Committee
covering a period of time specified by the Committee (the
Restricted Period); provided, however, that,
in the case of Restricted Stock as to which restrictions lapse
based solely on the recipients Continuous Status as an
Employee, Director, or Consultant, the Restricted Period over
which the restrictions may fully lapse shall not be less than
three years, but the restrictions may lapse ratably over such
Restricted Period. The provisions of Restricted Stock Awards
need not be the same with respect to each recipient. The
Committee has absolute discretion to determine whether any
consideration (other than services) is to be received by the
Company or any Affiliate as a condition precedent to the
issuance of Restricted Stock.
7.2 Award Agreements. The terms of
any Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan shall be set
forth in a written Award Agreement which shall contain
provisions determined by the Committee and not inconsistent with
the Plan.
7.3 Rights of Holders of Restricted
Stock. Except as otherwise provided in the Award
Agreement, beginning on the date of grant of the Restricted
Stock Award and subject to execution of the Award Agreement, the
Participant shall become a shareholder of the Company with
respect to all Shares subject to the Award Agreement and shall
have all of the rights of a shareholder, including the right to
vote such Shares and the right to receive distributions made
with respect to such Shares; provided, however that the Award
Agreement may provide that any Shares or any other property
(including cash) distributed as a dividend or otherwise with
respect to any Restricted Shares as to which the restrictions
have not yet lapsed shall be subject to the same restrictions as
such Restricted Shares.
ARTICLE VIII
OTHER
STOCK UNIT AWARDS
8.1 Other Stock Unit Awards. Other
Awards of Shares and other Awards that are valued in whole or in
part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, Shares or other
property (Other Stock Unit Awards) may be
granted hereunder to Participants, either alone or in addition
to other Awards granted under the Plan, and such Other Stock
Unit Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the
settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan. Other Stock
Unit Awards shall be paid in Shares or cash. Subject to the
provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and
complete authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and
Directors to whom and the time or times at which such Other
Stock Unit Awards shall be made, the number of Shares to be
granted pursuant to such Awards, and all other conditions of the
Awards; provided, however, that if the vesting of an Other Stock
Unit Award is based solely on the recipients Continuous
Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant, the period over
which such Other Stock Unit Award fully vests shall not be less
than three years, but vesting may occur ratably over such
vesting period. The provisions of Other Stock Unit Awards need
not be the same with respect to each recipient.
8.2 Terms and Conditions. Shares
(including securities convertible into Shares) subject to Awards
granted under this Article 8 may be issued for no
consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be
required by Applicable Law. Shares (including securities
convertible into Shares) purchased pursuant to a purchase right
awarded under this Article 8 shall be purchased for such
consideration as the Committee shall determine in its sole
discretion.
ARTICLE IX
PERFORMANCE
AWARDS
9.1 Terms of Performance
Awards. Performance Awards may be issued
hereunder to Participants, for no consideration or for such
minimum consideration as may be required by Applicable Law,
either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the
Plan. The performance criteria to be achieved during any
Performance Period and the length of the Performance Period
shall be determined by the Committee upon the grant of each
Performance Award; provided, however, that a Performance Period
shall not be shorter than one year nor longer than five years.
Except as provided in Article 11 or as may be provided in
an Award Agreement, Performance Awards will be distributed only
after the end of the relevant Performance Period. Performance
Awards may be paid in cash, Shares, other property, or any
combination thereof, in the sole discretion of the Committee at
the time of payment. The performance goals to be achieved for
each Performance Period shall be conclusively determined by the
Committee and may be based upon the criteria set forth in
Section 10.2. The amount of the Award to be distributed
shall be conclusively determined by the Committee. The terms of
a Performance Award may provide that it will be paid in a lump
sum or in installments following the close of the Performance
Period.
ARTICLE X
CODE
SECTION 162(m) PROVISIONS
10.1 Covered
Employees. Notwithstanding any other provision of
the Plan, if the Committee determines at the time Restricted
Stock, a Performance Award or an Other Stock Unit Award is
granted to a Participant who is, or is likely to be, as of the
end of the tax year in which the Company would claim a tax
deduction in connection with such Award, a Covered Employee, and
that the deduction limit of Section 162(m) of the Code
might apply to such Award, then the Committee may provide that
this Article 10 is applicable to such Award.
