-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, U4tiXg6uG3QeX5j0ogAmwupSNF3BOne1Yu2kizQgHSb0pQqnfcsd0bXXXC7ahJi8 Gjqo2C1n7EwBHe2mR7ZJfQ== 0000950152-05-009983.txt : 20051215 0000950152-05-009983.hdr.sgml : 20051215 20051215141435 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950152-05-009983 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20051213 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Other Events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20051215 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20051215 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: BPI Industries Inc CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001314077 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-32695 FILM NUMBER: 051266164 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 885 WEST GEORGIA ST STREET 2: SUITE 1500 CITY: VANCOUVER BC V6C 3E8 STATE: A1 ZIP: 00000 BUSINESS PHONE: 604-685-8688 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 885 WEST GEORGIA ST STREET 2: SUITE 1500 CITY: VANCOUVER BC V6C 3E8 STATE: A1 ZIP: 00000 8-K 1 l17467ae8vk.htm BPI INDUSTRIES INC. 8-K BPI Industries Inc. 8-K
 

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
__________
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 13, 2005
__________
     
BPI Industries Inc.
 
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
         
British Columbia, Canada   001-32695   75-3183021
         
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)
     
30775 Bainbridge Road, Suite 280, Solon, Ohio   44139
     
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)
     
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code   (440) 248-4200
     
     
Not Applicable
 
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 

 


 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
      On November 9, 2005, the Board of Directors of BPI Industries Inc. (the “Company”) unanimously approved and adopted the BPI Industries Inc. 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan (the “Plan”), subject to approval by the Company’s shareholders at the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the Company’s common stock being delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange. The Plan became effective on December 13, 2005, when the Company’s shareholders approved the Plan and the Company’s common stock was delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange.
      A copy of the Plan has been filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this report, and is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The following is a summary of the material features of the Plan.
Purpose and Administration
      The objective of the Plan is to encourage employee ownership and to foster and promote the long-term growth and performance of the Company by enhancing the Company’s ability to attract and retain qualified employees and Directors and by motivating employees and Directors through stock ownership and performance-based incentives. The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) and will remain in effect for five years. All employees and Directors of the Company and its subsidiaries, and all consultants or agents of the Company designated by the Committee, are eligible to participate in the Plan.
Authority of Committee
      The Committee has authority to: grant awards, select the participants who will receive awards, determine the terms, conditions, vesting periods and restrictions applicable to the awards, determine how the exercise price is to be paid, modify or replace outstanding awards within the limits of the Plan, accelerate the date on which awards become exercisable, waive the restrictions and conditions applicable to awards, and establish rules governing the Plan.
      The Plan does not generally establish limits on the exercise price of awards, earn-out or vesting periods, or termination provisions in the event of termination of employment. Instead, the Committee is given the broad authority to establish these terms in order best to achieve the purpose of the Plan. However, the exercise price of an incentive stock option must be at least 100% of the fair market value of the common stock at the date of grant (110% in the case of a grant to an individual who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock). The exercise price of a stock purchase right under a stock purchase program that meets the requirements of Section 423 of the Code may not be less than 85% of the fair market value of the common stock at the date of grant.
      The Committee will be constituted in a manner that is consistent with the standards for “Non-Employee Directors” set forth in Rule 16b-3 under the U.S. Exchange Act and the definition of “compensation committee” set forth in Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 162 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Rule 16b-3 relates to the trading of stock by insiders, and Section 162 relates to a $1 million deductibility limit, which is discussed in more detail below.

