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): November 15, 2011
(November 11, 2011)
CELL THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Washington | 001-12465 | 91-1533912 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
501 Elliott Avenue West, Suite 400
Seattle, Washington 98119
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (206) 282-7100
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
¨ | 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 Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
(e) Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
The Board of Directors (the Board) of Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (the Company) previously approved, subject to stockholder approval, certain amendments to the Cell Therapeutics, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the 2007 Equity Plan), that would (i) increase the number of shares of the Companys common stock, no par value per share (Common Stock), that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the 2007 Equity Plan by an additional 14,000,000 shares, (ii) limit the number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the 2007 Equity Plan to any individual in a calendar year to 13,500,000 shares and (iii) limit the number of shares that may be subject to awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (other than stock options and stock appreciation rights) granted under the 2007 Equity Plan to any individual in a calendar year to 13,500,000 shares. According to the results from the Companys annual meeting of shareholders held on November 11, 2011, in Seattle, Washington (the Annual Meeting), the Companys shareholders have approved the amendments to the 2007 Equity Plan.
The following summary of the 2007 Equity Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the 2007 Equity Plan attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1.
The Board or one or more committees appointed by the Board administers the 2007 Equity Plan. The Board has delegated general administrative authority for the 2007 Equity Plan to the Compensation Committee of the Board. The administrator of the 2007 Equity Plan has broad authority under the 2007 Equity Plan to, among other things, select participants and determine the type(s) of award(s) that they are to receive, and determine the number of shares that are to be subject to awards and the terms and conditions of awards, including the price (if any) to be paid for the shares or the award.
Persons eligible to receive awards under the 2007 Equity Plan include officers or employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, directors of the Company, and certain consultants and advisors to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
After giving effect to the 2007 Equity Plan amendment, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued or transferred pursuant to awards under the 2007 Equity Plan equals 32,610,180 shares. The types of awards that may be granted under the 2007 Equity Plan include stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units, as well as certain cash bonus awards.
As is customary in incentive plans of this nature, each share limit and the number and kind of shares available under the 2007 Equity Plan and any outstanding awards, as well as the exercise or purchase prices of awards, and performance targets under certain types of performance-based awards, are subject to adjustment in the event of certain reorganizations, mergers, combinations, recapitalizations, stock splits, stock dividends, or other similar events that change the number or kind of shares outstanding, and extraordinary dividends or distributions of property to the stockholders.
Item 5.03 | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. |
On November 14, 2011, the Company filed an amendment (the Amendment) to the Companys amended and restated articles of incorporation (the Articles) reflecting an increase in the total number of authorized shares of the Company from 284,999,999 to 384,999,999 and an increase in the Companys authorized shares of Common Stock from 283,333,333 to 383,333,333. The Amendment was approved by the Companys shareholders at the Annual Meeting.
A copy of the Amendment, which was effective as of November 14, 2011, is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 3.1 and is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Item 5.07 | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
At the Annual Meeting, the Companys shareholders approved the five proposals listed below and selected three years for the sixth proposal. The proposals are described in detail in the Companys definitive proxy statement dated October 17, 2011 (the Proxy Statement) for the Annual Meeting.
The results are as follows:
Proposal 1. Election of Directors
The Companys shareholders voted on a proposal to elect three Class II directors to the Board, each to serve until the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and to elect one Class I director to the Board, to serve until the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Pursuant to the Companys Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, the three Class II nominees for director seats and the one Class I nominee for a director seat who received the most votes cast at the Annual Meeting were elected. The results of the voting were as follows:
Nominee | Director Class | Votes For | Votes Withheld | Broker Non-Votes | ||||
James A. Bianco, M.D. |
Class II | 50,638,328 | 24,302,266 | 31,551,310 | ||||
Vartan Gregorian, Ph.D. |
Class II | 48,151,985 | 26,788,609 | 31,551,310 | ||||
Frederick W. Telling, Ph.D. |
Class II | 48,152,870 | 26,787,724 | 31,551,310 | ||||
Reed V. Tuckson, M.D. |
Class I | 51,945,396 | 22,995,198 | 31,551,310 |
Broker non-votes occur when a broker is not permitted to vote on a certain matter without instructions from the beneficial owner, and such instructions are not given. Broker non-votes had no effect on the outcome of this proposal since the election of directors is based on the number of votes actually cast.
Proposal 2. Amendment of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
The Companys shareholders voted on a proposal to approve the Amendment to the Articles to increase the total number of authorized shares from 284,999,999 to 384,999,999 and an increase in the Companys authorized shares of Common Stock from 283,333,333 to 383,333,333. The results of the voting included 101,321,404 votes for, 4,467,821 votes against, 702,679 votes abstained and no broker non-votes. The Amendment was approved.
Proposal 3. Amendment of the 2007 Equity Plan
The Companys shareholders voted on a proposal to approve certain amendments to the 2007 Equity Plan, including an increase the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the 2007 Equity Plan by 14,000,000 shares of Common Stock. The results of the voting included 63,100,353 votes for, 11,442,668 votes against, 397,573 votes abstained and 31,551,310 broker non-votes. Broker non-votes had no effect on the outcome of this proposal since the approval of the amendments to the 2007 Equity Plan is based on the number of votes actually cast. The amendments to the 2007 Equity Plan were approved.
Proposal 4. Ratification of Selection of Independent Auditors
The Companys shareholders voted on a proposal to ratify the selection of Marcum LLP as the Companys independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2011. The results of the voting included 104,844,078 votes for, 712,625 votes against, 935,201 votes abstained and no broker-non votes. The appointment of Marcum LLP was ratified.
Proposal 5. Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation
The Companys shareholders cast a non-binding advisory vote on a proposal to approve the compensation paid to the Companys named executive officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement. The results of the voting included 40,835,150 votes for, 12,046,425 votes against, 22,059,019 votes abstained and 31,551,310 broker-non votes. Broker non-votes had no effect on the outcome of this proposal since the proposal to approve an advisory vote on executive compensation is based on the number of votes actually cast. The Companys shareholders approved the proposal.
