EX-4.1 2 exh4_1.txt TELECOM 2005 STOCK AWARDS PLAN EXHIBIT 4.1 TELECOM COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 2005 STOCK AWARDS PLAN 1. Purpose. The purposes of the Telecom, Inc. 2005 Stock Awards Plan (the "Plan") are (i) to encourage outstanding individuals to accept or continue employment with Telecom Communications, Inc. ("Telecom" or the "Company") and its subsidiaries or to serve as directors of Telecom, and (ii) to furnish maximum incentive to those persons to improve operations and increase profits and to strengthen the mutuality of interest between those persons and Telecom's stockholders by providing them stock options and other stock and cash incentives. 2. Administration. The Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee (the "Committee") of the Telecom Board of Directors (the "Board") consisting of two or more directors as the Board may designate from time to time, each of whom shall satisfy such requirements as: (a) the Securities and Exchange Commission may establish for administrators acting under plans intended to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3 or its successor under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"); (b) any stock exchange or quotation system that the Company chooses to list its securities on may establish pursuant to its rule-making authority; and (c) the Internal Revenue Service may establish for outside directors acting under plans intended to qualify for exemption under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The Committee shall have the authority to construe and interpret the Plan and any benefits granted thereunder, to establish and amend rules for Plan administration, to change the terms and conditions of options and other benefits at or after grant, and to make all other determinations which it deems necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. The determinations of the Committee shall be made in accordance with their judgment as to the best interests of Telecom and its stockholders and in accordance with the purposes of the Plan. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and all determinations of the Committee shall be made by a majority of its members. Any determination of the Committee under the Plan may be made without notice or meeting of the Committee, in writing signed by all the Committee members. The Committee may authorize one or more officers of the Company to select employees and consultants to participate in the Plan and to determine the number of option shares and other rights to be granted to such participants, except with respect to awards to officers subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or officers who are or may become "covered employees" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code ("Covered Employees") and any reference in the Plan to the Committee shall include such officer or officers. 3. Participants. Participants may consist of all employees of Telecom and its subsidiaries, all non-employee directors of Telecom and consultants of Telecom. Any corporation or other entity in which a 50% or greater interest is at the time directly or indirectly owned by Telecom shall be a subsidiary for purposes of the Plan. Designation of a participant in any year shall not require the Committee to designate that person to receive a benefit in any other year or to receive the same type or amount of benefit as granted to the participant in any other year or as granted to any other participant in any year. The Committee shall consider all factors that it deems relevant in selecting participants and in determining the type and amount of their respective benefits. 4. Shares Available under the Plan. There is hereby reserved for issuance under the Plan an aggregate of 30,000,000 shares of Telecom common stock. If there is a lapse, expiration, termination or cancellation of any Stock Option issued under the Plan prior to the issuance of shares thereunder or if shares of common stock are issued under the Plan and thereafter are reacquired by Telecom, the shares subject to those stock options and the reacquired shares shall be added to the shares available for benefits under the Plan. Shares covered by a benefit granted under the Plan shall not be counted as used unless and until they are actually issued and delivered to a participant. Any shares covered by a Stock Appreciation Right shall be counted as used only to the extent shares are actually issued to the participant upon exercise of the right. In addition, any shares of common stock exchanged by an optionee as full or partial payment to Telecom of the exercise price under any Stock Option exercised under the Plan, any shares retained by Telecom pursuant to a participant's tax withholding election, and any shares covered by a benefit which is settled in cash shall be 1 added to the shares available for benefits under the Plan. All shares issued under the Plan may be either authorized and unissued shares or issued shares reacquired by Telecom. Under the Plan, no participant may receive in any calendar year (i) Stock Options relating to more than 10,000,000 shares, (ii) Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units that are subject to the attainment of Performance Goals of Section 13 hereof relating to more than 5,000,000 shares, (iii) Stock Appreciation Rights relating to more than 10,000,000 shares, or (iv) Performance Shares relating to more than 5,000,000 shares. No non-employee director may receive in any calendar year Stock Options relating to more than 1,200,000 shares or Restricted Stock Units relating to more than 500,000 shares. The shares reserved for issuance and the limitations set forth above shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 13 hereof. All of the available shares may, but need not, be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Section 4, the number of shares that may be issued under the Plan for benefits other than Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall not exceed a total of 30,000,000 shares (subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 13 hereof). 5. Types of Benefits. Benefits under the Plan shall consist of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Stock, Performance Units, and Other Stock Awards, all as described below. 