 


 

Number of Shares of Common Stock
      The Plan provides for the grant of 5% of the number of shares of common stock outstanding as of the first day of each fiscal year plus the number of shares of common stock that were available for grant of awards, but not granted, in prior years. In no event, however, may the number of shares of common stock available for the grant of awards in any fiscal year exceed 6% of the shares of common stock outstanding as of the first day of that fiscal year. The maximum number of shares of common stock that may be granted to or purchased by all employees and Directors under this Plan is 5,000,000.
      Shares of common stock subject to an award that is forfeited, terminated or canceled without having been exercised (other than shares subject to a stock option that is canceled upon the exercise of a related stock appreciation right) are generally added back to the number of shares available for grant under the Plan.
      In the event of a merger, consolidation, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, distribution to shareholders (other than normal cash dividends) or similar transaction, the Committee will adjust the number and class of shares that may be issued under the Plan or to any participant and the number and class of shares, and the exercise price, applicable to outstanding awards.
Types of Awards
      In addition to the maintenance of an employee stock purchase program, the Plan provides for the grant of stock options (incentive stock options or “non-qualified” stock options), restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, stock purchase rights, cash awards and other stock or performance-based incentives. These awards are payable in cash or common stock, or any combination thereof, as established by the Committee.
      The Plan provides that awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be subject to conditions established by the Committee, including future service with the Company or the achievement of specific performance objectives. These performance objectives may be based on any of the following business criteria, either alone or in any combination, and on either a consolidated or business unit level: return on net assets, return on equity, return on invested capital, total shareholder return, equity valuation, economic value added, completion of acquisitions, product and market development, technology development, inventory management, working capital management, customer satisfaction, sales, revenue, operating income, cash flow, net income, earnings per share, and other GAAP and non-GAAP measures of financial performance, including earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and similar measures. These business criteria may be clarified by reasonable definitions adopted from time to time by the Committee, which may include or exclude any or all of the following items as the Committee may specify: extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring items, effects of accounting changes, effects of currency fluctuations, effects of financing activities, expenses for restructuring or productivity initiatives, non-operating items, acquisition expenses, and effects of acquisitions, divestitures or reorganizations.
      Section 162(m) of the Code limits a corporation from taking a tax deduction in excess of $1 million per year for compensation paid to certain executive officers. These executives are the Chief Executive Officer and the other executive officers whose compensation is disclosed in the Company’s proxy statement. Compensation that is contingent on the attainment of performance objectives is excluded from the $1 million limit and is therefore deductible without regard to that limit.
Grant of Awards
      Awards may be granted singularly or in combination or tandem with other awards. Awards may also be granted in replacement of other awards granted by the Company. If a participant pays all or part of the exercise price or taxes associated with an award by the transfer of common stock or the surrender of all or part of an award (including the award being exercised), the Committee may, in its discretion, grant a new award to replace the common stock or award that was transferred or surrendered. The Company may also assume

 


 

awards granted by an organization acquired by the Company or may grant awards in replacement of any such awards.
Payment of Exercise Price
      The exercise price of a stock option (other than an incentive stock option), stock purchase right and any other stock award for which the Committee has established an exercise price may be paid in cash, by the transfer of common stock, by the surrender of all or part of an award (including the award being exercised), or by a combination of these methods, as and to the extent permitted by the Committee. The exercise price of an incentive stock option may be paid in cash, by the transfer of common stock, or by a combination of these methods, as and to the extent permitted by the Committee at the time of grant, but may not be paid by the surrender of an award.
Taxes Associated with Awards
      Prior to the payment of an award, the Company may withhold, or require a participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to pay any federal, state and local taxes associated with the award. The Committee may permit participants to pay the taxes associated with an award (other than an incentive stock option) in cash, by the transfer of common stock, by the surrender of all or part of an award (including the award being exercised), or by a combination of these methods.
Termination of Awards
      The Committee may cancel any unexpired, unpaid or deferred awards if the participant, without the Company’s prior written consent, (i) renders services for an organization, or engages in a business, that is, in the judgment of the Committee, in competition with the Company, (ii) discloses to anyone outside of the Company, or uses for any purpose other than the Company’s business, any confidential information or material relating to the Company, or (iii) engages in illegal conduct that is contrary to the policies of the Company or is otherwise detrimental to the interests of the Company.
Change in Control
      In the event of a change in control of the Company, as defined in the Plan, unless the Board of Directors determines otherwise, (i) all outstanding stock options, stock appreciation rights and stock purchase rights become fully exercisable, (ii) all restrictions and conditions applicable to restricted stock and other awards exercisable for common stock will be deemed to have been satisfied, and (iii) all cash awards will be deemed to have been fully earned. Any such determination by the Board of Directors that is made after the occurrence of the change in control will not be effective unless a majority of the directors then in office are “continuing directors” and the determination is approved by a majority of the “continuing directors.” For this purpose, “continuing directors” are directors who were in office prior to the change in control or were recommended or elected to succeed “continuing directors” by a majority of the “continuing directors” then in office.
Nonassignability of Awards
      Unless the Committee otherwise determines, no award granted under the Plan may be transferred or assigned except by will, pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution, or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order. The Plan also provides that, unless the Committee otherwise determines, an award may be exercised during the holder’s lifetime only by the holder or by the holder’s guardian or legal representative. No incentive stock option or rights under certain employee stock purchase plans, however, may be transferred or