Proposal 6. | Advisory Vote to Determine whether an Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation Should Occur Every One, Two or Three Years |
The Companys shareholders cast a non-binding advisory vote on a proposal regarding how often the Company should include an advisory vote on executive compensation in its proxy materials for future annual shareholder meetings (or special shareholder meetings for which the Company must include executive compensation information in the proxy statement for that meeting). The Companys shareholders cast their votes with respect to the advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation as follows:
One Year | Two Years | Three Years | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes | ||||
20,396,581 |
349,112 | 31,899,484 | 22,295,417 | 31,551,310 |
Broker non-votes had no effect on the outcome of this proposal since the proposal regarding the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation is based on the number of votes actually cast.
After consideration of the shareholders recommendations, the Company has decided to hold an advisory vote on the compensation of the Companys named executive officers every three years until the next statutorily required vote on frequency, which will be not later than the Companys annual meeting in 2017.
Item 7.01 | Regulation FD Disclosure. |
On November 11, 2011, the Company issued a press release entitled Cell Therapeutics, Inc. Reports Outcome of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. A copy of the press release is furnished and not filed pursuant to Item 7.01 as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
The information provided pursuant to this Item 7.01 shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing or other document filed by the Company pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof and regardless of any general incorporation language in such filings or documents, except to the extent expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing or document. The information furnished pursuant to this Item 7.01 shall instead be deemed furnished.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit Number |
Description | |
3.1 | Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Cell Therapeutics, Inc. | |
10.1 | Cell Therapeutics, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated. | |
99.1 | Press Release, dated November 11, 2011, entitled Cell Therapeutics, Inc. Reports Outcome of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
CELL THERAPEUTICS, INC. | ||||||
Date: November 15, 2011 | By: | /s/ JAMES A. BIANCO, M.D. | ||||
James A. Bianco, M.D. | ||||||
Chief Executive Officer |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number |
Description | |
3.1 | Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Cell Therapeutics, Inc. | |
10.1 | Cell Therapeutics, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated. | |
99.1 | Press Release, dated November 11, 2011, entitled Cell Therapeutics, Inc. Reports Outcome of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. |
Exhibit 3.1
AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND
RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
CELL THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Pursuant to the Washington Business Corporation Act, Chapter 23B.10, the undersigned officer of Cell Therapeutics, Inc., a Washington corporation (hereinafter called the Corporation), does hereby submit for filing these Articles of Amendment:
FIRST: The name of the Corporation is Cell Therapeutics, Inc.
SECOND: This amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the Restated Articles) was approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation on October 4, 2011.
THIRD: This amendment to the Restated Articles was duly approved by the shareholders of the Corporation on November 11, 2011 in accordance with the provisions of RCW 23B.10.030 and RCW 23B.10.040.
FOURTH: Section 1 of Article II of the Restated Articles is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE II
Authorized Capital Stock
1. Classes. The Corporation shall be authorized to issue two classes of shares of stock to be designated, respectively, Common Stock and Preferred Stock. The total number of shares which the Corporation shall have authority to issue shall be Three Hundred Eighty-Four Million Nine Hundred Ninety-Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-Nine (384,999,999); the total number of authorized shares of Common Stock shall be Three Hundred Eighty-Three Million Three Hundred Thirty-Three Thousand Three Hundred Thirty-Three (383,333,333); and the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock shall be One Million Six Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand Six Hundred Sixty-Six (1,666,666).
* * *
I certify that I am a duly appointed and incumbent officer of the above named Corporation and I am authorized to execute this Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation on behalf of the Corporation.
EXECUTED this 14th day of November 2011.
CELL THERAPEUTICS, INC., a Washington Corporation | ||
By: | /s/ James A. Bianco, M.D. | |
James A. Bianco, M.D. | ||
Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 10.1
CELL THERAPEUTICS, INC.
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Effective as of June 20, 2003 and amended and restated as of October 4, 2011
SECTION 1
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
1.1 Background. The Plan permits the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Cash Awards.
1.2 Purpose of the Plan. The Plan is intended to attract, motivate, and retain (a) employees of the Company and its Affiliates, (b) consultants who provide significant services to the Company and its Affiliates, and (c) directors of the Company who are employees of neither the Company nor any Affiliate. The Plan also is designed to encourage stock ownership by Participants, thereby aligning their interests with those of the Companys shareholders.
SECTION 2
DEFINITIONS
The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:
2.1 1934 Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the 1934 Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
2.2 Affiliate means any corporation or any other entity (including, but not limited to, partnerships and joint ventures) controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company.
2.3 Affiliated SAR means an SAR that is granted in connection with a related Option, and which automatically will be deemed to be exercised at the same time that the related Option is exercised.
2.4 Annual Revenue means the Companys or a business units net sales for the Fiscal Year, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; provided, however, that prior to the Fiscal Year, the Committee shall determine whether any significant item(s) shall be excluded or included from the calculation of Annual Revenue with respect to one or more Participants.
2.5 Award means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Cash Awards.
2.6 Award Agreement means the written agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under the Plan.
2.7 Board or Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.8 Cash Award means the right to receive cash as described in Section 8.
2.9 Cash Position means the Companys level of cash, cash equivalents and securities available-for-sale.
2.10 Change in Control means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) Any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d 3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power represented by the Companys then outstanding voting securities;
(b) The consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets;
1
(c) A change in the composition of the Board occurring within a two-year period, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors. Incumbent Directors means directors who either (A) are Directors as of the effective date of the Plan, or (B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but will not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors to the Company); or
(d) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation.
