EX-10.10 16 a2154536zex-10_10.htm EXHIBIT 10.10

Exhibit 10.10

 

POLYPORE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

1.             PURPOSE.

The purpose of the Plan is to assist the Company in attracting, retaining, motivating and rewarding Eligible Persons, and to promote the creation of long-term value for stockholders by closely aligning the interests of Participants with those of stockholders.  The Plan authorizes the award stock-based incentives to Participants, to encourage such persons to expend their maximum efforts in the creation of stockholder value.  The Plan is also intended to qualify certain compensation awarded under the Plan for tax deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee which administers the Plan.

2.             DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

(a)           “Affiliate” means, with respect to any entity, any other entity that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such entity.

(b)           “Award” means any award of an Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock granted as a bonus or in lieu of another award, or Other Stock-Based Award.

(c)           “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(d)           Change in Controlmeans (i) a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through a transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a Principal Stockholder or an Affiliate of the Company or a Principal Stockholder) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or (ii) the sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

(e)           “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.

(f)            “Committee” means a committee of two or more directors designated by the Board to administer the Plan; provided, however, that directors appointed as members of the Committee shall not be employees of the Company or any subsidiary.  In appointing members of the Committee, the Board will consider whether a member is or will be a Quali­fied Member, but such members are not required to be Qualified Members at the time of appointment or during their term of service on the Committee, and no action of the Committee shall be void or invalid



 

due to the participation of a member who is not a Qualified Member.  Initially, the Committee shall be the Compensation Committee of the Board.

(g)           “Company” means Polypore International, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(h)           Covered Employeemeans a person designated by the Committee as likely to be a “covered employee,” as defined under Code Section 162(m) of the Code, with respect to a specified fiscal year or other performance period.

(i)            “Dividend Equivalents” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9 hereof.

(j)            “Eligible Person” means each employee of the Company or of any subsidiary, including each such person who may also be a director of the Company, each non-employee director of the Company, each other person who provides substantial services to the Company and/or its Affiliates and who is designated as eligible by the Committee, and any person who has been offered employment by the Company or an Affiliate, provided that such prospective employee may not receive any payment or exercise any right relating to an Award until such person has commenced employment with the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate.  An employee on an approved leave of absence may be considered as still in the employ of the Company or an Affiliate for purposes of eligibility for participation in the Plan.

(k)           “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.

(l)            Fair Market Valuemeans (i) prior to an IPO, the fair market value per share of Stock, as determined by the Board in good faith, (ii) at the time of an IPO, the per share price to the public in such IPO, and (iii) after an IPO, on any date (A) if the Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, the mean between the highest and lowest sale prices reported as having occurred on the primary exchange with which the Stock is listed and traded on the date prior to such date, or, if there is no such sale on that date, then on the last preceding date on which such a sale was reported, or (B) if the Stock is not listed on any national securities exchange but is quoted in the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ-NMS”) on a last sale basis, the average between the high bid price and low ask price reported on the date prior to such date, or, if there is no such sale on that date then on the last preceding date on which such a sale was reported.  If, after an IPO, the Stock is not quoted on NASDAQ-NMS or listed on an exchange, or representative quotes are not otherwise available, the Fair Market Value shall mean the amount determined by the Board in good faith to be the fair market value per share of Stock, on a fully diluted basis.

(m)          “Fund” means Warburg Pincus Private Equity VIII, L.P. or Warburg Pincus International Partners, L.P.

(n)           “IPO” means an initial public offering of the Stock registered under the Securities Act pursuant to an effective registration statement.

 

 

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(o)           “IPO Date” means the effective date of the registration statement for the IPO.

(p)           “Option” means a conditional right, granted to a Participant under Section 6 hereof, to purchase Stock or other Awards at a specified price during specified time periods.  Options under the Plan are not intended to qualify as incentive stock options meeting the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

(q)           “Other Stock-Based Awards” means Awards granted to a Participant under Section 11 hereof.

(r)            “Participant” means a person who has been granted an Award under the Plan which remains outstanding, or if applicable, such other person or entity who holds an outstanding Award.

(s)           “Plan” means this Polypore International, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan.

(t)            “Principal Stockholder” means either Fund or any of their respective Affiliates.

(u)           “Qualified Member” means a member of the Committee who is a “Non-Employee Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) and an “outside director” within the meaning of Regulation 1.162-27(c) under Code Section 162(m).

