EX-10.1 2008 Employee Equity and Incentive Plan
Exhibit 10.1
AUTONATION,
INC.
2008 EMPLOYEE EQUITY AND INCENTIVE PLAN
AutoNation, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby adopts this
AutoNation, Inc. 2008 Employee Equity and Incentive Plan (the
“Plan”), the terms of which shall be as follows:
The Plan is intended to advance the interests of the Company by
providing eligible individuals (as designated pursuant to
Section 4 below) with an opportunity to acquire or increase
a proprietary interest in the Company, and to receive
performance-based cash incentive compensation, which thereby
will create a stronger incentive to expend maximum effort for
the growth and success of the Company and its subsidiaries, and
will encourage such eligible individuals to remain in the employ
of the Company or one or more of its subsidiaries. Pursuant to
the provisions hereof, there may be granted Options (as such
term is defined below), Stock Appreciation Rights (as such term
is defined in Section 9(e)), Restricted Stock (as such term
is defined in Section 10(a)), Restricted Stock Units (as
such term is defined in Section 10(b)), other stock-based
awards (including but not limited to dividend equivalents,
performance units and other long-term stock-based awards) and
cash-based awards (collectively, “Awards”); excluding,
however, reload or other automatic Awards made upon exercise of
Options, which Awards shall not be granted under the Plan. Each
stock option granted under the Plan (an “Option”)
shall be an option that is not intended to constitute an
“incentive stock option” (“Incentive Stock
Option”) within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the corresponding provision of
any subsequently-enacted tax statute, as amended from time to
time (the “Code”), unless such Option is granted to an
employee of the Company or a “subsidiary corporation”
(a “Subsidiary”) thereof within the meaning of
Section 424(f) of the Code and is specifically designated
at the time of grant as being an Incentive Stock Option. Any
Option so designated shall constitute an Incentive Stock Option
only to the extent that it does not exceed the limitations set
forth in Section 7 below.
2. ADMINISTRATION
(a) BOARD. The Plan shall be administered by the
Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), which
in its sole discretion shall have the full power and authority
to take all actions, and to make all determinations required or
provided for under the Plan or any Award granted or Award
Agreement (as defined in Section 8 below) entered into
under the Plan and all such other actions and determinations not
inconsistent with the specific terms and provisions of the Plan
deemed by the Board to be necessary or appropriate to the
administration of the Plan or any Award granted or Award
Agreement entered into hereunder. All such actions and
determinations shall be by the affirmative vote of a majority of
the members of the Board present at a meeting at which any issue
relating to the Plan is properly raised for consideration, or
without a meeting by written consent of the Board executed in
accordance with the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation
and By-Laws, and with applicable law. The interpretation and
construction by the Board of any provision of the Plan or of any
Award granted or Award Agreement entered into hereunder shall be
final and conclusive.
(b) COMMITTEE. The Board may from time to time
appoint a committee or subcommittee (the “Committee”)
consisting of not less than two members of the Board, none of
whom shall be an officer or other salaried employee of the
Company or any Subsidiary, and, unless otherwise determined by
the Board, each of whom shall qualify in all respects as an
“outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m)
of the Code. The Board, in its sole discretion, may provide that
the role of the Committee shall be limited to making
recommendations to the Board concerning any determinations to be
made and actions to be taken by the Board pursuant to or with
respect to the Plan, or the Board may delegate to the Committee
such powers and authorities related to the administration of the
Plan, as set forth in Section 2(a) above, as the Board
shall determine, consistent with the Certificate of
Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company and applicable law. The
Board may remove members, add members, and fill vacancies on the
Committee from time to time, all in accordance with the
Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, and
with applicable law. All actions and determinations of the
Committee shall be by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
members of the Committee present at a meeting at which any issue
relating to the Plan is
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properly raised for consideration or without a meeting by
written consent of the Committee executed in accordance with
applicable law.
(c) NO LIABILITY. No member of the Board or of
the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination
made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award granted
or Award Agreement entered into hereunder.
(d) DELEGATION TO THE COMMITTEE. In the event
that the Plan, any Award granted, or Award Agreement entered
into hereunder provides for any action to be taken by or
determination to be made by the Board, such action may be taken
by or such determination may be made by the Committee if the
power and authority to do so has been delegated to the Committee
by the Board as provided for in Section 2(b) above. Unless
otherwise expressly determined by the Board, any such action or
determination by the Committee shall be final and conclusive.