 


 

assigned pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or exercised, during the participant’s lifetime, by the participant’s guardian or legal representative.
Amendment and Termination of the Plan
      The Board of Directors may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Shareholder approval for any such amendment will be required only to the extent necessary to preserve the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 for the Plan and awards granted under the Plan, required by applicable law, or required to comply with the rules of any exchange or market on which the Company’s common stock may be listed or traded.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
     The Company’s common stock began trading on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol BPG as of Tuesday, December 13, 2005.
     The TSX Venture Exchange has accepted the Company’s application for delisting from that exchange effective as of the close of business on Tuesday, December 13, 2005.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)  Exhibits.
99.1      BPI Industries Inc. 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan

 


 

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
         
    BPI Industries Inc.

 
  By:   /s/ George J. Zilich
 
       
 
      George J. Zilich
Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel
Date: December 15, 2005

 


 

EXHIBIT INDEX
       
Exhibit No.   Description
99.1
  BPI Industries Inc. 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan

 

EX-99.1 2 l17467aexv99w1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 STOCK PLAN Exhibit 99.1
 

Exhibit 99.1
BPI INDUSTRIES INC.
2005 OMNIBUS STOCK PLAN
1. PURPOSE
      The BPI Industries Inc. 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan (the “Plan”) is designed to foster and promote the long-term growth and performance of the Company by: (a) enhancing the Company’s ability to attract and retain qualified employees and Directors and (b) motivating employees and Directors through stock ownership and performance-based incentives. To achieve this purpose, this Plan provides authority for the grant of stock and other performance-based incentives and the maintenance of an employee stock purchase program.
2. DEFINITIONS
      (a) “AFFILIATE” AND “ASSOCIATE” — These terms have the meanings given to them in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act.
      (b) “AWARD” — A grant of stock and performance-based incentives under this Plan.
      (c) “AWARD AGREEMENT” — Any agreement between the Company and a Participant that sets forth terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to an Award.
      (d) “BOARD OF DIRECTORS” — The Board of Directors of the Company.
      (e) “CASH AWARD” — This term has the meaning given to it in Section 6(b)(v).
      (f) “CHANGE IN CONTROL” — A “Change in Control” will be deemed to occur if at any time after the date of the adoption of this Plan:
        (i) Any Person (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan or employee stock ownership plan of the Company, or any Person organized, appointed, or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), alone or together with any of its Affiliates or Associates, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 40% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding. In addition, if any Person commences a tender offer or exchange offer for 40% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, the Committee may, in its discretion and at any time prior to the expiration of the tender offer or exchange offer, declare that such tender offer or exchange offer constitutes a “Change in Control”. For this purpose, the term “Beneficial Owner” has the meaning given to it in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.
 
        (ii) At any time during a period of 24 consecutive months, Continuing Directors represent less than a majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in office. “CONTINUING DIRECTORS” are individuals who were Directors at the beginning of the 24-month period or whose appointment or nomination for election as Directors was approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office.
 
