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): June 5, 2014
MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE | 001-10362 | 88-0215232 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission file number) | (I.R.S. employer identification no.) |
3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South, | ||
Las Vegas, Nevada | 89109 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) |
(702) 693-7120
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
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 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangement of Certain Officers.
(e) On June 5, 2014, MGM Resorts International, a Delaware corporation (the Company), held its annual meeting of stockholders (the Annual Meeting). At the Annual Meeting, our stockholders approved amendments to the Companys Amended and Restated 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the Plan), which had previously been approved by our Board of Directors, subject to the approval of our stockholders.
The Plan was amended and restated to:
| extend the term of the Plan to April 22, 2024; |
| increase the number of shares of our common stock available for grant under the Plan by 10 million shares (to a total authorization of 45 million shares); |
| establish an annual limit of $600,000 on nonemployee director awards; and |
| make other administrative changes. |
The material features of the Plan are described in our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the Annual Meeting filed on April 25, 2014 (the Proxy Statement). The description of the Plan included in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference. The above description of the Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits:
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
10.1 | MGM Resorts International Amended and Restated 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan. | |
99.1 | The section entitled Proposal No. 4 Approval of the Amendments to the Amended and Restated 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan of the definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A of MGM Resorts International filed on April 25, 2014 is incorporated herein by reference. |
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: June 10, 2014
MGM Resorts International | ||
By: | /s/ Andrew Hagopian III | |
Name: Andrew Hagopian III | ||
Title: Vice President, Deputy General Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary |
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
10.1 | MGM Resorts International Amended and Restated 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan. | |
99.1 | The section entitled Proposal No. 4 Approval of the Amendments to the Amended and Restated 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan of the definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A of MGM Resorts International filed on April 25, 2014 is incorporated herein by reference. |
Exhibit 10.1
Amended and Restated | ||||
2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan | ||||
MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL | ||||
Amended and Restated on April 22, 2014 |
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A-1 | ||||
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A-6 | ||||
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A-8 | ||||
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A-10 | ||||
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A-11 | ||||
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A-13 | ||||
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Article 16. Amendment, Modification, Suspension, and Termination |
A-13 | |||
A-14 | ||||
A-14 | ||||
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Amended and Restated
MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL
2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan
Article 1. Establishment, Purpose, and Duration
1.1 Establishment. MGM Resorts International, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the Company), establishes an incentive compensation plan to be known as the MGM Resorts International 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan (hereinafter referred to as the Plan), as set forth in this document.
This Plan permits the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units and Other Stock-Based Awards.
This Plan originally became effective on May 3, 2005, was subsequently amended and restated effective October 6, 2008 and April 22, 2014 and shall remain in effect as provided in Section 1.3 hereof.
1.2 Purpose of this Plan. The purpose of this Plan is to provide a means whereby Employees, Directors and Independent Marketing Agents of the Company develop a sense of proprietorship and personal involvement in the development and financial success of the Company, and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to the business of the Company, thereby advancing the interests of the Company and its shareholders. A further purpose of this Plan is to provide a means through which the Company may attract able individuals to become Employees or serve as Directors of the Company and to provide a means for such individuals to acquire and maintain stock ownership in the Company, thereby strengthening their concern for the welfare of the Company.
1.3 Duration of this Plan. Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this Plan shall terminate on April 22, 2024. After this Plan is terminated, no Awards may be granted but Awards previously granted shall remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and this Plans terms and conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Incentive Stock Options may be granted more than the earlier of (a) ten (10) years after the most recent adoption of this Plan by the Board, or (b) April 22, 2024.
Whenever used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below, and when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word shall be capitalized.
