EX-99.(B) 3 k85985exv99wxby.txt PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN EXHIBIT 99(b) PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN The CMS Energy Corporation Performance Incentive Stock Plan, first effective February 3, 1988, is hereby set forth as amended and restated effective June 1, 2004. Article I. Purpose The CMS Energy Corporation Performance Incentive Stock Plan (hereinafter called the "Plan") is a Plan to provide incentive compensation to Eligible Persons, based upon such Eligible Persons' individual contributions to the long-term growth and profitability of the Corporation, and in order to encourage such Eligible Persons to identify with shareholder concerns and their current and continuing interest in the development and financial success of the Corporation. Because it is expected that the efforts of the key employees, Directors or advisors selected for participation in the Plan will have a significant impact on the results of the Corporation's operations in future years, the Plan is intended to assist the Corporation in attracting and retaining as key employees, Directors or advisors individuals of superior ability and in motivating their activities on behalf of the Corporation. Article II. Definitions 2.1 Definitions: When used in the Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings: a. "Beneficiary" means the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated to receive the amount, if any, payable under the Plan upon the death of a Participant. b. "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Corporation. c. "Committee" means the Organization and Compensation Committee of the Board, which shall be comprised in such a manner to comply with the requirements, if any, of the New York Stock Exchange or other applicable stock markets, Rule 16b-3 (or any successor rule) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. d. "Common Stock" means the Common Stock of the Corporation as authorized for issuance in its Articles of Incorporation at the time of an award or grant under this Plan. e. "Corporation" means CMS Energy Corporation, its successors and assigns, and each of its Subsidiaries, or any of them individually. f. "Director" means any person who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or a Subsidiary. g. "Eligible Person" means a key employee, non-employee Director or advisor. A key employee must at the end of the fiscal year be a regular full-time salaried employee of the Corporation or a Subsidiary, or, to the extent the Committee may determine, a person whose services to the Corporation terminated before the end of the fiscal year, who, in the opinion of the Committee, made a significant contribution to the Corporation or a Subsidiary. h. "Incentive Option" means an option to purchase Common Stock of the Corporation which meets the requirements set forth in the Plan and also meets the definition of an Incentive Stock Option set forth in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). i. "Non-Employee Director" means a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or a Subsidiary who is not currently an employee of the Corporation or a Subsidiary and has not been an employee of the Corporation or a Subsidiary within the preceding 3 years. j. "Nonqualified Option" means an option to purchase Common Stock of the Corporation which meets the requirements set forth in the Plan but does not meet the definition of an Incentive Stock Option set forth in Section 422 of the Code. k. "Officers Incentive Compensation Plan" means the incentive compensation plan, including any amendments thereto, authorized and approved by the Board to provide incentive compensation to the Officers of the Corporation or a Subsidiary. l. "Optionee" means any person to whom an option or right has been granted or who becomes a holder of an option or right under Article VI of the Plan. m. "Participant" means a person to whom a grant or award has been made which has not been paid, forfeited, or otherwise terminated or satisfied under the Plan, or a person included under the Management Stock Purchase Plan. n. "Performance Criteria" are the factors used by the Committee to establish goals to track business measures such as net earnings; operating earnings or income; earnings growth; net income (absolute or competitive growth rates comparative); cash flow (including operating cash flow, free cash flow, discounted cash flow return on investment, and cash flow in excess of cost of capital); earnings per share; stock price (absolute or peer-group comparative); total shareholder return; absolute and/or relative return on common shareholders equity; return on shareholders equity (absolute or peer-group comparative); absolute and/or relative return on capital; absolute and/or relative return on assets; economic value added (income in excess of cost of capital); customer satisfaction; expense reduction; sales; or ratio of operating expenses to operating revenues. o. "Performance Unit" means a contractual right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article VIII to receive a designated dollar value equal to the value established by the Committee and subject to such terms and conditions as are set forth in this Plan and the applicable grant. p. "Phantom Share" means a contractual right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article VIII to receive an amount equal to the Appreciation Value at such time, and