        (iii) A record date is established for determining shareholders entitled to vote upon (A) a merger or consolidation of the Company with another entity if Persons who hold Common Shares immediately prior to the merger or consolidation will, immediately after the merger or consolidation, hold less than 60% of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving or resulting entity or the ultimate parent of the surviving or resulting entity, (B) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its direct or indirect subsidiaries, or (C) the dissolution of the Company.
      (g) “CODE” — The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any law that supersedes or replaces it, as amended from time to time.
      (h) “COMMITTEE” — The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, or any other committee of the Board of Directors that the Board of Directors authorizes to administer this Plan. The

 


 

Committee will be constituted in a manner that satisfies all applicable legal requirements, including satisfying the disinterested administration standard set forth in Rule 16b-3, the definition of “compensation committee” set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(c)(4), and the requirements of any exchange or market on which the Common Shares are listed or traded.
      (i) “COMMON SHARES” or “SHARES” — Common Shares, without par value, of the Company, including authorized and unissued shares and treasury shares, and any shares issued in exchange for the Common Shares in a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, or similar transaction.
      (j) “COMPANY” — BPI Industries Inc. incorporated under the laws of British Columbia, and any successor entity.
      (k) “CONTINUING DIRECTOR” — A Director who was a Director prior to a Change in Control or whose appointment or nomination was approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office.
      (l) “DIRECTOR” — A director of the Company.
      (m) “EXCHANGE ACT” — Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any law that supersedes or replaces it, as amended from time to time.
      (n) “FAIR MARKET VALUE” of Common Shares — The value of the Common Shares determined by the Committee, or pursuant to rules established by the Committee, on a basis consistent with regulations under the Code.
      (o) “INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION” — A Stock Option that meets the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
      (p) “NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR” — A Director who is not an employee of the Company.
      (q) “NOTICE OF AWARD” — Any notice by the Committee to a Participant that advises the Participant of the grant of an Award or sets forth terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to an Award.
      (r) “PARTICIPANT” — Any person to whom an Award has been granted under this Plan.
      (s) “RESTRICTED STOCK” — An Award of Common Shares that are subject to restrictions or risk of forfeiture.
      (t) “RULE 16b-3”— Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, or any rule that supersedes or replaces it, as amended from time to time.
      (u) “SECTION 423 RIGHTS” — This term has the meaning given to it in Section 6(b)(iv).
      (v) “STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT” — This term has the meaning given to it in Section 6(b)(i).
      (w) “STOCK AWARD” — This term has the meaning given to it in Section 6(b)(ii).
      (x) “STOCK EQUIVALENT UNIT” — An Award that is valued by reference to the value of Common Shares.
      (y) “STOCK OPTION” — This term has the meaning given to it in Section 6(b)(iii).
      (z) “STOCK PURCHASE RIGHT” — This term has the meaning given to it in Section 6(b)(iv).
3. ELIGIBILITY
      All employees and Directors of the Company and its Affiliates, and all consultants or agents of the Company designated by the Committee, are eligible for the grant of Awards. The selection of eligible persons to whom Awards will be granted is within the discretion of the Committee. More than one Award may be granted to the same person.

 


 