2.1 | Annual Award Limit or Annual Award Limits have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3. |
2.2 | Associate shall mean any corporation or other entity (including, but not limited to, a partnership or a limited liability company), that the Company has or obtains, directly or indirectly, a proprietary interest of less than fifty percent (50%), by reason of stock ownership or otherwise, and is designated as an Associate for purposes of this Plan by the Committee. |
2.3 | Award means, individually or collectively, a grant under this Plan of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, or Other Stock-Based Awards, in each case subject to the terms of this Plan. |
2.4 | Award Agreement means either (i) a written agreement entered into by the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under this Plan, or (ii) a written or electronic statement issued by the Company to a Participant describing the terms and provisions of such Award, including any amendment or modification thereof. The Committee may provide for the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper Award Agreements, and the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper means for the acceptance thereof and actions thereunder by a Participant. |
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2.5 | Beneficial Owner or Beneficial Ownership shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act. |
2.6 | Board or Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company. |
2.7 | Code means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. For purposes of this Plan, references to sections of the Code shall be deemed to include references to any applicable regulations thereunder and any successor or similar provision. |
2.8 | Committee means the Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board or a subcommittee thereof, or any other committee designated by the Board to administer this Plan. The members of the Committee shall be appointed from time to time by and shall serve at the discretion of the Board. If the Committee does not exist or cannot function for any reason, the Board may take any action under the Plan that would otherwise be the responsibility of the Committee. |
2.9 | Company means MGM Resorts International, a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto as provided in Article 18 herein. |
2.10 | Covered Employee means any salaried Employee who is or may become a Covered Employee, as defined in Code Section 162(m), and who is designated, either as an individual Employee or class of Employees, by the Committee within the shorter of (i) ninety (90) days after the beginning of the Performance Period, or (ii) twenty-five (25) percent (25%) of the Performance Period has elapsed, as a Covered Employee under this Plan for such applicable Performance Period. |
2.11 | Director means any individual who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company. |
2.12 | Employee means any person designated as an employee of the Company, its Associates, and/or its Subsidiaries on the payroll records thereof. An Employee shall not include any individual during any period he or she is classified or treated by the Company, Associate, and/or Subsidiary as an independent contractor, a consultant, or any employee of an employment, consulting, or temporary agency or any other entity other than the Company, Associate, and/or Subsidiary, without regard to whether such individual is subsequently determined to have been, or is subsequently retroactively reclassified as a common-law employee of the Company, Associate, and/or Subsidiary during such period. |
2.13 | Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor act thereto. |
2.14 | Fair Market Value or FMV means a price that is based on the opening, closing, actual, high, low, or average selling prices of a Share reported on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or other established stock exchange (or exchanges) on the applicable date, the preceding trading day, the next succeeding trading day, or an average of trading days, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be equal to the reported closing price of a Share on the most recent date on which Shares were publicly traded. In the event Shares are not publicly determined at the time a determination of their value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of their Fair Market Value shall be made by the Committee in such manner as it deems appropriate. Such definition(s) of FMV may be specified in an Award Agreement and may differ depending on whether FMV is in reference to the grant, exercise, vesting, settlement, or payout of an Award. |
2.15 | Family Members of a Participant means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law of such Participant, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing such Participants household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which such individuals have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these individuals (or the Participant) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these individuals (or the Participant) own more than fifty percent of the voting interest. |
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2.16 | Freestanding SAR means an SAR that is granted independently of any Options, as described in Article 7. |
2.17 | Full Value Award means an Award other than in the form of an ISO, NQSO or SAR, and which is settled by the issuance of Shares. |
2.18 | Grant Price means the price established at the time of grant of a SAR pursuant to Article 7, used to determine whether there is any payment due upon exercise of the SAR. |
2.19 | Incentive Stock Option or ISO means an Option to purchase Shares granted under Article 6 to an Employee and that is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and that is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422, or any successor provision. |
2.20 | Independent Marketing Agent means a representative hired as an independent agent of the Company, and is treated as an independent contractor, to carry out duties related to casino marketing activities. Each Independent Marketing Agent is a natural person that provides bona fide services to the registrant, within the meaning of Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended to date. |
2.21 | Insider means an individual who is, on the relevant date, an officer, or Director of the Company, or a more than ten percent (10%) Beneficial Owner of any class of the Companys equity securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as determined by the Board in accordance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act. |
2.22 | Nonemployee Director means a Director who is not an Employee. |
2.23 | Nonqualified Stock Option or NQSO means an Option that is not intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422, or that otherwise does not meet such requirements. |
2.24 | Option means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, as described in Article 6. |
2.25 | Option Price means the price at which a Share may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to an Option. |
2.26 | Other Stock-Based Award means an equity-based or equity-related Award not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan, granted pursuant to Article 10. |
2.27 | Participant means any eligible individual as set forth in Article 5 to whom an Award is granted. |
2.28 | Performance-Based Compensation means compensation under an Award that is intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for certain performance-based compensation paid to Covered Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Plan shall be construed to mean that an Award which does not satisfy the requirements for performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m) does not constitute performance-based compensation for other purposes, including Code Section 409A. |