subject to such terms and conditions as are set forth in this Plan and the applicable grant. q. "Restricted Common Stock" means Common Stock delivered subject to the restrictions described in Article VII. r. "Restricted Stock Unit" means a bookkeeping account established pursuant to a matching grant to a Participant, as described in Article VIII, that is (a) credited with amounts equal to Shares or some other unit of measurement specified in the award, (b) subject to restrictions and (c) payable in cash or shares. s. "Shareholders" means the shareholders of the Corporation. t. "Stock Appreciation Right" shall mean a right, granted in conjunction with a Stock Option, to surrender the Stock Option and receive the appreciation in value of the optioned shares over the option price. u. "Stock Option" means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock, granted pursuant to this Plan. v. "Subsidiary" means a corporation, domestic or foreign, 50 percent or more of the voting stock of which is owned directly or indirectly by the Corporation. Article III. Effective Date. Duration, Scope and Administration of the Plan 3.1 This Plan shall be effective June 1, 2004, conditioned upon approval of the shareholders of the Corporation, and shall continue until May 31, 2009. 3.2 The Committee shall have full power and authority to construe, interpret and administer the Plan. All decisions, actions or interpretations of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties. If any person objects to any such interpretation or action formally or informally, the expenses of the Committee and its agents and counsel shall be chargeable against any amounts otherwise payable under the Plan to or on account of the Participant or Optionee. 3.3 No member of the Committee shall be personally liable by reason of any contract or other instrument executed by him 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 Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee and each other officer, employee or director of the Corporation 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 with the approval of the Board) arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with the Plan unless arising out of such person's own fraud or bad faith. Article IV. Participation, Awards and Grants 4.1 Each year the Committee shall designate as Participants and/or Optionees in the Plan those Eligible Persons who, in the opinion of the Committee, have significantly contributed to the Corporation. 4.2 Each year, the Committee may award shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock Units, and/or may grant Phantom Shares, Performance Units, Stock Options which qualify as "Incentive Stock Options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or Stock Options which do not qualify as Incentive Stock Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights for use in connection with Stock Options to each Eligible Person whom it has designated as an Optionee or Participant for such year. No Incentive Stock Option will be granted to an Eligible Person who is not a full or part-time employee of the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation. 4.3 Awards of Common Stock or Restricted Stock Units and grants of Stock Options (with or without Stock Appreciation Rights), Phantom Shares or Performance Units may be made, without amending the Plan, to Eligible Persons who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States or both, on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Committee, be necessary or desirable to further the purposes of the Plan or to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to or alternative versions of the Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes without thereby affecting the terms of the Plan as in effect for any other purpose; provided, however, no such supplement or alternative version shall: (a) increase the number of available shares of Common Stock under Section 5.1; or (b) increase the limitations contained in Section 5.3. Article V. Shares Reserved Under the Plan 5.1 There is hereby reserved for award under this Plan 6 million whole shares of Common Stock, less the number of shares awarded, granted or purchased under the provisions of this Plan which have not been forfeited. To the extent permitted by law or the rules and regulations of any stock exchange on which the Common Stock is listed, shares of Common Stock with respect to which payment or exercise is in cash as well as any shares or options which are forfeited may thereafter again be awarded or made subject to grant under the Plan. The number of shares made available for option and sale under Article VI of this Plan plus the number of shares awarded under Article VII of this Plan plus the number of shares awarded or purchased under Article VIII of this Plan will not exceed, at any time, the number of shares of Common Stock reserved pursuant to this Article V. 5.2 If a dividend shall be declared upon the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock then subject to any such option and the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan but not yet covered by an option shall be adjusted by adding to each such option or share the number of shares which would be distributable thereon if such share had been outstanding on the date fixed for determining the shareholders entitled to receive such stock dividend. In the event that the outstanding shares