10.2 Performance Criteria. If
Restricted Stock, a Performance Award or an Other Stock Unit
Award is subject to this Article 10, then the lapsing of
restrictions thereon and the distribution of cash, Shares or
other property pursuant thereto, as applicable, shall be subject
to the achievement of one or more objective performance goals
established by the Committee, which shall be based on the
attainment of specified levels, or growth, of one or any
combination of the following factors, or an objective formula
that is determined at the time of the Award that is based on
modified or unmodified calculations of one or any combination of
the following factors: net sales; pretax income before or after
allocation of corporate overhead and bonus; earnings per share;
net income; division, group or corporate financial goals; return
on stockholders equity; return on assets; attainment of
strategic and operational initiatives; appreciation in
and/or
maintenance of the price of the Shares or any other
publicly-traded securities of the Company; market share; gross
profits; earnings before taxes; earnings before interest and
taxes; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization (EBITDA); an adjusted formula of
EBITDA determined by the Committee; economic value-added models;
comparisons with various stock market indices; reductions in
costs,
and/or
return on invested capital of the Company or any Affiliate,
division or business unit of the Company for or within which the
Participant is primarily employed. Such performance goals also
may be based solely by reference to the Companys
performance or the performance of an Affiliate, division or
business unit of the Company, or based upon the relative
performance of other companies or upon comparisons of any of the
indicators of performance relative to other companies. Unless
the Committee specifies otherwise when it sets the performance
goals for an award, objective adjustments shall be made to any
of the foregoing measures for items that will not properly
reflect the Companys financial performance for these
purposes, such as the write-off of debt issuance costs,
pre-opening and development costs, gain or loss from asset
dispositions, asset or other impairment charges, litigation
settlement costs, and other non-routine items that the Committee
foresees may occur during the Performance Period. Also, unless
the Committee determines otherwise in setting the performance
goals for an Award, such performance goals shall be applied by
excluding the impact of (a) restructurings, discontinued
operations and charges for extraordinary items, (b) an
event either not directly related to the operations of the
Company or not within the reasonable control of the
Companys management, or (c) a change in accounting
standards required by generally accepted accounting principles.
Such performance goals shall be set by the Committee within the
time period prescribed by, and shall otherwise comply with the
requirements of, Section 162(m) of the Code, or any
successor provision thereto, and the regulations thereunder.
10.3 Adjustments. Notwithstanding
any provision of the Plan (other than Article 11), with
respect to any Restricted Stock, Performance Award or Other
Stock Unit Award that is subject to this Article 10, the
Committee may adjust downward, but not upward, the amount
payable pursuant to such Award, and the Committee may not waive
the achievement of the applicable performance goals, except in
the case of the death or Disability of the Participant or the
occurrence of a Change of Control.
10.4 Determination of
Performance. Prior to the vesting, payment,
settlement or lapsing of any restrictions with respect to any
Restricted Stock, Performance Award or Other Stock Unit Award
that is subject to this Article 10, the Committee shall
certify in writing that the applicable performance goals have
been achieved to the extent necessary for such Award to qualify
as performance based compensation within the meaning
of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.
10.5 Restrictions. The Committee
shall have the power to impose such other restrictions on Awards
subject to this Article 10 as it may deem necessary or
appropriate to ensure that such Awards satisfy all requirements
for performance-based compensation within the
meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, or which are
not inconsistent with such requirements.