2.29 | Performance Measures means measures as described in Article 12 on which the performance goals are based and which are approved by the Companys shareholders pursuant to this Plan in order to qualify Awards as Performance-Based Compensation. |
2.30 | Performance Period means the period of time during which the performance goals must be met in order to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to an Award. |
2.31 | Performance Share means an Award under Article 9 herein and subject to the terms of this Plan, denominated in Shares, the value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a function of the extent to which corresponding performance criteria have been achieved. |
2.32 | Performance Unit means an Award under Article 9 herein and subject to the terms of this Plan, denominated in units, the value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a function of the extent to which corresponding performance criteria have been achieved. |
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2.33 | Period of Restriction means the period when Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance goals, or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, in its discretion), as provided in Article 8. |
2.34 | Permitted Transfer means any transfer of an Award, other than an ISO, by a Participant to a Participants Family Member made by gift or domestic relations order if such transfer is not for value; provided, however, that neither (i) a transfer under a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights nor (ii) a transfer to an entity in which more than fifty percent of the voting interests are owned by Family Members or the Participant in exchange for an interest in that entity shall be deemed a transfer for value for the purposes of determining whether a transfer is a Permitted Transfer. |
2.35 | Plan means the MGM Resorts International 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan. |
2.36 | Plan Year means the Companys fiscal year. |
2.37 | Prior Plans means the 1997 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan, amended and restated May 13, 2003, and the 1997 Incentive Stock Option Plan. |
2.38 | Restricted Stock means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 8. |
2.39 | Restricted Stock Unit means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 8, where no Shares are actually awarded to the Participant on the date of grant. |
2.40 | Share means a share of common stock of the Company, $.01 par value per share. |
2.41 | Stock Appreciation Right or SAR means an Award, designated as an SAR, pursuant to the terms of Article 7 herein. |
2.42 | Subsidiary means any corporation or other entity, whether domestic or foreign, in which the Company has or obtains, directly or indirectly, a proprietary interest of fifty percent (50%) or more by reason of stock ownership or otherwise. |
2.43 | Tandem SAR means an SAR that is granted in connection with a related Option pursuant to Article 7 herein, the exercise of which shall require forfeiture of the right to purchase a Share under the related Option (and when a Share is purchased under the Option, the Tandem SAR shall similarly be canceled). |
3.1 General. The Committee shall be responsible for administering this Plan, subject to this Article 3 and the other provisions of this Plan. In connection with its administration of the Plan, the Committee may employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, agents, and other individuals, any of whom may be an Employee, and the Committee, the Company, and its officers and Directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions, or valuations of any such individuals. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee shall be final and binding upon the Participants, the Company, and all other interested individuals.
3.2 Authority of the Committee. The Committee shall have full and exclusive discretionary power to interpret the terms and the intent of this Plan and any Award Agreement or other agreement or document ancillary to or in connection with this Plan, to determine eligibility for Awards and to adopt such rules, regulations, forms, instruments, and guidelines for administering this Plan as the Committee may deem necessary or proper. Such authority shall include, but not be limited to, selecting Award recipients, establishing all Award terms and conditions, including the terms and conditions set forth in Award Agreements, granting Awards as an alternative to or as the form of payment for grants or rights earned or due under compensation plans or arrangements of the Company, construing any ambiguous provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement, and, subject to Article 16, correcting a defect or supplying any omission, or reconciling any inconsistency so that the
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Plan or any Award Agreement complies with applicable law, regulations and listing requirements and so as to avoid unanticipated consequences or address unanticipated events (including any temporary closure of the stock exchange on which the Companys Shares are listed, disruption of communications or natural catastrophe), or adopting modifications and amendments to this Plan or any Award Agreement, including without limitation, any that are necessary to comply with the laws of the countries and other jurisdictions in which the Company, its Associates, and/or its Subsidiaries operate.
3.3 Delegation. The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or more officers of the Company, and/or its Subsidiaries and Associates or to one or more agents or advisors such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable, and the Committee or any individuals to whom it has delegated duties or powers as aforesaid may employ one or more individuals to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee or such individuals may have under this Plan. The Committee may, by resolution, authorize one or more officers of the Company to do one or both of the following on the same basis as can the Committee: (a) designate Employees to be recipients of Awards; and (b) determine the size of any such Awards; provided, however, (i) the Committee shall not delegate such responsibilities to any such officer for Awards granted to an Employee who is considered an Insider; (ii) the resolution providing such authorization sets forth the total number of Awards such officer(s) may grant; and (iii) the officer(s) shall report periodically to the Committee regarding the nature and scope of the Awards granted pursuant to the authority delegated.
Article 4. Shares Subject to this Plan and Maximum Awards
4.1 Number of Shares Available for Awards. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.4 herein, the maximum number of Shares available for issuance to Participants under this Plan (the Share Authorization) shall be Forty-five million (45,000,000) Shares after June 5, 2014.
4.2 Share Usage. Shares covered by an Award shall only be counted as used to the extent they are actually issued. Any Shares related to Awards which terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation, or otherwise without the issuance of such Shares, are settled in cash in lieu of Shares, or are exchanged with the Committees permission, prior to the issuance of Shares, for Awards not involving Shares, shall be available again for grant under this Plan. Moreover, if the Option Price of any Option granted under this Plan or the tax withholding requirements with respect to any Award granted under this Plan are satisfied by tendering Shares to the Company (by either actual delivery or by attestation), or if an SAR is exercised, only the number of Shares issued, net of the Shares tendered, if any, will be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for delivery under this Plan. The Shares available for issuance under this Plan may be authorized and unissued Shares or treasury Shares.