of the Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares of stock or other securities of CMS Energy Corporation or of another corporation, whether through reorganization, recapitalization, stock split-up, combination of shares, merger or consolidation or otherwise, then there shall be substituted for each share of Common Stock subject to any such option and for each share of Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan but not yet covered by an option, the number and kind of shares of stock or other securities into which each outstanding share of Common Stock shall be so changed or for which each such share shall be exchanged. In the event there shall be any change, other than as specified above in this Section 5.2, in the number or kind of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation or of any stock or other securities into which such Common Stock shall have been changed or for which it shall have been exchanged, then if the Committee shall in its sole discretion determine that such change equitably requires an adjustment in the number or kind of shares theretofore reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan but not yet covered by an option and of the shares then subject to an option or options, such adjustment shall be made by the Committee and shall be effective and binding for all purposes of the Plan and each Stock Option agreement. In the ease of any such substitution or adjustment as provided for in this paragraph, the option price in each Stock Option agreement for each share covered thereby prior to such substitution or adjustment will be the option price for all shares of stock or other securities which shall have been substituted for such share or to which such share shall have been adjusted pursuant to this section. No adjustment or substitution provided for in this Section 5.2 shall require the Corporation in any Stock Option agreement to sell a fractional share, and the total substitution or adjustment with respect to each Stock Option agreement shall be limited accordingly. 5.3 Individual Grant Limit: The combined maximum shares awarded or granted for any one Eligible Person for any one year under this Plan, excluding (a) any shares or Restricted Share Units purchased or awarded under the Management Stock Purchase Plan in Section 8.3 and (b) any Performance Units awarded under Section 8.2, will not exceed 250,000 shares of Common Stock. Article VI. Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights 6.1 The Committee may from time to time provide for the option and sale of shares of Common Stock, which may consist in whole or in part of the authorized and unissued Common Stock of the Corporation. 6.2 Optionees: The Committee shall determine and designate from time to time, in its discretion, those Eligible Persons to whom Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights are to be granted and who thereby become Optionees under the Plan. 6.3 Allotment of Shares: The Committee shall determine and fix the number of shares of Common Stock subject to options to be offered to each Optionee. 6.4 Option Price: The Committee shall establish the option price at the time any option is granted at not less than 100% of the fair market value of the stock on the date on which such option is granted; provided, however, that with respect to an Incentive Option granted to an employee who at the time of the grant owns (after applying the attribution rules of Section 425(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting stock of the Corporation or of any parent or Subsidiary, the option price shall not be less than 110% of the fair market value of the stock subject to the Incentive Option on the date such option is granted. In no event shall Options previously granted under this Plan be re-priced by reducing the exercise price thereof, nor shall Options previously granted under this Plan be cancelled and replaced by a subsequent re-grant under this Plan of Options having an exercise price lower than the options so cancelled. 6.5 Stock Appreciation Rights: At the discretion of the Committee, any Stock Option granted under this Plan may, at the time of such grant, include a Stock Appreciation Right. A Stock Appreciation Right shall pertain to, and be granted only in conjunction with, a related underlying Stock Option, and shall be exercisable only at the time and to the extent the related underlying Stock Option is exercisable and only if the fair market value of the Common Stock of the Corporation exceeds the Stock Option price in the related underlying Stock Option. An Optionee who is granted a Stock Appreciation Right may elect to surrender the related underlying Stock Option with respect to all or part of the number of shares subject to the related underlying Stock Option and exercise in lieu thereof the Stock Appreciation Right with respect to the number of shares as to which the Stock Option is surrendered. The exercise of the underlying Stock Option shall terminate the related Stock Appreciation Right to the extent of the number of shares purchased upon exercise of the underlying Stock Option. The exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right shall terminate the related underlying Stock Option to the extent of the number of shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, an Optionee shall be entitled to receive, without payment to the Company (except for applicable withholding taxes), an amount equal to the excess of (i) the then aggregate fair market value of the number of shares with respect to which the Optionee exercises the Stock Appreciation Right, over (ii) the aggregate Stock Option price per share for such number of shares. Such amount may be paid by the Corporation, at the election of the Optionee, in cash, Common Stock of the Corporation or any combination thereof; provided, however, that the Committee shall have sole discretion to approve or disapprove an election of an Optionee to receive cash upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right. 