ARTICLE XI
CHANGE OF
CONTROL PROVISIONS
11.1 Impact of Change of
Control. The terms of any Award may provide in
the Award Agreement evidencing the Award, or the Committee may
determine in its discretion, that, upon a Change of Control of
the Company, (a) Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
outstanding as of the date of the Change of Control immediately
vest and become exercisable in full or in part,
(b) restrictions and deferral limitations on Restricted
Stock lapse and the Restricted Stock becomes free of some or all
restrictions and limitations and becomes partially or fully
vested, (c) Performance Awards shall be considered to be
earned and payable (either in full or pro-rata based on the
portion of Performance Period completed as of the date of the
Change of Control), and any deferral or other restriction shall
lapse and such Performance Awards shall be immediately settled
or distributed, (d) the restrictions and deferral
limitations and other conditions applicable to any Other Stock
Unit Awards or any other Awards shall lapse in full or in part,
and such Other Stock Unit Awards or such other Awards shall
become free of some or all restrictions, limitations or
conditions and become partially or fully vested and
transferable, and (e) such other additional benefits,
changes or adjustments as the Committee deems appropriate shall
apply, subject in each case to any terms and conditions
contained in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Committee,
in its discretion, may determine that, upon the occurrence of a
Change of Control of the Company, (a) each Option and Stock
Appreciation Right shall remain exercisable for only a limited
period of time determined by the Committee (provided that they
remain exercisable for at least 30 days after notice of
such action is given to the Participants), or (b) each
Option and Stock Appreciation Right outstanding shall terminate
within a specified number of days after notice to the
Participant, and such Participant shall receive, with respect to
each Share subject to such Option or Stock Appreciation Right,
an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of such
Share immediately prior to the occurrence of such Change of
Control over the exercise price per share of such Option
and/or Stock
Appreciation Right; such amount to be payable in cash, in one or
more kinds of stock or property (including the stock or
property, if any, payable in the transaction) or in a
combination thereof, as the Committee, in its discretion, shall
determine. Notwithstanding the foregoing and the provisions of
Section 11.2, the Committee will take no action that would
subject any Participant to a penalty tax under Section 409A
of the Code.
11.2 Assumption Upon Change of
Control. The terms of any Award Agreement may
also provide that, if in the event of a Change of Control the
successor company assumes or substitutes for an Option, Stock
Appreciation Right, Share of Restricted Stock or Other Stock
Unit Award, then each outstanding Option, Stock Appreciation
Right, Share of Restricted Stock or Other Stock Unit Award shall
not be accelerated as described in Sections 11.1(a),
(b) and (d). For the purposes of this Section 11.2, an
Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Share of Restricted Stock or
Other Stock Unit Award shall be considered assumed or
substituted for if following the Change of Control the award
confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject
to the Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award
or Other Stock Unit Award immediately prior to the Change of
Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other
securities or property) received in the transaction constituting
a Change of Control by holders of Shares for each Share held on
the effective date of such transaction (and if holders were
offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration
chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares);
provided, however, that if such consideration received in the
transaction constituting a Change of Control is not solely
common stock of the successor company, the Committee may, with
the consent of the successor company, provide that the
consideration to be received upon the exercise or vesting of an
Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award or
Other Stock Unit Award, for each Share subject thereto, will be
solely common stock of the successor company substantially equal
in fair market value to the per share consideration received by
holders of Shares in the transaction constituting a Change of
Control. The determination of such substantial equality of value
of consideration shall be made by the Committee in its sole
discretion and its determination shall be conclusive and
binding. Any assumption or substitution of an Incentive Stock
Option will be made in a manner that will not be considered a
modification under the provisions of
Section 424(h)(3) of the Code. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, an Award Agreement may provide that, in the event of
a termination of a Participants employment in such
successor company within a specified time period following such
Change of Control, all or part of any such Award held by such
Participant at the time of the Change of Control shall be
accelerated as described in Sections 11.1(a), (b) and
(d) above.
ARTICLE XII
GENERALLY
APPLICABLE PROVISIONS
12.1 Amendment and Modification of the
Plan. The Board may, from time to time, alter,
amend, suspend or terminate the Plan as it shall deem advisable,
subject to any requirement for stockholder approval imposed by
Applicable Law; provided that the Board may not amend the Plan
in any manner that would result in noncompliance with
Rule 16b-3
of the Exchange Act; and further provided that the Board may
not, without the approval of the Companys stockholders,
amend the Plan to (a) increase the number of Shares that
may be the subject of Awards under the Plan (except for
adjustments pursuant to Section 12.2), (b) expand the
types of awards available under the Plan, (c) materially
expand the class of persons eligible to participate in the Plan,
(d) amend any provision of Section 5.3,
(e) increase the maximum permissible term of any Option
specified by Section 5.4, or (f) amend any provision
of Section 3.2. In addition, no amendments to, or
termination of, the Plan (other than by reason of the failure of
stockholders to approve the Plan in the manner set forth in
Section 13.12) shall in any way impair the rights of a
Participant under any Award previously granted without such
Participants consent.