4.3 Annual Award Limits. The following limits (each an Annual Award Limit and, collectively, Annual Award Limits) shall apply to grants of such Awards under this Plan:
(a) | Options: The maximum aggregate number of Shares subject to Options granted in any one Plan Year to any one Participant shall be two million (2,000,000). |
(b) | SARs: The maximum number of Shares subject to Stock Appreciation Rights granted in any one Plan Year to any one Participant shall be two million (2,000,000). |
(c) | Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units: The maximum aggregate grant with respect to Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units in any one Plan Year to any one Participant shall be seven hundred thousand (700,000). |
(d) | Performance Units or Performance Shares: The maximum aggregate Award of Performance Units or Performance Shares that a Participant may receive in any one Plan Year shall be seven hundred thousand (700,000) Shares, or equal to the value of seven hundred thousand (700,000) Shares determined as of the grant of the Award, as applicable. |
(e) | Other Stock-Based Awards: The maximum aggregate grant with respect to Other Stock-Based Awards pursuant to Article 10 in any one Plan Year to any one Participant shall be seven hundred thousand (700,000). |
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(f) | Nonemployee Director Awards: The maximum aggregate grant (regardless of the type(s) of Award granted) in any one Plan Year to any one Participant who is a Nonemployee Director shall be an Award or Awards having an aggregate grant date fair value (as determined for financial reporting purposes) of no more than six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000). |
4.4 Adjustments in Authorized Shares. If the outstanding securities of the class then subject to this Plan are increased, decreased or exchanged for or converted into cash, property or a different number or kind of securities, or if cash, property or securities are distributed in respect of those outstanding securities, in any case as a result of a reorganization, merger consolidation, recapitalization, restructuring , reclassification, extraordinary dividend or other distribution (other than regular, quarterly cash dividends), stock split, reverse stock split or the like, or if substantially all of the property and assets of the Company are sold, then, the Committee shall make appropriate and proportionate adjustments in (a) the number, price (if applicable) and type of shares or other securities or cash or other property that may be subject to Awards previously granted under this Plan, (b) the maximum number and type of shares or other securities or cash or other property that may be issued pursuant to Awards thereafter granted under this Plan, and (c) the maximum number of Shares for which Awards may be granted during any one Plan Year; provided, however, that no adjustment may be made to the number of Shares that may be acquired pursuant to outstanding Incentive Stock Options or the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options may be granted under this Plan to the extent the adjustment would result in those options being treated as other than Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4.4 to the contrary, an adjustment to an Option or SAR under this Section 4.4 shall be made in a manner that will not result in the grant of a new Option or SAR under Section 409A of the Code.
Subject to Section 16.3 and Article 12, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may also make appropriate adjustments in the terms of any Awards under this Plan to reflect or related to such changes or distributions and to modify any other terms of outstanding Awards, including modifications of performance goals and changes in the length of Performance Periods. Subject to Section 16.3, the determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be conclusive and binding on Participants under this Plan.
Subject to the provisions of Article 16 and notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, without affecting the number of Shares reserved or available hereunder, the Committee may authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits under this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate (including, but not limited to, a conversion of equity awards into Awards under this Plan in a manner consistent with applicable regulations), subject to compliance with the rules under Code Sections 422 and 424, as and where applicable.
Article 5. Eligibility and Participation
5.1 Eligibility. Individuals eligible to participate in this Plan include all Employees, Directors and Independent Marketing Agents, in each case, to the extent permissible under Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
5.2 Actual Participation. Subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from all eligible individuals, those individuals to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine, in its sole discretion, the nature of, any and all terms permissible by law, and the amount of each Award.
6.1 Grant of Options. Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, Options may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion; provided that ISOs may be granted only to eligible Employees of the Company or of any parent or subsidiary corporation (as permitted under Code Sections 422 and 424).
6.2 Award Agreement. Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Option Price, the maximum duration of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option
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pertains, the conditions upon which an Option shall become vested and exercisable, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine which are not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan. The Award Agreement also shall specify whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or an NQSO.
6.3 Option Price. The Option Price for each grant of an Option under this Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and shall be specified in the Award Agreement; provided, however, the Option Price on the date of grant must be at least equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the FMV of the Shares as determined on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the price at which shares of stock may be purchased under an ISO granted to a Participant who is a ten-percent owner shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the FMV of the Shares as determined on the date of grant. For this purpose, a ten-percent owner shall mean a person who, at the time the ISO is granted, owns stock with more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company.
6.4 Term of Options. Each Option granted to a Participant shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant; provided, however, no Option shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th) anniversary date of its grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the period during which an ISO may be exercised by a ten percent owner shall expire not later than five years from the date the ISO is granted.
6.5 Exercise of Options. Options granted under this Article 6 shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve, which terms and restrictions need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant.