3. STOCK
The stock that may be issued pursuant to Awards granted under
the Plan shall be shares of common stock, $0.01 par value,
of the Company (the “Stock”), which shares may be
treasury shares or authorized but unissued shares. The number of
shares of Stock that may be issued pursuant to Awards granted
under the Plan shall not exceed in the aggregate
12,000,000 shares (the “Share Reserve”), subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 17 below; provided
that no more than 2,000,000 shares shall be issued pursuant
to the grant of Awards, other than Options or Stock Appreciation
Rights, that are settled in Stock (such Awards, “Share
Equivalent Awards”). Each share of Stock issued pursuant to
an Award shall reduce the Share Reserve by one share. To the
extent that an Award is settled in cash rather than in shares of
Stock, the Share Reserve shall remain unchanged; provided,
however, that the Share Reserve shall be reduced on a
one-for-one basis by the number of shares of Stock with respect
to which a Stock Appreciation Right (or other Stock-Based Award)
is exercised if such exercise is settled in shares of Stock. If
any shares of Stock subject to an Award are forfeited,
cancelled, exchanged or surrendered or if an Award otherwise
terminates or expires without a distribution of shares to the
Participant (as such term is defined in Section 6), the
shares of Stock with respect to such Award shall, to the extent
of any such forfeiture, cancellation, exchange, surrender,
termination or expiration, again be available for Awards under
the Plan. Further, Stock issued under the Plan through the
settlement, assumption or substitution of outstanding Awards as
a condition of the Company acquiring another entity shall not
reduce the maximum number of shares of Stock available for
delivery. The maximum number of shares of Stock subject to
Awards that may be granted during any calendar year under the
Plan to any executive officer or other employee of the Company
or any Subsidiary or Affiliate whose compensation is or may be
subject to Code Section 162(m) (a “Covered
Employee”) is 2,000,000 shares (subject to adjustment
as provided in Section 17 hereof).
4. ELIGIBILITY
(a) EMPLOYEES. Awards may be granted under the
Plan to any employee of the Company, a Subsidiary or any other
entity of which on the relevant date at least a majority of the
securities or other ownership interest having ordinary voting
power (absolutely or contingently) for the election of directors
or other persons performing similar functions (“Voting
Securities”) are at the time owned directly or indirectly
by the Company or any Subsidiary (such entity,
“Affiliate”), including any such employee who is an
officer or director of the Company, a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate, as the Board shall determine and designate from time
to time prior to expiration or termination of the Plan.
(b) INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS. Awards may be
granted to independent contractors performing services for the
Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate as determined by the
Board from time to time on the basis of their importance to the
business of the Company or such Subsidiary or Affiliate.
Independent contractors shall not be eligible to receive Options
intended to constitute Incentive Stock Options. Non-employee
directors of the Company shall not be eligible to receive Awards
under the Plan.
(c) MULTIPLE GRANTS. An individual may hold more
than one Award, subject to such restrictions as are provided
herein.
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5. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN
(a) EFFECTIVE DATE. The Plan shall be effective
as of the date of adoption by the Board, which date is set forth
below, subject to approval of the Plan, within one year of such
effective date, by the stockholders of the Company by a majority
of the votes present and entitled to vote at a duly held meeting
of the stockholders, at which a quorum representing a majority
of all outstanding voting stock is present, either in person or
by proxy or by written consent in accordance with the
Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws;
provided, however, that upon approval of the Plan by the
stockholders of the Company as set forth above, all Awards
granted on or after the effective date shall be fully effective
as if the stockholders of the Company had approved the Plan on
the effective date. If the stockholders fail to approve the Plan
within one year of such effective date, any Awards granted
hereunder shall be null and void and of no effect.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, no Option
granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable in
whole or in part, and no shares of Stock with respect to a Share
Equivalent Award or Stock Appreciation Right shall be issued,
prior to the date the Plan is approved by the stockholders of
the Company as provided in this Section 5(a).
(b) TERM. The Plan shall terminate on the date
that is ten (10) years from the effective date.
6. GRANT OF AWARDS
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Board may,
at any time and from time to time, prior to the date of
termination of the Plan, grant to such eligible individuals as
the Board may determine (“Participants”), Awards with
respect to such number of shares of Stock or amounts of cash on
such terms and conditions as the Board may determine. The date
on which the Board approves or ratifies the grant of an Award
(or such later date as the Board may designate) shall be
considered the date on which such Award is granted.
7. LIMITATION ON INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS
An Option intended to constitute an Incentive Stock Option (and
so designated at the time of grant) shall qualify as an
Incentive Stock Option only to the extent that the aggregate
fair market value (determined at the time the Option is granted)
of the stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any
calendar year (under the Plan and all other plans of the
Participant’s employer corporation and its parent and
subsidiary corporations within the meaning of
Section 422(d) of the Code) does not exceed $100,000. This
limitation shall be applied by taking Options into account in
the order in which they were granted.
8. AWARD AGREEMENTS
All Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by
written agreements (“Award Agreements”), to be
executed by the Company and by the Participant, in such form or
forms as the Board shall from time to time determine. Award
Agreements covering Awards granted from time to time or at the
same time need not contain similar provisions; provided,
however, that all such Award Agreements shall comply with all
terms of the Plan.
9. OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
(a) OPTION PRICE. The purchase price of each
share of the Stock subject to an Option shall be not less than
100 percent of the fair market value of a share of the
Stock, which shall mean the closing price of a share of the
Stock on the date the Option is granted as reported on the
principal nationally recognized stock exchange on which the
Stock is traded on such date, or if the date of grant is not a
trading day, the reported closing price of the Stock on the next
trading day (the “Option Price”); provided however,
that in the event that the Participant would otherwise be
ineligible to receive an Incentive Stock Option by reason of the
provisions of Section 422(b)(6) and 424(d) of the Code
(relating to stock ownership of more than 10 percent), the
Option Price of an Option that is intended to be an Incentive
Stock Option shall be not less than 110 percent of the fair
market value of a share of Stock.
(b) OPTION PERIOD. Each Option granted under the
Plan shall terminate and all rights to purchase shares
thereunder shall cease upon the expiration of ten years from the
date such Option is granted, or on such date prior thereto as
may be fixed by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement
relating to such Option; provided, however, that in the event
the Participant would otherwise be ineligible to receive an
Incentive Stock Option by reason of the provisions of
Sections 422(b)(6) and 424(d) of the Code (relating to
stock ownership of more than 10 percent), an
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Option granted to such Participant that is intended to be an
Incentive Stock Option shall in no event be exercisable after
the expiration of five years from the date it is granted.
(c) OPTION VESTING AND LIMITATIONS ON
EXERCISE. Except as otherwise provided herein, each
Option shall become exercisable with respect to 25% of the total
number of shares subject to the Option on the date that is
12 months after the date of its grant (the “Vesting
Date”) and with respect to an additional 25% of the number
of such shares on each of the next three succeeding
anniversaries of the Vesting Date; provided, however, that the
Board may provide that an Option may be exercised, in whole or
in part, at any time and from time to time, over a period
commencing on or after the date of grant and ending upon the
expiration or termination of the Option, as the Board shall
determine and set forth in the Award Agreement relating to such
Option. Without limiting the foregoing, the Board, subject to
the terms and conditions of the Plan, may provide that an Option
may be exercised immediately upon grant or that it may not be
exercised in whole or in part for any period or periods of time
during which such Option is outstanding; provided, however, that
any vesting requirement or other such limitation on the exercise
of an Option may be rescinded, modified or waived by the Board,
at any time and from time to time after the date of grant of
such Option, so as to accelerate the time at which the Option
may be exercised.
(d) METHOD OF OPTION EXERCISE. An Option that is
exercisable hereunder may be exercised pursuant to such
procedures as may be established by the Company from time to
time. The Company shall establish procedures governing the
payment of the Option Price for the shares of Stock purchased
pursuant to the exercise of an Option, which shall require that
the Option Price be paid in full at the time of exercise in one
of the following ways: (i) in cash or cash equivalents,
(ii) with the consent of the Company, in shares of Stock,
valued at fair market value on the date of exercise, or
(iii) the Company may permit such payment of exercise price
by any other method it deems satisfactory in its discretion
(including by permitting broker’s cashless exercise
procedure). An attempt to exercise any Option granted hereunder
other than as set forth above shall be invalid and of no force
and effect. An individual holding or exercising an Option shall
have none of the rights of a stockholder until the shares of
Stock covered thereby are fully paid and issued to him and,
except as provided in Section 17 below, no adjustment shall
be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date
is prior to the date of such issuance.
(e) STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The Board may,
from time to time, grant Awards of Stock Appreciation Rights,
subject to such restrictions, terms and conditions as the Board
shall determine and as shall be evidenced by the applicable
Award Agreement (provided that any such Award is subject to the
terms and conditions set forth in this Section 9(e)). A
“Stock Appreciation Right” is the right, granted to a
Participant under this Section 9(e), to be paid an amount
measured by the appreciation in the fair market value of a share
of Stock from the date of grant to the date of exercise of the
right, with payment to be made in cash
and/or
share(s) of Stock, as specified in the Award Agreement or
determined by the Board. The number of shares of Stock
underlying each Stock Appreciation Right and the exercise price
in effect for those shares shall be determined by the Board. In
no event, however, shall the exercise price for each share of
Stock underlying the Stock Appreciation Right (the “Stock
Appreciation Right Price”) be less than one hundred percent
(100%) of the fair market value per underlying share of Stock on
the grant date (which shall mean the closing price of a share of
the Stock on the date the Stock Appreciation Right is granted as
reported on the principal nationally recognized stock exchange
on which the Stock is traded on such date, or if the date of
grant is not a trading day, the reported closing price of the
Stock on the next trading day). Upon exercise of a Stock
Appreciation Right, the holder shall be entitled to receive a
distribution from the Company in an amount equal to the excess
of (i) the aggregate fair market value on the exercise date
of the shares of Stock underlying the portion of the Stock
Appreciation Right being exercised (which shall be determined by
reference to the closing price of a share of the Stock on the
date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised as reported on
the principal nationally recognized stock exchange on which the
Stock is traded on such date, or if the date of exercise is not
a trading day, the reported closing price of the Stock on the
next trading day) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price of
the portion of the Stock Appreciation Right being exercised. The
distribution with respect to any exercised Stock Appreciation
Right may be made in shares of Stock valued at the fair market
value of such shares on the exercise date, in cash, or partly in
shares of Stock and partly in cash, as the Board shall deem
appropriate. Each Stock Appreciation Right granted under the
Plan shall terminate and all rights to receive an amount equal
to the appreciation in the fair market value of a share of Stock
shall cease upon the expiration of ten (10) years from the
date such Stock Appreciation Right is granted or on such date
prior thereto as may be fixed by the Board and stated in the
Award Agreement relating to such Stock Appreciation Right. No
recipient of an award of Stock Appreciation
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Rights shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of
the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Stock
issuable upon exercise of such Stock Appreciation Rights, except
to the extent that the Company has issued the shares of Stock
relating to such Stock Appreciation Rights.