12.2 Adjustments. In the event of
any merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization,
dividend or distribution (whether in cash, shares or other
property), stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off or similar
transaction or other change in corporate structure affecting the
Shares or the value thereof, such adjustments and other
substitutions shall be made to the Plan and to Awards as the
Committee, in its sole discretion, deems equitable or
appropriate, including such adjustments in the aggregate number,
class and kind of securities that may be delivered under the
Plan and, in the aggregate or to any one Participant, in the
number, class, kind and option or exercise price of securities
subject to outstanding Awards granted under the Plan (including,
if the Committee deems appropriate, the substitution of similar
options to purchase the shares of, or other awards denominated
in the shares of, another company) as the Committee may
determine to be appropriate in its sole discretion; provided,
however, that the number of Shares subject to any Award shall
always be a whole number. Where an adjustment under this
Section 12.2 is made to an Incentive Stock Option, the
adjustment will be made in a manner which will not be considered
a modification under the provisions of
Sections 409A or 424(h)(3) of the Code.
12.3 Transferability of
Awards. Except as provided below, no Award, and
no Shares subject to Awards that have not been issued or as to
which any applicable restriction, performance or deferral period
has not lapsed, may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or
otherwise encumbered, other than by will or the laws of descent
and distribution, and such Award may be exercised during the
life of the Participant only by the Participant or the
Participants guardian or legal representative.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the Committee
so authorizes in the Award Agreement or otherwise, an Award
other than an Incentive Stock Option may be assigned, in whole
or in part, during the Participants lifetime to one or
more Family Members of the Participant. Rights under the
assigned portion may be exercised by the Family Member(s) who
acquire a proprietary interest in such Award pursuant to the
assignment. The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall
be the same as those in effect for the Award immediately before
such assignment and shall be set forth in such documents issued
to the assignee as the Committee deems appropriate.
(a) Designation of Beneficiary. A
Participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who
is to receive any Awards that remain unexercised in the event of
the Participants death. If a Participant is married and
the designated beneficiary is not the spouse, spousal consent
will be required for the designation to be effective. The
Participant may change such designation of beneficiary at any
time by written notice to the Committee, subject to the above
spousal consent requirement.
(b) Effect of No Designation. If a
Participant dies and there is no beneficiary validly designated
and living at the time of the Participants death, the
Company will deliver such Participants Awards to the
executor or administrator of his or her estate, or if no such
executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge
of the Company), the Company, in its discretion, may deliver
such Awards to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or
relatives of the Participant, or if no spouse, dependent or
relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as
the Company may designate.
(c) Death of Spouse or Dissolution of
Marriage. If a Participant designates his or her
spouse as beneficiary, that designation will be deemed
automatically revoked if the Participants marriage is
later dissolved. Similarly, any
designation of a beneficiary will be deemed automatically
revoked upon the death of the beneficiary if the beneficiary
predeceases the Participant. Without limiting the generality of
the preceding sentence, the interest in Awards of a spouse of a
Participant who has predeceased the Participant or whose
marriage has been dissolved will automatically pass to the
Participant, and will not be transferable by such spouse in any
manner, including but not limited to such spouses will,
nor will any such interest pass under the laws of intestate
succession.
12.4 Termination of Employment. The
Committee shall determine and set forth in each Award Agreement
whether any Awards granted in such Award Agreement will continue
to be exercisable, and the terms of such exercise, on and after
the date that a Participants Continuous Status as an
Employee, Director, or Consultant ceases, whether by reason of
death, disability, voluntary or involuntary termination of
employment or services, or otherwise. The date of termination of
a Participants Continuous Status as an Employee, Director
or Consultant will be determined by the Committee, which
determination will be final.