6.6 Granting and Exercise of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights: The granting of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights hereunder shall be effected in accordance with determinations made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, by execution of instruments in writing in form approved by the Committee. The Committee may grant Stock Options that provide for the grant of a subsequent restoration Stock Option if the exercise price has been paid for by tendering shares to the Company. Any restoration Stock Option shall be for the number of shares tendered in exercising the predecessor option. The restoration Stock Option exercise price shall be the then-current Fair Market Value, and the term of such restoration option may not extend beyond the remaining term of the original option. Each Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Right granted hereunder shall be exercisable at any such time or times or in any such installments as may be determined by the Committee at the time of the grant, subject to the limitation that for each Incentive Option and related Stock Appreciation Right granted, a maximum of $100,000 (based on the price at the date of grant) may be exercised per year, plus any unused carry-over from a previous year(s). Except as provided in Section 6.10, Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised only while the Optionee is an employee, Non-Employee Director or advisor of the Corporation. Successive Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to the same Optionee, whether or not the Stock Option(s) and Stock Appreciation Right(s) previously granted to such Optionee remain unexercised. An Optionee may exercise a Nonqualified Option or related Stock Appreciation Right, if then exercisable, notwithstanding that Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights previously granted to such Optionee remain unexercised. 6.7 Payment of Stock Option Price: At the time of the exercise in whole or in part of any Stock Option granted hereunder, payment of the option price in full in cash or in Common Stock of the Corporation shall be made by the Optionee for all shares so purchased. No Optionee shall have any of the rights of a Shareholder of the Corporation under any such Stock Option until the actual issuance of shares to said Optionee, and prior to such issuance no adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights in respect of such shares, except as provided in Section 5.2. 6.8 Nontransferability of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights: No Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan to an Optionee shall be transferable by such Optionee otherwise than by will, pursuant to a valid Domestic Relations Order which limits the rights of the alternate payee to those available to the Optionee, or by the laws of descent and distribution except that the Optionee may transfer to an immediate family member or a family trust for estate planning purposes, and such Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable, during the lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee or by a member of such Optionee's immediate family or by the family trust. 6.9 Term of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights: If not sooner terminated, each Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Right granted hereunder shall expire not more than ten years from the date of the granting thereof; provided, that with respect to an Incentive Option and a related Stock Appreciation Right granted to an Optionee who, at the time of the grant, owns (after applying the attribution rules of Section 425(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting stock of all classes of stock of the Corporation or of any parent or Subsidiary, such Incentive Option and Stock Appreciation Right shall expire not more than five years after the date of granting thereof. 6.10 Termination of Employment: If the employment of an Optionee by the Corporation shall be terminated due to a reason other than the Optionee's death, the Committee may, in its discretion, permit the exercise of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted to such Optionee for a period not to exceed one year following such termination of employment or three years following termination of employment upon the Optionee's disability as determined by the Committee or retirement in accordance with a pension plan of the Corporation; provided, however, that no Incentive Option or related Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised after three months following an Optionee's termination of employment, unless such termination of employment is due to the Optionee's death or disability. If the termination is due to the Optionee's disability, the Committee may permit the Incentive Option and related