(f) NO REPRICING. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, but subject to Section 17 hereof,
neither the Board, the Committee nor their respective delegates
shall have the authority without first obtaining the approval of
the Company’s stockholders to (i) reprice (or cancel
and regrant) any Option, Stock Appreciation Right or other
Stock-Based Award at a lower exercise price, (ii) take any
other action (whether in the form of an amendment, cancellation
or replacement grant) that has the effect of repricing an
Option, Stock Appreciation Right or other Stock-Based Award at a
lower exercise price, or (iii) grant any Option, Stock
Appreciation Right or other Stock-Based Award that contains a
so-called “reload” feature under which additional
Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or other Stock-Based Awards
are granted automatically to the Participant upon exercise of
the original Option, Stock Appreciation Right or other
Stock-Based Award.
10. RESTRICTED STOCK, RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS AND
OTHER STOCK-BASED OR
CASH-BASED
AWARDS
(a) RESTRICTED STOCK. The Board may, from time
to time, grant Awards of shares of Stock that may be subject to
certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture
(“Restricted Stock”), subject to such restrictions,
terms, and conditions as the Board shall determine and as shall
be evidenced by the applicable Award Agreement. The vesting of a
Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan may be conditioned
upon the completion of a specified period of employment or
service with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, upon
the attainment of specified Performance Goals (as defined in
Section 10(d)),
and/or upon
such other criteria as the Board may determine. The Board may,
upon such terms and conditions as the Board determines, provide
that a certificate or certificates representing the shares
underlying a Restricted Stock Award shall be registered in the
Participant’s name and bear an appropriate legend
specifying that such shares are not transferable and are subject
to the provisions of the Plan and the restrictions, terms and
conditions set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, or that
such certificate or certificates shall be held in escrow by the
Company on behalf of the Participant until such shares become
vested or are forfeited. If and to the extent that the
applicable Award Agreement may so provide, a Participant shall
have the right to vote and receive dividends on Restricted Stock
granted under the Plan. Unless otherwise provided in the
applicable Award Agreement, any Stock received as a dividend on
or in connection with a stock split of the shares of Stock
underlying a Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to the same
restrictions as the shares of Stock underlying such Restricted
Stock Award.
(b) RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS. The Board may, from
time to time, grant Awards of rights to receive in cash or
shares of Stock, as determined by the Board, the fair market
value of a share of Stock at the end of a specified period
(“Restricted Stock Units”), which right may be subject
to the attainment of Performance Goals (as defined below) in a
period of continued employment or other terms and conditions as
the Board shall determine and as shall be evidenced by the
applicable Award Agreement. The vesting of Restricted Stock
Units granted under the Plan may be conditioned upon the
completion of a specified period of employment or service with
the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, upon the attainment
of specified Performance Goals,
and/or upon
such other criteria as the Board may determine. Unless otherwise
provided in an Award Agreement, and except as otherwise provided
in the Plan, upon the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit there
shall be delivered to the Participant, within 30 days of
the date on which such Award (or any portion thereof) vests,
either that number of shares of Stock equal to the number of
Restricted Stock Units becoming so vested or cash equal to the
fair market value of the shares of Stock underlying the
Restricted Stock Units becoming so vested (or a combination
thereof), as determined by the Board. If and to the extent that
the applicable Award Agreement may so provide, a Participant
shall have the right to receive dividend equivalents on
Restricted Stock Units granted under the Plan. Unless otherwise
provided in the applicable Award Agreement, any Stock received
as a dividend equivalent on or in connection with a stock split
of the shares of Stock underlying a Restricted Stock Unit Award
shall be subject to the same restrictions as the shares of Stock
underlying such Restricted Stock Unit Award.