12.5 Dividend Equivalents. Subject
to the provisions of the Plan and any Award Agreement, the
recipient of an Award (including any deferred Award) may, if so
determined by the Committee, be entitled to receive, currently
or on a deferred basis, cash, stock or other property dividends,
or cash payments in amounts equivalent to stock or other
property dividends on Shares (Dividend
Equivalents) with respect to the number of Shares
covered by the Award, as determined by the Committee, in its
sole discretion, and the Committee may provide that such amounts
(if any) shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional
Shares or otherwise reinvested.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
13.1 Tax Withholding. The Company
shall have the right to make all payments or distributions
pursuant to the Plan to a Participant (or to the
Participants executors, administrators, guardian,
beneficiary, or legal representative, or Family Members) (any
such person, a Payee) net of any applicable
Federal, State and local taxes required to be paid or withheld
as a result of (a) the grant of any Award, (b) the
exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Rights, (c) the
delivery of Shares or cash, (d) the lapse of any
restrictions in connection with any Award, or (e) any other
event occurring pursuant to the Plan. The Company or any
Affiliate shall have the right to withhold from wages or other
amounts otherwise payable to such Payee such withholding taxes
as may be required by law, or to otherwise require the Payee to
pay such withholding taxes. If the Payee shall fail to make such
tax payments as are required, the Company or its Affiliates
shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct
any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to
such Payee or to take such other action as may be necessary to
satisfy such withholding obligations. The Committee shall be
authorized to establish procedures for election by Participants
to satisfy such obligation for the payment of such taxes by
tendering previously acquired Shares (either actually or by
attestation, valued at their then Fair Market Value) that have
been owned for a period of at least six months (or such other
period to avoid accounting charges against the Companys
earnings), or by directing the Company to retain Shares (up to
the employees minimum required tax withholding rate)
otherwise deliverable in connection with the Award. If Shares
acquired upon exercise of any Incentive Stock Option are
disposed of in a disposition that, under Section 422 of the
Code, disqualifies the holder from the application of
Section 421(a) of the Code, the holder of the Shares
immediately before the disposition will comply with any
requirements imposed by the Company in order to enable the
Company to secure the related income tax deduction to which it
is entitled in such event.
13.2 Right of Discharge Reserved; Claims to
Awards. Nothing in the Plan nor the grant of an
Award hereunder shall confer upon any Employee, Consultant or
Director the right to continue in the employment or service of
the Company or any Affiliate or affect any right that the
Company or any Affiliate may have to terminate the employment or
service of (or to demote or to exclude from future Awards under
the Plan) any such Employee, Consultant or Director at any time
for any reason. The Company shall not be liable for the loss of
existing or potential profit from an Award granted in the event
of termination of an employment or other relationship. No
Employee or Participant shall have any claim to be granted any
Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity
of treatment of Employees or Participants under the Plan.
13.3 Prospective Recipient. The
prospective recipient of any Award under the Plan shall not,
with respect to such Award, be deemed to have become a
Participant, or to have any rights with respect to such Award,
until and unless such recipient shall have executed an agreement
or other instrument evidencing the Award and delivered a copy
thereof to the Company, and otherwise complied with the then
applicable terms and conditions.
13.4 Cancellation of
Award. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, all outstanding Awards granted to any
Participant may be canceled in the discretion of the Committee
if the Participants Continuous Status as an Employee,
Director or Consultant is terminated for Cause, or if, after the
termination of the Participants Continuous Status as an
Employee, Director, or Consultant, the Committee determines that
Cause existed before such termination.
13.5 Stop Transfer Orders. All
certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan pursuant to any
Award shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other
restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the
provisions of this Plan, the rules, regulations and other
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any
stock exchange upon which the Shares are then listed, and any
applicable federal or state securities law, and the Committee
may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates
to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
13.6 Nature of Payments. All Awards
made pursuant to the Plan are in consideration of services
performed or to be performed for the Company or any Affiliate,
division or business unit of the Company. Any income or gain
realized pursuant to Awards under the Plan and any Stock
Appreciation Rights constitute a special incentive payment to
the Participant and shall not be taken into account, to the
extent permissible under Applicable Law, as compensation for
purposes of any of the employee benefit plans of the Company or
any Affiliate except as may be determined by the Committee or by
the Board or board of directors of the applicable Affiliate.
13.7 Other Plans. Nothing contained
in the Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or
additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder
approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may
be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific
cases.