2.11 Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
2.12 Committee means the Board or a committee appointed by the Board (pursuant to Section 3.1) to administer the Plan.
2.13 Company means Cell Therapeutics, Inc., a Washington corporation, or any successor thereto. With respect to the definitions of the Performance Goals, the Committee may determine that Company means Cell Therapeutics, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
2.14 Consultant means any consultant, independent contractor, or other person who provides significant services to the Company or its Affiliates, but who is neither an Employee nor a Director.
2.15 Director means any individual who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.16 Disability means a permanent and total disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, provided that in the case of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the Committee in its discretion may determine whether a permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Committee from time to time.
2.17 Earnings Per Share means as to any Fiscal Year, the Companys or a business units Net Income, divided by a weighted average number of common shares outstanding and dilutive common equivalent shares deemed outstanding, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
2.18 Employee means any employee of the Company or of an Affiliate, whether such employee is so employed at the time the Plan is adopted or becomes so employed subsequent to the adoption of the Plan.
2.19 Exercise Price means the price at which a Share may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to the exercise of an Option.
2.20 Fair Market Value means the last quoted per share selling price for Shares on The NASDAQ Capital Market on the relevant date, or if there were no sales on such date, the closing bid on the relevant date. If there are neither bids nor sales on the relevant date, then the Fair Market Value shall mean the arithmetic mean of the highest and lowest quoted selling prices on the last market trading day before the relevant date, as determined by the Committee. In any instance where the relevant date falls on a weekend day, a date The NASDAQ Capital Market is closed for trading or any other non-trading day, Fair Market Value shall mean the last quoted per share selling price on the last market trading day before the relevant date. If there are neither bids nor sales on the last market trading day before the relevant date, then the Fair Market Value shall mean the arithmetic mean of the highest and lowest quoted selling prices on the most recent market trading day before the relevant date. Notwithstanding the preceding, for federal, state, and local income tax reporting purposes, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee (or its
2
delegate) in accordance with uniform and nondiscriminatory standards adopted by it from time to time. If Shares are not traded on any established stock exchange or quoted on a national market system and are not quoted by a recognized securities dealer, the Committee (following guidelines established by the Board or Committee) will determine Fair Market Value in good faith.
2.21 Fiscal Year means the fiscal year of the Company.
2.22 Freestanding SAR means a SAR that is granted independently of any Option.
2.23 Grant Date means, with respect to an Award, the date that the Award was granted.
2.24 Incentive Stock Option means an Option to purchase Shares which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
2.25 Individual Objectives means as to a Participant, the objective and measurable goals set by a management by objectives process and approved by the Committee (in its discretion).
2.26 Misconduct means, at any time within (a) the term of an Option granted hereunder, (b) within one (1) year after a Participants Termination of Service, or (c) within one (1) year after exercise of any portion of an Option granted hereunder, whichever is the latest, the commission of any act in competition with any activity of the Company (or any Affiliate) or any act contrary or harmful to the interests of the Company (or any Affiliate), including, but not limited to: (a) conviction of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty, (b) violation of Company (or any Affiliate) policies, (c) accepting employment with or serving as a consultant, advisor or in any other capacity to an entity that is in competition with or acting against the interests of the Company (or any Affiliate), including employing or recruiting any present, former or future employee of the Company (or any Affiliate), (d) misuse of any trade or business secrets or confidential, secret, privileged, or non-public information relating to the Companys (or any Affiliates) business or breach of the Companys Confidentiality Agreement, or (e) participating in a hostile takeover attempt of the Company. The foregoing definition shall not be deemed to be inclusive of all acts or omissions that the Company (or any Affiliate) may consider as Misconduct for purposes of the Plan.
2.27 Net Income means as to any Fiscal Year, the income after taxes of the Company for the Fiscal Year determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, provided that prior to the Fiscal Year, the Committee shall determine whether any significant item(s) shall be included or excluded from the calculation of Net Income with respect to one or more Participants.
2.28 Nonemployee Director means a Director who is an employee of neither the Company nor of any Affiliate.
2.29 Nonqualified Stock Option means an option to purchase Shares which is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
2.30 Operating Cash Flow means the Companys or a business units sum of Net Income plus depreciation and amortization less capital expenditures plus changes in working capital comprised of accounts receivable, inventories, other current assets, trade accounts payable, accrued expenses, product warranty, advance payments from customers and long-term accrued expenses, determined in accordance with generally acceptable accounting principles.
2.31 Operating Income means the Companys or a business units income from operations but excluding any unusual items, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
2.32 Option means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.
2.33 Participant means an Employee, Consultant, or Nonemployee Director who has an outstanding Award.
2.34 Performance Goals means the goal(s) (or combined goal(s)) determined by the Committee (in its discretion) to be applicable to a Participant with respect to an Award. As determined by the Committee, the Performance Goals applicable to an Award may provide for a targeted level or levels of achievement using one or more of the following measures: Annual Revenue, Cash Position, Earnings Per
3
Share, Individual Objectives, Net Income, Operating Cash Flow, Operating Income, Regulatory Approval, Return on Assets, Return on Equity, Return on Sales, Stock Price and Total Shareholder Return. The Performance Goals may differ from Participant to Participant and from Award to Award.
2.35 Period of Restriction means the period during which the transfer of Restricted Stock is subject to restrictions and therefore, the Shares subject to the Restricted Stock grant are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. With respect to Restricted Stock granted pursuant to Section 7, such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of target levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, in its discretion.
2.36 Plan means the Cell Therapeutics, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as set forth in this instrument and as hereafter amended from time to time.
2.37 Regulatory Approval means the approval, or recommendation to approve, of regulatory agencies in the United States or Europe for such drug candidates as specified by the Plan Administrator for purposes of the Award.
2.38 Restricted Stock means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 7.
2.39 Restricted Stock Units means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equivalent to the Fair Market Value of one Share (or a fraction or multiple of such value), payable in cash, property or Shares. Restricted Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, except as otherwise provided for by the Committee. Each Award of Restricted Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify such vesting, payment and other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine.