(c) OTHER STOCK-BASED OR CASH-BASED AWARDS. The
Board is authorized to grant Awards to Participants in the form
of Other Stock-Based Awards (as defined below) or Other
Cash-Based Awards (as defined below), as deemed by the Board to
be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. The Board shall
determine the terms
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and conditions of such Awards, consistent with the terms of the
Plan, at the date of grant or thereafter, including provisions
addressing terms and conditions such as vesting, applicable
Performance Goals and performance periods. Stock or other
securities or property delivered pursuant to an Award in the
nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 10(c)
shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such
times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without
limitation, Stock, other Awards, notes or other property, as the
Board shall determine, subject to any required corporate action.
With respect to a Covered Employee, the maximum value of the
aggregate payment that any Participant may receive with respect
to Other Cash-Based Awards pursuant to this Section 10(c)
in respect of any annual performance period is $5 million
and for any other performance period in excess of one year, such
amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of months in the performance period and the denominator
of which is twelve. No payment shall be made to a Covered
Employee prior to the certification by the Board that the
Performance Goals have been attained. The Board may establish
such other rules applicable to the Other Stock- or Cash-Based
Awards to the extent not inconsistent with Section 162(m)
of the Code. Payments earned in respect of any Cash-Based Award
may be decreased or, with respect to any Participant who is not
a Covered Employee, increased based on such factors as the Board
deems appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Awards may
be adjusted in accordance with Section 17 hereof.
“Other Cash-Based Award” means an Award granted to a
Participant under this Section 10(c), including cash
awarded as a bonus or upon the attainment of Performance Goals
or otherwise as permitted under the Plan. “Other
Stock-Based Award” means an Award granted to a Participant
pursuant to this Section 10(c), that may be denominated or
payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or
otherwise based on, or related to, Stock including but not
limited to performance units or dividend equivalents, each of
which may be subject to the attainment of Performance Goals or a
period of continued employment or other terms and conditions as
permitted under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, no dividend equivalents shall be granted in tandem
with an Award of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.
(d) PERFORMANCE GOALS AND PERFORMANCE
PERIODS. “Performance Goals” shall mean the
criteria and objectives, determined by the Board, which must be
met during the applicable Performance Period as a condition of
the Participant’s receipt of payment with respect to an
Award. Performance Goals may include any or all of the following
or any combination thereof, or any increase or decrease of one
or more of the following over a specified period: net income
(before or after taxes); operating income; gross margin;
earnings before all or any of interest, taxes, depreciation
and/or
amortization (“EBIT”, “EBITA” or
“EBITDA”); revenue; unit sales; cash flow; return on
equity; return on assets; return on capital; earnings from
continuing operations; cost reduction goals or levels of
expenses, costs or liabilities; market share; asset management
(e.g., inventory and receivable levels); and customer
satisfaction. Such Performance Goals may relate to the
performance of the Company, a Subsidiary, any portion of the
business (including a store or franchise), product line, or any
combination thereof and may be expressed on an aggregate, per
share (outstanding or fully diluted) or per unit basis. Where
applicable, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of
attaining a specified level of the particular criteria, the
attainment of a percentage increase or decrease in the
particular criteria, or may be applied to the performance of the
Company, a Subsidiary, a business unit, product line, or any
combination thereof, relative to a market index, a group of
other companies (or their subsidiaries, business units or
product lines), or a combination thereof, all as determined by
the Board. Performance Goals may include a threshold level of
performance below which no payment shall be made, levels of
performance below the target level but above the threshold level
at which specified percentages of the Award shall be paid, a
target level of performance at which the full Award shall be
paid, levels of performance above the target level but below the
maximum level at which specified multiples of the Award shall be
paid, and a maximum level of performance above which no
additional payment shall be made. Performance Goals may also
specify that payments for levels of performances between
specified levels will be interpolated. The Board shall determine
whether, or to what extent, Performance Goals are achieved;
provided, however, that the Board shall have the authority to
make appropriate adjustments in Performance Goals under an Award
to reflect the impact of extraordinary items not reflected in
such goals. For purposes of the Plan, extraordinary items shall
be defined as (1) any profit or loss attributable to
acquisitions or dispositions of stock or assets, (2) any
changes in accounting standards or treatments that may be
required or permitted by the Financial Accounting Standards
Board or adopted by the Company or its Subsidiaries after the
goal is established, (3) all items of gain, loss or expense
for the year related to restructuring charges for the Company or
its Subsidiaries, (4) all items of gain, loss or expense
for the year determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature
or infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a
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segment of a business, (5) all items of gain, loss or
expense for the year related to discontinued operations that do
not qualify as a segment of a business as defined in APB Opinion
No. 30 (or successor literature), (6) the impact of
capital expenditures, (7) the impact of share repurchases
and other changes in the number of outstanding shares, and
(8) such other items as may be prescribed by
Section 162(m) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations
thereunder as may be in effect from time to time, and any
amendments, revisions or successor provisions and any changes
thereto. “Performance Period” shall mean the
twelve-month periods commencing on January 1, 2008 and each
January 1 thereafter, or such other periods as the Board shall
determine; provided that a Performance Period for a Participant
who becomes employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries
following the commencement of a Performance Period may be a
shorter period that commences with the date of the commencement
of such employment.