6.6 Payment. Options granted under this Article 6 shall be exercised by the delivery of a notice of exercise to the Company or an agent designated by the Company in a form specified or accepted by the Committee, or by complying with any alternative procedures which may be authorized by the Committee, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for the Shares.
A condition of the issuance of the Shares as to which an Option shall be exercised shall be the payment of the Option Price. The Option Price of any Option shall be payable to the Company in full either: (a) in cash or its equivalent; (b) by tendering (either by actual delivery or attestation) previously acquired Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the Option Price; (c) a cashless exercise (broker-assisted exercise) through a same day sale commitment; (d) by a combination of (a), (b), and (c); or (e) any other method approved or accepted by the Committee in its sole discretion.
Subject to any governing rules or regulations, as soon as practicable after receipt of written notification of exercise and full payment (including satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding), the Company shall deliver to the Participant evidence of book entry Shares, or upon the Participants request, Share certificates in an appropriate amount based upon the number of Shares purchased under the Option(s).
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, all payments under all of the methods indicated above shall be paid in United States dollars.
6.7 Restrictions on Share Transferability. The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option granted under this Article 6 as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listed and/or traded, or under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such Shares.
6.8 Termination of Employment. Each Participants Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the Option following termination of the Participants employment or provision of services to the Company, its Associates, and/or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to this Article 6, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.
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6.9 Notification of Disqualifying Disposition. If any Participant shall make any disposition of Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of an ISO under the circumstances described in Code Section 421(b) (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions), such Participant shall notify the Company of such disposition within ten (10) days thereof.
Article 7. Stock Appreciation Rights
7.1 Grant of SARs. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, SARs may be granted to Participants at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee may grant Freestanding SARs, Tandem SARs, or any combination of these forms of SARs.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, the Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number of SARs granted to each Participant and, consistent with the provisions of this Plan, in determining the terms and conditions pertaining to such SARs.
The Grant Price for each grant of a Freestanding SAR shall be determined by the Committee and shall be specified in the Award Agreement; provided, however, the Grant Price on the date of grant must be at least equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the FMV of the Shares as determined on the date of grant. The Grant Price of Tandem SARs shall be equal to the Option Price of the related Option.
7.2 SAR Agreement. Each SAR Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Grant Price, the term of the SAR, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.
7.3 Term of SAR. The term of an SAR granted under this Plan shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, and except as determined otherwise by the Committee and specified in the SAR Award Agreement, no SAR shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th) anniversary date of its grant.
7.4 Exercise of Freestanding SARs. Freestanding SARs may be exercised upon whatever terms and conditions the Committee, in its sole discretion, imposes.
7.5 Exercise of Tandem SARs. Tandem SARs may be exercised for all or part of the Shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option. A Tandem SAR may be exercised only with respect to the Shares for which its related Option is then exercisable.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, with respect to a Tandem SAR granted in connection with an ISO: (a) the Tandem SAR will expire no later than the expiration of the underlying ISO; (b) the value of the payout with respect to the Tandem SAR may be for no more than one hundred percent (100%) of the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the underlying ISO at the time the Tandem SAR is exercised over the Option Price of the underlying ISO; and (c) the Tandem SAR may be exercised only when the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the ISO exceeds the Option Price of the ISO.
7.6 Settlement of SAR Amount. Subject to Section 19.11 herein, upon the exercise of an SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company of Shares in an amount determined by multiplying:
(a) | The excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the Grant Price, less applicable tax withholding; by |
(b) | The number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. |
7.7 Termination of Employment. Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the SAR following termination of the Participants employment with or provision of services to the Company, its Associates, and/or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with Participants, need not be uniform among all SARs issued pursuant to this Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.
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7.8 Other Restrictions. The Committee shall impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on any Shares received upon exercise of an SAR granted pursuant to this Plan as it may deem advisable or desirable. These restrictions may include, but shall not be limited to, a requirement that the Participant hold the Shares received upon exercise of an SAR for a specified period of time.
Article 8. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
8.1 Grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units. Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units to Participants in such amounts as the Committee shall determine. Restricted Stock Units shall be similar to Restricted Stock except that no Shares are actually awarded to the Participant on the date of grant.
8.2 Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. Each Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Unit grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Period(s) of Restriction, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock or the number of Restricted Stock Units granted, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.
8.3 Other Restrictions. The Committee shall impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on any Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Plan as it may deem advisable including, without limitation, a requirement that Participants pay a stipulated purchase price for each Share of Restricted Stock or each Restricted Stock Unit, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance goals, time-based restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the performance goals, time-based restrictions, restrictions under applicable laws or under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are listed or traded, and/or holding requirements or sale restrictions placed on the Shares by the Company upon vesting of such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.
To the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, the Company may retain the certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock in the Companys possession until such time as all conditions and/or restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied or lapse.