(v)           “Restricted Stock” means Stock granted to a Participant under Section 8 hereof, that is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.

(w)          “Restricted Stock Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Restricted Stock grant.

(x)            “Restricted Stock Unit” means a notional unit representing the right to receive one share of Stock on the Settlement Date.

(y)           “Restricted Stock Unit Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Restricted Stock Unit grant.

(z)            “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3, as from time to time in effect and applicable to the Plan and Participants, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

(aa)         “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.

(bb)         “Settlement Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9 hereof.

 

 

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(cc)         “Stock” means the Company’s Common Stock, $.01 par value, and such other securities as may be substituted for Stock pursuant to Section 12 hereof.

(dd)         “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a conditional right granted to a Participant under Section 7 hereof.

3.             ADMINISTRATION.

(a)           Authority of the Committee.  Except as otherwise provided below, the Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  The Committee shall have full and final authority, in each case subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, to (i) select Eligible Persons to become Participants; grant Awards; (ii) determine the type, number, and other terms and condi­tions of, and all other matters relating to, Awards; (iii) prescribe Award agreements (which need not be identical for each Participant) and rules and regulations for the adminis­tration of the Plan; (iv) construe and interpret the Plan and Award agreements and correct defects, supply omissions, or reconcile inconsistencies therein; and (v) make all other decisions and determinations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.  The foregoing notwithstanding, the Board shall perform the functions of the Committee for purposes of granting Awards under the Plan to non-employee directors.  In any case in which the Board is performing a function of the Committee under the Plan, each reference to the Committee herein shall be deemed to refer to the Board, except where the context otherwise requires.  Any action of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including, without limitation, the Company, its subsidiaries, Eligible Persons, Participants and beneficiaries of Participants.

(b)           Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority.  At any time that a member of the Committee is not a Qualified Member, (i) any action of the Committee relating to an Award intended by the Committee to qualify as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder may be taken by a subcommittee, designated by the Committee or the Board, composed solely of two or more Qualified Members; and (ii) any action relating to an Award granted or to be granted to a Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company may be taken either by such a subcommittee or by the Committee but with each such member who is not a Qualified Member abstaining or recusing himself or herself from such action, provided that, upon such abstention or recusal, the Committee remains composed of two or more Qualified Members.  Such action, authorized by such a subcommittee or by the Committee upon the abstention or recusal of such non-Qualified Member(s), shall be the action of the Committee for purposes of the Plan.  The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee.

(c)           Delegation.  The Committee may delegate to officers or employees of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate, or committees thereof, the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to perform such functions, including but not limited to administrative functions, as the Committee may determine, to the fullest extent permitted under Section 157 and other applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law.  The Committee may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan.  Notwithstanding the

 

 

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foregoing or any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, any Award granted under the Plan to any person or entity who is not an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be expressly approved by the Committee.

4.             SHARES AVAILABLE UNDER THE PLAN.

(a)           Number of Shares Available for Delivery.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12 hereof, the total number of shares of Stock reserved and available for delivery in connection with Awards under the Plan shall be 19,099.  Shares of Stock delivered under the Plan shall consist of authorized and unissued shares or previously issued shares of Stock reacquired by the Company on the open market or by private purchase.

(b)           Share Counting Rules.  The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards) and make adjustments if the number of shares of Stock actually delivered differs from the number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award.  To the extent that an Award expires or is canceled, forfeited, settled in cash or otherwise terminated or concluded without a delivery to the Participant of the full number of shares to which the Award related, the undelivered shares will again be available for Awards.  Shares withheld in payment of the exercise price or taxes relating to an Award and shares equal to the number surrendered in payment of any exercise price or taxes relating to an Award shall be deemed to constitute shares not delivered to the Participant and shall be deemed to again be available for Awards under the Plan; provided, however, that, where shares are withheld or surrendered more than ten years after the date of the most recent shareholder approval of the Plan or any other transaction occurs that would result in shares becoming available under this Section 4(b), such shares shall not become available if and to the extent that it would constitute a material revision of the Plan subject to shareholder approval under then applicable rules of the principle stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the shares are then listed or designated for trading.

5.             ELIGIBILITY; LIMITATIONS ON AWARDS.

(a)           Grants to Eligible Persons.  Awards may be granted under the Plan only to Eligible Persons.