4. COMMON SHARES AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS; ADJUSTMENT
      (a) NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES. The aggregate number of Common Shares that may be subject to Awards granted under this Plan in any fiscal year of the Company during the term of this Plan will be equal to the sum of (i) five percent (5%) of the number of Common Shares outstanding as of the first day of that fiscal year plus (ii) the number of Common Shares that were available for the grant of Awards, but not granted, under this Plan in previous fiscal years; provided that, in no event will the number of Common Shares available for the grant of Awards in any fiscal year exceed six percent (6%) of the Common Shares outstanding as of the first day of that fiscal year. The maximum number of Common Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options may be granted under this Plan is five million (5,000,000).
      The assumption of awards granted by an organization acquired by the Company, or the grant of Awards under this Plan in substitution for any such awards, will not reduce the number of Common Shares available in any fiscal year for the grant of Awards under this Plan.
      Common Shares subject to an Award that is forfeited, terminated, or canceled without having been exercised (other than Common Shares subject to a Stock Option that is canceled upon the exercise of a related Stock Appreciation Right) will again be available for grant under this Plan, without reducing the number of Common Shares available in any fiscal year for grant of Awards under this Plan, except to the extent that the availability of those Common Shares would cause this Plan or any Awards granted under this Plan to fail to qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3.
      (b) NO FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares will be issued, and the Committee will determine the manner in which the value of fractional shares will be treated.
      (c) ADJUSTMENT. In the event of any change in the Common Shares by reason of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, or similar transaction, or in the event of a stock dividend, stock split, or distribution to shareholders (other than normal cash dividends), the Committee will adjust the number and class of shares that may be issued under this Plan, the number and class of shares subject to outstanding Awards, the exercise price applicable to outstanding Awards, and the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares and any other value determinations applicable to outstanding Awards.
5. ADMINISTRATION
      (a) COMMITTEE. This Plan will be administered by the Committee. The Committee will, subject to the terms of this Plan, have the authority to: (i) select the eligible persons to whom Awards will be granted, (ii) grant Awards, (iii) determine the number and types of Awards to be granted, (iv) determine the terms, conditions, vesting periods, and restrictions applicable to Awards, (v) adopt, alter and repeal administrative rules and practices governing this Plan, (vi) interpret the terms and provisions of this Plan and any Awards granted under this Plan, (vii) prescribe the forms of any Notices of Award, Awards Agreements, or other instruments relating to Awards, and (viii) otherwise supervise the administration of this Plan.
      (b) DECISIONS FINAL. All decisions by the Committee will be final and binding on all persons.
6. AWARDS
      (a) GENERAL. The terms, conditions, vesting periods, and restrictions applicable to each Award will be set forth in the related Notice of Award or Award Agreement. Awards may be granted singly or in combination or tandem with other Awards. Awards may also be granted in replacement of, or in substitution for, other awards granted by the Company, whether or not granted under this Plan; without limiting the foregoing, if a Participant pays all or part of the exercise price or taxes associated with an Award by the transfer of Common Shares or the surrender of all or part of an Award (including the Award being exercised), the Committee may, in its discretion, grant a new Award to replace the Common Shares that were transferred or the Award that was surrendered. The Company may assume awards granted by an organization acquired by the Company or may grant Awards in replacement of, or in substitution for, any such awards.

 


 

      (b) TYPES OF AWARDS. Awards may include, but are not limited to, the following:
        (i) STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT — A right to receive a payment, in cash or Common Shares, equal to the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value, or other specified valuation, of a specified number of Common Shares on the date the right is exercised over (B) the Fair market Value, or other specified valuation, on the date the right is granted, all as determined by the Committee. The right may be conditioned upon the occurrence of certain events, such as a Change in Control of the Company, or may be unconditional, as determined by the Committee.
 
        (ii) STOCK AWARD — An Award that is denominated in Common Shares or that is otherwise based on, or valued in whole or in part by reference to, the Common Shares. All or part of any Stock Award may be subject to conditions, restrictions, and risks of forfeiture, as and to the extent established by the Committee. Stock Awards may be based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares, or on other specified values or methods of valuation, as determined by the Committee.
 
        (iii) STOCK OPTION — A right to purchase a specified number of Common Shares, during a specified period, and at a specified exercise price, all as determined by the Committee. A Stock Option may be an Incentive Stock Option or a Stock Option that does not meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. In addition to the terms, conditions, vesting periods, and restrictions established by the Committee, Incentive Stock Options must comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. The exercise price of a Stock Option that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option may be more or less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares on the date the Stock Option is granted.
 
        (iv) STOCK PURCHASE RIGHT — A right to participate in a stock purchase program, including but not limited to a stock purchase program that meets the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.
 