Except as otherwise provided in this Article 8, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock Award shall become freely transferable by the Participant after all conditions and restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied or lapse (including satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding obligations), and Restricted Stock Units shall be paid in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares as the Committee, in its sole discretion shall determine.
8.4 Certificate Legend. In addition to any legends placed on certificates pursuant to Section 8.3, each certificate representing Shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to this Plan may bear a legend such as the following or as otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion:
The sale or transfer of Shares of stock represented by this certificate, whether voluntary, involuntary, or by operation of law, is subject to certain restrictions on transfer as set forth in the MGM Resorts International 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan, and in the associated Award Agreement. A copy of this Plan and such Award Agreement may be obtained from MGM Resorts International.
8.5 Shareholder Rights. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in a Participants Award Agreement, to the extent permitted or required by law, as determined by the Committee, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder shall have the right to receive dividends in cash or other property or distribution rights in respect of their Shares of Restricted Stock, to the extent made available under the terms of the Awards granting the Shares of the Restricted Stock, and may be granted the right to exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares during the Period of Restriction. A Participant shall have no voting rights at any time with respect to any Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends and/or dividend equivalents that relate to Awards that vest in whole or in part subject to performance goals or conditions shall, to the extent made available under the terms of the Awards, be subject to the same performance goals or conditions as the underlying Award.
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8.6 Termination of Employment. Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units following termination of the Participants employment with or provision of services to the Company, its Associates, and/or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units issued pursuant to this Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.
8.7 Section 83(b) Election. The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement that the Award of Restricted Stock is conditioned upon the Participant making or refraining from making an election with respect to the Award under Code Section 83(b). If a Participant makes an election pursuant to Code Section 83(b) concerning a Restricted Stock Award, the Participant shall be required to file promptly a copy of such election with the Company.
Article 9. Performance Units/Performance Shares
9.1 Grant of Performance Units/Performance Shares. Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Performance Units and/or Performance Shares to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine.
9.2 Value of Performance Units/Performance Shares. Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant. Each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. The Committee shall set performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the value and/or number of Performance Units/Performance Shares that will be paid out to the Participant.
9.3 Earning of Performance Units/Performance Shares. Subject to the terms of this Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units/Performance Shares shall be entitled to receive payout on the value and number of Performance Units/Performance Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance goals have been achieved.
9.4 Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units/Performance Shares. Payment of earned Performance Units/Performance Shares shall be as determined by the Committee and as evidenced in the Award Agreement. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units/Performance Shares in the form of cash or in Shares (or in a combination thereof) equal to the value of the earned Performance Units/Performance Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period, or as soon as practicable after the end of the Performance Period. Any Shares may be granted subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee. The determination of the Committee with respect to the form of payout of such Awards shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the Award.
9.5 Termination of Employment. Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain Performance Units and/or Performance Shares following termination of the Participants employment with or provision of services to the Company, its Associates, and/or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Awards of Performance Units or Performance Shares issued pursuant to this Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.
Article 10. Other Stock-Based Awards
10.1 Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may grant other types of equity-based or equity-related Awards not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted Shares) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine.
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Such Awards may involve the transfer of actual Shares to Participants, and may include, without limitation, Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.
10.2 Value of Other Stock-Based Awards. Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be expressed in terms of Shares or units based on Shares, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may establish performance goals in its discretion. If the Committee exercises its discretion to establish performance goals, the number and/or value of Other Stock-Based Awards that will be paid out to the Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance goals are met.
10.3 Payment of Other Stock-Based Awards. Payment, if any, with respect to an Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash or Shares as the Committee determines.
10.4 Termination of Employment. The Committee shall determine the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to receive Other Stock- Based Awards following termination of the Participants employment with or provision of services to the Company, its Associates, and/or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, and may be included in an agreement entered into with each Participant, but need not be uniform among all Other Stock-Based Awards issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.
Article 11. Transferability of Awards
11.1 Transferability of Incentive Stock Options. No ISO granted under this Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, all ISOs granted to a Participant under Article 6 shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant.
11.2 All Other Awards. Except for any Permitted Transfers provided for in a Participants Award Agreement, which Permitted Transfers may be subject to additional restrictions determined by the Committee and as set forth in the Award Agreement, no other Award granted under this Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, except with respect to interests in Awards which have been subject to a Permitted Transfer provided for in a Participants Award Agreement, all Awards granted to a Participant under this Plan, as applicable, shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant. With respect to those Awards (other than ISOs), if any, that are subject to Permitted Transfers, references in this Plan to exercise or payment related to such Awards by or to the Participant shall be deemed to include, as determined by the Committee, the Participants Family Members to whom such Permitted Transfers were made.