6. Stock Options. Stock Options may be granted to participants, at any time as determined by the Committee. The Committee shall determine the number of shares subject to each option and whether the option is an Incentive Stock Option. The option price for Incentive Stock Options shall be determined by the Committee but shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value of Telecom's common stock on the date the option is granted. Each option shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant. Options shall be exercisable at such time and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine; provided, however, that no option shall be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary of its grant. The option price, upon exercise of any option, shall be payable to Telecom in full by (i) cash payment or its equivalent, (ii) tendering previously acquired shares (held for at least six months if the Company is accounting for Stock Options using APB Opinion 25 or purchased on the open market) having a fair market value at the time of exercise equal to the option price or certification of ownership of such previously-acquired shares, (iii) delivery of a properly executed exercise notice, together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to Telecom the amount of sale proceeds from the option shares or loan proceeds to pay the exercise price and any withholding taxes due to Telecom, and (iv) such other methods of payment as the Committee, at its discretion, deems appropriate. In no event shall the Committee cancel any outstanding Stock Option for the purpose of reissuing the option to the participant at a lower exercise price or reduce the option price of an outstanding option. 7. Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights ("SARs") may be granted to participants at any time as determined by the Committee. An SAR may be granted in tandem with a Stock Option granted under this Plan or on a free-standing basis. The Committee also may, in its discretion, substitute SARs which can be settled only in stock for outstanding Stock Options, at any time when the Company is subject to fair value accounting. The grant price of a tandem or substitute SAR shall be equal to the option price of the related option. The grant price of a free-standing SAR shall be equal to the fair market value of Telecom's common stock on the date of its grant. An SAR may be exercised upon such terms and conditions and for the term as the Committee in its sole discretion determines; provided, however, that the term shall not exceed the option term in the case of a tandem or substitute SAR or ten years in the case of a free-standing SAR and the terms and conditions applicable to a substitute SAR shall be substantially the same as those applicable to the Stock Option which it replaces. Upon exercise of an SAR, the participant shall be entitled to receive payment from Telecom in an amount determined by multiplying the excess of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of exercise over the grant price of the SAR by the number of shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. The payment may be made in cash or stock, at the discretion of the Committee, except in the case of a substitute SAR which may be made only in stock. 8. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units may be awarded or sold to participants under such terms and conditions as shall be established by the Committee. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee determines, including, without limitation, any of the following: (a) a prohibition against sale, assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance for a specified period; or 2 (b) a requirement that the holder forfeit (or in the case of shares or units sold to the participant resell to Telecom at cost) such shares or units in the event of termination of employment during the period of restriction. All restrictions shall expire at such times as the Committee shall specify. 9. Performance Stock. The Committee shall designate the participants to whom long-term performance stock ("Performance Stock") is to be awarded and determine the number of shares, the length of the performance period and the other terms and conditions of each such award; provided the stated performance period will not be less than 12 months. Each award of Performance Stock shall entitle the participant to a payment in the form of shares of common stock upon the attainment of performance goals and other terms and conditions specified by the Committee. Notwithstanding satisfaction of any performance goals, the number of shares issued under a Performance Stock award may be adjusted by the Committee on the basis of such further consideration as the Committee in its sole discretion shall determine. However, the Committee may not, in any event, increase the number of shares earned upon satisfaction of any performance goal by any participant who is a Covered Employee. The Committee may, in its discretion, make a cash payment equal to the fair market value of shares of common stock otherwise required to be issued to a participant pursuant to a Performance Stock award. 10. Performance Units. The Committee shall designate the participants to whom long-term performance units ("Performance Units") are to be awarded and determine the number of units and the terms and conditions of each such award; provided the stated performance period will not be less than 12 months. Each Performance Unit award shall entitle the participant to a payment in cash upon the attainment of performance goals and other terms and conditions specified by the Committee. Notwithstanding the satisfaction of any performance goals, the amount to be paid under a Performance Unit award may be adjusted by the Committee on the basis of such further consideration as the Committee in its sole discretion shall determine. However, the Committee may not, in any event, increase the amount earned under Performance Unit awards upon satisfaction of any performance goal by any participant who is a Covered Employee and the maximum amount earned by a Covered Employee in any calendar year may not exceed $ 8,500,000. The Committee may, in its discretion, substitute actual shares of common stock for the cash payment otherwise required to be made to a participant pursuant to a Performance Unit award. 11. Other Stock Awards. In addition to the incentives described in sections 6 through 10 above, the Committee may grant other incentives payable in common stock under the Plan as it determines to be in the best interests of Telecom and subject to such other terms and conditions as it deems appropriate; provided an outright grant of stock will not be made unless it is offered in exchange for cash compensation that has otherwise already been earned by the recipient. 