13.8 Severability. If any provision
of the Plan shall be held unlawful or otherwise invalid or
unenforceable in whole or in part by a court of competent
jurisdiction, such provision shall (a) be deemed limited to
the extent that such court of competent jurisdiction deems it
lawful, valid
and/or
enforceable and as so limited shall remain in full force and
effect, and (b) not affect any other provision of the Plan
or part thereof, each of which shall remain in full force and
effect. If the making of any payment or the provision of any
other benefit required under the Plan shall be held unlawful or
otherwise invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent
jurisdiction, such unlawfulness, invalidity or unenforceability
shall not prevent any other payment or benefit from being made
or provided under the Plan, and if the making of any payment in
full or the provision of any other benefit required under the
Plan in full would be unlawful or otherwise invalid or
unenforceable, then such unlawfulness, invalidity or
unenforceability shall not prevent such payment or benefit from
being made or provided in part, to the extent that it would not
be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, and the maximum payment
or benefit that would not be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable
shall be made or provided under the Plan.
13.9 Construction. All references
in the Plan to Section,
Sections, or Article are
intended to refer to the Section, Sections or Article, as the
case may be, of the Plan. As used in the Plan, the words
include and including, and
variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of
limitation, but rather shall be deemed to be followed by the
words without limitation.
13.10 Unfunded Status of the
Plan. The Plan is intended to constitute an
unfunded plan for incentive and deferred
compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a
Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give
any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a
general creditor of the Company. In its sole discretion, the
Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other
arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to
deliver the Shares or payments in lieu of or with respect to
Awards hereunder; provided, however, that the existence of such
trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the unfunded
status of the Plan.
13.11 Governing Law. The Plan and
all determinations made and actions taken thereunder, to the
extent not otherwise governed by the Code or the laws of the
United States, shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Delaware and construed accordingly.
13.12 Effective Date of Plan; Termination of
Plan. The Plan shall be effective on
April 24, 2007, subject to the approval of the Plan, within
12 months thereafter, by affirmative votes representing a
majority of the votes cast under Applicable Laws at a duly
constituted meeting of the stockholders of the Company. After
the adoption of this Plan by the Board, Awards may be made, but
all such Awards shall be subject to stockholder approval of this
Plan in accordance with the first sentence of this
Section 13.12, and no Options or Stock Appreciation Rights
may be exercised prior to such stockholder approval of the Plan.
If the stockholders do not approve this Plan in the manner set
forth in the first sentence of this Section 13.12, this
Plan, and all Awards granted hereunder, shall be null and void
and of no effect. Awards may be granted under the Plan at any
time and from time to time on or prior to the tenth anniversary
of the effective date of the Plan (unless the Board sooner
suspends or terminates the Plan under Section 12.1), on
which date the Plan will expire except as to Awards then
outstanding under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
unless affirmative votes representing a majority of the votes
cast under Applicable Laws approve the continuation of
Article 10 at the first duly constituted meeting of the
stockholders of the Company that occurs in the fifth year
following the effective date of this Plan, no Awards other than
Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, or Restricted Stock that
is not intended to satisfy the requirements of Article 10,
shall be made to Covered Employees following the date of such
meeting. Except as set forth in the third sentence of this
Section 13.12, outstanding Awards shall remain in effect
until they have been exercised or terminated, or have expired.
13.13 Foreign Employees. Awards may
be granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed
outside the United States, or both, on such terms and conditions
different from those applicable to Awards to Employees employed
in the United States as may, in the judgment of the Committee,
be necessary or desirable in order to recognize differences in
local law or tax policy. The Committee also may impose
conditions on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to
minimize the Companys obligation with respect to tax
equalization for Employees on assignments outside their home
country.
13.14 Effect on Prior Plans. On the
approval of this Plan by the stockholders of the Company in the
manner set forth in Section 13.12, the Prior Plans shall be
cancelled and no further grants or awards shall be made under
the Prior Plans. Grants and awards made under the Prior Plans
before the date of such cancellation, however, shall continue in
effect in accordance with their terms.
13.15 Other Company Compensation
Plans. Shares available for Awards under the Plan
may be used by the Company as a form of payment of compensation
under other Company compensation plans, whether or not existing
on the date hereof. To the extent any Shares are used as such by
the Company, such Shares will reduce the then number of Shares
available under Article 3 of the Plan for future Awards.
13.16 Captions. The captions in the
Plan are for convenience of reference only, and are not intended
to narrow, limit or affect the substance or interpretation of
the provisions contained herein.