2.40 Return on Assets means the percentage equal to the Companys or a business units Operating Income before incentive compensation, divided by average net Company or business unit, as applicable, assets, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
2.41 Return on Equity means the percentage equal to the Companys Net Income divided by average shareholders equity, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
2.42 Return on Sales means the percentage equal to the Companys or a business units Operating Income before incentive compensation, divided by the Companys or the business units, as applicable, revenue, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
2.43 Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act, and any future regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such regulation.
2.44 Section 16 Person means a person who, with respect to the Shares, is subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act.
2.45 Shares means the shares of common stock of the Company.
2.46 Stock Appreciation Right or SAR means an Award, granted alone or in connection with a related Option, that pursuant to Section 6 is designated as an SAR.
2.47 Stock Price means the stock price or market value of a share of the Companys common stock and any amount determined by reference to such stock price or market value.
2.48 Subsidiary means any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain then owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
2.49 Tandem SAR means an SAR that is granted in connection with a related Option, the exercise of which shall require forfeiture of the right to purchase an equal number of Shares under the related Option (and when a Share is purchased under the Option, the SAR shall be canceled to the same extent).
4
2.50 Termination of Service means (a) in the case of an Employee, a cessation of the employee-employer relationship between the Employee and the Company or an Affiliate for any reason, including, but not by way of limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death, Disability or the disaffiliation of an Affiliate, but excluding any such termination where there is a simultaneous reemployment by the Company or an Affiliate; (b) in the case of a Consultant, a cessation of the service relationship between the Consultant and the Company or an Affiliate for any reason, including, but not by way of limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death, Disability, or the disaffiliation of an Affiliate, but excluding any such termination where there is a simultaneous re-engagement of the consultant by the Company or an Affiliate; and (c) in the case of a Nonemployee Director, a cessation of the Directors service on the Board for any reason, including, but not by way of limitation, a termination by resignation, death, Disability or non-reelection to the Board.
2.51 Total Shareholder Return means the total return (change in share price plus reinvestment of any dividends) of a Share.
SECTION 3
ADMINISTRATION
3.1 The Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. If the Committee is not the Board then the Committee shall consist of not less than two (2) Directors who shall be appointed from time to time by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the Board of Directors. If the Committee is not the Board, then the Committee shall be comprised solely of Directors who both are (a) non-employee directors under Rule 16b-3, and (b) outside directors under Section 162(m) of the Code.
3.2 Authority of the Committee. It shall be the duty of the Committee to administer the Plan in accordance with the Plans provisions. The Committee shall have all powers and discretion necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and to control its operation, including, but not limited to, the power to (a) determine which Employees, Consultants and Directors shall be granted Awards, (b) prescribe the terms and conditions of the Awards, (c) interpret the Plan and the Awards, (d) adopt such procedures and subplans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Employees and Directors who are foreign nationals or employed outside of the United States, (e) adopt rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith, and (f) interpret, amend or revoke any such rules.
3.3 Delegation by the Committee. The Committee, in its sole discretion and on such terms and conditions as it may provide, may delegate (a) all or any part of its authority and powers under the Plan to one or more Directors, and (b) more limited authority and powers under the Plan to one or more officers of the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may not delegate its authority and powers (a) with respect to Section 16 Persons, or (b) in any way which would jeopardize the Plans qualification under Section 162(m) of the Code or Rule 16b-3.
3.4 Decisions Binding. All determinations and decisions made by the Committee, the Board, and any delegate of the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all persons, and shall be given the maximum deference permitted by law.
SECTION 4
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
4.1 Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, the total number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall not exceed 32,610,180 Shares. Shares issued under the Plan may be either authorized but unissued Shares or treasury Shares. In addition, (a) the maximum number of Shares subject to those Options and SARs that are granted during any calendar year to any individual under this Plan shall be 13,500,000 Shares and (b) the maximum number of Shares which may be subject to Awards (other than Options and SARs) intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code (including Awards payable in Shares and Awards payable in cash where the amount of cash payable upon or following vesting of the Award is determined with reference to the Fair Market Value of a Share at such time) that are granted to any one individual in any one calendar year shall 13,500,000 Shares.
5
4.2 Awards Settled in Cash, Reissue of Awards and Shares. If an Award is settled in cash, or is cancelled, terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason (with the exception of the termination of a Tandem SAR upon exercise of the related Option, or the termination of a related Option upon exercise of the corresponding Tandem SAR), any Shares subject to such Award again shall be available for subsequent Awards under the Plan. Shares that are exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company as full or partial payment in connection with any Award under the Plan, as well as any Shares exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company or one of its Affiliates to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to any Award, shall not be available for subsequent Awards under the Plan. To the extent that Shares are delivered pursuant to the exercise of a SAR or Option granted under the Plan, the number of underlying Shares as to which the exercise related shall be counted against the applicable share limits under Section 4.1, as opposed to only counting the Shares issued. (For purposes of clarity, if a SAR relates to 100,000 Shares and is exercised at a time when the payment due to the Participant is 15,000 Shares, 100,000 Shares shall be charged against the applicable Share limits under Section 4.1 with respect to such exercise.)
4.3 Adjustments in Awards and Authorized Shares. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares occurs such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee (in its sole discretion) to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Committee shall in such manner as it may deem equitable, (a) adjust the number and class of Shares (or other securities) that may be delivered under the Plan under Section 4.1, and the number, class, and price of Shares (or other securities) subject to outstanding Awards or (b) make provision for a cash payment or for the assumption, substitution or exchange of any or all outstanding Awards or the cash, securities or property deliverable to the holder of any or all outstanding Awards, based upon the distribution or consideration payable to holders of the Shares upon or in respect of such event. The specific adjustments shall be determined by the Committee. Notwithstanding the preceding, the number of Shares subject to any Award always shall be a whole number.