(b)           162(m) Limitation.  Subject to Section 12 relating to adjustments, no Employee shall be eligible to be granted Options or Stock Appreciation Rights covering more than          shares of Stock during any calendar year.  This subsection (b) shall not apply prior to the IPO Date and, following the IPO Date, this subsection (b) shall not apply until (i) the earliest of:  (1) the first material modification of the Plan (including any increase in the number of shares of Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan in accordance with ); (2) the issuance of all of the shares of Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan; (3) the expiration of the Plan; or (4) the first meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected that occurs after the close of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which occurred the first registration of an equity security under Section 12 of the Exchange Act; or (ii) such other date required by Section 162(m) of the Code and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

 

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6.             OPTIONS.

(a)           General.  Options granted hereunder shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.  The provisions of separate Options shall be set forth in an Option Agreement, which agreements need not be identical.

(i)            Term.  The term of each Option shall be set by the Committee at the time of grant; provided, however, that no Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it was granted.

(ii)           Exercise Price.  The exercise price per share of Stock for each Option shall be set by the Committee at the time of grant but shall not be less than the par value of a share of Stock.

(iii)          Payment for Stock.  Payment for shares of Stock acquired pursuant to Options granted hereunder shall be made in full, upon exercise of the Options (i) in immediately available funds in United States dollars, by certified or bank cashier’ s check; (ii) by surrender to the Company of shares of Stock; (iii) by a combination of (i) and (ii); (iv) by delivery of a notice of “net exercise” to the Company, pursuant to which the Participant shall receive the number of shares of Stock underlying the Options so exercised reduced by the number of shares of Stock equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Options divided by the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise; or (v) by any other means approved by the Committee.  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall not directly or indirectly extend or maintain credit, or arrange for the extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or executive officer of the Company through the Plan in violation of Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Section 402 of SOX”), and to the extent that any form of payment would, in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, result in a violation of Section 402 of SOX, such form of payment shall not be available.

(iv)          Vesting.  Options shall vest and become exercisable in such manner and on such date or dates set forth in the Option Agreement, as may be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that notwithstanding any vesting dates contained herein or otherwise set by the Committee, the Committee may in its sole discretion accelerate the vesting of any Option, which acceleration shall not affect the terms and conditions of any such Option other than with respect to vesting.  Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Committee, the vesting of an Option shall occur only while the Participant is employed or rendering services to the Company or its subsidiaries and all vesting shall cease upon a Participant’s termination of employment or services for any reason.  If an Option is exercisable in installments, such installments or portions thereof which become exercisable shall remain exercisable until the Option expires.

(b)           Transferability of Options.  An Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the

 

 

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Participant only by the Participant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options shall be transferable to the extent provided in the Option Agreement or otherwise determined by the Committee.

7.             STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

(a)           General.  The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

(i)            Right to Payment.  A SAR shall confer on the Participant to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the SAR as determined by the Committee.

(ii)           Term.  The term of each SAR shall be set by the Committee at the time of grant; provided, however, that no SAR granted hereunder shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it was granted.

(iii)          Grant Price.  The grant price per share of Stock for each Option shall be set by the Committee at the time of grant.

(iv)          Other Terms.  The Committee shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter:  (A) the time or times at which and the circumstances under which a SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements); (B) the method of exercise; (C) the method of settlement; (D) whether cash or Stock will be payable to the Participant upon exercise of the SAR; (E) the method by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants; (F) whether or not a SAR shall be alone, in tandem or in combination with any other Award; and (G) and any other terms and conditions of any SAR.

8.             RESTRICTED STOCK.

(a)           General.  Restricted Stock granted hereunder shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.  The terms and conditions of each Restricted Stock grant shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Agreement, which agreements need not be identical.   Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 8(b), except as otherwise in the applicable Restricted Stock Agreement, the Participant shall generally have the rights and privileges of a stockholder as to such Restricted Stock, including the right to vote such Restricted Stock.  At the discretion of the Committee, cash dividends and stock dividends, if any, with respect to the Restricted Stock may be either currently paid to the Participant or withheld by the Company for the Participant’s account.  A Participant’s Restricted Stock Agreement may provide that cash dividends or stock dividends so withheld shall be subject to forfeiture to the same degree as the shares of Restricted Stock to which they relate.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, no interest will accrue or be paid on the amount of any cash dividends withheld.

