EX-10.7 6 a2074704zex-10_7.txt EXHIBIT 10.7 EXHIBIT 10.7 HEXCEL CORPORATION LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN I. PURPOSE The purpose of the Hexcel Corporation Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is to advance the interests of Hexcel Corporation (the "Company") by providing an incentive for those key employees who have a direct, measurable opportunity to advance the Company's goals and promote the growth and long-range interests of the Company. In addition, it is intended that the Plan create linkage between performance and compensation, align management's interests with the interests of stockholders and encourage team management and corporate success. A further purpose of the Plan is to serve as a qualified performance-based compensation program under Section 162(m) of the Code (as defined below) in order to preserve the Company's tax deduction for compensation paid under the Plan. II. DEFINITIONS (a) "Affiliate" of any Person shall mean any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person. The term "Control" shall have the meaning specified in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as in effect on December 19, 2000. (b) "Award" shall mean the amount (if any) payable to a Participant in respect of a Performance Period pursuant to the Plan. (c) "Beneficial Owner" (and variants thereof) shall have the meaning given in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. (d) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. (e) "Cause" shall mean (i) the willful and continued failure by the Participant to substantially perform the Participant's duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from the Participant's incapacity due to physical or mental illness) after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Participant by the Company, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Company believes that the Participant has not substantially performed the Participant's duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by the Participant in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or its Subsidiaries, monetarily or otherwise. For purposes of clauses (i) and (ii) of this definition, no act, or failure to act, on the Participant's part shall be deemed "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Participant not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Participant's act, or failure to act, was in the best interest of the Company. (f) "Change in Control" shall have the meaning given in Article XV hereof. (g) "Code" shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, as amended. (h) "Committee" shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee of the Board as may be designated from time to time to administer the Plan. (i) "Company" shall mean Hexcel Corporation, a Delaware corporation. (j) "Disability" shall mean that, as a result of the Participant's incapacity due to physical or mental illness or injury, the Participant shall not have performed all or substantially all of the Participant's usual duties as an employee for a period of more than one-hundred-fifty (150) days in any period of one-hundred-eighty (180) consecutive days. (k) "EBIT" shall mean the consolidated earnings before interest and taxes. (l) "EBITDA" shall mean the consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. (m) "EBT" shall mean the consolidated earnings before taxes. (n) "EPS (basic)" shall mean the consolidated net earnings of the Company and its Subsidiaries per share of issued and outstanding Stock. (o) "EPS (diluted)" shall mean the consolidated net earnings of the Company and its Subsidiaries per share of Stock on a fully diluted basis. (p) "Eligible Employee" shall mean any officer or employee of the Company or a Subsidiary. (q) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time. (r) "GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles as applied by the Company. (s) "Governance Agreement" shall mean the Governance Agreement dated as of December 19, 2000, as amended by and between LXH, L.L.C., LXH II, L.L.C., Hexcel Corporation and the other parties listed on the signature pages thereto. (t) "Participant" shall mean any Eligible Employee who is approved by the Committee, in its sole discretion, for participation in the Plan in any Performance Period. (u) "Performance Goals" shall mean any one or more criteria and objectives established by the Committee which must be met during the Performance Period as a condition of the Participant's receipt of an Award in respect of such Performance Period. Performance Goals may be based upon the extent of attainment of a level of debt, inventory turns, cash flow, working capital, EBIT, EBITDA, EBT, EPS (basic), EPS (diluted), ROE, Revenue, RONA, Stock Price or SVA relating to the Company, a Subsidiary or business unit. Performance Goals applicable to any Participant may also include any objective or subjective performance measurement relating to the Company, a Subsidiary or business unit which the Committee deems appropriate as well as the extent of attainment by a Participant of individual performance objectives. The Performance Goals may be based on GAAP or adjusted GAAP as the Committee shall specify at the establishment of a Performance Period. 2 (v) "Person", as used in Article XV hereof, shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act. (w) "Plan" shall mean this Hexcel Corporation Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time. (x) "Performance Period" shall mean the fiscal period of at least eight quarters specified by the Committee from time to time over which Performance Goals shall be measured for purposes of determining an Award under the Plan; provided that a Performance Period for a Participant who becomes employed by the Company following the commencement of a Performance Period may commence on the date of the commencement of such employment. (y) "Retirement" shall mean the termination of a Participant's employment (other than by reason of death or Cause) which occurs either (i) at or after age 65 or (ii) at or after age 55 after five (5) years of employment by the Corporation (or a Subsidiary thereof). (z) "ROE" shall mean return on the equity. (aa) "Revenue" shall mean the consolidated net