12. Performance Goals. Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Stock, Performance Units and other incentives under the Plan may be made subject to the attainment of performance goals relating to one or more business criteria within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, including, but not limited to, cash flow; cost; ratio of debt to debt plus equity; profit before tax; economic profit; earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; earnings per share; operating earnings; economic value added; ratio of operating earnings to capital spending; free cash flow; net profit; revenues; revenue growth; price of Telecom common stock; return on net assets, equity or stockholders' equity; market share; or total return to stockholders ("Performance Criteria"). Any Performance Criteria may be used to measure the performance of the Company as a whole or any business unit of the Company and may be measured relative to a peer group or index. Any Performance Criteria may include or exclude Special Items. Special Items shall include (i) extraordinary, unusual and/or non-recurring items of gain or loss, (ii) gains or losses on the disposition of a business, (iii) changes in tax or accounting regulations or laws, or (iv) the effect of a merger or acquisition, as identified in the Company's quarterly and annual earnings releases. In all other respects, Performance Criteria shall be calculated in accordance with the Company's financial statements, generally accepted accounting principles, or under a methodology established by the Committee prior to the issuance of an award which is consistently applied and identified in the audited financial statements, including footnotes, or the Management Discussion and Analysis section of the Company's annual report. However, the Committee may not in any event increase the amount of compensation payable to a Covered Employee upon the attainment of a performance goal. 3 13. Adjustments Upon Certain Changes and Changes in Control. In the event of a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, stock dividend, stock split, combination, reclassification, reverse stock split, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, repurchase, liquidation, dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or exchange of common stock or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase common stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event or other increase or reduction in the number of issued shares of common stock, the Compensation Committee may, in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of rights under awards, make such adjustments in the number and type of shares authorized by the Plan, the number and type of shares covered by, or with respect to which payments are measured under, outstanding awards and the exercise prices specified therein as may be determined to be appropriate and equitable. In the event of any of the events or transactions described in the preceding sentence, a change in control, or similar transaction by the Company or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting the Company, any affiliate of the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, if the Compensation Committee determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any option, right or other award under the Plan, to facilitate such transactions or events or to give effect to such changes in laws, regulations or principles, the Compensation Committee in its discretion is hereby authorized to provide in the agreement evidencing any award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event: (i) for adjustments to such award in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of rights thereunder or to provide for acceleration of benefits thereunder; (ii) for either the purchase of any such stock option, SAR, or any restricted stock for an amount of cash equal to the amount that could have been attained upon the exercise of such option, right or award or realization of the Participant's rights had such option, right or award been currently exercisable or payable or fully vested or the replacement of such option, right or award with other rights or property selected by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion; (iii) that it cannot be exercised after such event; (iv) that upon such event, such option, right or award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices; and (v) that the restrictions imposed under a restricted stock agreement upon some or all shares of restricted stock may be terminated, and some or all shares of such restricted stock may cease to be subject to repurchase or forfeiture after such event. With respect to stock options and SARs intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section162(m), no adjustment or action described in this section or in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent that such adjustment or action would cause the 2005 Plan to violate Section 422(b)(1) of the Code or would cause such stock option or SAR to fail to so qualify under Section 162(m), as the case may be, or any successor provisions thereto. Furthermore, no such adjustment or action shall be authorized to the extent such adjustment or action would result in short-swing profits liability under Section 16 or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3 unless the Compensation Committee determines that the option or other award is not to comply with such exemptive conditions. A "Change in Control" shall mean: A Change in Control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision thereto, whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided that, without limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if (a) any "person" or "group" (as such terms are used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of Telecom representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of our then outstanding securities (other than Telecom or any Company employee benefit plan; and, for purposes of the Plan, no Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of the "beneficial ownership," or changes therein, of our securities by either of the foregoing), (b) there shall be consummated (i) any consolidation or merger of the Company in