SECTION 5
STOCK OPTIONS
5.1 Grant of Options. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Options may be granted to Employees, Consultants and Directors at any time and from time to time as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee may grant Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options, or a combination thereof, and the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the number of Shares subject to each Option.
5.2 Award Agreement. Each Option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Exercise Price, the expiration date of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, any conditions to exercise the Option, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine. The Award Agreement shall also specify whether the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.
5.3 Exercise Price. Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.3, the Exercise Price for each Option shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
5.3.1 Nonqualified Stock Options. In the case of a Nonqualified Stock Option, the Exercise Price shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date.
5.3.2 Incentive Stock Options. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Exercise Price shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date; provided, however, that if on the Grant Date, the Employee (together with persons whose stock ownership is attributed to the Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company
6
or any of its Subsidiaries, the Exercise Price shall be not less than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date.
5.3.3 Substitute Options. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 5.3.1 and 5.3.2, in the event that the Company or an Affiliate consummates a transaction described in Section 424(a) of the Code (e.g., the acquisition of property or stock from an unrelated corporation), persons who become Employees, Directors or Consultants on account of such transaction may be granted Options in substitution for options granted by their former employer. If such substitute Options are granted, the Committee, in its sole discretion and consistent with Section 424(a) of the Code, may determine that such substitute Options shall have an exercise price less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the Grant Date.
5.4 Expiration of Options.
5.4.1 Expiration Dates. Each Option shall terminate no later than the first to occur of the following events:
(a) The date for termination of the Option set forth in the written Award Agreement, or
(b) If no date for the termination of the Option is set forth in the written Award Agreement (other than reference to Section 5.4.1(c)), (a) the expiration of twelve (12) months from the date of the Participants Termination of Service if such Termination of Service is a result of death or Disability, or (b) three (3) months from the date of the Participants Termination of Service for any other reason; or
(c) The expiration of ten (10) years from the Grant Date.
5.4.2 Committee Discretion. Subject to the limits of Section 5.4.1, the Committee, in its sole discretion, (a) shall provide in each Award Agreement when each Option expires and becomes unexercisable, and (b) may, after an Option is granted, extend the maximum term of the Option (subject to Section 5.8.4 regarding Incentive Stock Options).
5.5 Exercisability of Options. Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. After an Option is granted, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may accelerate the exercisability of the Option.
5.6 Payment. Options shall be exercised by the Participants delivery of a written notice of exercise to the Secretary of the Company (or its designee), setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for the Shares, including satisfaction of any applicable withholding taxes.
Upon the exercise of any Option, the Exercise Price shall be payable to the Company in full in cash or its equivalent. The Committee, in its sole discretion, also may permit exercise (a) by tendering previously acquired Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total Exercise Price (such previously acquired Shares must have been held for the requisite period necessary to avoid a charge to the Companys earnings for the financial reporting purposes, unless otherwise determined by the Committee), or (b) by any other means which the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines to both provide legal consideration for the Shares, and to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan.
As soon as practicable after receipt of a written notification of exercise and full payment for the Shares purchased, including satisfaction of any applicable withholding taxes, the Company shall deliver to the Participant (or the Participants designated broker), Share certificates (which may be in book entry form) representing such Shares.
5.7 Restrictions on Share Transferability. The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option as it may deem advisable, including, but not limited to, restrictions related to applicable federal securities laws, the requirements of any national securities exchange or system upon which Shares are then listed or traded, or any blue sky or state securities laws.
5.8 Certain Additional Provisions for Incentive Stock Options.
7
5.8.1 Exercisability. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on the Grant Date(s)) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Employee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall not exceed $100,000. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value exceeds such $100,000 limit, such options shall be treated as nonqualified stock options. In reducing the number of options treated as Incentive Stock Options to meet the $100,000 limit, the most recently granted Options shall be reduced first. To the extent a reduction of simultaneously granted options is necessary to meet the $100,000 limit, the Committee may, in the manner and to the extent permitted by law, designate which Shares are to be treated as shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option.
5.8.2 Termination of Service. No Incentive Stock Option may be exercised more than three (3) months after the Participants Termination of Service for any reason other than Disability or death, unless (a) the Participant dies during such three-month period, and/or (b) the Award Agreement or the Committee permits later exercise. No Incentive Stock Option may be exercised more than one (1) year after the Participants Termination of Service on account of death or Disability, unless the Award Agreement or the Committee permit later exercise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the post-termination exercise period exceeds the limitations under Section 422 of the Code, the Option will cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option at such time that the applicable time limit is exceeded.
5.8.3 Company and Subsidiaries Only. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to persons who are employees of the Company or a Subsidiary on the Grant Date.
5.8.4 Expiration; Other Terms. No Incentive Stock Option may be exercised after the expiration of ten (10) years from the Grant Date; provided, however, that if the Option is granted to an Employee who, together with persons whose stock ownership is attributed to the Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Option may not be exercised after the expiration of five (5) years from the Grant Date. There shall be imposed in any Award Agreement relating to Incentive Stock Options such other terms and conditions as from time to time are required in order that the option be an incentive stock option as that term is defined in Section 422 of the Code.
SECTION 6
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
6.1 Grant of SARs. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, an SAR may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. The Committee may grant Affiliated SARs, Freestanding SARs, Tandem SARs, or any combination thereof.
6.1.1 Number of Shares. The Committee shall have complete discretion to determine the number of SARs granted to any Participant.
6.1.2 Exercise Price and Other Terms. The Committee, subject to the provisions of the Plan, shall have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of SARs granted under the Plan. However, the exercise price of a Freestanding SAR shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date. The exercise price of Tandem or Affiliated SARs shall equal the Exercise Price of the related Option.
6.2 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. With respect to a Tandem SAR granted in connection with an Incentive Stock Option: (a) the Tandem SAR shall expire no later than the expiration of the underlying Incentive Stock Option; (b) the value of the payout with respect to the Tandem SAR shall be for no more than one hundred percent (100%) of the difference between the Exercise Price of the underlying Incentive Stock Option and the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the underlying Incentive Stock Option at the time the Tandem SAR
8
is exercised; and (c) the Tandem SAR shall be exercisable only when the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Incentive Stock Option exceeds the Exercise Price of the Incentive Stock Option.