(e) CHANGE IN CONTROL. In the event of a Change
in Control (as defined below), except as the Board shall
otherwise provide in an Award Agreement with respect to an Award
granted under the Plan, all outstanding Options and Stock
Appreciation Rights shall become immediately exercisable in
full, without regard to any limitation on exercise imposed
pursuant to Section 9(c) or Section 9(e) above, the
restrictions, payment conditions and forfeiture conditions
applicable to any Award other than an Option or Stock
Appreciation Right Award shall lapse and such Awards shall be
deemed fully vested, and any performance conditions imposed with
respect to Awards shall be deemed to be achieved at the target
level for the applicable Performance Period. Furthermore, unless
waived in advance of such Change in Control by the Board, each
Participant who is an employee or a consultant of the Company or
a Subsidiary or Affiliate at the time of such Change in Control
shall have the right to require the Company to pay, in
cancellation of any or all such Options and Stock Appreciation
Rights held by such Participant, an amount equal to the product
of (i) the excess of (x) the fair market value per
share of the Stock (which shall mean the closing price as of the
trading day preceding the day of the Change in Control) over
(y) the Option Price or Stock Appreciation Right Price, as
the case may be, times (ii) the number of shares of Stock
specified by the Participant in a written notice to the Company
prior to or within 30 days after the Change in Control (up
to the full number of shares of Stock then subject to such
Option and Stock Appreciation Right). For purposes of the Plan,
a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur if any
person shall (a) acquire direct or indirect beneficial
ownership of more than 50% of the total combined voting power
with respect to the election of directors of the issued and
outstanding stock of the Company (except that no Change in
Control shall be deemed to have occurred if the persons who were
stockholders of the Company immediately before such acquisition
own all or substantially all of the voting stock or other
interests of such person immediately after such transaction), or
(b) have the power (whether as a result of stock ownership,
revocable or irrevocable proxies, contract or otherwise) or
ability to elect or cause the election of directors consisting
at the time of such election of a majority of the Board. A
“person” for this purpose shall mean any person,
corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity or any
group (as such term is defined for purposes of
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) and a person shall be
deemed to be a beneficial owner as that term is used in
Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act. The amount payable under this
Section 10(e) shall be remitted by the Company in cash or
by certified or bank check, reduced by applicable tax
withholding.
11. TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS
No Award shall be assignable or transferable by the Participant
to whom it is granted, other than by will or the laws of descent
and distribution, except that, upon approval by the Board, the
Participant may transfer an Award that is not intended to
constitute an Incentive Stock Option (a) pursuant to a
qualified domestic relations order as defined for purposes of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended,
or (b) by gift: to a member of the “Family” (as
defined below) of the Participant, to or for the benefit of one
or more organizations qualifying under Code
Sections 50l(c)(3) and 170(c)(2) (a “Charitable
Organization”) or to a trust for the exclusive benefit of
the Participant, one or more members of the Participant’s
Family, one or more Charitable Organizations, or any combination
of the foregoing; provided that any such transferee shall enter
into a written agreement to be bound by the terms of this Plan.
For this purpose, “Family” shall mean the ancestors,
spouse, siblings, spouses of siblings, lineal descendants and
spouses of lineal descendants of the Participant. During the
lifetime of a Participant to whom an Incentive Stock Option is
granted, only such Participant (or, in the event of legal
incapacity or incompetence, the Participant’s guardian or
legal representative) may exercise the Incentive Stock Option.
7
12. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE
(a) GENERAL. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 12(b) or 13 below or as may otherwise be provided
by the Board, upon the termination of employment or other
service of a Participant with the Company, a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate for any reason, all unvested Awards held by such
Participant at the time of such termination shall immediately
terminate and such Participant shall have no further right to
receive cash or purchase or receive shares of Stock pursuant to
such Award; provided, however, that, unless such termination is
by the Company for “Cause,” all Options and Stock
Appreciation Rights, to the extent exercisable on the date of
such termination, shall remain exercisable until the earlier of
(a) the expiration date of such Option or Stock
Appreciation Right as fixed by the Board pursuant to
Section 9 hereof and (b) the 60th day following
the date of such termination. For purposes of the foregoing,
“Cause” shall mean (1) the Participant’s
conviction for commission of a felony or other crime;
(2) the commission by the Participant of any act against
the Company constituting willful misconduct, dishonesty, fraud,
theft or embezzlement; (3) the Participant’s failure,
inability or refusal to perform any of the material services,
duties or responsibilities required of him by the Company, or to
materially comply with the policies or procedures established
from time to time by the Company, for any reason other than his
illness or physical or mental incapacity; (4) the
Participant’s dependence, as determined in good faith by
the Company, on any addictive substance, including, but not
limited to, alcohol or any illegal or narcotic drugs;
(5) the destruction of or material damage to Company
property caused by the Participant’s willful or grossly
negligent conduct; and (6) the willful engaging by the
Participant in any other conduct which is demonstrably injurious
to the Company or its subsidiaries, monetarily or otherwise.