which the Company is not the surviving or continuing corporation or pursuant to which shares of common stock would be converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than a merger of Telecom in which the holders of common stock immediately prior to the merger have, directly or indirectly, at least a 65% ownership interest in the outstanding common stock of the surviving corporation immediately after the merger, or (ii) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all, or substantially all, of the assets of Telecom other than any such transaction with entities in which the holders of Telecom common stock, directly or indirectly, have at least a 65% ownership interest, (c) the Company's stockholders approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or (d) as the result of, or in connection with, any 4 cash tender offer, exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of assets, proxy or consent solicitation (other than by the Board), contested election or substantial stock accumulation (a "Control Transaction"), the members of the Board immediately prior to the first public announcement relating to such Control Transaction shall thereafter cease to constitute a majority of the Board. 14. Substitution and Assumption of Benefits. Without affecting the number of shares reserved or available hereunder the Board or the Committee may authorize the issuance of benefits under this Plan in connection with the assumption of, or substitution for, outstanding benefits previously granted to individuals who become employees of Telecom or any subsidiary as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization, upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may deem appropriate. 15. Nontransferability. Each benefit granted under the Plan shall not be transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and each Stock Option and SAR shall be exercisable during the participant's lifetime only by the participant or, in the event of disability, by the participant's personal representative. In the event of the death of a participant, exercise of any benefit or payment with respect to any benefit shall be made only by or to the executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased participant or the person or persons to whom the deceased participant's rights under the benefit shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at its discretion, the Committee may permit the transfer of a Stock Option by the participant, subject to such terms and conditions as may be established by the Committee. 16. Taxes. Telecom shall be entitled to withhold the amount of any tax attributable to any amounts payable or shares deliverable under the Plan, after giving the person entitled to receive such payment or delivery notice and Telecom may defer making payment or delivery as to any award, if any such tax is payable until indemnified to its satisfaction. A participant may pay all or a portion of any required withholding taxes arising in connection with the exercise of a Stock Option or SAR or the receipt or vesting of shares hereunder by electing to have Telecom withhold shares of common stock, having a fair market value equal to the amount required to be withheld. 17. Duration, Amendment and Termination. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted more than ten years after the date of adoption of this Plan by the Board; provided, however, that the terms and conditions applicable to any option granted on or before such date may thereafter be amended or modified by mutual agreement between Telecom and the participant, or such other person as may then have an interest therein. The Board or the Committee may amend the Plan from time to time or terminate the Plan at any time. However, no such action shall reduce the amount of any existing award or change the terms and conditions thereof without the participant's consent. No material amendment of the Plan shall be made without stockholder approval. 18. Fair Market Value. The fair market value of Telecom's common stock at any time shall be determined in such manner as the Committee may deem equitable, or as required by applicable law or regulation. 19. Other Provisions. (a) The award of any benefit under the Plan may also be subject to other provisions (whether or not applicable to the benefit awarded to any other participant) as the Committee determines appropriate, including provisions intended to comply with federal or state securities laws and stock exchange requirements, understandings or conditions as to the participant's employment, requirements or inducements for continued ownership of common stock after exercise or vesting of benefits, forfeiture of awards in the event of termination of employment shortly after exercise or vesting, or breach of noncompetition or confidentiality agreements following termination of employment, or provisions permitting the deferral of the receipt of a benefit for such period and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine. (b) In the event any benefit under this Plan is granted to an employee who is employed or providing services outside the United States and who is not compensated from a payroll maintained in the United States, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, modify the provisions of the Plan as they pertain to such individuals to comply with applicable law, regulation or accounting rules. (c) The Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit or require a participant to have amounts or shares of common stock that otherwise would be paid or delivered to the participant as a result of the exercise or settlement of an award under the Plan credited to a deferred compensation or stock unit account established for the participant by the Committee on the Company's books of account. 5 20. Governing Law. The Plan and any actions taken in connection herewith shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware (without regard to applicable Delaware principles of conflict of laws). 21. Stockholder Approval. The Plan was adopted by the Board on February 26, 2005, subject to stockholder approval. The Plan and any benefits granted thereunder shall be null and void if stockholder approval is not obtained at the next annual meeting of stockholders. APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: February 26, 2005 ----------------- APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS: February 28, 2005 ----------------- 6