Article 12. Performance Measures
12.1 Performance Measures. The performance goals upon which the payment or vesting of an Award to a Covered Employee that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be limited to the following Performance Measures:
(a) | Net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); |
(b) | Earnings per share; |
(c) | Net sales or revenue growth; |
(d) | Net operating profit; |
(e) | Return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, sales, or revenue); |
(f) | Cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity, and cash flow return on investment); |
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(g) | Earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or amortization; |
(h) | Gross or operating margins; |
(i) | Productivity ratios; |
(j) | Share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return); |
(k) | Expense targets; |
(l) | Margins; |
(m) | Operating efficiency; |
(n) | Market share; |
(o) | Customer satisfaction; |
(p) | Working capital targets; and |
(q) | Economic value added or EVA® (net operating profit after tax minus the sum of capital multiplied by the cost of capital). |
Any Performance Measure(s) may be used to measure the performance of the Company, Subsidiary, and/or Associate as a whole or any business unit of the Company, Subsidiary, and/or Associate or any combination thereof, annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to a previous years result as the Committee may deem appropriate, or any of the above Performance Measures as compared to the performance of a group of comparator companies, or published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or the Company may select Performance Measure (j) above as compared to various stock market indices. The Committee also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of performance goals pursuant to the Performance Measures specified in this Article 12.
12.2 Evaluation of Performance. The Committee may provide in any such Award that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events that occurs during a Performance Period: (a) asset write- downs, (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs, (e) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in applicable accounting provisions and/or in managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Companys annual report to shareholders for the applicable year, (f) acquisitions or divestitures, and (g) foreign exchange gains and losses. To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect Awards to Covered Employees, they shall be prescribed in a form that meets the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for deductibility.
12.3 Adjustment of Performance-Based Compensation. Awards that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation may not be adjusted upward. The Committee shall retain the discretion to adjust such Awards downward, either on a formula or discretionary basis or any combination, as the Committee determines.
12.4 Committee Discretion. In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit Committee discretion to alter the governing Performance Measures without obtaining stockholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining stockholder approval. In addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is advisable to grant Awards that shall not qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Committee may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and base vesting on Performance Measures other than those set forth in Section 12.1.
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Article 13. Dividend Equivalents
Any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted dividend equivalents based on the dividends declared on Shares that are subject to any Award other than Options or SARs, to be credited as of dividend payment dates, during the period between the date the Award is granted and the date the Award is exercised, vests or expires, as determined by the Committee. Such dividend equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional Shares by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividend equivalents that relate to Awards that vest in whole or in part subject to performance goals or conditions shall, to the extent made available under the terms of the Award, be subject to the same performance goals or conditions as the underlying Award.
Article 14. Beneficiary Designation
Each Participant under this Plan may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under this Plan is to be paid in case of his death before he receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Committee, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participants lifetime. In the absence of any such beneficiary designation, benefits remaining unpaid or rights remaining unexercised at the Participants death shall be paid or exercised by the Participants executor, administrator, or legal representative.
Article 15. Rights of Participants
15.1 Employment. Nothing in this Plan or an Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, its Associates, and/or its Subsidiaries, to terminate any Participants employment or service on the Board or to the Company at any time or for any reason not prohibited by law, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue his employment or service as a Director or Independent Marketing Agent for any specified period of time.
Neither an Award nor any benefits arising under this Plan shall constitute an employment contract with the Company, its Associates, and/or its Subsidiaries and, accordingly, subject to Articles 3 and 16, this Plan and the benefits hereunder may be terminated at any time in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Committee without giving rise to any liability on the part of the Company, its Associates, and/or its Subsidiaries.
15.2 Participation. No individual shall have the right to be selected to receive an Award under this Plan, or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future Award.
15.3 Rights as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award until the Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares.
Article 16. Amendment, Modification, Suspension, and Termination
16.1 Amendment, Modification, Suspension, and Termination. Subject to Section 16.3, the Committee may, at any time and from time to time, alter, amend, modify, suspend, or terminate this Plan and any Award Agreement in whole or in part; provided, however, that, without the prior approval of the Companys stockholders and except as provided in Section 4.4, the Option Price of outstanding Options or the Grant Price of outstanding SARs issued under this Plan will not be reduced; at any time when the Option Price of outstanding Options or the Grant Price of outstanding SARs is above the Fair Market Value of a Share, no alteration, amendment or modification shall provide that any such outstanding Option or SAR be cancelled and regranted or exchanged for either cash or a new Award with a lower (or no) Exercise Price or Grant Price; and no other action shall be taken with respect to an Option or SAR that would be treated as a repricing under the rules and regulations of the principal U.S. national securities exchange on which the Shares are listed. And, no material amendment of this Plan shall be made without stockholder approval if stockholder approval is required by law, regulation, or stock exchange rule.