Determination of Cause shall be made by the Board.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant is a party to
an employment agreement with the Company, “Cause” with
respect to such Participant shall have the meaning set forth
therein.
(b) Whether a leave of absence or leave on military or
government service shall constitute a termination of employment
or service (in the case of an independent contractor) for
purposes of the Plan shall be determined by the Board, which
determination shall be final and conclusive. For purposes of the
Plan, a termination of employment or service (in the case of an
independent contractor) with the Company, a Subsidiary or
Affiliate shall not be deemed to occur if the Participant is
immediately thereafter employed by or otherwise providing
services (in the case of an independent contractor) to the
Company, any Subsidiary or Affiliate.
13. RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF DEATH, DISABILITY OR
RETIREMENT
Except as otherwise provided by the Board and notwithstanding
anything in Section 12 to the contrary, if a
Participant’s termination of employment or service is by
reason of the death, “permanent and total disability”
(within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) or
“Retirement” of such Participant, all Awards held by
such Participant at the time of such termination shall become
immediately vested, and all Option and Stock Appreciation Right
Awards shall become exercisable in full and shall remain
exercisable until the earlier of (a) the expiration date of
such Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as the case may be, as
fixed by the Board pursuant to Section 9 hereof and
(b) the third anniversary of the date of such termination.
Whether a termination of employment or service is to be
considered by reason of “permanent and total
disability” for purposes of this Plan shall be determined
by the Board, which determination shall be final and conclusive.
For purposes of the foregoing, “Retirement” shall mean
the Participant’s termination of employment or other
service from the Company or a Subsidiary after attainment of
age 55 and completion of at least 6 years of service
with the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate. For purposes
of the preceding sentence employment or other service with an
entity prior to its becoming a Subsidiary or an Affiliate or
after its ceasing to be a Subsidiary or an Affiliate shall be
disregarded.
14. USE OF PROCEEDS
The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Stock
pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall constitute
general funds of the Company.
15. REQUIREMENTS OF LAW
(a) VIOLATIONS OF LAW. The Company shall not be
required to sell or issue any shares of Stock under any Award if
the sale or issuance of such shares would constitute a violation
by the individual granted such Award or the Company of any
provisions of any law or regulation of any governmental
authority, including without limitation any federal or state
securities laws or regulations. Any determination in this
connection by the Board shall be final, binding, and conclusive.
The Company shall not be obligated to take any affirmative
action in order to cause the
8
grant of an Award or the issuance of shares pursuant thereto to
comply with any law or regulation of any governmental authority.
As to any jurisdiction that expressly imposes the requirement
that an Option shall not be exercisable unless and until the
shares of Stock covered by such Option are registered or are
subject to an available exemption from registration, the
exercise of such Option (under circumstances in which the laws
of such jurisdiction apply) shall be deemed conditioned upon the
effectiveness of such registration or the availability of such
an exemption.
(b) COMPLIANCE WITH
RULE 16b-3. The
intent of this Plan is to qualify for the exemption provided by
Rule 16b-3
under the Exchange Act. To the extent any provision of the Plan
does not comply with the requirements of
Rule 16b-3,
it shall be deemed inoperative to the extent permitted by law
and deemed advisable by the Board and shall not affect the
validity of the Plan. In the event Rule
l6b-3 is
revised or replaced, the Board, or the Committee acting on
behalf of the Board, may exercise discretion to modify this Plan
in any respect necessary to satisfy the requirements of the
revised exemption or its replacement.
16. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
The Board may, at any time and from time to time, amend, suspend
or terminate the Plan; provided, however, that no amendment by
the Board shall, without approval by a majority of the votes
present and entitled to vote at a duly held meeting of the
stockholders of the Company at which a quorum representing a
majority of all outstanding voting stock is present, either in
person or by proxy, or by written consent in accordance with the
Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws,
increase the total number of shares of Stock reserved for the
purpose of the Plan or the number of shares of Stock that may be
issued with respect to Share Equivalent Awards (except as
permitted under Section 17 hereof), change the requirements
as to eligibility to receive Options that are intended to
qualify as Incentive Stock Options, increase the maximum number
of shares of Stock in the aggregate that may be sold pursuant to
Options that are intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options
granted under the Plan or modify the Plan so that the terms of
the Plan would not satisfy the requirements of Code
Section 162(m), any rules of the stock exchange on which
shares of Stock are traded or any other applicable law. Except
as permitted under Section 17 hereof, no amendment,
suspension or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent
of the holder of the Award, impair rights or obligations under
any Award theretofore granted under the Plan.