(b)           Restrictions on Transfer.  In addition to any other restrictions set forth in a Participant’s Restricted Stock Agreement, until such time that the Restricted Stock has vested

 

 

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pursuant to the terms of the Restricted Stock Agreement, which vesting the Committee may in its sole discretion accelerate at any time, the Participant shall not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber the Restricted Stock.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Committee shall have the authority to remove any or all of the restrictions on the Restricted Stock whenever it may determine that, by reason of changes in applicable laws or other changes in circumstances arising after the date of the Restricted Stock Award, such action is appropriate.

(c)           Certificates.  Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine.  If certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Committee may require that such certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, that the Company retain physical possession of the certificates, and that the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Stock.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion, that the Restricted Stock shall be held in book entry form rather than delivered to the Participant pending the release of the applicable restrictions.

9.             RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

(a)           General.  Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.  The terms and conditions of each Restricted Stock Unit grant shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.  No shares of Stock shall be issued at the time a Restricted Stock Unit grant is made, and the Company will not be required to set aside a fund for the payment of any such Award; provided, however, that for purposes of Section 4(a) hereof, a share of Stock shall be deemed awarded at the time of grant.  Recipients of Restricted Stock Units may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be entitled to an amount equal to the cash dividends paid by the Company upon one share of Stock for each Restricted Stock Unit then credited to such recipient’s account (“Dividend Equivalents”).  To the extent a Participant receiving Restricted Stock Units is entitled to Dividend Equivalents, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine whether to credit to the account of, or to currently pay to, such Participant the Dividend Equivalents.  A Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Agreement may provide that Dividends Equivalents shall be subject to forfeiture to the same degree as the shares of Restricted Stock Units to which they relate.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, no interest will accrue or be paid on Dividend Equivalents credited to a recipient’s account.

(b)           Conditions of Grant.  Restricted Stock Units awarded to any eligible individual shall be subject to (i) forfeiture until the expiration of the restricted period, to the extent provided in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, and to the extent such Awards are forfeited, all rights of the recipient to such Awards shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company, and (ii) such other terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award agreement.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Committee shall have the authority to remove any or all of the restrictions on the Restricted Stock Units whenever it may determine that, by reason of changes in applicable laws or other changes in circumstances arising after the date of the Restricted Stock Unit Award, such action is appropriate.

 

 

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(c)           Settlement of Restricted Stock Units.  Upon a date or dates on or following the expiration of the restricted period as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in a Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (the “Settlement Date(s)”), unless earlier forfeited, the Company shall settle the Restricted Stock Unit by delivering (i) a number of shares of Stock equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units then vested and not otherwise forfeited, and (ii) if applicable, a number of shares of Stock having a value equal to any unpaid Dividend Equivalents accrued with respect to the Restricted Stock Units.  The Company may, in the Committee’s sole discretion, settle a Restricted Stock Unit Award in cash in lieu of the delivery of shares of Stock or partially in cash and partially in shares of Stock.  A settlement in cash shall be based on the value of the shares of Stock otherwise to be delivered on the Settlement Date.

(d)           Creditor’s Rights.  A holder of Restricted Stock Units shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company.  Restricted Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.

10.           BONUS STOCK AND AWARDS IN LIEU OF OBLIGATIONS.

The Committee is authorized to grant Stock as a bonus, or to grant Stock or other Awards in lieu of obligations of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company under the Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee.

11.           OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS.

The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan.

12.           ADJUSTMENT FOR RECAPITALIZATION, MERGER, ETC.

(a)           Capitalization Adjustments.  The aggregate number of shares of Stock which may be granted or purchased pursuant to Awards granted hereunder, the number of shares of Stock covered by each outstanding Award, the maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to which any one person may be granted Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in any calendar year, and the price per share thereof in each such Award shall be equitably and proportionally adjusted or substituted, as determined by the Committee in good faith and in its sole discretion, as to the number, price or kind of a share of Stock or other consideration subject to such Awards or as otherwise determined by the Committee in good faith to be fair and equitable (i) in the event of changes in the outstanding Stock or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of stock dividends, stock splits, reverse stock splits, recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, combinations, exchanges, or other relevant changes in capitalization occurring after the date of grant of any such Option, (ii) in the event of any change in applicable laws or any change in circumstances which results in or would result in any substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants in the

 

 

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Plan, or (iii) for any other reason which the Committee determines, in its sole discretion and acting in good faith, to otherwise warrant equitable adjustment.  Absent manifest error, any adjustment shall be conclusively determined by the Committee; provided, in each case, the fair value of the Option immediately following any such adjustment shall be equal to the fair value of the Option immediately prior to such adjustment.