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16.2 Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events. The Committee may make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in Section 4.4 hereof) affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent unintended dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Plan. The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be conclusive and binding on Participants under this Plan.
16.3 Awards Previously Granted. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary (other than Section 16.4), no termination, amendment, suspension, or modification of this Plan or an Award Agreement shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under this Plan, without the written consent of the Participant holding such Award.
16.4 Amendment to Conform to Law. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Board of Directors may amend the Plan or an Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or an Award Agreement to any present or future law relating to plans of this or similar nature (including, but not limited to, Code Section 409A), and to the administrative regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder.
17.1 Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, the minimum statutory amount to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan.
17.2 Share Withholding. With respect to withholding required upon the exercise of Options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units, or upon the achievement of performance goals related to Performance Shares, or any other taxable event arising as a result of an Award granted hereunder, Participants may elect, subject to the approval of the Committee, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the minimum statutory total tax that could be imposed on the transaction. All such elections shall be irrevocable, made in writing, and signed by the Participant, and shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
All obligations of the Company under this Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.
Article 19. General Provisions
19.1 Legend. The certificates for Shares may include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer of such Shares.
19.2 Gender and Number. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine, the plural shall include the singular, and the singular shall include the plural.
19.3 Severability. In the event any provision of this Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of this Plan, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
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19.4 Requirements of Law. The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under this Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.
19.5 Delivery of Title. The Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver evidence of title for Shares issued under this Plan prior to:
(a) | Obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable; and |
(b) | Completion of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any applicable national or foreign law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable. |
19.6 Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Companys counsel to be necessary or advisable to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.
19.7 Investment Representations. The Committee may require any individual receiving Shares pursuant to an Award under this Plan to represent and warrant in writing that the individual is acquiring the Shares for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares.
19.8 Employees Based Outside of the United States. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company, its Associates, and/or its Subsidiaries operate or have Employees, Directors, or Independent Marketing Agents, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to:
(a) | Determine which Associates and Subsidiaries shall be covered by this Plan; |
(b) | Determine which Employees and/or Directors or Independent Marketing Agents outside the United States are eligible to participate in this Plan; |
(c) | Modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Employees and/or Directors or Independent Marketing Agents outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws; |
(d) | Establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable. Any subplans and modifications to Plan terms and procedures established under this Section 19.8 by the Committee shall be attached to this Plan document as appendices; and |
(e) | Take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local government regulatory exemptions or approvals. |
Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate applicable law.
19.9 Uncertificated Shares. To the extent that this Plan provides for issuance of certificates to reflect the transfer of Shares, the transfer of such Shares may be effected on a noncertificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange.
19.10 Unfunded Plan. Participants shall have no right, title, or interest whatsoever in or to any investments that the Company, and/or its Subsidiaries, and/or its Associates may make to aid it in meeting its obligations under this Plan. Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant, beneficiary, legal representative, or any other individual. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company, its Subsidiaries, and/or its Associates under this Plan, such right
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shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company, a Subsidiary, or an Associate, as the case may be. All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company, a Subsidiary, or an Associate, as the case may be and no special or separate fund shall be established and no segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment of such amounts except as expressly set forth in this Plan.
19.11 No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
19.12 Retirement and Welfare Plans. Neither Awards made under this Plan nor Shares or cash paid pursuant to such Awards may be included as compensation for purposes of computing the benefits payable to any Participant under the Companys or any Subsidiarys or Associates retirement plans (both qualified and non-qualified) or welfare benefit plans unless such other plan expressly provides that such compensation shall be taken into account in computing a Participants benefit.
19.13 Deferred Compensation. No deferral of compensation (as defined under Code Section 409A or guidance thereto) is intended under this Plan. However, the Committee may permit deferrals of compensation pursuant to the terms of a Participants Award Agreement, a separate plan or a subplan which meets the requirements of Code Section 409A and any related guidance. Employees who are subject to Code Section 409A shall only be granted Awards under this Plan that meet the requirements of Code Section 409A or qualify for an exemption under Code Section 409A or any related guidance. Additionally, to the extent any Award is subject to Code Section 409A, notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Plan does not permit the acceleration of the time or schedule of any distribution related to such Award, except as permitted by Code Section 409A, the regulations thereunder, and/or the Secretary of the United States Treasury.
19.14 Nonexclusivity of this Plan. The adoption of this Plan shall not be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or Committee to adopt such other compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable for any Participant.
19.15 No Constraint on Corporate Action. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to: (i) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Companys or a Subsidiarys or an Associates right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets; or, (ii) limit the right or power of the Company or a Subsidiary or an Associate to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.
19.16 Governing Law. The Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Plan to the substantive law of another jurisdiction. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, recipients of an Award under this Plan are deemed to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state courts of Delaware, to resolve any and all issues that may arise out of or relate to this Plan or any related Award Agreement.
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