17. EFFECT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION
(a) ADJUSTMENT FOR CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS. The
Board may determine that a corporate transaction has affected
the price of the Stock such that an adjustment or adjustments to
outstanding Awards are required to preserve (or prevent
enlargement of) the benefits or potential benefits intended at
time of grant. For this purpose a corporate transaction may
include, but is not limited to, any stock dividend, stock split,
extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization,
merger, consolidation,
split-up,
spin-off, combination or exchange of shares of Stock, or other
similar occurrence. In the event of such a corporate
transaction, the Board shall make such equitable changes or
adjustments as it deems necessary or appropriate in order to
prevent the dilution or enlargement of benefits under the Plan
and the outstanding awards thereunder, to any or all of
(i) the number and kind of shares of Stock or other
property which may be delivered under the Plan; (ii) the
number and kind of shares of Stock or other property subject to
outstanding Awards; and (iii) the exercise price of
outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. All such
adjustments shall be final, binding and conclusive on all
persons.
(b) DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION; REORGANIZATION IN WHICH THE
COMPANY IS NOT THE SURVIVING CORPORATION OR SALE OF ASSETS OR
STOCK. Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the
Company, the Plan and all Awards outstanding hereunder shall
terminate. In the event of any termination of the Plan under
this Section 17(b), all outstanding Share Equivalent Awards
shall become vested immediately prior to the occurrence of such
termination, and each individual holding an Option or Stock
Appreciation Right shall have the right, immediately prior to
the occurrence of such termination and during such reasonable
period as the Board shall determine and designate, to exercise
such Option or Stock Appreciation Right in whole or in part,
whether or not such Option or Stock Appreciation Right was
otherwise exercisable at the time such termination occurs and
without regard to any vesting or other limitation on exercise
imposed pursuant to Section 9 above. In connection with a
merger, consolidation, reorganization or other business
combination of the Company with one or more other entities in
which the Company is not the surviving entity, or upon a sale of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to another
entity, or upon any transaction (including, without limitation,
a merger or reorganization in
9
which the Company is the surviving corporation) that results in
any person or entity (or persons or entities acting as a group
or otherwise in concert) owning more than 50 percent of the
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company,
the Company and the acquiring or surviving entity shall provide
for (x) the continuation of the Plan and the assumption of
the Awards theretofore granted, (y) the substitution for
such Awards of new awards with substantially the same terms as
such outstanding Awards or (z) the cancellation of any
outstanding Awards and pay or deliver, or cause to be paid or
delivered, fair value of such Awards to the holder thereof. With
respect to Awards that are to be settled in shares of Stock,
such fair value shall be an amount in cash or securities having
a value (as determined by the Board acting in good faith) equal
to the product of (A) the number of shares of Stock subject
to the Awards so cancelled multiplied by (B) the amount, if
any, by which (1) the formula or fixed price per share paid
to holders of shares of Stock pursuant to such acquisition
exceeds (2) the option or purchase price (as the case may
be), if any, applicable to such shares of Stock subject to such
Awards. With respect to Awards that are to be settled in cash,
fair value shall be determined by the Board acting in good
faith. The Board shall send prior written notice of the
occurrence of an event described in this Section 17(b) to
all individuals who hold Awards not later than the time at which
the Company gives notice to its stockholders that such event is
proposed.
(c) NO LIMITATIONS ON CORPORATION. The grant of
an Award pursuant to the Plan shall not affect or limit in any
way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments,
reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or
business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve or
liquidate, or to sell or transfer all or any part of its
business or assets.
18. DISCLAIMER OF RIGHTS
No provision in the Plan or in any Award granted or Award
Agreement entered into pursuant to the Plan shall be construed
to confer upon any individual the right to remain in the employ
of the Company, any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or to interfere in
any way with the right and authority of the Company, any
Subsidiary or Affiliate either to increase or decrease the
compensation of any individual at any time, or to terminate any
employment or other relationship between any individual and the
Company, any Subsidiary or Affiliate.
19. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN
Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the submission of the Plan
to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be
construed as creating any limitations upon the right and
authority of the Board to adopt such other incentive
compensation arrangements (which arrangements may be applicable
either generally to a class or classes of individuals or
specifically to a particular individual or individuals) as the
Board determines desirable, including, without limitation, the
granting of stock options or stock appreciation rights otherwise
than under the Plan.
20. WITHHOLDING
The Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate is authorized to
withhold from any Award granted, any payment relating to an
Award under the Plan, including from a distribution of Stock, or
any other payment to a Participant, amounts of withholding and
other taxes due in connection with any transaction involving an
Award, and to take such other action as the Company may deem
advisable to enable the Company and Participants to satisfy
obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax
obligations relating to any Award. This authority shall include
authority to withhold or receive Stock or other property with a
fair market value not in excess of the minimum amount required
to be withheld and to make cash payments in respect thereof in
satisfaction of a Participant’s tax obligations.
This Plan was duly adopted and approved by the Board of the
Company effective as of the 14th day of March, 2008,
subject to approval and adoption by the stockholders of the
Company.
10