sales. (bb) "RONA" shall mean return on the consolidated net assets. (cc) "Stock" shall mean shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share. (dd) "Stock Price" shall mean the price of the Company's Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Consolidated Transactions Tape. (ee) "Subsidiary" shall mean any subsidiary corporation of the Company consolidated with the Company for financial reporting purposes. (ff) "SVA" shall mean return on the weighted average cost of capital. (gg) "Target Incentive Award" shall have the meaning given in Section V(A) hereof. III. ADMINISTRATION Administration of the Plan shall be by the Committee, which shall, in applying and interpreting the provisions of the Plan, have full power and authority to construe, interpret and carry out the provisions of the Plan. All decisions, interpretations and actions of the Committee under the Plan shall be at the Committee's sole and absolute discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties. No member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any action taken or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award granted hereunder. IV. ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION The Committee shall have full and complete discretion in determining which Eligible Employees may be Participants in the Plan in any Performance Period. Participation in the Plan in 3 any Performance Period shall not confer any right on any Participant to participate in any subsequent Performance Period. V. DETERMINATION OF AWARDS A. ESTABLISHMENT OF TARGET INCENTIVE AWARDS AND PERFORMANCE GOALS. No later than ninety (90) days after the beginning of a Performance Period the Committee shall establish for each Participant (i) a Target Incentive Award for such Performance Period and the applicable Performance Goals in respect of such Performance Period and (ii) the amount of Award payable under the Plan as a percentage (which may exceed one hundred (100%) percent) of the Target Incentive Award derived from the degree of achievement of the applicable Performance Goals. The Performance Goals established by the Committee may be (but need not be) different each Performance Period and different goals may be applicable to different Participants. As soon as practicable after the establishment of the Target Incentive Award and Performance Goals, each Participant shall be notified in writing of such Target Incentive Award and the corresponding Performance Goals. B. AMOUNT OF AWARD PAYABLE NORMALLY. The Committee shall determine the Award payable to each Participant from the degree of achievement of the applicable Performance Goals. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, (a) other than in respect of an Award intended to meet the requirements of Section 162(m), increase the amount of any Award otherwise payable to any Participant or (b) decrease or eliminate the amount payable to a Participant, in each case to reflect such Participant's individual performance or such other factors as the Committee deems relevant, or in recognition of changed or special circumstances. The amount of the Award payable to a Participant for any Performance Period shall not exceed $3,000,000. C. AMOUNT OF AWARD WITH CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS. In the event of a change in employment status of a Participant during the Performance Period, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, adjust the Award determinants for the Participant based upon the Participant's new status. D. AMOUNT OF AWARD WITH TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR CHANGE IN CONTROL. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, payment of an Award to a Participant for a particular Performance Period shall be made only if the Participant is employed by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries on the last day of the Performance Period. In the case of a Participant's separation from service due to Disability, Retirement or death or, in the case of a Participant's involuntary termination of employment by the Company or a Subsidiary other than for Cause if actively employed for the greater of six months or twenty-five percent of the Performance Period, a Participant shall be entitled to receive an Award, prorated for the period of active employment with the Company or a Subsidiary during the Performance Period, payable in accordance with Article VI below. In the case of a Change in Control of the Company during a Performance Period, a Participant shall be entitled to receive an Award, prorated for the period of active employment with the Company or a Subsidiary during such Performance Period and prior to the Change in Control, computed as if applicable Performance Goals had been attained at the one hundred (100%) percent level and payable in cash no later than the fifth (5th) day following the Change in Control. VI. PAYMENT OF AWARDS Except as provided in the last sentence of Section V(D) hereof, an Award which becomes payable to a Participant pursuant to Article V hereof shall be paid to the Participant (or 4 the Participant's estate in the event of the Participant's death) as soon as practicable after the close of the Performance Period and certification by the Committee of the degree of achievement of the relevant Performance Goals. No Participant shall have the unconditional right to an Award hereunder until the Performance Period has concluded and the exact amount of the Award (if any) has been determined and certified by the Committee. All Awards shall be paid in cash. VII. DEFERRAL ELECTIONS The Committee may, at its option, establish written procedures pursuant to which Participants are permitted to defer the receipt of Awards payable under the Plan. VIII. ACCOUNTING DETERMINATIONS The Committee reserves sole discretion in adopting and changing, from time to time, the accounting principles and practices reflected in audited financial statements of the Company and, in its sole and absolute judgment, to make such other adjustments in Company financial results and/or Performance Goals as may be deemed reasonable, including, without limitation, changes to reflect acquisitions, divestitures, other corporate capital reorganizations, recapitalization or extraordinary events. IX. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN The Compensation Committee of the Board reserves the right, at any time including during a Performance Period, to amend, suspend or terminate the Plan, in whole or in part, in any manner, and for any reason, and without the consent of any Participant, or other person; provided, that no such amendment, suspension or termination shall adversely affect the payment of any Award for a Performance Period ending prior to the action amending, suspending or terminating the Plan or the payment of any Award payable pursuant to the last sentence of Section V(D) hereof or in respect to events occurring prior to such amendment or adversely affect the rights of a Participant pursuant to any agreement with the Company or any Subsidiary. X. GOVERNING LAW The provisions of the Plan shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the choice of law principles thereof. XI. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS Nothing contained in the Plan shall give any employee the right to be retained in the employment of the Company or a Subsidiary or affect the right of the Company or a Subsidiary to dismiss any employee. The Plan shall not constitute a contract between the Company or a Subsidiary and any employee. Unless approved by the Committee in respect of a particular Performance Period, no Participant shall have any right to be granted an Award hereunder. Nothing contained in the Plan shall restrict the Committee's power to grant any employee an award or bonus outside the scope of this Plan. XII. NO ALIENATION OF BENEFITS Except insofar as may otherwise be required by law, no amount payable at any time under the Plan shall be subject in any manner to alienation by anticipation, sale, transfer, assignment, bankruptcy, pledge, attachment, charge or encumbrance of any kind, nor in any 5 manner be subject to the debts or liabilities of a Participant, and any attempt to so alienate or subject any such amount, whether presently or thereafter payable, shall be void. XIII. NO RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN COMPANY'S ASSETS Nothing contained in the Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create, or be construed to create, a trust of any kind, or fiduciary relationship between the Company or a Subsidiary and any Participant or any other person. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under the Plan, such rights shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company. All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company, and no special or separate funds shall be established, and no segregation of assets shall be made, to assure payment thereof. XIV. NO STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN No shares of Stock shall be reserved for, or issued under, the Plan. XV. CHANGE IN CONTROL Unless otherwise specified by the Committee at the establishment of a Performance Period, for purposes of the Plan the term "Change in Control" shall mean any of the following events: (1) any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 40% or more of either (a) the then outstanding Stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Common Stock") or (b) the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company (the "Total Voting Power"); excluding, however, the following: (i) any acquisition by the Company or any of its Controlled Affiliates, (ii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its Controlled Affiliates and (iii) any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction described in the exclusion within paragraph (3) below; or (2) a change in the composition of the Board such that the individuals who, as of December 20, 2000, constitute the Board (such individuals shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Incumbent Directors") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, for purposes of this definition, that any individual who becomes a director subsequent to such date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders, was made or approved pursuant to the Governance Agreement or by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors (or directors whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board; but, provided, further, that any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person or legal entity other than the Board shall not be considered a member of the Incumbent Board; or (3) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company ("Corporate Transaction"); excluding, however, such a Corporate Transaction (a) pursuant to which all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who are the Beneficial Owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Common Stock and Total Voting Power 6 immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction will Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, more than 50%, respectively, of the outstanding common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the company resulting from such Corporate Transaction (including, without limitation, a company which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction of the Outstanding Common Stock and Total Voting Power, as the case may be, and (b) immediately following which the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the company resulting from such Corporate Transaction (including, without limitation, a company which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries); or (4) the approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company. XVI. INTERPRETATION The Plan is designed and intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code to the extent applicable to a "covered person" as defined therein, and the Plan shall be construed in a manner to so comply. XVII. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM The Plan shall take effect on February 27, 2002 (the date of its adoption by the Board). The Plan shall be submitted to stockholders of the Company to meet the stockholder approval requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code to maximize the deductibility of Awards to "covered persons" as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code. The effectiveness of the Plan is not dependent on obtaining stockholder approval. 7