(b)           Corporate Events.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as may otherwise be provided in an Award agreement, in the event of (i) a merger or consolidation involving the Company in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii) a merger or consolidation involving the Company in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the holders of shares of Stock receive securities of another corporation and/or other property, including cash, (iii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, (iv) the reorganization or liquidation of the Company or (v) a Change in Control (a “Corporate Event”), in lieu of providing the adjustment set forth in subsection (a) above, the Committee may, in its discretion, provide that all outstanding Awards shall terminate as of the consummation of such Corporate Event, and provide that holders of Awards will receive a payment in respect of cancellation of their Awards based on the amount of the per share consideration being paid for the Stock in connection with such Corporate Event, and in the case of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and other Awards with an exercise price or similar provision, less the applicable exercise price.  Payments to holders pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be made in cash, or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, in such other consideration necessary for a holder of an Award to receive property, cash or securities as such holder would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of the transaction if the holder had been, immediately prior to such transaction, the holder of the number of shares of Stock covered by the Award at such time; provided, that if such consideration received in the transaction is not solely equity securities of the successor entity, the Committee may, with the consent of the successor entity, provide for the consideration to be received in respect of the Award to be solely equity securities of the successor entity equal to the Fair Market Value of the per share consideration received by holders of Stock in the Corporate Event.

(c)           Fractional Shares.  Any such adjustment may provide for the elimination of any fractional share which might otherwise become subject to an Award.

13.           CHANGE IN CONTROL

The Committee may, in its sole discretion, may provide in an Award agreement that in the event of a Change in Control, (a) Options shall become immediately exercisable with respect to 100% of the shares subject to such Options, (b) shares of Restricted Stock become 100% vested, (c) Restricted Stock Units shall be settled as if the Settlement Date occurred immediately prior to such Change in Control, or (d) all other Awards shall become fully vested and/or payable to the fullest extent of any Award or portion thereof that has not then expired and any restrictions with respect thereto shall expire.  The Committee shall have full authority and discretion to interpret this Section 13 and to implement any course of action with respect to any Award so as to satisfy the intent of this provision.

 

 

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14.           USE OF PROCEEDS.

The proceeds received from the sale of Stock pursuant to the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes.

15.           RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES AS A STOCKHOLDER.

Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan, no person shall be entitled to the rights and privileges of stock ownership in respect of shares of Stock which are subject to Awards hereunder until such shares have been issued to that person.

16.           EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE RIGHTS.

No individual shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan or, having been selected for the grant of an Award, to be selected for a grant of any other Award.  Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any individual any right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or an Affiliate.

17.           COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS.

The obligation of the Company to make payment of Awards in Stock or otherwise shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by governmental agencies as may be required.  Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of any Award to the contrary, the Company shall be under no obligation to offer to sell or to sell and shall be prohibited from offering to sell or selling any shares of Stock pursuant to an Award unless such shares have been properly registered for sale pursuant to the Securities Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission or unless the Company has received an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Company, that such shares may be offered or sold without such registration pursuant to an available exemption therefrom and the terms and conditions of such exemption have been fully complied with.  The Company shall be under no obligation to register for sale or resale under the Securities Act any of the shares of Stock to be offered or sold under the Plan or any shares of Stock issued upon exercise or settlement of Awards.  If the shares of Stock offered for sale or sold under the Plan are offered or sold pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, the Company may restrict the transfer of such shares and may legend the Stock certificates representing such shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.

18.           MARKET STANDOFF AGREEMENT.

As a condition of receiving any Award hereunder, the Participant agrees that in connection with any registration of the Stock and upon the request of the Committee or the underwriters managing any public offering of the Stock, the Participant will not sell or otherwise dispose of any Stock without prior written consent of the Committee or such underwriters, as the case may be, for a period of time (not to exceed 180 days) from the effective date of such registration as the Committee or the underwriters may specify for employee-shareholders generally.

 

 

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19.           WITHHOLDING OBLIGATIONS.

As a condition to the exercise or vesting, as applicable, of any Award, the Committee may require that a Participant satisfy, through deduction or withholding from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant, or through such other arrangements as are satisfactory to the Committee, the minimum amount of all Federal, state and local income and other taxes of any kind required or permitted to be withheld in connection with such vesting or exercise.  The Committee, in its discretion, may permit shares of Stock to be used to satisfy tax withholding requirements and such shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the settlement date of the Award.  For purposes of this Section 19, the term “Company” shall be deemed to mean any Affiliate that may have a tax withholding obligation due to its relationship with a Participant.