6.3 Exercise of Affiliated SARs. An Affiliated SAR shall be deemed to be exercised upon the exercise of the related Option. The deemed exercise of an Affiliated SAR shall not necessitate a reduction in the number of Shares subject to the related Option.
6.4 Exercise of Freestanding SARs. Freestanding SARs shall be exercisable on such terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine.
6.5 SAR Agreement. Each SAR grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the exercise price, the term of the SAR, the conditions of exercise, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine.
6.6 Expiration of SARs. An SAR granted under the Plan shall expire upon the date determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of Section 5.4 also shall apply to SARs.
6.7 Payment of SAR Amount. Upon exercise of an SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:
(a) The difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price; times
(b) The number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.
6.8 At the discretion of the Committee, the payment upon SAR exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof.
SECTION 7
RESTRICTED STOCK
7.1 Grant of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Restricted Stock to Employees, Directors and Consultants in such amounts as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine. The Committee, in its sole discretion shall determine the number of Shares to be granted to each Participant.
7.2 Restricted Stock Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Period of Restriction, the number of Shares granted, purchase price, if any, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company as escrow agent until the restrictions on such Restricted Stock have lapsed.
7.3 Transferability. Except as provided in this Section 7, Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction.
7.4 Other Restrictions. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable or appropriate, in accordance with this Section 7.4.
7.4.1 General Restrictions. The Committee may set restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance objectives (Company-wide, divisional, or individual), applicable federal or state securities laws, or any other basis determined by the Committee in its discretion.
7.4.2 Section 162(m) Performance Restrictions. For purposes of qualifying grants of Restricted Stock as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee, in its discretion, may set restrictions based upon the achievement of Performance Goals. The Performance Goals must be established and approved by the Committee during the first 90 days of the performance period (and, in the case of performance periods of less than one year, in no event after 25% or more of the performance period has elapsed) and while performance relating to such target(s) remains substantially uncertain within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. Performance Goals shall be adjusted to mitigate the unbudgeted impact of material, unusual or
9
nonrecurring gains and losses, accounting changes or other extraordinary events not foreseen at the time the targets were set unless the Committee provides otherwise at the time of establishing the targets. In granting Restricted Stock which is intended to qualify under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall follow such procedures determined by it from time to time to be necessary or appropriate to ensure qualification of the Restricted Stock under Section 162(m) of the Code (e.g., in determining the Performance Goals and certifying that the Performance Goals were satisfied). In addition, the Committee will have the discretion to determine the restrictions or other limitations of the individual awards granted under this Section 7.4.2 including the authority to reduce or eliminate Awards, in its sole discretion, if the Committee preserves such authority at the time of grant by language to this effect in its authorizing resolutions or otherwise.
7.4.3 Legend on Certificates. The Committee, in its discretion, may legend the certificates representing Restricted Stock to give appropriate notice of such restrictions.
7.5 Dividends and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction, Participants holding Restricted Stock shall be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares shall be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid. In addition, any dividends as to the unvested portion of a Restricted Stock award that is subject to performance-based vesting requirements (or any dividend equivalents as to the unvested portion of a Restricted Stock Unit award that is subject to performance-based vesting requirements) will be subject to termination and forfeiture to the same extent as the corresponding portion of the Award to which they relate.
7.6 Voting Rights. During the Period of Restriction, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares, unless the Committee determines otherwise.
7.7 Return of Restricted Stock to Company. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed shall revert to the Company and again shall become available for grant under the Plan.
SECTION 8
CASH AWARDS
Cash Awards may be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with other Awards granted under the Plan. After the Administrator determines that it will offer a Cash Award, it shall advise the Participant, by means of an Award Agreement, of the terms, conditions and restrictions related to the Cash Award. The grant or vesting of a Cash Award may be made contingent on the achievement of Performance Goals in accordance with the terms of Section 7.4.2.
SECTION 9
MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 Change in Control.
9.1.1 Generally. In the event of a Change in Control, and except as the Committee (as constituted immediately prior to such Change in Control) may otherwise determine in its sole discretion, (i) all Awards granted hereunder shall become fully exercisable as of the date of the Change in Control, whether or not then exercisable; and (ii) all restrictions and conditions on any Award then outstanding shall lapse as of the date of the Change in Control.
9.1.2 Options and SARs. Notwithstanding Section 9.1.1, the Committee may provide for Options and SARs to be assumed or an equivalent option or right substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In such case:
(a) Options and SARs, to the extent assumed or substituted, shall not become fully exercisable as of the date of the Change in Control. However, in the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Option or SAR, then the Options and SARs
10
held by such Participant shall become one hundred percent (100%) exercisable. If an Option or SAR becomes fully vested and exercisable in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a Change in Control, the Company shall notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option or SAR shall be fully vested and exercisable (subject to the consummation of the Change in Control) for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, and the Option or SAR shall terminate upon the expiration of such period.
(b) For the purposes of this Section 9.1.2, the Option or SAR shall be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control, the option or right confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Option or SAR immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent, the Committee or the Board may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Option or SAR, for each Share subject to the Option or SAR, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Shares in the Change in Control, as determined on the date of the Change in Control.
(c) With respect to Options and SARs that are assumed or substituted for, if within twelve (12) months following the Change in Control the Participant incurs a Termination of Service due to involuntary termination by the successor corporation or one of its affiliates for a reason other than Misconduct, then the Options and SARs held by such Participant shall become one hundred percent (100%) exercisable.