Stock Appreciation Right to be exercised for one year following the Optionee's termination of employment. If the employment of an Optionee by the Corporation shall be terminated due to the Optionee's death, any Stock Option, or related Stock Appreciation Right, transferred to a family trust or by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, may be exercised for one year following the Optionee's death. In no event, however, shall a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right be exercisable subsequent to its expiration date and, furthermore, a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right may only be exercised after termination of an Optionee's employment to the extent exercisable on the date of termination of employment. Upon the termination of employment of an Optionee by the Corporation, every Stock Option and related Stock Appreciation Right shall terminate, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Plan. Further, no Stock Option or related Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised after such termination of employment, except within a time period provided in this Section 6.10. 6.11 Termination of Service: If a Non-Employee Director ceases to be a member of the Board for any reason, or if an advisor no longer provides service to the Corporation, the Non-Employee Director or advisor may exercise any Option or related Stock Appreciation Right for one year following such termination of service. In no event, however, shall a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right be exercisable subsequent to its expiration date and, furthermore, a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right may only be exercised after termination of an Optionee's service to the extent exercisable on the date of termination of service. Further, no Stock Option or related Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised after such termination of service, except within a time period provided in this Section 6.11. 6.12 Investment Purpose: Any shares of Common Stock subject to option under the Plan may be made subject to such other restrictions as the Committee deems advisable, including without limitation provisions to comply with Federal and state securities laws. In making determinations of legal requirements the Committee shall rely on an opinion of counsel for the Corporation. 6.13 Withholding Payments: If upon the exercise of a Nonqualified Option and/or a Stock Appreciation Right or as a result of a disqualifying disposition (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) of shares acquired upon exercise of an Incentive Option, there shall be payable by the Corporation any amount for income tax withholding, either the Corporation shall appropriately reduce the amount of stock or cash to be paid to the Optionee or the Optionee shall pay such amount to the Corporation to reimburse it for such income tax withholding. 6.14 Restrictions on Sale of Shares: If, at the time of exercise of any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted hereunder, the Corporation is precluded by any legal, regulatory or contractual restriction from selling and/or delivering shares pursuant to the terms of such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, the sale and delivery of the shares may be delayed until the restrictions are resolved and only cash may be paid upon exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right. At any time during such delay, the Committee, in its discretion, may permit the Optionee to revoke a Stock Option exercise, in which event any corresponding Stock Appreciation Right shall be reinstated. 6.15 Compliance With Rule 16b-3: Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the administration of the Plan and the grant, exercise and terms of Stock Appreciation Rights hereunder shall comply with Rule 16b-3, or any successor rule, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Article VII. Restricted Common Stock 7.1 Awards: The Committee may from time to time award restricted shares of Common Stock to any Eligible Person it has designated as a Participant for such year. Awards shall be made to Eligible Persons in accordance with such rules as the Committee may prescribe. The Committee may also award restricted shares of Common Stock conditioned on the attainment of a performance goal that relates to Shareholder return, measured by Performance Criteria as determined by the Committee as set forth in the award. 7.2 Restrictions: a. Any shares of Common Stock awarded or issued under the Plan may be made subject to such other restrictions as the Committee deems advisable, including without limitation provisions to comply with Federal and state securities laws. In making determinations of legal requirements the Committee shall rely on an opinion of counsel for the Corporation. The restrictions with respect to the Common Stock awarded will extend for such period, or periods, of at least twelve months from and after the date of the award, as may be determined for each award by the Committee (the Award Period). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the restrictions shall terminate upon the death of the Participant or, within the discretion of the Committee, upon Participant's retirement pursuant to a pension plan of the Corporation on or after Participant's 62nd birthday, except as may otherwise be determined to be necessary or desirable in the opinion of the Committee, to comply with the law or to prevent Restricted Common Stock from being subject to Federal income tax prior to the termination of restrictions. b. Whenever shares of Common Stock are awarded to a Participant, such shares shall be outstanding, and stock certificates shall be issued in the name of the Participant, which certificates may bear a legend stating that the shares are issued subject to the restrictions set forth in the Plan. All certificates issued for shares of Common Stock awarded under the Plan shall be deposited for the benefit of the Participant with the Secretary of the Corporation as custodian until such time as the shares are vested and transferable. c. A Participant who is awarded shares of Common Stock under the Plan shall have full voting rights on such shares, whether or not the shares are vested or transferable. d. Shares of Common Stock awarded to a Participant under the Plan, whether or not vested or transferable, may have full dividend rights as determined by the Committee. However, if shares or securities are issued as a result of a merger, consolidation or similar event, such shares shall be issued in the same manner, and subject to the same deposit requirements, vesting provisions and transferability restrictions as the shares of Common Stock which have been awarded. e. Deliveries of Restricted Common Stock by the Corporation may consist in whole or in part of the authorized and unissued Common Stock of the Corporation (at such time or times and in such manner as it may determine). The Restricted Common Stock shall be paid and delivered as soon as practicable after the award period in accordance with Section 7.3. f. The shares may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise disposed of by the Participant until their release. However, nothing herein shall preclude a Participant from making a gift of any shares of Restricted Common Stock to a spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent or sibling, or legal dependent of the Participant or to a trust of which the beneficiary or beneficiaries of the corpus and the income shall be either such a person or the Participant; provided that, the Restricted Common Stock so given shall remain subject to the restrictions, obligations and conditions described in this Article VII. g. If a Participant has received an award pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, is employed by the Corporation or remains a Non-Employee Director or is an advisor at the end of the award period and the performance goals have been met, then the Participant shall be fully vested, at the end of the award period, in the shares of Common Stock awarded to the Participant for that award period. h. In the event of termination of employment of an employee Participant or termination of service of a Non-Employee Director or advisor prior to the last day of an award period for any reason other than Participant's death, all rights to any shares of Restricted Common Stock held in a deposit account with respect to such award, including any additional shares delivered with respect to such shares as described in subsection 7.2d above shall be forfeited to the Corporation. However, the Committee may, if the Committee determines that the circumstances warrant such action, approve the distribution of all or any part of the Restricted Common Stock which would otherwise be forfeited. 7.3 Distribution of Restricted Common Stock a. Distribution After Award Period: Except as otherwise provided, distribution of vested awards of Common Stock shall be made as soon as practicable after the last day of the applicable award period in the form of full shares of Common Stock, with fractional shares, if any, being awarded in cash. b. Distribution After Death of Participant: Upon the death of the Participant, either before or after retirement, any shares of Restricted Common Stock then held shall, subject to this Article VII, be delivered within a reasonable time under the circumstances to Participant's Beneficiary or, in the absence of an appropriate Beneficiary designation to the Participant's estate, in such one or more installments as the Committee may then determine. 7.4 Designation of Beneficiaries If a Participant dies prior to the receipt in full of any award under the Plan to which the Participant is entitled, the award shall be distributed to the Participant's Beneficiary or, in the absence of a Beneficiary designation, to the Participant's estate. The designation of a Beneficiary shall be made in writing on a form prescribed by and filed with the Committee prior to the Participant's death. If the Committee is in doubt as to the right of any person to receive such amount, the Committee may retain such amount, without liability for any interest thereon, until the rights thereto are determined, or the Committee may pay such amount into any court of appropriate jurisdiction and such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Plan and the Corporation therefor. 7.5 Transferability: Subject to the provision of this Article VII, shares of Common Stock awarded to a Participant will become freely transferable by the Participant only at the end of the award period established with respect to such shares. 