20.           AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN OR AWARDS.

(a)           Amendment of Plan.  The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan; provided, however, that without further stockholder approval the Board shall not make any amendment to the Plan which would increase the maximum number of shares of Stock which may be issued pursuant to Awards under the Plan, except as contemplated by Section 12 hereof, or, following the IPO Date, which would otherwise violate the shareholder approval requirements of the national securities exchange on which the Stock is listed or Nasdaq, as applicable.

(b)           No Impairment of Rights.  Rights under any Award granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless the Participant consents in writing.

(c)           Amendment of Stock Awards.  The Committee, at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms of any one or more Awards; provided, however, that the rights under any Award shall not be impaired by any such amendment unless the Participant consents in writing.

21.           TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.

The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time.  Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on the day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or approved by the stockholders of the Company, whichever is earlier.  No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.

22.           EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PLAN.

The Plan is effective as of July __, 2004, the date upon which the Board approved the Plan.

23.           MISCELLANEOUS.

(a)           Awards to Participants Outside of the United States.  The Committee may modify the terms of any Award under the Plan made to or held by a Participant who is then resident or primarily employed outside of the United States in any manner deemed by the Committee to be necessary or appropriate in order that such Award shall conform to laws,

 

 

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regulations and customs of the country in which the Participant is then resident or primarily employed, or so that the value and other benefits of the Award to the Participant, as affected by foreign tax laws and other restrictions applicable as a result of the Participant’s residence or employment abroad, shall be comparable to the value of such Award to a Participant who is resident or primarily employed in the United States.  An Award may be modified under this Section 23(a) in a manner that is inconsistent with the express terms of the Plan, so long as such modifications will not contravene any applicable law or regulation or result in actual liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act for the Participant whose Award is modified.

(b)           No Liability of Committee Members.  No member of the Committee shall be personally liable by reason of any contract or other instrument executed by such member or on his behalf in his capacity as a member of the Committee nor for any mistake of judgment made in good faith, and the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee and each other employee, officer or director of the Company to whom any duty or power relating to the administration or interpretation of the Plan may be allocated or delegated, against any cost or expense (including counsel fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim) arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with the Plan unless arising out of such person’s own fraud or willful bad faith; provided, however, that approval of the Board shall be required for the payment of any amount in settlement of a claim against any such person.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

(c)           Payments Following Accidents or Illness. If the Committee shall find that any person to whom any amount is payable under the Plan is unable to care for his affairs because of illness or accident, or is a minor, or has died, then any payment due to such person or his estate (unless a prior claim therefor has been made by a duly appointed legal representative) may, if the Committee so directs the Company, be paid to his spouse, child, relative, an institution maintaining or having custody of such person, or any other person deemed by the Committee to be a proper recipient on behalf of such person otherwise entitled to payment.  Any such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Committee and the Company therefor.

(d)           Designation and Change of Beneficiary.  Each Participant may file with the Company a written designation of one or more persons as the beneficiary who shall be entitled to receive the rights or amounts payable with respect to an Award due under the Plan upon his death.  A Participant may, from time to time, revoke or change his beneficiary designation without the consent of any prior beneficiary by filing a new designation with the Committee.  The last such designation received by the Company shall be controlling; provided, however, that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received by the Company prior to the Participant’s death, and in no event shall it be effective as of a date prior to such receipt.  If no beneficiary designation is filed by the Participant, the beneficiary shall be deemed to be his or her spouse or, if the Participant is unmarried at the time of death, his or her estate.

 

 

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(e)           Governing Law.  The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without reference to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

(f)            Funding.  No provision of the Plan shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under the Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any assets, nor shall the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes.  Participants shall have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the Company, except that insofar as they may have become entitled to payment of additional compensation by performance of services, they shall have the same rights as other employees under general law.

(g)           Reliance on Reports.  Each member of the Committee and each member of the Board shall be fully justified in relying, acting or failing to act, and shall not be liable for having so relied, acted or failed to act in good faith, upon any report made by the independent public accountant of the Company and its Affiliates and upon any other information furnished in connection with the Plan by any person or persons other than himself.

(h)           Titles and Headings.  The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings shall control.

 

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