9.1.3 Restricted Stock. Notwithstanding Section 9.1.1, the Committee may provide for any vesting conditions or Company repurchase or reacquisition right with respect to outstanding Restricted Stock held by the Participant to be assigned to the successor corporation or a parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In such case:
(a) All vesting conditions and Company repurchase or reacquisition rights with respect to outstanding Restricted Stock held by the Participant, to the extent so assigned, shall not lapse as of the date of the Change in Control. However, in the event that the successor corporation or a parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation refuses to accept the assignment of any such vesting conditions or Company repurchase or reacquisition right, any such vesting conditions and Company repurchase or reacquisition right will lapse and the Participant will become one hundred percent (100%) vested in such Restricted Stock immediately prior to the Change in Control.
(b) If the vesting conditions and Company repurchase or reacquisition right with respect to Restricted Stock is assigned to the successor corporation and, within twelve (12) months following the Change in Control, the Participant incurs a Termination of Service due to involuntary termination by the successor corporation or one of its affiliates for a reason other than Misconduct, then such Participants Restricted Stock (or the property for which the Restricted Stock was converted upon the Change in Control) will immediately vest and any Company repurchase or reacquisition right will lapse and the Participant will become one hundred percent (100%) vested in such Restricted Stock (or the property for which the Restricted Stock was converted upon the Change in Control).
9.1.4 Cash Awards. Notwithstanding Section 9.1.1, the Committee may provide for Cash Awards to be assumed or an equivalent cash award substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In such case:
(a) All Company restrictions with respect to outstanding Cash Awards held by the Participant, to the extent so assigned, shall not lapse as of the date of the Change in Control. However, in the event that the successor corporation or a parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation refuses to accept the assignment of any such Company restrictions, such Company restrictions will lapse and the Participant will become one hundred percent (100%) vested in such Cash Awards immediately prior to the Change in Control.
11
(b) If the Company restrictions with respect to a Cash Award are assigned to the successor corporation and, within twelve (12) months following the Change in Control, the Participant incurs a Termination of Service due to involuntary termination by the successor corporation or one of its affiliates for a reason other than Misconduct, then such Participants Cash Awards will immediately have any Company restrictions lapse and the Participant will become one hundred percent (100%) vested in such Cash Award.
9.2 Deferrals. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit a Participant to defer receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant under an Award. Any such deferral elections shall be subject to such rules and procedures as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, including rules and procedures that comply with Code Section 409A and the Guidance (as defined below).
9.3 No Effect on Employment or Service. Nothing in the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate any Participants employment or service at any time, with or without cause. For purposes of the Plan, transfer of employment of a Participant between the Company and any one of its Affiliates (or between Affiliates) shall not be deemed a Termination of Service. Employment with the Company and its Affiliates is on an at-will basis only.
9.4 Participation. No Employee or Consultant 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.
9.5 Limitations on Awards. Subject to the provisions of this Section 9.5, no Participant may be granted Cash Awards intended to qualify as qualified performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m) in any one fiscal year in an aggregate amount of more than $650,000, considered without regard to any Options, SARs or Restricted Stock that may have been granted or awarded to such Participant during the applicable fiscal year. Nothing in this Section 9.5 shall prevent the Committee from making any type of Award authorized for grant under the Plan outside of the Plan. In addition, nothing in this Section 9.5 shall prevent the Committee from granting Awards under the Plan that are not intended to qualify as qualified performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m).
9.6 Indemnification. Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of the Board, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (a) any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan or any Award Agreement, and (b) from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Companys approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such claim, action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Companys Certificate of Incorporation or Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, by contract, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or under any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
9.7 Successors. All obligations of the Company under the 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 or assets of the Company.
9.8 Beneficiary Designations. If permitted by the Committee, a Participant under the Plan may name a beneficiary or beneficiaries to whom any vested but unpaid Award shall be paid in the event of the Participants death. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the Participant and shall be effective only if given in a form and manner acceptable to the Committee. In the absence of any such designation, any vested benefits remaining unpaid at the Participants death shall be paid to the Participants estate and, subject to the terms of the Plan and of the applicable Award Agreement, any unexercised vested Award may be exercised by the administrator or executor of the Participants estate.
12
9.9 Limited Transferability of Awards. Subject to Section 7.3, no Award granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will, by the laws of descent and distribution, or to the limited extent provided in Section 9.8. All rights with respect to an Award granted to a Participant shall be available during his or her lifetime only to the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant may, in a manner specified by the Committee, (a) transfer a Nonqualified Stock Option to a Participants spouse, former spouse or dependent pursuant to a court-approved domestic relations order which relates to the provision of child support, alimony payments or marital property rights, and (b) transfer a Nonqualified Stock Option by bona fide gift and not for any consideration, to (i) a member or members of the Participants immediate family, (ii) a trust established for the exclusive benefit of the Participant and/or member(s) of the Participants immediate family, (iii) a partnership, limited liability company of other entity whose only partners or members are the Participant and/or member(s) of the Participants immediate family, or (iv) a foundation in which the Participant an/or member(s) of the Participants immediate family control the management of the foundations assets.
9.10 No Rights as Shareholder. Except to the limited extent provided in Sections 7.6 and 7.7 no Participant (nor any beneficiary) shall have any of the rights or privileges of a shareholder of the Company with respect to any Shares issuable pursuant to an Award (or exercise thereof), unless and until certificates representing such Shares shall have been issued, recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to the Participant (or beneficiary).
9.11 Tax Matters. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, to the extent that the Committee determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Code Section 409A and unless otherwise specified in the applicable Award Agreement, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions necessary for such Award to avoid the consequences described in Code Section 409A(a)(1), and to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law (and unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement), the Plan and the Award Agreements shall be interpreted in a manner that results in their conforming to the requirements of Code Section 409A(a)(2), (3) and (4) and any Department of Treasury or Internal Revenue Service regulations or other interpretive guidance issued under Section 409A (whenever issued, the Guidance).