7.6 Distribution to Person Other Than Employee: If the Committee shall find that any person to whom any award is payable under this Article VII of the Plan is unable to care for such person's affairs because of illness or accident, or is a minor, or has died, then any payment due Participant or Participant's estate (unless a prior claim therefor has been made by a duly appointed legal representative), may, if the Committee so directs the Corporation, be paid to Participant's spouse, a child, a 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 Corporation therefor. 7.7 Restricted Common Stock for employee Participants is intended to constitute an unfunded deferred compensation arrangement for a select group of management or highly compensated personnel. 7.8 A forfeiture of shares of Common Stock pursuant to subsection 7.2h of the Plan shall effect a complete forfeiture of voting rights, dividend rights and all other rights relating to the award or grant as of the date of forfeiture. 7.9 Each distribution of Common Stock under this Article VII of the Plan shall be made subject to such federal, state and local tax withholding requirements as apply on the distribution date. For this purpose, the Committee may provide for the withholding of shares of Common Stock or allow a Participant to pay to the Corporation funds sufficient to satisfy such withholding requirements. Article VIII. Phantom Shares, Performance Units, Restricted Stock Units and Management Stock Purchase Plan 8.1 Phantom Shares. a. Grants of Phantom Shares. The Committee may from time to time grant Phantom Shares, the value of which is determined by reference to a share of Common Stock on terms and conditions as the Committee, in its discretion, may from time to time determine. Each grant of Phantom Shares shall specify the number of Phantom Shares granted, the Initial Value of such Phantom shares which shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the date of grant, the Valuation Dates, the number of Phantom Shares whose appreciation value shall be determined on each such Valuation Date, any applicable vesting schedule for such Phantom Shares, and any applicable limitation on payment for such Phantom Shares. b. Appreciation Value. (i) Valuation Dates; Measurement of Appreciation Value. The Committee shall provide for one or more Valuation Dates on which the Appreciation Value of the Phantom Shares granted shall be measured and fixed, and shall designate the number of such Phantom Shares whose Appreciation Value is to be calculated on each such Valuation Date. (ii) Payment of Appreciation Value. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 8.1, the Appreciation Value of a Phantom Share shall be paid to a Participant in cash in a lump sum as soon as practicable following the Valuation Date applicable to such Phantom Share. The Committee may in its discretion, establish and set forth a maximum dollar amount payable under the Plan for each Phantom Share granted. (iii) The Committee may, in its discretion, provide that Phantom Shares shall vest (subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may provide in the award) over such period of time, from the date of grant, as may be specified in a vesting schedule contained in the grant. (iv) Termination. In the event of termination of employment of an employee Participant or termination of service of a non-Employee Director or advisor prior to one or more Valuation Dates, unless the Committee in its discretion determines otherwise, the Appreciation Value for any Phantom Share to which the Participant's Rights are vested, shall be the lesser of the Appreciation Value as of the termination date or the Appreciation Value of such Phantom Share calculated as of the originally scheduled Valuation Date applicable thereto in accordance with Section 8.1(b)(i). Unless the Committee, in its discretion determines otherwise, the Appreciation Value so determined for each such vested outstanding Phantom Share shall then be payable to the Participant or the Participant's estate following the originally scheduled Valuation Date applicable thereto in accordance with Section 8.1(b)(ii). Upon a termination as described in this Section 8.1(b)(iv), all rights with respect to Phantom Shares that are not vested as of such date will be relinquished. 8.2 Performance Units. The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Performance Units to Eligible Persons. Each Performance Unit will have an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant and credited to a bookkeeping account established for the Participant, but no Participant shall be granted Performance Units during any one fiscal year with an initial value in excess of $2.5 million. The Committee will set performance periods and objectives and other terms and conditions of the grant based upon Performance Criteria as determined by the Committee that, depending upon the extent to which they are met, will determine the value of Performance Units that will be paid out to the Participant. The Committee may pay earned Performance Units in cash, Common Stock or a combination thereof. Unless otherwise set forth in the grant, in the event the employment of an employee Participant is terminated during a performance period due to death, disability or retirement under the provisions of the Pension Plan the Participant will receive a prorated payout of Performance Units. In the event the employment is terminated for any other reason, then all Performance Units will be forfeited. If the service of a Non-Employee Director or advisor is terminated during a performance period, the Participant will receive a prorated payout of Performance Units. Notwithstanding the above, no payouts will be made to the extent that objectives other than the duration of the performance period have not been met except to the extent that the Committee in its discretion decides to waive any such other achievement or objectives. 