        Among other requirements, Section 423 currently provides that (A) only employees of the Company, or of any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company designated by the Committee, may receive Stock Purchase Rights that qualify under Section 423 (“Section 423 Rights”), (B) Section 423 Rights may not be granted to any Participant who, immediately after the Section 423 Rights are granted, owns stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company, (C) Section 423 Rights must be granted to all employees of the Company, and of any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company designated by the Committee, except that there may be excluded (1) employees who have been employed less than two years, (2) employees whose customary employment is 20 hours or less per week, (3) employees whose customary employment is for not more than five months in any calendar year, and (4) highly compensated employees (within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code), (D) all employees granted Section 423 Rights must have the same rights and privileges, except that the number of Common Shares that may be purchased by any employee upon exercise of Section 423 Rights may bear a uniform relationship to the total compensation, or the basic or regular rate of compensation, of the employee, (E) the exercise price of Section 423 Rights may not be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares at the time Section 423 Rights are granted; (F) Section 423 Rights cannot be exercised after the expiration of 27 months from the date the Section 423 Rights are granted, and (G) no employee may be granted Section 423 Rights, under this Plan and any other stock purchase plans of the Company and its subsidiaries, that permit the purchase of Common shares with a Fair Market Value of more than $25,000 (determined at the time the Section 423 Rights are granted) in any calendar year. To the extent that the requirements of Section 423 are changed after the adoption of this Plan, the requirements of this Plan will be changed accordingly.
 
        (v) CASH AWARD — An Award denominated in cash.
 
        (vi) CONDITIONS; PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES — All or part of any Award may be subject to conditions established by the Committee, including but not limited to future service with the Company or the achievement of specific performance objectives. These performance objectives may be based on any of the following business criteria, either alone or in any combination, and on either a

 


 

  consolidated or business unit level, as the Committee may determine: return on net assets, return on equity, return on invested capital, total shareholder return, equity trading prices or other valuation, economic value added, completion of acquisitions, product and market development, technology development, inventory management, working capital management, customer satisfaction, sales, revenue, operating income, cash flow, net income, earnings per share, and other GAAP and non-GAAP measures of financial performance, including earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciations, and amortization, and similar measures. These business criteria may be clarified by reasonable definitions adopted from time to time by the Committee, which may include or exclude any or all of the following items as the Committee may specify: extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items, effects of accounting changes, effects of currency fluctuations, effects of financing activities, expenses for restructuring or productivity initiatives, non-operating items, acquisition expenses, and effects of acquisitions, divestitures, or reorganizations.

7. PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE
      The exercise price of a Stock Option (other than an Incentive Stock Option), Stock Purchase Right, and any Stock Award for which the Committee has established an exercise price may be paid in cash, by the transfer of Common Shares, by the surrender of all or part of an Award (including the Award being exercised), or by a combination of these methods, as and to the extent permitted by the Committee. The exercise price of an Incentive Stock Option may be paid in cash, by the transfer of Common Shares, or by a combination of these methods, as and to the extent permitted by the Committee at the time of grant, but may not be paid by the surrender of all or part of an Award. The Committee may prescribe any other method of paying the exercise price that it determines to be consistent with applicable law and the purpose of this Plan.
      In the event shares of Restricted Stock are used to pay the exercise price of a Stock Award, a number of the Common Shares issued upon the exercise of the Award equal to the number of shares of Restricted Stock used to pay the exercise price will be subject to the same restrictions as the Restricted Stock used to pay the exercise price.
8. TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH AWARD
      Prior to the payment of an Award, the Company may withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to pay any federal, state, and local taxes associated with the Award. The Committee may, in its discretion and subject to such rules as the Committee may adopt, permit a Participant to pay any or all taxes associated with the Award (other than an Incentive Stock Option) in cash, by the transfer of Common Shares, by the surrender of all or part of an Award (including the Award being exercised), or by a combination of these methods. The Committee may permit a Participant to pay any or all taxes associated with an Incentive Stock Option in cash, by the transfer of Common Shares, or by a combination of these methods.
9. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
      If the employment of a Participant terminates for any reason, or if a Director ceases to be a Director of the Company for any reason, all unexercisable, deferred, and unpaid Awards may be exercisable or paid only in accordance with rules established by the Committee. These rules may provide, as the Committee deems appropriate, for the expiration, continuation, or acceleration of the vesting of all or part of the Awards.
10. TERMINATION OF AWARDS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS
      The Committee may cancel any unexpired, unpaid, or deferred Awards at any time if the Participant is not in compliance with all applicable provisions of this Plan or with any Notice of Award or Award Agreement or if the Participant, without the prior written consent of the Company, engages in any of the following activities:
        (i) Renders services for an organization, or engages in a business, that is, in the judgment of the Committee, in competition with the Company.

 


 

        (ii) Discloses to anyone outside of the Company, or uses for any purpose other than the Company’s business, any confidential information or material relating to the Company, whether acquired by the Participant during or after employment with the Company.
 
        (iii) Engages in illegal conduct that is contrary to policies of the Company or otherwise detrimental to the interest of the Company.
      The Committee may, in its discretion and as a condition to the exercise of an Award, require a Participant to acknowledge in writing that he or she is in compliance with all applicable provisions of this Plan and of any Notice of Award or Award Agreement and has not engaged in any activities referred to in clauses (i), (ii), or (iii) above.
11. CHANGE IN CONTROL
      In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, unless and to the extent otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, (i) all Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock Options, an other Stock Purchase Rights then outstanding will become fully exercisable as of the date of the Change in Control, (ii) all restrictions and conditions applicable to Restricted Stock and other Stock Awards will be deemed to have been satisfied as of the date of the Change in Control, and (iii) all Cash Awards will be deemed to have been fully earned as of the date of the Change in Control. Any such determination by the Board of Directors that is made after the occurrence of a Change in Control will not be effective unless a majority of the Directors then in office are Continuing Directors and the determination is approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors.
12. AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION, OR TERMINATION OF THIS PLAN; AMENDMENT OF OUTSTANDING AWARDS
      (a) AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION, OR TERMINATION OF THIS PLAN. The Board of Directors may amend, suspend, or terminate this Plan at any time. Shareholder approval for any such amendment will be required only to the extent (i) necessary to preserve the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 for this Plan and Awards granted under this Plan, (ii) required by applicable law, or (iii) required to comply with the rules of any exchange or market on which the Common Shares may be listed or traded.
      (b) AMENDMENT OF OUTSTANDING AWARDS. The Committee may, in its discretion, amend the terms of any Award, prospectively or retroactively, but no such amendment may impair the rights of any Participant without his or her consent; without limiting the foregoing, if the Company merges with or consolidates with another entity, the Committee may amend the terms of any Award to provide for the assumption of the Award by the surviving or resulting entity. The Committee may, in whole or in part, waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to, or accelerate the vesting of, any Award.
13. AWARDS TO FOREIGN NATIONALS AND EMPLOYEES OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES
      To the extent that the Committee deems appropriate to comply with foreign law or practice and to further the purpose of the Plan, the Committee may, without amending this Plan, (i) establish special rules applicable to Awards granted to Participants who are foreign nationals, are employed outside the United States, or both, including rules that differ from those set forth in this Plan, and (ii) grant Awards to such Participants in accordance with those rules.
14. NONASSIGNABILITY
      Unless otherwise determined by the Committee (i) no Award granted under this Plan may be transferred or assigned by the Participant to whom it is granted other than by will, pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution, or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order and (ii) an Award granted under this Plan may be exercised, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant or by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative; except that, no Incentive Stock Option and no Section 423 Right may be transferred or

 


 

assigned pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or exercised, during the Participant’s lifetime, by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
15. GOVERNING LAW
      The interpretation, validity, and enforcement of this Plan will, to the extent not otherwise governed by the Code or the securities laws of the United States, be governed by the law of the State of Ohio, United States of America.
16. RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES
      Nothing in this Plan will confer upon any Participant the right to continued employment by the Company or limit the Company’s right to terminate any Participant’s employment at will.
17. EFFECTIVE AND TERMINATION DATE
      (a) EFFECTIVE DATE. This Plan will become effective on the date that it is approved by the Company’s shareholders or such later date as is determined by the Board of Directors.
      (b) TERMINATION DATE. This Plan will terminate 5 years after it becomes effective pursuant to Section 17(a).

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