SECTION 10
AMENDMENT, TERMINATION, AND DURATION
10.1 Amendment, Suspension, or Termination. The Board, in its sole discretion, may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan, or any part thereof, at any time and for any reason. The amendment, suspension, or termination of the Plan shall not, without the consent of the Participant, alter or impair any rights or obligations under any Award already granted to such Participant; provided that such consent shall not be required if the Board determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that the amendment, suspension or termination: (a) is required or advisable in order for the Company, the Plan or the Award to satisfy applicable law, to meet the requirements of any accounting standard or to avoid any adverse accounting treatment, or (b) in connection with any transaction or event described in Section 9.1, is in the best interests of the Company or its shareholders. The Board may, but need not, take the tax or accounting consequences to affected Participants into consideration in acting under the preceding sentence. No Award may be granted during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan. The Company shall obtain shareholder approval if necessary or desirable to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations, including of any governmental agencies and national securities exchanges. Decisions of the Board shall be final, binding and conclusive. For Awards to continue to be eligible to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m), the Companys shareholders must re-approve the material terms of the Performance Goals included in the Plan by the date of the first shareholder meeting that occurs in the fifth year following the year in which the shareholders most recently approved the Plan under Code Section 162(m).
10.2 Duration of the Plan. The Plan shall be effective as of June 20, 2003, and subject to Section 10.1 (regarding the Boards right to amend or terminate the Plan), shall remain in effect thereafter. However, no Incentive Stock Option may be granted under the Plan after ten years from the latest date the Companys shareholders approve the Plan, including any subsequent amendment or restatement of the Plan approved by the Companys shareholders.
13
10.3 Prohibition on Repricing. Notwithstanding the foregoing and except for an adjustment pursuant to Section 4.3 or a repricing approved by shareholders, in no case may the Committee (1) amend an outstanding Option or SAR to reduce the exercise price of the Award, (2) cancel, exchange, or surrender an outstanding Option or SAR in exchange for cash or other Awards for the purpose of repricing the Award, or (3) cancel, exchange, or surrender an outstanding Option or SAR in exchange for an option or SAR with an exercise that is less than the exercise of the original Award.
SECTION 11
TAX WITHHOLDING
11.1 Withholding Requirements. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award (or exercise thereof), the Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes (including the Participants FICA obligation) required to be withheld with respect to such Award (or exercise thereof).
11.2 Withholding Arrangements. The Committee, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit a Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part by (a) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable Shares, or (b) delivering to the Company already-owned Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld. If the Committee permits Award Shares to be withheld from the Award to satisfy applicable withholding obligations, the Fair Market Value of the Award Shares withheld, as determined as of the date of withholding, shall not exceed the amount determined by the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates to the extent the Committee determines such limit is necessary or advisable in light of generally accepted accounting principles.
11.3 Liability for Applicable Taxes. Regardless of any action the Company or the Participants employer (the Employer) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social security, payroll tax, payment on account, other tax-related withholding or information reporting (Tax-Related Items), the Participant acknowledges and agrees that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by Participant is and remains the Participants responsibility and that the Company and or the Employer (a) make no representations nor undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of an Award; and (b) do not commit to structure the terms or any aspect of any Award granted hereunder to reduce or eliminate the Participants liability for Tax-Related Items. The Participant shall pay the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold as a result of the Participants participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. The Company may refuse to deliver any benefit under the Plan if the Participant fails to comply with his or her obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.
SECTION 12
LEGAL CONSTRUCTION
12.1 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.
12.2 Severability. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
12.3 Requirements of Law. The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under the 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.
12.4 Securities Law Compliance. With respect to Section 16 Persons, transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b 3. To the extent any provision of the Plan, Award Agreement or action by the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee.
14
12.5 Governing Law. The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Washington.
12.6 Captions. Captions are provided herein for convenience only, and shall not serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of the Plan.
15
Exhibit 99.1
![]() |
501 Elliott Ave. W. #400 Seattle, WA 98119 |
T 206.282.7100 F 206.272.4010 |
Cell Therapeutics, Inc. Reports Results of
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
November 11, 2011 SeattleCell Therapeutics, Inc. (the Company) (NASDAQ and MTA: CTIC) announced today the results from its Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the Annual Meeting) held on Friday, November 11, 2011.
At the Annual Meeting, shareholders elected James A. Bianco, M.D., Vartan Gregorian, Ph.D., and Frederick W. Telling, Ph.D. to serve on the Company s Board of Directors until the Company s 2014 Annual Meeting. Shareholders also elected Reed V. Tuckson, M.D. to serve on the Companys Board of Directors until the Companys 2013 Annual Meeting. Shareholders approved the proposals to amend the Companys amended and restated articles of incorporation to increase the total number of authorized shares and authorized shares of common stock and to make certain amendments to the Company s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the Plan), including an increase the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan. Shareholders also approved an advisory proposal on executive compensation and voted to hold an advisory vote on executive compensation every three years. Shareholders ratified the selection of Marcum LLP as the Companys independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2011.
About Cell Therapeutics, Inc.
Headquartered in Seattle, CTI is a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing an integrated portfolio of oncology products aimed at making cancer more treatable. For additional information, please visit www.CellTherapeutics.com.
Sign up for email alerts and get RSS feeds at our Web site, http://www.CellTherapeutics.com/investors_alert
###
This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, the outcome of which could materially and/or adversely affect actual future results. Specifically, the risks and uncertainties include the risk factors listed or described from time to time in CTIs filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, CTIs most recent filings on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. Except as may be required by law, CTI does not intend to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
www.CellTherapeutics.com
Page 2 of 2
Media Contact:
Dan Eramian
T: 206.272.4343
C: 206.854.1200
E: deramian@ctiseattle.com
www.CellTherapeutics.com/press_room
Investors Contact:
Ed Bell
T: 206.282.7100
Lindsey Jesch Logan
T: 206.272.4347
F: 206.272.4434
E: invest@ctiseattle.com
www.CellTherapeutics.com