8.3 Management Stock Purchase Plan. The Committee may permit select employee Participants to elect to receive all or a portion of their incentive payment under the Officer's Incentive Compensation Plan in the form of cash, shares of Restricted Common Stock, shares of Restricted Stock Units or a combination of these and any such election of Restricted Common Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units shall be referred to for purposes of this Plan as a purchase. The Committee may also award additional shares of Restricted Common Stock or Restricted Stock Units to such select Participants who elect to receive their incentive payment in the form of Common Stock or Restricted Stock Units, provided that the value of all such additional Common Stock and Restricted Stock Units awarded to any one Participant will not exceed $2.5 million for any fiscal year. Shares of Common Stock and Restricted Stock Units will be granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of this Plan (other than the limitations with respect to maximum shares under Section 5.3) as well as any terms of the grant. Each grant will set forth the extent to which the Participant has the right to retain unvested Restricted Common Stock or Restricted Stock Units after his or her termination of employment with the Corporation or a Subsidiary. These terms will be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, need not be uniform among all grants, and may reflect, among other things, distinctions based on the reasons for termination of employment. Article IX. Amendment, Duration and Termination of the Plan 9.1 Duration of Plan. No grants or awards may be made under this Plan after May 31, 2009. Any grant or award effective on or prior to May 31, 2009 will be continue to vest and otherwise be effective after the expiration of this Plan in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Plan as well as any requirements set forth in the grant or award. 9.2 Right To Amend, Suspend or Terminate Plan: Except as provided in Section 9.5 below, the Board reserves the right at any time to amend, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part and for any reason and without the consent of any Optionee, Participant or Beneficiary; provided, that no such amendment shall: a. Change the Stock Option price or adversely affect any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right outstanding under the Plan on the effective date of such amendment or termination, or b. Adversely affect any award or grant then in effect or rights to receive any amount to which Participants or Beneficiaries have become entitled prior to such amendment, or c. Unless approved by the Shareholders of the Corporation, increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock reserved for award or grant under the Plan, change the group of Eligible Persons under the Plan or materially increase benefits to Eligible Persons under the Plan. 9.3 Periodic Review of Plan: In order to assure the continued realization of the purposes of the Plan, the Committee shall periodically review the Plan, and the Committee may suggest amendments to the Board as it may deem appropriate. 9.4 Amendments May Be Retroactive: Subject to Section 9.1 above, any amendment, modification, suspension or termination of any provisions of the Plan may be made retroactively. 9.5 Change in Control: Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Plan, in the event of a Change in Control as defined under any written employment contract or agreement between the Corporation or a subsidiary and an Officer of the Corporation or a subsidiary, awards of Common Stock granted under this Plan, as well as grants of any Performance Units, Restricted Stock Units and the Appreciation Value of Phantom Shares, shall vest to the extent, if any, provided for in the written employment agreement or contract or in such separate contractual arrangement relating to such an award or grant as may exist from time to time. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, the provisions of this Section 9.5 may not be amended after the date a Change in Control occurs. Article X. General Provisions 10.1 Rights to Continued Employment, Award or Option: Nothing contained in the Plan or in any grant or award under this Plan shall give any employee the right to be retained in the employment of the Corporation or affect the right of the Corporation to terminate the employee's employment at any time. The adoption of the Plan shall not constitute a contract between the Corporation and any employee. No Eligible Person who is an employee shall receive any right to be granted an option, right or award hereunder nor shall any such option, right or award be considered as compensation under any employee benefit plan of the Corporation. 10.2 Governing Law: The provisions of this Plan and all rights thereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, execution is hereby effected. ATTEST: ---------------------------------------------------------- Secretary CMS ENERGY CORPORATION By: ------------------------------------------------------ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer